“Before I set off for the Capitol, I said a quick prayer to Mercury, the god of thieves, spies and other sneaks. Then I started to make my way to the bottom of Capitoline Hill, hoping that Mercury would answer my prayer and I wouldn’t be noticed.” Read more

BY HANNAH SKIPPER “Who knew a trade conference would last almost two months? It’s like the Calormenes want everyone to spend their Christmas here.” Read more

BY AVELLINA BALESTRI I believe there is something about The Scarlet Pimpernel that taps into our deepest yearnings for romance and adventure. Read more

BY BENJAMIN DAVID SMITH A waking dream, a quake within my soul. My burning eyes calm to black as she breathes beneath the skin. Read more

Remembering the arcana of youth On the farm: White Mule gloves, axe, splitting maul Read more

BY LAWRENCE S. HOWE & M.C. PEHRSON Dougherty’s Flying Field was the first airfield I can remember, and it was little better than a few acres of pastureland. Read more

By Joshua David Ling Word Count: 689 Rating: G Summary: The Legend of St. Boniface in rhyme. Nature groaned like Paul foretold, Winter was everlasting. Dead men drunkenly stumbled in the dark, And in Hesse, troubled times weren’t passing. Or so it seemed in ancient Germany, With broken and splintered tribes, But in the coldest,… Read more

By Amanda Pizzolatto (alias Aurora Mandeville) Word Count: 31845 Rating: PG for scary situations Summary: Nico Di Angelo, son of Hades, is used to being alone, until one day a girl with auburn hair waltzes into his life… Chapter 1 ““I don’t think there’ll be much dancing, and I could show you a few simple… Read more

By Amanda Pizzolatto (alias Aurora Mandeville) Word Count: 31845 Rating: PG for scary situations Summary: Nico Di Angelo, son of Hades, is used to being alone, until one day a girl with auburn hair waltzes into his life… Nico slunk back against the tree trunk, pulling out his earphones and his CD player. He plugged… Read more

BY MARYUM IMRAN Wordlessly, Malfoy brought out his right hand from behind his back, the rose clutched in his fist. “For you. Happy Rose Day.” Read more

“It is very honorable to want to please your parents, Morgon. I applaud you for it. But shouldn’t you do things that you like, as well?” Read more

BY SHEANKELOR “You cannot be held responsible for the deaths that happen during war – only the leaders can and they typically aren’t, either.” Read more

BY TIMOTHY MATHER What secrets do you hold? Can you show the way to the otherworld or do you guard its gate? Read more

We don’t know why we are, We cannot understand it, But like all in life, And in life itself, We accept it. Read more

His eyes, a flaming fury of sad darkness, Hers a sea of unfathomable love and loneliness. His heart met hers, His flames were quenched. Read more

By Amanda Pizzolatto Word Count: 4297 Rating: G Summary: A crossover story starring Jack Frost, Rapunzel, and many more! The school bell rang, and teens rushed out of classrooms to get ready to head home. Locker doors were opened and slammed shut while some teens were talking, creating the usual end-of-school noise. Rapunzel was taking… Read more

By Vanessa Parry Word Count: 2421 Rating: G (suitable for all audiences) Summary: Frodo and Bilbo celebrate Yule in Bag-End Sam stood on tiptoe to ring the bell hanging beside Bag End’s round green door.  As he waited for what felt to the youngster a very long while, he studied the sky.   It was overcast… Read more

By Katie Lynn Daniels Word Count: 3989 Rating: PG for some thematic elements Summary: A retired hero deals with the demons of his past. Silent night! Holy night! All is calm; all is bright. Round thy head the demons wait, ’til thou sleep and meet thy fate Sleep in heavenly peace! Sleep in heavenly peace! Silent… Read more

By Lawrence Hall Word Count: 83 Rating: G Summary: A poem of Childhood When we were children we lay in the grass And counted the stars, but only up to A hundred or so, because we got lost But not out there in space, right here in space   For space had fallen here, all… Read more

BY AMANDA PIZZOLATTO “Suspense! You try waiting seventeen years to marry the one you love, and then we can talk about suspense!” Read more