Podcasts about half blood

Mixing assassins and child care; what could go wrong?In 25 parts, edited from the works of FinalStand.Listen and subscribe to the ► Podcast at Connected..“Lying is fine, but take care to not cause suffering because that makes it wrong.”Keys jingled and Timothy walked through the door."Mr. Denver," Nikita got off before I could make introductions."Oh, you must be the cop," Timothy snorted."Does Cáel have so many we are labelled by profession?" her suspicious nature flared up."Nah. Unlike Gomer here," was he calling me a hick?"I'm New York born and bred. I know a police issued Beretta in a hip holster even under a jacket. Also, the next time Cáel calls me Mr. Denver will be the first," Timothy chuckled. "If it's any consolation, I can see why he's risking grave bodily injury by going out with you.""Does he think I'll shoot him if I catch him screwing around behind my back?" she asked pleasantly."Pretty much," Timothy winked at me."Good boy," she patted my cheek."Ah, the prospect of imminent pain reminds me; Timothy, I need two more favors," I begged."This is going to be good," Timothy replied sarcastically."I've got four girls lined up for Saturday night; three high society children and Nikita here. Is this okay, or do I need to take this somewhere else?" I began."This the nine year old?" he questioned."Aya and her two sisters," I replied."Sure. Every Park Avenue babe should get to meet a gay tattoo artist from Queens once in their life before Prom," Timothy nodded sagely. "The other thing.""Yeah; could you double-date with me. There is this school teacher who rooms with her older sister. The sister came through a nasty breakup recently and the teacher asked me if I could help out," I tried to sound upbeat."Wow; I don't know what to say," Timothy's mouth gaped. "I don't know what's dumber; asking your gay roommate to distract his fuck-mates sister so he doesn't end up screwing them both, or requesting this in front of the cop you are almost dating?""Wah; huh; what he said; that last part," Nikita glared at me."Hey, now," I warded her off. "There's barely a week of school left. Then she'll get a summer job and I won't be taking the kids to school anymore and that will be that.""You are sleeping with a teacher at the school your girls attend?" she gasped. "Why?""She's hot," I declared. Nikita looked shocked. "I mean really hot. Not as gorgeous as you, but she's very attractive."Don't think I'd lost my damn mind. I had, in fact, learned something over four years of being far hornier than smart. See, when a girl thinks you are true blue and you cheat, you are a scumbag. If a girl thinks you've slept around and now you are hers and hers alone, you cheating still makes you dirt, but that is ameliorated by the deep-seated fear that she did something wrong.If you are openly a man-whore when you start dating, you can cheat. She thinks she's weaning you off your promiscuous ways. This toleration is not limitless, so be warned. Make every indiscretion count. Eventually she will give up and dump you. Refer to the break-up sex discussion earlier.My mentor once asked me if one woman would ever be enough. I told her that I always thought one woman would be enough and I was always wrong. One of these days I hoped to meet a woman who could satisfy my sexual urges and could keep my balls in a vice to stop me from straying. Then I'd be happy."You need to stop that," Nikita threatened me. "My fiancé cheated on me. I'm not going to put up with it from you.""I already promised them I'd go out at least once," I reasoned. "You wouldn't want me to treat you like that.""I'm not them," she bit her lower lip. "This roving eye of yours has got to stop and soon." See; a license to cheat. I really liked Nikita and I wanted to make an effort to keep her happy. Somehow I could keep my libido under some kind of restraint; for 80 days. Then my co-workers at Havenstone would own me like their prison bitch, providing I was still alive."I'll do my best," I promised. We hugged and kissed. She wasn't gone thirty seconds when my phone rang. It was Odette. I told her to come on over so Timothy shot me with his Nerf gun."Cáel, consider having sex with me," Timothy teased."What? I'm not gay," I pouted."Oh, I know but you'll be dead soon so the sexual ambiguity won't be something you have to deal with for long," Timothy laughed."I'll put it on my bucket list," I sighed. "Double-dating with me?""Sure. It isn't like life with you has been dull," Timothy taunted me. I groaned.(Friday)"I have today off," Odette murmured to me as I cut off the alarm. That had to have been the issue she'd been holding back on last night."I have to work; being the first week of my three month internship and all," I sighed."Are you sure I can't convince you to be late?" she gave me a sultry look.She compounded that offer by stretching out, her knees in place so that her ass rose and wiggled suggestively. Last night I had introduced Odette to a form of doggy-style that didn't involve the man trying to drive her skull through the headboard. We had a long, dual-participant, sensual melding of bodies, control passing back and forth until the need for sleep became something she despised even as it took her."Not fair," I groaned into my pillow. When I looked out, she was still giving me that sexually hungry look and wiggling that ass. Why do I even pretend that I can have a normal sex life? I found myself arriving late and changing in the elevator on the way to the Executive Services floor. The two women with me were a viewing gallery I could have done without.Since I put everything on display; remember; no underwear; one of my two fellow travelers felt permitted to rub her hands along my abs while I was pulling my pants on."Goddess, he's hard," she moaned to her companion. "Come, have a feel." I didn't protest. Technically, stripping naked in a public place could get me fired."His back is very nicely defined," the other side as she ran her hands over my back and shoulders. "What is it that you do?""I'm with Executive Services," I replied. "Right now I'm suborned to Product Testing. I teach monkeys to ride unicycles." Their confused looks humored me."Actually, I'm with ES and I'm a gopher; I pick up stuff," I grinned."Oh; you are that guy from the elevator; the kneeling man," the first woman exclaimed. "They said you were funny. Goddess, our man sure is hot, but he is so dull.""Let me guess; you are with the Financial Investigations Unit?" I said. Trent."Yes," she smiled. Orgy time. "He's just as good looking, but you are so much more fun. My sister can't wait for you to become available.""Sister?" I prodded."Daphne Pale," she smiled suggestively yet again. My face lit up."Daphne?" I caught the lady off-guard by hugging her. "I think Daphne is great," I stepped back. "She's really nice to me. She's smart, gives good advice and treats me like I'm something more than a walking, breathing annoyance. What's your name?""Brielle," she informed me."Beautiful name," I remarked, as I went back to dressing."Do they let you see other women; besides those of ES?" the second woman questioned."I don't see any Havenstone women for 79 more days," I stated. "Corporate policy. After that, all requests for hunting licenses are submitted to Desiree; non-lethal weaponry only until I develop more refined survival skills."Blink. Blink."You are joking, right?" Woman Two muttered."Nope. Katrina feels it will be a great third quarter kick-off. Let some women get out of the office for a weekend. Besides, I get to hunt those hunting me. I think it will be fun, don't you?" I hummed along."Desiree?" the second woman asked for clarification as she pulled out her phone. I nodded. The doors opened; my floor; so I stepped out and hustled to Katrina's office with only seconds to spare. The meeting was normal, right up until Dora adjusted my tie as we were exiting the office."Where did you dress? A closet with the lights out?" she teased."In the elevator on the way up," I confessed. "Daphne, I met your sister; Brielle," in case she had more than one. "She felt up my stomach and I made her laugh," I added."You let her touch you?" Tigger inquired."Cáel, did you come to work dressed like you normally do?" Daphne teased."Yep," sighed."So you were naked in the elevator," Violet snickered."Yep," I confirmed."You should be relocated for that," Fabiola sneered."Damn Fabiola, why do you; what would he be relocated for? Getting dressed?" Paula groaned."He was naked in front of an employee," Fabiola explained."Two actually," I clarified. "They both did touch my naked flesh. It was a bonding experience.""Did you do any actual 'bonding'?" Dora winked."I hugged Brielle, but that was only because she was Daphne's sister and I'm not allowed to hug Daphne at this time," I answered."You can hug me; in a purely platonic way," Daphne murmured.We were at Buffy's desk; I was working with her today."Okay," I nodded. I took a single stride to Daphne. She closed with me and I put my arms around her waist. Daphne put her hands on my shoulders. Our heads got closer and closer. I let my hands roam higher up her back and through her long locks.Nose touched nose, I ran my hands through her hair until I tickled the back of her ears. Daphne's lips parted and her tongue played along the edges. I let my breath play along her cheeks as I worked to her left ear. I felt a sharp pain in my right ass."Ow!" I squalled; after I pulled away from Daphne's ear.I tried to fully spin around, but Daphne wasn't letting go. I caught sight of a furious Buffy, small knife in hand, burning holes in me with her eyes.

Rob gets to the eponymous chapter of The Half Blood Prince.

⁠More guest we are on a role and this time it is all about our beloved camphttps://linktr.ee/through_mist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email- through.t.mist@gmail.com, Insta- @through_mistMuses of Mythology- https://linktr.ee/MusesOfMythology

On this episode, Sam, TC and Mel chat about another interesting trio: Seamus, Dean and Ron. What bonded Ron to be their third wheel? Did they hang out in the summers? How did Ron and Dean navigate the Ginny issue? Listen and decide!Don't forget to visit our social medias to answer this episode's Show Host Question: “If Hogwarts was located in the backwoods area of the southern US, what would the name of the school be?*** Spoilers, Adult Language, Adult Themes **** Music note: Tinder profile music is from "You Can Leave Your Hat On" by Joe Cocker, and the theme song uses a portion of "Modern Major General" from The Pirates of Penzance. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or iHeart Radio podcasts! Or send us a message at PottershipPodcast@gmail.com

As we are on hiatus, here's some of our Patreon bonus content for your listening pleasure! This time Raye and Charlie combined their love of Phineas and Ferb with their love of Percy Jackson! Send us an Iris message at oftheeldestgodspod@gmail.com with your thoughts and theories going forward! We would love to hear from you. Make sure to subscribe so you know when our next episode drops and rate and review if you like what we are doing. IG: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/oftheeldestgodspod/⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/oftheeldestgods⁠⁠⁠ Tumblr: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tumblr.com/oftheeldestgodspod⁠⁠⁠ SUPPORT US ON PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/oftheeldestgods⁠⁠⁠ BUY OUR MERCH, PLZ: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.redbubble.com/people/OfTheEldestGods/shop?asc=u⁠⁠⁠ Charlie's IG: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/greenpixie12/⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/greenpixiedraws/

Welcome to Mysteries in the Machine! Ethan, Charlie, and Brayden are invited to a will reading on a mansion on an island just to win some Confederate money. Send us an email at mysteriesinthemachinepod@gmail.com with your thoughts or any questions you have! We would love to hear from you. Make sure to subscribe so you know when our next episode drops and rate and review if you like what we are doing. IG:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mysteriesinthemachinepod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Return to Camp Half-Blood: https://www.instagram.com/returntocamp/ Brayden's Theater Company: https://nextlifetheatre.com/home Follow Ethan: ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/ethan.t.hulen/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@ethan.t.hulen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Charlie: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/greenpixie12/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/greenpixiedraws/⁠ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mysteries-in-the-machine/message

Did you do it then?...So join Jon, Jenn, Danny, and Kristen as they talk over the movie of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. They talk over some theories about what will happen, their impressions of the characters, and what they thought of the sixth movie.

I had the amazing opportunity to speak with some real life Camp Half Blood Directors and Counsellors about their lives at CHB. Did you know there's a real place for demigods? Check them out on Instagram, TikTok, and their shop too! To support the show, be sure to find us on Instagram and Twitter @bestdamcamppod and, if you can, join us on Patreon for early access and bonus content. If you'd like to get your thoughts across, you can email us at thebestdamcamp@hotmail.com. FREE PALESTINE: https://savepalestine.carrd.co Riordanverse Merchandise. Check out my Discord! Buy "Home to the Wild." Buy "Way of the Wild" Follow me on Goodreads. For more Percy Jackson content check out Fran's YouTube channel A Healthy Dose of Fran. Nickel Anarchy: Instagram and Redbubble Taylor Paisley-French: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Spotify _________________________ Black Lives Matter links and resources: Ways to Help PLEASE SIGN PETITIONS, DONATE, CALL AND EMAIL TO DEMAND JUSTICE, AND SHARE Twitter Thread on how to support if you have no money Support for the Black Trans Community Twitter Thread for Black Creative Talent to support Advice on how to support from the UK 8 Lessons I Learned About Racism That Were Helpful to me a White Person Support Protestors Racism and the UK Stand With and Support the Asian community: Asian Lives Matter Resources Stand Against Hatred Stop AAPI Hate America's History of Scape-Goating its Asian citizens Support for the Trans community: How Black Trans People All About Trans Website Stonewall Website Support UK Mermaids Charity Native American Organisations: The Red Nation Stop Line 3 - Take Action Native Wellness Native American Rights Fund

If Rick Riordan has no fans, then Mia & Karly are dead. In today's episode, your fav podcast hosts are diving into the latest adaptation of the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series on Disney+. (Please note: Karly uses Mia's Disney+ account and their profile pics are a shark and Dory from Finding Nemo, respectively.)   Middle school Mia & Karly would be hard fangirling knowing that they would eventually get the adaptation of Percy Jackson that they DESERVE - although they're still disappointed the show didn't pay homage to the mediocre Logan Lerman movie adaptation and the infamous Lotus Casino/Poker Face scene. They discuss their deep seated history with Riordan's book series and give their professional opinions on the show as OG Percy Jackson and Percabeth fanfiction readers. Seeing as it's been a decade since they last held a copy of a Percy Jackson book, the girls are due for a re-read and will surely be delivering a deep dive episode in the future.    They'll also discuss how the 2010s fandom culture era was quite literally the best time to grow up in and why it shaped them into the women (and readers) they are today. Fandoms walked so roman empires could run. Between One Directioners, Beliebers, and the Edward vs. Jacob craze, it's a wonder the girls got any school work done when they were reading POV fanfiction about dating Harry Styles. Happy reading besties! 

What's up, dudes? Christmas in the Underworld was NOT my idea! That's right! It's a Percy Jackson Christmas in this bonus episode with my daughter, Little #1! We get into two PJ short story adventures!In “The Sword of Hades,” the demigod children of the Big Three—Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades—are gathered in the Underworld by Persephone. Percy, Thalia, and Nico use an enchanted flower to follow a thief and retrieve Hades's newly forged sword. They fight off Keres, Melinoë the goddess of ghosts, and the Titan Iapetus. The trio retrieve the sword, even if the Underworld didn't get into the Christmas spirit. On December 18, 2020 in La Repubblica, Riordan published “Un Natale Mezzosangue.” Percy and Nico shadow travel to Florence during the pandemic to find a perfect gift for Annabeth. They find the shop of the last Etruscan god Charu. He gives Percy a magical bracelet in exchange for the answer to a question. Percy's answer—that Christmas is for everyone, especially in times of difficulty—placates the deity. Nico and Percy head back to New York with a perfect gift!Titans? Check. Gods? Yep. Cheeseburgers? Only from McHale's! So grab Riptide, put on your Camp Half-Blood t-shirt, and shadow travel to a Percy Jackson Christmas!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com! Later, dudes!

Talking with the last hold out of the Half-Blood Happy Hour Cast makes a pod feel whole. The usual discussion of first game, first character, and what are you up to happens but then it then dissolves into book talk. Right outside of Adrian's realm. Alex and Gabbi have a joyous time calling each other out on their reads. It's so much that it has to devolve into a special that is going on to the Patreon. Gabbi's Socials: +Tiktok: @gaygabz Podcast Gabbi Stars in: + Half-Blood Happy Hour - https://open.spotify.com/show/0029340xxMQjZIgVpvXYaE?si=fc0f0940b6fa49b3 + The Devil's in the Dice - https://open.spotify.com/show/7xba7l190EUgtrBuuYs6Ya Find Adrian [he/any]: +Twitter: @Dagger_24 Find Alex [she/hulk]: +Instagram: @eloquentmime +TikTok: @eloquentmime +Twitter: @eloquentmime Find Us:  +Join our community via Discord: https://discord.gg/XFhma7qjDy +Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dungeonndegrees  +Subscribe to D&Degrees on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dungeons-degrees/id1528189379 +Twitch: @dungeonndegrees | twitch.tv/dungeonndegrees +Twitter: @dungeonndegrees +TikTok: @dungeonndegrees +Instagram: @dungeonndegrees  +Our Website: https://dndegreespod.com/  +Email us at dndgreespod@gmail.com +Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dungeonsdegrees --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dndegreespod/message

Hello! In this episode we go through chapters 6-10 of The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. We discuss the canon world building that happens, Percy's parentage, and his secret reason for going on this quest, and lots more! Follow Demigod Disasters! on social media. On twitter as @DemigodDisaster and on instagram as @DemigodDisasters!

In this captivating episode, we dive into the fascinating life and perspectives of Henry Vaughan, a unique individual who blends philosophy and his diverse cultural experiences. Half-Taiwanese and Half-Texan, Henry's upbringing in a military family adds an extra layer to his intriguing background.    In this episode, Henry opens up about his personal journey into the world of philosophy and shares his insights as a Third Culture Kid. He discusses the evolving nature of his Taiwanese identity, acknowledging the inevitable changes as he finds peace in this transformation.    We'll explore Henry's definition of "Asian American" and his exploration of the differences between Western and Asian philosophy and how he navigates the balance between the two. We discussed thought-provoking topics such as the distinction between ethnicity and nationality, the role of gender in society, and the complexities of diversity and its chaotic nature. Don't miss this insightful discussion that unravels the layers of identity, philosophy, and cultural fusion.    

Texas-based Bulgarian writer Miroslav Penkov wasn't sure if anyone would pay attention to his first English-language novel, Stork Mountain. However, when the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative paired him with The English Patient author Michael Ondaatje, it gave him the boost he needed. Listen to A Word in Your Ear to hear an excerpt from Penkov's The Half-Blood.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We take a break from our regularly scheduled podcast to visit a couple of new friends out on the road!Theme Song by Doc HarborFollow Us!Instagram and tiktok: @halfbloodhappyhourTwitter: @HB_Happy_HourJoin Our Patreon: patreon.com/halfbloodhappyhourGet some Half-Blood Happy Hour merch! redbubble.com/HBHappyHourFollow Our Cast!Noah - @noah.james95 (Instagram), @noahjames95 (Twitter)Gabbi - @gabbig25 (Instagram), @gaygabz (Tiktok)Freckle - @freckle.works or @freckled.aquarius (Instagram), @freckleworks (twitter), @freckled.aquariusIcarus - @iicarys (Instagram), @iicarys (TikTok), @ii_carys (Twitter)Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/giulio-fazio/odessa-bulgarish License code: LDQI7SG1UIC0S99Khttps://uppbeat.io/t/walz/the-chase License code: WQV6WVMDB7TBYCTLhttps://uppbeat.io/t/livio-minafra/abbasce-a-la-marin License code: UY8BG2EKLTDVLIM5

Chapter 28 - The Flight of the PrinceQ1 - What are your thoughts on Dumbledore's death?Q2 - Who do you think has died so far?“Cruc —” But Snape parried the curse, knocking Harry backward off his feet before he could complete it; “Cruc —” yelled Harry for the second time, aiming for the figure ahead illuminated in the dancing firelight, but Snape blocked the spell again. Harry could see him sneering. “No Unforgivable Curses from you, Potter!” he shouted over the rushing of the flames, Hagrid's yells, and the wild yelping of the trapped Fang. “You haven't got the nerve or the ability —” “Incarc —” Harry roared, but Snape deflected the spell with an almost lazy flick of his arm. Q3 - Is Snape really an amazing wizard?“Fight back!” Harry screamed at him. “Fight back, you cowardly —” “Coward, did you call me, Potter?” shouted Snape. “Your father would never attack me unless it was four on one, what would you call him, I wonder?” “Sectum — !” Snape flicked his wand and the curse was repelled yet again; but Harry was mere feet away now and he could see Snape's face clearly at last: He was no longer sneering or jeering; the blazing flames showed a face full of rage. Mustering all his powers of concentration, Harry thought, Levi — “No, Potter!” screamed Snape. “You dare use my own spells against me, Potter? It was I who invented them — I, the Half-Blood Prince! And you'd turn my inventions on me, like your filthy father, would you? I don't think so . . . no!” Q4 - Thoughts on Snape being the Half-Blood Prince?“Kill me then,” panted Harry, who felt no fear at all, but only rage and contempt. “Kill me like you killed him, you coward —” “DON'T—” screamed Snape, and his face was suddenly demented, inhuman, as though he was in as much pain as the yelping, howling dog stuck in the burning house behind them — “CALL ME COWARD!”Q5 - Is Snape a coward?Harry heard Hagrid's moan of pain and shock, but he did not stop; he walked slowly forward until he reached the place where Dumbledore lay and crouched down beside him. He had known there was no hope from the moment that the full Body-Bind Curse Dumbledore had placed upon him lifted, known that it could have happened only because its caster was dead, but there was still no preparation for seeing him here, spread-eagled, broken: the greatest wizard Harry had ever, or would ever, meet. Dumbledore's eyes were closed; but for the strange angle of his arms and legs, he might have been sleeping. Harry reached out, straightened the half-moon spectacles upon the crooked nose, and wiped a trickle of blood from the mouth with his own sleeve. Then he gazed down at the wise old face and tried to absorb the enormous and incomprehensible truth: that never again would Dumbledore speak to him, never again could he help. . . . Q6 - Dumbledore is actually dead?To the Dark Lord I know I will be dead long before you read this but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match, you will be mortal once more. R.A.BQ7 - Theories on who RAB is?Q8 - Did Dumbledore die for nothing?Q9 - What is your favorite Dumbledore memory?Chapter 29 - The Phoenix LamentFear stirred in Harry's chest again: He had forgotten the inert figures he had left behind. “Ginny, who else is dead?” “Don't worry, none of us.” “But the Dark Mark — Malfoy said he stepped over a body —” “He stepped over Bill, but it's all right, he's alive.” There was something in her voice, however, that Harry knew boded ill. “Are you sure?” “Of course I'm sure . . . he's a — a bit of a mess, that's all. Greyback attacked him. Madam Pomfrey says he won't — won't look the same anymore. . . .”Q1 - Do you think Harry understands the cost of what this fight is all about?“No!” Lupin looked wildly from Ginny to Harry, as though hoping the latter might contradict her, but when Harry did not, Lupin collapsed into a chair beside Bill's bed, his hands over his face. Harry had never seen Lupin lose control before; he felt as though he was intruding upon something private, indecent. He turned away and caught Ron's eye instead, exchanging in silence a look that confirmed what Ginny had said. Q2 - Have you ever experienced grief like this?Gulping, Madam Pomfrey pressed her fingers to her mouth, her eyes wide. Somewhere out in the darkness, a phoenix was singing in a way Harry had never heard before: a stricken lament of terrible beauty. And Harry felt, as he had felt about phoenix song before, that the music was inside him, not without: It was his own grief turned magically to song that echoed across the grounds and through the castle windows. How long they all stood there, listening, he did not know, nor why it seemed to ease their pain a little to listen to the sound of their mourning, but it felt like a long time later that the hospital door opened again and Professor McGonagall entered the ward. Like all the rest, she bore marks of the recent battle: There were grazes on her face and her robes were ripped. “Snape,” repeated McGonagall faintly, falling into the chair. “We all wondered . . . but he trusted . . . always . . . Snape . . . I can't believe it. . . .”Q3 - Do you think the professors knew better?Q4 - Is there anything about the story that the group is giving that is strange to you or hits you differently? Are there any clues in there?“Of course, it doesn't matter how he looks. . . . It's not r-really important . . . but he was a very handsome little b-boy . . . always very handsome . . . and he was g-going to be married!” “And what do you mean by zat?” said Fleur suddenly and loudly. “What do you mean, ‘ 'e was going to be married?' ” Mrs. Weasley raised her tear-stained face, looking startled. “Well — only that —” “You theenk Bill will not wish to marry me anymore?” demanded Fleur. “You theenk, because of these bites, he will not love me?” “No, that's not what I —” “Because 'e will!” said Fleur, drawing herself up to her full height and throwing back her long mane of silver hair. “It would take more zan a werewolf to stop Bill loving me!” “Well, yes, I'm sure,” said Mrs. Weasley, “but I thought perhaps — given how — how he —” “You thought I would not weesh to marry him? Or per'aps, you hoped?” said Fleur, her nostrils flaring. “What do I care how he looks? I am good-looking enough for both of us, I theenk! All these scars show is zat my husband is brave! And I shall do zat!” she added fiercely, pushing Mrs. Weasley aside and snatching the ointment from her. Q5 - How cool is Fleur?“You see!” said a strained voice. Tonks was glaring at Lupin. “She still wants to marry him, even though he's been bitten! She doesn't care!” “It's different,” said Lupin, barely moving his lips and looking suddenly tense. “Bill will not be a full werewolf. The cases are completely —” “But I don't care either, I don't care!” said Tonks, seizing the front of Lupin's robes and shaking them. “I've told you a million times. . . .” And the meaning of Tonks's Patronus and her mouse-colored hair, and the reason she had come running to find Dumbledore when she had heard a rumor someone had been attacked by Greyback, all suddenly became clear to Harry; it had not been Sirius that Tonks had fallen in love with after all. “And I've told you a million times,” said Lupin, refusing to meet her eyes, staring at the floor, “that I am too old for you, too poor . . . too dangerous. . . .” “I've said all along you're taking a ridiculous line on this, Remus,” said Mrs. Weasley over Fleur's shoulder as she patted her on the back. “I am not being ridiculous,” said Lupin steadily. “Tonks deserves somebody young and whole.” “But she wants you,” said Mr. Weasley, with a small smile. “And after all, Remus, young and whole men do not necessarily remain so.” Q6 - What do you think of Lupin and Tonks?“Harry,” she said, “I would like to know what you and Professor Dumbledore were doing this evening when you left the school.” “I can't tell you that, Professor,” said Harry. Q7 - Why doesn't Harry tell more people about this?“Dunno,” said Harry, lying back on his bed fully clothed and staring blankly upwards. He felt no curiosity at all about R.A.B.: He doubted that he would ever feel curious again. As he lay there, he became aware suddenly that the grounds were silent. Fawkes had stopped singing. And he knew, without knowing how he knew it, that the phoenix had gone, had left Hogwarts for good, just as Dumbledore had left the school, had left the world . . . had left Harry. Chapter 30 - The White TombThere might still be as many as four Horcruxes out there somewhere, and each would need to be found and eliminated before there was even a possibility that Voldemort could be killed. He kept reciting their names to himself, as though by listing them he could bring them within reach: the locket . . . the cup . . . the snake . . . something of Gryffindor's or Ravenclaw's . . . the locket . . . the cup . . . the snake . . . something of Gryffindor's or Ravenclaw's . . . Q1 - Any further ideas on what the Horcruxes could be?“I should've shown the book to Dumbledore,” said Harry. “All that time he was showing me how Voldemort was evil even when he was at school, and I had proof Snape was too —” Q2 - If Harry could have Dumbledore back for one question, what question should he ask him?The crowd continued to swell; with a great rush of affection for both of them, Harry saw Neville being helped into a seat by Luna. Neville and Luna alone of the D.A. had responded to Hermione's summons the night that Dumbledore had died, and Harry knew why: They were the ones who had missed the D.A. most . . . probably the ones who had checked their coins regularly in the hope that there would be another meeting. Q3 - What do you think of Umbridge at the funeral?And then, without warning, it swept over him, the dreadful truth, more completely and undeniably than it had until now. Dumbledore was dead, gone. . . . He clutched the cold locket in his hand so tightly that it hurt, but he could not prevent hot tears spilling from his eyes: He looked away from Ginny and the others and stared out over the lake, toward the forest, as the little man in black droned on. . . . There was movement among the trees. The centaurs had come to pay their respects too. They did not move into the open but Harry saw them standing quite still, half hidden in shadow, watching the wizards, their bows hanging at their sides. And Harry remembered his first nightmarish trip into the forest, the first time he had ever encountered the thing that was then Voldemort, and how he had faced him, and how he and Dumbledore had discussed fighting a losing battle not long thereafter. It was important, Dumbledore said, to fight, and fight again, and keep fighting, for only then could evil be kept at bay, though never quite eradicated. . . . Q4 - Will Harry win this fight?And Harry saw very clearly as he sat there under the hot sun how people who cared about him had stood in front of him one by one, his mother, his father, his godfather, and finally Dumbledore, all determined to protect him; but now that was over. He could not let anybody else stand between him and Voldemort; he must abandon forever the illusion he ought to have lost at the age of one, that the shelter of a parent's arms meant that nothing could hurt him. There was no waking from his nightmare, no comforting whisper in the dark that he was safe really, that it was all in his imagination; the last and greatest of his protectors had died, and he was more alone than he had ever been before. “Ginny, listen . . .” he said very quietly, as the buzz of conversation grew louder around them and people began to get to their feet, “I can't be involved with you anymore. We've got to stop seeing each other. We can't be together.” She said, with an oddly twisted smile, “It's for some stupid, noble reason, isn't it?” “It's been like . . . like something out of someone else's life, these last few weeks with you,” said Harry. “But I can't . . . we can't . . . I've got things to do alone now.”Q5 - You think Harry is right to break up with Ginny?“I'm not coming back even if it does reopen,” said Harry. Ron gaped at him, but Hermione said sadly, “I knew you were going to say that. But then what will you do?” “I'm going back to the Dursleys' once more, because Dumbledore wanted me to,” said Harry. “But it'll be a short visit, and then I'll be gone for good.” Q6 - What is Harry going to do?“We'll be there, Harry,” said Ron. “What?” “At your aunt and uncle's house,” said Ron. “And then we'll go with you wherever you're going.” “No —” said Harry quickly; he had not counted on this, he had meant them to understand that he was undertaking this most dangerous journey alone. “You said to us once before,” said Hermione quietly, “that there was time to turn back if we wanted to. We've had time, haven't we? “We're with you whatever happens,” said Ron. “But mate, you're going to have to come round my mum and dad's house before we do anything else, even Godric's Hollow.” “Why?” “Bill and Fleur's wedding, remember?” Harry looked at him, startled; the idea that anything as normal as a wedding could still exist seemed incredible and yet wonderful. “Yeah, we shouldn't miss that,” he said finally. His hand closed automatically around the fake Horcrux, but in spite of everything, in spite of the dark and twisting path he saw stretching ahead for himself, in spite of the final meeting with Voldemort he knew must come, whether in a month, in a year, or in ten, he felt his heart lift at the thought that there was still one last golden day of peace left to enjoy with Ron and Hermione. Q7 - How'd you like this book?Q8 - What is in store for the group in the future?Q9 - Rank the books so far?

In the english class you've always wanted, three friends from college re-read one of their favorite childhood series. Having completed Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus, Brayden Stallman, Ava Pirie, Niamh Sherlock are now tackling Trials of Apollo. By taking on a few chapters at a time and analyze the books through various themes, this podcast attempts to apply these themes to life. Find Out More At returntocamp.com Twitter & Instagram: @ReturnToCamp Support!: https://ko-fi.com/returntocamp Hosts: @brydnstllmn @niamhhsherlock @avapirie --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/return-to-camp-half-blood/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/return-to-camp-half-blood/support

Join the party as Lucy leads a little roundtable discussion about the events of Arc Two: The Waking Dream.Follow Us! Instagram and tiktok: @halfbloodhappyhourTwitter: @HB_Happy_HourJoin Our Patreon: patreon.com/halfbloodhappyhourGet some Half-Blood Happy Hour merch! redbubble.com/HBHappyHourFollow Our Cast!Noah - @throroughlymodernhomo (Instagram), @noahjames95 (Twitter)Gabbi - @gabbig25 (Instagram), @gaygabz (Tiktok)Zach - @thecarillonguy (Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok)Magnus - @legatogelato865 (Instagram & Tiktok)Lucy - @lucyloveadame (Instagram & Twitter), @lucille_love23 (Tiktok)

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing WHY The Sorting Hat selects MUGGLE-BORN and HALF-BLOOD students for Slytherin House in the modern era. If Salazar Slytherin was such an advocate for Pure-blood supremacy, how is it that, many centuries later, his own Hogwarts house allows half-bloods? Specifically, we're going to be tackling this question in relation to The Sorting Hat as the hat is ultimately responsible for student placement. The Sorting Hat, a magical artifact at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, has the essential task of assigning new students to one of the four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin. Each house was founded by one of the four original founders of Hogwarts: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin. ...Let's dive in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There must be something in the water because both of your favorite dads had tantrums & meltdowns galore today. Justin talks about his day of haircuts, Easter Eggs, and dealing with all-day tantrums and then complains about how gross birds are...because birds are gross. Seriously. They walk around in puddles of water on the street. Do you know what could be in that water? Exactly. Gross. Thank you for listening and supporting us. If you like what you hear, please share it around. Please feel free to message us if you have any questions, suggestions for topics, or want to be on the show. Don't hesitate! We'd love to hear from you. Like our page on Facebook and Instagram and follow us on Twitter. We're available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and here on Anchor.

When your normal evening is interrupted by the headmaster asking your help recruit a new teacher, you can hardly expect your year to go as planned. What does this mean for their year? What new difficulties await them inside and outside the classroom? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bamboozledcreators/support

Mixing assassins and child care; what could go wrong?By FinalStand. Listen and subscribe to the podcast at Steamy Stories.Lying is fine, but take care to not cause suffering because that makes it wrong.(Friday)“I have today off,” Odette murmured to me as I cut off the alarm. That had to have been the issue she’d been holding back on last night.“I have to work - being the first week of my three month internship and all,” I sighed.“Are you sure I can’t convince you to be late?” she gave me a sultry look.She compounded that offer by stretching out, her knees in place so that her butt rose and wiggled suggestively. Last night I had introduced Odette to a form of doggy-style that didn’t involve the man trying to drive her skull through the headboard. We had a long, dual-participant, sensual melding of bodies, control passing back and forth until the need for sleep became something she despised even as it took her.“Not fair,” I groaned into my pillow. When I looked out, she was still giving me that sexually hungry look and wiggling that ass. Why do I even pretend that I can have a normal sex life? I found myself arriving late and changing in the elevator on the way to the Executive Services floor. The two women with me were a viewing gallery I could have done without.Since I put everything on display - remember; no underwear - one of my two fellow travelers felt permitted to rub her hands along my abs while I was pulling my pants on.“Goddess, he’s hard,” she moaned to her companion. “Come, have a feel.” I didn’t protest. Technically, stripping naked in a public place could get me fired.“His back is very nicely defined,” the other side as she ran her hands over my back and shoulders. “What is it that you do?”“I’m with Executive Services,” I replied. “Right now I’m suborned to Product Testing. I teach monkeys to ride unicycles.” Their confused looks humored me.“Actually, I’m with ES and I’m a gopher - I pick up stuff,” I grinned.“Oh…you are that guy from the elevator - the kneeling man,” the first woman exclaimed. “They said you were funny. Goddess, our man sure is hot, but he is so dull.”“Let me guess; you are with the Financial Investigations Unit?” I said. Trent.“Yes,” she smiled. Orgy time. “He’s just as good looking, but you are so much more fun. My sister can’t wait for you to become available.”“Sister?” I prodded.“Daphne Pale,” she smiled suggestively yet again. My face lit up.“Daphne?” I caught the lady off-guard by hugging her. “I think Daphne is great,” I stepped back. “She’s really nice to me. She’s smart, gives good advice and treats me like I’m something more than a walking, breathing annoyance. What’s your name?”“Brielle,” she informed me.“Beautiful name,” I remarked, as I went back to dressing.“Do they let you see other women - besides those of ES?” the second woman questioned.“I don’t see any Havenstone women for 79 more days,” I stated. “Corporate policy. After that, all requests for hunting licenses are submitted to Desiree; non-lethal weaponry only until I develop more refined survival skills.”Blink. Blink.“You are joking, right?” Woman Two muttered.“Nope. Katrina feels it will be a great third quarter kick-off. Let some women get out of the office for a weekend. Besides, I get to hunt those hunting me. I think it will be fun, don’t you?” I hummed along.“Desiree?” the second woman asked for clarification as she pulled out her phone. I nodded. The doors opened - my floor - so I stepped out and hustled to Katrina’s office with only seconds to spare. The meeting was normal, right up until Dora adjusted my tie as we were exiting the office.“Where did you dress? A closet with the lights out?” she teased.“In the elevator on the way up,” I confessed. “Daphne, I met your sister - Brielle,” in case she had more than one. “She felt up my stomach and I made her laugh,” I added.“You let her touch you?” Tigger inquired.“Cáel, did you come to work dressed like you normally do?” Daphne teased.“Yep,” sighed.“So you were naked in the elevator,” Violet snickered.“Yep,” I confirmed.“You should be relocated for that,” Fabiola sneered.“Damn Fabiola, why do you…what would he be relocated for? Getting dressed?” Paula groaned.“He was naked in front of an employee,” Fabiola explained.“Two actually,” I clarified. “They both did touch my naked flesh. It was a bonding experience.”“Did you do any actual ‘bonding’?” Dora winked.“I hugged Brielle, but that was only because she was Daphne’s sister and I’m not allowed to hug Daphne at this time,” I answered.“You can hug me - in a purely platonic way,” Daphne murmured.We were at Buffy’s desk - I was working with her today.“Okay,” I nodded. I took a single stride to Daphne. She closed with me and I put my arms around her waist. Daphne put her hands on my shoulders. Our heads got closer and closer. I let my hands roam higher up her back and through her long locks.Nose touched nose, I ran my hands through her hair until I tickled the back of her ears. Daphne’s lips parted and her tongue played along the edges. I let my breath play along her cheeks as I worked to her left ear. I felt a sharp pain in my right buttocks.“Ow!” I squalled - after I pulled away from Daphne’s ear.I tried to fully spin around, but Daphne wasn’t letting go. I caught sight of a furious Buffy, small knife in hand, burning holes in me with her eyes.“You stabbed me,” I protested. Daphne had thought I was playing a cruel game with her. Now that the truth had come out, she’s was pissed - with Buffy.“Time you got to work, Intern,” Buffy snapped.“Did you have to stab him?” Daphne complained.“Intern, don’t you have some place you should be?” Buffy snarled at Daphne.“Take care,” Daphne tenderly stroked my cheek. It didn’t take an Aeronautical Engineer to realize I was about to get poked again.Daphne glared defiance at Buffy even as she retired. Buffy stabbed my left buttock this time. I could have stopped her. What would have been the point? I didn’t shout out. I manned up and shed a tear instead.“Keep him in line, Buffy,” Fabiola chortled. “He’s been flashing women on the elevator.”“Fabiola, please appreciate the fact that I requested Cáel today. If I had you one more hour, I swore to Katrina they’d find your corpse in a Newark landfill,” Buffy sneered. “Now scurry off to where you are assigned to be before my first order for Cáel this morning will be to carry your subdued and gagged body to the trunk of our car. I’ll be doing the subduing.”Fabiola repositioned herself and said something in Old Kingdom Hittite.“Your blood is the fecal matter of cats and dogs; unworthy of your station at arms.”Fabiola had this smug, superior look ruining her classically beautiful Italian features. Buffy was angry yet hampered by not being able to understand the insult. I scanned about.“Tigger,” I called out. She was the closest. She quickly gained visual permission by her trainer for the day and jogged to Buffy’s area. “Tigger what does (dead word) mean?” I relayed Fabiola’s insult, in Old Hittite, to Tigger. “Fabiola said it to Buffy and I think it is the same language she used on Tuesday.”“What did she say?” Buffy demanded.“I cannot tell you, Buffy,” Tigger bowed. “I promise I will convey these words to Katrina right now so that she may properly evaluate them.” She sprinted off. Fabiola was worried; not so much she apologized, but worried.Tigger came sprinting back a minute later. We were all supposed to get to work. Katrina would deal with this matter. Fabiola’s smirk told me she was completely naïve about the shit-storm she’d unleashed. Off Buffy and I went. It was the child protection detail once more. There was the added bonus of having the security guards at the armory giving Buffy shit over not speaking Hittite - morons.“We need to work on our pig Latin,” I suggested to Buffy as we loaded the car.“Huh?” Buffy’s funk subsided somewhat.“Do you speak any exotic languages, or do we invent one, because I’m sick of this secret language bullshit,” I declared.“I’m still furious with you,” Buffy finally spoke. I filtered through a variety of insufficient responses and ended up sighing as I looked out the passenger window. I was my usual boisterous self during the pick-up and drop-off. I deftly evaded my 'teacher time’ today so I was able to spend a few minutes with the Brazilian security hottie.She didn’t have a gym to work out in so I suggested we could meet at Havenstone and she could use their corporate facility with me. It was safe enough. Buffy kept up the silent treatment until lunchtime which left me pretty grim. At 12:15, Nikita gave me a call. She was on her lunch break and was making sure our two dates were still on.It felt good to hear a friendly voice. I confirmed our engagements and she left me with a smile as she hung up. I noticed Buffy glaring at me again. I looked away.“Which girlfriend was that?” she commented snidely.“How is that work-related?” I didn’t even look at her.“I am telling you it is,” she snapped back.“Put my refusal in yet another one of your stunning job performance reviews you are going to give me,” I stated calmly. I still wasn’t looking at her.“I will,” she grumbled. I didn’t respond. There was no point.As we finished our cue, Buffy pulled me aside.“What is wrong with you?” Buffy hissed quietly.“If I’ve messed up any part of my assigned work, please make it aware of it,” I stared back.“Don’t be a smart-ass,” she seethed. “It isn’t appealing.”“Since you haven’t addressed any specific grievances, I’ll do my best to randomly determine the source of your displeasure,” I said. Had I not spoken in a voice devoid of emotion, it might have been taken as a joke. “You resent being treated like a random employee in the same manner I resent being treated as your property.”“Since you are convinced you have done nothing wrong and that I’m a jerk, I feel this conversation is at an end. Have a good weekend,” I kept calm.“You are a jerk. In 78 more days,” she snarled.“78 days - nothing. I can sleep with far more important women, Buffy,” I let my countenance harden.“The only reason I would have sex with you would be because I liked you. That would imply that you liked me too. You clearly don’t like me, so I think we are done here,” I explained.“I say when we are done,” she grabbed my elbow.“Really?” I laughed in her face, “I’ll see what Fabiola, or any of the new girls feel about that.”“Do you think they’ll feel generous enough to give you the scraps off their table?” I mocked her. Buffy looked ready to stab me again. “You felt free in stabbing me this morning yet when Fabiola clearly insulted you, you did nothing. You aren’t even courageous enough to fight for me, or treat me with dignity. Lacking any virtues, what would attract me to you over any of the others?”“Who says you get to decide anything?” Buffy was breathing heavily now. Her problem was she was aroused, angry and being buried under the crushing weight of the truth. I wouldn’t have total freedom. I knew that. I also knew that I would have some choice and certainly enough to deny a woman with Buffy’s low status. The truth of that was in the anguish in Buffy’s gaze.Begging wasn’t in her creed, especially not to a man. She couldn’t apologize to me either. I hated myself at times.“Buffy, I need to go,” I tugged on my elbow. She let go. “Can I talk to you on the elevator ride down once I’m off the clock and can speak freely?”“Yes,” she looked down. I changed in Katrina’s bathroom then made my exit with my fellow 'new hires’, minus Fabiola whose absence was noted by all. The group mostly kept the conversation about work with some flavoring being applied in the form of weekend plans. When Buffy and Helena stepped in, I looped my right arm around Buffy and pulled her too me.Buffy jolted in surprise, refraining from attacking me long enough to realize we were back in the corner we shared yesterday. I was back to the corner and she had her back to me. Putting my valise down allowed me to place my other arm around Buffy as well. The kiss I placed on the top of Buffy’s head caught everyone off-guard.My right hand came to rest on her left hip. The left crossed her body, pressing on her bosom from beneath. Repeated kisses fell upon her hair until the elevator reached the main floor.“Apology accepted,” Buffy turned in my arms so that we were facing. She placed each hand upon my jaw and tilted my head down. “Be more appreciative on Monday, or I won’t let you off so easy next time.”As we parted company, the 'girls’ gave me similar looks as I biked away. Things got worse immediately. Sitting on her butt next to my door was Odette - with a tote bag. She pushed up the wall and smiled broadly.“I figured since we had the weekend free we could hang out,” she beamed.“Let’s go inside,” I offered. Keeping upbeat was key; a crying woman on my stoop would suck. As we entered the apartment and I was putting my bike aside, Odette made for the bedroom.“Odette, we need to get something straight,” I called out. She didn’t stop. “I have a date with another women tonight.” That did the trick.“Did I do something wrong?” she gulped as she turned around and stared at me.“What?” I feigned surprise. I’ve been here before. “No! Why would you think that? Odette, you are wonderful.” I walked to her and she came into my arms. Pig. Dog. Take your pick.“Why are you dumping me then?” Odette looked up, tears in her eyes.“I thought you would be dumping me,” I reversed things. “I’m the one not ready for commitment. I am afraid you have been far better for me than I’ve been for you.”“I don’t want to let you go,” she pleaded as her hug tightened.“Wait. Odette, think about this. You deserve a guy who wants you and only you. I’m not that guy. I’m a serial dater. I can’t help it,” I complained on her behalf.“That’s okay,” Odette mumbled. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, Cáel Nyilas. You are a wonderful man, too. I’ll wait around until you figure things out. I’ll take what I can get while you look for your happiness.” Odette wasn’t weak, or stupid. She was a young lady, romantically alone and living in her parent’s house.I was exciting and different, the sex was great and it was a new experience to wake up in a foreign place, safe and warm. I had turned her phantasm dreams of a better life into a tangible reality even if she now had to morph her expectations. Adaptation wasn’t failing. It was the reason human beings existed today. I feebly tried to break free.“Odette - Honey, I can’t,” I explained. “I’m getting so hot for you right now. I don’t want to…” Odette pressed a finger to my lips. She too was aroused. Yes, I had told a second girl that I was a slave to my cock and again, the woman had created a mental excuse that allowed her to stay with me despite my promised infidelity.And I was about to have sex with her before going out on a date with the first girl I had confessed everything to. Should I 'oink’, or is that 'bow-wow’?“How long do we have?” Odette’s voice turned molten with lust.“An hour,” I kissed her.“That should be just enough time,” she licked her kips then led me by the hand to the bedroom. Odette started out somewhat desperate. I cooled her down and instructed her in micromanaging intercourse. Doing the little things that targeted the erogenous zones of your partner instead of going straight for the sex.In the afterglow, we cuddled together, Odette kissing my nipples and me nibbling on her ear - one of her hot spots.“You are yummy,” she sighed. “Delicious.”“Are you trying to distract me with your alluring words and dynamite body?” I sounded worried.“Is it working?” she giggled.“It will if I don’t escape right now,” I pleaded. She reluctantly let me slip away. Her eyes followed me around the room and out the door. A warm shower was nice, dressing in front of Odette was innocently refreshing and we ordered her some takeout.Odette would stay the night - I gave Timothy a warning call - and I’d be back late. We’d have Saturday morning to spend together; my cobbled together plan would leave everyone happy, right? I headed out to my date with Nikita with high hopes. We met at an East Side theater, watched the movie with minimal conversation and exited hand in hand.Nikita was coming around to my romantic approach. All I had to do was let her know I was dying to have sex with her in the same way she was dying to have sex with me. I was holding off because of my desire to get to know her, so she held back in order to be the 'better woman’ and help me with my sexual issues - namely to have sex as much as possible.We walked, talked about our schools growing up, colleges and her time at the Police Academy. Nikita and I ended up at this nice bar that served tasty comfort food and a good selection of alcoholic beverages. An hour and a half later, we left, both feeling tipsy. Nikita snuggled up against me, taking in my scent and warmth.Our kisses were more intense that night, our desires more raw and evident and Nikita’s craving for our contact to evolve was stronger than ever. We parted. I took a few steps then turned around. Sure enough, Nikita looked over her shoulder, smiled then kept walking. A few steps later, she looked back again. This time she stopped. We looked, then met each other half way and kissed some more.The second separation was permanent. It was important that Nikita know I was fascinated with her. A more virtuous man might have been troubled with the fact that I was going to unload the sexual frustration I had hefted upon myself by dating Nikita onto Odette, but I’m not that guy. I did get a surprise when I came through the door.Odette was on the sofa watching Kick-Ass 2, her head resting on Timothy’s lap. Timothy was in the midst of impressing on her how delectable Morris Chestnut was when I came in.“Hey Cáel, Ulyssa called. We are on for Sunday dinner at their place. A Yasmin Palhavã called as well. She’s says you are on for Monday at 5:15 pm,” Timothy smirked.To add to the fun, Odette looked up at me and smiled.“Timothy and I bonded over ice cream,” she giggled. “He says you give such an unbelievably good dicking, women lose all common sense for days, even weeks afterwards. He says he’s never seen anything like it before and he’s jealous.”“You two are hilarious,” I griped. “I’m going to the bathroom and masturbate. Then I’m going to bed - alone.”“No, you are not!” Odette declared. She hopped up and charged me. “You are sleeping with me tonight. I need to exercise these extra calories off.” She was in her underwear, which I got a brief flash of as she left the sofa, and my old Mayhem Festival 2012 t-shirt.Beyond her looking far sexier in it than I ever had (in my opinion), she was definitely ready to give me some 'makes him forget about all those other women’ sex. I wrapped an arm around Odette and looked over my shoulder to tell Timothy goodnight. He was giving me the finger. Not only had he picked up a jealous lover after careful consideration, I apparently could carpet bomb the city and not hit a single woman willing to hold my philandering ways against me.(Saturday)Round nine - I thought it was round nine - was ended abruptly by Timothy dumping a pitcher full of ice down my back. Odette and I had meant to get some breakfast in the living room. We were eating some shredded wheat, some milk dripped down Odette’s chin and I licked it off. If anyone doesn’t think that’s an open invitation for sex, you’re nuts.Anyway, we were face to face, me sitting on the sofa, Odette in my lap with a combination of her thighs and my hands helping her bob up on down on my cock while we battled tongues and checked that we hadn’t sucked any of the other’s fillings out yet. Timothy stumbled past in his normal morning pre-coffee haze, busied himself in the kitchen then came back with the aforementioned pitcher of ice.I screamed and jump off the sofa. Odette squealed as I suddenly thrust deeper into her and stood up. Timothy was smirking, I was getting ready to scream at him and my phone went off in the bedroom. I gave Timothy a quick, angry flash because Odette needed my attention more. I took her to the bedroom, flopped us on the bed - me on top - and answered the phone while I fucked her.“Cáel, Katrina wants you at 1105 Pomwell Avenue, Doebridge, Long Island,” Buffy snapped. “What’s that sound?”“Its 8:20 in the freaking morning; what sound do you think it is?” I growled back. “What am I doing in Long Island?”“Going where you are told.” Buffy hung up before I could respond. I was righteously pissed. It was the freaking weekend and I had plans…which included three children, one hot cop and sex with Odette until noon. Now, at least one of those gems was being stolen away from me. Odette and I did finish round nine - I think it was nine - then I showered.Odette offered to stay. I strongly suggested that she go home because I had no idea how long this chore would take. I was coaxing her out the door when suddenly Odette volunteered to help clean up the place, change the sheets and set up the air mattress…for the date that wasn’t her. Timothy looked at me then shot himself with the Nerf gun in a futile display of utter disbelief in the power of my sexual charisma.It wasn’t like I even asked Odette for help. She volunteered. I made my way out the door with my bike. I went to Havenstone. I was checking out a car. There was no way I was paying for a taxi ride out to Long Island. Miracle of miracles, I was given a car without a séance and a full-body cavity search.I suspected Buffy might have pre-ordered one for me, but anyone at Havenstone giving me a helping hand was so…unlike them. My onboard navigation system took me for a fifty minute drive away from the city and up along Long Island Sound. It turned out Doebridge was the Stepford Wives, sans the husbands.I could now say I’ve been racial-profiled (my minority status being male). The first cops (both women) stopped me as I rolled into town. They suggested I might want to take an alternate route. I showed them my ID then said that I was here to investigate a case of poisoning involving Girl Scout cookies. They seemed worried. I then told them I was the food taster for the Queen.They got pissed so I reminded them they shouldn’t have stopped me in the first place. I wasn’t speeding, or in a stolen vehicle. They pulled me out and asked to search my car. I told them it wouldn’t be a problem but I had two attack midgets in the trunk, so they should be careful. Next thing I knew, I was handcuffed and they were on the phone to a ballistic Buffy.“What is your problem?” she seethed quietly. She was 'somewhere’.“I don’t know. Maybe I was pulled over for unlawful use of facial hair, or not having a back-up supply of tampons,” I groused. “Until Charlie’s Angels pulled me out of the car, I swear my cock was behaving itself. For once, it wasn’t at fault.”“If you were in front of me now, I’d kill you,” Buffy promised.“You do realize there is a cop standing in my personal space, right?” I brought up.“It’s okay, she’s a woman who has talked to you. She’ll understand,” Buffy snapped. The policewoman’s grin confirmed that supposition.“You are too lucky,” Buffy grumbled. “Hayden wants you here, so you escape once more, you cocksucker. Give the phone back to the policewoman.” Sure enough, two minutes later I was on the road again. Six minutes after that, I was cuffed and pressed against a brick wall in scenic downtown Doebridge.I didn’t understand it. I swore to Buffy I had been polite. I had complimented both women on how pretty and professional they were. I even suggested we take turns strip-searching one another. I especially wanted to see them do it to each other while I watched. Buffy promised me I’d be a long time dying when I finally showed up. I reminded her she was too passionate.Four minutes later I was in sight of my target…and pulled over again. This time I behaved well by anyone’s standards. Why was I pulled over, I asked? They heard I was cute and wanted to take a look. I was frisked - by the both of them…again. I swear to God, if they had pulled out elbow-length gloves they were going to have to pistol-whip me first. They patted my butt and let me go.The next hurdle was Havenstone Security itself. They scanned my ID. The second they called their supervisor, I started stripping down.“What are you doing?” the supervisor asked.“Lady, I’ve been searched three times since I entered this crazy town. Since you clearly won’t take their word for it that I’m not smuggling anything, I see someone ramming their wrist up my rectum in the near future.”“Oh, that’s not…” she got out then another guard pulled on her sleeve and winked. “Go ahead.” I stripped, they had me spin around a few times. Then they patted me down and made triple sure my raging hard-on wasn’t an artificial attachment packed with high explosives. On the second tour, Buffy called again wanting to know what was taking so long. I told her I was sightseeing but would be there soon. That’s when they let me dress.“What I meant to say was 'what are you doing dressed like that?” the supervisor stated.“What do you mean?” I wondered.“Why aren’t you in business attire?” she clarified.“Let me think about that,” I pondered.“Oh yeah, its freaking Saturday and no one told me what the hell was going on so I came dressed like it is freaking Saturday. I know most of you are home-schooled, but is reading a calendar really that hard?” I glared. “If this was a quiet cry for an early Christmas present, it worked. Can I go now?” I knew the look Security was giving me.“If you slap me, prepared to get punched back. I’m not one of your Ken dolls,” I warned them. “You’ll gang up on me and win. Then you will get to tell Hayden why I’m not where she wants me to be.”“We’ll get you on the way out,” the supervisor menaced.“That’s right. How dare I act like I have a vagina?” I mocked her. I took a few steps past them before realizing I was missing something crucial. “Where am I supposed to go?” They took malevolent glee at my confusion. “All I am asking is for you to do your jobs,” I groaned. They kept grinning.“Fine, I’ll wander about until some far less friendly, helpful and more heavily armed woman takes offense at my temerity to breathe the same air and kills me. Good job boys,” were my parting words. The supervisor dispatched a guard to escort me into the complex. “So, do you date much?” I asked the guard a few seconds later.“What? No,” she sounded confused.“Do you date girls?” I continued.“No,” she grumbled. “Not dating men does not make me a lesbian.”“You are right. Are you a transvestite?” I kept teasing her.“No! What gave you that idea?” she gawked.“I was thinking that if you are a tranny, that’s really good work,” I told her.“I’m not a transvestite!” she insisted.“Fine, will you go out with me then? You get even better looking when there is a fire in your eyes,” I grinned.“If I say 'yes’ will you shut up?” she studied me intently.“Of course. You can access my personnel records for my current work and home numbers. Give me a call sometime,” I winked. I was SO going to fuck this woman. See, she had to get back at me for taunting her. She was going to punish me with sex and she was going to think it was all her idea.Our path led to a massive indoor archery range. It had twenty lanes. Each lane was clearly marked out to 150 meters plus there was approximately 20 meters of back space where the observers and archers waiting their turn congregated. I recognized plenty of the women present. There were also three men - the other male new hires. The rest of us had made it through Week One.The guys were all dressed in suits. Ah, some of the previous conversation made more sense. I had on a tight white t-shirt, comfortable jeans and docker shoes (essentially canvas tennis shoes). The women dressed in a similar style though not identically. Tight vests, bound breasts, short skirts and short boots. I quickly made out Katrina’s clan. I had to slip past Fabiola’s pack to get there.Katrina was on the firing line. My attention was drawn to the archer next to her. It was Aya and she was having a rough time of it. Her Mom, Caitlyn, was calmly trying to instruct her yet each word out of her mouth seemed to make Aya more and more nervous. I was drawn to Aya emotionally. I felt compelled to do something even though reporting to Katrina and Hayden was the proper procedure to follow.I spotted a large bowl of fruit in Katrina’s backfield. A grapefruit was the proper tool for the moment. Target in hand, I approached Aya after her latest failure. She was about to cry.“Hey, Aya,” I called out. Multiple heads turned my way. The only person who didn’t seem to notice I was under-dressed was Aya. Her face blossomed and she ran right at me.“Cáel,” she squealed as she hugged my waist. I patted her back and kissed the top of her head. That drew a mixed reaction from our audience.“What seems to be the problem?” I smiled down at her.“I…I can’t - I’m not good…” she stammered.“Aya’s a winner,” I declared. “Aya does. The only 'not’ that is Aya is 'Aya is not a freak’. Did Aya get a Daddy this week?” Her face brightened noticeably. “Did Aya get a Daddy that wasn’t a spy this week? Who’s clever idea was all that?”“Aya?” she murmured.“Who? I didn’t quite hear that,” I teased.“Aya,” she exclaimed.“So Aya’s a winner. So what’s the problem?” I asked.“I can’t hit the target,” Aya explained.“Yes you can,” I nodded. “Let me show you.” I led Aya back to the line. The liberties I was being granted weren’t lost on me. “Okay, ready your bow and notch an arrow.” Aya nodded and did as instructed. I’d shot a few arrows at school. Not a lot and certainly not enough to ever be considered an archery instructor. Confidence training I did know.“Okay, can you hit this?” I held the grapefruit up to the tip of Aya’s arrow, standing beside it.“Of course,” she giggled. I took a half-step back still holding the grapefruit out.“Can you hit it now?” she nodded. We repeated the process again and again as I back up to her target. Occasionally I’d add, “Now track in your mind the movement of bow as you adjust for the range.”Aya nodded and before long, I was standing beside her - closer - target.“Shoot,” I commanded.“Cáel,” Aya whimpered, “I might hit you.”“Aya is a winner,” I repeated. “Besides, do I look afraid? I believe in you, Aya.”The shot fell way short and skipped to within a meter of my foot. I wasn’t worried. It was pointless. I tapped the grapefruit against the target. Aya looked to Caitlyn who nodded.“Track the grapefruit in your mind, Aya. Don’t think of anything else,” I counseled. “Aya is a winner.”She drew, aimed, muttered something, visibly relaxed then let loose. She didn’t hit me, or the grapefruit. She did hit the third ring of the target which, by the pristine look of the paper, was her first hit of the day. By the happy looks of her family, I was right. Aya squealed and started to run to me. Caitlyn held her back. I was still in the firing lane after all.The Fates, Fortuna, or the Norns - those meddling, magnificent, malignant and mischievous divine entities hadn’t finished fucking with me yet. As I reached down for Aya’s first spent arrow, something tugged at the back of my hair and the now unforgettable sound of an arrow whizzing past mere centimeters from my head registered in my mind.Someone, and by that I meant some-woman, had tried to murder me.“Kneel!” Desiree’s scream came a second too late. Bending over turned into a roll as I calculated the trajectory that arrow probably had taken. I righted myself, kneeling, on all fours, looking at my assassin. She was stepping out of the line-up and casually drawing her next barb.No one was going to save me. The rest of the guys were only now starting to figure out things were disastrously wrong - for all of us. Having witnessed my murder, they were all doomed which was my assassin’s true intent. Dodging arrows was marginally less impossible than dodging a bullet.I’d fired guns before and shot a bow enough to recall that you really needed a vambrace to avoid ripping the skin off your arm. It also taught me that it was called a bow, not an eye-bolt shooter. Watching her eyes was useless. The strength of the bow was in the pull - the string. The control of the pull was in the fingers. I was watching the twitch of her fingers.The second I saw those middle digits move, I launched myself to the left - the firing line. I saw her try to adjust, but a bow is not a gun. Once that arrow starts out, it has its own motivations. The arrow would have punched through my right shoulder and penetrated into my chest cavity. I wouldn’t be dead, only fatally wounded.Instead it passed under my chest and outstretched arm and leg as I was in mid-roll. Next time I knew I wouldn’t be so lucky.“No!” Aya screamed. That wasn’t so bad, or distracting. Her running at me was. The smart play was to duck behind Aya.If the blonde archer shot in her direction, Katrina’s entire clan would have filled her with feathered shafts. I, having more love than hate, ran the other way. I wasn’t going to make it. I knew I wasn’t going to make it. She had her arrow out with expert speed and was tracking my path. I dove and she flinched.The woman flinched because an arrow buzzed past her. It wasn’t 'aimed’ at her. It passed a meter in front of her field of vision. It gave me a step, maybe two. The arrow smacked into the very edge of the target. The majority passed through, but didn’t have the energy left to hurt me. Now I was behind a target and the Amazon murmurs began.“Hold on now,” Felix spoke up. A dozen women glared menace his way. It occurred to him he was unarmed in a room full of armed women - and they weren’t doing anything to help me. Suddenly we had brotherly solidarity cemented by our helplessness. The lack of noise was eerie. The ceiling fans chugged away and Aya was still crying my name. There was no other human noise.My rational mind didn’t desert me, despite the hopelessness of my situation. My eyes stayed over the curve of the target. I presented her with a shot. The trade-off was I knew what she was doing. She shot, burying a shaft a centimeter below the rim; nearly punching through and into my face. She was a really clever lady.Her next move was to stalk me. Someone shut Aya up. I couldn’t spare a glance to see if she’d been taken away. My unknown assassin was confident, not gloating. She didn’t have much respect for me. She undoubtedly had read my Havenstone file, even Elsa’s report. I had no tricks. I had Aya’s arrow and that wasn’t even a real arrow - it was for target practice.The other Amazons used diamond-shaped hunting arrows which they were clearly qualified to use. The brutal reality was I was going to die. A female warrior from a martial culture versus an adventurous college graduate - no matter how you worked the math, I wasn’t going to make it. The Blonde Death wove between the targets, forcing me back until I had one target left to hide behind.Fate was one fickle bitch, or maybe they don’t teach Amazons political science in Assassin School. She chose her final approach from down range. She circled around, waiting for my final doomed rush to an adjacent archery target. I’d never make it, but that no longer mattered. I took off my shirt.I let the shirt and arrow fall to the ground. I laced my fingers behind my head then stepped out to present her a clear shot. She drew back, a slight smile on her face. I went to my knees, closed my eyes and waited. In five seconds, I wasn’t dead so I opened my eyes. That is what she was waiting for, for me to see my death coming. She finished her pull. I grinned triumphantly.Amazons don’t train with compound bows. They go old school; composite bows only. While quiet, when a dozen are drawn at once, the sound is distinctive. By Blondie’s look, she realized she wasn’t going to be celebrating my demise for long. See, if by some galactic calamity she missed me at this range, she’d be shooting into Katrina’s crowd.That was why I had surrendered myself. I wasn’t tired of living. I had sworn my life to Katrina and when she was put at risk, I had put my life on the line to protect her, thus making myself an easy target. Why was Katrina aiming at her?“What are you doing?” one of the elders cried out - to Katrina.“Leona is threatening my people,” Katrina answered.“That man is not your people,” that woman insisted.“I am not talking about him. I have children among us and she’s hasn’t proven to be all that accurate,” Katrina explained.“She is…” the woman started.“She missed a man three times - twice in the open,” Katrina snapped. “My youngest has a better success rate!” Katrina must have been referring to Aya. It was a lie, but still.“I will not permit…” the unknown elder began. Suddenly every woman was aiming a bow at someone else.“He is a man!” Tia Pharos, Felix Melena’s boss decried.“If a man pulled your child from a burning house, would you kill him for touching your offspring?” Beyoncé countered. “Better yet, would you shoot him as he ran into your house to save your child - kill him for trespass? This kind of insanity is why we are where we are today.”“Beyoncé,” Tia shouted. “You are not one of them.”“I was opposed because I saw no hope in this scheme,” Beyoncé responded. She pointed to me, “Now I have hope.”“Refrain!” Hayden thundered as she strode into the room, trailed by a dozen women I didn’t know and one I did; Marilynn. I enjoyed that moment right up until the arrow entered my thigh.I started screaming. GI Joe, James Bond, and Mathew Bourne, I’m not. I couldn’t even fall backwards. I had to fall to the side because of the angle the arrow in my leg was in. I had been looking over my shoulder at Hayden when it happened so I had no warning.“Gentlemen, you will be escorted from this room and events explained to you. Now!” Hayden snapped.In the periphery of my pain, I saw members of the various departments detach from their Houses and lead my three remaining brethren away. I couldn’t read their faces yet I imagined their expressions ranged from fear to bereft of any logical explanation of events. They were waking up to the reality they lived and worked in a madhouse where their worth was measured on the whim and patience of others - welcome to my childhood.The moment the door closed,“Cáel Nyilas, to my side,” Hayden called out profoundly. As I clamped my teeth down to keep my howl of pain contained, Leona, the blonde assassin began to return to her group.“Viper,” Hayden snarled in Old Kingdom Hittite. Instantly three guardians had pistols pointed at Leona.“Leona,” Hayden beckoned over politely now that the girl knew that disobedience meant death. Without difficulty, Leona made it to Hayden first. They waited until I limped over. My pain amused Blondie. “Cáel, kneel,” Hayden directed. I’d thought this one out and neither choice was pain, or worry, free.I put the knee of my wounded leg to the ground and rapidly shifted as much of my weight as possible to my kneeling leg. The pain sucked but I didn’t topple over screaming so I racked this one up as a victory. A minute ago I had faced a quick death. Now I felt I was staring down a lingering one.I was not an EMT, paramedic, or physician’s assistant. I had no clue if I had major damage and was slowly bleeding to death. I’d have clubbed a baby seal in front of Aya for some codeine at the moment. The conversation turned to Hittite. I was not privileged to hear my fate.“What makes you think you can get away with this?” Hayden remained polite.“It was an accident resulting in no serious harm to a male,” Leona smiled. “I’ll write Katrina an apology letter.”“You defied me - personally,” Hayden coolly pointed out. Something filtered through my mind. Katrina wasn’t coming to my defense like she’d done Tuesday.There was one reason for that and Katrina had exhibited that to me time and time again.“There are three penalties for this crime,” Hayden droned on. “You are safe in the belief that I will not take your life. You are too valuable. I can still take your right arm, or both your eyes, as you are clearly too careless with your weapons.”“Never,” Leona spat angrily. “I have not threatened to reveal our secrets, plotted against you, or slain a sister. Those are the only crimes that require that.” Hayden contemplated her retort.“Bitch [technically I called her the mating of a dog and a pig], your defense is that you are ignorant, or an idiot being used by ignorant people?” I said in Old Kingdom Hittite. “That’s kind of lame.”A flea farted - at the other end of the field. We all heard it. Hayden grabbed the hair at the top of my head then tilted my face upwards.“You speak our language?” she asked. I did my best to nod. “Is this a new development?” I shook my head. “Who taught you?”“Oh,” I grunted. “You may want to start by twisting the arrow in my leg, not that I can give any of you much advice on torture. I give you my pledge that my instructor was not one you and I have told that person nothing about your group. I don’t expect you to take my word about it as you are all boxes of Cracker Jacks without the prize inside.”There was a snort from behind me. My bet was on Desiree.“Do not defy me, or insult my people again,” Hayden’s eyes narrowed.“I apologize, High Priestess. I elect to face my end as a human being,” I replied. Hayden drew one of those small blades all these crazy bitches seemed to carry and put it to my throat. I closed my eyes.“Open your eyes and meet my gaze as I end your life, Cáel,” Hayden ordered.“Do I have to?” I mumbled. “I’m sort of terrified.” That brought some chuckles.“It is my command,” she reiterated. My eyes looked into hers. “Tell me this much; is the person you are defending a woman?”I gave the only nod I could that didn’t have me slitting my own throat.“Did you lie to us about this relationship?” A tiny shake. “I am ashamed,” she said softly.“He’s lying,” Leona snarled.“Why?” Hayden regarded her fellow Amazon.“He’s about to die. Is he so loyal to an outsider cause that this is how he chooses to go? Wouldn’t pointing us at another be more profitable to him? By our ancestors, if he is this loyal to one of our sisters, he is the Golden Apple of our quest,” Hayden proclaimed.“Compel the name,” several voices called out.“Cáel, if you knew all of this, why have you kept coming back to work?” Beyoncé inquired of me. Hayden moved the knife two centimeters away so I could move my throat.“Two reason; I didn’t think I could get away and I owed Katrina. Leaving her in the lurch because I was afraid was unduly cruel to her,” I related.“Didn’t you know we would find out? Did you think we were that stupid?” a different woman addressed me.“Name please,” I said.“Answer my question,” she snapped.“Okay. Yes, Wicked Whore, I knew some of you would figure it out…” I began. She drew her blade and took several steps my way.“What did you expect?” Katrina laughed. “Lacking a formal name, he created one based on his perception of your personality.”“This insanity shows in your blood,” the stranger spat at Katrina. “You cloak your house in weakness, flaws and disgrace.” I surged up as best I could. Hayden forced me back down.“Cáel, what are you doing?” Hayden spoke loudly.“She’s insulting Katrina. I’m going to get her,” I replied.“You are a male, unarmed and wounded,” she pointed out.“Oh…not enough? Should I tie one arm behind my back, or are you admonishing me from spanking the mentally deficient?” I calmly inquired. Hayden smirked.“Let him stand, Hayden,” the woman growled. Hayden released me. She’d already made her point - men had value. My individual life no longer mattered. I had a different opinion. I will never recommend what I did next. As I finished standing, I reached back and in one savage motion, pulled the arrow through the back of my thigh.I was really bleeding now and God-damn, the pain - the pain. For the past five minutes, my life had stumbled from one certain death experience to the next. I was finally out of rope. The hand on my shoulder caught my mind in turmoil and I nearly stabbed the person behind the touch with my bloody arrow.“I’ve got this,” Desiree told me. “She insulted my house and my nieces. Now the Wicked Whore is going to get it.”“Stand aside, Half-Blood,” the unknown woman seethed. “I’ll deal with you next.”“Feel free to not defend yourself,” Desiree stated serenely. “I wasn’t planning on recording your death upon my list of accomplishments anyway.”By the reactions of the other Amazons, not recording an opponent’s death was the equivalent of calling them a 'mewling infant’, or worse, a man.“This is the problem with unrestrained men,” a new voice joined the conversation. A quick glance suggested she was Fabiola’s Mom. “They cause us to quarrel amongst ourselves.”“Messina, did anyone raise a feather to save Cáel?” Katrina countered.“Desiree shot at Leona,” Messina pointed out.“In the past ten years has Desiree missed ANYTHING she’s aimed at?” Katrina reposed. “Perhaps, if Leona had not been standing in the lanes, this might not have happened.”“The man was in the lanes as well,” Messina persisted.“That’s right. I agree - he was…holding a grapefruit for a child to aim at and showing far more courage and devotion than I’ve ever shown to my own flesh and blood,” Katrina smiled.“He is irreverent, knows our language and our secret,” Messina argued.“He’s been like this all week,” Katrina kept grinning. “He has been home multiple times yet he keeps coming back to work.”“You didn’t know,” the unknown woman said.“Who said I didn’t know?” Katrina smirked. “I knew. I’ve talked to the person who taught him and they are of no threat to us.”“How dare you? You should have told the Council and taken immediate steps to remove him,” Messina gasped. Things began making sense. Messina/Fabiola’s house was allied to Katrina’s. It was most likely a generational thing. Today though, Messina did not support this 'New Directive’ of Katrina and Tessa.Tradition dictated that Katrina mentor Fabiola yet politics meant that Katrina couldn’t trust the young woman.“I dare because this is my job - the security of our people,” Katrina lectured. “I determined that Cáel would not betray us. I trusted him with my own family.”“This is fascinating. It will also wait until our next meeting,” Hayden laid down the law. “Cáel, to my side,” and a-limping I went. “Kneel.” This time I nearly keeled over. “What bond can you give me to make any of us believe you will not flee if I let you leave?” I gave that some thought.“I swear on my daughter’s prestige,” I offered. Hayden’s eyes narrowed.“You don’t have a daughter,” she pressed.“Don’t tell her that,” I whispered. “She’s got her heart set on me being her Daddy.”“This is not the time for jests, Cáel,” Hayden cautioned me. I kept eye contact.“He is referring to Aya,” Desiree filled in the missing parts. “If Caitlyn unleashes her, Aya will be here inside of three seconds.”“Aya,” Hayden summoned the child. I could only imagine the tension the adult women of House Epona felt as Aya came running my way.Honestly, I didn’t think about it. My body pivoted despite the weakness in my left leg and the pain coursing through my body so that I caught Aya before she could come around me. My instinct was to not trust Wicked Whore and Leona.“Cáel,” Aya sobbed, “you are bleeding. I got you shot.”“What are you talking about? This scratch? It hardly hurts at all,” I lied to her. “Pain happens, Aya. Winners fight through the pain and get on with their lives and…”“Aya is a winner,” she sniffled. I pushed her far enough back so that we were nose to nose and forehead to forehead.“Weak,” Leona sneered. Aya’s face clouded in shame. I didn’t get angry, I laughed.“Aya, that was from a supposed Amazon who couldn’t kill me with four arrows. It only took you two arrows to get closer and you are only nine,” I chuckled. “If she couldn’t get the job done with four arrows, what does that make her?”“A loser?” Aya’s eyes grew large.“Precisely,” I kissed her nose. “You don’t need to listen to losers. You are a winner and since you are also kind, you should take some time out to give Leona some lessons so she won’t always be a loser. That’s what taking responsibility for your people means.”“Okay,” Aya nodded. “I don’t like her but I’ll do it for you.”“No,” I shook my head, “you will do it because in you is the blood of greatness. True greatness is measured in the lives you save, not the lives you take.”“Pathetic,” Wicked Whore commented in a disgusted tone.“You’ve picked a fight with Aunt Desiree,” Aya peeped, “so you must not be terribly bright. Cáel has taught me to pity stupid people like you, not hate them.”“Caitlyn, control your infant,” Wicked Whore snapped.“I apologize, Ursula (the Wicked Whore’s name). Aya, don’t talk to stupid people,” Caitlyn directed. “It is a waste of breath. Now come here and stand with Mommy.”The best part of that was that the 'stupid people’ could be referring to me. We all knew it wasn’t, but it was a plausible excuse their opponents had to swallow. Hayden wouldn’t allow further conflict.“Have your wound tended to and I will have you driven home,” Hayden instructed me as she rubbed my hair. Aya reluctantly headed to her Mom.“Can I ask a second favor?” I looked up to Hayden. My first was on Tuesday.“Your life hangs by a thread spun by the most slender spider ever imagined,” Hayden clearly found me amusing. I nodded. “Ask away.”

Mixing assassins and child care; what could go wrong?By FinalStand. Listen and subscribe to the podcast at Steamy Stories.Lying is fine, but take care to not cause suffering because that makes it wrong.(Friday)“I have today off,” Odette murmured to me as I cut off the alarm. That had to have been the issue she’d been holding back on last night.“I have to work - being the first week of my three month internship and all,” I sighed.“Are you sure I can’t convince you to be late?” she gave me a sultry look.She compounded that offer by stretching out, her knees in place so that her butt rose and wiggled suggestively. Last night I had introduced Odette to a form of doggy-style that didn’t involve the man trying to drive her skull through the headboard. We had a long, dual-participant, sensual melding of bodies, control passing back and forth until the need for sleep became something she despised even as it took her.“Not fair,” I groaned into my pillow. When I looked out, she was still giving me that sexually hungry look and wiggling that ass. Why do I even pretend that I can have a normal sex life? I found myself arriving late and changing in the elevator on the way to the Executive Services floor. The two women with me were a viewing gallery I could have done without.Since I put everything on display - remember; no underwear - one of my two fellow travelers felt permitted to rub her hands along my abs while I was pulling my pants on.“Goddess, he’s hard,” she moaned to her companion. “Come, have a feel.” I didn’t protest. Technically, stripping naked in a public place could get me fired.“His back is very nicely defined,” the other side as she ran her hands over my back and shoulders. “What is it that you do?”“I’m with Executive Services,” I replied. “Right now I’m suborned to Product Testing. I teach monkeys to ride unicycles.” Their confused looks humored me.“Actually, I’m with ES and I’m a gopher - I pick up stuff,” I grinned.“Oh…you are that guy from the elevator - the kneeling man,” the first woman exclaimed. “They said you were funny. Goddess, our man sure is hot, but he is so dull.”“Let me guess; you are with the Financial Investigations Unit?” I said. Trent.“Yes,” she smiled. Orgy time. “He’s just as good looking, but you are so much more fun. My sister can’t wait for you to become available.”“Sister?” I prodded.“Daphne Pale,” she smiled suggestively yet again. My face lit up.“Daphne?” I caught the lady off-guard by hugging her. “I think Daphne is great,” I stepped back. “She’s really nice to me. She’s smart, gives good advice and treats me like I’m something more than a walking, breathing annoyance. What’s your name?”“Brielle,” she informed me.“Beautiful name,” I remarked, as I went back to dressing.“Do they let you see other women - besides those of ES?” the second woman questioned.“I don’t see any Havenstone women for 79 more days,” I stated. “Corporate policy. After that, all requests for hunting licenses are submitted to Desiree; non-lethal weaponry only until I develop more refined survival skills.”Blink. Blink.“You are joking, right?” Woman Two muttered.“Nope. Katrina feels it will be a great third quarter kick-off. Let some women get out of the office for a weekend. Besides, I get to hunt those hunting me. I think it will be fun, don’t you?” I hummed along.“Desiree?” the second woman asked for clarification as she pulled out her phone. I nodded. The doors opened - my floor - so I stepped out and hustled to Katrina’s office with only seconds to spare. The meeting was normal, right up until Dora adjusted my tie as we were exiting the office.“Where did you dress? A closet with the lights out?” she teased.“In the elevator on the way up,” I confessed. “Daphne, I met your sister - Brielle,” in case she had more than one. “She felt up my stomach and I made her laugh,” I added.“You let her touch you?” Tigger inquired.“Cáel, did you come to work dressed like you normally do?” Daphne teased.“Yep,” sighed.“So you were naked in the elevator,” Violet snickered.“Yep,” I confirmed.“You should be relocated for that,” Fabiola sneered.“Damn Fabiola, why do you…what would he be relocated for? Getting dressed?” Paula groaned.“He was naked in front of an employee,” Fabiola explained.“Two actually,” I clarified. “They both did touch my naked flesh. It was a bonding experience.”“Did you do any actual ‘bonding’?” Dora winked.“I hugged Brielle, but that was only because she was Daphne’s sister and I’m not allowed to hug Daphne at this time,” I answered.“You can hug me - in a purely platonic way,” Daphne murmured.We were at Buffy’s desk - I was working with her today.“Okay,” I nodded. I took a single stride to Daphne. She closed with me and I put my arms around her waist. Daphne put her hands on my shoulders. Our heads got closer and closer. I let my hands roam higher up her back and through her long locks.Nose touched nose, I ran my hands through her hair until I tickled the back of her ears. Daphne’s lips parted and her tongue played along the edges. I let my breath play along her cheeks as I worked to her left ear. I felt a sharp pain in my right buttocks.“Ow!” I squalled - after I pulled away from Daphne’s ear.I tried to fully spin around, but Daphne wasn’t letting go. I caught sight of a furious Buffy, small knife in hand, burning holes in me with her eyes.“You stabbed me,” I protested. Daphne had thought I was playing a cruel game with her. Now that the truth had come out, she’s was pissed - with Buffy.“Time you got to work, Intern,” Buffy snapped.“Did you have to stab him?” Daphne complained.“Intern, don’t you have some place you should be?” Buffy snarled at Daphne.“Take care,” Daphne tenderly stroked my cheek. It didn’t take an Aeronautical Engineer to realize I was about to get poked again.Daphne glared defiance at Buffy even as she retired. Buffy stabbed my left buttock this time. I could have stopped her. What would have been the point? I didn’t shout out. I manned up and shed a tear instead.“Keep him in line, Buffy,” Fabiola chortled. “He’s been flashing women on the elevator.”“Fabiola, please appreciate the fact that I requested Cáel today. If I had you one more hour, I swore to Katrina they’d find your corpse in a Newark landfill,” Buffy sneered. “Now scurry off to where you are assigned to be before my first order for Cáel this morning will be to carry your subdued and gagged body to the trunk of our car. I’ll be doing the subduing.”Fabiola repositioned herself and said something in Old Kingdom Hittite.“Your blood is the fecal matter of cats and dogs; unworthy of your station at arms.”Fabiola had this smug, superior look ruining her classically beautiful Italian features. Buffy was angry yet hampered by not being able to understand the insult. I scanned about.“Tigger,” I called out. She was the closest. She quickly gained visual permission by her trainer for the day and jogged to Buffy’s area. “Tigger what does (dead word) mean?” I relayed Fabiola’s insult, in Old Hittite, to Tigger. “Fabiola said it to Buffy and I think it is the same language she used on Tuesday.”“What did she say?” Buffy demanded.“I cannot tell you, Buffy,” Tigger bowed. “I promise I will convey these words to Katrina right now so that she may properly evaluate them.” She sprinted off. Fabiola was worried; not so much she apologized, but worried.Tigger came sprinting back a minute later. We were all supposed to get to work. Katrina would deal with this matter. Fabiola’s smirk told me she was completely naïve about the shit-storm she’d unleashed. Off Buffy and I went. It was the child protection detail once more. There was the added bonus of having the security guards at the armory giving Buffy shit over not speaking Hittite - morons.“We need to work on our pig Latin,” I suggested to Buffy as we loaded the car.“Huh?” Buffy’s funk subsided somewhat.“Do you speak any exotic languages, or do we invent one, because I’m sick of this secret language bullshit,” I declared.“I’m still furious with you,” Buffy finally spoke. I filtered through a variety of insufficient responses and ended up sighing as I looked out the passenger window. I was my usual boisterous self during the pick-up and drop-off. I deftly evaded my 'teacher time’ today so I was able to spend a few minutes with the Brazilian security hottie.She didn’t have a gym to work out in so I suggested we could meet at Havenstone and she could use their corporate facility with me. It was safe enough. Buffy kept up the silent treatment until lunchtime which left me pretty grim. At 12:15, Nikita gave me a call. She was on her lunch break and was making sure our two dates were still on.It felt good to hear a friendly voice. I confirmed our engagements and she left me with a smile as she hung up. I noticed Buffy glaring at me again. I looked away.“Which girlfriend was that?” she commented snidely.“How is that work-related?” I didn’t even look at her.“I am telling you it is,” she snapped back.“Put my refusal in yet another one of your stunning job performance reviews you are going to give me,” I stated calmly. I still wasn’t looking at her.“I will,” she grumbled. I didn’t respond. There was no point.As we finished our cue, Buffy pulled me aside.“What is wrong with you?” Buffy hissed quietly.“If I’ve messed up any part of my assigned work, please make it aware of it,” I stared back.“Don’t be a smart-ass,” she seethed. “It isn’t appealing.”“Since you haven’t addressed any specific grievances, I’ll do my best to randomly determine the source of your displeasure,” I said. Had I not spoken in a voice devoid of emotion, it might have been taken as a joke. “You resent being treated like a random employee in the same manner I resent being treated as your property.”“Since you are convinced you have done nothing wrong and that I’m a jerk, I feel this conversation is at an end. Have a good weekend,” I kept calm.“You are a jerk. In 78 more days,” she snarled.“78 days - nothing. I can sleep with far more important women, Buffy,” I let my countenance harden.“The only reason I would have sex with you would be because I liked you. That would imply that you liked me too. You clearly don’t like me, so I think we are done here,” I explained.“I say when we are done,” she grabbed my elbow.“Really?” I laughed in her face, “I’ll see what Fabiola, or any of the new girls feel about that.”“Do you think they’ll feel generous enough to give you the scraps off their table?” I mocked her. Buffy looked ready to stab me again. “You felt free in stabbing me this morning yet when Fabiola clearly insulted you, you did nothing. You aren’t even courageous enough to fight for me, or treat me with dignity. Lacking any virtues, what would attract me to you over any of the others?”“Who says you get to decide anything?” Buffy was breathing heavily now. Her problem was she was aroused, angry and being buried under the crushing weight of the truth. I wouldn’t have total freedom. I knew that. I also knew that I would have some choice and certainly enough to deny a woman with Buffy’s low status. The truth of that was in the anguish in Buffy’s gaze.Begging wasn’t in her creed, especially not to a man. She couldn’t apologize to me either. I hated myself at times.“Buffy, I need to go,” I tugged on my elbow. She let go. “Can I talk to you on the elevator ride down once I’m off the clock and can speak freely?”“Yes,” she looked down. I changed in Katrina’s bathroom then made my exit with my fellow 'new hires’, minus Fabiola whose absence was noted by all. The group mostly kept the conversation about work with some flavoring being applied in the form of weekend plans. When Buffy and Helena stepped in, I looped my right arm around Buffy and pulled her too me.Buffy jolted in surprise, refraining from attacking me long enough to realize we were back in the corner we shared yesterday. I was back to the corner and she had her back to me. Putting my valise down allowed me to place my other arm around Buffy as well. The kiss I placed on the top of Buffy’s head caught everyone off-guard.My right hand came to rest on her left hip. The left crossed her body, pressing on her bosom from beneath. Repeated kisses fell upon her hair until the elevator reached the main floor.“Apology accepted,” Buffy turned in my arms so that we were facing. She placed each hand upon my jaw and tilted my head down. “Be more appreciative on Monday, or I won’t let you off so easy next time.”As we parted company, the 'girls’ gave me similar looks as I biked away. Things got worse immediately. Sitting on her butt next to my door was Odette - with a tote bag. She pushed up the wall and smiled broadly.“I figured since we had the weekend free we could hang out,” she beamed.“Let’s go inside,” I offered. Keeping upbeat was key; a crying woman on my stoop would suck. As we entered the apartment and I was putting my bike aside, Odette made for the bedroom.“Odette, we need to get something straight,” I called out. She didn’t stop. “I have a date with another women tonight.” That did the trick.“Did I do something wrong?” she gulped as she turned around and stared at me.“What?” I feigned surprise. I’ve been here before. “No! Why would you think that? Odette, you are wonderful.” I walked to her and she came into my arms. Pig. Dog. Take your pick.“Why are you dumping me then?” Odette looked up, tears in her eyes.“I thought you would be dumping me,” I reversed things. “I’m the one not ready for commitment. I am afraid you have been far better for me than I’ve been for you.”“I don’t want to let you go,” she pleaded as her hug tightened.“Wait. Odette, think about this. You deserve a guy who wants you and only you. I’m not that guy. I’m a serial dater. I can’t help it,” I complained on her behalf.“That’s okay,” Odette mumbled. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, Cáel Nyilas. You are a wonderful man, too. I’ll wait around until you figure things out. I’ll take what I can get while you look for your happiness.” Odette wasn’t weak, or stupid. She was a young lady, romantically alone and living in her parent’s house.I was exciting and different, the sex was great and it was a new experience to wake up in a foreign place, safe and warm. I had turned her phantasm dreams of a better life into a tangible reality even if she now had to morph her expectations. Adaptation wasn’t failing. It was the reason human beings existed today. I feebly tried to break free.“Odette - Honey, I can’t,” I explained. “I’m getting so hot for you right now. I don’t want to…” Odette pressed a finger to my lips. She too was aroused. Yes, I had told a second girl that I was a slave to my cock and again, the woman had created a mental excuse that allowed her to stay with me despite my promised infidelity.And I was about to have sex with her before going out on a date with the first girl I had confessed everything to. Should I 'oink’, or is that 'bow-wow’?“How long do we have?” Odette’s voice turned molten with lust.“An hour,” I kissed her.“That should be just enough time,” she licked her kips then led me by the hand to the bedroom. Odette started out somewhat desperate. I cooled her down and instructed her in micromanaging intercourse. Doing the little things that targeted the erogenous zones of your partner instead of going straight for the sex.In the afterglow, we cuddled together, Odette kissing my nipples and me nibbling on her ear - one of her hot spots.“You are yummy,” she sighed. “Delicious.”“Are you trying to distract me with your alluring words and dynamite body?” I sounded worried.“Is it working?” she giggled.“It will if I don’t escape right now,” I pleaded. She reluctantly let me slip away. Her eyes followed me around the room and out the door. A warm shower was nice, dressing in front of Odette was innocently refreshing and we ordered her some takeout.Odette would stay the night - I gave Timothy a warning call - and I’d be back late. We’d have Saturday morning to spend together; my cobbled together plan would leave everyone happy, right? I headed out to my date with Nikita with high hopes. We met at an East Side theater, watched the movie with minimal conversation and exited hand in hand.Nikita was coming around to my romantic approach. All I had to do was let her know I was dying to have sex with her in the same way she was dying to have sex with me. I was holding off because of my desire to get to know her, so she held back in order to be the 'better woman’ and help me with my sexual issues - namely to have sex as much as possible.We walked, talked about our schools growing up, colleges and her time at the Police Academy. Nikita and I ended up at this nice bar that served tasty comfort food and a good selection of alcoholic beverages. An hour and a half later, we left, both feeling tipsy. Nikita snuggled up against me, taking in my scent and warmth.Our kisses were more intense that night, our desires more raw and evident and Nikita’s craving for our contact to evolve was stronger than ever. We parted. I took a few steps then turned around. Sure enough, Nikita looked over her shoulder, smiled then kept walking. A few steps later, she looked back again. This time she stopped. We looked, then met each other half way and kissed some more.The second separation was permanent. It was important that Nikita know I was fascinated with her. A more virtuous man might have been troubled with the fact that I was going to unload the sexual frustration I had hefted upon myself by dating Nikita onto Odette, but I’m not that guy. I did get a surprise when I came through the door.Odette was on the sofa watching Kick-Ass 2, her head resting on Timothy’s lap. Timothy was in the midst of impressing on her how delectable Morris Chestnut was when I came in.“Hey Cáel, Ulyssa called. We are on for Sunday dinner at their place. A Yasmin Palhavã called as well. She’s says you are on for Monday at 5:15 pm,” Timothy smirked.To add to the fun, Odette looked up at me and smiled.“Timothy and I bonded over ice cream,” she giggled. “He says you give such an unbelievably good dicking, women lose all common sense for days, even weeks afterwards. He says he’s never seen anything like it before and he’s jealous.”“You two are hilarious,” I griped. “I’m going to the bathroom and masturbate. Then I’m going to bed - alone.”“No, you are not!” Odette declared. She hopped up and charged me. “You are sleeping with me tonight. I need to exercise these extra calories off.” She was in her underwear, which I got a brief flash of as she left the sofa, and my old Mayhem Festival 2012 t-shirt.Beyond her looking far sexier in it than I ever had (in my opinion), she was definitely ready to give me some 'makes him forget about all those other women’ sex. I wrapped an arm around Odette and looked over my shoulder to tell Timothy goodnight. He was giving me the finger. Not only had he picked up a jealous lover after careful consideration, I apparently could carpet bomb the city and not hit a single woman willing to hold my philandering ways against me.(Saturday)Round nine - I thought it was round nine - was ended abruptly by Timothy dumping a pitcher full of ice down my back. Odette and I had meant to get some breakfast in the living room. We were eating some shredded wheat, some milk dripped down Odette’s chin and I licked it off. If anyone doesn’t think that’s an open invitation for sex, you’re nuts.Anyway, we were face to face, me sitting on the sofa, Odette in my lap with a combination of her thighs and my hands helping her bob up on down on my cock while we battled tongues and checked that we hadn’t sucked any of the other’s fillings out yet. Timothy stumbled past in his normal morning pre-coffee haze, busied himself in the kitchen then came back with the aforementioned pitcher of ice.I screamed and jump off the sofa. Odette squealed as I suddenly thrust deeper into her and stood up. Timothy was smirking, I was getting ready to scream at him and my phone went off in the bedroom. I gave Timothy a quick, angry flash because Odette needed my attention more. I took her to the bedroom, flopped us on the bed - me on top - and answered the phone while I fucked her.“Cáel, Katrina wants you at 1105 Pomwell Avenue, Doebridge, Long Island,” Buffy snapped. “What’s that sound?”“Its 8:20 in the freaking morning; what sound do you think it is?” I growled back. “What am I doing in Long Island?”“Going where you are told.” Buffy hung up before I could respond. I was righteously pissed. It was the freaking weekend and I had plans…which included three children, one hot cop and sex with Odette until noon. Now, at least one of those gems was being stolen away from me. Odette and I did finish round nine - I think it was nine - then I showered.Odette offered to stay. I strongly suggested that she go home because I had no idea how long this chore would take. I was coaxing her out the door when suddenly Odette volunteered to help clean up the place, change the sheets and set up the air mattress…for the date that wasn’t her. Timothy looked at me then shot himself with the Nerf gun in a futile display of utter disbelief in the power of my sexual charisma.It wasn’t like I even asked Odette for help. She volunteered. I made my way out the door with my bike. I went to Havenstone. I was checking out a car. There was no way I was paying for a taxi ride out to Long Island. Miracle of miracles, I was given a car without a séance and a full-body cavity search.I suspected Buffy might have pre-ordered one for me, but anyone at Havenstone giving me a helping hand was so…unlike them. My onboard navigation system took me for a fifty minute drive away from the city and up along Long Island Sound. It turned out Doebridge was the Stepford Wives, sans the husbands.I could now say I’ve been racial-profiled (my minority status being male). The first cops (both women) stopped me as I rolled into town. They suggested I might want to take an alternate route. I showed them my ID then said that I was here to investigate a case of poisoning involving Girl Scout cookies. They seemed worried. I then told them I was the food taster for the Queen.They got pissed so I reminded them they shouldn’t have stopped me in the first place. I wasn’t speeding, or in a stolen vehicle. They pulled me out and asked to search my car. I told them it wouldn’t be a problem but I had two attack midgets in the trunk, so they should be careful. Next thing I knew, I was handcuffed and they were on the phone to a ballistic Buffy.“What is your problem?” she seethed quietly. She was 'somewhere’.“I don’t know. Maybe I was pulled over for unlawful use of facial hair, or not having a back-up supply of tampons,” I groused. “Until Charlie’s Angels pulled me out of the car, I swear my cock was behaving itself. For once, it wasn’t at fault.”“If you were in front of me now, I’d kill you,” Buffy promised.“You do realize there is a cop standing in my personal space, right?” I brought up.“It’s okay, she’s a woman who has talked to you. She’ll understand,” Buffy snapped. The policewoman’s grin confirmed that supposition.“You are too lucky,” Buffy grumbled. “Hayden wants you here, so you escape once more, you cocksucker. Give the phone back to the policewoman.” Sure enough, two minutes later I was on the road again. Six minutes after that, I was cuffed and pressed against a brick wall in scenic downtown Doebridge.I didn’t understand it. I swore to Buffy I had been polite. I had complimented both women on how pretty and professional they were. I even suggested we take turns strip-searching one another. I especially wanted to see them do it to each other while I watched. Buffy promised me I’d be a long time dying when I finally showed up. I reminded her she was too passionate.Four minutes later I was in sight of my target…and pulled over again. This time I behaved well by anyone’s standards. Why was I pulled over, I asked? They heard I was cute and wanted to take a look. I was frisked - by the both of them…again. I swear to God, if they had pulled out elbow-length gloves they were going to have to pistol-whip me first. They patted my butt and let me go.The next hurdle was Havenstone Security itself. They scanned my ID. The second they called their supervisor, I started stripping down.“What are you doing?” the supervisor asked.“Lady, I’ve been searched three times since I entered this crazy town. Since you clearly won’t take their word for it that I’m not smuggling anything, I see someone ramming their wrist up my rectum in the near future.”“Oh, that’s not…” she got out then another guard pulled on her sleeve and winked. “Go ahead.” I stripped, they had me spin around a few times. Then they patted me down and made triple sure my raging hard-on wasn’t an artificial attachment packed with high explosives. On the second tour, Buffy called again wanting to know what was taking so long. I told her I was sightseeing but would be there soon. That’s when they let me dress.“What I meant to say was 'what are you doing dressed like that?” the supervisor stated.“What do you mean?” I wondered.“Why aren’t you in business attire?” she clarified.“Let me think about that,” I pondered.“Oh yeah, its freaking Saturday and no one told me what the hell was going on so I came dressed like it is freaking Saturday. I know most of you are home-schooled, but is reading a calendar really that hard?” I glared. “If this was a quiet cry for an early Christmas present, it worked. Can I go now?” I knew the look Security was giving me.“If you slap me, prepared to get punched back. I’m not one of your Ken dolls,” I warned them. “You’ll gang up on me and win. Then you will get to tell Hayden why I’m not where she wants me to be.”“We’ll get you on the way out,” the supervisor menaced.“That’s right. How dare I act like I have a vagina?” I mocked her. I took a few steps past them before realizing I was missing something crucial. “Where am I supposed to go?” They took malevolent glee at my confusion. “All I am asking is for you to do your jobs,” I groaned. They kept grinning.“Fine, I’ll wander about until some far less friendly, helpful and more heavily armed woman takes offense at my temerity to breathe the same air and kills me. Good job boys,” were my parting words. The supervisor dispatched a guard to escort me into the complex. “So, do you date much?” I asked the guard a few seconds later.“What? No,” she sounded confused.“Do you date girls?” I continued.“No,” she grumbled. “Not dating men does not make me a lesbian.”“You are right. Are you a transvestite?” I kept teasing her.“No! What gave you that idea?” she gawked.“I was thinking that if you are a tranny, that’s really good work,” I told her.“I’m not a transvestite!” she insisted.“Fine, will you go out with me then? You get even better looking when there is a fire in your eyes,” I grinned.“If I say 'yes’ will you shut up?” she studied me intently.“Of course. You can access my personnel records for my current work and home numbers. Give me a call sometime,” I winked. I was SO going to fuck this woman. See, she had to get back at me for taunting her. She was going to punish me with sex and she was going to think it was all her idea.Our path led to a massive indoor archery range. It had twenty lanes. Each lane was clearly marked out to 150 meters plus there was approximately 20 meters of back space where the observers and archers waiting their turn congregated. I recognized plenty of the women present. There were also three men - the other male new hires. The rest of us had made it through Week One.The guys were all dressed in suits. Ah, some of the previous conversation made more sense. I had on a tight white t-shirt, comfortable jeans and docker shoes (essentially canvas tennis shoes). The women dressed in a similar style though not identically. Tight vests, bound breasts, short skirts and short boots. I quickly made out Katrina’s clan. I had to slip past Fabiola’s pack to get there.Katrina was on the firing line. My attention was drawn to the archer next to her. It was Aya and she was having a rough time of it. Her Mom, Caitlyn, was calmly trying to instruct her yet each word out of her mouth seemed to make Aya more and more nervous. I was drawn to Aya emotionally. I felt compelled to do something even though reporting to Katrina and Hayden was the proper procedure to follow.I spotted a large bowl of fruit in Katrina’s backfield. A grapefruit was the proper tool for the moment. Target in hand, I approached Aya after her latest failure. She was about to cry.“Hey, Aya,” I called out. Multiple heads turned my way. The only person who didn’t seem to notice I was under-dressed was Aya. Her face blossomed and she ran right at me.“Cáel,” she squealed as she hugged my waist. I patted her back and kissed the top of her head. That drew a mixed reaction from our audience.“What seems to be the problem?” I smiled down at her.“I…I can’t - I’m not good…” she stammered.“Aya’s a winner,” I declared. “Aya does. The only 'not’ that is Aya is 'Aya is not a freak’. Did Aya get a Daddy this week?” Her face brightened noticeably. “Did Aya get a Daddy that wasn’t a spy this week? Who’s clever idea was all that?”“Aya?” she murmured.“Who? I didn’t quite hear that,” I teased.“Aya,” she exclaimed.“So Aya’s a winner. So what’s the problem?” I asked.“I can’t hit the target,” Aya explained.“Yes you can,” I nodded. “Let me show you.” I led Aya back to the line. The liberties I was being granted weren’t lost on me. “Okay, ready your bow and notch an arrow.” Aya nodded and did as instructed. I’d shot a few arrows at school. Not a lot and certainly not enough to ever be considered an archery instructor. Confidence training I did know.“Okay, can you hit this?” I held the grapefruit up to the tip of Aya’s arrow, standing beside it.“Of course,” she giggled. I took a half-step back still holding the grapefruit out.“Can you hit it now?” she nodded. We repeated the process again and again as I back up to her target. Occasionally I’d add, “Now track in your mind the movement of bow as you adjust for the range.”Aya nodded and before long, I was standing beside her - closer - target.“Shoot,” I commanded.“Cáel,” Aya whimpered, “I might hit you.”“Aya is a winner,” I repeated. “Besides, do I look afraid? I believe in you, Aya.”The shot fell way short and skipped to within a meter of my foot. I wasn’t worried. It was pointless. I tapped the grapefruit against the target. Aya looked to Caitlyn who nodded.“Track the grapefruit in your mind, Aya. Don’t think of anything else,” I counseled. “Aya is a winner.”She drew, aimed, muttered something, visibly relaxed then let loose. She didn’t hit me, or the grapefruit. She did hit the third ring of the target which, by the pristine look of the paper, was her first hit of the day. By the happy looks of her family, I was right. Aya squealed and started to run to me. Caitlyn held her back. I was still in the firing lane after all.The Fates, Fortuna, or the Norns - those meddling, magnificent, malignant and mischievous divine entities hadn’t finished fucking with me yet. As I reached down for Aya’s first spent arrow, something tugged at the back of my hair and the now unforgettable sound of an arrow whizzing past mere centimeters from my head registered in my mind.Someone, and by that I meant some-woman, had tried to murder me.“Kneel!” Desiree’s scream came a second too late. Bending over turned into a roll as I calculated the trajectory that arrow probably had taken. I righted myself, kneeling, on all fours, looking at my assassin. She was stepping out of the line-up and casually drawing her next barb.No one was going to save me. The rest of the guys were only now starting to figure out things were disastrously wrong - for all of us. Having witnessed my murder, they were all doomed which was my assassin’s true intent. Dodging arrows was marginally less impossible than dodging a bullet.I’d fired guns before and shot a bow enough to recall that you really needed a vambrace to avoid ripping the skin off your arm. It also taught me that it was called a bow, not an eye-bolt shooter. Watching her eyes was useless. The strength of the bow was in the pull - the string. The control of the pull was in the fingers. I was watching the twitch of her fingers.The second I saw those middle digits move, I launched myself to the left - the firing line. I saw her try to adjust, but a bow is not a gun. Once that arrow starts out, it has its own motivations. The arrow would have punched through my right shoulder and penetrated into my chest cavity. I wouldn’t be dead, only fatally wounded.Instead it passed under my chest and outstretched arm and leg as I was in mid-roll. Next time I knew I wouldn’t be so lucky.“No!” Aya screamed. That wasn’t so bad, or distracting. Her running at me was. The smart play was to duck behind Aya.If the blonde archer shot in her direction, Katrina’s entire clan would have filled her with feathered shafts. I, having more love than hate, ran the other way. I wasn’t going to make it. I knew I wasn’t going to make it. She had her arrow out with expert speed and was tracking my path. I dove and she flinched.The woman flinched because an arrow buzzed past her. It wasn’t 'aimed’ at her. It passed a meter in front of her field of vision. It gave me a step, maybe two. The arrow smacked into the very edge of the target. The majority passed through, but didn’t have the energy left to hurt me. Now I was behind a target and the Amazon murmurs began.“Hold on now,” Felix spoke up. A dozen women glared menace his way. It occurred to him he was unarmed in a room full of armed women - and they weren’t doing anything to help me. Suddenly we had brotherly solidarity cemented by our helplessness. The lack of noise was eerie. The ceiling fans chugged away and Aya was still crying my name. There was no other human noise.My rational mind didn’t desert me, despite the hopelessness of my situation. My eyes stayed over the curve of the target. I presented her with a shot. The trade-off was I knew what she was doing. She shot, burying a shaft a centimeter below the rim; nearly punching through and into my face. She was a really clever lady.Her next move was to stalk me. Someone shut Aya up. I couldn’t spare a glance to see if she’d been taken away. My unknown assassin was confident, not gloating. She didn’t have much respect for me. She undoubtedly had read my Havenstone file, even Elsa’s report. I had no tricks. I had Aya’s arrow and that wasn’t even a real arrow - it was for target practice.The other Amazons used diamond-shaped hunting arrows which they were clearly qualified to use. The brutal reality was I was going to die. A female warrior from a martial culture versus an adventurous college graduate - no matter how you worked the math, I wasn’t going to make it. The Blonde Death wove between the targets, forcing me back until I had one target left to hide behind.Fate was one fickle bitch, or maybe they don’t teach Amazons political science in Assassin School. She chose her final approach from down range. She circled around, waiting for my final doomed rush to an adjacent archery target. I’d never make it, but that no longer mattered. I took off my shirt.I let the shirt and arrow fall to the ground. I laced my fingers behind my head then stepped out to present her a clear shot. She drew back, a slight smile on her face. I went to my knees, closed my eyes and waited. In five seconds, I wasn’t dead so I opened my eyes. That is what she was waiting for, for me to see my death coming. She finished her pull. I grinned triumphantly.Amazons don’t train with compound bows. They go old school; composite bows only. While quiet, when a dozen are drawn at once, the sound is distinctive. By Blondie’s look, she realized she wasn’t going to be celebrating my demise for long. See, if by some galactic calamity she missed me at this range, she’d be shooting into Katrina’s crowd.That was why I had surrendered myself. I wasn’t tired of living. I had sworn my life to Katrina and when she was put at risk, I had put my life on the line to protect her, thus making myself an easy target. Why was Katrina aiming at her?“What are you doing?” one of the elders cried out - to Katrina.“Leona is threatening my people,” Katrina answered.“That man is not your people,” that woman insisted.“I am not talking about him. I have children among us and she’s hasn’t proven to be all that accurate,” Katrina explained.“She is…” the woman started.“She missed a man three times - twice in the open,” Katrina snapped. “My youngest has a better success rate!” Katrina must have been referring to Aya. It was a lie, but still.“I will not permit…” the unknown elder began. Suddenly every woman was aiming a bow at someone else.“He is a man!” Tia Pharos, Felix Melena’s boss decried.“If a man pulled your child from a burning house, would you kill him for touching your offspring?” Beyoncé countered. “Better yet, would you shoot him as he ran into your house to save your child - kill him for trespass? This kind of insanity is why we are where we are today.”“Beyoncé,” Tia shouted. “You are not one of them.”“I was opposed because I saw no hope in this scheme,” Beyoncé responded. She pointed to me, “Now I have hope.”“Refrain!” Hayden thundered as she strode into the room, trailed by a dozen women I didn’t know and one I did; Marilynn. I enjoyed that moment right up until the arrow entered my thigh.I started screaming. GI Joe, James Bond, and Mathew Bourne, I’m not. I couldn’t even fall backwards. I had to fall to the side because of the angle the arrow in my leg was in. I had been looking over my shoulder at Hayden when it happened so I had no warning.“Gentlemen, you will be escorted from this room and events explained to you. Now!” Hayden snapped.In the periphery of my pain, I saw members of the various departments detach from their Houses and lead my three remaining brethren away. I couldn’t read their faces yet I imagined their expressions ranged from fear to bereft of any logical explanation of events. They were waking up to the reality they lived and worked in a madhouse where their worth was measured on the whim and patience of others - welcome to my childhood.The moment the door closed,“Cáel Nyilas, to my side,” Hayden called out profoundly. As I clamped my teeth down to keep my howl of pain contained, Leona, the blonde assassin began to return to her group.“Viper,” Hayden snarled in Old Kingdom Hittite. Instantly three guardians had pistols pointed at Leona.“Leona,” Hayden beckoned over politely now that the girl knew that disobedience meant death. Without difficulty, Leona made it to Hayden first. They waited until I limped over. My pain amused Blondie. “Cáel, kneel,” Hayden directed. I’d thought this one out and neither choice was pain, or worry, free.I put the knee of my wounded leg to the ground and rapidly shifted as much of my weight as possible to my kneeling leg. The pain sucked but I didn’t topple over screaming so I racked this one up as a victory. A minute ago I had faced a quick death. Now I felt I was staring down a lingering one.I was not an EMT, paramedic, or physician’s assistant. I had no clue if I had major damage and was slowly bleeding to death. I’d have clubbed a baby seal in front of Aya for some codeine at the moment. The conversation turned to Hittite. I was not privileged to hear my fate.“What makes you think you can get away with this?” Hayden remained polite.“It was an accident resulting in no serious harm to a male,” Leona smiled. “I’ll write Katrina an apology letter.”“You defied me - personally,” Hayden coolly pointed out. Something filtered through my mind. Katrina wasn’t coming to my defense like she’d done Tuesday.There was one reason for that and Katrina had exhibited that to me time and time again.“There are three penalties for this crime,” Hayden droned on. “You are safe in the belief that I will not take your life. You are too valuable. I can still take your right arm, or both your eyes, as you are clearly too careless with your weapons.”“Never,” Leona spat angrily. “I have not threatened to reveal our secrets, plotted against you, or slain a sister. Those are the only crimes that require that.” Hayden contemplated her retort.“Bitch [technically I called her the mating of a dog and a pig], your defense is that you are ignorant, or an idiot being used by ignorant people?” I said in Old Kingdom Hittite. “That’s kind of lame.”A flea farted - at the other end of the field. We all heard it. Hayden grabbed the hair at the top of my head then tilted my face upwards.“You speak our language?” she asked. I did my best to nod. “Is this a new development?” I shook my head. “Who taught you?”“Oh,” I grunted. “You may want to start by twisting the arrow in my leg, not that I can give any of you much advice on torture. I give you my pledge that my instructor was not one you and I have told that person nothing about your group. I don’t expect you to take my word about it as you are all boxes of Cracker Jacks without the prize inside.”There was a snort from behind me. My bet was on Desiree.“Do not defy me, or insult my people again,” Hayden’s eyes narrowed.“I apologize, High Priestess. I elect to face my end as a human being,” I replied. Hayden drew one of those small blades all these crazy bitches seemed to carry and put it to my throat. I closed my eyes.“Open your eyes and meet my gaze as I end your life, Cáel,” Hayden ordered.“Do I have to?” I mumbled. “I’m sort of terrified.” That brought some chuckles.“It is my command,” she reiterated. My eyes looked into hers. “Tell me this much; is the person you are defending a woman?”I gave the only nod I could that didn’t have me slitting my own throat.“Did you lie to us about this relationship?” A tiny shake. “I am ashamed,” she said softly.“He’s lying,” Leona snarled.“Why?” Hayden regarded her fellow Amazon.“He’s about to die. Is he so loyal to an outsider cause that this is how he chooses to go? Wouldn’t pointing us at another be more profitable to him? By our ancestors, if he is this loyal to one of our sisters, he is the Golden Apple of our quest,” Hayden proclaimed.“Compel the name,” several voices called out.“Cáel, if you knew all of this, why have you kept coming back to work?” Beyoncé inquired of me. Hayden moved the knife two centimeters away so I could move my throat.“Two reason; I didn’t think I could get away and I owed Katrina. Leaving her in the lurch because I was afraid was unduly cruel to her,” I related.“Didn’t you know we would find out? Did you think we were that stupid?” a different woman addressed me.“Name please,” I said.“Answer my question,” she snapped.“Okay. Yes, Wicked Whore, I knew some of you would figure it out…” I began. She drew her blade and took several steps my way.“What did you expect?” Katrina laughed. “Lacking a formal name, he created one based on his perception of your personality.”“This insanity shows in your blood,” the stranger spat at Katrina. “You cloak your house in weakness, flaws and disgrace.” I surged up as best I could. Hayden forced me back down.“Cáel, what are you doing?” Hayden spoke loudly.“She’s insulting Katrina. I’m going to get her,” I replied.“You are a male, unarmed and wounded,” she pointed out.“Oh…not enough? Should I tie one arm behind my back, or are you admonishing me from spanking the mentally deficient?” I calmly inquired. Hayden smirked.“Let him stand, Hayden,” the woman growled. Hayden released me. She’d already made her point - men had value. My individual life no longer mattered. I had a different opinion. I will never recommend what I did next. As I finished standing, I reached back and in one savage motion, pulled the arrow through the back of my thigh.I was really bleeding now and God-damn, the pain - the pain. For the past five minutes, my life had stumbled from one certain death experience to the next. I was finally out of rope. The hand on my shoulder caught my mind in turmoil and I nearly stabbed the person behind the touch with my bloody arrow.“I’ve got this,” Desiree told me. “She insulted my house and my nieces. Now the Wicked Whore is going to get it.”“Stand aside, Half-Blood,” the unknown woman seethed. “I’ll deal with you next.”“Feel free to not defend yourself,” Desiree stated serenely. “I wasn’t planning on recording your death upon my list of accomplishments anyway.”By the reactions of the other Amazons, not recording an opponent’s death was the equivalent of calling them a 'mewling infant’, or worse, a man.“This is the problem with unrestrained men,” a new voice joined the conversation. A quick glance suggested she was Fabiola’s Mom. “They cause us to quarrel amongst ourselves.”“Messina, did anyone raise a feather to save Cáel?” Katrina countered.“Desiree shot at Leona,” Messina pointed out.“In the past ten years has Desiree missed ANYTHING she’s aimed at?” Katrina reposed. “Perhaps, if Leona had not been standing in the lanes, this might not have happened.”“The man was in the lanes as well,” Messina persisted.“That’s right. I agree - he was…holding a grapefruit for a child to aim at and showing far more courage and devotion than I’ve ever shown to my own flesh and blood,” Katrina smiled.“He is irreverent, knows our language and our secret,” Messina argued.“He’s been like this all week,” Katrina kept grinning. “He has been home multiple times yet he keeps coming back to work.”“You didn’t know,” the unknown woman said.“Who said I didn’t know?” Katrina smirked. “I knew. I’ve talked to the person who taught him and they are of no threat to us.”“How dare you? You should have told the Council and taken immediate steps to remove him,” Messina gasped. Things began making sense. Messina/Fabiola’s house was allied to Katrina’s. It was most likely a generational thing. Today though, Messina did not support this 'New Directive’ of Katrina and Tessa.Tradition dictated that Katrina mentor Fabiola yet politics meant that Katrina couldn’t trust the young woman.“I dare because this is my job - the security of our people,” Katrina lectured. “I determined that Cáel would not betray us. I trusted him with my own family.”“This is fascinating. It will also wait until our next meeting,” Hayden laid down the law. “Cáel, to my side,” and a-limping I went. “Kneel.” This time I nearly keeled over. “What bond can you give me to make any of us believe you will not flee if I let you leave?” I gave that some thought.“I swear on my daughter’s prestige,” I offered. Hayden’s eyes narrowed.“You don’t have a daughter,” she pressed.“Don’t tell her that,” I whispered. “She’s got her heart set on me being her Daddy.”“This is not the time for jests, Cáel,” Hayden cautioned me. I kept eye contact.“He is referring to Aya,” Desiree filled in the missing parts. “If Caitlyn unleashes her, Aya will be here inside of three seconds.”“Aya,” Hayden summoned the child. I could only imagine the tension the adult women of House Epona felt as Aya came running my way.Honestly, I didn’t think about it. My body pivoted despite the weakness in my left leg and the pain coursing through my body so that I caught Aya before she could come around me. My instinct was to not trust Wicked Whore and Leona.“Cáel,” Aya sobbed, “you are bleeding. I got you shot.”“What are you talking about? This scratch? It hardly hurts at all,” I lied to her. “Pain happens, Aya. Winners fight through the pain and get on with their lives and…”“Aya is a winner,” she sniffled. I pushed her far enough back so that we were nose to nose and forehead to forehead.“Weak,” Leona sneered. Aya’s face clouded in shame. I didn’t get angry, I laughed.“Aya, that was from a supposed Amazon who couldn’t kill me with four arrows. It only took you two arrows to get closer and you are only nine,” I chuckled. “If she couldn’t get the job done with four arrows, what does that make her?”“A loser?” Aya’s eyes grew large.“Precisely,” I kissed her nose. “You don’t need to listen to losers. You are a winner and since you are also kind, you should take some time out to give Leona some lessons so she won’t always be a loser. That’s what taking responsibility for your people means.”“Okay,” Aya nodded. “I don’t like her but I’ll do it for you.”“No,” I shook my head, “you will do it because in you is the blood of greatness. True greatness is measured in the lives you save, not the lives you take.”“Pathetic,” Wicked Whore commented in a disgusted tone.“You’ve picked a fight with Aunt Desiree,” Aya peeped, “so you must not be terribly bright. Cáel has taught me to pity stupid people like you, not hate them.”“Caitlyn, control your infant,” Wicked Whore snapped.“I apologize, Ursula (the Wicked Whore’s name). Aya, don’t talk to stupid people,” Caitlyn directed. “It is a waste of breath. Now come here and stand with Mommy.”The best part of that was that the 'stupid people’ could be referring to me. We all knew it wasn’t, but it was a plausible excuse their opponents had to swallow. Hayden wouldn’t allow further conflict.“Have your wound tended to and I will have you driven home,” Hayden instructed me as she rubbed my hair. Aya reluctantly headed to her Mom.“Can I ask a second favor?” I looked up to Hayden. My first was on Tuesday.“Your life hangs by a thread spun by the most slender spider ever imagined,” Hayden clearly found me amusing. I nodded. “Ask away.”

Part Two of the Scoundrels' takes on the newly revealed goodness in the upcoming Madness of Malifaux. Eli, Doug, Roman, and Vic are joined by guest and Patron Tim as they discuss the known characters for the Bygone, Returned, and Library keywords along with their make wild speculation as to the story implications.   Please donate to our Patreon!  JOIN OUR DISCORD

Guest DM Tony takes the cast through the Hephaestus Cabin's Halloween challenge and things take a strange and spooky twist.Theme Song by Doc Harbor. Follow Us! Instagram and tiktok: @halfbloodhappyhourTwitter: @HB_Happy_HourJoin Our Patreon: patreon.com/halfbloodhappyhourGet some Half-Blood Happy Hour merch! redbubble.com/HBHappyHourFollow Our Cast!Noah - @throroughlymodernhomo (Instagram), @noahjames95 (Twitter)Gabbi - @gabbig25 (Instagram), @gaygabz (Tiktok)Zach - @thecarillonguy (Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok)Magnus - @legatogelato865 (Instagram & Tiktok)Lucy - @lucyloveadame (Instagram & Twitter), @lucille_love23 (Tiktok)Tony - @tonythekiger (Instagram, Twitter, & Tiktok)

This week things get dark. Join Jordan, Alicia and first timer Morgan, as they discuss some of the darkest moments in the series. From the Death of Dumbledore, to the story of Professor Slughorn and the surprising twist that is the Half-Blood Prince.

In this episode, we start chapter 7 of the Book of John. We look at verses 1-13, where it is revealed that Jesus' half-brothers don't believe in Him.  You can find all the episodes of this podcast and our sister podcasts The God Revelation Podcast, and The Holy Spirit Podcast on our website https://renewyourmindministries.org/.   Or, on any podcasting platform such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Alexa, iheart, Audible, and Google Podcasts, or anywhere you can listen to podcasts. Be blessed by the Word of God!

Prophecy Radio episode #49 does a complete breakdown of the 2022 D23 Expo event, in which we got a Percy Jackson and the Olympians teaser trailer. Karen and Kristen also tackle all the latest news, including a new project from John Rocco, as well as discuss Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian chapter 4. New episodes of Prophecy Radio air weekly, and all ages are welcome to tune in. News and Updates (00:01:04) Haley and John Rocco have some new books coming out! Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting by Roseanne A. Brown is officially out in the world! You can read an excerpt on Read Riordan. Pahua and the Soul Stealer by Lori M. Lee is now out in paperback. For better or worse, Aphrodite wrote a guide to love on Read Riordan. Whew, that was fast, but we want to get to the good stuff! D23 and the Percy Jackson teaser trailer (00:04:33) Karen makes a public apology for ever doubting they would release a Percy Jackson and the Olympians teaser trailer. Is it actually surprising we got a teaser trailer this early? We're kind of shocked we've gotten no god casting in the meantime! Karen goes through her experience waiting for the Percy Jackson segment of the D23 Branded Television panel. By the way, American Born Chinese seems like something Percy Jackson fans would enjoy! We discuss the two mini clips we got from the panel's montage intro. That first shot of Percy—where in the story could it be from? Then we definitely got a shot of Sally and Percy out in the rain. Next up, we discuss the concept art for the Hermes Cabin. Is the D23 Disney Branded Television panel online anywhere? If we find it, we'll link to it! Grover is the protector.

Blake and Susu find a way out of the Coliseum and realize there's only one person who can help them: Bloodthirsty Hearts novelist Agnes Lipa. Agnes could help them save Deni's life but also defeat Xafaros and the Strigalas once and for all. Meanwhile as Joy, Erin and a semi-lucid Deni helplessly hide out in a concession stand, in moseys an oddly chill Timofey Kent who agrees to help them escape. This episode contains adult content, adult language and violence. ~~~ Produced by QCODE and Tenderfoot TV. Visit QCODEMedia.com to learn more. And, check out some of our other shows including: The Left Right Game with Tessa Thompson, Borrasca with Cole Sprouse, Blackout with Rami Malek, Soft Voice with Naomi Scott. Follow us: On Instagram @QCODEMedia  | @bloodthirstyhearts On Twitter @QCODEMedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Theme Song by Doc HarborFollow Us!Instagram and tiktok: @halfbloodhappyhourTwitter: @HB_Happy_HourJoin Our Patreon: patreon.com/halfbloodhappyhourGet some Half-Blood Happy Hour merch! redbubble.com/HBHappyHourFollow Our Cast!Noah - @thoroughlymodernhomo (insta), @noahjames95 (twitter)Gabbi - @gabbig25 (insta), @gaygabz (tiktok)Zach - @thecarillonguy (insta, twitter, tiktok)Isaac - @toledanoisaac (insta), @jorgeisaactoled (twitter), @isaactoledano3Magnus - @legatogelato865 (insta), @davidcaples6 (tiktok)Lucy - @lucyloveadame (insta&twitter), @lucille_love23 (tiktok)

Check me out on my new podcast, One and a Half-Blood Have you ever wondered what a peanut butter and ketchup sandwich tasted like? Well if you have listened to this week's episode you know for sure Samantha does not like the idea. This week's episode you will hear Meghan read Samantha chapters one and two of Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lighting Thief. In these chapters we are introduced to the main character Percy and his best friend Grover. We get a little of Percy's backstory, like how many schools he has been to in his short twelve years of life. We see Percy's first introduction real like Greek mythology creatures, and his experience with the mist. Stay tuned to see all of Percy's adventures, and see how Samantha will react to all of it. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thebookrewind/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebookrewind/support

It's Christmas morning at The Burrow! But also, weepwomp because we hear the sad story all about how Lupin was bitten by Fenrir Greyback. Sad tweet. Weekly Prophet: https://vegnews.com/2022/3/vegan-food-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter Check out our website for all of our latest news, merchandise, FAQs, and more! www.swishflickcast.com We have a mailbox! If you ever have the inclination to send us anything please address mail to the following: Swish and Flick Podcast PO Box 690697 Orlando, FL 32869 Our voicemail number is: 330-552-7043 Welcome to Swish and Flick! We post weekly podcasts and vlogs for you that are all about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We hope you will subscribe to us and follow us on our adventures! Support the podcast and become part of the pod as a patron and receive exclusive podcast perks! Gain access to our exclusive felix files episodes, discord channel, live recordings, trivia games, swish swag boxes, live hangouts & more here: www.patreon.com/swishflickcast Thank you so much for all of your support! You can find us at the handles below: Instagram: @SwishFlickCast Twitter: @SwishFlickCast Facebook: www.facebook.com/swishflickcast Your hosts can be found on: Twitter: @thepetrasfamily Instagram: @thepetrasfamily @ohhhmalley @tiffswish_flick Thank you so much for listening and don't let the muggles get you down... Thanks so much for listening and don't let the muggles get you down...

The Nerds continue their watch-through of the Harry Potter franchise with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince!

We are back with more Harry Potter as this week we take on The Order of the Phoenix and The Half-Blood Prince. We also talk Our Flag means death, I care a lot, Blinded by the Light, Girl From Plainville, Revealed Doctor Who and MoonKnight Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/watchitagainpod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/watch_it_again_podcast/ Website: https://watchitagain.podbean.com/ Email us: watchitagainpod@gmail.com

We're back with episode 67 of The #BlueTicksPodcast. The topics for this episode are: Will vs Chris (04:45), white people taking reggae awards/Grammys (26:50), Male Birth Control (42:54), Adopting outside your race (1:05:00) If you have any topics you want us to talk about hit us up on the socials. Like, share and feedback is always welcome! Socials Twitter/Instagram: @bluetickspodcast @spcetu @isthatalexr @Trillcalvs @gdvii_

Alyssa Esteban, creator of Breakfast in Beauclair, joins the pod and brings loads of notes to the table! If you were craving a nerdy episode, prepare to be satisfied. Topics include: accessible design, Papyrus, Foursquare, audiobook narrators, Denver, Newark, It's Always Sunny, Italian mannerisms, Fruit Ninja, okapi, Arachne, friendship, dank bad, straitjackets, Ludo Bagman, Dave & Buster's, Bagman Blinders, The Simpsons, Jersey Shore, D-A-R-R-I-N, hate listeners, and more!Thanks to our sponsor: Imperfect Foods - get 20% off your first 3 orders with code “TNO” at imperfectfoods.comLocal Forecast - Elevator by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.com/Creative Commons — CC BY 3.0 I https://goo.gl/Yibru5— Find The Newest Olympian Online — • Website: https://thenewestolympian.com• Patreon: https://thenewestolympian.com/patreon• Twitter: https://twitter.com/newestolympian• Instagram: https://instagram.com/newestolympian• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newestolympian— Production — • Creator, Host, Producer, Social Media, Web Design: Mike Schubert (https://schub.es)• Editor: Sherry Guo• Music: Bettina Campomanes and Brandon Grugle• Art: Jessica E. Boyd— About The Show — Is Percy Jackson the YA series we should've been reading all along? Join Mike Schubert as he reads through the books for the first time with the help of longtime PJO fans. Whether you're looking for an excuse to finally read these books, or want to re-read an old favorite with a digital book club, grab your blue chocolate chip cookies and listen along. New episodes of The Newest Olympian every Monday!

The Battle continues. And my lunch break is ending so I gotta keep it short --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Today we continue our timeline journey with The Lost Hero story break: Camp Half-Blood which covers pages 30 to 116. "Our new heroes take a tour of Camp Half Blood while undergoing personal stresses that have Piper collapse, Leo explore fire, and Jason consulting a sleep specialist. Nothing makes sense in this strange place except one thing: there's a Goddess in need of saving, and she wants their help." Check out Arit Edet on Instagram. To support the show, be sure to find us on Instagram and Twitter @bestdamcamppod. If you'd like to get your thoughts across, you can email us at thebestdamcamp@hotmail.com. Percy Jackson Merchandise. For more Percy Jackson content check out Fran's YouTube channel A Healthy Dose of Fran and support her via Patreon. Nickel Anarchy: Instagram and Redbubble Taylor Paisley-French: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Spotify _________________________ Everyone needs a little help now and then, and that's OK. If you or someone you know, need support or maybe you just need someone to understand, there is always someone to call. CheckPoint provides Mental Health Hotline numbers Worldwide. Remember, it's OK to not be OK. https://checkpointorg.com/global/ _________________________ Black Lives Matter links and resources: Ways to Help PLEASE SIGN PETITIONS, DONATE, CALL AND EMAIL TO DEMAND JUSTICE, AND SHARE Twitter Thread on how to support if you have no money Support for the Black Trans Community Twitter Thread for Black Creative Talent to support Advice on how to support from the UK Who to donate too 8 Lessons I Learned About Racism That Were Helpful to me a White Person Support Protestors Racism and the UK Checkpoint World Wide Mental Health Hotlines Stand With and Support the Asian community: Asian Lives Matter Resources Stand Against Hatred Stop AAPI Hate America's History of Scape-Goating its Asian citizens Support for the Trans community: How Black Trans People All About Trans Website Stonewall Website Support UK Mermaids Charity

"With the underworld in havoc, and Percy nearly dying and almost becoming a murderer, we take a dip in a river. Here, the ship really begins - then there's a little bit more murder before everyone gets out relatively OK." Massive thanks to my incredible guest Brayden from Return to Camp Half-Blood podcast, support and check their podcast and socials on Instagram and Twitter, and their personal Instagram. To support the show, be sure to find us on Instagram and Twitter @bestdamcamppod and on Tumblr at thebestdamcamp.tumblr.com. If you'd like to get your thoughts across, you can email us at thebestdamcamp@hotmail.com. Percy Jackson Merchandise. For more Percy Jackson content check out Fran's YouTube channel A Healthy Dose of Fran and support her via Patreon. Nickel Anarchy: Instagram and Redbubble Taylor Paisley-French: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Spotify _________________________ Everyone needs a little help now and then, and that's OK. If you or someone you know, need support or maybe you just need someone to understand, there is always someone to call. CheckPoint provides Mental Health Hotline numbers Worldwide. Remember, it's OK to not be OK. https://checkpointorg.com/global/ _________________________ Black Lives Matter links and resources: Ways to Help PLEASE SIGN PETITIONS, DONATE, CALL AND EMAIL TO DEMAND JUSTICE, AND SHARE Twitter Thread on how to support if you have no money Support for the Black Trans Community Twitter Thread for Black Creative Talent to support Advice on how to support from the UK Who to donate too 8 Lessons I Learned About Racism That Were Helpful to me a White Person Support Protestors Racism and the UK Checkpoint World Wide Mental Health Hotlines Stand With and Support the Asian community: Stand Against Hatred Stop AAPI Hate America's History of Scape-Goating its Asian citizens Support for the Trans community: How Black Trans People All About Trans Website Stonewall Website Support UK Mermaids Charity

The scrubs start with a strongish recommendation for the half blood point if you're going to play Aces High with medium/large bases. Otherwise, Clint finally admits the ETA might be fun, Poe is finally an Ace, and the Scum players among us have some beef with our former FFG overlords. Extended tournament that we hyped for real this time: https://tabletop.to/tricity-tournament

Happy Christmas Eve! To celebrate, Demi and Jess wanted to share with you their Harry Potter version of  Twas the Night Before Christmas. Gather around with your loved ones and enjoy! The Half-Blood Princesses: A Harry Potter Podcast is on social media! Follow the podcast on Twitter and Instagram @HBPrincessesPod, and like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HBPrincessesPod/ . Also, if you enjoy the podcast, leave a voicemail at 412-228-5435 and your message will be featured on a future episode. Thank you for listening!

Here we are! Harry Potter and the Half-Blood prince! I remember this book blowing my idiot 14-year-old mind. Also, this is our 44th project according to our storage filing system, and 4 is my favorite number (making 44 my double favorite number). Anyways, let's go brew some potions. This episode was recorded the evening of 11.24.20. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/ears-stamps/support

“I show not your face but your heart's desire.” In episode 3 of the Half-Blood princesses, Demi and Jess explore the wonders of the Mirror of Erised. Topics include a listener's voicemail message, a quote about the Mirror of Erised, Mirror of Erised fun facts, and a discussion about the important scenes with the Mirror of Erised in Sorcerer's Stone. Demi leads the conversation for when Harry first discovers the Mirror of Erised and when Harry and Ron visit it together. Jess picks things up when Dumbledore shares his wisdom with Harry and when Harry goes through the trapdoor and retrieves the Sorcerer's Stone from the Mirror of Erised. The hosts end by talking about what some of their favorite characters would see if they looked into the Mirror of Erised. The Half-Blood Princesses: A Harry Potter Podcast is on social media. Follow the podcast on Twitter and Instagram at @HBPrincessesPod, and find it on Facebook at http://facebook.com/hbprincessespod. Check out the YouTube channel for bonus content, including bloopers from recording, at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoPJQ3d1dW5k6qiAtdOL3Dw. Also, if you enjoy the podcast, leave a voicemail at 412-228-5435, and it'll be featured in a future episode. Thank you for listening!

"It's only my third day out here"00:20 - Middle age housewife's thoughts on Meghan & The View03:57 - JK, Harry Potter & the devil06:42 - Betrayed by the AC09:02 - The Boys are back in town10:41 - Save time & speed12:17 - Rick, Morty & Hua Mulan.15:15 - Words from the voice of GodFollow Kofi MannTwitter @KforKofiInstagram @Kofi.xxEmail - Thoughtsaloudpodcasts@gmail.com

Thank you for listening to Lumos Maxima: The Rowling Library Podcast. Demi and Jess have decided to launch their new podcast, The Half-Blood Princesses: A Harry Potter Podcast. Please continue on the magical journey with them on their new chapter. You can listen on anchor, anchor.fm/HBPrincessesPod, and on all other platforms. The podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, @HBPrincessesPod, and Facebook and Youtube, The Half-Blood Princesses: A Harry Potter Podcast. You can reach the hosts at hbprincessescast@gmail.com. Again, thank you for listening!

We're so excited you've stumbled upon our book... We mean, podcast! Welcome to The Half-Blood Princesses: A Harry Potter Podcast. Join hosts Demi and Jess every other Friday as they explore topics in the Harry Potter series. Topics include Quick Quotes Corner, Fun Facts, and Tales of Magic and Mischief.

THE SERIES THAT SHALL NOT BE NAMED continues as we see if we can discover who the Half-Blood Prince is! Tune in as we discuss Dumbledore's demise and Micah's opinion about the middle part of the movie being filler. Get your episodes early and get exclusive episodes at: https://www.patreon.com/micahmccaw

Christina Andresen, Steve Christoforou, and Christian Gonzalez finish up their conversation on Harry Potter. They discuss how youth ministry should look like Defense Against the Dark Arts, how sacrifice shows true mastery over death, and who they think the true hero of the story is. They close with their Top 5 Things (and an Accidental One) They'd Make Into Horcruxes. Listen to Part 1 at https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/popculture/episode_119_pcch_live_harry_potter_and_the_half_blood_podcast_pt_1.

Steve Christoforou and Christian Gonzalez are joined by Christina Andresen for this special live episode of Pop Culture Coffee Hour! Recorded at the 2020 Youth and Camp Workers Conference in Phoenix, they discuss why Hogwarts is a CPS call waiting to happen, how friendship makes us better, and whether youth can be trusted with the Church. They close with a brief Q&A; and a promise to finish what Dumbledore started. Listen to Part 2 at https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/popculture/episode_120_harry_potter_and_the_half_blood_podcast_pt_2.