Tag Archive for: Kelly Matsuura

Expedition to Crete

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by Kelly Matsuura

The tremors worsen. The stone walls collapse under pressure, trapping us in a vast, labyrinthine crypt, deep under Minoan ruins.

Well, not all of us…

I draw my knife as wraithlike maidens encircle the group, hungry to receive the promised sacrifice.

“What did you do, Renée?” Tomás screams repeatedly.

I kneel and begin praying for the Goddess to accept me.

Tomás is still cussing as the men are all overpowered, their blood greedily consumed.

 Imminently, the High Priestess appears before me. My whole body trembles, surrendering.

She holds her goblet out. Cutting my hand, I humbly gift my own blood.

Kelly Matsuura

Kelly Matsuura is an avid short story writer, with a focus on fantasy, horror, and literary fiction.

She has stories and poetry published with Black Hare Press, The Sirens Call Ezine, Dragons Soul Press, Stringybark Stories, and many more.

Kelly lives in Nagoya, Japan with her geeky husband.

Website: blackwingsandwhitepaper.wordpress.com

 

 

GRIMDARK 2

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Grimdark—violent worlds with amoral or morally questionable protagonists. Grim and dark stories valourising the protagonist’s struggles as they choose between good and evil.

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The Harikikigaki Has the Answer

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by Kelly Matsuura

 

A weak pulse, lethargy, and fainting spells—Dr Yamata knew his wife was infected by a yōkai parasite. But which one?

“We shouldn’t have gone camping,” he mumbled, searching for his copy of The Harikikigaki, an ancient acupuncture text.

Later, he found Chiho unconscious in their backyard. As he desperately tried CPR, a tiny red-and-white horse escaped Chiho’s mouth with her final breath.

The doctor hadn’t found the textbook, but the umakan was unmistakable.

With a soft whinny, it flew next door, where the neighbour was burning leaves.

Dr Yamata would be seeing Mr Enami at his clinic very soon.

 

 Kelly Matsuura

Kelly Matsuura writes diverse YA, fantasy, and literary fiction.
She is the creator of The Insignia Series anthologies (Asian fantasy themed) and has had stories published with Ink & Locket Press, A Murder of Storytellers, Black Hare Press, Harbinger Press, and many more.

Captain Purge’s Collection of Oddities

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by Kelly Matsuura

 

“Kanami, darlin’, you’ll finally be whole.” Captain Purge tapped his boot on the slime-covered trunk with glee.

Kanami’s head floated forward, her ratty hair brushing the trunk’s exterior as she gave it a fervent sniff.

Purge shuddered. Once an enchanting princess, Kanami was now a curse to the ship. He never expected the beheaded yōkai to age rapidly without her body nearby—nor that she’d feed on the flesh of his men.

There was only one solution.

Opening the empty trunk, he shoved Kanami in and slammed the lid shut.

“Toss ‘er back overboard.” He was truly done collecting oddities.

 

Kelly Matsuura

Kelly Matsuura writes diverse YA, fantasy, and literary fiction. She is the creator of The Insignia Series anthologies (Asian fantasy themed) and has had stories published with Ink & Locket Press, A Murder of Storytellers, Black Hare Press, Harbinger Press, and many more.

Website: http://www.blackwingsandwhitepaper.com

Cold Blue

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by Kelly Matsuura

 

Celyna examined Davenall’s face with a critical artist’s eye.

“Your irises are like their own universe. Do all faeries have such icy blue eyes?”

“Just the naughty ones,” Davenall teased.

“How will I paint the moving colours?” she mused.

“Look deeper.”

“Okay.” Celyna locked her gaze on his. She tried to blink but couldn’t. She tried to turn her neck, also couldn’t. The swirling, entrancing pools made her dizzy. Her entire body shook.

Davenall held her tight. “A little more.”

“Stop! Don’t do this!” She realised too late that he was draining her creative essence.

“Leanan sídhe.”

An artist no more.

Kelly Matsuura

Kelly Matsuura writes diverse YA, fantasy, and literary fiction.
She is the creator of The Insignia Series anthologies (Asian fantasy themed) and has had stories published with Ink & Locket Press, A Murder of Storytellers, Black Hare Press, Harbinger Press, and many more.

Where’s Margaret?

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by Kelly Matsuura

 

When Wizard Qarmel took to his death bed, I didn’t want him to die alone.

“What’s Margaret’s address? I’ll send a letter,” I offered. The wizard’s wife had left years earlier, but no one knew her current whereabouts.

“No need.” Qarmel smiled. “She’s with me, always.”

“She’s gone. Remember?”

“Margaret is here,” he insisted.

He opened his robe. In place of skin, his entire chest had become a window of frosted glass. Light from nearby candles danced on the surface.

As did Margaret’s face.

Her ghostly image rippled and weaved; a prisoner forever trapped under ice.

“See? She never left.”

 

Kelly Matsuura

Kelly Matsuura writes diverse YA, fantasy, and literary fiction.
She is the Creator of The Insignia Series’ anthologies (Asian fantasy themed) and has had stories published with Ink & Locket Press, A Murder of Storytellers, Black Hare Press, Harbinger Press, and many more.

Angel, Broken

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by  Kelly Matsuura

 

“Don’t touch me!” Lailah waved Reuben away.

Shame. Her emotions crackled and boiled, fighting for dominance.

Reuben, always patient, held out a wet towel. “Let me wash your wounds, Love.”

Her back was bleeding afresh. Thick warm blood meeting numb skin—soaking the sheets. She no longer felt external pain.

Loss. She had fallen from Heaven to be with him. Kind, passionate Reuben. But it wasn’t enough.

Regret. She didn’t belong here, and she could never go back.

Anger. She clutched her dagger under the blanket. How had a mortal possessed her heart?

One sharp slice.

Now they both bled.

 

Kelly Matsuura

Kelly Matsuura writes diverse YA, fantasy, and literary fiction.
She is the Creator of The Insignia Series’ anthologies (Asian fantasy themed) and has had stories published with Ink & Locket Press, A Murder of Storytellers, Black Hare Press, Harbinger Press, and many more.
Kelly lives in Nagoya, Japan with her geeky husband. She loves travelling, knitting, cooking, and of course, reading. Website: http://www.blackwingsandwhitepaper.com/

YEAR TWO

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