Autumn Knights

Chapter 61 - Reaper I.A.

((Just want to thank everyone for your patience. Had a great time at my wedding, and this week we'll be back to the Wednesday-Saturday posting schedule!!))

Morrigan sat in the passenger seat as the phantom rolled down the highway. She was hunched over her phone, having finished reading the article, she switched to Read-it to see if there were any threads about it in the ...

This weeks release schedule

First, Midjourney gave me this picture, which I don't think quite fits their characters, but I thought it just looked really cool regardless, so I wanted to share it! Kinda has an Ancient Magus Bride feel to it.

Now, I'm a bit busy this week because I'm getting married on Saturday, and I didn't quite get my writing done ahead of time as I had hoped. Things kinda kept popping up last minu...

Chapter 60 - A Shocking Discovery

They went to the hospital where Death reaped a soul from his list who had just arrived on a stretcher. Afterward, they had some time for a meal in the food court. Morrigan opted for something light, as reaping tended to kill her appetite. At the very least, taking a lunch break in the middle of her “murder list” felt a little heartless.

After finishing her salad, they went upstairs fo...

Chapter 59 - Back to Work

Morrigan felt a sense of ease that had been rare since she died. The ambient hum of the restaurant mingled with the clinking of dishes and soft music. At their table, Hilda and Death continued their animated conversation about the intricacies of classic cars—a topic they had delved into for the entire ride over. Most of it flew over Morrigan’s head, and she could tell it was the same for Em...

Chapter 58 - Trial Run

Morrigan turned around in the mirror, examining the seal embroidered on the back of her hoodie. It looked cool, she could say that at least, but she had no idea if it'd actually work. The demon flesh had already torn through three simple T-shirts, but if it damaged the hoodie she had painstakingly threaded over the last three days, she was going to be really pissed.

But, if the seal worke...

Chapter 57 - Freedom?

The world zoomed by, filtered by a dark, oppressive haze. Morrigan imagined a box around herself as she adjusted to this strange new way of running, where she barely moved her legs. When light began to invade her box, she twisted away from it—or at least, tried to.

The dark aura slipped away as a ray of light blinded her. The trees suddenly seemed far more solid. Then, her toe connected...

Chapter 56 - Intermission 3 - Black Magic Woman

That fucking knife...

Down an alleyway behind a shopping plaza sat two boys. One had broad shoulders, a ponytail, and a bulging gut, but was otherwise strong. He was halfway through a 16-inch sub with extra meat, mayo clinging to the corner of his lip.

The other, with black hair combed over one eye, leaned against the opposite wall, poring over an article on his cellphone. ...

Chapter 55 - Gravekeeper 2

((Sorry this chapter came a day late. I wasn't quite happy with this chapter last night, so took some time to work on it a little more and improve it. Enjoy!))

Morrigan backed away. Any normal person in any normal situation would be completely freaked out hearing something like that. But this was Death, a reaper. Of course he was there. If it wasn't him, it would have bee...

Chapter 54 - Replacement

The sun barely had any light left to give to the day. Death led Morrigan into the woods, where the tree coverage ensured only vague shadows remained. The air was cool and filled with the sounds of nocturnal creatures beginning their nightly activities. Morrigan felt a shiver run down her spine, both from the chill and the eerie atmosphere.

“Seems like a bad...

Chapter 53 - Sewing Circle

Morrigan realized Death had become less present in the cabin than normal. At first, she figured it was because he had two lists to reap while she recovered. Though, even at night he didn’t seem to glue himself to the couch with his video games as often. It was only on occasion that she saw him in passing or was aware of his presence in the cabin, but they hardly spoke beyond a short acknowled...

Chapter 52 - Drowning

Morrigan had a vague awareness of the next day’s passing. Her dreams were sporadic and nonsensical, and she never quite came to full consciousness. There was only the occasional reprieve from her chaotic dreams when she would be aware she was on a bed. But, even then, she felt so much pain that she’d prefer being lost in the feverish nightmares. She, at one point, wondered if the pain would...

Chapter 51 - Amalgamation

Morrigan’s screams pierced the air as the demon emerged from her body, abandoning its old host to consume a new one. Its torso tore her lower back to shreds as two misshapen legs emerged with a sick plopping sound that was like separating a wet suction cup. It ripped its arm from behind her shoulder blade, revealing a fleshy point at the end of the wrist where the hand hadn’t finished formi...

Chapter 50 - The Great Witch

The odd conjoined shadow cast over Death. His skeletal fingers gripped tight over the tombstone he was collapsed against. He had existed in this world for so long, serving a crucial function as he watched humans move on in both the best and worst of circumstances. Few reapers shared his longevity in the business, but if this is how it must end, then so be it. His greatest failure would be ...

Chapter 49 - Blue Flame

In the midst of their battle, the sun sunk lower in the sky, casting long shadows from the feet of the headstones. Death stood facing his wayward apprentice. Morrigan fused with the changeling was a sight that pained him deeply. He saw not just the monster before him, but the young soul who had been thrust into a world of shadows, a soul he had vowed to guide and protec...

Chapter 48 - Graveyard Rumble

As the final notes rang out from the orchestra, applause surrounded Morrigan and Emma, and they concluded their dance with a bow. Morrigan looked up, feeling the room spin around her as she realized they were the center of attention. She was out in the open, with all eyes on her, and everyone was clapping and cheering.

“Looks like we stole the show,” Emma said with a wink.

Morri...

Chapter 36 - Homecoming (FREE)

She drove the rest of the day after her call with Emma, and made it all the way to Idaho by the time she decided to stop for the night. She found a hotel and snuck into an empty room with the skeleton key. She certainly felt more relaxed on a bed with four walls around her, rather than sleeping in the truck. Still, her heart had a strange mix of loneliness, anticipation, and fear. Once she made...

Chapter 47 - Changeling

For once, she felt peaceful, with the arms of the old Morrigan wrapped softly around her, lulling her to sleep. Actually, 'old Morrigan' wouldn't be the right way to refer to her—she was the only Morrigan. This other Morrigan she had been walking around as was just some strange piece that walked off on its own, but now they were back together.

Her soft hands ran ...

Schedule change announcement / author ramblings

As mentioned when I first posted on RR, I'd only be doing daily chapters while on my Rising Stars run (which turned out to be an amazing success, btw. Thank you all so much!)

So, for paid patrons, I'll be going down to a 4 chapter a week schedule, and for RR/free members, I'll do 3 chapters.

Chapters will be released on Wednesday/Thursday/Friday on...

Chapter 46 - Grave Keeper

“Pull over!” Emma said, shooting up in her seat. “That’s her truck!”

The black Ford Ranger was parked on the side of the road, and Hilda pulled in right behind it. Emma jumped out before Hilda could even put her jeep in park and ran right to the truck window.

Upon observing there was no Morrigan, Emma took out the pouch with the amulet and held it by the draw string, obser...

Chapter 35 - Far From Home (FREE)

Morrigan pulled into what looked like an abandoned factory where she decided to sleep for the night. She peeked out the window of the truck and searched for any signs of supernatural lingerers hanging around. She didn’t see anything but still had trouble sleeping. It was a little creepy being out there, and it dawned on her that if she came across a hollow, she wouldn’t know how to deal wit...

Chapter 45 - Intermission 2 - Secret World of Arietta

In a suburban home at the end of a culdesac, a witch sat at her vanity. She carefully held a fine brush with white paint as she redid the runes on her nails. When she finished her last pinky she splayed out her fingers, examining her work as she softly blew them dry. 

Arrietta met her own gaze in the mirror, the makeup thick and dark around her eyes and lips, contrasting her fair ski...

Chapter 34 – No More Miss. Nice Reaper (FREE)

He took a step back, now regarding her cautiously, his eyes moving along the scythe and taking in the glowing blue blade.

“I don’t understand,” he said.

“Well, you understand that you’re dead, right? You’re what's called a wandering spirit because you haven’t been able to find your way to heaven yet. See how my scythe is glowing blue? That means you’re a good soul wh...

Bonus Art 2

some other generations I got messing with chat GPT4 to get a new cover. I didn't end up using these, but I still thought they looked cool.

Chapter 44 - Morrigan GPS

Morrigan realized she must have fallen asleep against the angel statue, only woken when the rain started to fall harder by midafternoon. Her eyes peered from under the hood, with her gaze falling onto the crypt. The place her body had been stashed after she was killed.

Absentmindedly, she got up and walked towards it, found a fingerhold on the stone door, and was surprised by how heavy it...

Chapter 33 - On the Road (FREE)

Morrigan sat with one foot on the dashboard, looking out over a mountainous landscape as the sunset. It was a nice scenic turnoff on the roadside and she considered sleeping right there tonight. The passenger side floor of the truck was littered with discarded wrappers, empty bottles, and fast-food bags.

It had been a full two days now since she left Death’s cabin, and to her surprise, ...

Chapter 32 - Intermission - Unseen Monsters (FREE)

Trisha Roy was in a somber mood as she stood in her late father’s office, staring down at the sea of lights across the cityscape below. She should have been at home in bed, she had to be up early for the funeral tomorrow, but sleeping was impossible. It was not just her father’s passing that weighed on her mind, nor the position as head of the company that she was so suddenly thrust into, b...

Chapter 43 - Smooth Operator

Emma paid for the hotel through a cellphone app, but the only problem was checking in would require that she was eighteen years old. However, she concocted a story about how her parents would be there in a few hours and they wanted her to just go ahead and check in. The clerk at first tried to deny her, but she threw on her charm and was convincing enough that it ended up working out.

Emm...

31 - Diary of the Dead (FREE)

Back in the safety of her own room, Morrigan sat on the edge of her bed with the old journal open in her lap. Her fingers were unsteady as she flipped through the pages. Her eyes skimmed the elegant script as if it were a window into the life of someone who had walked a path similar to hers.

February 3rd, 1694

Noir suggested I detach myself. He says I sho...