Natalie Gray
Bio
Welcome, Travelers! Allow me to introduce you to a compelling world of Magick and Mystery. My stories are not for the faint of heart, but should you deign to read them I hope you will find them entertaining and intriguing to say the least.
Stories (84/0)
The Last Ark
The outside world was unknown to her, but she could see a glimpse of it through the window in his room. Marcus was one of the few people she knew who had the luxury of a window in his living space. Then, again, Marcus's family were filthy rich. Everybody else aboard the Cassiopeia lived in squalor and darkness, in the lower decks with the rest of the rats. "It was only temporary," they'd said. "As soon as we reach the colony, everyone will be treated as equals. Things will be better."
By Natalie Grayabout a year ago in Fiction
The Ice King
Long ago in the faraway Northern kingdom of Arendale, lived a kind and honorable king and queen. They ruled their kingdom together with fairness and justice, while also caring for their two young sons. When their oldest, Elias, was only a few months old, the king and queen made a startling discovery: the little prince possessed a strange and mystical power. He could control the weather, creating snow flurries and ice upon a whim. Their younger son, Andrew, had no such powers, but always looked up to his older brother with love, admiration and wonder. The king and queen were in awe of Elias' power as well, but also feared for their oldest. The young prince could not fully control his abilities, and his parents were worried that he would accidentally injure himself or his brother. There was also the possibility - should word of his powers spread - that villains may conspire to abduct the prince, to use his powers for their own nefarious purposes. For these reasons, they tried to conceal their son's talents from the kingdom, and discourged him from using them in the open.
By Natalie Grayabout a year ago in Fiction
The Little Merman
In the briny depths off the coast of a tiny seafaring kingdom once existed a wondrous, hidden realm of merfolk. This underwater kingdom was ruled by a stern yet fair queen, Tritania, who was more than satisfied to keep her kingdom and the human world as separate as can be. The Sea Goddess had blessed the queen with six beautiful daughters and a son before the king's tragic, untimely death, whom she all loved dearly. In truth, Tritania blamed the humans for her husband's demise, and did everything she could to keep her children safe from them. Most of them obeyed her orders... except one.
By Natalie Grayabout a year ago in Fiction
The Ballad of Fa Lan
In the 5th century A.D., the great country of China was in an uproar. The Great Wall had just been completed, but the country and it's people - particularly toward the North - were constantly under seige by their neighboring enemy, the Huns. It had become a common practice for the Huns to invade bordering villages in the night, slaughtering all in their path and stealing young maidens to take as brides. Many villages - with heavy hearts - created pacts with the Hun leaders to give their daughters over willingly, in an effort to spare the rest of their people from death and destruction. Lan's village was no exception.
By Natalie Grayabout a year ago in Fiction
The Cabin
The tires crunch underneath us as we drive up the icy gravel path, my hand in yours where it belongs. The snow-capped pines part before us, revealing our destination at long last. The cabin looks rustic and beautiful, like a life-sized gingerbread cottage dusted heavily with powdered sugar. It's so quiet and peaceful all the way up here, away from the noise of the city... away from all the things that don't really matter. It's been a long drive, and I know you're tired, but I can already tell from the sparkle in your eye that it was worth the trip up.
By Natalie Grayabout a year ago in Fiction
The Mysterious Delivery
When the package dropped onto my doorstep, I was at the very least surprised. On second thought, "surprised" is a bit of an understatement The damn drone almost dropped the stupid thing right on top of my head as I was walking out the door. I was already incredibly late for work, and getting almost decapitated by a delivery drone did not do much to brighten my mood.
By Natalie Grayabout a year ago in Fiction
Christmas With Cops
Being born and bred in the Southern US, holiday gatherings may seem a little... different than what the Hallmark cards portray. For starters, the holiday seasons around here usually coincide with hunting season. Being part of a family of avid hunters, it is not an uncommon sight to see antlers hanging on the walls and to overhear talk amongst my uncles and male cousins about their latest trophies. Furthermore, no holiday gathering is complete without the men in my family congregating outside to examine a new "toy" brought by one of the others and testing it out. Usually, it's some kind of firearm, but there are occasions when it differs.
By Natalie Grayabout a year ago in Confessions
Can You Eat A Fried PB&J for Breakfast?
Can you eat a fried Pb&J for breakfast? Nutritionally, it seems like a good idea. Peanut butter is full of iron and protein, and if you use preserves instead of jelly then you get a serving of fruit and fiber. And then, of course, you have the bread to consider: whole wheat, white, multigrain, tortilla wrap, etc...
By Natalie Grayabout a year ago in Journal
The Fairest of them All
So... here we are again. I do hope you're enjoying these dark, macabre tales from the Realm of "What if...?", because I so enjoy telling them. Here is another that you may be familiar with, a tale as old almost as the concept of the Fairytale itself: it involves a lovely young maiden, a jealous, vain queen... and, of all things, an apple.
By Natalie Grayabout a year ago in Horror