I’m sorry for not posting the past couple of weeks. We’re stuck in the middle of a heat wave, and while it’s not nearly as hot as Southern California, it’s just warm enough to be miserable. Add in the humidity, the fact that we’re in a second story apartment, and that our apartment complex seems to have a vendetta against window air conditioners and portable AC units, and I spend most of my day laying in front of a fan and not wanting to touch any electronics except for my phone.

I REALLY need to get back into using pencils and notebooks again.

I’ve also seen a burst of activity on my Etsy shop that has kept me hopping. I don’t think I’ve made this many sales since October of 2015! I have no idea what brought it on, since I haven’t been advertising or anything, but I’m grateful for the influx of orders. And I’m also grateful that everything I sell now is print on demand, because I would not want to be messing with fabrics and sewing in this weather.

But enough kvetching about summer – let’s get on to the good stuff! It’s time for WIPpet Wednesday!

We’re back to The Undying Ones this week! This snippet takes place in Elusion and since today is the 25th, I’ll be sharing seven paragraphs. In this scene, Mattie gets to experience Mill-On-Rye’s ancient church, and a very interesting sermon from their parson.

As always, this is nano rough – so please pardon any typos or other mistakes.

Intricately carved stone pillars that held up the beams of the roof. Most were covered in realistic looking ivy – little veins covered the flat leaves and the stems were covered in fine ridges – and small candles had been hidden in the alcoves between vines. One pillar, however, appeared to have malformed faces peeking out at the villagers through the ivy. Some were missing noses, others had eyes that were gouged out, another had long ears and horns. While Mattie didn’t know much about religion, it seemed strange that something so pagan would be included in such a hallow place.

“Undying Ones.” Marley explained, nodding at the goblins staring out at them. “Carved to remind us of the devils next door.” He was scowling again, and Mattie could only assume that it was because this newest attempt to expose her had failed. However, while this place certainly buzzed with power, it was different in nature than the charms and aconite. Those were annoying. They stung. This was far more passive and peaceful, lulling her into a state of drowsiness that bored on full blown sleep.

The voice of the preacher didn’t help matters; he spoke in a near constant monotone that droned on and on. While it was no lullaby, it was just as effective. As Mattie watched, she noticed heads drooping around the room. Rather than giving in and dozing she stared hard at the roughly hewn faces of the undying ones. The candle light flickered over the marble, making them seem alive.

“But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die.” The man in the black robes continued with his sermon. “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.”

Mattie smothered a snort at that, earning another glare from the old man sitting next to her.

If only he knew.

If only they all knew.

 To read more WIPpet Wednesday posts, go here.