Chapters

  Amie Bernstein; Chapter 2 © 2022 by Amber Wright THE DRAMA BEGINS! Date : Winter 1901 Place : London, England Kitt dangled over the shoulder of the footman and his mouth dripped with… Amie gulped and looked away, feeling her throat fill with an acidy taste. Puke—he needs to lie down. I would be sick if I rode in boats looking as pale as he does! Poor Kitt. I’ll have to have Cook fix him something nice. Her feet clattered over the brick and she nearly collapsed into the entry as the door swung open. “ Miss Amie,” the butler called after her, “careful now. The floors have been—” SLLLIPP . Amie’s cold boots did a slide over the newly waxed floor and she landed in a noisy heap, her side hitting the floor with a thud. She opened one eye. Two maids were craning their necks to look down at her while gripping the shaking whatnot shelf she had rammed into. In an instant, the pain from her fall evaporated and she scrambled backwards on all fours. It would be disa...

  Amie Bernstein; Chapter 1 © 2022 by Amber Wright ENTERS AMIE BERNSTEIN Date : Winter 1901 Place : London, England Snow flattened under Amie Bernstein’s freshly blackened boots as she stood there next to Papa, moving her feet distractedly. “Why do little boats take forever docking? I thought they were light and fast.” “ They are. Their boat's waiting for a space to dock. Here they are,” Papa waved over to the carriage where Mamma and the girls, Edia and Danielle, were waiting out of the cold. “ Is he ugly?” “ Who?” Papa’s hand stopped and his black eyebrows rose. “ My cousin, Kitt.” Amie wrinkled her nose. “If he is ugly, I suppose we could always hire another tutor for him so I wouldn’t have to look at him during the day.” “ Amie!” “ But Papa, you don’t have to look at ugly people all day! Or, do you?” Amie watched his jaws twist oddly. “Oh, please do don’t cry, Papa. I’m sorry!” “ I am not crying, Amie.” He turned his twisting jaws into a half...

  Free Indeed; Chapter 3 © 2025 by Amber Wright Date : AD 30 Place : Jerusalem & Galilee Alexandros watched Joanna leave with her small bundle of things. If it had not been for her, he would be dead now. He should thank her—before he would see her no more. Within a couple minutes, he had his own donkey saddled. Then he started after her. Already, she was a small figure upon the horizon. The donkey jolted beneath him as it trotted alongside the Sea of Galilee. He glanced over and saw men in a fishing boat. One man was standing up, speaking to a crowd that was gathering on the shore. “ Alexandros!” a girl’s voice startled him. Alexandros jerked his eyes from the sea. He had caught up with Joanna and she was standing beside his donkey on the road. He smiled. “I see I caught up with you.” She blinked and a look of fear came to her eyes. “Has the master changed his mind? Am I no longer free?” “ No, my father has not changed his mind. You are indeed free.” A...

  Free Indeed; Chapter 2 © 2025 by Amber Wright Date : AD 30 Place : Jerusalem & Galilee Joanna stared. The master’s son was indeed sick unto death. What would her master and mistress do if Alexandros did die? He was their idol—their prize in life. She took a deep breath. There was a man in the village who could make sick people well. Perhaps he would come. She started towards the cart where the mistress was wailing and the master was swallowing with effort. “ Master,” Joanna gulped down her salvia and inhaled a breath of courage. “I have heard there is a man in the village who can make sick people well.” “ But my son is not sick —he is dying!” The mistress wailed even louder. The master swallowed another time and stroked his beard thoughtfully; then, he nodded to Joanna. “Take my wife into the house—and stay with her until I return.” Joanna nodded. Of course, what else would she do but stay with her tragedy stricken mistress? She walked over to the wo...

  Free Indeed; Chapter 1 © 2025 by Amber Wright Date : AD 30 Place : Jerusalem & Galilee Alexandros felt his pulse race as he sat there, waiting for the games to begin. Every year in Jerusalem, the Romans would host a huge event—ending with the chariot race. But in recent years, they began having competitions such as foot racing and games of ball. Last year, he had won a foot race. “ Get yourself in the arena, young man.” A man in his middle forties told him. “You look fit enough.” “ I am.” Alexandros said proudly. “ Last year I won the foot race. But now, I want to enjoy this gladiator fight.” “ A nice view from here, eh?” the man leaned up and stared into the round dirt field with a partial smile. “A good fight always gets me in the best of moods—so long as my champion wins.” “ You don’t like losing good money? I don’t either.” “ Ah, listen to those daggers! Such music.” Alexandros listened. The gladiators’ daggers made a repetitious twanging noi...

  Sacred Scrolls; Chapter 56 © 2021 by Amber Wright IKARIA, NEAR PATMOS Wedged between Tiria, Rhoda, Nicolas and her mother, Junia walked up the little gangplank to board the small boat that would take them to the ship. She closed her eyes and squeezed onto Tiria's arm ahead of her. You must not look down and all will be fine, Junia, she coaxed herself to calm her nerves. She settled onto the middle bench and exhaled with relief. That part was over. “ Wait until you climb the ladder to the ship,” Nicolas managed a teasing grin. Junia laughed nervously. “Perhaps I need a crane.” “ It might break.” Junia shot him a frown. Teasing or not, that did not sound very nice. Her face fell, I must not let it bother me. But she did not feel the least bit carefree today. Small wonder. “ Sorry,” Nicolas fell silent, staring down into the blue waters that was an arm's length away. In no time, the small boat sat floating alongside the ship, one boatman holding the o...