On the Cusp is a sci-fantasy by author Tala Wolfe available on Kindle Vella.

On the Cusp is a sci-fantasy by author Tala Wolfe available on Kindle Vella.

Zodiac Space Station Book 1 Episodes 1-3 are always FREE

Nina knows she needs to leave her planet and family behind. She is looking forward to it as long as she finds a way to take her best friend with her. Bryson needs to find a champion someone strong enough to beat rival House Pisces. Without a win his family may lose their throne. With an Olympic style competition only months away Nina and Bryson focus on training too busy for love. Nina refuses to let her feelings stop her from winning the competition and a chance to leave her old life behind.

Episode 1

That is it, the sound I have been waiting for, the sound of bones crunching and angels crying. I have a gift that I keep a secret from the world. Wiping my hands, I face the macabre scene of gore. I was given a dead pet and told to bring it to life again. That is what I am known for, playing with the dead. I am a companion animal taxidermist. Companion animals are symbiotic organisms that take form as a tattoo on a host. They take corporeal form when off the host body. Like all organisms, they die and if they are in corporeal form, I can breathe new life into them. I told no one about this power because I should not be able to do this before I ascend. Unless this is part of my myth form, but I do not know of whatever it is.

“Another masterpiece and another thousand credits for your getaway plan. But will you please turn this into the guild art contest? Your taxidermy is stunning, but selling here will never get you a zodiac crest and a way out of this cesspool.” Miles walks in now that I unlocked the door. He has been outside waiting for me to finish the piece because I do not let anyone see me work. Miles has been harping on me to join the monthly art contests that offers a chance to win an art showing on the Zodiac Space Station. If you impress the guild or a member, you can be asked to become an apprentice and permanently show art anywhere in the Zodiac system.

He has a point we both need to find a way off Abis, our planet, in the Taurus constellation. I have just recently realized my gift for taxidermy. No one wants to back an inexperienced artist, let alone someone that plays with the dead. Being a poor girl from the slums of Taurus, there is only one way of improving my life, and that is a Zodiac Crest. The crest is like a license to join in Zodiac society beyond the poor planet I am from.

“This again really, Miles. I thought you better than guilt trips and outlandish dreams. The guild has no taxidermists, and I doubt those high and mighty douche canoes would want one.” Many do not see what I do as an art.

The Zodiac Guild is a union of artists and art dealers in the Zodiac sectors. They would also rather die than allow a non-crested artist outside of the contest to display in the Zodiac station. The station is the center for all Zodiac commerce and travel in the Zodiac System. If I won the contest, I would be sent to the Zodiac Station for a weekend to have a gallery showing. If one of the guild members chooses, they can sponsor me, essentially giving me a job to earn my crest.

The apprentice artists are sent to an art colony for five years. I would be housed and paid for my time and work. After that time, you can petition for membership. A guilded artist would not elevate me into the rich and famous, but it will give me all of which I have dreamed.

There are two types of crests, a Zodiac crest, and a house crest. A zodiac crest would allow me to do business in all Zodiac systems, but I have to renew it every ten years. The house crest outranks the Zodiac crest and is given by one of the 13 Royal houses that also carries a noble title, land, higher ranking in society, and is awarded for a lifetime.

Impossible to get unless you do some massive tasks for the royals. That would mean I would have to know a royal, and that is not in my stars. One has never even been to this planet that I know of. My only hope of getting out of the poor sector is to earn a crest. The guild is my best hope, however, that is a lottery.

“Look at that Nina and tell me it is not art. I will never understand how you do it, but you have been given a key to get out.” I explain my taxidermy by saying I use an ancient massage therapy technique to naturally mold the dead animals into a sculpture. Miles has begged to watch me work, but I never let him see me reanimate the animals and the extent of my gift.

Looking at my masterpiece, I see a majestic phoenix spread like it is in mid-flight. Ember had a sassy personality and loved her sire. She wanted me to add lighting that made her feathers look like they were on fire again. She really is magnificent, but most would not see the art of using dead bodies as a medium. Ember was a Phoenix, and a companion for a wealthy landowner that wanted me to create a shadow box to remember his late friend doing her favorite thing: hunting. The finished sculpture has Ember tearing apart a fairy fly, and it got messy.

“I have been looking at her for a week now and I know more about her than Mr. Westheimer. She is breathtaking. That does not change the fact that taxidermy is not seen as art in a way the guild would accept.” My client requested I enter his friend to the guild contest, and I told him I would. I just need to take the last picture and upload it to the Taurus’ servers. I did not tell Miles because I think it would hurt him more than me if it failed.

He is the only family I have, well, the only family I choose. My biological family is my mother and older brother. My father left before my mom even knew she was pregnant; I doubt she even knows his name. When I was younger, she told me he and I have the same birthmark on our inner thigh. When I was in school, I tried to look up the meaning of my birthmark but never found an explanation.

“Is it your mom? Did she guilt you into paying the month’s bills again? You need to stop doing that and just move out. You can stay on my couch. My mom and dad would welcome you and you can save your money. We will both ascend this year and can find an apartment to share once we pick owners.” My older brother Ronny left when I was ten, when he ascended and met his life partner, Jessica. He refuses to help my mom or me, so I have been working odd jobs since I was twelve, giving most of the money to my mom.

I have hidden the rest of my money to one day escape this place. The sector we live in is called boys town and is known for the ladies of the night. My mom has been tricking since she was sixteen and I refuse to ever follow in her stiletto footsteps. My first job was cleaning brothel rooms, and I saw enough to know I needed to get out of here as soon as I ascend.

“Nope, this time is groceries. Stop trying to give me hope Miles, it will just make it worse when it never happens. You need to be thinking about your future, not mine.” I snap at him before I walk off, knowing he will follow.

“You cannot say impossible without having the word possible in it.” Miles and his inspirational quotes are annoying and just wishful thinking. He will not give until I tell him I entered Ember in the impossible contest. I will hold out a little longer and tell him at dinner tonight.

Opening my com device, I upload the newest pictures of my art and send them to the contest. Miles and I have been friends since middle school. He has always been my loudest cheerleader, but right now, I need someone to wallow in my misery more than play the lottery with my art. He has the same prospects that I do, so he needs to focus on his way out, not mine. Those without a crest are called ceorl. We are oppressed and no better than slaves in our society. Our choices in life are to find an owner to work for or rise in a class by earning a crest. I do not want to be a slave and refuse to be oppressed any longer than I must be.

“So be it, but know that I am here for you, Nina. Once you make it out, I will follow you. Someone needs to keep you in line. Maybe when you become a famous taxidermist, I can be your ceorl.” I hit him on the arm in jest, and he gives me a sad smile. I will most likely never make it out, let alone get him out with me. I finished packing the Phoenix and will send it in the morning to its new home.

Walking out of my small art studio, a sense of unease runs down my back like I am being watched. I look around to see if I can sense anyone around us, but we are in an empty street late at night. I turn to apologize to Miles for being rough earlier when a movement grabs my eye. A gust of air passed by with a scent of blood and cloves.

Review The romance is steamy and the side kicks are snarky. This book is not just fantasy but also science fiction. The author melds the two together making a new genre. Really liked the world and character building. I love it and cannot wait for more.

Review The writing is positively beautiful. I love it when I click on a link with hopes of just enjoying the story I'm about to read, but then I'm like drawn in so effortlessly. Simply lovely. The flow and timing and dialogue and characters and everything just captivated me. Though I have to admit, I wouldn't want to cross paths with a three-foot scorpion, even one named Alfred. LOL. I'm so distraught that I'm caught up! read 1 - 6 and LOVED every single word.

Read Here: On The Cusp Episodes 1-9 Zodiac Space Station Sci-Fantasy Romance First 3 Episodes FREE https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B0BGZK56NX

Tala Wolfe LinkTree Kindle VellaKindle UnlimitedAudible https://linktr.ee/talawolfe