Baker's Dozen — Leah Cutter

Travel to cold Seattle and the see the world from the viewpoint of a private investigator who just happens to be a ghost, then go down to the creole fairy courts of Louisiana, learn the secrets of 9s and how the raven warriors take care of their own. Here are 13 tales of fantasy and wonder, sweet and savory, to fill you up just right. Tales include: "Hell By Any Other Name", "To Hell And Back", and "Hell for the Holidays": stories set after the shredding of the veils between the seen and the unseen worlds when the living learned they weren't alone. Andy had seen it all, done it all as a human police detective, now, as a ghost, he still works as a private investigator. "Magpie": When Sarah finds a beautiful, porcelain bird hidden inside a hollow brick inside her fireplace, she just thinks it's odd. Then her jewelry starts going missing. What will the magpie steal next? "True Vision": Devil? Angel? Gabriella has lived all her life following other people's plans, using their definitions of her body, allowing them to judge her abilities. Finally, though, Gabriella is ready to take matters into her own hands. "Slipping the Leash": Twyla learned early how to fight. The kids knew she was different, but she figured that was just her African-American dad and her Japanese mom. Now she learns just how different she is: she's not even human. "Golden Charms": As a child, Jolene learned she had a gift. She could see people's fates: they appeared as a golden charm around the person's neck. She didn't want her gift, though. She just wanted a normal life -- a job, a husband, and kids. Three years later, Jolene can't get pregnant. What must she sacrifice to make her dreams come true? "Hunting Ghosts in the Machine": Overcrowding, pollution and acid rain have reduced humanity's livable areas. For most, space is achieved through virtual reality. Only a few see behind the mask. They're the collectors, who hunt the ghosts in the machine. But who watches the watchers? "Were-Teen": Patrice is happy, successful, and cursed. Every month during the full moon she reverts to her awkward teen-aged self, complete with braces and acne. This year, it's Patrice's 25 year high school reunion. She finally has a chance to confront the witch who cursed her, and maybe get the spell reversed. "The Secrets of 9s": One of the secrets of 9s: they always return. They may come disguised in the coyness of eights, with the rigid line of the one hidden at their back. Or maybe you mistake them for fours marching across burnt fields, not seeing their friends, the fat fives, until it's much too late. Other secrets are that 9s are anarchists, hyper-local, and stand alone at the end. Come learn about the 9s and their more militant anarchists. "The Other Story": Once upon a time in the kingdom of Illumignot lived the handsome King Franklin and the clever Queen Isabella. They loved each other dearly and their only wish was to have a child. After a decade of trying, the brave Prince Kyle was born. All the kingdom celebrated. That night, while they all slept, the Blue Fairy came and stole all their shadows. "The Doom of Alokai Temple": Storm has lived alone all her life, shunned like all witches, for her gift of prophecy. However, every augury comes with a geas to tell the person their future. This time it's the doom of Alokai temple and the priestesses who burn witches. "The Third Raven": The raven clan takes pride in three things: the education of their children, the fierceness of their warriors, and how they care for their own. However, Pedrek, a retired raven warrior, finds a raven clan boy alone in a remote mountain village, ignorant of his heritage as well as cursed: looking like a dreaded half-breed, with one human arm and one black raven's wing.