Crystal Lewis

“Kingdom” by Crystal Lewis

Submitted to Contest #250

The glittering ballroom gleamed in all its splendour. The graceful, black and silver marbled columns framed the broad dancefloor where couples danced in all their trappings of grandeur. Trailing vines wound around the pillars and the edges of the gallery that ran around the ballroom, allowing people to gaze upon those below. The Kingdom had spared no expense for this, the grandest of balls for their beloved Princess. She was to be betrothed to the powerful King of a neighbouring Kingdom: an alliance to protect them. The Princess herself was...

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“The Wind in the Willows (of Night and Stars)” by Crystal Lewis

Submitted to Contest #248

The night sky was darkest black velvet, sprinkled with the glittering of stars held together by milky threads. In the centre of this night sky she hung, full and a luminous silvery-blue. He stood there, waiting under their favourite tree – a willow.His skin was bronzed, his figure tall and light yet muscular. He wore clothes of dappled greens and browns like a rich, forest loam and a gentle breeze seemed to roll around him, caressing him lovingly, gently waving his long, earthy brown hair. But it was his eyes that were the most captivating. ...

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“The African Council ” by Crystal Lewis

Submitted to Contest #186

“I call to order this Council…” “Oh, stop with the formalities, Ron.” “Don’t you stick your long neck into it, Gary. I was nominated as the Council Leader so butt out.” “At least Gary’s nose isn’t all turned up and nosing in everything.” “It is a horn. I can’t smell with it and I can’t help its shape.” “It’s still there isn’t it, big and on display though, like a giant nose sticking into things.” “Oh, you’re one to talk, Elbert. What about that monstrosity on your face you like flinging about.” “This will be so much fun, Vida.” “Oh, yes, ...

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“Excalibur” by Crystal Lewis

Submitted to Contest #154

“To many-towered Camelot” -        Alfred Lord Tennyson “The Lady of Shalott” The hilt gleamed golden as it rested against the darkness of the throne. Its pommel was shaped like that of a lion, proud mane and proud gaze. The quillons were engraved with vines, the hilt wrapped in worn, red-brown leather. The blade gleamed silver, sharp and almost glowing with an unnatural brilliance. Engraved into the center of the blade was a single word: Excalibur. A man sat upon the throne; lithe, athletic body, eb...

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“Terrence & Socks” by Crystal Lewis

In a small city suburb there stood two houses side by side. Both had large backyards and each were enclosed by tall fences with wide metal tops. Both had nicely kept green lawns and each had small trees and shrubbery running alongside the fences. House number 32 contained a large, red and black kennel and it was home to a family of four humans, two adults and two children. The fifth member of the family was a dog called Terrence. Terrence was a Boxer dog with light brown fur and a white belly. His three greatest loves were playing, food of a...

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“Selene” by Crystal Lewis

Submitted to Contest #151

I visited her at night as always, travelling to the Mountains, tall and dark like a looming beast.I walked to a hidden cleft marked only by a blanket of blossoming Moonflowers. At the base lay silvered, black doors that only opened when the sun’s heat was long gone.With a wordless gesture, it opened and I strode into the welcoming light. Soft, plush grass carpeted a ground of hard, cold rock. Lights were festooned into the walls and glowed with a bright, yet cold light.I strode through the corridor until it widened into a vast library with h...

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“Returning ” by Crystal Lewis

Submitted to Contest #68

It had been twenty-four years since she’d last seen it, but the place looked exactly the same. It was surprising, when the world around it had changed so much. But here it was, untouched, unchanged, as though time didn’t exist here.   Perhaps it didn’t.   I could feel something here, something I had felt as a child. It was a warm feeling, a soft, soothing feeling like a warm presence was wrapped around you and holding you close. The place seemed to be held in a curious crossing of all the s...

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“Knight's Assassin” by Crystal Lewis

Submitted to Contest #67

The bright, colorful gaiety of the festival was at stark contrast with my mission here. The crowds of adoring people cheered at their King as he appeared on the stage. The people in the city of Sunderra loved their King, loved the riches he gave them, loved the gloriousness of their city that was visited by people near and far and gazed upon in wonder. In their eyes, the King and his court could do no wrong.They were all blind fools.I made my way through the crowd, the vial I held in my pocket weighing heavily, although it was only small. Bo...

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“Guardian Angel ” by Crystal Lewis

Submitted to Contest #65

Halloween. Another opportunity for the humans to get into all sorts of mischief, as they often did on all the holidays. It was the first Halloween I had experienced on Earth and to be honest, I was not expecting it to be overly exciting. However, my young charge seemed to have a different viewpoint on the matter. “Come on, mum! Pleeeeaaasseee take me Trick or Treating!” she pleaded with her mother. Her mother brushed her off, as she always did, although this time with indifference instead of anger. I was not sure which one hurt more. “No, ...

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“Ghosts and Falling Leaves” by Crystal Lewis

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire.I felt it as soon as I awoke. The subtle shift in the air, the sudden surge of life’s busy bustling, the quickening of the sun rising in the east, as night-time tried to steal the day from the sun’s golden fingertips.Autumn was here.I breathed deeply, feeling the faint chill that touched the air and the smell of sickly-sweet, damp earth and everything being overripe.I had chosen this spot specifically for the great trees that towered above my small little cabin. In the autumn, their leav...

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“Under the Shady Birch ” by Crystal Lewis

Submitted to Contest #56

It was strange, this misshapen lump on the ground beside me. After a few cursory sniffs, I confirmed that it was indeed mine. I stood there for a while, looking around. I had chosen this spot specifically for this day. It was beside a large meadow that rolled slowly down to a silently moving river in the distance. I liked watching the tall, yellow-green grass waving gently in the wind, the purple and white flowers dancing with it. I was in a small hollow under a thicket of birch on the outskirts of the forest. The thick shrubbery surrou...

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“The Fish, the Stork and the Monkey” by Crystal Lewis

Submitted to Contest #54

The sun shone down on the lovely blue lagoon, bathing it in rich, golden sunlight. The wind was gently rolling through the reeds, whispering its secrets to the world. In this peaceful scene, there were two animals.There was the Fish in the waters and the Monkey in the trees.These two animals lived together in peace.Until, one day, the Monkey came down to drink from the lagoon. At the spot where the monkey chose to drink, the Fish was also resting there under a shaft of sunlight that reached down between the waters of the lagoon to the smooth...

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“Haunted” by Crystal Lewis

Submitted to Contest #51

I don’t know why I decided to go on the ferry ride tonight, especially tonight of all nights. Perhaps it was because I’d always liked the water. It had carried me away from a horrible place. I can forget it also bore me to that horrible place. I lay in my small cabin, my mind drifting, the sounds outside on the deck muted through the walls. My eyes suddenly shot open as I felt the light momentarily dim, as though a shadow had passed over it. My eyes quickly darted around, looking for anything nestled in the darkened corners of the room. ...

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“Why?” by Crystal Lewis

Submitted to Contest #49

Why? Why did you leave me, leave us?I stared up at the ceiling, a ceiling that used to be covered in flowers mixed with stars. Now it was just white nothingness. Some days I felt like this, like a blanket was suffocating me, like I was underwater and couldn’t come up. Calm on the surface, but inside swirling and whirling.I agonised over that question, day in, day out.Nobody could answer it, except for her. And she was gone.“Claire! It’s time for school,” my little brother said, standing in the doorway to my small room.Jackson was the only on...

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“A Mother's Love ” by Crystal Lewis

Submitted to Contest #47

As your mother, all I ever wanted was for you to be happy.It’s what every mother wants for their child - especially you - who saved my life just by being born. I vividly remember your innocent little face staring up at me, pulling my spiralling life into focus.You have no idea the pain it causes me to see you unhappy.You deserve the sun and the stars and the moon.A purity radiates from you I have not seen anywhere else.I wonder where you get it from because it certainly isn’t from me.But it’s there. You can’t always see it but others can. Ot...

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