The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (movie)

     I have read all the books up to date in this series, so I was curious about the film.

     A lot of critics don't seem to really like this film, but I thought it was well adapted, keeping for the most part, the spirit of the story. Certain aspects of the story were changed to keep the story rolling smoothly on the big screen. One doesn't have to read the book to enjoy the film. It's worth seeing.
     I do have a few issues about this film. For one, Magnus Bane is creepy gay, at least in my opinion. In the book he's flamboyant, but pulls it off well. Once I saw the guy in the film, he did seem a little more like the Magnus Bane in my head, but not so creepy like. Jonathon Rhys Meyers, surprised me as a bad guy. He can do bad, well. Ok, that was not an issue, just an added comment. But the cool things in the book, are for the most part left put of the movie. Perhaps, this should have been adapted for the small screen and made into a mini-series?
     The movie just gives you a taste of the Shadowhunter World. If you haven't read the books, then I suggest reading them. You get a much more strange and detailed world. Deeper character details, too. The interesting things, weird things, that the film leaves out.
    Still a much better adaptation, than The Hunger Games. Pleasantly surprised.
   

Dark Inheritance: An Original Short Story

The following is copyrighted on this date of August 21,2013.

     Dark Inheritance

     “What do poppies represent?” I asked while setting a small box next to the dark brown teenager sitting at a small desk.

     “Remembrance.”

     “Good, so should it be added to the potion to renew a couple’s love?” I loved the watching the gears working in my apprentices head. For a fifteen year old, she was disciplined.

     “Yes, to help someone remember why he or she fell in love.”

     “Very good. I have something for you. Open the box.” She opened the wooden box and pulled out a silver chained necklace with a ruby rose bud in the center of a silver circle.

     “To wear at Beltane. You’re still too young, to pick a lover for the night, even for a Fae. Otherwise, you don’t go, understood.”

     “Yes, Lady Rowan.” She was feigning respect. Most adults, Fae or human wouldn't notice, she was that good, but she wasn't the first teenage apprentice I had.

     “It’s enchanted. Once you put it on, only I can take it off. Oh, and trying to switch it won’t work either. The enchantment has a fail-safe worked into it.” She glared at me, then decided to ignore me and began to prepare the potion for renewing love’s flame.

     “Be grateful that you don’t have to deal with my mother.” The door bell chimed. Someone had entered the store. I left Amber to her studies and exited the store’s backroom.

     The customer was a familiar face, and a good friend.

     “Jack, what can I do for you?”

     “A favor for a human friend.”

     “Kim, could you keep an eye on the front for me?” A curly haired head peeked around the side of a bookcase.

     “Sure. I’ll get you if I need to.”

     “Thanks. Let’s head to my office.” I pointed Jack to the hallway on his left.

      Jack sat in the cushioned chair in front of my desk. I sat on top of the desk. He was friend, not a client. I had two types of people that frequented my store. Customers which could be human and/or Fae, and then clients which were usually Fae, that needed certain potions, or items that weren't common market items in the human world.

     “Am I going to regret this?” Jack and trouble had a tendency to go hand in hand.

     “No guarantee. Still want to hear me out?” I simply nodded my head in reply.

     “Erin and her husband have tried for years to have a child. They have seen all the specialists, tried everything possible, both have been cleared as completely capable of having children. No one can figure out why. She’s an O’Grady.”

     “Of the O’Grady’s.”

     “Yes.”

     The O’Grady’s were one of several human families that had stood by and protected the Fae, even going to war with them.  The tale of the Banshee and certain families was true. Banshees did foretell of the death of those family members.

     “OK, so what’s the catch?” Jack knew several others, who could help him, and yet he chose me, and I was betting it had something to do with my family connections.

     “She inherited the family curse.” My eyebrows shot up.

     “One that prevents her from having children.”

     “Exactly. It only affects one boy or girl born every generation. Erin just got the luck of the draw.”

     “Her chances of conceiving increase if I can properly break the curse. Jack, I have a two week timetable before Beltane, the best time for me to do a fertility spell.”

     “I know. I've been doing some investigating of my own, and I found something.” He handed me a red cloth that was covering something heavy.

     “It’s a brass representation of the Herculean knot.”  A Roman or Grecian bride’s father tied the knot in her tunic, and her husband was supposed to untie the knot on their wedding night.

     “From what Erin told me, the knot was a wedding gift to one of her Great-great, generations back aunt, who had betrayed her husband to be. He discovered she was pregnant soon after they wed, too far along to be his child. He had Fae connections and decided not to directly punish the child for his or her mother’s sins, so the curse chooses one from the family bloodline to be childless.”

     “I’ll help but she owes me three favors, and you owe me.” Jack smiled. He always owed me, and was good at returning favors when I needed, no questions asked.

     “I’ll keep you updated. Can I keep the knot?”

     “I’ll let Erin know you have it. Good luck. Thank you.”

     “You’re welcome. Oh, and Amber will need an escort to Beltane.”

     “You devilish hawk shifter.” Jack Frost was one of the few Fae who could resist a Siren, especially one just starting to blossom into her abilities. Jack is an Ice Elemental Elf. I’m sure heart of ice rings a bell. Jack could keep his emotions cold as ice, when he wants to, making him immune to a Siren’s influence.

     “Fine. I’ll escort her.”

     “She’s in the back studying.” Jack tilted his head and headed in the back to tell Amber the good news. I headed upstairs to my apartment to change clothes. Where I was going, human apparel was inappropriate. I could Amber and Jack arguing through the air vents.

     “The enchanted necklace is one thing, but I do not need an escort!” I couldn't help but smile. Amber could be a handful when she wanted.

     “Rowan thinks otherwise. You’re at a vulnerable age for a Siren, and she wants to make sure you’re on your best behavior.”

     “I’m considered an adult.”

     “Old enough to attend Beltane does not make you an independent adult.” I could visualize Amber’s cold stone stare.

     “I can’t take a lover. I can’t dance naked around the bonfire. You suck the fun out of everything.” The door slammed. Jack hollered see you later, and headed out. Amber would accept my terms, technically her mother’s terms. Beltane as well as Samhain are big events for the Fae. One never forgets their first festival.

     I hid all my Fae apparel in the back of my closet. A few dresses, tunic style shirts with drawstrings on the front, a few pants, and a couple of pairs of shoes and belts. Pants wouldn’t be proper. It took a few minutes of internal debate before I would settle on a dress. This occasion was much more important than a first date.

     The dress I settled on was soft velvet grey. Floor length until I put the matching lace up boots on. Long sleeved, properly covered everything. No jewelry. My hair was simply pulled back in a braid, and tied with a grey ribbon. Any makeup I wore was barely noticeable. I took a deep breath, released it. I could do this. No one should be this afraid of family, but I had a good reason.

     It was time to visit my aunt. To Celtic people she was known as The Morrigan. The goddess of death and fertility, her name is Morrigan. To the Fae she is the Queen of Death. To my mother she is her twin sister. To me she was the Aunt you respected, and maybe even feared a teeny bit. But I loved her and she me.

     In the corner of my room is an antiqued looking mirror. That’s what I wanted people to see, a normal golden gilded framed, floor length mirror. This looking glass could have been used by Alice, but it didn’t lead to Wonderland.

     A simple incantation and the mirrors surface shimmered and rippled like a pond being hit by a breeze. I stepped through. I pulled the cloak closer around me. The wind was cold, as usual for this particular wood.

     I looked around and took in the gnarled trees. I shivered at the eerie howls in the distance, even though the frightening creatures that made those howls wouldn’t dare touch a hair on my head. Even though as a child, I had played in these woods, I still couldn’t help feeling a bit afraid.

     I followed the familiar misted path that ended up at the strangely homely looking cottage. I quietly knocked on the door, and a familiar male opened the door. At first glance, Tuck was a good looking guy, in a soft, gentle sort of way, and for someone who had died at birth. A spell and he became a Grim Reaper.  One my Aunt’s most trusted Reapers.

     “She’s expecting you.” I raised my eyebrows.

     “Eyes and ears everywhere.”  Was Tuck’s response, to my unspoken question.  It did seem difficult to surprise my Aunt. I followed Tuck out to the garden. Like my mother, Aunt Morrigan is an Earth Elemental, and like me, we always feel at home working and tending the garden.

     “Princess Rowan to see you, my lady.” Tuck quietly announced my presence, bowed respectfully, and left.

     “An old friend told me you’d be coming. You wish to see the Old Fate.”      My Aunt smiled. She and the Fate of the Future were close friends.

          “She said an ancient favor would be called in by my niece. I should grant her request. But first, tell me why you need to see the Old Woman?” I told my Aunt everything, even showing her the Herculean knot. Before I left, she handed the ring that would gain me entrance to see The Old Woman and a vial of her blood that I would need to travel into the past.

     I used my Aunt’s portal mirror to take me to the Old Woman, the Fate of the Past. She stayed in a hut in a nice looking, friendly wood.

     A kind old woman came out to greet me. Looks can be deceiving, get her bad side, and she could literally be quite a monster.

     “Please come in. You have what will be needed?” I handed her the vial of blood and a packet of different seeds.

      “Good. I’ll need to add a few drops of your blood to the vile.” She handed me a small knife. I pricked my finger, added my blood and took a seat across from the Fate.

     “I’ll need an object connected to the past.” I handed her the Herculean knot. She added a few drops of her blood to the vial and shook it up. Whispered a few words of incantation, and I then drank the vial of blood.

     I had never traveled in the past before. It was like being aware you’re dreaming. At first things around me were in a swirl of misty colors. Then things slowly came into focus. I was standing in the woods. It was near Samhain. I could feel the Earth around me sleeping. The leaves were falling from the trees in their red, yellow and orange colors. I could almost feel the slight chill in the wind, and a leaf brush past my head. It was just after sunset, and the moon had begun to rule the sky. I followed the path, toward the grove, and that is when I saw him. In his hand was the Herculean knot. He and a Druid had just left the altar where the curse was invoked. Time travel isn’t an exact science even when magic is involved.

     A few moments passed, and then I saw her. She wasn't full Fae, but she definitely had a touch of Fae in her blood. For a human she walked a little too gracefully. She was beautiful. Long light blond hair and deep dark brown eyes. Sun touched skin, just enough color to balance out her charming looks. She had gotten her hands on the Herculean Knot.

     This is when things got interesting. No one in this past trip should see me. Or interact with me. The woman looked up and beckoned to me to come. What else could I do, I went up to her.

     “My brother didn't understand. The Druid, he’s my brother. I couldn't tell him, about my power. I could see future glimpses, things to come. I saw a child, a girl. From the family line he would curse. From her line, a halfing with a power that hasn't been seen for centuries would come. I’ve waited a long time for this. I added a spell into the Knot, in hopes of finding the one who could break the curse.”

     “You think that’s me?” She smiled. She let the feral look of her heritage come out. She had strong Fae in her ancestry.

     “Your blood will allow you to take the scroll from out of the Knot. It will take you to where I am. I’ll explain everything then. You’re spell is fading.” Things were becoming blurry, and then I was back in the cottage.

     As soon as picked up the Knot off the table the scroll fell out. I explained everything to the Elder Fate, and then she sent me on my way.

     I prefer travel by portal. Travel by spell can be very disorientating and sometimes nausea inducing, depending on where you’re headed. When I made it to my destination, I was lucky enough to have someone there to break my fall.

     “Gregory, take her to the chair.” I familiar voice said. Gregory obviously was a Fae that couldn't look human. As I stumbled along, doing my best to breathe and not vomit, I distinctly heard hoof steps on the wood floor. As soon as I my butt hit the seat of the chair, I bent my head down near my knees, shut my eyes and took several deep cleansing breaths. The feeling of nausea lifted, and as I lifted my head back up, I caught a glimpse of Gregory’s four hoofed legs in a lovely deep sorrel color, a centaur.

     “Drink this. It will help.” A familiar voice said.  A cup of mint tea was set down next to me.

     “I’m Rowena.” I sipped some of the tea.

     “Rowan, it’s nice to meet you in the flesh.” We shook hands, and following polite protocol I introduced myself to Gregory.

     “Answers sometimes need questions. May I do a reading? Faster than you asking me.” Ah, she was clairvoyant. I put out my hand; she took it in hers and closed her eyes. I smile spread across her face.

     “It should be possible. The druid called upon death magic for the curse, I twisted so it would leave the woman barren. That was never his intent. Your blood is life, Earth Elemental, and death also runs in your veins. Your mother isn't Queen Morrigan, but yet a trace of death magic resides in your blood.”

     “My mother is Morrigan’s twin. The spell that altered my Aunt left a mark on my mother, due to their magical link. Like Morrigan who still has a link to her Earth Elemental side, my mother got a link to her death magic, and the link was passed to me.” It started making sense. A Druid was always strong in Earth Elemental power, but a Dark Druid, would twist that power and be able to use death magic, which would come at the price of blood spilt, in this case, probably a pregnant animal of some sort. My Aunt used pure death magic. It was her Element.

     “From death comes life. A balance of nature, fire being the balance of both, you’re like the fire, death and life in one. I need the exact curse.” She handed me an old scroll. I knew what I needed to break the curse, and lucky, for me Rowena, had an organic grocery store. One element I would have to ask for but rarely given freely.

     “Make me a list and I’ll gather what you need.” Rowena said while handing me a pen and notebook. As Rowena went to gather what I needed, I called Jack and gave him an update. Then I borrowed Rowena’s calling mirror, and contacted a good friend of mine.

     “Rose.”

     “You need a favor. You never could cover that tone of voice well.”

     “Let me try again. Hello Rose. How are you and Raven doing?” Rose smiled.

     “Much better. We’re fine. Now was that so hard?”

     “No. Sometimes…”

     “You get focused in your work but that’s no excuse for lack of manners.”

      “You sound just like my mother. Your right. Sorry.”

     “Apology accepted. How about a favor for a favor?”

     “Fair trade. Name it.”

     “A fertility reading.” I only did three during the Festival of Beltane and payment of some sort was required. The reading determined if a child would be conceived with in the year, and when. For a Fae, certain times of year could ensure a child who was stronger in certain magic; have a better chance of inheriting certain gifts, or avoiding certain genetic quirks.

     “Done. I need you to ask Pyro for a small vial of his blood.” Her eyes looked a lot bigger now.

     “Why?” I explained everything to her.

     “You could just ask him yourself.”

     “He threatened to toast me like a marshmallow and swallow me whole the last time we crossed paths.”

     “It was misunderstanding. He did apologize.” Oh, he did all right with the undertone of, hurt my Little Fire Nymph in any way, and you won’t be around for another apology. I had good reason to avoid the fire breathing dragon, even in his human form.

     “Done. You’ll have it in time for Beltane.” Rose said then we said goodbyes.

     Beltane arrived and I entered the Sacred Grove hours before the festivities would begin. I sat in the center of the crossed Ley lines. I placed the knot on the small table I brought with me I laid out the ingredients.

     I placed the knot in a bowl filled with water. I started to let the power of the Ley Lines flow through me. I tapped into the Earth and pulled the elemental magic toward me. I grabbed a handful of mixed flower petals.

     “Apple Blossoms, Orange Blossoms, for fertility and Lily and Day Lily for motherhood, Peony for healing. “I dropped the petals into the bowl.

     “Balance has been undone. Death has over powered life. Fire cleanses all.” I opened and dropped the vial of dragon blood in the bowl. I then picked up a small blade and cut my hand, letting three drops of blood fall into the bowl.

     “Life renewed, death now balanced.” The knot broke apart into three pieces. I felt the death of the curse.

     As an Earth Elemental, I resided over Beltane, as “Mother Nature”, in a sense. I kept my word, and did the Fertility reading for Rose. Her and her Phoenix husband, Raven would have a child, during the Phoenix Rebirth Celebration. I did one extra reading for the O’Grady’s. The curse was broken and in time, they would be parents to a set of twins, it would still be a very long time before that special child would be born.

     As for Amber and Jack, they survived Beltane and didn't kill each other. It was at Beltane that Amber realized that most young Sirens were forbidden to attend until they had control over their powers. Most of her friends couldn't attend. Before the festival was over she apologized for being a handful for Jack and she thanked Rowan for convincing her mother she could attend safely, and also apologized for her behavior before the festival. She did end up having a good time.

    

Want to re-enter the world of The Fae. See what becomes of Rose, Raven, and their child in Rise of the Phoenix.

http://sbpra.com/ShannonMRoland/.

Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters [ film ]

     I have never read the books about Percy Jackson. I did see the first installment of this film, Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief. If you have not read the book, you need to see the first film before seeing this one. Otherwise, somethings will seem weird.
     The first film in this series was story focused for the most part and less action. Which makes perfect sense because Percy is discovering who he really is. The second installment was less story focused and more of an action quest film. Like the first film, it was good. Not one I would buy to own, but good. This film was definitely fast paced but still had enough of a story line to make it good. There was a casting change with Chiron. Pierce Bronson was replaced by Anthony Steward Head, who seems to me to be the better fit anyway, but that's my opinion. This film would have been fine without 3-D. It really didn't add a lot to the film and I kind of agree with other movie critics that 3-D is great for some films, if used right, but is being over used.
     This film is worth going to see on the big screen.

The Wolverine

I have seen all of the x-men films. Sad to say, like X-Men 3, Wolverine fell short of being one of my favorites. I wasn't expecting much from the previews I saw.

Thankfully, it was better than I thought it would be. A bit slow at times. Okay, I know when making a film you want outlandish action scenes, but there has to be a balance in the realm of possible, and really. you can't be serious. If you haven't seen the film, all I will say is the bullet train was in the realm of really? Seriously? Not worth paying the extra for 3-D. Not a bad film, but not what it could have been. At least I didn't leave disappointed.