Sunstone Mansion

Chapter One - Oliviana

Hello again readers!

If this is your first time, turn back! This is BOOK TWO of the Moonlight Cottage series. The first few chapters of Moonlight Cottage are free to read on my page to give you a little taste. They are followed by the Amazon link to purchase at the end.

If this is not your first time, then this will sound familiar. This is the first SUPER ROUGH draft of the book. I'll write it here on Wattpad so you guys can get a first look, but more importantly, so you can give suggestions! Once the basic story is done, I will take any ideas, edits, or praise into account and rework it all until it's ready for publication. I appreciate all constructive criticism, but don't be a jerk about it. No one likes a meanie ;)

Without further ado, the first draft of Sunstone Cottage everyone!

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    "I am sorry that it had to be this way Elric, but you left me no other choice."

    I could see the pain on his face. It was clear as day and I knew what it was. Guilt. Shame. I wished he could see the bigger picture. What was at stake.

    He knew what Rosie's death would mean for me. He was my only real family and I had needed him. Elric could make me the bad guy, but at the end of the day, he was the one who abandoned his only sister to the wolves. He owed me after everything. After what happened with Father and Dane.

    "You are incapable of remorse and you have always had a choice Oliviana". He would not even look at me. I could not stop the sharp stab of pain in that deep recess of my heart that belonged only to my older brother. I did my best to put that invisible wall back up immediately. Sentimentality would get me nowhere.

    I turned to my most trusted guard. I needed to think about my next step and how I could get Elric on my side. Like he was before... everything. "Larkin, escort my brother to his quarters so he can rest. We have a lot to discuss over the next few days."

    Larkin stepped toward him and Elric shot up like an arrow from his seat. Finally, he looked me in the eye as he spoke. "I do not know what it is you think you will accomplish here, but I will never forget what you did. Destroying every tiny glimpse of happiness I could find did not warm me to you. You have only made it worse. I hope you are never happy again. Like I will never be happy again."

    So dramatic... "One day Elric, you will see that everything I have done is for your own good. You are better than them. You deserve more than they can possibly give you. You will live for hundreds of their lifetimes. In a few decades, you will not even remember their names."

    "Well, good thing that I will never forget yours and I will make sure that one day you will dread hearing it come from my lips", he snarled, baring his teeth. I just looked to Larkin and he swiftly yanked Elric in front of him. As they walked through the door, Elric sealed it with, "I promise."

    His last remark and the sudden silence of the room caused a shiver to creep along my spine, but I shook it out and stood. I needed a long bath and some rest. First thing tomorrow we would begin our plans. Elric would come around eventually. Especially once he saw what we are capable of.

    I headed down the hall to my rooms. Opening the door, I heard the familiar chatter of Ravi from his perch. He was excited to see me. He had probably been worried when I was late to bed. My only true and constant companion.

    I crossed the floor and gave him a little kiss on his beak. He rubbed it along my cheeks affectionately and then settled in to sleep. I prepared to do the same. I crossed to the rope hanging next to the door and rang the servants bell. I could not wait to be in the steaming hot water. Once I was clean, I fell into bed, utterly exhausted from the events of the night.