"WELCOME to hell." Two wicked souls. One dangerous game.

The kingdom Dulcia has fallen. Dark creatures have invaded the palace, inslaving all those who work there. The royal family--the only ones able to stop the creatures--have vanished into oblivion. No one has seen or heard from them since the fall. There are rumors. Rumors that they escaped the castle, rumors that they are assembling an army to fight the creatures known as Muraes. Only one thing is for certain. No one knows where they went, nor do they know if they will come back. ________________________________________ Every year, Clair's family goes to the king of Arium's palace for of the most lavish Christmas party imaginable. They meet family, old friends, new acquaininces--anyone they possibly can. Clair never enjoys the huge parties. She prefers to be by herself, drawing or dancing. Until, one year, everything changes. Presented with the most beautiful gift she could possibly imagine, Clair is filled with joy. She clings to her wooden doll with her life, never letting go. When she wakes up one night and it is gone, she panics, searching for it. Only to find a hideous creature. When she is rescued by the same doll she loved, Clair is suddenly swept up into a world of magic, lost kingdoms, and lost royalty. But she is also in the world ruled by darkness. ________________________________________ "When snow falls, the kingdom dies. Light will leave, Dark will rise. It can only be stopped by treasure as pure as gold, as light as air, but strong and bold. Only then will the leader rise, out from ashes and hidden from prying eyes." ***** 2018 Wattys Shortlist 2018 Wattys Longlist Featured story Awesome cover by @elphadora ***** Loosely based on The Nutcracker (both book and ballet)

"His genius was very rich, and ran much upon poetry, in which he excelled. But alas! In the issue. Wine and Love were the ruin of this ingenious Gentleman." John Dunton (1659 - 1733) English bookseller and author, writing of Benjamin Bridgewater. INTRODUCTION This completed story will form one full episode of a larger, historical fact/fiction work. The story here relates to Benjamin, one of my many Bridgewater ancestors. These early forebears include: Benjamin: the current subject, a rogue black sheep of the family (for every family has at least one in their closet) who was a London Lawyer of the Middle Temple, a writer, poet and all round bad 'un. In later years, the sad life of this once promising Cambridge scholar spiralled in an ever downward direction to the dark abyss. Henry: an Elizabethan Gentleman, who named in his Will a titled Lady who was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I (the Virgin Queen), and whom Her Majesty affectionately called 'My Black Crow'. Nathaniel: a Gentleman and servant to Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset (known as 'The Proud Duke'). One of Nathaniel's many rôles was as 'Waiter on the Robes' to Queen Anne. Thomas: a Master Joiner/Carver, an example of whose handsome ornamental work can be seen to this day on the wooden pulpit inside the famous London church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. Benjamin: (father of Benjamin above), who was a Freeman Citizen of The Worshipful Company of Dyers and elected to the Court of Common Council. Roger: an 18th century actor who performed with the celebrated players of the day at the Covent Garden and Drury Lane Theatres in London. Extracts from the 1697 Calves-Head Club anthem and the poem on Mary II are the contemporary works of Benjamin Bridgewater. The Epistle to him is by his contemporary, John Tutchin. There is 'A readers' abridged FAMILY TREE of Benjamin Bridgewater', at the end of this work, which may help with your journey through his story.