A Participant for Open Novella Contest. Prompt #27 A few people can understand the complex world and its hidden messages. Nineteen year old Blaire Hughes possess the skill. Blaire lives in a small and isolated community. The people love their peace and familiarity. Children go to school, adults go to work and people routinely live their simple and perfect lives. But just like any other "perfect" community, they have their dark secrets no one dares to discuss. In the morning, she is known as the Odd Belle. No beauty, just plain weird. At night, she travels through her dreams to see different parallel universes. She lives freely from the rumors and gossips, trying to find a place where she truly belongs. No one knows her secret nor powers. No one at all... Or maybe someone already does. As the town's secret starts to reveal itself, her dreams becomes erratic. Her ignored life just became surprising than she thought it will be. Will she learn the secret and bring herself out of the dark or will she step on an endless void and be capitvated by the darkness forever?

Ashlyn works for a Paranormal Investigation Agency. One day, she and her partner Percy discover a mind-reading alien inside a restricted part of the building. She decides to risk it all and save this poor creature from its prison. Unfortunately, her friend Percy has no intention of helping her, and she must come up with a plan on her own. Only one thing is for sure, for one reason or another, she can't seem to stop her heart from skipping a beat, each time she looks into the alien's dark obsidian eyes. And for the life of her, no matter how hard she tries, she simply can't keep him out of her mind... Literally and figuratively. ... NOTES: 1) This is an original story. The narrative and characters are owned by the Author (AKA me). 2) CAUTION: (Trigger warning) some chapters will address trauma from torture and child abduction. And this book will have instances of ghost possession, sleep paralysis, violence, and moments of strong language. Readers discretion is advised. 3) Book art was drawn by me - the author. P.S. As you scroll through this book, please feel free to leave any comments or feedback along the way. It's always appreciated ^-^ Now, grab yourself a warm cup of coffee, find someplace comfortable, and get ready to dive in! Happy reading, everyone! :D

Kira Saxena's life has been turned upside down overnight: From a privileged heiress with no worries to a woman facing an arranged marriage designed to restore her family's wealth and fund her younger sister's treatment. But what happens when the man she's supposed to marry is also being forced into the same arrangement? Simple. They strike a deal. Karthik Oberoi is not only the heir to a billion-dollar business empire but also a brilliant tech entrepreneur who runs his own multi-million dollar startup. Marriage is the last thing on his mind-his focus is on perfecting a groundbreaking code that could change the future of his business. But can two people desperate to control their own futures navigate a relationship that seems like it was never meant to be?

Centuries ago, humanity's greed shattered the balance of the world. Betrayed and slaughtered, the elves vanished into legend, their sacred tree, Elaureth, cursing the royal bloodline and dooming mankind to fear and mistrust. Magic faded, and with it, the world's last remnants of peace. Now, in the quiet village of Mosswick, young Eleanor stumbles upon a mysterious blue gem buried deep within a cave. Its beauty is mesmerizing, but its discovery comes at a devastating cost-an eerie curse befalls her village, trapping its people in a nightmarish fate. The only ones untouched are Eleanor, her mother figure, Marianne, also known as Granny Pie, and three enigmatic travelers drawn to the gem for reasons of their own. Forced to leave everything behind, Eleanor embarks on a journey with four unlikely companions: two secretive elves, a rebellious noble, and a cursed prince whose past is shrouded in tragedy. Together, they must uncover the truth behind the curse, face the forces that destroyed magic, and challenge the very fate of the kingdom. But some truths were meant to stay buried. Some curses are not so easily broken. And Eleanor's journey is only the beginning.

Shanna Lee is this close to landing the promotion she's worked three years for at Manhattan's most prestigious five-star hotel. She just has to keep her head down, take care of her ailing grandmother, and avoid any unnecessary drama. Enter Danny. The new intern. Clumsy, late, annoyingly good-looking-and somehow her responsibility. What Shanna doesn't know is that "Danny" is actually Daemon Kim, heir to South Korea's most powerful conglomerate. But after one too many scandals (and a conveniently dramatic "health scare" from his father), he's been shipped off to New York with no money, no special treatment, and a new identity he absolutely despises. Worse? Shanna is the first woman to ever roll her eyes at him instead of melting. Thrown together on a major hotel project, Daemon starts falling-hard-for the one girl who doesn't care about his money or his name. But secrets always have a way of coming out... and when they do, the fallout is anything but romantic. She was just trying to get promoted. He was just trying to survive being "Danny." Neither of them expected feelings to happen.

Welcome to Sunshine Acres: the home of a reclusive sorceress, her mischievous apprentice, and a shape-shifting beast. Robin, a jaded doctor, finds himself at this peculiar sanctuary while on a quest to find his brother, Otto. Running out of money and desperate, he agrees to serve as the cook and housekeeper in return for a place to stay. Amidst the enchantment and dangers of Sunshine Acres, Robin must confront hidden dangers and unravel the sorceress's secrets. Can he mend her shattered heart and survive the perils that threaten the Witch of the Red Crows? Loosely inspired by Howl's Moving Castle (both the movie and the book) with a Wild West, gender-bent twist. 🪄 ------------------------------- "I'm looking for a sorceress." "HA!" The old woman laughed, eyes gleaming with amusement. "Might as well admit you're lookin' for trouble, boy." . Cover Character Illustrations by @minoruru on Insta/Tumblr ❤️

Severa grows up in a horrific world, one ruled by hatred, just like everything around her. Believing she has nothing left to lose, Severa clings to revenge. But what if her cold heart starts to beat faster for the enemy, and she becomes entangled in a journey that takes her on an adventure she never desired? A journey that threatens to take away her last possession - something she didn't even know she had. A heart. Full of love.

In the enchanting kingdom of Veridonia, where magic flows through every part of daily life, traditions and ancient spells hold a quiet power over the realm. Lady Adeline Wycliffe, the adventurous and spirited daughter of Viscount Wycliffe, dreams of a life unfettered by noble expectations. With a sharp mind, a kind heart, and a secret gift for magic, she yearns to explore the world beyond the rigid walls of nobility. But her aspirations come to an abrupt halt when her family arranges her marriage to the enigmatic Duke of Wintermere, a man she's heard of only in whispers. Duke Lucien Valenhart is known for his honor, his strategic brilliance, and the aura of winter that seems to follow him. Steadfast in duty but guarded at heart, Lucien sees marriage as a necessity, a way to strengthen alliances. Love, to him, is a luxury he cannot afford. Bound by duty but brought together by circumstance, Adeline and Lucien find themselves navigating the grandeur of court life and the quiet magic that fills the Duke's estate. Facing unexpected dangers, enchanting mysteries, and the warmth of small, shared moments, they begin to see each other in a new light. But to truly find one another, they must first let down their walls and open their guarded hearts.

The world of Volandros is not what it once was. The fairies-once numerous-are now rare, scattered across the land after a devastating plague. Flicka, a curious and determined fairy, finds herself entangled in a dangerous mission to save her best friend, Theo, from a shady mage. Her journey takes her deep into the heart of Mount Lion, the home of the secretive and fiercely independent dwarves. To settle Theo's debt, Flicka must steal the legendary Golden Key of Safrid-an artifact said to unlock any door in existence. But the dwarves do not take kindly to intruders, and gaining their trust is no simple feat. As Flicka dances her way into their good graces, she faces a choice-betray the ones who welcomed her or risk losing the only person she has left in the world. With magic, intrigue, and adventure at every turn, Wings of Volandros is a spellbinding tale of loyalty, deception, and the search for home. Perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and Howl's Moving Castle, this fantasy adventure will transport you to a world of enchanting secrets and perilous quests.

Carried to a fantasy future by a dark-eyed, time-traveling stranger, can Leonor overcome the guilt that haunts her and fulfill her destiny... while navigating her growing attraction to her newfound protector? Leonor, a student at present-day Harvard, would do anything for the people she holds dear: her roommates, her beloved little brother - and the brilliant but eccentric Professor Mosey, the mentor to whom she faithfully delivers meals three times a day while he conducts secret chemistry experiments that have earned him the nickname The Batty Professor. One night, Leonor's world is shattered when mysterious and deadly spies arrive at Professor Mosey's office to steal the discovery he made just hours earlier: a chemical solution that, when consumed, allows humans to time-travel. When Leonor becomes the spies' next target, she has no escape - until a man with midnight-black eyes whisks her three hundred years into the future. There, she discovers a world whose most powerful figure harbors dark plans to use Professor Mosey's time-travel solution to transform all of reality: past, present, and future. Plans that can be stopped, if at all, only by a secret that Leonor possesses. To prevent her enemy's designs from taking shape, Leonor will need the help of the newfound protector who carried her to the future, a man defined by his rigidly disciplined nature. Together, the two must navigate a city of elites, servants, mysteries, and masquerade balls. Their quest will require them to confront painful secrets from their own pasts, but Leonor is determined to do whatever it takes to save the world from doom. To save her family and friends. And to save the man with whom she has begun to share an attraction as unexpected as it is undeniable and irresistible. *** The first few story parts are long, then the parts become shorter. Hope you enjoy it! ***