[ONC 2025 HONOURABLE MENTION] A witch's broom is for flying and should never be used for cleaning unless you are Isolde Cromsbane. Her notorious clumsiness often ends up in a mess she has to deal with and there is only one job that can suit her, a librarian. But when a warlock comes looking for a forbidden book, which she had already burned to ashes by mistake, she is forced to cast the magic by herself. It's just a single spell after all. Yet apparently, her infamy should never be underestimated. It takes only one spell to reduce the library to ruins, leaving behind nothing but smoke, silence, and two lifeless bodies: hers and the warlock's. *** This is for ONC 2025 PROMPT 139: Oops, I did it again, muttered the witch as sparks flew wildly around the Hidden Library, narrowly missing the charming warlock who smirked and replied, Well this is already more exciting than finding that rare book. PROMPT 110: 20 days of freedom PROMPT 20: In a pink and red library filled with candles, you find a book with a rose on it. Inside, there's a spell that could bring back your lost love - but at what cost? © Copyrights Reserved 2025

Alexie never meant to fall in love with a demon. It never crossed her mind. When she meets Zarek at the library, she thinks nothing is wrong with him. Until one night, she stumbles across him while completing his job as the demonic Judge of Souls. Thrust into a new world, the two of them must navigate dark politics, secrets, and bond ties-while denying their love and attraction to each other. But as trust builds, the two of them are thrust into a new fear that only the two of them can get out of. ONC Prompts #2 and #127

Evelyn's quiet, unsatisfying life as a librarian is upended when she steps through a mysterious door into the decaying Kingdom of Thorn. Gifted with powers beyond her comprehension, she learns she is the kingdom's last hope against an ancient curse. Guided by Rhiannon, a fierce warrior with a painful past, Evelyn must face a journey full of danger... and an undeniable attraction to this enigmatic knight of Thorn. In a world where magic and sacrifice collide, can love survive the cost of salvation? An ONC entry based on prompts 1 and 13

In the desert of Western Kemp, hidden within the towering cliffs, lies the legendary Temple of Akh-Neteru: a place of ancient wisdom and forbidden knowledge. Carved seamlessly into the mountainside, the temple houses the lost secrets of the afterlife, creation, and enlightenment. For centuries, it has remained a myth, a whispered legend among those who traverse the desolate sands. For a small group of initiates, the temple's sacred truths are within reach. Hathor, a celestial falcon halfbreed with a mysterious heritage. Gavriel, a devoted warrior torn by doubt. Oronos, a former acolyte from Atlantis. Nalini, a grieving widow desperate to resurrect her lost husband. Drawn together in pursuit of the ultimate knowledge of life and death, they uncover ancient texts and secrets long buried. In a reimagining of "The Divine Comedy," four souls journey through a metaphysical underworld and higher realms shaped by ancient myths and world religious traditions. As they navigate these realms, they uncover hidden truths about Atlantis, setting the stage for their awakening and the fate of the world. But the temple is not without its dangers. Forces beyond their comprehension are awakening, and as Atlantis teeters on the brink of collapse, they must decide how far they are willing to go for the knowledge they seek. Can the boundaries between life and death be undone, or is there a reason the afterlife must remain untouched? With the fate of Atlantis hanging in the balance, the four initiates must confront their deepest fears, their desires, and their devotion to the Truth. **** "The Guardians of Atlantis" is a science fantasy novella set in the Third World Universe created by author Sunny Ghauri. Though it runs parallel to the events in the novel "The Sky Gods of Atlantis," this story stands on its own as a tale of power, loss, and the eternal struggle between life and death.

Vredera is a kingdom plagued. It was a sickness that began on the land far from life, but soon took root into the residents of the kingdom. Now, with the people dropping like flies, action had to be taken. Action was taken. With a reward offered to those who rid the source of the sickness, a band of knights traverse across the land. This was how Lorelei found herself at the hands of such knights. One witch needed to help cure the affliction even if it was never her plan. Her life was thrown into disarray. Lorelei watched as she traveled to the forest. The land that was the source of the plague. Along the way, she encountered the true horrors of the curse that she was hidden from in her small village. The paths she used to take no longer looked the same.

**When a gruesome prison death reunites an officer with her ex-best friend, feelings resurface as they investigate the deep-rooted secrets of an ancient penitentiary.** After eight years abroad, Lana Lippian has returned to the frozen asteroid of her birth as a Lieutenant in the Intergalactic Disciplinary Organization. It's now her job to police both Fenestra Prison and the surrounding penal colony of Subtus City. But when an ill-fated arrest leads to the death of an innocent teenager, Lana's estranged best friend (and childhood crush), Korona Tallow, begs the officer to imprison her in order to investigate what she believes to be murder. However, dangerous secrets lie behind the metal walls of Fenestra and Lana has her work cut out keeping Kor safe. Especially since the fiery nuisance has never been one to fly below the radar. Soon, sparks catch in the flammable atmosphere as the wary allies discover that both the mystery and their feelings go far deeper than either could have imagined. ||Trigger Warning for Spicy Adult Situations, Language, Violence and Death|| Featured on: @FreeTheLGBT @OpenNovellaContest @ScienceFiction @Wattpad

🏆ONC Honourable Mention 🏆ONC Shortlister 🏆ONC Ambassador's Pick ______ Celeste Hart, a rising music star, watches her dreams turn into a nightmare when she uncovers the dark truth behind her sudden fame. Lorelei Voss, a powerful and enigmatic industry mogul, is more than just Celeste's boss-she's a vampire who chose Celeste not only for her talent but because she is her fated soulmate. Bound by an ancient curse, Lorelei is irresistibly drawn to Celeste's blood, yet she can never taste it until the mate bond is sealed. Now that she knows the truth, Celeste's admiration and gratitude twist into fear, and a hatred far stronger than the undeniable pull she feels toward the creature who deceived her. She must choose: reject the bond and walk away or accept Lorelei for what she is. But how could she ever love a monster? Using these prompts: 9 - You've become famous, but there's a catch: your contract binds you to a demanding vampire boss who expects you to use your newfound fame to attract fresh blood for her. 11- Vampires are bound by an ancient destiny: Their soulmate is always human and this is governed by 3 rules. The smell of their soulmate's blood is irresistible, the taste is sweeter than anything else and if the love is unrequited, it can be fatal. Fearing the inevitable bond, most vampires try to avoid it. But what happens when one of them discovers their soulmate is a human who not only rejects them, but loathes them? 31 - Next time, ask yourself if your integrity is worth knowing the truth. Warnings -Blood -Language

A companion prequel novella for 'To Marry a Dragon'. When a mysterious thief steals a treasure from a reckless prince, his knights spring into action. They're hunting for the precious necklace intended for the prince's bride, but the prince knows better. His heart was stolen, and his heart is priceless. The only way he can recover from this loss is to find his thief before the knights. Only, he can't court the thief and still be the same prince he's always been.

In Imperia, power is a delicate, all-consuming game. So when young Lady Sylnavi's father commissions her to quietly destroy a political rival, she's thrilled. Impress, and she earns her place as her powerful father's right hand. Fail, and -- well, there is no such thing as failure, is there? But when the rival turns out to be the first person she's ever met who can match her own ruthless cunning, the plan gets more complicated. After all, if he's smarter than her father... wouldn't it make more sense to switch sides? As her father and his rival vie for her loyalty, she must decide what is most important: family, love, or her own unending ambition. ~ * ~ Shortlister in ONC 2025 Prompts 52 and 123 Main: Let's play the game of colors: you paint me red because you love me, and I'll paint you black because I want you gone. Secondary: »I'm unstoppable. I'm a Porsche with no brakes. I'm invincible. Yeah, I win every single game« - Unstoppable by Sia