Nerezza is scared of the monster under her bed, but what she doesn't know is that it's there to protect her from the real monsters: her parents. And very possibly, her self. -Romance -short story -fiction -simplified rewrite

『 Everyone has secrets, and perhaps the darkest of secrets lie in the heart of Daishou Island 』 Set on an island straying far from the Japan mainland, live humans and kodama. Humans have always had a sacred bond with the kodama; god and protector of the forests. But when the King of Daishou commits a grave mistake, the kodama's curse strikes the royal bloodline. The once tranquil island transmutes into a dearth of vengeance and discord. However, there is one hope. •━━━━━━･✧✦✧ ･━━━━━━• Yumi Akamori's childhood was stained with more than grief; it was struck by vengeance, conspiracies, and innocent deaths. When the only survivor of Kaito turns fifteen, she discovers the tragedies buried behind the walls of the palace and the fact that there just might be, another survivor. Disclaimer: This story has been written again with major changes.

"I would scream but I have a headache from crying my eyes out in the bathroom. You have twenty seconds to explain why you broke into my house before I expose you to the wrath of my mother," I divulged, taking a seat at my dresser. "And trust me, she's scarier than any police out there." "You find a complete stranger you know is trained to take down men twice your size in your bed and that's the reaction you're going with?" he asked. My eyes met his through the mirror of the dresser. "Twelve seconds." • • • If Avyanna was asked to describe herself in two words, she'd laugh and say she only needed one; perfect. She was the perfect child with no bad records whatsoever until Ian followed her home from an illegal fighting ring, climbed in her window and insinuated himself into her life. Icing on the cake, he just so happened to be an actual criminal. Oh, and did she mention her dad was a cop? Needless to say, she was going to kill Olly for making her go to the fighting ring to begin with.

War split the globe straight down the middle; technological advancement blossomed in the west while the east fought desperately to turn back the clock, erasing all "foreign" remnants. After centuries of bloodshed, a treaty brought both halves to stagnant isolation. Now, in the year of 2510, trouble toils in the heart of Egypt. Especially for its princess. Perfect and obedient daughter of royalty by day, heartless assassin by night, Princess Rayna of Sphinx Nation never intended for her life to become anymore complicated than it already is. She has plenty piled onto her plate to begin with. Political tension bubbling like a witch's cauldron, maintaining Sphinx Nation's power as figurehead of Egypt, and doing it all while living under the ruthless watch of her mother Queen Sekhmet. And now, some street rat named Kazue waltzes into her life, believing her to be his Guardian Spirit. His protector. Above all else, his best friend. Rayna is far from pleased with this development but the longer Kazue is under her care, the more mysteries form around him. Even worse, the uprising of Sphinx's rival province, Isis Nation, threatens to flip her world upside down. *** "The Chaos Awards 8" - First Place Winner | Action "LY Awards 2020" - First Place Winner | Action "LY Awards 2020" - First Place Winner | Best Title "LY Awards 2020" - Third Place Winner | Best Cover "The Spring Awards 2020" - Second Place Winner | Action *** Credit for the lovely cover goes to @Enchantinglypeachy