Onc2025 Stories

After six years in a progressive French boarding school, eighteen-year-old Lady Alice returns to her family's estate in Surrey, dreading the fate that awaits her-- debutante balls, an arranged marriage, and a life she does not want. She would have preferred to stay in France, teaching and writing love tales rather than living one dictated by others. Once cast aside by her own father and a stepmother, Alice finds their sudden desire for reconciliation hollow. Only her childhood best friend, Michael, Marquess Lovelace, seems like a true comfort. But as she settles back into her former home, something strange begins to happen. A black rabbit, eerily familiar, appears in the shadows-- just like the one that belonged to Edmond, her long-forgotten imaginary friend. And then she meets Count D'Arcy, the enigmatic and elusive neighbour whose presence unsettles her. His eyes, his voice, his very being remind her of Edmond. Could it be him? Or is her mind playing tricks on her? As the social season unfolds, Alice finds herself tangled in a web of mystery, romance, and the supernatural. The past and present blur, forcing her to question what is real, what is illusion, and whether love can exist beyond the bounds of reason. In the haunting halls of her childhood home and under the watchful gaze of Count D'Arcy, Alice must uncover the truth before she loses herself to the unknown. ~~~ My entry for the ONC 2025 based on the prompt 105: Your childhood imaginary friend, who disappeared years ago, suddenly returns - only this time, they're real.

🏆 2025 ONC shortlister! 🏆 It started off as a story for ONC but I recently decided to continue the story with a 2nd arc! Hope you like it! Title change from: Blackthorne Manor to The Curse of Nicholas Blackthorne! ______________________________________________________________ When Simon receives an unexpected letter claiming he is the last descendant of a long-forgotten bloodline, he travels to the abandoned Blackthorne Manor to uncover his past. But as soon as he steps inside, the house ensnares him in its grasp-its pristine halls untouched by time, its eerie silence teeming with unseen watchers. Trapped within the manor's cursed walls, Simon must unravel its dark history and face the restless spirits that will do anything to keep their secrets buried. But the deeper he digs, the more he realizes that some truths were never meant to be uncovered...

Denisse Horsford no tiene una vida llena de lujos; sin embargo, a su primera clienta le sobraba su excesivo estilo en la moda. Cuando su padre y jefe le dio el contrato para firmar, no imaginó que tendría que lidiar con la empresaria más arrogante y fría del universo Fecha de publicación: 15/02/2025

(Nocturnal Law Series) { ONC 2025 Shortlister }Magic and justice collide when witch lawyer Gwyneira Grimheart fights to save vampire Emrys Hawthorn's sorry fangs. Sanguine City is notorious for corrupt bat cops, human trafficking, highly addictive fairydust, and contract killings orchestrated by the bloodthirsty vampire mafia. But even these lowly criminals deserve a fair shot at trial and someone has to do it. Gwyneira defends the supernaturals that no other witch or sane mortal will go near, so when Emrys Hawthorn comes politely knocking at her law office's door in the middle of the night, she knows what she has to do. Vampires are dangerous beings, and Gwyneira knows the risks all too well, but if she's not careful, it won't just be her blood he takes. It might be her heart too. Beautiful cover featuring Gwyneira created by Neige❤️ Genre: Paranormal Fantasy Thriller Current Word Count: 35,381

Leonna returns to her kingdom with revenge in mind. Against her father, the King, to end his dynasty... & a mission to kill her sister, the captive princess. Her body holds trace of the same ungodly powers that reeks of the curse that the princess is. The curse herself, princess Rosette, said to be the embodiment of calamity & mass destruction only wants one thing- to be free from the captivity of the walls of the castle, and her mind. When all plan fails and an unlikely third party takes control of the palace and threatens to conquer the world, Leonna along with a capable warrior flees, kidnapping the princess so that her powers don't fall into the wrong hands. Amidst a tapestry of betrayal, friendship, and sacrifice, the chosen souls-bound by destiny yet fractured by their pasts-embark on a harrowing journey that will lead them to the heart of despair. As they cross enchanted forests, crumbling ruins, and treacherous paths, each step forward reveals the weight of their choices and the depth of their commitment to one another. Will they rise to their calling, or will the darkness consume not just their kingdom, but their very souls? Ratings : +16 𝐎𝐍𝐂 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭: 𝟏 ★★★★★ Banners made by @-happyduckiee _____________________ ❌ ❌ ❌ ❌ No part of this book is allowed to be reposted, redistributed without permission.

If Sirius Black had his way, the Black family would remain long-lost relatives he had nothing to do with, including Grimmauld Place which he managed to inherit, yet Grimmauld Place is unfortunatly a place he can easily hide as he remains a wanted man for something he didn't do. The last thing he expected was to encounter the ghost of his younger brother, but something feels off. Or perhaps, it's just the unresolved feelings regarding Regulus' death, particularly when he's the only one able to see Regulus from what he can tell. Disclaimer - I don't own Harry Potter. This is written for ONC 2025, prompt 19, "You inherit a house from a long-lost relative, only to discover it's haunted by a ghost from your past. How do you deal with what you once knew?"

Some spells need to be broken... before they break you. Laura Quillspell's greatest wish is to win the golden medal at the Harvest Feast dessert competition and finally defeat Ambrose Waycaster. But when the harmless spell she infuses into her chocolates turns into a potent love potion, she gains two unwelcome admirers: her exuberant best friend and Ambrose himself, her infuriating rival, who now looks at her as if she hung the moon. With less than a week left before the festival, Laura must undo her magical mess before she loses the competition, her dignity, and maybe, just maybe, her heart. --------------------------------- 🥇 ONC 2025 Round 1 winner 🏆 ONC 2025 Shortlister --------------------------------- This is my entry for the Open Novella Contest 2025, based on prompt 126: "Because you're you, and I'm me, and we just don't fit." - Idea of You, Book by Robinne Lee The present version is slightly edited and improved from the original that was entered into the contest. This novella is also available on KoalaQuill and (coming soon) on RoyalRoad.

Twenty years ago, magic vanished from the world, presumed forever gone. Yet it still existed, tangled within its own domain, along with Naamah, its dark personification. Naamah schemes return to complete her desire for humanity's subjugation and to avenge her earlier defeat. But with a soul barren, Naamah needed another to complete herself. Psalm, a blind young woman pure of soul, enjoyed a simple life with a loving family. She had no idea of her heritage, nor her magical potential as a powerful Oracle, nor that Naamah would target her. When the magic burst back into the world, Psalm and Naamah found their souls bound by a destiny written ages ago. This story was written for the 2025 Open Novella Contest, using prompt #129: The ink of our souls binds us beyond the pages of time.

ONC NOVELLA 2025 ROUND ONE QUALIFIER ROUND TWO QUALIFIER ****PROMPT:#126: "Because you're you, and I'm me, and we just don't fit" -Idea of You, Book by Robinne Lee***** Skylar O'Hara was a smart-mouthed and street-smart high school senior who believes that geeks and popular kids do not, and will never, mix well. And when it comes to Drake Andrews and Jorge Fernandez (the co-captains of the aquatics team and his godbrothers), he wants nothing to do with them whatsoever because they're representing everything that he despises about the jocks: their good looks, their ability to charm all the teachers, and how they manage to rule the school with little effort. Despite the nagging from his parents and teachers to be more like them, Skylar has one plan: survive senior year, graduate with high honors, and leave Dallas behind for good while becoming a well-respected fashion journalist. Funny how one accidental discovery of Drake and Jorge being the two most-beloved superheroes can throw off his plan completely. Oh, yeah, and they now want him to join their team as their sidekick, and their sudden interest in him Now, Skylar has a new plan that he has to follow: graduate high school, avoid being involved with anything superhero-related, and never fall in love with either Drake (Blue Crush) or Jorge (Green Tide) at all costs. But can he do all that with a vindictive cheerleader on his tail, deal with being an instant celebrity, and avoid any of the duo's advances? Or is he doomed to fall flat on his face on the runways that are called his senior year?

AS DANGERS UNRAVEL, WITH LIVES IN PERIL, FOUR-LEGGED SLEUTHS DIG UP THE CLUES. WILL THEY UNEARTH THE SECRETS HIDDEN AND BRING FORTH THE VILLAIN UNBIDDEN. A series of mysterious deaths and mishaps plague Centurion Heights, an antique building older than its oldest resident. The police attribute these seemingly random deaths to freak accidents and suicides. Determined to uncover the truth, Mitzi, her frenemy Mrs. Martha Williams, and an overly curious yet annoying kid, Violet "V," decide to investigate. Can Mitzi save her best friend Annie from a similar fate? Copyright Disclaimer © Ana_Miga, 2025. All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. No part of this story may be reproduced, distributed, or mirrored without the author's written permission. Unauthorized copying, reposting, or scraping-including automated mirroring on third-party websites-is a violation of copyright law and the spirit of creative integrity. Submitted for Kahani Kalakar Awards 2025

💫ONC 2025 Honorable Mention 💫 In a world where magic is both a gift and a curse, Hex, a bad-tempered sorcerer, constantly battles with his mischievous pixie servant, Pickles. When Pickles defies Hex one too many times, the sorcerer transforms him into a carpet beetle, setting off a chain of events that leads to a thrilling adventure. Meanwhile, in a distant fairy forest, the greedy goblin Giggleton is on a desperate quest to find the last Gem Maker, a fairy named Rose, who can produce precious gems with her hiccups. Trapped and alone, Rose's only hope for freedom lies in the hands of Hex, who has his own plans for the Gem Maker. As Hex, Giggleton, and a host of magical creatures cross paths, alliances are formed, and betrayals are revealed. In a tale filled with dark magic and unexpected heroes, "A Wicked Magic" weaves a spellbinding story of power, greed, and the quest for freedom. Will Hex's wicked magic be enough to save Rose and defeat the forces that seek to control her? Or will the sorcerer's dark desires lead to his downfall? 50. A supervillain has a midlife crisis and decides to become a superhero. But redemption might be harder than they imagined.

"There's no denying it-either I'm hallucinating or Cole Winton is standing on my porch." Jamie is used to putting pen to paper. She's been doing it for years, and has a slew of novels to show for it. For the most part, she's left alone to write which is what she prefers. But this is the first time someone has knocked on her door, insisting they are one of her characters. This is the first time someone demands to know how she knows what she does, declaring it treason. Armed with only her pen, her notebook, and her cat, Inkwell, she finds out just how much of their own lives her characters have taken on outside of her novels. (ONC prompt 99) ONC 2025 Finalist (5th place)

Violet Amberose, an editor for a prestigious novel company, lives a fairly ordinary life until she stumbles into an unexpected fate. All in a single day, she finds out she is dying from glioblastoma and has only three months to live, learns that her boyfriend is a father-to-be and has a wife, gets scolded by her superior at work. Drinking her problems away, she happens to see a shooting star from her rooftop apartment and drunkenly wishes for the world to be doomed. Her wish is heard by Dorian Skotos, a messenger between gods and humans. He was born between dark and light: when he breathes, countries disappear; when he walks, the seasons collapse; when he smiles, a life is extinguished. All he has to do is exist for something to fall into ruin. This is not his intention but simply his fate. On his birthday, he gets to choose a human's wish to fullfill. Sick of his fate, he chooses to fulfill Violet Amberose's wish to end the world. Violet ends up falling for Doom and risks death before it's time. To save Violet Doom must leave her forget her they ever met. They both are miserable. Doom thinking he did the right thing. Violet cursing the stars for taking from her the only good thing that happened to her in years she just met him and he vanishes. But little do they know the workings of Divine Power. There's more than the misery- there's relief. If you love a stunningly handsome supernatural male character with elusive personality then it's a book for you, dear reader! If you're wondering what happened to Violet and Doom. How they navigate through life and want lots of good and bad, shared moments please do read this mesmerizingly beautiful story of life and death a fight against all odds. An urban fantasy paranormal romance Novella written by Yasmin Parveen Note: Chapter 18 has Duel POVs. Warning: Includes explicit sexual scene. Enjoy reading! Birdies.

🏆 ROUND 1 WINNER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 A young witch must team up with a banished demon to reverse the curse on her village before she is persecuted. ⋯⋯⋯ Rakida of Apilsha has her life in order until a mysterious fire broke out and the townsfolk fell ill overnight. With fingers pointing towards her as the rumored village witch, she must find a cure before they burn her at the stake. Enter Tam Sinnasi, a demon stuck in her mother's antiques, with his devilishly charming smile and a hidden past, offering a shot at success. Having made a deal with the devil, Rakida now must balance mystery and magic as she is thrust into the deadly world of the wicked battling blood-thirsty beasts, deranged witches out for blood, a mad Queen of the Dead, and a vengeful goddess who surely had business with Tam. But as her journey takes her to Ganzir, the sprawling palace of shadows and ice, dying may be the least of her worries. From the award-winning author of 𝘋𝘪𝘦 𝘢 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘈𝘳𝘭𝘰 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯 comes a tale of blames, bargains, and betrayals, set in a game of life and death where losing is not an option. After all, to save one's skin, sometimes, death may just be the answer. ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2025 (First Edition) [25,000 - 30,000 words] [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby] ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• 🏆 LONGLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 2 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 1 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025

As a princess takes her final steps towards her inevitable sacrifice, her only thoughts circle around the idea of death. A death predetermined by a prophecy. One that will grant her brother king his victory in war. Cast into the depths of the sea, Princess Anthea must confront her brother's betrayal and everything her new world entails. As ancient forces stir and her body begins to change, Anthea's destiny becomes entangled with the fate of her kingdom and the looming battle against her brother's ambitions. Will she reclaim her place, or will the prophecy drown everything she once knew? ONC2025

In a world where books are cursed and words breed demons, Scribe defies the Older Ones by writing "The Chaos Walker"-a tale that takes on a sinister life of its own. Fleeing into a rogue library ruled by spectral keepers-one who hoards, one who overwhelms-Scribe must rewrite their creation or lose more than their soul. A dark fantasy of ink and sacrifice.

Supervillain Ranvi De Witt is somehow not in prison yet, but her superhero nemesis is. When he asks her to consult on a murder-case that could free him, at first, she's thinking only of the money (well, at first, she laughs in his face, but after that, she's thinking only of the money). But when her dim-witted minion (and actual best friend) is brainwashed to act like a fairytale princess, she realises this murderer is targeting her as well as her nemesis. He's got a lot of power, even if he's literally butchering the fairytales he's forcing his victims to recreate. And he's supposed to be dead. 'Surrounded by Idiots' is a comic fantasy novella about morally grey areas and the power of stories: how some of them can cage you, while others can set you free. ONC prompts: 50. A supervillain has a midlife crisis and decides to become a superhero. But redemption might be harder than they imagined. 59. I am the pages of the past and the ink of the future. I course through the veins of many, though few truly notice me. I am what they search for in others, yet I cannot be bought. I am the beginning, the middle, and the end. Tell me your story, and perhaps I'll grant you the love others have failed to find.

Three months in deep space. Three months of routine. Three months of silence. Theta-9 was never meant to be exciting. A small station, a simple assignment, a crew used to the quiet. But lately, the quiet feels different. The station doesn't seem as small as it should. The halls feel longer. The shadows stretch just a little too far. And outside the viewport, the stars look dimmer than before. It's nothing, of course. Just the isolation. Just the long hours. Just the mind playing tricks. ...Right? ONC 2025 Entry

With their worlds crumbling and their futures more uncertain than ever, two teens with a bittersweet past strive to have a happy ending - together. *** It's a shock to the whole world when Cha Eun-sang turns down the offer of marrying Jeguk Group's heir and all time heart-throb, Kim Tan, for some measly aspirations. But she's not really free, with her now fuming ex riding on her coattails and the entire Jeguk High hot on her heels. Choi Young-do has not stopped drowning: his dad is still behind bars, his mom has abandoned him yet again, and Zeus Hotel Group is one report away from bankrupcy. But these problems take a backseat upon the news of Kim Tan's breakdown on national television. He's least concerned about his long-time nemesis, but not so for his ex. After all, Young-do still hasn't given up on Eun-sang, his first and only love. Maybe it's the right time to get closer... *** This ONC entry takes place the fall after the hit Korean Drama, The Heirs/The Inheritors [왕관을 쓰려는 자, 그 무게를 견뎌라 - 상속자들], ended (November 2014 to be exact). The protagonists are high school seniors, aged 18 (19 if you take the Korean ages). But don't worry. You don't have to watch the show. This book can be read as a standalone :)

What has been said on Facebook about the Celebrity Prompt #31