Flickering Creatures | ONC 2024 Longlist | ✔︎ - A.B. Channing - Wattpad

Flickering Creatures | ONC 2024 Longlist | ✔︎

SmokeAndOranges

Reads 1,423
Votes 302
Parts 21
Time 2h 34m

Reads 1,423
Votes 302
Parts 21
Time 2h 34m

SmokeAndOranges

When Bryony -- herbalist extraordinaire -- goes missing, Bella knows one suspect stands above the rest. The village's aspiring second witch, Daphne, comes from a family that's tried to take Bryony down before, and Daphne seems determined to carry on that legacy. For someone who's always been terrified of Bryony, she's a little too keen on looking into the disappearance. 

There's just one problem. Bella's insufferable fellow familiar thinks the kid is innocent... and he's been right about worse things before. 

If Daphne herself is to be believed, clues on the disappearance lead a whole lot closer to home than Bella would like. As the evidence mounts, Bella must choose to either stand by her values and the woman who raised her, or seek what might be a truth she would rather not uncover.

Prompt #81: The town's witch has gone missing and no one is looking for her but her two familiars - a crow and a black cat, plus the teen who has always been scared of her.

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Written for Wattpad's 2024 Open Novella Contest. Longlister. Complete.

Comments and critiques are both welcome and appreciated. I write characters from many different backgrounds, with many different experiences. If you share those traits and find that I have misrepresented anything, please let me know! I am feedback-friendly and here to learn  :)All Rights Reserved

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21 parts

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As the Crow Falls | ✔ by SmokeAndOranges

Niccola is a demi-queen undercover in enemy territory. Her little sister went missing seven moons ago, but one lead remains: a picture of a woman's face, drawn by a diviner shortly after the disappearance. Tracking her down has led Niccola to Calis, the realm next door whose border with her own remains closed for a reason. There, the trail goes cold. Until, that is, Niccola runs into a man in the marketplace who bears a family resemblance to the woman she seeks. His name is Isaiah, crown prince of Calis, and he's investigating disappearances, too. They join forces, faking courtship to sneak Niccola into the palace and get Isaiah's wedding-minded mother off his back. It doesn't take long to suspect that a common threat might underpin both their realms' problems. And as Niccola begins to develop real feelings for Isaiah, she's faced with an impossible choice: reveal her secrets and risk breaking his trust, or leave him in order to chase down the woman who stole her sister... a woman whose forbidden magic comes with a cost that could bring both realms to ruin. ❖❖❖ Complete and fully edited. Cover credit goes to @CeeMTaylor. Go check out her books too if you like Dark Fantasy Romance-she writes some pretty incredible stuff! Comments and critiques are both welcome and appreciated. I write characters from many different backgrounds, with many different experiences. If you share those traits and find that I have misrepresented anything, please let me know! I am feedback-friendly and here to learn :)

The Cat, The Crow and The Witch ||ONC 2024|| by Ry-reader-29

When the towns local Witch goes missing, her two familiars set out to find her. Matias only really likes one person, his witch, Eve. So when she goes missing one day he's determined to find her. Even if that means putting up with the annoying crow of hers. But there's only one problem, Matias has no clue where to start. Logical, the only right thing to do is blame the girl who's always hanging out around their cottage. Selene has been told to be scared of the witch that lives at the edge of town, and she is. Or at least she thinks she is. The witch is the only one who really stirs something in her gut, and it has to be fear, right? When a cat and a crow come to ask her to help them find the witch she's hesitant. How could she possibly be able to find her? But when no one else in town seems to be searching and the cat seems almost desperate she decides to help. How hard can it be to find someone who disappeared without leaving anything behind? *** An ONC 2024 Novella

Eye of The Wyvern by madzm3lon

With her 18th birthday only 5 days away, Karissa begins experiencing strange things. Her best friend Amanda is there with her through it. 3 days of strangeness goes by and they meet Lorelai, a young orphan girl from Irkah. The 3 of them overhear Karissa's father, Peter, and Amanda's grandma talking with 2 strange people about Karissa's deceased mother and Amanda's missing parents. Freaked out, the girls run away to talk about it. The next day, Karissa awakes to find that Amanda has disappeared after the storm that crashed into their town. Her and Lorelai want to look for her, but Peter forbade it. On the day of her 18th, she wakes to find that her appearance has changed. She is then quarantined in her home so no one sees her. Lorelai vanishes as well, leaving her completely alone. The next day, the strange people from before have returned, and they bring her to a strange place. There, she meets new people, falls in love, and is introduced to what was apparently her mother's reality of magic and war. She is now forever part of this world, and has to finish the war that many before her had fought and were forced to accepted defeat. Read Eye of the Wyvern to find out more of what happens to Karissa on her journey (this is the best way I could put this description without spoiling the whole thing and giving away juicy details :))

Being Elle: A Story of Transformation and Feminization by AshleySLord

The harsh light flickered on and he gripped the edge of the sink, staring down at the counter, trying to steady himself. The pain subsided slightly, but something still felt wrong-deeply, fundamentally wrong. His breath came in shallow gasps as he slowly looked up at the mirror. His heart skipped a beat not expecting what he would see. For a moment, he thought he was hallucinating. Standing in the reflection was a stranger-a woman. A gorgeous woman. Jordan blinked, his mind scrambling to make sense of what he was seeing. He looked beside himself, away from the mirror, instinctively expecting to see someone else in the bathroom with him, as if the reflection wasn't of himself but of someone else. No one was there though. It was just himself. He glanced back at the mirror, but no matter how hard he tried, the image in the mirror didn't change. The woman's eyes, wide and shocked, stared back at him, mirroring his every move. She was tall, curvy in all the right places, with long, dark hair that cascaded down her shoulders. Her full lips parted slightly, as if she too couldn't believe what she was seeing. It was him. He was her. _____________________ Jordan was a confident man that used his charm to get his way, until one day when he encounters a mysterious character that places a curse on him to become the very object of his own desire. This story follows Jordan's journey as he navigates the curse of being transformed into a woman, and learning to love his new feminine life as Elle. #1 in Sissy Note: This novel is for Mature Audiences ONLY. It does contain explicit, erotic scenes of sexual encounters and explores themes like feminization, domination, and more.

The Tragedy of Eden's Gate by Maeve-Ashford

When a dark situation leads Theo to the quiet village of Eden's Gate, where the residents are odd and the pool of friends severely lacking, he's less than thrilled. The town is a miserable means to an end. And, to make matters even worse, he's pretty sure the house is haunted. Cold spots, flickering lights, a shadow that won't stop following him- a recipe for a haunting, and for a complete disaster. Sam is a vengeful spirit, cursed to walk the halls of his own murder scene for the rest of eternity, doomed to an afterlife of dismal solitude. And then his favourite resident goes and dies, the house is given to new people, and Sam discovers - quite by accident - that the boy sleeping in his room can see him. And he is the only one who can help Sam solve his murder. - Open Novella Contest 2023 - Prompt 23: "They were not real, everyone told me they were not real. But why are they here? Why are they trying to talk to me? Why are they calling me the ONE? Why are they staring at me like that?" ───── • ⋆⋅⛧⋅⋆ • ───── Status: Complete Story length: 40,000 words Disclaimer: this story contains themes that some readers may find distressing relating to death and mention of domestic abuse. The cover image has been generated for this story using BingAI.

Midnight In Acriania ✓ (GxG) by GraveyardSiren

Princess Isabela Dmitria Luciana Vaduva of Acriania is well aware of how her story is supposed to go--stay closeted, become 'King Samuilu', marry a princess from another kingdom, and bring up an heir. Isabela finds the idea to be boring; she wishes for more excitement--unfortunately, her wish is received, but not in a good way. Isabela finds herself rapidly succumbing to the Black Death. And she knows there's only one cure. Becoming a vampire. She also knows if she accepts this said cure, there's no turning back. [This book is part of the "Project Unfinished" series. It can be read as a stand-alone, or in the order of the timeline.] Highest ranks: #2 in darkages - (7/22/23) #40 in romania - (7/22/23) #4 in theplague - (7/22/23) #2 in 1300s - (9/13/24) #1 in transwoman - (9/14/23) #1 in theblackdeath - (7/22/23) #4 in mtf - (9/5/23) #4 in transgirl - (7/3/24) #3 in transfemale - (7/25/23) #1 in transfem - (2/14/24) #373 in royal - (8/6/23) #18 in lesbian - (9/4/23) #2 in trans - (10/25/24) [Featured on FreeTheLGBT's paranormal reading list.]

Mote of Darkness by wowimspecial

Just one phone call is all it takes to leave one consumed by grief. Her sister. Dead. Six dark months later, something dangerous and not quite human lurks. Brixlee soon finds herself targeted by mysterious creatures she never deemed possible. They threaten the safety of her life and that of those she loves. One seemingly helpful and enigmatic man offers his protection. His motives are questionable, but he promises to help her find the answers she seeks. But can Brixlee trust her instincts that lure her closer to this strange man, and can she battle through her depression to survive what's hunting her? ****************************** "I don't get to have that special moment where I breathe against her skin just to see if she'd shiver. I can't grace her neck with the barest touch of my teasing fingertips. She doesn't trust me enough for any of that. She doesn't even know me. Not yet. For now I'm just the creep lingering in the dark, the only place I'm permitted." For those whom wish to know more about what they are getting themselves into... ✅ Book 1: Done & ready to publish at any moment. (May be revised for edits) ☑️ Book 2: 9/10 of the way done ◻️Book 3: Started!

Side Effects May Include by StarSeriousLaser

This is a tale of magic and romance in a fairly modern setting. Follow the second coming of age of our trans protagonist, Trillium, as she navigates coming into her own as a newly minted queer and witch. Come along on her as she faces trials and tribulations as her world is turned upside down one cliche at a time. WORK IN PROGRESS-- You may encounter tags when reading that cover a concept I haven't fleshed out yet. These are generally items I want to revisit or give more attention to, in the future. ALSO-- whilst writing this I changed the PoV of the narrator. I like how the first-person style turned out so moving forward from the third chapter that is what you will encounter. Content warning - In general this story will deal with queer issues. This may include topics like transphobia, homophobia, suicidal ideation/suicide, graphic violence, consensual kink scenarios, etc. It is not my intent to trigger anyone. I am still figuring out the best way to make the reader aware of this info.

Soul Tides by cjtruz

A sex worker turned private eye must investigate her supernatural hometown in order to find a missing girl, but when clues lead her on a path of deadly desire and deception, she's forced to face her own demons in a race against the looming Bloodmoon. ***** Waking up naked on the beach isn't too off-brand for Mara Philips, considering the opened bottle of whiskey not far away. Recently forced to surrender her detective badge, she's been having a rough couple weeks. But blacking out the same night the neighbor's dog dies? A little sus. Something's amiss along the lakeshore and Mara discovers the dog might not be the only victim. Fliers for missing teenage girls are posted all over town and a mother desperate for answers begs the rogue detective to take her case. With the help of a new flame, Mara investigates the shadows of her rural town where shapeshifters roam and a government agency hunts them down. But when clues lead her on a path of deadly desire and deception, she'll be forced to face her own demons before they consume her in a race against the looming Bloodmoon. Content Warning: This story contains mature sexual content, violence, gore, pet death, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, drug mentions, kidnapping, mentions of sexual assault/trafficking, discussion of friend's suicide, homophobic slurs, racism SOUL TIDES blends dark supernatural mystery with sapphic romance and a dash of science fiction. #ownvoices WATTY'S SHORTLIST 2021 1st Place Fantasy - Elite Awards 2019 1st Place Paranormal - Writer's Oscars 2019 2nd Place Paranormal - Pride Awards 2020 3rd Place Fantasy - Majestic Inc Awards 2019 Top 3 Paranormal Finalist - Prime Awards 2020

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Slide 1 of 9

As the Crow Falls | ✔ cover

The Cat, The Crow and The Witch ||ONC 2024|| cover

Eye of The Wyvern cover

Being Elle: A Story of Transformation and Feminization cover

The Tragedy of Eden's Gate cover

Midnight In Acriania ✓ (GxG) cover

Mote of Darkness cover

Side Effects May Include cover

Soul Tides cover

As the Crow Falls | ✔

Niccola is a demi-queen undercover in enemy territory. Her little sister went missing seven moons ago, but one lead remains: a picture of a woman's face, drawn by a diviner shortly after the disappearance. Tracking her down has led Niccola to Calis, the realm next door whose border with her own remains closed for a reason. There, the trail goes cold. Until, that is, Niccola runs into a man in the marketplace who bears a family resemblance to the woman she seeks. His name is Isaiah, crown prince of Calis, and he's investigating disappearances, too. They join forces, faking courtship to sneak Niccola into the palace and get Isaiah's wedding-minded mother off his back. It doesn't take long to suspect that a common threat might underpin both their realms' problems. And as Niccola begins to develop real feelings for Isaiah, she's faced with an impossible choice: reveal her secrets and risk breaking his trust, or leave him in order to chase down the woman who stole her sister... a woman whose forbidden magic comes with a cost that could bring both realms to ruin. ❖❖❖ Complete and fully edited. Cover credit goes to @CeeMTaylor. Go check out her books too if you like Dark Fantasy Romance-she writes some pretty incredible stuff! Comments and critiques are both welcome and appreciated. I write characters from many different backgrounds, with many different experiences. If you share those traits and find that I have misrepresented anything, please let me know! I am feedback-friendly and here to learn :)