Adventure Novels

The Mysterious Affair at Styles The intense interest aroused in the public by what was known at the time as “The Styles Case” has now somewhat subsided. Nevertheless, in view of the world-wide notoriety which attended it, I have been asked, both by my friend Poirot and the family themselves, to write an account of the whole story. This, we trust, will effectually silence the sensational rumours which still persist. I will therefore briefly set down the circumstances which led to my being connected with the affair. *************** Chapter One ：Chapter 1 　　The intense interest aroused in the public by what was known at thetime as “The Styles Case” has now somewhat subsided. Nevertheless, inview of the world-wide notoriety which attended it, I have been asked,both by my friend Poirot and the family themselves, to write an accountof the whole story. This, we trust, will effectually silence thesensational rumours which still persist. 　　I will therefore briefly set down the circumstances which led to mybeing connected with the affair. 　　I had been invalided home from the Front; and, after spending somemonths in a rather depressing Convalescent Home, was given a month’ssick leave. Having no near relations or friends, I was trying to makeup my mind what to do, when I ran across John Cavendish. I had seenvery little of him for some years. Indeed, I had never known himparticularly well. He was a good fifteen years my senior, for onething, though he hardly looked his forty-five years. As a boy, though,I had often stayed at Styles, his mother’s place in Essex. 　　We had a good yarn about old times, and it ended in his inviting medown to Styles to spend my leave there. 　　“The mater will be delighted to see you again—after all those years,”he added. 　　“Your mother keeps well?” I asked. 　　“Oh, yes. I suppose you know that she has married again?” 　　I am afraid I showed my surprise rather plainly. Mrs. Cavendish, whohad married John’s father when he was a widower with two sons, had beena handsome woman of middle-age as I remembered her. She certainly couldnot be a day less than seventy now. I recalled her as an energetic,autocratic personality, somewhat inclined to charitable and socialnotoriety, with a fondness for opening bazaars and playing the LadyBountiful. She was a most generous woman, and possessed a considerablefortune of her own. 　　Their country-place, Styles Court, had been purchased by Mr. Cavendishearly in their married life. He had been completely under his wife’sascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for herlifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement thatwas distinctly unfair to his two sons. Their step-mother, however, hadalways been most generous to them; indeed, they were so young at thetime of their father’s remarriage that they always thought of her astheir own mother. 　　Lawrence, the younger, had been a delicate youth. He had qualified as adoctor but early relinquished the profession of medici

The official novel of Naughty Dog’s award-winning videogame franchise! In the ancient world there was a myth about a king, a treasure, and a hellish labyrinth. Now the doors to that hell are open once again. Nathan Drake, treasure hunter and risk taker, has been called to New York City by the man who taught him everything about the “antiquities acquisition business.” Victor Sullivan needs Drake’s help. Sully’s old friend, a world-famous archaeologist, has just been found murdered in Manhattan. Dodging assassins, Drake, Sully, and the dead man’s daughter, Jada Hzujak, race from New York to underground excavations in Egypt and Greece. Their goal: to unravel an ancient myth of alchemy, look for three long-lost labyrinths, and find the astonishing discovery that got Jada’s father killed. It appears that a fourth labyrinth was built in another land and another culture—and within it lies a key to unmatched wealth and power. An army of terrifying lost warriors guards this underground maze. So does a monster. And what lies beyond—if Drake can live long enough to reach it—is both a treasure and a poison, a paradise and a hell. Welcome to The Fourth Labyrinth. 1 Tropical birds scattered as Drake veered the Jeep onto an old rutted track, snapping branches and tearing away vines, plowing through the rain forest with killers in pursuit, bullets flying, a gorgeous but pouty girl in the passenger's seat, and a bitch of a headache. With only one of his arms on the wheel, the Jeep slewed to the left, and the pouty girl screamed as he forced the vehicle back onto the trail just before they would have crashed into a felled tree. Nathan Drake was beginning to hate the jungle. He glanced in the rearview mirror an instant before a bullet shattered it, forcing him to risk glancing back over his shoulder. There were three vehicles in pursuit, a lumbering truck that had fallen to the rear and two Jeeps just like the one he was driving; which made sense considering that this one had been parked next to them when he'd stolen it. The jungle had closed in around them, a wild tangle of rain forest the people of Ecuador called El Oriente, which seemed to him a pretty ordinary-sounding name for a place full of things that could kill you - like brutal sons of bitches employed by pissed-off South American drug lords. The rutted track he'd taken forced the three vehicles into single file; which was good since it meant only one carload of them could be shooting at him at any given time. Bullets tore at leaves and cracked branches, the Jeep juddered up and down, rattling his teeth, and Drake kept his head down. "This is your idea of a rescue?" the girl shouted. He glanced at her wide eyes and her pretty mouth and her soft skin the color of cinnamon and decided he didn't like cinnamon. It ruined a good piece of toast as far as he was concerned. "What the hell makes you think this is a rescue?" he snapped. She blanched a little at that, and then her eyes narrowed. "Maybe the fact tha

In Washington, D.C., a homeless man dies in Commander Gray Pierce's arms, shot by an assassin's bullet. But the death leaves behind a greater mystery: a bloody coin found clutched in the dead man's hand, an ancient relic that can be traced back to the Greek Oracle of Delphi. As ruthless hunters search for the stolen artifact, Gray Pierce discovers that the coin is the key to unlocking a plot that dates back to the Cold War and threatens the very foundation of humanity. An international think tank of scientists known as the Jasons has discovered a way to bioengineer autistic children who show savant talents—mathematical geniuses, statistical masterminds, brilliant conceptual artists—into something far greater and far more "frightening," in hopes of creating a world prophet for the new millennium, one to be manipulated to create a new era of global peace... a peace on their own terms. Halfway around the world, a man wakes up in a hospital bed with no memory of who he is, knowing only that he's a prisoner in a subterranean research facility. With the help of three unusual children, he makes his escape across a mountainous and radioactive countryside, pursued by savage hunters bred in the same laboratory. But his goal is not escape, nor even survival. In order to thwart a plot to wipe out a quarter of the world's population, he must sacrifice all, even the children who rescued him. From ancient Greek temples to glittering mausoleums, from the slums of India to the toxic ruins of Russia, two men must race against time to solve a mystery that dates back to the first famous oracle of history—the Greek Oracle of Delphi. But one question remains: "Will the past be enough to save the future?" A.D. 398 Mount Parnassus Greece They had come to slay her. The woman stood at the temple's portico. She shivered in her thin garment, a simple shift of white linen belted at the waist, but it was not the cold of predawn that iced her bones. Below, a torchlight procession flowed up the slopes of Mount Parnassus like a river of fire. It followed the stone-paved road of the Sacred Way, climbing in switchbacks up toward the temple of Apollo. The beat of sword on shield accompanied their progress, a full cohort of the Roman legion, five hundred strong. The road wound through broken monuments and long-ransacked treasuries. Whatever could burn had been set to torch. As the firelight danced over the ruins, the flames cast a shimmering illusion of better times, a fiery restoration of former glory: treasuries overflowing with gold and jewels, legions of statues carved by the finest artisans, milling crowds gathered to hear the prophetic words of the Oracle. But no more. Over the past century, Delphi had been brought low by invading Gauls, by plundering Thracians, but most of all, by neglect. Few now came to seek the words of the Oracle: a goat herder questioning a wife's fidelity, or a sailor seeking good omens for a voyage across the Gulf of Corinth. It was the end of times,

WHAT IS LOST...WILL BE FOUNDIn this stunning follow-up to the global phenomenon The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown demonstrates once again why he is the world's most popular thriller writer. The Lost Symbol is a masterstroke of storytelling - a deadly race through a real-world labyrinth of codes, secrets, and unseen truths...all under the watchful eye of Brown's most terrifying villain to date. Set within the hidden chambers, tunnels, and temples of Washington, DC., The Lost Symbol accelerates through a startling landscape toward an unthinkable finale.As the story opens, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned unexpectedly to deliver an evening lecture in the U.S. Capitol Building. Within minutes of his arrival, however, the night takes a bizarre turn. A disturbing object - artfully encoded with five symbols - is discovered in the Capitol Building. Langdon recognizes the object as an ancient invitation...one meant to usher its recipient into a long-lost world of esoteric wisdom.When Langdon's beloved mentor, Peter Solomon - a prominent Mason and philanthropist - is brutally kidnapped, Langdon realizes his only hope of saving Peter is to accept this mystical invitation and follow wherever it leads him. Langdon is instantly into a clandestine world of Masonic secrets, hidden history, and never-before-seen locations - all of which seem to be dragging him toward a single, inconceivable truth.As the world discovered in The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, Dan Brown's novels are brilliant tapestries of veiled histories, arcane symbols, and enigmatic codes. In this new novel, he again challenges readers with an intelligent, lightning-paced story that offers surprises at every turn. The Lost Symbol is exactly what Brown's fans have been waiting for...his most thrilling novel yet.(jacket) House of the Temple 8:33 P.M. The secret is how to die. Since the beginning of time, the secret had always been how to die. The thirty-four-year-old initiate gazed down at the human skull cradled in his palms. The skull was hollow, like a bowl, filled with bloodred wine. Drink it, he told himself. You have nothing to fear. As was tradition, he had begun this journey adorned in the ritualistic garb of a medieval heretic being led to the gallows, his loose-fitting shirt gaping open to reveal his pale chest, his left pant leg rolled up to the knee, and his right sleeve rolled up to the elbow. Around his neck hung a heavy rope noose--a "cable-tow" as the brethren called it. Tonight, however, like the brethren bearing witness, he was dressed as a master. The assembly of brothers encircling him all were adorned in their full regalia of lambskin aprons, sashes, and white gloves. Around their necks hung ceremonial jewels that glistened like ghostly eyes in the muted light. Many of these men held powerful stations in life, and yet the initiate knew their worldly ranks meant nothing within these walls. Here all men were equals, sworn brothers sharing a mystical bond. As he su

Lyra is rushing to the cold, far North, where witch clans and armored bears rule. North, where the Gobblers take the children they steal--including her friend Roger. North, where her fearsome uncle Asriel is trying to build a bridge to a parallel world.Can one small girl make a difference in such great and terrible endeavors? This is Lyra: a savage, a schemer, a liar, and as fierce and true a champion as Roger or Asriel could want--but what Lyra doesn't know is that to help one of them will be to betray the other. Into this wild abyss, The womb of nature and perhaps her grave, Of neither sea, nor shore, nor air, nor fire, But all these in their pregnant causes mixed Confusedly, and which thus must ever fight, Unless the almighty maker them ordain His dark materials to create more worlds, Into this wild abyss the wary fiend Stood on the brink of hell and looked a while, Pondering his voyage... John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book II Part One Oxford Chapter One The Decanter of Tokay Lyra and her daemon moved through the darkening hall, taking care to keep to one side, out of sight of the kitchen. The three great tables that ran the length of the hall were laid already, the silver and the glass catching what little light there was, and the long benches were pulled out ready for the guests. Portraits of former Masters hung high up in the gloom along the walls. Lyra reached the dais and looked back at the open kitchen door, and, seeing no one, stepped up beside the high table. The places here were laid with gold, not silver, and the fourteen seats were not oak benches but mahogany chairs with velvet cushions. Lyra stopped beside the Master's chair and flicked the biggest glass gently with a fingernail. The sound rang clearly through the hall. "You're not taking this seriously," whispered her daemon. "Behave yourself." Her daemon's name was Pantalaimon, and he was currently in the form of a moth, a dark brown one so as not to show up in the darkness of the hall. "They're making too much noise to hear from the kitchen," Lyra whispered back. "And the Steward doesn't come in till the first bell. Stop fussing." But she put her palm over the ringing crystal anyway, and Pantalaimon fluttered ahead and through the slightly open door of the Retiring Room at the other end of the dais. After a moment he appeared again. "There's no one there," he whispered. "But we must be quick." Crouching behind the high table, Lyra darted along and through the door into the Retiring Room, where she stood up and looked around. The only light in here came from the fireplace, where a bright blaze of logs settled slightly as she looked, sending a fountain of sparks up into the chimney. She had lived most of her life in the College, but had never seen the Retiring Room before: only Scholars and their guests were allowed in here, and never females. Even the maidservants didn't clean in here. That was the Butler's job alone. Pantalaimon settled on her shoulder. "Happy now? Can we go?"

On the Wilde Side (In Wilde Country 0.5) Read Free *************** CHAPTER ONE Texas, the El Sueño ranch, July 2014 IT WAS MIDNIGHT, and General John Hamilton Wilde was drunk. Not just drunk. Drunk as a skunk, in Texas parlance, though if he could still come up with a word like parlance, maybe he wasn’t quite drunk enough. The thought called for another drink. John Hamilton reached for the crystal glass half filled with Jack Daniel’s finest Kentucky sour mash whiskey. Good man, Jack Daniel. But the glass wasn’t half filled. It was close to empty. “Damn,” he said, reaching for the bottle. It wasn’t doing much better than the glass. Only a couple of inches of ol’ Jack left. In that case, he decided, raising the bottle to his lips, to hell with the glass. Might as well drain it straight from the source. Yes. That was much better. The whiskey went down like silk. He just hoped to hell there was another bottle in the house. Odds were there would be. One of his sons managed El Sueño now, but the place still belonged to him. To four star General John Hamilton Wilde. He owned it, by God, lock, stock and barrel. Jacob had the power to buy and sell livestock, lease out the oil rights, hire and fire ranch hands, cooks, maids, the small army that kept a ranch the size of a small kingdom going, but the boy would surely not be foolish enough to have made any changes in how the house itself was stocked or furnished. The boy? His son was far from boyhood. He had a wife and a child. A wife and a child. Such a nice, simple equation. One wife. One child. John Hamilton took another sip of ol’ Jack. Not three wives. Well, two wives. Plus one if you got hung up on technicalities. No technicalities about how many children he had. He had six. He had four. He had six plus four and that equaled ten…and goddammit, if he could add up those numbers, he definitely wasn’t drunk enough. “Shit,” John Hamilton Wilde said, and he rose to his feet, took a second to get his footing, staggered across the porch, yanked open the back door, went into the big den with all those dead, dumb animals staring glassy-eyed from the walls. They were his father’s trophies, not his; his kids—his six kids—used to plead with him to get rid of those pathetic heads and he’d always said no, he wouldn’t, they were his father’s, and the house, the entire ranch, in fact, belonged not just to whatever generation presently occupied it, but to all the generations that had preceded it…

The Cahills aren't the only family searching for the Clues. . . .The Cahills thought they were the most powerful family the world had ever known. They thought they were the only ones who knew about Gideon Cahill and his Clues. The Cahills were wrong.Powerful enemies --the Vespers-- have been waiting in the shadows. Now it's their time to rise and the world will never be the same. In Vespers Rising, a brand new 39 Clues novel, bestselling authors Rick Riordan, Peter Lerangis, Gordon Korman and Jude Watson take on the hidden history of the Cahills and the Vespers, and the last, terrible legacy Grace Cahill leaves for Amy and Dan. Damien Vesper didn't plan on killing anyone today. It was a fine autumn morning. A crisp wind had blown away the fog, and sunshine sparkled on the Celtic Sea. In the distance, the coast of the Irish mainland stretched out lush and green. All of that land, as far as Damien could see, had been controlled by the Vesper family for centuries. From this island, a mile offshore, Damien couldn't see his ancestral estate-a castle he hadn't visited in over a year. He couldn't see his peasants dying or hear them crying in their squalor and misery. He couldn't smell the stench of death. Far to the northeast, one pillar of smoke snaked into the blue sky-probably another village being burned-but otherwise everything looked peaceful and beautiful. No sign of the Black Death. Damien sipped his mulled wine, enjoying the scent of clove and nutmeg. He found it ridiculous that in this modern age, the year 1507, he still had to flee the plague-the same sickness that had cursed Ireland in his great-great-great-grandfather's time. So many advances in the sciences since then, so many amazing discoveries, and still the plague hampered his plans. But no matter. The Black Death couldn't touch him here. He simply left his lieutenants in charge on the mainland to collect his taxes. He ignored their nervous reports about the hundreds dying each week, his peasants' annoying pleas for help. He continued his work in peace, enjoying the acquisitions his agents sent him from across Europe. He gazed at the woodblock-panel map now adorning his wall-a beautiful piece just arrived from France. Reports and sketches from Italy covered his desk. Damien searched the world for rare treasures and powerful secrets. Yet a single message whispered in his ear this morning by his neighbors' housekeeper might be more important than any intelligence he'd ever received. Was it possible that the most powerful secret in the world, a bit of information that could help Damien realize his wildest ambitions, was hiding right under his nose? This morning, he intended to find out. His eyes drifted to the new mosaic on his ceiling: a circle five feet in diameter depicting the Vesper coat of arms, but it was more than decoration. He'd recently installed the trap for his amusement. He'd thought to try it out on some lazy servant or the next guard who fell asleep on duty. But now it wo

Pride (In Wilde Country 1) Read Free *************** CHAPTER ONE Luca Bellini shot upright in bed, torn from sleep as abruptly as he had tumbled into it. Cristo! His head felt as if someone were inside it, pounding to get out. His mouth was coated with a substance that was best politely described as foul. His belly was cramped into an ever-tightening Gordian knot. And where in hell was he? A bedroom, but what bedroom? Better yet, whose bedroom? Luca scrubbed his hands over his face. It surely was not his. This was not the bedroom in his flat in Rome. It was not the one in his home in Tuscany or in his New York condo. A light current of cool air fanned his naked torso. He looked up, saw the big fan slowly rotating in the center of the high, beamed ceiling… And remembered. He was in Texas, in an overblown mansion on an overblown chunk of real estate known as El Sueño. It was the last place on the planet he wanted to be. He fell back against the pillows, his face twisted in the kind of glower that would have sent those who worked for him running for cover. El Sueño. His father’s ranch in Wilde’s Crossing. Texas. “Fuck,” he snarled, because only that most basic of American curses suited the anger simmering inside him. And what time was it? Early morning, most probably, judging by the bright sunlight leaking into the room through the vertical blinds that hung at the windows and wide French doors. Luca plucked his watch from the nightstand and peered at it. Six. Six in the miserable a.m. No wonder his head felt as if it was going to explode. He’d gotten to bed somewhere around three, his belly filled with the booze he and Matteo had driven sixty miles to find, some hideous stuff he’d never heard of, because no way in the world would he or his brother have touched a drop of whiskey from this house. Alessandra and Bianca had called them idioti as much for wanting to drink themselves insensible as for refusing to drink anything that had been paid for with Wilde money, but what did women know of these things? Luca had made the mistake of voicing that opinion. Alessandra had responded by jabbing her index finger into the center of his chest. “We are not women,” she had said hotly, “we are your sisters!” Any other time, he would have laughed. But there was nothing to laugh about when it came to discussing the Wildes or anything to do with them. There hadn’t been, for months. “And we are sensible,” Bianca had added, filling a pair of crystal goblets to the brim with a decent Argentinian Malbec she’d liberated from the wine rack in the library. “Booze is booze.” Actually, what she’d said was boose is boose. Alessandra had swung toward her sister. “We grew up speaking English,” she’d snapped. “Can you not speak it properly now?” “We grew up speaking Siciliano far more often than we spoke Inglese,” Bianca had replied. “And unless you wish to wear this wine instead of drinking it, you will not correct my speech.” Alessandra had countered with a classic Sicilian

Passion (In Wilde Country 2) Read Free *************** PROLOGUE It was New Year’s Day, and Times Square still bore the remnants of last night’s big party. Ariel knew that because she was watching channel four and a pretty brunette reporter kept talking about the celebration and the crowds. The reporter never stopped smiling, even though she seemed surrounded by an island of trash. Ariel wondered how she could manage it. Smiling non-stop was difficult. She had to smile that way sometimes, when Anthony wanted her to. After a while, her mouth would tremble. Anthony didn’t like that. The scene on the big flat-screen TV changed. Now a male reporter was talking from behind a desk. He was almost as pretty as the brunette and he, too, kept smiling. “…scenes of last night’s party,” he said, “and here’s how everything looks now.” Ariel frowned. The pretty brunette was in Times Square again, but the streets were clean. Was she watching something that was happening now? Was this New Year’s Day, or was it New Year’s Day night? She had trouble with things like that lately. With days. And nights. And time. Concentrating was hard. Everything was hard. She was confused. As if she were outside herself, looking in. It was difficult to explain, but then, there wasn’t actually anyone to explain it to. She’d tried with the nurse, who’d said uh huh and interesting and right, but the way she’d said those things made it obvious she didn’t mean them at all. And when she’d tried to explain to Anthony… Ariel shuddered. No. She wouldn’t think about Anthony. She’d block him from her thoughts. She was learning how to do that. To not think about Anthony or the things he did to her, the things he said. Like that she was crazy. Was she? Maybe. She wasn’t sure. She wasn’t sure of much anymore, only that she was unhappy. She cried a lot. She cried when it rained. She cried at the sound of gloomy music. She cried over the fact that she cried, and she cried because things lacked substance. She felt as if she were moving in slow motion, swimming through a sea of shadows. An awful metaphor, she thought, and then she made a strangled little sound that might have been a laugh because how could that have been an awful metaphor when she didn’t even known what the word ‘metaphor’ meant? She had the feeling she’d known it, once. She’d known a lot of things. Then again, maybe not. Something was wrong with her. Terribly wrong. Anthony told her the doctor said she was ill. Not that she could recall seeing a doctor, but when she told that to Anthony, he looked worried and said yes, that was an additional problem. Her memory was failing. Ariel shivered. The room was cold. She was cold. And that didn’t make sense, considering the nurse had dressed her in a flannel nightgown and a wool robe before she left, and she was sitting in a big chair, wrapped in a blanket.

"You deserve better." Your life would be so much better if I didn't step to you that night. I ruined your life. *************** Avoiding The Gang Leader G.L 1 Micah's P. O. V I could hear them behind me. Footsteps They were going at the same speed as mine but louder. Whoever it is, don't ever hold back. They wanted me to know they were behind me, following, three blocks now. I didn't dare look back I was too scared to see who it was. I was also scared that if they continue they would see where I live. I couldn't see a shadow meaning they were a good distance from me but I could smell their cologne when the breeze blew and to make this more terrifying it was 1:00 a. m. and my apartment is in a not so good neighborhood. It's not that bad but there is a gang somewhere around here. I try my best not to run into them. The last thing I want is to be a target for some stupid reason. Anyways When I was near my apartment building, I decided to turn around and look. When I did there was no one there. Just me and a stray dog across the street as far as my eyes could see. I sighed and entered the building. I took the elevator to my floor and walked the hall until I saw my door. I looked at both ways of the hall before entering. I threw down my school bag and took off my hat. I emptied my bag of books and working clothes before going into the kitchen. I decided to just eat some cereal and shower since it was about to hit 1:15 a. m. After finishing my cereal and shower, I climbed into bed and pulled the blanket to my chin closing my eyes forgetting about the incident that happened on my way home. I made a mental note to ask my manager to change my shift tomorrow. As I was about to fall into a deep sleep I heard my bedroom window slide open and footsteps coming towards my bed. I was terrified. I wanted to piss myself. I wanted to scream and run whatever I could but I stay frozen in bed with my eyes closed, hoping whoever it was would go away like the first time but It was obvious he followed me here and they followed me for a reason. I could feel his weight on the edge of the bed a...

She defines the phrase 'Fire for Fire', but what happens if he doesn't see that fire bubbling in her rock? And not even understand it even if he sees it? At some point, her fire gets doused and she lives like a drowned cat with tears all over, but what hurts her the most is, he never notices. She hates him at first meeting, he derives joy from hurting her soul without an ounce of guilt. She sets to revenge, revealing the darkest secret of his life. On his quest for revenge, his walls will crack. The barries surrounding his heart will burn right before his eyes. His Drakaina, as he named her, will set his heart on fire and when he smiles back at her, her heart too will be set on fire. *************** Hearts On Fire One: Court Case The hot wave of the afternoon caressed his cheek and he closed his eyes, it was so hot that he could feel the way sweat was forming into beads on his forehead. He looked through the mirror and watched as they moved past the green plants and people walking on the road in a blurry vision. He felt nothing, not even the one he saw nearly thumped upon by another driver. All he could feel now was the hot air wafting through his nostril and caressing the pores of his skin. His heart was the same as it was, yesterday. Ten years back, and will be, forever. The driver drove into the palace and he parked in front of the chamber his mother lived, before he looked at him. “We’re here, sir. ” He nodded his head before the door was unlocked for him and he placed his legs down and stared at the palace. It was the place he hated to visit the most, at the same time the place he loved to visit the most. He loved it because he was able to see his Umma, and he hated it because he had to follow the ethics of the palace. The two police officers saluted to him and he walked past them without even acknowledging them. The maids he met on his way knelt down to their knees and he didn’t spare them a single glance. He was finally at the main living room of her chamber, where she was always seated. He heard as the maids announced his arrival and he walked directly to where she was seated, his mother. She looked up and her eyes fell on his khaki cladded body and she turned away, he felt nothing. He sat down and smiled at her, all that she thought him had never went into the drainage, he was still practising. She knew he wasn’t truly smiling, but she was glad he did, nonetheless. “Good afternoon, Umma. I hope I met you in good health? ” She sat upright before she crossed her legs and held a stoic expression. She seemed to be so much like him whenever she was together with him, because that was the only way he could truly understand what she meant....

You never meant to kill him….One night, Matt Hunter innocently tried to break up a fight—and ended up a killer. Now, nine years later, he’s an ex-con who takes nothing for granted. His wife, Olivia, is pregnant, and the two of them are closing on their dream house. But all it will take is one shocking, inexplicable call from Olivia’s phone to shatter Matt’s life a second time….An electrifying thrill ride of a novel that peeks behind the white picket fences of suburbia, The Innocent is at once a twisting, turning, emotionally charged story and a compelling tale of the choices we make and the repercussions that never leave. YOU NEVER MEANT to kill him.Your name is Matt Hunter. You are twenty years old. You grew up in an upper-middle-class suburb in northern New Jersey, not far from Manhattan. You live on the poorer side of town, but it's a pretty wealthy town. Your parents work hard and love you unconditionally. You are a middle child. You have an older brother whom you worship, and a younger sister whom you tolerate.Like every kid in your town, you grow up worrying about your future and what college you will get into. You work hard enough and get good, if not spectacular, grades. Your average is an A minus. You don't make the top ten percent but you're close. You have decent extracurricular activities, including a stint as treasurer of the school. You are a letterman for both the football and basketball team- good enough to play Division III but not for a financial scholarship. You are a bit of a wiseass and naturally charming. In terms of popularity, you hover right below the top echelon. When you take your SATs, your high scores surprise your guidance counselor.You shoot for the Ivy Leagues, but they are just a little out of your reach. Harvard and Yale reject you outright. Penn and Columbia waitlist you. You end up going to Bowdoin, a small elite college in Brunswick, Maine. You love it there. The class sizes are small. You make friends. You don't have a steady girlfriend, but you probably don't want one anyway. In your sophomore year, you start on the varsity football team as a defensive back. You play JV basketball right off the bat, and now that the senior point guard has graduated, you have a serious chance of getting valuable minutes.It is then, heading back to campus between the first and second semester of your junior year, that you kill someone.You have a wonderfully hectic holiday break with your family, but basketball practice beckons. You kiss your mother and father good-bye and drive back to campus with your best friend and roommate, Duff. Duff is from Westchester, New York. He is squat with thick legs. He plays right tackle on the football team and sits the bench for basketball. He is the biggest drinker on campus- Duff never loses a chugging contest.You drive.Duff wants to stop at UMass in Amherst, Massachusetts, on the way up. A high school buddy of his is a member of a wild frat there. They are having a huge party.You're not en

At a young age, she witnessed how her whole family was murdered by a notorious gang leader whom his Dad worked with. She knows nothing about what her Dad's job was. She never forgets his face and wishes one day she'll get revenge on him who killed her entire family. She was brought into an orphanage, and later on, the murderer had come to adopt her. She was raised as her adopted daughter, and she swears to take his life if she is given a chance. Living with him every day makes her eager to take her revenge against him. As she grew old, his adopted father fell in love with her gradually. Fate had changed when he took her as his wife. She learned to love him after being secretly married to him, but he had hurt her again and left her alone in the hospital after she lost their child and left the words: "Don't let me see you again!" *************** REVENGE TO THE DEVIL Chapter 1: Meet Again Mozart! He was one of my favorite composers, not because of his melodious tunes, but the nobility and pI pulled my hand away smiling and apologized to him politely, "Sorry, please tell Irene that I have work to do, I have to leave. " "I can bring you the same joy and satisfaction that a piano can give you... " "The piano never gives me any pleasure," I said. Perhaps he would never know that I had been using the piano to forget the happy days I once knew. After refusing to dance with Shawn again, I left. A waiter was coming towards me. He was sneaking a peek at the men around me, holding a note in his hands saying, "A gentleman said, he would like to invite you to have a snack after the party. " I glanced at the note and was not impressed by what had been written on it, but the fancy signature... Jonathan Li, it caught my eye. I remembered that name... I looked around in a shock, eagerly searching for the familiar figure from my past! After just a few seconds, I found him on the sofa sitting in the corner. It was two years since I last met him. He had not changed much at all, still handsome, ambitious and composed. Ladies who didn't know him could never guess his age. And even after having been accompanied by him for eight years, I was always confused by his true age. Other than a few posh bodyguards surrounding him, several men were standing together whispering. Judging from their expressions, they might have been gambling. They looked at me with curiosity, waiting for my reaction, but Jonathan seemed oblivious, looking down at the red wine glasses! I took a deep breath to let the air fill my chest. I took the note and wrote the myurity of heart he showed throughout his suffering. Although he was never comforted by the outside world, he was willing to use his soothing melodies for the relief of others. After playing a short piece of Mozart’s, I stood up gracefully and gently smiled at Shawn Donovan, a well...

The Last Of Us Michael Hayes grew up as the pack slave. He was born the runt while his twin brother, Hayden, was born to be the Alpha. His parents, the current Alpha and Luna cast him aside so they could focus on making Hayden the Alpha he was born to be. Michae... *************** "In all the history of Werewolves，" My short overweight， slightly balding history teacher began as the start of the final lesson of the day. Yes， he said “Werewolves“. We are in a werewolf school after all. "Mates have been respected above all else， other than the Alpha bond. There has only ever been one recorded instance of a rejection， however the details surrounding the rejection have been lost to our archive since the Killian War." That was when I zoned out. Being the “nerd“ I am， I have already read the entire history textbook. I could ace this class with my eyes closed which I am already sort of doing. I gazed into the forest that lined the skirting of the school grounds that seemed to hold some sort of wonder. I looked closely wondering what it would feel like to run free in those woods. Without the pack bearing down on me， or without any worries in the world. I wonder what it would feel like. I wonder what anything would feel like really. Sometimes I wonder if casting my emotions aside was really the best thing to do， but then the members of the Greystone pack would find me and make me realize just why I cast them aside in the first place. I was born the runt of the pack. Smaller and weaker than the rest， but I soon grew in stature but not in power. I was still considered the runt. My father despised me enough to strip me of all titles. In his words， the title of Omega was more than I was worth so he took all titles away from me. I am the only title less wolf in the world. Even Rogues have titles， but not me. I began to think what would happen later this afternoon as I knew it was time for me to shift. I am turning seventeen at exactly 16:43 this afternoon which meant one of two things. I would shift into my wolf. The second thing is only a possibility. I might or might not find my Mate. I...

During the long awaited war crisis in Manila, every legal-aged inhabitant, specifically voters, are required to work for the government in order to reestablish the living land and battle against a mass terrorist attack. The country where the terrorist originated are still in the unknown and under further research. Juveniles haven’t got any choice yet to live by themselves. Building a town, planting food crops, hunting animals and even manslaughter is required in the generation by means of survival. Keisha and his brother, Jaden, are left alone haunted by vicious brutes hiding from the shadows. Until then they found hope wherein they can rule over and persist the ongoing catastrophe. *************** Warfare Between Lost Hearts Prelude: Seized *Third person* The Vistas were spending their initial routine, specifically a breakfast, while viewing a live TV show aired by their favourite station. The sweet aroma of cheese omelet and fried rice filled each and every nostril – and it is time to dig into that newly served meal. Mrs. Vista often leaves their home early to begin the day’s hard work; might as well as the head of the family, Mr. Vista, ponder on heading to his office without being rushed by his no-good superior. As usual, the youngest one, Jaden would always pick up his 4k definition tablet to watch his anime marathons and never stopped without finishing one season. On the other hand, the eldest, Keisha would always look after the house, her brother, her studies and other priorities in life. She’s aware of the fact that she could now get a life of her own; however, she still chooses other people’s bliss rather than hers. She had been a real tough gal for this sort of life – resisting pressure and expectations, severe anxieties, dealing with family issues on her own, repelling the temptations of committing worst mistakes again and the like. Keisha would not even mind it at all for this sort; somehow, she is used to it. As she was about to finish her omelet, a newsbreak came in interfering with the program; important and troubling news came filling their earlobes. “Manila is now in red alert. Please take note of the safety precautions. It will not be advisable for the citizens to leave their house this instance”, the newscaster announced with a serious tone. “What the heck is this? ” Keisha mumbled to herself after seeing the concerning news from the television. “Mama! You should see the news right now. I think something bad is going on. ” Mrs. Vista hurriedly hovered towards the living room – her face turned into a depressing level of expression after hearing the content of the news; this is as if she was giving her a hint that she already...

My name is Kydah Malik, I'm twenty one years old and I just finished my service (NYSC) and now staying at home waiting for work which I'm not really looking forward to. I love my life like this and love all my siblings and parents, they're the best people on earth. I never dated and don't like the idea at all, weird, yeah I know. I don't want to indulge myself in those meaningless love when you'll only be heartbroken and stressed with depression attached to it. But I know nothing till it happened, falling for my brother's best friend whom I never knew. I fell so hard and deep unknowingly but it was all ruined when my father told me about my arranged marriage... Join the ride of my life✨ *************** KYDAH Chapter One✨ Chapter 1 "K, look over there. " Nasrin said pointing at the door to the coffee shop where we're currently in. She actually shouted, un-lady like huh, I know and that's how I'm coping. A handsome guy came in wearing a black ripped jeans, white tight shirt underneath a black leather jacket, typing away in his iPhone X with a dark spectacles. Mysterious! Typical bad boy, I thought to myself before looking back at my best friends. He's so good looking, I admit, I know I judged quickly about the bad boy stuff but hey that's how he dressed. Its not good to judge but, I just can't keep quite or I should say, my mind can't keep shut. "Oh boy! " Dinar squealed, yes, she squealed on her sit which was now moving due to the force she used. Ugh, my best friends are so annoying sometimes, and you know what? They're all engaged. "Huh," Minal sighed dreamily like she was just futuring something with her brain and my mind which she doesn't want anyone to know about. "Masha Allah," was all I said, even though he's dressed like a bad boy, I won't judge fast this time and won't lie, he's dead handsome. Bringing my gaze back to my friends with a raised brow, I said, "You guys are getting married in the next two months, but you're all here looking at another guy, one of you literally shouted, the other one squealed and the last one is already dreaming huh? " I crabbed, I thought they'll regret it and be uncomfortable with it but its like I've forgotten who my best friends are. "Oh please," Minal said throwing her left hand nonchalantly. "Okay then, I'll tell Ya Muhsin and Ya Habib and Ya Ahmad too. " I said trying my best to look serious, I want to blackmail them all but I'll save it for later. "You won't," They all said in sync like they were waiting for me to say it. I rolled my eyes at their raised voice, they'll never keep their voices low, even in public. Ya Muhsin is marrying Minal, while Ya Habib is marrying Dinar in the next one month and Nasrin i...

Can a man of your dreams appear in the most unexpected place and be a cut-out image of a 'prince in shining armor'? Freya has been trapped in the protection of her father her whole life, fearing danger and hurt she might face in the savage world. Her stubborn and curious nature causes a headache for many men in her life - including the warrior who has been hired to protect her. Meanwhile, their land is in turmoil and in fear of a new threat as many of the surrounding villages are being burned down and people slaughtered for a dream the unknown conquerer holds. Will her bodyguard be able to protect her from this ruthless man? Will the unexpected spins of the faith change Freya's views and heart? The man she seeks is not what he is - a naive heart destined to be broken and forced to face the real world behind the walls. *************** Heart of An Exile 1 The silver light of the full moon was raining down on the hills beyond Sedahra. The cold light kept me awake and I ventured outside my father's village against his constant protests and warnings. Since my early days the secrets and thrillingly unknown nature lured me to explore, take a dip in the dangerous waters and inhale the scent of foreign flowers. My heart was beating each time I stepped on the sharp rocks defending the life inside the Wahrlenn, it's people and me. This night was no different. I savored the excitement and thrill for things I might see and experience. Something new, something I had never faced before - the true world beyond, the mythical creatures that lurked in shadows. I inhaled the fresh air that came down from the tall mountains, the mist that slowly ascended on the plains as a thick blanket, awaited by life thirsting for it. My knees felt the cold on the damp, mossy carpet of plants. Just a little longer before the sun rises... I wished to enjoy freedom. As the distant howls of the wolves serenade the peaceful life, I noticed the dark shadows emerge from the fog. Those were people... few of them, but none look liked my kin, not even resembled the northern inhabitants. Who were they? What were they doing here? I plastered my body closer to the cool earth all the while trying to suppress the erratic beating of my heart. The enormous will to join the men was overwhelming my common sense, but I kept myself still, I pushed myself not to move an inch. They might be dangerous, murderers, thieves... exiles... Two of them were wearing armor, made of fur and bone. Their faces concealed by a skull of unknown animal and eyes hidden in the shadow of the black, hollowed sockets, reminding me beasts from my nightmares, demons I feared as a child. Should I be fearing them now? The third man was different. His armor was shining blue in the moonlight, the crown was emitting the power of its wearer - manly and allurin...

Quinn sends souls to the afterlife as her part time job. Until one day, her bestfriend and first love, Lucas was attacked and is now in a coma. Both of them are on a mission to find out who killed him and hopefully, Lucas can go back to his body before it is too late. *************** Every End of the Day Chapter One CHAPTER ONE “Come on, Quinn, just let me stay for a couple more days, hm? ” his pleading voice annoys me. We have been debating for an hour now. I check the time, it is already 12:30 am. I still have work later. I fake a smile and walk closer to him. “Look, I’m not the one who wanted you gone. It is your wife. You have been clinging onto her for years now, and she just wants to move on. ” I tried to keep my tone as professional as I can. He sighs, “but I just want to look after my kid…” I nod, trying to look like I understand him, but in reality, I just want to get over this. “Maybe you can ask the heavens to let you look after her. I’m sure the angels will allow that. ” He looks at me with his eyes full of hope. “You think so? ” I nod and start preparing for the ritual. I open my bag to get my red string and start forming the symbol, which can help him transport to his final destination. You see, I am not a normal human being. No, I am not a vampire or other supernatural beings if you are thinking about those. Rather, I can see dead people and my job is to help them go to the afterlife. As what I call myself, I am normal human by day and a shaman by night. Once the preparation is done, I signal the man to stand in the center. He looks at his wife and daughter once last time and closes his eyes. I open my bag once again to get a small book that my grandmother, who was a shaman, gave me. What people do not know about shamans like me is that reciting the “magic lines”, what I used to call them when I was young, is draining. For some reason, I can feel all the energy in my body leave as I speak each word written on the book. The ritual lasts for a couple of minutes but I feel like I have been working out for 2 hours. While I recite the words from the book, I burn my client’s things and some strands of my hair. Just for the record, there is no amazing light that will appear before my eyes. What actually happens w...

He lived in a billion dollar mansion with his wife .she lived in a small building with her poor family,he is the owner of the biggest fashion company in the country,she worked in a restaurant. He loves her,she loves him even more but she was just his mistress. Anna and Mike's world collided when she had served him at the restaurant near his office one day. Anna cory was the oldest child in her family who struggled to survive everyday and anna helping with the little she earned from the restaurant. Mike claire was the perfect billionaire,c.e.o of the biggest fashion brand in new york with the perfect wife and family but he had always felt incomplete all through his life till he met Anna. Their world was totally different and no matter how much obstacle they encountered, they could overcome with love but what happens when their secret relationship comes out to the world?? It changes their lives forever. *************** THE BILLIONAIRE'S MISTRESS Chapter one  ** Anna's p. o. v** I tied my white hotel robe around my waist adjusting my sitting position on the bed as I admired the handsome man dressing up in front of me, how well built is broad shoulders were, his perfectly shaped face with his sharp jaw, chin and amazing cheekbone and how his brown eye complemented him perfectly. I rose from the bed and slowly wrapped my hand around his waist from behind.     "Do you really have to go"I asked sadly   "You know I have to get back to work and I am sure your break will be over too soon"he said as he ran his hands through my hair, putting away the strand on my face behing my ear. He was quit taller than me and most times my 5'6inchs self  had to always look up to get the best view of  his 6'2 self. I looked up at him as I helped him to button his shirt up.      "I will call you"he said, kissing me before leaving.       "I will miss you" I said with a gloomy face. "I will miss you more.     "Are you sure you can get to work yourself, my driver can drop you off"he said trying to convince me .     "I will, you really shouldn't worry" I said affirming him.     I watched as he walked out of the room, he was the one of the best thing that had happened in my life and I couldn't ask for anything more except from the fact that I really wished he wasn't married. It had been 4 months since we had been together and it felt like forever and I remember always telling Lucy, my best friend how fate had brought us together.      I remember how my day had been going like every other normal day at the restaurant,serving customers and being stressed all day. My shift had been over that very day but Lucy had begged me to fill in for her because she had some places she had to be.     "what would you like me to offer you sir"i had asked the man in front of me, he had the menu covering his face then he brought it down to the table as I stood smiling in front of him. Immediately I layed my eyes on h...

Zahra’s life was less than ideal. An outcast among her own people denounced a witch Zahra was facing certain death until a barbarian hoard attacked her home. Rescued from her own execution, Zahra finds herself at the mercy of the new barbarian King Cain, who has sought her out for magical skills he believes she has. He demands she save the life of his father, who is facing imminent death. Unable to save the old man’s life Zahra is forced to bide time until she can figure out how to deal with the new King. BOOK ONE OF "THE BARBARIAN KING SAGAS" *************** THE BARBARIAN KING (BOOK ONE) CHAPTER 1 Scotland 875... Zahra struggled as the men that held her dragged her to the stake. The whole village had come out to watch her burn. She fought hard, her heels dragging in the dirt. An illness had swept through the village, and three of their elderly had fallen victim and died. The popular belief was that Zahra had cast an evil spell and stolen their lives. This had not been the first time the villagers had accused Zahra and her family of witchcraft. Five years ago, the very same villagers had burnt her mother as a witch. Having accused her of seducing the men in town. Zahra had only been thirteen at the time, just a child. She had never known her father, and with her mother gone, Zahra was left with only her grandfather to raise her. Forced to grow up far too soon, she had lived her whole life in a little one-room hut on a small farm outside the village walls. She had done her best not to interact with the villagers, but from time to time, she had to go to market both to sell their vegetables and to procure things she needed. Perhaps her isolation had made the villagers suspect her more. When she heard the men coming for her, Zahra had slipped into the woods and ran for her life. She could hear the villagers behind her. The hounds were barking as they tracked her through the brush. There was no place she could hide; nowhere she could run. The closest clan was McCollum, but they and the McGregors had been feuding for generations. They would offer her no asylum. She had been running hard for an hour when they overtook her surrounding her like they would a wild animal. She had fought, scratched and bitten, but they eventually overwhelmed her and dragged her back to McGregor castle. The villagers that had stayed behind had erected a stake in the center of the courtyard. There was a raised platform where Lord McGregor and his tubby wife watched the scene playing out before them. The whole village had gathe...

An arranged marriage, an abusive family, a dream of freedom in America just out of reach.... After Meg Westmoreland’s father mysteriously dies when she’s a small child, her life quickly spirals out of control. Her mother is mean and manipulative, her uncle abusive in a way Meg won’t even speak of. Getting away from them becomes an obsession. When she discovers she’s been promised to a wealthy American, she’ll do whatever she must to flee the only home she’s ever known, hoping for a new life in America and a chance to start over. Charles Ashton has knowns his father arranged for him to marry Meg. Even though the temptations of being young and rich beckon him, he believes in keeping promises. However, his attempts at meeting Meg are thwarted. Charlie begins to wonder if Meg even exists at all. Ultimately, destiny’s plan will be revealed and their worlds will collide aboard a passenger liner named Titanic. Prelude reveals how Meg and Charlie came to find themselves aboard the most famous ship in history and as *************** Prelude: A Prequel, Ghosts of Southampton Book 0 Promise VOLUME ONE: PRELUDE: A PREQUEL PROLOGUE New York City John Ashton poured three fingers of whiskey into two glasses and sat the decanter down on the side table. Sunlight streamed through a sliver of lace curtains that broke the deep red velvet drapes symmetrically, the only source of natural light that found its way into his study, illuminating a jagged river across the cherry floor and the side of a mahogany bookshelf as it found the face of his longtime friend, Henry Westmoreland, who reposed in a heavily cushioned chair that matched the curtains almost exactly. “Thank you,” Henry nodded as he took the glass, giving it a sip before nestling it between his hands on top of a crossed knee. John nodded and then found a seat across from his former Oxford roommate. “How was your trip? ” he asked, taking a drink and then setting his glass on an end table. “Nothing exciting I hope? ” “Heavens, no,” Henry laughed. “I can’t imagine anything exciting happening on a trip across the Atlantic. Fairly uneventful. ” While John could think of several potentially exciting occurrences, he chose not to list them since his friend would be heading back soon. No need to plant thoughts of mechanical failures or floundering vessels. “Your meetings went well? ” “Oh, yes,” Henry nodded, smoothing out his trousers over his knee. “The factory has certainly taken off these past two years. It seems I’ve finally found a way to get my textiles to the markets successfully. ” John nodded. “That’s wonderful news. You always knew how to make a quality product. Perhaps this will be just what you need to make Westmoreland Textiles a household name on both sides of the Atlantic. ” “Indeed,” Henry agreed. At thirty-five, his sandy blond hair should not have been thinning. Yet, when he ran his hand through, John could see much of his scalp. He hadn’t seen Henry in almost a year, b

A Few Months after the Duel Between Cody and Dwayne.The Patriotic Republic is left with No more Founders, Left on its own a new evil has risen up and destroyed the Republic,In its place an Empire. Will The Remnants of the Republic Be able to take back its place or will it get destroyed This story is based on a lot of Revolutions *************** A Revolution is Coming Prolouge 1945 It has been months since Cody's duel and his death. His wife driven by anger, despair, and resentment for all the things that happened for the past few years. She was planning a government take over along with Dwayne Newhiskey and Thirty thousand of of the National Forces. After the duel with Cody, Dwayne was shaken and disturbed. Never has he in his entire life saw a person sacrifice his life to protect something so stupid. As they continue to plan, the other participants started destroying the reputation of the National Convention. 1946 Imperial Soldiers are marching toward the National Convention, guns raised towards the National Guards. Commodore Mey Bracodo was trapped inside the Convention Hall with the secretaries of the various departments, the President, the Vice President, and the last of The National Guard. It was a desperate last stand as he and his troops try to defend the entrance. They baricaded the door to give them enough time to protect the entire cabinet. He glimpsed at the portrait of The Founders then he remembered when the Imperialist Crisis has started to take its toll on the Republic. Cody installed a lever behind the portrait in case of emergency, if the entire cabinet and high officials need to escape. "Thank God for Cody's paranoia" Mey thought as he turned the switch on. The Members of the National Convention watched in awe as the table was lowered to reveal a set of stairs that would take them out of the city walls. "Quickly, GO! " Mey shouted as he turned towards the remaining National Guards. "Half of you follow and protect the Cabinet, the other half stay with me and we'll defend their escape" The only answer he ever got was a Gun butt hitting his head knocking him out. The National Guards quickly dragged him down the stairs and shot the lever causing the entire mechanism to turn off and go back on itself. As the Imperial soldiers blast down the door, only to be greeted by an empty roo...

Life is made up of choices. Sometimes the wrong ones will get you killed.... Killing her ex-boyfriend Jack wasn't Cadence Findley's decision, but she'd done it just the same. Heartbroken over losing him and struggling to comprehend her break up with the only other man she's ever loved, Cadence Findley has made the difficult choice to leave her team of Vampire Hunters and strike out on her own. As she seeks out and destroys some of the most villainous bloodsuckers in existence, she proves she is a force to be reckoned with. She's just begun to adjust to this new life, even finding herself tempted by love again, when a call from her former team changes everything. A band of renegade Vampire Hunters requests assistance in tracking down the one Cadence holds responsible for Jack's death. However, the hunt goes terribly wrong, and her team of Vampire Hunters becomes the prey. In the aftermath, Cadence realizes she's not only lost one of her best friends, her team is in shambles, and she's faced with a reality wh *************** Repercussion: The Clandestine Saga Book 3 Long Way It was a long way down. Glancing past the sheer drop off, she saw the rippling tide smashing against the sharp rocks at least forty feet beneath where she stood. She peered through the darkness using night vision to calculate exactly where she needed to land in order to clear as many of the jagged shards sticking out of the frothy sea where it crested against the shoreline. Noises behind her alerted her that her time was up. Without another thought, she hurled herself out into the darkness, praying that her calculations were correct. In an instant, the frigid water cut through her, but not as deeply as the sharp rock she’d caught with her shin just before the water engulfed her. It took her only a moment to push the pain out of her mind and return her focus on the task at hand, and less than a second later, she heard the splash she had been anticipating. Immediately, Cadence emerged from the water, forcing herself up and over to the location where the second ripple of waves still undulated out from the point of impact. She had never attempted to decapitate a Vampire in the water before; this would be a first. But she was confident in her ability to do so. The creature in question was not about to make it easy on the Hunter either. Cadence was extremely quick, and she reached her target in a matter of seconds, before the Vampire could even come up for air. She immediately grabbed ahold of the eloquent neck of the ancient Russian Vampire queen. Unlike many of the beasts her team pursued, this one was not the ghastly sort at all. In fact, she was nothing if not resplendent. When Cadence and her teammates, Aurora and Meagan, had initially spotted Sobieski in her mansion atop the cliff, all of them had gasped, taking in her beauty. Alabaster skin gleamed in the dim light, long black hair pulled straight back into a bun, a flowing white dress, with only th

Iris Clayton, the escape has set only one goal—to survive. While scavenging, she stumbles upon the group protected by a badass and strikingly handsome Colt Snow.  After the spread of a deadly virus, Colt doesn’t give a damn about anything other than his group, but there’s something in the way he looks at her tells the exact opposite. A former officer Colt Snow has a trust issue after failing to protect his brother. When his group finds a fragile woman, he doubts her motives. Every time he looks at those terrified unique blue eyes, he knows only one thing—to take the risk and protect Iris from whoever is hunting her. “ I was wrong to think that there was no humanity left in this world anymore.” _Iris Clayton *************** BLUE IRIS IRIS Silence. THE WORLD had turned into a deafening silence of danger and uncertainty. And in the darkness where sadness and horror lingered. The night fell. It was time for me to move. The desolated pet shop had been my shelter for the past few days and the safest place so far as no one who would think of getting pets nowadays. A dog was probably a good idea, but the food was not easy to search in this world full of chaos. After shoving my extra shirt and the only blanket into my backpack, I slipped my feet onto the old running shoes and ready to move out. After a few steady breaths, I walked out, determined to find a new place where I could stay for a few days or longer. I had been running from places to places for two weeks now and I hadn't seen or met any living human being other than the littered dead bodies everywhere, burned or decomposed. I couldn’t remember the last time I talked—probably the day I escaped, and I missed my own voice. Talking to myself would make me crazy and singing would make me cry and hungry, so, I just kept my mouth shut. The cold breeze smelled death. A ghost of pain rippled through my body. It had been like this since the unknown deadly virus wiped out the country. My labored breathing and my steps against the asphalt echoed through the darkness. I picked my way to the intersection, hoping to find an apothecary. The weak light from the silver moon was the only guide I had to follow. I knew for a fact that it had been raided, but by any luck, I could find a stash of painkillers or any medicine I could trade with food when I met survivors. Passing by rusting vehicles lined at the sides of the deserted road, the Bowl of Hygieia printed in the white wall came to view. I sighed in hope, but it quickly crumbled down when I noticed the open tail lights of the SUV parked in front. Hustling, I ducked down and hid behind the car. After everything I had been through, it taught me many, and one thing was to trust no one ...

|| SEQUEL TO BITTER HEART || One year later, Skylar Anderson enrolled in Philadelphia College of Arts, has nothing more to worry about other than dozing off between lectures. And the relationship with her boyfriend, Caden Miller. Having distanced relationship wasn't what she wanted. Especially since her boyfriend was once again dealing with the mysterious New York Gang's affairs. Like they say "ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴀ ɢᴀɴɢ ʟᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ, ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ᴀ ɢᴀɴɢ ʟᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ." The West and the East gang rivalry had come to an end long after the fight on the famous red crystal. But once again, new secrets were starting to brew up on the surface. And all of the past mistakes. Not to forget, the police department was searching for Blake Matthews. Who unfortunately, or-not, had escaped the prison bars. There was so much Skylar thought she knew. But she didn't. After all, what's a life without lies? Text copyright © Crystal7016 ™ 2019 *************** Lost Heart One « Skylar's POV » __________________ "Oh my God, Chicks! " I exclaimed in surprise. Partly horror. How would you feel if you just came back in your apartment after a long day of classes and couldn't find your cat? And when you call out for it, your cat responds with a single meow. From over the tall kitchen cabinet. How the hell would you react? I almost screamed in horror. "How in the hell did you get up there? " I asked out loud, suspiciously. She just eyed me innocently. This cat was crazy, for real. There was no way she could've gotten up there. Unless she climbed up the walls. "I swear to God, Chicks, if you're possessed by some demon, I have no time to deal with it. " I murmured, pulling out a dining chair in front of the cabinet. "I am so darn tired today. " Standing on the chair, I reached out for her with my outstretched hands. She mewled in response and surprisingly, lunged for my face. And you already know what must've happened next. I jumped back, the chair tumbled forwards and both of us fell down on the floor with a loud thud. "Ouch. " I groaned, closing my eyes shut. I heard a door opening and closing again. I didn't have to look up to see who it was. "What just happened? " Nora, my not-so nice roommate asked. But I wasn't complaining though. She literally took classes and worked at a part-time job all day. I couldn't blame her if she wasn't chatty with me all the time. "Guess yourself, Nora. " I groaned again. Meanwhile Chicken just licked my face as if apologizing for that little act. "If I had a cat like that, I would've dumped her ages ago. " She pointed out before crossing over my legs and opening the fridge. She had her dark brown curls up in a bun. Nora was beautiful. Especially with the tanned skin and her honey colored eyes. She was the same age as me. It had been kind of her to offer me a place in this apartment. However small it may be. I actually didn't care. This place was so much better than those cr...

All his life Tait was told about the evils of the King that had banished him and his mother and told that he was chosen by the Gods to kill the wicked King and usurp his throne. When the day came that his mother said it was time to fulfill his destiny and become King Tait did not question it. When he fell for the King’s only daughter, Tait lost interest in the throne and chose to follow his heart. In doing so, he learns that his life had been a lie leaving him questioning all he had ever known to be true. BOOK TWO OF "THE BARBARIAN KING SAGAS" *************** IN THE ARMS OF THE OUTLANDER (BOOK TWO) PROLOGUE Mystic Forest, 886AD… Tait carried the bucket through the forest heading for the river a mile from his home where he lived with his mother. Every morning he would trek through the woods to fetch water for their day. Tait had spent his whole life living in a small hut deep in the mystic forest. Far away from any village just outside the borders of the Vremore Kingdom. His mother had been exiled while she was pregnant with him. The Queen had banished her out of jealousy because her husband had taken a shine to his mother. He had even gone as far as murdering Tait’s father to get rid of the competition. The royal family had destroyed Tait’s family and banished his mother. It was their fault a single mother raised him in the woods. They robbed him of the life he should have had. Every day Tait would train with the wooden sword his mother had carved for him. She did her best to teach him how to fight. Telling him that one day he would set right the wrongs the royal family had done them. He would grow up and kill the King and usurp the throne. One day he would be King and those who had wrong them would pay dearly. Tait had just turned ten and had never been around anyone other than his mother. He had the feeling he was big for his age since he stood only a few inches shorter than his mother. She would always laugh and tell him one day soon he would tower over her. That he was not yet grown but already showing he would be a mighty warrior. Oden had blessed him. He wore his long dark hair loose and shaggy. He often wished he had his mother’s golden hair, but his was stark black. From time to time, his mother would try to die it blond using lye, but Tait did not like it. He would fight her at every turn. It stunk and burned his eyes. Reaching the river, Tait knelt on one knee and dipped the wooden bucket in the slow-moving water. As he stood up with his bucket full, Tait paused when he spotted a youn...

A young Cindy runs away from home, trying to escape from an arrange marriage set up by her uncle. She runs in search of a better life in the city but she ends up on the otherside of the world, in New York City. Felix Martini is a rich Human Rights Defense lawyer who comes home only to discover that his best friend had brough him a slave, Cindy. Now Felix Martini has to jugle keeping Cindy in his home and away from the authority. Both Cindy and Felix have to fight their feelings for one another as well as fight forces tryign to break them apart. *************** Slave: Falling for the Master cheats plzz read: thank you all for the support but I kindly ask you to stop reading my book along with boycotting any other books on Sofanovel. All the coins that you buy unfortunately none of the royalties ever come to us directly. For the past few months, this company has refused to pay our monies and yet they make monies off our book. We can also not take off our books because they have blocked it. They also taken some of the other authors books and sold it to other sites whilst discrediting the original authors. Sofanovel has been taken off playstore however they are still on IOS. Please help us get them off by rating them low, leaving negative comments as well as on their facebook, inta, twitter and any other pages. Also warn everyone wanting to sign with them because they will not be paid as well. Boycott this entire app please, I beg you all. By supporting this app you enable them to rob us of our hard earned money. Feel free to use the hastags; takedownsofanovel deactivatesofanovel payyourauthors Thank you. plzz read: thank you all for the support but I kindly ask you to stop reading my book along with boycotting any other books on Sofanovel. All the coins that you buy unfortunately none of the royalties ever come to us directly. For the past few months, this company has refused to pay our monies and yet they make monies off our book. We can also not take off our books because they have blocked it. They also taken some of the other authors books and sold it to other sites whilst discrediting the original authors. Sofanovel has been taken off playstore however they are still on IOS. Please help us get them off by rating them low, leaving negative comments as well as on their facebook, inta, twitter and any other pages. Also warn everyone wanting to sign with them because they will not be paid as well. Boycott this entire app please, I beg you all. By supporting this app you enable them to rob us of our hard earn...

This story is about Carlisle turning his little boy patient named Edmund to his adopted son, who finally became Carlisle's partner for life. The story is pretty sweet. *************** Spirit Away Chapter 1 Chapter One: Catching Bugs In the living room, Alice Cullen, who was studying poker, suddenly raised her head and stared at the spotless white sofa in front of her with her golden, honey-like eyes wide open. "What did you see? " Jasper Cullen sat down next to Alice and put his hand on her shoulder. "Carlisle is going out. " Alice turned to look at Jasper. 'Go to the hospital. ' "Hospital? " Emmett Cullen, who was sitting opposite Alice playing with a remote-controlled off-road vehicle, raised her eyebrows. "Now? 2 a. m. I remember Carlisle taking a day off. " As soon as he finished speaking, a tall blonde man appeared out of thin air in the living room. "Carlisle. " The nominal mistress of the house, Esme, immediately put down her things and walked over from the kitchen, asking, "What happened? " "There's been a murder in town. -The doctor on duty can't handle it. " Carlisle said quickly, "We are running out of time. I must get to the hospital at once. "--Let's talk when I get back. " In the next second, the man rushed to the garage and sat in a black Mercedes-Benz sports car. "I saw a child. -He gave Carlisle a headache. " Alice didn't speak again until the sound of Mercedes-Benz engines had disappeared. "Be more specific. " Rosalie Cullen, who was watching the movie, said. The blonde beauty is always very attentive to the affairs of children. "I don't know either. -I just saw Carlisle sitting on the chair in the office and sighing. " "It really surprised me. " Edward Cullen looked away from a book in golden Latin. "I thought Carlisle's charm was enough to appease all living things. " "There will always be exceptions. " Alice gave a playful laugh and leaned over Jasper's waist. Two adults died in the murder. It was a young couple. The man is about 30 years old and is a pure Englishman who immigrated to the United States. His heart was pierced by a bullet and he was killed on the spot. And his wife is a beautiful Asian. B...