Lizzie has the feeling of being watched sometimes but in her case the stalker died in her house! The ghost names Oliver taunts her relentlessly and is out for her hand in unholy matrimony! Will she become his boo? Or send him back to the veil?

Aiden went with Allen and Julius to their suite to check their clothing choices for a night out and he disapproved.
All six of them went to the White Mansion and had custom outfits made, so Aiden has their measurements.
"Leave their clothes to me, you take care of the styling.", Aiden told Sarah before heading to a nearby boutique.
Sarah took Ron, Zula, Julius and Allen to the spa in the hotel. The spa has a styling salon where they can get hair and makeup done by the professionals. Jesse and Oni will join them when they return with Penny and Ben.
Zula got makeup and hair done, while boys all got their hair trimmed and styled. Before they were done, Jesse and Oni returned, and they got in the 'styling machine' as well.
By the time they returned to their suites from the salon in the spa, their outfits were waiting for them.
Sarah went with Oni and Zula into their suite to help them get ready, and Aiden was taking care of the boys.
They got three suites for the kids, each with two beds. Oni and Zula shared one, Jesse and Ron the second one, and the third one was for Julius and Allen.
Sarah wanted to get three two bedroom suites, however only two of those were available, and they needed three. Sarah didn't want to discriminate, so she went with the next best option: three one bedroom suites with two twin beds in each bedroom.
Ron recommended a suite for each of them, but Sarah rejected, knowing that there is a chance of Ron sneaking into Zula's suite. He is a cheeky boy. By having Ron share a room with Jesse and Zula with Oni, they are ensuring that Ron stays in his bed for the night.
Sarah looked at Oni and Zula all dressed up for a night out and praised them: "You two are growing into wonderful young women."
She swallowed her thoughts how dresses are too short! That happens when she lets Aiden shop without her supervision. Just above the knees is short enough, but nooooo, he got them dresses which end at half of the thigh! Next time she is handling clothing and she will get shorts for all the boys, just so that Aiden can see how it is when you expose too much leg needlessly!
But she can't deny that both girls look good. Definitely ready for a nightclub, and no one will think that they are below 21 years old.
Oni's dress is purple, with sparkling bodice and a heart shaped opening on her back. The bottom is tight fitting and has diamond cutouts along the bottom hem.
Zula's dress is sparkling silver with draped bodice which fits tightly around her narrow waist and has a plated skirt which flows amazingly when she twirls.
Matching high-heeled shoes and purses are included. Aiden thinks of everything.
Oni and Zula smiled and turned in front of the mirror to see themselves from every angle.
"Lucky you…", Oni told Zula. "You know that someone will admire you tonight."
"Many will admire you. With you looking like that, you can make your pick. Just don't pick an older guy in his thirties or above...", Zula teased Oni.
Oni sighed. "I want only one to admire me."
"Oh?", Zula was curious and tried to get more information, but Oni didn't say more.
Zula turned to Sarah: "Do you know who she is talking about?"
Sarah smiled. "Oni never said anything."
Oni never openly told Sarah that her heart races when Jesse is near, but that does not mean that Sarah didn't notice how Oni is looking at him. However, Sarah will not interfere unless someone is about to do something foolish.
Oni is the same age as Nala, so it's not excluded that she might be in a relationship, but Jesse is older (and more mature and experienced) than Haru. 
Sarah knows that Jesse has his reasons for keeping his distance from Oni and she respects that. When Jesse joined them, he told them his story and how he wants to avenge his previous lover. Knowing that Jesse still has Shadow Ravens on his mind, means that he is still thinking about his previous lover. Maybe.
Zula started commenting on her small chest and Sarah decided to interrupt her before she starts talking about massaging and pinching them again.
"OK. Are you ready?", Sarah asked Oni and Zula who nodded in confirmation. "Guys are waiting in the lobby."
Sarah came into the lobby and Oni and Zula chatted excitedly behind her.
They found the guys in one of the lounging areas. Aiden was talking with Julius and Allen who had many questions about nightclubs.
Ron bolted on his feet when he saw Zula.
Zula smiled seeing her boyfriend in a dark ripped jean pants, maroon shirt and a black leather jacket. Very handsome. 
Ron took her hand in his and made her twirl. "Stunning!", he exclaimed and led the way outside.
Sarah laughed when she saw that those two stepped into their own world as soon as their eyes locked. She knows that feeling. Ah, it's wonderful to be in love.
"You look lovely.", Jesse told Oni when he offered his hand. "Don't leave my side."
Oni smiled shyly and went with him out.
Aiden gave eye signal to Julius and Allen who rushed after Jesse and Oni.
Six of them got a limousine to take them to the nightclub together. They are going in style.
"You did a good job in dressing them up.", Sarah told Aiden. She decided not to be nitpicky about the length of the skirts. It will not change anything, and it will cause unnecessary bickering.
"Kids are gone.", Aiden whispered next to Sarah's ear while wrapping his arms around her from the back.
"Yeah…", Sarah exhaled and leaned on him. It took her a second to realize. "Hey, we don't have any plans for us!"
Aiden chuckled. "Speaking like a true mother. You took care of the kids and neglected yourself… But don't worry, I got us covered."
Sarah held Aiden's hand and followed him toward the elevator. He got them covered!
"What about Penny and Ben?", Sarah asked.
"They are sleeping, or something…", Aiden responded.
"Bridgette and Steve?"
"Or something…"
Sarah laughed when she realized that he didn't mention sleeping as an option for the two of them.
Sarah paused when they entered their suite. The lights were off and there were candles and flowers and on the table she saw chocolates and…"Is that ice cream?"
"Mhm…", Aiden hummed in confirmation and pulled Sarah into his embrace while kicking the door closed behind him.
Only then Sarah realized that there is soft music coming from… somewhere.
Aiden made her twirl two times before pulling her back toward him.
"Do you want to go in the bath before or after the ice cream?"
Sarah was about to answer, but then she remembered one pressing issue: "Did you put the 'do not disturb' sign on the door?"
Aiden paused. "Just a second…"
Sarah laughed seeing him swiftly put the blasted sign hanging on the doorknob outside. Why is he always forgetting that?
"Done.", he grinned guiltily before going back to the topic. "So… ice cream or bath? Which one first?"
"If we take the bath first, the ice cream will melt."
"There is more in the freezer."
Sarah smiled. "But there is no need to let this one melt..."
 ---
If you are not reading this at 'W e b n o v e l . c o m', then the content you're reading is stolen! Please support the author by reading this novel from the original source.


18+ content!

This is a story of three Hill sisters who are navigating through challenges while they uncover the complicated story behind their maternal side of the family. And their father is not a simple man either.

Sarah is an introvert who does not want to attract attention. Other than mad coding skills, Sarah knows how to throw a punch. She believes that her biggest problem is the existence of a hacker Omega and her world flips when the most popular guy on campus approaches her. What does he want? Why her? (Ah, Sarah, that is only the beginning.) 

JoAnna easily makes friends with her bubbly personality. Some call her a mad scientist, but she prefers ‘Dr. Hill’, because that is what she is. JoAnna is an excellent markswoman who can snipe out any target and she is wondering if her prince charming will ever come.

Sophia is the voice of reason, their pillar of support. She is a confident CEO who knows how to get what she wants. Sophia’s degree in law combined with amazing capabilities to analyze situation and plan ahead make her the perfect strategist (to achieve a goal without ending up in jail). 

Every sister is different, and so are their relationships. 

They all have in common: trust and belief that if they work together, anything is possible.


***SPOILER? - START *** 
Story starts with a focus on the youngest sister (Sarah). 
After about 100 chapters, the oldest sister (Sophia) gets in the romantic spotlight. 
JoAnna finds herself pulled into romance last, at about 200 chapter mark. 
***SPOILER? - END ***



"Do you believe in destiny?", Sarah broke the silence. 
"Destiny?" Aiden didn't expect such a question. 
"Yes. The thing that is meant to happen, and there is nothing you can do to prevent it. And when it does happen, everything feels right." 
"Why would you ask me such a thing?" 
"Until few weeks ago I would say that there is no such thing as destiny. That we are all masters of our lives and that everything depends on our actions, or lack of it. But I can't help but wonder: why did I not push you away? ... Why does it feel like everything will be OK as long as we are together? ... You are a piece of me that I never knew was missing. Is this destiny?" 
"Mmm... if that is destiny, then I approve it.", Aiden lightly kissed Sarah's shoulder and rested his chin on it. 

---
1st WARNING!!!
Contains description of sexual scenes. If you are not comfortable with that, don’t read it!
---
2nd WARNING!!!
This is my first novel! :)
---

*****
I own the cover.
*****

Check out my second novel: 'Accident Prone'

John asked where we had found the chair. I told him that there was a web-site where they were sold and he could just search for it on the internet. We were actually shopping for some new porn and toys when we ran across it.

"What do you do on it?" Elizabeth asked. "I can't see how you could have sex on it?"

If you have never seen a tantra chair, it looks like a half of a big S lying on its side.

"I will let you watch the video," Dawn told her.

Dawn looked at me and winked. I picked up the house remote; the entire house was all on remote controls. All of the stereos, TVs, DVD players, lights, everything, plus some other features. I turned the TV on and pulled up the menu for all the DVD's on the hard drive and found the 30 minute demo for the chair. 

I punched up the movie and it started on the big TV. The video opens with a very handsome couple in the nude sitting straddle on the chair having sex. Dawn and I watched the video many times when we learned how to use the chair. There were different couples that demonstrated about 10 different sexual positions, including oral sex.

Everyone leaned forward as they saw the first couple slowly moving on the chair. John and Carol looked at the TV then the chair and back to the TV. There was complete silence in the room. Dawn reached for the remote in my hand and turned the lights in the bedroom down about half way and then said 'Enjoy' and grabbed my hand and led me out of the bedroom. 

As we left the bedroom and went back out to the walk way that overlooked the huge open room below, one couple was wrapped in a full embrace on one of the sofas. He had his hand under her bikini top squeezing a breast, she had her hand down the front of his suit rubbing his cock. Dawn turned the lights down with the remote. I looked and saw another couple on the rug on the floor. She was missing a top and he was busily sucking on her tits. I looked at Dawn and said, "What have you done?"

"I hope I have given everyone an opportunity to loosen up and enjoy themselves."

"I guess you have done that."

Let me just state that this all happened 'several' years ago. If you like flowery, colorful, euphemistic erotic love stories, this is probably not for you. 

If you like hot adventures - full of 'Love, Sex & Money', you will like this. 

Kindly Note - The first few chapters are going to be short in length.

-----------

"Dawn what is wrong?" I asked.

Sue was standing at the door saying something but I wasn't listening.

"We won the lottery," Dawn said.

"Great, how much did you win?" I asked.

"We have the only winning ticket, over $250,000,000.00," Dawn said as she turned and looked at me.

I thought for a second and looked at her and said, "Great, did you get the batteries?"

I thought Dawn was teasing me for some reason ... but she wasn't.

-----------

"Here" Rachel said putting a vial on Uther's desk, along with some papers that had the King's Seal and her research notes. 

"This is" Uther said confused and took the most eye-catching one, the one with the King's seal on it. 

"I am sure, you and your brother have always been curious about the deal between me and the former King."

"Merlin" Uther trailed off after reading the contents. 

"My Research and all the data I have, Copies of everything have been handed to the Medical Academy for them to analyze. The deal between me and the former King was for twenty years of service. In exchange I would have access to any and all research material as well an area to conduct tat research. I Have left my lab untouched and I won't take much with me." 

"….." Uther was quiet and not sure what to say.

"Its time Uther, I have been in Camelot for far to long. It's time to go."

"I…..I" Uther then nodded his head, he looked as if he wanted to say a few things to make her stay. However, in the end couldn't. By the time Rachel had left it was abrupt and quick, she never said goodbye. 

The forest was large, radiant, and budding. Its canopy was monopolized by ash, fir, and spruce, and abundant dancing lights bounced through their crowns for a mishmash of sprouts to spread in the fertile soils below.

Thin vines dangled from most trees, and a variety of flowers, which grew all over the place, added colorful, scented elements to the otherwise jade forest floor. A variety of wild noises, which were caused by insects, echoed in the air, and were in harmony with the occasional sounds of birds of prey gliding in the air.

Such was the forest of the village she first appeared in, Rachel was led deep into the forest by the Fae people. All the way to the mountain deep into the cave, where a giant crater exist within and a temple in the center sitting peacefully in the middle. 

Rachel looked at the Dark crimson eyes sit tightly within the creature's horned, long skull, which gives the creature a rather gentle looking appearance. Several small horns sit atop its head, just above its narrow, angular ears. Several rows of small crystal growths runs down the sides of each of its jaw lines.

Its nose is long and has two thick, slitted nostrils and there are small crystal growths on its chin. Several rows of large teeth poke out from the side of its mouth and reveal only a fraction of the terror hiding inside.

A wide neck runs down from its head and into a narrow body. The top is covered in massive scales and rows of spikes runs down its spine.Its bottom is covered in small scales and is colored slightly darker than the rest of its body. Four massive limbs carry its body and allow the creature to stand poised and mighty. Each limb has 4 digits, each of which end in pointy claws seemingly made of onyx.

Slender wings grow starting from just above its shoulders and end at its hips. The wings are rounded, the inner sides of the wing are full of minor holes and sharp hooks grow from the endings of each bone.

Its wide tail ends in a single tendril and is covered in the same massive scales as its body.

"Ruldrys" Rachel said lightly, the large dragon.

"Ah, Merlin" It laughed. "What brings you here?"

"I need to sleep"

"..."

"I am going to sleep here. Do you have a bed?" 

"...." The dragon said nothing as it stared at Rachel. "Inside to your right, and down the hall. There is a bedroom."

"Thank-you" Rachel said, in the past Herold had stolen some herd from his cave and was about to tear into the village when Rachel abruptly kicked his Dragon-a***, and they have been good friends ever since. 

Rachel wakes back up in her space, to see a spaced out Miyu. When she turned to Rachel and saw her Miyu decided to lay down next to her. 

"Are okay"

"Yeah, I'm fine"

"You don't look fine"
"I know, I'm fine but my spirit is hurt. I need a break, Now, where do you want to go next."

"...." Miyu looked at Rachel for a long time, before her hand travel to her ring again and she fiddled it. 

Rachel then held her. "Elfin, is it possible for you to keep tabs on that man's soul trances for her." 

[Yes, I have kept trances on him]

"Would you please then."

[Of Course] 

Miyu had then disappeared not to long after. 

"Elfin, I'll be going to."

[Your going to return, right.]

"Yes, Merlin is still an essential character. But, I'm am not going to be needed for a while."

[Alright, well, I do have a world for you]

"Good, I need a break." Rachel's gaze suddenly sharpened for a moment. "It seems I must take care of a few things first.

My Life was hell my days were filled with So much misery that I no longer found any reason to live it. But, I was also a coward who couldn’t even pull the trigger to end it all myself anyway. That’s Why I was so happy when she pushed me into the oncoming traffic.

Because surely in death, I will find Peace And Yet……Why?

*Disclaimer- Parts of this novel Revolve around the Worlds and Characters of Other Written Works of Literature like Animes, Games, Books, Etc. As such said Works belong to their perspective publishers and creators.

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CEO Jun Hara's house
On the west side of Harbor City, a gated house with a stone fence stood tall and glamorous. Green grass surrounded the big house and a colored fountain sat in front of the front door. A combination of yellow and white lights illuminated the interior of the house where vintage-elegant was the theme.
Mr. Hara casually browsed the tablet on his hand as he sat on the sofa. A crease formed on his forehead, evidently bothered by the email that he was currently reading. The light clacking of heels echoed in the living room as Margaret entered the room with a huge smile on her face. 
"What are you reading, daddy?" Margaret leaned over to see what her father was looking at but she was only able to glance at the tablet before he closed the screen and turned to her. "Mm, you're home?"
"Yes." She walked around the sofa and sat next to her father with a sigh, "I'm exhausted."
"Why? What did you do today?"
"Oh, nothing much really… Just out shopping with the girls." She turned to her father and met his gaze. "What are you thinking about, daddy?"
"It's nothing, I'm just wondering what Chairman Park is going to say on Monday," he answered, placing the tablet on the coffee table in front of them.
"You're going to meet Damien on Monday? Why? Can I come?" Margaret immediately straightened up, a glint flashed across her twinkling eyes upon hearing Damien's name. She had just read the articles online before she arrived home. The original write-ups had been taken down, however, the news had already spread so widely that netizens were still talking about it.
She didn't like that Damien and that woman he was with in the afternoon were being talked about like they were a celebrity couple. But that was just a temporary thing. She knew that this would cause a ruckus with the board knowing that they wouldn't want their company's image to be tarnished. Once that happens, kicking Young Corporation out of the picture was going to be easy.
"You haven't… Hmmm… Don't search anything online for now, okay? Crown Resort Group requested a meeting with all the bidders of the project on Monday. Also, we've talked about this. It's better if you don't go anywhere near Damien Park." Jun Hara studied his daughter's face as if he was trying to search for something before probing, "You didn't see him, did you?"
"Of course, not, daddy. I told you… I'm fine now. I promised you that I would stay away and I did… I haven't seen him at all. I swear." A charming smile cast her face, looking so angelic as she lied to her father's face.
Breathing out a sigh of relief, Jun Hara nodded and patted Margaret's head. "Good girl."
"So… I really can't go with you?"
Her father only eyed her and she pursed her lips into a thin line, raising her hand in surrender as she got up. "Okay okay… I was just confirming. Fine… I won't go…"
"Mm. Have you eaten dinner?"
"Yes, Dad. I'm going up to my room now." She pressed a kiss on her father's forehead before happily strolling towards her bedroom with a wicked grin on her face.
Jun Hara watched as his daughter walked up the stairs with worry written all over his face. "Don't forget to take your medicines. Good night."
"I won't, daddy. Good night!" Margaret disappeared from his sight and she entered her bedroom, locking the door behind her.
The yellow light that softly brightened her bedroom made the whole place look serene and calm. Her bedroom had shades of pink and white on the walls, the curtains, and even the drapes on her canopy bed. Margaret Hara had this adorable and innocent persona; one look at her and you'd want to be friends with someone as cute as her.
With a smile on her face, she went to her dresser and sat in front of the mirror. She looked at herself, turning her face from side to side as though she was examining her appearance. Picking up a wooden paddle brush, she started to brush her hair carefully, humming to the tune of Lullaby by Krzysztof Komeda.
When she was done, Margaret washed up and changed into a floor-length white nightgown and padded towards her tall dresser, pulling the topmost drawer open where untouched bottles of pills worth a few months were kept hidden. She glanced at her reflection on the mirror next to her and smiled before briefly looking at the medicine bottles again. Then she closed the drawer and went to her bed. Daddy wouldn't know if she missed a few pills or so anyway…
There were a few stuffed toys on her bed but she grabbed for the baby doll as soon as she crawled to the middle of the bed and cradled the baby in her arms. "Hey, baby… did you miss mommy?" A gentle smile formed on her lips as she softly caressed the baby doll's face. "I saw your daddy today… He was out with someone else but that's okay... He'll be back, I'm sure of it. I'll make sure of it."
Margaret got settled under the covers and turned off the lights. It was still and quiet and the only sound that could be heard was another round of humming from the same spine-chilling tune that filled her room—"Lullaby"
"I wanna see your daddy again soon… What do you think I should wear?" she casually asked the baby doll in her arms as if she was expecting it to respond.
Margaret Hara left Esmea almost a decade ago. Everyone—except her family—thought that she left for Japan to manage their business there. While that was partly true, no one else really knew what happened to her all these years. 
Now, she appeared as if she was a normal, beautiful woman in front of her friends—and only the walls of her bedroom and the doll in her hands truly knew what happens at night when she's all by herself.
"Hush now, baby, don't cry… Daddy and mommy are going to be together again soon. We'll be a happy family," Margaret softly said and then started, "La la la la la la la la la la…"


"Today, I choose you. And I'll choose you over and over again. Without pause, without a doubt, in a heartbeat, I'll keep choosing you.” -A

What would happen when a top assassin with a tragic background suddenly wakes up losing her memory after a long coma?
 
Five years after living her new identity, Katherine meets many misfortunes. With the help of her friend, she takes on the role of a secretary-slash-assistant for the country’s popular bachelor, Damien Park, Aka the Resort King. But who would have thought that on her first day of work, her boss would end up being her bane of existence?
 
With a smirk on his devilish, handsome face, Damien drags her to his office and presses her against the wall until his face is just inches away… “How dare you show up in front of me five years late?”
 
Surprised by the forceful antics of the man in front of her, Katherine blurted, “Mister Whoever you are, let me go!”
 
“What? Whoever... I am? Kitten, you better not think that you can get away with feigning ignorance. After disappearing that night, I thought you would already be on the other side of the world. Is being my secretary another one of your lies? Laughable.”
 
Katherine’s fate from then on entangled with his as she began to spend more time with him. The more she does, the more her true self is revealed... and this would scare her. 

Will she allow herself to fall in love with him? 
 
***
 
Twirling the knife in her hand skillfully, Katherine stared daggers at the man before her. As she stands from her seat, she stabs the knife on the wooden table in front of her in a bang!

Tied up with his hands behind his back, yet the man before her didn’t seem to feel a bit of fear.
 
She saunters wearing only her lace underwear and a white long cardigan over it, a small sexy smile appeared on her face. Her fingers gently caressing the chin of Damien Park as her sweet voice resounded out in the room. “I never would have thought there would come a day where I would be facing you 
like this... Mr. Park, would you like to see me dance?”
 
Chuckling slightly, Damien finds her provocation very tempting. "Let's see what you've got."
 
Discovering the secrets and unfolding the truth of her past, will she spare Damien's life or will she kill him?

•••

(R18)

Future Plan: Femme Fatale Series

~~~~~~~~~~

Other Works:

•Serendipity - A Chance Encounter (Complete-Ongoing revision)

•The Mafia Prince's Naughty Angel (Ongoing)

~~~~~~~~~~

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editors:

filledelisle
Swaning
Pantojac0311

I woke up the next day in a different world. I was lying on a sofa in a room with log walls. The window at my feet was speckled with raindrops. But the rain had stopped: I could hear trees rustling outside, and the cries of seagulls circling over the shore of the island.

I had been sleeping in my clothes, and they felt hot and clingy. I threw the blanket off myself and over the sofa's backrest and sat up, rubbing my face. There was a low coffee table in front of the sofa. It was decorated with with an overflowing tin ashtray, an empty pack of Rothmans, a booklet of matches that had just one bent match, and a half-full bottle of Kokanee True Ale. My mouth tasted horrible, so I reached for the beer and made it taste even worse.

I got up and went into the open kitchen and drank some water at the kitchen sink. I remembered dimly that Harry had told me to conserve water: it came from a tank that collected the rainwater from the roof. From what I'd seen of the weather so far, there was no danger of a water shortage.

I filled the kettle and put it on the gas stove and got it going. The coffee was in plain view, a square, squashed pack of Maxwell's on the kitchen counter, and so was the sugar. It was kept in an ornate pewter pot with sculpted handles. Tossing the kitchen matchbox up and down, I went to get a fresh packet of cigarettes.

It took me a while to locate my bag in the living room - I had slid it behind the sofa. I wondered why I'd gone to the trouble of moving the sofa and squeezing the bag in against the wall. I pulled it out and pushed the sofa against the wall and it was only when I'd unzipped the bag that I remembered there was a million-dollar stolen painting hidden inside.

After I'd made myself a coffee and emptied the ashtray, I sat down on the sofa with a foot pressed against my precious bag and began the laborious process of getting a bearing on my situation.

The house I was in consisted of a big room with an open kitchen at the back. There was a rudimentary bathroom next to the kitchen: an ancient shower cabin and a chemical toilet. Entering this bathroom involved bending in half to fit under the ladder-like stairs that led to a large bedroom. When we'd arrived at the house the previous afternoon, Harry made it plain that the bedroom was his very own, very private preserve. The Yale lock on the door emphasized the point.

Harry explained this along with several other things to me while we drank half a dozen bottles of Kokanee True Ale and smoked the last of his excellent Lebanese blond hash. Among others, I learned that the girls I had seen him with when we first met at the A&W were no-one special. He'd met them in the warehouse in Gastown, they were American, they'd gone back to Seattle after traveling to Vancouver with a couple of boyfriends who were draft-dodgers seeking shelter in Canada.

I also got a bunch of instructions. While staying at the house, I was to keep a low profile. Fishing off the pier was okay, but no waving to boats passing by and making friendly with their crews. Shitting was best done in the woods, unless it was freezing and I was really pressed. There was small sapper's shovel by the entrance I could use to dig a hole; it was important to cover up the hole well when finished, preferably throwing a dead branch over the spot to mark it as used.

Harry also made it clear that although there was a gas-powered generator, we were to use it as little as possible. The fridge functioned as an airtight cupboard. There were a couple of Coleman lights and an antique kerosene lamp, and I could also light a fire in the fireplace, provided I collected enough firewood first. There was a ton od dead branches lying around in the forest, and the occasional piece of driftwood on the shore. Did I know how to sharpen an ax? The whetting stone and the ax and a bunch of tools were kept in a storage box by the side of the house, next to a chopping block.

It was pretty clear that staying on the island would mean getting a taste of the good old pioneer life. In addition, we would be working pretty hard once the pot harvest started in earnest. All in all, I would be pretty busy. Was I okay with that?

I'd said that yeah, I was okay with that. I told Harry I didn't want to have time on my hands, time to think too much. Then I really opened up to him, and over consecutive beers I told him pretty much everything except for the museum robbery, and Peter Schmidt. I even told him about Tracy and the Montrose. He really enjoyed that.

It made him trust me enough to reveal that there two guns in the house - a .22 varmint rifle with a scope, and an ancient double-barreled shotgun. Both were locked in Harry's room, but if it made me feel better he could leave the shotgun and a box of shells out in the front room. I'd said no thanks, but as I was thinking about that part of our conversation I saw that the shotgun was standing propped up against the wall in the far front corner of the room.

I got up to take a closer look. It was ancient all right: it had been made by Purdey & Sons in London, 1912. There was a yellow cardboard box of shells on the casual table next to the gun. I broke the gun to see whether it was loaded. It wasn't. I put the empty shotgun back where Harry had left it.

I finished my coffee and made myself another one and did a bit of exploring around the house, excluding Harry's room. The kitchen cupboards were full of packaged food, tons of cans and boxes and bags, enough to survive for the entire winter. Harry had told me that fresh food on the island was limited to the weekly haul of groceries brought in from the mainland. Apart from that, there were only berries and mushrooms from the forest and fish caught in the bay, mostly herring and ocean perch.

It looked as if this was going to be a very different experience from staying at Roch's family cottage by the lake. But funnily enough, when Harry had finished giving me the lowdown on everything, he said:
"I'll be splitting soon. Got stuff to do in the city, and tomorrow I'll be at my parents' place. You know, family dinner and shit."

I couldn't help it; I started giggling, maybe also because of the hash. Everyone around was having Sunday dinners with their parents. I seemed to be the sole exception.
"Yeah," I'd said, when I'd finished giggling. "I understand."
"Great. And hey, I'll bringing in groceries for the week on Monday. You'd better tell me right now what you need, like cigarettes or whatever. But hey - no serious booze. We drink nothing but beer here, and not too much of that. You fuck around with fire all the time, you want to stay sober."
"Getting high is all right?"
"Man," Harry had said, grinning, "I'm at my most sober when I'm stoned."
"Yeah," I'd lied, "I'm that way too."
"Great. Great! You know something, when I saw you in that burger joint, I just fucking knew you were a twin soul. I knew it, man."

He must have meant it. He wouldn't have left me a gun plus ammunition otherwise. It was nice to feel so trustworthy, right after killing someone.

After I'd explored everything there was to explore in and around the house, I sat down to examine the newspapers I'd bought the previous day. I spent several hours with those newspapers. I quickly found out there was absolutely no mention of any deaths on the highway, not even a car crash or some other accident. Then I spent several hours reading the retail ads and the classifieds and thinking about what I'd read. I'd developed that habit while being thrown all around Europe with my diplomatic dad. Reading the ads, especially the classifieds, gives a good feel for the place you're in. It basically provides an overview of what's going on.

I had munched on my biscuits and salami while looking through the papers, but by the late afternoon I was ready for a proper meal. I had rice with a can of mixed vegetables: it was tasteless but filling. I spent some time examining the three fishing rods that were on display in a cabinet near the front door. There were books on the shelves near the stairs, and before it got dark I managed to pick out a couple to keep me entertained. I chose Lust for Life by Irving Stone and The Young Lions by Irwin Shaw; I.S., all the way.

I had read Lust for Life earlier: it's about van Gogh's life, more precisely about how life shafted him left, right, and center, causing him to lose his mind and eventually commit suicide. Of course nowadays he's recognized as a genius and his paintings cost the earth. If there's an afterlife, van Gogh probably feels he got a good deal: an unhappy life is a good trade for an eternity of great success. It's a shitty deal though when you aren't around to enjoy that success, and most likely there is no afterlife. Well, you make your choices and you take your chances, as they say.

I hadn't read The Young Lions so I got going on that once I'd lit the kerosene lamp. It turned out to be fucking good and I kept reading it until my eyes lodged a formal protest. The flame in the lamp kept flickering no matter how many and what adjustments I made to the wick.

It was around eleven at night by then, and I smoked a final cigarette congratulating myself on the fact that Canada wasn't involved in a war, and had no conscription. Fighting might be fun for some people but it accounts only for a tiny percentage of time spent in the military. The remaining time, 99% or more, is spent waiting for the fighting while living the military life, and military life is extremely shitty. It's no wonder soldiers are more than ready to kill people, simply being in the military makes you want to kill people because of all the hardships and bullshit you have to endure.

I was in no danger of being forced into that, which was great. On the other hand, I was in great danger of being forced to live in jail, and life in jail was much worse than the shittiest life in the military.

I tossed and turned for a long time before I fell asleep.

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On the 10th of August, 1972, almost exactly ten months after my eighteenth birthday, I left my home and cut all ties with my family. This is the story of what happened next: to me, to people I knew, and to the world.

NOTE: All of the characters in this story are fictitious; however, many of the events described really took place. One of these, the  Montreal Museum of Fine Arts robbery in 1972, was the greatest theft of art in Canadian history.
It remains an unsolved mystery to this day, and is the first of many historical events that will involve the hero of this story.
Current update schedule: 2-5 chapters a week

16 Years Ago...

Azalea Johnson's POV
***
I was playing by the public pool. I have gone there without my parents' permission. It was a few blocks away from our apartment. I was 15 years old. Being in the water made me feel relaxed and I can think when I was swimming. 
 I made to the pool because today was the worst day ever. My crush from school, Louis, has told me that he had a girlfriend. And one thing that I forgot to mention, he was also my best friend. so, I smiled at him and told him congratulations meanwhile my inside was eating my outside.
 once I got home, I ran to my bedroom and locked the door. I needed to be alone. I need to get away from here, from reality. Ever since I have been swimming around in the ocean, which was rare in New York City, I have to make do with the swimming pool. It was a Thursday night, a school night.
 so, I climbed out of my window and I jumped using the ladder that they have on the building's side like the most apartments in New York do. I went down and I carried all the necessities that I might need when I went swimming. I smiled before I ran toward the building.
 I picked the lock of the building, courtesy of Barb, she was a bad influence on me but hey, she made to the Ph.D. level in the same university as me. I went inside and bring out the torchlight to get to the indoor pool. There was no one inside. I went to the private lounge that the guards told us not to go whenever I visited this public pool.
 I went and I saw that their amenities were different from us. It was like walking inside a freaking paradise and I don't think I would ever go to the public pool again. I dropped my stuff on a bench and I went to take off my sweater and leggings. I was wearing my underwear which can be passed as a bikini. 
 I went to the edge of the pool and sunk my toe. It was warm and heated. Just like how I wanted it to be since we were in Fall. I needed lukewarm water not a cold one. So, I stretched as my dad taught me and I went to the flipping board as I went to dive inside the pool. It was heaven. I was swimming backward as I was trying to relax my mind. 
 then, I saw a flashlight that was walking toward the indoor pool. I cursed before I went to sink myself and hold my breath for a couple of minutes. My time record was 3 minutes top. I needed him to get out of here. I needed him to go.
 I saw some lights and then, it disappeared. I went to the surface as I just popped my eyes and nose up enough for me to breathe. I looked at the lights that had disappeared before I smiled. 
 I giggled before I sunk myself again and I was dancing in the water. but, that was a bad move. I twisted my leg and it cramped. I cannot move. I was drowning as panic started to take over my body. I need to get out of here. I need to go up the surface. 
 I can see faces; my mum, my dad, my sister. I don't have enough time yet to spend my precious time with them. I prayed and prayed that someone would help me. suddenly, I was getting up on the edge of the pool as I was laying down on the ground.
 I looked at the stranger in the dim light, the lights that were coming from the pool. His face was hooded. He looked like he was one or two years older than me. I reached for him but he moved away. But his blue eyes were shining, like water.
 "Someday, I will come back for you," his husky voice was ringing against my eardrum as I was drifted to sleep, tired of keeping myself up in the water
***
I woke up with a startled. I looked around as I was in bed, wearing a nightgown. It was cute but who could change me when I was in my blouse and pants. I looked and immediately I remembered that I was in Alex's bed. 
 I grunted before I sat up. Blood rushed to my head as I was feeling dizzy for a moment. I sighed before I looked at the clock. It was at 10 AM. Alex must have gone to the campus. so, I went out of the bedroom to get some water.
 as soon as I was out, I can smell a nice breakfast and a figure that was standing around in the kitchen. I walked over and I saw that Alex was making breakfast with his bareback to me and he was just wearing basketball shorts. He was humming a song.
 I cleared my throat and he turned around to look at me. He smiled beamingly at me as he put some scrambled eggs on the plates.
 "you're right on time. Come, let's have some breakfast together," he said as he went to my side and he pulled me toward him. He dipped his head before kissed me briefly and led me to the stool. He put the plate in front of me and gestured me to eat. He took a seat next to my right as he had his plate.
 I took a spoon and I dig in. It was delicious and I could not have enough. I went to eat the eggs, bacon, sausage and French toasts like I was not having a meal for over a month.
 "Hey, easy. There's plenty to go around," he said as he laughed at my eating. I rolled my eyes as the memory was coming flooded into my mind. abruptly, I went to stand up and anger was coming into my mind.
 "oh, I'm sorry if my eating disgusts you. I know you like sophisticated things," I said as I went to push my plate aside and I went to get some coffee from the coffee maker. It was nice to push that anger out of my stream. Alex was silent as I turned to look at him and sipping on my coffee. I arched my eyebrow at him before he sighed.
 he pushed his plate aside as well and went to stand up. He was approaching me slowly as he thought I would go away like last night. well, I will not and I will stand my ground. I have been too emotionally involved with him and that memory of the past was resurfacing. I needed to find him.
 "Lea, I know you were upset with me," he started.
 "you think? If you want to keep being a playboy, so be it but do not involve me and your stupid exes around me all the time," I said as I set the mug aside. I crossed my arms at him and I hoped I looked intimidating.
 Alex stopped in front of me before he was rubbing his neck. He looked at me with those blue eyes, the one that I was seeing in my dream last night. I gulped. No, it can't be.
 "I had my attorney came in this morning and he had drawn up the marriage contract and our marriage registration," he said as he passed some papers onto the counter. I don't want to move but I need to look at it. I sighed before I went to look at the contract. He already signed it and the marriage contract as well.
 "is everything according to what we agreed to?" I asked him as he looked at me, reading my moves. 
 "yes, I am. I did nothing to change it and I hoped it will be up to your standards,"  he said as he looked at me. There was a pen nearby and I took it before I went to sign the registration and the contract without checking it. I need to keep a cool front so that he would not read me as I wanted him. then, I know I can never have. We would never consummate our marriage and it was on papers, just for show.
 "Okay, done," I said as I recapped the pen. I put it down before I looked at him. He looked at me as I was insane.
 "will you look at it at least?" He asked me but I just shook my head. 
 "no, I think we have done enough looking inside this and we might as well go to work now," I said as I went to the other side of the counter. Alex quickly blocked me.
 "Lea, you're not telling the whole truth," he said as he was blocking my way. I went to the other side but he pulled at my wrist.
 "let. Go," I said through my gritted teeth. He was eyeing me dangerously.
 "Make me," he growled. I never heard him growled before. I gulped.
 "Not until you tell me what is making you angry all the time at me. I need to fix it and for it to happen, I need to know why," he said with so much restraint on his anger. I looked at him and held my chin.
 "fine, I tell you what was bothering me and I hope you like it. I hate that your string of exes come knocking at my door every 5 seconds. I turned around and I saw, oh what, one of your exes. When I was away, I saw someone that was your ex as well. so, forgive me if I was not in the mood to talk to you right now," I said as I looked at him sternly. 
 He did not blink when he looked at me but his grip tightens around my wrist. I flinched but I will not let him have the upper hand in this argument. 
 "well, forgive me if that's what you were feeling. I thought you don't even like—"
 "let me stop you there. I did not like you. I was just pissed because my peaceful life has been ruined by your string of exes," I said as I looked at him. He turned away before he looked at me with a smirk in his lips.
 "well, I hope this will tell my feelings clear about everything and my exes," he said before he pulled me into his chest.
 "what are you—"I was cut off before he smashed my lips with his. My eyes went wide and I tried to resist but what can I do, I was a woman who has been entangled by this eccentric of a man.

These were the compilation of short stories of sisterhood and struggles that they went through when they were viewed as women in men's world. It was hard to make a living in this world, especially when your mother owned a nightclub that was viewed as a place that was not suitable for those women to stay and live in.
But the men that they have trapped in their web was much more than that. They were desperate enough to get these women to get involved with them and do something that was not always welcomed by others. 
Can they surpass the views that the men had on these women or will they finally see for who they really are, despite what society said about them?

On Saturday morning, Josephine and Francis came to stand before the entrance of the East Wing when the Chimangat stepped in and held up the scroll he was carrying.
"This is a royal decree;
"In the lights of the investigation conducted by the Royal Intelligence Services in collaboration with the police to uncover the cause of the physical confrontation between Prince Angel and Prince Francis made known to the public by the illegal upload of a video recording of the above-cited altercation, it has been discovered that the crown prince has been the target of a conspirator whose aim was to cause him to lose his place on the throne.
"Further investigation requested by the High Council has come to prove that the royal consort, Princess Josephine, and her son, Prince Francis, are the instigators behind the following incidents and all the commotions that have derived therefrom:
"The illegal release of pictures of Crown Prince Angel in the company of Miss Natacha Irung on the last day of his official trip to Kinshasa;
"The breach of the secrecy agreement on the presence of Changadim Kat Sama at the royal palace;
"The secret procurement of an invitation to Prince Francis 26th Birthday Celebration for Miss Natacha Irung;
"The illegal record and release of the video showing Miss Natacha Irung's suicidal threat;
"And the illegal record and release of a video showing an altercation between Prince Angel and Prince Francis.
"All actions perpetrated in view to discredit the image of the crown prince before the entire kingdom.
"For having conspired against the crown prince and, thus, against the Throne and, by that, jeopardised the stability of the uRuund kingdom; by the kingly ruling, the royal consort, Princess Josephine, is condemned to permanent exile and is stripped off her royal status…"
Josephine felt as if her head had emptied up and her limbs had lost all vigour and took support on her son so as not to collapse.
The Chimangat continued without emotion. "As of the moment of the reading of this decree, Mrs Josephine Nsamb will neither hold the title of Royal Consort nor will she ever again be referred to as a member of the royal family.
"For having conspired against the crown prince, the Throne and the kingdom in complicity with Mrs Josephine Nsamb, Prince Francis, son of late Crown Prince John, is also condemned to permanent exile.
"However, Prince Francis will not be entirely stripped off his princely status. As a carrier of royal blood, Prince Francis will keep his princely title, but he will no longer beneficiate of all the privileges that ensue from a princely status within or outside the uRuund kingdom. Prince Francis will be entitled to the royal abode located in the United States of America he and his mother have previously occupied. 
"As at the moment of the reading of this decree, the ensuing take immediate effect:
"Prince Angel is reinstated to his position as the crown prince of Ruund, and Mrs Josephine Nsamb and Prince Francis are to be escorted out of the kingdom, and are to never set foot back on uRuund soil for the rest of their life.
"This royal ruling will be heralded publically and recorded in the Annals of Ruund Kingdom and of the royal family. 
"This decree has been dictated and sealed by Mwant Yav Angel II, King of Ruund, at this date and time, and has been approved by the High Council of Ruund."
Josephine was on the verge of unconsciousness and being fanned by her son when the Chimangat bowed and exited the East Wing while as royal officers walked in and started to pack up their belongings and royal guards came to stand next to them in wait to escort them to the airport.
Angel, who had come along with the Chimangat, had stayed standing by the entrance door while the royal decree was being proclaimed.
The idea he had submitted to his father had been approved by the High Council. Hence, to avoid having to disclose the true cause of the fight between the two princes, at the time the royal secretary would hold a press conference to publicise the royal ruling, he would state that the video was a hoax. 
Angel's idea was to make it look like the video was, in fact, the recording of a fake fight acted following the instructions of Lady Josephine in yet another attempt to sully the image of the crown prince. So, under the condition that the king should not be lenient towards Francis in his ruling, the members of the High Council had agreed to keep the truth covered – just that once – for the sake of preserving the image of the Throne.
Throughout the investigation, Angel had discovered that the hacker Josephine had used all along was also a specialist in special effects. So with his collaboration – and in exchange for a lighter penalty, it had been easy to mount up another video showing two actors being made up to look like the princes and prepped for the fight scene in an exact replica of the Forest Palace's living room as evidence to present to the public.
When Josephine and Francis' belongings had been packed, the royal guards proceeded to escort them out, but as they reached the entrance door, Angel signalled the guards to stop.
He looked at Francis. "You know… if you had come straight up to me and told me that you wanted the crown, I would have gladly stepped down in order to give it back to you because I always thought that you were better fit for the throne than I could ever be. But now that I've been able to see how low you are capable of stooping just so you can satisfy your selfish desires, I understand why God has put me on the throne instead of you."
Without waiting for a reply from his cousin, Angel signalled the royal guards to carry on with their task. As the guards led Josephine and Francis to the car parked in front of the Central Palace entrance, Peter approached the crown prince.
"Karl Tshisol has handed me this to give back to Your Highness." He explained as he handed Angel what appeared to be an A4 notepad. "It was found in Prince Francis' belongings during the investigation, but it appears to belong to the young maiden."
Angel opened the cover. On the first page was written very artistically 'My Visual Diary' and signed in Kat's name.
"Prince Francis refused to reveal how he came into possession of this item." The guard explained when Angel looked back at him with interrogative eyes. "However, after a thorough review of palace surveillance footage, we have discovered that Prince Francis had gone to the West Wing late on the night Your Highness had spent in the South Wing for of the maiden's birthday."
Angel slightly frowned. Francis had started to act strangely towards Kat the very following day. He looked back at the drawing pad. Could it have been because of the content of the diary? What information was Francis so eager to get that he even risked sneaking into the West Wing so as to acquire Kat's personal diary?
Those two questions led the crown prince to leaf through the pad, and, three drawings later, he finally understood why Francis had been so adamant in his assertion that Kat had fallen for him. Peter's keen observing eyes spotted a faint smile tracing on the crown prince's lips as he leafed further. 
The majority of the drawings was about him, and they were all titled according to the circumstances surrounding the captured moment. 
'First Encounter' was a drawing of Angel standing in front of the Sama property; 'I Was Moved…' showed Angel playing the piano; 'Symbiosis' was a drawing of Angel riding Tornado…
There was again a drawing of Angel in which the serene expression in his eyes was very much in the foreground titled 'His Favourite Place'. 
"The waterfall…"
Angel was really impressed by each drawing he was discovering. Kat did not have her drawing kit with her on all those occasions. How then had she managed to capture all of them on paper? 
"She must have a very good visual memory…" He concluded.
On the following drawing, Angel's eyebrows creased. The drawing was titled '…'; so, Angel had to rummage through his brain in order to finally make out the scene depicted. It was a drawing of him sleeping… But definitely not from the night he had rescued her. From the angle it was captured…
Angel's face suddenly lit up. "So she was not asleep on that morning…" He thought with a smile.
A few drawings after, Angel stumbled on a page where Kat had drawn his face as if leaning and written 'Stolen Kiss… (I'm doomed!)'. 
~ If I were to fall for you, then I'd be doomed. ~ 
The reply Kat had given him at the Forest palace when he had asked her what would happen if she fell in love with him immediately came back to his mind… Was the inscription in brackets in reference to that statement?
In the drawing, she had even succeeded at faithfully depicting the intent in his eyes when he had leant to capture her lips into a forceful kiss. Angel was somewhat taken aback. The anger and indignation he had read in Kat's eyes after she had pushed him away would have never led him to think that it was at that moment that she had come to the realisation of her feelings for him.
As he pondered over the matter, Angel was suddenly brought back to the answer he had received to his second question in the chapel. When he wanted to know whether he should seek for a way to hold onto the maiden or just let her go… When he thought the maiden had developed feelings for his cousin…
As he had repeatedly muttered that double question, another had raised in his spirit in response: "Are you 100% sure that she loves Francis?"
The fact that he could not answer that question with absolute certitude had turned out to be the answer he needed. Knowing with certitude whether Kat was in love with Francis or not was determinant in his decision either to hold onto the woman he had fallen in love with or to let her go to his cousin.
Looking at the drawing pad in his hands, Angel realised that he was receiving an answer to that third question…
…
Later that day, Angel was knocking at Kat's bedroom door. She opened the door and hesitantly made way for him to come in. Her hesitation was coming from the fact that, right after the hearing in the Throne Room, Angel had immediately dived into the RIS investigation so much so that they had gotten very little opportunities to even interact over a meal; making that the first time they would have an actual conversation since she had gone to see him in his bedroom on Sunday afternoon.
Angel walked straight up to the balcony and Kat followed suit; he took place on one of the chairs set there and Kat sat opposite him.
"Are they gone?" Kat asked.
The king had called for everyone in the private office to inform them of his ruling right before the Chimangat was sent to the East Wing.
Angel nodded. "Their flight has just taken off."
"So what exactly awaits them if they ever dare to come back to Ruund?"
"Imprisonment. But that's rather unlikely because they will always be under the same kind of surveillance I was when I was studying in London."
Kat raised her eyebrows. "You knew you were under surveillance?"
Angel faintly smiled. "I am the crown prince of Ruund…" He started. "Seeing how the Forest Palace is guarded while it's within the Royal Estate, how could they let me leave the kingdom without protection?
"University studies in a foreign country are, in a way, an opportunity for uRuund young royals to have a once in a lifetime 'out-of-the-palace' experience, but they cannot be left completely without protection. Though I never saw them, I knew that royal guards were always out there watching."
Kat nodded pensively. If Angel knew that there were guards watching over him, then he must have known that they were reporting all his movements to the king. Could he have purposely had an engagement ring made in a way of telling his father that he was serious about Natacha Irung?
The king had also announced that he would be granting Adolph Irung and his daughter the Royal Exoneration since they had made amend through their public announcement and by giving their full cooperation during the investigation. Was it a step towards accepting his son's feelings?
While Kat was still caught up in her cogitation, Angel placed something on the table and pushed it towards her. 
Flustered by the crown prince's visit, the young woman had not even paid attention to the object he had been holding in his hand all along; so his move surprised her. Kat took a look at the item then looked back at Angel in astonishment once she recognised it. How did he come into possession of her visual diary?
"It was found in Prince Francis' bedroom," Angel explained to answer the question in her eyes. "It appears that he snuck into your bedroom on the night we spent in the South Wing for your birthday."
"He had noticed it one day when I did a sketch of him. I guess the fact that I refused to let him browse through it must have piqued his curiosity…" Kat said almost to herself.
"Didn't you notice that it was gone?" Angel inquired.
"With everything that has happened since my birthday, I didn't even think about my visual diary. I never draw on a restless mind."
Kat scanned Angel's face. Did he look at the content? 
"Possibly…" she thought.
"I now understand why he was so adamant in his conviction that I have fallen for you…" Kat added, still scanning the crown prince's face.
Angel kept silently looking at her, not even a bit surprised by her statement.
"Definitely!" She concluded.
"So… tomorrow is D-Day." Angel finally let out.
"Yes… These three months have passed so fast…"
Kat then chuckled.
"What is it?" Angel inquired.
"It just that, at the time I moved into the palace, I imagined numerous outcomes to the Courtship Program… But none of them was even remotely resembling this one."
More than talking about what had happened with Prince Francis, Kat was referring to her falling in love with Angel. Thinking back at their first encounter, then their clash on her first night at the palace, she had always thought her options were either falling for Francis or going back home.
Normally, the appearance of Natacha Irung should have reinforced that conviction. But instead, it had ended up helping bring forth the feelings that she did not realise she already had for the crown prince at the time.
"I was really hoping that I would leave the palace without being found out." She added pensively before she left her chair and went to lean on the bannister.
As she looked at the beautiful landscape spreading before her eyes, she felt a heaviness gradually pressing on her heart. When Angel also left his seat and came to stand next to her, Kat looked at him. "Don't worry. I'm not about to go back on our agreement," she said when she noticed that he was looking at her with questioning eyes. "I hope Mwant Yav will be more inclined to accept the woman you love once I'll be out of the picture." She added as she looked back at the landscape.
Angel slightly frowned. Was he somehow projecting that he was still in love with Natacha?
"Changadim Kat…"
"Gosh! I'm going to miss this view…"
At the slightly chocked tone, Angel tried to look closer at the young woman's profile. But Kat quickly looked away. 
"Excuse me for a minute." She let out as she motioned to go back in the bedroom.
No matter how hard she tried, Kat was utterly failing at holding back her tears; and since she did not want to let Angel see her like that, she wanted to take refuge in her bathroom until she would be able to regain her countenance. But the crown prince was quicker to grab her by the wrist and pulled her into a back-hug. 
At the shock, Kat froze.
"Please, Kat… don't go…" Angel let out next to her ear.
"…"
Kat's lips had parted, but no sound was coming out because her mind was still racing in an attempt to understand the meaning of Angel's plea. At first, Kat wondered if she had heard right. And when her brain finally reported that the information registered was not erroneous, she started to wonder whether Angel was referring to her not leaving the balcony… or the palace…
Her heart was already set on the latter, but her mind was too afraid to even dare to hope it could be the case.
Angel slowly loosened his hold and turned her around to face him. With an awkward but endeared smile, he cupped Kat's face in his hands and wiped the tears that had finally rolled down her cheeks with his thumbs.
Kat slowly lifted her eyes to meet Angel's gaze and, this time, she read something in them… something that made her heart leap in her chest.
"Crown Prince Angel…"
Angel chuckled bashfully as he released her face and reached down to take her hands. For the first time, Kat was feeling that the crown prince had finally brought down the shield that always kept her from seeing through him.
"From the moment I became heir to the throne of Ruund, I have been trained to never show my emotions…" Angel started. "It is a prized quality for a king to be able to always present a strong front no matter the situation so the people can rely on his ability to make decisions that are not biased by his feelings. This is why the crown prince, more than any other young royal, is required to excel at that. But it can have the counter-effect of making it difficult for us to express our feelings in private…"
Kat was still not able to utter a single word. The scene playing before her was like a dream bubble slowly shaping itself into reality as Angel spoke; a bubble that she was afraid to burst if she dared to make a sound.
So it was in a bit of a daze that Kat read on Angel's lips more than she actually heard him say: "I love you, Changadim Kat."
Then Angel, still holding her hands, slowly went down on one bent knee. "It might be very difficult for me to tell you this as much as I should, but I will always find a way to show that to you…
"Changadim Kat Sama, will you be my princess?"

“Wait a minute… it’s a joke, right? It has to be a joke!”

Even after gulping down two full glasses of water straight, Kat was still feeling a bit dizzy. Her mind was racing while trying to fully process the information her brain had just registered…

Kat has always lived a simple life, surrounded by her loving mother and siblings. But now, in an unexpected twist of fate, she is faced with the possibility of leaving her beloved home forever.

She does not want to yield. Even if he is the crown prince of Ruund. But is still compelled by her grandfather’s oath; the honour of her family is also at stake…



Hello there! This is the author.
This novel work is not a fan-fiction but a remake of the drama series 'Princess Hours'.
It might not be my first novel work but it my biggest one so far.
There will be no locked chapters. I hope you will enjoy this story just as much as or even more than I did while writing it.

They were walking on a paved road surrounded by tall trees, while Yule could see some fireflies flying around the area, making the place more magical. 

The group passed a giant white stadium with lights on glowing on the second and third floors. Further ahead, they arrived at a five-story building with long corridors. 

"This is the students' dorm," Professor Fields introduced to Yule. "We will have to say goodbye to Ranger and Sanna for the meantime. Yule will stay temporarily at the Teacher's Dormitory where he will stay at my guest bedroom."

The three students nodded at the Professor, then Ranger and Sanna waved goodbye to them. Yule and Professor Fields walked more and arrived at a western-style mansion. The mansion was surrounded long brick walls, and in the middle was a metallic gate. 
Professor Fields pulled a card from his lab coat and flashed it at the gate. The gate automatically swung open, and the two entered the premises.

Upon entering the mansion, they were greeted by a chubby man at the desk. He tried to comb his unkempt hair when he saw the two. Professor Fields explained to him that he was with his nephew, and he will stay for a night while his transfer papers were being processed by the administration. The chubby man looked at Yule, then waved them off.

They climbed the staircase and went to Professor Fields' room. The room was very cozy, plastered with sky blue paper walls. There were two couches in front of a painting depicting the fall of angels in the bible. At the side of the room, two bookshelves stood with books filling it. Opposite of it, two doors erected on the side leading to the bedrooms.

Professor Fields opened the left door and led Yule inside. The guest bedroom had a single bed and own bathroom. 

"I think you had a very long day. You may rest here, Yule. We will talk in the morning." Then Professor Fields closed the door.

Yule went first into the bathroom and washed his face. After that, he leaped on the bed and released a long sigh. He agreed on Professor Fields he had a very long day. He could not believe that he was lying on the bed after the aswang they fought earlier almost killed him.

Yule was also thinking about tomorrow when he would start faking himself as the nephew of Professor Fields. Many thoughts and images entered in his mind until sleep arrived.

*****

A knock woke up Yule. He stretched his shoulders and rose from the bed. 
Someone pushed open the door, and Professor Fields's head popped up. "I brought clothes."
Yule grabbed the clothes and told him how grateful he was. After cleaning and changing his clothes, he met the professor.
The professor was sitting on one of the couches and reading a book. 

"I forgot to say last night that how cozy the room is for a teacher," Yule said. 

Professor Fields closed the book and smiled at Yule. "I'm glad you like the room also. This is the least that the Academy could do to us since most licensed slayers preferred to be on the field."

"So you mean to say, all the teachers of this academy are licensed slayers?"

Professor Fields nodded at him. He rose from the couch and returned the book he was holding to the bookshelf. "We should go to the dining area. Breakfast is being served now."
The professor led the way to the dining area located on the ground floor of the mansion.

*****

After their breakfast, Professor Fields and Yule went out and headed to another facility located in the southern part of the academy.
 
"We will meet with my colleague who we can trust about your situation. This colleague of mine will do an examination of your body and the shard embedded on your chest."

Yule nodded at him. He was actually nervous about what they would find on his body.

They arrived at a seven-story building and went to the third floor. The floor had a long hallway where they passed some Engkanto wearing long white coats. 

Professor Fields went to the end of the hallway and knocked. When no one answered, the professor slide the door open and found a female Engkanto typing rapidly on the hologram keyboard while her glamoured eyes were glued to the hologram screen.

Yule and Professor Fields entered the room, but the female Engkanto was deeply engrossed in her work. Professor Fields coughed louder, and the female Engkanto finally noticed them. She quickly jumped on her feet and faced them. 

The female Engkanto had deep blue colored hair with pink color covering the tail of her hair. She was about the same height as Professor Fields. Yule also observed that she was stunningly beautiful like the other Engkanto he had met. But Yule felt some gentle presence coming from her.

"Matteo," the female Engkanto started.

"Avatara," Professor Fields curtly replied.

"I assume that he's the guy you've mentioned from your email late last night?," Avatar inquired while eyeing Yule.

Professor Fields faced Yule and introduced her. "Yule, I would like you to meet Avatara. She's the colleague I've mentioned to you. She will try to help us." 

Avatara nodded at him then she clicked on the hologram keyboard. Automatically, the screen and the keyboard winked out. 

"Come, follow me." 
They were behind her when she started guiding them on another hallway inside the room. 

They stopped in front of a sliding door room. Avatara opened the door and led them inside.

The room was pure white. Yule also noticed a circular-shaped metal platform in the middle of the room. 

"B719, initiate the examination," Avatara ordered to no one. Then hologram screens started appearing around her. Words and charts appeared on the screens. She quickly typed something on the screen in front of her, then a word 'Standby' displayed on the screen.

"Yule please stand on the platform, so we can start scanning you," Avatara instructed Yule.

Yule went to the platform and felt uncomfortable, standing in front of Professor Fields and Avatara.
Then a hole appeared on the ceiling, and a ball drone flew downwards and levitating in front of Yule. The ball drone had the same appearance as the drone of Manu.
"Shall we start the scanning?" The ball drone asked in a monotonous voice.
"Yes, please. Initiate Overall Scanning and Shard Examination," Avatara replied.
Professor Fields went behind Avatara looking also at the screens surrounding her.
The ball drone released a red light from its eye. The red light scanned his head first, then went all the way to the bottom. Data started appearing on hologram screens which made Avatara nodded. Then, the red light started going upwards and stopped on his chest. It stayed there for a few minutes. Then the red light disappeared. The ball drone stayed levitating in front of Yule.
"Done scanning," the ball drone announced. Afterward, it flew back to the ceiling.
Additional data started appearing on the hologram screens, but this time, it made Avatara frowned. 
Suddenly, they heard a knock from the door. Professor Fields and Yule looked at it and found Sanna opening the door. She nodded at the professor and waved at Yule.
"This might take a while," Avatara announced.
"Yule may step down from the platform. Sanna will escort you out. The two of you may roam around the academy while we wait for the result. I'll stay here with Avatara." Professor Fields said to the two.
*****
When the two exited the room, Avatara furiously typed on the holograms and it generated more data and graph on the screens. Professor Feilds was just observing the whole process, letting her do her expertise. 
After a few minutes, Professor Fields sensed that she was about to conclude her work. Avatara displayed some images on the screens and faced the professor.
"As expected the boy is in good health. He has the same DNA structure with humans on this Earth. Same body functions, nothing different. What surprised me is this," Avatara slid the screen in front of her and a shard appeared on it. "A common shard usually have spirit energy readings around it." She held the image of the shard and put a throwing action towards Professor Fields.
The shard appeared outside the screen via holographic imaging. It was floating in the air, and the two crowded around it. Avatara and Professor Fields were looking at close up version of Yule's shard.
"But the boy's shard doesn't have any spirit readings I could trace. It supposed to have a spiritual reading. It's usually emitted by the contracted mythical being, and I've never encountered this kind of shard." Avatara said in a tired voice.
"But they recounted that a weapon came out of it," Professor Fields insisted at her.
"I know, and I believe them. You know why?" Avatara touched the holographic image of Yule's shard, and a holographic screen appeared beside the shard. "The scan read there's a spiritual weapon inside it. And I'm dumbfounded where's the power coming from. I'm thinking his shard might be different because he came from another world which made it special."
Professor Fields looked at the holographic image of the shard, then sighed.
"I guess it's my job now to figure it now," he said to Avatara.
"Oh please, keep me updated. I'm intrigued by the boy's shard. Let me know if you need anything else."
"I trust, you will not say a word to anyone," Professor said carefully at the Engkanto.
Avatara nodded at him in reply.
"I guess, we're done here for the meantime. I'll go now and work on Yule's papers for his admittance on the academy."
"Do you think it's a good idea to let him in?"
"Like I always say to others, we need more slayers regardless of where he or she came from."
Professor Fields waved farewell to Avatara and exited the room.
*****
Sanna was busy looking at the mobile device she was holding. Yule could peek some videos on the glass screen of the device. Every now and then, some notifications popped on the screen, while the two were walking outside.
Then Sanna stopped halted her movement still engrossed on her mobile device.
"I didn't know it was today," she mumbled to herself. Sanna faced Yule and smiled at him. "Since it's so boring just to roam around the academy, I have this better idea," she said in a playful tone.
The two went to the stadium. This is the same stadium that Yule saw last night before going to Ranger and Sanna's dormitory.
The lobby area of the stadium was huge, and many students roamed around the area, while some were hanging out on the couches. There was also a holographic screen floating in the air, displaying various announcements. 
Sanna hurriedly climbed the escalator while Yule was tailing her. After riding another escalator, they arrived at the third floor. The hallway was empty. Sanna ran towards the end of the hallway and pushed open the door.
They were greeted with students casually seating in a gallery. The students were all looking down on the ground floor. Sanna led them on the front, and Yule could see below that there was a queue of students. They were patiently standing while a single student stood on an elevated platform.
"They are all 12 years old. Some of them hope to be a slayer one day." Sanna explained.
"But why are they here? Is this some kind of welcoming ceremony?" Yule asked.
"Just watch."
"Ram Park!" Somebody announced on the ground.
The boy in front of the line stepped forward to the elevated platform. Yule thought that the boy looks nervous.
Then a green-haired male Engkanto marched toward the boy. Yule couldn't identify if he was wearing a glamour or not. But this Engkanto was also wearing a white military-like uniform. He shouted some inaudible orders and holographic screens started appearing around him.
The Engkanto placed his palm on the screen in front of him. Then, a small light emerged out of thin air. The light subsided and a floating shard floating in the was left. 
"You may summon it now," the Engkanto ordered to the boy.
Ram Park nodded at him, then cleared his throat."I-I, Ram Park, summon you!" 
The shard started glowing, and the crowd above were all on the edge of their seat, waiting for the shard and the boy to bond.
Then, the shard broke. 
It broke into tiny pieces falling to the ground. 
The crowd shook their heads in disappointment, while Sanna just clicked her tongue.
The boy was shocked and a look of disappointment drawn on his face. He was escorted out by two male high school students.
"This is a summoning and recruitment ceremony," Yule announced to Sanna. She just nodded at him and waited for the next candidate in line.
The next candidate failed to summon and bonded with the shard. And the next one failed also. The crowd started to express their disappointment with the turnaround of this ceremony after ten candidates failed to summon from the shard. 
The male Engkanto supervising the ceremony was also getting bothered with the outcome. Then a small girl with brown pony-tailed hair stepped on the platform. This made Yule froze. 
The girl had some resemblance to her younger sister. Her sister loves to arrange her hair in a ponytail style. This made him homesick also. Are they worried sick about me? he thought. 
"Candice Rodriguez, you may start the summoning," the male Engkanto announced. This made Yule returned his focus to the young girl below.
The girl swallowed a deep breath and shouted, "I, Candice Rodriguez, summon you!"
The shard in front of her started glowing brightly and a huge wave of air was released around it. Candice and the people on the ground covered their faces. Then, a magic circle appeared on the ground where Candice was standing.
The crowd started rising from their seats, eagerly waiting for the next turn of events.
Candice didn't know what to do next. She looked at the male Engkanto about to ask him what she should do next when someone shouted. That person was pointing his finger above.
People immediately looked above, and all of them gasped on what they saw.
Another magic circle appeared. 
It was floating in the air near the ceiling. 
"This shouldn't happen," Sanna said. "When a candidate summoned a mythical being, it just materialized in front of that person. I never encountered this kind of materialization."
Yule looked at the helpless girl on the ground. Her mouth was hanging open and staring above at the magic circle she summoned.
The magic circle started spinning, and something was coming out from it. A creature covered by a light jumped in the air and landed on the ground facing Candice.
The light started to disperse and a black feline creature appeared. It had the same size and physique as a black panther. The feline creature was looking at Candice with its glowing yellow eyes. The creature started prowling around the girl. Candice noticed that the black feline creature was wearing a golden necklace around its neck.
The male Engkanto almost fell on his back when a word appeared on his screen. 
"It's Bastet!" He revealed.
The crowd gasped at the revelation of the Engkanto. Bastet roamed her yellow eyes around the room and looked back again at Candice. The feline goddess leaped looking like she was about to attack the girl, but when the feline goddess was on the air, it changed to a small light and dived to Candice's chest.
The room was filled with utter silence. Everyone was still shocked that a goddess was summoned in this room.
"So Yule, this is the part that you skipped as a slayer," Sanna said jokingly.

When asked to be a hero what would be your response? Of course it's that you're not hero material! Even if it was to save an alternate earth in ruins overrun by gigantic monsters, how can one more human make a change? 
Well, that won't matter much when Yule is forced to protect a world that isn't his.

Beckoned by a girl draped in violet clothes Yule's everyday life becomes flipped when he is suddenly transported to the other Earth. One where humanity is no longer the top predator, one where they are the hunted, one where Yule meets Sanna. A fierce warrior on the back of a mighty white stag, Yule's journey starts with that fateful meeting.

Will he be able to survive, much less save the other Earth?

Author's Notes:
Welcome to my first novel! I hope you'll like my story. Please bear with me on the errors :( I'm still a newbie writer, and I'm doing my best to improve my craft.

You can leave comments/reviews/vote via power stones also. ;)

Thank you so much!!!!

Although the design of the castle relied on a mountain and used the mountain as half of the castle's barrier, making it impossible for people to attack from the back of the castle.
However, it was convenient for Qin Sheng to sneak into the castle with her people.
The defensive map was very clear, and even the electronic eyes on the castle wall were marked.
Nangong Mochen led his people to destroy the electronic eyes with a signal jammer, and his men built a human ladder and climbed into the castle.
He kicked the big tree next to him, turned around, and kicked the wall again. He bounced from the wall to the big tree, and then bounced back to the wall.
In just a few steps, he climbed to the top of the wall.
He reached out and pulled Qin Sheng, who had walked up the stairs, into the castle with her.
In the pitch-black Castle, the street lights were not bright, just enough to cover them.
Qin Sheng pointed to this small building. This small building was marked on the defensive map as Willam's small building.
They ran to the small building.
It seemed to be too smooth, so smooth that they easily entered the small building.
But there was no one in the small building.
Qin Sheng immediately felt that something was wrong. "Go quickly, this place is not right! "
As she spoke, the lights suddenly lit up.
Willam walked down from the building. "This place is indeed not right. I wonder where you came from? Why did you break into my residence? "
Nangong Mochen was dressed in a night suit. His face was covered by a mask, so no one could see his appearance.
"RETREAT! " He said softly between his lips, turned around, and ran towards the door.
Arthur immediately led his men to chase after them. Their men had already surrounded the small building. They were not afraid of anyone running out from here.
Nangong MOCHEN's sharp gaze swept across the surrounding crowd. His gaze was even more useful than an X-ray. He instantly calculated the best escape route for himself.
He rushed towards a few guards and with a feint, he fooled a few guards. Then, he jumped behind the guards and flew onto the big tree. He passed through the branches of the big tree and went straight to the wall.
Qin Sheng was surprised to see the skills of fake Gong Mochen. His skills were not inferior to Gong Mochen's at all.
"there's no need to chase! JUST CATCH ONE! Let me see who you are! " Willam walked towards a few men in black.
The few men in black could not withstand the large number of guards and were caught in a short while.
Qin Sheng did not resist, nor did she fight. Obviously, in the current situation, they could not escape even if they wanted to!
She raised her hand and pulled off her mask. Rather than being torn off by others, she would rather do it herself.
Willam's lips curled up coldly, "so it's CEO Qin. CEO Qin, isn't it bad for you to barge into my castle like this? "
"Your Highness, isn't it bad for you to snatch my daughter like this? " Qin Sheng asked in a huff.
"You mean the little pet? She's already mine. If CEO Qin wants some compensation, we can sit down and talk, " Li Ang said loudly.
"My daughter is not for sale! Give her back to me! " Qin Sheng scolded.
"Give her back? The thing that the royal family of Switzerland has taken a fancy to has not been obtained yet. " A man's voice came from behind Qin Sheng.
Qin Sheng turned her head and saw King Xi SI walking over. She was shocked. Xi Si was here too. Dai Yuyan would not be exposed, right?
"Lian Lian is my daughter. Even if King Xi SI is unreasonable, there must be a limit! "
"Hehe, I picked up my pet from the forest. It belongs to me. What right do you have to go back? Someone invite President Qin to the dungeon, " Willam shouted.
Qin Sheng looked at Willam angrily. Was He inviting her?
He was obviously arresting her!
"You kidnapped my daughter and now you want to lock me up. I promise that if I can't go back, my men will expose the scandal of the Royal Family of Switzerland! "
"scandal? My son only raised a pet and it's a scandal? Qin Sheng, your temper hasn't changed for so many years. This is not good. Someone, bring her to my bedroom! " Xi Si ordered.
Qin Sheng looked at XI SI in shock. Why did he bring her to the bedroom?
Willam was indifferent to his father's orders. It was fine as long as his little pet wasn't taken away.
"since father has a new punishment, I'll take my leave first. "
He turned around and walked to another small building in the castle.
He had received a notice from his father that someone was coming to save Lian Lian, so he had already moved the little milk bun away.
Qin Sheng was escorted to Xi SI's bedroom by the guards. She didn't know that Gong Mochen's eyes had never left her on the tree behind the crowd.
The bedroom in the castle wasn't as big as the bedroom, but it was still luxurious.
Qin Sheng was escorted into the room and saw Dai Yuyan lying on the bed.
Dai Yuyan was so shocked that she got up and walked towards Xi SI. "Why did you catch Qin Sheng? "
She had not slept with the man for long before he got up and left. Xi Si's habit had always been that no one had the right to ask if he did not tell them.
She did not expect Xi Si to bring Qin Sheng in when he came in.
"My dear, I want to thank you for providing me with such good information that allowed me to catch the person who tried to sneak into my castle and Steal Lian Lian, " Xi Si said.
Dai Yuyan's scalp went numb when she heard that. "No, I didn't inform you! "
She quickly denied it. She didn't inform him. She really didn't tell Xi SI anything. She was also curious about where XI SI had gone!
But how did XI SI know?
Only Qin Sheng and she knew about this matter. Even if she denied it, would Qin Sheng believe it?
Her heart felt cold. Even if it was her, she wouldn't believe such a Pale explanation!
"You didn't inform me. Then how did I know? HMM? " Xi Si asked back.
Dai Yuyan gritted her teeth on her lips. She couldn't explain this at all.
"Qin Sheng, are you willing to believe me? I really didn't tell XI SI! " She was so anxious that her eyes were full of tears. She was afraid that Qin Sheng would misunderstand.
Qin Sheng stared at Dai Yuyan calmly. "Of course I believe you. If you told Xi Si, how could he betray you and tell me that you were the one who informed him? ''
Dai Yuyan gasped. "thank you for believing me. "
Xi Si's face turned cold. He wanted to provoke two women, but he failed so magnificently.
"You are indeed wise. Your brain and personality are far more attractive than your appearance! " He grabbed Qin Sheng's Chin with his big hand.
Qin Sheng waved the man's hand away. "unfortunately, I hate everything about you! Do you also want to keep me in your castle? "
"CAN'T I? My Castle is big enough, and my country is strong enough. I only want to keep one woman, " Xi SI said.
"Unfortunately, I won't follow you, and I won't stay here. This country still follows the law. If you don't believe me, you can try. See if the United Nations will let you go! " Qin Sheng's voice was fierce.
"The United Nations? Hahaha, you still don't know. When my financial city project is completed, this earth will belong to me! If you listen to me, I can make you my lover, and you can see your daughter, " Xi Si said.
Qin Sheng slapped the man... ...

"Uncle, I was punished for being late! " "Buy the school. "
"Uncle, I was bullied! " "SEND THEM TO HEAVEN! "
In this era of competing for fathers, Qin Sheng never competed for fathers. Those things were too extravagant. She didn't have them, she only competed for uncles!
Ever since she had a rich uncle, she lived a life of fighting and being cleaned up by others, causing trouble and being scapegoated by others.
Her three big goals in life were to make him fall in love with her, fall in love with her, fall in love with her!

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