Arlen walked alone through the woods. He glanced up as he saw a band of men riding swiftly along the dirt road before him, as fast as their steeds could take them, they tore through the countryside. They were some distance away. Arlen squinted, seeing the figures only as blurred silhouettes. Before him the sun in the sky blinked several times as the branches of the trees waved up and down in the breeze, flashing the light in his eyes. When the riders were gone Arlen jogged forwards, heading towards the road and listening to the sounds of the falling hooves growing ever fainter. A strange feeling of trepidation seeped into him, chilling his skin. Something felt very wrong to him, and Arlen wondered who the men were and what they were doing near his home. He glanced first one way, and then the other, turning to walk in the direction the men had come from, some instinct within telling him that something terrible had happened. And then he saw. He froze in mid-step as his heart jolted in his chest. A feeling of terror struck him like a bolt of lightning. Arlen broke into a run, his whole world crashing around him. He reached the spot where it had happened, slowing to a stop and falling to his knees, tears streaming down his cheeks as darkness descended over him. This is a story of a man searching for the woman he loves, who was taken from him twelve years ago in a day that changed his life forever. Since that day his life has fallen into ruins, and to find her he is forced to remember a past he wishes he could forget. To mend his sins he must re-visit these painful memories, and learn the true reason why she was taken. What he discovers, is beyond anything he could have ever imagined. This is a story of love, loss, grief and forgiveness
Prologue
'The petals wither and fall from their flower. The leaves from the trees, once beautifully they danced in the wind, now fall to the earth as only dead waste. The grass once green and lush now fades away, covered by a blanket of frost. Another year has passed' the king said turning from the window in the study, 'and another year I am forced to endure life without her. You have a chance to do a good thing. Why not make it so?'
'There is nothing I can do' the woman repeated for the hundredth time. 'I think it's time to face reality. Come out of your grieving. You have to face the fact that she may never wake.'
'No' the king repeated. 'I will never stop trying to save her.'
'Then many will continue to suffer because of your unwillingness to face the truth.'
'If you will not help me' the king said. 'Perhaps there are others who can.'
'So what are you going to do? Continue to kidnap until you are so old and tired you've lost your mind?'
'I will do whatever is necessary' the king answered.
'This meaningless quest will drive you mad' the woman answered, 'if it hasn't already done so.'
'I will never be mad' the king answered simply, 'if I have her.'
'Then make the most of your sanity' the woman stared coolly. 'And I say for the last time. There is nothing I can do.'
The king glared, controlling his anger well despite his rage and despair.
'Then I have no need for you.'
The king approached the woman sitting in the chair, lifting his hands to grab her.
Instead of showing fear, the woman turned her head to look behind her, speaking to the figure that only she could see.
'This is my last chance isn't it? I won't ever come back again.'
'If there was anything I could do to save you...' the figure answered, not even trying to hold back his grief, 'then I would do it. But I can't help you this time......I'm sorry...'
The woman looked forwards to face the king again, but continued to speak to the figure behind her.
'Please' she said to the figure. 'Do not be sad for me. I've lived my life. Find someone younger and protect them. This is my final wish.'
She bowed her head with a smile, closing her eyes as if content. When she opened them again, she stared calmly at the king, and waited for his hands to close around her neck.
Many days later
The woman stood on the edge of the balcony. The wind this high up was cold and sharp, though not unpleasant on her skin. She had become flushed, exhausted from her trek running up the spiral stairs of the tower behind her. She had thought that she might escape this way, but her path had led only to this dead end.
But she did not despair. She could still escape.
'Mother...' she breathed. 'I will see you again.'
She took a step forward, standing at the very the edge of the wall-less balcony. She tilted, just as she did so, a male figure appeared behind her. He cried out, running forwards to try to stop her. But he was far too late.
She plummeted, head first towards the ground. The last thing she saw was the wall of the tower she had climbed shooting past.
She hit the ground, and was killed instantly.
Her body was found shortly after, fallen in a bush. The leaves had concealed her as the twisting green vines wrapped themselves around her body, entangling her.
The soldiers had found her. One of them fought through the thick thorns, lifting her lifeless form in his arms and resting her upon the stone ground nearby.
'I'm sorry' the soldier that had carried her said. 'She jumped. We could not reach her in time.'
The man he spoke to raised his head to the tower, seeing above him a row of soldiers standing at the edge, looking down to the scene below.
'My lord!' the soldier who had carried the women gasped. 'Her body. It's gone!'
'No' the man he spoke to said slowly, lifting his eyes to the darkening sky, watching as the thick black clouds rolled above the lands. 'She is still out there somewhere. I will find her.'
Part 1
Chapter One
Ambition
Arlen flicked back the fishing rod. The thin string attached sailed through the air as it was cast back into the water, this time a little further away than before. He leant forwards, holding the simple fishing rod with one hand and resting with his chin upon his knee. His other leg dangled above the water on the short wooden platform he sat on.
The fish were teasing him. Already he had thrown bread crumbs into the water, which they had snapped up in an instant, but they would not chase the lure. Arlen became ever more frustrated as he watched the small thin fish move in a shoal around the wriggling worm on the hook. Arlen moved the rod, trying to coax the fish. One came closer, looking as if it were about to bite.
But then came a noise. His brothers swung above the water of the pond on the rope swing they had made, letting go of the rope in mid swing and flying through the air. Their hollering was abruptly cut short as they hit the water, one after the other. Arlen alarmed looked back at the shoal of fish, they had scattered.
Losing his patience he threw the rod down into the water below him.
'You idiots' he shouted to his brothers when they surfaced. 'You scared the fish away!'
They weren't listening, instead continued to wrestle with each other in the water. Farrell, the youngest being eleven years old, broke free, swimming as fast as he could towards the platform Arlen sat on. He was swiftly being followed by Brice the eldest, who was sixteen.
'Did you hear what I said?' Arlen huffed when they reached him.
'Relax Mr Serious Face' the youngest, Farrell sang happily. 'Why are you so up-tight all the time?
'Stupid shrimp' Arlen glowered at Farrell.
'Don't call me that!'
'Guys, will you give it a rest?' Brice the oldest shot back.
He hauled himself up onto the platform, sitting beside Arlen. He reached down into the water, helping Farrell out of the pond. The three brothers sat side by side
'You never answered our question' Brice said to Arlen. 'What do you want to be when you grow up?'
Farrell peered around the eldest brother to get a better look at Arlen, waiting eagerly for a response.
'I don't want to say' Arlen replied.
'Why not?' Farrell chirped.
'You'll laugh.'
Farrell and Brice shared a glance.
'We've already told you what we want to be' Brice told him. 'You have to tell us now.'
'I don't have to tell you anything if I don't want to' Arlen answered stubbornly. 'And anyway, everyone wants to be a soldier, though I don't understand why. Look at what happened to father.'
'But think of the honour' Brice pressed. 'Think of the women.'
'Women aren't objects' Arlen glared sullenly.
'I didn't say they were' Brice answered defensively. 'I'm just saying...think of the women.' 'Women love a man who can fight, they find them more attractive' Farrell added.
'How do you know?' Arlen asked.
'Think about it' the eldest brother replied. 'A man who can fight can protect his family. Not many people would mess with a well trained soldier holding a sword. And women need a strong man to defend the family and home.'
'I want to have a wife to protect' Farrell told Arlen. 'And a son I can raise to fight.'
Arlen went silent in thought.
'I'm going to be the best soldier I can be' Farrell said folding his arms, looking smug and nodding to himself. 'I'm going to be a General and have my own army, and fight by day and by evening I will count my gold in my keep. And when my son is old enough, he can do the same.'
'You see' Brice said speaking to Arlen again. 'Even shrimpy here thinks he can win a fight.'
'Stop calling me that!'
'So?' Brice persisted, ignoring his youngest brother's protests. 'What do you want to be, a soldier?'
'I don't want to be a soldier.'
'Oh? Are we one step closer to getting an answer from you?' Brice teased.
The youngest brother Farrell had now fallen silent, listening again as he waited patiently for his brother's answer.
'Tell us.'
'Promise you won't laugh' Arlen told them.
'I promise by the seven gods that I won't laugh' Farrell called out, speaking louder than was necessary and putting his hand on his heart.
'And I will try my best' Brice added.
'Ok.' Arlen took a deep breath. 'I want to be...a husband.'
His palms began to sweat as he waited nervously for his brother's reaction.
For the longest time neither of them spoke, or even moved.
Then suddenly, Farrell burst out in gales of laughter, and Brice soon followed.
'You promised!' Arlen protested.
'I'm sorry' Brice gasped, wiping away tears from his eyes. 'I can't help it.'
Arlen lifted his foot and shoved Brice back into the water. Brice fell off the platform, hitting the water in an undignified manner. Farrell tried in vain to flee, before he too was grabbed and thrown into the pond.
Once the two were in the water together, they turned on Arlen, each grabbing a leg and pulling him off the platform and into the water with them. Arlen fell in; fighting for air he broke the surface, coughing and spluttering, having swallowed a mouthful of water. He soon recovered, turning on his brothers in the water and going after them, swearing vengeance. The two guilty culprits turned and swam away in a panicked manner, making as much noise and splashes as possible. They tried to escape their brother, pretending to be terrified of his wrath, and all the while teasing him as they made their slow way across the pond and to the other side.
Fifteen years later
The black stallion reared up high, neighing and pawing the air, full of energy, full of life. The rider held on tightly, sat upon a finely crafted saddle, and pulling back on the reins hard.
The stallion's front feet landed back on the ground and the rider kicked the horse's flank, urging the creature onwards.
The two raced through the fields and woodlands, as fast as the stallion could go. The wind wiped the hair of the rider, making his eyes water as they travelled at such speeds. They raced across the countryside, moving as one. The stallion obeying every command from his rider, every jump, every pull of the reins, no matter how light, they soared onwards towards the town before them, drawing ever closer with every breath.
This story is a soft-core yaoi/slice of life about Haru, a boy aged 17, living in boarding school where he meets his new friends. Weak both mentally and physically, he finds new strength when he meets Aubrey, a carefree and confident boy whom he falls in love with. But Haru is too afraid to admit his feelings for him, afraid of what might happen.....
When a famous model and actor falls on hard times, he decides to rent out a room in his apartment and find a tenant to help split the bills. That is when he finds Kevin. This story is a slice of life about Kevin, a 20 year old, trying to find his place in life after losing someone close to him. He moves out, and finds a place to stay with a man, the model and actor, who turns out to not be what he first thought. Kevin gets caught up in Justin’s life, a prisoner to his drive now, Kevin begins a physical relationship with the star, unable to free himself. Slowly, piece at a time, Kevin gives himself up, surrendering his body to another. Gay sex – mouth fucking – and constantly mounting the uke and treating him like a slut and making him moan like the little bitch he is.
In a world where magic is a well kept secret, two brothers, two guardians able to wield magic, stumble across a creature more powerful than anything in the three known worlds. A girl, a philosophers stone. Frightened and lonely, they care for her, bringing her into their home, in so doing become tangled in a chain of events that spiral out of control as they try to protect her from the two groups that seek her. One who claims to want to protect her, the other that wishes to harm her and take her powers for their own. But she is not the only one being hunted. There is another powerful like her, another philosophers stone, one older, stronger and wiser. The fight to save them both drags in more than the two brothers, but their friends also; changing lives forever as they discover the doorway to another world, a world where magic thrives, the world where magic was born. A light hearted fantasy set in the modern world. Follow the two brothers in the story where it all began, back when their lives were simpler, before the brothers entered the other worlds, before they turned on each other, and fought for the power they once tried to protect.
Descend into the chaos, ridiculousness and mayhem that is this book. Follow Waltz in this story where the events of a single day changed his life forever. After losing his own guild in tragedy, he realises a new dream of forming his own and being the leader. After he meets a woman who fell from the sky, events in his life lead him on a new path entirely. A story of monsters and magic, Waltz begins his adventures with his strange companions as they search for the truth behind the celestial woman, fight to break the hold a witch has over Waltz, and traverse the road to glory and riches, and become the strongest and most revered guild in the land This is the tale of how these unlikely beings all came together, and began their adventure…
Lilith has always been an outcast, rejected even by her own parents because of what she is. But when she leaves her home, she discovers there are others of her kind. Together they set out in search of the Earth Maiden, whom they believe has the power to cure the sickness which is infecting the land, bringing about the end of the world. 'I wasn't born the way I look. You know, many believe that fallen angels are usurpers and betrayers of God, who have no place in heaven or on earth.' Lilith has always been an outcast, rejected even by her own parents because of what she is. But when she leaves her home, she discovers there are others of her kind. Together they set out in search of the Earth Maiden, whom they believe has the power to cure the sickness which is infecting the land, bringing about the end of the world.
‘Hardly anyone ever comes to this part of the library’ Ken said casually. ‘Is that right?’ Mustang said. ‘So…we won’t be disturbed.’ Ken’s heart jolted. He instantly tried to rise but Mustang stopped him, grabbing him by the arms and sitting on his lap facing him, pinning him down. ‘Oh no you don’t’ Mustang told him. He smirked again. ‘You practically ran into my trap…there’s no escape now.’ Ken stared back at Mustang in shock, wide-eyed and heart hammering in his chest. He swallowed at the lump in his throat. Mustang leant forward, resting his forehead against Ken’s as he spoke. ‘Are you going to call for help?’ he asked him. ‘There are people just on the other side of those bookshelves.’ He sneered. ‘But then what would they think if they saw us?’ ‘Don’t…’ Ken whispered. ‘Please…’ ‘I've wanted you for ages’ Mustang told him. ‘I can’t resist you any longer.’ Ken squeezed his eyes tight shut as Mustang leant forward, kissing him. He balled his fists, trying to lean away from him, but had nowhere to go. Mustang moved back slightly, looking into Ken’s face. He released one of his arms to stroke his face, his fingers coming to his lips. ‘Open your mouth’ he told Ken. When Ken didn’t listen, he said, ‘if you don’t, I will have you. Right here and now.’ Ken opened his mouth, breathing in a deep breath. Mustang descended upon him again, kissing him deeply, slipping his tongue inside his mouth, tasting him. Savouring him. After several seconds, Mustang drew back suddenly. He got off him, rising to his feet and simply walking away as if nothing had happened. He just left. Love Yaoi? Love sex? Love a good story? Ken had everything he thought he ever wanted, a future all planed out, a girlfriend, a loving family. But his life takes a different direction when he meets Mustang, a carefree and wild spirit, who challenges everything Ken thought he knew, as the events of a single day change his life forever. Thanks to Mustang, Ken begins to realise that what he wants in life, is not what he first thought, as he begins to experience feelings towards Mustang he never expected.
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
Loraine was a dutiful wife to Marco since they got married three years ago. However, he treated her like trash. Nothing she did softened his heart. One day, Loraine got fed up with it all. She asked him for a divorce and left him to enjoy with his mistress. The elites looked at her like she was deranged. "Are you out of your mind? Why are you so willing to divorce him?" "It's because I need to return home to get a billion-dollar fortune. Besides, I don't love him anymore," Loraine replied with a smile. They all laughed at her. Some believed that the divorce affected her mentally. It wasn't until the next day that they realized she wasn't fibbing. A woman was suddenly declared the world's youngest female billionaire. It turned out to be Loraine! Marco was shocked to the bone. When he met his ex-wife again, she was a changed person. A group of handsome young men surrounded her. She was smiling at them all. The sight made Marco's heart ache severely. Putting his pride aside, he tried to win her back. "Hello, love. I see that you are a billionaire now. You shouldn't be with suckers who just want your money. How about you come back to me? I'm a billionaire too. Together, we can build a strong empire. What do you say?" Loraine squinted at her ex-husband with her lips curled in disgust.
Lucille was one of the most skilled female assassins, and on the previous night, she embarked on a top-secret mission. However, the mission's details were leaked, leading to her untimely demise at the hands of a traitorous companion. She never discovered the identity of the person who betrayed her before her death. But by some miracle, she was granted a new life, and was reborn as a girl with the same name. Determined to uncover the truth and seek revenge for her family, Lucille seized her second chance at life. She planned to avenge her loved ones. However, her plans were complicated by Joseph, an apparently frail man who was actually skilled in martial arts. And he seemed to fall for her deeply, now this newfound knowledge only added to the complications of Lucille's revenge plan...
Three years ago, the Moore family opposed Charles Moore's choice to marry his beloved woman and selected Scarlett Riley as his bride. Charles didn't love her. In fact, he hated her. Not long after they got married, Scarlett received an offer from her dream university and jumped on it. Three years later, Charles's beloved woman fell terribly ill. In order to fulfill her last wish, he called Scarlett back and presented her with a divorce agreement. Scarlett was deeply hurt by Charles's abrupt decision, but she chose to let him go and agreed to sign the divorce papers. However, Charles seemed to delay the process deliberately, leaving Scarlett confused and frustrated. Now, Scarlett was trapped between the consequences of Charles's indecision. Would she be able to break free from him? Would Charles eventually come to his senses and face his true feelings?
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"
Lindsey's fiancé was the devil's first son. Not only did he lie to her but he also slept with her stepmother, conspired to take away her family fortune, and then set her up to have sex with a total stranger. To get her lick back, Lindsey decided to find a man to disrupt her engagement party and humiliate the cheating bastard. Never did she imagine that she would bump into a strikingly handsome stranger who was all that she was currently looking for. At the engagement party, he boldly declared that she was his woman. Lindsey thought he was just a broke man who wanted to leech off her. But once they began their fake relationship, she realized that good luck kept coming her way. She thought they would part ways after the engagement party, but this man kept to her side. "We gotta stick together, Lindsey. Remember, I'm now your fiancé. " "Domenic, you're with me because of my money, aren't you?" Lindsey asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Domenic was taken aback by that accusation. How could he, the heir of the Walsh family and CEO of Vitality Group, be with her for money? He controlled more than half of the city's economy. Money wasn't a problem for him! The two got closer and closer. One day, Lindsey finally realized that Domenic was actually the stranger she had slept with months ago. Would this realization change things between them? For the better or worse?