What happens when two worlds collide. A runner and a hi-caste K-sec Lieutenant officer run into each other after faith has been in prison for 2 years.

Andrea Caputo was a girl who worked as a chef at Serra Restaurant, her parents died and left her and her little sister sick sister alone, one day coincidence brings her and Luca Serra the leader of one of the biggest Italian Mafia together, but also the coincidence has once brought her with the FBI agent Owen Jones when she's put between her little sister and prison what is she going to do?

Luca Serra, one of the most feared Mafia Capos, everyone who dared to say no to him ended up dead, but one day he puts his sight on the best chef at his restaurant, Andrea Caputo when he knew about her sister, he took advantage of her, but what will happen when he finds out that she has been arrested.

Owen Jones, one of the best FBI agents, he was an orphan until one day, a loving family who couldn't have kids, adopted him, but they were killed when he was 18 years old and he knew who was responsible for that so he decided to go after them and became an FBI agent, but what will happen when life gets him and Andrea Caputo together.

Great King Shaktidev held courts that were grand and splendid. Despite having attended the assemblies a few times before, they still fascinated Vidyut. The great hall of the Sun Palace was an architectural marvel. A sun crowned its dome, with undulating rays of gold emerging from it. Leading directly from the courtyard, was the archway to enter the hall, encrusted with thousands of miniature reflecting glasses on its gold foiled ceiling. It, then, opened into the great assembly hall which boasted of even finer artwork.
The ceiling of the hall was covered with millions of similar miniature mirrors, creating millions of reflections, arranged in such exquisite patterns, embellished with colored glass panels and foils. The glittering mosaic of mirrors looked like a sparkling jewelry box that enclosed the court and its courtiers.
The courtiers themselves had their best silks on, paired with their flashiest ornaments of the rarest gems and metals. It was a sea of silks and feathers with glitters and gold. The hall was abuzz with a feverish excitement. The ladies were seated up in the pavilion, wrapped in their softest silks, every part of their body covered in gold. The male courtiers were seated down in the hall on either side of the main aisle, in gilded chairs, cushioned with soft padding. What they lacked in gold, they made up in finest velvets and gaudy jewel-encrusted feathered turbans.
Someone might find a dissonance in all this shameless abundance of the capital city, alongside the struggles of the people living further away. But Vidyut saw no shame in this glitzy affair. The visual spectacle gave people something to dream about when they did not have any of their own, something to root for. However, all this flamboyance and colorfulness did not discomfit Vidyut of his own thick black robe one bit. He had seen enough of the world to know the glib reality of this pomp and show. Beneath the colorful layer of fortune and luxury wriggled the foul worms of deceit and misery.
As they waited for the great King to arrive, the courtiers engaged in loud banters, their servants seated a few steps behind them, joining other attendants in a quiet chatter in between beckons. The loud murmur of the distinguished crowd was drowning the resonating musical notes coming from one corner of the hall. The routine affair had dulled the excitement of the artists playing the stringed instruments and the hand drums.
Closer to the throne, the floor of the hall was raised several steps to form a higher platform where high-ranking officials of the King's court occupied the seats, the High Minister, the Knight Commander, the Great Master, the Royal Healer, the High Scholar, the Royal Historian, and other closest advisers. These illustrious group of men sat fairly quiet, engaging only in dialogues of meaning and intellect. It was also on this level that Vidyut sat, with his entourage of apprentices.
Further along, the aisle now climbed about ten steps to open into the great platform where the royal family presided. In the center was the coveted golden throne of the Great Kingdom of Rakhtaprasta, adorned with ornate ivory plaques and a lavish gold umbrella. At present, the throne was empty. On the right side, Great Queen Rukmini had already occupied her regal seat in the court. Beside her, a young lady sat with a sour look, chin perched up on the heel of her palm. The petite Queen turned to whisper something in her ears which intensified the Princess' unpleasant countenance.
On the other side of the royal throne, sat the golden Prince. Unlike other days, today he was dressed in his full regalia, white silken robe, embroidered heavily with pink floral patterns, with his scabbard hanging from his waist carrying his sword. His hair was expertly arranged around his glittering ruby tiara and his neck and hands were covered with strings of pearls. His face was turned to his left, towards a tall youth standing beside him, leaning forward to murmur something into the Prince's ear.
The Prince's right ear was adorned with a pink tear drop pearl. Pearls were rare in this land, pink ones even more so. Whatever exchange he was having with his attendant caused him to agitatedly nod his head, making the tear drop pearl dance with every shake. Two fingers shot up and rubbed the earlobe, right next to where it was pierced. The lobe turned pink in an instant, matching the color of his lips that quirked up for a second from some amusement. Prince Surya suddenly turned, and his eyes found Vidyut's.
The Tantric instinctively jerked his face away, staring now at the floral relieves that adorned the far wall. He did not expect to be caught off-guard and urgently looking for something to occupy his flustered mind, he turned his glance again, now to his apprentices. Little Tilak found his eyes.
"What is it?" Vidyut whispered to the boy, careful not to alarm the illustrious figures seated on the front row.
Instead of articulating whatever was vexing him, little Tilak raised his right hand holding out his little finger with a silent pleading look. The Sorcerer huffed loudly and gestured Rig to escort the boy. The pair discreetly left. Right on the heels, the Great King of Rakhtaprastha arrived to booming sounds of drumbeats, showered with red and yellow rose petals as he walked the golden carpet leading to his magnificent throne. His aides and royal bodyguards trailed close behind, till the last few steps, when they parted and ushered to the sides.
Once the big brawny man settled into his regal seat, he raised a hand that halted the noise and celebrations of the assembly. He gave the entire court a careful sweeping glance, his ornate golden crown moving in sync with his head. The scars and freckles on his dark face spoke of the glory of the battles he had fought and won under the sun. The firm set of his jaw buckled the knees of his foes in fear and extended the hands of his allies in awe.
"I welcome you all, today, to the royal court. Begin the proceedings!" The King's deep gravelly voice boomed through the hall.
-----XXX------XXX------

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" Like .. really really real ! " I exclaimed . "Either that or we are stuck in the same fever dream. " I pass the large statue in the center of the campus , and it swivels it's head to look at me .
    "  Oh , that's just the security system , set to vaporize any Attuneless intruders . But there hasn't been one in... well , I don't even know " Griffin said .
 ( I would love not to be vaporized ) I  keep an eye on the statue , but soon as it looks away . I let out a relieved sigh . When I turn back , I've reached the massive double doors at the front of the school. " Welcome to Penterghast ! If you follow me this way , I'll show you to the ..... " Griffin starts towards the staircase but the loud chiming of the bell stops him . He looks at his watch with a start . 
" Oh crap ! . I totally forgot about the thief team meeting I'm supposed to go to ." . 
" Wait.. you can't leave me ..." I said.  " Of course not ! I'll drop you off to the dining hall . We're just gonna speed this tour up is all . "
 I follow him up the stairs , which leads to an adjoining hallway . 
" The dining hall is just at the end of this hallway and to the left . This is school's main building so there are a lot of offices and stuff here . Reception , the dean's office.. classrooms...some of the attunement placements exams are held here too ."                  " attunement placements ? " I asked.
  " I think it's kind of silly , too. I knew Earth was my thing when I caused a tiny earthquake throwing a tantrum over a desert when I was 5 " . " Right ,  Totally " As I pass one of the doors off the hall , I  hear a small commotion coming from inside.
 The voice says " Oh hell " . " Uh Griffin ? what's in this room ? " I asked.  " That's the hall of mirrors , where you were supposed to come through " .
 The first thing I see when you open the door is a beautiful girl with long , dark hair , trying desperately to pull her foot out of a floor length mirror .
 " Oh thank goodness,  some assistance  
please? "
              Me and Griffin rush over , each take one of her hands , and tug until she comes free . She stumbles right into your arms and blows her bangs out of her face with a smile. 
       " Opps , Shreya mistry , in your arms and at your service . Good catch , by the way " Shreya straightens up and smoothes out her hair. Shreya  said " I am always having trouble with these mirrors , to be honest,  I much prefer the air travel. But at least I made it . I was about five minutes away from  starting my freshmen year a month late." 
I asked  "Why a month? ". She answered " That's when the first visitors' day is , when the wards reopen, of course. Guess Penterghast is stuck with me now. " . 
       Griffin said " Well welcome , I am Griffin , this is Cristi . She is a freshmen too . I was just showing her to the dining hall if you want to come with. ". 
      " No need , I know just where it is , I'm a legacy student. " Shreya said .
        she struts out of the hall of mirrors. A short while later Griffin stops in front of a pair of ornate doors .
        " Well , that ends the Griffin tour ! Sorry it was kind of rushed , I've gotta go , good luck with the rest of orientation " Griffin said. 
       He's already bounding away down the hall . I turn toward the giant double doors and steel myself before I push them open .As I slip into the hall , I'm momentarily overwhelmed by the high ceilings , stained glass windows , and the countless dining tables . A handful of head  swivels in my direction , though the dean continues to drone on up front. 
       " Hey , over here ! " A guy with a megawatt smile waves me over to a nearby table , and you hurriedly slides into the seat next to him .
          " Hey , you're late . I'm Zephyr , you can call me Zeph if you want ." he said.  " I'm Cristina,  you can call me Cristi ." . " So , Cristina , what's your attunement? " he said . " I , uh , I'm waiting for tommorow to find out for sure. Don't want to jinx it ? " I said.
              He opens his mouth to respond , but is cut off by the dean loudly clearing her throat . Dean goeffe said " In conclusion,  I'd like to remind you all that this is an institution of higher learning , not a playground for children . Put in work or go home ." 
              Around me , the students starts to rise to their feet and shuffle towards the door . The dean walks briskly off - stage .

"Urgent news! Urgent news!" Two shouts burst through the silent halls of the Alliance Headquarters, following the loud clanks of metallic armour. A fully dressed knight, crowned with the emblem of the Himmel Empire, loudly banged of the Alliance Head's wooden doors without any regard of the man inside. 

"Alliance Head Raphael! There's urgent news from the remaining watchers at the Abyss! May I come in?" The knight continued with his frantic voice.

"..." There was no answer from the other side of the door. However, that didn't deter the knight from knocking once more. Just as his metal gauntlets were about to wreak havoc on the wooden doors, the locked entrance magically opened with no physical assistance. His goal achieved, the knight stormed into the room with a face full of sweat. Alas, the man that he was looking for was nowhere in sight. Not on the familiar desk that he was always at, and neither was he at the couch which served as his bed during peak hours. The Alliance Head's chambers were completely empty, save the messy documents that were littered all over the tables and floor. 

"Alliance Head Raphael?" The knight called out worriedly once more. He needed to relay the vital information that he'd got. Shuffling his metal boots, the knight continued to search for possible locations where the Alliance Head might be, until he stumbled upon the opened glass doors leading to the balcony overseeing the eastern front.

Comically, a trail of papers could be seen leading towards the ornate glass doors, hinting to the true location of the Alliance Head. The knight bolted to the doors, earnestly hoping to relay the terrifying news to Raphael. And sure enough…

"Alliance Head Raphael! There's urgent news from the Abyss! We-..." The knight saw the familiar red-hair and slim physique of the Alliance Head, standing silently at the edge of the porch. Both of Raphael's hands were glued to the concrete handrails in front of his body, and his back was facing the agitated knight. 

In most circumstances, the knight would deliver the urgent news straight on, without waiting for Raphael's response. However, as he stepped on foot out into the open, the knight instantly turned silent, just like his highest superior. 

The Neutral Lands were divided into two sections. The New Land of Dreams, which was controlled by the Alliance, and the Abyss, which had been housing the nefarious villains that were the Black Masks. Both of these lands were close to one another that one could walk if they wished, but they also weren't so close that one could see the other from a distance. On any other day, Raphael would saunter out to the balcony, viewing the eastern sky while metaphorically watching the Black Masks' side of the Neutral Lands.

But on this day… Raphael could actually 'see' the evil that sprouted out from the Black Masks' side.

A withered tree, one that was tall enough to touch the heavens, towered over the entire Neutral Lands, making it the most unmissable landmark in the whole world. The foul energy that it emitted was so deadly that even Raphael felt his blood pressure rising. 

"A-Alliance Head..." The knight stuttered, unsure of the right words to say. 

"The Allfather has finally made his move," Raphael sighed. "Such overwhelming power… None of our troops will be able to last a single second within that foul mana field. Our resources will be withered away the moment we march on the Tree of Darkness. Our aether cars will melt, our tamed beasts will die. The Allfather has outplayed us once again…" 

The red-haired man gazed up at the blackened sky. It was foreboding a disaster, one that announced that a new era had fallen upon their world. The era of the Allfather...

"The point of the Alliance is to prevent such a thing, and yet… I've failed my brethren."

"Alliance Head! You can't blame yourself! Who could have guessed that the Allfather was hiding such a trump card?" 

"I know..." Raphael bit his lower lip while his two fists clenched up. "But it's not over yet. We have to destroy the Black Masks, else who can be accountable for the innocent lives lost during our long war?! I KNOW THAT!!! So..."

Raphael stormed back into his chambers, leaving the young knight scrambling behind. He ignored the clumsiness of his supposed elite knight and reached into the thick, reinforced safe, accurately bypassing the security locks within seconds. Feeling the Cikai Mirrors that laid within, the Alliance Head instantly set up his desk in the optimal configuration, tapping on each one of them with urgency in his mind. 

Crkkkktttt!!! Crkkkktttt!!! Crkkkktttt!!!

The Cikai Mirrors showed all kinds of static, awaiting the connection to the other side. It took a minute or two, but the Cikai Mirrors quickly lit up, showing the faces of the most influential political figures of each superpower. 

"Raphael… What was that tremor?" The Himmel Emperor was the first one to connect, seemingly anticipating the call from the Alliance Head. The Allfather casting his tenth and final spiritual ability wasn't a feat that went unnoticed. Anyone with a decent enough spiritual level was able to sense the drastic change in the material plane.

"That power isn't something that any Spirit Saint or Primordial Beast can create," the Prime Minister of the Kori Federation added. "And since it came from the Neutral Lands… What's going on with the Abyss?"

The final Cikai Mirror connected and instead of the familiar Chancellor that everyone knew and loved, it was a handsome young man with a flawless, glossy complexion as if he had been reborn with baby skin. "Uncle Raphael, the Neutral Lands..."

"Tenno, Duncan, Shin..." Raphael didn't bother with the honorifics and solemnly called out each individual by name. He just wasn't in the mood to play the games of Kings and Queens. It was the first time in his entire life that Raphael felt so helpless, so small… And it was because of the gargantuan Tree of Darkness that towered over all the lands. "The Allfather has decided to go all out..."

"What do you mean?"

"... It's better to show you." Raphael made one reverse heel kick, sending a force equivalent to that of a hundred elephants stampeding. The wall that protected the Alliance Headquarters shattered into a million pieces creating a huge hole that was equivalent to the size of a cabinet. 

Before any of the high-ranking members could question Raphael's sanity for breaking his wall, their jaws dropped at the sight that laid on the other side. It was as if a maniac's painting had come into life…

"That is..." The Himmel Emperor threw his head back, slamming it on the golden throne unwittingly.

"The Tree of Darkness, the Allfather's Spirit," Raphael exclaimed, his voice hiding a tinge of wonder and fear. "He has brought the Black Masks out of hiding… The terror is once again… in full swing."

Raphael wiped off the fear in his expression, steeling his nerves as he gave the three most important figures in the world an… order.

"With the authority of the Alliance Head, I shall ask this from the three of you. Himmel Emperor, Kori Prime Minister and Lantis Prince."

"..." The three on the other side of the mirrors remained silent.

"Give me all of your resources… No Holds Barred."

Over a million years ago, the first human contracted with the first Spirit. Ever since then, Spirit use has become commonplace. Humans used Spirits to carry items and start fires. Eventually, even start wars. Thousands upon thousands of years past and one day, one human did the impossible. He transcended his mortality and ascended to the realm above.  

In the present day, the Frie Clan was once a great clan of the Himmel empire. However, a devastating battle ten years ago crippled the clan and their numbers dwindled. To make up for their loss, the upper echelons decided to adopt young orphans and nurture them to become a future pillar of the weakened clan. Shin was one of those orphans. 

Although picked up by the Frie Clan, not all is smooth sailing for Shin and the other orphans...
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Tags: Action, Comedy, Romance, Fantasy, Drama, Male Lead, Tragedy.

For some reason, QI doesn't allow you guys to see my tags so here they are. Also, there is no Harem in this novel for those of you who are curious.

Chapters are released daily at UTC+8 0100 unless stated otherwise

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Claudius. The monster who'd kidnapped Katelina, attacked her, tried to kill her.
And this was his house?
Jorick laid a reassuring hand on her arm. "Yes, but you don't need to worry, little one. He's dead. You saw it yourself." He came to a stop in the middle of the room and gave her a reassuring smile. "This was his 'Summer Home', or his retreat. Whenever he got bored he'd come here, sometimes only for days and sometimes for years at a time. He usually brought most of his coven and a host of friends."
Jorick shone the light around the cavernous entrance hall. Katelina did the same. The beams bounced off of polished marble floors and huge crystal chandeliers. Formidable white columns rose to the ridiculously high ceiling, their bases flanked in gold. A matching pair of curving staircases, garishly carpeted in red, sat at the far end of the room, connected by a balcony that ran the width of the hall.
"Holy shit," Katelina muttered. "This is like something on TV."
"Yes, a bit clich¨¦. Claudius enjoyed that. He had a flair for drama but he lacked originality. I'm sure you've noticed that in his other dens."
"The one Kateesha took over was different."
Jorick smirked. "Maybe to you, but it's classic subterranean dungeon den."
Katelina bit her lip to keep from commenting that he sounded like something from a twisted version of the Home and Garden Network: "Stylish Crypts of the Undead." She was sure that could be a catchy show.
"Shall we?" he asked again, and again she nodded. He led her between the staircases and through a set of French doors. Inside, a wall of mirrors and shot their light back at them. Large glimmering chandeliers hung from the high, carved ceiling to catch the refracted light and throw it around, illuminating a giant ballroom; complete with parquet floor and suits of armor at strategic intervals. A bank of French doors graced the farthest wall and led out onto what was probably a veranda. The wall opposite the mirrors was painted in complicated murals, depicting strange scenes that looked familiar, yet skewed. 
Katelina caught her breath as she stared at the murals, but Jorick only chuckled. "I told you he wasn't very imaginative." He pointed to the wall. "There's Adam and Eve and Lilith, if you even believe in that story." 
She followed his gesture to see a man and woman holding a blood red apple, while a beautiful vampiress stared at them from behind a twisted tree. Katelina' eyes locked with the painted eyes of the vampiress. The mural was almost disturbing in its clarity and the illusion of reality made her shiver. "Wasn't Lilith supposed to be Adam's first wife or something like that?"
"Yes, something like that." Jorick snorted in contempt. "You'll find she's very popular among some of the Old Ones. At one time it was believed she was the Great Mother of the vampire race. I find it all a bit ridiculous myself."
She tore her eyes away from the painting and looked at Jorick. The reflected light splashed across half of his face and left the other half in deep shadow; half dark, half light, much the way she sometimes thought of him. "You don't believe in God, do you?" 
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his voice bitter. "I don't deny that God may exist but, if he does, he does not protect my kind."
She cocked her head to one side and studied him. "Why? If God created everything, then he created vampires. Why would you be any more eternally damned than the rest of us?"
A smile stretched across his full lips, though it held no mirth. "And why would God create a vampire?" Before she could answer he added, "Let's not stand here quoting old legends. Come, I want to check the cellars. With Claudius dead, there's a chance that rogues may be nesting here. I have no doubt that Kale will eventually take possession of this den."
"Why would he?"
Jorick seemed to choose his words. "When Kateesha killed Claudius it became her property, and when she died it should have gone to the vampire who claimed her heart. Since it was agreed that no one claimed the coven, that means no one claimed her possessions. As you know, Kale collected up most of the vampires that were left from her coven, and as he used to belong to Claudius, I imagine he will eventually claim all of Claudius' property. Though I doubt he plans to start trouble, I'd rather he gain no new followers."
"Is that why we're here?" 
"One reason."
Her eyes narrowed. "And what's the other?"
He winked. "To explore, of course. How many mansions have you been in?"
They made their way to the wall of mirrors and stopped at a calculated spot. Jorick ran his hand along the wall, as if feeling for something. Suddenly, a look of satisfaction filled his eyes and the mirror sprang aside to reveal a dark, narrow stairway. "You'll notice the dramatics again."
He led the way down the stairs and Katelina followed, cringing. Despite Jorick's cheerful cellar, she had a general superstition of dark underground rooms, and the suggestion of "nesting rogues" didn't help.
The gloom in the cellar seemed thicker than the darkness upstairs and their flashlight beams seemed narrower. Jorick stopped at the foot of the stairs and sniffed before he plunged forward. The stone room was large and filled with ten plain smooth coffins. "For his personal army," Jorick explained. "In case of attack they'd be killed first."
She nodded and flashed her light around, uncovering a doorway that sat in the farthest wall. Jorick led her to it, still sniffing, and they found themselves in another room that held ten more coffins. Their corners were reinforced with silver and shining silver crosses decorated the lids.
"For the rest of the coven and the guests." Jorick pointed to doors that flanked either side of the room. "As are those. He could house quite a few, it appears."
He checked the side rooms while Katelina added up how many vampires had been living off and on just a stone's throw from her hometown. The numbers made her shiver.
With the rooms checked, Jorick led her through the last doorway. The third room was different from the others. Instead of simple stone, the walls were hung with heavy crosses. In the center was a large carved dais, resembling an altar. On it sat an intricate coffin made of a dark shiny wood and accented with gold. Surrounding it were five coffins that, though ornate, looked plain when compared to the one in the center. One of the five was on a smaller platform, directly in front of the elaborate affair, while the others sat on the floor, two on each side.
"That would be Claudius'." Jorick indicated the largest, though he needn't have bothered. He pointed to the smaller dais. "That would be Arowenia's, and I imagine those belonged to his three personal servants and Troy, who I'm certain you'll remember." Though the words were flip, both his bitter tone and tight jaw proved they weren't meant to be.
Katelina shuddered at the mention of Troy's name and evil memories flashed through her mind. She wasn't surprised that he spent his time lurking in a dark basement.
"It's more theatrical," Jorick commented to her thoughts. "Claudius couldn't be a 'proper' vampire with a bedroom, now could he?" He gave her a teasing wink, then turned serious. "However, it appears that someone else has decided to set up shop, as I suspected."
 "Where?" She turned a panicked circle, expecting a vampire to leap from the shadows.
"They're gone at the moment." Despite his words, he tightened his grip on her hand. He drew in a deep breath through his nose. "There are three. Two males and a female. It's no one I recognize, which may or may not be good."
She started to ask how he knew, but the answer was obvious. Of course he could smell them. Why not?




Joleene Naylor is the author of the glitter-less Amaranthine vampire universe, a world where vampires aren't for children. Comprised of a main series, a standalone prequel, and several short story collections, she has plans to continue expanding with a trilogy and standalone novels. 
In her spare time, Joleene is a freelance book cover designer and for-fun photographer. She maintains several blogs, full of odd ramblings, and occasionally updates her website at JoleeneNaylor.com. In what little time is left, she watches anime, plays PokemonGo, and works on her crooked Victorian house in Villisca, Iowa. Between her husband, family, and pets, she is never lonely, in fact, quite the opposite. Should she disappear, one might look for her on a beach in Tahiti, sipping a tropical drink and wearing a disguise. 

Pulled into a world of darkness, Katelina's fate becomes intertwined with that of Jorick, a dark, enigmatic vampire. To stay by his side, she must navigate intrigue, terror and bloodshed as they are drawn from one battle to another. Dreams of peace seem elusive, and are complicated by mysterious vampires, old relics, and an ancient master. Join Katelina and Jorick in a world where vampires don't sparkle and night is eternal.

Getting rid of a truth makes us wiser than getting hold of a delusion.

—NICHT LUDWIG BORNE

Aufschlag arrived at the private chambers of Schwacher Sucher nervous and sweating heavily. He pressed flat the oily fringe of hair surrounding his bald dome and struggled to find composure. His heart thudded heavily in his chest, and the knife, tucked into the tightly cinched belt that kept him from looking any more like a tent than he already did, pressed into his back. Should he loosen the belt a notch? What if the knife fell out? A few calming breaths did nothing for his pounding heart. Could he go through with his plan? Even more important, would he?

"Yes," he whispered.

A thought stayed Aufschlag's hand partway into reaching up to knock on the oak door. What if the Geborene Mirrorist foresaw this? Konig often complained of the young Mirrorist's limitations, but Konig complained about everyone's faults. Nothing was ever good enough for the Geborene High Priest. Though the many corpses of Viele Sindein, Morgen's Mehrere bodyguard, had yet to be discovered, it was entirely possible Schwacher knew everything.

What if Konig waits within, already aware of my betrayal?

No. If Konig had advance knowledge of Aufschlag's plans, he would never have allowed Morgen to be stolen.

Aufschlag knocked gently and heard the immediate answer.

"Enter."

Once inside, he stood facing Schwacher, who, in turn, stood staring at him. The Mirrorist, who looked to be still in his teens, displayed none of the self-mutilation common to the breed. After much research Aufschlag had postulated that the more grotesque the mutilation, the greater the Mirrorist's power.

Theory, Aufschlag suddenly thought, is all fine and good until it's faced with real life. His gaze darted about the room, seeking the mirrors he knew must be present. He saw none. The room was spare, undecorated, and showing nothing of the young Mirrorist's personality. The small fireplace looked scrubbed and clean, with no hint it had ever been used. Aufschlag stared at the fireplace. Did the Mirrorist freeze in the winter, or was this the sign of some obsessive disorder? For some reason the cleanliness of the fireplace reminded him of Morgen.

"Yes?" asked the Mirrorist expectantly.

"Your mirrors . . ."

"I keep them elsewhere," said Schwacher, his face boyish and innocent. "It's the only way to get a moment's peace."

Aufschlag nodded understanding to cover his surprise. Why must I always appear knowledgeable, even to people who will soon be dead? "I need you to show me something. Some people. I need to see where they are going."

Schwacher cocked his head to one side and raised an eyebrow quizzically. "Who are we spying on?"

Aufschlag explained the when, where, and who, and the young Mirrorist led him into another room, where a single massive mirror hung in an ornate gilt frame. Together they watched the three brutal thieves kill Viele Sindein over and over. They watched the smallest thief, dressed unconvincingly as a Geborene Bishop, dart through the crowd of Vieles and kill the original. They saw the kidnappers take Morgen and flee the church, witnessed their flight west toward Neidrig.

"We have to—" began Schwacher.

"Wait."

Schwacher frowned in confusion as the scene in the mirror wavered and changed to show Aufschlag, standing in the shadows, staring after the retreating kidnappers.

"You watched them leave," he said, confused. "They took Morgen and—"

"Kill Schwacher," Aufschlag's reflection whispered clearly. "Distract Konig long enough to give the boy's kidnappers a head start. Mislead him as to where they are going." The reflection stared sadly down at his hands.

Aufschlag looked down at his hands and the sharp knife now clutched there. Movement in the mirror caught his eye and he watched the reflection of the Mirrorist back away, eyes wide with fear as Aufschlag's reflection advanced with the knife.

"I'm sorry," Aufschlag's reflection said.

Schwacher's eyes widened with understanding and he backed away.

Aufschlag followed. "I'm sorry," he said.

AFTER, WHEN SCHWACHER lay bleeding out the last of his life, Aufschlag turned his attention to the mirror. There, at the very end, the Mirrorist glimpsed briefly into the near future. Yet his vision changed nothing and the two men reenacted the scene shown there step-by-step like marionettes in a well-rehearsed play.

Though Schwacher lay dead at Aufschlag's feet, the Mirrorist's reflection still stood within the mirror, watching the Chief Scientist as if waiting.

"Why?" Aufschlag asked. "Why do you look at me like that? Will you fade and die now that Schwacher is dead?" His scientific curiosity piqued, he examined the mirror and reflection. Why does it remain? "You aren't going to fade away, are you?" Aufschlag scratched at his greasy fringe of hair. "You aren't going to fade, and you'll still be here when the body is discovered." The reflection watched him. "You'll still be here and you might be able to tell them who did this. Can you speak?"

Schwacher's reflection stared mutely, waiting.

"You might identify me as Schwacher's"—he paused to swallow—"murderer," he finished.

The reflection didn't move or blink.

Aufschlag saw it. "Ah. You've seen the future and you know what will happen. You wait for me to figure it out."

The reflection watched Aufschlag search the room until he found a heavy fire poker in the stand near the fireplace. He returned to the mirror and its waiting reflection; Aufschlag was nowhere to be seen within.

"Is this what I do, what I have to do, or something I might do?" Aufschlag asked the mirror.

Expressionless, Schwacher's reflection watched the Chief Scientist.

No surprise it doesn't answer, Aufschlag thought. I am no Mirrorist.

"I could walk away," he told the mirror.

Schwacher's reflection tilted its head to the left and continued watching him. No matter how much Aufschlag told himself he had a choice, it seemed like no choice at all. If he chose not to break the mirror—simply to prove it was an option—the reflection might tell someone of his actions. I can't chance it.

Aufschlag felt the solid weight of the iron poker hanging in his hand. This is not murder. This is a lingering delusion, nothing more.

Aufschlag smashed the mirror and fled the room. The crunch of broken glass under his shoes felt like an accusation. Several yards down the hall he slowed to a more respectable walk. It wouldn't do to look suspicious here. A thought stopped him and he stood with a perplexed frown.

"Is breaking a mirror really bad luck?" he asked aloud of the empty hall. "Everyone believes it is." No. That didn't sound quite right. "Everyone believes it is." He leaned against the cool stone wall. Why hadn't he thought of this sooner? "Damn it!" What did bad luck really mean? Would he stub his toe or fall to his death?

I DO NOT OWN THIS BOOK

just purely make for easier reading time


Charlotte stood in the shadow of the beautiful imperial palace of Catherine the Great, her mind torn between the baroque architectural detail of the building and the legendary history of its onetime owner. Catherine had been an ambitious German lady who married into a Russian royal family that had been less effectual than its predecessors, and she soon became a better ruler than her own husband, much to the annoyance of most of her male contemporaries. History had not been kind to Catherine, even if it had allowed the beauty of her home to continue to flourish through the centuries.
There was a healthy amount of snow on the ground, despite the weather reports from the previous day, and still more snow danced about the robin's-egg-blue palace. Charlotte felt as though she stood in the middle of a vast snow globe that had just been shaken. Rurik stood quietly beside her, his emerald eyes tinged with melancholy. Was he thinking of his former lover? Or simply burdened by memories of the past?
"It's so strange coming back here," he said. "A part of my life, part of everything I once knew is crystalized here like a world trapped in a snow globe, yet it's closed off from me forever."
Charlotte tucked her arm in his and squeezed his arm.
"We don't have to go inside."
Rurik shook his head. "No, I want to. It's just that my brothers and I have lived so long, dozens of lifetimes, yet we rarely talk about the past. It holds too much pain for us. I'm just not used to it."
"My brothers are the same way. They never talk about our parents. The Brotherhood has taken so much from us, especially Damien. First our parents, then the woman he loved." She paused, drawing a slow breath. "I understand why he doesn't want me involved in his world, but shutting me out hurts just as much. He doesn't even let me talk about them. It's like I'm stuck in a half-life with my own family." Sometimes she wanted to talk about her parents, because not talking about them only made their memories fade faster. She wasn't even sure she remembered their voices sometimes.
They started walking toward the palace, the snow crunching softly beneath their boots. "How did your parents die?" Rurik asked.
"A vampire. My father was the head of the Brotherhood, trying to undo his father's unforgiving policies, and my mother was a tracker. They were paired together, and worrying about each other is what got them killed. At least, that's what I heard. It's against policy now for teammates to become romantically involved." She knew little of the details. Damien wouldn't let her see the files or the crime scene photos. They wanted to spare her that pain, and she was okay with that.
"I'm sorry," Rurik murmured. "I lost my parents as well, but it was my father's fault. He was obsessed with hunting down the last of the thunderbirds."
Charlotte frowned. She knew the name but hadn't read up on them. The Brotherhood had them listed as extinct, so she'd seen no need to learn about them. "Are they also shifters?"
"Yes. They change into large golden birds, similar to phoenixes. One flap of their wings and they can kill a dragon with a sonic boom."
"And your father killed the last of them?"
"Not exactly. Grigori's mate, Madelyn, is a thunderbird. Our father killed her parents, but he died during the battle. Before she passed from grief, our mother took the baby and convinced a couple to adopt her."
"How did she end up marrying Grigori?"
"It is a long story," Rurik said. "With the most unlikely of coincidences. You might argue that fate brought them together. For Grigori to mate her, our natural enemy, it is" He trailed off, and Charlotte suddenly smiled.
"He's like usmated to someone who's supposed to be his enemy. Maybe this will work out okay after all." For the first time in a few hours Charlotte was filled with hope, but Rurik's dark chuckle snuffed out that small flame.
"Madelyn is the last of her kind. You have a secret international organization, trained to hunt my kind."
Her smile faded. He was right. This was different. How would her brothers react when they learned she'd mated a dragon? Would they feel betrayed? Would she be disowned? Would Rurik face the same fate from his family? 
"Enough of this. Let me show you the palace." Rurik helped her up the front steps and knocked on the doors. A man in a security uniform opened the door and stared at them. He spoke in Russian, clearly telling them to leave, but Rurik looked deep into the man's eyes and replied in Russian. The guard stepped back, allowing them to enter. Charlotte didn't miss the vacant expression on his face.
"What did he say?" Charlotte whispered as they came into the hall.
"It's closed to visitors. I convinced him we can have a quick tour."
"You mesmerized him," Charlotte said.
Rurik's only answer was a sly grin. "A private tour is better than sharing it with tourists, trust me." 
They walked down the main hall, and Charlotte marveled at the way the light reflected off the white walls and gilded lintel panels. It was the closest thing she could imagine on earth to what heaven must be like. 
"An Italian sculptor, Count Rastrelli, created all this. He used more than a hundred kilograms of pure gold on the interior. Stand here." Rurik guided her in front of one of the doorways.
Charlotte gasped as she let him position her just right. At least seven more doorways extended down the hall ahead of her, the gilded paneling around the frames making the lengthy hall look like it went on forever.
"It's like holding two mirrors against each other."
Rurik led Charlotte through a number of ornate rooms, until they came into a massive one with beautiful pale wood floors and tall windows on either side. Between the windows were panels of mirrors with gilded edges and hundreds of candles in front of each. 
"What is this room?" 
"The Great Hall." Rurik took her by the hand and spun her around. "We used to dance for hours here." He twirled, and she danced back into his arms, where he held her close.
"The Russian court in those days was magnificentthe candles, the grounds, the click of heeled shoes on the floors, and the flutter of silk fans. It was" Rurik seemed to struggle for words. "Quite a memorable time for me."
"How old are you?" she suddenly asked, almost afraid of the answer. She hadn't wanted to think about their age difference, but this had brought it all home to her, and she had to know.
"I'm over thirteen hundred years old."
Charlotte gasped. "Thirteen hundred?"
Rurik's smile wilted. "What's the matter? You're pale."
"It's I just I hadn't thought about your age. What happens when I get old and you don't"
He cupped her face and silenced her with a kiss. "Don't think about that. We have time yet to worry." He kissed her again, harder, and a rush of images filled her head. Rurik's memories
Colorful silk gowns swirled in candlelight, and the empress sat on her throne with a secretive smile on her lips. Dancing and laughter and joy were all around her. Time seemed to blur, and she felt a growing gloom, a press of evil drawing closer and closer. Men rushed through moonlit halls. She saw them through Rurik's eyes. He wore a leather bomber jacket and was calling for men to help him. Then there was a room full of amber panels and mirrors
"They must not take the amber!" Rurik shouted to his men. Charlotte, in his memories, could understand the Russian being spoken. A mighty roar shook the palace as bombs exploded in the distance, making the walls creak and groan.
"The beast is coming!" a man shouted, and then he fled the room. Others followed him. Rurik stood alone at the entrance to the room as Dimitri Drakor came into view. His hands held balls of flame, and his eyes were bright yellow.
"Stand back, Barinov. This does not concern you."
Rurik snarled, his hands creating his own fire. He could let his dragon loose, but it would put the priceless amber room and the rest of the palace at risk. Drakor dove at him, snarling violently, and the flames consumed the air around them
The vision of the bloody battle slowly faded.




USA Today Bestselling Author Lauren Smith is an Oklahoma attorney by day, author by night who pens adventurous and edgy romance stories by the light of her smart phone flashlight app. She knew she was destined to be a romance writer when she attempted to re-write the entire Titanic movie just to save Jack from drowning. Connecting with readers by writing emotionally moving, realistic and sexy romances no matter what time period is her passion. She’s won multiple awards in several romance subgenres including: New England Reader’s Choice Awards, Greater Detroit BookSeller’s Best Awards, and a Semi-Finalist award for the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award. She was a 2018 RITA ® Finalist in the Romance Writers of America Contest. To connect with Lauren, visit her at www.laurensmithbooks.com

Book 1: Mikhail: A Royal Dragon Romance
He’s a dangerous jewel thief… she’s the gem expert standing in his way…
Mikhail Barinov knew he F’d up, five hundred years ago. His ‘one job’ as part of a Russian family of imperial dragon shifters? To protect the family hoard of jewels. But a dazzling virgin—who just happened to be the Elizabeth I, the Queen of England—tricked Mikhail and stole the jewels. But now he has a chance at redemption. The jewels have been found five centuries later. The only problem is they’ve been turned over to gemologist, Piper Linwood. She’s sexy, smart, ripe for seduction—but if centuries of exile taught him one thing, it’s never trust a beautiful woman.
Piper Linwood can’t wait to get her hands on her latest project. But hot damn she never expected how badly she’d want to get her hands on the dark, brooding man she sees at the museum. Of course she didn’t know he was a jewel thief. Or a dragon shifter. But all that becomes abundantly clear when he takes the jewels and her, then flies (yes, flies) to his ancestral castle. While all the alpha-male stuff is what fairy tales are made of—and frankly sexy-as-hell—the fact Piper disappeared with Mikhail has her labeled as his partner in crime. Now she must choose. 
Will she betray him to save her career? Or will she stay and become the dragon’s greatest treasure?


it has been a week since agrim summoned his knights and the demon spearmen, everyone has been giving their all in training in order to raise their rank. the demon spearmen have been training with lancer to raise their strength and he has already selected 100 people to go for more hellish regimes, these 100n will accompany them to the outside world. agrim also has been training with gaziff and his knights he has been learning about mana control and more high-class demonic arts with muzan, while lancer has been training him with a spear he has been unable to raise his rank yet but he most certainly has made progress. the death eaters have been training with everyone recently to get familiar with this world's energy and come up with the perfect defence strategy for now at least in order to protect agrim. agrim has also sent hashiras along with ranga outside for reconnaissance, they are to act as an adventurer group and move between the free cities and make a few new connections. the 200 mounted knights have also been training a lot with agrim, for he is the only magic caster now but the group found many magical items during the dungeon raid, the magical items have are been used for training, Vivian and her magical summons are like pokemon just more ferocious-looking. one of the best magical items found though is the ornate white carriage it is long and uses sleds with mana conductivity which allows it to travel on possible terrains at high speed depending on which monsters tow them, as of now it has been decided that 4 azure horses which are 6th rank monster horses and are Vivian's summons will be responsible for this task. the carriage was also made by space magic and alchemy it is as large as an apartment inside which ensures a comfortable stay. leaving this 6 more carriages were found which also had sleds and mana conductivity in them though they were not made with space magic and alchemy like the first one was, though they were long enough to seat 10 people at once. the spearmen will be traveling in them they also found portable tents with magic engravings which make them sturdier the entire party can comfortably speel in them.
leaving these they found call mirrors they allow communication between any two people over vast differences and are fueled by magic, ornate armors which can take any number of attacks below the 6th rank and magical swords and the best of them all the orbs which were found these orbs are high ranked treasured they are used to summon beats like griffins and spirit dragons and even temporary armies of the dead to attack one's enemies of course treasures like these are no longer found easily and hardly ever one comes in the market which means actuation houses. it was agrims intention to offer these treasures as gifts and sell them at auctions to get a grasp of the political situation and magical technology of the region.
2 week alter
everyone has been giving their all in order to destroy the monsters in the howling valley and take the place in the name of their lord lancer along with spearmen have been doing exceptionally well many of them faced at multiple occasions but were saved because their masters gift of immortality. agrim during this period has confined in his room in order to break through from the 6th rank to the 7th rank with the help of a pill he found in the piles and piles of treasures, his foundation may not necessarily be strong but his mission will be fulfilled. the hashiras and ranga have also returned from their recon mission. the hashiras went away on agrims orders to find the best place to make an appearance. the hashiras believe that among the 3 free cities in the area they should get the rainbow city it is a large trade hub which was made with the help of ancient m=families and strong merchant houses and organizations though until 3 decades it was a bitter place of battle and conspiracies, but the marriage between the city lords son and the Orpheum families daughter have restored peace. during the adventuring of the hashiras they managed to help the Orpheum families young master and managed to make a connection. the Orpheum family is an ancient family but a lower level one compared to the other 2 in the region they also have an advanced stage warrior in their family as an ancestor the preparations for departure are almost complete and now everyone is waiting for agrim to come outside his room and give the orders to leave, 
gazeff has been standing guard outside agrims bed chambers along with the 12 knights who are guarding the entire corridor leading to that place. suddenly a huge energy burst comes from inside the room and envelopes the entire palace, its magnificence and aura are astounding, after some time the doors to the room opened and agrim stepped outside with the aura of a 7th warrior, though one thing which was to be considered was that agrim was half-demon which makes him as strong as an 8th rank warrior of the human race. as soon as he stepped outside all his knights knelt and said together" congratulations master on becoming a 7th rank warrior" agrim thanked them for it and asked them to send lucifer with details regarding what happened in this time he was in confinement.
after some time lucifer came to agrims rooms and brought with him a hearty meal of chicken stew, which agrim happily ate, while he was eating lucifer gave him all the details about what all happened while he was out. at this moment a ding came to agrim . 
mission completed: the host has completed both the missions of raising his rank and clearing the howling valley of half of all the undead there as such he will be granted his due rewards.
rewards: 40000 sp and 1 8th rank wizard summon 
mission completed: the host has completed his submission of utilizing the items acquired in the dungeon as such he will be granted his due rewards
rewards: 20000sp and ancient concealment spell 
does the host wants to use his rewards, the system asked him, without batting an eye agrim went for the summon, and just like usual a light appeared and from within it emerged a woman with blonde hair and good height, there was no doubt in her appearance she was Yuki Hime is also known as Evangeline AK MacDowell a 700 years old vampire and a very competent magic caster and she was an 8th rank which makes her equal to 9th rankers outside, and she has a human appearance agrim was very pleased with her. taking the opportunity he decided to check his status  
status 
name: agrim 
age: 16 
race: half-demon/half-human 
warrior rank: 7th
wizard rank: 7th 
magic spells: water ball, fir ball, summon thunder, lightning, levitation, eyes of destruction, hellfire
warrior techniques:  physical enhancement, shadow step, raging sword
skills: gluttony, predator, blood field, mind control 
no of summons: 715  
missions completed: 5

a man blessed by God with a system sent to another world where humans are the apex of all species. other species that were under the command and protection of the demon lords have now become slaves which have upset the balance of the world, to fix this the man must become the one true demon lord and restore it for this his system allows him to summon anime and comic characters

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