Yin Shaojie walked out. "I don't want to talk to you anymore."
"Hey! We only drank two glasses. Let's continue!" Nimo wanted to stop him, but Yin Shaojie was too fast.
"I'm going to find my wife. I don't feel safe leaving her alone."
"Hoes before bros?"
"Why do you care? Why don't you go find a wife and then we'll see what you'd do"
"I wish. Why don't you ask your wife if she has any sisters in her family that she can introduce to me?"
Yin Shaojie was walking out of the wine cellar when he suddenly stopped.
Turning around, he put his finger on his lips and said to Nimo, "Tell no one about my wife, you got it?"
The news was too shocking that he was still trying to digest it.
Although he knew that Nimo wasn't one who would leak information, news about the Mu family was very likely to be true and the fact that it was true made it hard for Yin Shaojie to digest it.
He suddenly wondered if his parents knew this about the Mu family?
Perhaps not.
If his parents knew about them, they would have told him.
Now that he thought about it, it was no wonder that the Mu family was called the legendary Mu family. They were low-key and mysterious and had power that no one could properly gauge. Even the Big Four Families couldn't properly grasp them.
Yin Shaojie could understand now why the elders spoke of the Mu family in a different tone.
He was quite curious to know how the elders would react if they were to know the truth about the Mu family.
But he also knew that Xiaoxiao's background was not something that he could casually talk about.
The old and mysterious Muirs family…
Yin Shaojie walked out of the wine cellar. Staring at the night sky through the French window, he took a deep breath.
...
In the bedroom.
Annie looked at herself in the mirror. The dress was very beautiful.
She knew that Chris would never let her down in this aspect. He would surprise her from time to time.
But this time, Annie realized that she was not happy at all.
She looked really beautiful in the mirror.
Her hair was drawn up in two locks falling down by her temples. It framed her dainty face well and she looked very refined.
While Annie was lost in her thoughts, looking at the mirror, someone knocked at the door behind her.
"Come in," she said tepidly, thinking it was a helper who had came to serve dinner.
Ka cha——
The door opened and a tall figure came up behind her, his elegant face appeareding in the mirror.
Annie was unaware. She was looking at the mirror, but her eyes were unfocused.
"Are you thinking about me?" Suddenly a hoarse voice said by her ear.
Annie hadn't regained her senses yet, but his words stirred her heart.
"Why is it you..."
She looked up abruptly and met Ye Sijue's gaze in the mirror.
Seeing his pale face, sadness flitted across her eyes.
"Are you awake? Are you feeling… any better?" she asked, not realizing that her tone was very gentle.
Her hands on her lap clenched nervously.
"No," Ye Sijue said.
Annie was stunned for a moment. It were as if she understood the implied meaning when she looked into his eyes.
He wasn't referring to his body being unwell, but rather his heart…


As childhood sweethearts, they were made to engage under the manipulations of their families. It involved having to to live in the same room and sleep together.

One night, she is accidentally made drunk, and in his delirium, he kisses her only to realize he enjoys it. From time to time, he would sneak a kiss on her, but his “crime” is eventually discovered in an accident. After being accused by her, he says with a smile, “You are my wife, why can’t I kiss you?”

The two people’s daily routine is full of bickering and mutual discrediting of each other.

Although he claims to disparage, he actually cares intensely about her. He feels crazily jealous when she is close to other men, to the point of tying her to his side, so that she becomes exclusively his.

Tags: Campus Love, Childhood Sweethearts, Pampering Romance

I examined the room around me. There had to be something I could use. There were tall windows that I could reach, but they looked out onto a massive drop. I would die if I tried to jump out that way and escape. The windows were covered by fluttery sheer curtains, reminiscent of the ones covering the balcony in my room at Hazuzu's castle. The tower's walls were lined with bookcases, filled with books, but it wasn't as if I could stab anyone with paper. 
There was a divider that I peeked around, and it revealed a small bedroom area. Lush covers, thick downy pillows, all placed just so on a large bed. My prison was comfortable, at least. I left the bedroom area, pausing to run my fingers across the sheets. So silky. 
On the other side of the divider was a tall mirror, a full length masterpiece framed in delicate wrought iron. I stared into it, squinting my eyes at my appearance. My eyes had too many bags underneath them. These adventures had taken a toll on me. My bangs were slightly too long, poking into my eyes if I didn't brush them the right way. I sighed. My skin was pale as ever, despite the time I'd spent outside adventuring. I wondered if I'd be able to change my appearance now that I was almost a full grown demon. 
Though I wasn't sure what I'd change, if I were honest. Looking at myself, it felt like me. I knew I wasn't perfect, but I felt that my looks were a fair representation of how I felt inside. Maybe all along I've been tweaking myself to fit my personality this whole time. I looked up and down in the mirror again, taking in the dirty clothes that I was wearing. I'm sure there were clothes around here somewhere. The healer had been wearing clean clothes, anyway. Maybe there was something for me, too. 
But first, I had a better idea. I checked to make sure that I had enough pocket space, patting the tight trousers that I wore. Perfect. I looked back up at the mirror. I had to be quick for this to work, because the guards would come in as soon as they heard. I positioned myself at the side of the mirror and shoved it as hard as I could. 
The iron framed mirror barely budged. I took a few steps back and ran, putting my full weight into the blow. The mirror knocked over, the glass shattering everywhere, cutting my face and hands as I fell into the mess of shards. 
Immediately, guards slammed open the door, yelling, running towards me. Quickly, I grabbed the largest shard my fingers lit upon and shoved it into my pocket, cutting my palm on the sharp edges. Well, at least I knew it would be sharp enough. I grit my teeth against the pain of the slice through my skin. 
The guards hurried to right the iron frame, one of them kneeling at my side. 
"Princess," the guard growled. "Are you alright?"
I sat up, careful not to press myself into more broken glass. "I fell," I said. 
"Klog, clean this up," he commanded. He examined my face, determined I wasn't too hurt, despite the several cuts on my skin. "It all looks superficial. You'll be fine."
"Are you sure? I've got a nasty cut on my palm," I said, lifting my hand for him to see. If they thought I was hurt enough, maybe they would bring the healer back to fix me. Unless he was already dead. I didn't allow myself that line of thought.
The guard peered closely at my hand, noting the blood seeping from the wound. He sighed. "Zaavi won't be happy about this." The demon guard stood, his face stoic. "Don't move."
I was so stunned by his words that I actually complied. My muscles tensed up; surely, they didn't mean that Zaavi was here. No, they meant that he would be upset to learn of his prey being endangered. He was still held tight under magical lock and key, as he had been for centuries. It was impossible for him to have been released. 
I took in several breaths to calm myself, reassuring myself of the facts. Zaavi wasn't here, he would simply be displeased when he hears of his follower's shortcomings. They must have some form of communication with him, or his followers would have lost their loyalty, abandon him to the prison he'd been consigned to. The guard was just upset because their leader here in the human realm would be angry. That had to be it. 
I sat back on my haunches, careful not to poke myself with the sharp shard of glass in my pocket through the cloth. When that leader did arrive, which they were bound to eventually, I would be ready for them. 
 
~
 
The rest of the day passed in silence, in isolation. My fists, constantly clenching and unclenching, didn't allow for the slice on my palm to heal, breaking the scabs every single time that I moved. But I couldn't help it. The anxiety I felt about my intended actions ate into every cell of my being, my fear growing with every hour. What good would it do me to attack the leader? It probably would earn me nothing except the knowledge of how badly they wanted me alive. It was a gamble, I knew. Was it worth upping the ante? 
The moonlight filtered through the tall windows, shining through the sheer curtains and painting the floor with a square of pale light. The healer had mentioned that I should get on Zaavi's good side, whatever he meant by that. If he was here, which I didn't allow myself to even really acknowledge, then he was willing to kidnap me to achieve his goals. My opinion clearly wouldn't matter to him. I was just a pawn in this game, a game I didn't even know I was playing until recently. It was only days ago that I was spending my time as a privileged human princess, avoiding court and seeking refuge alone with my books. 
At least there were books here. 
I didn't know exactly what I should do. But I knew I had to do something. I'd grown so much from the child I was only weeks ago. My experiences have shaped me, my knowledge had armed me, and now, I had to raise my expectations for myself. I would do whatever I could to escape this place and warn Hazuzu. Obviously, Zaavi wanted revenge. The healer had told me as much in his brief history lesson. The motive was clear. I was probably going to be used as bait, or some kind of motivation to get Hazuzu to do whatever Zaavi wanted. 
I couldn't turn my back on him. He was my father, despite the fact that I didn't know that until only days ago. We hadn't even had a chance to reconcile, to really catch up, and I had so many questions to ask him. 
Like about my mother. According to the healer, her name must be Charybdis. Why had she been gone? Hazuzu hadn't mentioned her, not even once. Neither had anyone else I'd encountered. Truth be told, I didn't even think about her existence. It was overwhelming enough to learn everything I had in that short amount of time; thinking about anything beyond that was apparently past my mental capacity. I had to have a mother – it was simple biology. Unless demons reproduced differently… The healer's face appeared in my mind, unbidden. Where did that even come from? 
I shook my head to clear it of those thoughts, my cheeks flushing. I didn't want to ask my father those kinds of questions just yet. Not that I could at the moment anyhow. I would just have to assume that it was similar enough to humans. Most of the aspects of their lives seemed about the same. But the healer had mentioned Charybdis, the princess of the demonic realm. What was her role in all of this, and where did she go? I had too many questions about that line of thought; I should table those for now. I knew it would do no good to dwell on those thoughts. There was no way out of that rabbit hole, and I would get lost trying to figure them out with the minimal amount of information that I had. It simply wasn't enough. I had to find out more. 
The healer had said to get on Zaavi's good side… maybe I shouldn't attack the leader if and when they show themselves. If I do, then what good would it earn me except the wrath of the demons whose mercy I was at? Unless it was of the utmost importance to have me alive and well, then I'd be dead, and tortured at best. It wasn't as if I'd be able to fight my way out of the tower, not with however many demons stood watch. Even if I could fight, and knew how to handle a weapon, all I had in my arsenal was a measly shard of glass that cut me just as much as it would my victim. I sighed. There wasn't much I could do except to play along. 
I decided I would have to pretend to comply with the leader's wishes, whatever they were. I would obey, make them trust me. And then, maybe they'd loosen up enough that I'd be able to escape, somehow. If nothing else, I needed to buy myself time, figure out a way to escape this place. I should let my enemies underestimate me, and then show them how they'd regret it. 
My exhaustion came over me. I had been pacing the floor all day, unable to rest, my mind a mess, chaotic trains of thoughts that kept colliding into each other. I sidled up to the luxurious bed that they were kind enough to provide for me. I lacked for nothing in this comfortable prison, this gilded cage. That didn't mean it was any less a prison. 
I fluffed the pillows, wincing when my palm hit the pillow the wrong way, and settled into bed. Almost immediately I fell asleep, the wind whistling pleasantly through the windows, the calm, warm breeze lulling me into unconsciousness.

Callisto, a princess, gets more than she bargained for when she travels to save the alliance between her mother's Kingdom and the Demon King. 

Tomas, a failed Demon Hunter, gets more than he bargained for when Princess Callisto drags him along on her adventures to save her Kingdom. 

What started out as a simple misunderstanding turns into a life or death situation for the entire demonic race - and humanity.

Nothing is ever what it looks like. And coffee is the nectar of the gods.

[God has spoken.]
What was this? What was happening?
[Your world will be tested.]
Where was this voice coming from? God? What does it mean by God?
[Survive. Live. Thrive. So deems your God.]
Silence. And then screams.

---------------------------------------------------------------
He woke up to darkness.
Survive. Live. Thrive. The words kept pounding in his head, inducing echoes of pain that would likely lead to a headache later on. 
He groaned, annoyed at his disrupted sleep. The sheets were soft beneath him and the covers a warmth that pleasantly protected him from the room's chill. 
He rose up on the bed, yawning lazily as he tried to remember where he was. It was too dark to see anything beyond the dim movements of his own body, so he pushed the covers, feet reaching for the floor. The moment he felt cold marble, lights shone around the room, blinding him. Eyes blinking, he tried to make his surroundings in-between white spots. 
A large bed with heavy green pillows and covers. A windowless room with marble flooring and beige walls. A comfortable sofa, two cozy couches and a small table in their midst. It was a very nice room. Wooden draws with odd, elegant engravings. Fur carpets in bright greens and dark blues. Silver frame for the mirror. Dark gold for the paintings. 
A really, really nice room. He didn't recognize any of it.
Where was he? How did he come here? Why wasn't he back in… back in--
Back in where? Where was he before this? 
He came up with a blank. He couldn't remember. What was he doing yesterday? What was outside this room? What did other people look like? 
Blank. Blank. Blank.
What did he look like?
In a panic, he ran toward the tall silver-framed mirror. A young man in his late teens or early twenties greeted him. A man with black skin and long white hair. Someone built lean and athletic, with handsome features. Someone in a well-worn grey nightgown and loose pants. 
He touched his face. Who was this?
"I…�� he started and abruptly stopped. Was that what he sounded like?
He couldn't remember. Blank. Blank. Blank.
He stepped back from the mirror, hating the stranger in its reflection.
There had to be something he could remember. There had to be.
His family? His name? His memories? Anything at all?
He fell to the carpeted floor, defeated.
Blank. Blank. Blank. No memories. No family. No name. 
There was nothing. Just empty space where his memories should have been.
He rubbed his temples. The headache returned with a vengeance.
A semi-transparent screen popped up in front of him. 
Surprised, he stared at the illusory rectangle with writing on it.
Weird squiggles and lines on a neat font. He didn't recognize the symbols. He couldn't read the writing. 
He laughed, self-deprecating. He received a magical alarm, and he couldn't even read it! Could he read at all?
A sudden thought came to mind. He could speak! He had spoken before.
"I can speak," he slowly annunciated. The motions familiar on his tongue. The sounds foreign to his ears. What language was that? The only reason he even knew what he had said was because he knew what he was about to say.
"I can speak," he repeated and the misery returned tenfold. He had no idea what syllables he had pronounced, what accent he had spoken, or even in how many words the form of his intentioned meaning was. He had said sounds. They were meant to make sense. He didn't know how. 
You weren't supposed to have this level of disconnection between speaking and thought. He knew that. How did he know that?
How did he know anything?
He sat there for a long time trying to understand what was happening to him. No answers came. His headache grew and screens appeared twice more before he decided to explore the outside.
He opened the heavy, wooden doors, finding them surprisingly light. What greeted him was a large hall. The space alone easily eclipsed his room, with granite walls and stone floors. Tall, majestic columns held an even more majestic ceiling far above him.
The place was strangely empty; the only furniture being a small throne-like chair, chiseled from grey stone. The bedroom was placed closer to the throne and as he closed the door behind him, he noticed that it faded in the background as if part of the walls.
A hidden door?
He sat on the chair, a bit weirded out as it faced opposite the tall metallic gates at the other end. If the spacious hall was majestic, then the gates were plain intimidating. They were easily the most luxurious thing in the room, with bejeweled ornaments and elegant incisions of silver and white gold.
A small shiver of cold as something hard and metallic formed in his hand. A simple knife with a dark wooden handle had appeared in his hands. He stared at it. So, objects could appear out of thin air too?
Noises came beyond the hall. He strained his ears to hear them. The sound of heavy steps and intelligible voices rested just beyond the gates.
He stared at the knife that had appeared with such a coincidental timing.
Multiple screens popped up in front of him. He ignored them in favor of covering his ears as the sound of screeching metal against stone made way across the hall. The gates were slowly being pushed open to reveal three humanoid figures dressed in leather and metal. 
A new screen popped up before him. With no time to think about why, his breath shattered as he recognized one of the words.
[... Survive ...]

The world used to be normal. The poor worked, tired, and slept. The rich laughed, drank, and slept. Whether you were a farmer, a warrior, or a mage, you knew your place in the world. You knew how to survive day by day as nations waged war and droughts destroyed crops. You kept your head down and prayed. Or you stood up and had your head cut down.
Until one day, God spoke.

[Your world will be tested.]

Towers rose from the depths of the earth, tall enough to pierce the skies.
100 floors. A single trial.
Power, fame, glory. All at your fingertips.
Monsters raged against villages. Storms descended upon cities.
The world changed. Life for many worsened.
But you had a chance. 100 floors. A single trial.
A chance to change everything.
-----
On long-term hiatus. This was just an idea that wouldn't leave alone, and I can see myself continuing it sometime in the far future but not right now, dear readers.

A young woman is sitting alone on the library's chair with piles of book infront of her. 

"I wonder.. is this how my life will go on?" Kianna murmers to herself. She was aiming to get into the high exclusive university that every students into her country dreams into. 

If she entered that university.. will her parents look at her way again?

"I need to go home, I still have to finish the chapter test." She sighed as she fixed her backpack and books that is scattered at the table.

While on her way, the jeepney and taxi are nowhere to be found.

'Ah shit, today is Friday! only busses comes at friday.' She thought to herself and just rode the bus on her way home.

dad is calling..

Kianna's brow narrowed, this is the first time that her father has called her. 

"Yes, dad?" 

All of the pain and dizziness she felt until now has shattered, she can feel all the happiness inside of her. 

"You crazy bitch! what have you done to your mother? I told you to organize her medicines!" His dad angriness reached through her. 

The smile on her lips that formed had gone like bubbles. 

"I just-" 

"No more excuses! go home, NOW!" 

Kianna cried, this happened all the time whenever she encounters her parents. Deep inside her, she should be used to this but it hurts. 

'When will I be enough? I want them to be proud of me.. but I'm useless.'  

She stared at the sunset.. it made her relieve the pain she is feeling. 

*boooogggsshhh!*

"Ugh.." 

Kianna is holding her forehead. The other passengers are not moving, she can hear the voices outside. 

'Ah, the rescuers.' 

She crawled even if the other person's blood and hers collided. All in Kianna's head is survival. She must survive, her parents are waiting for her.

But she knew she can't

She dialled her father's phone, "You brat! you're late, what the hell are you thinking?"

"D-dad.. I'm s-s-sorry." 

The other part of the bus is burning and everything will be burned in no time. 

"The fuck you're talking about, brat?" 
"Is that Kianna?"

The moment she heard her mother's voice, Kianna cried out loud. 

Her parents look at each other and started to get worry.

"Kianna?" 

"Mom.. d-dad.. listen."  

Her foot is bleeding which made her hard to crawl. She closed her eyes and tell her parents the words that she always wanted to tell them.

"I l-love you b-both and w-will always b-b-be." 

A loud explosion was heard through Kianna's line and everything went black. 

-   -   -   -  -   -   -   -   -   -   -    -   - 

"...!"

The moment her eyes opened, white ceiling and luxurious walls is the first thing that she saw.

"Oh my beautiful daughter!" A woman in her 40s hugged her.

"Lady Anastasia just woken up, Viscountess Mielle." The doctor said and touch her hands. 

The Viscountess Mielle had long, wavy golden hair that extended past her waist, with soft bangs that framed her face and green colored eyes. She had a slim, voluptuous figure with long, willowy limbs. 

'Is she my mother? she's so pretty..' 

"Sia!" 

A tall manly figure entered the room with two kids that immediately hugged her. 

The man has short, midnight black hair with bangs sweeping over golden eyes, an inherited trait from the kingdom's bloodline. He is tall with broad shoulders, long limbs, and a well-built figure. 

'Who are they..?' 

The current Viscount of Castilla is the fifth son of the King. He married the only daughter of the late Viscount, Mielle. 

The moment she saw herself at the mirror, she fell and shouted.

Anastasia, the body she reincarnated with have wavy, golden hair that extends past her waist and is styled with lavish accessories. She has slanted, golden eyes set in a soft, feminine face. Her frame is slim and willowy, with gentle, frail arms. She is wearing a colorful array of lavish gowns in pastel shades.

But her body figure is small. 

"WAAAAAHH! WHO IS THAT W-WOMAN?" She said while pointing herself at the mirror.

"Anastasia Castilla!" The man in his 40s shouted, one of the kids that entered a while ago hugged her. 

 His spiky midnight black hair that is brushed away from his forehead, save for the few strands that go down his forehead. He has gold eyes, has a sharp jawline, thin lips, and a sharp nose, accentuating his overall look significantly.

In addition, he has a scar on his forehead above his left eye that is partially covered by his hair.

'Where did he get that?' Anastasia thought while that boy was hugging her.

"Calm down, what happened to you? it's me.. your eldest brother, Nate." 

'Anastasia.. is my new name? am I somewhat reincarnated?"

"The Duke is outside the manor, viscount and viscountess." Someone opened the door, the man and woman who called her a daughter excuse their selves and went outside. 

"Don't hug her too tight, Anastacius!" The golden blonde boy said and held my hand. 

He has spiky golden blonde hair, very pale skin, and green eyes.

"Don't worry, sis. Big brother Athanasius will protect you with all his might." He said while hugging her. 

"B-brother.. how old am I?" Anastasia asked while holding her face. 

Athanasius chuckled, "Why ask? you're only six years old." 

"W-WHAT?!" 












  

 

Kianna is a highschool student that does nothing but to study. All of her life revolves around studying, thinking that if she did well, she might get her parent's filial love.

Having her mother's argument on the phone, the bus that she was riding on crashed to a truck and she died. 

When Kianna woke up, she reincarnated as the youngest daughter of a viscount. She saw unfamiliar faces! Fortunately, she got herself a new family that loves her unconditionally. 

 "Sia, you are so talented!" 

At such a young age, she is widely known as the golden summoner. Everyone sees her as a role model. Even the infamous villainess, Seraphim, envies her to the point she retorted to black magic and took her body. 

"I am Anastasia Castilla, the golden summoner of the kingdom of zeno!"

"Golden summoner? ha! go away you witch!" 

No one believes her.. her golden hair and eyes was swapped with the angelic body of the villainess. 

"Don't worry, Lady Anastasia.. they will never know that the villainess is the golden summoner." 

No! I just want to have a normal life, this is my second chance in life! I don't want to be a villainess!

Why does everything went wrong again?


Ye Ling liked it when Liu Duo got into mischief such as this. He found her antics interesting.
　　
"Duo Er, you can sit down. You don't have to stand so tall," Ye Ling said, still blushing.

Liu Duo was not as tall as he was, but standing on the bed certainly helped a lot. How was he going to dress her now? 

"Oh." Liu Duo enjoyed seeing him blush. "I can sit down, but how will I put on my underwear like that? I think I'll stick to standing. What do you think, Ling?"

She got down from the bed and, like a soldier waiting to be inspected, she stepped into her shoes and stood up straight in front of him. 

Er...

Ye Ling cleared his throat, not knowing what to say. He kept blushing as he helped her put on her undergarments and underwear.

Liu Duo kept her eyes on him, smiling all the while. It was a loving picture of unlimited bliss. 

"Duo Er, wash up and have your breakfast before it gets cold." Ye Ling helped her fit into her dress and did her hair, then passed her a willow branch for brushing her teeth. 

Liu Duo looked at her reflection in the mirror and was very impressed by the hair Ye Ling had styled for her. "Ling, you're getting quite good at tying my hair. It looks really nice."

"You're pretty, Duo Er, that's why it looks nice on you." Ye Ling gave a serious answer.

He had tied her hair in a common and simple knot. Every woman in the village knew how to do that. Yet, for him, only his wife could carry that style to perfection!

Pffft...

Liu Duo chuckled at his praise. She disregarded humility and agreed with him. "Indeed, that's true!"

She took the branch and went through her washing quickly. 

After that, she picked up her bowl and started eating as the two of them slowly walked down the stairs.

Dongfang Ming heard footsteps coming from the stairway and looked over there.

"Little Duo, Ling, your portraits have been framed. I came to deliver them." Smiling, Dongfang Ming spoke to them. 

The two looked over at him too when they heard him speak.

"Master Dongfang, thank you for taking the trouble to bring them all the way here," Liu Duo grinned. The two of them walked towards him. 

"No trouble at all. It's my pleasure," Dongfang Ming replied. "I'm here to say my farewells too. I'll be returning to the capital. You haven't eaten, Little Duo?"

He spotted the bowl Liu Duo was currently holding. He was surprised that she was still having her breakfast at this hour.

"Little Duo, haven't you taken your breakfast?"

Liu Duo caught on to the news that he was going back. Astonished, she asked, "Oh, when are you leaving? Please, stay for lunch at our house. Think of it as our way of seeing you off." 

If Ye Mo were here and got wind of the news, he would be overjoyed!

Ye Ling spoke next. "Yes, Duo Er's right. Brother Ming, you should stay for lunch today."

"Then don't mind if I do," Dongfang Ming nodded. He intended to stay a little longer as well. He would be leaving in the afternoon anyway.

Hei Xiaomeng crouched by Liu Duo's side and nudged her with its nose, like a kid begging for food and attention, which was absolutely adorable.

Liu Duo gave him some food from her bowl. "Xiaomeng, you can't be too greedy, got it? It's not a good habit."

"That's a very impressive Mastiff you have there. You've raised it well," Dongfang Ming said as he observed the dog. He thought of something else, and went on to add, "Little Duo, do you have plans to visit the capital?"


Sold by her own grandmother to become a shared wife to the poverty-stricken Ye brothers for twenty taels of silver, Liu Duo, unwilling to succumb to her fate, escaped in the night. She slipped and fell and died an inexplicable death. 

Then She, a soul who shared her name, reincarnated into her body. Could this be heaven trying to make amends? She is going to has four husbands? Since what's done is done, She might as well accept her new life!

Work hard, earn money, get richer, become wealthy, maybe even have some kids!  Just as they are living their lives, an array of crazy characters just loves to disrupt their peace. Are they here to taunt her? Take advantage of her? Well, good luck with that! I'm not some sick cat who can't fight back!

I examine myself in my sterling silver framed, hand held mirror. I've been both blessed and cursed with the features of my beautiful parents. My father's light blonde hair, my mother's curls, my father's upturned nose, my mother's high cheekbones, my father's pointed chin, my mother's golden skin tone, my father's broad shoulders, my mother's curves, my father's tall height, my mother's green eyes, my father's thick, blonde eyelashes...
Everytime I see my reflection I think of them. Fond memories. Until I start thinking about Aspen, the little mistake who cost me both of them when I was just fifteen. My mother died giving birth to her on my birthday, and my father was so depressed by her death he took his own life that night. He left me a note, right next to his hung body. I still have it. I close my eyes and his handwritten words burn in my brain...
To my dear daughter Luna, 
I'm so sorry, but I cannot live without your mother, my wife. She is the love of my life, she's been with me almost my entire life. My spirit will remain forever unsettled til it is reunited with hers. I truly hope you will not resent me for this, for if I stay I won't ever really be there. This must be done. But before I go, I must first let you know something. Aspen, your sister, is not my daughter. You see, your mother was raped by a terrible, horrible, sick, man. I'm so sorry you had to find out this way, but you must keep something this scandalous a secret. I know this all must be so hard for you, and I wish I could fix it all. But, sadly, it is all beyond all our control. Just remember, I and your mother will be looking down on you each and everyday. Bye...
With love, your father
I hate that little demon. She's not my sister, she's the daughter of the devil himself! And since my father is the one who comes from the royal family and she is not his daughter, she can't take the thrown. Yet, if I die that's exactly what she'll do. She doesn't even look like family. Sickly pale, black hair(which she haft shaved and tip dyed blue like she's so cool) , short, no figure...
Ugh, I'm done thinking about she-who-shall-not-be-named. 
I grab my red lipstick to apply...
Knock, knock...
"Yes...?" I say, putting the lipstick down. "I've come with breakfast, your majesty." the feeble voice of a servant says. "You may come in, then..." I say, putting my mirror down. The door creaks open. The servant silently steps in. He places a tray on my nightstand, as he has been told to always do. He exists. I leave my makeup dresser and sit on my bed, grabbing my tray and placing it on my lap. A scoop of berries, a couple slices of toast drizzled with maple syrup, and scrambled eggs. I pop a berry into my mouth. Sour, very sour indeed. I close my eyes and let the flavor fill my mouth, linger there...
"Ya know, you're really cute when you sleep..." his masculine voice mumbles, in my ear, his chin resting on my shoulder, his arms around my torso. I roll my eyes, but I'm smiling. He places his hand under my chin, and gently turns my head so that we're facing each other. His smile is so beautiful, so warm. "Don't roll your eyes, it's true. Though you're even more beautiful when you're awake, when you can smile, laugh, dance around..." he says. "Even when you roll your eyes you're still stunning." he pulls my face closer to his. Our foreheads are touching. The scent of pine radiates off him, as usual. I hold his rough hands as I kiss his soft lips. They taste like berries. Sour berries. I've never liked sour things, unlike him who loves them. But he somehow makes even them enjoyable. I make a mental note to have the servants make sure I get those sour berries every morning for him...
"Hey, Luna...?" Aspen's stupid voice says, snapping me out of my flashback. "What?" I grumble. The sour taste has left my mouth, replaced by a even more sour one. An envelope slides under my door. "Happy birthday..." she says sadly, walking away.
What, sad you don't get your birthday all to yourself? That you can't take it from me like you've taken everything else? Well, my thrown is another thing you won't take...
I put the tray aside and toss the envelope in the bottom draw of my makeup dresser, with the other's she's brought on my birthday. I sit down, grab my lipstick, and apply while looking into my mirror. She won't take my crown...
Sure, I've made some deals with some bad people. And sure, I'm messing with the laws of life. But hey, it's all been worth it. I look at the lipstick. It looks totally unused. It's everlasting, like me. Been doing this since I was a youthful looking twenty five year old. Not too old, but old enough to be taken seriously. Perfect, just perfect. And some say magic doesn't exist. Pff. I put the mirror and lipstick away. In the top draw...

It's the distant future and the world has went back to empires run be rulers of "divine blood." There are two royal half sisters, a queen named Luna and a princess named Aspen. Aspen's the result of their mom's affair with a warlock. The mom died after giving birth to her and the king, Luna's dad, killed himself after she died. Luna resents Aspen for this and shuns her, only breaking her shunning to give her venomous words. On Aspen's 18th birthday Luna's past lover returns to fulfil a prophecy to overthrow his dad, the powerful warlock king from his realm. To do so he takes the sisters on a mission that opens Aspen's eyes like they've never been before.
TW: mentions of suicide, body shaming, abuse, and rape. 
Cover made by me.

Chapter 1

I sat on the country bus; its lone passenger for the last five miles to Bamburgh.
A village which, i had been assured, would best suit my talents.
Talents? Never heard of them.
Much like Bamburgh my so-calle\/d talents had not been mentioned until my Adoption day.
After that, I was assured by many of the ministries representatives that :
Bamburgh has been specially selected with regards to your particular background and talents…
That word. 
Suddenly the things I did were talents instead of 'curses from the divine!'
I looked forward through the windscreen to see that we would soon be in sight of the shore-which meant that my journey would soon be over.
I caught sight of the bus drivers eyes as he stared at me through his mirror. I held his stare knowing my silvery-blue eyes would put him off. 
And they did- his eyes soon returned to the road.
I tossed my long red hair back over my shoulder and tucked the fly-aways behind my ears. I huffed deciding to root in my satchel for a drawstring bag. From within I retrieved a mirror. It was silver framed so when I gave myself a cursory glance to see that blush had come to my cheeks. 
I mentally chastised myself for showing I was flustered. My porcelain skin, red hair and steely eyes attracting so much attention for decorating Asian features.
My Chinese heritage had always been used to hurt me in the ministry's orphanage. 
Though I had been in a town with one of the largest populations in Britain of those with Asian heritage it was not always an easy place to live.
But Liverpool had at least allowed for me to stray into Chinatown and experience some of the cultures I had missed out on in the ministry's care.
 the ministry classified me as; Wupo. 
Witch in other words.
They only ever told me the very little that they thought 'i needed to know' about my origins.
''A Chinese gentleman gave you to us for your care and he left you two things; a photo of a woman with wild red curls and a pearl and jade inlaid hand mirror.''
I could recite it verbatim.
In fact it became so boring to hear that in the end I just stopped asking. 
The photo was safely tucked in my journal and the hand mirror never left my side. It had only been given to me upon my graduation from ministry care to a probationary agent.
in Bamburgh, I would meet my 'grandparent' who would watch, teach and assess me in the interests of the ministry. I had two years to convince them that i was an asset - not a failed project.
The bus swung to the left and from the back of the bus i watched as the sun danced on the gentle waves of the sea.
It was early march, though the air still had a bite to it, no one could say it was not a marvellous day.
Well in theory at least.
I would have to wait and see how the rest of the day unfolded.
Soon enough the bus came into view of the village that sat on the mount next to the sea.
And one could not overlook the great silhouette the domineering castle etched into the blue sky.
I had read what I could find in the ministry's eclectic library about the village. It had quite the footnote in history.
From being the supposed residence of sir Lancelot to that of Grace darling- a daring sea witch if ever there was.

The bus stop was soon upon us and as I moved to pass the driver he suddenly grabbed my arm.
I was about ready to hit him with the suitcase in my other hand when I saw that his face was one filled with anxiety, not lechery.

''Please, take care miss-'' he hesitated looking into the tall fallow field around us, before finishing '' there are strange things in these moors… the sea the sky and the land- they don't belong to us, you see? These don't play by the same rules.'' he quickly released my arm and returned to facing forward with desperation as he asked me to depart the vehicle.
As the bus made a risky U-turn on the country lane and shot away into the Northumbrian landscape I chewed my lip; mulling over his strange behaviour and even stranger words of warning.
They don't play by the same rules …
Who could they be?
The bus zooming away back to the station kept me in a daze as the sun warmed my cheeks. The plumes of vapour clouded the air from my breath, the cold nipping my nose. I wore a navy tea dress with a white bodice which my knee-high socks. But if not for the hooded pinned jacket I would not have been able to endure the vicious gust that hit me from across the far-stretching moors.
I stared into the open space with a peculiar feeling of being watched - though, my human eyes could not discern anything untoward.
I could change my perspective
 but if I was being watched I didn't want to give them a show. 
And so I turned to face the village, suddenly realising that the bus stop was at least a country mile out of town, I began walking with my small suitcase.

Mei Su has not had the easiest life growing up in a ministry run Liverpool orphanage. But her stay there was not free- she has obligations to fulfil and if she doesn't, then, as a 'Failed Project' she will be scrapped.
Mei Su thought her adoption would offer safety - how wrong she is.

My heart pounds in my chest.
I wake in a large bed, the size appropriate for a noble.
My head is throbbing uncomfortably with the newfound memories, and oddly enough… my old life begins to fade. I can only grasp the outlines of the woman that I was before Valentine. Nevertheless, the night where I wept over Prince Percival is fresh in my mind.
I slip off the mattress and examine my surroundings. My room is ridiculously vast, straight out of a fairytale. A chandelier hangs low in the center, the walk-in dressing room is packed to the brim, the connecting bathroom displays a large tub for soaking and spotless sliding doors lead to the balcony.
But before I can enjoy my luxuries, I need to keep in mind what I came for. Strolling to the nearest mirror, I contemplate my new reflection.
"Wow…"
Valentine Scarlet was indeed as unspeakably enchanting as the readers had imagined. Thick dark eyelashes framed piercing mauve eyes. A thin and sharp nose accompanied glossy cherry lips. Fiery hair like liquid flames dripped down in perfect waves. I had just woken up, but I could've easily made every man in the kingdom fall to his knees.
Every last one of my new features was irreproachable. I knew that I had stepped into a novel where the characters had no human blemishes, as the author had crafted an impeccable villainess. The body I had taken on could outshine any of the supermodels back in my old life, even without makeup.
I never had much appreciation for my miserable life before entering the book, but now I was even more grateful for the reckless wish I had made when Percival died. If I knew that I would look like this, I would've hopped into here long ago!
*Knock knock*.
My head swivels towards the door, the interior monologue interrupted.
"Val, are you awake?"
Whose voice is that? It takes me a moment to utilize my new memories.
"...Jay?"
"Yeah, what are you doing? You're normally up by now."
I wrack my brain. Jay Scarlet. Maestro of seduction. An unfeeling man who hides behind a facade of charisma. Does he always come to wake me up? What time is it? God, what day is it? How far back in time have I travelled?
"I'm feeling a little unwell today, Jay."
He's silent for a moment. I hold my breath, praying that he leaves.
But the door to my room is thrown open, and Jay stomps in.
"What do you mean, unwell?"
He's tall, with broad shoulders and rippling muscles. His jet black hair is pushed back, except for a stray strand that tickles his eyebrow. Though I read his description in the book before, it's certainly different to have him stand before me.
His chemise is mostly unbuttoned and I try not to stare at the exposed skin of his upper chest. What's more, the few buttons that he actually fastened are threatening to pop, holding on for dear life. A blush steals across my cheeks but I shoo it away.
"Ah, uh, Jay-"
He raises an eyebrow and I quickly scramble away from the mirror. I'm sure Valentine never acted so ungracefully before.
"I woke up with a terrible headache."
He tilts his head, eyes glancing almost imperceptibly over my nightgown before returning to my face.
"You do look a little sick…"
Jay crosses the room in three strides and stands before me. The smell of his cologne invades my nose.
"Right. So I will be having breakfast alone," I try to explain, taking a step back.
"Is that so..?"
He closes the distance again and lets his fingers trail down my cheek.
"You aren't so guarded today. Actually," he delicately tilts my chin up, "You're being quite shy."
I swat his hand away and glare, doing my best to impersonate the formidable Valentine.
"Oh, now I recognize you."
I huff and stomp up to the window, purposefully turning away from him.
"Aren't you planning on leaving?"
I hear him chuckle.
"Alright. I'll tell the servants to bring the food to your room. Rest up, Val."
The door shuts and I let out a shaky sigh of relief.

“The Scarlet House. They call it a den of snakes.”
I endured a pathetic lifetime of getting harassed and deceived. Perhaps that is why I found comfort in Prince Percival, the main character of the novel “Twisted Minds”: he was just as miserable and alone as I was. But the Prince meets a tragic end in the Scarlet House, a mansion where all the most twisted antagonists reside. So I beg the Gods to give me a chance to change the story, even if I must venture into that nest of vipers myself. Thus, I reincarnated into the book as Valentine Scarlet, one of the most beautiful and powerful women of the Scarlet House. The real villainess might've contributed to Percival's death, but I'm planning on saving him.

Kai was furious, upset, annoyed and generally pissed off. A whole string of emotions he wasn't used to at all.
Not to mention, his situation was also trash.
He followed Holly and Death down the hallway towards the mirror, Lupin close behind.
"Kai." The wolf growled in greeting, a slight sneer evident in its voice.
"Hello, Lupin." He looked pointedly at the wolf who shot daggers back at him.
"Still not getting along, I see." Death looked back at the two of them, not a hint of humour laced his voice.
Kai shared a look with Lupin and the two looked away from each other with a quick turn of the head and a loud 'hmph'. 
Lupin had been Death's loyal servant for ages, always vying for his master's attention. But when Kai had come into the picture, Death had started spending less time with the poor animal and more with Kai. Obviously, the wolf had hated that and naturally grew to hate Kai himself, even though they were so similar. 
The small party of weirdos now stood in front of the massive mirror, about to enter.
"Dang it!" Death suddenly blurted.
"What?" Holly asked, confused.
"She can't see it." Death turned to Kai, "We'll have to talk somewhere else."
"What do ya' mean: 'I can't see?'" Holly reddened in confusion, "I can see a bloody tall mirror!"
Death stopped talking and turned to look at her, his jaw slack. Kai stared and Lupin tried to look as shocked as a one-meter tall wolf could.
"You can see it? "Kai asked softly, giving Holly a once-over, sizing her up.
"Yes, I can, you dimwit!" She glared at Kai.
"Good." He replied calmly and slipped through the glass with a sharp suction sound.
*******
Holly's eyes had to be playing tricks on her. She just saw Kai walk through glass.
Neat trick. Latifa sounded impressed.
"Shall we?" The large wolf, Lupin tilted his head at Holly, gesturing at the mirror with a paw.
"Urr… Yeah..." She managed.
"Bon voyage," Roger muttered, rolling his eyes. He slipped through the mirror and disappeared through the glass.
Ooh. He's got a cute sense of humour. Latifa gushed. I like him.
"Dude!" Holly shouted aloud, startling Lupin.
She gave the wolf a sheepish grin, "Sorry."
Lupin mumbled something and hopped through the glass. Holly was certain it was an insult and probably aimed at her.
Latifa. She thought at her friend, please don't start crushing after Roger. 
Why? Do you like him?
No, I don't.
Then why not? Holly could almost see Latifa crossing her arms over her chest, pouting.
Because he is Death. She thought back.
And I'm a ghost.
"Fair enough," Holly mumbled aloud and walked into the mirror.
She felt as if the glass bent inwards around her. Her ears popped at the sudden sound of suction.
And then she was on the other side of the mirror.
Latifa for once made no comment.
The hallway beyond the mirror was possibly even larger than the one before. The tinted windows framed by the arching ceiling gave glimpses at multiple sceneries on earth. London, Singapore, Las Vegas, Los Cabos. They changed every 10 seconds or so, giving way to oceans, streets and fields.
Holly stood rooted with her mouth wide open.
Lupin looked back at her and coughed, "Stupid human, you've never seen magical windows before?"
"Stuff it, Lupin." Kai barely even glanced back at the two of them.
"Don't test me you basta-"
"Boys!" Roger yelled at them from in front of a large ebony door.
Kai and Lupin shut their mouths and glared at each other.
Holly snapped out of her daze and laughed as she walked past the two of them. Auburn hair bouncing.
"You're both so similar. Has anyone ever told you that?"
"Shut up!" They shouted in unison.
Holly chuckled, "Proves my point."
Kai and Lupin glared after her, staring holes into her back.
What a bunch of imbeciles. Latifa snickered.
Holly approached the door and stood next to Roger who glared at his subordinates.
"Sorry Holly, they've such a handful." He smiled down kindly at her. 
Argh! My heart! Holly! I think I'm in love! Latifa seemed to be shouting into a megaphone.
Cool it, you hormonal idiot! Holly gave her a mental slap.
Surprised you haven't fallen in love with him yet, he's so nice, Latifa gushed.
Not really my type. Holly thought back.
I see… Latifa mused. Kai then? What about him?
"Eww!! No!" Holly screamed aloud, horrified.
Roger, Kai and Lupin turned to stare at her once more.
"Holly? Are you alright?" Roger asked, concerned.
Holly's eyes drifted away from Roger's to Kai who gave her a stern yet confused look. His eyebrows creased together. She immediately turned away, a small blush rising up her neck
No, Latifa. Please, no. He's a real asshole. She pleaded back at her friend.
Whatever you say. Holly swore she could hear the smile on the other girl's lips.
"Sorry." Holly said to Roger, "Just thinking about the gnomes I saw when coming in.
Roger's eyebrows raised.
"No, it's just that they are kinda ugly"
His face fell. 
Now it was Holly's turn to be confused.
Why is he frowning is he sad? Could it be... no... unless-
"OH MY GOD! I'M SO SORRY!! YOU MADE THEM!!?" Holly grabbed Roger's shoulders.
"Yes, that was me." He looked so dejected.
"I mean- they're cute... like... an ugly kind of cute you know what I mea-"
A loud laugh cut her short and everyone looked behind. Kai clutched his stomach, laughing.
His smile reached his eyes, wrinkles showing as his full lips parted allowing his teeth to flash briefly. It was a different sound than all the other chuckles and mocking laughs she had heard. The sound was more real. It sounded so… beautiful.
His deep tenor voice rang out almost like music while he laughed.
Adorable.
Roger and Lupin were staring at Kai with shocked expressions, Lupin's mouth hung wide open.
"Well, that's not something you see every day," Roger muttered so softly that Holly almost didn't catch it. His icy blue eyes looked at Kai with a sort of relief.
"Sorry." Kai shut his mouth, his face hiding behind its usual unreadable mask.
"Don't apologise." Roger smiled warmly at his friend, "Just get into my office."
"We need to talk."
*******
Ah, yes. Back in the comfort of my psychedelic office. Death coughed inwardly.
He dodged a couple of toy trains and lego bricks as he stumbled over towards his desk. Plopping himself down on the throne-like chair with red velvet behind his table, he noticed the small triangular plaque that had fallen over. 
He flicked his finger, summoning a light gush of wind to flip it over.
Nothing happened.
Silly me. Death thought. I'm still human. Huzza!
Annoyed, he bent across the table with a long arm and lifted the plaque back in its place. It read: 'Lord Death' and just so happened to be made entirely out of solid gold. It had been a present that Lupin insisted on him using. He had of course obliged. After
all, he did not want to displease the wolf. But if he was being entirely honest, he had mainly kept it just to increase his chances of getting to pet the large dog.
Death watched as his group of unusual friends navigated their way across the very cluttered office, Kai cussing aloud after stepping on a stray toy car.
Hally seemed to move much easier, dodging a remote-controlled aeroplane model that flew at her. She found the green beanbag in front of his desk and sagged down in it. Leaving a very peeved Kai to stand.
Lupin shut the door behind them and bounded on top of a static television strewn on the floor.
"Righty ho!" Death clapped his hands together with a smile. He turned to Holly.
"Any questions?"
"Plenty, actually." Holly stared back at him.
"Hit me." Death replied.
Kai raised a fist and walked towards Death, a confused look on his face, "Why?"
"No! Kai! That was an expression!" He raised his hand, protecting his priceless face. 
Kai's fisted hand slumped down as his mouth formed a perfect 'O' in realisation.
Holly laughed, "Stupid."
Kai glared at her. Holly turned away from Kai, a smile still splayed on her face as she looked at Death.
"First question." She said, "How did a ghost girl get in my head?"
"Ghost girl? Death echoed.
"Yeah, this one." She closed her eyes and seemed to concentrate.
A split second later, a yellowish-green light come out of her body and took the form of a girl. 
Death Stared. Kai frowned. Lupin gasped.
She was beautiful even as a ghost, dark hair flowing out in waves, floating as if in water. She wore a white dress that billowed in imaginary wind. Evidently, she was Latino with tanned skin and visibly dark eyes.
Oh. She's pretty. Death stared at her.
A cheeky grin rose on her face as she looked around.
Hello everyone.
"Who the hell are you," Lupin growled, on full alert. Ready to pounce.
I'm Latifa Vernon. She spared only a single glance at Lupin.
Turning to a startled Death, she stared into his eyes, grinning.
Hello, sexy.

When Kai skips out on reaping the last soul on his List so he won't be Judged, he soon discovers how fatal a mistake he made. The girl who's soul he didn't reap was the centre of a plan to (most probably) cause the end of the world. 

But can he stop it?

Having lived a horrible life of pain and manipulation, Kai needs to learn to love and forgive. But trusting the hearts of humans is no easy task especially after seeing all the horrid deeds that they have committed. 

With the help of an odd girl with a fiery personality and mysterious power, Kai feels that he could learn to love again. But when things begin to fall apart, incident after incident, he starts to lose himself to hate, fear and shame...

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