Features Of A Gothic

At three in the morning, I stare at the unknown transaction record on my phone screen, my fingertips turning cold. The record is for a payment of 2980 dollars, made for an executive suite at the Wisteria. The time of payment was 8:00 pm last night. My husband, Tristan Griffin, is a detective. He was on the night shift last night. I clutch my phone, my knuckles turning white as I text Tristan, "I just saw your credit card bill for a hotel stay last night. What's up with that?" His reply is instant. "Our team had to work overtime at the last minute, so they put us up at the hotel. I forgot to tell you about it." I scan the text and sputter. The Wisteria is located in the western region of the city, which is on the other end from where his squad is stationed. I don't press him for more details and click on the bank app on my phone. Having found the vendor's address through the payment record, I sent it to my best friend, Rowena Sheffield, who works as a private detective. She replies instantly with an "OK" emoji and follows up with, "Give me a second. I'll find out everything you want in a jiffy!"

On my son’s birthday, my husband had asked his first love to pick our son up from our home. While I stubbornly refused to let him go, a huge fire broke out in the hallway during our standoff. I was struck by falling debris, and blood started streaming from my head. However, my son was unharmed as he lay beneath me. My husband, who was a firefighter, came forward to rescue us. But he handed the only gas mask he had to his first love. “Miss Leia has a weaker constitution. Dad, please get her out first. Mom, wait for the other firefighters to save you!” I watched them leave with a faint, bitter smile. It appeared that they had both forgotten my severe asthma and the fact that I would die without a gas mask.

My guard started lowering and I instantly regretted it, he swiftly turned around, giving such a quick blow to the stomach that it winded me and I lost my balance, landing with a big thud on the floor, which I assume grabbed everyone's attention. "Alexis. Never ever lose focus! " His eyes held something more than anger, it held from what I could tell disappointment, "Don't expect your opposer to take a break. Or give you a chance to breathe. They are always looking for a weak spot, where they can get you down and break you, don't give them the opportunity. Do you understand me?" His tone came out harsh which I suspect was intended, he heaved I could tell he was trying to keep in control of his anger. "I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you." *** Alexis Reign has always been the one, the one to save the world, the one for someone, the one that always feared not just herself but of what she was capable of. She was the key. She was the savior of this world, from the bleak dystopian future that would befall us, all of us, the entire human race. She was our protector. She couldn't falter, she couldn't stumble, she couldn't hesitate. If she did she'd die, if she did we'd die. So, she has to make sacrifices for the greater good of the human race. But at what cost? Join her, join us as we unravel her story, can she save us, can she find herself, can she open up just enough for that special someone? Or will her fear be her downfall, not only for herself but for us all? ***

Chains of Eternity – Synopsis When the Spell descended, Kael was nothing but a street thief—hungry, nameless, and forgotten. But fate brands even the lowest, and he awakens in a world of endless night, where monsters roam the crimson wastes and survival is measured in breaths. Cursed with a living shadow bound by chains, Kael discovers a terrible truth: every kill feeds the void within him, granting strength at the cost of his humanity. As he claws his way through horrors, he learns he is not alone. Other Chosen walk the darkness—rivals, allies, betrayers—each wielding powers as strange and dangerous as his own. Together and apart, they will uncover the secret of the Spell, the price of survival, and the terrible destiny awaiting those who endure. But the longer Kael fights, the more he wonders: does he wield the shadow… or does the shadow wield him? In a realm where hope is a myth and dawn is just a rumor, Kael must decide—become prey, or embrace the hunger and rise as something far worse.

Selected, Laurent's Lab" The invitation came several days later, after I had given up all hope of ever earning an internship. An invitation to work for the King of Vampires. The most revered vampire in all of Moon City, and the only vampire still linked to Royal blood. ~~~~~ When Dalia was accepted to work in Laurent's Inc, she didn't expect to ever meet the King of Vampires, not until she finds that the gorgeous, cocky, ancient vampire had been the blue eyed tormentor of her wet dreams. The most ruthless of all vampires in Moon City, Jacob St. Laurent didn't get the title "King of Vampires" by being easily swayed or by falling in love. He would do anything in his power not to see that happen. But fate always had a way of being a b*tch

Asha, an orphan at a young age, is now on the brink of helplessness and despair. Would she let despair to chase her for the rest of her life? No, thus, she faces the man who wants her dead and dares to stand as a woman in the world of male chefs. She creates her own dishes and makes his father's recipes alive again. Her adventures lead to clues of her father's real killer and get entangles with love at the same time. Somehow, when she is face to face with the murderer, will she forgive or not? The Recipe of Love will show her the right decision to make.

Her name was Vitatrix, the first empress of Rome. You won't see her in any of the history books, or hear her name in any ballad or song. She isn't even mentioned in myth or legend. Her mark on mankind was erased, because she was a woman. Long ago Rome's emperor died with out a son. His cousin, a roman senator ascended to the throne with out a legitimate heir, or so everyone thought. Fear started to grip the citizens of Rome as new threats rose from every corner of the empire. In the city of Clusium, a daughter that was born to the new roman emperor, hidden by his wife. All of this to protect her from the possible rage and discrimination from her own family. All because she was born a girl. In a world where men rule, can this sole female heir secure her rightful place? Or will her gender pull her down? Raised by the midwife that helped bring her into the world, a young Trix finds out who she truly is. She must return to a family she has never known and save the Roman Empire from anarchy. She must fight a corrupt senator, a secret society, and her own fears of the future. Together with her best friend, Hector, she will learn that not everyone can be trusted. Not all stories have a happy ever after. Will this one?

At six months pregnant, I joined a moms’ group chat to learn parenting tips from other mothers, and one of them couldn’t resist showing off. "I’m so jealous of you guys, getting to cuddle your babies all day. Not like me—I'm handing mine off to a free nanny right after giving birth!" 'Free nanny? Since when are nannies free?' I tapped on her profile picture—and the sight of that hand draped over her shoulder made cold sweat run down my back.

Eva Guerrero is a fierce and powerful lady with a fierce heart. After being hurt in the past and losing everything, she works hard to get to the top in order to get her revenge on those who hurt her. A gang of robbers raided her home when she she was young and killed her family in a fire. As if that was not enough, they raped her mercilessly and left her to die. She also suffered a lot of more loses. Eva waited many years so she could have her revenge. Then she met Leonardo Acosta, the CEO and owner of the Acosta empire. An empire sought by a lot of people. Eva is one of those people interested in the empire. Leonardo in a marriage with a woman he doesn't love easily fell in love with Eva. Eva found out all his business associates and he are the ones she's been trying to find. She starts to destroy them one by one till she got to Leonardo. Will she let him get in the way of her plans with emotions or will she get her revenge on them all? Stay tuned for this tale of a broken soul... Brought to you by Sherry Pearl.

“Kage, what are you…” “What am I doing?” His voice taunting. “I am going to destroy you, Avyanna. Once I am done, you will never be able to have another man.” “Kage…” Beyond what I can even restrain myself, my moans are nothing but a symphony to his ears. But as he feels my body surrender, he pulls his hungry lips away, “Do you really think I am going to give you all that you want, Avyanna?” “Kage…” My voice turning to a whimper. “Please, I am sorry.” “Not as sorry as what you are going to be,” his growls ripple to every inch of every crack and crevice. “You messed up, princess. You just lost the only man that will ever satisfy you.” Avyanna Tate left her small-town home of Jackson ten years ago in pursuit of a modeling career in the big city. When a tragedy strikes in her family, she is forced to return home. Years ago, she left the Xavier brothers behind her, they not only destroyed her life but broke her heart. Destined to only one of them, she could never make the choice and decided to run away instead. Now she is back, and her path is bound to cross with Niko, Slater, and Kage once again. But the boys have done some growing up. If she thought then that one choice between them was not easy, this time around it is going to be near damn impossible. Ten years ago, they were only boys, but now they are the Alphas that run Jackson. The Xavier brothers known for their reign of anarchy have waited in anticipation for Avyanna’s return and this time there is no escaping them.