"Magic?" Laura repeated. "If you mean like stage magic, then no.
And it's not a joke. I mean, at the prices they charge,
it's not a joke that could go very far."

Happy New Year everyone. I hope that it isn't as bad as a lot of people think it will be, as I have plenty to post this 2025.
Marianne

Chapter 1

Have you ever had that feeling that you were being watched? I was out of the office getting lunch at my favourite kebab outlet when I had that feeling, like someone had walked over my grave.

It seems like everywhere Mantra goes, a planet dies. It's hard for the Dark Age warrior to wrap her mind around the idea of a zombie god destroying universes. But when she finally has a chance to save lives by battling a danger she understands, she goes for it. During the action, she makes a new friend and becomes reacquainted with an old friend.

Chapter Six: A Subtle Shift

David woke to the soft rays of morning light streaming through his window, casting a warm glow over the room. The scent of fresh morning air filled his nostrils, and he could hear the distant chirping of birds. His mom was still asleep beside him, her breathing steady and calm. Smiling to himself, he climbed out of bed carefully, not wanting to disturb her. He could feel the softness of the sheets against his skin as he gently pulled the covers up over her shoulders before grabbing a fresh set of clothes and heading to the bathroom.

Cameron is back in command and it might be going easier than she expected - even with some tiny bumps along the way. Easy can become difficult in a flash and that might just happen with her ships smuggling client. She may have a vision after all these weeks away from the Exhibit Housing, question is was it purposely planted in her?

Karan was a typical college student at Zenith College in Aurangabad—spirited, easygoing, and known for his unusually long hair that fell below his chest. Having maintained it for years, he was proud of his thick, dark locks. Often, when strolling through the Aurangabad East area or riding his bike past Skylark Towers, he would tie his hair up in a low ponytail or simply let it flow behind him. His friends—Neha, Anjali, and Sanya—had teased him about his hair many times, but their playful jabs were never anything he took seriously. Until one day, their teasing took a sudden turn.

“Okay Dina, ya’s up!” Lil says, making me giggle as I approach the table, straightening my casual tank top and short denim skirt before brushing my long hair out of my face. With a determined look, I pick up the ball and the paddle with my immaculately manicured fingers and make my serve, giggling at the noise the hollow plastic sphere makes as it bounces back and forth between myself and Martha.

It’s been two days since Ginny became the first candidate to leave the ‘Angel Mansion’ and, in that time, I’ve made a real effort to get to know the rest of the candidates better.