Serenade - Chapter 7: On the Playground

A conversation with a handsome stranger leaves Ariane chained in a cellar with a strange affliction. She soon discovers that the darkness of the nineteenth century’s Deep South hides many dangers. Mages, wolf shifters and the humans who hunt them play a risky game where to stumble is to die, all under the amused gaze of the apex predators of the supernatural world: vampires.

It is never healthy to attract the gaze of the aristocracy of the night. It takes much to survive in this merciless world, but Ariane will not let that deter her. The southern belle has a bite, and she is willing to learn and to grow in this hostile new world. She will use whatever means necessary to reclaim her freedom, be it guile, charm, or those intriguing new instincts that make blood so delectable.

This is a story of vampires as I believe they should be, with their strengths and weaknesses, with their remnants of humanity and the beast inside. Updates every Friday. Mind the tags.

Cover by Antti Hakosaari: https://www.artstation.com/haco

Special thanks to Svensonsen for getting me started, as well as Omi Nya, Hesketh, Rhaegar, Yaksher, Selkie and Raven for proofreading my stuff. Thanks to my patrons and you dear readers, for the support. I could not do it without you.

Journey is on Amazon, both in ebooks and audio. here is a link to the first one:

https://www.royalroad.com/amazon/B08DK6G8Y8

The story probably exists in your local marketplace as well of I can tempt you.

Vincent Strider was a gun for hire who made a living by killing whoever it was his clients wanted dead. But during one mission, he died in a fierce gunfight. However, death was not the end for him. Vincent found himself reincarnated in another world, facing a floating interface that flickered before his eyes.[Synchronizing Host!][Military System initializing.]Vincent found out that in this system he received, he can summon soldiers, tanks, aircrafts, and even warships! This is going to be exhilarating.

Keiran has always dreamed of being a hero—exploring vast worlds, defeating powerful foes, and growing stronger with every battle.In his favorite RPGs, he could live that fantasy. But when he's suddenly summoned by the god of Eteria, his dream becomes reality.Chosen to stand against the encroaching darkness threatening to consume the world, Keiran is granted four extraordinary abilities: the power to absorb, upgrade, create, and transfer skills.With limitless potential at his fingertips, he embarks on an adventure to collect, refine, and bestow incredible powers upon allies and himself.As he hones his abilities, forging new paths in magic and combat, Keiran will shape Eteria’s fate.From a summoned gamer to a legendary hero, he will not only fight the darkness—he will redefine what it means to be powerful.

Clearing wasteland, farming, exploring and collecting, starting from scratch to slowly build an estate that completely belongs to oneself.Jiang Yuan always thought that the bound game was a cheat that could shuttle between two realms to sell things, until he discovered that the skills obtained in the game could also be used in reality!