Facing the Storm
Page 22
"We're back," Father announced. "Your Mother is on her way with the Great One, so we can start without them."
"When are we gonna find out her real name?" Malachi asked.
"When you all are able to take the bottle from her head during training. You guys embarrassed us last time," James noted.
"That wasn't our fault!" Malachi countered.
"Who would have thought that a 100-year-old elderly woman could be so fast," Haru mused.
"You guys just thought she was called the Great One for show?" Itsuki shook his head and sighed, taking a seat. Malachi and Quil helped to get the remaining dishes.
"We got proven wrong," Yoshi replied.
"Ya, with our asses beat." Aki cracked his neck. "I'm still sore."
"You're always sore," Malachi commented.
Aki rolled his eyes. "That's because I'm doing an excellent job in other departments."
The others snickered, and I blushed before I elbowed him in the ribs.
"Ah! Crim?!"
"My dad is RIGHT there?!" I huffed. "And we haven't even done anything!"
"Hmph. He knows that. Ow...my ribs are broken." Aki complained.
"You're so dramatic." James sighed. "I'll break them if you want to prove a point."
"I don't," Aki said plainly, looking annoyed.
James shrugged with a cocky grin. "Good."
"At least you all get along," Yomato pointed out.
"We do NOT get along," Malachi declared.
"Of course they get along. They're just like this because Crimson's awake. You should have seen all the tears shed earlier. I have a video!" ChiyoChi said with a sweet voice.
"VIDEO?!" The guys exclaimed. My familiars crowded around me, as I watched the guys attempted to sweet talk ChiyoChi into deleting the footage of them apparently sobbing together.
Hmm. RyuJinn? Are you not joining us?
I felt my pocket watch grow hot, and a light teal glow came from his jewel, catching everyone's attention. In seconds, a small ball of light shot out from my watch and emerged a little dragon.
"Roar!"
We were all silent at the adorable mini sound that was apparently supposed to sound intimidating. ChiyoChi and I squealed. "SO KAWAII!"
"That's so not intimidating." James sighed. RyuJinn looked at him and let out a puff of smoke through his nostrils before he began taking a deep breath.
"Oh HELL NO! NO breathing fire!! No, no." James was out of his seat and running over to where Malachi and Quil were.
"Why the fuck are you coming over here?!" Malachi snapped.
"Every man for their damn self," Quil huffed.
Itsuki took advantage of the situation and sat down where James was, and the three of us watched them run out of the kitchen as RyuuJinn chased after them with his mini flame throwing breath.
"Ah. They shouldn't tease RyuJinn. He doesn't like being in that form," I pouted.
"RyuJinn will be fine. I think he enjoys torturing them." Itsuki chuckled.
"Probably," I replied and giggled.
"Let's get ready to eat?" Aki asked.
"Hai!" Everyone replied. We waited for the others to come back; RyuJinn purposely sat in front of my empty plate to stare daggers at Malachi, Quil, and James who sat opposite from us.
"So...what's the plan?" Yoshi asked.
"For now, we celebrate Crimson's recovery and then we will officially announce Crimson's new role as a Mage."
"Wait, what? You mean I'm going to be doing what Storm had been doing? Like...traveling Homatomashi to bring peace? I doubt I'm ready for that."
"You will be trained, but you will be officially presented to Homatomashi. You deserve to claim the praise as well as the rest of you for stopping a plot of war," Yomato explained.
We exchanged glances and we all turned to James who gave us an uncomfortable look. "Why is everyone looking at me when I didn't say anything?"
"I guess that means he's included, huh?" Malachi sighed dramatically.
"At least Aki can deal with him," Quil grumbled.
"Why do I have to deal with him?" Aki asked, looking confused.
"Because you 'understand' him," Yoshi noted.
"Plus, you have the extra patience," Itsuki added.
"Agreed." Haru sighed.
"Coming from Haru and Itsuki make it sound ten times worse," I mused.
"And I'm right here?! I'm not that bad!" James stressed.
"Uh huh." We said in unison and Yomato chuckled while ChiyoChi and Jiyuna both smiled.
"I won't stand here and say that things will get easy now. We have a lot of clean up to do and that includes finding those who worked along with White-Eyes to give him the resources he needed. This means you will have harder encounters, some that will test your limits."
Yomato looked at each of us before his eyes landed on me and a smile formed on his lips. "However, you will grow stronger. Myself, the Council, and our resources from across Japan and around the world will assist when you need them. To gain peace is one thing, but to maintain it, is a whole other struggle. I believe the men and woman sitting before me can achieve amazing things and create a legend that many will look back to one day in our history books. So, I ask you all, will you help Homatomashi become a better place for everyone? Young and Old, Male or Female, Shifter or Human?"
The guys all looked at me and a determined smile formed on lips.
"I, Crimson Jiyuna, accept your offer Emperor of Homatomashi. My men and I would be honored and will hold our positions with pride."
Aki leaned in and whispered. "I thought you said you'd go with Crimson Storm."
"Oh..." I replied, looking at the others’ encouraging expressions. "Right."
I cleared my throat, noticing Father's grin and ChiyoChi’s wide smile. Mother and the Great One entered the room, quietly moving to stand with the others in the corner as I turned to look at Yomato again.
"I, Crimson Storm, accept your offer. We will start a legend about peace and help Homatomashi be a safe place for all, young and old, rich or poor, shifter or human. We will help bring peace and create a world where everyone can be loved and accepted. Most importantly, we'll fight for the freedom everyone deserves to experience."
With those words, I knew that today started the beginning of a whole new adventure. I was excited for the journey ahead, with my men, familiars, family, and the new friends I knew I'd make in the coming future.
My name is Crimson Storm, and my Legend has just begun...
THE END.
One Thousand and One Lies Sneak Peek
One Thousand and One Lies - Blurb
Lies.
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Words of deception that assist in manipulating a person, group, lover, or foe. With each lie that leaves our lips, a plot morphs into a quick exchange, and the result? Death.
* * *
Some call us Reapers of Beauty. Others think we assist the Angel of Death. Assassins? Murderers? The list of what we term ourselves is endless. To us, this life is nothing but a job. One in which we have no control over what we do or who we kill. That was how I’d lived my life for 25 years, and I presumed it would always be that way...until last night.
* * *
It was an easy assignment. A task I was confident in executing. Yet his stunning eyes pulled me in. His addictive aroma made me sigh in bliss. Those silky strands of hair felt so nice to touch, and those lips held a level of satisfaction that made my body hum for more.
* * *
A forbidden attraction that led me astray. Or should I change that to attractions?
* * *
A thousand lies. That is all it takes to become a Reaper, like me. For the sake of protecting this mysterious group of men from my master who wants them dead, it's time for me to play the game and turn the tables for the sake of freedom.
* * *
Will I survive? Maybe not, but I guess I'll die trying.
Let’s begin...One Thousand and One.
Lies.
We
all commit one, at least once a day. Sometimes twice, or even three times. Others can do a minimum of ten and others a hundred.
There are some individuals in this world whose entire lives are based off these little lies. Lies that help to keep those individuals at the top of the success charts, or that are fabricated to maintain their freedom long enough to be proven innocent or guilty.
Some people chose this life. Others have no choice for the sake of staying alive.
As for me? My option was neither.
I didn't decide to become a Reaper of Beauty. Nor did I inevitably choose this path to save myself or my loved ones. No...I was born into this world.
Born as the first reaper child to be brought into this man-made universe of lies and corruption. Some would say it was a blessing.
I was raised around luxury and was taken care of not by one woman but many. I was given the finer things in life, wearing the richest clothes of our culture and eating food worthy of royalty.
I'd been taught by the highest trained masters from swordsmanship to alchemy, combat, and archery. I'd learned the best ways to defend myself as well as the deadliest methods to rid the world of an enemy.
It was a privilege given to me because I would be the best Reaper our master could ever ask for. I'd be easy to manipulate and would do anything, and I mean anything, to get his praise and adoration.
All of that began with one lie.
As a Reaper, you have to prove yourself, and that was decided by the number of lies you committed. One, ten, fifty, or even hundreds appeared to be more than enough to prove one's loyalty, but our master wasn't like others.
He declared that it took one thousand lies to gain his trust and until then, you would slave your life away until you reached that moment of glory.
Being born into this world meant that I was a step ahead of everyone. I wasn't taught lying was wrong by those who raised me. They supported my mischief, and such “bad behavior” rewarded me by getting me closer and closer to the final four-digit number.
Closer to gaining my Master's everlasting trust.
Living this life was all I knew, and I had accepted the reality that it would be all I would ever know. Until one fateful night; one in which I celebrated my 1000th Lie. The task was so simple with my comrades at my side, but I soon realized the price.
I never worried about failure, because I had never experienced it. But what I had no knowledge of...was love.
Only four steps mattered, or that was what I was taught.
Love that seems to silence the room.
Passion that pulses between the individuals of interest and pulls them into a trap of confusion and growing lust.
Desire that resonates through the body, rendering the need for pleasure unbearable.
Temptation to do sinful actions that remained in the bedroom.
I thought I had the steps down pat, but that all changed when my eyes landed on his.
At first, there was only one who made my heart skip a beat. Then there was number two, who made my body warm with tingles. Three came along so swiftly he made my mind whirl, and four, he was a trickster, and that only excited me more.
Four men so dangerous in the game of lies and in their ultimate goal of war, but who were they aiming to challenge?
My Master.
It was my turn to decide what I truly wanted.
Continue my new life as a Reaper of Beauty? Or fall into the lovely battle of lies and, ultimately, war.
About Yumoyori Wilson
Yumoyori.W.Wilson lives in Toronto, Ontario with her lovely Mother, Queen Loulou. When she’s not working the night shift as a Community Registered Nurse, she’s out relaxing with friends or sipping bubble tea while playing Elsword with her gaming friends.
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She has an obsession with fashion and currently owns 100+ lipsticks, 50 being various shades of nudes though she insists all of them are different in their own way. She enjoys reading during her night shift, immersing herself in reverse harem, paranormal and romance novels to pass the time and prevent herself from falling asleep.
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To connect with Yumoyori online:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yumoyoriauthor
Yumo’s Star Knight Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/2idc6oD
Youtube: http://bit.ly/2wZKlGF
Instagram: @yumoyoriauthor
Books by Yumoyori Wilson
THE STARLIGHT GODS SERIES:
Dark Wish
Tainted Rose
RYDER
Poisonous Dream
DANIEL
Forgotten Fairytale
Forgotten Fairytale 2
PARANORMAL INC SERIES:
Visionary Investigator
Visionary Awakened
HOLIDAY SERIES:
Visionary Christmas
Starlight Christmas
Visionary New Years
EARTHALA SERIES:
Visionary X Starlight- Chapter One
Visionary X Starlight- Chapter Two
Visionary X Starlight- St. Patricks Day
CRIMSON STORM SERIES:
Taming the Storm
Calming the Storm
Facing the Storm
SOUL DANCER OF HOMATOMASHI SERIES:
The Legend Of Crimson Storm (April 6th 2019)
BRIGHTEN MAGIC ACADEMY SERIES:
Reflections of You
Reflections of Me
Reflections of Us (October 21st 2018)
BLOODY DESIRE SERIES:
Seduce My Blood
Seduce My Heart
Seduce My Soul (October 28th 2018)
UNICORN BLESSED CHRONICLES:
Celestia
Celestia 2
Celestia 3
Celestia 4 (November 11th 2018)
Celestia Christmas (December 16th 2018)
FAMILIAR BLESSED CHRONICLES:
Arielle Rainbow
Arielle Rainbow 2 (October 7th, 2018)
REAPERS OF BEAUTY SERIES:
One Thousand & One Lies
One Thousand & Two Lies (November 25th 2018)
CLAIMING MY PACK:
Wolf Tamer (October 6th, 2018)
Work Seeker (December 2nd 2018)
DESTINY JINN SERIES
Wish for Me (October 27th 2018)