#spiral lyra

[maukiki1-but-cringefail]

i ordered this bad boy and during the agonizingly long amount of time it took to arrive i was thinking i wonder if she can hold up a bey? like if i could display a beyblade on her servos? well the awnser is yes and i think it looks raw as fuck

and heres a silly one ahgsisbwjesqhvexn looks like shes trying to pose with a short person😭😭

and heres a failed attempt😭

[sky-of-dusk]

Lyra is Orpheus' constellation. He's the mythological musician who walks down in the Underworld, charming Cerbere, and makes a deal with Hades to bring back Eurydice with him. However, he fails and looses her forever, and from this moment, he's haunted by what he saw in the Underworld. After his death, the muses places his lyre in the sky to create the constellation honoring him.

In Metal Masters, Toby makes a deal with Ziggurat (though he's unaware of it) to be able to Beyblade again. As Faust, he teams up with Damian, Kerbecs' owner. He's strong enough to use a Beyblade but he can't enjoy it the way he used to. Faust is only a shadow of who Toby used to be.

Toby breaks free of Faust, and is able to beyblade again, but his hair stay white, an evidence of what his walk in the Underworld.

[fr-thecollectors]

oh?

did i hear that it's transfem dragon share day???

here's some lovely ladies <333

[cgear]

( been looking for an old fan comic on and off for Hours a day and i finally recovered Some of it, im so glad some mf in my old 2011 pokemon rpc corner had this page saved on their blog + didnt deactivate like most of us did when we stopped being 14-16 )

[n7viper]

every time I listen to this I am sent into a blorbo thought tailspin from which there is no return

[silvereyedowl]

[source]

Everything, in one place, all at once by European Space Agency

[lyrainworld]

Happy birthday, as well as Halloween art for the best boy from dr Spiral, everyone's favorite Ultimate Mortician, Tess!

[gtgbabie0]

—Scraped knees and warm baths

{Cregan Stark knows how to take care of his wife}

I’ve been wanting to write for him so bad, I just haven’t had the time to write for any hotd characters recently, anyway hope you enjoy!! 💕💕

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You hadn’t meant to stay out so long, just for a small walk, you told yourself however time seemed to slip away from you, as you took in the serenity of nature, how the packed snow crunched underneath your feet, or the soft joyous melodies of birds, the crips air filled your lungs and it felt refreshing, it was good to get out the castle.

However it came with its dangers, ice, and somewhere along your journey you had lost your footing, slipping with a gasp against the stony path your palms grazing against the ragged surface along with your knees, just your luck, you think standing back to your feet with a huff.

And while you take your calm stroll outside Winterfell castle walls, Cregan was losing his mind, going mad with worry as he searches for you frantically and you’re nowhere to be seen, your absence sends his mind spiralling with horrid thoughts.

“She can’t have gone far my lord, I’m sure she’ll return… eventually” Maybe it’s the lack of worry in his tone or the smug smirk that teeters on his lips that sends Cregans’ skin tingling with anger as he turns to the guard.

“Ser Duncan I suggest you go help the rest of the men prepare- no one sleeps until my wife is found” he snaps walking closer to him, “Do I make myself clear?” He asks, trying to bite back the concern that sits on his tongue.

“Of course, my lord” and with that Cregan walks over to the stables a crease haunting his brows as he racks his mind for where you could possibly be.

“Lord Stark! She’s been found!”

Cregan is quick to look over and sure enough there you are, an overwhelming feeling of relief washes over him as he looks at you, bright-eyed with a giant smile, your dress stained with mud and he runs over to you, wrapping your shoulders with one of his furs protecting you from the harsh northern winds.

“Silly girl” he murmurs, urging you into his arms tightly.

You can hear the unease that weaves through his tone and it nips at your heart making you feel a little guilty, "I'm sorry" you whisper.

he pulls away slightly, looking at you with gentle eyes before turning around, “Lyra prepare a hot bath,” he says and she nods curtly, turning on her heels.

You silently scold yourself for causing so much trouble as you look around at all the men and women gathering around, you didn’t realise you were gone for so long, his hand rests on the small of your back leading you back to your shared bedchambers.

“I almost had the whole north searching for you,” he tells you, his big hands cupping either side of your face and he just can’t bring himself to be mad at you, the way you smile so sweetly at him, “I reckon you’ll send me to an early grave my dear” he sighs pressing a kiss to your forehead.

His hands reach for yours, and you gasp as fingers brush against the graze on your palm, “What? What is it- what happened?” He panics, taking your hands and studying the abrasions that adorn your palms with concern.

“It’s nothing, Cregan,” you say pulling your hands away, and before you can dismiss his worries he’s already pulling up the fabric of your dress noticing the blood that stains your knees, along with the small cuts.

“How did you manage this?” He asks, guiding you to the steaming tub, his fingers make work with untying the lace of your dress, letting the sleeves fall down to your arms and he peppers gentle kisses to your shoulder.

You giggle at the memory, “I slipped on ice, it wasn’t too bad” You smile stepping out of the dress, and you're not too sure if you're trying to convince him or yourself, your hands grasping at his arms as he eases you into the bath, the warm water soothes the dull ache in your muscles.

His hand cups at the water pouring it over your skin, “Wasn’t too bad? Look at your knees my love” he says nodding over to your knees that are pulled to your chest, he leans to press gentle kisses to them careful of the cuts, “I’ll go get the Maesters to take a look at it, don’t want it getting infected” he presses a kiss to your forehead and he goes to stand but you're quick to stop him.

“Wait- stay for a second more” you whisper and his face softens, he doesn’t think he could ever say no to you.

He sits back down on the wooden stall, picking up the small jug, “Of course my dear” takes his forefinger resting it underneath your chin as he pushes your head up slightly before pouring the warm water over your hair.

He washes you gently, peppering occasional kisses to your wet skin, “Come on my dear let’s get you warm and something to eat” he says helping you out of the tub, the water now lukewarm, he dries you off with such loving eyes, helping you change into something comfortable.

You sit by the fire humming at the pleasant warmth that surrounds you like a blanket, “Thank you Lyra” Cregan smiles as she places a hot bowl of stew on the table along with bread before walking out of the room with a nod.

“Eat something, my dear, I’ll go get the Maesters,” he says, pressing a kiss against your temple.

“Thank you, Cregan” You look up at him as his thumb brushes against your cheek, his chest blooms with love and there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for you.

He looks at you with adoration in his eyes, “Of course, anything for you” and you swear your heart stops at his love, the lord Stark of Winterfell, how you owned his entire heart.

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[artstatues]

we're not dating. (or are we?) - g.h x l.k

wc : 592

pairings : grayson hawthorne x lyra kane, from the grandest game.

synopsis : grayson's to help lyra find out what happened to her father, when lyra needed to grab her journal at home, but apparently her family was inside.

warnings : nothing lol.

a/n : guess whos back!! back again!! i dont really like this that much but im glad i made an effort to write again

taglist : @flowers-for-em @midiosaamor @alwaysthefangirl @starrynightsxo @off-to-the-r4ces

@pockyyasii @shuhuaspookie @sophiesonlinediary @kozumesphone @reminiscentreader

@never-enough-novels

grayson hawthorne had just landed in lyra’s hometown. he had promised her during the game. that he’d help her once this was all over, help her truly uncover what had happened to her father. the note she found at the game was still tucked into her journal. thomas, thomas, tommaso, tomas. her phone buzzed. grayson. 

where do you want to meet? - gray, 4.38 pm.

my house, my journal is still inside, im also on the way there.

[location attached] - lyra, 4.40 pm.

👍🏻 - gray, 4.41 pm

grayson was there earlier than the house-owner herself. grayson was about to ring lyra right when her motorcycle came to a stop in front of him. his pose made it look like he’d been waiting for long enough. “sorry, traffic.” lyra shortly apologized while taking off her helmet. “i don't think my parents are home, you should wait inside while i get my journal.” lyra explained quickly before unlocking the door, gesturing gray to enter. to both their surprises, her brother and mom sat at the dining table. “shit.” lyra muttered quietly enough. grayson smirked at her panic. “lee lee! whos that?” her brother jumped out of his seat, quickly running towards her. “uh, well he’s my–” lyra’s excuse was cut short.

“boyfriend. lyra’s boyfriend.” he shot a smirk towards lyra, who had her mouth agape. grayson made her way towards lyra’s mom. “hello, miss kane. lyra was telling me about you, now i do get how lyra is immeasurably stunning” bullshit. it was all bullshit in lyra’s eyes, but in grayson’s, he meant it all. lyra was indeed stunning. “no need to flatter me dear, come, sit down,” lyra’s mom smiled at grayson. for all lyra knew, he could’ve been an actor with these skills. lyra’s brother eventually sat back down, dragging lyra to do the same. “i honestly didn’t expect this, darling.” lyra’s mom laughed, the thought of her daughter getting herself a boyfriend was flattering, yet nearly impossible. “i didn’t either, miss kane.” grayson let loose, just a little bit. lyra scoffed. “we really need to get going mom-” lyra tried to excuse herself and her ‘boyfriend’ which failed, horribly. “doesn’t hurt to stay awhile, right-? sorry i haven’t quite caught your name.” her mother smiled. “grayson, miss kane,” he shot one of his stupid grins, the type of grin that could convince you to rob a bank for him. “but yes, miss kane, it can’t hurt staying for bit, isn’t that so, love?” the question was aimed towards lyra. but she couldn’t tell. he called her love. grayson hawthorne had just called her love. “i- oh, yes, fine. it won’t hurt.” lyra forced a smile, but her mother knew all too well. “if you two must, though, then go on” her mother relented. “thanks mom,” lyra took the chance to get up and sprint to her room upstairs, quickly grabbing her journal from her nightstand. she quickly made her way downstairs, to find grayson and her mom conversing. about what? she couldn’t find 2 fucks. “got what you need, love?” grayson called her love. again. her head was disgustingly spiraling. “yup, we’ll be on our way, thanks mom” lyra gave a small peck on her mom’s cheek before bolting out the door, grayson calmly following behind, but not before waving to lyra’s little brother. “you are the most insufferable asshole that i’ve ever had to deal with.” lyra spat when they got further from her house. “but im a useful asshole.” grayson shrugged before trying to haul a cab.

[freesia-writes]

Ch 21: Deceived

~ Master List ~ Previous Chapter ~ WC: 2.1k

If you’ve seen The Bourne Identity, this chapter is an attempt to channel those vibes.

. 

Hunter waited until the door clicked then abruptly sat up, mind racing with her mysterious words and the undeniable air of guilt hanging over her as she’d kissed his forehead. He pulled on his clothes at breakneck speed, tucking his weapons into their usual places and slipping into the hallway. Keeping a nonchalant pace, he headed for the stairs, peering down the middle of the spiraling steps to see how far ahead she was. But there was no sight of her.

Backtracking to their door, he found no exits, just other hotel rooms. He returned inside, throwing his few things into his bag and slinging it over his back. Some raised voices in the courtyard below caught his attention, and he rushed to the windows, peering down to see the source. 

His heart stopped. 

Imperial troopers were pushing through the crowd, heads swiveling back and forth on high alert as they appeared from all directions and converged upon the courtyard at the base of the hotel. He cracked the window slowly, just enough to be able to hear their words. 

“Standard ground op. Target is to be brought in alive. Let’s go.”

Hunter couldn’t believe it. Did Lyra know more about his past than she’d let on? Was this her doing? Where was she? And why had she apologized? He shook his head, clearing the thoughts and narrowing his focus to the well-worn habit of observation, assessment, and strategy. 

The troops fanned out when they reached the door of the hotel, some going around the sides and others taking up posts around the open area. Hunter scanned the nearby rooftops, empty as far as he could see, and went through every feature of the building he’d taken mental inventory of as they’d arrived. He secured his pack, ensuring his disguise was readily available, and narrowed his eyes.

It was time to move. 

He looked at Lyra’s suitcase, tempted to grab it but reeling with the implication of all that was occurring. 

She could get it herself, he decided, ignoring the stabbing pain in his chest and slipping into the air duct.

“Hostile engaged.”

Hunter squeezed some careless cover fire over his shoulder, spinning behind a wall.

“Headed north. All units converge.”

A leap between buildings, a roll upon landing. 

How could she have done this to him?

“Get us eyes in the sky. Hostile is utilizing the roofs.”

He sprinted across an open area, noting the trajectories of the troops below. 

Had it all been a lie?

“Cut him off at the marketplace.”

He sprang from balcony to balcony, sliding down the last part of the wall and ducking into an alleyway. 

There had to be some kind of misunderstanding. She really… She’d really seemed to…

“Don’t let him get to the bazaar.”

Forcing nonchalant body language as he bent over the barrels of a fruit stand, his breath was hot against his own face as he panted beneath his quickly-donned disguise. Two troops ran past, boots heavy as they matched the beating of his heart against his ribcage. He’d gone soft, he grumbled, purchasing a jogan fruit and strolling slowly through the densely-packed stalls of merchants. 

He should have known better. Known that he wasn’t made for that kind of life. 

“Sir, we’ve lost him.”

He would never make that mistake again.

* * * 

“Most of the Republic’s records are either revised with Imperial bias or heavily encrypted,” Tech’s voice crackled quietly over the comm. Hunter’s dark eyes glittered with intensity as he watched and listened to every movement on the shuttle. “However, I was able to find some curious information from some of the Coruscant news outlets. It is… well, to be frank, it is surprising, and not at all what one would expect considering what we have thus far seen in our dealings with–”

“Get to the point, Tech,” Hunter growled. 

“Lyra Vetana is wanted for being a traitor to the Republic. The Empire continues to seek justice for her offenses against the Office of the Chancellor and the political group by which she was employed.”

A wave of nausea ran from Hunter’s head to his feet, furthering his frustration at the news. He was a battle-hardened soldier. He’d been through virtually every torturous situation known to the galaxy. It had never affected him before. Yet now, he found it hard to think at all, much less with any semblance of clarity. 

“She was imprisoned after it was discovered that she was selling secrets to the Separatist Alliance,” Tech continued, evoking another shake of the head from Hunter. “An unknown source enabled her to escape not long after the Republic became the Empire, and she remains on the list of wanted individuals.”

“I don’t believe it…” Hunter muttered, flames of rage dancing around the deep ache in his chest. 

“It does seem a stark contrast from her character as we have yet observed it. Although it would seem that she has experience in leading a double life, which would explain her ability to deceive so easily.”

Deceive. He’d been deceived. Flashbacks of tender moments played in his mind without his permission; small moments of wonder and connection, warmth and vulnerability, all monstrous now in their complete and total lack of authenticity. He had to force his face back to neutrality, continuing his vigilant scan of the shuttle’s passenger area. Everyone seemed bored and content, and they were almost back to Xylo, but his pulse pounded in his ears as he grappled with the rollicking anxiety within.

“Her familial accomplice is also wanted by the Empire, but there is no evidence of any actual crimes on her–”

“Familial?” Hunter rubbed his forehead with a hand, clenching his jaw.

“I assume, due to the same last name. Breslin Vetana. Currently twenty-two years old. On the watch list due to conspiring with known enemies of the Republic and possessing information desired by the Empire.”

“She said it was a friend…” The muttered lament was unintentionally filled with enough pain and regret to evoke a response from Tech, low and garbled as the shuttle entered the planet’s atmosphere. 

“I am sorry, Hunter. It is painful when things are not as we believe.”

* * * 

“You’ve got to eat something,” Wrecker said quietly, pausing his own meal to regard his brother across the table. “It’s been weeks.”

“I will,” Hunter answered, idly pushing his food around as he hunched over his plate. Silence passed between them for a while, then Hunter straightened, dropping his fork with an air of agitation. “It’s just… We can’t just stay here and wait for them to find us.”

“We’ve got our plan, Hunter. Remember? We all know what to do. If the Empire does show up, they won’t find anything, and they’ll have no reason to come back.”

“All they have to do is ask around…”

“And we’ve got that covered too.” Wrecker’s voice was steady, his expression sincere as he took another bite of his own dinner. “It’ll be alright.”

Hunter sat back in his chair, rubbing his forehead before resting it in his palm. The last few weeks had passed in a blur. He’d filled his family in on all that had transpired, insisting that they all needed to pack up and leave because their location had been compromised. His urgency had been met with sympathy yet resistance; none of them were in a hurry to leave the lives they’d built over the last couple of years on Xylo, so they’d reached a compromise. At the first sign of any Imperial activity, they had a contingency plan, and while it hadn’t fully appeased Hunter’s fear, he’d been strongly outvoted and forced to settle.

So he’d gone hunting, finding it more difficult than usual as his focus shattered among a million thoughts. 

He’d made small talk with the locals, constantly analyzing every intonation and gesture for any hint of ill intent.

He’d appreciated Omega’s quiet consolation during her short visit between internships, insisting that she repeat the safety precautions to him over and over before seeing her off again. 

The sinking pit in his stomach had grown.

But he’d kept it to himself when he paid off the shuttle station attendant to let him know if anyone matching certain descriptions arrived on the island…

When he snuck into Lyra’s house to place some small devices in inconspicuous places…

When he’d investigated the nooks and crannies of her home and found a hollow panel in the wall that admitted him to a tiny back room, where he had sensed all of the metal and electronics, and discovered a variety of long-range transmitters and more weapons than any one person would ever need. 

The pit in his stomach threatened to engulf him whole.

Unbidden, memories would fill his mind at the most inopportune moments. The feeling of her body snug against his as they dozed on the couch, the stubborn insistence to inspect random bits of nature, the self-conscious chuckle at her own bad jokes. They were all cast in shadow, however, covered in the sickly pallor of betrayal. 

Tech had discovered some additional information one evening, prattling on while Hunter stared at the edge of the balcony, unresponsive and dejected. Family dinner was going on all around him, yet he still felt as though he were underwater somehow. 

“Did you hear me?” Tech interrupted his rumination. 

“No, sorry,” Hunter muttered, shifting his gaze to his brother where he sat beside them at the large wooden table. 

“I said that some internal bureau files noted that Lyra’s escape from jail involved outside assistance, and the last time she was seen was on a cargo transport with a wealth of firearms. For all of the expressed aversion to weapons and the notably mild disposition, this is quite a departure from Lyra’s nearly cowardly avoidance of conflict.”

Cowardly. That word rankled in Hunter’s mind too, though he didn’t know why. She was a coward for deceiving him for so long. Why hadn’t she just given him away immediately? When had she learned the truth? Decided to turn him in? And she didn’t even have the guts to be there when it happened, to look him in the eye when the Empire showed up to take him. 

“Still want to stick around?” Hunter finally spoke, gaze sharp as he stared at Tech’s impassive face. 

“I require more information or an actual, tangible threat to justify a complete uprooting of the lives we have established here.”

“Will Imperial Troops at the door be ‘justifying’ enough?” 

“Hunter,” Tech said, a touch of exasperation in his voice. “Plans are in place. Preparations and contingencies have been made.”

An uncharacteristically light touch to the shoulder caught Hunter’s attention, and he turned the opposite way to see Wrecker beside him, a soft yet confident expression on the large clone’s face. 

“We’ll be alright,” he reassured, resting his hand atop Hunter’s back. “We always find a way.”

Hunter sighed, head lowering between his shoulders. He sat still for a moment, then pushed his chair back and rose to his feet, scooping up his plate and utensils to take to the kitchen. 

“Poor guy,” Phee remarked quietly, watching him heading to the sink once inside the sliding glass door. 

“Think he’s right? That we should be worried?” Wrecker asked, tilting his head at her across the table. 

“I don’t know,” she confessed, casting a glance at Tech, whose thoughtful gaze was fixed on the door where Hunter had disappeared. “Something about it just doesn’t add up.”

“I’m surprised she put up with him as long as she did,” Crosshair remarked from the far side of the group. “I would have gotten my reward and been out of here.”

“Sure you would,” Echo said dismissively, clearly believing none of it as his brow furrowed in thought and he leaned on an elbow to see the others. “But why would she take him to Keytoll and do it there? Why not here, where she could get all of us at once?”

“Probably wanted to keep this a safe place to get away from it all?” Wrecker guessed.

“Yeah, but she hasn’t returned,” Echo pointed out. “And then why would she come back here when we’re all here? Any sleemo knows that’s not going to be a pleasant conversation.” 

“Well, let’s just take it one day at a time,” Phee said with an air of finality. “Things have a way of coming to the surface once the water stops rippling.”

Hours passed.

Days.

Weeks.

.

Song: Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi

Previous Chapter ~ Master List ~ Next Chapter

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[foressfaction]

Another day, another essay

Toby is a closed off individual. It stuns from his younger years where he was always an introvert until he was comfortable with someone. He acts cold and careless, ignorant to most things. It takes someone special to him for him to truly open up and “be vulnerable” as that’s what he fears being. He does not want to come off as weak mentally or physically even if he is. He will know he’s losing a fight but will still push through til it’s his blood and his blood only that spills. That’s what makes him the way he is. It also explains the fact he didn’t speak up about what his dad was doing to him and his family to anyone. Even if they were somewhat close to him. There's things he’d never tell anyone. There's things that he does not want to remember. After so long of trying he did eventually give up on being curious of his past. The people around him. Mostly his co partners in this case being Tim and Brian, showed that it may not want to be dug up. And that he’s accepted that it’s in the past and that it will indeed mess him up even more than before.

Back when Toby remembered everything, it made him a shell of what he once was before Lyras death. His health declined in every way it possibly could. Remembering that core memory could send him into a deeper spiral and therefore chooses to dig elsewhere.

He will give you the cold shoulder, he will display the resting bitch face. He will stare coldly. It does not affect him, he does not care what you think…

On the other hand, if he grows to know you, if you somehow hit that little spot, he will probably be one of your best friends. Trust for him comes earned but also like a subscription. If you repeatedly break it even once his care and trust for you will fade. It doesn’t take a lot but not too little either. He’s very keen on pinky promises and secret keeping. He wants to feel special if he makes someone else feel that way too. It can’t be one sided, he will know..

He gets rather jealous, but not in a violent way. He will show signs of sadness around you and would ask very on topic questions but would avoid any mention of what makes him that way.

He is honestly just a guy, a normal dude who wants to overcome his stupid mind and the way it makes him think. He has horrible communication skills and lacks social cues to the point that realistically speaking.. any kind of human interaction could scare him off. He does prefer sitting in a dark room alone but he hates to admit he wants some kind of attention, rather it be physical, romantic, platonic. There’s probably times where he purposely starts trouble just so a fight could break out. Anything for clarification that he exists.. anything that could remind him that he’s not a rotting corpse and can feel, even if it’s not just pain.

[sky-of-dusk]

The fox constellation is in the summer sky, bordering the lyre, like Zeo who never leaves Toby's side.

[quiltofstars]

The Ring Nebula (M57, center) and IC 1296 (upper right) // Javier

The Ring Nebula is a planetary nebula only about 2,500 light years away. Meanwhile IC 1296 is a galaxy about 240 million light years away, 96,000 times further away!

[jenny-toons]

What if Lyra played a bigger role in Toby's spiral into a killer? What if his visions had been real and she came back WRONG? What if something came after them both in the woods and changed the trajectory of their lives?

"Then wouldn't that be a completely different story?"

Shhh -- listen. Gaze upon my vision.

[catapparently]

Crescent Moon, Coast is Clear

MASTERLIST • AO3 LINK A rewrite of the ball scene from averyjameson’s point of view Not proofread

“You know, Heiress,” Jameson began as he tied the back of her dress. “While they all struggle with the game and rip their hair out –though Grayson already has enough bald spots-, we could just run off and get married.”

She could feel his breath on her nape, now in faster puffs speeding along with his heartbeat. Jameson couldn’t help but stare. It wasn’t just her bare back nor the familiar little mole under her right shoulder that bewitched him and made his heart race. No, it was the way her hair was laid provocatively over the front of her shoulder, displaying her back to him. The way the soft light shone on the curve of her neck in an alluring manner, taunting and waiting for him to pepper some bites and kisses along it.

“Married? But we’re dressed in dark blue,” Avery shot back, a small smile playing on her lips. Jameson could get drunk on the way she looked at him. If the twinkle in her eyes that she always had with him were the last thing he’d see, he’d die a happy man.

“Why not? As lovely as you’d look in white, you know I never did mind being a bit more,” he paused, “unconventional.” The corner of his lips curled up into his signature sly smirk. “Oren could officiate, and Tiramisu can be the witness.”

He took a step back, finally done tying her up, though he couldn’t help but imagine it was a different set of straps and laces he’d been tying. Avery turned around, handing him a silver necklace to clasp onto her neck, and he did. His knuckles brushed against the soft expanse of skin, bringing the jewelry up to the dip at the bottom of her throat where her collarbones peeked out. He made a mental note to leave a mark there later. Then, last but not least, the mask. It was adorned with black gemstones and purple around the eyes, with tendrils of black and gold weaving in spirals and swirls. It had been designed to match both her dress and Jameson’s suit, both a deep midnight purple. Avery’s dress had silvery stitching along the layered skirt to make it look like moonlight on water, while Jameson’s suit had small, embroidered pearls with silver gemstones along the sleeves and the hem to make it look as though the moon itself was dripping onto the water.

His mask was identical to hers, though instead of purple gemstones lining the eyes, he had short strands of the same pearls as on his suit dangling from the bottom of his mask.

Just as he was about to offer his arm out for her, the laptop connected to the video surveillance cameras let out a high-pitched ding, letting them know that someone had entered the library. Lyra Catalina Kane. She was a mystery to both of them, since Grayson seemed to know her prior to the game. The coincidence that they knew each other wasn’t something neither Avery nor Jameson could ignore. The Kane girl hadn’t gotten in by invitation; she’d been one of the wild cards.

Avery had done her little investigation on Lyra. Is it Lee-ra? Lie-ra? She lived with her biological mother and stepfather, and her biological father’s name was Thomas. Thomas, like when Grayson came asking for a ‘Thomas’ that might be on the List. There was.

She still had an itch in the back of her head, telling her something was off. Either Lyra had a hidden agenda, or someone on the outside messed with her game, intentionally making sure Lyra got one of the tickets. The only person she could think of was Eve, but they haven’t crossed paths ever since last year’s game.

“Maybe you should go talk to her,” Jameson suddenly said. “You know, get a taste of her personality and see if she’s hiding something.”

“With all the tension in between them, what are the chances Grayson is out there waiting for her behind a bookshelf to make out?” She retorted, raising an eyebrow. “I don’t want to walk in and have to see that.” With that, she pressed a small kiss to Jameson’s cheek as a goodbye, stepping out the door of their room.

She made her way through the dimly lit halls, feeling a pair of eyes on her. Of course Oren was still tailing her even when the island was perfectly secure, even safer than the Hawthorne House. There was no discreet way in or out of the island since it was surrounded by water.

Finally, she made it to the library. It was circular and stretched so far up you couldn’t see its ceiling. She tried her best to step as lightly as she could without making a noise. Even the slightest sound would echo through the room and ruin the element of surprise. The mystery appearance would be in her favour, she supposed.

She finally spotted her target, who was staring around in awe.

“I’m a sucker for libraries,” she spoke up from behind Lyra. “Circular ones in particular.”

Avery cringed internally. Wow, so smart. Out of all the things she could have said, really? Even after being the Hawthorne heiress for so long, she still lacked social skills and didn’t really know how to start conversations.

Lyra slightly jumped, turning around to face her. Lyra’s gown was a dark navy blue with a tulle skirt that faded into a light pastel blue like waves.

Her surprise seemed genuine. Avery didn’t know what to feel at the way Lyra was staring at her.? Nervous? Lowkey uncomfortable but still flattered? She’d been used to people staring at her for the wrong reasons, never because they were in awe of her or what she was wearing like Lyra was. Then again, the dress was a far cry from the torn dirty jeans and the loose shirt she’d wear back when she lived in her car. She could still feel the phantom laughs, snickers and sneers of her old classmates.

“It’s beautiful,” Lyra said, tearing her gaze away from Avery to look back at the shelves.

“And you don’t trust beautiful things?” Avery asked, tilting her head.

Lyra’s expression shifted, recognizing her. “You’re Avery Grambs.”

She held back a laugh. Really? Had Lyra really thought she was Brady? After all, there was only one player the Kane girl had yet to meet.

 “I was you once,” she smiled. “Trusting people wasn’t exactly my forte, either. But if I could give you a little advice, going into this game?” Oh, what a lie. She hadn’t ever been like Lyra. Both in life context and personality. New Avery, though, told people exactly what they wanted to hear. Every little thing and detail the media expected from her, she did and said.

Her little line of empathy must have worked, because Lyra still had that faint awe-struck look. “Like I’m going to turn down advice from the person who masterminded all of this?” the girl answered.

“Sometimes,” she answered, “in the games that matter most, the only way to really play is to live.”

When Lyra looked away, she took the chance to quickly run away, thankful for the soft slippers that didn’t thump when her feet hit the floor. She crossed her fingers, silently hoping that it had looked like a mysterious disappearance and that Lyra hadn’t actually seen her running off like a dramatic Victorian lady.

She ran as fast as she could back up to her bedroom. She hated running, especially in slippers. She flung open the door, panting like a dying dog. Jameson was waiting, laid back on the bed dramatically.

“Finally, Heiress, I thought you were going to leave me here to starve and die.” He got up languidly, still faking boredom and a yawn. “Our own ball already started.”

As if on cue, she heard slow instrumental music floating up from the Great Room through the door she’d left open.

“Which entrance would be the most dramatic?” she asked as she put on her heels.

“Dramatic? But I’d rather enter discretely so that I can have you all to myself to dance all night without anyone watching us,” he replied, taking her hand in his. The spiraling staircase only added to Avery’s dizziness that was sparked whenever Jameson touched her.

People, a sea of tuxedos, dresses, and masks, were already in the Great Room. Jameson led her through the crowd and all the way to the center, where some people had begun to dance. Before the day Grayson appeared in her school’s office, asking for her, she’d always been on guard everywhere she went. On the streets, in her car, at school… With Jameson, he could just lead her everywhere by the hand like she was a puppy. She didn’t have to look around cautiously and constantly be on the lookout. She trusted him. Though when they made public appearances, she was the one who took charge.

At the center, he let go of her hand, raising his palm up while facing her. “Shall we dance, Heiress? I’m sure dancing was one of the first things Alisa made sure you learned.”

She raised an eyebrow, pressing her palm to his as they walked slowly around each other. It’s a seductive type of dance, she’d been told. “And what if I didn’t? It can’t be that hard. We just spin around each other, barely even touching.”

“You don’t have to touch for a dance to be or look intimate,” he said, looking down at her and bringing his face closer to hers just the slightest bit. Enough to taunt her, but not close enough to kiss. Her breath caught in her throat, a small hitch that she was sure Jameson could hear.

She mustered her lips up into a smile, but really, she wanted to pull him down, dance be damned, and kiss him until she couldn’t feel her lips from his nibbles. “Oh really?” She looked around, making sure nobody was watching. After all, Jameson’s passionate eyes and red ears were only hers to see.

She slid her outstretched palm down his forearm, not breaking step, until she reached his nape, bringing his head down until his forehead was against hers.

“I think this is much more intimate, don’t you think?” she whispered, her breath warm on his lips. She glared up at him playfully when he ignored the cue to kiss her. “We still have five minutes before we need to start the game.”

His green eyes were smoldering, the usual smirk gone from his face. “Heiress, with you dressed up like that, five minutes isn’t enough.”

He cupped her cheek, careful not to smudge her makeup. As much as he loved seeing her face messy, her lipstick smudged around from kisses and her eyes screwed shut in bliss, she would probably kill him for it later. He finally lowered his lips down to hers, tilting her head slightly to the right the way she liked it. Their lips slotted together perfectly, moving in tandem, always in sync with each other. It was moments like this that Avery lived for and had longed for her entire life.

Between kisses, he rested his forehead against hers again, taking a breath. “Wait for me before you take this dress off tonight?” he said, taking in a ragged breath. “It would be a shame to waste such an opportunity.” With that, he leaned to kiss her again.

[book--brackets]

Best Fantasy Book Poll Links

Preliminary Rounds

Poll 1: The Hobbit - Circe (here)

Poll 2: The Night Circus - Coraline (here)

Poll 3: The Mistborn Saga - The Stormlight Archive (here)

Poll 4: The BFG - Daughter of Smoke & Bone (here)

Poll 5: The Raven Cycle - Earthsea Cycle (here)

Poll 6: Simon Snow - Legacy of Orisha (here)

Poll 7: Anansi Boys - Legends & Lattes (here)

Poll 8: The Scholomance - The Locked Tomb (here)

Poll 9: Song of the Lioness - The School for Good and Evil (here)

Poll 10: DragonLance: Chronicles - Otherworld (here)

Poll 11: Temeraire - The Queen's Thief (here)

Poll 12: The Liveship Traders - Seven Realms (here)

Poll 13: The Two Princesses of Bamarre - Falling Kingdoms (here)

Poll 14: The Wicked + the Divine - Chronicles of the Black Company (here)

Poll 15: Curse Workers - The Near Witch (here)

Poll 16: Valdemar: Heralds of Valdemar - The Riyria Chronicles (here)

Poll 17: Green Rider - The Deep (here)

Poll 18: Fledgling - The Elric Saga (here)

Poll 19: Young Wizards - Reckless (here)

Poll 20: Her Majesty's Royal Coven - The Saint of Steel (here)

Poll 21: The Magic Thief - Furthermore (here)

Poll 22: Valdemar: Mage Wars - Girls Made of Snow and Glass (here)

Poll 23: Dragonkeeper Chronicles - Faerie Tale (here)

Poll 24: The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy - The Squire's Tales (here)

Poll 25: The Cemeteries of Amalo - Stoneheart (here)

Poll 26: The 13 Clocks - Deeplight (here)

Poll 27: The Chronicles of Faerie - Guides for Dating Vampires (here)

Poll 28: Once & Future - Birthright (here)

Poll 29: Kingdoms and Empires - Lyra (here)

Poll 30: Star Wars: Jedi Quest - Wildworld (here)

Poll 31: Troll Trilogy - The Merlin Spiral (here)

Poll 32: Codebearers - Knights of Liofwende (here)

Round 1

Poll 1: Lord of the Rings vs Spellbound (here)

Poll 2: Howl's Moving Castle vs Zachary Ying (here)

Poll 3: Song of the Lioness vs The Tarot Sequence (here)

Poll 4: Lockwood & Co. vs The Unicorn Chronicles (here)

Poll 5: Circle of Magic vs Dragon Slippers (here)

Poll 6: The Queen's Thief vs Valdemar: Vows and Honor (here)

Poll 7: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard vs The Edge Chronicles (here)

Poll 8: Artemis Fowl vs Star Wars: Jedi Quest (here)

Poll 9: Discworld vs The Fairy Realm (here)

Poll 10: The Locked Tomb vs The Cemeteries of Amalo (here)

Poll 11: The Immortals Quartet vs Deltora Quest (here)

Poll 12: The Sisters Grimm vs Young Wizards (here)

Poll 13: The Keys to the Kingdom vs The Chronicles of Chrestomanci (here)

Poll 14: Princess Academy vs In Other Lands (here)

Poll 15: Simon Snow vs Hexwood (here)

Poll 16: Good Omens vs The Merlin Spiral (here)

Round 2

Poll 1: The Lord of the Rings vs The Chronicles of Chrestomanci (here)

Poll 2: Song of the Lioness vs The Locked Tomb (here)

Poll 3: Howl's Moving Castle vs The Immortals Quartet (here)

Poll 4: Lockwood & Co. vs Discworld (here)

Poll 5: Artemis Fowl vs Young Wizards (here)

Poll 6: The Queen's Thief vs Simon Snow (here)

Poll 7: Magnus Chase vs Princess Academy (here)

Poll 8: Circle of Magic vs Good Omens (here)

Round 3

Poll 1: The Lord of the Rings vs The Locked Tomb (here)

Poll 2: Howl's Moving Castle vs Discworld (here)

Poll 3: Artemis Fowl vs The Queen's Thief (here)

Poll 4: Magnus Chase vs Circle of Magic (here)

Semifinals

Poll 1: The Lord of the Rings vs Discworld (here)

Poll 2: The Queen's Thief vs Circle of Magic (here)

Finals

The Lord of the Rings vs The Queen's Thief (here)