Laura S. Fox

No one can change the past, so the real bet in on the present...

Chapter Thirty-Nine – Upside Down A horrible apparition showed its true colors before their eyes. Vince held Jack’s legs tightly to lend his companion some of his courage and also to assure himself that he wasn’t alone. All he had thought before about having not been challenged as a guardian until now no longer applied. The skull had an elongated muzzle, which meant that before dying, this apparition had used to be a wolf. Branches were growing out of its head, and moss hung over the

Yes, there is a bit of... upset... between Ali and Bastien - at this point, readers can't possibly guess what it is - which makes them lean toward some unreciprocated feelings. It goes deeper than that. I will accept the award for best red herrings, thank you, but only if I live to expectations by the end of the story.

Interesting point of view. I am at fault for reading much into the lives of kings - especially one who preferred to be surrounded by men rather than women.

Or... the needle was left there in hope of someone finding it...

Luck requires to be present at the right time - Lawrence nailed it.

He-he, Ali... He's just a bit of a brat... He likes to shock people. Veridien is in need of many things, lol.

Interesting term: conscience. This was said to me before by another reader, and I find it interesting, regarding Ali, at least.

As Lawrence would put it, luck comes to those who assiduously search. He'll never stop searching.

Some might say, ahem, that it's because their education... but we'll see!

Everyone has an angle. Even Ali...

Ali truly serves as a messenger... making sure Lawrence understands all the hints, subtle or not so subtle. As for Lukas's notebook, all in due time

I sense that Ali will be a favorite character for many readers... Lukas's journal is quite the... mystery

Chapter Ten – Quid Pro Quo It took Lawrence a thorough reminder of his training not to start examining his finding as soon as he got his hands on it. Even more control – Maestro Alvarez’s lessons wouldn’t go to waste, after all – was required of him to walk out of Lukas’s room, down the narrow spiral staircase and into the frigid night air. His lungs couldn’t expand enough to contain his excitement. He had peeked inside the notebook once. And even at a glance, he had understood he was

Get ready to feel for him a little more... Don't worry about Jack and Vince too much - they are the embodiment of that meme

They will get some help! And I'm not talking only about the Wisdom Tree. There will be surprises!

The past will unfold - I can at least give you that, lol. And Jack and Vince will witness it. More importantly, or equally important is that Theo, as well, will witness it.

Ah, I guess that's what readers might feel as I go deep into a story - and sort of down all kinds of rabbit holes. I did start this story as a romantic comedy and it progressed into something much darker. And it's not the first time that happens to me - when I wrote Otis's story, in the end, when I published it as an ebook I had to change the title because it was no longer a proper fit. And that's why I'm not crazy about tags... writing like this, in serialized form, without having the full story ready, means that my journey will have twists and turns - for the readers, too, as a result. I can simply advise to leave it aside and read it when it's over. Because I hate it when movies or books have their heroes win the day as if it's a walk in the park, I envision for mine the biggest obstacles and have them use their all to overcome them.

Jack and Vince walking into trouble is the very definition of what is going on.

So very true - for now, Theo exists in both timelines - hence his ability to see Jack and Vince. It is also an act of remembering on his part...

Which only goes to reinforce why his father doesn't believe him...

Indeed we are. Together with Jack and Vee, we will witness the past unveiling.

They are witnessing everything... their role is to observe. Theodore exists in this world, and also in Jack's and Vee's timeline - he is a connection between the two.

More and more will be explained with each chapter...