Jeff Marks Memorial Poetry Prize

On a rainy night, inside a small café, Edgar and Victor meet by chance after years of separation. Sitting by the window, they watch the rain trickle down the glass, bringing with it forgotten childhood memories. Between laughter and playful banter, they recall the moment they once tried to taste the rain. But time has passed... does it still taste the same? "It's Raining Memories" – A short story in a single chapter

When up-and-coming rock band decides to get matching tattoos before a gig, they choose a design inspired by a set of strange, symmetrical symbols one of them saw on their guitarist’s arms—markings that he could not explain and was desperately trying to hide. Then when one of the band members shares a photo of their new tats online, to celebrate their bond The image spreads further than expected, catching the attention of a shadowy figure who has been scouring the globe for anyone bearing those exact markings. Because if the symbols are real—not just copies—then one of them is special. As the band members begin suffering violent, unexplainable accidents one by one, paranoia sets in. Someone is hunting them. Someone who believes that one of them, because of the markings, possesses impenetrable skin—a gift worth killing for. Now, the band must uncover the truth behind the symbols, their drummer’s mysterious past, and the deadly secret they never meant to share with the world. Friendship forged in music. Markings bound by fate.
And a predator who won't stop until he bleeds the truth from them.

Orphaned by a shadow attack, Mireya has spent her life fighting against the darkness that stole everything from her. But when she crosses paths with Uhrin—a former witch who now walks among the shadows—Mireya is drawn into a battle far greater than she imagined. An ancient riddle speaks of a lost blade, one that could tip the balance of power. Determined to find it, Mireya embarks on a dangerous quest, uncovering hidden truths about herself along the way. As she struggles to control a power she never knew she had, the weight of destiny looms over her. But when the lines between enemy and ally blur, she’s faced with a choice. And as fate tightens its grip, a forbidden bond begins to form, one that could change everything.

"A Journey Through Poetry” is a heartfelt exploration of how poetry becomes the voice of our deepest emotions and unspoken thoughts. In a world where words often fall short, this collection reminds us that poetry has the power to express what cannot always be said aloud. Whether it’s the joy of love, the pain of loss, or the quiet musings of the soul, each poem is a journey into the heart of what it means to be human. This book invites readers to embark on a personal voyage of self-expression and reflection, offering a safe space for the untold stories that we carry within. Through lyrical verse, the author captures the delicate dance between silence and speech, showing how poetry serves as both a shield and a mirror—protecting our vulnerabilities while reflecting our truest selves. In “A Journey Through Poetry,” the act of writing becomes more than just an art; it becomes a means of healing, of sharing, and of finding connection when words alone cannot bridge the gap. For those moments when the heart is too full to speak, poetry whispers what we cannot say.

For centuries,the kingdom of Joseon has hunted down sorcerers and shift shapers branding them as demon and erasing them from history.Moon Sihyun,the last known surviving demon sorcerer,has spent his life in hiding,concealing the dark tattoos that mark him as a threat.But when he and his twin brother are captured,he's thrown into the heart of the palace,straight into the hands of Jin Muwon,the crown prince cursed to die before his 30th birthday. The only cure?The young blood of a demon sorcerer.Bound by an ancient ritual,Sihyun is force into a dangerous ritual,one that demands he stay close to the very man whose family slaughtered his kind.Muwon drains Sihyun's magic,inching closer to survival.But the longer they're together,the more their fates tangle in ways neither of them expect. Yet Sihyun has a plan.He doesn't intend to simply be used and discarded.He plans to burn the kingdom to the ground,and when another demon sorcerer,Ryu Vanyul, appears in the shadows whispering of revenge,the choice becomes clear,Sihyun must choose:revenge or love? Will he break the curse or destroy the man bound to it? #BL #HistoricalFantasy #EnemiesToLovers #CursedPrince #DarkRomance #SlowBurn #ForbiddenMagic #SorceryAndRevenge #FatedLove #KoreanMythology

In that moment, Arata Kuragane understood he was not meant to escape the darkness. He was meant to become it.

The kingdom does not care who they kill—only that they kill. Saphira Valcrow has spent her life as a weapon, trained to take lives without hesitation. Each kill lowers the inked number on her wrist, bringing her one step closer to freedom. Now, she has only one name left. Killian Veyne. The warrior whispered about in war camps. The Phantom Blade. The kingdom’s deadliest ghost. But when the moment arrives, something goes terribly wrong. A hesitation. A choice. And suddenly, Saphira and Killian are forced into an uneasy alliance, hunted by those who once commanded them. In a world where warriors are either predators or prey, Saphira must decide: does she finish the mission that will set her free—or risk everything for the one man who could be her ruin?

The story follows the experiences of a protagonist who has a mental illness. Bored with the regularness of his life, he developed a never-ending thirst for pessimism. The protagonist finds relief by complaining and criticizing everything around him, including himself. After a psychotic episode, he encountered a strange man who led him into a new episode of life.

The story "Ember's Mark - [Wolf Man]" revolves around Amelia Winters, a young woman who discovers she is part of an ancient bloodline with the power to protect the magical forest surrounding her town. On a fateful night, she meets Kaelen, a mysterious man with wolf-like traits, who reveals that she has dormant magic inside her.

In a dystopian future where Earth is but a shadow of its former self, scarred by technological wars and forbidden experiments, a man wakes up amidst smoking ruins, nameless, faceless, and without a past. The only traces of his lost identity: glowing scars etched into his skin, and a diagnostic system embedded within him, whispering cryptic warnings in his ear. He quickly discovers that he is an Eclipsian—a subject of the Eclipse Project, a secret initiative aimed at merging humans with forbidden technologies to create living weapons. But something went wrong. The subjects of the project, endowed with devastating powers capable of manipulating the black energy of eclipses, were erased, their memories sealed… until he, the last survivor, awakens. Hunted by killer drones, hybrid Hunters—part machine, part monster—and a clandestine organization eager to silence him, his only ally is a mysterious mercenary named Lyra. She claims to know his past, but in exchange for her help, she demands that he join her in a perilous quest: infiltrating the ruins of the Eclipse City, the epicenter of the cursed project, to destroy the data before it falls into the wrong hands. However, the closer he gets to the truth, the more his powers spiral out of control, revealing a disturbing connection to the Black Eclipse, an apocalyptic phenomenon devouring the world. His scars come to life, his memories return in fragments, and one question haunts him: Was he a sacrificed hero… or a monster they tried to lock away? In the heart of a race against time, where each revelation could shatter him, he must choose between resurrecting the man he was or embracing the demonic power implanted within him. For the Eclipse approaches, and with it, an ultimate choice: save what remains of humanity… or become its executioner.

"Marked by a Dragon" is a dark fantasy romance that delves into the shattered trust, raw trauma, and magnetic pull between Princess Azalea and Zaydon Icarus, a powerful dragon-shifter bound to her by fate—and a dangerous bond. After a devastating ambush leaves Azalea wounded, bitten by a vampire prince, and teetering on the edge of transformation, she’s forced to make a desperate choice: surrender her will or bind herself to Zaydon, the very man she once loved—and now resents. Their journey through political betrayal, ancient rituals, and intimate entanglements is haunted by pain, power, and unresolved passion. As Azalea fights to reclaim her agency in a world that has taken so much from her, Zaydon is torn between his primal instincts and the desperate need to protect the woman he’s marked. Shadowed by court conspiracies, violent creatures, and a bond neither can break, they must navigate their past—and the explosive desires threatening to consume them both. With rich emotional depth, fierce chemistry, and a world brimming with myth, blood, and fire, "Marked by a Dragon" is a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers epic that explores the cost of love, the weight of destiny, and the fight to reclaim one’s soul when fate has already chosen.

Poetries I write, I am a beginner writer.

the story start with a 25 year old,brunet guy who wake up in a strange places and scary places,trying to find something so he can get out,however there will come a certain things and Unknown will try to stop him

Years after the end of their friendship and their separation, Mark receives an envelope containing an invitation to attend the funeral of his childhood friend Susan, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances... "From here, everything begins, and from here, everything shall end."

Am I going insane? The thought slithers into my mind the moment I wake up, cold and disoriented, in a place that feels more like a nightmare than reality. My head is empty, my memories wiped clean, leaving behind only a suffocating void where my identity should be. The walls around me are smeared with something dark—blood, maybe. Symbols, jagged and unfamiliar, carve into the surfaces as if someone tried to leave a message… or a warning. But none of it makes sense. Nothing here makes sense.  I try to grasp at something—anything—but the harder I reach, the faster it slips through my fingers, like smoke dissolving in the air. My pulse pounds as I force myself to move, each step foreign, like I’m controlling a body that doesn’t belong to me. A name. A purpose. Something to tell me who I am. But there’s nothing. Only fragments, pieces that refuse to fit together. Then the games begin. Survival. That’s all it’s supposed to be. Do what you’re told, follow the rules, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll make it out alive. But I learn quickly that this isn’t just about survival. It’s about control. It’s about twisting reality until I don’t know what’s real and what’s a lie. The other players are just as lost, just as desperate, but I can see it— But they aren’t like me. Some of them know more than they’re letting on. Some of them… aren’t afraid. The more I search for answers, the more the world unravels. Reality bends. Faces blur. Voices whisper from places they shouldn’t. Every time I think I’m close to the truth, it twists away from me, leaving me drowning in questions I can’t answer. The line between what’s real and what’s in my head has thinned to nothing, and I don’t know if I can trust my own mind anymore. Who am I? Maybe it’s better that I don’t know. Maybe knowing would break me beyond repair. Or maybe… maybe I was never meant to leave this place at all. I used to think I was just confused, just lost in the chaos. But now? I was definitely insane.

In a world where every soul is marked by the gods, Aris was born without one. Hidden away since birth, she has spent her life as a ghost, never meant to exist. But when she is discovered, the world turns against her, branding her a curse, a danger, a mistake that must be erased. Hunted and alone, Aris must journey beyond the borders of everything she has ever known, searching for the truth behind her existence. But the more she uncovers, the more she realizes that the gods did not abandon the world—they were betrayed. And the key to their return… is hidden within her.

In the year 874 N.E., the world is shaped by the power of Essence Marks — mystical symbols that grant unique abilities to those who awaken them. Sixteen-year-old Kairo lives a quiet life in a small village, unaware of his hidden potential. But when his village is attacked by a group of rogue Marked wielding dark and twisted powers, Kairo’s life is shattered. After discovering his parents dead and his home in flames, a mysterious surge of power awakens within him — a rare and dangerous white-and-black Essence Mark resembling yin and yang. Now marked by destiny, Kairo must uncover the truth behind his powers and face the dark forces hunting him. As he’s drawn into a conflict that threatens to unravel the world, Kairo must decide: will he become a savior — or a weapon of destruction?

Memories of sweetness , memories of love , memories of sadness , All the life , Machio Araki want to express his youth in colour of love . But colour that he want , never want him Toki Go-to , a girl who always wait for him . This story tell about man who want everything she have but loss everything and became empty . Note : this is super short stories , so it will very short but good too.

Once, a man unexpectedly arrived in the land of runes—a world filled with both untold opportunities and lurking dangers. Homeless and adrift, he survived by following the fleeting whispers in his mind, making a living as a bounty hunter, slaying monsters and capturing fugitives. But one fateful day, he uncovered a shocking secret… and with it, the truth of his destiny.

Rhys, a guy who wakes up in a vast, snow-covered forest with no memories—only a name and a rusted key. As he searches for answers, he slowly figures out who this guy named "Rhys" truly is. He tries everything to gain his memories back. Will he succeed?

WSA 2025 ENTRY THIS BOOK CONTAINS GRAPHIC SCENES(R18+) Mariella was cursed to die on her 21st birthday. She had been plagued with a terrible illness, a curse from the moon goddess that had left her pale with scaly skin and bright blue eyes. She was seen as an abomination to her family and despite their power and riches, they refused to find a cure. Instead, on the night of her 21st birthday, they throw a lavish ball and invite the most influential people in the kingdom. Few minutes before the clock struck 12, Mariella shares a kiss with a stranger. She had kissed Alec Valtore, the lycan king and a heartless killer that despised werewolves. Their kiss causes the curse to backfire and binds Alec to Mariella forever. Now, every time she was in danger, he feels the pain instead. Every injury, every wound—he suffers for her. Furious and desperate to break the bond, he rejects her in front of the entire kingdom- a horrible mistake that he would regret forever...

There is definitely a fine line between hate and love. a young girl whose heart has known no other than hate, crosses path with her first love, after being separated for over ten years. Melody's involvement in an accident which results to her loss of memory seems to be a secret in the family. will the memories of love return ? To get to the truth, what else would she need to uncover?

The silver ring was the bridge he never knew existed, a silent thread weaving his fate with the devil’s. It didn’t choose him by chance—this was destiny, set in motion long before he ever slipped it onto his finger. Each night, as sleep takes him, he crosses the threshold into a world of dark allure, where Hell isn’t just fire and torment but beauty laced with danger. And waiting on the other side, with a smirk as haunting as it is mesmerizing, is the devil himself—Lucien. Luca doesn’t know why he was chosen or what Lucien truly wants, but one thing is clear: the more he resists, the stronger the pull becomes. Fate has marked him, and the devil never lets go of what’s his.

Legacy of the Celestial Mark (A Tale of Gods, Betrayal, and Redemption) Volume I: Rise of the Fallen God In a world where divine rule shapes the fate of mortals and demons alike, Long Tian, once the celestial prince of the Heavenly Realm, is betrayed by his own brother, Long Xie, the ruler of the Demonic Realm. Framed for treason and cast into the Mortal Realm, Long Tian is stripped of his divine power and forced to live as a mere human. Yet, fate has other plans. Through countless battles, Long Tian slowly regains his lost strength, uncovering the truth of his past and his divine lineage. As he ascends once more, he unlocks the power of the Supreme Celestial Dragon, becoming the Emperor of Creation and the ruler of the Six Realms. Meanwhile, Long Xie wages a devastating war, determined to reshape the world in his own vision. Their inevitable clash shakes the heavens, culminating in a final battle that rewrites destiny itself. With the fate of existence hanging by a thread, Long Tian unleashes his ultimate divine power to defeat his brother, but Long Xie’s soul refuses to vanish. Instead, it lingers, finding an unexpected refuge—within Long Tian himself. Volume II: The Shadow Within With the war seemingly over and peace restored, Long Tian ascends as the undisputed ruler of the Six Realms, alongside his beloved, Long Yan, the goddess of the Spirit Realm. However, deep within him, Long Xie’s soul remains, whispering from the darkness, waiting for a chance to rise once more. During a high council meeting, Long Yu, ruler of the Phantom Realm, senses an eerie presence within Long Tian. To her shock, she hears Long Xie’s desperate plea for help from within Long Tian’s body. Realizing that his soul has not been destroyed, Long Yu keeps her discovery to herself, retreating in haste to uncover the secrets behind this impossible survival. As Long Tian begins to sense the change within himself, he wrestles with a shocking request—Long Xie asks to temporarily take control of his body in order to reclaim the Demonic Throne. The Demonic Realm, left in chaos after his defeat, has now fallen into the hands of a greater evil: Blood Tyrant Long Mo, the exiled elder brother of the Celestial Emperor. Ruthless and cruel, Long Mo has seized power, slaughtering Long Xie’s loyal generals and imprisoning his most trusted warlord, Tian Gui. Against his better judgment, Long Tian agrees. As Long Xie takes control, he returns to the Demonic Realm, only to find his former palace stolen, his people executed, and his most trusted warrior brutally tortured. Consumed with fury, Long Xie challenges the Blood Tyrant, only to realize—Long Mo’s strength surpasses even his own. At the brink of death, Long Tian intervenes, merging their powers into an unprecedented fusion of celestial and demonic might. Together, they unleash the ultimate technique—Heaven-Slayer Divine Annihilation—a forbidden power capable of erasing existence itself. Though Long Mo is gravely wounded, he manages to escape, vowing revenge. With the tyrant gone, Long Xie reclaims the Demonic Throne, and for the first time, his hatred toward Long Tian begins to waver. But peace never lasts forever. A far greater mystery lingers—Long Tian’s firstborn son, Tianhun, carries the Celestial Mark, but also bears the curse of the ancient Demon Lords. His very existence could either bring salvation… or the destruction of everything. Thus begins a new chapter, where the greatest battle is not fought with swords, but within the soul itself. Legacy of the Celestial Mark is an electrifying saga of gods and demons, brotherhood and betrayal, fate and defiance. In a world where light and darkness intertwine, where even the gods are bound by fate, one question remains— Can destiny truly be defied?

BLURB ; A MYSTICAL ROMANCE NOVEL (PARANORMAL ROMANCE) In the human realm, stands the dimension that cuts between the heavens and the hell and Sage happens to get entangled with hell itself. As a princess she has no right to what she wants and she gets entangled to the Devil's son. With no other choice she accepts to marry the dangerous and cursed third prince of crestthane but she is glad to finally leave the palace and she hopes to see her real mother again, and to find out whether or not she is dead… Imagine diving into a novel where you would get to see the devil himself, his wife, son.., and daughter in law. Have you ever wondered to hear the real truth about how the devil happened to become who he is now?, and why heaven often meets hell?, if yes.., then dive into this mystical romance novel between Angels and Demons…..

The reason I am looking at death with my eyes... I want to escape a meaningless life, certainly a fake one. Also, what good is it to be born cursed if you can't pursue your curses fully?

Since she keeps hearing the name Amelia, the grandaughter is intrigued about her grandfather's past. They claimed it was a memory from his past that he would never forget. She dared to inquire about his past one day, and her grandfather did not hesitate to share it with her. Everything began in the past. Arthur and Amelia's love story is reminiscent of a storybook, but not all fairytales have happy endings. They liked each other the first time they saw each other, but they are unaware of their feelings for one other. Arthur transferred to the school where Amelia was studying. This is the first time Arthur has paid attention to a woman. I just had one thing to say. He was head over heels in love with a girl named 'Amelia.' However, Amelia was concerned that if Arthur knew of her condition, he would distance himself from her. Artwork that was used is not mine, if you are the owner and wants this to be taken down, please say so. Thankyou so much @MissReed for the book cover Discord: rzasrsna#6035

✨Just letting my thoughts out in random words✨