NaNoWriMo 2020

 It's November once again.

But it's still pandemic. And for some reason, I still have so much to do!

That doesn't mean I'm giving up on NaNoWriMo this year.

NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month is an annual celebration of writing a novel. The goal is to write 50,000 words in 30 days. I have set myself a realistic goal. I know that try as I might, I can't reach 50,000 words with what I'm doing. So, I'm putting a small Short Story goal of 15,000 words. My aim is to write 3,000-5,000 words a week. Hoping during the Christmas break to edit or expand.'

So, since it's day 1, here is my progress.

This is a working title. Might change it.

Big Bad Wolf Meets Big Beautiful Woman

A BBW Girl Paranormal Romance

 

Chapter 1

 

Wolves were terribly superstitious.

That was an understatement.

No. Really. Gus was a perfect example. Argus Urbane, also known as Gus, was addicted to horoscopes. He kept looking at the newspaper and reading the daily horoscope. Every Friday, he had a special reading with Mad Mariah, the resident fortune-teller. As long as it didn’t interfere with work, Markus allowed it.

Markus was the Pack’s Alpha. He founded and held the pack for over a century. Last year, the Alpha found his mate and they lived happily ever after. Then, Markus’s best friend Caleb got married the other month. A lot of his packmates were married so it wasn’t anything special yet Gus was longing for something… anything. Any type of relationship. He’s had flings and girlfriends but they never lasted.

“How’s the Dungeon going?” Markus called him over to his office to talk business.

Markus Simeon, apart from being an independent Werewolf Pack, was also a business pack. It means they weren’t bound by land but by the business. The Pack under him also worked for his businesses. Markus owed a chain of resorts and casinos called Wolves. In it was a playground for both humans and supernaturals. It also had a luxury hotel called The Simeon.

Argus was tasked to create The Dungeon. The Dungeon was an exclusive club for supernaturals. It was located in Basement 4 of The Simeon. Gus was head of construction and maintenance for all of Markus’ properties. 

Markus was a very hands-on guy. He opens his own resort and personally sees to every aspect from design to build. He even designs each room by himself. Markus studied interior design this decade so he was well qualified. Gus’ specialty was building things. He went and built anything and everything Markus wanted. As a member of Markus’ inner circle, he could practically read Markus’ mind. Unfortunately, it went both ways.

“The Dungeon’s construction is complete. We’re just testing our twenty-four-seven backup generators and revolving stages,” Gus answered.

“Good, then what’s keeping you occupied?”

“Nothing.” 

Markus looked at him, still that cold, expressionless face that told Gus he said something stupid. “Nothing. The Dungeon is holding auditions tonight and hiring of staff tomorrow. Everything is going according to schedule.”

“Gus, we’re four months behind schedule,” his alpha pointed out.

“Markus, this lockdown isn’t doing anyone any favors. We’ve just about to get a handle on things. Its hard to get labor and performers because of this pandemic,” Gus pointed out.

“There are supernaturals that we can hire. Why aren’t you hiring them?”

Gus huffed in frustration. You think I didn’t do that? They are all scared. Ever since they saw how even the higher forms of being could contract the virus, they have gone underground, hiding from the world. It’s like back in the middle ages!”

“We’ve never reached the middle ages,” Markus pointed out.

“I’ve read the books. The point is, labor of any kind is hard to come by. Also, our profits have halved so there wasn’t any allotment than the ones already budgeted for my department.” Once a bustling resort, it was a veritable ghost town. Only vampires were out and about because they were immune. Witches, Shifters, Elves, and even Werewolves were being cautious.

“We’ve been disinfecting with bleach and benedictions every evening.” Markus wanted all bases covered. He also wanted to protect pack and family who were living in the resort.

“Yeah, you’re going to have to bark at Marketing. My job is construction. I’m trying to be on schedule here,” Gus huffed. He’s been doing that lately.

Well, as much in schedule as after-COVID as they can get. The lockdown pushed back all their plans month later than schedule. Here they were, back in business or trying to be back in business.

“Gus, you’ve spent most of quarantine practically building the Dungeon by yourself.”

“As previously stated, labor problems. I needed it to be complete. Besides, I’m bored. What else was there to do during the lockdown. At least, I didn’t contract anything.” Yeah, he spent three months holed up in basement 4 hauling cement, tiling things, grouting tiles, polishing marble. It was a feat a Werewolf can do especially if he was bored.

“You are in need of a mate.”

Gus frowned. “You are changing the subject.”

Markus shrugged. “Well, we’re done talking about construction. As your alpha, I’m sensing your need of a mate.”

“You make it sound like it’s easy to find them. I’ve had girlfriends before. None of them stayed.” Gus wasn’t the easiest of Werewolves to live with. But no girl can really tell because he never lives with any girlfriend. He stayed with Markus, following where he went.

“It’s easier now than back then.” Markus was half a century older than Gus. Caleb was a full century older that Markus. Facebook only came in the last decade and supernaturals came out just about at the same time. It was easier to communicate now more than ever but that didn’t stop Gus from feeling the isolation.

“Join SuperTindr.”

Gus made a face. “That dating app crap? No thank you.”

“How, pray tell, will you find a mate?” They weren't all as lucky as Markus and Caleb who just bumped into their mates. Some people found it hard. People saw them as a pillar of strength and skill but deep down, they were shy and vulnerable creatures.

“I’ll ask Mad Mariah.” the eighty-four year-old lady was his go-to for any question.

“Speaking of Mariah, she’s having a party this afternoon at the Cavern. It’s her retirement party.”

Gus was shocked. “Retirement? She’s not that old!”

“Heh! Humans age faster. She’s been wanting to retire since the last decade. Tomorrow, she’s leaving for a cruise.”

“What? Who’s taking over her store?” 

His alpha shrugged his shoulders. “Her lease is already up. The store is now open for a new tenant.”

Gus started to hyperventilate. Mad Mariah was not just a tenant but the resident fortune-teller. She entertained people at a special backroom where she reads their palms or cards.

A soft knock followed by a hulking goliath of a man came in. “Oh, whoa! Should I call for a medic?”

“Caleb shut the door and maybe you should catch Gus when he keels over,” Markus told his best friend. “Mad Mariah is leaving,” he explained.

“Oh. Gus, are you okay?” He asked the Werewolf who was desperately trying to catch his breath.

“Do… I… Look… ho-khaaay?” 

Caleb, the hulking bulk of a vampire, came behind him and shoved his head down. “Breathe between your knees. I’ll see if I can get a paper bag for you to breathe in.”

“Or barf in,” Markus quipped. 

No other person could shove Gus like Caleb or Markus. Markus was a big man with dark brown hair and deep green eyes. He was a half-a head taller than Gus. Caleb was an odd vampire. He was all-muscles and as big as Markus, strange for a vampire. Most vampires were tall and lithe but Caleb was not. He was tall but all-muscles like Markus. Black hair and black eyes were from his vampire heritage but his love for the outdoors and gardening came from his human mother. Now the vampy was arranging flowers all over the resort. The vampire was smitten by his new wife.

Gus had to admit, Stella, Caleb’s wife, was adorable. She was big and beautiful but she didn’t know it. Her family was mean to her. They didn’t know what treasure she was. She and Caleb grew some herbs for the resort at the rooftop garden and in her little plot of land. Markus even made some changes to the menu to accommodate more fresh food at the resort.

He had to admit, his kind of girl was around Stella’s size. Gus didn’t like petite wilting flowers who only ate salad and water. Werewolves loved to eat and they liked taking care of their mates.

“Don’t worry, Gus. The world’s not ending just because of Mariah’s leaving tomorrow. You can still Skype her.” Caleb’s words were not comforting. The woman can’t read palm through Skype.

“Two weeks’ notice,” he muttered.

Markus sighed. “She actually gave me a two-months’ notice but she asked that I not tell you. She thinks you’ll get emotional about it.”

“What?”

“She’s proving her point. You’re getting emotional,” the alpha pointed out.

“Am not!”

Markus threw him a box of tissue which he caught easy enough. “Then why are your eyes all red and teary?”

Gus blew into the tissue. “Germs!” He meant to say allergies but germs seemed to pop into his head. To stop embarrassing himself further, the teary-eyed Werewolf stomped out of the office and went to find Mad Mariah. He needed to see her; ask why she wouldn’t tell her best customer of her leaving. Didn’t they form something stronger than just a client-Werewolf relationship? Gus was always the first to greet her, send flowers on her birthday and send a car package when she got a cold. He found her just as her party was starting. Her friends were around her, giving her gifts and passing the champagne around.

Mariah, a seventy-four year-old woman, was not an aging old crone. She was spry, had a spring in her step and loved to color her hair in crazy colors. She was rumored to have a dance instructor of a boyfriend forty years her junior. Although, some accused her of bewitching the poor bloke. Gus knew she did no such thing. Mariah was wholly human. She had very little witch blood.

She looked up to see the hulking Werewolf standing at the entrance of The Cavern. Markus threw a special party for her. Although she had only been in The Shops at Wolves for a year, she was considered a pioneer. She also attracted a lot of people to come to Wolves during the first few months. It was only proper to give her a sendoff.

“Argus Urbane, are those tears?”

Gus wiped his eyes on his sleeves. “No, just allergies.”

“I hope you’re not allergic to champagne. Come on over,” she called to him.

“Are you leaving already? You’re the most important lady in my life this year,” he sniffled.

Mariah laughed. “You mean you just want me to keep reading your cards every week.”

“That and more.”

Champagne and cakes were passed along. Werewolves and most Shifters were constantly eating because they burned calories much faster than humans. Little finger sandwiches in tall trays were also passed along the table.

“Don’t worry, boy. I’m sending my niece to read cards every week. I’ve arranged it with Markus. She’ll set up a tent in the gallery and take up most of my clients.” She pushed and frowned. “Be nice to her, Argus, I’m sensing your fangs around this girl,” Mariah warned.

“I’ll make sure she’s welcomed properly. But Mariah, she won’t have your touch,” he teased.

Mariah kissed his cheek. “Nobody is like me, Gus. That’s why I’m me. My last forecast for you. When you are looking for something, you won’t find it. So, don’t bother. It will find you in the right time.”

The Sea Nymph's Mate is now on Amazon

The Nymph's Mate was previously published in Smashwords. This Amazon version is expanded. Please download this version. Thanks! Excerpt as follows:

In every Sea Nymph’s life, there will come a time when he must surface and find his life mate. There can only be one and he must take her with him to the sea. The time of the Search is only one full month every century. If he fails to find a life mate, he must choose whether to go back to the ocean mate-less or stay forever on the dry land for there were no female nymphs. All mates were humans. These females were a special kind of humans. Only they could hear the call of the sea.

For Dylan, he was determined to find the woman of his dreams. He will not leave the ocean for good but he will not come back empty handed. That was what he vowed the day he climbed up on the rocky ledge of the desolate bay.

The stench was horrendous. Even upon entering the bay waters, there was a sticky and stinky gunk that surrounded him. He knew the talks the others told him of the surface-dwellers. The pollution the surface-dwellers excreted in the air and the sea was horrendous. How can they bear this? he thought. The oil was sticking to his slimy skin. His eyes and his lungs burned. How would he survive his month? He felt like he was drowning.

Gentle hands pulled him completely out of the rocky shelves and into a warm cloth. “We have you, brother,” a voice told him. He hardly struggled for he knew the voice. It belonged to a fellow Sea Nymph named Mario. Dylan knew Mario went ahead of him a week before. “Drink this and come with us.” He was given fresh water to wash his throat. Dylan can’t help but pour some water to his face and eyes. They were stinging so badly. Carefully, they dragged him with speed to a dwelling.

Dylan had prepared himself thoroughly for this month-long sojourn. He learned all about the surface dwellers from others who have been to the surface. The nymphs before him told him of man-made stone structures in strait lines that went up all the way to the skies. They also warned him that humans’ heart are hard and very different from a Sea Nymph’s. They told him how to act and how to blend in. He had an idea of what to expect and how to intermingle with the “Humans” but he knew he had to be on guard. Humans didn’t understand them and those who had bad intent tended to destroy everything.

Mario brought him to a unit in a structure across the street they called building. There were rows of them uniformly facing the sea. “I thought you’d never get here. I was waiting every night since I went up. Come, Nong Tashio is waiting for us,” Mario said.

Dylan was brought to a safe house for Sea Nymphs. An old Sea Nymph they called Nong Tashio lived and operated there. He helps young Sea Nymphs survive their month and helped them find their mates. Nong Tashio made sure these young Sea Nymphs were safe and blended well with the general human population. Dugongs and other marine mammals were endangered already. If they were discovered, they would be next on the endangered species list.

Nong Tashio’s place was large enough to house a lot of them, for there were a lot of them this time. Dylan counted six of them. Half of them, he knew. Mario was his best friend and there was Dario, Mario’s brother. There was also Pier, his neighbor. Pier and Mario came together last week. Later, he was acquainted with the rest of them. The other three came from the distant north three days ago, by means of a land boat called bus. The Capital was a more sensible place to find their mates for most of the population was concentrated here. Nong Tashio said the humans call it Manila. Some from the province were lucky to find their mates waiting by the shores but for the unlucky ones, they traveled to Manila for a better chance. Nong Tashio was happy to take them in. He had been doing so for a long time since his mate passed. He decided to dry up and stay on land.

Manila was the capital city. Dylan didn’t know what that meant. Mario and the other explained that it meant there were more people here than the sea sides other place. It also meant it was busy.

“Listen, young Dylan, we have to be inconspicuous les’ we scare them surface-dwellers. They easily scare, you see,” Nong Tashio explained. “You must ‘proach and befriend them with caution. They easily scare and they do not believe in Sea Nymphs.” The old man briefed him about how to act, what humans did and how they interacted every day. Dylan was then fed and given proper clothes then sent to bed after.

Dylan had a hard time wearing clothes. He usually wore woven sea vines to cover his manhood and that was it. Swimming in the ocean required freedom of movement. He couldn’t understand the amount of garment these surface dwellers needed. “You’ll get used to it,” Dario, the younger of the brothers said. Dylan had to put the shirt back in front on before he managed to put it on the right way. Mario taught him how to buckle a belt and lace his shoes. These humans were so complicated!

“Don’t worry, Bro. We’ll be here a bit more to help you get around. You’d be surprised to find this place interesting. But it’s not a place to live in, though. It’s a good tale to tell your sons,” Mario commented.

Dylan shrugged. “I can’t remember father telling me anything like this. He warned me of the dirt and thieves but I didn’t expect the overwhelming filth. No wonder he dared not come back to the surface again. Mother doesn’t want to come back either.”

In the morning, Dylan was to start blending into the populace and search for his mate. Mario handed him an apron and patted him on the back. “First thing’s first. We must teach you to blend lattes. Nong Tashio required us to serve downstairs at his café. It is a place where humans come to eat when don’t want to hunt their own food,” his friend explained. “It is three hours before we open and you must be taught all the terms.” So, Mario and Dario pushed him to the downstairs kitchen to start his training.

Dylan frowned. Humans didn’t always hunt their food? Mario explained that they would work or barter for some goods with a thing called money. The money can be bartered with other things like food, clothes, transportation. The small downstairs space was where the humans can get food.

Nong Tashio acquainted him with what the human world was like and what a café was. Mario and Dario filled him with details they learned while the few weeks ahead they were here before him. All Sea Nymphs had a skill to learn anything fast. Dylan definitely absorbed fast enough to be an apprentice baker and barista. He knew how the cake was made, how tarts were frosted and how to make mocha lattes all in three hours. By the time they opened, he was confident he could blend well.

Nong Tashio’s café, Flounder’s, opened promptly at seven in the morning. When the usual customers came in, Nong Tashio had another “nephew” from the province working part-time. This new “nephew” however was a real eye candy. He had a unique dark skin that was evenly toned. His pearly white teeth sparkled like stars in the night, and his eyes, they were sea green. Behind him, long jet-black hair flowed like silk threads.

Best of all, he made a mean double chocolate macchiato with whip cream and a side of strawberry tarts.

But Dylan and the rest of Nong Tashio’s nephews were an odd lot. Their features were quite unique. They weren’t oriental but their eyes were slightly upturned and almond. The eye color was either deep blue or light sea green, very unique to the boys. Their jaws were curved and strong. It was their build that was also odd. An anatomy student once pointed out that the boys had a torso to leg ratio that was even, quite unusual for any race. The boys were very friendly but rarely spoke words. A smile greeted each customer as they entered the door.

Another odd thing with Nong Tashio is that he never seems to have any nieces. His nephews from the province came and went but no girls ever stayed with him. 

The Seeker's Inn Excerpt

This is from Chapter 2 of the Seeker's Inn by Maita Rue
Music: Arpology from Longzijun.wordress.com/music
Pictures from pixabay.com
Reader: Emma from fromtexttospeech.com