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Never Dead

All Rights Reserved ©

Summary

Book 1: Never Dead Ashes and Empires At five years old, Scarlet Ives lost everything—her parents, her home, her past—when fire and blood stole the life she once knew. Left for dead, she was secretly rescued and raised by the powerful Sterling family, where her adoptive brother Marcus became her anchor. Yet even after a decade, shadows linger. What if the fire was never just an accident? What if someone is still watching? Now in college, Scarlet wears a mask of normalcy—dyed hair, contact lenses, carefully guarded walls. But when Aiden Calloway enters her life, the façade begins to crack. Who is he, and why does he look at her as though he knows the truth she’s tried to bury? Worse still, his brother Lucian carries a danger Scarlet can’t name, a presence that feels threatening… and hauntingly familiar. As secrets resurface, Scarlet finds herself torn between trust and betrayal, between love that could save her and lies that could destroy her. Who can she believe when every choice feels like a trap? And how do you fight an enemy who has been waiting for you since the day you were born? Because in a world built on ashes and lies, the dead don’t always stay buried.

Status
1yr ago
Chapters
29
Rating
n/a
Age Rating
16+

✨Author's Note

🕸 🥀 🖤 🥀 🕸 🖤 🥀 🕸 🥀 🖤 🥀 🕸 🖤 🥀 🕸 🥀 🖤 🥀 🕸 🖤 🥀 🕸


Hey, dear reader!

Thank you so much for clicking on my story—it truly means the world to me. I'm a new writer putting my heart out there, and this is my first published work. I hope you'll enjoy the ride with me.

This story was born from late-night thoughts, a playlist that made me cry, and a character I wish I could meet in real life. It's a little piece of me—and maybe, a piece of you too.

It came to life through my intrusive thoughts and the people I once held close. When I started writing this story, I shaped six characters around my real friends. While the events are fictional, the emotions are real. Scarlet, especially, is deeply personal—her personality is almost a carbon copy of mine. I've even made her name my username across all my accounts.

Though some of those friendships faded due to miscommunication and distance, writing this story makes me feel close to them again. This is my first book, my first series—and no matter where it goes, it will always hold a special place in my heart. I hope it finds a place in yours, too.

Since this is my debut novel, the writing may not be perfect. But I promise that once the full story is complete, I'll go back and edit everything with love and care. I'm mostly a poet, so writing books is new terrain for me, but I'm excited to grow and improve with every chapter.

This book is the beginning of the "Ashes & Empires" series. The name reflects how each character's secrets—both beautiful and broken—shape their story. The core friend group includes Scarlet, Marcus, Elena, Raven, Sydney, Damien, Xavier, Asher, and Athena. Each book in the series will dive into one of their hidden truths. While many in the group are already dating, Scarlet's journey to finding her forever love unfolds in this first book, alongside pieces of her past she's never shared.

Some parts of this story stem from real emotions—anxiety, heartbreak, confusion, and hope. If you've ever felt unseen, misunderstood, or quietly falling apart... this story is for you.

If something resonates with you—or you just like the vibe of a character—please don't hesitate to drop a comment. Even a simple "hi" would mean the world. 💌

I'll be updating regularly—aiming for once or twice a week! (Though during summer vacation, updates may be daily!) Thank you again for giving this story a chance. Every single view matters more than I can explain.

If you enjoyed the chapter, please consider leaving a like or comment—it not only motivates me but also helps the story reach more lovely readers like you.

Thank you for reading. I've poured a lot of emotion, overthinking, and midnight tea into these chapters—and I'm still learning and growing with every word. Your support means everything.

Whether you're here for the angst, the healing, or the mystery boy with the broken past—welcome.

This is only the beginning.

With love,

Scarlet Ives 🖤❤️


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Let Scarlet know what you thought about this chapter!
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5

Love this

Funny

0

Funny

Spicy

0

Spicy

Suspenseful

2

Suspenseful

Emotional

0

Emotional

Profound

0

Profound

Heartwarming

1

Heartwarming

Shocking

0

Shocking

Good Writing

2

Good Writing

Compelling Plot

0

Compelling Plot

Great Character

2

Great Character

Strong Dialog

1

Strong Dialog

View 1 previous comment…
author

How is your book performance going so far

a year
author

Up till now a total of 77 reads

a year
author

Hi I'm honestly obsessed with this book I've read a lot of time but there's only one problem
When I'm about to read it, it says "29 chapters" but when I look into it it's only 24 chapters. So I was wondering, will there be a sequel or...

a year

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