This is the back side of chapter one. We finally meet the oft-spoken of Donovan, Dori’s surly sire.

Donovan released me then drew to his full height.  He cocked his head and allowed a sweep of hair to curtain over the left side of his face.  He needed a cut badly.  When I first met him, he had short hair.  That was during a phase when he’d trimmed it every other day.  With vampires, the body can be altered temporarily but it always wants to return to its original dead state within a few days.

He turned to his desk and pulled out a document, then spun back to face me.  “Do you know what this is?” he asked as he waived the paper in front of my nose.

“If you’d hold it still, maybe something would come to me.” Continue reading →

Dori, the vampire and Jude, the vampire hunter, get to know each other a little better.

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“What’s your story, Jude Raynor, other than you flunked out of school and are now in the family business that you claim to be bad at?”

“I am bad at it.  It’s not just an idle claim.  I couldn’t hit you from where I sit now, even if I were armed, I’m that bad.”

I couldn’t help but shudder at his casual mention of killing me.

“I’m sorry.  That was insensitive,” he said as leaned toward me and tried to make eye contact.

I waved him off, “You can’t help what you are any more than I can.”

“Would it help if I told you I’ve never killed a vampire before, haven’t even wounded one.  Hell, you’re the first one I’ve even talked to.” Continue reading →