Bite of Story Thursday

I'm still working in In-between story NIGHT CHILDREN: DARK LOSS and it's not ready for a sneak peek so here is something that is with the reviewers; NIGHT CHILDREN: DARK CHANGES. It's Book Two in the main Annabelle series. As always, this is from the rough draft so it does not reflect the final product. Enjoy!

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Night Children: Dark Changes
Chapter Twenty-Two
Rescuers

“You want to do what?  This is not going to end well.”  Rachael sat on a large rock, looking out to the dark ocean.  She threw a small stone ten feet into the approaching waves.

The two of them decided to go for a walk and found their path led to the southern shore.  Roland came to love these quiet moments between them.  He felt safe in a pocket of time where Reginald and the other Bloody-Buccaneers couldn’t find them.  He would allow his heart to briefly peer above the dark clouds that always swallowed him every time he remembered his sister’s voice.

Sitting beside Rach, he threw his own stone just a tad farther.  “I can’t continue to let him get away with this.  It’s wrong and you know it.”

“But what you’re suggesting is madness.”  She turned to him.  He saw fear in her once brave eyes.  “Can’t you see that?  Reginald will catch you and kill you.  He has all sorts of ways, believe me.”

“You said I’m his new favorite.”

“So?  Don’t you get it?  He’ll kill you simply to set an example.  No one is immune.”  A bitter expression took over her face as she returned her gaze to the sea.

“Only if he catches me,” she rolled her eyes at his comment.  “But that’s something I’ll deal with.  I can’t let them do this.  I was human, too.  Those are people, Rach.  If there is one thing I learned from my parents, my adoptive mother Eliza and my sister it’s that people matter.  They should be treated decently.  What good is power if we just sit on our hands and let the Kalinago be sacrificed?”

She gave him a blank look but he didn’t care.  The more he talked about those poor souls the more he simply knew they had to be rescued.  If he had to die in the process, well at least Eliza and Annabelle would’ve been proud.

He stood up on the large rock and held out his hand.  “Come.  Let me show you something.”

The A to Z Challenge! R is for Roland!

Of course R must be for Roland, the 13 year old vampire child and costar of the Night Children series. As a major character, Roland has had multiple entrees on this blog devoted to him. I thought instead of simply re posting those, I'd show you some pictures I've collected on the web that make me think of him.

 

Of course I'm grateful to Adam Diller for Roland's very own picture...

 



The A to Z Challenge! H is for Hawke

Like last week, we get a letter that gives us a bite from the story NIGHT CHILDREN: DARK BIRTH. H is for Hawke.

"Who is Hawke", you may ask? Hawke is the dreaded vampire hunter whom crossed paths with Annabelle and Roland in 1692 and again in 1714. He is one of two men whom successfully gives the vampire Annabelle daymares.

Chapter Nineteen: The Courage of Hawke

She didn’t want to face Hawke.  If she never saw him again, it would be too soon.  Unfortunately, Annabelle knew she wouldn’t be that lucky.

Within the week she was proven correct.  After a successful hunt, she and Roland sat on a log near the outer northern boundary and drank from two dead foxes.  Angry shouts drew their attention towards the barrier.

“After everything we’ve seen, I’m almost afraid to check anymore.”  She stopped at a large clump of bushes near the barrier’s edge and knelt down.

Roland joined her.  “Not me.”  He always worried her when he didn’t say much. 

Her breath caught at the sight of Hawke.  Defiantly standing within a clearing just outside the shimmering barrier he brandished long twin swords.  The weapons were made of thin metal and each had long black handles.  Annabelle saw a picture once when she worked at her father’s book binding business.  She thought they were called katana swords.

Hawke grinned with wicked insanity.

A male vampire stood beside Penelope.  Their backs faced Annabelle and Roland.  Behind Hawke towered a Sasquatch.  Surrounding him on both sides were four more vampire men she’d never seen before. 

Servo stood a ways off by a tree.  His face split into a yellow smile that didn’t reach his frightened eyes.  “We have you cornered, hunter.  The Master will reward us greatly for your death.”

Hawke laughed and Annabelle’s blood curled.  “Talk is cheap, ghoul.”

The four unnamed vampires charged and Hawke sprung to life.  He slashed wide with his swords; one vampire was cleaved in two from the right shoulder to the mid section.  He dissolved to ash before hitting the ground.  The other lost his head.

A third vampire bit Hawke’s arm but the vampire slayer slammed the flat of his sword against his attacker’s face.  He spun around and slashed off the vampire’s arm.  Another one punched Hawke five feet into the Sasquatch’s waiting arms.  Hawke dropped his swords as the towering creature squeezed him.

“Break him!” Servo commanded from the safety of the bushes.

“I will.”  The one who punched Hawke rushed forward. 

Hawke smiled and pulled out a strange silver blade from his long, dirty coat.  It reflected the ivory light of the moon.  Shorter than his twin swords, it had a thick tip that tapered down to its hilt.  A flick of a latch and two smaller blades sprung out from either side.  The weapon resembled a warped cross. 

Shock followed shock.  Hawke spun the weapon backwards and jabbed deeply into the howling Sasquatch, then pulled it from the creature’s gore.  The hulking beast fell back to touch its wound. 

His arms free, Hawke slashed upward, severing the charging vampire’s head at the neck. 

With his other arm free, Hawke whipped out three silver stars and flung them at Servo.  The creep screamed and ducked.

“Enough,” Penelope sneered as glowing sparks shot from her fingers and lit up the clearing.  Hawke dived, leaped and jumped out of the way.  Penelope kept sending blasts of magic at him but he didn’t stop.  He used his weapon to slice another vampire in two.

Hawke sneered. “You’ll all pay for polluting God’s earth.”

“Stop him!  Stop him!” Servo screamed while hoping up and down.

Hawke dodged various blows from the last unnamed vampire.  It was the one who lost an arm, but it didn’t slow him down.  Annabelle could almost swear Hawke was playing with him.  He ducked and cut, but only left minor wounds.  “After I kill the rest I think I’ll let you live, Guardante.”

“Why?”  A trace of hope flashed in Servo’s wild eyes.

“So I can use Hell-Slayer here to carve a message to your dark master.”  The hope melted into fear. 

Annabelle pulled on Roland’s arm, “Come.  Let’s leave before he sees us.”  Roland didn’t budge.  He watched Hawke’s moves with deep curiosity.

“Roland, please!”

“I want to see how he does it.”

“Does what?”

Hawke slashed off the last vampire’s head, rolled on the floor to miss a crippling grab from the Sasquatch.  He picked up one of the swords he’d dropped. 

“If we have to survive Dominic’s attack, I want to learn how.”

She hadn’t thought about it.  Hawke survived years fighting not only hordes of creatures, but Dominic himself.  He still scared her, but she started to notice something admirable about the hunter.  He stared certain death in the face and laughed.

Hawke drove his sword through the Sasquatch’s chest.  The monster gave an anguished howl, and then dropped to the ground, dead.  She felt sorry for the beast. 

She looked up in alarm as magic exploded across Hawke’s back.  His coat on fire, he writhed on the ground while strange red lightning crept over him.

“Witch!”  He threw a silver star her direction.  It came close enough to cut her cheek and break her concentration but the damage was done. 

Hawke rolled on the ground and let out a moan.  He stood up, placed Hell-Slayer in its sheath and picked up his other sword.  A large open hole in the back of his coat revealed deep, red scorch marks.  “I’ll be back.  Sure, I can’t heal like you filth.” For the first time she noticed fresh cuts that bled through his torn clothing.  “But I will return.  I’ll make sure you die like all those witches in Salem.  You’ll see.”

As a human, Hawke could enter the barrier any time he chose.  He wouldn’t be able to see it or even know it existed, but it didn’t matter.  He could return anytime.  The thought chilled her bones.

Annabelle’s heavy heart beats slowed once Hawke disappeared into the woods and Servo left with Penelope, but any of them could return at any time.  They had to take their training more seriously.  The threats were building.

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For more check out Dark Birth at your local online store. Links to Dark Birth on the web can be found on the Store Page on this blog or you could just go here, Dark Birth on Amazon.

The A to Z Challenge! C is for Capture

C is for Capture!
More specifically, a scene from NIGHT CHILDREN: DARK BIRTH where Roland gets captured!


Chapter Twenty-Five: Wild Blood Man

He woke in chains.  If he could see the position of the moon he’d know how long he’d been unconscious, but he sat inside a closed up traveling box.  Although it was completely black inside, his nocturnal eyes had no trouble seeing everything it contained. 

Thick wood paneling stood up on all four sides and the top, blocking out the sunlight.  He would’ve thought he might be inside a small building except he could feel it moving down the road. 

He pulled at the silver chains but they wouldn’t budge.  The metal felt too hot to touch.  Despite his overwhelming exhaustion, Roland forced himself to try to turn into a bat.  If he was small enough to slip out he might be able to fly to safety.  Nothing happened.  He tried to calm his frightened thoughts and focus again, but it still didn’t work.

Wildes Blut-Tier was sprawled against a corner of the room.  His blazing red eyes watched Roland silently. 

Looking away from those eerie eyes, Roland started to take in his surroundings.  There were strange traps hanging all over the walls.  Some looked like bear and rabbit traps, but others appeared more fiendish.  He then noticed the piles of animal fur.  Many of them were from animals like foxes, wolves, and bears.  Other furs seemed to come from animals he’d never seen before. 

A sasquatch skin caught his eye.  He wondered if Fenroth had a hard time killing it. 

Roland noticed something even more peculiar.  What looked like human sized insect limbs swung from the ceiling, swaying back and forth with the movement of the carriage.  Mysteriously large fish scales rested in a corner, glinting with an emerald hue.

Roland spotted the werewolves, Set and Hades, deep asleep in their cages.  For a moment he felt pity on them.  He shuddered at the thought of being trapped as a wolf forever. 

Wildes wasn’t the only one watching him.  A single crow eyed him sadly from its cage by the door.  He thought such a harmless bird didn’t belong in this place of horrors.  An empty bunk covered in fur and surrounded by strange weapons and traps rested in the back of the wagon.  That’s where Fenroth must sleep.

Henry rested against the wall beside him.  Relief briefly washed away fear when Roland saw his friend’s chest move slowly and heard Henry’s heartbeat.

He gently nudged him with his leg and whispered as quietly as possible, “Henry, wake up.”

“Whu...?”

“Don’t scream.  Fenroth will stop the carriage.  Are you all right?”

Henry pulled on his chains but of course they didn’t budge.  Roland had no success so he knew a regular human wouldn’t have any luck.

“Roland, I’m glad you’re here.  Charlie got me while I was sleeping.  He knocked me out with a shovel.  My head still hurts.”  His face white with fear, he kept trying to pull free.

“It’s useless.  How did you wind up here?”

“Charlie must have carried me into the woods, but I woke up and kicked him.  He dropped me, so I started to run but I heard Polly calling for help.  It startled me enough for Charlie to knock me out again.  I woke up here.  Can’t you change into a bat and escape?”

“Nope, but I’ll keep trying.”

He felt the carriage bump and realized it must’ve driven off the main dirt road.  Suddenly it came to a grinding halt.  He heard the sound of people climbing down the side of the wagon and then walking around.  The door opened, and Roland caught a peek outside.  A faint pink glow briefly illuminated the black interior, causing Wildes to squint and whimper.  It was almost dawn. 

An Indian girl entered, followed by Fenroth.  He closed the door and gave Roland a self-satisfied smirk.  “Better get some sleep.  We’ve got a long journey to the Master’s secret lair.” 

“Dominic told his servants we were off limits.  You’d better let us go.” 

Fenroth let out a big, deep laugh.  “The Master warned you to remain behind the barrier.”  He casually walked to his bed.  The girl sat on a small pile of skins.  She appeared roughly sixteen years old. 

Fenroth gave a toothy smile.  “He said if you left, you’d be fair game.”

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For more check out Dark Birth at your local online store. Links to Dark Birth on the web can be found on the Store Page on this blog or you could just go here, Dark Birth on Amazon.

Bite of Story Thursday

Night Children: Dark Threats

Chapter Four: 1899
How To Catch An Invisible Man

The new-fallen snow glittered under the bright moon like the unseen stars above.  The Foresight Coven House had a large front yard, showcasing the snow’s white beauty 

The white blanket seemed magical.  It almost felt to Annabelle like the snow wasn’t normal.

She ignored the silly thought and relaxed on the porch swing.  A new book rested on her lap while Charlotte snuggled under her arm. 

“Next year I’ll finally turn nine.”  The child vampire said with glee.  “I’ve been eight for a hundred years and I can’t wait to be older.”  She tried to make her voice deeper when she said ‘older’ but failed.  Ann suppressed a smile.

Memories flooded Annabelle’s head.  She remembered the night she woke after living a hundred years as an eleven-year-old.  Her body hurt and she had to relearn some abilities, but it was glorious to finally age.  Sure, others would still treat her as a child, but she was slowly catching up.

As long as Annabelle could remember, people were amazed at how mature she behaved.  Working with her father in his bookbinding business at a young age helped her mature a little faster. 

People assumed she was ignorant, so she simply worked around that obstacle.  Now, after two hundred years of people looking down on her, she couldn’t imagine anything else.  It simply meant more opportunities to prove them wrong.

She watched Charlotte beam with enough excitement to light the world.  This little one will have the same life as Annabelle, resetting expectations with everyone she meets.

Charlotte continued, “Selina said she’ll start letting me help with their pranks but Samuel said I’ll still be too young.”

Her soft voice began to whine, “I don’t want to wait another hundred years Annabelle.  Can’t you tell them I’m old enough?”

“I’m sorry but the last thing I want is another vampire prankster sneaking around.” 

Charlotte’s pale face scrunched up into a frown.  Her cherub cheeks dropped a little, her tiny mouth curled up and her big eyes pooled like a forlorn puppy.  With her blonde hair in ringlets framing her angelic face, Charlotte resembled a sad porcelain doll.  “Aw but I’d be good.  I promise not to nail your coffin shut like they did to Roland.”

Annabelle couldn’t stop a laugh from escaping.  “That was pretty funny.  Listen, I’ll consider it, all right?”

The child’s eyes lit up like the moon.  “Hurray!  I can’t wait to tell the others.”  She flew out of Ann’s arms and five feet into the air.  A light giggle escaped her lips as she sped through the front door, almost clipping Roland’s ear.

“Hey!  Why’s she in such a hurry?”  He crossed to the wooden banister and leaned back against it.

“She wants to start pranking once she Advances.”

He rolled his eyes.  “Oh no.  Not another one.  The twins have been tricking me for two hundred years.  I can’t take another one of them.”

She laughed.  “The big bad vampire pirate is afraid of a couple of children?”

“Evil children.  Last week they filled my cape with molasses.  Molasses, Annabelle!”

 

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For more check out Dark Threats at your local online store. Links to Dark Threats on the web can be found on the Store Page on this blog or you could just go here, Dark Threats on Amazon.

Special Repost: Who's Who in the Annabelle Universe? Roland Foresight

ROLAND FORESIGHT

 

 

artist: Adam Diller

 

 

Other names:
Night Child, annoying brother, Bloody-Buccaneer

Name Origin:

Old German name meaning "renowned land."

Physical characteristics:
Straight red hair. Red eyes. Small white fangs. Wears a variety of clothing but likes to wear combinations of red and black.


Age Chart:
He was turned at age 13. Every hundred years he ages one year. He actually experiences his years longer than normal humans. Vampire children remain that age emotionally and mentally, perhaps for self preservation so they do not go insane living as an adult trapped in a child body.

How he handles immortality remains to be seen.

Advancement Chart:
b. October 13th 1679 d. 1692

born a vampire 1692-
Age 13= 1692-1792
Age 14 = 1792-1892
Age 15 = 1892-1992
Age 16 = 1992-Present Day

No other ages available at the moment.


Abilities:
Roland tends to have dreams of the far future, although he isn't aware of this at the beginning of the series. When he learns of this talent remains to be seen. He has the standard vampire abilities. This means he’s faster and stronger than humans, his senses are extremely acute as are his reflexes. He can fly and turn into a bat. In later years He has shown the ability to transform into a wolf, rat and mist but how he learned these things has yet to be told. He can control humans through mesmerization and communicate with lesser beasts.
He became an expert sword fighter thanks to his years as a Bloody Buccaneer.


Known History:
In 1692 Roland Foresight moved with his family to the wilds of Massachusetts. The Vampire Lord Dominic Pratchet killed his parents and left him and his sister Annabelle for dead. Dominic's wife Eliza turned them into vampires, taught them the things they needed to know and became a surrogate mother to them.

As the centuries have passed, Roland became a hero to many, constantly fighting Dominic's forces as a member of the Order of Righteous Vampires. He prefers to drink the blood of animals instead of humans. Roland is possessed with an overwhelming desire to finish Dominic off once and for all.

He's rebellious, acts before thinking, hot-headed and gets overly excited about new things without thinking about the consequences. He isn't afraid of much in life and is filled with a wanderlust for adventure and travel.

He learned to sword fight when he became a Bloody Buccaneer. Those years were both some of the best and worst of his life. Two men have filled him with a passion for revenge; the vampire hunter Hawke and Dominic, the monster lord who killed his parents. He has also had a few loves in his long life.

Any more information would be spoilers at this time.


Bite of Story Thursday

Night Children: Dark Threats

Chapter Two: 1692 Witch Attack

On a warm night when crickets echoed and fireflies danced along the dirt path, Annabelle and her brother Roland walked their human friends Thomas and Polly Dunston home.

Annabelle loved these quiet nights.  Most evenings she would hunt the forest for animals, searching for blood to quench her eternal thirst. 

Once a week she and Roland would wake their friends and run in the forest and play.  It reminded her of when she was human, before her parents died and she became a vampire.

She watched Thomas laugh with Roland.  The blood pumped through Tom’s veins, an invitation she swore to never take.

Vampire life wasn’t the best.  Annabelle could handle never seeing the light of a beautiful day again but her meals were awful. 

While most eleven-year old girls slept peacefully at night, she stalked the woods near their colonial town, hunting for blood among the wildlife. 

She couldn’t believe that only a few months ago she played in the streets of London, a human girl without a care in the world. 

Little Polly shivered a bit as she chanced several frightened looks into the imposing forest that surrounded them.  “Are you sure it’s safe out here?  You said there were lots of monsters in the woods.”

Before Annabelle could respond, Thomas puffed out his chest and said, “You’re fine.  We’ll protect you.  No monster would dare hurt you with your big brother around.  What?  Why is everyone laughing?”

Roland shook his head.  “Yeah, big brave Thomas Dunston.  Monster killer.  I suppose you’ll throw rocks at them?”

“It could happen.”  Tom’s face flushed pink. 

“Actually I don’t think it will.  With the magic barrier up, all Dominic’s servants are trapped outside.” Annabelle explained as they continued down the path.

“Not all of them.”  Roland corrected.  “What about those two witches?  Their cabin is inside the barrier.  They’ve already caused us problems.  They could be hiding just beyond those trees.” 

He pointed ahead into the thick forest.  Polly and Thomas’ eyes grew wide.

Annabelle threw her brother a sharp look.  It didn’t stop him from laughing.  “Stop scaring them.  With all the trouble going on in Salem, those witches wouldn’t dare show their faces.”

She put her arm around Polly and gave her a squeeze.  “You’ll be fine.  If they did try to get us, Roland and I will protect you.”

Thomas threw a stone into the glowing bugs, scattering them.  He turned to Roland, “I still don’t think it was very fair to float above the trees when we’re playing hide and seek.” 

Roland shrugged. “It’s what I do.” 

“You mean cheat?” 

“I wasn’t cheating.  I’m a vampire.  Why can’t I use my abilities to work for me in the game?  It’s the same as you and Polly running or climbing a tree.” 

“No, it’s not.  When you fly, you can look down and see us.  That gives you an unfair advantage.” 

“I can’t believe this.  Annabelle, what do you think?” 

She shared a smile with Polly while they walked behind the boys.  “You were cheating.” 

“What?”  Roland spun around, holding a stick to his chest while rolling his glowing eyes.  “Ouch!  By my own sister, betrayed.” 

Polly giggled.  “I wish Ma and Pa could join us on nights like this.” 

“You know we can’t reveal ourselves to anybody else.” Annabelle reminded her.

“But they’re different.  They’d keep your secret.” 

“Maybe so, but what if Dominic captured them to get to us?” 

Roland tossed his stick at another batch of fireflies, “He’d do that anyway.  I don’t know if anyone is safe.” 

“People have started to notice the strange shapes in the forest beyond where you said the barrier is,” Tom added.  “They hear the noises Dominic’s monsters are making.  They don’t know what it is, but we know they’re out there, waiting.”

Polly slumped her shoulders, scuffing her feet as she walked.  “I understand.” 

A twig snapped ahead in the darkened wood.  Annabelle and Roland stopped in their tracks and stiffened.  Two heartbeats pounded nearby and Annabelle silently chastised herself for not listening closer to the surrounding woods.

“Smell that?” she whispered to her brother.

“Yeah,” Roland agreed.  “The breeze was blowing the other way before, hiding their scent.  It’s them.”

Two familiar women hid just ahead.  Menace oozed off of them.

“Who?” Tom peered into the dark wood fearfully.

“The witches, Tom,” Ann explained.  “I need you two to run as fast as you can.”

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For more check out Dark Threats at your local online store. Links to Dark Threats on the web can be found on the Store Page on this blog or you could just go here, Dark Threats on Amazon.

Who's Who in the Annabelle Universe? Paul

PAUL

No picture at this time. Hopefully that will change someday.

Physical characteristics:
Paul looks to be in his sixties and out of shape. He's over weight, short and stocky. He was turned into a vampire in this physical condition so he'll remain that way as long as his immortal life continues.

Personality:
Paul is friendly and eager to help others. Sometimes to eager. He's always ready with advice to cheer a friend up.

Known History:
Reginald Worthing turned Paul on a lark. He found Paul drunk, passed out in a alley. He wanted to see what a waste of a man would become with the vampire curse. Paul gained the typical vampire abilities but remained out of shape. Reginald allowed Paul to become a Bloody-Buccaneer, the deadliest pirates on the open sea.

Paul made a unsuccessful vampire pirate. He couldn't jump from ship to ship and attack with the other pirates. He couldn't really catch any fleeing mortals. He'd occasionally accompany the crew but became more of a mascot. After vampire child Roland Foresight joined the crew, Paul instantly took a liking to the boy. Along with Ruthless Rach, Roland was one of the only crew members who treated him fairly.

After time passed Paul became very close to Roland, offering him advice and eventually joining in Roland's rebellion. Paul's favorite haunt is the only pub on Isla De Los Vampiros, Feeding Time.

Bite of Story Thursday

Here's another peek at my current work in progress, NIGHT CHILDREN: DARK CHANGES.

Remember, this is from the rough draft so it does not reflect the final product. Anyway, sit back and enjoy...

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Night Children: Dark Changes
Chapter Twelve: Isla De Los Vampiros

It took the Bloodfeast three weeks to finally approach its isle home.  During that time, they would feed on the surviving Sea Wing crew members.  Roland didn’t want to be tossed overboard so he ignored the helpless human’s pleas.  He avoided their desperate eyes, even though their cries for help ripped his soul apart.

Roland watched the crew unload the stolen goods onto the dock.  They seemed to gaze at their Captain with a mix of fear and respect as he forcefully shouted commands.  

The sounds of excited people drew him to the shore.  The port looked normal.  He could sense vampires nearby but it was probably the crew.  He wondered what new adventures this place would bring.  An unnaturally strong hand gripped onto his shoulder and spun him around.  Blood-Eyed Bill glared, his dark red eyes skewered him like two hot pokers.

“It was a mistake to bring you,” his voice deep as a powerful drum, “You shouldn’t be a vampire.  You’re too small.  Too young.  One day he won’t be able to protect you.” 

Roland wanted to scratch the fool’s eyes.  Prove his merit.  Instead of causing a fight he might not win, he simply brushed off Bill’s hand with an equally strong push. 

“Touch me again and I’ll make you Black-Eyed Bill,” he snarled.  Bill snarled back.

“Ahem,” Reginald interrupted, “I trust we’re not spoiling our joyous homecoming with acts of stupidity?”

“No sir.”  Bill replied.  Roland just glared at Bill.

“Good.  Bill, finish supervising the unloading.”  Blood-Eyed  Bill moved away and Reginald opened his arms towards the harbor.  “Roland, my boy, welcome to Isla de los Vampiros.  It means Island of the Vampires.  No place on Earth like it.  An island populated, with some exceptions, of our kind.  This is our island.  We can rest, relax and feed at our leisure.” 

“If everyone’s a vampire, what do you feed on?”  Roland’s hopes rose.  Maybe he could actually stop drinking from mortals.  Then maybe the guilt would leave.

“You’ll not be going back to cats and rats.  Sorry to disappoint you,” the smirk on his face showed he clearly wasn’t, “The local tribe willingly provides us plenty of stock to feast upon.”  Roland’s stomach dropped.

“That’s your new home,” Reginald pointed towards the village.  Roland could see many people moving with great speed, darting to and fro.  Some cheered while pouring red liquid into their opened mouths.  Others leaped from the rooftops with screaming islanders trapped in their arms.  Chaos ruled the village, causing Roland to feel homesick for the peaceful woods of Massachusetts.

Bite of Story Thursday

It's Preview Day on Bite of Story Thursday. Today we're looking at what I'm currently working on.

Lately I'm editing Annabelle's "Book Two" or as it's currently called: DARK CHANGES (formally called Dark Trials).
Remember, this is from the rough draft so it does not reflect the final product. Anyway, sit back and enjoy...

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Chapter Ten, Shanghaied At Sea

An old sensation stirred inside him.  It was a familiar.  Vampires were near.  Several approached from somewhere within the thick mist.  He looked back at Reginald.

“Yes,” Reginald replied with a smile, “Now you’re beginning to understand.” 

“Bloody hell.  What’s going on?” one of the crewmen asked, his gruff voice laced with fear .  He looked around to examine the strange fog as it surrounded the ship.  He ran to alert the other crewmembers.

Roland was alarmed, “Should we let him?  He’ll expose--”

“My friends’ arrival was never meant to be a secret.” 

The ship suddenly rocked back.  Loud voices called through the night air.  The heavy mist started to break away. 

With no noise to announce it’s arrival, a large ship sat on the south side.  It was painted black and reminded Roland of the carriage Eliza used back home.  The striking difference was the dark red that seemed to be stained all over the ship.  A closer look revealed that the stains seemed to be scratched into the wood.  It was clear by the inviting smell that it was blood.

Several strange figures dressed in buccaneer clothes jumped onto the ship.  The crew on deck was instantly killed as the oncoming pirates showed off their pointy fangs.  The men down below deck charged up, only to be assaulted by these fearsome creatures.

“They’re pirate vampires,” Roland couldn’t help state the obvious.

“We prefer the term Bloody-Buccaneers.  It has a sort of nice ring to it.”  Reginald grabbed a crewman who was running by and swiftly sank his teeth into the man’s neck.  He drained the man and dropped him to the ground in one swift motion.

Special Repost: Who's Who in the Annabelle Universe? Roland Foresight

ROLAND FORESIGHT

artist: Adam Diller

Other names:
Night Child, annoying brother, Bloody-Buccaneer

Name Origin:

Old German name meaning "renowned land."

Physical characteristics:
Straight red hair. Red eyes. Small white fangs. Wears a variety of clothing but likes to wear combinations of red and black.

Age Chart:
He was turned at age 13. Every hundred years he ages one year. He actually experiences his years longer than normal humans. Vampire children remain that age emotionally and mentally, perhaps for self preservation so they do not go insane living as an adult trapped in a child body.

How he handles immortality remains to be seen.

Advancement Chart:
b. October 13th 1679 d. 1692

born a vampire 1692-
Age 13= 1692-1792
Age 14 = 1792-1892
Age 15 = 1892-1992
Age 16 = 1992-Present Day

No other ages available at the moment.

Abilities:
Roland tends to have dreams of the far future, although he isn't aware of this at the beginning of the series. When he learns of this talent remains to be seen. He has the standard vampire abilities. This means he’s faster and stronger than humans, his senses are extremely acute as are his reflexes. He can fly and turn into a bat. In later years He has shown the ability to transform into a wolf, rat and mist but how he learned these things has yet to be told. He can control humans through mesmerization and communicate with lesser beasts.
He became an expert sword fighter thanks to his years as a Bloody Buccaneer.

Known History:
In 1692 Roland Foresight moved with his family to the wilds of Massachusetts. The Vampire Lord Dominic Pratchet killed his parents and left him and his sister Annabelle for dead. Dominic's wife Eliza turned them into vampires, taught them the things they needed to know and became a surrogate mother to them.

As the centuries have passed, Roland became a hero to many, constantly fighting Dominic's forces as a member of the Order of Righteous Vampires. He prefers to drink the blood of animals instead of humans. Roland is possessed with an overwhelming desire to finish Dominic off once and for all.

He's rebellious, acts before thinking, hot-headed and gets overly excited about new things without thinking about the consequences. He isn't afraid of much in life and is filled with a wanderlust for adventure and travel.

He learned to sword fight when he became a Bloody Buccaneer. Those years were both some of the best and worst of his life. Two men have filled him with a passion for revenge; the vampire hunter Hawke and Dominic, the monster lord who killed his parents. He has also had a few loves in his long life.

Any more information would be spoilers at this time.

Talk Like a Pirate Day Map Peek!

Avast, ye hearties! Since it be "Talk Like a Pirate Day", I be thinkin' that it be the best o' days to share wit you a secret map. Yes, laddies and lasses, this hear be the location of those unruly pirates, those fierce monsters of the sea. I be talking about the Bloody-Buccaneers.

Under the evil direction of Captain Reginald Worthing, the Bloody-Buccaneers sailed the Atlantic and Caribbean back in the early 1700's.  Many a sailor spoke in whispers of their blood red sails and pitch black ship as it came upon them, always within a dense fog. Only a few survived to tell the fiendish tale of these monsters. Sharp fangs, stronger and faster than any mortal man and possessing one desire; to drink the blood of their captives.

Legend tells the tale of one such vampire pirate who secretly saved souls instead of killin' them. A short lad of thirteen years, with hair as red as fire. This lad could even change shape were it necessary. Legends say it was he who brought an end to those monsters.

At any rate, me lads and lasses, here be a map of where the Bloody-Buccaneer's home island, the dreaded

Isla De Los Vampiros.

 

It be marked with the red lines to show ye where it be. It may appear small, on the far left of Barbadoes, but those who live there were deadly.

 

 

Who's Who in the Annabelle Universe? Roland Foresight

ROLAND FORESIGHT

artist: Adam Diller

Other names:
Night Child, Island Keeper, annoying brother, Bloody-Buccaneer

Name Origin:

Old German name meaning "renowned land." 

Physical characteristics:
Straight red hair. Red eyes. Small white fangs. Wears a variety of clothing but likes to wear combinations of red and black.

Age Chart:
He was turned at age 13. Every hundred years he ages one year. He actually experiences his years longer than normal humans. Vampire children remain that age emotionally and mentally, perhaps for self preservation so they do not go insane living as an adult trapped in a child body.

How he handles immortality remains to be seen.

Advancement Chart:
b. October 13th 1679 d. 1692


born a vampire 1692-
Age 13= 1692-1792
Age 14 = 1792-1892
Age 15 = 1892-1992
Age 16 = 1992-Present Day

No other ages available at the moment.

Abilities:
Roland tends to have dreams of the far future, although he isn't aware of this at the beginning of the series. When he learns of this talent remains to be seen. He has the standard vampire abilities. This means he’s faster and stronger than humans, his senses are extremely acute as are his reflexes. He can fly and turn into a bat. In later years He has shown the ability to transform into a wolf, rat and mist but how he learned these things has yet to be told. He can control humans through mesmerization and communicate with lesser beasts.


He became an expert sword fighter thanks to his years as a Bloody-Buccaneer.

Known History:

In 1692 Roland Foresight moved with his family to the wilds of Massachusetts. The Vampire Lord Dominic Pratchet killed his parents and left him and his sister Annabelle for dead. Dominic's wife Eliza turned them into vampires, taught them the things they needed to know and became a surrogate mother to them.

As the centuries have passed, Roland became a hero to many, constantly fighting Dominic's forces as a member of the Order of Righteous Vampires. He prefers to drink the blood of animals instead of humans. Roland is possessed with an overwhelming desire to finish Dominic off once and for all.

He's rebellious, acts before thinking, hot-headed and gets overly excited about new things without thinking about the consequences. He isn't afraid of much in life and is filled with a wanderlust for adventure and travel.

He learned to sword fight when he became a Bloody-Buccaneer. Those years were both some of the best and worst of his life. Two men have filled him with a passion for revenge; the vampire hunter Hawke and Dominic, the monster lord who killed his parents. He has also had a few loves in his long life.

Any more information would be spoilers at this time.