DO THE UNDEAD FEAR THE DEAD

Those dead the undead fear do not rest. They are caught between two worlds—as they have not passed over successfully. They tend to be lost souls—those in search of the heavenly peace that eludes them.

They are often architects of their own damnation like Rose's incestuous father in The House on Blackstone Moor. And because of his madness and evil, he murdered his family--a family who took their hatred with them.

Yes there are vampires in the novel, but there also the spirits of the dead that are seething with murderous hatred. 

From The House on Blackstone Moor:

At first I thought it was a mist-filled dream, a dream and nothing more. My mother, sisters and my brother were standing and looking at me. They were smiling and calling my name.

“Mother? Mother is it you?!”

“We are coming Rose!”

I spread my arms to receive their embrace, but Louis stormed in. “Get away from her!”

What was wrong with him? I pointed at their golden light, their warm glowing love. “I see their love it is all about them, Louis.”

“It is a façade and nothing more. It is how they pretend to be.”

“You’re wrong Louis! Please they have come for me! They want me with them. How can you say no?”

“They are not your loved ones. They have been corrupted by their hatred, hatred like love never dies. They took that with them. Don’t you understand?”

“Please,” I cried. “No more platitudes I want my mother!”

If they were mist before, they seemed to change now, growing larger until they merged into one tremendous shape.

“They are changing!”

“Rose, come to us!”

So discordant were their voices, their heartfelt pleas. Yet I was greatly moved, I was desperate to obey for how could I possibly do otherwise?

“I am coming!” I cried.

As I hurried toward them the mist began to change into a cocoon from which a butterfly would emerge.

I waited, but then instead of a butterfly I saw them, as the dead things they were, floating just above the floor, sad bloodied things, gray with death, but stained red with the awful carnage of the fatal butchery. Their throats were gaping black crevices from which maggots danced. 

I covered my eyes, I could not look. They moved toward me then and I felt their presence, like icy mist they began to engulf me, freezing me and enveloping me in a stench filled fog..."

  

As Louis says, “I have some power against them, but not much, for the dead have much strength...!”

(End of excerpt)

AMAZON 

Each book in the series is sold singly for $2.99

AMAZON

Or buy all 4 books in the omnibus for $4.99

eFestival of Words 2014: Best Villain, Eco/ Best Horror, The House on Blackstone Moor

"The figure of the gothic child was there. Stoker's horror was there. Along with the romance! At the heart of her writing one stumbles upon a genuine search for that darkness we lost with the loss of Stoker." 

DR. MARGARITA GEORGIEVA ~ Gothic Readings in The Dark

Top 10 Books – 2013

THE HOUSE ON BLACKSTONE MOOR 

Aoife Marie Sheridan - ALL THINGS FANTASY

Publisher, Ultimate Fantasy Books 

"92 Horror authors you need to read right now"

Carole Gill -- the Blackstone Vampires series

~Charlotte Books - EXAMINER

THE HOUSE ON BLACKSTONE MOOR 

I for one found this gloriously gothic, refreshingly brutal, honestly horrific and a great read. 

~Taliesin Meets the Vampires

The Ravenous Undead! FREE FLASH FICTION!

"They rise from their crypts, these disgraced warriors who did not reach Valhalla but were consigned to ignoble burial.

You can see them as they stand atop their burial mounds, sword in hand, for they are still corporeal, though they reek of decomposing flesh and dusty bone.

Their stench, is all pervasive, the rotting corruption of themselves—it alerts all to their passage and the terror this night will bring.

“They have risen!”

An old man tries to warn the others of his village. But these undead spring quickly toward him like the monstrous predatory creatures they are, sleek and strong—shape-shifting demonic beings whose sole purpose is to rise from their own rot and destroy the living.

The old man cries out once but no more for they are chewing through his throat, ripping his poor flesh to shreds.

Great thick torrents of blood pour forth, appearing black in the eerie glow of a jaundiced moon.

Others begin to come forth too each rising armed with killing weapons, weapons alas not used in battle.

For you see these undead beasts were not warriors, but ran from battle in fright. And for their shame they were disowned and damned, their punishment was to be run through with blunt swords.

Yet though their executioners have long since died, these creatures have returned for revenge for they are mindless killing creatures and nothing more.

The village yonder is their target. For this was home to their punishers, those people who deemed them cowards.

They move en masse, a frightening sight to behold.

A courting couple see them and try to flee, but are soon overpowered. Each is pulled away, to be devoured, while still living.

Their agonized cries fill the night sky—and as their blood pours from their torn flesh, it is also consumed for it is the elixir the Draugr needs.

And then suddenly, in between the scream of a howling wind and the cry of an owl the boy and girl are fully consumed. Bones crunch and flesh is ripped apart. Then when they are dead, their mutilated remains are discarded for these undead feed only upon living flesh.

These ravenous dead at last reach the town. Parents cry out as they try to protect their young but none is a match for these demonic creatures. Babies are torn asunder and devoured, children drained and their parents too. All are feasted upon. A great and frightening cry of joy goes up when a pregnant woman is ripped apart, for there is the prize of a tiny fetus within.

The husband, father to the unborn child, watches powerlessly as his family’s murderers finish consuming his loved ones.

He cries out their names until his own head is torn from his body and the cascading blood is drunk.

Each house is so attacked and its inhabitants butchered and eaten.

But there is one who has fled not in cowardice but has rushed to stop these undead monsters.

A young warrior, strong and fiercely built does finally gather some of his friends to fight these cursed beings.

They have gathered iron swords from the monsters’ own crypts for that is the way. They are seen by the demons and are soon trapped high atop the cliffs that overlook the sea. But it is alright, they are ready for battle.

They yell a defiant war cry, as they spring forward, tackling the Draugr and slicing their heads from their bodies.

When all are so attacked the young warriors make a great pyre and burn the damned to ashes. At first light they will consign the ashes to the sea for that is the way it must be done.

The village is no more, but the Draugrs have been destroyed.

Ah but sadly there was one who watched and waited--one who will soon carry forth the hellish curse, for he will gather up as many fiendish comrades as he can from far afield, to avenge his brethren’s destruction.

Go forth if you dare! See if he can be stopped and please try to warn your kin!

And if some night you see them making for your village be resigned to the terrible death that comes from those they call the evil Draugr, the ravenous undead!

**

The Draugr are the shape-shifting undead Vikings of Norse mythology who feed upon living flesh.

In life they dishonoured themselves and were declared unfit to enter Valhalla and were thus buried and forgotten.

They can only be destroyed by decapitation and burning and having their ashes scattered.


© Carole Gill 2011

“Carole Gill’s talent is a wonder to experience. She has the uncanny ability to craft horrors imbued in fairy tale finesse.”

 “House of Horrors is a fine addition to my Kindle, and I’m sure I’ll be going to read this again and again…”

“A veritable blood feast for vampire fans everywhere!”

“If you are a fan of horror, you won't want to miss this one!! High marks to Ms. Gill.”

“There are so many different monsters in this book that no matter what your biggest fear is, or your favorite one to read about, you are gonna find it without fail!”

AMAZON 

Meeting Her Creator, Anton!

Countess Erzsebet Bathory really existed. Holding absolute power in 16th Century Hungary, she could fulfil all of her monstrous deviant fantasies. When she finally dies, in her walled up castle, she is raised by one who loves her and cannot believe what has been said. Anton, her creator, shortly becomes her devoted lover. 

In this excerpt, she is recalling everything she can in order to save him centuries later, from being destroyed for he is close to the great abyss from which no vampire returns. 

"There is nothing in my memory after that except just finding myself in a shadowy place. At first I thought I was dead. But then I saw you, my love, looking at me. “I am Anton...” you said. “And you must drink.” You raised a goblet toward me, plain and unadorned. I shook my head but you persisted. “You must for you will die in agony if you do not drink...”

As I saw the goblet come closer to me, I smelled the saltiness and tried to push it away, but you said, “It is my blood...” Raised Calvinist, I knew enough of the Catholic faith to be reminded of the Eucharist. Take this, all of you, and drink from it: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant... I looked at you and you looked the part! Could it be the Lord? I wondered. Was I forgiven, after all? My many murderous perversions? Was that possible?

Perhaps this was all part of some miracle! I watched you carefully. Handsome with high cheekbones, your eyes intently gazing into mine, you were imploring me to drink. Were you a priest or perhaps the Son of God?! Then, as if hypnotized, I took the goblet and drank. You were pleased I did and told me. “You are safe now...” I recall nothing else after that. Only the feel of your arms as you carried me to a pallet and told me to sleep. “Sleep, my lady, and dream of your new world. The one which has been waiting for you.”

The dream I had was confusing, just an intermingling of shadows and voices, each indefinite, the shadows fuzzy and indistinct. The voices were mere whispers, although I thought I recognized some of them: Darvulia’s and possibly even my mother’s. My mother’s sounded angry and it frightened me, though this did not surprise me. Darvulia’s was kindly. The sound of choked tears dominated her tone. The dream continued and I heard whispers that seemed to come from indistinct people calling to me, encouraging me onward, calming me. Reassuring me. I felt as if I was floating, I am quite certain of it.

Then you spoke, or at least I think it was you. “You will become used to your new world...just don’t fight it.”

end of excerpt

  5 stars "A blood-soaked rendition of the fictional life of a real-life multiple murderer, history's 'Countess Dracula'

AMAZON 

DO THE UNDEAD FEAR THE DEAD?

Those dead the undead fear do not rest. They are caught between two worlds—as they have not passed over successfully. They tend to be lost souls—those in search of the heavenly peace that eludes them.

They are often architects of their own damnation like Rose's incestuous father in The House on Blackstone Moor. And because of his madness and evil, he murdered his family--a family who took their hatred with them.

Yes there are vampires in the novel, but there also the spirits of the dead that are seething with murderous hatred. 

From The House on Blackstone Moor:

At first I thought it was a mist-filled dream, a dream and nothing more. My mother, sisters and my brother were standing and looking at me. They were smiling and calling my name.

“Mother? Mother is it you?!”

“We are coming Rose!”

I spread my arms to receive their embrace, but Louis stormed in. “Get away from her!”

What was wrong with him? I pointed at their golden light, their warm glowing love. “I see their love it is all about them, Louis.”

“It is a façade and nothing more. It is how they pretend to be.”

“You’re wrong Louis! Please they have come for me! They want me with them. How can you say no?”

“They are not your loved ones. They have been corrupted by their hatred, hatred like love never dies. They took that with them. Don’t you understand?”

“Please,” I cried. “No more platitudes I want my mother!”

If they were mist before, they seemed to change now, growing larger until they merged into one tremendous shape.

“They are changing!”

“Rose, come to us!”

So discordant were their voices, their heartfelt pleas. Yet I was greatly moved, I was desperate to obey for how could I possibly do otherwise?

“I am coming!” I cried.

As I hurried toward them the mist began to change into a cocoon from which a butterfly would emerge.

I waited, but then instead of a butterfly I saw them, as the dead things they were, floating just above the floor, sad bloodied things, gray with death, but stained red with the awful carnage of the fatal butchery. Their throats were gaping black crevices from which maggots danced. 

I covered my eyes, I could not look. They moved toward me then and I felt their presence, like icy mist they began to engulf me, freezing me and enveloping me in a stench filled fog..."

  

As Louis says, “I have some power against them, but not much, for the dead have much strength...!”

(End of excerpt)

AMAZON 

Each book in the series is sold singly for $2.99

AMAZON

Or buy all 4 books in the omnibus for $4.99

eFestival of Words 2014: Best Villain, Eco/ Best Horror, The House on Blackstone Moor

"The figure of the gothic child was there. Stoker's horror was there. Along with the romance! At the heart of her writing one stumbles upon a genuine search for that darkness we lost with the loss of Stoker." 

DR. MARGARITA GEORGIEVA ~ Gothic Readings in The Dark

Top 10 Books – 2013

THE HOUSE ON BLACKSTONE MOOR 

Aoife Marie Sheridan - ALL THINGS FANTASY

Publisher, Ultimate Fantasy Books 

"92 Horror authors you need to read right now"

Carole Gill -- the Blackstone Vampires series

~Charlotte Books - EXAMINER

THE HOUSE ON BLACKSTONE MOOR 

I for one found this gloriously gothic, refreshingly brutal, honestly horrific and a great read. 

~Taliesin Meets the Vampires

Undying Friendship

EXCERPT: while on promo 99cents.

"Louis worked the night shift at St. Vincent’s Hospital. He was a porter. It wasn’t bad because as any night shifter will tell you it tends to be a quiet shift. Most of the patients are asleep, there’s fewer staff and even the big shot doctors aren’t around.

Louis hated those arrogant pricks because they thought they were better than everyone else. A lot of them talked down to him. The worst of the lot was the Chief of Staff. Christ, Louis hated him.

Even the nurses spoke down to him: ordering him around like he was piece of crap.

“I got dignity too you know! I count! I’m a person!”

He had filed a complaint once or twice with Human Resources, not that they cared because they were even worse, especially that supercilious director who always made Louis squirm.

“I’ll see what I can do, Louis.”

“Thank you.”

“Thank you for coming here.”

Louis always skulked out of the office feeling worse than when he went in.

The only person in the world who was kind to him was his friend, Tito. Only Tito Sanchez was lying in the hospital morgue dead of a drug overdose.

Just 24 hours ago, Louis had seen them carry him out in one of those big black plastic bags.

“Got another one for our meat wagon.”

Louis’ head snapped around when he heard that gem. That said from one of the attendants to the other one.

“He was my friend!”

“Oh yeah. Sorry fella.”

He watched the damned thing drive silently away. No reason for a siren, not now.

“Bye Tito.”

The truth was he loved Tito. Not in a faggy way, but in a real hero kind of way. He looked up to him the way a kid does to his older brother.

Tito could do no wrong in Louis’ eyes. If there was one person in the world that could make everything right it was Tito.

Louis laid awake plenty of nights worried about him and his drug taking. That was one thing Louis never touched.

He tried speaking to his friend but nothing he said helped. After a while he gave up. That’s when he had the feeling.

Tito’s death was not entirely unexpected because Louis had a premonition. He was like that. He had been since he was little. Sometimes he knew what someone was going to say or do before they did it.

Mostly he didn’t care. It didn’t work for important stuff like lottery numbers or guessing at cards. It was just a skill of sorts. Something he could do—the only thing he was good at.

And if Louis could sometimes sense something, others could too. Like they could sense what Louis was thinking.

Tito had told him it was as though Louis was sending out a signal.

“I don’t know what it is, Louis. I ain’t psychic or nothin’ but I think you might be. Maybe not in the way people think about such stuff. I think more it’s vibes or somethin’ your brain sends out.”

Louis was flattered. It was something to latch onto, something nice. Not like his life.

He didn’t have much of a life at twenty eight. His father had disappeared when Louis was a kid. This caused his mother to have a kind of break down in the old cabeza. She was no one to talk to. Now with Tito gone he was more alone than ever.

The idea to raise Tito up came to him when he was feeding his cat, Bart. He had been reading his favorite paper, the one that had those stories about Elvis on the moon and UFO’s landing in the Pentagon.

The story that got him going told how some guy in England had raised his friend from the dead.

“Bart man, that’s it.”

The cat didn’t give a fuck. He had eaten and wanted to take a piss in his litter tray or against the wall if he felt like it.

Louis began to re-read the article."

(end of excerpt) 

In this horror collection you'll find stories of vampires, zombies, murderous midgets, demon clowns, evil dolls, haunted cemeteries, a real shop of horrors, taxidermy gone haywire, serial killers and more! 

Your worst fears and nightmares dished up for you with extra helpings of blood-curdling terror!

Review: 

"There is no doubt that she soars above the endless parade of independent horror authors to shine as a true star in the darkness. With the brilliant anthology House of Horrors she proves why she is a perennial favorite. To put it simply, this is a great assembly of tales anyone would be proud to have in their collection"

~Joshua Skye

DARK MEDIA

AMAZON 

1-4 CHAPTERS, Justine: Into the Blood

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4


Born in pre-Revolutionary France and orphaned as a child, Justine Bodeau is taken in by a family friend who employs her as a seamstress. Eventually, she winds up to work in the court of Queen Marie Antoinette.

A strong-willed survivor, defeat does not occur to her. When she fights off an attack by an aristocrat and kills him, she is given refuge but is soon betrayed and winds up on the streets of Paris, where she is attacked and killed by rogue vampires. But for whatever reason, love will not let her die.

Justine goes from wishing to be destroyed to wanting to survive, when she feels passion for the one who brought her back, Gascoyne — the one they call the Vampire Prince of Paris.

-

CHAPTER 1

"We are prisoners of our past, hostages of our heart. Yes, even those like myself whose heart no longer beats are slaves to it. Do we remember love? I think we do. For I remember my first loving or am I only recalling lust? I wonder if it matters. Perhaps nothing really matters, all the things gone before the current moment. Ah but there are so many moments in an immortal existence.

Shocked? Do not be. I am what I am, no more no less. The truth is I am a creature of the night—Blood is like wine to me, no wait. It is better than that. It is my life--alright, existence then.

Why not be honest from the first? I am Justine Bodeau, a vampire who recalls her existence now in this telling. My past has returned to offer me comfort. I am embraced by it. It feels good—though I know as I go along, I shall find certain memories painful. I wonder if I will bury them or if they will insist on returning. And when the past and present meet, when I find the truth to questions I have—I wonder if I shall wish to be destroyed for I have wished it many times. Still, I shall persevere.

I am aboard a ship sailing to a new chapter in my existence. What lies ahead I do not know. All I can do is guess and try to learn from the past; a past that included two worlds, one living and one undead.

I sit in my cabin, glad to be alone frankly, for I am able to reflect on all that had gone before. Was my existence worth so much that I cared to go on forever or for as long as I could? That was not a question to be taken lightly. There was much I would have to consider first.

Suddenly, there was a gentle knock at the door. It was Ramet. “I have brought you something…”

My dear friend Ramet—do not worry, you will know all there is to know about him in the course of my tale. He was bringing in something for me, something to take so that I would not sicken. Craving blood and doing without is not pleasant for one such as I. There is such gross discomfort when that happens. One is fraught with pain and nausea. I have felt that way many times, and it seems to me each time is worse than the time before.

“Justine?"

He came in quickly. “You must take this…”

I looked at the goblet and knew at once it not only contained blood but had an elixir he uses to restore vitality. It is the opiate of vampires as he says. We didn’t speak then, he just wished me to drink. And so I did. It tasted salty as blood always does, but there was the unmistakable taste of sweetness—too, probably from the honey I knew him to add.

“It is good, yes?”

I nodded and smiled. Sometimes I think Ramet is more like a concerned father than my friend. When I finished it he took it from me. “I will leave you now.”

He closed the door softly. Sleep beckoned, not the human sleep I can no longer recall, but the deep sleep of the vampire; sleep more like death than slumber—yet not being death it is often filled with dreams.

I undressed for I knew the cupboard would be warm. It was and small as well, still I knew if I slept on my side with my legs curled under me I should fit nicely. The darkness was soothing. There was no sound; just that of my own breathing filling the space. Soon I would be in sleep’s embrace and I would dream of the life that was mine long ago."

(end of chapter)

                                    

AMAZON 

"Top of its genre!"

"Revenge, betrayal, passion, bloodshed, lust and love are just a few of the elements of this dark and spellbinding book."

"Justine, realizes she as a vampire could actually love and in fact is in love with Gascoyne. I think that was the turning point in the story."

"This vampire romance is rich in history, deep in blood sex and exotic locations and is very highly recommended."

"Vampires have their own allure and none more so than the female."

Who Are The Mysterious Couple in The Blackstone Vampires?

Eco

A mysterious couple appear in both these books. Their living lives are depicted in book 2.

They also appear undead and aboard ship in Unholy Testament the Beginnings, bk 2 and Unholy Testament Full Circle, bk 3.

Eco, the demon- (best villain eFestival of words 2014) saw to it that they would be together for eternity.

They are always arguing, in fact they detest one another. They were infamous in life. She was Countess Erzebat Bathory (The Blood Countess) and he was
Gilles de Rais, aide to Joan of Arc and Marshall of France and a mass-murdering child killer and deviant.

Eco had raised them up. Then out of sheer devilment he had them exist together. He's a demon and has great powers.

The woman he claims to love must read his confession. He has so many sins to confess, it became two books. To encourage Rose to read all that he has written, he took her children away for 'safe keeping.' The only rub is Bathory and de Rais are watching them. It is a bit tense considering she bathed in the blood of young women and is thought to have killed hundreds.

de Rais had a predilection for little boys. Yes, you guessed it. He's watching Simon and Bathory is keeping an eye on Ada. Their mother finds that a bit stressful.

EXCERPT:

I began to struggle but only for a moment because I had the feeling that we were not alone. Eco laughed and as he did, he pushed me farther into my stateroom. I could not believe what I saw because standing there were Bathory and de Rais! The Blood Countess was holding Ada and that de Rais monster held Simon.

“Now you have something to think about. Best start reading, Rose. You’ll do a fine job. You can concentrate better now, without the distraction of the children.”

“No!” I shouted. I tried to free them but Eco pushed me down. 

“Your power is nothing next to mine!” he shouted.

The children’s cries were piteous, but within a moment it was all over. And I was alone, just me and the journal.

complete chapter about Gilles de Rais: 

http://carolegillauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/aide-to-joan-of-arc-sexual-deviant-and.html

Each book in the award-winning Blackstone Vampires Series is sold singly for $2.99  

of you can buy THE BLACKSTONE VAMPIRES OMNIBUS $3.99

Excerpt: THE RAVENOUS UNDEAD!

GRAPHIC VIOLENCE!

'They rise from their crypts, these disgraced warriors who did not reach Valhalla but were consigned to ignoble burial.

You can see them as they stand atop their burial mounds, sword in hand, for they are still corporeal, though they reek of decomposing flesh and dusty bone.

Their stench, is all pervasive, the rotting corruption of themselves—it alerts all to their passage and the terror this night will bring.

“They have risen!”

An old man tries to warn the others of his village. But these undead spring quickly toward him like the monstrous predatory creatures they are, sleek and strong—shape-shifting demonic beings whose sole purpose is to rise from their own rot and destroy the living.

The old man cries out once but no more for they are chewing through his throat, ripping his poor flesh to shreds.

Great thick torrents of blood pour forth, appearing black in the eerie glow of a jaundiced moon.

Others begin to come forth too each rising armed with killing weapons, weapons alas not used in battle.

For you see these undead beasts were not warriors, but ran from battle in fright. And for their shame they were disowned and damned, their punishment was to be run through with blunt swords.

Yet though their executioners have long since died, these creatures have returned for revenge for they are mindless killing creatures and nothing more.

The village yonder is their target. For this was home to their punishers, those people who deemed them cowards.

They move en masse, a frightening sight to behold.

A courting couple see them and try to flee, but are soon overpowered.

Each is pulled away, to be devoured, while still living.

Their agonized cries fill the night sky—and as their blood pours from their torn flesh, it is also consumed for it is the elixir the Draugr needs.

And then suddenly, in between the scream of a howling wind and the cry of an owl the boy and girl are fully consumed.

Bones crunch and flesh is ripped apart. Then when they are dead, their mutilated remains are discarded for these undead feed only upon living flesh.'

END OF EXCERPT:   

***

"There is no doubt that she soars above the endless parade of independent horror authors to shine as a true star in the darkness. With the brilliant anthology House of Horrors she proves why she is a perennial favorite. To put it simply, this is a great assembly of tales anyone would be proud to have in their collection"

~Joshua Skye

DARK MEDIA

AMAZON

The Work-In-Progress Blog Tour: Meet Anat: Blood Princess!

My wonderful author friend Julie Northrup has nominated me for this work-in-progress blog challenge. The idea is that we reveal something about our work-in-progress, link back to the person who nominated us, and in turn nominate a further three people to continue the chain.

My work-in-progress is the second novel in the Blood and Passion Series.

Book 1, Justine: Into the Blood was just released. And it seems my readers can't wait for the next in the series! The character, Anat made her debut  in Justine.

She is featured in Book 2. Her story is tragic. Anat, whose living life was in Ancient Egypt committed an unpardonable sin as a royal princess. She fell madly in love with a servant. They both paid dearly for this taboo affair.

Her former lover, Ramet, is a main character in Book 1, Justine: Into The Blood.

Book 2, Anat: Blood Princess is a story of love and loss, betrayal and unimaginable evil.

From the book:

"Today I am Cleopatra and next week I might be Helen of Troy. The possibilities are endless. I am one person and then another. Still, I am compliant for an actress must be..."

Indeed. How lucky they were in the dawn of Hollywood to have an actress who existed through eons of time, a true Hollywood vamp!

The story will tell of her living life in Ancient Egypt, her torrid affair and her death and raising up. Spanning centuries, she finds love--indeed seeks it; yet it is never as she knew it once to be. Still, her quest goes on, just as she does...

She has, in the previous novel, Justine: Into the Blood found her love from her living life. It is quite an emotional time for them, as that lover was punished for his indiscretion most cruelly.

In Book 2, Anat: Blood Princess, the evil sorcerer Natalas who created both of them becomes the dominant figure in Anat's existence. He has planned everything down to the last detail. Capable of anything, he is not to be trusted, yet he can force anyone, including the undead, to do his bidding.

I had this novel in my head as I wrote Justine. Now, I get to write it to its conclusion!

These are my nominations to carry the challenge onwards:

Craig Gaydas, Billie Lanford and Mary Bernsen.

ON SALE! NEW SERIES, NEW BOOK! Meet Justine Bodeau!

Justine Bodeau has arrived! She tells her story in her own words. Her tale makes up Book One of the Blood and Passion Series.

Born in a poor district of Paris when the nation is seething with unrest and hatred for the aristocracy, Justine finds herself at the court of Queen Marie Antoinette. Fighting off an attack by an aristocrat, she is saved by another--but betrayal follows. Death finds her on the streets of Paris where she is attacked by rogue vampires. But love will not let her die. The one they call Gascoyne, the Prince of Vampires gives her eternal life, but by doing so--he has condemned her to exist as one of the undead.

She isn't grateful, she hates what she has become, but passion overcomes the hatred.

Fate has many surprises in store for her. Friendship with another of her kind. And love too--but it is Gascoyne she is haunted by for she remembers love.

EXCERPT:

We are prisoners of our past, hostages of our heart. Yes, even those like myself, whose heart no longer beats, are slaves to it. Do we remember love? I think we do. I remember my first loving … or am I only recalling lust? I wonder if it matters. Perhaps nothing really matters, all the things gone before the current moment. Ah but there are so many moments in an immortal existence. Shocked? Do not be.

 I am what I am, no more no less. The truth is I am a creature of the night. Blood is like wine to me … no wait. It is better than that. It is my life— alright, existence then. Why not be honest from the first? I am Justine Bodeau, a Vampire who recalls her existence now in this telling. My past has returned to offer me comfort. I am embraced by it. It feels good—though I know as I go along, I shall find certain memories painful. I wonder if I will bury them or if they will insist on returning. And when the past and present meet, when I find the truth to questions I have, I wonder if I shall wish to be destroyed for I have yearned for it many times. Still, I shall persevere.

I am aboard a ship sailing to a new chapter in my existence. What lies ahead, I do not know. All I can do is guess and try to learn from the past; a past that included two worlds, one living and one undead. I sit in my cabin, glad to be alone frankly, for I am able to reflect on all that had gone before. Was my existence worth so much that I cared to go on forever or for as long as I could? That was not a question to be taken lightly. There was much I would have to consider first. Suddenly, a gentle knock sounded at the door. Ramet. “Justine?” 
He came in quickly. “You must take this…” 

My dear friend Ramet— do not worry; you will know all there is to know about him in the course of my tale. He was bringing in something for me to take so that I would not sicken. Craving blood and doing without is not pleasant for one such as I. There is such gross discomfort when that happens. One is fraught with pain and nausea. I have felt that way many times, and it seems to me each instance is worse than the one before. I looked at the goblet he placed in my hands and knew at once it not only contained blood but also an elixir he uses to restore vitality. The opiate of Vampires, as he says. We didn't speak then; he just wished me to drink. And so I did. It tasted salty as blood always does, but the unmistakable taste of sweetness crept through— too, probably from the honey I knew him to add.

“It is good, yes?” 

I nodded and smiled. Sometimes I think Ramet acts more like a concerned father than my friend. When I finished the beverage, he took the cup from me. “I will leave you now.” He closed the door softly. Sleep beckoned, not the human sleep I can no longer recall, but the deep sleep of the Vampire, more like death than slumber— yet not being death, it is often filled with dreams. 

I undressed for I knew the cupboard would be warm, as well as cramped. Still, if I slept on my side with my legs curled under me, I would fit nicely. The darkness soothed me. There was no sound; just that of my own breathing filling the space. Soon, I would be in sleep's embrace and I would dream of the life that was mine long ago.

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