This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
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Acknowledgments
First and foremost, I would like to thank Dawn and Connie for taking the time to read my book and give me feedback. Without your help, I might have just scrapped the whole project and sulked in front of the TV watching chick flicks. Thanks also go out to my mom for birthing the coolest kid on the planet, love you! To my little sister Melissa, you are an inspiration and I love you more than words can express. To the rest of my friends and family that supported me, thank you! Your enthusiasm was the only thing that helped me whenever I got writer’s block.
I also have to thank my husband, who has been by my side since the day we met and given me the strength and love I needed to push through. Even though you were never able to read the whole thing on your own…(just sayin’). Last, but certainly not least, to my two wonderful daughters, Phoenix and Emma, for giving me the motivation and courage to pursue my dreams. Mommy loves you! You're too young right now to know what I'm talking about, but in the future when you're reading this, just remember that you are amazing and can accomplish anything you set your mind to! XOXO!
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Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1-A Dream
Chapter 2-Attack
Chapter 3-Halloween Dance
Chapter 4-The New Guy
Chapter 5-Masquerade
Chapter 6-Ghost
Chapter 7-Rumor
Chapter 8-Revelations
Chapter 9-Secrets
Chapter 10-Garbage
Chapter 11-The Diary Page
Chapter 12-Bonfire
Chapter 13-Betrayal
Chapter 14-Confrontation
Chapter 15-Mom
Chapter 16-Funeral
Chapter 17-Kidnapped
Chapter 18-The Journey
Chapter 19-Circe's Battle
Chapter 20-The Return
Chapter 21-Answers
Chapter 22-A Promise
Epilogue
About the Author
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Prologue
Sweat beaded on Draven's forehead and trickled down to the ground with a heavy thump as he paced restlessly in front of a pair of massive wrought-iron doors. They were the color of red clay, dirty and swirled with rust. An odd metallic tang permeated his nose and tongue as he scooted closer. Years of humidity and dampness have been unkind to this place, he thought to himself.
He had been working grueling hours as a digger the past few weeks down in the catacombs. It was the same old routine as he mindlessly shoveled mounds of dirt from one pile to the next while his legs and arms begged for him to stop. As he was getting ready to leave his shift, he overheard whispers that Thanatos had summoned Circe to his castle and that she had arrived early this morning. Or was it morning? He didn't know anymore, it was always black as night here in this forsaken place. Draven knew first-hand what cruel things Circe was capable of. You see, Circe was a witch; the kind that buzzed with such enormous power she almost surpassed Thanatos-almost being the key word. She had a reputation for being the purest form of evil and after what she had done to him; there was no doubt in his mind about her true nature. He shivered just thinking about her. Thanatos was much worse. He’s the devil incarnate, literally, and has ruled the Kingdom of Sheol with an iron fist for many decades. So frightfully powerful that even Circe knew when to bow down to him.
Draven shook all of the thoughts and doubt from his mind as he stepped up to the doors. He carefully cracked them open and placed his ear near the hole. Whatever the two of them were planning, it wasn't good.
"What is it you're going to ask of me this time?" he heard Circe cackle.
"Do you remember my most prized pupil?" Thanatos inquired.
"Yes, I remember her quite well," Circe replied.
"Then you'll also recall how she ripped open my heart the day she fled my land and her home."
"Of course I do. How could anyone forget that terrible day." she replied with more than a hint of sarcasm.
"I have news,” he said. “Would it surprise you to know that I've finally found her? That she's settled for a lowly human? Or that she has a child?"
"It does not surprise me," she replied with distaste. "She always longed to be one of them. What I don’t quite understand is how exactly this involves me?"
"How does it ever involve you?" he said frustrated. "I need you to turn her."
"Turn her into what? A vampire? You know that won't work, she's already one of their kind."
"No, you fool," he boomed, "I'm talking about the child of hers."
Draven couldn't see what was going on in that room, but he knew Circe would be smiling. This kind of task was right up her alley.
Circe began to laugh as she said, "Of course! It would be my pleasure, anything for you my dear friend."
Draven stepped back and processed everything he'd overheard. He knew plenty about vampires from living in this rat hole. They were disgusting creatures that fed off of humans for sport. If they were going to condemn an innocent to that fate, he had to stop them. It was then that he knew what he must do; he had to leave immediately and find this child. Nobody would miss him anyway, it’s not like he had any friends here and his dad had gone missing months ago. Searching for his father would just have to be pushed to the side while he helped this child.
As Draven gathered his things to leave he thought about all of the other times he'd overheard conversations similar to this one but never acted on them. Why was this one different? He didn't know, but there was a part of him deep down that urged him forward and that was good enough for him.