Vampires Anyone?

The word vampire conjures images from Bela Lugosi, the most famous Dracula, to Tom Cruise as the Vampire Lestat or the monstrous Nosferatu of the silent film era.  The vampire legend exists in most cultures around the world.

Everyone knows that vampires fear the cross, cannot abide garlic (too much and I can't either), do not have reflections in mirrors, turn into bats or steam and sleep in coffins.  Of course, they must be invited in.  Anne Rice's novels revolutionized the traditional vampire, opening the door for authors to create their own vampire mythos.  In my books, vampires are mutations.  A blood-borne pathogen transforms mortals into immortals with superhuman strength and arcane powers.

Below is the first part of a free read on my website.  If you enjoy the sample, please visit http://www.lindanightingale.com for the continuing vampire story.  Now, without further ado, I introduce Morgan, the hero of Morgan D’Arcy: A Vampyre Rhapsody, now available from The Wild Rose Press.

*~*

I am Morgan Gabriel D’Arcy, an English lord, a concert pianist…and a vampire

VAMPYRE INTERLUDE

I studied my reflection in a golden mirror.  Long hair, blond.  Eyes blue. A handsome countenance, I’d been told.

“’od’s Teeth, I’m pale as a vampire.”

As I shrugged into a black sweater and jeans, a quiet knock at the door announced my manservant. I pulled on black boots of soft Italian leather. “Come.”

Always the perfect gentleman in his black suit and bow tie, Avery stepped into the treasure chest of art and antiques that was my bedroom. “Good evening, Sir.”

“Good evening, Avery. I’m going out.”

Last week on the telly, a talk show, Vampires Among Us, had peaked my curiosity. Five attractive young mortals circled the show host and claimed to be vampires. These real vampires plunged hypodermic needles into their veins, extracted a thimble of blood and squirted cardinal sin into their mouths directly from the syringe. Not my idea of pleasure.

“Imagine, instead,” I wanted to inform them, “pressing your lips to the throat. Open your mouth, run your tongue along the throbbing artery. Sink your teeth into that river of sheer delight. Your whole body vibrates with satisfaction more acute than sex. That’s what it means to be a vampire.”

The very prospect of telling these vampire children chased away the Hounds of Hell named Boredom nipping at my heels.

“Excellent. I hope you’re going hunting.” He folded his hands in front of him. “Sir, you should have waited for my assistance.”

I laughed. “Avery, at three hundred plus years, I think I’m old enough to dress myself.”

It had been an easy matter to run the little coven to ground. The five TV vampires shared a three-room flat in Maida Vale near an Underground station. Several evenings, I’d stalked the children at play. Among them was a flower of a girl—wild auburn curls free as the spirit that flashed in her blue eyes. Her long legs drew my gaze each time she pranced out of the flat in very short skirts. I imagined those legs in all sorts of erotic postures. Jaime was tonight’s entertainment.

Avery interrupted a vision of sinking my fangs and another part of my anatomy into Jaime. “Shall I fetch your coat, Milord? It’s another rainy night in London Town.”

I smiled at the old gentleman who’d served me for over twenty years. “Yes, I’m off on my vampire hunt. Don’t wait up.”

“Vampire hunt?” He chuckled. “Shouldn’t you wear a cross?”

My fingers in a cross, I bared my fangs, hissing like a horror flick fiend.

~*~

This is my initial post.  I hope you enjoyed Morgan's snippet.  Have a Fab Friday and a Wonderful Weekend. And an early Happy Halloween!

Linda