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The Tiny Vampire From Outer Space That’s Bitey XIII: The Uprising
Earth's sky is now purple, and the humans have noticed. It's not a rare sun effect or a trick on the eyes, and rioters demanding answers have appeared on the streets of Beach City. Marcus is less than thrilled and has vowed not to put up with that behavior on another planet.
Audio Sample
Sample Chapter
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Chapter 1
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The Sky Is Still Purple
Marcus walked downstairs in a pair of sweatpants. He turned on the TV in the back parlor to listen to it while he tried to figure out what he wanted to eat and what he wanted to feed Shadow.
Nothing looked good. Marcus would have preferred to hunt tonight.
“Sire!”
Marcus closed the refrigerator and turned his head toward the doorway. “Shari, did you bring food?”
“I have two Umbra Ones,” Shari said as she held the containers up. “Is little sire up?”
“She is not,” Marcus said. He took the Umbra One from Shari when she handed it to him. “Is this a special Umbra One?”
“It’s cherry,” Shari said.
Marcus tasted it. “It’s pretty good. Is that what Shadow’s is?”
“It is,” Shari said.
“You can take that to Shadow,” Marcus said.
“Does she need help?” Shari asked.
Marcus looked at her. “Who told you she needs help?”
“Um, no one,” Shari said.
“You’re observant. I guess that’s a good thing,” Marcus said. “I think she needs a shower. If you want to start the water for her.” He started to drain his Umbra One. “Just the water, please. Don’t embarrass her.”
“I won’t.” Shari hopped out of the kitchen.
Marcus drained his Umbra One on the way into the back parlor. He wanted to watch the news for a minute.
He frowned when he saw the images and immediately called Lucia.
“Marcus. I guess you’ve heard,” Lucia said.
“Come here,” Marcus said. “Those protests look serious.”
“They’re all up in arms over the purple sky, demanding the government give them answers and stop trying to tell them it’s an effect of the sun,” Lucia said.
“Are they out front of the apartment building?” Marcus asked.
“No, but the images on the TV make it look that way. They’re closer to the beach than they are here,” Lucia said.
“Is it continent wide?” Marcus asked.
“It’s all over this planet,” Lucia said. “Cities and towns mostly.”
“Well, come out here. It’ll be safer,” Marcus said.
“I’ll pack some bags and get the childer ready. We’ll be out there in a couple hours,” Lucia said. “What do you want to do about the shelter?”
“Are they burning and looting?” Marcus asked.
“Doesn’t seem like it,” Lucia said.
“I may head over there as soon as I get dressed,” Marcus said.
“You’re not dressed yet?”
“I came downstairs to get Shadow some food and watch the news. Shari beat me to the food, so she’s feeding Shadow and helping her. I’m making phone calls.”
“Shari’s a good little helper,” Lucia said. “But what does Shadow need help with?”
“The question is more like what she doesn’t need help with,” Marcus said. “You know how Umbra had everything automated?”
“I do,” Lucia said. “I didn’t have any of that stuff though.”
“Well, Shadow had all of it,” Marcus said.
“Oh crap,” Lucia said. “So, she can’t wash.”
“Can’t wash. She can barely choose her clothes,” Marcus said. “And if it’s got a zipper or hooks or anything like that, she can’t fasten it. Once she’s dressed, she’s good.”
Lucia laughed. “Marcus, it would take you half a night to teach her all that.”
“If I had half a night,” Marcus said.
“Well, maybe I’ll do it,” Lucia said. “Depending on how long I’m there.”
“Usually, I do it,” Marcus said. “We’ve had some conversations about it.”
“And you told her it doesn't matter,” Lucia said.
“I like doing it,” Marcus said.
“There’s no way you have time to wash her and dress her every night,” Lucia said. “You need to teach her or you need to let me teach her. Hell, even Shari could teach her. It’s got to be fixed, Marcus.”
Marcus sighed. “I’ll think about it.”
“I’ll be there in a little more than an hour,” Lucia said.
“I’ll see you when you get here.” Marcus ended the call just as Shadow and Shari hopped into the back parlor. “You two look good… And smell good.”
“I found scented soap,” Shari said.
“Are you all zipped?” Marcus turned Shadow around. “Oh, this is the dress with hooks.”
“One of them. She has several, but I thought this would be nice because it’s thicker and longer,” Shari said. “We got the straps on too for the long socks.”
“Thank you, Shari. I appreciate it,” Marcus said. “Your grandsire will be here in about an hour.”
“Oh great. We can play cards. Is she bringing Octavious and Ortho?”
“She is,” Marcus said.
“Ok. I better hurry then. I still have to do my classes,” Shari said.
“You better hurry,” Marcus said then grinned. He looked at Shadow after Shari left. “Did she embarrass you?”
“No,” Shadow said. “She actually showed me how to wash, so I can do it next time.”
Marcus ran his hands down his face. “I’m sorry, Shadow. I guess I should have shown you. My sire was a little miffed I hadn’t shown you either.”
“I told you you should have taught me,” Shadow said.
“I guess she showed you the zippers and straps too.”
“She did, but she said I’ll never be able to do the hooks,” Shadow said.
“No one would be able to fasten the hooks by themselves,” Marcus said.
“You’re disappointed,” Shadow said.
“I’m disappointed that I didn’t do it when you asked the other night, and one of my childer beat me to it,” Marcus said.
“Well, you can still do it, but you’re getting busier,” Shadow said.
“I know,” Marcus said. “It’s fine.”
“You’re not dressed,” Shadow said. She slid her hands down his chest.
“I’m heading upstairs to shower and dress now.” Marcus leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “I’ll meet you over at the cabin. If they’re doing reading, I want you doing it.”
Shadow huffed.
“Huff all you want, but go do it,” Marcus said.
Shadow grumbled as she walked out of the parlor and out the front door of the stone house. Marcus was in a terrible mood tonight.
She spotted Jacob on her walk to the cabin. “Jacob.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He walked over.
“Can I have a bite?” Shadow asked.
“Big bite or little bite?”
“Little bite,” Shadow said. “It’s a horrible night, and I don’t even know why.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” He held out his arm. “Right there.”
Shadow sank her fangs into his forearm and drank deeply for a few seconds.
“Better?” he asked.
“Yeah. Thanks,” Shadow said.
She continued on to the cabin and entered through the back door.
“Shadow, are you hungry?” Alera asked.
“I just ate,” Shadow said. “I found Jacob.”
“Jacob?”
“One of the jungle foods,” Shadow said.
“Oh, you named him,” Alera said.
“I thought it’d be easier than yelling, hey, food,” Shadow said.
Alera laughed. “Where’s Marcus?”
“Showering and dressing. He wants me to read,” Shadow said.
“Ok, I think Shari and Marc are working with Sabina on reading. Let me check.” Alera walked out of the kitchen and into the back parlor. “Are you guys reading?”
“We’re teaching Sabina,” Marc said.
“Can Shadow join?”
“Of course,” Marc and Shari both said.
“Shadow, you can come in,” Alera said.
Shadow walked into the room.
“Here.” Marc handed her a writing book and a pencil.
Shadow sat down on the floor and put her book and pencil on the coffee table.
“Is she a childe?” Sabina asked.
“No,” Shari said. “This is our female sire, but she’s older and only knows Latin.”
“Oh,” Sabina said. “I can’t write either one.”
“We’re going to fix that,” Shari said.
Shadow opened her book. “What’s mother?”
“Mater,” Marc said. “The words are ‘Mater accedit ad copia’, but the English is ‘The mother goes to the store’.”
“Oh, that is a lot of words,” Shadow said.
“English is long,” Marc said. “They spell out every single word.”
“But it’ll show you a picture, and you can write the words and sentences,” Shari said.
“Okay.” Shadow practiced writing the words. She laughed.
“What’s funny?” Sabina asked.
“Mater scribit,” Shadow said. “Or, I guess in English, the mother writes.”
“Looks accurate to me,” Marc said then laughed.
“Is every childe here yours?” Sabina asked.
“Yes,” Shadow said. “Why?”
“We showed her the other childer,” Shari said.
“And then said don’t bother them,” Sabina said.
“They’re still sleeping and growing,” Shadow said.
“Someone said he plans to number the rest,” Marc said.
“Um...” Shadow contemplated. “Well, I don’t know. I guess, to be more specific, we don’t know.”
“What don’t you know?” Marcus asked as he stepped into the doorway of the parlor dressed in a pair of black slacks and a black long-sleeved, button shirt.
“They asked how we were naming the rest of the childer,” Shadow said. “And why we might just give them numbers.”
“Oh. We don’t know,” Marcus said. “It’s an ongoing debate.”
“Why would they not be named?” Shari asked.
“Because these are childer ten through forty,” Marcus said. “They’re not firstborns.”
“Oh,” Shari said. “I didn’t know there was a difference.”
“Neither did Shadow. That’s why we’re still discussing it,” Marcus said.
“Shadow?” Sabina asked.
Marcus motioned. “My Bonded. Please, don’t confuse her for another of your siblings, even though, she needs to learn the same things you do.”
“Why doesn't she know?” Sabina asked.
“Because she was borne on Umbra and didn't have a need to learn new cultures or languages, like I did,” Marcus said.
“Wasn’t the trip here six months?” Sabina asked.
“Sabina,” Marc said. “It’s really not appropriate to keep questioning our sires like this.”
Sabina frowned and looked around.
“It’s fine. Sabina is extremely young. She didn’t hatch with half the knowledge you have, Marc, so we’ll show some leniency in this instance,” Marcus said. “Shadow was working on other skills during that time. Skills I will eventually teach you.”
“Oh, no. I’m behind too!” Sabina said.
“You won’t be for long,” Marcus said. “You’re new siblings will see to that.”
“Speaking of our new siblings,” Marc said. “We can help name them if that’s the problem.”
“It’s part of the problem,” Marcus said.
“Well, we can name them,” Shari said. “Or help you name them.”
Marcus contemplated. “What do you think, Shadow?”
“I think that’s fine,” Shadow said, even though the names were only part of the problem.
“All right. You can name the next one,” Marcus said. He grinned when all the childer ‘yay’d’. “Shadow, are you done with your lesson?”
“Uh, almost,” Shadow said. “I don’t know what this thing is.”
“Let me look.” Marcus walked around the table. He leaned down and looked at the image. “The word is bat, looks like a carved wooden stick to me.”
“Oh yeah,” Marc said. “That one is really hard. We had to look it up.” He picked up his tablet and typed words into the search bar. “Here. Sire. This explains that bat.”
Marcus took the tablet from Marc and read. “Oh. Shadow, it’s for a game. You hit a ball with that bat and then run around a square. The game is called baseball.” Marcus showed her the image of the field.
“Oh. Good grief. How is anyone supposed to know that?” Shadow wrote the word and then wrote a sentence.
Marcus read her sentence and laughed.
“What’d she write?” Marc asked.
“The bat is hitting a ball,” Marcus said. “And she drew a ball next to the bat.”
“That’s not bad,” Marc said. “How’s her spelling?”
“She spelled is with a Z, and there’s only one T and L,” Marcus said. “But this is better than it was.”
“What’s it supposed to be?” Shadow asked.
“Like this.” Marcus took her pencil and wrote the sentence above hers.
“Oh. This is so confusing,” Shadow said.
“You’ll get better at it,” Marcus said. “Let’s try this next one. What’s the picture?”
“Another ball,” Shadow said.
“Okay. Spell ball here.” He motioned then watched. “Now, write a sentence with ball.” Marcus watched and laughed.
“What’d she put?” Sabina asked.
“Ball is hard to spell,” Marcus said.
The childer laughed.
“All right. Shadow and I have things to do,” Marcus said.
“I’ll save the book,” Shari said.
“Thank you. She’ll be back to work some more in it later,” Marcus picked Shadow up and carried her out of the parlor. [That was a more intense conversation than I wanted this early in the evening.]
[They were pretty intense tonight,] Shadow said to Marcus.
Marcus carried her out the back door. “A little privacy might do us some good.”
“Treehouse?”
“Good idea.” Marcus carried her to the treehouse and up the stairs before setting her on her feet.
“What do we need to talk about?” Shadow sprawled across the bed.
“The riots,” Marcus said as he watched her. “Did Shari put boots on you?”
“She did,” Shadow said.
“Did she show you how to fasten them?” Marcus asked as he walked over to the fireplace and lit it.
“She did,” Shadow said.
Marcus turned around once the fireplace was flaming. “Do you know how to take them off?”
Shadow laughed. “Yes.” She sat up and pulled on her boots.
“Don’t get in a hurry. Those won’t slide off like your sandals.” Marcus walked over and unlaced them. “You’ll break your foot.” He tossed the boots on the floor.
Marcus sat on the edge of the bed. “I think half the time it’s not that you don’t know, it’s that you’re lazy. Watch.” He leaned down and unlaced his shoes before removing them. “If I toe these off like you do your sandals, I’d scuff them. Probably pull off the heels too.”
“I thought we were going to talk about the riots,” Shadow said as she slid into his lap.
“We are.” Marcus slid his hands up her sides before kissing her. “But I also have other things on my mind… Which you can’t hear because I dimmed everything the other night because you were getting stressed by it. Do you feel better now?”
“Yes,” Shadow said.
Marcus kissed her again as he opened the Bond to its previous level. He should have done that last night. Their hot tub adventure might have been more pleasurable, not that he could complain.
Shadow laughed at his thoughts. You didn’t like the hot tub?”
“It could have been better,” Marcus said between kisses.
“Marcus, do you have the news on up there?” Oliver yelled from the ground.
Marcus turned his head. “Not yet.”
“You may want to turn that on. Are you still decent?” Oliver asked.
“Unfortunately.” Marcus slid Shadow out of his lap before standing and grabbing the remote for the TV. He turned it on to the news.
Oliver walked through the door of the treehouse. “It’s not my goal to interrupt, but it’s getting worse in town.”
“I see that,” Marcus said. “Lucia and the childer should be here any time.”
“That’s probably a good thing because they’re burning buildings,” Oliver said.
Shadow rolled her eyes. “Oh yeah. Burning the buildings will get the sky to turn back to blue and the government to tell them why it turned purple.”
“Too bad we can’t drink them. It’d be a good opportunity to take the childer hunting. The older ones anyway,” Marcus said as he watched the screen. “That’s too close to the shelter and apartment building. I have to go into town.”
Shadow huffed.
“You could still do a culling,” Oliver said. “You don’t have to drain them to kill them.”
“That is true.” He looked at Shadow as he grabbed his shoes. “Put your shoes on.”
Shadow put her boots on.
Oliver leaned down to make sure they were tied. “Good job.”
“Shari showed her earlier,” Marcus said as he put his shoes on.
“Do you want the other childer?”
“Marc and Shari,” Marcus said as he picked Shadow up.
“I’ll tell Alera to get them ready,” Oliver said. “Are you driving?”
“No,” Marcus said. “We’ll portal in.”
Oliver held the back door open for Shadow and Marcus once they got to the cabin.
“Are they ready?” Marcus asked.
“Almost. I had them change into their jeans,” Alera said.
“Shadow, do you want to change?” Marcus asked.
Shadow looked down at her dress.
“You’ll stand out in that.” Alera walked over to the replicator and programmed a new set of clothes. She handed them to Shadow.
Shadow took the clothes and walked into the hall bath to change.
“You won’t stand out. You’re going to blend into every shadow on the street,” Alera said to Marcus.
“I didn’t plan it that way, but I like these clothes.” Marcus turned his head when Julian walked into the kitchen. “Julian.”
“Sire, I was wondering if I could go,” Julian said.
Marcus looked at Julian. He was wearing black jeans, a long-sleeved black turtleneck and his boots. “Did you change?”
“I did, sire. I was hoping,” Julian said.
“He was in the TV room when I told Shari and Marc,” Alera said.
“Okay. You can come. Was Arrian interested? Or Camille?” Marcus asked.
“I don’t think so,” Julian said. “They were watching bugs bunny.”
Marcus nodded. “You can join. I can handle one more.”
“One more what?” Lucia asked as she walked down the hall into the kitchen.
“Childe on a hunting trip,” Marcus said.
“Are you going into Beach City?” Lucia asked.
“They’re getting too close to the apartment building and shelters,” Marcus said.
“You can’t eat them,” Lucia said.
“That doesn’t stop us from killing them,” Marcus said.
“I guess I’ll go. Help you keep track of the kids,” Lucia said.
“Are you sure? Where’s Ortho and Octavious?” Marcus asked.
“Watching bugs bunny with the girls and enjoying some snacks.” Lucia motioned down the hall.
“All right,” Marcus said. He wasn’t going to argue with his sire. Plus, with three childer and Shadow, he was going to need another set of eyes.
“Sorry that took me so long,” Shari said. “I couldn’t find my black jeans.”
“It’s fine. Your grandsire and Julian are coming too,” Marcus said.
“Great. This’ll be fun!” Shari hopped.
“You can’t drain them, or you’ll get sick,” Lucia said.
“I know,” Shari said.
“The goal is to keep them away from the apartment building and the shelter,” Marcus said. “If they approach our block, they die. It is that simple. I am not going to tolerate this behavior on another planet.”
“Okay,” Marc said.
“I understand,” Shari said.
Marcus opened a portal. “To my office at the shelter. We’ll talk more there.”
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The Tiny Vampire From Outer Space That’s Bitey XII: Purple Sky
Marcus' plans are moving right along. His blooddoll stock is growing, and his family is growing. Now, he just needs to stop the space agency from killing every living thing on the planet with space dust, and in order to do that he has to change Earth's atmosphere. While it's not an impossible task, he needs to create the gases, get into space and release them. Only then will his food supply be safe.
Audio Sample
Sample Chapter
Chapter 1
Confrontation
Marcus looked down at Shadow while he buttoned his shirt. He’d gotten out of bed and dressed while leaving her in bed. Now, he was debating on whether or not he wanted to wake her before or after he made food.
Shadow inhaled and flopped over. She landed on the mattress.
“I’m right here,” Marcus said.
Shadow opened her eyes. “Why?”
“I was getting dressed and debating if I should wake you. Are you getting up or waiting until I have breakfast ready?”
Shadow tried to sit up. “I’m stuck.”
Marcus leaned over and started unwrapping her from the blankets. He removed two and stared at the rest of them. “How did you do this?” She was completely twisted in the bedding.
“I don't know,” Shadow said.
“I can’t find the edge.” Marcus picked her up with tendrils. “You were laying on it.” He finished unwrapping her and laid her back on the bed. “The first vampire caterpillar.”
Shadow laughed as she slid out of the bed.
Marcus walked into her closet. “You’re clean. Do you want a dress?”
“Is it cold out?”
“I don’t think so, but I can get you some leggings and a sweater too,” Marcus said.
“Okay,” Shadow said.
Marcus grabbed a dress off of a hanger and stepped out of the closet. He slid the dress over Shadow’s head then zipped it before searching for a pair of thick stockings and some straps. “Come here.” Marcus slid them on her legs then put the straps over the tops. “You’re dressed. You just need to pick a sweater if you want one.”
Shadow grabbed her sandals from under the bed and strapped them to her feet. “Are we going back to Area 51?” She walked into her closet and grabbed a long sweater. Shadow put it on and walked into the bedroom.
“We are,” Marcus said. “Did you want to ride the Marcus on the way to the kitchen?”
“Yes.” Shadow hopped.
Marcus grabbed her mid-air and carried her down to the kitchen while she squealed.
Oliver stepped through the front door and walked down the hall to see Marcus swinging Shadow around in the kitchen. He laughed. “What are you doing?”
“Getting Umbra Ones,” Marcus said. He sat Shadow on her feet. “And entertaining my Bonded.” He walked over to the replicator and programmed three Umbra Ones.
“Giving her some of that Sire attention she didn’t get,” Oliver said.
Marcus chuckled. “It can’t all be work and sacs.” He passed out the Umbra Ones. “I guess Alera doesn’t like being entertained.”
“Not like that,” Oliver said. “I’d say it’s the age difference, but I don’t think so. She’s never wanted to be picked or tickled or anything like that. She does like playing Go Fish.” He drained his Umbra One and threw away the container.
Shadow drained her Umbra One. “I think she’s missing out.”
Oliver grinned. “She might be. But I think we need to get serious, and I need to get the van.”
“Did you want something?” Marcus asked as he threw away his empty Umbra One container.
“I was just making sure you two were up. You’ve been sleeping late,” Oliver said.
“We’re up. We’ll meet you out front,” Marcus said. He watched Oliver walk out the front door before turning his attention to Shadow. “Do you want an elixir?”
“I think I’m okay,” Shadow said.
“Half an elixir it is.” Marcus programmed the replicator.
Shadow shook her head. “You worry too much.”
“Probably.” Marcus handed her the container. “I think you’re about over it, but I want you to drink that anyway.”
Shadow drained it. “Why are you excessively worried tonight? There’s no moon.”
“If I could determine that...” Marcus said.
“You have too many thoughts,” Shadow said.
“That’s most of the problem,” Marcus said. “I’m contemplating many things. I can quiet that for you.”
Shadow shook her head. “It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay. I’m going to end up confusing you.” Marcus lessened the input going through their bond. “That’s only temporary.”
Shadow huffed.
“If I can’t make sense of my thoughts, you’re not going to either,” Marcus said.
“Do you want more childer?”
“Yes.” Marcus took a step back and shook his head as if trying to erase that answer. “I want what’s best for you.” He found it interesting that out of everything he was contemplating, she picked that topic.
“I think your first answer was the real one,” Shadow said.
“I think this is a topic best left alone for the time being,” Marcus said.
“Why?” Shadow asked.
“Because you’re still overly sensitive, and to make any decisions of that nature, we need to be objective,” Marcus said.
“Objective about family?”
“What I said about them being cannon fodder and servants was the truth,” Marcus said. “Not counting the first eight or ten.”
“I don’t know how to fix that,” Shadow said.
“I don’t either,” Marcus said. “But I bet Oliver has the van out front.” He wrapped an arm around her and ushered her through the front door of the house. Her topic of conversation wasn’t one he wanted to continue. He didn’t have any additional thoughts other than what he’d already told her and just now repeated.
Oliver was just stepping out of the van as they stepped off the porch.
“Intense conversation?” he asked.
“Little bit,” Marcus said. “We were discussing the expansion plans for our family.”
“More childer,” Oliver said.
“We’re at a crossroads, I think,” Marcus said.
“No one said you couldn’t have more,” Oliver said. “We’re just asking that you slow down.”
Marcus nodded. “It’s a tougher decision than it sounds.”
“Well, I think you’ve got some things in your collective past that you need to clear up before you can make any further decisions on that,” Oliver said.
“Like what?” Marcus asked.
“I think you need to confront the vampire that turned Shadow,” Oliver said. “That seems to be both of your primary problems. I know you’ve resired and bonded her, but it doesn’t seem to be enough for either of you.”
“I don’t know about that,” Marcus said.
“Well, think about how much you improved after getting your closure with Gala.”
“I told Gala to leave me the hell alone. Although, she did apologize. More or less,” Marcus said. “But we don’t exactly know where Shadow’s former sire is so that we can have any type of discussion, much less get a half-assed apology.”
“We know he’s here,” Oliver said. “I’d suggest sitting at the shelter and seeing if he shows up. It’s the only place in town with good food.”
“We’re due at Area 51 tonight,” Marcus said.
“Let Alera and I go. Take the car and wait for that idiot,” Oliver said. “If I have a question or need your input, I can call.”
“We don’t know that he’ll show tonight,” Marcus said.
“But you don’t know that he won’t,” Oliver said.
“I guess we could stop by there. I’ll have my wrist device,” Marcus said.
“We’ll call if we need you,” Oliver said.
“Are we ready?” Alera asked as she walked toward the van.
“We are. Marcus and Shadow have business at the shelter,” Oliver said.
“Are they coming later?” Alera asked.
“Maybe,” Marcus said. “Depends on how long this takes.”
“All right. We’ll see you later.” Alera stepped into the van and closed the door.
“I’ll get the car,” Marcus said to Shadow.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Shadow asked.
“Might as well get it over with,” Marcus said as he walked toward the car. “It’ll happen at some point regardless, and I’d rather have the element of surprise.”
Shadow followed him and stepped in on the passenger’s side.
“I was going to bring the car to you,” Marcus said as he started the engine.
“I know, but I can get myself in,” Shadow said.
“I don’t have any doubts about that. You can do a lot, and you’re not competing with the childer over opening your own car door.” Marcus drove down the driveway.
“I know. I just...”
“It’s not an inconvenience,” Marcus said. “None of it is. I like washing you and dressing you. I like opening the car door for you.”
“But wouldn’t you like it if I could do more of that myself?” Shadow asked.
“I feel like we’ve had this conversation,” Marcus said. “I like it. It lets me take care of you on a more intimate level than other bondeds get to experience.” He contemplated, searching for better words. “I consider it a privilege.”
“Oh,” Shadow said.
“But speaking of childer, did they say if they fed them?”
“I think Alera did it. That’s why she was running late,” Shadow said.
Marcus nodded as he drove.
Shadow settled into the passenger’s seat. “I don’t want to do this.”
Marcus glanced at her as he drove. “I know you’re uncomfortable with it, but it needs to be done. You need to know why he left you. To spite having a new stable life and family, you’re still affected, and so am I. Oliver was correct on both of those points.”
“He’s older than you,” Shadow said.
“He’s also my great great grandsire,” Marcus said. “If I’m right about your lineage anyway.”
“Jacques Dark.”
Marcus grumbled.
“I haven’t thought of that name in over a hundred years,” Shadow said.
“I know,” Marcus said.
“What do you know?” Shadow asked.
“Not much,” Marcus said.
“More than I do,” Shadow said.
“I only know more than you do because I’m older. I put a few things together,” Marcus said. He turned into the underground garage of the apartment complex and parked. “Did you want to see the childer?”
“Not yet,” Shadow said.
Marcus turned off the engine. “We’ll just head over then.” He walked around the car and opened Shadow’s door.
“You never do that,” Shadow said.
“Open your door so you can get out? I guess not. Oliver usually drives, so I’m opening my door then getting you.” He picked Shadow up and carried her across the street to the shelter. Marcus set her on her feet as soon as they entered the door.
“Marcus, I didn’t expect you tonight,” Sadie said.
“I didn’t expect to be here tonight,” Marcus said. “But I’m looking for a tall man. About my height. Long black hair. He sometimes frequents here.”
“Kinda large. Always wears a cape with a hood?” Sadie asked.
“That would be him,” Marcus said.
“If he’s here, he would be downstairs in the other line,” Sadie said.
“Thank you.” Marcus led Shadow to the back of the building and down the stairs to the basement. There was a line of vampires nearly out the door.
“Wow,” Shadow said.
“We are busy tonight.” Marcus walked down the line to the front. “William.”
“They have me down here tonight,” William said.
“That’s fine,” Marcus said. “Have you seen a large vampire with long black hair wearing a cape? Well, I guess it’s a cloak. It has a hood.”
“He’s about twentieth in this line,” William said as he took the next vampire’s money and handed her four bloodbags. “Saw him when I went to use the bathroom. He’s hard to miss.”
“I see him.” Marcus stepped back so that William could serve everyone. He decided not to pull Jaq out of the line. It was bad enough that he was going to interrupt his meal. There were times for confrontation and times not for confrontation, and food time was definitely not a confrontation time. Not an ideal one, anyway.
It took slightly more than twenty minutes for Jacques to get to the front.
“How many?” William asked.
“Is there a limit?” Jaq asked.
“Not tonight.”
“Ten,” Jaq said then thought better of it. “Better make it sixteen.”
William loaded a bag and zipped it. That’s a hundred and sixty Empyrean dollars.
Jacques handed the man the cash and took his bag. He took a few steps out of the line and looked up. “It can’t be.”
“It can be,” Marcus said.
Shadow and...” Jacques paused and frowned. “Marcus?”
“You are correct,” Marcus said.
Jacques walked over to them. “Well, this isn’t a reunion I ever expected.”
“I suppose not since you left the entire planet,” Marcus said.
“I suppose you’re angry,” Jaq said.
“Extremely,” Marcus said. “What in Hades possessed you to leave a two-year-old vampire alone without calling anyone to pick her up!?”
“I left for Chivitas that night. I was unable to get her,” Jacques said.
“And unable to call my Sire to get her,” Marcus said. “Or myself.”
“I should have made more of an effort, but she was very advanced for her age,” Jaq said.
“She was devastated, under-trained and ill-equipped to be left by herself!” Marcus said.
Jaq looked around. The line of vampires was now staring at them. “Can we talk someplace more private?”
Marcus snarled and motioned toward the stairs.
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Why Stacey Carroll Writes the Books and Stories She Writes
Stacey Carroll seeks to solve the problem of all books being the same. In fact, you might have heard yourself saying this after reading certain genres – I’ve read this before, or this is just like the last book I read. Is there anything different out there? Mainstream publishers tend to put out the same books over and over again because X book did well. This is done in order to maximize their profits and lower the chances of a loss, but you, as a reader, are probably bored to tears with this scenario. We need more diverse books, and we need them now. Thankfully, Stacey Carroll seeks to take care of this problem by not holding to conventions and publishing books that traditional publishers don’t want because – That’s played out. It doesn’t do well. No one will read that cause it’s not like X. Stacey Carroll has never followed the crowd, and her books don’t either.
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A Great Anti-hero
In the universe, light cannot exist without darkness. And in fiction, the anti-hero is also needed. But on the surface, even children can grasp the idea of what exactly is a villain. It seems an easy and universal concept. The villain, also known as the bad guy, is the protagonist who causes suffering.
He is responsible of other characters’ woes and struggles. And he is the good guy’s motivation as well. He causes the hero to go through extreme challenges and feats. But life can be complex, and literature can be complex as well. So not all anti-heroes are created equal. And yes, they can even be the main protagonist of a work of literature. This article will explain how an anti-hero can be the main character of a work of fiction and what makes him compelling.
Read more: Is Your Protagonist still the Protagonist if He's the Bad Guy?