Table of Contents

FIRST REFLECTION
Blurb
Copyright Acknowledgement
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
About the Author
MLR PRESS AUTHORS
GLBT RESOURCES

FIRST REFLECTION

On Reflection

STEVIE WOODS

mlrpress

www.mlrpress.com

Andreas is a wealthy young man, scion

of a noble family, but frustrated by his
father’s demands for more acceptable
behavior. Out with his friends for a night
on the town he is shocked when they are
attacked by a nightwalker - a vampire. His
friends are killed, but he is taken by the
vampire to become his new plaything.
After being changed and left for dead,
Andreas is forced to kill to survive, and
all he wants is revenge on the creature
who turned him. Meeting up with another
vampire, Valente, Andreas finds salvation
of a kind, but is still haunted by his desire
for revenge.

Copyright Acknowledgement
This book is a work of fiction. Names,
characters, places, and incidents either are
products of the author’s imagination or
are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to
actual events or locales or persons, living
or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright 2013 by Stevie Woods
All rights reserved, including the right of
reproduction in whole or in part in any
form.
Published by
MLR Press, LLC
3052 Gaines Waterport Rd.
Albion, NY 14411
Visit ManLoveRomance Press, LLC on
the Internet:
www.mlrpress.com

Cover Art by Deana Jamroz
Editing by Kris Jacen
ebook format
Issued 2013
This book is licensed to the original
purchaser

only.

Duplication

or

distribution via any means is illegal and a
violation of International Copyright Law,
subject to criminal prosecution and upon
conviction, fines and/or imprisonment.
This eBook cannot be legally loaned or
given to others. No part of this eBook
can be shared or reproduced without the
express permission of the publisher.

CHAPTER ONE

“And where do you think you’re

going?”
Sighing internally Andreas turned
around to look at his father glaring down
at him from the staircase. Andreas was
just about to open the door. Another
second and he would have escaped. “On
my way to meet my friends, Father, as you
surely guessed.”
Striding down the stairs to meet
Andreas, his father’s eyebrows almost met
in the centre as he frowned at his son. “I
had hoped after our talk earlier, you
would show more common sense.”
Andreas laughed. “Talk earlier? If you
mean that lecture you gave me, well, that

hardly induced any wish on my part to
attend to your demands.”
“It is your duty to take account of my
words. Surely you understood how
important it is for you to present a good
face to the world, to stop your foolish
antics.”
“Antics? You mean being a young man
and enjoying life?”
Andreas couldn’t help but think that
his father’s expression took on that
screwed-up look he often wore around
him these days. “And if I forbid you to
leave the house tonight?”
“Forbid? Father, I am of age to do as I
wish. I don’t need your permission or
your approbation. Going for a drink with
a couple of my good friends is nothing

for you to complain of.”
“No, I imagine you plan to do much
worse.”
“Divinity! Why must you always
assume the worst of me? I am no
different from any other young man
wanting to enjoy life before he’s forced to
settle down, take a wife and be a perfect
gentleman of Volenzkya. Don’t expect me
to welcome that fate any sooner than I
must!”
Andreas turned and walked towards
the door.
“That fate is unavoidable for a good
son of the Corsini family. Unless I cast
you off!” his father declared angrily.
Andreas looked over his shoulder at
him. “We both know you won’t do that

to your only son.”
“Don’t be so sure. You have cousins. I
could always name one of them.”
Andreas shook his head, struggling to
keep his temper. “But you won’t. You
w a n t your blood flowing through the
veins of the next Count of Corsini.”
Unwilling to listen to any more,
Andreas yanked the door open and
stormed outside, his father’s voice lifting
in anger only to be cut off as the door
slammed.

§ § §

Andreas heard the singing even before
he arrived at the door to the tavern, and it
lightened his foul mood. He grinned to
himself, knowing that Constantin and
Ettore had arrived before him. By the

noise they were making, they’d been there
for quite some time.
Andreas silently cursed his father for
delaying him. It was bad enough being
forced to endure yet another lecture
earlier in the day on his wild excesses,
declaring they were bringing shame on
the Corsini family. By the Divine! Had his
father forgotten the family history? The
Corsini family had gained most of their
wealth and power through scheming and
backbiting and the occasional judicious
killing. Andreas’ enjoyment of his life as a
wealthy young man, even with its
a t t e n d a n t wild excesses, was hardly
comparable to some of the things his
ancestors had done. He shoved open the
tavern’s door, and all thoughts of his
antecedents were banished at the sight

which greeted him.
Constantin was standing on a tabletop,
swaying, the glass in his hand raised aloft
as he sang in a loud off-key voice how
much he loved the ladies. Ettore was still
seated, though his chair was tipped back
at a precarious angle, held up only by the
gathering of men and women circled
around the table, singing along with his
friends.
Constantin saw him in the entrance
and sang, “Andreas! Andreas come to
court the ladies!”
Andreas laughed but didn’t bother to
correct his friend, who knew only too
well how untrue that was. If Andreas
wanted to court anyone, it would be a
handsome, arousing young man.

Andreas headed for the table, shouting
to the barkeep for a drink as he passed.
The barkeep was only a couple of seconds
behind him with a glass filled to the brim
with his favourite wine. Raising the glass
to his friends, Andreas said, “To courting!
To singing!” His toast was echoed by
those now congregating around him, and
suddenly Andreas knew being part of this
rowdy crowd was the last place he wanted
to be.
As Andreas approached, Ettore
restored his chair to its proper position,
and Andreas perched on the wooden arm,
leaning in to whisper in Ettore’s ear,
“Can we get out of here? Find somewhere
quieter?”
Ettore smiled, whispering back, “You

mean more private.”
Andreas shrugged. “You seem less
inebriated than our friend up there.”
“I am. He was drinking before I got
here. I think he and Mariella have argued
again. She wants him to acknowledge her
—”
“Which, of course, he can’t,” Andreas
finished. “She ought to know better.”
“I think she does. It’s a way to coax
more money out of him to keep her
quiet.”
“Not stupid, that girl, unlike a certain
drunken fool,” Andreas said, raising his
voice to full volume as he stared quite
openly at Constantin, who apparently
wasn’t too drunk to get the reference.
Glaring at Andreas, Constantin moved

to the edge of the table and jumped
down. The only reason he didn’t fall flat
on his face was that some of the other
revellers caught him and shoved him back
on his feet. Swaying slightly, he made his
way to Andreas and Ettore.
“What did you tell him?” Constantin
demanded of Ettore.
“Only what you told me. He’s
intelligent enough to work out the rest
for himself.”
“What rest?” Constantin wanted to
know, shoving himself into Andreas’
space.
“That the chit knows how to make you
pay up,” Andreas snapped.
The sharp voices were enough for the
crowd around them to dissipate and

continue the party at another table.
“Why, you!” Constantin swung a fist at
Andreas but was too drunk to connect,
almost turning a full circle before Ettore
grabbed him, wrapping his arms around
his friend to immobilise him. “Let me
go!” Constantin whined, but Ettore held
tight.
“Come on, old friend,” Andreas said.
“You know we only have your best
interests at heart. Let’s get out of here.
Go to your place and talk.”
“Talk?” Ettore murmured, but
Andreas just smiled.
Constantin would be asleep as soon as
his head hit the pillow, and Constantin
had a very nice large sofa that Andreas
and Ettore could use. Constantin was

aware of what Andreas and Ettore
practiced in private, and though he had
no interest in such affairs, he didn’t
censure or interfere with them. Andreas
smiled as he thought about Ettore’s claim
that he was only experimenting with male
sex, he still liked women best, because
when he and Ettore managed to spend a
little private time together, Ettore was
very enthusiastic. The first time that
Andreas had entered Ettore, the man had
writhed, moaned, and begged for more,
for harder. Oh, how he looked forward to
having Ettore beneath him later.
Andreas’s musings were interrupted
when Constantin murmured, “My place?”
as he looked around confused.
Ettore released him, draping one of
Constantin’s arms over his shoulder while

Andreas took the other. Once out of the
tavern, they turned left and walked
towards a more salubrious part of the
city.
Volenzkya was the capital of the
Empire, and as such, it was a large,
sprawling place, with palaces and temples,
great markets and meeting houses, hostels
and taverns of every type, orphanages and
workhouses; streets that might almost be
lined with gold as well as streets lined
only with muck and filth.
Constantin’s family wasn’t quite as rich
and well-known as Andreas’ but enough
that they could afford to pay for a small
apartment for their eldest son to make his
domicile when he wanted to move out of
the family home. As he had six siblings,
his father was more than happy to oblige.

§ § §

The fresh air helped to gradually
improve Constantin’s condition, and
though he was still far from sober, he was
more in control. He stood upright,
pushed away from Andreas and Ettore,
staggered for a couple of steps before
straightening his back. He turned around
to face the others, gave a small bow and a
sweep of his arm. Andreas watched him
carefully and soon decided he was capable
of walking unaided, though he would
keep a close watch on him just in case.
Constantin succumbed to the effects of
alcohol sooner than either he or Ettore.
“It’s quicker if we go through the
park,” Ettore said.
“It always looks spooky in there at

night,” Constantin said.
“Oh, come on, it’s fine if we stick to
the path,” Andreas added. “Anyhow,
didn’t know you were scared of all those
old wives’ tales.”
Constantin pulled a face but turned
into the gate with his friends. “Legends,
not old wives’ tales, and there’s always a
smidgen of truth in legends.”
Andreas laughed. “You sound like my
great aunt Sibelia. She would always
mutter under her breath as we left the
Temple after prayers. Said it was always
wise to ask for help against the evil the
Temple said didn’t exist. That never quite
made sense to me, but she swore there
was more that Divinity could protect one
against if you bothered to ask.”

“Crazy old bat,” Ettore said.
“Maybe, but it does make one think,”
Constantin said. “There are many things
now that the Temple says don’t exist, yet
once there were prayers of protection
against those nonexistent things.”
“What kind of things?” Ettore asked,
now looking vaguely concerned as he
glanced at their dark surroundings. There
were very few torches in the park at night
to illuminate the paths through the trees;
some of the older ones were huge, with
branches spreading over half the park. An
owl hooted, and Ettore jerked as he
swung around.
Andreas edged closer and said,
“Nightwalkers who suck you dry of blood
and eat your heart, bone men who steal

your soul, spectral departed who won’t
leave the world of the living, men who
turn into beasts when the moon is full,
women who—”
“For Divinity’s sake, stop!”
Andreas laughed. “Oh, you’re so
gullible.”
A man suddenly stepped out from the
darkness, and Constantin came to a halt,
his face a picture of shock. Andreas
belatedly realized that in fact the man was
walking on another path that merged with
the one they were on and relaxed. Ettore
laughed at Constantin’s overreaction to
the abrupt appearance of the stranger, a
handsome-looking man indeed, Andreas
couldn’t help but notice. Tall, with black
hair and dark eyes, dressed all in black

too, which was probably why his skin
looked so pale.
“Forgive our friend,” Ettore began.
“We were just talking about the
malevolent beings that legend says can be
found in the dark.”
The stranger smiled, his gaze abruptly
falling on Andreas, and all at once,
Andreas’ ease disappeared. He was
overwhelmed by a sense of misgiving he
couldn’t explain. He straightened up,
intending to step closer to his friends, but
found he couldn’t move. He tried to call a
warning but was unable to utter a word.
Now Andreas was truly fearful.
Moving quicker than a man ought to
and faster than Andreas could follow, the
man knocked Ettore to the ground, where

he lay stunned, and, in a continuation of
the same move, the stranger grabbed
Constantin.
Struggling to free himself from
whatever…spell he was under, Andreas
could

only

watch

in

horror

as

Constantin’s attempt to scream was cut
off when his attacker latched on to his
neck. Forced to watch while Constantin’s
throat was ripped open, Andreas could
feel his heart beating so hard against his
rib cage, it felt as if it would break free.
In disbelief, Andreas realized he must
be watching a feared nightwalker drinking
the blood from his friend’s body. He
never really believed the legends of such a
creature, a being which could somehow
survive beyond death but needed to drink
the fresh blood of the living to continue

its horrendous existence. He watched in
alarm as the creature dropped the now
dead body of Constantin and swept up
Ettore, who was slowly coming back to
consciousness. Oh, please let him stay
unaware If he has to die, let him not have to
suffer so!
Andreas wished to close his eyes so he
wouldn’t be forced to watch the murder
of his closest friend and lover, and then
the appalling realization came that he
would be next.
He wanted to pray but couldn’t think
of any prayers, and in truth, he never
really believed in the Temple anyhow.
Then the thought occurred that if there
was truth in the legends of evil, perhaps
good existed too. Though watching as the
creature clutched Ettore to him and

lapped the blood from the horrific wound
in his neck, Andreas found it hard to
believe anything could fight such evil.
When the nightwalker finally released the
now-dead Ettore to crumple at his feet,
Andreas concluded it was too late for him
to be having second thoughts.
The creature turned his attention to
Andreas, the smile back on his handsome
face. How could Andreas consider such
an evil creature to be attractive? Lords of
Divinity, he had blood dripping down his
chin, and Andreas daren’t give name to
what was coating his clothing.
He walked to stand directly before
Andreas. “You are something special. I
will enjoy so much being with you.”
Andreas’ skin crawled at the

suggestion, but he could do nothing but
stare at the nightwalker, whose smile
widened as he grabbed Andreas around
the waist and tossed him over his
shoulder before dashing off through the
park at a dizzying speed. Andreas felt
himself lifted through the air, and he
realized they were sailing over the wall
surrounding the far side of the park,
landing on a darkened road that Andreas
didn’t recognize. It was difficult for
Andreas to make out much of anything
from his position hanging upside down
over his captor’s back. The nightwalker
continued across the road and then down
a dark alley, his pace never slowing. A
door slammed open, and abruptly they
were inside.
From what little Andreas could see as

they climbed the rickety staircase, they
were inside a dilapidated building, what
kind he couldn’t tell. At the top of the
stairs, the creature turned down a
corridor, entering the first door, and
Andreas noted it was better cared for
than the rest of the building.
There was a desk on one wall, a
comfortable chair in the middle of the
room with a small side table next to it,
but the nightwalker strode past them,
heading for the large bed in the corner.
He tossed Andreas onto it, and Andreas
was surprised to discover he could move.
Immediately he attempted to jump to his
feet, but a hand pressed on his chest.
This time the creature grinned as he
said, “Oh no, my pet. I’ve not even begun
with you yet, let alone finished.”

Andreas sank back onto the bed. Inside
his head, he was desperately trying to
make his body obey, to run as far and as
fast as he could, but instead he calmly
began to unbutton his clothing and
remove it piece by piece. The watching
nightwalker was also removing his attire.
When they were both naked, he said, “I
knew I was right in my choice. You are
perfect. You may call me Ignazio. I
imagine you know by now that I am a
vampire.”
A whimper escaped Andreas’ throat.
He was so shocked that he could now
speak, it took a moment for him to
understand the words. Why would the
evil bastard want him to know his name?
Wait, vampire?

“I thought you were a nightwalker,” he
said nervously.
“Same thing, different name,” Ignazio
replied with a shrug as he climbed up
onto the bed and Andreas tried to shrink
away from him.
Andreas was certainly no stranger to
male sex, but this? Oh, Divinity!
Ignazio placed a hand on Andreas’
chest over his heart. “Strong, a little fast,
but that is to be expected. I am going to
enjoy taking you.”
Andreas gasped, and Ignazio thrust his
tongue inside Andreas’ mouth, sweeping
it

around,

touching

and

tasting

everywhere. At the same time, Ignazio’s
hands were wandering all over his body,
tweaking a nipple, brushing over the

crease between thigh and groin, stabbing
into his navel, caressing his balls, and
fingering his opening. Even though
Andreas was screaming inside his head,
whatever power Ignazio had over him
caused him to respond to each touch. He
was revelling in the kiss, lifting his hips
for more contact. When Ignazio broke
the kiss, Andreas begged the nightwalker
to touch his cock. To take him!
“Now! Please, I need… please.”
Andreas couldn’t believe the words
coming from his mouth. How could he
beg this creature to touch him, to be so
intimate with him?
Ignazio flipped him over onto his
stomach, lifting his rump into the air,
pressing his thumbs into Andreas’
opening, and Andreas gasped, wanting

more, wanting to be filled. Without any
further preparation the nightwalker’s cock
pushed inside, and Andreas cried out at
the sudden pain, his whimpers turning to
cries of ecstasy as the thick cock pumped
into him, brushing over his sweet spot
repeatedly and filling him with bliss.
Abruptly, Ignazio pulled out and
turned Andreas onto his back. Lifting his
legs, he placed Andreas’ ankles onto his
shoulders and drove back inside. Andreas
cried out again, his body pulling Ignazio
deep inside him.
Ignazio was staring at him, and
Andreas thought he was going to kiss him
again, and though his mind decried the
idea, his body longed for the touch.
Ignazio stiffened, and Andreas felt the
nightwalker shoot inside him, bringing

forth Andreas’ own climax. At the same
time, Ignazio’s face came closer and
closer, but instead of the kiss Andreas
expected, Ignazio’s mouth opened, and
Andreas watched in horror as his canines
lengthened. Shame filled him for his
body’s cooperation in the sordid act, even
as he felt the pain of the nightwalker’s
teeth breaking his skin, pulling the blood
from his veins.
Andreas was convinced he was going
to die, and at first he had no regrets. It
was no more than he deserved. Then self-
preservation took over, and suddenly he
was desperate to survive. To his surprise,
he found he had some control over his
body, and he squirmed beneath the
nightwalker, trying to get some leverage
to push Ignazio from him.

Unexpectedly, Ignazio released him.
Arched over Andreas, he stared at his
prey. “I knew I was right to choose you.”
He smiled. “I will give you a reward.”
Without warning, he dropped down, his
mouth covering the wound in Andreas’
neck as he continued sucking his blood.
Andreas tried to struggle, but this time,
Ignazio held him still. It was beyond his
waning power to fight back. His senses
began to swim.
As his vision was fading from grey to
black, he heard just one word: “Drink.”
He felt liquid sliding between his lips,
warm and inviting, and automatically he
sucked more heat inside his cooling body.
“Drink. That’s it, drink.”
The last thing he heard as his senses

finally slipped away was laughter.

CHAPTER TWO

Slowly he became aware of his body,

how weary he felt, how everything ached.
He felt a lingering pain in his neck, then,
almost at once, it faded to be replaced by
an ache, a delicious ache in his backside.
He knew what had caused that feeling,
how good it had been, but he couldn’t
remember who had made him feel so
alive. He frowned, trying to recall the
man’s face, but all he could see was a faint
image as if he was looking through a
foggy landscape. A name, the man had to
have a name.
That thought brought him up short.
What was hi s name? How could he not
remember his own name? He looked
around, though it was difficult to see

much in the dim light coming in from the
grimy windows. There was nothing
familiar. He was lying on a rough wooden
floor in a large open space, too big to be
called a room; it was more like a storage
warehouse than anything else he could
think of. He suddenly realized how cold
he felt, and, glancing at his body, he saw
he was but half dressed. His trousers had
only one button fastened, and his shirt
was mostly done up but not in the correct
button holes. There was no sign of his
topcoat, but he was wearing his waistcoat,
though it hung open. He was wearing
shoes but no stockings. He quickly
searched for his purse and found it in his
waistcoat pocket, which was not where he
usually kept it.
He was puzzled about what had

happened to him; how he could
remember these facts about himself but
not know his own name. He’d obviously
had sex, though he didn’t think it had
been forced upon him. It appeared he’d
been dumped in this peculiar place, and
though some of his clothes were missing,
he hadn’t been robbed. The weight of his
purse confirmed that.
A thought occurred, and he quickly
opened the purse, looking for anything
that might identify him. He found coins
of gold and silver, a small silver key, and a
folded piece of paper that was rather dog-
eared. He opened it to find a short note
which said: Andreas, my friend, fear not. Your
secret is my secret, Ettore.
He stared at the words, and as if a
curtain had been pulled aside, he knew he

was called Andreas. A sudden image of
his appearance flashed before his eyes. He
was tall, about six two, with a slim build,
grey eyes, and he wore his chestnut-
brown hair long and tied at the nape.
Together with this image, he recalled his
full name, Andreas Corsini, heir to the
Corsini name and fortune. Divinity, what
would his father say if he returned home
looking as he did now? Time to worry
about that later.
He didn’t know where he was. He
didn’t even remember where he’d been
the night before, except he’d been with
Ettore and Constantin. He knew, of
course, what the secret was that Ettore
referred to in the note he’d carried in his
purse for almost a year now: their shared
desire for men. Ettore also liked women,

though they did nothing for Andreas.
Just thinking about sex with men
caused Andreas’ cock to rise and heat
filled his veins, the weariness he felt since
awakening faded as if it had never been.
He would like nothing better at that
moment than to slide his cock into the
tight hole of some man. He didn’t even
care what the man looked like; he just
needed to feel flesh under his hands, a hot
channel surrounding his cock, and his
teeth tearing into a neck so that hot blood
would flood his insides.
What? Where in all the hells had that
thought — more, that need come from? It
flowed through him, like a raging thirst.
It wouldn’t be denied. He had to find it
somewhere. He had to find someone. The
taste, the heat of blood filling his cold

body consumed him.
He ran through the warehouse, leaping
through the first window he came to, not
even knowing he was on the second floor.
He landed heavily rolling to his knees,
unhurt. Standing, he listened carefully
and then sniffed the air, not questioning
that he was searching for the scent of a
mortal. A warm body filled with the
blood of life. He heard the footsteps, the
scent filling his nostrils, and he was
moving before he realized it.
There. A man walking alone, hunched
tight against the cold. Andreas moved up
behind him before the man was aware of
his presence. He grabbed the stranger and
threw him to the ground to land on his
back, using his knees to hold the man
down by his shoulders. Fear filled his

victim’s eyes, and the man tried to
struggle, kicking out with his legs.
Andreas slapped him hard across the face,
clamping a hand over his mouth. He
stared into his terrified eyes, and the man
stilled at once. Andreas forced his head to
one side, exposing the throbbing vein in
his neck. Saliva sliding down his chin,
need filling his being, Andreas leaned
forward to lick the warm, tempting skin,
the faint taste of hot blood so very
tempting. The scent of blood filled his
nostrils, and he felt the teeth lengthen in
his mouth. Not understanding or caring
what was happening to him, Andreas sank
the long, sharp teeth into the man’s neck.
Hot thick blood slid into his mouth,
and he keened at the wonderful taste. He
sucked to draw in more of the delicious

nectar but couldn’t get it fast enough to
satisfy his needs. With a snarl, he ripped
the wound open wider, and the blood
filled his mouth. He drank and drank, and
he no longer felt cold. The weariness
dissipated, and the aches and pains were
gone as if they’d never existed. He had
never felt better, stronger. He wanted to
shout his joy to the night. He stood and
raised his arms, but some sense of self-
preservation ordered caution, and he
crouched again.
He stared at the body, knowing the
man was dead, and he felt nothing but
satiated. He smiled, got to his feet, and
ran back to the warehouse, leaping high
through the damaged window. Only
when he landed did he wonder how he’d
managed to make such a jump.

Then it no longer mattered. The light
in the warehouse had changed, and he
could see more clearly what a mess it
really was. He still had no idea how he’d
come to be in the place, but he didn’t
consider it mattered. He looked out and
thought he saw signs of the upcoming
dawn. He frowned. He needed to get
deeper inside this place, somewhere quiet
and dark so he could rest. He didn’t feel
tired, but it was important to him to find
a safe place. He had just killed a man and
there might be a search for his killer. Was
that it? Yes, but there was more. He
shook his head to try to clear his
confused thoughts. Perhaps he was more
tired than he thought. After all, the whole
night was confusing. He needed to think.
After a rest, though. Find somewhere

dark and safe. Dark and safe.

§ § §

When awareness returned, he found he
was warm and cosy, though he was
surprised to discover he was covered in
what must be sacking. He didn’t
remember where he was. It was pitch
dark, but he wasn’t afraid. Somehow he
didn’t think he’d ever be afraid again. He
frowned, not knowing where that thought
came from. Getting to his feet, he
stretched, enjoying the feeling of his
muscles

unwinding,

but

as

his

outstretched hands came into contact
with walls and what he assumed was a
door, he wondered why he’d slept in such
narrow confines.
He felt around for the handle and

opened the door. He found he’d slept in a
cupboard in a dank cellar. At first he was
confused, until he remembered searching
desperately for a safe, dark place in the
dilapidated warehouse. The memories
returned full force then. The joy of
lapping the blood from the man he’d
attacked was swiftly followed by horror at
how good that memory made him feel.
He’d committed murder, and it had felt
good.
Then other memories crowded in. Of
being attacked as he’d walked through the
park with his friends. Oh Lords!
Constantin and Ettore, his dearest
friends, were dead. Sucked dry and tossed
aside by the same handsome man who
had dragged Andreas to some secret place
where— Oh, Divinity, he’d been raped,

and yet he’d begged the monster… Ignazio.
His name was Ignazio, and Andreas had
begged to be taken. Shame flooded him as
he recalled every moment of the sex, and
still he couldn’t deny how good it had
been.
He also knew he was the same as that
monster now. He was a nightwalker, or a
vampire as Ignazio had called himself.
Andreas recalled wanting to take a man as
he drank him dry before he had gone out
hunting prey the night before. He had no
recollection of sex, though, only an all-
consuming need to feed. He understood
now why he’d secreted himself in a foul,
dark place to wait out the daylight hours.
He would never again be able to return
home, to see his family. As far as they
were concerned, he was as good as dead,

though how long would it take for them
to know it for certain when they would
never find a body? He screamed his fury,
cutting off the sound abruptly. He was
unsure of the time of day and had to keep
his hiding place secret.
Hells! He would never again be able to
look on the sun, unless he wanted to end
his pitiful existence. He climbed the stairs
into the warehouse, knowing that no
matter how he loathed what he now was,
he had no desire to bring about his own
end.
No, he had only one pressing desire
now. To find Ignazio, to annihilate the
one who had devastated his life—taken
away his future— to wrap his hands
around the creature’s neck and squeeze
the life from him. Except that would be

useless. How did one kill the already
dead? The only way he could remember
was sunlight, and though he wanted
Ignazio dead, it was not at the cost of his
own destruction.
As he emerged on the ground floor of
the warehouse, he saw the light was
fading, but it was not yet dark enough for
him to venture outside. Keeping to the
shadows, he made his way to the top
floor, and there he stood and watched as
the light gradually dimmed, bringing with
it the dark, the time for the nightwalker.
As he thought over his situation, he knew
it wouldn’t be easy to find Ignazio, let
alone get the better of him. Ignazio had
obviously been a nightwalker for an
unknown period of time, long enough to
know

all

the

advantages

and

disadvantages, while Andreas was as
ignorant as a newborn baby. He would
have to feed to live and learn just like any
baby. He would have to accept who —
what — he was now. To beat Ignazio, he
would have to become just like him. He
would find him and make him pay.

CHAPTER THREE

Three weeks later
Andreas crouched on the roof, looking
for a victim below. He had chosen this
part of town, as it was quieter in the early
hours, but this night it was too quiet. He
stood, listening for any sound that might
lead him to someone. There, voices.
Quiet, almost whispering but it was
enough for Andreas. He ran quickly
across the roof and leapt the narrow
street to the opposite building, landing
easily. He hoped it might be Ignazio, but
the way his luck had been running, it
wouldn’t be. Andreas’ desire to find
Ignazio hadn’t diminished since the night
he’d been turned; in fact, it was
heightened, due most likely to the fact

that he couldn’t find any trace of the
bastard.
His hatred for his nemesis had
increased a few days earlier when he had
found a two-week-old copy of the daily
bulletin and seen the article concerning
the deaths of his friends. He’d been
reluctant to read it at first but was unable
to stop himself. He’d been shocked and
horrified to discover that he was being
sought by the authorities as their
murderer. The three of them had been
seen leaving the tavern together, and since
he’d been missing ever since, he was
considered the prime suspect. He longed
to shout to the world that he was
innocent, that he could never have done
such a thing, infuriated that he could
never defend himself. His father would

forever believe that he’d been more
correct than he’d thought in his judgment
of his son’s failings.
He sighed, knowing he needed to put
the matter out of his mind while he
pursued prey to feed upon. He discovered
he needed to feed roughly every three to
four days. One of the things he’d learned
was that it wasn’t wise to delay feeding
when the need turned desperate. He held
out as long as he could, knowing that
feeding meant killing, but when it got that
bad, he no longer had a choice. When he
hunted and fed, he felt no regret, always
overwhelmed as he was by his need, but,
in the quiet times between, guilt would
slip in and he hated what he had become.
Hated what Ignazio had turned him into.
He’d tried to fight his desires once,

holing up in his cupboard in the cellar
rather than going out and seeking prey.
He thought if he could at least limit the
number of kills it would be something. It
didn’t take long to discover that was a
mistake. He spent the next day
desperately hiding from the sun, fighting
an overwhelming desire to go out
immediately and feed, no matter that the
sun was high. He lay on the floor, clawing
at his stomach, scratching his skin,
thinking he was going out of his mind. It
was clear that the blood did more than fill
his stomach; in some way he didn’t
understand, it fed his whole system. It
was like an addiction for which there was
no cure.
The moment daylight faded and it was
safe, he was out hunting. He was so

desperate to feed he took a victim in a
location he would never have risked
under more usual circumstances. He also
tore the man’s body to shreds, not only
ripping open his neck but tearing into his
chest and belly. Andreas had no clear
memory of the murder, reading most of
the details in the daily bulletin the next
evening. The report explained how the
murderer had torn out all the victim’s
organs, and it even looked as if he had
bitten into them, perhaps eating small
portions. The heart was completely
missing. The authorities were certain that
only an insane man could commit such an
atrocity.
Andreas was horrified by what he read
and swore that he would never again
delay feeding. He recalled the way Ignazio

had overpowered him and his friends the
night he’d been turned and poor
Constantin and Ettore had died, making
him obey every demand no matter how
hard he tried not to. Andreas didn’t know
exactly what had been used against him, if
it was special to Ignazio or if any
nightwalker could wield such power, but
Andreas wished he had such skills.
He dragged his thoughts back to his
present hunt. The voices were nearer
now, still low, murmuring almost.
Andreas slid down the other side of the
roof, lying on his belly, looking over the
edge. There below him was a wide avenue
lined with trees, houses on this side, the
river wending its way beyond the trees on
the other side. It took Andreas a moment
to find the two men he’d overheard. At

last, he saw them across the street in the
shadows beneath one of the large trees
not far from the river bank. One man had
his arm across the shoulder of the other,
and he was leading him nearer to the
river, deeper into the darkness.
Andreas jumped from the roof, landing
lightly on the thick grass, hiding behind
one of the trees as he spied on the two
men. He had never taken on two victims
at one time, and he wondered if it would
be too great a risk. He decided he
couldn’t afford to give up the chance. He
needed to feed and couldn’t risk letting
these two go and consequently not be
able to find another suitable target before
dawn. He was confident he could disable
one of them while he dealt with the other.
He balked at the idea of killing both of

them.
He ran across the road and melded into
the trees, edging closer to where the men
were. His eyesight was much better since
he was turned, and it was no trouble
watching the men, one of whom proved
to be very handsome, a couple of inches
shorter than Andreas, with broad
shoulders and narrow hips. His hair was
blond and his eyes green. He was just the
type of man he’d have liked to bed when
he was still human. Andreas couldn’t bear
the idea of killing that one. He would take
the other as his prey.
At last he was close enough to clearly
hear each word, and the first ones caused
him to pause a moment. The more
Andreas heard, the longer he stayed
hidden and watched.

“Hush, sweet one, you have no cause to
fear. You’ll enjoy my touch, I promise,”
the handsome one said, pressing the other
man

back

against

a

large

tree,

unbuttoning his shirt and jacket and
unlacing his trousers.
Andreas decided he could spare the
time to watch the men enjoy themselves
one last time.
They didn’t undress completely, just
enough to reach the important parts.
They were anxious to touch each other as
much as possible. The other man moaned
and squirmed when the handsome one
held their cocks together in one hand,
smoothing their precome over them
before he rhythmically slid them against
each other. The men kissed for a few

moments before Handsome released his
lover’s mouth and kissed across his jaw
and nipped and kissed down his neck.
Andreas’ own cock was hard now, but
he resisted touching himself, wanting to
concentrate on watching Handsome as he
brought his partner off. The way he
kissed the man’s neck was intoxicating,
nibbling and licking the spot where neck
met shoulder. Then Handsome pulled
back and stared at his lover as the man
started to climax. Abruptly his mouth was
back on his lover’s neck, and Andreas
jerked in shock as he saw the fangs pierce
the man’s neck and Handsome drinking
his blood.
The victim was not struggling or
fighting to be free. His expression was
that of bliss, and he sighed, hands

gripping tighter as the nightwalker drank
freely from his neck. Then, as abruptly as
he began, the nightwalker pulled his fangs
free and murmured to his victim, “Thank
you, my sweet. That was delightful.” Then
he licked the man’s neck once, twice,
three times, and when he pulled away
again, the wound was closed.
Andreas stared at the spot where a few
moments earlier blood had flowed, but
now it looked perfectly normal, no sign
that the flesh had been pierced.
“Now, forget and go on home,” the
nightwalker said. The victim gave a vacant
smile, turned, and walked back through
the trees away from the river.
Andreas was fascinated by what he had
just witnessed, and now he knew that

other nightwalkers had the skill that
Ignazio had used on him and his friends.
He also understood that Ignazio had no
need to kill poor Ettore and Constantin.
He could have done what this one had
just done and taken his fill, let them go
on their way. Instead he had chosen to
murder them and turn Andreas. If it was
possible, Andreas hated Ignazio more
than ever.

§ § §

The nightwalker was moving on, and
Andreas needed to know more, but he
was unsure what to do. How the
nightwalker might react if he approached
him. On instinct, he decided to follow
him and try to learn more about him. It
didn’t occur to him until later that his

desperate need to feed had diminished
somewhat.
Andreas tracked him through the trees
along the river for a short way before he
headed towards the streets again, where
he took a left turn. Andreas surmised he
was moving in the direction of the tailors’
district when abruptly he turned down an
alley. Andreas wondered if perhaps he
lived in one of the buildings around
there. Many of them were workshops, and
perhaps he had a hideaway in one of
them. As Andreas turned into the alley,
he found himself face-to-face with the
handsome nightwalker.
“Are you going to keep following me,
or is there something you want?”
Andreas stared at him. “I… I…” He

swallowed, and the nightwalker raised an
eyebrow. Andreas said, “I’m just like you,
but I can’t—” He stopped, and this time
the nightwalker frowned.
“Your aura is confused, out of control.
You’re filled with rage.” He backed away
as he spoke.
“Please. I mean you no harm. I need
help. I only know how to kill and feed,
and I saw… You are different. Not like
him, the one who turned me. I hate him. I
don’t want to be like him. Please?” He
lowered his head. He hated having to ask
for help, but what choice did he have?
“Your sire didn’t teach you?”
Fury roiled through him. “Teach me?
He murdered my friends, did this to me
and—”

“Calm down,” the nightwalker said
quietly, and Andreas felt the anger fade.
“My name is Valente. Come with me, and
we’ll talk.”
“I am Andreas. And thank you.”
Valente moved faster now, and
Andreas wondered how long Valente had
known he was being followed. From the
moment Andreas took his first step from
behind the tree?
At the end of the next street, Valente
leapt up onto the roof of a shop and then
ran across the roofs of two more before
leaping up onto the higher roof of a
warehouse. Once there, he opened a door
and moved inside. This warehouse was no
derelict. It was in very good condition,
full of boxes and bales. Valente looked

over his shoulder as if checking that
Andreas was still there, though Andreas
knew that Valente had been aware of his
presence the whole time.
Without a word, Valente made his way
down into the warehouse basement,
where it was less neat and tidy but still
relatively well cared for. Roughly two-
thirds of the way along the wall, Valente
stopped and removed a brick. Reaching
inside, he must have pressed or pulled
something, because there was the faint
sound of scraping and then a portion of
the wall swung inside like a door. Valente
replaced the brick, and Andreas followed
him inside, where he touched the centre
of the door and it swung back into place.
Much more impressive than Andreas’
filthy cupboard!

There was the sound of a match
striking, and then a lamp was lit, and
Andreas was surprised to find he was
inside a well-appointed apartment. The
only thing that belied the truth of it was
the bare brick walls and the lack of
windows. Nothing else was missing,
though. There was a thick rug on the
floor, a sitting area in the centre with two
easy chairs and a small table. There was
even a small bookshelf filled with books
next to a dresser, on top of which there
was a tray with two glasses and a bottle of
what looked like wine. Lining the wall
opposite the door was a large bed covered
with a thick eiderdown and piled with
pillows. Andreas could hardly believe the
difference between this nightwalker’s
hideaway and his own.

Andreas turned to question Valente
and saw the nightwalker had moved over
to the bookshelf. “Do you need a drink?”
Andreas snorted. “Wine will not help
me. I need to feed.”
“I do have wine, but that wasn’t what I
meant. I know you need to feed, but I
hope to stop you murdering another, if I
can help it.” He picked up the bottle.
“This is blood, and it will help stave off
your hunger for a time.”
Andreas’ eyes widened. “From a bottle?
How can that be?”
“I’ll explain later.” Valente poured a
glass and brought it over to Andreas,
whose mouth watered from the smell.
Andreas grabbed the glass and downed it
in one go. Valente poured him a second

glass. “You asked for help,” Valente
continued. “If you meant that, then I will
help all I can. It is you who has been
killing those men, isn’t it?”
“Yes. I don’t want to, but when I feed,
I lose all control. I saw what you did to
that man. That’s what I want, but I don’t
know how. Don’t even know if I can do
that.”

§ § §

Valente proved to be the salvation that
Andreas

needed.

Apparently,

every

nightwalker, or vampire, as Valente
preferred, had the ability to develop the
power that Ignazio displayed. Valente was
originally from the city of Segyl on the
western edge of the Empire in what had
once been another state, and there

vampire was the common term for what
they were.
Valente was angry for the way Andreas
had been treated. He declared that
turning a man into a vampire came with
responsibility for the newborn’s training
in the early days, when he was at his most
vulnerable, most dangerous.
“I never turned anyone deliberately. I
never wanted that responsibility. I
remember what a trial I was to my sire as
I fought him at the beginning, furious for
his having turned me. He admitted he’d
watched me for weeks before deciding he
wanted me to be his companion for a
time. It took a while for me to accept my
new condition, but at least he took good
care of me, showing me how my new
existence could be something special,

something good. To abandon a new
vampire…” Valente let the sentence
hang.
“And how long did you stay with him,
the one who turned you?”
“Seven years. He chose a new
companion two years ago.”
“And you’ve been alone since then?”
Valente stared at him. “Did you not miss
being with him? Having a lover?”
Andreas asked.
“I think I missed the companionship
more than being his lover. I knew he
admired my appearance and desired me,
but I also believed that underneath that
he didn’t really care for me the way a
human lover might have done. I’d never
known real love, so I suppose it was hard

for me to judge.”
Andreas frowned. He’d never been in
love, but he had always believed that one
day he would find someone to care for
who would reciprocate. He accepted it
wouldn’t be like being married with a
wife and children, but he believed that
having a loving partner was possible.
Apparently, such a thing was impossible
now he was a vampire.
Valente began to teach Andreas how to
tap into the power lying dormant within
his changed body, giving him another
couple of glasses of blood to drink to
keep the desire to feed at bay. It wasn’t
long before Andreas could feel his newly
released power surging through him, and,
with Valente’s help, he learned how to
channel and control it until he was ready

to go out and find a victim.

CHAPTER FOUR

“This is your hunt. I’ll be nearby, but I

won’t interfere.”
Andreas looked at Valente, knowing
what the vampire wasn’t saying; he
wouldn’t

interfere

unless

Andreas

couldn’t control himself. Andreas was
determined to be worthy of Valente’s
help.
They left Valente’s hideaway and
headed out into the night. It had been
raining most of the day, but the weather
improved as night fell. It was near
midnight now, and though it was still
damp and chilly, there would be plenty of
folk out. Valente let Andreas choose their
direction, and he moved towards the area
where he and his friends had often met

for a night of carousing. Andreas thought
he could find a drunk on his way home,
which would be an easy target for a quick
meal.
Andreas chose one of the largest
taverns on the corner of a busy
crossroads. He knew the area well, and
while two of the streets were well lit, the
other two led to more built-up, poorer
areas of the city, where the torches were
less frequent and it would be simple to
draw his victim into a dark alley. Andreas
could sense Valente close by but couldn’t
see him.
He didn’t have to wait long for a
couple of promising victims to leave the
tavern and turn down one of those
streets. He followed carefully, hoping
they’d separate so he only had one target.

If necessary, he believed he could subdue
the second one, but he preferred not to
take that risk with his first foray into this
new style of hunting. It was with relief
that he watched one man clap the other
on the back and give a little wave as he
moved off down a dark avenue, and for a
moment, Andreas debated which one to
follow. Then he remembered that avenue
led to the wide road by the Temple, with
its frequent torches and ever-open doors,
and decided he’d go after the other one.
Increasing his speed to catch up to the
man, Andreas slowed as he approached,
allowing the man to hear his footsteps.
After a moment, the man turned back.
“Forget something, Benito?” he slurred,
squinting to try and see. “Oh, not
Benito.” He gave a lopsided grin.

“No, not Benito, but all is well.”
Smiling, Andreas put a hand on the man’s
shoulder, already beginning to weave his
spell around the man. “Come, let us be
private,” he said, leading the man into an
alley a few steps ahead. Valente had
taught him that there were varying levels
of control a vampire could wield, from a
light control to the creation of a fealty
bond, and each required giving a little of
himself into the spell, depending on the
depth required. Andreas had mastered
only the light control so far, as that was
all he would need on this occasion.
“Do I know you?” the man asked.
“No, but it doesn’t matter.” Andreas
stroked a finger along the man’s jaw and
across his lips, and the man opened to

suck the finger inside. Andreas smiled
and softly said, “Remove your outer
clothing.”
The man was quick to obey,
unbuttoning his shirt and unlacing his
trousers while Andreas loosened his own
clothes. Andreas’ hands skimmed the
man’s chest, fingers plucking at his
nipples, his lips creating fire where they
touched. One of Andreas’ hands slid
down to cup the man’s balls, and when he
sucked in a breath, Andreas kissed him.
Taking hold of both their cocks in his
hand Andreas roughly rubbed them
together, soothing his way with their
joined precome. His mouth moved to the
man’s neck, and when he stiffened as his
orgasm raced through him, Andreas bit
into his neck and drew the man’s

lifeblood into his mouth.
It was clear the man enjoyed the
experience, as he was still gasping, smiling
dreamily at him when Andreas pulled
back to check on him. Seeing all was well,
Andreas quickly licked the wound clean
and closed it up as Valente had instructed
him.
“Tidy your clothing,” Andreas ordered
as he refastened his own clothing. The
man was still smiling, and Andreas
couldn’t help echoing the good sensations
the man was experiencing. Andreas felt
good. He’d fed well, but his victim had
been pleasured and not harmed. “You can
continue on home now from the tavern
after having a good night.”
“Yes, it was a good night.” The man

walked on, never even glancing back.
Andreas moved in the opposite
direction, and he hadn’t gone far before
Valente came to meet him.
“You feel better?” he asked.
“I feel perfect. Thank you.” He cocked
his head to one side, smiled, and added,
“Would you like to take me back to your
place so I can thank you properly?”
“Are you offering yourself to me?”
Andreas frowned. “Am I mistaken in
that you prefer men? Or do you just not
want me?”
Valente laughed. “No, you’re not
mistaken. And I’ve desired you from the
moment I saw you, but I don’t think I
want you if it’s just payment for helping
you.”

“It’s not payment, I promise you. Do
you know how I referred to you before I
knew your name?”
Valente shrugged and lifted an
eyebrow.
“Handsome. Before I knew your
nature, I thought of you as the handsome
one, and I’d already decided the man you
were with would be my prey, because I
couldn’t bear the thought of hurting such
a beautiful specimen.”
Valente smiled. “Never been called
beautiful before, but I understand how
you feel. I’m drawn to you too. I’ve
longed to run my hands through that
flowing chestnut hair of yours. I’ll be very
happy to accept your thanks.” Valente
grabbed Andreas’ hand and took off at a

fast run, Andreas laughing as he struggled
to keep up.

§ § §

It was only when Andreas noticed
Valente’s flesh was a little cooler than he
expected that he realized it wasn’t just a
man he was having sex with, it was a
vampire he was kissing and touching.
For a moment, he felt uncertain and
pulled back, staring at Valente, who met
his gaze with a slight smile, drawing
Andreas back in to continue the kiss.
Andreas soon lost his unease when
Valente’s hands caressed his skin, causing
the familiar sensations to course through
his body. Valente’s experience soon
became evident, though. Andreas had
never felt such pleasure as Valente

created in him, Valente’s cock stroking
inside him with unbelievable strength and
power, while at the same time his hands
brought Andreas to a thundering climax
with a surprisingly gentle grip on his
cock.
When Andreas finally came back to his
senses, it was to find Valente gazing at
him, looking extremely pleased with
himself.
“That felt different, special?” Valente
asked. “I still remember the first time I
had sex with another vampire. Humans
are all right when you want to feed, but to
really experience the joys of sex, it has to
be with another vampire.”
“I am guessing you’ll want to keep me
around, then,” Andreas said with a smile.

Valente’s answer was to pull him into a
kiss.
They lay contentedly in each other’s
arms, Andreas pressed close against
Valente’s side. He couldn’t remember the
last time he felt so good. Not even his
trysts with Ettore had ever left him
feeling so at ease.
Andreas dipped his head, hiding his
face against Valente. How dare he feel so
good, hells, so happy when his friends
were still unavenged?
“What is it?” Valente asked. “I thought
you enjoyed our joining?”
“I did, so very much.” He looked up
then to meet Valente’s gaze. “But it only
served to remind me that my friends will
never again enjoy life’s pleasures, or even

its pains.”
“You can’t accept the responsibility for
that, you—”
“I don’t! I know exactly who is to
blame, and Ignazio will pay. I’ll destroy
him!”
“Ignazio? I wondered if he could
possibly be the one who had turned you.”
Valente’s tone was odd.
“You know him? I hoped you would
help me, but I never thought you might
know him.”
“Oh, I know him, or perhaps I ought
to say I know of him. I did see him once,
not long after I was turned when out
hunting with my sire. His reputation
follows him across the Empire, but I
didn’t know he’d returned to Volenzkya.”

“You will help me, won’t you, Valente?
The monster deserves his end.”
Valente disengaged himself and sat up.
“You have to understand. Ignazio is a
much older vampire than I am and
therefore more powerful. I wouldn’t
stand a chance against his power, and you,
as a newborn, would be powerless.”
Andreas jumped out of bed. “You
won’t even try to help me? Don’t you care
that he doesn’t only kill needlessly, but he
turns others who go on to kill just as
indiscriminately after he deserts them?”
Valente walked over to stand in front
of him. “It’s not that I don’t agree with
you. He does indeed deserve to be
destroyed, but do you think others
haven’t tried? Many have over the years,

but all have failed. No one is really sure
how old he is or why he behaves as
viciously as he does. Maybe he has lost his
senses and is truly mad.”
“But you won’t help me,” Andreas said
sadly. “I thought you felt something for
me, that…” He stopped, staring at
Valente, who met his gaze with regret in
his eyes. “I see I expected too much. If
you’re not prepared to help me, then I’ll
just have to try and find him on my own.
I don’t know how, not yet, but I’ll find a
way.”
“Please, don’t do this. I do care for
you, perhaps more than I ought. I don’t
want to see you destroyed.”
“Then help me make sure it is Ignazio
who is destroyed!”

“I can’t convince you to abandon this
rashness? You can’t bring your friends
back, and I would rather have you at my
side than grieve for your loss.”
“They’d been my friends since we were
young children.” Andreas hesitated but
decided he needed to be completely
honest. “Ettore was also my lover. I don’t
claim we were in love, but he was special
to me. I was forced to stand there and
watch as that abomination tore out his
throat. I can’t abandon the hate I feel, the
need to make Ignazio pay. I would prefer
to do this with your help—I understand
how much more you know about the
world I am now forced to inhabit—but
do this I must.”
Valente leaned in so their foreheads

touch. “And I hate that the thought of
losing you is enough to make me agree to
take this horrendous risk.”
Andreas gripped his shoulders, pulled
back enough to stare into his eyes. “You’ll
help me? Oh, bless you, Valente.”
“Too late for that,” Valente murmured.
With a sigh, he moved out of Andreas’
embrace. “I do know a few other
vampires in the city. There are never that
many here at any one time; it becomes a
necessity to travel around. Anyhow, I can
talk to them and see if anyone knows
anything of Ignazio being back here. I
can’t promise that any of them will be
willing to give me information, but I can
try.”
“Why wouldn’t they talk about him if

he is so despised among his own kind?”
“Because they are afraid of him. And
they worry about rumours spreading that
might just come back to literally bite
them.”
“It seems to me that the man’s
reputation is his greatest defence,”
Andreas said angrily.
Valente didn’t say anything, just
grabbed his coat.
“You want me to come with you?”
Andreas asked as Valente headed for the
door.
“No, not this time. I can introduce you
around another time.”

CHAPTER FIVE

Ever since Andreas declared his

determination to pursue Ignazio, Valente
showed his disagreement in subtle ways,
though he followed through on his
agreement to help by speaking to his
various contacts within the city. Though
some of them had indeed known of
Ignazio’s return, none of them claimed
any knowledge of his whereabouts.
Valente also told Andreas that a couple
of them had made it clear that if they
knew anything, they would keep the
information to themselves. Valente’s
friendship wasn’t worth drawing Ignazio’s
wrath.
It annoyed and frustrated Andreas that
these powerful creatures showed such

fear of one of their own kind. Couldn’t
they see his actions were a direct threat to
their own existence, and if they would but
band together, they could remove him
once and for all?
But when Andreas posed that question
to Valente, the vampire said, “You have
to understand that most vampires live
solitary lives, or with just one partner
they trust. It is difficult to think of
trusting those one only knows casually
with such a difficult and dangerous task.
And that’s something you still have
trouble accepting, how difficult it would
be facing Ignazio without risking your
own destruction.”
“Are you trying again to make me to
let go of this? Because I can tell you, I
can’t. I won’t!”

“Andreas—”
“Damnation! What’s wrong with you?
With all of you? Is that why you hunt the
way you do, using tricks and spells
because you don’t have the nerve to face
what you truly are? Demons and
monsters! Perhaps if you accepted what
you truly are, you wouldn’t be afraid to
face one just like you! By the Divine, at
least he acts like the monster he is!”
Andreas marched from the room,
ignoring Valente’s calls behind him. If the
bastard wants to follow, he can, but I’ve had
enough!
He stalked down the streets, heading
for the docks. He decided on the spur of
the moment to try the harbour area.
There was a time when he’d regularly

visited the taverns there with Constantin
and Ettore. It was an exciting place to go
for three young men “with more money
than sense”. The quote wasn’t theirs but
from one of Ettore’s older cousins who
had seen them there and threatened to tell
Ettore’s parents. His parents being the
strict martinets they were, Ettore was
forced to swear they would never go there
again. He had no desire for them to
know, or he was likely to be forbidden to
go out at all for some time to come.
It was almost like taking a journey back
into the past for Andreas, as he
recognized many of the establishments
that he’d visited with his friends. His
now-dead friends. The pleasant memories
of times gone past were swiftly replaced
by a growing anger, and his need to feed

grew apace.
Andreas saw a man leaving one of the
smaller taverns just ahead, and by his
clothing, Andreas guessed he was a sailor.
Suddenly, Andreas craved a taste of the
sea. He’d never left the land, and all at
once he was desperate to do so. When
he’d dealt with Ignazio, he and Valente
would take ship to the farthest point of
the Empire.
His pace increasing, Andreas reached
the sailor as he turned onto one of the
smaller quays. Andreas wrapped his arms
around the man from behind, clamping a
hand over his mouth as he dragged him
between piles of crates stocked on the
quay. He used only the lightest of control
on the man, whom he was pleased to
discover was well built with clearly

defined muscles. Taking this man would
be something special. Andreas shoved
him down on the ground, the man
putting up only a token resistance, but
somehow Andreas wanted that, wanted to
feel he was mastering the man under his
hands.
Andreas tore open the man’s clothing,
exposing his chest, running his hands
down those strong muscles. He moved on
down to loosen his trousers and pulled
them off. The sailor’s cock was hard and
leaking, echoing Andreas’ own cock
straining against his clothes. Quickly,
Andreas ripped open his lacings and
thrust down his trousers. He spread his
prey’s legs wide, his gaze falling on his
opening. Hiking the man’s legs higher,
Andreas pressed his cock against the

sailor’s hole and thrust inside.
The man cried out, and Andreas
clamped a hand over his mouth to silence
him, knowing it was his fault he’d not
ordered the man not to make any noise.
Angrily, Andreas paused and listened but
could hear nothing but the slap of water
against wood and murmurs of far away
voices. He thrust inside his prey, keeping
one hand on the man’s mouth, which he
used to turn his face to one side, exposing
his vein. The blood was pumping fast
inside the man, drawing Andreas closer
and closer to his neck. The man’s cock
was hard again, and as Andreas thrust
inside him, it was constantly rubbing
between their bodies. The man was
moaning constantly now, but Andreas
tightened his grip on his face, holding

him steady as he pierced his flesh. Blood
gushed into Andreas’ mouth, and he
sucked and lapped at it as both he and his
victim climaxed.
Andreas pulled off the man, sliding
down his prey’s panting body, which was
coated with the man’s semen. The man’s
eyes were closed, his expression one of
ecstasy. Andreas smiled to himself as he
sank his fangs into the vein on the inside
of the man’s thigh, making him groan and
squirm as Andreas drank his sweet blood.
Andreas moved back up his body to the
man’s neck, licking the blood that was
still pumping from the wound. He drank
and drank and it was only as the blood
flow slowed that Andreas came to his
senses enough to realize if he didn’t stop
and seal the wounds, the man would

surely die.
For a second, Andreas did consider
drinking the man dry, and then Valente’s
teachings rushed back to him, and he
knew he wasn’t only being a fool but was
thinking just like the monster he hated.
Disgusted that he had allowed his anger
to rule his actions, he swiftly licked the
man’s wounds thoroughly, ensuring they
healed well. Still, the man had lost too
much blood for Andreas to simply send
him on his way as he would normally
have done. He considered his options and
decided his best course was to leave the
man somewhere he would quickly be
found. As his clothes were torn, it was
likely it would be assumed he’d been
attacked, probably by someone trying to
rob him.

Andreas picked him up and carefully
made his way back towards the tavern
from which he’d followed the man, laying
him just to the side of the door as if he’d
been set upon when he left. Andreas
placed the thought into the man’s mind
and then sent him to sleep. Hearing the
door open, Andreas quickly hid in the
deep shadows and watched the two men
almost stumble over the man’s sleeping
form. Andreas was well on his way when
they raised a hue and cry, his mind full of
shame and guilt for what he’d almost
done. He’d always known his anger was
too quick to rise but he’d never before
understood just how dangerous it could
be.

§ § §

Andreas had to rush to get back inside
before the sun arose, and when he dashed
into the warehouse, it was to find Valente
pacing just inside. As soon as he saw
Andreas, he strode towards him, his
expression switching between relief and
anger.
“What in all the hells are you doing
cutting it this close to dawn?” He
frowned. “Are you all right? You look…
I don’t know, different?”
“I’m fine. I…I never meant to get back
so late.” Andreas dipped his head,
thinking about what he had almost done
and knowing if he expected to retain
Valente’s trust and help, he had to be
honest with him. He raised his head and
met Valente’s concerned gaze. “I left here

in a temper, and I discovered that I don’t
have as much control as I thought. I’ve
always had a temper, but when I was
human,

the

consequences

never

amounted to anything worse than being
forbidden to leave the house by my father
or being punched in the face by a
stranger. Tonight I learned just how
dangerous a vampire I can be.”
“What do you mean? You went
hunting?” Valente sounded afraid.
“I needed it. I found a sailor by the
docks, and at first it was good, normal;
then suddenly, all I wanted was to take
him, make him and me feel it, every
second. I took him dry, and he screamed.
I silenced him and drank from him. It was
wonderful, and I kept drinking—”

“You killed him?” Valente was

shocked.
“No! I admit it was close, but I came to
my senses enough to stop before I’d gone
that far. I healed his wounds and took
him to a place he’d quickly be found.
When I left, he was being attended to. I
was horrified that I came so close to
behaving like that bastard, Ignazio.”
Valente stepped close to Andreas and
drew him into an embrace. “Thank the
Divine,” he said softly. “Come, we need
to get to the safety of my room.” They
hurried through the warehouse into the
safety of Valente’s hideaway, where they
settled comfortably together on the bed.
They hadn’t removed their clothes yet,
both sensing there was more needing to
be said.

“I had a lot of time to think while you
were out,” Valente began, “and I can’t
deny your accusation that we…I have
been afraid to take on Ignazio. We all
decry his behaviour, but none have
attempted to stop him, allowing his
actions and his reputation to speak for
him.”
“Does that mean that you will try again
to convince the other vampires?”
“Yes. I’ll take you to meet some of
them tomorrow night.”
Andreas sighed with relief and leaned
over to kiss Valente.

§ § §

The meeting didn’t go anywhere near
as well as Andreas had hoped. He knew

from what Valente told him that it
wouldn’t be easy to get the others to
agree with his point of view, but he
hadn’t expected apathy. Only six vampires
agreed to meet with him; Valente had
close links with about a dozen, and he
estimated there were about twenty others
in the city at this time.
Andreas put his case before the half-
dozen who met with them, but it soon
became clear they considered him just a
naïve newborn who had no idea what he
was asking. Even when Valente backed up
his argument that it would only help all
vampires if rogues such as Ignazio were
dealt with, it was met with derision. The
consensus seemed to be that Ignazio was
too dangerous to confront, and anyway,
his actions didn’t affect other vampires.

The humans might be mystified by the
murders but certainly weren’t attributing
them to anything other than another
human and a crazed one at that. The
attitude of the humans suited them
perfectly.
“The humans don’t even know that
nightwalkers exist alongside them. After
all, such creatures are only a legend and
one that the Temple has refuted.”
“Why should we risk bringing notice to
the truth of our existence by having a
confrontation with Ignazio? And rest
assured the bastard wouldn’t be dealt
with quietly.”
“Let him be, he never stays in one place
long anyhow, and things will soon settle.”
Andreas was furious at their

perspective, but nothing he or Valente
said would sway them one iota. In the
end, they left, telling Valente to make
Andreas see sense.
Once they were alone, Andreas turned
to Valente. “They’re wrong, you know
they’re wrong. Ignazio isn’t going to stop.
Don’t they understand that each murder
only increases the determination of the
authorities to investigate what is really
going on? One day he will make a
mistake. It only takes one creditable
witness for the questions—”
“There have always been murders, and
the present increase in numbers will fade
when Ignazio moves to a new hunting
ground.”
“So you’re with them! I had thought

you understood.”
“I’m not with them, though I do
understand it from their point of view.
But they don’t have a personal stake in
this. You do.” He paused a minute. “So I
do.”
Andreas stared at him, and a sense of
calm washed over him. He hadn’t
understood how much Valente cared
about him. “Thank you, Valente. I
appreciate it more than you can know,
but what do we do now?”
“To tell the truth, I wasn’t really
expecting much of a response from the
others, so I’ve been going over the recent
attacks in my mind.”
“They’ve been all over the city,”
Andreas said.

“Yes, but if you think of the layout of
the city, the attacks have all roughly
circled the Lasar district.”
Andreas frowned. The Lasar district
was a small area of high-class houses just
north of the Temple. “Wait, are you
suggesting

Ignazio’s

hideaway

is

somewhere in Lasar?”
“It seems a fair assumption, and we do
need a starting point.”
Andreas smiled. “Tomorrow night, we
set up watch in Lasar. Divinity, but I wish
there were more of us so we could
properly cover the area.”
“Andreas, you do understand the odds
are we will fail to even find him, don’t
you?”
“Failure is better than not making an

attempt, but don’t discount right being
on our side.”
Valente raised an eyebrow. “You think
right can ever be on the side of a
vampire?”
“When facing one as evil as Ignazio?
Yes.”

CHAPTER SIX

The next evening, they left the

warehouse as soon as they were able,
heading directly for the Lasar district.
Taking the lead and setting a punishing
pace, Valente led the way to the LeVar
Mansion house in Lasar, which Valente
decided would be an ideal vantage point
from which to start their search. The
mansion house was topped by a tower,
which was the highest point in Lasar and
was also centrally placed in the district.
Valente hoped to get a sighting of
Ignazio. Without a place to start, a
possible sighting of their target, it would
likely be a pointless exercise. Valente was
sure that Andreas understood that, and
Andreas vowed to watch each night until

they found him.
Valente reached the large square, one
whole side of which was the LeVar
Mansion house, and immediately leapt up
onto one of the balconies of the house
opposite and from there he climbed up
the outside of the building and onto the
roof. Andreas still marvelled at how easily
he could cling to the sides of buildings
and clamber across roofs and leap from
chimney to chimney. They finally found
themselves looking up from the roof of
the adjoining building to the tower rising
above them.
Valente looked over at his shoulder at
Andreas. “You ready?”
He stared up at the rough-hewn stone
blocks, met Valente’s gaze, and said, “Oh

yes.”
Valente began to climb, Andreas
watched for the first few feet before
following, doubting if he looked as
graceful as he scaled the tower walls. Not
that it mattered, as no one would see
them anyway.
The roof of the tower was flat and
crenelated, and a quick glance was enough
to know they could see for miles.
“Take north and west, I’ll take south
and east,” Valente said.
Andreas was quick to obey, putting his
vampiric eyesight to use, trawling through
the people moving along the various
streets laid out below like a spider’s web.
“Too many people, not enough
privacy,” Andreas said.

“Keep looking. You know how clever
he is. He could tempt someone right off a
busy street.”
Knowing only too well that Valente
was right, Andreas forced himself to calm
down, increased his concentration, and
renewed his surveillance. He stared,
searching out each face, looking for the
one he wanted, desperate to find him,
frustration growing when none of them
was Ignazio. They spent hours on the
tower roof, but neither of them saw
Ignazio, and the time came when Valente
told Andreas they would have to leave so
they could get safely inside before dawn.
“Do you think he’s murdered someone
while we stood here and just watched?”
“I think if he had, we’d have heard an

outcry.”
“Maybe, or perhaps he hid the body.”
Andreas looked at Valente, pain gnawing
at him, “Or perhaps he’s created another
one like me and left the poor creature to
suffer until he kills. We have to find him,
we have to.”
“It could just as easily be that he’s
stayed in his hideaway.”
Andreas nodded and sighed. He could
but hope.
“We’ll try again tomorrow,” Valente
said.

§ § §

And they did, and the night after and
the night after that. Andreas was ready to
pull his hair out. Five nights and no sign

of Ignazio. Two men had been killed, one
the second night and one the fourth, and
Andreas was convinced they’d been killed
by Ignazio. Valente didn’t disagree, but
neither did he know a better way to find
him. They talked about separating and
patrolling the area, but besides the fact it
was too big for the two of them to cover,
more importantly there was no way they
could risk either of them facing Ignazio
alone. Even together the odds weren’t in
their favour.
It was almost midnight on the sixth
night, and Andreas stared into the
dwindling numbers of people on the
streets below. This was the time when it
was most likely that Ignazio would
choose a victim, and if the last few nights
were any indication, he ought to attack

tonight.
“Anything at all?” Andreas asked
Valente.
“No. I thought I saw something a few
minutes ago, but I was wrong.”
“Damnation, I can’t take much more of
this.”
“Yes, you can. This is what you want.”
Andreas couldn’t argue with that. He
turned his attention back to watching.
That was the moment he saw him.
“Ignazio!”
“Where?”
“South, near the river opposite the
Temple. As yet, he’s alone,” Andreas said,
already running to the side of the tower.
They descended faster than ever before,

Andreas almost falling at one point in his
haste to get to Ignazio. Only Valente’s
senses and greater strength saved him.
Landing on the roof of the building
below, they leapt from building to
building, across streets narrow enough
for them to clear, until they had to jump
down to street level when they
encountered a wide square.
Hopeful he was still on the right track
but uncertain if Ignazio had changed
direction, Andreas could only keep
heading in what he believed to be the
correct way. It wasn’t far to the river now,
and Andreas knew it was a good place for
hunting.
As they approached the trees planted
along the side of the river, Andreas
grabbed Valente’s arm. “We need to split

up until we find him.”
“Very well, but if you see him, you
wait. Send me a mental message, and I
will track you.”
“Don’t worry; I know I need your
help.”
Valente’s glance told Andreas how
uncertain Valente still was about this, but
he didn’t argue. Andreas was grateful for
the trust and loyalty Valente offered him.
Valente ran off to the right as Andreas
went left, already searching with his
vampiric senses for any other vampire
present other than his Valente. Nothing,
though his eyes were darting everywhere
in case Ignazio had some way to cover his
trace. Andreas was beginning to get
desperate. They couldn’t lose him now,

not after all the fruitless nights of
searching for him. They finally had sight
of him. We can’t let him go now!
Suddenly there was a shout in his
mi nd: “Andreas!” It was Valente. He’d
found him! “Come to me,” Valente ordered,
and Andreas followed the call as if pulled
by a cord. “Keep quiet!”
As Andreas approached, he saw
Valente secreted behind the bole of a
large tree. Valente met his gaze, which he
followed to the small clearing just
beyond. Ignazio was there, and it struck
Andreas that he still couldn’t sense the
other vampire; he did indeed have some
way of hiding his presence. Dragging his
gaze from Ignazio’s face, Andreas took in
the whole scene.

Ignazio had a human male in his grip.

He was still alive but only just, as blood
pumped from various wounds on his
body. Anger tore through Andreas that
they were too late to save yet another
victim, but he swore this would be the
last one and took a step forward.
Ignazio turned in his direction, a broad
smile on his face. “I sensed others were
near, but I didn’t expect them to come
and find me. They usually run in the
other direction.” Dragging his bloody
prey with him, he came towards them.
Tipping his head to one side, he regarded
Andreas, a slight frown appearing, which
soon cleared.
“Ah, I remember you. You survived,
then, and found yourself a playmate.”
Ignazio barked a laugh and then looked at

them, pursing his lips. “But why are you
here, disturbing my feeding?”
“To end your murdering spree, you
bastard!” Andreas declared.
Ignazio’s eyes widened, not in fear but
in amusement. “You think you can stop
me? Either of you?” This last was
directed at Valente, who stepped forward
too. “You are but fleas to brush off my
coat!”
Rage surging through him, Andreas
leapt towards Ignazio. With a speed
Andreas could hardly follow, Ignazio
tossed his victim away and jumped into
the air, an arm grabbing and tossing
Andreas away as if he were but a rag doll.
Andreas heard Valente growl. Shaking his
head to clear his focus, he saw Valente

struggling with Ignazio. Andreas got to
his feet and charged at the pair, his
fingers curling into claws, his fangs
lengthening. He leapt onto Ignazio’s back,
his head angled to try to get his fangs into
the vampire’s throat.
With a roar, Ignazio threw Andreas off
him, and he landed heavily on his back,
hardly able to move for the pain racking
him. Valente was on the ground now,
Ignazio poised over him. Long, razor-
sharp nails raked over Valente’s abdomen,
and he screamed. Ignazio laughed
maniacally as he raised his arm to attack
again.
Fighting his own agony but knowing
his body was already healing, Andreas
forced himself to stagger over and knock
Ignazio aside. Valente curled over himself

and continued to climb to his feet.
Ignazio was up and rushing them again,
and it was all they could do to support
each other.
Andreas knew he wasn’t as badly hurt
as Valente and shoved him to the ground
out of the way to meet Ignazio’s attack.
Andreas was slammed back to the
ground, and he was swamped with
remembrances of the last time Ignazio
had held him down and sunk his fangs
into his neck. With a roar of fear and
anger, Andreas fought back with all his
might but found he could hardly move
the other vampire off him. Panic took
hold of him then, and perhaps that gave
him the extra strength he needed, for he
managed to roll Ignazio off him. He was
struggling to his feet when he felt

someone grab his arms and pull him up.
It was Valente, and relief flooded
Andreas that he was all right.
Ignazio was back on his feet now and
prowling towards them as Valente pulled
Andreas backwards.
“We can’t win,” Valente whispered to
Andreas, and guilt swamped Andreas as
he realized Valente had always known
that and still stood by him. It hit Andreas
in that moment that Valente didn’t only
offer him trust and loyalty, he also loved
him. Andreas was overwhelmed because
he didn’t deserve it.
Ignazio obviously overheard the
comment. “No, you can’t beat me,” he
said to Valente. “You ought to know that.
I can sense how much older you are than

this one.” He sneered at Andreas. “You
should have made him obey you. Not
done a very good job of training him,
have you?”
Andreas stood his ground. “He’s done
a damn sight better than you did. Don’t
you dare belittle him when you are held
up as the example of how not to be a
vampire!”
Ignazio laughed derisively. “Do you
think I give a shovel of dung as to what
that pack of cowards thinks? I make my
own rules, and you are a pair of fools for
thinking you could take me on and win.”
He charged at them again, and they
weren’t fast enough to get out of the way.
Andreas was flung into the nearest tree,
and Ignazio yanked Valente against him.

Before Andreas could gather his senses,
Ignazio bit into Valente’s neck and raked
his nails through the slowly healing
wounds on his abdomen, opening them
again. As blood seeped from Valente’s
chest and stomach, Ignazio drank from
his neck.
Andreas dragged himself to his feet,
swaying, his eyes glued to the scene
before him. No, Valente! Please, no! He was
too weak to even speak the words.
Ignazio lifted his head from Valente’s
neck, staring at Andreas, whose agony of
body and mind must have been clear to
the watching vampire.
“I don’t think I’ll kill you,” Ignazio
said, letting Valente’s body slide to the
ground. “At least you two had the guts to

confront me, as useless as it was.” He
took a step towards Andreas. “Perhaps
you can entertain me again some time.”
Andreas watched in disbelief as Ignazio
ran far too fast for his gaze to follow and
was gone before Andreas really registered
he’d moved.
He lurched over to Valente, praying
he’d survived. Andreas couldn’t bear to
be the cause of his demise, not when
Valente only came to Andreas’ aid
because of his feelings. Andreas acted as
fast as he could to seal the wounds in his
neck and abdomen. Valente was still
unresponsive, and Andreas had to get
him back to their hideaway. Andreas still
felt much weaker than he usually did;
thank the Divine they had both fed the
night before. He picked up Valente,

positioning him as carefully as possible
over his shoulder. It wasn’t the best way
to carry him with the injuries he had, but
there was no other way when Andreas
needed at least one hand free to travel as
fast as he could.

§ § §

Andreas laid Valente down on their
bed. Even though he’d cleaned the
wounds, they still looked red and nasty.
Andreas knew it would take some time
for Valente to heal from such serious
wounds. He got some warm water, and,
removing what remained of Valente’s
clothing, Andreas carefully washed his
body. He wasn’t too concerned that
Valente was still unconscious. A vampire
would often sleep while his body repaired

itself, though Andreas had never seen
such severe wounds and wasn’t sure how
long it would take for Valente to recover.
It looked unlikely that Valente would
be able to go out hunting for some time,
but at least Andreas could still feed him.
Valente had shown him how to take and
store blood in bottles if it was necessary.
Andreas would go out the next night and
collect some so he would be prepared.
To his relief, Valente’s consciousness
returned the night following the attack,
shortly before Andreas returned from his
hunt. However, Valente was very weak
and needed feeding immediately. Andreas
did the only thing he could think of—he
fed Valente directly from his own vein. It
was an act of desperation, but Andreas
found it to be very erotic, and, judging

from Valente’s reaction, so did he. He
soon went back to sleep, the rest aiding in
his gradual improvement.
Valente’s recovery was slow but steady,
helped each evening by being fed by
Andreas, who went out hunting to ensure
he kept his strength up so his body could
spare the blood to feed him.
After a week, Valente was recovered
enough not to need almost constant sleep.
They sat together on the bed, Andreas
leaning back against the bed head with
Valente sitting between his spread legs,
resting against his chest. Andreas’ hand
absently stroked through Valente’s hair.
“Truth is, we were lucky,” Valente said.
“He could easily have killed both of us.”
“Yes, he made it clear he was having

fun with us, though he did seem to
admire us in some odd way.”
“What exactly did he say?” Valente
asked with a shrug. “I wasn’t exactly
aware of much at the time.”
“Let me see if I can remember it
exactly. That evening is burned into my
mind.” He closed his eyes as he thought.
“He said he wouldn’t kill us because we
had the guts to confront him, as useless as
it was.” Andreas shifted a little so he
could see Valente’s face, met his gaze, and
held it. “He added just before he left that
perhaps we can entertain him again
sometime.”
“Oh, Divinity preserve us! He could
come back at any time, whenever he
wants to… What did you say? Have fun

with us? We have to leave, go far away
from here. Make a home somewhere
else.” Valente looked at Andreas,
pleading in his eyes. “You have to let go.
There’s no way we can win, no way you
can have vengeance against him. I know
that hurts, I understand what your
friends, your ex-lover meant to you, but if
you keep this up, all you will do is destroy
yourself — and me, for I’ll never desert
you.”
Andreas sighed. He didn’t expect
anything different. He knew when they
had this conversation what Valente would
say. It was the only sensible reaction, and
though he wasn’t able to return the love
Valente felt for him, he cared for Valente
enough to agree.
“Don’t worry. I’ve already come to that

conclusion myself. It wasn’t a decision I
liked, but I’m not stupid enough to want
to pay the ultimate price, and I know I
was asking too much of you to face him
with me the way you did. I can never
thank you enough for that, or tell you
how grateful I am that you are going to
be all right. I’ll go wherever you want.”
Valente blew out a breath and made
himself comfortable again, leaning against
Andreas. “Thank you! Give me a few
more days, and we’ll make plans.”
Andreas kissed his hair before leaning
his cheek against him. He meant what he
said to Valente. He would go wherever he
wanted, and he wouldn’t seek out Ignazio
— not yet, anyway.

§ § §

But what he couldn’t do was let go of
his anger. It simmered beneath the
surface constantly, like the blood flowing
through his veins. Blood that wasn’t really
his, blood he stole from strangers each
time he fed.
He hadn’t told Valente, but sometimes
it was very hard to control the rage
surging through him like a black fog, very
difficult on those rare occasions not to
kill when he fed. So far he’d managed to
control it, but he feared that one day,
perhaps, he wouldn’t be able to, though
he couldn’t help but think it would be
very useful to be able to control such
power by his will.
Andreas also wouldn’t tell Valente that
he couldn’t let go of his thirst for

revenge. He knew he was in no state to
fight Ignazio now and maybe not for
many years, but the day would come, and
when it did, he would be ready.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

STEVIE WOODS is a Brit living in

the Northwest of England and has
recently been able to leave her day job
behind - though it’s a quandary that there
still doesn’t seem to be much more free
time in her day!
A long time avid reader of romance
with a dash of adventure, Stevie only
stumbled over ‘slash’ pairings a few years
ago and was an immediate convert.
Having dabbled with writing on and off
for years, it wasn’t long before Stevie was
tapping away on the keyboard inventing
stories around two hot guys, gaining her
first publication in the summer of 2007.
Stevie likes reading stories with a good
strong plot and believable characters and

does her best to create them in her own
work.
Stevie has a soft spot for Historical
settings but also thoroughly enjoys SF
and

Fantasy,

Paranormal

and

Contemporary, finding the similarities as
intriguing as the differences. Stevie
already has a variety of novels, novellas
and short stories released by Torquere
Press, Phaze Books, Amber Quill Press
and MLR Press.
Stevie is happy to hear from her
readers via
http://www.steviewoods.com

MLR PRESS AUTHORS

Featuring a roll call of some of the best

writers of gay erotica and mysteries today!
Derek Adams
Z. Allora
Maura Anderson
Simone Anderson
Victor J. Banis
Laura Baumbach
Helen Beattie
Ally Blue
J.P. Bowie
Barry Brennessel
Nowell Briscoe
Jade Buchanan
James Buchanan
TA Chase

Charlie Cochrane
Karenna Colcroft
Michael G. Cornelius
Jamie Craig
Ethan Day
Diana DeRicci
Vivien Dean
Taylor V. Donovan
S.J. Frost
Kimberly Gardner
Kaje Harper
Alex Ironrod
Jambrea Jo Jones
DC Juris
AC Katt
Thomas Kearnes
Sasha Keegan

Kiernan Kelly
K-lee Klein
Geoffrey Knight
Christopher Koehler
Matthew Lang
J.L. Langley
Vincent Lardo
Cameron Lawton
Anna Lee
Elizabeth Lister
Clare London
William Maltese
Z.A. Maxfield
Timothy McGivney
Tere Michaels
AKM Miles
Robert Moore
Reiko Morgan

Jet Mykles
William Neale
N.J. Nielsen
Cherie Noel
Gregory L. Norris
Willa Okati
Erica Pike
Neil S. Plakcy
Rick R. Reed
A.M. Riley
AJ Rose
Rob Rosen
George Seaton
Riley Shane
Jardonn Smith
DH Starr
Richard Stevenson

Christopher Stone
Liz Strange
Marshall Thornton
Lex Valentine
Haley Walsh
Mia Watts
Lynley Wayne
Missy Welsh
Ryal Woods
Stevie Woods
Lance Zarimba
Mark Zubro

Check out titles, both available and

forthcoming, at

www.mlrpress.com

GLBT RESOURCES

RAINBOW ROMANCE WRITERS

Raising the Bar for LGBT Romance

RRW offers support and advocacy to
career-focused authors, expanding the
horizons of romance. Changing minds,
one

heart

at

a

time.

www.rainbowromancewriters.com
THE TREVOR PROJECT

The Trevor Project operates the only

nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and
suicide prevention helpline for lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning
youth. Every day, The Trevor Project
saves

lives

though

its

free

and

confidential helpline, its website and its
educational services. If you or a friend are
feeling lost, alone, confused or in crisis,

please call The Trevor Helpline. You’ll be
able to speak confidentially with a trained
counselor 24/7.
The Trevor Helpline: 866-488-7386
On

the

Web:

http://www.thetrevorproject.org/
THE GAY MEN’S DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE PROJECT

Founded in 1994, The Gay Men’s

Domestic

Violence

Project

is

a

grassroots,

non-profit

organization

founded by a gay male survivor of
domestic violence and developed through
the

strength,

contributions

and

participation of the community. The Gay
Men’s

Domestic

Violence

Project

supports victims and survivors through
education, advocacy and direct services.

Understanding that the serious public
health issue of domestic violence is not
gender specific, we serve men in
relationships with men, regardless of how
they identify, and stand ready to assist
them in navigating through abusive
relationships.
GMDVP Helpline: 800.832.1901
On the Web: http://gmdvp.org/
THE GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE
AGAINST DEFAMATION/GLAAD
EN ESPAÑOL

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against

Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to
promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and
inclusive representation of people and
events in the media as a means of
eliminating

homophobia

and

discrimination based on gender identity
and sexual orientation.
On the Web: http://www.glaad.org/
GLAAD

en

español:

http://www.glaad.org/espanol/bienvenido.php
SERVICEMEMBERS

LEGAL

DEFENSE NETWORK

Servicemembers

Legal

Defense

Network is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, legal
services,

watchdog

and

policy

organization

dedicated

to

ending

discrimination against and harassment of
military personnel affected by “Don’t
Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT).The SLDN
provides free, confidential legal services
to all those impacted by DADT and
related discrimination. Since 1993, its
inhouse legal team has responded to more

than 9,000 requests for assistance. In
Congress, it leads the fight to repeal
DADT and replace it with a law that
ensures equal treatment for every
servicemember, regardless of sexual
orientation. In the courts, it works to
challenge the constitutionality of DADT.
SLDN Call: 800-538-7418
PO Box 65301 or (202) 328-FAIR
Washington DC 20035-5301 e-mail:
[e-mail]
On the Web: http://sldn.org/
THE GLBT NATIONAL HELP
CENTER

The GLBT National Help Center is a

nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that is
dedicated to meeting the needs of the gay,
lesbian,

bisexual

and

transgender

community and those questioning their
sexual orientation and gender identity. It
is an outgrowth of the Gay & Lesbian
National Hotline, which began in 1996
and now is a primary program of The
GLBT National Help Center. It offers
several different programs including two
national hotlines that help members of
the GLBT community talk about the
important issues that they are facing in
their lives. It helps end the isolation that
many people feel, by providing a safe
environment on the phone or via the
internet to discuss issues that people can’t
talk about anywhere else. The GLBT
National Help Center also helps other
organizations build the infrastructure
they need to provide strong support to
our community at the local level.

National Hotline: 1-888-THE-GLNH
(1-888-843-4564)
National Youth Talkline 1-800-246-
PRIDE (1-800-246-7743)
On the Web: http://www.glnh.org/
e-mail:
[e-mail]
If you’re a GLBT and questioning
student heading off to university, you
should know that there are resources on
campus for you. Here’s just a sample:
GLBT

SCHOLARSHIP

RESOURCES

http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/tell-

us-about-an-lgbt-scholarship
Syracuse University
http://lgbt.syr.edu/

Texas A&M
http://glbt.tamu.edu/
Tulane University
http://tulane.edu/studentaffairs/oma/lgbt/index.cfm
University

of

Alaska

http://www.uaf.edu/woodcenter/leadership/organizations/active/index.xml?
id=61
University of California, Davis
http://lgbtrc.ucdavis.edu/
University of California, San Francisco
http://lgbt.ucsf.edu/
University of Colorado
http://www.colorado.edu/GLBTQRC/
University of Florida
http://www.multicultural.ufl.edu/lgbt/
University of Hawaii, Mānoa

http://manoa.hawaii.edu/lgbt/
University of Utah
http://www.sa.utah.edu/lgbt/
University of Virginia
http://www.virginia.edu/deanofstudents/lgbt/
Vanderbilt University
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/lgbtqi/