Read The First Three Chapters of The Dreaded Ones!

“The Ancients Have Risen”,

It is not long before the story of the vampire-horror trilogy continues as The Dreaded Ones arrive in a matter of weeks. Now, here you can read the first three chapters of the short novella. (SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO DESIRE: Details from Book 1 (The Horde) are featured.)

CHAPTER ONE

Two months. Two months have passed since the eclipse over Seattle, Washington. The vampires scurried themselves through the city, slaughtering many who were in their path. The streets were sealed off and the air travel was frozen. There was no way in or out of Seattle. However, Dr. Allan Desportan, Abelard Ekkehardt, and Lucy Seward remained alongside Anna Ilario and Brant Wade as they confronted Dunkan The Dark One. Running from the vampires and taking them out, the group found themselves near the outskirts of the city. Making their escape, they found a way out of the city and retreated into the wilderness. Moving south as they arrived in Olympia, Washington.

“What have you learned so far?” Dr. Allan Desportan asked Brant Wade.

“The military isn’t aware of what’s happening. I’m not sure why.”

Throughout the weeks which had followed, the group had several run-ins with scattered vampires. While they did eliminate them, Lucy desired to study their anatomy as they dragged several vampire bodies into a shack. Lucy went and studied their vampiric changes to the human body as she began to learn more concerning their feeding patterns as well as their enhanced reflexes and agility.

“It rewrites the entire body.” Lucy told Allan.

“Basically reforming them as if they’re being reborn?”

“To a degree.”

Through their patience and longsuffering of the events unfolding, news had spread of the electricity returning to Seattle and once the National Guard had arrived, They found the city deserted. The downtown streets empty. Neither were there human or animal moving throughout. A sign of concern as they discovered trails of blood within the city limits all heading out onto the interstate, moving south.

Throughout the weeks which had followed, Desportan entered Olympia and saw nothing which would alarm him of a vampire appearance. Until, one day when he went into a coffee shop and sat down. Gazing up toward the TV, the Olympia news broadcast revealed a body was found near the entrance into the city and the victim’s body was drained of blood. Quickly, Desportan stood up and left the shop. It was only a matter of time. Not weeks or months. Days.

CHAPTER TWO

After making his way back to the others, Desportan began to tell them of what he had seen. Hearing his words and the horror beneath them, they knew the vampires would only be near them sooner than anticipated. Abelard immediately stood up from his chair and looked out the window toward the woods. Giving the others a glare, they knew what he was about to say. Yet, Desportan stopped him before he could speak a word.

“We can’t keep doing this.”

“Doing what?” Lucy questioned.

“Keep moving place to place. This isn’t right. We can stop this wherever we are.”

“Seems you still do not understand the dangers we’re all facing. We must move to avoid them. At any cost.”

“We tried that already, remember. We left Seattle and look now, they’ve reached Olympia within a matter of weeks. Not months. Weeks!”

“Look, Allan.” Lucy paused. “It was only a matter of time. We know they were going to migrate. It’s not that different than birds during the changing seasons.”

“These are not birds, Lucy. They’re vampires. Literal vampires.”

Abelard sighed.

“Where’s your strength, Dr. Desportan?”

“My strength?”

“Yes. Because before we left Seattle, you were ready for the fight against the vampires. Now, after hearing the news of them within our reach, you decide to make a run for it.”

“Because we are not fully equipped to handle a horde of vampires. A dozen of them maybe. But not hundreds or even thousands.”

“Then that settles things.” Abelard said.

“What do you mean, Professor?” Brant asked. “We take them all on. Face them till the death?”

“You would like that wouldn’t you.” Desportan chuckled. “We’re not scarifying ourselves to them on some whim of a victory. We need a plan. A serious, operational plan.”

“My plan is simple. We head south. Into Oregon. There’s a place there I’ve frequent before during my travels in this region of the country. Salem. We head there and recruit new soldiers for this fight.”

“So, you’re going to go into this town and ask people if they’re willing to join us in fighting them?”

“Yes.”

“And how are you certain they’ll believe you?”

“Because, they’re aware of the vampires’ existence. I helped them out several years ago in ridding a nest in their territory. Although, the vampires I encountered there were unlike the ones we’ve recently dealt with.”

“Wait. Hold on. Unlike the others? You’re saying there’s a different breed of vampires aside from the horde we encountered led by this Dark One?”

“Yes. I’ll explain more once we get there. Perhaps, the people will as well.”

CHAPTER THREE

While the group had packed their belongings and left for Salem, Oregon. Scurrying through the wilderness were a pack of vampires. Only these showed more of a pale feature. They had no hair, appearing to look like albinos, yet their skin was shedding and portions of their bones were visible. If one were to encounter these vampires, one would accuse them of being zombies, especially in their rushing speed. A dozen of them ran through the trees and toward a cave as thunder cracked above them. The pale ones rushed toward a pillar in the cave. The pillar appeared to be a natural one made with the cave itself. The pale ones paused and bowed their heads as a looming figure began to move toward them from the other side of the pillar. Walking slowly, the figure shared the same features as the pale ones. Decayed flesh, sharp fangs, and pale skin. Although, this one wore garments which resembled the Colonial period.

“The time is upon us!” The figure spoke. “The Dark One’s essence has filled the air. His workings in the larger city have shown us we can win this war. I speak on this day, I, Aldrik, leader of you all shall march with you into battle against these so-called Fated Ones. For the battle has begun and the war will be ours!”

The pale ones snare in a victorious screech. Howling like wolves with the sound of the thunder. Aldrik, their leader grinned with his sharp fangs showing. His eyes appeared dead, yet within the retinas were a glimmer of life. Life not of human nature, but something much darker.

The Dreaded Ones releases on May 6th in paperback and eBook formats. The book’s page is in the button below.