Excerpt from The Devil's Liege (Book 2 of the Mathias Saga)
by Danielle DeVor
“Thias.”
The voice was near to his ear and seemed breathy.
Sleep was his friend. He hunkered down further into his pillow. The
darkness was a comfort to him. Safe.
“Thias.” It
was closer this time—right next to his ear. He didn’t want for this to be real,
prayed that it wouldn’t be.
Snick.
Snick.
Mathias jerked
awake. His heart hammered in his chest. He looked around the room. Everything
was where it was supposed to be. It was still too fancy for Mathias with the
polished wood, the gold brocade curtains and the velvet chair next to the
window with his stack of books beside it. Nothing was wrong. There was no
insane woman about to cut him with a pair of rusty shears. With his eyes the
way they were now, with his vampire’s ability to see in the dark, he didn’t
need to reach over and turn on the light. He could see everything perfectly. It
must have been a dream. At least, Mathias hoped that’s what it was.
There was no
one in his room but himself. “Fuck.”
He closed his eyes
for a minute and sighed. Ever since he’d killed Nic, the sorcerer who had
caused him to become a vampire, Mathias had been dreaming about her and the past. It honestly was
something he wished he could forget.
Lilith, the
former Queen, had tried to kill him just so he couldn’t tell the vampire world
about the horrible things she’d done to him in a past life. She’d cultivated
this kind and generous persona that wasn’t really like her at all. It wasn’t
Mathias’ fault that Vlad had chosen to cross him over into a vampire. Being a
vampire hadn’t been his choice. Hell, he would have rather had his parents
back, but he guessed fate was just one of those things.
He wiped the
sweat from his forehead with his hand. Along with the dreams, he’d been
breaking out in cold clammy sweats. Why the dreams were happening now, he
didn’t know. It would have made more sense for them to happen after Nossy had
killed Lilith, his mother, but maybe his brain was still being stupid. It
wouldn’t surprise him.
He got up, walked across the room to the window, and
pushed the plush red brocade curtain out of the way. Staying with Vlad again
was weird. The room was just too fancy. He preferred Nossy’s
clutter. It felt more homey somehow. But, with Nossy being king, it was easier
for Mathias to stay with Vlad. He understood that. He just wished things were
less complicated.
Outside, the frost on the ground was so thick that it
made the grass look almost white. That was Siberia. Winter came early here. Snow had been hitting
the ground in intervals since October, with it now being November, well, the
frost was a little bit of an improvement. That meant it wasn’t
as cold today.
He wrapped his
wings around himself and sat down in the chair next to the window. It was still
weird to have wings. They were longer than he was in order to support him in
the air. They weren’t unlike the wings of a fruit bat, sort of. The glass
reflected what Mathias still viewed as his new face. His brown hair was still
long, his blue eyes were still jaded, but he was big now.
Part of him still expected to see that
fifteen-year-old kid in the mirror. Needless to say, the last year had been one
hell of an experience. He looked at the bookcase opposite his chair, but
nothing sparked his interest enough. Still, no sense in trying to go back to
sleep now. The dreams would just start again. Mathias just
wanted to rest, but his mind had other ideas.
He leaned over
the side of the chair and picked up the book he’d left on the floor. It wasn’t
a fun read, but necessary. It was an old tome about ancient fighting
techniques. Mathias thought that if he could learn about how the old techniques
were taught, then maybe, he could rectify everything he remembered from the
past with that things were like now. He sighed. His plan wasn’t working very
well if his dreams were any indication. He didn’t want to remember more of her. It was getting to the point that
when he saw a woman with long black hair, he’d have to suppress a shudder. Not
normal at all.
He let the
book fall into his lap and stared out the window again. The frigid scenery was
something better to focus on.
I’m
tired of being alive.
The thought
just kind of popped into his head, unwarranted and unwelcome. He hadn’t even
been thinking, not really. He’d actually been trying not to think. But, he had
to admit to himself, it was true in a way. The stress of his “testing” by
Lilith, trying to remember who he was, and then finally getting his revenge on
Nic kind of took the wind out of his sails. There was nothing left to look forward
to now. People who wanted to live
forever had no idea how boring it was. And hell, in this life, he was only
sixteen. It probably would have been better if he’d never remembered his past
at all.
He drummed his
claws against the book, softly though, so as to not damage it. Suicide wasn’t
an option. Being a vampire, he wasn’t very easy to kill and it wasn’t like he
could cut off his own head. He didn’t think he could at least. It wasn’t
exactly the easiest thing to do. So, he was stuck like this—probably forever.
No wonder all the vamps he knew were fucking nuts.
This never
ending existence was the very reason he never wanted to be a vampire. The only
things he had that meant anything to him were Nossy and Vlad. Too bad they
weren’t enough. What he really wanted, and what he didn’t want to admit, was
that he just wanted someone to take care of him. His pride wouldn’t let him ask
for it.
*
* * * *
Tallus stroked
the parchment lovingly. This was his child after a sort. The candlelight made
the parchment glow slightly golden. It was perfect. True, it had been a great
expense to have the document forged, but that was no matter. Not when he’d have
it all. Then, expenses would be something he had no reason to fret with.
He chuckled at
the cost.
Some paid much
more than others. The one who performed this forgery had paid the most. He was now lying underneath several layers of
ice—all covering his head. It was a great loss, but Tallus was willing to bear
the guilt of the sacrifice. It was all for the greater good after all.
He lowered the
parchment to the table. When she had
been around, none of this was possible. Lilith had always been so … suspicious.
He didn’t dare try to act on anything then. In fact, he was always careful to
be thinking of things not related to his try for the throne in her presence. It
was safer that way.
Tallus
grinned. Her death had made things so much easier. Without her paranoia to make
him hide in the shadows, he had everything he needed for his plan to work. In
contrast, Nosferatu was an easy mark. He was too trusting, and sadly, the King
thought Tallus was his ally. That was likely his first mistake. For being as
old as he was, Nosferatu really was rather naive.
He picked the
parchment up off the table and kissed it. It was all so perfect. Soon, the plan
could begin. He couldn’t wait.
*
* * * *
Blurb:
Being a
vampire isn't all it's cracked up to be- in fact, it kind of sucks.
After surviving his duel with Lilith, Mathias thought that he could relax. That is until he discovers that, Nossy, the new king, has been kidnapped.
When the investigating vampires seem to have no clue how to rescue Nosferatu, Mathias must step in. Everything is peachy until Mathias is named the next new king in order to stop the man behind Nossy’s kidnapping from taking over the throne.
Suddenly, his life is not his own again, and Mathias must make a choice: risk his life to find his friend, or sit back and watch disaster unfold.
After surviving his duel with Lilith, Mathias thought that he could relax. That is until he discovers that, Nossy, the new king, has been kidnapped.
When the investigating vampires seem to have no clue how to rescue Nosferatu, Mathias must step in. Everything is peachy until Mathias is named the next new king in order to stop the man behind Nossy’s kidnapping from taking over the throne.
Suddenly, his life is not his own again, and Mathias must make a choice: risk his life to find his friend, or sit back and watch disaster unfold.
About the Author:
Named one
of the Examiner's Women in Horror: 93 Horror Authors You Need to Read Right
Now, Danielle DeVor has been spinning the spider webs, or rather, the keyboard
for more frights and oddities. She spent her early years fantasizing
about vampires and watching "Salem's Lot" way too many times. When
not writing and reading about weird things, you will find her hanging out at
the nearest coffee shop, enjoying a mocha frappuccino. Visit her at
danielledevor.wordpress.com
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