Emily Shadowhunter - Book 1: VAMPIRE KILLER

  A single black candle guttered in the corner, the shaky orange flame seeming somehow to enhance the darkness rather than do anything to alleviate it. On a marble slab lay a naked body. Arms by its sides, hair greased back into a short ponytail. In a circle around the alter stood six elder vampires. The elite of the United Kingdom chapter of the Nosferatu.

  Lord Byron stepped forward and approached the body.

  Then with shocking savagery and a total lack of ceremony he bit into its neck. The person on the slab screamed out in agony as blood pumped from the jagged wound, flowing down his chest and arms and legs.

  With a final shake of his head, Lord Byron tore a chunk of flesh from the victim and then stood back, once more a part of the circle of elders.

  The body jerked spasmodically a few times, heels drumming against the marble once, twice, thrice. Then a death rattle gurgled from its ruined throat and it lay still.

  Dead.

  ‘Will he reanimate?’ Asked Cromwell the Enforcer. ‘And if so, will he become a Grinder?’

  ‘He will reanimate,’ confirmed Lord Byron. ‘I could taste his power. You see, Enforcer, he is already very old. And, strictly speaking, he is not even human. I have a feeling that he will be a great asset to our chapter and to our movement.’

  ‘I still wonder if he can he be trusted?’ Questioned the Enforcer.

  ‘Oh yes,’ answered the lord. ‘He is sick of playing the underdog. He yearns for the power and influence that he once had. And the lust for power is a far stronger drive than either love or hate. Believe me, he will become one of our greatest resources. Already he has shown his loyalty and dedication. And, thanks in part to him, by the end of this day we will be stronger than ever before. We shall be almost unchallenged. An unstoppable force.’

  There was a scream and a howl as the dead body twitched into animation and the new aspirant stood up.

  He glanced around at the circle of elders and he smiled, his fangs sliding out like two ivory daggers, his neck wound already healed into a ragged pink scar.

  ‘Incredible,’ breathed Lord Byron. ‘Instead of taking hours to heal and change he literally took a matter of minutes.’

  The new Aspirant walked over and knelt before the lord. ‘My lord. I am your servant.’

  Lord Byron Nodded. ‘And it is with love and honor that I accept you into the house of Byron. Stand, Nathan Tremblay, former Shadowhunter, and take your place at my side.’

  Chapter 23