by Tessa Dawn
As she turned the drawing over and over, observing it at different angles, she began to notice a strange pattern in the sky: There was something hidden within the shadows of the dark clouds…the ones that loomed ominously over the forested valley—the place from which the man always fell into the black hole. And the hidden pattern wasn’t something Deanna had added to the picture; rather, it was a deliberate omission—white space that remained empty, uncovered by pencil marks.
An outline emerged in the absence of color.
Frowning, Deanna leapt up from the floor and went to get her magnifying glass in order to take a closer look. As she held the drawing beneath the lens, she bent way over to study the vacant space…and froze.
What in the world?
The spaces were letters.
And the letters spelled very distinct words.
Wondering if she wasn’t about to open Pandora’s box—and whether or not she might be better off leaving well enough alone—Deanna reached for her pencil and flipped over another drawing in order to transcribe the letters on the back, one at a time…
DARK-MOON-VALE-CLINIC.
She sat back and stared at the words, and then she picked up the magnifying glass and verified each one a second time, making sure she hadn’t overlooked anything. Yep, that’s what they said all right: Dark Moon Vale Clinic.
She set down the magnifying glass and shrugged. At least they hadn’t spelled out Sybil or Three Faces of Eve. At least they hadn’t spelled out Redrum, Redrum, Redrum over and over and over: “All work and no play makes Deanna a very dull girl,” she whispered, shivering at the inappropriate reference to The Shining—a terrifying book written by Stephen King in the 1970s that was later made into a movie. That was later remade at a remote Colorado hotel…
Near the Rocky Mountain National Park…
Just outside the Roosevelt National Forest.
Deanna swallowed a lump in her throat, set the magnifying glass aside, and slowly reached for her laptop again. This time, she ignored the intimidating list of local psychoanalysts in favor of trying a different search: Colorado Clinics. When she didn’t find the one from her drawings, she began to breathe easier. Okay, this is good. The clinic isn’t real.
Even as she thought it, an uneasy feeling grew in her belly, and she continued to try various word combinations in the search engine, absently seeking to discern whether or not the place was real, even if the clinic wasn’t.
And there it was.
Right beneath Mountain Hotels and Accommodations: Dark Moon Vale Lodge.
Damnit! she thought, her trepidation growing. It was time to research the place in depth.
Despite some frantic voice screaming deep within the recesses of her mind, Stop! Don’t go any further. This is one of those forks in the road—one of those ominous moments in life from which there is no turning back—don’t do it! she was helpless to stop herself.
Because something far deeper within her, something far more fundamental and compelling than fear, was spurring her on—inexplicably drawing her to the suffering male in her sketches. To the haunted eyes of that masculine figure.
And nothing in this world—or the next—was going to keep her from solving the mystery…if, in fact, it could be solved.
Even as Deanna clicked on the link and prepared to read further, she already knew she was headed for Colorado: She was going to Dark Moon Vale.
Somewhere…the victim in her drawings did exist. And she was going to find him even if it killed her.
If she had harbored even the slightest doubt before, it was now completely gone: Deanna Dubois was absolutely—certifiably—insane.
About The Author
Tessa Dawn grew up in Colorado where she developed a deep affinity for the Rocky Mountains. After graduating with a degree in psychology, she worked for several years in criminal justice and mental health before returning to get her Masters Degree in Nonprofit Management.
Tessa began writing as a child and composed her first full-length novel at the age of eleven. By the time she graduated high-school, she had a banker’s box full of short-stories and books. Since then, she has published works as diverse as poetry, greeting cards, workbooks for kids with autism, and academic curricula. The Blood Curse Series marks her long-desired return to her creative-writing roots and her first foray into the Dark Fantasy world of vampire fiction.
Tessa currently lives in the suburbs with her two children and “one very crazy cat” but hopes to someday move to the country where she can own horses and a German Shepherd.
Writing is her bliss.
Books in the Blood Curse Series
(In order of publication)
Blood Destiny
Blood Awakening
Blood Possession
Blood Shadows (Coming Soon…)
If you would like to receive notice of future releases,
please go to the Blood Curse Series Website
www.TessaDawn.Com
Table of Contents
Prologue
Epilogue
