by Thomas, Ally
DEATH/DEMETRI
Next to Rayea and Blick, Death is a favorite character of mine. It is one reason I have already put him in a spin-off series with Grace called Fanged Love. Death is Rayea’s ex-boyfriend whose formal name is Demetri and oddly enough has a great relationship with Rayea.
We learn in the first 3 parts of the series that Death may or may not still hold a candle for Rayea. He certainly cares for her and is never too far away. Unfortunately, in Part 3 – A Vampire On Vacation, Death discovers he is smitten with a human named Grace who he decides to save from going over. She is later turned into a vampire by Rayea, and becomes Rayea’s first fledging vampire.
Why Was the Death Character Created?
I created the Death character for two reasons:
1) Death has always been present in my life. The first funeral I went to was for my grandfather when I was seven-years-old. The trend continued with my losing more relatives and many friends in drinking and driving accidents in high school to losing my dad when I was twenty-four and then losing my mom a few years later. I decided the only way I could deal with the subject and get past it was to write a character into this series.
2) Another reason I created the character Death is because of a friend I met when I was thinking of ideas for a short story I had called “Satan’s Daughter.’ My friend had a green Mohawk, rode a motorcycle, and was into punk music. He was, and still is, an incredibly upbeat and supportive friend.
His punk phase was just that. It did not last forever and he is now a registered nurse and looking forward to getting married to a wonderful lady. For some reason that first impression when I met him stuck with me and I wanted it to be a part of my story, probably because he was a friend who encouraged me to write. Additionally, I thought it would be very easy to write for a character who I had based on a real person. That I discovered later really does not work for me. Many characteristics of Death’s are not related to this friend. He does not look like Brad Pitt, for example, but yes he still rides his motorcycle (religiously wears his helmet) and he listens to punk music even though he lost his Mohawk.
GRACE
Grace is the first person Rayea turns into a vampire. See the ‘Dead Girl’ chapter in Part 4 - The Vampire from Hell Returns. Grace admires her maker, Rayea and pledges her devotion to her in almost every action she makes. Being a flame-throwing vampire with a tattoo that mysteriously appeared on her skin one night, Grace holds secrets that will be revealed as we learn more about her.
Why Was the Grace Character Created?
I began to realize that Rayea should create another person like herself. Usually in Rayea’s world, things just happen so the opportunity to turn someone fell into her lap. She did not plan it. I also wanted Grace and Rayea to have a friendship that was more sisterly and positive since Rayea’s relationship with her demon sister, Stephanie is not a healthy one.
MAX
When Grace works at the Golden Skull bar, Max is her boss and disapproves of her relationship with Nathan. In Part 5 – Blood of the Gods, we learn that Max is more than just her boss. Max and G are good friends and bowling buddies. After his bar is accidentally burned down in Part 5 – Blood of the Gods, we find out (in Part 6 – Zombies Unleashed) that Max has relocated his establishment to Union Square and built a more modern bar and restaurant called the Red Skull.
MICHAEL
Michael is an archangel who Rayea meets in Part 2 - A Vampire Among Angels. He is tall, blonde, blue-eyed, and amazingly gorgeous. Rayea is drawn to Michael, but cannot explain why. Unbeknownst to Rayea, Michael drinks her blood and becomes a vampire in Part 3 – A Vampire On Vacation. In Parts 4-6, we do not hear more from Michael except in brief walk-ons.
Why Was the Michael Character Created?
I am a huge fan of the Swedish actor, Alexander Skarsgard. He’s my inspiration for the Michael character. Portraying Michael as an angel was always my plan. However turning him into an angelic vampire was not a decision I made until writing Part 3 – A Vampire On Vacation. I thought it would add a very interesting complication into Rayea’s love life and I am excited to see how the Michael character develops in future installments because Rayea is uncontrollably attracted to Michael, and yet, she cannot explain why.
ASHTON TAYLOR
Ashton Taylor is a human and love interest of Rayea’s in Part 3 – A Vampire On Vacation. She has a huge crush on this actor who plays a vampire on TV and clearly enjoys the distractions from real life this relationship gives her. Later as Rayea realizes the danger Ashton is in with being involved with a vampire, she ends their relationship. Ashton finds comfort in the arms of Rayea’s best friend, Lynn.
Why Was the Ashton Character Created?
Again being a fan of a few actors who play vampires on television and in movies, I elected Rayea to have a crush, almost an obsession with a fictitious human named Ashton Taylor. This character is inspired by my admiration for the Irish actor, Aidan Turner. When I saw him play Mitchell in the BBC television series, Being Human, I fell head over heels for his character and devised a way to create a character based on the Mitchell vampire.
LYNN
Lynn is one of Rayea’s online friends who she became friends with because they both had a fan attraction to the actor Ashton Taylor. Lynn is probably Rayea’s best friend and the two become instant buddies when they finally meet in ‘real life’ in Part 3 - A Vampire On Vacation. After Rayea and Grace help her leave her abusive boyfriend, Steve (Part 5 – Blood of the Gods), Lynn enjoys a unique friendship with her two vampire friends.
Why Was the Lynn Character Created?
The concept of online friends isn’t foreign to me. I have a lot of friends I consider great friends who I have never met. We know each other only online. I thought Rayea could easily have the same situation.
BEELZEBUB
We meet Beelzebub in the Change of Plan chapter and the Epilogue of Part 3 - A Vampire On Vacation. He is a demon, a soul searcher/stealer to be exact, and one of the seven princes of Hell who was overthrown by Satan, Rayea’s father. Beelzebub and his brothers enjoyed stealing souls, and want to reclaim Hell as their own. After making a deal with Beelzebub (Part 3’s Epilogue), we learn in Part 5 - Blood of the Gods that Beelzebub has come to collect what he wants, Rayea’s soul.
Why Was the Beelzebub Character Created?
When I first started working on the Vampire from Hell series, I thought if I had seven archangels, then I would also need seven alternative evil characters to balance the equation out. Of the seven princes of Hell, so far only Beelzebub has made an appearance in the series.
NATHAN
Nathan is Grace’s ex-boyfriend who refuses to give her up even after she makes it perfectly clear to him that she no longer wants him in her life. Nathan seeks power and knowledge and is interested in vampirism and bloodletting, a journey that will lead him into crossing paths with Stephanie and Satan. Read more about Nathan in Fanged Love: The Prequel or Part 6 – Zombies Unleashed.
Why Was the Nathan Character Created?
Nathan was created as a bad influence for Grace. He’s a guy who confused her and tried to dominate her, a type of person you would not want to hang out with.
ASMODEUS
At the end of Part 6 – Zombies Unleashed, we learn that Satan has contacted Asmodeus, one of the seven princes of Hell and Beelzebub’s closest brother. Asmodeus wants revenge on Rayea after she killed Beelzebub in Part 5 – Blood of the Gods. He debates if he should involve the remaining princes of Hell: Santero, Abaddon, Mammon, and Belphegor.
MEHEN
Mehen is an evil goddess who decides to seek revenge on Rayea, the person who has killed her lover (Satan, Rayea’s father) and her prodigy, Stephanie (Rayea’s sister). She is also the youngest daughter of the first blood god, Typhean. She is referred to many times in Parts 1-4, but has not been revealed yet in the series. Learn more about her beginning life in the chapter, A Walk on the Beach in Part 3 - A Vampire On Vacation.
Why Was the
Mehen Character Created?
I thought if Rayea had a mother then Stephanie needed one too. Mehen seemed to be a good choice for becoming her surrogate mother.
MAIA
Maia is the older daughter of Typhean, the first blood god and sister to Mehen (although they do not get along). Maia is also a good friend and mentor to Rayea’s mother. She taught her how to become a healer and an expert in the ways of white magic. Maia is referred to a few times in Parts 1-4, but has not been revealed yet in the series. Learn more about the sisters in the chapter, A Walk on the Beach in Part 3 - A Vampire On Vacation.
T
T is a devoted friend and henchman of Nathan and the person who constantly finds Grace to remind her how much Nathan misses her. T is first mentioned in Fanged Love: The Prequel. We learn more about him in Part 6 – Zombies Unleashed.
Why Was the T Character Created?
Being a sidekick and follower of Nathan, I decided to cast T as his friend. His one friend who will do anything for Nathan.
TYPHEAN
At first, Rayea knows Typhean, a blood god, simply as the voice inside her head. He guides her and comments jokingly on her actions and behaviors. Typhean begins Part 3 - A Vampire On Vacation with ‘A Foreword from the Blood Realm,’ and assists her in saving Blick. He is the first blood god and an Egyptian. When he grew bored, he created two daughters, Maia and Mehen simply by speaking their names.
Why Was the Typhean Character Created?
I thought having a voice inside Rayea’s head to add commentary to my heroine’s journey would be interesting. Typhean is first friend to betray Rayea. His destiny may have ended with his death at Rayea’s hand, and it may not have.
THANATOS
Thanatos is Demetri’s father and known commonly as the Grim Reaper. He enters the story in Part 5 - Blood of the Gods when Demetri decides to ask his parents to intervene on Rayea’s judgment day and grant her a reprieve.
EOS
Eos is the goddess of Immortality, Demetri’s mother, and wife to Thanatos. She discovers Blick’s copy of Rayea’s published online journals, The Vampire from Hell. She too enters the story in Part 5 - Blood of the Gods at which time she asks Rayea to explain her relationship to Typhean, a blood god who has already declared Rayea a vampire god, thus a celestial being who cannot be judged by Zeus.
ZEUS
Hiding in Valeria instead of Mount Olympus, Zeus takes it upon himself to become judge and jury for Rayea’s Judgment Day in Part 5 – Blood of the Gods. He is overruled by evidence Eos reveals in Rayea’s published online journals, The Vampire from Hell. This angers Zeus and he declares his revenge on Rayea and all the parties involved in setting her free of a judgment he think she rightfully deserves.
Excerpt from ZOMBIE WOLF
(Generation Z, #1)
3015 A.D.
“We’re not killing her.” I stood between my team and this girl I had just saved from an existence worse than death. The coffee shop was demolished and we were knee-deep in dead ex-zombies. It had been a normal seek and destroy mission on Earth until this had happened. But I wasn’t backing down, not until I knew who she was, and more importantly why did she have the same mark I had been born with. She was a werewolf too, or at least I was determined to find out what she was before she died.
“Call it in,” I growled to Rex.
“No,” he shouted at me, knowing better than to mess with me as he pushed against the other two guys on my team who held him back. Zombie Wolf was not just a nickname I had gotten for being a werewolf who had killed massive amounts of zombies over the twenty-four years of my life. It was part of my blood. Literally. I could not be killed by them and I could not be infected.
“Maybe we can talk about this,” McCormick offered.
Simon nodded, tugging on Rex’s dark green shirt. Neither of them moved forward one inch. They all had seen my transformation a time or two before, when the fighting got really bad. I had saved all of them more times than I could count. But Rex was the asshole of my team, and the Earth representative. I regretted having made him my point of contact when I visited Earth. I had never used my weapons on any of them, but that could change very quickly.
“Call it in,” I repeated. Slowly and very deliberately, I popped my neck. My eyes flashed gold. I held one hand on the girl’s shirt, trying to keep her still.
Exasperated, Rex conceded to my command and placed his index and middle fingers to his right temple. “This is a mistake.” He mouthed back to me as he made the connection with the Containment facility on our planet. With our implants installed soon after we were born, cell phones weren’t needed for work. They weren’t really needed at all in the year 3015 A.D., but we still had them for personal use because it looked cool. Unnecessary, but cool. And for jobs like this one on Earth, we had to blend in as best we could until the zombie killing started.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw McCormick hit Simon in the shoulder. “Look man.”
“What?” Simon asked.
“She has the same mark Z has. Look.”
I ignored that they were now staring at my neck and the girl’s neck. I knew she had the same birthmark. That had to mean something. Was she like me? Was she truly like me?
I heard Rex verify the location and coordinates. The room immediately filled with a blue mist that I knew would do two things: clean up the zombie mess and make a big enough distraction for me to vanish. I grabbed the girl by the elbow, probably rougher than I should have, and pulled her into my arms. She fit perfectly against my body. I sighed. Wouldn’t you know it? I’d meet my mate and she was dead, or soon to be dead? No one could survive the new virus I had been getting reports about. Luckily, I already had it. I had been born with it. No blood virus affected me. I was immune to everything. That’s what made me ‘unique’ as my mother phrased it.
“We’re getting out of here and you’re not going to leave my side.” I whispered to the girl, letting my lips brush past the top of her head. She was a few inches shorter than me at six feet. My height I had acquired from my dad’s side of the family. Werewolf descendants of his ancestry were extremely tall. I wasn’t seven-feet-tall like him but when I wore my ‘zombie killing’ hiking boots I came close.
“Or what?” the girl snapped back.
“Or you die. My friends are ready to kill you.” I grabbed her shoulders, facing her toward the team I had been assigned while on Earth for my mission. “Humans have itchy trigger fingers.” I shook her a little, hopefully to drive my point home. I had about thirty more seconds as they bungled around in the fog before they realized I was gone. “You want to stay here with them?” I asked.
“I’m as good as dead. I know that.”
“Not necessarily,” I replied.
“You have a cure,” she whispered.
I heard the astonishment in her voice. I did not have to see the shocked expression on her angelic face. I had heard that voice before. It was about time I tested the cure I had been working on. Rex and the guys thought I was nuts. But Rex and the guys did not understand a lot of things when it came to me and who I really was.
“Possibly,” I said, wrapping her arms around my waist. “I’ve got you. Don’t let go.”
***
“Where are we?” She asked me that question when we surfaced in the familiar surroundings of my room on my planet.
I already loved the sound of her light, whimsical voice. Pointing at my favorite chair, I offered it to her, grumbling to myself as I considered my options. I did not really want to tell her just how far from home she currently was. Space travel was very difficult the first time. What could I tell her? ‘Fancy this, I zapped you to Kepler 1. Welcome.’ Ugh. Hopefully she knew about the outlining planets that had been cleared for human habitation in 2063 A.D. It amazed me that some humans still did not know they could leave Earth and travel to other planet, ones not infected with zombies. It was still an option for any of us, werewolves, humans, vampires, whoever. It never occurred to the humans to consid
er space travel in the face of ongoing outbreaks.
I shoved off my boots and tossed them in the corner. I ran my fingers through my shortly cropped black hair, thankful I had recently gotten a haircut. For obvious reasons, zombie killing and space travel made me sweat. Get to the point, I thought. You don’t have time for that. You don’t know how long she has!
“You’re in my room. That’s all you need to know,” I uttered, turning away to quickly change my t-shirts. I’d have to forego the shower. I hoped the tone I used with her made me sound like a bad ass and an individual not to be questioned.
She glared back at me. It melted my heart. I gritted my teeth. Fucking fate. This is why I don’t date, especially on Earth, I said to myself as I tried to ignore her beauty. Her small frame made her look like a petite doll resting in my chair. I thought of my charming self that I changed into when I needed a huge favor from my mother. It never worked on my dad because I was too much like him. He could always see through my crazy schemes. ‘You get that from your mother I’m afraid,’ he told me often. Watching the girl try to assimilate where she was, I elected to present my charming self to her.
“How do you feel?”
She swished her big blue eyes side to side, analyzing my room, and rubbed her hands along the bite wound on her right wrist, examining it. “I feel okay. Is that normal?”
