The priest replied with a yes, but as he approached the coffin containing Mariana Dreymuir, a great and terrible fear washed over him. He could not grip his hand this time, because he carried a stake in his right hand, and a dagger in the other.
He took one more look at Nina, who was shaking, but was prepared to do what needed to be done. She held the stake high above her head, preparing to bring it down on Juliana.
The delay was enough for Mariana, whose eyes opened as the priest stood in front of her coffin.
Over at the other casket, Nina cried out as she brought the stake down. Blood splashed everywhere, spilling over the coffin. Juliana’s eyes flashed open as her dress was stained with blood.
Nina looked strange, just like the first time Juliana had observed her, just before she had plunged her fangs deep into the little girl’s neck.
Whilst still holding the stake above her head, Nina looked down towards her chest, which had a blade sticking out from it. She realised that it was her own blood that had been spilled, not Juliana’s.
From just a few feet away, Nina could make out another voice.
“Good work, Father. You see, Juliana? I told you she would betray us!”
Mariana kept her glare on the priest, who forcibly removed the blade from Nina’s back.
Nina stumbled, and began to lose her balance. Nina had time to see a bloodied but triumphant Juliana emerge from her coffin. Just before she collapsed on the floor, blood flowed without restriction from Nina’s body.
Juliana crouched over Nina, then cradled her head in her hands.
“I did what had to be done,” said the priest, who was still affected by Mariana’s gaze.
“Yes, you did Father,” said Mariana. “Yes you did.”
“Now I’ve got to do, what I’ve got to do,” said Juliana.
“My eyes, my sight has darkened, Julie,” said Nina listlessly.
“I know,” said Juliana. “Father, give me that blade, will you?”
“Julie. Did all our talk mean nothing at all to you?” asked Nina.
“Not all of it,” said Juliana, as she pressed the blade to Nina’s throat.
“I thought…I thought you told me vampires don’t kill each other.”
“Sorry about that, Nina. I lied.”
“I know,” she replied softly.
“You want peace? You want to see your mother again?”
“I do. Mother, I’ll see you again. I’ll see-”
Juliana screamed in silence as she took the girl’s head off cleanly.
Mariana leaned back on Juliana’s open coffin. She had kept her cold-eye glaze on the priest the entire time.
She wrapped a cold arm around him, and gestured to Juliana, who was still holding the blade, to stand up. Juliana forced herself to smile as she complied, but she expected the face of Nina would haunt her until her final moments.
Juliana addressed the priest one final time, as the gleam of the blade was clotted with Nina’s blood.
“Well Father, what shall we do with you?”
Author Reflections
I experienced a lot of conflict when writing this story, as the death of Nina is something I found rather troubling. In a way, she experiences death twice – only this time, it will be the end for her. At least she can find peace at long last.
Perhaps even more troubling is how Juliana’s story ends in this book. She is a vampire who spreads great terror to those she encounters, but she returns to being compliant and dutiful when Mariana is around.
It’s possible that Juliana would have been grateful to Nina. But once Mariana put the priest under her spell, using the Medusa-like gaze upon him, Nina is doomed.
I always try to keep readers guessing, which is never easy. It would have made sense for Nina and the priest to destroy Juliana and Mariana, but what then?
The priest had been weakened by Mariana, only to be further strengthened by Nina. When he stabs Nina through her back, was he merely attacking the vampire that was closest to him, or deciding to get rid of Nina so that Juliana and Mariana would spare his life, such as it was?
Readers will make up their own mind. In my view, Nina had a noble aim in trying to rid the world of Juliana and Mariana. Once Nina had learned that other vampires were in other towns, the only way to stop the spread was to kill the head vampire.
If Mariana has previously spoken the truth, that she has existed for as long as God has been around, then she had a power that was so terrible if she were to wield it, an entire civilisation could be enslaved.
I don’t think Mariana wants that kind of attention. She still wants to see Marcus and Rocco again, even if they don’t want to reciprocate.
For Juliana, deep within her lies one last part of humanity. She does have a conscience, which is why she is rather sad, in the end, about having to destroy Nina.
No doubt, Mariana would not have it any other way.
- John Hennessy, February 2015
By the same Author
Dream the Crow’s Black Dream
A Tale of Vampires: Book Four
Out Now.
Several years have passed since Seth McAndrew was forced to recount the tale of The Blood and the Raven.
Now, on one of the most important days in his life, the sadistic vampire he thought had been buried along with his past, makes a very unwelcome return.
When he refuses to succumb to her violent and disturbing needs, the body count ruthlessly and rapidly increases. Seth realises with brutal clarity that he cannot escape the curse of the vampire.
An opportunity arises when he meets another of her kind. Piece by piece, a recurring dream shows him how he might just put an end to her killing ways. But will he be prepared to risk the best thing in his life, in order to destroy the worst?
Dark Winter: The Wicca Circle
Romilly Winter is no ordinary heroine, just a reluctant one.
She has a gift. She can see the future. But can she see far enough? The world in which she lives is under attack – the dead are rising, and evil follows her at every turn.
Will she be able to save herself – and the world?”
From the Diary of Romilly Winter, October 14th.
"I’ve had two years to prepare for this. In that time, I have never told a soul. Of course, my Nan knew. She’d bequeathed me the mirror, after all. Now, maybe tonight, tomorrow, in a few days, the event that I don’t want to happen with all my heart, will come to pass. I’m not ready. I know I’m not ready, and yet, it will happen nonetheless.
Nan had this thing in her possession for nearly seventy years. She had told me I simply had to be at Rosewinter, prior to my sixteenth birthday no matter what objections my parents raised. She said I was ‘special’, and was the only one equipped to deal with what was coming.
The problem is, I don’t feel special, I just feel…different, and in all probability, that isn't going to be good enough.
In just two days time, I will be sixteen years old, and if anything my Nan said is remotely true, I will be lucky to survive that long…."
Dark Winter: Crescent Moon
The second story in the Dark Winter trilogy.
Murderous Little Darlings
A Tale of Vampires Series: Book One
Three siblings. An endless list of victims. A whole lot of time to kill.
With two specimens of the undead on either side of her, Juliana knew there was no escape. Kill the one they had selected for her, or be killed, and become one of them. What had the neighbours in the road called them, back when their childhood pranks were just that?
Oh yes, she remembered now. Murderous Little Darlings. They had the faces of angels, but possessed the very soul of the Devil.
Marcus had fully embraced his vampire side from the moment he was born. Rocco was the second eldest, and had fought the temptation all of his life. Then Marcus finally broke him.
That just left Juliana. Will she resist them, or join in the hunt?
The Blood and the Raven
A Tale of Vampires Series: Book Two
A group of teenagers spend a night amongst the ruins of an old priory, taking turns to scare one other with a tale of horror, each one more scary than the last.
When it comes to Seth, the last storyteller, he is reluctant to tell the story, because once the tale has been told, those who hear it, will begin to die.
His friends think Seth is bluffing - but is he in fact, telling the truth?
To find out, you must dare to read the tale of The Blood and The Raven.
Innocent While She Sleeps
A Tale of Vampires Series: Book Three
Tormented by all the wicked and evil deeds she has committed in her life, Juliana has never known what it is like to truly rest in peace. Far from the confines of the Blood and the Raven; at Castle Dreymuir, a most unlikely source offers her a way out of the life.
Initially, Juliana dismisses it out of hand; stating the cost is far too high for her to possibly consider. But as time goes on, one overwhelming desire eats away at her - a return to innocence in both her waking hours and whilst she sleeps.
Will Juliana accept this deadly but most compelling of offers, so that she can put her deadly existence to rest, once and for all?
Dark Winter: Last Rites
Coming Halloween 2015 - The final story in the Dark Winter trilogy.
Three Tales of Vampires (The First Three Books in the Tale of Vampires Series) Page 15
