Dante Rising: the Birth of a Venator (A Dark Brethren short story) (2 page)

Her thundering heart sped up as the wooden step creaked under his weight as he lifted his other foot to the next step. “
Don’t say a word
.”

He continued to sing as he climbed another. “
Mama’s gonna buy you..
.”

He looked over to her mother’s lifeless body, then turned and shrugged his shoulders. “..
.a mocking bird.”

Her almost forgotten Dolly slipped from her fingers and tumbled down the stairs in slow motion, turning end over end, the pale curls bouncing.

Dolly!

The toy came to rest at his feet.

“
And if that mocking bird don’t sing
,” he sang then his lips pulled away to reveal — fangs — long and white as the doll flew into his hand as if my magic.

For a second her blood froze and her heart stopped beating. Only three steps away...now two. He held out the doll and her hand reached out — she couldn’t stop it — closing around Dolly’s leg. Something warm and wet pooled around her chilly feet and his smile deepened as the strong smell of urine stung her nose. She’d wet herself like a little baby.

“
Papa’s gonna buy you
—”

Twin headlights swept through the front windows. The spell broke she turned toward them and she felt a tug on her arm. When she turned back — he was gone. And the headless body of her doll dangled in her outstretched hand.

Her fingers slid open, the weight of the broken toy dropped and then she turned. Fear gave her feet wings as she ran to her room and slid under the bed, curling into a tight ball on the cold hardwood floor where she hid.

And waited.

Waited for him to follow, waited for him to find her, waited for him to pull her from under the bed and...

Her heart beat faster, no matter how much she willed it to stop. He would hear. He would find her. Pulling herself further under the bed, she tried to make herself invisible.

A dreadful sound tore through the house and her heart broke. Even her young mind recognized the pain and torment in that cry.

Then all hell broke loose – Grandpa yelled, Uncle cursed and Grammie screamed and cursed.

Antoinette covered her ears with her hands, trying to block out the chaos.

Papa! Where are you, Papa?

“Marianna, Marianna, my baby, my baby –” Grammie’s voice screeched. “Is all your fault – you filthy gypsy pig. You leave now – you leave and never come back.” Her Grandmother let forth a string of garbled French swearwords.

Nici started to cry from above. She wanted to get out and comfort him, but she was too scared the bad man would find her.

Heavy footsteps thundered up the stairs. Booted feet stomped to the bedside. She rolled in a tighter ball. Tears soaking her hair as she stifled the scream building in her throat.

“Nicolae – Antoinette –” Her father’s frantic voice called from above her bed.

“Papa,” she croaked. The sound of her voice surprised her — it’d returned. Then the scream escaped. 

He dropped to his knees. Rough hands pulled her from her hiding place; warm arms wrapped around her; his bristled face showered her with kisses. She was safe. But something hollow remained in the pit of her stomach.

“Mama –” Antoinette cried.

Her father’s body started to shake and he held her tighter, almost crushing her. Sitting on the bed Papa scooped up the now terrified and howling Nici. Back and forth he rocked them in his embrace as he whispered her mother’s name over and over again.

Antoinette’s tears dried. She turned to look out into the darkness pressing against the window.
He
was out there. The monster man.

One day she would find him.

And kill him.

One day.

Now read more about Antoinette in the first Dark Brethren Novel

NIGHT’S COLD KISS

Publisher: Eos Books/Harper Collins
 

For centuries war raged between the humans and Aeternus vampires—until courageous efforts on both sides forged a fragile peace.

But the rogue Necrodreniacs will never be controlled—addicted as they are to the death-high . . . and bloody chaos.

Since witnessing the murder of her mother, Antoinette Petrescu has burned with fiery hatred for the vampire race—even for Christian Laroque, the noble, dangerously handsome Aeternus who rescued her. Now an elite Venator, Antoinette must reluctantly accept Christian's help to achieve her vengeance—even as he plots to use the beautiful, unsuspecting warrior as bait to draw out the bloodthirsty
dreniacs
.

“Urban fantasy just got a major jolt of talent with O’Hara’s arrival. She makes an extremely strong debut, introducing a world that features a host of supernatural creatures. The pace is brisk and the danger intense. Passion, betrayal, and plot twists galore make for entertainment on a grand scale.”
--
RT Book Reviews
by
Jill M. Smith

“Intense, sexy, bold, NIGHT’S COLD KISS is a superb debut. Tracey O’Hara writes in a voice full of passion and power - I’m already waiting impatiently for the next book from this talented author.”
--
New York Times
Bestselling author
Nalini Singh

“With its dark and sexy hero, and a storyline that hooks you from the first page, NIGHT’S COLD KISS is a compelling read. I can’t wait to read more about the Brethren.”
--
New York Times
bestselling author
Keri Arthur