Daughters of Dracula (The Stoker Sisters #1)

Daughters of Dracula

The Stoker Sisters:
 
Book 1

kailin
gow

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Almost 20 years ago, I visited Dracula’s Castle in Transylvania. I was nineteen and a young journalist. I was familiar with the story of Dracula, made famous by Bram Stoker, but I was also curious about the Dracula who ruled this land. The people of Transylvania took me in for a short stay and showed me a side of Dracula, quite unlike the one portrayed by Stoker. He was a Dracula who loved deeply, especially of humanity. He loved his wife and family deeply, but most importantly, he loved his country above all else.

They specifically mentioned he was not a “
Strigoi
”, which in Romanian folklore was an evil undead. The people saw him not as a monster, but as a ruler, a brilliant military strategist, and a man with great passion.
 
They told me he was not the monster Bram Stoker depicted in the novel
Dracula
, but a great man, whose military feats were legendary.

The Stoker Sisters
, in the vein of Bram Stoker’s Victorian world, is a fictionalized series incorporating the world of Jane Austen, the true view of Dracula by the Romanians, and popular contemporary vampire mythology.

The world of
The Stoker Sisters
is not black and white, but one where vampires, like humans, are faced with choices and allegiances. They have a choice to be good or bad, saintly or evil. Last of all, vampires may be monsters, but they may also be the most humane of all creatures.

Enjoy,

Kailin
Gow

Daughters of Dracula

The Stoker Sisters:
 
Book 1

kailin
gow

Daughters of Dracula:
 
Book 1 of The Stoker Sisters Series

Published by THE EDGE

THE EDGE is an imprint of Sparklesoup LLC

Copyright © 2010 Kailin Gow

All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or
 
mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the publisher except in case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

For information, please contact:

THE EDGE at Sparklesoup
P.O. Box 60834
Irvine, CA 92602

www.sparklesoup.com

First Edition.

Printed in the United States of America.

ISBN:
1-59748-947-6

ISBN:
978-1-59748-947-8

DEDICATION

THANK YOU TEAM AT SPARKLESOUP AND THE EDGE FOR WORKING SO HARD TO MAKE THIS BOOK SERIES COME ALIVE - ESPECIALLY TO THE EDITING TEAM JAYA, DIANE AND TARA.
 
ALSO THANK YOU TO DARLA FOR SUCH A BEAUTIFUL COVER.
 
A
LOT
OF LOVE HAS GONE INTO THIS BOOK AND ITS CHARACTERS.
 
THANK YOU FOR COMING ALONG WITH ME ON THIS JOURNEY AND MAKING IT A FUN AND HEARTFELT ONE.

Prologue

Dorset, England 1818

The sun was faint as it made its way through the veil of clouds that obscured the sky and shone down on Stoker Manor. Sadie’s desire to keep her fair skin from being touched by the sun made these days the most enjoyable of all. The small bonnet she wore over her flaxen hair barely shielded her from its penetrating rays.

Seated near the garden she breathed in the pleasant saltiness of the ocean air as she threw herself in the Jane Austen novel she was reading. The young woman she’d met the year before in Bath had inspirational talent and Sadie held to the hope she could one day have the ability to write with such flourish, even if female authors were frowned upon.

“I’m feeling a bit chilled,” Alexis complained as she set down her copy of the same novel. Always a little more daring in her attire, her shoulders were almost completely exposed. She’d even had the gumption to pull her skirt up well past her knee.

Sadie should have been mortified by such a scandalous act, but Alexis had always had a penchant for shocking people. Alexis, at nineteen, was older than Sadie less than two years, yet she was the sister whom their parents fraught over constantly.

“Perhaps a shawl would do the trick.” Alexis stood and gazed out at the horizon. The ocean, with its ceaseless breeze, crashed on the beach below. “The cool air will only grow colder with the day.”

Alexis turned to head towards the manor, but the moment Sadie noticed the young, handsome man approaching them, she knew Alexis would not be going anywhere.

With the charm and eloquence of a young lady about to be presented in society, Alexis curtsied, smiled and did all she could to capture the young man’s interest.

“Terribly sorry to disturb you,” he said, his blues eyes twinkling behind the black wave of hair that fell over them. “But I seem to have lost my way.”

Alexis tossed her thick raven hair off her face and swayed her hips as she stepped closer to him. She was flushed, her smoldering dark eyes glittering with admiring excitement. “I’d be more than delighted to guide you to your destination, my kind sir.”

“I’m searching for Stoker Manor. I’ve some pressing matters to tend to with the Mayor in town and was told I could find a room to stay.”

A low rumble came from Alexis’ throat as she chuckled, keeping a seductive eye on the startling blue of his.
“How fortunate.
Your search has come to an end.”

Sadie watched her sister’s antics with a blend of disdain and awe. The young man was clearly one of the most physically-gifted men the two sisters have laid eyes on. He was finely dressed in a silk and wool tailored coat, a brocade vest, and white silk shirt that opened a tad more than most men’s shirts. His cream breeches filled out with muscular legs, legs that were used to physical exertion, but he held himself straight and tall, the posture of a noble-born. Sadie had never observed a man this closely, yet she could not take her eyes away from him.

“Splendid. I was indeed hoping I was at the right place.” His eyes bore through Alexis’ for an intense moment before he turned to greet Sadie. “This is even more enchanting than I’d imagined.”

Sadie’s heart fluttered under his gaze and her hands were instantly damp on the pages of her book. She set it down and rose to her feet. “Will the mayor be meeting you here?” she asked, always eager to have men of influence visiting their humble manor.

“Perhaps.”
His smile held a touch of whimsy that didn’t touch his eyes. A blend of austere businessman and boyish prankster seemed to lurk beneath the pristine veneer of his stylish clothing.

Perhaps more disturbing was the underlying streak of danger Sadie perceived. No doubt this was what had drawn Alexis to him so instantly.

“I’m to propose a building project for the neglected and vacant lot not too far from here. I believe this setting could do wonders in persuading him to see my vision.”

“How impressive,” Alexis purred. Despite the chill she’d complained about, she picked up her fan and swept cool air across her face. “I’m sure you could persuade virtually anyone into doing anything you desired.”

Sadie wanted to die for witnessing such a brazen performance.

He smiled a slow smile before he replied. “Well, I must be off.” He removed his hat and nodded.
“Ladies.”

The moment he was out of earshot, Alexis giggled. “I don’t remember ever meeting such a dashing young man.”

“I do.”

Alexis turned a skeptical glance at Sadie. “You lead a life that is far too sheltered to have ever met a young man at all, never mind one who is so worldly and witty.”

Sadie picked up her book and held it up to Alexis. “Mr. Darcy.”

“Why I do say, I believe you're right. He is Mr. Darcy come to life.” She turned to the direction the young man had taken. “Could he be the very man who inspired our friend Jane so?”

“I seriously doubt it, but the resemblance is quite startling. My desire to read more is heightened.”

“Oh, posh.
Reading about such a fine specimen of a man is fine on a dull, dreary night alone. But when you have the real thing, heated and coursing with real blood staying under the very same roof, there is no longer a need to simply read about it.” Alexis’ eyes flashed with excitement.

“Alexis, he’s to board with us. You know very well what Mother and Father say about interacting with the guests here.”

“They say to be polite and engaging, and that is precisely what I intend to be, dear sister. You underestimate me.” She ran her hand over her bonnet then passed it over the straight skirt of her simple frock. “I think I’ll go inside to see if he needs assistance settling in.”