Cinderella Of Blood E-Book

Victory Storm

• Herausgeber: Tektime
• Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

How can April save herself from the thirst for blood and revenge of the Prince, without endangering the delicate balance that holds the peace between the various races? How can Vane take revenge on the one who dared to challenge and lie to him, without succumbing to the hypnotic scent of her blood?

After centuries of fighting, finally peace between vampires and the Order of the Blood Cross seems solid under the guidance of Zachary Macross. However, there are still some factions that are not very inclined to accept the conditions imposed by the Order. Among these is the noble caste of vampires, ruled by Prince Vane Vampire. April, the future heir of the Macross Company, is only a human like her father, but determined to do anything to maintain peace between hunters, werewolves, and vampires. Unfortunately, however, her humanity makes her an easy target for these supernatural creatures and when she decides to sneak into a masked ball of the Prince, thanks to a spell that will conceal her nature, things will drastically precipitate at midnight. How can April save herself from the thirst for blood and revenge of the Prince, without endangering the delicate balance that holds the peace between the various races? How can Vane take revenge on the one who dared to challenge and lie to him, without succumbing to the hypnotic scent of her blood?

PUBLISHER: TEKTIME

Leseprobe

CINDERELLA OF BLOOD

Victory Storm

Text copyright © 2024 Victory Storm

http://www.victorystorm.com

Editor: Tektime

Translator: Simona Casaccia

Cover: Victory Storm's graphic design - Stock: Pixabay

This is a work fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events and incidents are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

All rights reserved. No part of the book may be reproduced or disseminated by any means, photocopies, microfilm or otherwise, without the author's permission.

All rights reserved. No part of the book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, photocopying, microfilming, or otherwise, without the permission of the authors.

This book is a work of fiction. Characters and places mentioned are inventions of the authors and are intended to lend authenticity to the narrative. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Table of Contents

Reading notice

Glossary of Characters

Prologue

23 years later

Strategy

Spell

The Prince

Midnight

The Secret

Anxiety

Poison

Awakening

Bacard

Punishment

Desperation

Negotiation

Ultimatum

Treason

Heart

Epilogue

Reading notice

For those who have NOT read the Blood Trilogy

Welcome to my supernatural world! Here you will find vampires with superhuman strength, allergic to sunlight, capable of manipulating the human mind or entering the thoughts of others through physical contact and releasing psychic energy that can destroy objects nearby.

The setting that will be presented to you is that of a future in which the Order of the Bloodied Cross, a human organization linked to the Church and dedicated to the extermination of vampires, will put an end to the war against supernatural creatures. This will be achieved through the more moderate ideas of the new leader, Zachary Macross. He will unite the Order with another organization, the Blood Confederation, which gathers vampires, werewolves, Warlock Hunters, hybrids, and humans in order to restore peace and continue to keep the existence of this world a secret from ordinary mortals.

Furthermore, thanks to the development of BloodSky, a synthetic blood pill, vampires can now live without killing humans and bask in the sunlight.

All except the Ancients, the originals, too powerful to satisfy their hunger with BloodSky.

In the first chapter, the main characters who initiated the Blood Confederation and welcomed Zachary Macross when he was just a boy searching for his identity will be introduced. He had escaped the iron fist of his father, Maximillian Macross, who once led the Order.

The rest of the story remains independent of the Blood Trilogy, although there will be a coming and going of characters who made the main story famous.

In case of doubts or clarifications, at the bottom of the novel, you will find the presentation of all the characters to make it easier to read.

For those who have read the Blood Trilogy.

We left Vera and Blake leading the Blood Confederation, with Zack dethroning his own father to save all his friends and together creating a new balance between humans and vampires. The story unfolds here twenty years after the trilogy. The Confederation is strong and powerful, but there are still two rebellious vampire factions determined to pursue their ruthless thirst for blood.

However, the Order has now laid down its weapons in favor of a more diplomatic approach. But is it possible to not wage a war without breaking the balance between the rebellious vampires, the werewolves, and the Order?

At the end of the novel, you will find an introduction to the characters of the Blood Trilogy.

Have a good read,

Victory

Glossary of Characters

Vera Campbell Marley: main character of the Blood Trilogy. Half-human and half-vampire. She inherited the Blood Confederation from her grandfather, with the goal of unite the races and bringing peace among vampires, the hunters of the Order of the Bloody Cross, and all other beings involved in this centuries-old war.

Blake Wyldes: vampire and partner of Vera. Half-human and half-vampire. He co-leads the Blood Confederation with Vera.

Cecilia: Vera's adoptive aunt. Human. To protect her niece, she will join the Blood Confederation, betraying the Order of the Bloody Cross.

Ahmed: witch hunter from Susa. He possesses great magical powers, but due to a betrayal against his comrades, he lost his sight. He will lay down his weapons against vampires to aid the Blood Confederation and will teach Zachary to control the power he once acquired.

Jack Marley: Ancient vampire and Vera’s father.

Peter: vampire and right-hand man of Blake. Companion of Cecilia.

Zachary Macross: Human, initially in love with Vera to the extent of abandoning the Order of the Bloodied Cross, betraying his father, and seeking refuge among the Witch Hunters and later in the Blood Confederation, where he is welcomed as part of the family. There, he will meet the werewolf Fanny, whom he will fall in love with, and will become a scientist alongside Kurosawa and Grucho, with whom he will create a synthetic blood pill. However, to save the Confederation, he will find himself having to leave it to take command of the Order of the Bloodied Cross, start a new era, and bring peace among the races.

Sarah Macross: Human. Zack's sister and Vera's friend. She will be responsible for keeping their father away from the Order but she’s often off the grid.

Tess: Human married to Nicholas.

Nicholas The Duke: Ancient vampire married to Tess.

Elizabeth: Daughter of Nicholas and Tess. Half Ancient vampire and half human.

Siobhan: Vampire witch married to the werewolf Xander.

Xander: Alpha werewolf. Married to Siobhan.

Leo: Son of Siobhan and Xander. Half werewolf and half vampire. Has magical powers.

Fanny: Werewolf from Xander's pack, in love with Zachary, with whom she will marry and have a daughter, April. Sister of Felix.

Felix: Werewolf from Xander's pack, brother of Fanny.

Harold: Shy and fearful vampire. Servant of the Confederation

The Rebels: Vampires opposed to the alliance between the Blood Confederation and the Order of the Bloodied Cross.

The Nobles: Aristocratic vampires, led by Vane Vampire, "The Prince," opposed to the alliance between the Blood Confederation and the Order of the Bloodied Cross.

BloodSky: Synthetic blood pill created by the Confederation. Allows vampires to feed without attacking humans. However, it was not readily accepted by vampires until a way was found to make this nourishment effective against sunlight. As long as a vampire takes BloodSky, they will be immune to light. However, the moment they feed on human blood, this effect will be nullified. Only Ancient Vampires and their descendants are immune to BloodSky and forced to continue feeding on human blood.

Prologue

«Code Red, sir! », gasped the agent, rushing into the room with a tense expression on his face, closely followed by a colleague.

«Sir, I'm afraid we'll have to evacuate the building. In less than five minutes, the helicopter will arrive, and we can get you to safety», intervened the partner, trying to compose himself despite the desperate situation, as evident from the commotion emanating from the radio transmitter he held nervously in his hand.

«No», their leader replied after a long sigh, caught between resignation and irritation.

«But... Sir, your safety... The Macross Company needs you... The Order needs you! » the first man exclaimed, willing to give his life for his employer.

«I’m safe, Alex. Don't worry. All of you, stay calm».

Those vampires out there are hunting you! It won't be long before they take down the last guards and break in», the second agent growled resentfully.

«Instruct everyone to let them through! Let them come. I'll be waiting», declared the president of the Macross Company with determination before approaching his wife, who was lying exhausted in the bed beside him.

«Oh, sweetheart, I'm so afraid they might harm you! I feel so helpless right now», the woman whispered, holding tightly onto what was most dear to her in the world.

«Fanny, calm down! I'm here», reassured her husband, smiling serenely. «Nothing will happen. It's just that I don't understand why right now, without warning. It's not like them», Zachary Macross darkened for a moment before returning to the bodyguards.

Alex and Michael, inform everyone not to do anything. Keep the passage clear. Ensure all the other patients in the clinic are safe in their rooms," Zack asserted confidently.

«And what about you? » Michael ventured, reluctant to leave his boss and his family in the hands of those creatures.

«I'm safe. Those vampires won't harm me», he tried to reassure him.

Although unconvinced, the two agents eventually left the room to carry out the new directives. The Order of the Bloodied Cross had placed the entire area of the private clinic, where the wife of the renowned Zachary Macross had been urgently admitted, under surveillance. Zachary, a business tycoon heading one of the world's most powerful companies, served as a front for the West's most ruthless vampire hunters' order, intricately tied to the Vatican's most secretive and archaic forces within the Church.

«Could all this chaos be linked to this hospitalization?» exclaimed Fanny as soon as they were alone.

«I was thinking the same thing. And I believe this time Vera and Blake will have to face the consequences. They know that the truce of recent years has required great sacrifices from both sides. Containing the violent and bloodthirsty spirits of vampires while also restraining the Order has been anything but easy», Zack said angrily.

«And it was made possible thanks to us werewolves», Fanny reminded him, recalling the support her species had provided to ensure that the truce continued unbroken over the years.

«Of course, love. We've tried everything, but now the vampires are throwing it all into chaos! This time the Blood Confederation hears me! »

«It's strange that Vera allowed this insane attack! You know she cares for you deeply. I doubt she would let the vampires harm you. »

«Forget that Vera doesn't control all the vampires. Some factions declared war on the Confederation after the alliance with us, the werewolves, and the Witch Hunters of Susa. »

«Yeah», sighed Fanny, feeling defeated as she fell back onto the soft pillows. She was truly exhausted like never before in her life. However, she would fight to the death to defend her family. After all, she was still a werewolf, and vampires had no escape from her strength and venomous bite.

As the minutes passed, the murmuring grew louder and more excited, ending with a violent slam against the door, which instantly broke open, crashing loudly to the floor.

The crowd that spread like wildfire into the room left Zack and Fanny astonished, who stood petrified in front of that unexpected chaos. It seemed that those whom his agents had named “bloodthirsty mercenaries wreaking havoc in the hospital” were mostly characters who seemed anything but assassins: two children under seven, three elderly individuals including a blind one, a trembling vampire loaded with colorful and ribbon-wrapped packages, three young women including a pregnant one, two werewolves from Fanny's family, and three vampires more ready to flee embarrassment than to fight and kill.

«What the hell have you guys done? » exploded Zack furiously after realizing that those he considered his dearest friends had just destroyed half the clinic, sent half of his staff to the hospital, scared his wife to death, and jeopardized the truce between the Order and the vampires.

He couldn't add more because the woman who seemed to be leading that mission slapped him soundly across the face.

«You should have told us! »Vera snapped, trying not to sway too much due to the belly that seemed to never stop expanding. By now, everyone’s afraid of facing a twin pregnancy.

«Keeping us in the dark about something like this! Shame on you!!» Tess interjected with a threatening air, despite trying to contain the exuberance of the little two-year-old she held in her arms, who attempted to scratch Zack's face.

«Have you forgotten that we're your family? » Siobhan added, offended, dragging along a seven-year-old child who emphasized his mother's words with a powerful kick to Zack's shin.

He really had to grit his teeth to avoid screaming in pain. Despite being small and looking defenseless, Leo already possessed the strength of a werewolf, and this only reminded him of how weak and fragile his human nature was compared to others.

«All this mess for...» Zack hissed.

«For her! » everyone exclaimed in unison, pointing a finger at the tiny newborn that Fanny held in her arms.

«Vera! Tess! Siobhan! » Fanny exclaimed, relieved to see them approaching and trying to appease her husband's anger.

«Oh, God! She's beautiful! » the three friends exclaimed, pushing each other to get a better look at the little newborn that came to life just eight hours ago.

Fanny happily laughed at that affectionate onslaught, and finally, Zack managed to return a smile.

«Congratulations! » praise the two vampires Blake and Nick, shaking his hand.

«Thank you! » stammered Zack, blushing. Seeing all those people there for him and his family made him feel special and loved, especially after he had permanently dropped out with his father a few years earlier.

«I'd congratulate you too, but you've just sentenced yourself to a difficult and complicated existence» Jack, approached Vera's father and one of the most feared vampires in the world. » Being a father is not as pleasant as it seems. It often made me wish to age and die to escape this role that chains me to Vera and her messes for eternity. »

«And soon you'll become a grandfather» Zack chuckled.

«Don't remind me» Jack muttered with a choked voice, loosening his tie nervously as if he were about to suffocate.

«But do you realize that today your recklessness has endangered our alliance? » Zack composed himself, noticing the hostility of his agents standing by the door, ready to intervene at the slightest hint of an attack.

«We know, but as soon as Felix warned us about the imminent birth, Vera, Tess, and Siobhan launched an attack. We had only two options: let them come alone to face Macross Company guards or follow them and protect them» explained Blake embarrassed.

The thought of a pregnant Vera about to give birth facing her guards made him laugh, especially because he had learned through Felix, his wife's brother, that she had lost all vampire powers since the beginning of the pregnancy. Now, she was a simple and weak human. Too bad she didn't realize it.

The same could be said for the fragile and human Tess, who, to be with what she considered her family, didn't hesitate for a moment to rush to the hospital, causing her husband Nick, an Ancient vampire, to go ballistic.

«Zack don't forget that Fanny is part of my werewolf pack. As the Alpha, it's my duty to be here to protect you, especially now that she is weakened by childbirth» intervened Xander, Siobhan's imposing husband, who took his role as pack leader very seriously and had ordered Felix to report everything about his sister and her life within the Order.

«Fanny is my wife. It's my duty to take care of her», Zack reacted slightly offended, feeling somewhat diminished because he was only human. Sometimes, it wasn't easy for him to accept being "adopted" into a supernatural extended family. However, the affection they had shown him had always swept away any insecurity, and now he was glad to have them there, especially since Sarah, his sister, could only arrive later in the evening due to the long flight from Japan.

«Don't take offense, Zack. You know everyone here is hyper-protective» intervened the vampire Peter, hugging him, followed by his partner Cecilia, Vera's human aunt.

«The truth is, everyone in the Confederation misses you», added Cecilia, embracing the one she considered a son.

«Oh, Cecilia! Thank you! I'm really happy that you're all here... Really! I didn't expect it», Zack became emotional, feeling for a moment as if he were still the scientist of the Confederation alongside Groucho and Kurosawa. How he missed that time!

But now everything had changed because, to save the Confederation and everyone present in that room, he had decided to overthrow his father, take control of the Order of the Bloody Cross, and bring a new balance between humans and vampires.

Still lost in his thoughts, he found himself in front of the last two arrivals: the Confederation's butler, Harold, trying to balance the beauty of forty-two gift packages stacked on top of each other, and finally Ahmed, the Warlock Hunter who had taught him to have greater control over the magical power he learned in Susa many years ago when he was searching for Vera and hated vampires, just like his father.

Knowing that Ahmed's blindness hadn't disappeared over the years, he approached him and embraced him affectionately.

«Ahmed, it's great to have you here. »

«You've become a great man», Ahmed summarized as he was accustomed to doing.

«Thanks to your teachings. »

Ahmed's wrinkled face opened into a shy smile.

«I want you to be the first to hold my daughter», Zack invited him, leading him towards the bed where his wife was.

«April», Ahmed whispered softly, but Zack could still hear the word.

«April? » Zack was surprised, as he was still in negotiations with his wife about the name, undecided between naming their little one Diana, like Zack's mother, or Frida, like Fanny and Felix's deceased sister.

Ahmed didn't answer, but by now Zack had understood, and suddenly, he felt that it was the right name. Only the sound of these words had already filled him with joy.

As if on cue, his wife was actually discussing the name with her friends.

«She will be named April», Zack declared aloud, diverting everyone's attention to himself.

In general astonishment, he cradled that little, peacefully sleeping bundle, totally oblivious to the noise around her. He gently moved the delicate pink blanket that enveloped her, revealing the tiny face that had made his heart race the moment he saw it. That little creature enclosed everything that would be his world from that moment on.

The few blond hairs, slightly tinged with red, caressed her light head. He gave her a gentle tap on the smooth, delicate cheek, reminiscent of a newly born flower bud amid the tender grass of a field still chilled by the last snow. That child represented rebirth, spring. Yes, April was the right name.

When he looked up at those present, he found himself surrounded only by happy smiles.

«April? I love it!» Fanny became emotional at the sight of her little one in the loving hands of her father.

With gentleness, Zack kissed the sweet baby and calmly placed her in the still strong but thin arms of Ahmed. This gesture stirred everyone present. Zack pretended not to notice, but in reality, he knew the reason: Ahmed was a powerful sorcerer and had already predicted great, not always happy, things at the birth of other children present. Now, everyone feared what they called "Ahmed's prophecy

However, Zack and Fanny were not frightened. April had werewolf blood, and this would make her strong and invincible for her mother's happiness, in addition to becoming the future heir to the Macross empire.

Ahmed pronounced a brief but sweet litany in Arabic that no one understood. When he finished, Zack and Siobhan, also a witch, sensed that there was something worrisome in the little one's future.

«I want to know, Ahmed», Zack urged, noting the old man's silence.

«April. A delicate and fragile creature, yet capable of start one of the most violent wars between humans and vampires», Ahmed murmured, furrowing his face in an effort to understand what his mind saw.

«April will be anything but delicate and fragile! » Fanny chuckled, ready to introduce Ahmed to the strength of a werewolf. It was no coincidence that she was responsible for the training and combat of the Order's agents.

«April is human», Ahmed revealed, sending a chill through the veins of everyone present.

«But what are you saying? » Zack trembled with anger and fear. «Fanny is a werewolf. A single bite to a vampire, and it dies. »

«I'm sorry, Zachary, but April won't bite anyone. She can't. Her humanity. »

«Impossible! » Fanny exploded, pushing back tears of frustration.

«I can only tell you that sweet April will never die because of a vampire. Her life will be full of love, long but tumultuous. »

«And can a mere human trigger a war?!» Felix exclaimed in disbelief.

«She may have the delicate appearance of a flower, but the strength inherited from her mother resides in her heart. »

Zack slumped exhausted on the edge of the bed. It felt as if an unbearable weight had fallen upon him. For all those months of pregnancy, both he and Fanny had comforted themselves with the fantasy that their daughter would be as invincible as a werewolf, a creature capable of leading an empire and fighting against rebellious vampires. Now, they held in their hands the precarious life of a little human born amidst a war larger than her.

«Human or not, we don't care! We'll defend her ourselves!» Vera declared, determined not to be crushed by this news.

«Vera is right. April may not be a warrior, but she'll always remain a princess», added Siobhan.

«A princess capable of cause a war», Jack cynically reminded them, earning a glare from Vera and Cecilia.

«Exactly. Capable of it. Ahmed didn't say it will definitely happen» clarified Cecilia.

«Fate can always change», Ahmed felt obliged to specify.

«As long as the Order and the Confederation don't officially seal an alliance, the risk of war will always be imminent» Blake added.

«Exactly», continued Vera. «That's why I decided to come here and end this cold war just veiled by our truce. Everything must change now. »

«The birth of April changes everything. We're also her family, and we want to be there» Siobhan interjected, addressing Zack, who felt increasingly confused.

«That's why we decided to expand the Confederation and open a second headquarters here in London» Vera revealed enthusiastically.

«What?! » Zack and Fanny both burst out, along with the agents still standing at the door.

«You heard right. New York is far away. You're always here in London, and Nick and Tess's business takes them between the United States and England. So, we've decided to bring the Confederation here too. To be close to you. »

«The Order of the Bloody Cross won't take it well», Zack whispered, uncomfortable.

«You're the leader, aren't you? »

«I also answer to the Vatican. »