Title: Deamhan Chronicles, Book One)
Author: Isaiyan Morrison
Genre: Adult, paranormal
Publisher: Rainstorm Press
Synopsis:
Her soft golden skin,
her warm smile…these are the only images Veronica Austin has left of her mother
who disappeared without a trace twenty years ago on the streets of Minneapolis
while researching the Ramanga, the Lamia, the Metusba, and the Lugat. Known
only as the Deamhan, they are a different breed from the modern bloodsucking
vampire.
A stranger to this
world, Veronica’s search for the truth about her mother’s
unexplained disappearance takes her into their sinister and precarious world.
She gains the trust of the only other human familiar with the Deamhan
lifestyle. With his help she finds not only can the Deamhan not be trusted but
it’s her own father, president of a ruthful organization of researchers, who
has diabolically maintained that distrust.
Excerpt:
The line crept forward and when she
reached the front door, the bouncer waved her through without checking her ID.
Veronica walked through the curtains and into the stodgy air and interior of
Dark Sepulcher. She pushed her way through crowds of contorting dancing bodies,
trying to create distance between herself and the Deamhan twins. Music thumped
throughout her body.
“You’re back,” a familiar voice said
from behind Veronica.
She turned to find the waitress who’d
served her the night before.
“You ran out in a hurry the other
night,” the waitress stated as she placed a napkin on a nearby table.
“Oh yeah, I-I lost track of time. Sorry
about that.” Veronica had no idea why she apologized. She looked over her
shoulder. Realizing the twins weren’t following her, she caught her breath and
relaxed.
“Wow, you look like you just saw a
ghost,” the waitress said.
“I’m fine.” Veronica slicked back her
hair.
“Can I get you anything?”
“No, nothing right now. Thanks.”
“You look like you need a drink.” The
waitress ignored Veronica’s answer. “I’ll tell you what. We have a new drink.
It’s on the house.” The waitress playfully slapped Veronica on her wrist. “It’s
called Sensual Appetite, and it’s delish!” She patted a chair next to the
table. “Sit and relax.” She leaned toward Veronica and whispered, “My name is
Chelsea. If you need anything else, just holler.”
Before Veronica could refuse, the
waitress pushed through the crowd and disappeared. A fresh burst of fog spewed
from a machine above, engulfing the dance floor. The gyrating crowd cheered in
approval.
Veronica’s eyes moved to the back at a
small room nestled in the corner directly above the dance floor. A rowdy cheer
to her left caught her attention. A group of scantily dressed men and women
hovered around a circular table. The light flickered above them. Veronica
recognized Alexis; her arms draped around the neck of a man sporting a business
suit and red tie. He sipped from a chalice and pointed to the crowd on the
dance floor.
Chelsea returned and placed a clear
plastic cup on the table in front of Veronica. The dark red drink had no ice,
but a hint of blue had settled at the bottom of the cup. “Here you go,” she
said, tucking the tray underneath her arm.
“I’m not thirsty.” Veronica pushed the
cup away.
Immediately Chelsea latched onto her
wrist and pulled Veronica’s hand toward the cup. “Nonsense.” Chelsea’s eyes
narrowed in on Veronica. Her eyes turned black and her mouth opened slightly,
revealing her fangs. “Now drink up, researcher. Don’t let a good drink go to
waste.”
Veronica looked to her left then to her
right. The club music seemed low-set as all eyes in the vicinity were on her,
including Alexis’. Chelsea released her grip and waited for Veronica to drink.
Veronica grasped the cup, lifting it to
her lips. She closed her eyes, paused, and then tipped the cup. When the liquid
touched her lips, she opened her eyes. The Deamhan now encircled her, standing
close enough that Veronica felt Chelsea’s breasts pushed against her forearm.
“Drink,” Chelsea whispered, “or I’ll
drink you.”
Veronica took a long, deep swallow;
thick liquid slid down her throat. The wretched taste of iron and blood made
her choke, and she dropped the cup onto the floor, gagging. The Deamhan
laughed.
Veronica shoved a napkin to her mouth
as the liquid circled in her stomach. Her eyes filled with tears and her mouth
frothed. She rushed to the bathroom, elbowing her way through the crowd. Her
stomach gurgled and heaved. A sudden gust of air pushed her forward, and cold
hands grasped her arms and yanked her into the bathroom.
“Please struggle.” The voice of the
taller twin tickled Veronica’s ear.
“Yes, please.” The voice of the shorter
twin tickled Veronica’s other ear.
With the bathroom door slammed shut
behind them, the twins pushed Veronica to the cold, dirty floor. She winced as
her ribs smacked the tile; pain shot through her stomach and into her back. She
stole a glance under the stalls before she raised her head. They were alone.
Bare fluorescent bulbs flickered overhead, giving the room an ominous glow.
The taller twin gripped Veronica’s arms
in her powerful grasp. She easily lifted Veronica to her feet and violently
slammed her against the bathroom wall. Breathless, Veronica made a dash for the
door, but was shoved back. The taller twin wrapped her fingers around
Veronica’s neck. Veronica clawed, trying to break free, but the Deamhan was too
strong.
Veronica stared into the twin’s dark,
menacing eyes. Her vision twisted in and out. The bathroom floor rippled as if
water suddenly covered the floor. Veronica’s head swooned and fear dissipated.
The drink flowed through her veins, intoxicating her.
It was a high she hadn’t felt since she
smoked weed for the first time in her teenage years. A sense of invincibility
and relaxation overtook her. She tried envisioning a brick wall in preparation
for the Deamhan twins to invade her thoughts, but the tingling sensation never
came. Instead she drifted into the furthest part of her mind where she kept
sacred memories of her mother carefully hidden from human and Deamhan alike.
“I told you, sister.” The tall twin
licked her lips. “She’s ripe.” The Deamhan twins knowingly locked eyes and
giggled.
With a handful of Veronica’s hair in
her grasp, the taller twin pulled, yanking Veronica’s head violently to the
side. She opened her mouth and her canines protruded from her pale gums. “Her
scent is strong, Brandy. And her skin,” she said, sniffing Veronica’s neck, “is
so soft.” She stuck out her tongue and licked Veronica’s neck from her ear to
her collarbone.
Veronica shivered from the trail of wet
spittle left on her skin.
“What to do with her.” The tall twin
increased her grip around Veronica’s throat. “She doesn’t have the markings of
a minion.”
Brandy stepped away from the door.
“But, Branda, I heard she is protected.” Her mouth opened, exposing sharper and
longer fangs than her sister’s.
“What Deamhan would be stupid enough to
give a researcher protection?” Branda scoffed. “Especially one as stupid as
her.”
Protected? Veronica
struggled to keep her eyes opened. Darkness toyed at her periphery, and she
thought she might faint from lack of oxygen.
“I want her first, sister.” Brandy’s
eyes widened. “Oh, can I? Can I please have first bite?”
“Sure.” Branda slowly released her
grip.
Veronica gasped, her lungs searing as
they engulfed fresh air.
“But don’t get greedy.”
Brandy replaced her sister’s stance and
shoved Veronica back against the wall. She sniffed the side of Veronica’s face
and chortled as Veronica struggled against her. “I like it when they fight.”
Brandy closed her eyes and swayed her head back and forth as she spoke in a
singsong voice. “Like a fly, caught in a spider web, about to meet its maker.”
“Protected.” Branda huffed, her
nostrils flaring. “What a crock of shit.”
A strong wind manifested, and Brandy
instantly released her grip. Her head jerked to the bathroom door as it flew
open on its own.
Veronica’s legs crumbled. She fell to
the floor gasping for air. She looked up in time to see a fuzzy image of the
Deamhan twins running out of the bathroom with Deamhan speed and the door
slamming shut behind them.
Whatever scared them away had
impeccable timing.
About the Author:
An avid gamer, writer, and lover of history,
Isaiyan Morrison was born and raised in Minnesota. She moved to San Diego,
California while in the Navy. After serving four years of active duty, she
moved to Los Angeles.
After a few years, she moved back to Minnesota where
she started to pursue her dream to be an author.
Besides writing, she also likes to read, surf the
internet, watch movies, and play video games. She likes warm drinks, pico de
gallo, and her love for cilantro is legendary.
At one point she was sponsored to participate in video
game tournaments. During that time she traveled to Canada, Nevada, New
York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Caribbean.
Her novel Deamhan, the first book in the Deamhan series, was
accepted for publication by Rainstorm Press for release in mid 2013. She’s
currently in talks to have the second book Sensual Appetite published by the same company.
Other novels the author has completed are The Carriers
(Sphere Episode One,) The Bond (Sphere, Episode Two,) and Old Farmer’s
Road to name a few.
She’s currently writing the third Deamhan book
titled, Revelation, and Maris. The Brotherhood Files.
Find her:
Giveaway:
1st Place Prize Pack
$50 Amazon Gift Card
1 Large Deamhan Shirt
4 bookmarks
1 box vampire incense (100 grams)
Deamhan Sticker
1 copy of Deamhan (paperback or ebook, winner's choice)
2nd place Prize pack
$20 Amazon Gift Card
1 Large Deamhan Shirt
4 bookmarks
1 box vampire incense 40 grams
Deamhan Sticker
3rd Place Prize Pack
$10 Amazon Gift Card
4 bookmarks
Deamhan Sticker
2 comments:
What a wonderful giveaway. This book sounds wonderful. I cannot wait to read it. I hope I win an autographed copy. Either way, this sounds like a book that MUST be obtained in paper copy for my wonderful in-home library. I may need an ecopy as well, but I definitely need a hard copy so hold and stare at and read and smell...michelle_willms@yahoo.com
Thank you for allowing me to share my book on your blog today!
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