Karl and Daniel are driving back to their small farm after celebrating Daniel’s birthday when they strike something in the road. Whatever it is lands on the roof of their pick-up truck. Not keen to find out what it might be, Karl floors the accelerator as Daniel leans out of the window. Despite the light from a full moon, nothing is seen on the road behind them. When they arrive home, their relief is short-lived. As Karl turns into their driveway, Daniel disappears out the window of the truck. Karl hurries after his lover, and manages to catch sight of a dark shape flying through the night sky. Dangling beneath it is his beloved Daniel. Before he can call for help, he's knocked off his feet. A minute later, he finds himself in the air, too, held securely in the grip of a nightmarish beast. The best Karl can hope is both he and Daniel will survive the night, but that might be easier said than done.

Out of Light and Into the Night

As he turned to leave the room he glared at Karl.


“That is why I am clan leader. And that is why he needs constant reminding!”


Karl let himself go limp. His wrists were red raw from the friction of the metal manacles against his bare skin. Every time he put any kind of pressure on them, they smarted. But now he didn’t care. The throbbing pain of his wrists was nothing compared to the pain in his soul. He stared at Daniel’s body and let the tears fall once again, though this time they fell in silence.


So consumed by his loss was he that he didn’t notice Vadim struggling to his feet. Nor did he notice the look in Vadim’s eyes as the creature stalked towards him. The first thing he noticed was the vampire’s hands on him, one hand on his shoulder and the other pulling his head to one side so that his neck was stretched taut. A glint of light on enamel and then white hot pain as two fangs pierced his skin.


Chapter 11