Crimson Cloak Born of Blood

By Felicia Madura

When the beautiful, young, Izzy Sabel stops by her parents’ for a quiet family dinner, there are some uninvited guests that turn her world upside down. They unlock something that’s been hiding inside her, something Izzy herself struggles to understand as she’s forced to leave her old life behind and enter into a world of new realities she never thought existed. Vampires are something you find in movies and books. They aren’t real...or are they? Izzy finds herself asking these same questions, as she tries to come to terms with her thirst. Still questioning her own sanity, she begins to learn about who she truly is, and who she is meant to be. Izzy’s head spins with truths she never would have believed before she was beaten and left for dead. Instead of death, it was a new hell that welcomed her, embraced her, no matter how hard she fights against it. Despite her own self-loathing, she finds a new light that may bring her the peace she needs, a way to make things right, but at what costs? Determined to get the answers she’s looking for, she hones her new skills, but she’s not prepared for what she finds, or the greatness that lies ahead of her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Felicia Madura
• Release date: Feb 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311599810

Felicia Madura

Felicia has carried a passion for writing since grade school. As a child, it wasn't uncommon to find her sitting with her friends, telling scary ghost stories. Poems about love and romance as a teenager kept her notebooks full, and her pens near empty. As she matured, she reverted back to her storytelling, and rekindled the passion she found there. With several stories started, but never completed, a career of writing was put on the back burner, while Felicia made her way in life. But since true passion never dies, the words kept coming. In 2009 she began work on a new story. This time, however, she was determined to see it through.Being a fan of such great authors as Stephen King, Anne Rice, and John Grisham, to name a few, Felicia aimed to create something noteworthy, something people will read, and love, something that will reach out to the reader, and pull them in, the way she had been pulled in to so many other great stories.Crimson Cloak is just the first of many novels to come. Born of Blood is the first in the Crimson Cloak trilogy. While she has an affinity towards vampires, she also loves suspense thrillers. You can bet there are more on the horizon.Felicia also strives to help other new, emerging indie authors, who have faced the same struggles, by giving advice and blogging about her experiences. She knows, first hand, how hard it can be to over come confidence crashes, nerves, doubts, and everything else in between when it comes to first time publishing. Some of her favorite quotes are :(1)"Pay it forward"(2)"A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit."(3)"Keep moving forward"These three help keep things in perspective, and keep her fingers flying across the keyboard.

Book preview

CRIMSON CLOAK

Born of Blood

FELICIA MADURA

Crimson Cloak: Born of Blood

Felicia Madura

Copyright 2013 by Felicia Madura.

All rights reserved.

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

www.feliciawrites.com

Table of Contents

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Epilogue

About the Author

DEDICATION

To Jack, Alex, and Jackie. Without the three of you, my heart would have no reason to beat.

PRLOGUE

And so the golden child was born, a beautiful baby girl. Her name. her mother whispered, grabbing the man’s arm, as she fought to breathe.

Her....name...has…to…..be…Constance…...Constance Elizabeth….please….do this….for me….

Her father wrapped her, and held her ever so gently, gazing into her tiny green eyes, as her mother took her last breath of life.

You will be marked the 27th, my precious little one. You will do great things for us, for you are the last, you are my golden child he whispered.

CHAPTER ONE

I pulled up to Mom and Dad’s house a few minutes before seven in the evening. It was a gorgeous, spring Saturday in May, and we were going to have a nice dinner at home with my parents and my younger brother, Eli. As I pulled up, I saw his car in the driveway and smiled. It had been at least two months since I had seen him last. I grabbed my purse, and headed for the front door. I rang the bell, and waited for someone to answer. After a few moments, I decided to go on in. They were probably busy getting dinner together. I opened the door and could immediately smell burnt food.

Anybody home? I yelled down the hall, closing the door behind me. No answer. It was strangely quiet in the house. I could hear faint noise from the T.V. in the living room, and started down the hallway, peeking into the dining room as I passed. The table was set for four, but no food was laid out yet. I walked further, and was just about to glance into the living room when I heard someone behind me. A smile crept across my lips, figuring it was Eli, trying to scare me. But when I turned to greet him, my excitement turned to fear. I was met by a tall man wearing a black ski mask who immediately grabbed me, pinning my arms down to my sides, my purse dropping to the floor. Panic surged through me. I gasped and looked into his bloodshot eyes in shock. I started to fight against him, but he was already walking me toward the kitchen. My heart was pounding in my ears, fear and confusion filled my head.

Got her he yelled, pulling my hands behind my back. I could feel something hard being wrapped around my wrists, and then heard a familiar sound, as the Zip tie was tightened. We turned the corner to the kitchen and my heart leaped in my chest. I took everything in quickly. My dad and my brother were standing to the left, hands bound behind their backs. To the right, between the island and the stove, there were broken pieces of dinner plate all over the floor in front of where my mom stood. There was a look of sheer terror on her face, and the large man holding her had one hand cupped over her mouth, the other holding a butcher knife to her throat. He stood taller than Mom, and wore all black, with a black ski mask over his face. The only things I could see were his eyes, and they looked deliberate, tinged with madness. They were bloodshot and glaring at me. My escort shoved me into the kitchen toward Dad and Eli. I stumbled, but caught myself before I could fall. I regained my balance, and turned around. The man holding Mom whispered something into her ear, low enough that we couldn’t hear.

Is this everyone? Mom nodded her head slowly, her eyes darting from me, to my brother, to Dad, then back to me. His hand still covered her mouth, the knife still poised at her throat. Dad, Eli, and I were all frozen in shock.

Just what the hell is going on… Dad started, but was cut short.

Shut up, and don’t say another word, or I’ll gut her right here the man said, shaking the knife in Dad’s direction. The voice sounded like a growl and Dad’s mouth snapped shut. Something in this stranger’s eyes and voice was very clear that he meant what he said. Smitty, Levi, come on in, we got everybody now he barked over his shoulder. My heart pounded even louder in my ears, and I started to tremble. Tears were running down Mom’s cheeks, onto the stranger’s hand. Two more men walked into the room. All were dressed in black, and they each wore black ski masks to hide their faces. Cowards, I thought to myself. I looked at everyone’s eyes, tried to take in some sort of idea of what they looked like. There were four in all. I studied the one holding mom, and the only things I could see through the holes in the mask were his mouth and his eyes; though severely bloodshot, were dark blue. I observed the others as they entered the room, and started towards me, Eli, and Dad. They didn’t look at me too closely, as they walked by. I caught a glimpse of a gun stuck in the back of one man’s pants, and my breath caught in my throat. Smitty, round the rest of the cute little family up, get them over here the one holding Mom barked. One of the tall men stepped towards Eli and Dad.

What the hell do you want!? Eli yelled into his face. Mom’s muffled scream stopped Eli. I glanced over to see a small trickle of blood running down her neck.

I warned you, now look what you did he said, and pointed the knife at the small cut he made.

Mom! I screamed, and instinctively lunged toward her. The shortest of the four stepped in front of me, and with both hands, shoved me back. Dad and Eli both tried to yell something, and help me, but were stopped. I stumbled a few steps, and, again managed to stay on my feet. He may have been shorter than the others, but he was strong. Stubborn as I was, I started to take another step toward Mom when one of the taller men stepped in and slapped me hard across my face. The pain brought stars to my eyes, and all I could see for a brief moment were flashes of white. My cheek stung, and my jaw was throbbing, but thankfully, he hadn’t drawn blood. I blinked a few times, to regain my vision, and the room came back into focus. I could hear Mom gasp, and try to scream, but it was muffled by the huge hand covering her mouth.

Knock that shit off, the man who had just hit me said through his clenched teeth, close enough I could smell his rancid breath. I turned my head away from him, and looked at Mom again. Her eyes looked so scared and sad. The blood was trickling down her neck, creating a bright red spot on her shirt. My stomach started to churn, and my breath started coming is short gasps as the smell of blood wafted into my nose. Look away, look away, I told myself. Now was not the time to go all fainty. I forced myself to look away from Mom, and her bleeding neck. I turned to focus on Dad and Eli. Two men were standing near them, watching them closely. I could tell Dad and Eli both wanted to fight, but they feared what would happen to Mom if they did. The madman holding her already demonstrated he’d have no problem slitting her throat, though the cut he did make was a small one, it was still a cut. I thought about fighting again, then stopped. Maybe they’ll just take what they want, and go away. But something told me that was just wishful thinking.

Now the happy family is all together. Ain’t it fuckin sweet the guy holding Mom said as he shoved her across the kitchen towards the rest of us. She lost her balance and fell at our feet instead. The others chuckled.

Please Mom pleaded, Please, just tell us what you want….You can take whatever you want. Just leave us alone! Her voice cracked as she tried to control her panic. It was no use, she started to sob. Seeing Mom this way, my own eyes began filling with tears. The reality of what was happening was slowly sinking in, as the shock of surprise wore off.

Hey DC, look at that, we can have whatever we want the one that grabbed me said, and they all laughed again. I took note of the name, and tried to help Mom up. But between having my hands bound, and the smell and look of blood being so close, I couldn’t. My stomach lurched and I leaned back, trying to breathe through my mouth to avoid the smell. This only seemed to make it worse, as now, I could almost taste it. My mouth started to water, and my stomach churned again. I thought for sure I was going to puke. I swallowed hard against it. I needed my strength now.

Levi, get that clumsy bitch up DC barked. The short one walked over, and pulled Mom to her feet. So far, I had three of the four names. For as much as this DC person liked to talk, I figured I’d get the fourth. I just wasn’t sure I’d be around to actually tell someone.

So we can have whatever we want, eh? DC asked, slowly pacing back and forth. Hmmm, well, really, we don’t want anything. I mean, since we’re here, and you got a lot of shit, then yeah, we might as well take a few things. But see, we’re really here for these three young soldiers he said, motioning to the three other men standing towards the back of the kitchen. This is all about them. See, if they can get through this, then they can be part of our team, our army. I guess you could say this is their initiation! He threw his head back and laughed. The others chuckled with him. His head snapped forward, and his laughter stopped abruptly. The others followed suit. I wondered how high or crazy or both this guy was. Neither of which made it good for us. You can’t reason with a crazy person. DC eyed every member of my family, cautiously, stopping to stare into my eyes.

You aren’t going to cause any more trouble, are you missy? he asked me. Not that I mind a whole lot. All these boys need is the slightest excuse to rip you to shreds. So, it’s really your choice. He leaned in closer with each word until our faces were close enough to kiss. I cringed against his rotten breath. I could feel the warmth of it swirl around me every time he spoke, and the smell was horrid. Drug addicts, maybe, I thought. I had met a few meth heads back in college, at a party one of my friends had. I’d never forget their rancid breath. They always wanted to be so close when they spoke to me, and it made me stick to my stomach when they did. This smell was the same. I swallowed back the urge to vomit again, and shook my head no. He stepped away from me and walked back to where my brother and father stood.

Then it began. It all happened so fast, I could barely comprehend it. Eli lunged for DC, his teeth bared, looking like an elk going into battle. He was bent forward, his head tilted down, intent on ramming DC in his stomach. He even growled as he ran. But his head did not meet its target. Instead, DC side stepped, and grabbed Eli by the Zip tie holding his hands, whirled him around, and in a flash, Eli’s throat was a gaping hole, blood raining down. I tried to scream and couldn’t. His eyes were wide with shock, and I watched as he tried to say something, but all that came out was a gurgling wet sound. A sound I would never forget, no matter how hard I tried. He dropped to his knees, and went face first to the floor. The others came forward quickly, each taking the rest of us.

One produced a baseball bat, wound it up, and bashed the side of Dad’s head. I saw the crazed look in the guy’s eye, like he was actually enjoying it. I heard a crack as the bat met its target, and watched as Dad’s glasses flew off his face, his eyes rolling up into his head. More blood. My head was spinning. Was all this really happening? The smell of blood was everywhere in the room, but my concern for my family took care of my queasy stomach. Mom screamed, and I saw one of the men grab her, and shove her face first over the island.

No! I screamed, knowing what he was going to do. His hand was already poised at his belt, when the smaller one, Levi, put a hand his shoulder.

That’s not necessary man he said, and I could hear the fright in his voice. The other one shook his hand off.

Man, it’s ALL necessary. You better do something, you pussy, or you ain’t gonna make it. He turned back to Mom, bent over in terror. I glanced over at Eli, lying in a growing pool of blood and my heart ached. I looked into his wide eyes for a moment, and knew he was gone. My sweet, loving little brother was dead. Suddenly, I was enraged. Who the hell were these assholes? I was watching as they picked off one member of my family at a time. I struggled against the Zip tie holding my hands, trying to free them. Then DC caught hold of me and threw me down on the floor. Again, I saw stars as my head smacked the ceramic tiles. I looked up and could see Mom’s hands hanging over the edge of the island. Tears flooded my cheeks as I watched her hands grip the edge, knowing what that monster was doing to her. I felt something biting into my stomach and looked to see DC was literally trying to rip my jeans off, taking chunks of skin with him. I kicked at him with all my strength, yet he didn’t even seem to flinch. His face was stone cold, no emotion at all. I continued to kick, aiming for anything I could make contact with. DC stood up, raised one of his big boots, and brought it down on my leg. I screamed, not only feeling, but hearing the bone snap in two. I tried to catch my breath as the pain radiated in my leg.

You’re really startin to piss me off little lady DC shouted into my face. I’m tired of all this fighting! Ironic, I thought. He grabbed my shirt and yanked me to a sitting position. The pain in my leg shot clear up to my head, and I thought for sure I would pass out. I’m gonna teach you a lesson, that’s what I think he said, his putrid breath washing over me again. I could no longer think straight. My head was pounding, and it felt like my leg was on fire. I saw DC produce a knife, and thought for sure, this was it. I looked for the strength to fight him, and couldn’t find it. Instead, he reached behind me, and cut the Zip tie holding my hands. I could hear Mom’s screaming starting to subside, yet I couldn’t bear to look. It wasn’t an image I wanted to remember. DC was holding my wrists in one large hand, seeming to study my delicate, pale hands. He shook his head. Pity to waste such beauty he said, his tone seemed softer. But we don’t like fighters he said, as he parted my hands, stretching my arms out to the side. He laid me back down, gently this time. I looked at him confused. What now?

Leo DC shouted. The guy that grabbed me when I walked in was immediately standing above me. I looked up to see his large army boot inches from my head. Do it DC told him. I looked around, trying to figure out what it was. My question was answered, as Leo picked up his large boot, and brought it down on my left forearm, snapping the bones. I tried to scream and couldn’t. I couldn’t even catch my breath. All I was seeing was white from the pain. I heard DC say something else, but couldn’t comprehend it, until I felt the same pain as he brought his boot down again, this time on my right arm.

I felt more bones snap, as my eyes rolled up into my head. How much pain can one person endure before passing out, I wondered. I kept my eyes closed, trying to calm myself, trying anything to get away from this madness. I tried concentrating on one sound, one feeling. But it wasn’t working. My head lolled back and forth. I could hear the others going through the house, breaking things, taking things. When will this nightmare end? When are they just going to kill me and be done with it? I felt a rough hand grab my face and shake it.

Wake up, the party’s not over yet. It was DC’s voice. I heard Levi’s voice, faint, but nearby.

Jesus man, just get it over with already. Is that her bone? Is her bone sticking out there? That’s disgusting man! End it already! I heard scuffling, and realized DC was not crouching above me anymore. I forced myself to open my eyes enough to see what was going on. I blinked a few times to clear the spots. Craning my neck to the side, I saw DC with his hand on Levi’s throat. I could hear whispering, but couldn’t make out the words. DC let go of Levi’s neck, and shoved him back.

Go find the others, and help them finish up. I’ll be done with her soon. And if you can’t take it, you better figure out how to walk away. Levi cast his eyes to the floor, turned, and walked out of the kitchen. DC came back to crouch over me. Now, you ready to quit fighting me? he asked, resting his arms on his knees, lacing his fingers together. I slowly turned my head back so I could see him. His lips were turned up in a small smirk. Though my whole body was lit up with pain so bad, I never knew it existed, I mustered as much strength as I could, lifted my head and spit in his face. His smirk disappeared.

Fuck you I said, and laid my head back down. I’ll fight til I’m dead, you prick.

Fine, have it your way. I felt him grab my shirt, and yank me up again. He punched me in the jaw, sending my head flying to the side. He grabbed my chin to straighten it, and punched me again on the other side, sending my head flying again. Then I felt an explosion as my nose broke, and blood flowed down from it. It filled my mouth, the smell, the taste was overwhelming. I could feel myself starting to fall back, and DC didn’t catch me this time. My head bounced off the floor once, and stopped. I took in a ragged breath, and started to open my eyes. The last thing I saw was DC holding a knife above my stomach, his lips curled into a snarl to expose his rotten teeth. I closed my eyes, and felt its sharp point glide through my middle like butter. Too much, and I finally let go.

CHAPTER TWO

The ticking of the clock was the only sound in the house. It began as a faraway sound, but each tick grew louder and louder as I slowly came to. At first, my mind was blank. I didn’t know where I was. I hurt all over, from my head to my feet. I knew I was lying on my back, but where? Was I at home? It was too hard to be my bed. My throat was dry, and burning with a sensation I had never felt before. I drew in a deep breath and the burning intensified. I tried to lick my lips, but as I opened my mouth, something warm and wet dripped onto my tongue. I pulled my tongue back into my mouth to savor the taste. Familiar, yet like nothing I had ever tasted. I inhaled again, this time through my nose, taking in the sweet aroma, though it hurt to do so. My mouth began to water. What is this glorious wetness? I slowly opened my mouth, and I could feel the warm liquid slowly dripping in. Where was it coming from? It was the most heavenly thing I’d ever tasted. I turned my head slightly, as it seemed to be coming from above me. I parted my lips, letting it flow into my mouth. I savored the delicious taste again, letting it wash over my tongue, swallowing slowly, to prolong the enjoyment. The stream seemed to slacken. It was warm, and thick, and I wanted more. I could feel it dripping on my lips whenever I closed my mouth to swallow. But I didn’t want to let it get away. Finally, it stopped. I licked my lips again, to savor whatever was left. I lay for a while longer, waiting for more. I had to have more. I tried to sit up, but my arms wouldn’t move. My eyes finally fluttered open slowly. I squinted against the brilliant light of the room. Everything out of focus, I tried to blink to adjust my vision. I realized I was in Mom’s kitchen, lying on the floor near the island. I could see the edge of it above me. What am I doing here? I thought I saw something dangling over the edge. I closed my eyes again for a moment, opened them, and squinted, again, still trying to focus. I concentrated on figuring out what it was. Suddenly, I saw a glint of light bounce off the ring on Mom’s finger, and the nightmare of reality came flooding back to me. I shifted my gaze down, to see my tattered and bloody body. I squeezed my eyes shut. This has to be a nightmare, it HAS to be, wake up, WAKE UP I screamed inside my head.

I laid my head back down on the cool tile floor, waiting to wake up. Instead, the smell drifted up my nose. All at once, my throat was on fire again. What was I drinking to make it better? Maybe I had been dreaming. But the smell was still there. It had such a sweet aroma, what could it be? I closed my eyes, and licked my lips again, hoping there would still be a trace left somewhere. But when I opened my mouth, a tremor shook my entire body. Pain shot through every inch of me. My eyes flew open, as I started looking around in a panic. Finally, I was still again. There was no sound, no footsteps, no dark monster hovering above me. I licked my top lip, where I could still feel the warm wetness, and another tremor rattled through me. As it did, I felt all the pain from my broken body light up again. I’m dying, I thought. This must be what it’s like to die. I lay still a moment, listening to the clock’s endless rhythm, waiting to breathe my last breath. But with every breath I took, the amazing aroma set my throat on fire. I have to get away from this, but how? My mind