New Whitby: The Blood Dynasty Chronicles, #5

By David L Dawson

Part 5 of "The Blood Dynasty Chronicles", a new serial for young adults based on the legend of Sleeping Beauty, only with added vampires and dystopian futures!

America had been renamed New Whitby by the vampires.  It is a land of rich aristocratic vampires and massive human slave breeding camps.  It's also where Ashlyn's cousin Sara lives.  What will Ashlyn make of her new vampire cousin?  Meanwhile, Union Jack is on a mission of his own.  He must rescue some recently escaped slaves and take them to safety.  But is there a traitor waiting to destroy everything he's built?

• Language: English
• Publisher: David Dawson
• Release date: Jul 29, 2013
• ISBN: 9781497789098

Book preview

New Whitby

The Blood Dynasty Chronicles, Volume 5

David L Dawson

Published by David Dawson, 2013.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

NEW WHITBY

First edition. July 29, 2013.

Copyright © 2013 David L Dawson.

ISBN: 978-1497789098

Written by David L Dawson.

Also by David L Dawson

The Blood Dynasty Chronicles

The Girl From Yesterday

The Streets Are Paved With Blood

Masks

Movie Night

New Whitby

The First Vampire

Shadow of the Snow Queen

The God Slayers Quartet

The Fall

Chasm

Standalone

The Blood Dynasty Chronicles - Volume One Boxset

Beautiful Skye (A novella prequel to The Fall)

The Book of Fire Trilogy Boxset

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Also By David L Dawson

New Whitby (The Blood Dynasty Chronicles, #5)

Further Reading: The Fall

1

Ashlyn struggled vainly against the chains that bound her feet and hands.  They were starting to rub uncomfortably against her skin.  She could feel bugs crawling across her skin and she could smell her own body odors.  She didn’t want to die this way, on her own and forgotten.

She heard footsteps echoing down the corridor outside her cell.  A brief surge of hope flared within her.

Please, let me go! she shouted.  I’ve done nothing wrong!

There was the clanking of keys and then the door swung open, revealing the luminescence from a torch.  The light nearly blinded her so she found herself unable to make out who it was.

Are you letting me go? Ashlyn asked.  She hated the note of begging in her voice but she didn’t care.  She’d beg like a dog to get out of here.

A soft hand stroked her face.  I’m not sure what I can do.

Jensen? she asked, almost pleaded.  Is that you?

He used his torch light up his face.  His green sapphire eyes shone with concern for her.  She grinned and tried to hug him, but the chains were keeping her firmly in place.  How she wanted him to hug her and kiss her and tell her everything was going to be fine.

I came as soon as I heard, said Jensen.  You do like getting yourself into trouble.

She smiled, loving his humor.

It’s not how they say, said Ashlyn despairingly.  You have to believe me.

I do believe you, said Jensen, caressing her face.  I know you’d never kill her.

Ashlyn leaned back against the cell wall, feeling the damp and the grime seep into her dirty greasy hair.  She said, I did not come all the way over to New Whitby just to murder my cousin.  There’s more to it than that.

I believe you, but...

She hated his full stop.  It didn’t bode well.

What? Ashlyn demanded.  What’s going to happen to me?

You’re going to be executed.

One week earlier

2

Harry looked down at the huge plate of salad and closed his eyes.  Ashlyn tucked into her own salad with hunger.  She didn’t enjoy salad very much but she was trying to lose weight.  Someone at school had called her chubby and she’d been a little paranoid ever since.

I’m not fat, but it couldn’t hurt to lose a few pounds.

Salad is good for you, Roberta told him.  She liberally poured mayonnaise over her salad and began to eat.

Then why do you put mayonnaise all over it? Harry asked.

It...makes it taste better, Roberta admitted.  She smiled.  Put some mayo on yours and you might like it.  You can have ice cream for dessert if you at least try.

Harry eyed the bottle of mayonnaise with suspicion, but picked it up anyway.  He was eight years old and trying new things.  Ashlyn could remember being that age quite clearly.  She’d been a very serious child, always asking questions.  It drove her parents crazy.

I still like asking questions!

He emptied a little too much mayo on his salad.  He pricked a piece of tomato, smudged it with mayo, and put it in his mouth.  He spat it out and ran out of the kitchen, screaming like he’d been poisoned.

Ashlyn laughed.  That mayo has chili in it.  Did he know that?

Probably not, said Roberta.

A pager went off.  Roberta jumped out of her seat and went to fetch her handbag from the lounge.  She came back with a small syringe and a little medical kit.

Intrigued, Ashlyn said, What’s that for?

I’m injecting myself with hormones, Roberta explained, sticking the needle into her abdomen.  It’ll make it easier to get pregnant.

Mom said she got pregnant with me without even trying, said Ashlyn.

Roberta pulled the needle out, wincing in pain.  She put the needle into a small red medical waste box and sat back down by the kitchen table.  She looked tired and miserable.

Sometimes it’s not that easy, said Roberta desolately.  Sometimes you have to work extra hard.

This intrigued Ashlyn.  She’d always assumed it was relatively easy to get pregnant.  The characters on her favorite soap operas seemed to get pregnant at the drop of a hat.

Can you tell me more about it? Ashlyn asked.

Roberta smiled and took her hand.  I’ll tell you anything, sweetheart.

*****

Aunt Roberta told me the full story, and I got it all in incredible detail, all about their struggle to have a baby.  I even wrote up what she told me on my blog.  She wanted a baby so much and for so long...

Ashlyn wiped at her eye as she looked out over the twinkling neon lights of London at night. Herself, Jensen and Jankin were sitting on the rim of the Sublime mansion roof, feet dangling over the edge.  She’d needed someone to talk to about her Sara problem.  She was determined not to see her, no matter what they said.

But I’ve still made my mind up, said Ashlyn resolutely.  I’m not going to see her.  It’d be too big of a disappointment.

She’s the only family you have, protested Jensen.

As if I needed reminding.

You’ll regret it if you don’t meet her at least once, said Jankin.  If she tries to murder you then you’ll at least know what she’s like.

She cut Jensen’s finger off and almost burned Vienna alive, argued Ashlyn, shuddering at the very thought of such violent actions.  The woman is a psycho.

And if she finds out I’m romantically involved with Jensen she will kill me.  Correction: she’ll probably torture me first, and then kill me.

You miss your family every day, said Jankin.  You still wake the floor up with your nightmares, shouting out for Harry.

I still do that?  You never said anything.

We didn’t want to embarrass you.

She sighed, feeling the night air against her cheeks.  I am embarrassed by it.

They were trying to change her mind again. It heartened her to know she had people who cared about her, but the fact was she didn’t want to see Sara.  All she’d be able to think about was how much Aunt Roberta would be disappointed. 

Does Sara have any good qualities? she asked them.

Jankin and Jensen looked at each other guiltily.  Jensen said, She’s apparently quite sane when I’m not around.

She owns a safari park for nearly extinct animals, added Jankin.

She...she has nice hair, said Jensen.

Ashlyn had to admit she was intrigued by the safari park.  She had always been interested in animals.

Please, Popsicle, promise me you’ll go and see her, Jankin begged.  You’ll never forgive yourself if you don’t go.

Go or don’t go?

Go or don’t go?  It’s time to decide.  Catherine wouldn't wait for her to make a decision forever.

She looked down the side of the building, all the way to the bottom.  She felt like she was falling and falling and there was nothing to stop her hitting the ground and smashing into pieces.

Fine, she decided.  I’ll go.

They were right.  She’d never forgive herself if she didn’t go and visit Sara at least once.  If it all ended badly, then at least she’d know. 

The trio continued to stare out across the city, lost in their own thoughts.  Ashlyn imagined Jensen was thinking about the two of them and when they could get together again.  She hated sneaking around, stealing kisses here and there.  It felt like they were having a steamy secret affair.  Sometimes it was exciting but mostly it made her feel guilty when she knew there was no need for her to feel guilt.

Jankin had a mass of things to deal with.  Was his life the life of an exciting superhero, or was it a lonely one?  She couldn’t imagine slipping on a mask to fight against the oppressors.  She wanted him to be happy but he could never have that as long as he was Union Jack. 

She remembered their kiss at the party.  It had been a good kiss, strong and passionate.  The world would be so much simpler if she could love Jankin like he loved her.

I’m not one for making things simple.

So the new enforcement officer arrives in the morning, Jankin added casually.  He was staring at her, his eyes guarded.  Was he thinking about the kiss too?  I wonder if he’ll be a vampire or a human?

I’m going to hate them no matter what, Ashlyn declared.

The new enforcement officer was arriving to make sure that the Sublimes were up to code with the Prime Minister’s new rules for humans.  Ashlyn didn’t like them one little bit, and neither did the rest of the human staff, but few were willing to complain about it openly.  They were afraid the Sublimes would inform on them.

Our food is going to be rationed and our beds are going to be taken away and we’re going to be beaten on a daily basis, said Jankin.  It’s disgusting.

Father will do something about it, said Jensen.  I think.

Ashlyn was terrified.  The Prime Minister has gone too far.  What are we going to do about it?

She looked at the two men in her life.  They looked as equally horrified and confused as she was.  What is the Union Jack movement going to do about it?

I haven’t heard word yet, Jankin admitted. 

What would you like to do? Ashlyn inquired.

Jankin smirked.  I’d like to kill the Prime Minister.

I have an even better idea, interjected Jensen.

They waited for him to answer.  Eventually Jensen said, I say we use the cure on him first when it’s ready.  We’ll turn him into something he despises.

I love the irony, said Jankin, pleased.

They all agreed to this, even Ashlyn.  It was what the Prime Minister deserved.  While she did sympathize with him for the death of his son, it didn’t excuse his barbaric new rules.

I thought you wanted to be cured first? she asked Jensen, trying to hide her coy smile.

I can wait a tiny bit longer, he replied.

He smiled shyly at her, and she tried not to giggle.

*****

After ten more minutes of stargazing, Jankin went off to bed, leaving Ashlyn and Jensen alone.  Ashlyn loved Jankin to bits but she was glad to be left alone with her boyfriend.  They didn’t spend nearly enough time together.

She shuffled closer and kissed him.  I miss you.

I miss you too, he confessed.

She put her hand in his, feeling his nearness.  I wish we could just be normal.  We could go on a date or go for a walk along the beach.

One day, he assured her.

She smiled, snuggling up next to him.  The scene suddenly felt romantic.  They had the whole city spread out before them and the sky looked sort of pretty with the red-net glow mixed in with the black of the night. 

I’m used to the red sky.  I don’t think I even miss the blue any more.

What would be your perfect date? she asked him.

He laughed.  You might think it’s silly.

I might, but you’re going to tell me anyway.

He looked her straight in the eyes and said, I want to cook for you.  I want you to tell me what your favorite foods are and I want to make them for you.  We’ll sit at a candle lit table and eat, and then we’ll dance to whatever makes us feel the most romantic at the time.

She smiled and kissed his hand.  That sounds great.  It sounds more than great.  Can you cook?

Of course I can cook, he said with mock outrage.  I’m quite good at it.  I even fancied opening my own restaurant once upon a time but my parents talked me out of it.  Sublimes do not cook food for other people.

They kissed again, both of them thinking about what they couldn’t have and what they’d lost.  Ashlyn knew with absolute certainty that one day they could be together openly.  One day...

3

The enforcement officer was a six hundred year old vampire called Hamish Lantern.  He had a broad Scottish accent, deep crow’s feet and a grey mustache that he twirled with like some camp pantomime villain.  He must’ve been changed into a vampire well into his sixties.  Catherine despised him instantly.  She could tell he was one of those pompous officious types who got off on power and got off on hurting people.  She hated people like that.

His beady eyes looked the entrance hallway up and down, and then he said, in an odious, oily voice, Very nice.

Dotrice raised her eyebrows.  Can I show you to the slave level, master?

He sighed melodramatically.  If you must.

Hamish walked up to the formidable Dotrice and looked her up and down with a grimace.  Catherine felt quite proprietary over her slave.  How dare this man look at her slave like she was filth!  Dotrice was human, and therefore a lower life form, but Dotrice was good at what she did, and Catherine respected that.

Hamish’s fist flew out and hit Dotrice in the face.  She staggered back, shocked, as his fist came at her again, striking her in the stomach.  She doubled over in pain.  Catherine stormed over and grabbed the man’s arm, twisting it.  She was a lot stronger than him.