The Red Bride

By Jeremy D. Hill

With the ominous arrival of a black coach; cousins Nicholas and Matilda watch as their humble little town falls prey to a vampire, who has finally chosen to return home.

Can the cousins stop her and her minions before everyone they love is murdered or turned into a bloodsucking monster?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jeremy D. Hill
• Release date: Mar 12, 2015
• ISBN: 9781502271921

Book preview

A black coach approached the town of Daene. The driver was wearing a large black cloak and dark helm that obscured his face. His grip on the four black horse’s reins was deathly and solid. The coach continued through the town slowly. If someone were to have a look in the back they would see a coffin resting there; dark red silk sheets draped over it.

The town had just suffered the death of Tomas Tulaine and his entire family. He had been a resident of the town for forty years, he and his family had moved into a large manor house on the edge of town after the previous owner was killed in a senseless and violent manner. The manor had been under construction when the previous owner passed and Tomas was able to finish it using the money he had made in the shipping business.

The black coach continued to move through town, people looking through windows to watch and whisper. The coachman ignored them and continued forward without a single glance away from the road ahead.

Two teens, Nicholas and Matilda, watched the coach from their perches atop a tree. Matilda nudged her cousin and raised her eye brows. Nicholas just shrugged.

Let’s go. He whispered and the two took off. The two of them followed the stagecoach to Gibbrack’s manor. Matilda stopped first, stopping her cousin by grabbing his sleeve.

We can’t go further. She whispered hurriedly when Nicholas turned to her.

He turned back and squinted, trying to see who it was going into the manor. A door opened on the right and a hand stretched from it, the raising moon made the skin look pure white. The coachman grasped the hand gently and helped a beautiful woman, seeming no older than Matilda’s seventeen years, out of the stagecoach.

Why thank you. Her voice was smooth and hypnotic. She smiled softly when the coachman kissed her hand. She swept her long ebony hair away from her face and looked up toward the manor.

Could I offer you a drink? You have a long journey ahead of you. You should relax for a while. Her voice seemed to wash over them, cool and calming. When the man nodded she led him into the manor. Matilda elbowed Nicholas before the two took off; neither wanting to get caught.

——

Matilda made it to their home first, grinning at her cousin when he stopped in front of her.

You are way too fast. He told her, leaning over with his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.

You are just getting slow. Her own breathing was heavy, but the grin stayed affixed to her face. They both looked up sharply when they heard a throat cleared.

Grandfather. They said in unison.

What have I told you about staying out after dark? the elderly man was tall, at least a foot taller than Matilda and half a foot taller than Nicholas, his white hair and wrinkles tells the story of his youth; of hardship and happiness.

Matilda and Nicholas looked down in shame, "Not