Drako Rising

By Saphira Mason

Drako has everything he ever wanted – except to know his daughter, Victoria. After the death of his wife during childbirth, an evil vampire he thought was a loyal ally made Victoria disappear. Drako has been searching the globe for his daughter ever since.

Victoria had been living a normal life in the United States, having been adopted and raised by American parents. Aside from a severe aversion to garlic, she had no idea who – or what – she was. Until, one night, a strange man enters the nightclub she performs in and begins asking strange questions. To add to her paranoia, Victoria finds a very old-looking book in her bag – a book that hadn’t been there before she’d gone onstage to croon to her many fans.
Drako must find his daughter and convince her that she holds a cure within her in order to save his kingdom and rise up against the evil that is out to destroy them. Victoria will have to trust a man she has never met, if he does find her. She will have to leave the love of her life, for the sake of ‘her people’, people she has never met and she feels no duty to.
Will Drako be successful in his search, and if he is, will Victoria be so easily persuaded to give up everything she knows for a man she has never met?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Saphira Mason
• Release date: Sep 28, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370968237

Saphira Mason

Saphira Mason is a native born Connecticut author and a recent graduate from Central Connecticut State University with a Bachelor of Arts. She discovered her passion for writing at age 17, using writing as her escape. She has worked on many books for over the past decade, taking pride in Drako Rising being her first release. She’s partial to writing in the paranormal romance, horror, and dystopian genres, and to her, nothing beats escaping to a dream world and living through all her characters. After all, reality bites and it’s much more fun living in a fantasy. She loves coffee, being adventurous, and enjoying nature while having her dog, Brandy, by her side and writing throughout the day. When Saphira’s not writing, she enjoys time outdoors, bike rides, painting, singing, cooking, and planning her next novel.

Book preview

1990 A.D.

Dunster, England

Let go of me! I can’t believe you want to risk something like that. I didn’t even think of it! Lucrecia snapped at her husband, the vampire lord, Drako, to leave her alone.

He chuckled like a giddy child. You belonged to me from the day we got married until now. The antidote and our child are a gift of immortality. This gift will create an army of newborn vampires without biting them. The best part is, it cures all sicknesses. It will also help our people of this country and kingdom. I am a great king and I want to leave a legacy behind if I am ever killed. I will find a way to create more of this, because we can save many lives.

That drink has been passed down from my ancestors. I’m scared it will be stolen. It’s very special to this family. It’s a gift of immortality and everlasting health, Lucrecia said.

Lucrecia ignored Drako and walked across the castle into a chapel. She approached the statue of Hecate, the vampire goddess. She got down on her knees and started sobbing while she rubbed her own belly. Her only joy was the life she was carrying inside her. It was the only thing keeping her alive in her hectic life as a queen. Hecate, mother of all, please help me. Keep my baby and family safe and guard the antidote. I will forever worship you. I know I have not been a good follower, but I will devote my life to you if you keep this gift and my family safe. Blessed be.

Lucrecia ended her prayer and turned around and started walking down the stone hall. She noticed sharp pains in her stomach but ignored them. Suddenly, there was a feeling of thousands of knives piercing her stomach, and she knew the baby was coming. She howled in pain.

The king rushed to her assistance. Lucrecia! he panicked.

Our baby is coming! Help! I’m hurting!

As anxious as the king was about seeing his baby, he did everything to help Lucrecia, who was in pain. He flew down the spiral stairs, and within seconds he was back with his maid and the vampire prince, Claude, a bowl of hot water, and towels. He soaked the towels and rubbed them across her belly. The king held her arms as the maid was down below cleaning up blood and looking for the baby’s head, while Lucrecia pushed to get it out. The head had to come out first before the maid could do anything else.

Push! The head’s almost out! As much as it hurts, you have to push hard before the baby loses oxygen! the maid yelled.

Lucrecia huffed and breathed hard while crying so loud all the walls, including where Hecate was, heard her. She growled and was hissing, turning white and moving like a snake, side to side and sliding around, while nearly breaking the king’s hands.

We’re almost there, Lucrecia, she’s halfway out. Stay patient, please, it’s almost over, the maid assured her.

The last push was the hardest. Lucrecia bit the king’s arms and drenched him in blood.

Suddenly the baby’s eyes turned bloodshot and the maid smiled, looking up at them both. She’s out. And a vampire offspring has entered the kingdom. Congratulations, she’s a gift to the goddess. Bless her.

Lucrecia sobbed her last tears and slightly lifted herself up to see a pool of blood and a happy little specimen wiggling around, crying, with red eyes. The maid cleaned her precious soft body of the blood and washed her, and then handed her to Lucrecia.

Lucrecia held her in her arms and kissed her head. My baby, my princess, I love you so much. Welcome to the world. The world seemed so unknown to the little one, she tried to interpret everything so fast. Moving her fingers around making noises, she touched her mother’s lips and started giggling. Claude silently walked up the stairs and gazed through the dark, candlelit stone hallway. How the candles lit brightly in the dark castle. The darkness that filled that castle for centuries had experienced a small miracle: an offspring that might change the atmosphere for many centuries to come…

Chapter 1

Victoria, come and get your dinner before it gets cold, Dad yelled from downstairs as I was getting ready for my night job.

My name is Victoria Williams. I’m 25 years old, barely a college graduate, because all I want to do is work at my favorite bar, the Red Door, by putting on shows. I was born and raised in Norwich, Connecticut, a town of farms, woods, and superstition. I stared at myself in the mirror dressed in all black because it was and will always be my color. Drinking a nice cold beer while warming up for tonight’s show was always my favorite part. Electrical impulses and butterflies never seemed to go away each time I was on stage. I had to be perfect for my fans because I knew in my heart that this was my dream, no matter what my parents said. It was fast, easy money. I flat-ironed my hair and painted my nails black to complement my black clothing. I finished the last swig of beer, turned the lights off, and headed downstairs. The smell of fresh sauce irritated my eyes and nose; however, I was sure Mom had made something amazing.

It’s about time, Vick, you have only 40 minutes left until your show, she whined.

I know what I’m doing. What did you make? It smells infused with garlic, and you know how I feel about that, I coughed.

Yes, I know. Your father and I made it, and you know food isn’t tasty without garlic. If you don’t like it, well, what can I tell you?

I started biting my nails because I could not stand the taste or smell of garlic. I looked around and saw a granola bar. I grabbed it and bolted through the door. Mom and Dad stayed in the kitchen looking out the window as I left, but I could hear them.

She’s getting older, John. Maybe we should tell her.

Diane, no. If we tell her, you realize what will happen, don’t you?

She will find out the truth sooner or later. She’s a smart girl. Can’t you see that?

As I was walking away to go to my favorite local bar, I felt like someone was in the midst of the forest that lined the neighborhood we lived in, watching my every move. I kept glancing back at the house and behind me. My heels were filling the neighborhood with noise, and made it well known that it was important I was there.

I walked into the bar and all eyes turned my way. No one could resist my charm and beauty, not even Bruce, the owner. My skin was as fair as pure snow, my chestnut brown eyes sparkled everywhere I looked, and my long, dark hair and voluptuous curves drove everyone to a fascination with the way I gracefully carried myself. I easily read the situation in the bar and knew what the customers were thinking. I could always light up a room. I was a natural entertainer and enjoyed singing as a part-time job while I put myself through school. I looked hot tonight and I couldn’t lie. Music was my only escape, and I was friendly to all people. I reached into my purse and pulled out a list of songs for the performance.

The manager, Bruce, approached me with a cold glass of Blue Moon, my favorite beer. Victoria, looking beautiful as always. Here, have this to loosen up.

Thank you. You know, this feeling never gets old. I love walking into this place every time and performing and talking to customers. I know this place is hurting a bit, and I’m trying everything to help bring back customers and make this place more appealing and fun.

I know you like singing and you’re extremely busy with other things, like school, but I appreciate your help performing. I would also like to thank you for helping me open this place and bartending on the side. Your hard work will pay off. We needed this in quiet Norwich and I hope it’ll work because you’re special. He smiled.

I have a few songs I talked over with my boyfriend, Rob. He thought we would play rock songs the younger crowd listens to.

Hey, whatever works to get these kids coming out here, I thank you so much. He patted my shoulders as he walked away to the bar.

As I stood there sipping my beer looking around, a stranger approached me. He was a very tall, blonde, handsome, foreign looking man. Hi, he smiled.

How are you? I replied.

I’m doing good. Um, my name’s Claude. I’m a huge fan of yours, probably the biggest you will ever meet.

Hmm, I have never seen you around here, and I also work here part-time at nights. But ok, nice to meet you.

You’re a real heartbreaker, just so you know, he said as he kissed my hand.

I know, my boyfriend tells me all the time. Well, I have to get going, I’ll see you around?

I turned the other way as he nodded. He remained immobile as I walked up the old stone spiral stairs into my room. I walked into a room of relaxation, where candles were lit and incense was burning, and my love, Rob, and our friends were playing some music.

As Rob was tuning his bass, he slowly got up to kiss me. Vick, baby, you look gorgeous, like a rock fairy.

Our band is named Faei, it means fairy in modern English, I replied with a smart remark.

Yeah, you are a fairy. You always had an interest in that kind of folklore. Hence the reason we live in a superstitious town, said my friend Chase, tuning his guitar with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth.

I lounged around the room and thought of Claude and how something was strange about him. I didn’t think I was that great and I’d never met him before. I was trapped in my own oblivion that was hard to escape from so I could focus on the show. Chase was gliding his fingers along the guitar strings, playing the much-loved song Losing My Religion. Rob was quietly singing along as he smiled at me. Seeing him and my friend Chase happy meant a lot to me. I grew up coming here; it was like home.

Chapter 2

As everyone was practicing, I felt lightheaded and had to sit down in my chair. My mind grew blank. I did not know what had happened to me, but ever since my encounter with Claude, it felt like all the life and energy had been sucked out of me. I spaced out.

Vick, Vicky, Victoria? Chase asked while shaking me. I blinked my eyes and just stared at him blankly.

I’m tired, I need to lie down, I whispered as I laid my head back on the headrest.

What, baby? Our show is on in an hour. This isn’t like you to act like this, Rob said as he kneeled down to grab my hands and kiss them.

I got up somehow and went to my bag to grab the espresso shots I always kept there. In it, I found a strange book that wasn’t mine. I never carried my school books to work so I was a bit confused. I opened the front page to read that it was a book on vampires and their ability to trap humans, and the symptoms given to humans attacked by vampires. It was a black book with the word Vampire written on it. The first page read: To mean spiritually or emotionally weak person who drains vital energy from other people; or paranormal entity within such a person allowing psychic draining of energy from other people. After reading that, I slammed the book shut and threw it in the garbage. I always had a thing for folklore and vampires but I couldn’t figure out why a book like that was in my bag. I shook myself from feeling dizzy and weak.

Vick! Oh, my god, what’s wrong? It looks like you’ve seen a ghost! Rob asked while pulling me in to hug me.

There is some strange entity going on, guys. I don’t know what it is, but I found a vampire book in my bag and I don’t feel good. I don’t know how it got there, but it wasn’t from any of you, right? Let’s just get on with the show and leave please, I said while shutting my eyes.

Maybe we are invoked by the rock gods. Chase laughed.

Rob and I stared him down.

No? Glad you guys found my joke funny, he said as he placed his guitar in the bag.

A strange aura was surrounding the room, just as I’d felt before. We all bolted out the door as fast as we could and hid behind the backstage curtains as the lights and speakers were being worked on. The three of us waited for our drummer, Mike. We all held each other tight for support, and knowing I was feeling sick, they were helping me walk. Rob held me from behind and started kissing me, and a million thoughts were running through my mind. As much as I wanted to remain quiet and daydream, I had a show to put on for Bruce, and the new customers were relying on the food, drinks, and the show to be a great experience so they would come back. As the three of us stood behind the curtain, we felt a gust of wind pass us and we all turned our heads to look. There was a black shadow near the exit down the hall.

Run! I screamed. We ran on stage and the lighting tech gave us a strange look.

What are you looking at? Rob asked.

Nothing, just you guys are acting a little out of the ordinary tonight, he said as he turned back to the lights.

Yeah, because this place has weird shit going on! You’re up next! Chase rudely replied.

The lighting tech turned and gave us a dirty look and continued on with his work.

No matter what happened, I knew we had a show to run, so I grabbed my list of songs for the opening show. One person was missing: Mike, our drummer, was always running late. I pulled out my cell phone to call him, but when I looked up he was already walking through the door with his drumsticks and a bright smile on his face.

I am in the house, people! He waved his sticks in the air.

Of most people I knew, Mike was a bright spirited guy and always tried to make everyone laugh and have a good time. I was in a hurry to start the show and leave with Rob because I was still scared of everything that had happened. I always sensed things deep inside of me and I couldn’t kick that feeling out.

Mike walked on stage. You guys ready for tonight?

Ready as always, let’s get it going fast. I raised my thumb in the air and winked at my friends.

Rob was fiddling with his fingers and Chase was sitting looking down to the curtain at the exit sign, silent.

Ok, guys, you’re all either drunk or really nervous because you’re all being weird. Whatever it is, we have to get it together, we have a show to run and there are lots of new customers coming in right now, Mike said.

I looked at him, grabbed his ear, and pulled it for all his wise comments. I saw an army of weird people walking down here.

Mike rolled his eyes, twirling his drumsticks in the air.

Weird people? Chase spoke after being silent for so long.

Rob trembled and started chewing his nails, something he always did whenever he wasn’t comfortable about a situation. What do you mean ‘weird people’? he asked curiously.

Yeah, like I haven’t seen weird people dressed like that before. I mean, we are a normal rock band, not a death metal band. That’s what they look like. There’s this one tall dude I saw walking by, built, brightest eyes I have ever seen, with ghost-like skin. Everyone, guys and girls, were all tall. These goths today, I tell you, Mike shook his head.

They aren’t goths, Chase snapped.

Yeah, they are stupid. There are so many looks out there we haven’t seen before. We have a mix of different people tonight, which should be cool and interesting. It’s going to rock. Mike jumped in the air.

I was glad someone was positive about the show. I sat at my stool, adjusted the microphone, and looked at everyone walking in to greet Bruce. Claude happened to be standing next to Bruce, drinking wine and greeting as well. Was he some kind of entertainer? Business partner? Events manager? All these questions filled my head, but I didn’t care to find out. I just wanted the show over. Bruce was offering drinks from the bartenders and cocktail servers. The place was filling up; the lights grew dimmer, and the disco ball on the ceiling started spinning. Mike started rumbling his drums while the crowd whistled and applauded. I finished the rest of my beer, which was lukewarm, and I moved my hips to the beat of the drums. Closing my eyes, I drifted off to oblivion, somewhere I could escape, because music was not helping to be my escape at the moment. As I slowly opened my eyes, I saw the tall man Mike had described. He was sitting at a table with Claude. I noticed how strangely they were acting, almost like foreigners, and certainly not American. They did not seem like normal fans to me.

Bruce came up to the microphone and officially greeted everyone. It had taken him long enough. Hi, everybody, welcome to The Red Door. Before the show starts, I would like to welcome all of you to our family bar. New customers, old customers, I hope you all enjoy your night with our friendly band, Faei.

He smiled and everyone was whistling and waiting for us to play. He handed the microphone to me. Vick, do you want to say anything before we begin?

Yes. Welcome back, everybody, you’re all family to me, too, and to those who are new, I hope this will be a great night and we will be seeing all of you again soon. Thank you for supporting this bar. Let’s rock out!

Chapter 3

I smiled continuously. The room was shining so bright that I realized tonight wasn’t such a bad night after all. As the stage lights slowly dimmed, the effects kicked in. A giant flame burned from behind the drum set and the crowd roared. Chase started his chords to the song Again by Flyleef. I was swirling my hips, bobbing my head back and forth and side to side, as I opened my mouth to sing and stare at every person idolizing me. Claude was who I looked at because he looked so amazed with the show. I looked over at the tall bald man with those piercing, ice- cold eyes that haunted me during the show. I wanted to speed up the show but I didn’t want Claude to think I was intimidated, especially since he laughed about it all. But what were the odds of finding a vampire book in my bag? Out of all things, a vampire book. I had no idea as to how or why I had an unknown book in my bag. I just prayed for the show to end because my gut told me I was in danger. As the music rolled on throughout the night, Claude and his mysterious friend, whose name I learned was Nikola, started a conversation that I was able to listen to.

She looks just like her mother, Nikola said while staring at me.

I know, but she’s a heartbreaker, and her human parents are hiding a secret that the king is dying to have: the gift of immortality. I need to talk to her parents and beg them to give me this gift before all hell breaks loose, Claude said seriously while taking a swig of wine.

Yes, you’re right, but how do we approach her? It’s not easy to go up to her and tell her that her life is in danger and her birthmother was a psychic vampire who died giving birth to her, and that her real father is a vampire king in England who’s been searching for her, Nikola replied with his foreign accent.

Hmm, this isn’t easy to say, I know. I need to see her parents while she is gone. I know everything about her, but in her eyes, we just met. Her birthfather is very angry, and the only way out of this is to kill him. Drako is her only heir and it would be devastating for her to lose him. She is a psychic vampire and I gave her clues today that she is one. Her father needs to be stopped. I sense he is near and he knows I stole this gift so we are all screwed. Claude huffed while turning red and tearing up.

Maybe we can get her drunk with our venom. I did place a psychic vampire book in her bag, but she threw it away. Nikola glanced at me sending me shivers.

In the bar and entertainment world, time always seemed to go by faster than usual, and before everyone knew it, the show was over. The audience whistled and gave a warm applause while waving their lighters in the air standing up. I looked at Claude quickly and disappeared behind the stage, smoke, and curtains, and into the band room. I opened the door and then slammed it closed and locked it before jumping into Rob’s arms for comfort.

What’s wrong, baby?

I don’t understand how there was a vampire book in my bag when we were all here.

Listen, guys, we’ll get through this together. I don’t know what’s going on either, but we can find out. We can head over to security and have the guard pull up the camera for us to see. It’s the least we can do, Chase said, assuring us calmly.

Of course, Mike was the aloof one of the group and wandered around the room shaking his head. You guys have all lost it, glad I came in somewhat late.

Alright, let’s head over to security and stop talking about this. We need to see if anyone was in the room before we got here, Rob said. We all got up and walked down the stone spiral cobweb-filled stairs that reminded me of an old haunted house. This was the scariest part of the bar; I wished I didn’t have to go down, but I had to. We made our way to security and noticed that everyone was missing. However, the security camera and system were still on. Rob stepped over to one and tried to figure out how to work it. He eventually found our room and began scrolling back to times before the show.

Chapter 4

Rob stared at the screen closely until he caught a quick glimpse of a stranger in our room. There he is! That’s the guy who was in our room. Looks like he was next to Vick’s bag!

He turned around to look at my blank face. I had nothing left to say or do but turn around and leave the bar and forget tonight.

Can I help you guys? a deep, scratchy voice said.

We turned around and saw a tall shaved headed man with a beard. He had similar features to Claude’s friend, I noticed. His eyes were as dark as a marble and very intimidating. Typical security guard, I wanted to believe: he definitely had the looks for it. While the security guard remained at the door stone cold, Rob was ignoring him while looking at the computer. The same video played continuously, and he was trying to focus in on who it was. It could have been anyone from the dining area or the bar. I was anxious to find out, and fast, but something told me none of us would because this guard wasn’t so convinced.

Well, if none of you people will talk, I will. He cleared his