A Vampire Trilogy: Isle of the Undead: Book Iii

By N. E. Tovell

Eight years have passed since Galian McDermot moved to Ireland to take his place in the Celtic world as the Tribunal Judicial Officer and King. The unlikely union of Galian and Delbeth has survived all attempts to destroy them. Together, they now live in a converted castle on the Isle of Man that holds their growing family of blended vampireseach with his or her own special faerie gift.

Galian and Delbeth now have proof that it was Delbeths former boyfriend, Johan, who assassinated the old Tribunal. Worse yet, before his death, he recruited other conspirators in South America to carry out his plan for world domination and they are continuing his evil plan to develop his own world order in South America. Unknown to mortals, Delbeth and Galian begin populating the world with their special offspring while others secretly toil to destroy creation. But when Delbeths grandfather asks the family to raise two infant faerie girls, they agree, setting off a chain of events that culminates in a final battle where the Celtic plan is finally revealed.

As their fae spell comes to fruition, Delbeth and Galian bring the world hope as they govern from the Isle of Man and attempt to defend against the forces bent on their destruction.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: May 8, 2012
• ISBN: 9781475910001

N. E. Tovell

N.E. TOVELL is an assistant professor of English at a private university in Louisville, Kentucky. A native of Chicago, Illinois, she is a graduate of Southern Illinois University, and began teaching school in Evansville, Indiana where she was later elected City Clerk. This is the second book in a planned trilogy.

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A Vampire Trilogy:

Isle of the Undead

Book III

N. E. Tovell

iUniverse, Inc.

Bloomington

A Vampire Trilogy: Isle of the Undead

Book III

Copyright © 2012 by N.E. Tovell

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-4759-0998-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4759-1000-1 (e)

ISBN: 978-1-4759-0999-9 (dj)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012906089

iUniverse rev. date: 4/27/2012

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Epilogue

The Family Tree

About the Author

Canticle of the Turning

Irish Traditional

My heart shall sing of the day you bring.

Let the fires of your justice burn.

Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,

And the world is about to turn.

Dedication

To my friend and colleague, Dr. Mel Kuhbander (1935–2012), who with his intelligence, wit, kindness, and encouragement, became one of the lights on my shoulder as the pages of this book unfolded.

Acknowledgments

My gratitude goes out to all the wonderful people I met in Ireland who helped me understand the Irish heart and Little People they don’t really believe in— also to the people of Ellen Vannin (or The Isle of Man) who not only believe in but pay homage to Themselves. A special thank you goes to Himself, Frank Kershaw, who patiently let me visit the place where vampires dwell on the lovely Isle of Man and allowed me to visit the faerie groves of his childhood.

Chapter 1

A mare whinnied as I crouched against the wooden stall, hiding and waiting in the corner under a quilt. My breath steamed in front of me while I tried to forget that it was winter. I knew there was no escape, but as I leaned back and touched the wooden boards, a sharp point dug into my palm. I wrapped my hands around a splintered board—a perfect stake to use against the vampires ready to attack. I clutched it tightly and placed it between my feet, ready to raise it in my defense.

Above me, the low growl of a vampire hunting his prey signaled danger, a growl announcing that I had been discovered. When the beast swished to the ground in vampire speed, I raised the stake, moved to my side, and met his descent. A gruesome cry of death filled the air when the vampire impaled himself on the weapon I held, but my cries of pain joined his as I tried to escape his dying grasp on my ankle. I kicked furiously at the iron arm, screaming, Let go! Let go!

You’re all right, Dil. Wake up, sweetheart. Wake up! Galian was holding me, urging me to dismiss the prophetic night ghosts that had overtaken my sleep and join the present. Gradually, our quiet bedroom led me to a new reality.

Galian! They were going to kill me!

No, lass, you’re in no danger. I’m home. You’re in our bed. You are safe in my arms. My vampire husband rocked me as he assured me of my safety. I felt his truth from our blood bond and curled into his hard, silky frame. His kisses covered my face slowly, and his hands soothed my tense body. The familiar touching quieted my fear. Gradually, Galian’s arms went around my back, and he gently pushed me under him as he brought me into the reality of his rhythmic possession. My fae blood excited him and my human soul loved him, but it was my vampire side that urged him on with increasing strength, engaging our fangs in an ancient ritual of gratification.

Now, go to sleep, he said finally as we finished our lovemaking. I’m not leaving. He purred in my ear and licked the fang marks to hasten their healing. "You are mine, aman cara. No one will hurt you."

I felt calm once again, reassured that my vampire husband, whom others sometimes called Your Majesty, had returned to our home. Now I recalled last night …

Everyone had been waiting for supper, but Galian hadn’t returned yet. I was standing at the stove next to Cedric—our bodyguard turned cook—stirring vegetable soup while the chicken baked. The mashed potatoes and carrots were on warm; everything was almost ready.

Suddenly, two strong arms were around my waist, and I was turned and swooped to the floor as Galian’s lips met mine. When I opened my eyes, I put my hand on his cheek and whispered, Welcome back, my dazzling vampire. I missed you. Behind us we heard several giggles. As Galian lifted me up, we turned to face our four sons.

The boys told me they all have been promised vampire justice, Galian announced in mock seriousness.

Miss Delbeth sent them all a picture of being punished, Cedric chuckled. That made them good for a while, but they are little devils again.

"And they are all in trouble, Dil?" Galian looked a little guilty for leaving me all week with our lively offspring.

Well, my Vampire in Charge of Justice, I will let you decide for yourself. Both Galian and I stared into the anxious faces of our sons.

All right, let’s get this over with, Galian told the boys. Delian, which sounded like Dailyun in his father’s Irish brogue, as the oldest, your case can be first. Now, let your mother state your crimes.

Galian was used to having a judicial role. As the Vampire Tribunal’s Judicial Officer and Celtic Tribunal King, he often needed to address much more serious crimes than he was now being asked to judge, but he liked to hold family court, as he called it, so the children would learn early what our legal process was. His training as a solicitor had been in Dublin, and it seemed that Delian wanted to follow his father’s example.

Our oldest son stepped forward. Looking at him always caught me by surprise because he looked so much like Galian. At nine vampire years, he seemed about seventeen in human years and was almost as tall as his father. His blond hair was curly like mine, but his blue eyes were definitely like Galian’s. Vampire children are almost fully grown at ten, so Delian was a little old for corporal punishment, but he was still in need of his father’s guidance and strong hand. He sauntered away from his brothers and looked at me with disgust.

As he did so, his father warned him, Stop looking at your mother that way unless you want to start off on my bad side, Delian. Galian’s tone became stern, and Delian’s expression changed immediately. Exactly what did our oldest son do to provoke your anger while I was gone, Dil? The question was directed to me, but he was staring at Delian.

He lied about where he was going. He took the boat and told me he was going fishing; instead, he went to Peel for eight hours. There was no reason to lie. He could have gone to town if he had just let me know.

Galian directed his next question to Delian. Why did you tell your mother you were going fishing?

I changed my mind is all. I didn’t think it made any difference.

Well, it does, Delian. You have five minutes to use your phone, and then you are to turn it in to me for three days. The next time you change your plans, let one of us know where you are.

Delian knew better than to argue, so he just mumbled, Yes, sir, and pulled out his phone, trying to decide whom he should call before he turned it in to his father.

Galian’s attention was then directed to our second son. Brian was two years younger than Delian, so he looked about fourteen in human years. Brian had my mother’s dark hair and slim build, but he too had Galian’s blue eyes. Although he seemed much smaller than Delian, he was only an inch shorter. Quick to smile and as charming as his father, Brian would coax me and charm me with his glamouring until it was difficult to be angry with him. However, it was he who usually had his brothers in trouble with his schemes, and I worried about his tendency to bend the rules.

My faerie blood showed most in Brian, and his ability to see the future like my Aunt Sabia gave him an advantage over most of us. Teaching young vampire blends to use their fae gifts wisely was no small task. His older brother, Delian, had the gift of hurling or projecting, as I did, but Brian always knew when his brother was about to disarm him, so he seldom fell victim to Delian’s talent—much to his brother’s consternation.

Galian continued questioning me as he stared intently at his second son. So what did the glamouring Casanova of the Isle of Man do to cause his mother’s reluctant ire this time? Galian kept his hands at his waist while his son tried to avoid eye contact.

The same as his brother, I answered, but I’m not sure who talked whom into going into town, or why they didn’t tell us. No doubt Brian had visioned some exploit that he didn’t want us to know about, but I haven’t heard of any of his shenanigans yet.

All right, Galian concluded. Your punishment will be the same as your brother’s. In five minutes, I want your phone.

Brian had not yet learned the limits of his negotiating ability, and he inched up to Galian in an attempt to mellow his father’s pronouncement. Dad, Dad, I really need my phone today.

Galian wouldn’t relent. You should have thought about that before you left without telling anyone where you were.

Brian was getting desperate, so he pulled out his trump card: he told Galian about his vision for the immediate future. Dad, c’mon please. You’re going to get lucky tonight, you know.

I doubt if Brian had any idea how swift his father’s reaction would be. Galian is probably one of the fastest vampires in our world, so before I could even think Oh, no, our second son was being whipped and yelling, I’m sorry! I’m sorry!

Galian wasn’t angry; he was just determined that our sons would learn to respect the gifts they possessed. Brian knew exactly what line he had crossed, hence the immediate apology.

When Brian was upright again, Galian took him by the shoulders and forced our son to face him. Don’t ever use your gift to spy on personal lives unless you are asked to do so by the people involved! My human mind was still processing the fact that Brian, who was about my size, had just been upended like a pencil by the vampire standing next to me.

I’m sorry, Dad, he pleaded.

"And don’t ever use your gift to spy on us!"

I won’t, Dad, I promise.

Beginning to understand the nature of Brian’s transgression, I picked up my riding crop, which was hanging next to my coat in the kitchen, and went after him. I will whip you myself for your impudence!

Before I could unleash what was definitely anger at my son, Galian had the crop out of my hand and was restraining me. If you don’t want the full display of your mother’s wrath again, Son, I suggest you learn this lesson well.

Brian was looking at me fearfully, and I was ashamed at my loss of control.

I’m sorry Mam (the Irish equivalent of Mom). Please don’t be angry. With that, Brian was next to me with his arms around my waist and his head buried in my shoulder.

Galian released me to my son’s arms. Of course, my resolve melted. Brian really was as persuasive as his father. I couldn’t remain angry at him for long, and I rubbed my hand over his dark curls and kissed the top of his head. Your father is right about your gift, Brian. You must allow people their privacy. Gifts are to be treated with respect, not like some parlor game.

Please don’t be angry, Mam. I promise I will be more careful.

I wasn’t sure whether that was merely an apology or if it signaled a change in Brian’s behavior. When Galian grabbed the riding crop out of my hand, he had held on to it while Brian apologized. When I released Brian, Galian put his left arm in front of me, grabbed my shoulders, and bent me over with the riding crop raised as if to strike me. He was taunting me.

Maybe I should spank Mam. Then she wouldn’t be so quick to get angry, he teased—sort of—showing how quickly he could move and overpower me.

However, neither of us expected the reaction of our young Colin. Our third child, who looked like a human five-year-old, grabbed hold of his father’s long leg and pulled with all his might.

No, Daddy, no! he pleaded as he tried to stop his over six-foot father. Don’t hit Mam. Don’t hurt Mam! The child’s pleas were so earnest that Galian quickly released me and put his entire attention to his young son. Galian bent down and peeled the child’s arms off of his leg and put them around his neck instead. Then he lifted him from the ground and hugged him reassuringly.

Don’t worry, Colin. Daddy would never hit Mam. We don’t do that—we never hit our women. We protect them. I was just teasing her. Your mam knows I wouldn’t hurt her.

Colin lifted his head from his father’s neck and peeked at me. I smiled back, nodding and reassuring our little son while patting him on the back. Your father is our protector, Colin. He was just pretending with me. Then I decided to tease Galian back. Besides, he knows I would hurl him across the Irish Sea if he ever hit me. We all laughed, but Galian was not to be outdone. He put the appeased Colin down and wrapped me again with one arm.

Sometimes I might give your Mam a little love pat, he explained to Colin, but I would never hit her. As he spoke, he took his free hand and swatted me lightly across the behind. I sent him a warning look.

You have a whole range of love pats, my dazzling vampire, I mumbled.

Galian ignored me and turned to the boys. Sometimes I just have to remind your mother who is in charge. Love pats do that. A man needs a strong hand to protect his family, and he needs a firm hand to guide his children, but he needs a gentle hand to hold their mother close. Galian’s eyes twinkled as he gave our sons his lesson in male domination and squeezed me slightly while he avoided my eyes—probably wondering how I would respond.

In charge indeed! I countered. In charge of foreplay, I suppose. I regretted my response as soon as it was uttered, but it was too late.

What’s foreplay? Brian asked.

His older brother Delian was always ready to fill in the gaps in his younger brother’s knowledge. That’s what you do before you play, Brian, Delian said with some disgust and condescension—but totally confident in his explanation.

Brian thought for a moment. Before you play … That doesn’t make any sense, Delian!

By this time, Galian and I were laughing at the innocence of our boys, but I was hoping to change the conversation soon before they figured it all out.

Someday it will make sense to you, Son, Galian started, but for now we’ll just assume that Mam knows I’m the protector and that puts me in charge—for now. Galian probably knew he was walking a troublesome border.

Shaking my head, I picked up Finn, who was playing on the floor with our native Manx cat, and stood next to Galian as he put his arm around me and kissed the top of my head. While I breathed in my husband’s lovely lime scent, I told him, For now you can be in charge of herding the boys to the supper table, Your Majesty. Then I whispered to him, We can pick up the foreplay later.

Galian’s mouth turned up on one side as he gave me his lusting look. It’s not so bad being in charge of foreplay, he whispered back at me as he took Finn from my arms and began herding our sons to the kitchen table—acting very much in charge.

C’mon boys, he said. It’s time to nourish the humans. I think we’ve had enough vampire justice for one evening. We can deal with Colin and Finn tomorrow.

I looked over at Cedric and his mate, Betty, who evidently found nothing unusual about the events swirling around them. Let’s serve supper, Cedric. I motioned for everyone to sit down, and the two younger boys sighed with relief.

There were not very many quiet moments after the boys were born, but the evening Galian returned from the Croatian meeting with the other Tribunes—my father Kristian and my grandfather Julien—was quieter than usual. We all took our places in the family area while the older boys taught the younger ones how to play poker and actually get some practice winning. They kept each other occupied for about an hour, and Galian had a chance to tell me about my grandparents, Julien and Elisabeth, at the Croatian post. As we sat together beside the fireplace and the boys sat at a game table, Galian opened the conversation.

I had a very interesting conversation with Sebrius while I was in Croatia. My attention was immediate. Sebrius was the old Tribunal’s Chief Enforcement Officer, and he had served them for about a century before my father, grandfather, and husband were appointed to their posts by the Vampire Council. Sebrius knew all the Tribunal secrets because he always did their dirty work. I waited for Galian to continue.

After Johan tried to kill you, Galian poked the fire and redirected an aside to me. You know I would have finished him off if your father hadn’t stopped me, don’t you?

I just smiled and nodded at my husband’s explanation. Yes, my love, you are my fearless protector.

Anyway, when Sebrius took Johan to South America so Johan could recover from the injuries that I inflicted upon him, Sebrius betrayed Johan and brokered a deal with a Dr. Hans Gierd to trade Johan for his sister, Bianca. It seemed that Dr. Gierd was in love with Johan’s sister, Bianca, and wanted to wed her, but she was a vampire blend, and the Tribunal didn’t want to release her without another blend to study.

What’s so strange about that, Galian?

There’s more. It seems that Johan had already bargained for his sister’s release by promising to deliver you, my love, to replace her.

This news indeed surprised me. Johan had been my first boyfriend until I found out he had a wife and family. He was a blended vampire—half human and half vampire—whose father had been executed by the old Tribunal for raping and impregnating human women. Later, the Tribunal kidnapped Johan’s blended half-sister, Bianca, and Johan set out to return her.

And that’s not all. Galian’s tone turned more serious. Sebrius told me that Dr. Hans Gierd was the chief scientist in the Third Reich. He was the architect of the Aryan objective Hitler tried to force on the world, but he relocated to Chile when he escaped from Germany after World War II.

Why is all this important to us? I didn’t see the connection that Galian’s news had to today, so many years later.

Galian took a deep breath and let it out as he rolled his eyes. His next explanation was with measured patience. Julien is sending Sebrius back to Chile to keep an eye on the situation. Evidently, Johan began working on behalf of Dr. Gierd and only pretended to cooperate with the Tribunal until the German vampires could arrange the Tribunal’s assassination.

Well, why didn’t you say that to begin with? So now we know for sure that it was Johan who assassinated the old Tribunal.

"Exactly, Dil. We suspected as much, but now we have proof. We also know why he killed them. He assassinated the Tribunal for Dr. Gierd—under his directive."

But why did Dr. Gierd want the Tribunal dead, Galian? Do you know that yet? Then I remembered something else. Were there other conspirators?

We don’t know the answer to either of those questions yet, Dil, but hopefully Sebrius will be able to find out more.

Johan had made several attempts to kidnap or kill me, but we didn’t know exactly why back then, whether it was for love or some other reason. I guess now we knew that he was bargaining with the Croatian Tribunal. Whatever his motives, he had pursued me relentlessly until his death.

Why did Johan keep saying he was in love with me if he only wanted to capture or kill me? I knew this wasn’t Galian’s favorite subject, and I saw him gritting his teeth. Vampires never think out loud without purpose and don’t tolerate it well in others. When my father had sent Johan to South America with Sebrius, Galian felt cheated out of killing Johan.

He took a deep breath and spoke firmly. I would pretend to love someone too if it would convince her to leave peacefully, especially if she were subject to sudden fits of temper! Galian scowled, and I knew that tone. He was annoyed with me.

I got up slowly, facing my husband, and coyly swung one leg over him to sit on his lap and soften his mood. He was slightly altered. Sudden fits of temper? Really, Galian, isn’t that just a small exaggeration? I pushed into him slightly, but his tone was not changed.

You mean like tonight, Dil, when you went after our son with a riding crop?

He had me, so I tried another approach. Well, perhaps it is that same rush of emotion that responds so quickly to you, my darling. You don’t complain about that. I could feel him relent.

He shook his head slowly. I’m not sure the two are related. He looked up at me and watched my mouth, which was always a good sign. But you make a good case. He smiled, letting me know I was forgiven, but he wanted the last word. However, if I had to capture you, knowing that you are quite capable of hurling your adversary across the room, I think I would try to avoid your wrath.

I laughed, but I didn’t like his explanation. Galian was obviously having an issue with my temper. He felt my reaction while he had his arms around me.

And you didn’t like that explanation, did you? he asked. He could feel my irritation because of our blood bond, just as I could feel his.

Not really. I’m trying to be more prudent about my temper. Besides, there was something a little flattering about Johan’s attention. Again, I regretted saying that as soon as it was out. Now he had me. I really must stop blurting out my thoughts.

You mean when he wasn’t trying to kill you, Delbeth?

He used my full name—not a good sign. I laughed, wishing I could retract my words, and then tried to mollify