Blood Born

By K.R. Connor

Creatures from the darkest depths of hell roam the earth. Human existence hangs in the balance. Drake has risen and now unleashing his minions turning the world as we know it into total chaos. Mankind’s existence is now in the hands of Alex Greyson. It’s a race against time will she be able to control her powers before the darkness consumes her soul? Will this ultimate weapon stop the destruction of mankind or will the darkness prevail?
Does Alex have what it takes to face her darkest fears?

• Language: English
• Publisher: K.R. Connor
• Release date: Oct 24, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463245248

Book preview

1

Chapter 1

Max Christenson was a detective for the Boston PD for twenty years before he retired. He lived in the area for most of his life. At an early age, Max found out the hard way that there was more to this world than meets the eye. On a cold night in November in a small three-bedroom house, Max was playing on the floor of the living room with his cars while his parents were in the kitchen cooking dinner. A strange noise came from outside. Wondering what the sound could have been, Max stood up shuffling his feet as he made his way to the door and looked outside.

The sky is darker than usual tonight, Max thought as he pulled the curtain back. He gazed up at the crescent moon that barely lit the driveway as the howling wind was through the dancing leafless trees. Shadows swept under the trees as they swayed back and forth. A large tabby cat jumped up onto the windowsill, scaring and causing him to fall backward onto the floor. Jasper, stupid cat, he said, hurling himself back to his feet. Jasper jumped down quickly and bolted out of sight. Moving the curtain out of his way again, he continued to marvel at the dancing shadows from the trees. He didn’t see anything, so he went back to playing with his cars on the floor. Thud. The noise came from the front porch this time. The noise was so loud it made Max jump. Trembling with fear, Max looked up at the door. What could have made that sound? Max thought.

With a loud bang, the door slammed open, and a group of men dressed in all black rushed through the door like a bunch of wild animals. Two of the men started toward Max who was frozen in fear. Max tried to run, but the men grabbed him before he could make a break for the back door. Some of the men went toward the kitchen where his parents were. Screams echoed through the house sending a deep chill up Max’s spine. The hands of the men were cold as ice and the faces were ghostly white with deep glowing red eyes, not like anything he had ever seen before, almost evil. The fear raged up in Max as he yelled, mom! dad! but there was no reply. The noise of screaming in the kitchen had stopped; it was eerily silent. One of the men walked toward Max. His short hair was blond with slender build.

He said, "Boy, what is your name?

With fear still whirling inside of him, Max choked out, Max, my name is Max.

The man gazed at him with dark red eyes and tilted his head to one side. I’m sorry to tell you, Max, but your parents are dead.

The man grabbed him by the back of the neck and shoved him toward the kitchen. He pushed Max to his knees onto the floor next to his parent’s lifeless bodies. The gruesome sight of his parents lying on the floor covered in blood was too much for Max to handle. Tears started streaming down his face then a pain like no other ripped through him. Like two needles piercing his neck, Max struggled to get free but could not break the man’s grip. Blackness had set in, and Max passed out.

A loud blast came from the living room almost like a grenade had gone off. Opening his eyes just a smidgen, he could see what looked like men flying through the air, turning to ashes and embers as they hit the walls. As he drifted back off, he could hear in the distance men grunting as one hit the other. A few of the men including the blond one escaped out the back door.

When the noise had ended, a man by the name of Victor Christenson was at Max’s side, pressing a cloth to the side of his neck. With a faintly voice, he exclaimed, Here, son, this will stop the bleeding. The pain was like no other— burning like liquid fire coursing through his body, inching its way slowly through each organ.

Victor Christenson was a tall man in his late forties with dark shoulder-length brown hair. Victor had been trained in martial arts over the years. He knew what these gruesome creatures were and how to stop them. Some called him a hunter. As he picked up Max, cradling him in his arms, they headed out the door. He said, Let’s get you out of here.

Not only did Victor save Max’s life that dark cold night, he taught Max everything he knew. He taught Max how to us the martial arts to his advantage in a fight. Over the years, Victor became a father and a protector to him.

As Max grew into an adult, he realized he was not like any normal man; he had the strength and speed like the vampires he had encountered when he was a child. Somehow his blood had bonded with the vamp’s blood, allowing him to have all the powers of these creatures but none of their weaknesses. Victor had taught Max everything he knew about vampires. How they hunted, how they killed, and how they recruited new vamps.

Max soon realized that he had acquired all of their powers and none of their weaknesses, a day walker, half human, half vampire. A man the vamps wanted dead if they ever found him. Victor taught Max how to channel and control his strength and how to harness and control any powers he might develop over time. As a grown man, Max stood six feet tall with short brown hair, dark-blue eyes, and an athletic build. He was a man of honor and respect.

A protector and a trained vampire hunter.

2

Chapter 2

One dark and stormy night in late October, Victor and Max sat in the living room discussing the vamps’ new location and how they were going to invade the lair the following morning. Enjoying the warmth of the fire, Max sat back on the couch letting the heat of the fire trickle over his skin. A knock at the door took Max and Victor by surprise. At the same time, they both looked toward the door confused, then Max looked back at Victor.

Are you expecting company, Max asked as he stood up and stepped toward the door.

No, not that I can think of, Victor said as Max turned the door knob. A gust of wind pushed the door slightly against him as he opened it. The wind blew harder causing the rain to come down sideways, hitting the small black car on the passenger side door that was parked in the driveway. He gazed upon a short, grey haired man standing in front of him holding a briefcase.

I’m so sorry to bother you but I’m looking for a man by the name of Victor Christenson, is he here? the man said, shaking in the cold wind.

I’m Victor, he said as he stepped around Max. How can I help you?

A man at the police department by the name of Sgt. Ty Cooper said you can help me; my daughter was taken from me when she was young.

Come in out of the storm, Victor said as Max opened the door wider.

I’m sorry, I didn’t introduce myself. My name is Greyson, he said as he stepped in the doorway. Greyson was dressed in a blue suit, white shirt, black tie, and black framed glasses.

Let’s head to my office and you can tell us everything, Victor said softly as he turned toward the stairs.

Can I offer you some coffee or tea to warm you up? Max asked as they walked up the stairs to Victor’s office.

Yes, please, some coffee would be nice.

Max headed off to the kitchen as Victor and Greyson stepped into the office. As Victor walked passed his desk, he motioned for Greyson to sit. Have a seat. How can I help you?

Like I said, I need your help to find my daughter. She was taken from me, when she was young, by the company I work for, Greyson exclaimed as he sat in one of the chairs in front of the desk. He reached into the briefcase he was holding and brought out a file, handing it to Victor. I have searched for her for years and have come up with nothing.

Victor looked over the file as Greyson explained what happened all those years ago.

When the company I work for found out that Alex had powers, they came to me wanting to run tests on her. Greyson continued, I explained to them that I was not going to let them experiment on her and was not going to allow them to turn her into one of their test subjects. That was when they forced themselves into my home and took her. They made sure I was working double shifts at the lab that day.

Victor looked at Greyson and said, Looks like you have done a lot of research on the company you work for. What kind of powers does your daughter have?

When they first appeared, it was telepathy-the ability to read minds, then came telekinesis-she could move objects with her mind. She was only seven when they took her.

Victor glanced back at the file as Max walked in with three cups of coffee. Here you go, this will warm you up.

Thank you, Greyson said, taking the cup from Max, holding it in his hands trying to warm his cold, tingling fingers.

No problem, replied Max.

Flipping the page, Victor said, Max, this girl needs our help. She has been taken from Mr. Greyson here when she was a young girl. By my calculations, she would be in her early twenties now.

Any leads? Max asked, blowing into the cup.

Well, from what I can gather, the company is called Bio-Tech Labs. What Mr. Greyson has found on this company is not much to go on, Victor said as he handed Max the file. Max sat his coffee down on the long, oblong table next to him and opened the file. As he began to read, he felt a connection to this girl.

This says she has powers, what kind of powers? Max asked.

Telepathy and telekinesis as a young child, no telling what kind of powers she has now, Victor said.

At what ages did she start showing her powers? Max asked.

The telepathy started when she was three and the telekinesis developed when she was around five, so just a few years apart, Greyson said as he took a sip.

Victor looked at Max and said, Max, Ty Cooper sent him to us for a reason, he needs our help.

Ty Cooper was my old partner when I worked for the PD. He is a good man and he knows our situation, Max commented.

Well…. Looks like we need to get to work, Max said.

Mr. Greyson… We will do everything we can to find your daughter Alex, you have my word, Victor said as he stood up to shake his hand. Max will show you out.

Max led Mr. Greyson to the door. Mr. Greyson, I will do everything in my power to find your daughter and keep her safe.

Thank you, gentlemen, it means a lot to me to know I have the best men for the job looking for my baby girl.

Soon after Greyson left, Max and Victor started their search, looking over the file on Alex. In the file was a picture of a small girl, so young. Max asked, What could they possibly want with her? There are people all over the world with powers like hers. What makes her so special that they would want her that badly?

I do not know but whatever it is, it’s big. This file explains a little bit about her powers, even as a small child. I can only imagine how powerful they have become over time.

Confused, Max asked, What kind of people would take a child so young?

Looking at the notes, Victor said, I don’t know, but whatever the reason, it’s not good.

As the night drug on, Max studied many of the books on vampire lure, looking for something that could lead them in the right direction. Not finding much to go on, Max figured a fresh cup of coffee would do him and Victor some good.

He stood, with cup in hand, and asked, I’m going down to the kitchen for another cup, would you like some?

Victor looked up from the screen and replied, Yeah, I could go for a fresh cup. Max picked up Victors cup and headed out the door.

Victor sat at his computer searching the web for the corporation Bio-Tech Labs, looking through many websites for its location. Some websites led him to some crazy sites and others led him back to the same sites he had just visited.

Within minutes, Max made it back with the coffee. Leaning back in his chair, Victor took a sip of the steamy blackness that filled his cup. Max sat back down at the table, flipping slowly through the pages of a book called Europe’s Vampire: The Untold Story. Victor had recently acquired the book on his last trip to London.

It was around midnight when Victor stumbled across a link to the company that makes bio chemicals. Gazing over the site, he stumbled onto another link that took him in the back door of Bio-Tech Labs. The website had a lot of information on the company that was very interesting. The article on the page talked about a man by the name of Thomas York whom Victor has known for many years.

This is not what I wanted to find, Victor said as he was typing on his computer.

I have heard you mention that name before, Max said.

He was the vamp that made you who you are, Victor said as he glanced up from the screen.

If he has his hands in this company, there is no telling what they want Alex for, he said as he stood up from the desk and walked toward the bookshelf lined with old books from across the world. Not finding what he was looking for, Victor turned around, seeing Max holding the book in his hands.

Max asked, Looking for this?

Victor walked over and started flipping through the pages quickly. As he scrolled his fingers down the pages, he said, On the plane ride back, I had the time to read through this a little bit. Victor paused as his fingers stopped on a page. I found something in here I think will help us, he said as his fingers moved across the words.

Here it is… Listen to this, every two hundred years, when the blood moon is at its highest, only with a pure bloodline of Dracula, the son of Satan, can he be risen from the depths of Hell and Hell will rise with him.

Max sat up in the chair Do you think that is why they need Alex; could she be the bloodline they need?

Flipping to the next page, Victor said, I think so.

Well then, I guess we need to get busy, Max said.

Does it say, anywhere in there, where it would have to take place? he asked.

Scrolling through a few more pages, Victor replied, Not that I could find. But I think I might have an idea where we can find someone that might know.

Victor made a few calls on his cell. The last call was to an old friend named Jake, in Russia. They discussed what Victor had found and asked Jake if he knew anything. Jake agreed to help and meet up with Max when he arrived. When he hung up the phone, he said, Okay, it’s all set up. You will meet up with Jake at the airport in Moscow.

Max nodded and headed off to pack.

3

Chapter 3

The plane ride back from Russia was exhausting. Max had spent a week there hunting down clues, to where the resurrection of Dracula will take place, with the help from Jake. Jake had sat Max up with a few of his contacts, but he came up empty-handed. Max had known Jake for many years; he had helped Max and Victor on a few hunts in the past.

When Max arrived at Boston’s Logan International Airport, it was after one in the morning and the terminal was eerily empty apart from a few stragglers on the red-eye flights. After getting his bags at baggage claim, he headed for his car in the parking garage.

The garage was dimly lit, only casting a few shadows off in the distance. With only a few cars left in parking spots, Max made it to his car, opening the trunk and tossing his bags in then shutting the lid. As he stepped around the side of the car, he heard what sounded like metal clanking together. He turned to look, squinting his eyes trying to see in the darkness.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a dark figure, dressed in black, racing toward him at a high speed. Max braced himself for what was about to come. The vamp struck Max in the head, sending him against the car with such force it rocked the car. Max turned back, and with one hit, the vamp went flying backward, hitting the concrete wall, crumbling an indention where its body hit. Max walked over to the vamp as it laid knocked out on the ground. He gave the creature a nudge, making sure it was not going to get up any time soon. As he turned to walk back to his car, the vamp grabbed him from behind in a head lock. Max stepped back, throwing the vamp over his shoulder and onto the ground again.

Max stepped up to him and placed his boot on its neck and said, I would suggest you leave now and never show your face in this town again. Cause the next time, I will not show mercy.

Choking as Max’s boot pressed harder on its throat, it said, You’re a dead man when Thomas finds you.

Max pressed harder, pushing the vamps head to the side till he heard a snap. That was not going to kill the creature and Max knew this, but it would give him enough time to get out of there. He got in the car and headed out of the parking lot. He turned off Airport Drive and onto the feeder. As he made it onto the interstate, he soared down I-95 toward home.

Pulling into the driveway, the house stood surrounded by a few trees draping over the large backyard. Getting out of the car, Max walked into the house. He turned on a few lights and headed upstairs to his room to change clothes. The house Victor and Max lived in was an old Victorian-style two-story home with dark green drapes covering the windows.

The stairway led up to a balcony overlooking the sitting room with a fireplace. The balcony was like something out of a movie. The hand-crafted handrails on the stairs were breath-taking with gold hints in the creases. Pictures of various places from around the world−Paris, Rome, Germany, and London− hung on the wall; some in black and white and some color.

When Max finished changing clothes, he headed toward Victor’s office just down the hall. Walking into the office, Victor greeted him, How was your trip?

He gathered himself and walked in the room, It was good, Max said as he sat down at the old desk on the other side of the room.

On one side of the room was a bookshelf covering the entire wall lined with books from all over the world on vampire lore and mythical creatures. Over the years, Max had read these books several times and knew them inside and out.

On the other wall was a large map of Europe with tacks pin-pointing places of possible vamp hideouts he had already checked out. On each side of the map were pictures of missing people from the area and reports on their abductions. Victor had placed them there knowing they were victims or recruits of the vamps. His idea was that the vamps were creating an army for some ungodly reason.

While Max was in Russia, Victor kept looking into the myth that the king of all vampires, Dracula himself, could be risen from the dead. Victor had put the pieces together, all the sightings of the vamps and the location of where Dracula was barred and knew what the vamps were up to.

I found the location where they are setting up camp, right now they are in Bolivia. And if my calculations are correct, that is where we will find Dracula’s grave.

Max stood up and walked toward the bookshelf and grabbed the book he had read as a young man on black magic; one of the spells he came across was to wake the dead.

The spell read with two bloods of one bloodline fused together as one, one can raise the un-dead, and they figured the Greyson’s bloodline was the key. That’s why Thomas needed Alex so badly, but who did the other blood belong to? Who was the other Greyson descendant? Max walked back over to the table, sat down, and opened the book. He looked for the spell, If I could find this spell then so could the vamps.

Victor walked over to the table and sat down next to Max. I’m sure they already have, Victor said.

Sitting back in his chair, Max opened the file with the name Alexandra Greyson on the tab; inside was a picture of a beautiful woman in her twenties, long blond hair, and blue eyes. This is new. Where did you find this? Max asked.

A truly remarkable looking woman, Max thought to himself, wishing he could find his soulmate. But that was just a wish for now, he had a lot to do.

As I researched the lab, I found that file on her through their files, meaning I hacked their servers, Victor exclaimed.

With a smile on his face, Max replied, "I didn’t know you had