Snow Blood: Season 5: A Vampire Mystery Thriller, #5

By Carol McKibben

Snow Blood Season 5 Brings the Adventures of Brogio, the First Vampire, and His Family to an End.

A devastating loss sets Snow Blood and his vampire family on a path to revenge. Determined to use whatever means necessary, Brogio's kindred dog risks the endangerment and potential destruction of all he loves and most especially the love of his master's life, Selene. Only a surprising intervention can save them from a tragic destiny as the mythological gods unite to destroy them.

As this beloved vampire series draws to a close with Season 5, discover the true fate that awaits Brogio and his loved ones.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Troll River Publications
• Release date: Jul 10, 2019
• ISBN: 9781946454232

Carol McKibben

Carol McKibben was a magazine publisher for 20+ years. She has published Luke’s Tale, Riding Through It and the Snow Blood Vampire Mystery Thriller Series. Luke’s Tale and Snow Blood are targeted to a YA market. Luke’s Tale was included in the Summer Solstice Top 12 Book Pick List. Carol writes from the heart of a dog’s eyes. Her books help support her dog rescue efforts and focus on unconditional love.  Carol, her labradoodle Neo, lab Thor and Siberian Husky Ty are currently working on new adventures. Go to http://www.carolmckibben.com or email [e-mail].

Book preview

Snow Blood

A Vampire Mystery Thriller Season 5

––––––––

Carol McKibben

Snow Blood Season 5 Brings the Adventures of Brogio, the First Vampire, and His Family to an End.

A devastating loss sets Snow Blood and his vampire family on a path to revenge. Determined to use whatever means necessary, Brogio’s kindred dog risks the endangerment and potential destruction of all he loves and most especially the love of his master’s life, Selene. Only a surprising intervention can save them from a tragic destiny as the mythological gods unite to destroy them.

As this beloved vampire series draws to a close with Season 5, discover the true fate that awaits Brogio and his loved ones.

www.trollriverpub.com

Snow Blood

A Vampire Mystery Thriller (Season 5)

Copyright © 2017 Carol McKibben

ISBN: 978-1-946454-23-2

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted, with the exception of a reviewer who may quote passages in a review, without written prior permission from the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, events, incidents and places are of the author’s imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.

Episode One

The Plan

Scrawny’s true death wrapped its cold, cruel fingers around me. Its grip remained relentless. How could I ever recover from the loss of my child? Even though I was surrounded by death and existed as an undead being, I had never experienced it like this. Each wolf that I had sired was a cherished family member.

I reflected on Brogio’s wisdom. My own sire and father of all vampires advised, The reality, Snow Blood, is that you will grieve forever. You will not get over it. You will only learn to live with it. You will heal and rebuild yourself around your loss. You will be whole again, but never the same. You should not be, nor should you want to be.

I looked into Nova’s blue eyes. She had stayed close to me in the days following Scrawny’s murder. My mate did everything she could to surround me with her warmth, even in her own sorrow. As we walked through the melting snow of a Nova Scotia morning on Brogio’s Wolfville Wine Estate, she nipped at my ear and ran out ahead of me, challenging me to chase her. She shook her gray-and-white fur seductively and put her front paws and face in the snow, her hind end stuck up, her tail wagging. I ignored her effort and looked up at the sky. The desire for revenge sliced through me like a silver arrow, deadly to my kind.

I would kill the one who had brought my family nothing but pain and despair. The Titan Hecate, goddess of all witches, would suffer as no other. She alone held the responsibility for my greatest loss. She had murdered Scrawny with pure malice. My family and I had once again thwarted her plans to spread evil throughout the world, and I had escaped her attempt to make me her familiar. She had executed her punishment for it.

I watched the sky and waited impatiently for darkness to overcome the light. My remaining pack—Nova, Chase, Fergus, Thor, Gaspar, and Joker—had the gift of daylight, bestowed on me by the goddess Artemis. We used that attribute to guard our human family—Brogio, his wife, Selene, and his first blood son, Kane. When night fell, they would arise, and I could discuss revenge with them.

I am a vampire dog. More than five years ago, I lay dying, accidentally hit by Brogio’s car. He turned me to save me. In this undead state, I have lived lifetimes and fought endless enemies to protect both my human and wolf families. I created my wolf kindred to help defend against the selfish gods, numerous vampire hunters and monsters, and finally Hecate. Scrawny, my second-in-command, held a special place in my heart. His hard-fought love and devotion had given me strength. That had to be defended.

Nova trotted back to me and nudged my face with her snout. I placed my right front paw on her neck and pushed her to the ground. She wiggled out from under it and scooted circles around me. Joker soon joined in her play, jumping on her back and knocking her over. She scrambled up and snarled at him. Poor Joker. He often tried to join in when he wasn’t welcome. Chase, Thor, Gaspar, and Fergus soon united with us.

I scratched at the slush under my feet and plopped down in it, determined to wait out the day. The others snorted and surrounded me, grunting as they sat and then succumbed to my wishes, stretching out and dozing around me. Since it was the seventh day, my pack had no need to hide from the winery workers, who had Sundays off. I watched for hours as the sun moved across the sky until it set.

Everyone stirred when they heard the crunch of Kane’s footsteps in the melting ice. He stopped, and his six-foot-five frame loomed over me. He pushed back a strand of long, dark brown hair as he squatted down.

Words were not spoken. Telepathy was our language of choice. Brogio, Selene, and I have sensed your anguish all day. Come inside, and let’s talk. He stood and marched to the estate house, and the rest of us followed.

The seven-foot frame of the entryway lingered open invitingly as we crossed the threshold. Our nails clicked on the marble foyer that opened into the elegant den. The six-foot-tall fireplace blazed with sweet-smelling wood and chestnuts that silent, black-clad servants had heaped upon the coals. Winter or summer, the fireplace remained active only because Brogio liked to watch the flames.

The den was a mahogany masterpiece with its wide plank floors, rich blue and maroon tapestry rugs, plush maroon overstuffed chairs, and priceless artwork that Brogio had collected from around the world. A crystal and mahogany bar to the left of the fireplace always held Brogio’s most expensive vintages from his multiple vineyards, and my family drank red wine as liberally as they enjoyed human blood from the Wolfville Blood Bank or the blood of the animal prey from the woods.

Kane stood at the bar, pouring out three crystal goblets of human blood to break their fast. I couldn’t help but drool from the smell of it. Selene’s voice tinkled in my brain from the kitchen. Snow Blood, bring your family in here. I have a treat. Your favorite O Neg from the blood bank.

We padded into the kitchen just as she and Brogio set down the seven white porcelain bowls containing the delicious nectar. We instantly lapped it up and let the euphoria overtake us as we lolled on the black Italian marble kitchen floor.

After a brief respite, I leaped to my feet and trotted into the den to where Kane sat draining his glass of blood. Selene rested on Brogio’s lap in the overstuffed chair across from him.

I took a moment to admire the two of them. They were stunning. Both had long silver-white hair but were young in appearance. Brogio’s violet eyes smoldered as he looked into Selene’s pure ice-blue orbs. His six-foot-eight, black-clad frame dwarfed her almost six-foot, slender body. She wore a silver sweater and matching silver leather pants and boots. He adoringly rubbed her shoulder. I had never observed two beings more in love.

Kane leaned