Heart Of Love, Heart Of Darkness: The Vampire, #1

By Lee Cushing

Blood. Tears. And the endless screams for mercy. These visions haunted her after every attack, but it didn't matter. None of it mattered until she could find her. 
Staci Morgan's life shattered the moment her daughter was abducted. Now, frantic and devastated, Staci somehow finds that she has become a suspect for her daughter's own kidnapping. Frustrated by the police's lack of answers, Staci knows that she has to do something. But when help comes from someone unexpected after a one night stand with a stranger, she finds herself possessed with a power and bloodlust almost uncontrollable. She didn't want to believe it, but after her first kill, Staci has no choice to accept that she has been turned into a vampire. 
While she's overwhelmed with the intense desire to feed and struggling to uncover the truth about her daughter's whereabouts, will Staci be able to find any clues about her daughter?
 Or will her new life as a vampire drag her into impenetrable darkness? 
Two weeks ago, if someone had told Nick vampires were real, he would have laughed at him. But then he found his former student, Staci, feasting on his wife, and everything changed. They were real, and Staci had to be stopped before she claimed more innocent victims.
When Nick joins forces with vampire hunters, will he have what it takes to track and stop Staci? Or will they discover that sometimes death is a mercy for those guilty of heinous crimes? 

Find out the answers to these questions in the thrilling Heart of Love, Heart of Darkness! 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lee Cushing
• Release date: Dec 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393422631

Lee Cushing

Lee Cushing is a paranormal thriller author and a lifelong fan of the occult. Having become obsessed with supernatural folklore and the world of horror from an early age, Lee has spent years studying tales of the occult and immersing himself in stories of otherworldly phenomenon. He’s also the owner of a number of vampire and horror-related groups in Facebook, where fellow fans of the supernatural come together to celebrate and discuss all things paranormal.  His debut novel, Voodoo Mambo, blends high-stakes action and shadowy agencies with a dark underworld of demonic creatures and their insidious plots to attack humanity. Lee draws his inspiration from classic horror movies – including Hammer and Universal – as well as beloved TV shows including Doctor Who, Supernatural, The Avengers, and Buffy The Vampire Slayer. 

Book preview

Chapter One

Struggling to get past the cameras that were being shoved in her face as she left the police station after another session of questions that she could not answer, Staci Morgan fought hard to keep back the tears that were threatening to gush forth.

She squeezed through the mass of journalists that have been harassing for weeks now, hurrying toward her car with the crowd following her. Fumbling for the keys to the door, she unlocked it and scrambled inside as the car was surrounded by the press screaming at her for answers.

Folding her arms across the steering wheel, she buried her head against them, losing the struggle to hold back the tears. The last couple of weeks had been a total nightmare, the constant barrage of questions by the police, the press watching her every move, the ‘I know what you did’ stares from people who used to be her friends.

Eventually looking back up and wiping the tears with the sleeve of her jacket, Staci watched the crowd dispersing to head to their cars, presumably to try to set up their surveillance on her flat. Turning on the ignition, she negotiated her way out of the car park.

––––––––

Parking on the street outside the small hotel where she had been hiding out since this nightmare had begun, Staci climbed out, glancing up and down the quiet street to check that none of the reporters had managed to follow her from the police station.

Staci rushed past the iron gate and disappeared inside. Passing the small lounge, she grasped the room key at the bottom of her jacket pocket.

Folding the paper as he saw her walk past the door, James Patrick dropped it on the coffee table as he got up to follow her. Stopping at the doorway, he saw her halfway up the stairs. Cleo Love?

She halted, nervous about looking back. That’s my professional name.

Patrick advanced to the bottom of the stairs, I’m James Patrick, with the...

Staci walked back down towards him, I know who you are. What was it? Porn slut kills daughter. Wasn’t that the headline in that paper you work for?

He refused to look straight at her, It sells papers. Patrick looked up, You claim that your daughter was snatched from your flat while you were sleeping in the next room. There was no sign of any forced entry and you expect anyone to assume anything different.

Staci slammed him against the wall, That’s what happened. If you don’t want to believe me, you can bugger off.

Patrick took a step back, I’m just interested in your side of what happened?

Staci glared at him, I’ll tell you the same thing I’ve been telling the police every week for the last month. I got up in the morning and Katie Lyn was gone. That’s all I know.

Patrick backed further away, watching her. You didn’t hear a thing the night you claim that your daughter was abducted? That is a little hard to swallow.

Using her anger at his accusation to hold back the tears, Staci watched him leave before collapsing on the stairs, burying her face in her hands as the tears began to flow.

Chapter Two

Bringing her car to a stop beneath the glare from a streetlight, Staci turned off the ignition and climbed out.

Walking past the gate and entering the church grounds, she made her way around the building, following the path towards the house at the side.

Approaching the door, Staci reached out to ring the bell when it was opened before her finger touched the button. She looked at Robert Ames, wiping the tears from her face. I need to talk to someone.

Robert remained standing in the doorway.

She looked at him, Can’t I come in?

No. Robert stared at her for a moment, Stay there.

Confused, Staci watched him close the door and remained standing on the path until he returned to open the door.

Robert threw several DVDs down at her feet, A wicked whore like you isn’t welcome in my house.

Staci’s hand went to the cross hanging from her neck, You don’t understand. I had no choice, I had to pay the bills.

Robert stepped down, kicking the DVDs towards her. Take that filth and leave.

The tears streaming down her face unrelenting. she scrambled to recover the DVDS scattered over the path.  She took one last look at Robert’s staring eyes. Straightening up, she took several steps back before turning away.

Rushing back through the gate, she glanced back to see Robert closing the door. Pausing by a grid at the edge of the road, she looked down, clutching the cross with her hand.

Tightening her grip on the cross, she lifted the chain over her head and let it dangle over the grid. She hesitated for a moment and let it fall.

––––––––

Closing the door, Robert leaned against it, closing his eyes.

That wasn’t too bad, was it?

Robert glanced at the man standing at the top of the stairs. I did what you wanted. Now you do what you promised and leave my family alone.

Phillippe Daguerre descended towards him, a strong trace of a french accent in his voice.  I do believe you made the poor girl cry. It was a delightful performance, but it really is a shame that she was unable to appreciate it.

Robert reached for the handle to the front door, Get out of my house.

Daguerre smiled, Don’t be so rude, your inhospitality may cause me to reconsider my position concerning your son and that little accident that he had. I understand that the girl’s parents are offering a decent enough reward for information leading to the individual responsible for her death.

Robert withdrew his hand, Please don’t.

Daguerre walked up to him, Well, that seems more reasonable. After all, you and your delightful wife committed certain naughty deeds to help cover up for your son.

Robert remained silently staring at Daguerre.

Lashing out, Daguerre grabbed Robert by the throat and twisted until he heard his neck snap. Letting the corpse fall at the base of the stairs, he smiled and glanced at the closed door leading to the kitchen.

Taking his time approaching the closed door, Daguerre pushed it open and focused on Robert’s wife tied to a chair. He leaned against the kitchen counter, glancing at the expression on her face. Robert will not be joining us. He glanced back along the hallway towards the body, He’s suffering from a slight case of a broken neck.

Her eyes widened as she realised what Daguerre was talking about.

Now for one of life's little pleasures.  Daguerre leaned closer to her, I hope you like screaming. You’ll be doing a lot of it until I get bored playing with you.

Chapter Three

Slowing her car the moment she saw the mass of journalists swarming outside the hotel where she had been staying. Turning into the car park outside the pub on the street corner, she parked her car and climbed out, hurrying inside.

Ordering a pint of beer from the bar, Staci headed to a solitary table hidden away in a darkly lit corner. As she took her first sip, she focused on a man sat on a stool at the bar watching her with interest.

––––––––

Staci woke to the feel of the silk sheets covering her body. Feeling him move slightly next to her, she glanced at the man who had been watching her in the pub, the taste of him lingering in her mouth.

Her mind still hazy from the half dozen beers she had at the pub, she glimpsed at the few used condoms on the thick bedroom carpet. Looking at the alarm clock on the other side of the bed, she saw that it was almost two in the morning. Managing to slither out of the bed without waking him, Staci took a few minutes to locate all of her clothing.

Trying to stay silent as she left the bedroom and made her way to the front door of the small flat. Quietly unlatching the door, she felt the chill of the night air rush inside and stepped outside, closing the door behind her.

She wrapped her coat around her to attempt to keep warm, hurrying up the stone steps onto the street.

Reaching the door to the hotel after a few minutes of walking, she entered and hurried up the stairs to the room that she was renting. She stopped with the key halfway into the lock at the feeling of someone standing behind her.

She stared at Daguerre’s smiling face. Do you have a problem?

Daguerre reached past her and opened the door to her room, smiling pleasantly. I believe I may have an offer which may tempt you.

Chapter Four

Nick Harding locked the door to the classroom, dropping the keys into the pocket of his jacket. Heading along the passage, he continued past the