A Drop of Blood: Ashuan, #1.5

By Janna Ruth

Magic, Vampires & Family Drama

 

Since arriving in Greenvalley, Lucille has made new friends, discovered she's a witch, and started hunting monsters. Her life seems perfect, apart from the occasional life-and-death situation. But there's one thing she's sorely missing: her father's affection.

When a vampire coven takes up residence in the crypts of Greenvalley Cemetery, Lucille and her friends take up the fight. However, everything changes when she encounters the charming Count Artorius and his daughter Isabelle. Despite being undead, his coven offers more love and affection than Lucille's father ever had. Lucille yearns to join his coven, but to do so, she must die.

A Drop of Blood is a bonus adventure in the action-packed YA urban fantasy series, Ashuan Greed. It takes place between part 3 and 4 of A Drop of Magic, but can be read as a standalone. Grab this free adventure filled with danger, longing, and the search for one's true identity today.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Janna Ruth
• Release date: Dec 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9781738616046

Book preview

A Drop of Blood

An Ashuan Greed Bonus Adventure

Janna Ruth

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First published in New Zealand in 2022

Copyright © 2023 by Janna Ruth

www.janna-ruth.com

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher or author. Except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

ISBN-13: 978-1-7386160-4-6

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A note about sensitive topics

There is a lot of magic and vampires in this book, but the teenagers at the core of this story are just that: they are teenagers. And as such they deal with a number of very real issues on top of the magical ones.

If you don’t like spoilers and you’re cool with anything, skip this note and start the book. If you like to be prepared, keep reading. I’m writing this because reading should be fun, not a bad surprise.

While this series starts out as a YA fantasy, there are mentions of sex and alcohol. There will be no graphic sex scenes. You will, however, encounter teenagers and adults drinking alcohol. As a note, the age of drinking beer and wine without adult supervision in Germany is 16. For drinking spirits and cocktails, it is 18. In this book, all of the main characters apart from Jan are 17. Jan is already 19.

As fun as it sounds, hunting monsters and wielding magic is dangerous. In this book in particular, you will encounter vampires, and thus, a lot of blood. One main character will get badly hurt and go to hospital. These vampires aren't playing!

Last but not least, the theme of this bonus adventure is parental neglect. Lucille in particular suffers from a crisis in this matter.

The characters live in a dangerous world, but it’s also beautiful. For every dark spot, there will be light and humour. And of course magic. Lots and lots of magic.

Enjoy!

Love, Janna

P.S.: This adventure takes place between part 3 and 4 of A Drop of Magic (Ashuan Greed 1). It includes no spoilers for the main series.

Lucille

Run, Lucille, run!

Of course, now that her life was in immediate danger, it all depended on her non-existent running ability. Her side had been hurting from the moment she kicked off, barely keeping her distance from the man behind her. Less than ten minutes ago, they’d been enjoying a drink. He’d been nice to begin with, but there was nothing even remotely pleasant about the leering smile on his face or the protruding fangs poking out from his lips as he followed her.

A scream tore from Lucille’s lips as her heel stuck between the cobblestones. As it snapped off, she fell hard enough on her knee to draw blood. Behind her, she could hear her pursuer suck in air through his nose, as if it brought him a delectable scent.

Lucille scrambled back to her feet, hobbling on one heel. Safety was just around the corner. Just a little bit more.

But the vampire was faster. Just as she thought she was gaining again, he flashed forward and grabbed her from behind. Her back slammed into his hard chest, knocking the breath out of her lungs. He buried his hand in her hair and pulled her head back.

Come on.

It was almost as if she could feel the vein in her neck pulsating as he studied it. Lucille bit her lip as she tried to get a grip on him, but her position proved too awkward.

He drew back his head with a snarl, his fangs extending even further, ready to bite into her flesh. Then he turned to dust.

Lucille screamed and flailed her arms as the lack of body supporting her caught her off balance. Her stumble was short-lived, and she ended up in the arms of another man. Though man was perhaps too much for someone who’d just turned eighteen.

She glared at her wannabe-saviour. You couldn’t have arrived a little earlier?

Jan rolled his eyes and let go of her. How fast do you think we are?

Lucille stumbled backwards but managed to catch herself. She drew in a deep breath and bent down to pluck off her shoes.

Vampires are fast! the second boy, Fabian, complained. Despite being the tallest of the three, he sounded the most scared.

Well, I’m not. Next time, you run. She threw her shoes at Jan’s chest. This pair is ruined.

Jan managed to catch them awkwardly but dropped the stake he was twirling. How is it our fault that you decided to wear heels on a vampire hunt?

Well, am I supposed to attract them in heavy boots? Lucille clicked her tongue. Anyway, I’m done playing the damsel in distress. The next vampire we spot is yours to lure away.

I actually hope that was the last one. Fabian whimpered. I mean, what’s going on in Greenvalley? There have never been this many vampires or any, really.

That you’ve known of, Jan said with gusto. All right, shall we do another run?

Lucille plucked her shoes out of his arms. Not for me. I’m done.

Me too, Fabian hurried to say. We’ve got school tomorrow, and my mum’s gonna kill me if I’m not home in fifteen minutes.

Jan rolled his eyes and shook his head. You two are no fun.

"I’ll be fun when I no longer have to play bait for our