Literary Lunes Magazine, October Issue
Page 2
Fate and Fangs
Behind the Scenes with Kristin Battestella
The void around her was dark, thick with blackness that no human eye can penetrate. The bell tolled, and Lilith stood in the echoing abyss alone. One solitary funnel of light rained down upon her long, golden ringlets and charred white gown. On earth, she had charm with illuminating, manipulative grace. Her cascading tresses were always perfect and her frock flowing with effortless deception.
But here…Here Lilith was in shambles, her enchantment at last broken. The decadent gown—once so satin and lavish—now ripped, frayed, and scorched from the magical fires she cast so carelessly. Straggling, stringy hair fell upon her faded and ugly green eyes, and her shaking hand pushed the clumped locks aside. She had always been pale, but Lilith was no longer beautiful. Her porcelain look was completely devoid of color, and its sickly white hue a striking blight against the darkness. She could not see me in the void, but nonetheless she knew something foul and punishing was there. Lilith cried out to the abyss.
"Hello?"
That's a little welcome from Punishment: Lilith's Trials, Book 2 in my FATE and FANGS: Tales from the Vampire Family series happening this very instant with Muse It Up Publishing! We began in August with Love: Ann in the Viking and will continue the vampy excesses- both high and low- in Struggle, Debauchery, Lust, Humanity, and Resurrection.
Professor James opens his Welshire Coven vault and presents the earliest manuscript from the fantastical archive, but the 13th century was not a happy time for scorned vampire mistress Ann. She leaves the then young Vampire Family and its cheating patriarch Antonio Welshire behind to travel across Britain in search of, well, she doesn’t know what. Desire? Belonging? When Ann encounters a handsome and wayward Viking named Eric, however, her dead heart is rekindled. Can Ann accept her true vampiric nature or will her dark desires conflict with her Nordic lover and their high seas adventure?
In Professor James’ second tale, we share in the pain, suffering, and torment of the Welshire Vampire Family’s beautiful but deadly rival Lilith. Her mysterious, vile nature and fantastical abuses are put on trial as the demonic advocate Mestiphles plays judge, jury, and executioner from his wicked Void of darkness and pain. Is it wrong to delight in the just, even deserving torture Lilith receives? Will she learn and apply the cruel lesson Mestiphles teaches?
Seeking solace and solitude from her unhappy home life as the unloved wife of Antonio, Elizabeth travels to colonial America in Professor James’ third account. On the outskirts of the whiteman’s civilization, Elizabeth meets Rain, a young Kiowa warrior on a vision quest. Will his lack of fear, search for answers, and gripping hothouse experience help her face those very vampire truths she sought to escape?
FATE and FANGS is not today's day glow creatures of the night, oh no. The characters here originated in my 2008 novel The Vampire Family, currently in paperback with Eternal Press. In between that action coven war fest and my currently in progress final full length novel, I wanted to take the time here and get into each of these players and their core vampiric themes. Why do some love the evening decadence while others never recover from the innocence lost? More importantly, what do these truths say about us? Seriously, ask yourself. Which would you choose? FATE....or FANGS?
Join Welshire Occult expert PROFESSOR A. JAMES, read his Tales from the Vampire Family and delight in your favorite toothy vampire! Shall you pleasure ANN, the scorned mistress aided by her lover ERIC or the beautiful, evil, and deadly Welshire enemy LILITH?
But what of ELIZABETH, the unloved wife supported by RAIN, a fearless Kiowa warrior or her debutant daughter VICTORIA, the favorite of father ANTONIO? Ladies, moody and melodramatic rival brothers JAMES and GASTON are vying for your attention! Can sister SAMANTHA keep them from each other's throats? Of course, we can't forget STEPHANIE- the alluring doctor straddles the line between Welshire and Lilithan covens. And what of the mysterious MESTIPHLES who seemingly supports veins on both sides?
Sink your teeth into the seven testaments as told by Professor A. James: Love, Punishment, Struggle, Debauchery, Lust, Humanity, Resurrection. Stay up all evening with these night owls as they pine away at their virtual vampy headquarters or one and all fellow nocturnal ingénues can join our ongoing 'Punishment Party' at any of your preferred locations
http/vampfam.blogspot.com
http/jsnouff.com/kristin
http/kristin724.livejournal.com
http/www.facebook.com/pages/The-Vampire-Family/157922293588
http/www.myspace.com/kristinbattestella
http/groups.yahoo.com/group/kristinbattestella
In this haunting world, two things will always bind a vampire: FATE AND FANGS!
Fans of good old fashioned but not too wholesome vampire torment can eat up their very own copy of Punishment in ebook formats or kindle for the sweet serial price of 99 cents!
Book 1 of FATE and FANGS, Love: Ann and the Viking is also available at several online stores for your $2.50 delight!
Look for our third testimony, Struggle: Elizabeth in America this October! Here's a sneak peak!
“The Spirit is both man and animal. You are both woman and the wolf, unsure of the light and the dark.”
“Do you not fear the wolf?
“It is you who fears the wolf. The woman is the light and the wolf is the darkness. We will release the wolf and free The Spirit.”
Oddly enough, I found there was a logic to his beliefs. Did the people here discover some sort of balance between nature and civilization, good and evil? If I didn’t know better, I might think he spoke of a vampire already! Was there another here like our kind? I wouldn’t put it past our maker Mestiphles or his henchwoman Lilith to feast upon these people.
“How can the Spirit release the wolf?”
“My forefather told of my coming in the great storm at the big river’s crossing. He said I would live long, see many moons, but never grow old. So I wait for her. The Spirit will answer all.....”
Kristin