Vampire
Hunter
Rammel
Hawking
Book
One
Victoria
Danann
Genre:
Paranormal Romance
Publisher:
7th House
Date
of Publication: January 18, 2016
ISBN:
ASIN:
Number
of pages: 428
Word
Count: 97k
Cover
Artist: Victoria Danann
Book
Description:
Ram’s
book is partly My Familiar Stranger retold from his unique point of
view with chapter insights from other significant characters. The
story begins the first time he runs away to the New Forest at age
ten, follows his recruitment by Black Swan along with his training to
be a vampire hunter, and tells the story of the death of his first
partner.
Set
in the world of the Knights of Black Swan.
Excerpt:
Lan
(narrated by Ram’s first partner, Sir Lansdowne)
I
had finished my education and chosen to sign on with Black Swan. The
ink wasn’t dry on the paper before I was out the door. First
assignment was Grunewald, the unit that serviced Berlin. It was close
enough by whister to patrol, but far enough away to be secluded. The
building was a renovation, or adaptation really, of an eighteenth
century grand house, set in the middle of a forest preserve that was
off limits to anyone not Black Swan.
I
had seen a lot of the world by then, but had never been to Berlin. I
knew why we had a unit there. Because wherever you find prevalent
nightlife, you find active nests of vampire. I didn’t have any
personal experience with leeches at that time. But you don’t have
to experience a thing personally to believe people when they tell you
it’s nasty.
I
had never heard anything about vampire until six months ago. They
trained our minds and bodies to be precision instruments and
occasionally said something vague about protecting the innocent. But
crap on a croissant. We had no idea we were preparing to be the only
barrier between humanity and monsters that turned out to be real. Our
story when we met civilian juvies was that we were in military
school. Hel. Close enough. Right?
Anyway,
six months ago they clued me in. There are vampire out there. I had
two choices when I turned eighteen. I could sign on as a vampire
hunter or go home and keep my mouth shut about everything I’d
learned. I was told that, if I chose the first option, I’d find
that my training hadn’t even begun. I didn’t believe that. I mean
how much harder could it be? Really.
They
said they took the mouth shut part of option two very seriously. No
threat was spelled out, but it was certainly implied. I had six
months to decide. So. Sure. I thought about it. A lot.
The
day before I turned eighteen I still hadn’t decided. I returned to
quarters around ten o’clock, closed the door, switched on the light
and nearly jumped out of my skin.
My
uncle was sitting there in the dark waiting like some creeper from a
film noir movie. He laughed when I jumped.
“Right.
Real funny. What are you doing in this part of the world?”
His
smile slowly faded away. “Sit. I want to say something.”
Uncle
Al wasn’t the sort of guy you said no to. I sat in the chair
closest to the sofa where he’d parked his overbearing ass. He
didn’t speak at first, just stared at me, and I have to tell you it
took every bit of the self-discipline I’d learned to keep from
squirming under that kind of scrutiny. But I knew it was some kind of
test. I was supposed to be patient and wait it out. So I did.
“You’re
going to be eighteen tomorrow.”
I
smirked. “So I hear.”
He
nodded. “Are you decided?”
I
looked away. “Honestly? No. I’ve been hoping for a sign.”
“A
sign, huh?”
My
uncle didn’t seem to think that was a reliable approach to decision
making.
“Well,
I don’t know what kind of sign you’re expecting. I thought I’d
stop by. Won’t be here tomorrow. So happy birthday.”
“Thanks.”
I
stood when he got up to leave. He turned toward the door, but turned
back like he’d forgotten something. I could almost see him mentally
patting his pockets.
“Anything
you want to ask me?”
I
wouldn’t have thought so, but since he put it that way. There was
something.
“I
guess it’s clear what choice you made. Any regrets?”
He
grinned. It was a thing so rare I couldn’t think if I’d ever seen
him look pleased before.
“A
good question for a seventeen-year-old.”
“Almost
eighteen.”
“Indeed.”
He nodded. “The answer is no. Not one. Hope that helps.”
I
thought about it for a second. “Would you feel the same way if you
died tomorrow?”
His
grin got even bigger. “Definitely.”
With
that he left without looking back and, in fact, it did help.
Immensely.
Teachers
are known to go on every year about how you’d better get ready
because the next year is going to be so much harder. But it never is.
It’s always the same thing. So when I signed on to Black Swan for
life and they told me it was about to get real, I just smirked on the
inside and thought, “Yeah. Yeah. I’ve heard it before.”
Looking
back now I could slap my little bratty self for acting like a punk.
Even if I kept it on the inside. For once the future of dread hadn’t
been overstated. It had been understated.
The
next four years were rigorous enough to make the first five look like
a glide on a paddle board over a smooth-as-glass lake. Naturally,
once we understood that we were going to be vampire hunters, and what
that meant, we began to pay attention in earnest. But here’s the
bare truth of that. Nothin’ they can do or say can truly prepare
you for what it feels like the first time you are face to face with a
pale-eyed leech who wants to rip you apart with virus-dripping fangs.
My
internship was mostly served as backup to the Grunewald Unit knights.
I went to Brazil for a few months and did an awful rotation in
Central America looking for Chupacabra. Ew. Things give me willies
when I think about them. Yeah. They’re even worse than vampire.
I
was always sent back to Berlin though. Like it was home base. That
was okay with me. There was a lot of action and the Grunewald knights
were good solid teachers. They taught me about slaying vampire and
they taught me about camaraderie.
Then,
of course, there were German girls. I mean, you’ve gotta love girls
who have beer with breakfast. Right?
It
was a good place to pay my dues and hone my skills.
Three
years later, I was told that I was being sent to Jefferson Unit.
Rumor had it that I was going to be a vampire slayer in New York, New
York.
I
wasn’t very impressed when the jeep stopped in front of J.U. It was
the farthest thing from Grunewald Castle. A plain brick building with
not a single window showing. Looked more like a prison than a Black
Swan facility.
Don’t
get me wrong. I don’t require frills to complete me. It was just an
observation. I stopped at the intercom.
“Knock.
Knock.”
“Who’s
there?”
“Landsdowne.”
“Just
a minute.”
I
heard the buzzer and pushed on the door. My first thought was that
there was an awful lot of activity for a place that looked so quiet
on the outside. I hoisted my duffel up higher on my shoulder and
stopped a kid going by.
“Sovereign’s
office?”
“Down
one level and turn right.”
I
nodded my thanks and headed toward the elevators. The central area
was impressive with its three-story ceiling, modern gleam and polish.
The place looked like a prison from the front, but once inside it was
open and light with a view to what appeared to be a park on the other
side of tall windows.
When
the elevator opened, I checked to make sure the down arrow was lit,
stepped inside and pushed S1. A couple of girls, well, young women I
guess you’d say, got in after me in workout clothes. One of them
looked me over, taking in the duffel, “Transferring in?”
“Yeah.”
She
smiled. “I’m Ellsbeth. I work in medical.” The elevator opened.
When I realized they weren’t getting off, I finally got the hint
and exited. “See you around.”
The
sovereign’s office wasn’t hard to find. The reception area was
glass to the hallway, but I checked the plaque just to be sure. Sol
Nemamiah, Sovereign.
There
was a kid at the desk, young enough to be a student. He looked up
when I walked in and dropped my duffel.
“Transfer
from Berlin,” I said.
“Go
on in.” He pointed to a closed door.
I
opened the door, hoping the instruction wasn’t a new-guy-hazing
prank.
The
first thing I saw was a mess of blond hair. I knew he was an elf
because he had some of that hair tucked behind the ears. I guess he
could have been fae, but I didn’t know of any fae knights.
When
he turned around, I had three thoughts. That he was just about my
age. That his eyes sparkled with elf mischief. And that the only word
to describe him was beautiful.
Now
don’t get me wrong. I have a strong preference for the opposite sex
and don’t usually think about whether other guys are attractive or
not. But this elf had it going and I would have had to be blind to
not notice.
I
looked past him to the man behind the desk. You could tell it was the
Sovereign by the way his jaw seemed permanently clenched. He pointed
at the elf. “Rammel Aelshelm Hawking, meet Basil Rathbone
Landsdowne.”
The
elf stuck out his hand. I took it and shook. That’s when it
registered. I laughed and blurted out, “You’re P.P.”
“Excuse
me?” he said, with his brow knitting.
I
looked at the Sovereign and thought better of saying more. “I’ll
explain. Later.”
“You
two are getting a try out as partners, attached to B Team, starting,”
he looked at his monitor, “Thursday. Mr. Hawking, Mr. Landsdowne’s
quarters are next to yours. Show him the way.”
“Aye,”
said the elf as he moved toward the outer office. He held the door
open to the hall and gestured toward the elevator. “Welcome to worm
patrol.”
“Worm
patrol? Sounds like I should turn around and ask for reassignment.”
He
laughed. “I’ve been told that’s what they call rotation in the
Big Apple.”
“Oh.”
Once
inside he pushed the third floor button and leaned back against the
wall facing me. “So what was the peepee thing?”
I
grinned. “Not peepee! P. P. Your reputation is widely known.
Parties and pussy.”
He
cocked his head and gave a tiny smile. “’Tis what they say about
me?”
“Yeah,
man. It could be worse. They could be sayin’ you’re a limp dick
wanker who’s scared of girls.”
He
combined a grin with a sly look that I’d come to think of as Ram’s
trademark smile. “Spent a lot of time alone as a kid. I suppose
there was some pent-up party in me. Maybe I’ve over-compensated. I
would no’ want P.P. on my tombstone.”
About
the Author:
New
York Times and USA Today bestselling author of eleven romances.
Victoria's Knights of Black Swan series won BEST PARANORMAL ROMANCE
SERIES TWO YEARS IN A ROW. Reviewers Choice Awards, The Paranormal
Romance Guild.
Her
paranormal romances come with uniquely fresh perspectives on
"imaginary" creatures, characters, and themes. She adds a
dash of scifi, a flourish of fantasy, enough humor to make you laugh
out loud, and enough steam to make you squirm in your chair. Her
heroines are independent femmes with flaws and minds of their own
whether they are aliens, witches, demonologists, psychics, past life
therapists. Her heroes are hot and hunky, but they also have brains,
character, and good manners. **Usually.
Victoria
lives in The Woodlands, Texas with her husband and a very smart,
mostly black German Shepherd dog.
Website:
http://www.VictoriaDanann.com
Mailing
List: http://bit.ly/1IfByBg
Vampire
Hunter
Rammel
Hawking
Book
One
Victoria
Danann
Genre:
Paranormal Romance
Publisher:
7th House
Date
of Publication: January 18, 2016
ISBN:
ASIN:
Number
of pages: 428
Word
Count: 97k
Cover
Artist: Victoria Danann
Book
Description:
Ram’s
book is partly My Familiar Stranger retold from his unique point of
view with chapter insights from other significant characters. The
story begins the first time he runs away to the New Forest at age
ten, follows his recruitment by Black Swan along with his training to
be a vampire hunter, and tells the story of the death of his first
partner.
Set
in the world of the Knights of Black Swan.
Excerpt:
Lan
(narrated by Ram’s first partner, Sir Lansdowne)
I
had finished my education and chosen to sign on with Black Swan. The
ink wasn’t dry on the paper before I was out the door. First
assignment was Grunewald, the unit that serviced Berlin. It was close
enough by whister to patrol, but far enough away to be secluded. The
building was a renovation, or adaptation really, of an eighteenth
century grand house, set in the middle of a forest preserve that was
off limits to anyone not Black Swan.
I
had seen a lot of the world by then, but had never been to Berlin. I
knew why we had a unit there. Because wherever you find prevalent
nightlife, you find active nests of vampire. I didn’t have any
personal experience with leeches at that time. But you don’t have
to experience a thing personally to believe people when they tell you
it’s nasty.
I
had never heard anything about vampire until six months ago. They
trained our minds and bodies to be precision instruments and
occasionally said something vague about protecting the innocent. But
crap on a croissant. We had no idea we were preparing to be the only
barrier between humanity and monsters that turned out to be real. Our
story when we met civilian juvies was that we were in military
school. Hel. Close enough. Right?
Anyway,
six months ago they clued me in. There are vampire out there. I had
two choices when I turned eighteen. I could sign on as a vampire
hunter or go home and keep my mouth shut about everything I’d
learned. I was told that, if I chose the first option, I’d find
that my training hadn’t even begun. I didn’t believe that. I mean
how much harder could it be? Really.
They
said they took the mouth shut part of option two very seriously. No
threat was spelled out, but it was certainly implied. I had six
months to decide. So. Sure. I thought about it. A lot.
The
day before I turned eighteen I still hadn’t decided. I returned to
quarters around ten o’clock, closed the door, switched on the light
and nearly jumped out of my skin.
My
uncle was sitting there in the dark waiting like some creeper from a
film noir movie. He laughed when I jumped.
“Right.
Real funny. What are you doing in this part of the world?”
His
smile slowly faded away. “Sit. I want to say something.”
Uncle
Al wasn’t the sort of guy you said no to. I sat in the chair
closest to the sofa where he’d parked his overbearing ass. He
didn’t speak at first, just stared at me, and I have to tell you it
took every bit of the self-discipline I’d learned to keep from
squirming under that kind of scrutiny. But I knew it was some kind of
test. I was supposed to be patient and wait it out. So I did.
“You’re
going to be eighteen tomorrow.”
I
smirked. “So I hear.”
He
nodded. “Are you decided?”
I
looked away. “Honestly? No. I’ve been hoping for a sign.”
“A
sign, huh?”
My
uncle didn’t seem to think that was a reliable approach to decision
making.
“Well,
I don’t know what kind of sign you’re expecting. I thought I’d
stop by. Won’t be here tomorrow. So happy birthday.”
“Thanks.”
I
stood when he got up to leave. He turned toward the door, but turned
back like he’d forgotten something. I could almost see him mentally
patting his pockets.
“Anything
you want to ask me?”
I
wouldn’t have thought so, but since he put it that way. There was
something.
“I
guess it’s clear what choice you made. Any regrets?”
He
grinned. It was a thing so rare I couldn’t think if I’d ever seen
him look pleased before.
“A
good question for a seventeen-year-old.”
“Almost
eighteen.”
“Indeed.”
He nodded. “The answer is no. Not one. Hope that helps.”
I
thought about it for a second. “Would you feel the same way if you
died tomorrow?”
His
grin got even bigger. “Definitely.”
With
that he left without looking back and, in fact, it did help.
Immensely.
Teachers
are known to go on every year about how you’d better get ready
because the next year is going to be so much harder. But it never is.
It’s always the same thing. So when I signed on to Black Swan for
life and they told me it was about to get real, I just smirked on the
inside and thought, “Yeah. Yeah. I’ve heard it before.”
Looking
back now I could slap my little bratty self for acting like a punk.
Even if I kept it on the inside. For once the future of dread hadn’t
been overstated. It had been understated.
The
next four years were rigorous enough to make the first five look like
a glide on a paddle board over a smooth-as-glass lake. Naturally,
once we understood that we were going to be vampire hunters, and what
that meant, we began to pay attention in earnest. But here’s the
bare truth of that. Nothin’ they can do or say can truly prepare
you for what it feels like the first time you are face to face with a
pale-eyed leech who wants to rip you apart with virus-dripping fangs.
My
internship was mostly served as backup to the Grunewald Unit knights.
I went to Brazil for a few months and did an awful rotation in
Central America looking for Chupacabra. Ew. Things give me willies
when I think about them. Yeah. They’re even worse than vampire.
I
was always sent back to Berlin though. Like it was home base. That
was okay with me. There was a lot of action and the Grunewald knights
were good solid teachers. They taught me about slaying vampire and
they taught me about camaraderie.
Then,
of course, there were German girls. I mean, you’ve gotta love girls
who have beer with breakfast. Right?
It
was a good place to pay my dues and hone my skills.
Three
years later, I was told that I was being sent to Jefferson Unit.
Rumor had it that I was going to be a vampire slayer in New York, New
York.
I
wasn’t very impressed when the jeep stopped in front of J.U. It was
the farthest thing from Grunewald Castle. A plain brick building with
not a single window showing. Looked more like a prison than a Black
Swan facility.
Don’t
get me wrong. I don’t require frills to complete me. It was just an
observation. I stopped at the intercom.
“Knock.
Knock.”
“Who’s
there?”
“Landsdowne.”
“Just
a minute.”
I
heard the buzzer and pushed on the door. My first thought was that
there was an awful lot of activity for a place that looked so quiet
on the outside. I hoisted my duffel up higher on my shoulder and
stopped a kid going by.
“Sovereign’s
office?”
“Down
one level and turn right.”
I
nodded my thanks and headed toward the elevators. The central area
was impressive with its three-story ceiling, modern gleam and polish.
The place looked like a prison from the front, but once inside it was
open and light with a view to what appeared to be a park on the other
side of tall windows.
When
the elevator opened, I checked to make sure the down arrow was lit,
stepped inside and pushed S1. A couple of girls, well, young women I
guess you’d say, got in after me in workout clothes. One of them
looked me over, taking in the duffel, “Transferring in?”
“Yeah.”
She
smiled. “I’m Ellsbeth. I work in medical.” The elevator opened.
When I realized they weren’t getting off, I finally got the hint
and exited. “See you around.”
The
sovereign’s office wasn’t hard to find. The reception area was
glass to the hallway, but I checked the plaque just to be sure. Sol
Nemamiah, Sovereign.
There
was a kid at the desk, young enough to be a student. He looked up
when I walked in and dropped my duffel.
“Transfer
from Berlin,” I said.
“Go
on in.” He pointed to a closed door.
I
opened the door, hoping the instruction wasn’t a new-guy-hazing
prank.
The
first thing I saw was a mess of blond hair. I knew he was an elf
because he had some of that hair tucked behind the ears. I guess he
could have been fae, but I didn’t know of any fae knights.
When
he turned around, I had three thoughts. That he was just about my
age. That his eyes sparkled with elf mischief. And that the only word
to describe him was beautiful.
Now
don’t get me wrong. I have a strong preference for the opposite sex
and don’t usually think about whether other guys are attractive or
not. But this elf had it going and I would have had to be blind to
not notice.
I
looked past him to the man behind the desk. You could tell it was the
Sovereign by the way his jaw seemed permanently clenched. He pointed
at the elf. “Rammel Aelshelm Hawking, meet Basil Rathbone
Landsdowne.”
The
elf stuck out his hand. I took it and shook. That’s when it
registered. I laughed and blurted out, “You’re P.P.”
“Excuse
me?” he said, with his brow knitting.
I
looked at the Sovereign and thought better of saying more. “I’ll
explain. Later.”
“You
two are getting a try out as partners, attached to B Team, starting,”
he looked at his monitor, “Thursday. Mr. Hawking, Mr. Landsdowne’s
quarters are next to yours. Show him the way.”
“Aye,”
said the elf as he moved toward the outer office. He held the door
open to the hall and gestured toward the elevator. “Welcome to worm
patrol.”
“Worm
patrol? Sounds like I should turn around and ask for reassignment.”
He
laughed. “I’ve been told that’s what they call rotation in the
Big Apple.”
“Oh.”
Once
inside he pushed the third floor button and leaned back against the
wall facing me. “So what was the peepee thing?”
I
grinned. “Not peepee! P. P. Your reputation is widely known.
Parties and p****.”
He
cocked his head and gave a tiny smile. “’Tis what they say about
me?”
“Yeah,
man. It could be worse. They could be sayin’ you’re a limp d***
wanker who’s scared of girls.”
He
combined a grin with a sly look that I’d come to think of as Ram’s
trademark smile. “Spent a lot of time alone as a kid. I suppose
there was some pent-up party in me. Maybe I’ve over-compensated. I
would no’ want P.P. on my tombstone.”
About
the Author:
New
York Times and USA Today bestselling author of eleven romances.
Victoria's Knights of Black Swan series won BEST PARANORMAL ROMANCE
SERIES TWO YEARS IN A ROW. Reviewers Choice Awards, The Paranormal
Romance Guild.
Her
paranormal romances come with uniquely fresh perspectives on
"imaginary" creatures, characters, and themes. She adds a
dash of scifi, a flourish of fantasy, enough humor to make you laugh
out loud, and enough steam to make you squirm in your chair. Her
heroines are independent femmes with flaws and minds of their own
whether they are aliens, witches, demonologists, psychics, past life
therapists. Her heroes are hot and hunky, but they also have brains,
character, and good manners. **Usually.
Victoria
lives in The Woodlands, Texas with her husband and a very smart,
mostly black German Shepherd dog.
Website:
http://www.VictoriaDanann.com
Mailing
List: http://bit.ly/1IfByBg
Tour Giveaway for READERS: $100 Amazon Gift Card
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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