A Thirst For Vengeance

A Thirst For Vengeance

By

Raven Anxo

~*~

Book One

In the

Resurrection City Series

A Thirst For Vengeance

~*~

This story is entirely a work of fiction.

The names, places, characters, and incidents portrayed herein are the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or localities is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © Raven Anxo 2016

First Edition August 2016

Published by Raven Anxo at Smashwords.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher, Raven Anxo Publications.

No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded, or distributed via the internet or any other means, electronic or print without permission from Raven Anxo Publications.

Edited By: M. M. D

Cover Design: Raven Anxo.

Find out more about the author and news of upcoming books and events by visiting her website.

www.ravenanxo.com

Smashwords Edition, Licence Notes

This ebook is licenced for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase you own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Acknowledgements

~*~

To my amazing editor, M.M.D: I truly believe you have the patience of a saint for putting up with me and my voices. Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do. To my friends: Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. You are all amazing. And to my readers: Thank you for taking a chance on both myself and my characters. You are appreciated more than you will ever know. I hope you will all continue to follow me on this amazing journey.

Table of Contents

Prologue

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Nineteen

Twenty

Twenty one

Twenty Two

Twenty Three

Twenty Four

Additional Information

Mini Glossary

Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand. Blood and revenge are hammering in my head.

William Shakespeare – Titus Andronicus

Prologue

*

Resurrection City - August 2016

~*~

The sound of raised voices and things being thrown reached Dante Savion and the other council members through the closed doors of the chamber. Their prisoner making her feelings about being there clearly known. It had taken them four months to apprehend the youngling known as Belladonna Noir, and in that time she had ended the lives of six vampires. Now it was time for her to pay for her crimes. Bring her in, Dante instructed the guard by the door.

As soon as it opened, a female stormed in dragging four guards with her.

Show some respect, youngling, ordered one councilor.

Screw you.

Belladonna Noir, Dante said, his voice calm, do you know why you are here?

You wanted my sparkling wit?

You are here because you willfully took the lives of six vampires. I am giving you the opportunity to explain your reasons before passing judgement on you.

They had something I wanted.

And that was?

Information.

What information exactly?

Inquisitive fucker aren’t you. Information about Christolph Debrae. I need his current location.

Why are you after the ancient?

~*~

To say she was getting tired of playing twenty questions would be a vast understatement. He has to pay for what he did to me, what he took from me.

Vendettas such as yours cannot go unpunished, said another councilor.

Bella ignored him, her focus remaining on the head of the council, her gaze narrowing as a realization began to grow. You know exactly where that bastard is, don’t you?

Not that it’s any of your concern but yes, I do, replied Dante.

Rage spiking, she managed to free herself from the hold the guards had on her, launching across the table towards Dante. Tell me where he is, Bella shouted as she was dragged away.

To know will do you little good given your current situation. I hereby sentence you to fifteen years in suspended animation. Said sentence open to review once further information is obtained. Guards, take her down.

As she was escorted from the room, Bella glared at Dante. I promise when I return you are going to pay for this.

One

*

Resurrection City - October 2026

~*~

From her vantage point on top of one of Resurrection Cities tallest buildings, Belladonna Noir stared down at a place she hardly recognized. She knew things wouldn’t have stood still during the ten years of her enforced absence, but never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined the changes that did take place. Vampires now moved freely around the city, their presence apparently not bothering the normals, or humans as they were more commonly known. It was a situation which amazed her but she wasn’t foolish enough to believe every normal welcomed her kind with open arms. There were sure to be some who viewed vampires as vermin to be exterminated, and she had no desire to lose her life after just getting it back.

Jacket hood pulled up to get some protection from the falling rain, Belladonna’s thoughts drifted back to when she was human. Back to a time when she was busy making plans for her future. Plans that crumbled into dust when fate placed her in the path of a bastard of a vampire named Christolph Debrae; his hunger turning her into what he was. But that wasn’t enough for him. He’d tracked her down, tortured her parents before killing them, then turned his attention in her direction. His last words as he left her for dead seared into her brain. I always clean up my mess. He thought his ‘problem’ had been dealt with. Shame for him that it hadn’t. That mistake on his part was going to cost him dearly – if he still lived. Word on the street had reached her that he’d been killed, robbing her of vengeance against him for her losses and the scars her back bore. Scars that were a constant, unwanted reminder of him. Now Belladonna channeled all her pain and anger towards the one who had taken the ten years away; Dante Savion. Standing here is going to get fuck all done, she growled, walking to the right side of the roof to check out an alleyway which ran next to the building. Once sure it was clear she faded down before exiting it to merge with the mass of bodies hurrying on their way. For the present she had to remain undetected by Savion. Her return had to be kept hidden until she was ready to strike the final blow against him. Before that or anything else happened though, there was an important visit she had to make.

Hub of the city left behind she headed down a dimly lit sidewalk and turned a corner, stopping as a familiar building came into view. A row of lights over the store name illuminated it, making her smile for the first time since returning. As she approached the door Bella hoped it was still run by the person she was looking for. Hinges creaking as it was pushed open she stepped inside, taking in all the merchandise on the walls, running her fingers over the tops of display cases as she moved past them. Each one holding items either bought or pawned for cash. Making sure she kept out of sight of the security camera, she approached the counter to be greeted by a less than enthusiastic member of staff. Does Jimmy Kesser still own this place?

Who’s asking?

Great, the last thing she needed to deal with at that moment was attitude. Ready to reach over the counter to teach him not to answer a question with a question, she stopped upon hearing a familiar voice behind her.

I’ll deal with this customer, Andy. You get back to work. Head kept down she turned, walking up to the heavy set male, placing a finger against his lips in warning to keep quiet as she raised her head, a smile crossing her lips as recognition dawned in his eyes.

Follow me, he said, his voice low so only she could hear.

Doing as he asked, she waited until they were in the office with the door closed before taking her jacket off

Fucking hell, Bella. Word was Dante had killed you.

Pulled into a tight hug before she could move Belladonna returned it, hugging him hard before taking a half step back. As you can see reports of my demise were grossly exaggerated. Savion chose to put me in suspended animation for fifteen years. If it wasn’t for a power outage, I’d still be serving my sentence. Now I’m back to take my revenge. Hand placed on his shoulder she gave it a gentle squeeze. Do you still have them?

I do, but Bella things have changed since you’ve been gone. Dante Savion is now Master of Resurrection City.

Master of the City? Well fuck, that was something she hadn’t expected to hear, but then again it shouldn’t have surprised her. He’d always struck her as the ambitious type of vampire. Doesn’t make much difference to what I intend to do. He is still going to pay for his actions towards me.

Vengeance can get you killed, replied Jimmy. Doesn’t matter who or what you are.

She knew he was right, and in the grand scheme of things the time that had passed wasn’t large to a vampire. It was the fact she had lost them by force that ate at her. True, but I’m still going after him.

You know I’ll help in whatever way I can, he replied, reaching under his desk to push a button. Just promise me you’ll have as foolproof a plan as possible in place before you do.

I promise, she nodded as a panel in the wall slid back revealing a glass case holding her daggers and katana. Walking over she lifted the door up, removing the daggers first and attaching them to her belt before retrieving the katana. Carefully Belladonna slid it from its scabbard, the dark onyx handle glowing faintly in the office light. Whoever had owned it before it came into Jimmy’s hands she had no clue, but the marks on the blade showed it hadn’t been cared for. But both it and her daggers held a secret; they had silver within their blades, guaranteeing maximum pain to any vampires who came into contact with them. Returning it to its scabbard she slipped the strap over her shoulder.

Bella.

Yes?

Before you go out there again there is something else you should know.

Figures there would be another shoe to drop after hearing the news about Dante. What is it?

Since the power shift, a few new things have come into play…one of which is the R.C.V.P.D.

Eyebrow arched she shook her head. What the fucking hell do they stand for?

Resurrection City Vampire Police Department. They work in tandem with the human one and deal with vampire on vampire and vampire on human crimes.

So I have to worry about two sets of law enforcement now? Well isn’t that just peachy. Anything else I should add to my ‘need to avoid’ list? You know I’m starting to think I should have stayed where I was.

Not that I can think of at the moment.

Temples rubbed out of frustration more than anything else, she was about to reply when a wave of faintness hit. Making her way over to one of the chairs in the room, she sat waiting for it to pass.

Bella, you okay? No offence but you look like crap.

Whatever she had been given while in her suspended hell to keep her alive had worn off, leaving her with a familiar pain in her stomach. I don’t suppose you happen to have any bagged blood on hand?

With you gone I had no reason to keep any around. Let me close up and send Andy home, then I’ll head out to get some Synthi Blood.

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