Here we go!

Here's the link to the Book!!

Awaken the Darkness

You can download the e-book as well there too!

Thanks to everyone that helped make this possible!


btw - Other than the first three original chapters, book 1 is now no longer available on this site. Soon I'll be pulling Book 2 as well but I'll still keep posting information here until my official website is launched.


JWG

Update 12/03/09

Edits on Book 1 are finished.
New website domain is acquired.
Cover Art is being created.
I will be publishing under the name J.W. Grace.

Soon Book 1 will be available for purchase in paperback and e-book formats. I will let you all know as soon as it is ready.

I will be pulling all of my story posts down from this site and I am still deciding how I want to post updates to the story. It may be here or it may be on my new site or I may keep it all to myself until the next book is finished.

If anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear them. Feel free to comment below.

Thanks for joining me on this journey!

JWG

Book 1 is done!

My final draft of the first book in the Chronicles of Kholtosh is finished! It's going through the editing process right now and will then be published as soon as that is complete. Stay tuned for news about how and where to pick up your copy!

JWG

News!

Haven't forgotten about all of you. Still working on Book One and I do have some news. Rather than pull everything down, I will be revamping my site and updating it. I'm going to post previews of the new re-written chapters and as soon as I have a final draft I'll be publishing online with Lulu. (www.lulu.com)

The reason for this change of plans came from this source of inspration:

www.brassgriffin.com


I'm also looking for Artists to do cover art for the books.

Things are moving along!

Book 2 - Embracing the Darkness (Prologue)

*SPOILER ALERT!!* If you have not finished book 1, you may want to stop here. This will reveal some major plot elements


Prologue

Five somber figures stand before a large metal door, solid and forboding except for a one-foot square of reinforced glass set in the upper half of the door - a holding cell. The inside of window is stained with spattered blood

The room outside the cell is only dimly lit by flickering light bulbs covered in rusty wire cages. A dank, moldy smell fills the air and all is quiet except for the noises from inside the cell: thumping, banging, scratching, shrieking, and non-sensical gibbering. The five standing before the door gaze solemnly at each other, each waiting for someone else to speak. Finally Yamir, a dark-haired powerfully built man dressed in perfectly tailored black suit speaks, "Tell me again how you found him."

Three of the others glance at each other: a slender youthful-looking man with mis-matched eyes of dark brown and fiery amber, a beautiful woman with a tumble of chestnut curls dressed in a black corset and matching knee-length pleated skirt, and an athletic tall woman wearing a long black coat and tight-fitting black clothes, her shining blonde hair pulled back in a right pony-tail. The man, known as Tangerine Sky, speaks up first, "We were patrolling along the river when we saw a fight happening - looked like a hordie and vamp squaring off so we went to check it out. Before we could get there, the vamp got dusted." He shrugs and looks a bit sheepish before continuing, "Couldn't find out who it was." He jumps suddenly as a loud bang thunders through the room and a clawed hand smears a set of trails on the bloody glass.

The brunette Angelina speaks next, seemingly unfazed by the outburst from the cell, "We moved in to either capture or destroy the victor when it looked up and charged at us. We could tell by the way it moved, it was a vampire, but one of the infected. Then, we saw who it was."

"Rendel, the blonde woman says. "Kholtosh's sire. No one's seen him in weeks and then he shows up Horde-touched. How could we let that happen?!" Her voice, touched with a southern accent rises to an angry shout.

Yamir holds up a hand and says quietly, "No one 'let' this happen. Trina, Sky, Angelina, you all did well getting him back here in one piece." He looks to the door for a moment and shakes his head slightly. "Rendel retreated from most of his friends and what little contact anyone had with him was brief and all business. He was spotted taking out Hordelings all over the city, but he made no effort to speak with anyone of his clan - of which all five of us are a part of. I don't know why he threw himself into this war so hard, but he seemed driven and focused, so we let him take his own path..."

"Has anyone told Dalia yet?" says a soft, intense voice from the last person in the room. With his slicked back hair and black sunglasses, he and Trina look to have stepped straight out of the Matrix.

Yamir answers, "Yes Nova. And the council is keeping her close by and fully under control. She went completely hysterical when the news went out."

Trina blurts out, "Well of course! She loves him!"

"Love does make us do foolish things..." Angelina says, shaking her head sadly.

"Wait, are we still talking about Rendel or about the other stupid thing that went down at the Bloodbath? OW!" Sky cries out as Trina cuffs him on the side of the head.

"Don't you go talking bad about Kholtosh!" she says, her voice rising. "That man saved his lady's life and he's shown more guts and honor than just about anyone I've ever met!" Then she whirls back to face Yamir and asks, "So what are we going to do about that?"

Yamir shakes his head and a look of sadness slides across his gleaming blue eyes, "there is nothing that can be done. Kholtosh went willingly into Sarina's service. What's done is done - he's now her slave until the terms of their agreement are finalized."

Nova growls angrily, "So she can do the same thing to him that she did to my friend... to our friend! Damnit Yamir! We can't let her do it! We didn't help Nigel! And now the only vampire that he ever sired is in that room" he yells, pointing at the cell door. "And the only vampire that Rendel ever sired is under the thumb of that evil witch! We've got to do SOMETHING!"

Angelina steps forward and lays a hand on Nova's arm and says in a quiet soothing tone, "Khol can come through this. Believe me... I understand what you're going through, but I also know what HE's experiencing and he can handle it."

Sad News

Today, I will not be posting a chapter. Mystic Wolf, the subject of the Interlude I posted earlier has passed away after a long battle with cancer. She was a wonderful and fun lady - only 36 years old and the mother of two girls. She will be missed greatly by anyone that ever had any contact with her.

Rest well Julie. You will always live on in our hearts and memories.

Interlude: Goodbye

The following short story is in honor of Mystic Wolf, a wonderful woman who had to leave the game for health reasons. You can see, it's written from Rendel's perspective and was posted on his profile rather than Kholtosh.


1) The forest is dark and silent as I move through the massive trees and thick underbrush. The low-hanging branches make flight virtually impossible and visibility from the air is practically nil. Thorns snag in my clothes and I let out a short burst of language that would earn me a good mouth-washing from my mother. But I push on because Dawn is only an hour away and and I have to complete my task and get back to the city. I'm on a Mission from God!

2) Well, okay, not "God" exactly, but pretty close. The Elders may look like the creepy kids from Children of the Damned but they are Waaaaay more scary. ~So why do we not transform to move easier through this terrain?~ I look over at my travel companion and grin. ~Because Khol, my boy... Weres can sense us if we're not in our natural form and they get more than a little aggressive around shifters that aren't part of their pack.~

3) Khol goes silent again and I turn my attention to the task at hand. The Matriarch of pack of werewolves is sick and fading fast. From what I hear, this entire pack is under the control of the Elders - probably the source of that blood that we got after the Zombiepocalypse. So yours truly and my little psycho friend have been tasked with ending her suffering and bringing back her blood to the Council.

4) I catch movement out of the corner of my eye and I can feel a tension in the air. Khol picks it up too and starts looking around warily. There! A dark, furry shape moving low to the ground and fast. Then another! I can feel the hostility growing in the air, but I know better than to let it get to me: you go for the bait, you get caught on the hook. So I wait until our stalkers get closer. Then, massive wolf moves into view and lets out a low growl.

5) I give him my most winning, fangy smile and say, "Hi there! Nice night we're having!" I can almost feel Khol's eyes rolling in his head but I just continue in a more formal tone. "We were sent by the Council to aid your pack." I project a feeling of calm to the wolf and can feel it relax slightly. The others surrounding us all growl, but hang back. Then the lead wolf, gives soft yip and tosses its head. It stalks back through the trees and we follow.

6) We enter a clearing, bathed in moonlight. A brook flows through the area and lying near a curve in the stream is an enormous silver-furred wolf. Her flanks rise and fall in an uneven rhythm. On all sides around the clearing I see large luminous eyes and sense a mix of respect and wariness. I know the next few minutes are going to be very dangerous. Khol just sits down and lowers his head in respect. This is my task afterall, he's just along for the ride.

7) The old mother wolf raises her head as I approach, and gives a low growl. Bowing to her I move closer and say formally, "I'm here to end your suffering and accept your final gift to our people." I kneel down next to her and she gives a small heave and lays her head in my lap. I feel her thick soft fur under my fingers and hold her gently. Her mind opens up to me and I am flooded by images of a rich, wonderful life full of love and generosity.

8) Scarlet tears begin to spill down my cheeks, hot and thick as the blood drips onto her fur. She gives a small whuff and I feel a sense of contentment and acceptance. Her golden eyes meet mine and she gives a quick nod. I motion to Khol and he brings the large ceramic collection urn The wolves ringing us close in, but I sense only a peaceful reverence. I stroke the matriarch's fur one last time and say, "Goodbye Mama Wolf. You will be missed."

Chapter 3: Predator

1) The sun shines on a bright clear day. My pack shifts nervously in the underbrush. First they look up at the sun and then at me and let out a collective whine. I smile a moment from deep within the shadows and then shush them with a soft growl. I motion and they all scatter into the woods as my latest prey draws near. It is time for me to make a slave of my first human.

2) My smallest and least fearsome dog moves into view as a young lady jogs along the trail. As she gets close he let's out a pitiful whine and begins hobbling around. She slows, then stops and bends down to inspect the poor canine. That is when I strike! A burst of speed and I move across the path, grabbing her and pulling her into a deeply-shadowed cave. But not before the full sunlight washes over for just a moment

3) I let out a fierce growl from the pain and almost lose control as I bury my fangs into her tender neck. I taste the salty sweat on her skin as it mixes with the sweet metallic tang of her blood. Soon, I feel her going weak and her mind begins to open up to me. She is mine! She stares at me in wonder and calls me "master". How Cute! I lick my lips and watch her jog unsteadily away. She will be back.

4) Night is upon me once again and my hunt continues. As I stalk through the trees, I hear the faint cry of a woman. Intrigued, I move toward the sound until I come across a very familiar scene: a man with a knife in the process of robbing a hapless victim. It always amazes me that people will walk alone through a park at night, unaware of the predators that surround them.

5) The man is sloppy but I can see that he is enjoying himself, relishing the fear he causes in the woman. A flash of the blade and I can smell the sweet scent of her blood in the air. I move forward, my hunger driving me on. The man looks up as I emerge from the shadows. "What's this? Do we have a hero?" he barks with a sneer on his face. My only answer is a gravelly chuckle as I move closer.

6) I can hear their heartbeats racing in fear or excitement and the rushing of the blood in their veins calls to me. The man's demeanor suddenly turns hostile and he lunges for me. A scream cuts through the night as I catch his knife arm and with a pull and a twist, his bones shatter under my terrible grip. His eyes cloud over with fear now and I tear into his throat with my fangs. There is only one predator allowed to stalk these woods.

7) The woman screams and gets to her feet. She lurches off into the darkness, clutching her wounded arm. Her assailant's limp body drops to the ground and before she can fully break into a run, I am upon her. I cannot let anything go to waste.

Chapter 2: The Hunt

1) I sit and listen to the sounds of the night. It came as quite a shock when I realized that had no need to draw breath. That my heart no longer beat in my chest. And yet, my sense are all magnified. Then I am struck by a Hunger. A force unlike anything that I have experienced. My whole bod throbs with the urge to FEED. So begins my first hunt.

2) I can smell its damp unkempt fur, hear its racing heart as it moves closer. A feral dog moves through the trees, thinking to make me its prey. I almost laugh but still my amusement as it comes closer. It lunges forward, but I explode into motion, tackling the creature and pinning it to the ground. I bury my teeth, no my fangs, into its throat and drink until the beast is still.

3) Slaves... They are such a delight. I quickly realized that draining every animal completely was not a good idea. I found that, once I fed on them, they were more... Agreeable to my commands. Soon I had a pair of Mongrel dogs following me and watching over me as I rested and hid from the hateful sun. Now, it is time to find a more powerful ally and protector.

4) A lone wolf prowls through the trees, lean and hungry. I watch with a smile as it catches the scent of a fresh kill. One of my dogs whimpers slightly and I silence it with a gesture. the mongrel slinks back into the shadows with its companion, a large shepherd mix. They both wait and watch as I move closer to the wolf.

5) I make sure to keep upwind of the creature as it sniffs at the deer carcass, a previous victim of mine from only hours ago. Just it settles in to eat, I burst from my hiding place and cross the distance in the span of one of the beast's heartbeat. It snarls and thrashes, teeth flashing, but my claws sink into its flanks and grip tightly. I lean over and plunge my fangs into its throat and feed.

6) As the wolf's life fades, I can feel its will crumbling beneath mine. Before it becomes too weak, I release it. The young male sits up and wobbles on its haunches. I motion my other canine companions forward and watch with a smile as they begin to feed. This was a good night.

Chapter 1: The Awakening

1) I awake in the frigid night air, the darkness glaring in my eyes, the silence thundering in my ears. Everything feels different, strange and new. I lie there, my face pressed against cool earth and grass. The last thing I remember is... Him!

2) I can smell him. I know he is near, watching me. "What did you do to me?" I growl as I rise to my feet. I look down at my blood-stained shirt and finger the four holes. "I saved you, brought you back." I gaze into the shadows to locate the source of that voice. Then he continues in a maddeningly peaceful tone, "don't worry, the man that shot you has been... dealt with."

3) I let out a low growl and launch myself into the shrubs where the voice is coming from. My fingers curl into rigid claws. I hear him sigh and then he just seems to melt into the shadows. "I'll let you adjust to your new situation. We'll see each other again soon. Just make sure you're under cover by dawn." And then, with a rush of air, he's gone.

4) I can still feel his presence in my mind... Rendel is his name. The Fool! The man that shot me was a police officer. This "Rendel" has no idea what he has unleashed upon the world. But someday, he will find out.

Welcome to the Beginning!

Hello all!

Rendel here. And if you're reading this you have probably been following the story of Kholtosh on Vampires Live, an iphone/itouch game from the company storm8. If you haven't... Welcome!!

I will be posting all the entries from Khol's story here for you to read in their original order and how they appeared in the game. (In a much easier format to read). My plan is to keep fleshing out the stories and offering up some more "enhanced content" as time goes by so keep checking back. I'm seriously hoping to get the story published someday. All chapters will continue to be posted in game first.

For everyone that has joined my Clan, thank you for your support and encouragement. I couldn't do it without you! You're the Best!

Enjoy the story.

Descent Into Darkness: the Story of Kholtosh

~R

All Content is copyright@2009 Jim Grace