tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91134313543735533502024-03-01T05:42:01.266+00:00P.A. Ross Author Web SiteBlog page for Vampire Formula series.
News on forthcoming books. Links. General comments.
P.A.RossP.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-9398309243267124322023-08-20T13:55:00.003+01:002023-08-20T13:56:57.239+01:00Book Award<p> I won a Silver Book Award with Literary Titan for</p><p><a href="http://www.thornsneedles.com/2012/08/the-birth-of-vengeance.html">"The Birth of Vengeance"</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://literarytitan.com/2023/08/04/literary-titan-book-awards-august-2023/">https://literarytitan.com/2023/08/04/literary-titan-book-awards-august-2023/</a></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1InEZwdUrXH7TqrYyfyUpYO2_EIJJ8VXsTUb8KAJAA7ija79eXpwwmrNl6K0vdSC_taPlPfmwV1ydSm_Izih8oTdoDnsU4EUdJWs02jolOc7JlCE1dOJfm14yEYt0SsVCZE0BuklIf4bgLoZ5SWJgfZ0HXHtD8QbHGvoOwcoAtn6o3LFKGP6IcuBBlzP/s2046/Literary%20Titan%20Silver%20Book%20Award.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2046" data-original-width="2019" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1InEZwdUrXH7TqrYyfyUpYO2_EIJJ8VXsTUb8KAJAA7ija79eXpwwmrNl6K0vdSC_taPlPfmwV1ydSm_Izih8oTdoDnsU4EUdJWs02jolOc7JlCE1dOJfm14yEYt0SsVCZE0BuklIf4bgLoZ5SWJgfZ0HXHtD8QbHGvoOwcoAtn6o3LFKGP6IcuBBlzP/s320/Literary%20Titan%20Silver%20Book%20Award.png" width="316" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-11415121592559963282023-07-29T13:43:00.001+01:002023-07-29T13:43:37.603+01:00Book Review - The Birth of Vengeance<p> For the whole review:</p><p><a href="https://literarytitan.com/2023/07/24/the-birth-of-vengeance/">https://literarytitan.com/2023/07/24/the-birth-of-vengeance/</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FtV2wefuxKAHmuR_286uJTP2N3s5ORggxrAY6fDq2FQaQ4_bwkAXpfnw7V_b6fMGnWOtb0IPpR1skaTYWQpO8cIRXU99OcOpKMd1Iwt1TuqGU8UQ4n-ZG7RP_nGjdJioNYHNQyQ6GbIzmPbmtBahUH6RbLAFnp2aJin0PB2k2SONbs3OYUuob2G4FvdG/s1080/Book%20Review.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FtV2wefuxKAHmuR_286uJTP2N3s5ORggxrAY6fDq2FQaQ4_bwkAXpfnw7V_b6fMGnWOtb0IPpR1skaTYWQpO8cIRXU99OcOpKMd1Iwt1TuqGU8UQ4n-ZG7RP_nGjdJioNYHNQyQ6GbIzmPbmtBahUH6RbLAFnp2aJin0PB2k2SONbs3OYUuob2G4FvdG/s320/Book%20Review.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-55656502646704870232023-07-04T13:50:00.008+01:002023-07-04T14:26:00.622+01:00AI Character Art<p>As an experiment, I took the description of a character from my book and ran it through a few AI art portals. The results were varied and I was surprised about the differences.</p><p>Here is the book descriptions for one of the main characters - a scene from <a href="http://www.thornsneedles.com/2012/08/the-birth-of-vengeance.html" target="_blank">"The Birth of Vengeance"</a>, which is currently FREE.</p><p></p><i>A young woman in her late twenties walked back and forth across the room, dropping her eyes to the floor and passing either side of a bare wooden chair positioned in front of the mirror. As she walked, her boot heels tapped across the exposed wooden floorboards, and her long tousled raven hair bounced up and down on the shoulder straps of her figure-hugging white vest top. The light reflected off her tight, black, shiny combat trousers as she paced up and down like a captive animal wearing a groove in the floor. Her body, hugged by the tight-fitting clothes, held the perfect balance of curves across her tall, athletic frame. I stood frozen to the spot as I looked at my fantasy woman, and an instant blaze of desire swept through me.</i><div><i><br />“Hi,” I said and waved pathetically to her, unsure what else to do. <br /><br /></i></div><div><i>She stopped and looked up at me. She looked sad; her face ashen and drooped, and her shoulders slumped forward. As our eyes met, her body straightened and pushed upright and firm, and her face came alive. Her features appeared flawless and well defined, creating perfect symmetry. Her bright sky blue eyes sparkled, and a small smile lifted her face, and her gaze penetrated straight through the glass and burned into my eyes and into my soul. I became transfixed, and I stared back at her without embarrassment. The surrounding noises faded away, and my vision of everything else blackened. My sight could only cope with the gorgeous vision of her as her presence dominated everything else, pushing it to the edges of my senses. <br /><br />Her raven hair flowed backwards as if it had a life of its own. Her lips darken to a deep bloodied red, and her cheeks became flushed with colour. She emitted a brooding intensity that poured out as a mist, swirling around in the air and filling up the space between us. The mist built up against the glass, pushing against it, trying to find a way through. <br /><br />The glass bulged against the mist seeping through the invisible spaces in the atoms; it cascading through like a waterfall and forming a pool lapping around my feet. It built up layer by layer, getting higher and higher, encircling and enveloping me. The hairs on my body rose as the hot mist formed ghostly tentacles, which grasped at my torso, arms and legs. Small shivers sparked up my back and into the pleasure sensors in my mind. The mist twisted into my nose, and its musky smell triggered a chemical reaction that engulfed my senses. I abandoned myself control, and desire swept through me. I burned up with pleasure and a desire to embrace her, no matter the consequences.</i><p></p><p>I realized I couldn't run this all through the AI. The description happens within the action of the scene, so I took the main character points.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New";">Woman with tousled raven hair. </span>Sad pale
face. Sky blue eyes. Blood red lips. Athletic frame but curvy. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">She wore shiny black combat trousers and
white vest top. Black high heel boots.</span>Swirling mist. </i><i>In a bright white room.</i></p><p>However, I discovered the description need to be more direct. I changed out certain words. I went from blood red lips to just red lips as I got blood marks over the character. Raven hair to dark hair. </p><p><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Woman with tousled dark hair. </span>Sad pale face. Sky blue eyes. Red lips. Athletic frame but curvy. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">She wore shiny black combat trousers and white vest top. Black high heel boots.</span>Swirling mist. In a bright white room.</i></p><p>The word curvy got difference results from each platform.</p><p>The best two platforms were <a href="https://hotpot.ai/art-generator" target="_blank">AI Art Generator</a> and <a href="https://gencraft.com/" target="_blank">Gencraft</a></p><p>But here are the results:-</p><p>Swapped around the colour of the trousers and vest</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cZXtUT60VE-sqO4VOOGqhIdAg6j-sofzJ7UjxA4mfDU8U_RYTpSWP_ufaXa3IsrlbZjLaYEXFyn7VA2x6nxwMvQaiIMvw4RlRxgz0GwYJmkHqjgvN3qKYO6ACKha8l7lR7MmqwrcdR2Y9GNB9IX2VcbV1A5sqKX-GuKEBVR5aS_XuaTnX29eBgQVPI9m/s512/image_7hSnlttl_1688380619710_raw.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cZXtUT60VE-sqO4VOOGqhIdAg6j-sofzJ7UjxA4mfDU8U_RYTpSWP_ufaXa3IsrlbZjLaYEXFyn7VA2x6nxwMvQaiIMvw4RlRxgz0GwYJmkHqjgvN3qKYO6ACKha8l7lR7MmqwrcdR2Y9GNB9IX2VcbV1A5sqKX-GuKEBVR5aS_XuaTnX29eBgQVPI9m/w200-h200/image_7hSnlttl_1688380619710_raw.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Photo Realistic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPsNSDS6PJPNl3ryHnFkZyceiACnt8GMFfLCM0WoCOCBKFrcQl1n2vi10eTwtKGH74l4ViQoJRW8qv9qBSprK0kIybcpcV2OxdI5g8WXJW3DbRrIO_r8LrFrlR1-mh25UnhKJBjQ6ICOcUVhKM6dD6w7phycYSk3O2dV0eIuKtwYqt4tRl1Ieq1XLqWMd/s512/image_9lDddW6W_1688380870300_raw.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPsNSDS6PJPNl3ryHnFkZyceiACnt8GMFfLCM0WoCOCBKFrcQl1n2vi10eTwtKGH74l4ViQoJRW8qv9qBSprK0kIybcpcV2OxdI5g8WXJW3DbRrIO_r8LrFrlR1-mh25UnhKJBjQ6ICOcUVhKM6dD6w7phycYSk3O2dV0eIuKtwYqt4tRl1Ieq1XLqWMd/w200-h200/image_9lDddW6W_1688380870300_raw.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This one went to town on curvy<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvA_KBqd5Wv6FbADXkDW2uq1r63-bBuULJE9zEQqf2s1sDNCa72QAhfAYeq-AGveN8Yye_bvst-1OyIOJvKoOpI5OaMkXcVEqB0rNxaECaqLHG6hgrTIgKxzLjv1mHP2opXB-6wIPbiPKmYpFVhixaqdMHfpiLJuhX64aJ162hFqRsYob2RemKhmXeuuPp/s512/image_nLYwtCq5_1688380618101_raw.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvA_KBqd5Wv6FbADXkDW2uq1r63-bBuULJE9zEQqf2s1sDNCa72QAhfAYeq-AGveN8Yye_bvst-1OyIOJvKoOpI5OaMkXcVEqB0rNxaECaqLHG6hgrTIgKxzLjv1mHP2opXB-6wIPbiPKmYpFVhixaqdMHfpiLJuhX64aJ162hFqRsYob2RemKhmXeuuPp/w200-h200/image_nLYwtCq5_1688380618101_raw.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Red added to the hair - a comic template</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-Mvy_a8cFgv_VmSSLiv3afkPf8gzABrp7vPh_ppxd2l7MpXywZz9MvH3UaHGwf9hffXaGQYYF67k9dlC1fxFpFi7zf54wTixW1dJhAXU3pbEum-vlqUdR9XWcKfWICPDrwKC46LGN9UEGZgcXlpNVVCmiwXm63SQBAEC7cS5MfprUHm9tveGSwoYYG85/s1024/thorn%20gencraft%20pic2.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-Mvy_a8cFgv_VmSSLiv3afkPf8gzABrp7vPh_ppxd2l7MpXywZz9MvH3UaHGwf9hffXaGQYYF67k9dlC1fxFpFi7zf54wTixW1dJhAXU3pbEum-vlqUdR9XWcKfWICPDrwKC46LGN9UEGZgcXlpNVVCmiwXm63SQBAEC7cS5MfprUHm9tveGSwoYYG85/w200-h200/thorn%20gencraft%20pic2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div> </div><div>I liked this one as well. Very accurate to the description<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LsZdz5_Ghh1gzT4mIajumby1dkqpYPCxBMnvUEtKP3ANf5nH_SbtnJP0B0tXj8X_wmAETbeedA3ra8jfP88_hkuri4XUjl014ZIgx9sfmmySEzZP90bpUyt9JNJOc8780GBMYEVzvDwKOvhAUETwrJ0vgk58LyGo1T0vjlkk_SKr8Z6ry-gQOIrFABtf/s512/thorn%20hotpot1.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LsZdz5_Ghh1gzT4mIajumby1dkqpYPCxBMnvUEtKP3ANf5nH_SbtnJP0B0tXj8X_wmAETbeedA3ra8jfP88_hkuri4XUjl014ZIgx9sfmmySEzZP90bpUyt9JNJOc8780GBMYEVzvDwKOvhAUETwrJ0vgk58LyGo1T0vjlkk_SKr8Z6ry-gQOIrFABtf/w200-h200/thorn%20hotpot1.png" width="200" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>One of my favourites.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmr0VzGvz6CckHCKLtR0fKOugnHvE1qP5fuk1Vbd8fKH-iO0wgsiul-DGpio8KZb_qyojnZOSVbU9OEwL4w-W638UxUfHcA0fAuEUp446cclDF2Ur-dK4UM0q3z2Jq9R5YVgaPR5MA4b5TtHaH0OmllLrAr6lLCHxq8Y0aR-5QjRJQDbH2P4gm_tRf33zu/s512/thorn%20pic%202.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmr0VzGvz6CckHCKLtR0fKOugnHvE1qP5fuk1Vbd8fKH-iO0wgsiul-DGpio8KZb_qyojnZOSVbU9OEwL4w-W638UxUfHcA0fAuEUp446cclDF2Ur-dK4UM0q3z2Jq9R5YVgaPR5MA4b5TtHaH0OmllLrAr6lLCHxq8Y0aR-5QjRJQDbH2P4gm_tRf33zu/w200-h200/thorn%20pic%202.png" width="200" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Anime template but gave her red highlights<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qEEVpr80zUVk8OBl8SF7dcFe5vwdWXTsaWP1UW78zsiuAuRfZuGOKXhDstGf8ISSU4bPxoSatW_TW6sLFEqR7VPv6ZayUMOj-ZkRTaQZp5xcWF1ErXvzEXT5N7601K92aaeiwaxlsNGr_mv5TOku2ZK2Z4hpGTkSLvk3A_o8fC4Jjub0wTpw8-Ly-rpW/s1024/Woman%20with%20tous%200%20(1).png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qEEVpr80zUVk8OBl8SF7dcFe5vwdWXTsaWP1UW78zsiuAuRfZuGOKXhDstGf8ISSU4bPxoSatW_TW6sLFEqR7VPv6ZayUMOj-ZkRTaQZp5xcWF1ErXvzEXT5N7601K92aaeiwaxlsNGr_mv5TOku2ZK2Z4hpGTkSLvk3A_o8fC4Jjub0wTpw8-Ly-rpW/w200-h200/Woman%20with%20tous%200%20(1).png" width="200" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> Anime template 2 - another close fit</div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-jKJgv95EAIWr-vGWI9_lfBmSMN0Nm94Ee6Jj-56-sxMTG6i0cnqfLgp4oXcwd4nnwHC-n12Ci39SmkgwPSCzWqSqQcXg6Gv8SqOB-IuBrDA6kqveKyO8WCO_33q3zHlKIDmDoU3asA78NO0DF1E4Nfs3PQp7OB-aM0RVPFcpMJQhh3Ld-dZ0try0K4j/s1024/Woman%20with%20tous%201.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-jKJgv95EAIWr-vGWI9_lfBmSMN0Nm94Ee6Jj-56-sxMTG6i0cnqfLgp4oXcwd4nnwHC-n12Ci39SmkgwPSCzWqSqQcXg6Gv8SqOB-IuBrDA6kqveKyO8WCO_33q3zHlKIDmDoU3asA78NO0DF1E4Nfs3PQp7OB-aM0RVPFcpMJQhh3Ld-dZ0try0K4j/w200-h200/Woman%20with%20tous%201.png" width="200" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div><div>Street wear template - added in the red to the hair</div><div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYEfU0HbDkIPIA0gENl2JgPoTu7PCJFyuHzLzM87emOFttBYElgHN9kJkqTmRDivDOb8vzXUHc4gprfF1y5m-JxDAqRmCSLKuOLCJhvDcXGVZhernnM6mO45xfBa5hh0R34sFGftDUqRGVMyZGh46JGSaAMM6--CpafiW3JievblbdY2XKd1MUYp55lOE/s1024/Woman%20with%20tous%200.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYEfU0HbDkIPIA0gENl2JgPoTu7PCJFyuHzLzM87emOFttBYElgHN9kJkqTmRDivDOb8vzXUHc4gprfF1y5m-JxDAqRmCSLKuOLCJhvDcXGVZhernnM6mO45xfBa5hh0R34sFGftDUqRGVMyZGh46JGSaAMM6--CpafiW3JievblbdY2XKd1MUYp55lOE/w200-h200/Woman%20with%20tous%200.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Game template</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdaPJ2ZVRodbpw55yJRXqvpaMr6Js7n8FdVAkCs-GaDYanZUOuJawhOkuXzsqSjKiGMjr_si8PJBziWL-UXuzObvBQeyS2VnG40lJWFYramtI_wfqt3AWlhJks04hU_70V36ErBYN6L59rcs7fioDnYnr2cC6hxl7kbihu-6znSZK_lsAMd24-u1rfzzM/w200-h200/Woman%20with%20tous%201%20(1).png" width="200" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, my advice. Make sure the description is clear. No fancy terms.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Try different sites and different templates as the answers will be different.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Build and tweak the description.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A number of sites offer a number of free credits or tests per day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div>P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-6693237912208603832023-05-05T19:09:00.000+01:002023-05-05T19:09:04.211+01:00The Birth of Vengeance - FREE<div style="text-align: left;">The Birth of Vengeance is now FREE in every store.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Earlier this week, I hit the topspot in a category<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjJaUwp0Itcj19-HJf1p9qmqN2Q9rnWjlsvul9ej3TirLpXbGqNOZhAGyGtqQKqPRq-Y1oPtPhrPjIWGf1-zWrL5ypHeTpfKtDnOJPwaZ3VCF7ActkB1v3ExGBL0pggob6GchUV8UfFLwnwZL5375WPfSH0kjtdG3oQiytaRJG16pCNDhOBDYYBszPw/s665/number%201%20usa%20free.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="665" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjJaUwp0Itcj19-HJf1p9qmqN2Q9rnWjlsvul9ej3TirLpXbGqNOZhAGyGtqQKqPRq-Y1oPtPhrPjIWGf1-zWrL5ypHeTpfKtDnOJPwaZ3VCF7ActkB1v3ExGBL0pggob6GchUV8UfFLwnwZL5375WPfSH0kjtdG3oQiytaRJG16pCNDhOBDYYBszPw/s320/number%201%20usa%20free.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">#89 overall</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPzWS7YES3jFOkVCaeBhbFSUpwkUZNjdlBPZs10drq7A4zGCQDj1YHO6Gz0RcdDxsAgumMQeaiYtuAUcfKtUqRGlDOVyvVDtXEuYTnopUaSHERCWv8p1pEJbItvkGpDWpUBcUxqGsLg6i4_rhZTATgd8vMmhgdAlvENTY9K7MtDxi1NRCnwhX0BKqhg/s666/number%2089%20usa%20overall%20free.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="666" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPzWS7YES3jFOkVCaeBhbFSUpwkUZNjdlBPZs10drq7A4zGCQDj1YHO6Gz0RcdDxsAgumMQeaiYtuAUcfKtUqRGlDOVyvVDtXEuYTnopUaSHERCWv8p1pEJbItvkGpDWpUBcUxqGsLg6i4_rhZTATgd8vMmhgdAlvENTY9K7MtDxi1NRCnwhX0BKqhg/s320/number%2089%20usa%20overall%20free.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">This also propelled my prequel book into a #1 slot as well</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4mFTvoGGWHXuU2cxcNTlY3GPMUXfLwZ6yebomIq8f-4fzDWQKAUWhcVeZaS2wq12Om4ZN6Dbyg3bT_8dly83mfAxIvkGg2bACHdgDAVh8Ksm8QTdrVQ9CjcVZTj91Gq7u3dQymzIsuJ3YJvE8SOIEHbd9mTB6YzncBrobp7UuFEmReNLKuUvmMqcfQ/s695/number%201%20short%2045%20minute%20reads%20free.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="695" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4mFTvoGGWHXuU2cxcNTlY3GPMUXfLwZ6yebomIq8f-4fzDWQKAUWhcVeZaS2wq12Om4ZN6Dbyg3bT_8dly83mfAxIvkGg2bACHdgDAVh8Ksm8QTdrVQ9CjcVZTj91Gq7u3dQymzIsuJ3YJvE8SOIEHbd9mTB6YzncBrobp7UuFEmReNLKuUvmMqcfQ/s320/number%201%20short%2045%20minute%20reads%20free.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">To celebrate I had a book trailer created. Enjoy.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='456' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyFjaHnxvV_DuqEbhojyX_uvvjGDTWuuRx8G5WhjXc5pJtWFZ0F1WuBEs2T7UeKqF2uclaV9INnel6Iux8RDw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-28397277303043499742022-02-21T08:09:00.003+00:002022-02-21T08:10:28.990+00:00The War of Vengeance <p> The last book in the Vampire Formula series was released in Friday 18th February 2022.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMQ9o9zTDUAPpxgJbYgbxbkG9xyByAtgAv6As9PIErMioIClfWUx7OXLhmICyeVWHXTyap3B_Lwd8LONUZpfVxm51uEuOvyW5hZfSr7-mAK3QV5EWJxIj8bk6PdNldGquLoekJd0ttPWTmnn8xZQmIzEDZpqA8u7ep79Lp50ctc4fZRtwAB5IYmV6ZNA=s2048" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMQ9o9zTDUAPpxgJbYgbxbkG9xyByAtgAv6As9PIErMioIClfWUx7OXLhmICyeVWHXTyap3B_Lwd8LONUZpfVxm51uEuOvyW5hZfSr7-mAK3QV5EWJxIj8bk6PdNldGquLoekJd0ttPWTmnn8xZQmIzEDZpqA8u7ep79Lp50ctc4fZRtwAB5IYmV6ZNA=s320" width="213" /></a></div><p><b>Product Description</b></p><div>Bramel frees Cyrus and forms an unholy alliance, forcing V and Thorn to seek the powerful Dragan Twins.</div><div><br />Both sides draw together their most powerful allies and draw up their battle strategies.<br />The Dragans and MI5-S must work together, as war against the Turned and Hunters is inevitable.<br /><br />V (Jon Harper) needs to complete his training and fully transform into a Dragan if he is to fight Cyrus and Bramel again and survive.<br /><br />Only the heat of battle can decide the future and reveal the past.<br /><br />Final book in the Vampire Formula series.<br /><br /></div><div>In the explosive last book, everyone is gathered together for the final battle.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NQLDXDD">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NQLDXDD</a></div>P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-38210366764019661442022-02-04T14:09:00.002+00:002022-02-04T14:09:06.369+00:00Final upload - The War of Vengeance<p> </p><p>Final version of Vampire Formula Book 4 – The War of Vengeance- up loaded
today.</p>
<p>12 years since I started writing the first book in the series. But now the series is complete.</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NQLDXDD">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NQLDXDD</a></p>P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-4244458008721906692022-01-10T11:22:00.001+00:002022-02-04T14:07:33.709+00:00The War of Vengeance - Release date 18th Feb 2022Finally, I have completed the 4th and final book in the Vampire Formula series - The War of Vengeance.<div><div><br /></div><div>To be released on Amazon first - <b>18th February 2022. </b></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NQLDXDD">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NQLDXDD</a></div><div><br /></div><div>After three months, it will go on sale at all other outlets.<br />
<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMQ9o9zTDUAPpxgJbYgbxbkG9xyByAtgAv6As9PIErMioIClfWUx7OXLhmICyeVWHXTyap3B_Lwd8LONUZpfVxm51uEuOvyW5hZfSr7-mAK3QV5EWJxIj8bk6PdNldGquLoekJd0ttPWTmnn8xZQmIzEDZpqA8u7ep79Lp50ctc4fZRtwAB5IYmV6ZNA=s2048" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMQ9o9zTDUAPpxgJbYgbxbkG9xyByAtgAv6As9PIErMioIClfWUx7OXLhmICyeVWHXTyap3B_Lwd8LONUZpfVxm51uEuOvyW5hZfSr7-mAK3QV5EWJxIj8bk6PdNldGquLoekJd0ttPWTmnn8xZQmIzEDZpqA8u7ep79Lp50ctc4fZRtwAB5IYmV6ZNA=s320" width="213" /></a></div><b>Product Description</b><div><br /></div><div>Bramel frees Cyrus and forms an unholy alliance, forcing V and Thorn to seek the powerful Dragan Twins.<br /><br />Both sides draw together their most powerful allies and draw up their battle strategies.<br />The Dragans and MI5-S must work together, as war against the Turned and Hunters is inevitable.<br /><br />V (Jon Harper) needs to complete his training and fully transform into a Dragan if he is to fight Cyrus and Bramel again and survive.<br /><br />Only the heat of battle can decide the future and reveal the past.<br /><br />Final book in the Vampire Formula series.<br /><br /></div><div>In the explosive last book, everyone is gathered together for the final battle.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div></div>P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-65743691677358270762021-12-03T15:15:00.001+00:002021-12-08T13:37:43.791+00:00The War of Vengeance - Vampire Formula 4 - Update<p><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Update.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I have been putting off
finishing this book as I want to write accompanying material that would be
released shortly afterwards. These short books would be about the History of
the Dragans.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">However, these stories have
taken on a life of their own. They have grown and I realised they will take a
long time to complete fully. So, I have decided not to hold back the last book
- The War of Vengeance - any longer. I am just performing a final read through
and creating the blurb. I will publish early next year - Early February.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I will publish the blurb on
here once it is ready. And give a final release date.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Possibly Chapter 2 sample as
well.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p> </p>P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-63989121292859073982021-10-21T13:50:00.003+01:002021-10-21T13:50:20.771+01:00The War of Vengeance - Chapter 1<b><i>To prove it is on the way. Here is the first chapter of "The War of Vengeance"</i></b><div><br /></div><div><u><b>CHAPTER 1</b></u></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New";">The engines vibrated and the wind rattled
the fuselage. My twitching muscles kept in tune while I held myself steady and
tightened up the seatbelt.</span></p><p style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; text-indent: 18pt;">We had boarded the plane a few hours
earlier and stored our gear in the green webbing along the inside of the plane.
We took our seats against the sides and under the storage. The shutters on all
the windows were closed to stop the dim light inside from escaping.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New";">Fingers squeezed my knee, and I twisted
around to meet Ruby</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New";">s light
green eyes. She smiled and tucked her red hair back under her helmet. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Don’t
worry, Jon. You have practised this many times,” she said, shouting above the
din of the engines. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“I am
not worried.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
may not have your psychic skills, but I have seen that look on people’s faces
before.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Maybe,
just a little,” I admitted.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Stand
up and let me check through your gear. It will help reassure you,” she said,
her face tinted red from the glow of the jump lights. I unbuckled my seat belt
and stood up. She did the same with the top of her helmet level to my chin.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">She
knelt and checked my boots were fastened up and wingsuit trousers in the
correct position. She tugged on the gun holster strapped to my thigh and
checked the clip in place over the pistol. She grabbed the parachute straps
around my groin and across my chest and yanked them tight.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Oh please, she is doing that on purpose. I
checked your gear before we left,’ </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; text-indent: 18pt;">Thorn’s psychic thoughts jumped into my head.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
looked across the dark plane, illuminated only by the red of the jump
traffic-lights, to where Thorn sat on the side bench with her human training
buddy, Dunk.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Thorn, she is just checking my equipment
as I am a bit nervous. It is her job. She is supposed to train me and learn
from me.’</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Ha, I am your mentor. Don’t you ever
forget that.’</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Different type of mentor. You know this. You
have Dunk to teach you squad tactics and Special Forces techniques and for you
to teach him how to fight vampires.’</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘But Ruby is obviously there to annoy me.
The red hair and the code name is supposed to remind you of Scarlett. To remind
you of being partly human.’</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ruby
patted my chest. “Turn around and let me check your parachute and rifle are on
properly.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
turned around and continued to talk to Thorn psychically.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘This again. You are jealous of her working
so close with me.’</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Not of her, but of what she represents.
MI5 are continually trying to get you to join them.’</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘They haven’t asked me to join them.’</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘The actions they have taken infer it,
refusing to let you use the formula while on their base, offering you the
reversing formula that could start to make you human again. Naming your
training buddy Ruby and dying her hair red. All of it is to keep you human and
remind you of your past.’ </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Maybe. Do you think I would fall for it
and try to seduce her?’</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘No. I don’t. You’re not Ruby’s type. I
am.’</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘I know. I don’t think Mary’s MI5 team knows
that.’</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ruby
patted my back and I spun back around. She checked the helmet strap and stood
on tiptoes to pull the goggles off my helmet onto my eyes. She held a thumbs up
and I responded with the okay sign. I sat back down and buckled in, and Ruby
sat next to me. Directly across the plane, Rip sat with his training buddy,
Bradders.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rip
nodded. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘Is Thorn still in a state about
Ruby?’</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Every day.’</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Don’t worry. The training is nearly over.
This is our first proper mission altogether. Hopefully, this will get us the
information we need to take the war to the Turned and Hunters.’</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘I hope so. It has been a long six months
training with these guys.’</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘They will need to pass on what they have
learnt from us if they are to set up a new Hunters organisation. And we need to
focus on practising the control of magic and putting this military training
into action,’</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Rip
said.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘I agree.’</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Six
months ago, following our fight with the Turned and the revealing of Cyrus to
be South, the Dragan leader of the Turned army, we spent a few days recovering
and enjoying the relative peace and quiet. Then a couple of nights later, a
private jet flew us to England from the Spanish Air Force base. We landed at a
military airfield and then were escorted straight into an army transport
helicopter. We flew over the speckled lights of towns and cities, linked by a
network of half-lit roads and surrounding areas shrouded in the dark of night. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">After
a while, a patchwork of dark green fields, forests and mountains replaced the
urban sprawl underneath. The helicopter descended into a valley towards half a
dozen brick buildings, and through the trees, four houses lined down either
side of a fake street.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
pilot radioed through. Floodlights focused into the centre of the camp, and out
of the buildings, a flurry of figures appeared, steam rising off their bodies
as they hit the frosty night air. The group of soldiers formed a circle, with
guns held at their waists but ready to fire. We landed in the middle of the
welcoming committee. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
blades kicked up dust and dirt, buffeting the surrounding soldiers, who stood
their ground and covered their eyes. To the side of the helicopter, Mary stood
next to a line of four soldiers clothed in green combat gear, who stood to
attention. Mary had also dressed in military green combat clothes, but her top
button was undone and sleeves rolled up, and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>she wore earrings and rings.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
engine turned off, and the blades slowed down. The pilot gave us the thumbs up,
and we unstrapped and stepped out. We had dressed ready for training in urban
grey combat gear borrowed from the Spanish military.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thorn
pulled me to one side. “Be on your guard. Sooner or later, these people will
betray us,” Thorn said, smiled over to Mary, and held out her hand. Mary walked
over and shook it.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Flight
okay?”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Fine,
not so sure about our welcoming committee,” Thorn said, looking around at the
armed soldiers.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mary
shook her head. “They insisted. It is standard practice when soldiers from another
country arrive. It’s a reminder of who is in charge.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Well,
that is pleasant.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Please,
don’t take it personally. They are scared of your group. This show of strength
is to make themselves feel more comfortable.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
will try my best. But don’t get any silly ideas about who is in charge. This is
an alliance. We agreed on a set of rules. We train you and you train us, and we
find a way to work together to defeat the Turned and build a new Hunter’s
organisation. The command is fifty-fifty between you and me. We both need to
agree on any joint actions.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“No
worries. I understand the agreement,” Mary said and escorted us over to the
four soldiers lined up. “Let me introduce you to your training buddies. During
the course of your stay, your training buddy will personally look after you
here. They will train you in special forces tactics and weapons. In return, you
will teach them close combat against vampires and brief them of the Turned
history and behaviours.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Agreed.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“First
in our line-up is Captain Ruby. Ruby is not her real name. She was one of the
first female entrants in the SAS and has distinguished herself in the field of
combat. She is a specialist in combat tactics and strategies. She is the leader
of your training buddies and reports directly to me.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thorn
smiled and stepped forward and held out her hand. But Ruby saluted her instead.
“Ma’am.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Ruby
will be Jon’s buddy,” Mary said.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thorn
glared at Mary. “Are you joking? Ruby with the red hair is Jon’s buddy.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“No
joke. I have matched the buddies to each of you based on psychological
profiling. Jon responds well to older and more experienced women, as he has
issues with authority father figures.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“What
do you mean, father figure issues?” I said.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">They
both just raised their eyebrows, and Mary pushed onto the next soldier in the
line-up. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
next person was a man, about Thorn’s height, with broad shoulders to a tapered
waist. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“This
is Dunk. He is an unarmed combat specialist. He is your training buddy, Thorn.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thorn
nodded and Dunk saluted. “Pleasure to work with you, ma’am.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Good.
I will look forward to getting close and uncomfortable with you,” Thorn replied
and moved on to the next person, another man, shorter with a lean frame and
shaven head. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“The
next buddy is for Rip. His name is Bradders. He is a specialist sniper,” Mary
said.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rip
stepped up to the man and sniffed him. “Garlic doesn’t work.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">He
grabbed the man’s crucifix necklace. “Nor do crosses or holy water. Not on us.
But on vampires like the Turned, they might.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Bradders
smirked. “Sorry, sir, but aren’t you a vampire?”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“That
is enough, Bradders,” Ruby shouted. “Sorry for Bradders. We briefed him before
your visit. He thinks he is funny.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Ah.
The class clown. This is why I have him as my buddy. You think we are the same?”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“No.
We were hoping you could wipe the smirk off his face,” Ruby answered, and
Bradders straightened up and frowned.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Lastly,
we have Smash. He is a specialist in comms, first aid and explosives.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Cassius
stepped forward, eye to eye with the other man, both at the same height and
size. Cassius had to be paired with someone he could respect, as per his
profile.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“This
little man is for me?” Cassius said.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Little!”
the man replied; his big beard bristled.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“You
are at least one centimetre shorter than me,” Cassius said and roared with
laughter.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Or
maybe you are wearing your mommy’s high heels,” Smash replied.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Cassius
stopped laughing and his eyes turned red. Smash eyeballed him without
flinching. Cassius pushed through his fangs and contorted his facial muscles.
Smashed stared ahead, unblinking. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Bradders
held up his hand. “Miss, can I un-volunteer, please?”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“You
didn’t volunteer, remember. You signed a contract,” Mary responded.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Cassius
stopped and stared at Smash, then laughed again and patted his hand on Smash’s
shoulder. “I like you. We are going to get along just fine.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Good.
Introductions over, now let me tell you the ground rules. Number one, we don’t
want Jon to be using the vampire formula while on the base.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“What!
He needs to complete his transformation,” Thorn yelled.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“We
disagree. He is a human, and we would like him to re-think his current path. We
are working on a formula that would reverse the transformation. When it is
completed, it is on offer for him to try,” Mary said.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“No
way. You can’t force him not to take it or use this reversing formula. How are
you going to stop us?”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Thorn,
it is okay. I have more than enough power when using Rip’s training. When we
leave, I can finish taking it. There are only two injections left. Let’s not
turn this into a big issue,” I said.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thorn
growled under her breath. “Fine. We will let you have that one.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mary
smiled. “Thank you, Jon, for humouring an old friend. Rule number two, everyone
is to stop in the one barrack room.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“No
way. We have private rooms,” Thorn said.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Private
rooms,” I repeated, along with Cassius and Rip.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“It
would be better for team bonding,” Mary said.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“It
is a definite no,” I said, “I let you have the no formula taking.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Okay,”
Mary replied, and Ruby’s breath streamed out in a sigh of relief.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Number
three, no feeding on any of the humans at the base. We will bring you in blood.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Oh
please, have some respect for us. I would not treat my hosts with such
disrespect. Of course, we will not feed on anyone here unless they ask us to,”
Thorn said, and crossed her arms and grinned.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
don’t care if anyone asks. No feeding on us.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rip
put up his hand. “Not even if it is part of the training?”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“How
is that training for us?”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Who
said it was for you?” Rip said. Cassius laughed again, and I clamped my hand
over my mouth to stop myself.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Yes,
Rip. We definitely paired you with the right person. Just to be clear, no feeding.
If you want to train us in detecting a vampire hunting for a meal, then please
do so, but without the actual biting and blood-sucking part.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Are
we done with the rules now?” Thorn asked.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Yes.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Okay.
My turn. Rule four, we train at night, so kiss the daylight goodbye. Rule five,
none of these lights better have UV bulbs hidden in the background. Rule six,
anyone attacks us, and it will be a full on massacre. Rule seven, don’t call us
vampires,” Thorn said and glared at Bradders, who stared straight ahead to
avoid her gaze. “Rule eight, we want the wi-fi password with unlimited data.” </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mary
nodded along. “I agree to all the above. But the internet access is monitored
but feel free to use it. The password is vampires_suck. Oh, I forgot one, rule
nine, no seduction or psychic control over the personnel at the base. Remember,
we are your allies, not your playthings. We are working on countermeasures to
block out psychic interference.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Understood.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Good.
Let me show you to your rooms and get you settled in before we start the
training.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rip
coughed. “Excuse me, have you brought the training equipment I requested?”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mary
looked at the helicopter where two soldiers were carrying off crates. “They are
unloading it now.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“You
got the good stuff?”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Yes,
we got the vintages and years you were asking for. I hope this isn’t a joke. Thorn
has assured me that red wine is essential for your training.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Of
course, I would not lie to you. But this is Dragan training only. Unless your
team would like to learn how to taste test red wine, then I can spare some
time.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mary
headed off to a long, one level brick building. “This way.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
followed her in and she showed us to a set of private rooms. Thorn’s and my room
had a double bed, table, wardrobe, fridge and TV mounted on the wall. A basic
army bunk room. Nothing fancy and all painted a dull military grey. The rooms
were already prepared for us, and they knew we would refuse to stop altogether
in a barrack room. It was just a negotiation tactic. The others all had similar
rooms down the same grey soulless corridor. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
didn’t have much night time left, so Rip broke open the crate of red wine and
started training Thorn and Cassius on controlling their magic. I assisted Rip
by demonstrating how to withhold the natural course of magic to heal my body.
Firstly, I cut my arm and prevented the healing and then burnt off the alcohol.
It took a few attempts and glasses of red wine before Thorn and Cassius started
to prevent the healing. They didn’t adapt to it as quickly as I did. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rip
explained he was the same. Hundreds of years of letting magic find its own way
made it difficult to break their natural instincts. In contrast, I only had a
few months of bad habits to break. I enjoyed training Thorn for a change and
being better than her at something.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
following night, an alarm woke us and our training buddies appeared at our
doors. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Get
dressed and meet in the courtyard in ten minutes,” Ruby shouted.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
pulled on our combat clothing and hurried outside. Rip sauntered out five
minutes later while lighting a cigarette. Our training buddies were already
lined up, and they waved us to stand next to them. At the front, a man stood on
a box, flanked by another two men all dressed in black clothes. Once we were all
lined up, the man on the box scanned up and down the line.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Rip,
take that cigarette out of your mouth. This is a training camp, not a holiday
park.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rip
took a long drag and slowly blew it out, and then flicked the cigarette onto
the wet, muddy ground. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
man continued. “I am your instructor. I will be running your first night’s
training program. Tonight, you will pair up with your buddy and compete against
the other pairs through a set of physical challenges. Firstly, let’s get your
blood pumping.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The instructor yelled out exercises and tried
to beast us. He soon realised he wasn’t tiring us out. Next, we buddied up and
went off in intervals for a run in the forest. Along the route, we went through
an assault course, climbed over walls, crawled under wire fences, swam under
obstacles, carried each other, and then carried a massive log between us. At
the end of the course, they handed us a rifle and we had ten shots at a range
of targets. They added the scores up and converted it into time off our run.
Rip and Bradders won, mostly down to the shooting at the end. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
next night, Ruby led us in squad formations to perform house clearances down
the fake street next to the base. The other Dragans and I watched our human
buddies perform it on CCTV, breaking into the houses, covering the entrances
and exits, clearing out each room. We then completed a walk through with them. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thorn
asked them to run through it again and if during it, they would allow us to
link to them psychically. We could be in the moment and learn a lot faster.
After some discussion, they agreed, and we sat down and closed our eyes while our
buddies ran through the exercise a few more times. We lived each thought and
movement as the squad worked together. After a few runs, we had developed a
level of psychic muscle and memory. Next, we ran physically through the
exercise close to perfection.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
psychic linkage set the tone for the rest of the training. Whatever they showed
us, we were able to live the moment and then repeat. We did the same for them.
We showed them how to fight a Turned; we linked them into our thoughts and
movements, so they could feel and react the same way.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
accelerated through the training programs and covered everything from weapons
training, explosives, comms, high altitude parachute jumps, wingsuits, scuba
diving, and hand to hand. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In
return, we taught them how to fight vampires, how to detect vampires, the
behaviours of a vampire and how to resist a vampire’s powers. Towards the end
of the training, we worked out joint battle strategies; how could Dragans and
humans fight together. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
also fitted in some Dragan only magic training. Rip continued with his basic
drinking training until Thorn pushed him into something more practical. We used
it to re-run the assault course, accelerate our healing, block our recovery,
and power up our combat skills. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It
had been six months of intense training with our buddies, when a call had come
in that MI5 had located a target, The Original. He was the first-ever Turned
created by Cyrus, the General of his army, and the leader of the Turned
Revolution until overthrown by Bramel. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We geared
up straight away and soon found ourselves flying over Argentina, wearing
wingsuits, parachutes and weapons. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">#<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In
the plane, the human buddies checked over their Dragan counterparts, who then
returned the favour. I stood up to do the same with Ruby.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“No
need. I am fine,” she said.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Come
on. You are making me look bad.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">She
stood up, and I performed the same checks on her wingsuit, parachute and weapon
straps, and then her helmet and goggles.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I sat
back down when the jump lights turned from red to amber. Bradders lept out of
his seat and hit a button at the back of the plane. The end of the aircraft
unfolded down to a ramp, with the wind whistling through the plane, tugging us
towards the exit. We all unbuckled and lined up, tensing our muscles to stop
the pull to the rear of the aircraft. I put my goggles on and checked the GPS
on my wrist.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Comms
links on,” Ruby shouted. I flicked the button on the wire leading to my
earpiece. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Thumbs
up if you can hear me,” Ruby said. We all responded.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
jump light turned green, and Bradders turned to us and pumped the air with his
fists. “This is when the fun begins.” He spun back and ran out the back,
shouting as he lept off the ramp into the night. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Idiot,”
Rip said and walked down the ramp and dropped off the edge.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Smash
and Cassius nodded at each other and ran down the ramp and jumped off.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thorn
slapped Dunk on the shoulder. “You first.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Dunk
jogged down and jumped off. Thorn walked backwards to the end of the ramp,
smiling the entire time.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘See you down there.’</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On
her last step, she crouched down, back flipped into the air and flew away,
looking back as the darkness engulfed her.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Your
next,” Ruby said, “as the captain, I always go last to make sure the plane is
clear.”</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
walked down to the end and leaned forward into a handstand on the edge of the
ramp. I held it for a second, lowered down, and then thrust up and out, letting
the wind snatch me away from the plane and into the dark expanse.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /></div>P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-60752700607236757762021-02-02T08:08:00.006+00:002021-10-21T14:12:55.717+01:00The War of Vengeance - Vampire Formula 4 - an Update<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5vH4Zoj1B733fbNSVTtF7q9tgsi2G2omALt-g_NLUx5dBZet1Feqn1M5__j3_-Y34HVNVHwycySD5P_A6haqh86qfsDPcCpmpAZhZF8vM1RuC336T4isbPU6kX49LtB1d8wtSvL7y4ru0/s2048/new+war+of+vengeance.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5vH4Zoj1B733fbNSVTtF7q9tgsi2G2omALt-g_NLUx5dBZet1Feqn1M5__j3_-Y34HVNVHwycySD5P_A6haqh86qfsDPcCpmpAZhZF8vM1RuC336T4isbPU6kX49LtB1d8wtSvL7y4ru0/s320/new+war+of+vengeance.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><b>Update</b> 21st October 2021- the book was ready in April but I have postponed the release. I am writing a series of accompanying materials. I want to ensure all the events tie together and are consistent and then release monthly.<p></p><p>A trilogy of short stories giving insight into critical events in the Dragan History.</p><p>These will be released after the 4th book as they hold spoilers. But they will follow the vampire formula series numbers</p><p><br /></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>The Rise of the Dragans - Vampire Formula 5</b></p><p>To avoid spoilers, it should be read after 'The Truth of Vengeance' Vampire Formula 2</p><p><b>The Fall of the Dragans - Vampire Formula 6</b></p><p>Should be read after 'The Enemies of Vengeance' Vampire Formula 3</p><p><b>Becoming Thorn - Vampire Formula 7</b></p><p>Should be read after 'The War of Vengeance' Vampire Formula 4</p><p><b>The Shelter</b></p><p>A standalone series of events that tie together the worlds of the Vampire Formula and the I am Fury Novel, setting up a wider story universe.</p>P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-80199470620509241132020-05-01T07:43:00.006+01:002023-03-03T14:20:42.439+00:00The Enemies of Vengeance: Vampire Formula Series 3<b>The 3rd and Penultimate Book in the Vampire Formula Series has arrived</b><br />
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<b>Published 30th April 2020<br /><br />Description</b><br />
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V and Thorn have joined in Union, King and Queen of the Vampires. But the honeymoon must go on hold, as V needs to settle an old score back in England. This is a chance to finish off the O’Keefe family for good and regain his confidence after the horrendous tortures at the hands of the Hunters.<br />
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While visiting Leeds, his best friend from school, Giles, confronts him and vows vengeance for his betrayal. V knows one day they will fight and that one of them must die. How can he kill his best friend? A friend he did betray. A friend he did abandon.<br />
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Meanwhile, Thorn finds other vampires to join her army. The new recruits reveal the startling history of the vampire war, and V faces a deadly rival for his position of King.<br />
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Friends become enemies and enemies become friends, as the battle lines blur in this penultimate book in the series. Continue on this dark adventure and download today.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0847KZJKD" target="_blank">Amazon Link to Book Store</a>, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/P_A_Ross_The_Enemies_of_Vengeance?id=9o7zDwAAQBAJ" target="_blank">Google</a>, <a href="https://books.apple.com/gb/book/the-enemies-of-vengeance-vampire-formula-series-book-3/id1525461907" target="_blank">Apple Books</a>, <br />
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P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-9627017743324226892020-01-27T19:30:00.000+00:002020-01-27T19:33:22.805+00:00The Enemies of Vengeance: Vampire Formula Series Book 3After a long wait, it is nearly here.<br />
I am targeting mid-May for the release of the third and penultimate book of the series.<br />
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To whet your appetite here is the first chapter and the cover.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO5Lla3_GzRjhXfG8ym7cp2UQGtWmB0EgqTm8eZTSlXaagQV2nVmmFWCjLh_hYAGAgBe0hPEKiE61wIcbdPsfGYhVRPYKU0aip3-SyfzuUaHIi5Zo5C9eetxrdaQ0xEDEx-1i7jSel0rq/s1600/new+eneimes+of+v.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO5Lla3_GzRjhXfG8ym7cp2UQGtWmB0EgqTm8eZTSlXaagQV2nVmmFWCjLh_hYAGAgBe0hPEKiE61wIcbdPsfGYhVRPYKU0aip3-SyfzuUaHIi5Zo5C9eetxrdaQ0xEDEx-1i7jSel0rq/s320/new+eneimes+of+v.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<h2>
<b>Chapter One</b></h2>
I looked out from the top of the Eiffel Tower over the sprawl of Paris, the river Seine running alongside it cutting the city in half. The green symmetry of the Champ de Mars gardens lead up to the tower. The garden’s walkways filled with tiny figures of people swirling around in chaotic patterns, camera flashes illuminating their figures against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower.<br />
The city shone from street lights and car headlights, the engines sending a buzz into the air. In the distance, police sirens grabbed my attention as their blue lights squeezed past the frenzied flow of traffic.<br />
The summer night’s gentle warm breeze blew across my face. The chatter of other tourist merged into one massive concoction of different languages and accents. The sense of their emotions creating a background of psychic chatter.<br />
Thorn's hand squeezed mine, her thumb rubbing across my golden dragon Union ring. "See, so much better than the fake tower in Vegas. This is the real deal in the city of romance. There is no better place to spend our first week together in Union," she said.<br />
I gazed into her sky blue eyes as her raven hair flickered from the warm breeze. She smiled, and I reciprocated the gesture and smiled back.<br />
"It is better. Shame we had to go through so much to get here," I said, remembering my Dad's murder and my tortures at the hands of the Hunters.<br />
"The journey is important, without it the destination isn't the same. I am sorry about your father, but we will have our revenge. They have tried their best to break us and they have failed. We are even stronger than before. We are in Union," Thorn replied and held up her hand with her silver thorn Union ring.<br />
We had destroyed the Hunters and Turned in battle. Then we joined in Union and became Queen and King of the Dragans. The golden dragon scaled ring I wore and the silver thorn ring she wore, were symbols of our union. We had put our past with its arguments and betrayals behind us, and committed to a union to strengthen our bond.<br />
Behind us, the crowds milled around and left a space while everyone else crammed together. "Do they know, Thorn? Is that why they leave us alone?"<br />
Thorn looked at the gap left around us with the tourists cramming in against one another. "Not on a conscious level. But subconsciously they can detect our Dragan auras. I sense a level of underlying fear from them. They probably can’t understand it. But it's enough for their primitive instincts to give us a wide berth."<br />
Although I wasn't entirely Dragan, it was apparently enough to be given some space. I had taken the formula at the time of the Union, so we could consummate it properly as Dragan to Dragan. The formula would have increased my overall Dragan genetics and decreased my human side.<br />
After the union ceremony, we spent a beautiful couple of days together in her Chateau in the south of France. Once the formula wore off, we travelled north to spend the last of the honeymoon in Paris.<br />
"It's our last night in Paris, what shall we do after this?" I asked.<br />
"Well, I am getting hungry. There are a couple of areas where I think a meal might find us."<br />
"Then what?"<br />
"Back to the hotel and say our goodbyes."<br />
I stepped back and stared at her. "Goodbye?"<br />
"Yes. I have some news for you. Kieran is being released from prison. I thought you may want to return home and finish your revenge," she said, and pulled out an envelope from her back pocket and offered it to me. I took it and opened it up. Inside was a single train ticket for the following morning back to London, England.<br />
"You’re not coming with me?"<br />
"No. This is something you should do by yourself. Plus Cassius has a lead on Cyrus. We are going together to find him."<br />
I was confused and scared. I hadn't left her side since my ordeal at the hands of the Hunters. I felt safe when together. The phantom torture pains in my body re-ignited. The sight of Patrick's grinning face as he smashed my toes apart. Carmella's seductive offer and my betrayal of Thorn flooded back.<br />
Now Thorn wanted to be rid of me so soon to go off with her former lover, to search out another former lover.<br />
"But we should always be together. You promised we wouldn't separate again. This isn’t what I expected from our Union."<br />
"We will always be together regardless of distance. I meant our bond holds us to one another. But at times it makes sense for us to take action apart. There are many things that we must do to win this war against the Hunters and Turned. We must spread our skills as required."<br />
"So you are sending me away while you run off with your ex-lover to find another one of your ex-lovers."<br />
"Jealous?"<br />
"Yes. Of course I am jealous. You hope that both of them together might solve your infertility problems."<br />
She laughed. "Don't be such a child. You know they were never a romantic attachment. I do believe the Dragan blood is changing you."<br />
I scowled back and then stared into the night. It was true, the more Dragan I became, the more fiery my temper and I hadn’t learnt to control it. "Maybe, but still I don't like it."<br />
"You will have to live with it, as I am trusting you not to do anything wrong. Not to misuse your seductive powers for personal pleasure."<br />
I knew she was referring to Amber, but I wouldn’t respond. "I am not sure I care about Kieran and revenge anymore. I would rather stay with you."<br />
"How sweet, but Cassius and I can move quicker without you. And I am afraid that you will scare off Cyrus."<br />
"Why?"<br />
"He will detect the human part of you."<br />
"But you aren't exactly best friends anyway. I thought you were enemies. Why will he stick around to talk with you and not just run or attack regardless if I am there?"<br />
"We are enemies, but he will at least know what to expect from me. A human, however, is another matter. From what Max said, Cyrus seems to be ready to talk."<br />
"So how exactly did you and Cyrus try for a baby considering your feud?"<br />
Thorn raised an eyebrow. "It was before the feud, and purely as part of the breeding program.”<br />
I gazed back into the night sky. "And Cassius?"<br />
"And Amber and Scarlett? You aren't in the position to hold moral judgement on my previous relationships. My deeds were long before you were even born. However, yours have been while we have been together."<br />
"I don't like it. I should stay with you."<br />
"As my chaperone? In case I get ideas?"<br />
"But you will be with other Dragans. I know that is what you want. I know that is what you desire. I can only stay in Dragan form for a short time."<br />
"But the formula lasts longer every time and one day it will change you completely."<br />
"I know, but in the meantime, I am a poor substitute for a real Dragan."<br />
She pulled me around to face her and took both my hands in hers. "My god, you are like a petulant child at times. I suppose I got to learn how to control and understand my Dragan side as I grew. It must be difficult to have all those emotions sprung upon you at once. To set the record straight. I enjoy our time together even when you are only human. I have told you before I have had relationships with humans. I enjoy it but in a different way. You must know this, as we spend time together in both your forms. There is a different dynamic depending on your state of Human or Dragan."<br />
I bit the inside of my lower lip. I knew what she meant, probably in more detail than she realised. In my hybrid form, I could detect her emotions and knew she enjoyed our intimate time together when I was only human. She loved the fact that I was at her mercy and she could snuff me out in a single blow. Instead, she satisfied herself with a bite and a small sip of blood. However, she enjoyed the absolute power.<br />
I always knew she had the power and ability to end my life, but until I detected her emotions, I hadn't realised how raw those feelings were. They were always on the edge of her mind and being forced back by her self-control. How many times had I been moments away from death?<br />
"Yes. I know only too well why you enjoy it."<br />
She frowned back at me. "Pardon?"<br />
"Due to the heighten state between us and my new abilities, I can sense your emotions. I know your desires."<br />
She blushed. I had never seen her do that before. She took a deep breath. "You think you can shame me, then think again. You know what part you play when we are together. Don't act the innocent, pretending you didn’t know your role. Just accept it and enjoy it."<br />
It was my turn to blush. Of course I knew, but to feel her base desires was another level entirely. But it hadn't stopped me from being with her. It was like plummeting to your death in the arms of your lover. There was no place I would rather be.<br />
"Anyway, we agreed on no mind reading," Thorn said.<br />
"It just sort of happened. I wasn't expecting it."<br />
"You can only use that excuse so often, V. Learn to control your powers. We could do without any more incidents of young women falling in love with you."<br />
I knew she wasn't just referring to Amber and Scarlett, as a few of the waitresses at the hotel had been watching me.<br />
"Sorry, I just forget that I am doing it."<br />
"You enjoy the attention I think. Remember who you really are."<br />
I nodded.<br />
"So we are agreed, you go to Leeds, and Cassius and I are off to Rome to find Cyrus."<br />
"I could still come but keep in the background."<br />
"No. There is another reason you want to come."<br />
"I just... I just don't want to be alone. Sorry, I’m not the great big powerful King of the Dragans you want."<br />
"You are the King of the Dragans, and you will find your strength. This is why you must go and take your revenge. You have to find yourself again after what happened with Carmella and the Hunters. I don't need psychic powers to notice you are suffering still."<br />
Carmella. I wish Thorn hadn't mentioned her. The torture was terrible, and I suffered from nightmares. But I also felt guilty about Carmella. Her story of being turned and just wanting a normal life struck a chord as it had parallels to my own situation. I felt a tinge of loss when Thorn killed her, even though I realised she was just manipulating me. She was playing good cop to Patrick's bad cop as he tortured me.<br />
"But I don't think I want to kill Kieran. It’s beneath me."<br />
"Do whatever you like. But he may seek revenge on your family. You still have an aunt and uncle in the area, and he may even hurt Giles's family. You can make sure they all stay safe by paying him a visit."<br />
She was right. He would look for someone to blame for the death of his dad and younger brother. Liam, Kieran's twin, knew it was me and that may lead Kieran to attack my relatives as revenge by proxy.<br />
"I will go back and make sure he knows to stay away. I will put a little fear in him, and if that doesn't work, I will make him feel some more pain. He has a family as well."<br />
"Good. We could do without the distractions later on."<br />
"Okay. I will go."<br />
"When you are there, I want you to go and visit Miss Jones first. Make sure Annabel and Lucinda are okay. Also, scout out a new property for us. We need to re-establish a base in England."<br />
"You mean after I gave up the location of the last one."<br />
"You had to tell them something. I understand. But a new base would be useful. From London, travel up and visit Kieran and his family, and then once you are done get in touch, and we will arrange a meeting."<br />
"Okay. I am sure I can handle a little house hunting and scaring off a human."<br />
Thorn dropped her small handbag off her shoulder and fished out a box wrapped in wedding wrapping paper. "A gift," she said and handed it to me.<br />
I took it and pulled apart the paper to find a smartwatch inside the box. "Thank you," I said, and leaned in and kissed her.<br />
"It's a Union present or wedding present if that makes more sense to you. But it is more than just a watch. Read the instructions, and you will find out how to trigger a GPS transmitter."<br />
"Cool," I replied and pulled the watch out its box and placed it on my left wrist.<br />
"I have installed an app on my phone. If you trigger the transmitter, I will get a notification. So if you get into trouble, you can quickly signal for back up, and I will know where to find you."<br />
I smiled. She understood my fears and had taken measures to help me.<br />
"I have one as well. And I have installed the app on your phone. Likewise, I can always signal for you to come to my rescue."<br />
"As if that will be necessary?"<br />
"You underestimate yourself. The power you exhibited in the warehouse battle was immense. To transform into a part Dragon is more than any of us can manage. To create the scales, talons and Dragon strength, makes you almost invincible."<br />
"But I haven't been able to do it again."<br />
"Nor should you. It will probably drain you too much as it did the original Dragans."<br />
"Okay. You have convinced me to go to England. I can tell I won’t be able to change your mind."<br />
"Good. You can take the formula with you and the testing kit to indicate when to take it next. According to the last measurement, you have another few days to go before you can transform again. We need to make sure it isn't sooner else we may not have enough needles to complete the full change to a Dragan."<br />
"You trust me to take the needles?"<br />
"Of course. Take three of them. I will safeguard the others in case of an accident. Three should be enough for a journey to England and back."<br />
"Three should be plenty. I don't plan to stay too long."<br />
"Nor do I want you to. I want you back as soon as possible. Use the communication channels we agreed on to set up our reunion. Remember to go and see Miss Jones first. The address is in the envelope. I will let her know you are coming."<br />
"Of course. No problem."<br />
"Great now let’s finish off our last night with a bite and a bang," Thorn said and wrapped her arms around my back and squeezed us together.<br />
Her flawless pale face and blood red lips tilted up to mine. Her sky blue eyes diluted with the black of her pupils. She closed her eyes as our lips met. I shut my eyes, leaned into the kiss and held her tight in my arms. Our lips pressed against one another while our hands embraced each other’s bodies. We kissed passionately, and I heard a few comments from the crowd of tourists but I didn’t care. I was with Thorn and the whole world had stopped.P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-82823529835899203982018-09-07T07:59:00.000+01:002018-09-07T07:59:04.292+01:00Doctor Who - New series7th October 2018 UK will be the screening date of the first new doctore who, with a female doctor.<br />
I am really looking forward to it. I always like a new season of Doctor Who espically with a new Doctor, but this season has that extra exctiment with it being a woman.<br />
<br />
As writer, I am interested how the story lines and character dynamics will change or not change.<br />
Do you change dynamics of the way the Doctor interacts with everyone due to gender, or do you keep it the same.<br />
<br />
If the writers make too much out of the change of gender, does it become sexist or boring. Or by not changing things around does not embrace the fact the Doctor is different.<br />
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I wouldn't want the show to get bogged down in the change of gender. Any story should be about the characters.So it is this new Doctor's character that should be the focus and part of that will be their gender, but it shouldn't be the full focus.<br />
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I expect there to be moments in this season when it becomes the focus. Probably when the Doctor meets old friends.<br />
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Let's see how it plays out. I wondered how I would write it and I realise when a hughe challenge it would be to get the balance right.P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-54960744566905707662018-09-03T21:31:00.000+01:002018-12-04T21:15:28.483+00:00Vampire Books or stories for Men, Guys or BoysWhen writing my book, "The Birth of Vengeance," I always had in mind the main audience would be male. The book was written from a male point of view and the main character is male.<br />
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I have always been happy how many women have responded well to the book and like the strong character of Thorn, the female vampire. I always intend her character to be strong and independent and the opposite of the hapless females of other paranormal fantasies.<br />
<br />
I have researched other vampire books for men in the bid to find my audience. There are a few of well known note, and I am sure there are plenty in the midst of the vampire catagories I haven't yet found. <br />
I noticed they come listed under a number of keywords.<br />
- vampire books for guys<br />
- vampire books for men<br />
- vampire stories for guys or men<br />
- vampire books or stories for boys<br />
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There is also a list I created on Goodreads<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/45401.Vampire_books_for_Men">https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/45401.Vampire_books_for_Men</a><br />
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Here is a list of the top books I have found. These are the ones that are most often mentioned.<br />
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1) <a href="http://www.thornsneedles.com/2012/11/thorns-needles.html" target="_blank">The Birth of Vengeance</a> (start with my own book. Why not)<br />
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2) Dracula (of course)<br />
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3)
<span itemprop="name">A Living Nightmare (Cirque Du Freak, #1) </span><span class="by smallText">by</span>
<span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person">
<span itemprop="name">Darren Shan</span>
</span>
<br />
<br />
<span itemprop="name">4) </span>
<span itemprop="name">Let the Right One In</span>
<span class="by smallText">by</span>
<span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person">
<span itemprop="name">John Ajvide Lindqvist</span>
</span>
<span itemprop="name"> </span><br />
<br />
<span itemprop="name">5) </span><span itemprop="name">Vampire Chronicles: Interview with the Vampire, The Vampire Lestat, The Queen of the Damned</span>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tableList"><tbody>
<tr itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Book"><td valign="top" width="5%"><br /></td><td valign="top" width="100%"><span class="by smallText">by</span>
<span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person">
<span itemprop="name">Anne Rice</span></span></td><td valign="top" width="100%"></td><td valign="top" width="100%"></td><td valign="top" width="100%"><span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><span itemprop="name"> </span>
</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span itemprop="name">I shall continue to add on books to this list. </span><br />
<span itemprop="name"></span>Please feel free to contact me with your own recommendations.P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-40779015503288813202018-09-01T07:40:00.000+01:002018-09-05T00:09:43.097+01:00I Want Vengeance - Free ebook<b>FREE eBook</b><br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=rugbyandthesc-21&l=as2&o=2&a=B00GFRK264" height="1" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" />Click the links below to get the FREE story.<br />
<br />
Available on<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/I-Want-Vengeance-Vampire-Formula-ebook/dp/B00GFRK264/ref=sr_1_461?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1494448814&sr=1-461&keywords=free+vampire+books&tag=paross0f-20" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> & <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Want-Vengeance-Vampire-Formula-ebook/dp/B00GFRK264/ref=as_li_ss_tl?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1495050675&sr=1-30&keywords=free+vampire+books&linkCode=ll1&tag=rugbyandthesc-21&linkId=2debadfb8009d4ff6b30648bafbce62a" target="_blank">Amazon.co.uk</a> <a href="http://mybook.to/iwv" target="_blank">Amazon/world</a>, <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/i-want-vengeance" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/i-want-vengeance-a-vampire-story/id747366462?mt=11" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/374127" target="_blank">Smashwords</a>, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/P_A_Ross_I_Want_Vengeance?id=WdrpAQAAQBAJ" target="_blank">Google</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-want-vengeance-pa-ross/1117444069?ean=2940045421454" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a>, and others<br />
<br />
This is a prequel short story to the <a href="http://www.thornsneedles.com/2012/08/the-birth-of-vengeance.html" target="_blank">"The Birth of Vengeance,"</a> and the the forth coming sequel, "<a href="http://www.thornsneedles.com/2015/05/the-truth-of-vengeance_29.html" target="_blank">The Truth of Vengeance</a>."<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00GFRK264/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B00GFRK264&linkCode=as2&tag=rugbyandthesc-21" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00GFRK264&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=rugbyandthesc-21" /></a><br />
<b>Book description:</b><br />
<br />
Jon Harper's life is a never ending circle of bullying. He is trapped without support from the school or his father. He wants to find an escape. He wants bloody vengeance, but how can he ever defeat the notorious vicious school gang.<br />
<br />
Thorn is a lonely sultry vampire who fills her nights feeding and battling her enemies; the vampire hunters and the decaying Turned. One night the rules change, and her life will never be the same. She wants vengeance.<br />
This short story is a prequel to the "The Birth of Vengeance," and the beginning of a vampire series of books.<br />
<br />
It is set a couple of years before the events in the 1st book and gives an insight in the lives of the two main characters, Jon and Thorn.<br />
<br />
Some of the characters appearing in this short story prequel will make their appearance properly in the sequel, "The Truth of Vengeance (Vampire Formula#2)"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-78295229339719219152018-05-07T16:32:00.000+01:002018-05-07T16:43:21.891+01:00New App - Spendless - Slashing ExpensesI have launched an APP called "Spendless- Slashing Expenses"<br />
<br />
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spendless.app">https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spendless.app</a><br />
<br />
It records you cutting back on expenses and adds them up to reach a goal.<br />
<br />
The idea came to me at work when ordering coffee. I could take in my own coffee. This would save £1.10 every cup. If I recorded all these £1.10, how much could I save?<br />
<br />
If I did the same with bringing in my own lunch as well. I could save money.<br />
<br />
But I wanted an easy way to track these little saving by cutting expense, towards a bigger goal like buying a new smartphone for £100. Something in my hand and at a click of a button<br />
<br />
So the app came to life. You click every time you make a saving and it adds the money save towards your goal.<br />
<br />
You can track your goal and it will tell you once completed.<br />
<br />
Simple. The App is FREE is give a go and start saving today.P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-92008213437691000242018-03-06T18:16:00.001+00:002018-03-06T18:16:12.930+00:00I Am Fury - 5 Star reviewJust wanted to share with you all the great review I recieved.<br />
I was very happy how the review picked out the key points of the books, which I hoped would make it enjoyable to read.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://redheadedbookloverblog.com/2018/03/03/fury-p-ross/comment-page-1/#comment-10026">http://redheadedbookloverblog.com/2018/03/03/fury-p-ross/comment-page-1/#comment-10026</a><br />
<br />
<br />P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-42450700338542286202017-08-06T16:23:00.002+01:002017-08-06T16:23:52.449+01:00I Am Fury - Kindle UnlimitedI have decided to give Kindle unlimited a try with my new book "I Am Fury"<br />
<br />
So for all you kindle unlimited customer, now is the chance to pick up my new book.<br />
I may not keep this on kindle unlimited forever<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5urfCqxaYTGHnJWVlYk9FGJpWJcti1QzDerlCd_UamJFQ4LhxJbc-c5-NPcponFCY6SPZI8v02c44aGJ78o5p8Q7erURVH5ySEkuRv8cYhFx_-LMozfenOc1NPmXADvbH9N8bqyX35_m/s1600/I+Am+Fury+001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5urfCqxaYTGHnJWVlYk9FGJpWJcti1QzDerlCd_UamJFQ4LhxJbc-c5-NPcponFCY6SPZI8v02c44aGJ78o5p8Q7erURVH5ySEkuRv8cYhFx_-LMozfenOc1NPmXADvbH9N8bqyX35_m/s320/I+Am+Fury+001.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Product Description</b><br />
<b><br /></b><i>All will be revealed in the fury of the flames…</i><br />
<br />
A perfect life, a perfect day, all comes crashing down around Mary-Anne, just when everything seemed to be going her way. A loving husband, an adorable son, and a positive pregnancy test, have her walking on cloud nine. And then, in a single moment, everything changed…<br />
<br />
After being brutally kidnapped off the streets, Mary-Anne finds herself cast into the fiery pits of Hell. Kept against her will and relentlessly tortured, the demon's of Hell solicit her fear to fuel her kidnappers' dark, terrible magic.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Secrets and lies from her past begin to resurface as she is exposed to the flames of Hell. In the eternally smouldering abyss, Mary-Anne must summon whatever strength remains to her to save herself and her loved ones. She must accept the fury and fear within. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.<br />
<div>
<br />
Available on <a href="http://mybook.to/iamfury">Amazon</a></div>
<br />P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-22084467624705714922017-07-13T08:14:00.000+01:002017-07-13T08:14:03.860+01:00I Am Fury Launch DayLaunch Day 13th July 2017 - Hope you all enjoy.<br />
I loved writing it and I want to write more.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5urfCqxaYTGHnJWVlYk9FGJpWJcti1QzDerlCd_UamJFQ4LhxJbc-c5-NPcponFCY6SPZI8v02c44aGJ78o5p8Q7erURVH5ySEkuRv8cYhFx_-LMozfenOc1NPmXADvbH9N8bqyX35_m/s1600/I+Am+Fury+001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5urfCqxaYTGHnJWVlYk9FGJpWJcti1QzDerlCd_UamJFQ4LhxJbc-c5-NPcponFCY6SPZI8v02c44aGJ78o5p8Q7erURVH5ySEkuRv8cYhFx_-LMozfenOc1NPmXADvbH9N8bqyX35_m/s320/I+Am+Fury+001.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Product Description</b><br />
<b><br /></b><i>All will be revealed in the fury of the flames…</i><br />
<br />
A perfect life, a perfect day, all comes crashing down around Mary-Anne, just when everything seemed to be going her way. A loving husband, an adorable son, and a positive pregnancy test, have her walking on cloud nine. And then, in a single moment, everything changed…<br />
<br />
After being brutally kidnapped off the streets, Mary-Anne finds herself cast into the fiery pits of Hell. Kept against her will and relentlessly tortured, the demon's of Hell solicit her fear to fuel her kidnappers' dark, terrible magic.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Secrets and lies from her past begin to resurface as she is exposed to the flames of Hell. In the eternally smouldering abyss, Mary-Anne must summon whatever strength remains to her to save herself and her loved ones. She must accept the fury and fear within. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.<br />
<div>
<br />
Available on <a href="http://mybook.to/iamfury">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/P_A_Ross_I_Am_Fury?id=mEKWDgAAQBAJ&hl=en_GB">Google</a>, <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/715314">Smashwords</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/i-am-fury-1">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/i-am-fury/id1222057854?mt=11%22%3EI%20Am%20Fury%20-%20P.A%20Ross%3C/a%3E" target="_blank">itunes</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-am-fury-pa-ross/1126092848?ean=2940154093337">Barnes and Noble</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-87567213973230774142017-07-12T21:14:00.003+01:002017-07-13T08:13:38.034+01:00Amazon usa book giveawayamazon.com giveaway for my new book "I Am Fury" http://ow.ly/LZjs30dA6LW<br /><br />#freebook #newbook<br /><br />Sorry, but have to have an america address. Only amazon.com run these giveaways.P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-82311205599922819562017-06-28T20:49:00.000+01:002017-06-29T08:03:44.858+01:00I Am Fury - 2 weeks to goMy new book will be launched in 2 week's time 13th July 2017.<br />
I am really looking forward to it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5urfCqxaYTGHnJWVlYk9FGJpWJcti1QzDerlCd_UamJFQ4LhxJbc-c5-NPcponFCY6SPZI8v02c44aGJ78o5p8Q7erURVH5ySEkuRv8cYhFx_-LMozfenOc1NPmXADvbH9N8bqyX35_m/s1600/I+Am+Fury+001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5urfCqxaYTGHnJWVlYk9FGJpWJcti1QzDerlCd_UamJFQ4LhxJbc-c5-NPcponFCY6SPZI8v02c44aGJ78o5p8Q7erURVH5ySEkuRv8cYhFx_-LMozfenOc1NPmXADvbH9N8bqyX35_m/s320/I+Am+Fury+001.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Product Description</b><br />
<b><br /></b><i>All will be revealed in the fury of the flames…</i><br />
<br />
A perfect life, a perfect day, all comes crashing down around Mary-Anne, just when everything seemed to be going her way. A loving husband, an adorable son, and a positive pregnancy test, have her walking on cloud nine. And then, in a single moment, everything changed…<br />
<br />
After being brutally kidnapped off the streets, Mary-Anne finds herself cast into the fiery pits of Hell. Kept against her will and relentlessly tortured, the demon's of Hell solicit her fear to fuel her kidnappers' dark, terrible magic.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Secrets and lies from her past begin to resurface as she is exposed to the flames of Hell. In the eternally smouldering abyss, Mary-Anne must summon whatever strength remains to her to save herself and her loved ones. She must accept the fury and fear within. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.<br />
<div>
<br />
Available on <a href="http://mybook.to/iamfury">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/P_A_Ross_I_Am_Fury?id=mEKWDgAAQBAJ&hl=en_GB">Google</a>, <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/715314">Smashwords</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/i-am-fury-1">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/i-am-fury/id1222057854?mt=11%22%3EI%20Am%20Fury%20-%20P.A%20Ross%3C/a%3E" target="_blank">itunes</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-am-fury-pa-ross/1126092848?ean=2940154093337">Barnes and Noble</a></div>
<br />P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-4154169974524554702017-06-13T21:10:00.002+01:002017-06-13T21:10:46.291+01:00I Am Fury - 1 month to goMy new book will be launched in 1 month's time 13th July 2017.<br />
I am really looking forward to it.<br />
<br />
ARC copies available - just contact me to request a copy<br />
<br />
Book link<br />
<a href="http://www.thornsneedles.com/2017/04/i-am-fury.html">http://www.thornsneedles.com/2017/04/i-am-fury.html</a><br />
<br />P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-45349930478952900162017-06-02T19:42:00.001+01:002017-06-02T19:42:23.351+01:00I Am Fury - ARCI am offering the chance for the first twenty people to get an Advance Reader's Copy of <a href="http://www.thornsneedles.com/2017/04/i-am-fury.html" target="_blank">'I Am Fury'</a><br />
<br />
Goes on sale 13th July 2017.<br />
<br />
Just <a href="http://www.thornsneedles.com/p/contact-me.html" target="_blank">contact me</a> through the website to get your copy.P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-38234347218651858772017-04-09T10:13:00.001+01:002017-04-09T10:13:07.807+01:00I Am Fury - cover revealThe cover for my latest book 'I AM FURY'<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLA-kHIHny7w076BEX3in29yylTx090AHKTnRg7VK9SviUOPM_El0O5PEuJqwB-X1dYorqDLzjQyoT3XiIAi4ZIDsoK5sYSE1Af88ZhjNRAuX5p2IfMdEd6b-n7kqhpXN47R-dl8I60AIf/s1600/I+Am+Fury+001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLA-kHIHny7w076BEX3in29yylTx090AHKTnRg7VK9SviUOPM_El0O5PEuJqwB-X1dYorqDLzjQyoT3XiIAi4ZIDsoK5sYSE1Af88ZhjNRAuX5p2IfMdEd6b-n7kqhpXN47R-dl8I60AIf/s400/I+Am+Fury+001.jpeg" width="250" /></a></div>
P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113431354373553350.post-33022023126213124842017-04-03T20:49:00.000+01:002018-09-04T22:32:38.677+01:00I Am Fury<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk51uU-fZfS3kgjvX0kWnjGS5vjmTGVqqW4AuUQNFv48cc9pPLoPa2a5NWF7TPmPHqrCXxZddFTnEDjiuRTQzuCmYrsrvGw4ZfgjMazOOWsVb72s2n3ANTAfvpYKC-2W-IVxVSYTZC_QfH/s1600/Asmith60635_1+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk51uU-fZfS3kgjvX0kWnjGS5vjmTGVqqW4AuUQNFv48cc9pPLoPa2a5NWF7TPmPHqrCXxZddFTnEDjiuRTQzuCmYrsrvGw4ZfgjMazOOWsVb72s2n3ANTAfvpYKC-2W-IVxVSYTZC_QfH/s320/Asmith60635_1+%25281%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<b>Product Description</b><br />
<b><br /></b> <i>All will be revealed in the fury of the flames…</i><br />
<br />
A perfect life, a perfect day, all comes crashing down around Mary-Anne, just when everything seemed to be going her way. A loving husband, an adorable son, and a positive pregnancy test, have her walking on cloud nine. And then, in a single moment, everything changed…<br />
<br />
After being brutally kidnapped off the streets, Mary-Anne finds herself cast into the fiery pits of Hell. Kept against her will and relentlessly tortured, the demon's of Hell solicit her fear to fuel her kidnappers' dark, terrible magic.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Secrets and lies from her past begin to resurface as she is exposed to the flames of Hell. In the eternally smouldering abyss, Mary-Anne must summon whatever strength remains to her to save herself and her loved ones. She must accept the fury and fear within. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.<br />
<div>
<br />
Available on <a href="http://mybook.to/iamfury">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/P_A_Ross_I_Am_Fury?id=mEKWDgAAQBAJ&hl=en_GB">Google</a>, <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/715314">Smashwords</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/i-am-fury-1">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/i-am-fury/id1222057854?mt=11%22%3EI%20Am%20Fury%20-%20P.A%20Ross%3C/a%3E" target="_blank">itunes</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-am-fury-pa-ross/1126092848?ean=2940154093337">Barnes and Noble</a></div>
P.A.Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721204171483446429noreply@blogger.com0