Wednesday, January 17, 2018

The Dark Proposal by Megan Cashman


Welcome to the character interview featuring vampire couple Hilde and Michel. In “The Dark Proposal” they are both Daniel Bertrand’s makers, and go along with tormenting Claire McCormick. But there’s a softer side to these two, especially Hilde… 

Here they are:

MC: Good day, Hilde and Michel. Thanks for doing this interview at this time. I know vampires can move around in daylight, depending on age, but I didn’t think you would want to hide your vampire ways for this exclusive interview.

M: :shrugs: We always hide ourselves from humans, so this is no big deal.

H: I think it gives a nice effect. Creatures of the night giving an interview while the sun is still up.

MC: Good point. So, let’s begin. Does living as a vampire have the same appeal as prior to being turned (if you’re that type of vampire)? If you had to do it over, would you?

H: Of course. I love the power and freedom that I have. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. If I didn’t agree to be turned, I would be nothing but dust, long forgotten as though I never existed.

M:  Same here. Besides, Hilde was worth joining. She was both enticing and a challenge, or both together.

H: We would have missed out on so much. Who would want to die? Luckily, we are the few to receive this gift.

MC: Where do you come from?

H:  I am Germanic, and came from a small village in Bavaria in the mid-11th century. :grins: I’ll be a millennium old soon!

M: I was born a century and half after her, in what history calls the Duchy of Burgundy.

MC: From what you’ve witnessed yourself, do the history books have it right?

H: No

M: Depends on what school or country, or which author. Some are more accurate than others

MC: Are there other vampires, and if so what role does gender play in vampire society?

M: It is male-dominated because the leaders are five Brothers. But plenty of women have succeeded in being leaders, or Defenders of the Blood as they are known. Hilde was one of them. In fact, one of the Brothers made her because he thought she was thrived as a vampire than as a human.

H: It can get somewhat catty between the women here. But we’ve had more freedom through the centuries than human women. The latter has some catching up to do!

MC: Do you miss food, the sun, or your heartbeat more?

M: Once I was old enough to be out in the sun, I had to admit I missed the light.

H: Probably food. There is little or no taste, although blood never fails to bore us. None of us really need food and it just goes right through our system with little impact.

MC: Vampire physiology must be very different from human physiology – how is human blood digested and processed in the blood system?

H: Like all other nutrients, it goes where it needs to go. So the nutrition from human blood goes to our strong muscles, heightened senses, and parts of our brain which allow us to read thoughts and clear minds.

MC: According to folklore, vampires can’t cross moving water. Does this present problems for you?

M: No, because its not true.

MC: Can you have sex the ‘traditional’ way? Do you have any desire for sex?

(the two look amused and glance at each other)

H: We wouldn’t be here now if sex wasn’t part of the deal.

MC: OK then. What do you think of the recent fashion for vampire books and films? Has it made your life harder or easier?

H: Easier. There are so many wannabes out there willing to let someone drink from them. (sighs) Gullible, foolish humans. I adore them so much.

MC: What was your first feed/kill like?

H: I relished in it! I had my chance at revenge!

M: I was bothered at first, but Hilde helped me accept it as it is.

MC: Should humans tolerate the existence of vampires?

(both hesitate before answering)

H: They should. I mean, we’re not going anywhere.

M: We could probably work something out.

MC: Can you explain more? What do you mean ‘work something out’?

M: Its not really relevant (waves hand). We’re not going anywhere, as Hilde said.

MC: OK then. Well, that concludes our interview. Have a good one, and thank you.

(Hilde and Michel nod and leave office)

Well, there you have it. Hilde and Michel, quite a couple, though their last answer was a bit bizarre. But they’re an interesting twosome.

The Dark Proposal
The End of Eternity
Book One
Megan Cashman

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Date of Publication: September 14, 2012

ASIN: B00D6WJFUU

Number of pages: 211
Word Count: 79,050

Cover Artist: Karri Kwaliter

Book Description:

A young woman copes with being forced to become a vampire as the man she loves reveals he is more evil than she can comprehend.

Claire McCormick has graduated from college and is eager for her childhood dreams to come true. She thought it would happen when she began dating Daniel Bertrand, who was everything she wanted in a boyfriend. But just as her dreams are about to happen, Claire’s life is turned upside down when Daniel reveals to be a bloodthirsty vampire, with the intent on making her his eternal companion. Frightened, Claire desperately tries to rid herself of him, but Daniel is too evil to defeat. She has to come to terms with reality, as she faces a vampire world fighting to survive in modern times, with many of them unaware of how devious Daniel can be.

The Dark Proposal is the first book in a trilogy that follows what becomes of Claire and the vampires.

WARNING: contains thematic elements, graphic content and some strong language


Amazon     Smashwords

Excerpt:

There was a pregnant pause with both waiting for the other to speak or make the first move. For a second, she wondered if this was going to be the moment he would make her like him or kill her instead.
“No, Claire,” he spoke suddenly. She jumped, startled. “It’s up to you to say yes. And remember I did tell you I can read your thoughts.”
“Then please stop, because you’re freaking me out,” she said.
He arched one eyebrow, and for a moment, she feared he would attack her. But instead, he crossed one arm across his chest and put the opposite hand under his chin, as though contemplating something.
“I see you’ve accepted somewhat of what I revealed to you,” he finally said.
“A little.” She felt like she was preparing for war.
“What?” He sounded curious. “Is there something else you can’t comprehend?”
“Yeah,” she said in a shaky voice. Her eyes were downcast, and when she was ready, she lifted them to look right at him. “I did some research while in New Jersey. There’s a lot of websites about real vampires.”
“Yes?” Daniel raised his eyebrows.
Taking a deep breath, she said, “I think you killed Colin Willis.”
His face expressionless, he lowered his arms and closed his eyes, shaking his head. He ran one hand over his face as Claire continued.
“I read a blog about his murder. There are rumors going around that he had two holes on the side of his neck. There was no blood in his body.” She swallowed and asked, almost pleading, “Did you really do it? Honestly, Dan?”
Removing his hand, he looked right at her and said, “I think you know the answer to that question.”
She did, and whatever hope she had that he did not murder Willis quickly dissolved. She began to pant in horror at first, but then in anger. “I mean, you knew as everyone else that there was no evidence of foul play,” he was saying, nonchalantly watching her. “Plus, there were no suspects -”
Claire suddenly pounced on Daniel, arms flailing as she hit him in the face and chest. She was screaming about him being a murderer and how evil he was.
It didn’t last long because he soon caught her flying fists and held a tight grip on her wrists, holding them away from him. His grip was beyond solid, like a steel machine, and his eyes were hollow with rage. For a moment, she thought he was going to attack her again. No, he was going to kill her. She dared to hit him, dared to defy him and now she would pay the price.

He held her in his harsh eyes for a moment, and then shoved her hands away, practically pushing her away from him. “Honestly, who else would’ve done it?”


About the Author:

Born and raised on Staten Island, NY, Megan Cashman currently lives in Brooklyn, where she can be seen checking out the borough’s numerous coffee shops to work on her writing projects. She has a Masters’ degree in journalism, and has worked for cable news, both local and national, as well as a major New York newspaper. She is currently a freelance journalist and an adjunct professor at the City University of New York (CUNY). When she’s not writing or teaching, Megan can be seen taking nature photos with her iPhone, crocheting, doing yoga and Pilates, and trying out new dinner recipes.



@MeganCashman





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