Dark Awakening
A Tale of the Dark Dynasties
KENDRA LEIGH CASTLE
NEW YORK BOSTON
A Preview of
Midnight Reckoning
To my sister Kyra,
for always being my friend
and for putting up with the vampire Barbies.
This one’s for you.
L
EADER:
Queen Arsinöe
O
RIGIN
: Ancient Egypt and the goddess Sekhmet
S
TRONGHOLDS:
Cities of the eastern United States, concentrated in the mid-Atlantic
A
BILITIES:
Lightning speed
L
EADER:
None; considered lowbloods, despite the pure mark
O
RIGIN:
A Celtic line originating with the Fae
S
TRONGHOLDS
: None; in servitude to the Ptolemy, or hiding in squalor
A
BILITIES:
Can take the form of a cat
L
EADER:
Vlad Dracul
O
RIGIN:
The goddess Nyx
S
TRONGHOLDS:
Northern United States; Chicago (shared under an agreement with the Empusae)
A
BILITIES:
Can take the form of a bat
L
EADER:
Sariel
O
RIGIN:
Unknown
S
TRONGHOLDS:
The deserts of the West
A
BILITIES:
Flight is rumored due to their mark, but no proof
L
EADER:
Empusa
O
RIGIN:
The goddess Hecate
S
TRONGHOLDS:
Southern United States; Chicago (shared with the Dracul)
A
BILITIES:
Can take the form of smoke
T
HE BALLROOM WAS
bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, and tiny flames danced, reflected in the eyes of those gathered for the ceremony. The young woman, the Chosen, stepped uncertainly into their midst, her bare feet noiseless on the dark and gleaming wood floor. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of the lithe and elegant figures, pale-skinned and beautiful, who had come to witness this event, the most momentous of her life.