Descendants of Darkness

DESCENDANTS OF DARKNESS
Ellora's Cave
Vampire / Single author collection
Novel
ISBN 1-4199-0433-7 (ebook) [buy]
ISBN 978-1419958-61-8 (trade paperback) [buy]

Recognitions & Accolades

2004 PEARL Best Erotic Paranormal (Honorable Mention)*
TOP PICK! RT Magazine, 2004*
2004 RT Reviewer Choice nominee
2006 Literary Nymphs Recommended Read
FAR Golden Angel Award - Recommended Read*
2004 CAPA Best Erotic Anthology nominee*
2004 ENDA Award Winner, Best Paranormal (LEONARDO)*




Four New Orleans vampires, each searching for their destined life-mate…

Alonso answers the mental call of Jolie, a fortune teller and psychic, when she is threatened by another vampire. He must bond with her and make her his before the dangerous demoni scuri forces her to his will.

Lucius longs for a woman to match his animalistic needs, one who could tame the beast he has become over the centuries. One night, he finds her roaming the Louisiana bayou, but Tala is of an ancient race. And perhaps more animalistic than he…

Leonardo is drawn to the dark alleys of New Orleans by the call of a dying comrade, only to come face to face with his life-mate, Erin—a vampire slayer. They must find common ground before lust—and love—can rule their nights.

Raife is beckoned by a witch's spell, an entreaty to love and pleasure. He is helpless to resist. Soon, he will find that the magic of Yvette, a French Creole witch, holds more in store for him than one night of sensual bliss.

"4 Angels...a very wonderful read...I recommend you read it for yourself, and let it carry you into the darkness of love and pleasure." ~Fallen Angel Reviews

"4 1/2 Kisses...Marianne LaCroix is a talented author who has combined four intriguing stories into one superb novel. From one short novella to the next, I couldn’t put the book down. From compelling characters, dangerous situations, to murder and mayhem, each character has to overcome both internal and external conflicts to gain the love of their mates...I will definitely be looking for this authors work in the future." ~Romance Divas

"5 Nymphs, Golden Blush Recommended Read...LaCroix has done it once again with vividly bringing all the characters in Descendants of Darkness to life like few authors can do. Not only are the characters and story line excellent and very detailed, but the sex scenes are about as hot as you'll find anywhere." ~Literary Nymphs

"...Marianne LaCroix has done herself proud by uniting and expanding the shorter stories into a single long volume that follows the lives of four denizens of the night, Alonso, Lucius, Leonardo and Raife in pursuit of their respective life mates....A light entertaining read, these tales enjoy sensuality and heat as well as interesting characters of the paranormal variety. I was thrilled to see these stories released together as a single volume..." ~Eternal Night

"4 Blue Ribbons...DESCENDANTS OF DARKNESS reminds me of a mini anthology and the best part of all is that it is written by one author, Marianne LaCroix. I found it to be very interesting that all four male vampires were linked to one another. Each paranormal characteristic tangled with the magical fragment presented a wonderful blend of uniqueness and similarities throughout this read. At the end of each short story, you will understand a vampire’s desire to be with his life-mate and the lengths at which he will go to be with her." ~Romance Junkies

Lucius. The bastard had indeed returned.

“Sorry, I have to go,” Alonso said, jumping up from the table.

“What is it?” Leo asked.

“Lucius. He’s here. Close. And a woman is calling to me.” How could that be, he wondered. Did she have some special power?

“I’m coming along,” Leo said, rising.

“Let me face him myself. I know him more than anyone. If I need help, I’ll call.”

Alonso raced out of the club, leaving behind his friends and the pounding music. In the alley, he began to transform. His body shifted, changing size and shape, into a golden eagle. With a flap of his grand wings, he lifted into the air, homing in on Lucius.

He had a blood bond to the demoni and could sense everything Lucius felt. He could use that connection to find the vampire in the vast city. Soaring above the historic buildings that lined the streets of New Orleans, he closed in on his maker. He was on Bourbon Street in a human dance club, deep in the heart of the French Quarter. Alonso traveled as fast as the wind to head off the imminent danger.

There was something to be said of a strange woman calling to him. And why was he able to hear her and sense her surroundings? He hoped he had the chance to find out before Lucius made her his next meal. Never had he heard a human call to him without some sort of blood bond. This woman was indeed unique.

Bourbon Street was alive with nightlife activity. It was the perfect place for a vampire to seek out a meal. At least, for a vampire wanting to take a life with his meal.

Only the demoni scuri, like Lucius, murdered for their meals. Once vampires killed, they became more distant and isolated. Crossing one of them was always dangerous. Many were largely independent, but some took on companions, partners in the hunt. Lucius went through stages of wanting a companion. Alonso hoped he didn’t have to cross another demoni scuri in his search. Lucius was deadly enough.

Below, within the Razzoo, he felt Lucius. He hadn’t gotten the girl outside yet. Alonso wasn’t too late. He landed in a dark shadow cast from one of the nearby buildings and shifted back to his human form.

Inside the crowded club, the smells of sweat, perfumes, body odor and alcohol assaulted him. Hundreds of human hearts beat wildly to the rock music pumping through huge amplifiers. Sexual excitement laced the air as men and woman flirted and made their choices for the night in an attempt to satisfy their primal needs.

Making his way through the crowd, several women threw themselves against him, rubbing their bodies against his. If he hadn’t been there to confront Lucius, he may have taken them to a dark recess for a few sips of their delectable life fluid.

In the corner, he spotted Lucius’ long white hair. Carefully, Alonso approached the table where Lucius held a woman’s hand.

She looked up and her gaze locked with Alonso’s.

He felt as if the air had been sucked out of the room. Those eyes, so dark and lovely, pleaded with him. Her creamy complexion was perfection, and her dark raven-black hair was swept up into a mass of elaborate curls and waves. She wore a velvet shawl of black, with swirls of jewel-tone reds. She looked like a palm reader or…

A psychic? Could that be why he had heard her call? But why him?

“Ah, Alonso,” Lucius said without turning. “How nice of you to come, my old friend and companion. Sit and meet the lovely Jolie. She was just reading my fortune as told by the cards.”

“I don’t think so.”

Lucius gazed up at Alonso. The intense, cool-blue calculation in the vampire’s eyes struck him. Lucius wanted her for more than a night’s meal. He wanted to mate with her.

Alonso swore then he wouldn’t allow anyone to have her. He wanted her for himself.

He extended a hand toward the woman. “Come with me, now.”

“Careful, Alonso. I saw her first.”

“But you won’t have her.”