Katie Salidas - Immortalis Carpe Noctem (Immortalis, Book 1)

Becoming a vampire is easy.

Living with the condition, that is the hard part.

Immortalis Carpe Noctem

By Katie Salidas

Immortalis Carpe Noctem

KINDLE EDITION

Copyright 2010 by Katie Salidas

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

Cover Design by Stella Price

http://stellaprice.deviantart.com/gallery/

Editing by Sharazade

Interior Design by Katie Salidas

Published by Rising Sign Books, LLC.

4600 E. Sunset Rd. 279

Henderson, Nv 89014

http://www.RisingSignBooks.com

LCCN: 2010900421

ISBN-13 978-0-9844196-0-9

For my daughter, Alyse.

You bring so much joy and happiness into my life.

I want you to know you can do anything you set your mind to. Mommy will always be there to back you up and give you the support you need to succeed.

* * * * *

I would not have completed this novel if it werent for the support of my loving family and friends.

Nick, thank you for being the most loving and supportive husband a woman could hope for. I dont say it enough, but I am lucky to be with you. Thank you for beta reading and giving me honest feedback, even though you knew it might hurt my feelings. Thank you for enduring the late nights, the uncertainty, and for talking me down when I felt like giving up.

Crystal, thank you for all the support and kind words. Thanks for enduring multiple drafts of this novel and pointing out all the things that needed work. I hope you are happy with the character you inspired. You are truly my best friend.

Joe & Sue Provost, thank you for your support, not just for this book, but for the long years you have stood by me. Im proud to have such wonderful parents.

To my many beta readers, thank you. All of your comments, criticisms, and compliments helped shape this novel. It would not be what it is today without your help.

And finally, to my daughter, Alyse. Thank you for being you. Watching you grow and experience the world provides so much inspiration.

* * * * *

I hated waiting!

I shot impatient glances at my phone, checking the time displayed in green LED. It was late and I was restless.

Sounds of clapping in the background signaled that another poetry reading had finished.

It was a busy night at Caf Copioh; but then, just about every night here was busy.

Copioh drew in a unique crowd from the nearby college. It wasnt one of those fancy frou-frou coffee houses. It had a bohemian feel: colorful, vibrant, and eclectic. Each wall had been painted in a different color: teal, maroon, sand, and sage. Reprints of various famous artworks lined the walls, including a large mural of Van Goghs Starry Night, in black light reflective paint. A plethora of flea market-style furnishings were strewn about haphazardly in the large space, completing the relaxed, homey feel.

Mike, the managera stereotypical beatnik-esque guy, complete with goatee and long pony-tailset down a Styrofoam cup filled with a dark, chocolaty drink. You adding this to your tab, Alyssa?

I smiled. Yeah. Ill pay up on Friday, okay?

He nodded and walked away.

I was a regular here. Mike knew this and usually let me slide until payday. I could be found here almost every night. And so could my friend, Fallon.

I shot another impatient glance at my phone and sighed.

Ten p.m. Cmon Fallon, I dont want to wait all night.

A loud, shrill voice spoke over the cafs speaker system. I cringed, hearing the start of another dreary poem.

Someone was almost always on the makeshift stage. Reading poetry was the custom here. I sat back into the cushions of my favorite brown threadbare loveseat in the front window, far away from the stage, and tried unsuccessfully to ignore the babbling. I never did care for poetry. Most of it was nothing more than nonsensical emotional ramblings, with too much use of words like dark, black, emptiness, and despair.

A hum of mumbling voices nearby tempted me to listen. Eavesdropping here was like having a front-row seat to a taping of my own personal soap opera. Tidbits of gossip about people I knew piqued my interest, momentarily stealing my focus.

The sudden jingle of my cell phone startled me. I jumped to answer it, almost knocking over my mocha. I didnt need the caller ID to tell me who it was. Fallon was well over an hour late.

Please tell me you are close. You would not believe the day I had. I need to vent, I blurted out, forgetting the pleasantries of a proper greeting.

Sorry, Alyssa, Im not going to make it out tonight.

Great, what else could go wrong today?

What? No! Oh, cmon, Fallon. Dont leave me hanging. I need a friend today. I got fired.

Lyss, I dont feel like going out tonight. Im tired and its already late. Lets just meet up tomorrow, okay?

I huffed, not wanting to answer.

Alyssa, I promise, tomorrow, Fallon said in her most sympathetic voice.

Yeah, sure. Whatever. I didnt bother hiding my disappointment.

Sorry, Lyss, Ill make it up to you. I promise. Well go out tomorrow. You can tell me all about work then, okay?

Fine. But next time, dont leave me hanging here by myself for an hour before you decide to cancel on me. I breathed a disappointed sigh and pressed the end button on the phone.

The perfect end to the perfect day. Might as well pack up and go home . I gulped down my mocha, waved to the manager, and walked out the front door.

A hot summer breeze greeted me: a mixture of coffee, car exhaust, and the lingering tang of grease from a nearby taco shop.

I set off across the street to the University. My apartment was on the other side of campus. Just a quick ten-minute walk and I would be home.

Being a petite woman, I never did like walking home alone, especially at night, and tried to avoid it whenever possible. Id heard too many horror stories about college girls like myself being raped or worse. This time, though, I had no choice. There was no friend to take me home, so I had to hoof it. Reaching into my bag, I pulled out a keychain of pepper spray. Old Reliable .

Knives could be turned against you and do some serious damage. I knew pepper spray was a good enough deterrent without having the potential to be deadly. If someone managed to get it away and use it against me, the worst I could expect was stinging eyes, and that was better than a stab wound.

UNLV was quiet at this time of night. The regular classes had ended hours ago and the walk-ways were empty. My finger covered the trigger of the keychain as I took the pathway leading toward the theater and music halls.

Just walk fast and dont talk to anybody. I took a deep breath, steeling my courage while attempting to calm my nerves. I hated walking home alone.