Date With Evil

In Trench, Georgia-a small town with one grocery store and two stoplights-nothing much has ever happened that is worth mentioning ... until now. As twenty-one-year-old Michael Lastings drives down the narrow country road to his parents' house in Trench, something suddenly appears in the road ahead. After he slams on the brakes, he finds himself face-to-face with a black wolf-his dagger-like fangs glimmering in the headlights. Trench, Georgia, and Michael Lastings will never be the same again. When Seth Wake, a man no one has ever seen before, shows up at a high school dance and sweet talks Michael's younger sister Josie into letting him in, no one has any idea that he and his brothers, Ash and Ambrose, are vampires seeking a rare blood type that will ensure youth and vitality for them and their father. As the three vampires embark on a rampage looking for the only one in the town who possesses the rare blood type, they won't let anything-or anyone-stand in their way. It is up to Josie Lastings, her brother Michael, and their friends to find a way to stop the cold-blooded killers before it is too late.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Date with EvilBy Kevin PriestleyTrafford PublishingCopyright © 2010 Kevin PriestleyAll right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4269-3253-3Chapter One If you go deep into the heart of Georgia, you find a city by the name of Trench. Trench appears more as a small country town than a city living. Folks here are spread out, not close together as a county trailer yard. Its enough to be comfortable, though not so far spread that you could start your own farm. If you were to visit the city, you might notice that it has merely one grocery store, and only two stoplights. It's possible that the limited amount of businesses makes Trench appear smaller than it actually is. Throughout the city is a widespread of trees along with the occasional open field. The sun has falling to the horizon as dusk is upon the city. The sky is clear, a slight wind rustles bunches of leaves across the ground. The house of the Lastings family sets on top of a hill of lush green grass. A stone walk stretches across the yard and a mini van is parked in the drive. The house is that of two stories with hunter green curtains hanging in the window. A porch stretches out from the front extending the length of the house. Derek Lastings is a tall man with sandy blond hair, good looking, and has intriguing blue eyes. He has recently reached the age of forty-two. His family consists of his wife Jennifer, whom is just two years younger than him and three children. Josie, the only girl, presently is seventeen years old, second oldest to her brother Michael of twenty-one years. Brad is their youngest child at four years old, a hyper young boy who often finds it hard to get along with others. Derek sits on the couch with his attention focused on the television set. Off in the dining room, Brad has pulled a stool over to the fish tank. The boy gives a small giggle as he opens the lid and begins repeatedly tapping on the inside of the glass. With in seconds every fish in the tank swarms to the top expecting dinner. The kid finds this very amusing. He stops momentarily to once again let them settle, then returns to rapping on the glass as he teases the poor creatures. Jennifer Lastings pulls some spices from the cupboard preparing to put the finishing touches on dinner. Michael would be joining them tonight mostly to visit. But she always would make more than enough just in case he would come hungry. Michael holds residence just outside of Trench, still only minutes from his parents. The door swings open, Josie and her friend Lisa Mays walk in each holding bags of their own. Josie is rather tall for a girl, with brown hair that extends to her shoulders. The young girl has a very pretty face and a well-rounded body. Her green eyes dance when she's exited, as she is now. Lisa Mays is a little shorter than Josie with jet-black hair and brown eyes. She too has blossomed rather well. Both girls seem to be very lady like and brought up well. The two girls have been shopping since school had let out hours before. The dance would be the next night and both had to have the perfect dress for the occasion. Josie has a big smile on her face. She shuts the door behind her and places her bag in the chair just opposite of where Derek is sitting. From within the bag, Josie removes a pearl white dress apparently meant for her. It has spaghetti straps made from lace and looks to be extremely low cut. "Dad, do you like my dress, it's for the school dance tomorrow? It's going to be so much fun." Josie exclaims. Derek examines the piece before him, a disgruntled look comes over his face. "Well, why don't you go put it on and I will give you my opinion then, O.K.?" Josie agrees then turns to the stairs, her friend waves as she goes by to be polite. The two climb the stairs and enter the door on the right. This is Josie's bedroom, your typical teenage living area. Posters of hot guys and favorite singers line each of the walls; an ancient ruins calendar sits on the girl's bed. Josie keeps many interests and always seems to be changing her mind. The two girls find their own corner of the room and begin to shed clothing. Moments later they both turn around to see how the other looks in her new dress. Lisa's cuts off about two inches above the knee and is a bright red. The shoulder straps were wider than that of Josie's dress, but both were a v-cut and very revealing. The white dress stops right at the knees. Both females look extremely beautiful. After prepping for a bit and telling one another how great each looks, the girls head back downstairs to show off. Outside of Trench city limits, Michael Lastings pulls the door shut behind him as he exits his small one bedroom house. It's a little banged up, though it is plenty for a young adult living alone. Michael is a tall young man like his father and his hair is dark brown and long. He has a strong build and is a little scruffy in the face. His car is an old Ford Mustang around the year of eighty-four or five. Michael jumps in the car and turns over the engine. The car then pulls out of the driveway and squeaks a tire on the way out. Soon the boy would cross the city limits and from their it is just a few minutes to his mother and fathers. The road is narrow with trees on either side, Michael seems very relaxed with this. He drives these roads most every day and has become accustomed to the lack of pavement. The sun is steadily dropping in the sky and night is quickly moving in. Michael flips his lights on to see just a little better, then speeds further along. With out any warning at all, something appears in the road ahead. The car heads straight for it. Startled, the young man stomps the brake with both feet. The small car screams to a stop just before hitting the thing before him. As Michael looks up from the steering wheel he becomes very uneasy at the sight in front of him. Before him stands a black wolf, back arched and fangs gleaming in the headlights. His breath becomes trapped in his lungs as he is frozen with fear. Fortunately the beast eases away, then scampers back within the forest. Michael releases a great breath of air and gathers himself. He pauses a few moments longer before accelerating again. The rest of the way to his parents, Michael takes it slowly and cautiously. Just down the street from the Lastings live Mr. and Mrs. Larry Bora. Currently the two are finishing up a little yard work as daylight slips away. They are two elder folks, lived all their lives in the city of Trench. Larry Bora is short and stocky, still with a full head of hair, gray of course, not bad for a man in his seventies. His wife Delores has lost most of her hair and has become slightly over weight. The two live just three houses from the Lastings and both households are rather fond of the other. The Bora's look up to the sound of a horn and wave as Michael drives by. They look on as the young adult parks his vehicle and then enters the house. His mother greets him immediately with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I fixed extra just in case you were hungry," Jennifer exclaims as she enters the dining room. Jennifer, not looking a day over thirty, has hazel eyes, and long black hair that reaches her shapely behind. The woman smiles warmly and urges her son for a hug. "Thanks mom, I am famished," Michael replies as he embraces his mother. Josie and Lisa look on still wearing their new dresses. Michael acknowledges them both. "Wow, you two look incredible, I heard about the dance tomorrow night." Josie looks to her mom and laughs, "Gee, I don't know who could have told you about it." Jennifer smiles and returns to the kitchen, the two girls run upstairs to change for dinner. Michael and his father Derek exchange a handshake, as he begins to tell him of his eerie encounter on the way over. Meanwhile, two fishermen pull their reels from the lake to rebate the hooks. A fire a few feet away illuminates a large part of the area around them. Mark Salem is one of the fellows; his hair is scraggly and blond but short. He is the age of about thirty and looks to be a little overweight. Along with him is his good friend Eugene Browder, maybe a little younger, though he seems to have similar lifestyles. This man has black curly hair to match his full beard and mustache. Eugene is near the same size of his friend; both men probably could stand to lose forty to fifty pounds. Mark takes his line in hand and slides a worm right over the hook. Then he prepares to cast back out. The two men let their lines stream out a bit then drop in the water before them. "I'm gonna catch me a whopper, like one you have never caught," Mark brags as he sets his pole neatly resting against a y shaped stick. Eugene says nothing, only shakes his head. Moments go by as the two fishermen await an unsuspecting fish to be lured in. Then Eugene hollers, "I got one! I got one!" The man lifts his fishing pole into the air giving a slight jerk to assure whatever is biting becomes hooked. Beginning to reel the seemingly large fish in, both men become startled by a noise just down the bank. Mark is the first to find where the noise came from, he stands straight up and then stumbles back. Eugene slowly turns just to drop his pole at the sight of what stands before them. Only yards away is a beautiful but dangerous all black wolf, again the beast snarls and arches it's back. Quickly Mark begins to dig amongst his tackle box pulling a knife from within. Both men stand their ground terrified at the thoughts running through each ones mind. The wolf stares, the glare of the fire burning in its blue eyes. What happens next completely shocks the two friends. The animal turns to the water, its teeth gleaming in the moonlight and releases a great howl. From its open jaws springs a black flying shadow, at a closer look the shadow becomes that of a bat, which disappears into the night. The wolf then loses all life and collapses, vaporizing into the ground below. Mark and Eugene look on with mixed emotions of surprise and horror. They turn and look at one another then cautiously walk toward the area in which the beast once stood. The closer they became to this spot, the more obvious it becomes that now nothing remains. Eugene tries to speak, but no words will come out. Mark stutters still in amazement. "I, I do not believe, I do not believe what just happened." Mark could do little more than shake his head in agreement, and though nothing is said, both men give the other the impression. "Lets get the hell out of here." Soon all the supplies is packed except for Eugene's fishing pole, which the tide along with the fish on the other end has pulled into the lake. Leaving the fire burning, the men take off with tales between their legs. The fire is no concern at this point, nor is the loss of a fishing rod. Of course after seeing what they had, not much would be of any concern. Chapter Two The Lastings family have just finished up their dinner. For the moment they remain sitting at the table conversing. Only Brad has food left in front of him, he continues to play with it as if the food were some kind of toy or something. Jennifer tries her best but the boy still refuses to eat. Josie's friend Lisa has left only minutes ago, though she did not eat with them due to other plans. Her boyfriend Tommy Critton intends to serve the girl a late night dinner and a movie. Lisa's parents would not mind too much, they got along well with the boy. The evening grows short and soon Michael decides it time to turn homeward. By this time the boy has all but forgotten his earlier run in with the wolf. As for Josie, she would watch television for a bit before going to bed. As for Mr. and Mrs. Lastings, they were left to fight with Brad. Every night has become a choir just getting the kid to get in bed. Finally, upon midnight, all has turned quiet and the Lastings now sleep peacefully. Lisa and Tommy are finishing up at the restaurant they had chose to eat at. Tommy gathers the trash in one spot on the table and leaves a few bucks for a tip. Lisa pushes her chair in as her boyfriend begins to wrap her jacket around her. On the way out a passing manager thanks them for the service, the two smile then continue outside. The couple has already been to a movie prior to eating dinner. Typical teenagers, eating popcorn before they have even eating dinner. Almost to the car, Lisa becomes startled as three men step from within the shadows. Tommy recognizes the crew entirely too much. Its Lisa's ex-boyfriend and his goons for friends. His name is Larry Stant, and his buddies are none other than Kevin Riley and Barry Spencer. These guys are a bunch of no gooders at school and did not tend to like Tommy very much. Tommy had been through many unpleasant run ins with the group. With no intention of any trouble, Critton follows his girl to the passenger side of the vehicle, pops the round key into the lock and unlocks and opens her door for her. "Well isn't that sweet, he's getting the door for her. Come on guys, isn't it sweet?" Barry and Kevin laugh at Stant's comments. Tommy rolls his eyes then walks back to the driver side of his car preparing to enter it and quickly leave a bad situation. Larry Stant moves in closer, the two guys behind him keep a close distance. The boys look and dress just like your ordinary high school troublemakers. Before Tommy can reach his side, Larry steps into his path blocking the way between him and his car door. "Looks like you and my girl are having a good time, unfortunately for you, I don't like it when my girl enjoys herself with another guy," he utters. Tommy bites his lip and retaliates, "Well, she is no longer your girl Larry, you need to get over it man. Listen, I don't want trouble from you and your boys here. So if you will, just let me by." Barry Spencer chimes in, talking like some sort of wigger with an attitude. "Yo man, we mean no trouble fool, Just funning with you. Maybe trying to get a rise out of you or something. And another thing, if we were here for trouble, you would have known it by now. Shit!" Tommy cautiously brushes by the obstacle before him and slowly opens his car door. Larry and the others continue to glare at him, never taking their eyes off himself and Lisa. With a small sigh of relief, Tommy pulls his car door shut. Now he starts the engine and takes off, putting as much distance between Larry Stant and Lisa as quickly as possible. The couple is silent most of the way home, Lisa silently thinks about what has occurred, and hopes the guy beside her is not too upset over it. "I'm sorry he has to be that way, please do not be upset with me Tommy," she says pleadingly. Right off, Critton says nothing at all, only drives on searching for some response inside his head. Then the boy lets out a small grin, "It is all right. I am kind of getting used to his childish little games. Besides, it is not your fault Larry Stant is obsessed with you, its just your incredible good looks along with those sexy legs." Lisa lights up with a smile and grabs Tommy's hand knowing all is going to be fine. Upon arrival to the girls house, he again very gentleman like gets Lisa's door for her. The lovebirds now say their good nights and Lisa heads on inside to bed. Tommy gets back in his car then slowly leaves his girl friends street. Having done so, the boy reaches over and pushes a tape into his radio. As the beat of rock and roll enters the air, his volume is turned up considerably. Next the young man finds his own way home, for this night has now come to an end. Chapter Three As the sun rises in the sky, it gives birth to a new day. The ocean surrounds a small forgotten island a few miles off shore. Waves shatter upon the jagged terrain as if it were glass dropping upon the rocks. A large rock formation sits along this body of land filled with caves and crevices. The wind carries in a familiar flying shape, as the object arrives closer to the island we can see it is the black bat from earlier. Suddenly the mysterious flying creature flutters, then streams into a long black cloak. The wind catches it a bit, though it still comes to rest on the ground below. Moments later, something stirs from beneath the cape, it rises up from beneath the cloth and slowly takes the form of man. We can only see the eyes of this character as the cloak is covering all other features. Its eyes are dark and eerie looking. Now as man, the thing disappears into one of the many crevices before him. Inside the cold rock it is very dark and somewhat damp from the moisture of the water. Small dust particles shoot through the air as wind brushes into the cave. The man, or creature, creeps further along the narrow depths of the stonewalls until he comes to a dim lit corridor. Spiders and many other species of insect scatter upon his arrival, a lone lamp sets on a square like rock only feet away. Many cobwebs dangle from the ceiling and small cracks curse the floor below. From the midst of the darkness above climbs another being. All black covers his body. He gingerly reaches the floor then slowly turns to see who has come before him. Hundreds of years of age plague the old man, his long gray hair reaches the back of his knees. A skinny wrinkled face shows solemnly in the lowly light from the lamp. The old man's eyes have sank back away form his eye sockets, no color remains only blackness. A long blood red cape extends down the aged being's back and trials behind him. At this point he seems to be little more than a skeleton with skin and remaining hair. The dark creature looks feeble and powerless, but a light aura around him shows the complete strength of his powers. We now return to a younger, more completely covered being as he speaks. (Continues...) Excerpted from Date with Evilby Kevin Priestley Copyright © 2010 by Kevin Priestley. Excerpted by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

About the Author

Kevin Priestley grew up and resides in Colonial Heights, Virginia, and once threw out his entire collection of stories in frustration only to find out later that his brother rescued them from the trash. Kevin has two daughters and enjoys writing short stories, poems, and novels in his free time. This is his first novel.

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