Drayton, the Taker (A Drayton Short Story) Drayton, the Taker (A Drayton Short Story)

Drayton, the Taker (A Drayton Short Story‪)‬

    • 4.3 • 10 Ratings

Publisher Description

Drayton once believed he was a vampire. He doesn't know what he is. Or why he has lived for thousands of years. He takes not his victim's blood but the silky essence of their soul during their last breath. Often mistaken for the Angel of Death, his victims sometimes ask for forgiveness. Sometimes he delivers.

After all, he is not without sin. 

Drayton finds Andrew Drummond dying on the roadside. He absorbs the last of his life, but not before Andrew demands vengeance. In those last moments, Drayton understands what Andrew desires. He sees all of his hardships, the crosses he has been forced bear. Drayton will find the source of his suffering. He will show his transgressor Andrew's pain. He will show him the depth and taste of true suffering.

INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR

Did you ever think you'd write about vampires?Nope. Drayton came out of nowhere when I was at a community theatre production of Dracula. I figured that an immortal vampire would more likely become compassionate and wise as he grew older. Twilight put a different spin on the vampire genre, much different than Nosferatu. Drayton's nothing like Twilight. Or Nosferatu.

What's a downside to writing a character similar that's similar to you? Predictable. Boring. If every book I write is similar, it ceases to surprise the reader. That's what I loved about Drayton, he was just the opposite of me. This paranormal being was fearless not out of bravado but the wisdom brought about by countless years of immortality. I called him a vampire because it was the word that fit him the best in his early years, but he became something much for that. Whatever a vampire becomes after the gore and bloodsucking, sort of like the caterpillar and butterfly. 

Do your characters ever resemble you in your beliefs?Some do. But there are others that are just fun to go the other way, especially antagonists. I do find it interesting, even courageous, when authors can write very demented, sick and twisted antagonists. It's very revealing to show the world what's bouncing around in your head.

What do you think is the most important aspect of writing a character?Letting him or her grow in my head. It's when I'm driving to work, taking a shower, or lying in bed that they come to life. It's also one of the most gratifying elements of writing. I've enjoyed letting this vampire walk through my mind, leaving his short stories behind. 

GENRE
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
RELEASED
2015
June 3
LANGUAGE
EN
English
LENGTH
52
Pages
PUBLISHER
DeadPixel Publications
SELLER
Draft2Digital, LLC
SIZE
180.6
KB

Customer Reviews

Ex Wordfeud Junkie ,

This is not a typical vampire tale

I think the only time I enjoyed vampire tales was when I used to watch the tv series Forever Knight.... That was a show about a vampire striving to be human again. I think Drayton is more like a vampire who is trying to cling to an essence of humanity, to continue to make sense of the world - at least the parts he can control.
Confessing this, I reluctantly started reading Drayton, with the premise it would be a rather quick read. Worst case scenario, the pain wouldn't last too long ...
Have you ever played tug of war - on the losing side? Within a few paragraphs, it was like holding on while the mind races to try to figure it out. Cuz you certainly didn't wanna fall in the mud and miss anything!
In a word, it was captivating and it stands in a class of its own as *not like other vampire stories*.
It seems as if Drayton had remnants of human growth and a desire to be better. After all, if you have to live an eternity, shouldn't one really be better than the rest of us?
The characters were quickly developed with pure substance. Even Young, investigating via the internet was believable (I have a bestie who googles everyone new she meets! I'm waiting for her to hang out a Private Investigator sign from her stoop.)
It is a perfect little stand alone work. Some short books leave you growling, kind of like it stopped mid adventure; an unfinished book. This was, within itself, a complete chapter of his life. He was an intriguing individual and I'm sure the other books in this series will add to his moral and mental complexity. Life doesn't get easier for us as we get older. It would appear Immortals have a similar dilemma.

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