by Jim Caswell

A few years after the events of Hunter and Prey, Bliss has been rebuilt and is open for business as usual when a stranger enters the club. Going into the backroom with one of the dancers, he emerges minutes later and leaves without his hostess. A few minutes later, another dancer discovers that everyone in the back room has been massacred, both human and vampire alike. Scrawled on the wall is a message for Mason: Leave.

This time around, the flashbacks revolve around Mason meeting and befriending a young soldier during World War II. Their first encounter occurs as the soldier is preparing to ship out for his tour of duty at Pearl Harbor before the Japanese attack. Andre's passion for life and good nature had drawn Mason's attention, enjoying the naiveté and purity of spirit.

After a brief investigation with Inspector Kelly, Mason learns that there have been several mass murders around town; a killing spree of epic proportions over the past three days. The article of note, and the aspect that has been covered up to the best of Kelly's ability is the fact that all of the victims have been drained dry of blood with their throats ripped out.

The next flashback shows Andre returning to Mason after the attack on Pearl Harbor, a shattered man who has been discharged due to battle fatigue. The effect of the carnage seen is evident, leaving the young man who had zest now empty and depressed, bordering on the verge of suicide. In the everlasting attempt to help people, Mason reveals his true nature to Andre, who begs to be turned into a vampire.

The death toll continues to rise as Mason is forced to send his own people out to the streets to find the killers after the police start losing their lives as well. It is determined that at least a dozen vampires have invaded the city, spawning supernatural war zones between them and the Bliss crew. Finally, two of Mason's people are returned and killed in front of him by Andre.

The final flashback shows Mason catching Andre in the process of killing a drunk in the parking lot of the bar. As people look on in horror, Andre starts pealing through the eyewitnesses until Mason stops him, ending with the rogue vampire being banished from his sire's sight, warned to change his ways and never return.

Andre and Mason are forced to face each other once more, the apprentice having cut a swath of death and destruction across the country with his own cadre of vampires he has created. As the two groups face off in a final battle, Mason deals with the man Andre used to be versus the man standing before him now, blaming himself for the evils committed. When the battle is over and the smoke clears, Mason is left with a new set of ghosts to deal with.

© Copyright 2001, 2003 - James E. Caswell