The "Gift" of Vampirism

Sneak a peek at Second Chances Suck, my new vampire book. Last post you got to meet Ezra Cole. This is Michael's detailed version of how the "gift" Ezra is about to receive works.

"I can give you the truncated version verbally. Basically I am going to be giving you an ancient gift known as vampirism. It will allow you to remove the maleficent evil that resides in the very worst of people. We have it on good authority that once you remove that darkness, the person can go on to lead a better life. There will be occasions that the evil inside of a person has consumed their entire soul, turning it malignant. There is no hope for recovery for these souls. They were lost long ago. These types of people may be serial killers, terrorist, child molesters. We've been allowed to try this out because we hate seeing so much evil plaguing the world.

In order to draw out the evil you must bite the person in a main artery and drink. You will also have a few other gifts that will be of use to your cause. You will be able to help the person sleep undisturbed while you work. Your senses will heightened to help you stay hidden. 
After the cleansing is complete, the magic of this gift begins its work. It is truly remarkable. If the person was consumed by evil, then they will simply vanish from the Earth along with everything they own. Memories of that person will be erased, their jobs will be filled. If that person had half a sandwich left over on the fridge, it would be gone. If they have children, the memory of their parent’s life will be replaced by the memory of their death instead. 
Most of your targets are not consumed by evil, however. We hope they will simply lead a better life and once they are no longer driven by their dark desires. 

Cat will make sure the timing is flawless in each of your assignments. You must act as quickly as you can. Night time will be best suited to avoid getting caught. Your breaking and entering skills, may actually help you in your new role. You will only be able to consume blood, your body will reject anything else you eat or drink. You will be stronger and need less sleep than a normal human. However, you are vulnerable. You can be killed just like any other human, so be careful. You must cleanse one hundred souls before your redemption is granted."

Cat smiles proudly and somehow I think she may be the culprit behind this second chance for my life. If they hadn't mistaken my botched getaway for a suicide attempt, I'd be burning alive in hell right now.

"When do we start?"

"You'll spend the night here so we can make the necessary arrangements. In the morning you will be given the gift. Enjoy your last night, your last meal for that matter, and do not go lightly into this decision."

Right, the game of Would you Rather. Would I rather endure an eternity of torture and anguish in hell.... or be a blood sucking monster doing a good deed in exchange for a life in paradise. Yeah, pretty sure a hemoglobin cocktail for breakfast is the sure bet.

"Come on mate, you can dine at my restaurant tonight. I make a mean elk stew," the one named Mudd offers. 

A sneak peek at my next book, "Second Chances Suck"

I hope you enjoy this excerpt from my latest book, recommended for audiences 18 and up due to language and adult situations. A vampire novel romance novel. 

Second Chances Suck 

Melissa Solis

Evil whispers to us in hushed tones. It never yells or makes itself blaringly obvious. Evil is quiet in its deception. It creeps in through the shadows under a blanket of stars, wrapping its malleable tendrils around our heart like a parasite. There it plants its seed, unbeknownst to its host, it feeds and grows and takes over sometimes. That's where I come in.
Chapter 1

Ezra~
I blink back at the four individuals staring me down like I just stole their limited edition Ferrari Enzo. Did I? I think to myself. No, not that I can recall. 
I'm standing in the center of a vast room that doesn't feel remotely familiar except for the fact that it feels very similar to a courtroom, a place I'm all too familiar with. Yes, I'm feeling very judged right now by the four individuals seated in front of me. How did I even get to this place? The last thing I remember is driving as fast as my old clunker would fly, trying to out run the police. Ah yes, the train I didn't see coming. I was about to collide with a fast moving cargo train. Now I remember the feeling of dread filling me right before I came here. 
"So what, am I dead or something?" I ask the group of four. Two women and two men sit behind an intricately carved bench that appears to be taller than my own height. The brunette woman on the end is holding back a smile. The man next to her looks as serious as shit and raises a brow at my question. 
The beautiful blonde next to him speaks first. "Ezra Cole, you are indeed dead."
I glance up to the ceiling with the damn luck I have. I knew it. This place is too far out there to be anywhere near home. The walls are paneled in marble. Delicate chandeliers drip from the ceiling making the room glow with inner light. The people at the bench look as if they are lit from behind as well. Nothing about this place says, you've just been arrested... again. 
Thirty eight years, is that all I get? Wasted, is the next word that comes to mind. My life was wasted. Not a day went by that I didn't spend getting in or out of trouble. All for what? Where did it all get me? All I ever wanted was to get out from the life I was leading. If I could catch just one break then I could stop messing up. 
I remember the first time that I ever committed a crime. I was fifteen and living with this foster family that was as tough as nails. They would only buy us three shirts and one pair of pants to get through each week. I was being ridiculed at school for wearing the same clothes all the time, I hated it. I had no money to buy anything for myself, so one day after school, I fingered a couple of T-shirts into my packpack and never looked back. I didn't get caught. It made me sick to my stomach when  I got home after getting away with it. I remember I even hid the shirts from my foster mom and washed them in the sink after lights out. I'd hang them to dry over night and keep them in my bag to stay hidden. I was so afraid I would get in trouble for those shirts but at least I didn't have to wear the same shirt twice in one week. 
"Suicide was a poor choice to make Ezra Cole," the fellow on the end adds. I notice he has a thick Irish accent.  
"Hold up. Suicide? I didn't kill myself."
They look down at their notes, I can only guess, and then they confer for a moment. The cute brunette on the end winks at me and I return the gesture. She’s kind of sassy. The man next to her catches the exchange and looks pissed again. 
"I was driving fast and I didn't see the train, but I assure you, I didn't want to die by way of ninety tons of Union Pacific crushing my ass."
"Language Ezra!" the pretty man in the middle barks. 
"We also see that in your life consisting of armed robbery, conning people out of money and numerous other offenses, that you have never done the one thing that could have righted your wrongs. You never asked Him to forgive you. Were you not aware that your sins could be washed away with this one sincere act?" 
The beautiful blond woman's words tear into my very soul and spill out my guts for the world to pay witness to my cowardliness. Tears spring from my eyes and I don't even try to hide them.  I  don't under stand it. As she stares into me I began to see the faces of the many people I hurt along the way. I can feel the hurt within each of them the moment they learned I'd decieved them. I never realized that I had that much of an impact on people. 
One of my foster mother's face comes into view. I was angry about my situation and I took that anger out on another one of her foster kids, another teenager like me. We weren't well matched and I beat him up pretty badly. I could tell I disapointed her. I hated myself for it, but her only punishment for me was to make me carry his bag to school everyday for the rest of the year. It was more of a punishment for him because he had to walk next to me each day. But over the course of that year we became friends. I think it was her plan all along. She was the one good foster I had and then my luck had run its course. She was found to have cancer and couldn't care for us anymore. My social worker informed me she passed away not long after we were moved. I never saw her or my friend again. 
After I ran away, I did what ever it took to survive. I stole from people, lifted their wallets or purses with ease. I would use the money to rent a cheap motel room for a night to shower and rest in a real bed. Later I learned to steal cars and strip them of their most valuable parts. I shipped the parts all over and had a thriving online business. Then I met Voss, he drew me into the wide world of luxury car theft. One night I was trying to get away in a Porche and when I rounded the corner I clipped a pedestrian. My heart sank as I saw the man fly a couple of feet and grab his leg in pain. I'm sure I broke his leg, but I didn't dare stop. I could have killed him.
The faces continue to haunt me as the blonde woman keeps her gaze locked on me. Not only that, I can feel each person's anguish the moment I hurt them. I shake my head, disgusted with myself. 
"I don't deserve forgiveness. I deserve to rot in hell and I don't blame you for sending me there if that's what your about to do." I sink to my knees and wait for the heat to consume me. I stare blankly at their concerned faces. The brunette whispers to the rest of them and for some reason I think she feels sympathetic towards me. They bicker back and forth for a moment, and they must reach a unanimous decision. I close my eyes and let out a long breath. So this is death? 
"You were brought to this counsel because it was believed you had committed suicide. It is our custom to offer those who take their own lives a way to redeem themselves by being servants to the Keepers, instead of going into limbo. We see why you feel unworthy to be given the gift of eternal life, you've had to make some very difficult choices in your life. Therefore we've decided to offer you a way to redeem yourself, even though a mistake brought you to this counsel." 
Again, the brunette gives me a knowing smile.  "Without ever once asking his forgiveness, your soul would be given over to the fallen ones. You would go to hell. However, we believe that there’s still hope for you. If you take our assignment and complete the mission, and lastly, ask for forgiveness, you will be granted entry into heaven where you will know how much He loves you, His son. He's always been with you trying to get you to let Him into your heart. He knocked and knocked yet you would never answer."
I'm crying like a baby now. It's all true, everything they’ve said. I never felt like I could turn to anyone but myself to get me out of life's strangling grip. Every turn I made was wrong. It was like nothing ever went in my favor. My dad rotted away in prison for murdering my mother. I blew through foster homes like they were a yellow traffic light on the verge of turning. I ended up on the streets of Sydney trying to make it on my own at fifteen. The crimes I committed were just a way to survive, a means to an end. 
Hearing this woman tell me that I am His son and He's been asking, no begging his way into my heart, breaks something in me. I beg His forgiveness right there on my knees. With my head in my hands I plead for him to forgive me. I know I don't deserve it, and maybe it is too late, maybe he finally gave up on me the way the rest of the world had. But the small thought that He loved me once, is enough to keep me on my knees, and bring my hands together in prayer. I slump over, wrung out and left to dry. I glance up at the four people, and see they are all teary eyed. It humbles me, as I take in a shuddering breath. 
My palms roll on my knees to face up in surrender. "I will do anything you ask of me."
"Excellent. How do you feel about becoming a vampire?" The blond woman smirks. 
I tick my head back in disbelief and swallow hard. They motion for me to approach the bench. I ease up off of my knees and make the walk up to them. 
"My name is Emmagen, I am the high seraphim angel. This is Cat, she'll be your coordinator. This is Michael the arch angel, and this is Mudd. We make up the counsel of angels here in Amorous. Come, we will discuss the details of your arrangement."

My Soul Laid Bare is complete and is in the hands of the editor!

My Soul Laid Bare will be released on February 14th, when love is in the air!
Take a sneak peak at the cover reveal. 

Teaser for my upcoming novel My Soul Laid Bare

I am in the final stages of writing, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! I think the final book in the series should be ready to publish by the end of February, maybe sooner. The cover is done and Elijah is making his delicious debut. So here is an extra special teaser for being such awesome fans. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy.  

I nod with a smile playing on my lips, inviting him to continue. His body covers mine and Elijah fulfills my every waking dream. What comes next feels natural and so utterly right and good that I can’t believe we were able to wait for this night for so long.

“Is this alright? Am I hurting you?”

His question snaps me out of my reverie.  I plant my lips over his heated neck. It’s like licking molten glass, hot and pliable molding under the strong caress of my tongue and he sighs into me. “You could never hurt me,” I whisper.

“I love you with all of my soul Brennen. I promise I will never hurt you.” The moment for softly spoken words is over and what comes next is the door opening to a whole other world. A world once entered you can never return from. A bond once shared, can never be forgotten, Elijah and I arrive here together. Every step to get here has come at a steep price. A fare I’d gladly pay ten times over to be with him like this every night until forever.

The moonlight worships his glorious body as he admires me from just above my nose. Our breaths pant out in unison attempting to quell the storm that has just passed over our bodies. The air is quiet, the only sound beside our heavy breaths is the ocean waves coming in from the open balcony. We’re all alone in Elijah’s private country, his world. Our World.

“I do,” Sam states sliding a cool gold band over my ring finger. And just like that I’m back in the real world with a whole new reality about to be signed in blood. 

A night in. My Soul Laid Bare teaser

The snow falls in hard sheets of white outside the window and makes me wish this fireplace wasn't blocked off. I can't wait to get a small apartment around here one day. Lexi is gone. A note on the mini fridge says she went to the movies with Asher. Elijah emerges from thin air and I wonder if I'll ever get used to that. I lean my forehead against the cool glass and Elijah glides up behind me and nuzzles my neck with his barely there stubble. 
"Sam's thinking about ending things with me."
"What do you want him to do ideally?"
"It's hard to just let him go, but maybe it's for the best. I love you."
"I love you too. There is no rush to get out of his life for good. I think he needs you to help him through this time even though I know it’s hard on you."
 He presses his full lips into the base of my neck and peppers the length of my neck with soft kisses. “And you need me to get you into a better mood,” he says in a low tone. I turn and face him wanting nothing more than to enjoy this moment alone with him. 
Elijah's mouth hovers over mine for an eternity, teasing me with every hot breath. His lips curve up to reveal a devilish smile hiding underneath. I try and kiss him but he moves just out of my reach, his dimples ignite deep as wells in his cheeks as he does. 
Oh it's on now. I grab the belt loops of his jeans and pull him in so that our hips are touching. His smile dissipates, replaced by a fiery gleam of desire of the most rudimentary kind sparkling in his eyes. I brush my nails up his back in slow swirls. I stand on my toes and let my own hot breath out next to his ear as if I was just going to whisper a secret. His body ticks even closer in response. 
A second later, he's picks me up so that my legs are wrapped around his waist and he sears his molten lips over mine seeking out carnal revenge. His kiss goes on for miles, pulling me in deeper until I can't make out which way is up or down. 
His warm spiced scent makes its way into my senses and incapacitates me. I love that trick of his. Elijah could make days disappear when he does that. I wouldn't care if we ever came up for air or food, it's like indulging in chocolate while drinking fine wine, and swimming with dolphins and hugging your favorite teddy all while cocooned in the arms of the sexiest man on the planet. Hell universe for that matter. Elijah's brand of drug would be illegal in all fifty states combined. 
I pull his sweater off and run my hands down his steaming chest. His skin is so buttery soft.  My fingers trace along the faintest of scars. Elijah's chest bears an expansive scar that resembles a sprawling Live Oak tree stark of leaves for winter. The faint white lines shimmer under the dew of his skin resembling a tattoo in white ink. I ease down from his waist and kiss the epicenter of the once grave wound. He hisses out a breath. 
"Does it hurt?"
"Far from it," he breathes out. "You take all my pain away."
“Funny, I could say the same about you.” I smile up just as Elijah nibbles on my bottom lip with his teeth. That night Elijah helps me forget all my pain and worries just by being himself. I end up asleep on his chest while the late night news drones out over the television, just like old times. 

My Soul Laid Bare Teaser

Sorry for the lack of blog post lately, we moved and it was all consuming.  So thank you for your patience. I'm glad to be semi setteled in among the cardboard boxes. Here is an extra special tid bit. My Soul Laid Bare spans Brennen's college years and early adult life. In this scene Brennen is a newly appointed Governor and has Elena over for dinner. 

"You're going to make me drink alone?"

"Yeah well, if you'd been waking up like I have you would think twice about it."

"Oh, what's been going on?" 

Just as she asks her question, the chef brings out dinner, a plate of grilled salmon, asparagus spears and spicy quinoa. It all looks mouthwatering. Once he's taken care of us, I lean in to her. 

"I doubt you want to hear about my passion filled dreams, but each night I drink a few glasses of wine, I wake up not remembering even going to sleep. It's probably because I'm not used to drinking, but I don't like feeling as if I'm going crazy."

"Wait, go back to the passion filled dreams. Who's the naughty night terror star?"

I take a bite of my salmon and savor the char from the grill combined with the bold flavors he used. Elena waits with her glass paused at her lip, gently smirking as if she already knows the answer. 

"Elijah of course."

She smiles before taking a long sip of white wine. "You two can't even stay away in your subconscious, how much longer are you going to keep this up?"

"I miss him." I say sinking down in my chair feeling a new wave of despair just because I mentioned his name a moment ago. 

"He's your soul mate, frankly I don't see how you're still functioning without his touch daily."

"I'm sure he touches me daily, I just can't feel it."

"He's touching you right now."

 The sultry look in her eye makes me wonder exactly where he's touching me. It sets every nerve on fire just thinking about it. I imagine his warm hands running down the length of my arms. "You are blushing like a nun at the cucumber farm."

"Stop it, now I need that glass of wine thank you very much." She laughs at my misfortune and pours me a glass. 

My Soul to Save is publishing NOW! It should be up by tonight, in case you can't wait that long, here is a little Elijah for ya to hold you over. 

“I enjoyed your song in the car. Maybe you should go down the chocolate chip aisle and we could bake something together this weekend.” He says it provocatively low in my ear and Elena smacks him on the arm. “What?” he says and I catch him flashing his gorgeous smile at Elena. A twinge of jealousy plays on my lips.

“You’re here to save Sam, nothing else. I’m sure I don’t need to explain the gravity of the situation to you. And if Sam’s life is in danger, you can bet your pretty little head that your precious girlfriend’s is too. So quit playing around and be alert.”

I sigh out, and to Sam, it’s for no reason. He rubs my shoulder, probably unsure of how to help. I long for the days when I didn’t know they existed or at least couldn’t hear them.

“Way to go Elena, now you’ve freaked her out.” Jesson scolds.

“Hey Sam would you mind grabbing some eggnog? I forgot to pick it up when we passed the milk.”

“You bet.”

As soon as he’s out of sight and the aisle is empty, I turn around. Do you have any idea what it does to my human mind to have four Keepers following me around a grocery store bickering in my ear? Going a little nuts here people!” I push a gush of air through my nose. “And you.” I stab Elijah’s chest with my finger. “You…” Damn it, he’s done it again I can’t even finish my sentence. What was I going to say? His soft full lips have captured all of my attention. “Stop doing that!”

He tries not to smile, but only winds up making himself look even sexier. I give up. I throw a bag of chocolate chips in the cart because, why they heck not? Even though he’s behind me, I can feel him smiling and I shake my head at his audacity.