Free The Vampire Hunters (Book 2): Vampyrnomicon by Scott M. Baker Page A

appearance.
    Toni recognized the child as Melinda Stanton, the only child to ever have been turned, and one of the most vicious and sadistic masters. Melinda had come to America in the early seventeenth century on one of the many ships that brought the Puritans to a more aesthetic life in the New World, only to find death and suffering. First, when both her parents and older brother died of pneumonia on the voyage over. Then again when William Castile, a respectable elder in Salem “adopted” her. The village rejoiced, believing her blessed by being taken in by a man of God. Castile could not be described as either a man or of God. He was a master on the run from hunters in England. Melinda became his sexual plaything and blood cattle. Her torment lasted for more than three months, consisting of nightly sodomizing interspersed with occasional feedings, just enough to keep her weak and docile, yet alive. Throughout her ordeal, Melinda maintained her faith in God, refusing to believe that He had forsaken her, until one night when she could not bear the agony any longer. Melinda begged Castile to turn her, to make her a master like himself, to free her from her human inhibitions. Castile agreed, and unleashed in her a capacity for evil he could not have foreseen.
    Once freed from her pain and suffering, Melinda turned on Castile, denouncing his sins against her flesh and accusing him of witchcraft. In a brief and scandalous trial, Melinda described in detail every horror he had subjected her to, conveniently omitting the part about his being one of the undead and having turned her. The elders would not allow Castile to testify, his mouth being gagged during the proceedings because of his blasphemies. Predictably, they found him guilty of abominations against God and condemned him to be hanged by his neck until dead. The villagers’ worst fears were confirmed when Castile, who was hanged at dawn, burst into flames and disintegrated, a sure sign that God had cleansed their village of evil. The elders shipped off Melinda to live in Boston with a preacher’s family.
    The depravity of those months prior to her being sired manifested itself in her own feedings. For decades she preyed on anything, even wildlife and livestock, showing little concern for discretion or anonymity. On several occasions, she quickly departed her town or village because of the suspicions she brought upon herself. Melinda’s luck eventually would have run out had she not stumbled across Chiang Shih. Chiang Shih transported Melinda back to Europe where she mentored the young master, taught her how to feed without drawing attention, and honed her hunting skills. In time, Melinda developed into a dangerous and cunning vampire, becoming one of a triumvirate of masters around Chiang Shih who served as her consigliores . However, Chiang Shih could never break Melinda of her penchant for feeding on children and pedophiles.
    Toni sat up in bed, the sudden movement causing her jaw to throb. Without looking at Melinda, she asked, “What are you doing here?”
    “Cleaning up the mess made by you and Ion.”
    “Fuck you.”
    “Knock it off.” The voice came from the other room. A moment later, two male masters entered the bedroom.
    If vampires had circulation, Toni’s blood would have run cold.
    The first master stood just under six feet tall, of average build with a swarthy complexion. He sported a goatee and black hair down to his shoulders. His visage appeared attractive, especially for a man more than six hundred years old, until you looked into his eyes. Deep brown, they mirrored the darkness that had replaced his soul. He had been born Santos Treja, but the other masters knew him as Treja the Terrible. He was notorious not only for his skills in outwitting and defeating hunters, but also for his penchant for torturing and raping his prey. Chiang Shih had appointed Treja one of her consigliores because of his former abilities and gave him free reign to