Description: Table of Contents Title Page Copyright Page Dedication ONE - WHEN YOU STRAY . . . TWO - THE FEEDiNG THREE - THE MYSTERiOUS WOMAN FOUR - THE UNWELCOME FIVE - THE WHiSPERiNG GROUND SIX - LONDON BABYLON SEVEN - THE MiSPLACED HEART EIGHT - THE DUELING PSYCHiCS NINE - THE HiGHGATE DiLEMMA TEN - LONDON BABYLON ELEVEN - THE TALL, THiN ONE TWELVE - THE WickED STEPMOTHER THIRTEEN - THE TAkEOVER FOURTEEN - LONDON BABYLON FIFTEEN - THE OUiJA INTERViEW SIXTEEN - THE BLACK SPOT SEVENTEEN - LONDON BABYLON EIGHTEEN - THE SCHOOL FOR FiNE YOUNG GiRLS NINETEEN - THE CALM BEFORE THE STORMiNG TWENTY - . . . YOU SURELY PAY TWENTY - ONE - THE EMERGENCE TWENTY - TWO - LONDON BABYLON TWENTY - THREE - THE RETURN PRAISE FOR MiDNiGHT REiGN "With a dark, dramatic, and erotic tone, Green writes a complex story featuring well-defined characters and more than enough noir mystery to keep readers enthralled. Fans of Charlaine Harris and Jim Butcher may enjoy."-- Library Journal "An exciting, high-tension horror thriller with enough unresolved trust and family issues to make it credible, a hint of romance for spice, and a bit of black humor to lighten up the often dark tone, this is a nicely conceived modern vampire tale that will keep readers guessing." -- Monsters and Critics "An intriguing world that becomes more complex with every turn of the page . . . kick-butt action."-- Huntress Book Reviews "Green has given her fans an inside look at the Underground culture and social class system, from the powerful Elite, bitten by the Master, to the lowly Guards, bitten by the Groupies . . . [a] fun urban-fantasy mystery."-- Alternative Worlds "A fast-moving urban fantasy filled with murder, mystery, and a large dose of the supernatural. The vivid characterization and danger at every turn will keep readers engaged."-- Darque Reviews "A dark, edgy, and complex series."-- Romantic Times "A dark and thrilling paranormal tale . . . a gritty and suspenseful ride."-- Romance Reviews Today PRAISE FOR NiGHT RiSiNG "A book to die for! Dark, mysterious, and edged with humor, this book rocks on every level!" --Gena Showalter, author of The Darkest Pleasure "If you like your fantasy with an edge, then you''ve struck gold. There is a ring of truth to the biting--no pun intended--allegory. This is a fantastic start to a new series."-- The Eternal Night "Chris Marie Green does a wonderful job of bringing this gritty, dark novel to life . . . I can''t wait to see where [she] takes the rest of the books."-- The Best Reviews "An exciting, action-packed vampire thriller. A fantastic tale that . . . provides book lovers with plenty of adventure and a touch of romance." -- Midwest Book Review "Dawn makes a spunky vampire slayer."-- Publishers Weekly "An interesting take on the vampire world . . . well written and exciting. I look forward to the next book." -- The Romance Readers Connection "A killer mystery . . . Bring on book two!" --Kelley Armstrong, author of Made to Be Broken Ace Books by Chris Marie Green night rising Midnight reign BREAK OF DAWN A DROP OF red Anthologies FIRST BLOOD (with Susan Sizemore, Erin McCarthy, and Meljean Brook) THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP Published by the Penguin Group Penguin Group (USA) Inc. 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.) Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England Penguin Group Ireland, 25 St. Stephen''s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.) Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.) Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi--110 017, India Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, North Shore 0632, New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.) Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England This is an original publication of The Berkley Publishing Group. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author''s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content. Copyright 2009 by Chris Marie Green. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author''s rights. Purchase only authorized editions. ACE and the "A" design are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. eISBN : 978-1-101-01950-4 1. Madison, Dawn (Fictitious character)--Fiction. 2. Women stunt performers--Fiction. 3. Vampires--Fiction. 4. Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.)--Fiction. I. Title. PS3607.R4326D76 2009 813''.6--dc22 2008049490 To Sajen, Torrey, and Morgan. I''ll love you forever. While writing this next batch of books, I had lots of help, and I''d like to thank everyone who so kindly offered aid. First, there''s my "Kingswood crew": Claire Ross from London Walks, who served as guide and driver; Alexander Ockwell, my student guide; Philippa Watts, who arranged my tour of Kingswood; Sally Cunliffe and David Hughes from the Kingswood English department and Darryl Harding from the drama department; and Angela Snelling, the welcoming receptionist. Thank you also to Dee Lim from Royal High School for her tour and her time. To each of you--I''m so lucky to have met you and learned from your store of knowledge. Also, thank you to "C. S." for the use of what just might be his land around the fictional Queenshill. I''d additionally like to extend my appreciation to the authors of the books that lent insight into this world, particularly Jack Zipes for editing The Trials & Tribulations of Little Red Riding Hood and Raymond T. McNally and Radu Florescu for In Search of Dracula . Thank you to Wally Lind and Paul from Thames Valley on the crimescenewriter web loop, as well as Ginjer Buchanan, Cameron Dufty, and the Ace staff, plus the Knight Agency. As always, I also owe a lot to Sheree Whitefeather and Judy Duarte, my incredible critique partners. I''ve taken advantage of fictional license in some locations and historical details for the benefit of telling this story, and I claim any errors as my own. Now, on to the hunt . . . ONE WHEN YOU STRAY . . . IT was a night Kate Lansing would''ve ended up regretting. If she had only survived to regret it. At the moment, she was taking a numbing sip from her third cosmopolitan, her legs tucked under her on an Italian leather settee in a flat just outside of London''s financial district. Inadvertently mocking the last minutes of her life, which were ticking, ticking to an end, she tapped her fingers against the cocktail glass while an Amy Winehouse song played. The raspberry taste in her mouth sent a giddy wave through her, and she dizzily smiled at a dancing redheaded girl across the lounge. Nearby, a second female--plump, quiet, with frizzy russet hair--sat in a chair, content to merely watch. These were just two of the quick friends Kate had met tonight in a Brixton club, several tube stops away. At the foot of Kate''s settee, two more of her new mates sat on the luxurious carpet while stretching their knee-high-booted legs out from under their identical long skirts. Like the other girls, their matching slender red ties were askew, their faces fashionably pale, their own cosmos untouched on a marbled table. A fifth girl had gone to the loo and would return shortly. They were all from the same exclusive school, they''d revealed under the throb and humidity of the dance lights after they''d used fake IDs to buy Kate and her friend Harry drinks. Then, as if a part of their club now, Kate and Harry had agreed to carry on the party here, where they said one of their cousins lived when he wasn''t traveling on business. Where they had let flow the liquor and turned the music on high. Where Harry had already gone upstairs to zonk out in a bedroom. Where, even now, Kate didn''t have much longer to live. "So tell us, Katie-luv," said the girl with the long, sleek sable hair and vivid eyes that resembled her name. Violet. "

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