The Vampire’s Handmaiden is Live!

The fated day has arrived! The Vampire’s Handmaiden is finally here!

I’m so happy the book is now in readers hands and out there in the world! Reviews are starting to come in and they are making me grin. People are loving Yasmina, Dracula, and Dune. Remillion, not so much… Then again, that’s just how I wanted it!

It’s available on Kindle and paperback, so make sure to pick up your copy before it gets too spooky out there tonight! To all the trick or treaters, stay safe! Who knows what creatures of the night are lurking around and thirsty for your blood…

GET YOUR COPY OF THE VAMPIRE’s HANDMAIDEN HERE

How Long Would It Take For A Vampire to Drain A Human Body Of Blood?

How much time would a vampire take to drain a person of blood?

Well, according to science, the average grown human has about 1.2 to 1.5 gallons (4.5 to 5.5 liters) of blood circulating inside their body. So if you were to be drained of blood, you’d weigh about 10% less of your body’s original mass.

By the time kids are 5 or 6 years old, children contain just about the same amount of blood as adults do. But because children are smaller, their blood makes up a larger percentage of their body weight than in adults.

But what does this have to do with the release of the Vampire’s Handmaiden, you ask? Very simple! We’re busy theorizing just how much blood they can get out of a typical human without killing them. What a lovely, morbid topic, right?!

When donating blood, a person loses about a pint of blood or 10% of it. When you lose about 30% or more, symptoms of the blood loss really start to manifest. That’s around 3 – 4 pints of blood. But when the human body loses 40% or more, hypovolemic shock starts to set in. That’s when things start to shut down and blood pressure starts to drop. I.e., that’s the true danger zone.

So if you were to be bitten by a vampire, there would be two more factors to consider. Thinking of where precisely they bit you would also be a huge detail to take in. The difference between how much blood they’d get on an a major artery (for example the femoral artery or the jugular), would be very different than if they bit you elsewhere in the body. That, and the victim’s blood pressure would definitely contribute, depending on how low it dropped or if it stopped entirely.

Either way, the body can be drained of blood relatively quickly. It would vary person to person, based on their size and where bitten. But either way, most people would be dead within minutes at fastest. It’s a pretty grim way to die in my opinion, but personally I’d prefer it to being torn apart by zombies!

Hope that answers your question, readers! The Vampire’s Handmaiden will be live at midnight tonight, ready to read on October 31st, Halloween 2019! Make sure to pick up your copy HERE.

In the meantime, here’s a synopsis of the novel:

The Vampire’s Handmaiden – Watchmen of the Grail Series

Only one thing matters: the reclamation of Dracula’s soul…

Her blood rights sold in return for her mother’s life, Yasmina Tolite longs to be free of living her life in the night. Bound forever in servitude to a vampire as his handmaiden, her virgin blood belongs to him alone until the day she dies. But when a new neighbor moves in next door and threatens to steal her heart, there’s nothing her vampiric master won’t do to keep her as his.

Between the arrival of Viscount Dracula and the discovery of Van Helsing’s long lost heir, one thing is for certain: the night has just begun.

Dracula’s salvation is at hand. The Holy Grail has been found.

Yasmina Van Helsing will rise. A Watchman has been born.

The Vampire’s Handmaiden is perfect for fans of vampires, were-wolves, were-cockatrices, the Holy Grail, and twisted tales of the undead. Proceed with caution, for the dark fantasy world of the supernatural is about to become yours…

Move out of the way Twilight, Dark Shadows, and the Vampire Diaries fans. The vampire hunters of the Grail are coming for you…

Editorial Review:

“Dang. I’m a writer more than a reader. I’m an editor more than an avid, willing reader. Heavy duty college courses as an English major all but ruined my zest for reading books. Plus, I am not intrigued with those trendy vampire stories. Well, that zest is back along with the intrigue with thanks to Author ML Heron-Heidel. I’ve fallen in love with some of her characters and I passionately want to snuff out some others. With my bare hands nonetheless. Then along comes the talent of their creator and I want to invite most of them into my home. Well, not entirely most. Some are not welcomed yet all live within my mind and heart. They will forever thanks to the talent of this writer. Her work is absolutely brilliant, captivating and never, ever repetitive. With the end of each piece I find myself longing to read more, to know the outcome, the happiness my favorite characters so deserve – and the justice the others’ misdeeds merit. Ah but my thirst is never quenched novel to novel. How absolutely brilliant this author is! I get hooked every single time and, you know what? I’m loving it.”

Order your copy of The Vampire’s Handmaiden here

The Vampire’s Handmaiden: Exclusive Excerpt #2

“If my plan works,” Dune continued, “he’ll lift his hypnosis to find out what we’ve done. Once he does, when you remember all this – remember me – I want you to make a decision. You need to decide what you want. If you call out for me, I will come for you and break you free. I promise you I will. I won’t let him take you again. Never.”

“And if I don’t remember?” I asked, sensing he had moved closer.

“Then I’ll find another way to free you,” he swore.

I looked at the obscured man, still unsure. All of this mattered very little considering I doubted Remy would ever let me go. “And what are we supposed to have done?”

“This,” he murmured huskily, invisible hands cupping my cheeks.

I shivered as my lower lip was traced. “What‘re you-?”

My question broke off with a low gasp as lips kissed the corner of my mouth, then along my jaw. I trembled, eyes closing and breath hitching in my throat as he feathered kisses under my ear, traveling lower with every brush of his lips against my skin.

Despite the bizarreness of the situation, not being able to see the man whose hands were encircling my waist and all but dragging me to him, I found myself swayed by the intoxicating feeling of his touch. A thrill went up my spine, wondering just where this moment would lead. On some level, it felt very wrong not knowing who was touching my body. But on another one, it felt so right; too good to tell him to stop.

One arm bowed my body to him, letting me feel the planes of his chest. My hands tightened on the chair arm rest, resisting the urge to reach out to touch him. To pull him even closer, to feel his body against mine.

As I gave in to the feeling, I tilted my head back to give him better access as he kissed my collar bone. Lower and lower he went, down between my breasts and across my stomach. With every kiss, I grew steadily hotter, feeling his lips through the thin, cool silk of my shirt. I trembled as his fingers dipped below the waist of my skirt and I fought to breathe as his lips came back to my ear, his hands lingering on my body and shaking over my skin.

“Choose us,” he rasped in my ear, his voice rough with desire. ”I will come for you.”

The Vampire’s Handmaiden

Pre-order it at amazon.com/author/maggielynnheronheidel

The Vampire’s Handmaiden will be available on October 31st 2019

©️ 2019 Maggielynnheronheidel

The Vampire’s Handmaiden: An Exclusive Sneak Peek!

There was only one thing in the world Count Dracula wanted.

One thing in the entire universe. The entire world could go to hell for all he cared, so long as he got what he desired; what he’d so desperately hunted for centuries. He’d torn up entire continents looking for it, not caring who or what would be destroyed by the search. Only one thing mattered.

Approaching his father’s throne with that in mind, he bowed before the old bastard. He sank down so low that it killed his ego, longing to spring forward and tear his longtime enemy’s throat out; that being … “Father, may I speak with you?”

But it seemed the Viscount already knew why he’d come. He sat back with a smug smile. A very knowing smile. “You’ve finally found it; haven’t you? The being you’ve been searching for so stridently.”

Dracula inclined his head, displeased with the Viscount’s knowledge. “So you do know of Van Helsing’s thievery…”

His father chuckled, gesturing with three fingers that he may leave. “Few things would please me more than to see you reacquire it. I will wait for your return, Rafe. Safe travels.”

“I may not return for decades,” Dracula warned, satisfaction curling around his mind like a sharpened set of claws. His freedom was at hand.

Still the Viscount dismissed him, ignorant of his offspring’s second aim. “Even so, go, my son. You have my blessing.”

Standing upright, he fled from the Viscount’s presence before another word could be said. He’d gotten his permission. The Viscount wouldn’t know of the truth or even search for it for a few decades. Even a century could pass before he would inquire of him again. By then it would be too late.

Ascending to the balcony before anyone could stop him, he’d already embraced his inner monster and shifted, sailing into the air with a savage cry. He rose into the updrafts of the wind, the air ruffling his fur and leaving his human skin behind. He set his course for the west, allowing the sun and stars to guide him.

Before long, his prize would be ready. While he would have to wait thirty years for it to mature, it was still satisfying to know his salvation was within grasp. There would be no stopping him in reclaiming it now; no matter the price.

His soul would once again be his. He would fight Hell’s legions to reclaim it if he had to, setting his course for the North American continent. Little else mattered now, so long as he got it back.

Van Helsing had failed in his quest. His ancestor would belong to Dracula and give him what he so desperately craved at long last. Nothing would get in his way this time; not even death. He would possess his vitality at all costs.

Dracula had found it at long last. He had found the one.

The first of its kind. The only of its kind.

The female. The first female heir of Van Helsing’s legacy.

Her womb alone would restore his soul.

She would belong to him and he would have his revenge on her sire… even if it meant sacrificing her life.

Copyright ©️Maggie Lynn Heron-Heidel 2019

Hope you enjoyed this sneak peek! Here’s a little more about the series!

The Vampire’s Handmaiden: Watchmen of the Grail…

Only one thing matters: the reclamation of Dracula’s soul…

Her blood rights sold in return for her mother’s life, Yasmina Tolite longs to be free of living her life in the night. Bound forever in servitude to a vampire as his handmaiden, her virgin blood belongs to him alone until the day she dies. But when a new neighbor moves in next door and threatens to steal her heart, there’s nothing her vampiric master won’t do to keep her as his.

Between the arrival of Viscount Dracula and the discovery of Van Helsing’s long lost heir, one thing is for certain: the night has just begun.

Dracula’s salvation is at hand. The Holy Grail has been found.

Yasmina Van Helsing will rise. A Watchman has been born.

The Vampire’s Handmaiden is perfect for fans of vampires, were-wolves, were-cockatrices, the Holy Grail, and twisted tales of the undead. Proceed with caution, for the dark fantasy world of the supernatural is about to become yours…

Move out of the way Twilight, Dark Shadows, and the Vampire Diaries fans. The vampire hunters of the Grail are coming for you…

Editorial Review:

“Dang. I’m a writer more than a reader. I’m an editor more than an avid, willing reader. Heavy duty college courses as an English major all but ruined my zest for reading books. Plus, I am not intrigued with those trendy vampire stories. Well, that zest is back along with the intrigue with thanks to Author ML Heron-Heidel. I’ve fallen in love with some of her characters and I passionately want to snuff out some others. With my bare hands nonetheless. Then along comes the talent of their creator and I want to invite most of them into my home. Well, not entirely most. Some are not welcomed yet all live within my mind and heart. They will forever thanks to the talent of this writer. Her work is absolutely brilliant, captivating and never, ever repetitive. With the end of each piece I find myself longing to read more, to know the outcome, the happiness my favorite characters so deserve – and the justice the others’ misdeeds merit. Ah but my thirst is never quenched novel to novel. How absolutely brilliant this author is! I get hooked every single time and, you know what? I’m loving it.”

Available October 31st 2019 just in time for Halloween!

Click to preorder it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z9QWT5N