The writing duo of Melinda Metz & Laura J. Burns are joining us for Spooky Legends today and are tackling one of the most famous urban legends ever: Chupacabra. They also happen to be celebrating the release of the second book in the Crave paranormal YA series, SACRIFICE (available now from Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing). If you haven’t read this series about a terminally ill girl and the vampire guy (Gabriel in the story below) who holds the cure, I highly recommend it. To help you get started, Melinda & Laura are giving away two copies of SACRIFICE. See details below.
Click to see the Spooky Legends Master List with links to all the previous posts and giveaways
Chupacabra
by
Melinda Metz & Laura J. Burns
My name is Millie. I’m seven years old, and I have rules. Some are rules probably everybody has, such as “Don’t eat with your elbows on the table.” My big brother Sam even has a rhyme about that one: “Millie, Millie, strong and able. Keep your elbows off the table. This is not a horse’s stable, but a first-rate dining table.” Nobody cares too much if I break that one. It’s not one of the important rules.
The most important rule is that I’m never, ever supposed to tell anyone that my father and older brothers–Sam, Gabriel, and Richard–are vampires. It’s an easy rule to keep, because the only other person I see is Luis. Luis is my older brother too, but he’s only ten years older, so that doesn’t really count as older. He thinks it does. He thinks it gives him leave to boss me, but it doesn’t. Even Richard doesn’t try to boss me much, though he’s fifty-two years older even than Luis.
Sam and Gabriel are hundreds of years older than me. That counts.
The second most important rule is “Never leave home alone.” Today, I’m going to break that rule. I have a very good reason. Sam and Gabriel and Papa Ernst are worried that a new vampire has invaded our area. I heard them talking about it. In truth, I listened at the door, which is also against the rules. They said three goats from the McKinley farm have been killed. The McKinleys are our nearest neighbors. Their goats hadn’t just been killed; they had been drained of blood. If there is another vampire around here, Papa Ernst said, then it’s vital that we stop it from killing again. It could draw attention to the family if we don’t.
Gabriel said they would have to be careful, because humans aren’t our only enemies, and other vampires aren’t necessarily friendly. Papa Ernst and Gabriel worry a lot. Sam says they have good reasons, and that I’ll understand when I’m older. I can’t wait until I’m older. That’s when I’ll get to be a vampire too.
Today, I’m going to go out and search for the vampire. It’s safer for me to do it. Vampires sleep during the day. If I find him, he won’t be able to hurt me. Vampires can’t wake up while the sun is out. I have a plan. I’m going to leave him a note asking him not to kill any more animals.
###
Sam put coffee on as soon as he got up. He didn’t drink coffee. He didn’t drink anything but blood. But he enjoyed the smell. Ernst did not. He didn’t want a single reminder that the human world existed, although the family would always have some dealings with humans. They were the majority. It would always be so.
Gabriel walked into the kitchen, his dark hair tousled. He frowned at the percolator. He felt the same way about coffee, and the human world, that Ernst did. They had a good reason. Sam did too. Sam, Gabriel, and Ernst had lost every other member of their family back in Greece–humans had killed them all while they slept. Sam understood Gabriel’s fear, and he understood Ernst’s hatred. But all of the vampires had been human once. Millie and Luis were human still, and the two children were beloved. Didn’t that mean there was some good in the human world?
“It is unusually and blessedly quiet tonight,” Gabriel commented. “Don’t tell me Millie and Luis are actually asleep.”
“I haven’t seen them,” Sam answered. He let his thoughts about the human world slide away. It would be good to share them with his brother, the way they shared everything else, but he knew Gabriel wouldn’t want to hear them. “I’ll go check on the kids,” he added.
Sam found Luis quickly. The boy was reading Captains Courageous in the living room. “Where’s your sister?” Sam asked.
Luis didn’t look up, instead giving a quick shrug. “She’s probably in her bedroom. I tried amusing her, the way you’re always asking me to, but she got mad because I won her best aggie playing marbles. She claims I cheated, but I didn’t.”
Sam hurried downstairs. The sturdy door of Millie’s room was unlocked. Her favorite doll, Mandy, was the only occupant of her bed. Anxiety began to pump through Sam as he checked the other rooms. Ernst was in his study, Richard in the bath, but Millie was nowhere to be found.
“Something wrong?” Ernst asked.
“Not a thing,” Sam replied, relieved that his agitation wasn’t strong enough to alarm Ernst. His father could feel Sam’s emotions through the communion all the vampires in the family shared, but Sam had learned to hide his feelings if he tried. There was no point in terrifying Ernst until Sam had more information.
Sam stepped outside the big house. He breathed in deeply, searching for Millie’s scent. The odor of her blood hit him almost immediately. Her blood!
Seconds later, Gabriel burst out the door. “What’s happened?” Clearly Sam’s rush of horror had hit the communion and brought Gabriel running.
“Millie’s not in the house. Do you smell—“
“I smell her blood,” Gabriel interrupted. “Come. We have to find her.” He sounded angry, but Sam knew that was only because his brother was trying to force down his fear.
Side-by-side, Sam and Gabriel ran across the meadow and into the stretch of woods behind the house. Full darkness had fallen, but that didn’t impede them. They both could see as well by night as by day–and far better than any human.
As they tracked the scent of Millie’s blood, a new smell caught Sam’s attention. Pungent and dank, the odor wasn’t anything familiar, although he’d lived in many places over hundreds of years. Could it be whatever had been killing the McKinley goats? They’d thought the killer might be another vampire, but the scent was not from one of their kind.
Sam zigzagged between the trees, then skidded to a halt when he spotted Millie huddled beneath one of them. He stopped so quickly that Gabriel slammed into him. “Millie! What in the devil are you doing out here?” Gabriel demanded.
“Rescuing Norman,” Millie answered, her sweet, bell-clear voice calm. “That’s what I named him. Doesn’t he look like a Norman?” She twisted toward them, and Sam felt his heart shudder. She held a…creature…cradled against her chest. Sam didn’t know what else to call it. The sight of it was as unfamiliar as the scent. It was almost hairless, and its skin was the color of bread mold. A row of over-sized quills ran in a row from the back of its neck all the way to its long, scaly tail.
“It’s feeding on her!” Gabriel cried.
He was right. The thing was suckling from Millie’s arm. It was drinking Millie’s blood.
Gabriel bolted forward with a low growl. “Don’t hurt him!” Millie screamed. The creature screamed too, raising its head and allowing Sam to see its face for the first time. Its yellow eyes bulged. Instead of a mouth it had three holes. As Sam stared, fangs retracted into them.
“Gabriel, no!” Millie leaped to her feet and started to run. Gabriel was much too fast. He caught her by the elbow, and she released the creature. It hopped a few feet away.
The way it moved, that hopping, sent a flash of memory through Sam.
“Chupacabra,” he breathed, the word coming back to him as Millie struggled to free herself from Gabriel. “It’s a chupacabra, a goat sucker.” Lysander had told him a story about the beast hundreds of years ago. “It must be what killed the McKinleys’ animals.”
“Only because he had to,” Millie declared, finally managing to pull her arm out of Gabriel’s grasp. “And they shot him! He has a bullet in his shoulder. Couldn’t they tell he’s just a baby? A poor, little baby.”
“Millie, you allowed it to feed on you?” Sam asked, astonished.
She nodded vigorously. “He was starving. I tried to give him berries, but he didn’t want them. Then I thought of the goats, and I realized what he needed. He didn’t take much.” She gave her adorable Millie smile. “I want to keep him. Can we keep him?”
“It’s not even supposed to exist,” Sam said, looking over at the chupacabra. It was still poised a few feet from Millie, as if reluctant to leave her, whimpering softly. “It’s supposed to be a legend.”
“That’s why he belongs with us. Vampires are supposed to be legends too,” Millie said. “Pleeeease? It’s so boring when you’re all asleep. Half the time Luis won’t even play with me, and soon it will be time for him to give up the sun and I’ll be the only one awake during the day.”
Sam and Gabriel exchanged a look. It was hard for either of them to say no to Millie. The creature didn’t look vicious. It didn’t make any move to attack, just stood there, gazing up at Millie with adoration. The chupacabra was the ugliest thing Sam had ever seen, but it couldn’t help that it needed blood to live any more than Sam and the others could. “It would solve the problem of mysterious animal deaths,” Sam said. "We can keep it from feeding on the goats."
Millie began bouncing up and down in excitement, and the chupacabra–Norman–inched closer to her, nuzzling her hand.
Gabriel sighed. “You have to clean up after it yourself, Mils. That’s a rule.”
Millie gave a little squeal of joy. “I will. I promise,” she answered quickly.
“And you’ve shown us how well you obey rules, haven’t you?” Sam asked. But he couldn’t stop himself from smiling. And tonight, for once, he saw Gabriel smile too.
————————————————-
About the authors:
|
Laura J. Burns has written more than thirty books for teens and kids, and hopes to write at least thirty more. She lives in California with her husband and kids. |
|
Visit Melinda Metz & Laura J. Burns online: Want to read more from Melinda Metz & Laura J. Burns http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fallthiurbfan-20%2F8003%2F0202009f-1390-4d7c-b46c-929222f4af59&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate |
Giveaway provided by Melinda Metz & Laura J. Burns
2 copies of SACRIFICE Melinda Metz & Laura J. Burns
Available now from Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
Description:
Gabriel and Shay are convinced that they can make their relationship work. Knowing that Shay is half-vampire, Gabriel thinks that his coven will embrace her as one of their own, but instead they view her as an abomination, a thing that doesn’t belong in either world. And they want her dead. Now Gabriel must make the ultimate decision – watch his love be killed by his coven or defy the people closest to him, the people he has spent centuries with to save her.
Read an excerpt|Read our review
Enter the giveaway via the widget below
**Don’t forget to visit Dark Faerie Tales today for her Spooky Legends guest blog with Stefan Petrucha and a chance to win DEAD MANN WALKING**
About the author
Review: Towering by Alex FlinnMay 18, 2013
Mega Mammoth Paranormal Giveaway–64 books!April 13, 2011
Deadly Destinations: Gina Rosati & win AURACLEAugust 8, 2012
48 Responses to Spooky Legends & Giveaway: Melinda Metz & Laura J. Burns’ Millie on Chupacabra “SACRIFICE”
Wow! What a wonderful story! I'm definitely interested in the books after reading this post! Thanks again for the story and the giveaway!
efender1(at)gmail(dot)com
I like Gena Showalters Intertwined Series
audie@wickerness.com
Twilight. The majority of people seem to like it. I personally didn't but everyone else did. lol
misusedinnocence@aol.com
I would recommend Twilight. I loved the books and the movies. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead.. LOVED it!!
I would recommend P.C Cast House of Night series. It's the best.
Why oh why couldn't Millie be into squirrels. I would never be able to sleep in that house with a chupacabra there too. I really enjoyed Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy for vampire YA. Thanks for the giveaway!
Jnmt3@hotmail.com
I wonder what her parents would say about having that in the house…even if they are vampires.
I've been on a Blue Bloods kick lately. I like how they have basically integrated themselves into everyday society.
I'd also recommend the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. Thanks for the giveaway!
Skk25@aol.com
I like YA Vampire stories and I think one of my favorite series is definitely Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead.
Well it's not ALL vampires but there is one vampire in it and that would be Hex Hall.
I like the House of Night series and The Morganville Vampires.
YA vampires…hmm…beyond Twilight (which I didn't like) I haven't actually read any of the YA vampire books that I have on my TBR pile, such as Vampire Academy. I read a lot of adult vampire books, but that doesn't count..lol
I really enjoy this series! Heck I read so many vampire series it's sometimes hard for me to enjoy some, but lately I haven't had that prob!
A real good "classic" YA paranormal/vamp book is Amelia Atwater-Rhodes's Demon in my View! It's actually what started my vampire obsession when I was 13, almost 11 years ago and since then it's been reprinted as well as the rest of the Den of Shadows series.
Morganville Vampires (Rachel Caine)
Vampire Academy (Richelle Mead)
Sookie Stackhouse (Charlaine Harris)
Evernight (Claudia Gray)
House of Night (P.C. Cast)
Blue Bloods (Melissa De La Cruz)
As u can tell, I've read A LOT of vampire books..
That was a surprisingly sweet story, especially since it contained a goat sucker and vampires. But somehow overprotective vampire big brothers and small sister and baby chupacabra add up to absolutely charming.
Mickie T
mdturett at juno dot com
I highly recommend the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. It is so well-written! I also love the mythology storyline of Melissa de la Cruz's Blue Bloods series.
angeldream3[AT]gmail[DOT]com
My favorite is Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Vivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com
Either Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, the Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey, Blood Ninja series by Nick Lake, or Rebecca Maizel's Vampire Queen trilogy.
lee.kaly@yahoo.com
Love Vampire Academy like everyone else.
Chllybrd(at)gmail.com
I'd recommend the Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine.
Vampire Academy and Blue Bloods are my recommendations.
adsanders77 at gmail dot com
I would definitely recommend Twilight. Also, the Soul Screamers series.
Not sure if this counts, Companions of the Night by Vivian Vande Velde!
I actually haven't read any vampire YAs that I would recommend….I've read other YAs…so I'd have to say I don't have any good rec's for you on that one.
Though I adored this chupacabra story it was so sickly sweet and twisted!
There are several very good YA vampire series out there, of course Twilight, P.C. Cast's House of Night series, Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampires; these come to my mind. Thank you for the fun post and giveaway opportunity.
dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com
There are so many excellent reads to choose from and most have been listed already. I think I'd go with The Blue Bloods or The Morganville Vampires.
vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com
I'm somewhat recently new to YA and have loved the contemps and the paranormals I have read so far haven't included any Vampries. Odd, since I love vamps. I'm definitely taking in all these suggestions though
I really liked A House of Night series.
djeanq(at)gmail(dot)com
Keeping a chupacabra as a pet? Awwww it's just so darned creepy and cute!
This series is new to me. Gonna have to add it to my wishlist. Thanks for sharing your cool story guys! Thanks to ATUF for hosting!
Chupacabra is such a fun word to say
. But that story was creepy. For vampire YA I really liked the first few Evernight books.
This series looks great I'm putting it on my TBR list.
eckstein99@comcast.net
I loved that story. It totally didn't go where I thought it was going, and hey, if a hairless cat or a Chinese crested dog is considered cute, why not a chupacabra?
Vampire YA? I don't read much of those, but I did just read Jane Jones Worst Vampire Ever and it was pretty cute.
jen at delux dot com
I loved the story. Thanks for the giveaway
sab5723 at hotmail dot com
Awesome story!! Thanks for the amazing giveaway! I think my favorites are My Blood Approves, Morganville Vampires, and Infinite Days.
Hmmmm . . . there's a lot, so I'll just do the ones off the top of my head.
Vampire Academy, House of Night (yeah, I'm one of them), Amelia Awater-Rhodes, The Silver Kiss, Morganville Vampires, Infinite Days, and quite a few others.
My favorite YA vampire series is Vampire Academy by far. Morganville Vampires is also pretty good. You might also try Amanda Hockings My Blood Aproves.
The Vampire Academy series is one I would recommend.
raycharles15 at gmail dot com
House of Night series by PC and Kristin Cast is good.
truebloodfan AT rock DOT com
Vampire academy is my favorite love it! I love Evernight by Claudia Gray which is very good! I love to read about vampires my favorite!
I recommend:
The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer
The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine
The House of Night by P.C. and Kristin Cast
Half Blood Vampires series by Serena Robar
Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
Thank you for the chance to win!
methom@earthlink.net
I would definitely recommend The Morganville Vampires, The House of Night, Vampire Academy, and and anything by Kelley Armstrong. Seriously. Also, Bluebloods.
Thank you, for the chance to win this amazing novel.
Suz @ A Soul Unsung
susanhaugland@att.net
Chupacabra…I had never heard of that until I watched a show called Bones the other day. Creepy. Thanks so much for the giveaway. I loved Craved and look forward to this second book.
Tanyaw1224(at)yahoo(dot)com
I really enjoyed the Vampire Academy books, and the the new series as well. Also the Blue Bloods series is great, I am about to read the latest one.
I recommend the Twilight series, Vampire Academy books, House of Night, Morganville Vampires, Vampire Kisses series by Ellen Schreiber, and the Blood Coven Vampire series by Mari Mancusi. Thank you for the giveaways. brendem7@comcast.net
I recommend Strange Angels novels by Lili St. Crow and The Thirst series by Christopher Pike, they are both really, really good.
The Twilight series and The Morganville Vampires
are great ones!
thebookdiva2011 at gmail dot com
Thanks so much.
Looks like a cool read.
~ Cassandra Ruiz
Not too much to offer for me most YAs i read are dysotopian by i remember the Good Ghouls duology by Julie Kenner