Spotlight: Dark Blood Awakens by Michelle Corbier
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Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publication date: January 31, 2023
Dark Blood Awakens is the first book in the series weaving African mythology into urban fantasy.
Traveling around the country with her family of mwindaji, hunters, Makeda’s nursing skills come in handy when the group must discover the connection between a one-thousand-year-old vampire and a rural Kentucky hospital.
A recent catastrophic event awakens her long dormant zauber, sorceress, abilities. In Kentucky, disturbing visions and telepathic messages haunt her investigation. While working on the hospital surgical floor, she uncovers a secret people will kill to maintain. Torn between exterminating monsters and her oath to protect patients, she must reclaim her sorcery and defeat an ancient vampire before more people die—starting with those dearest to her.
Excerpt
The poorly lit gray walls lacked any décor. At the end of the long hallway stood two imposing doors. Makeda proceeded forward as noises from the hospital lobby drifted behind. Tile floors punctuated her steps, magnifying the sound in her ears.
A scent of mahogany drifted from the impressive doors. No label identified the room. She decided to peek inside but discovered it was locked. Damn.
After surveying the entrance, she determined the hospital probably used the space for conferences. Locked doors created mystique—and Makeda craved secrets.
With her eyes closed, she touched the massive doors and inhaled their mahogany essence. In seconds, a sensation of moroseness washed over her. Like she was in a dream, her body felt tossed about as if in a cyclone. A new astringent odor met her nostrils. Makeda became queasy, and her mouth dry. Suddenly, a scene flashed into her mind—no a memory.
Transported back to the jewel of the Caribbean, Makeda recalled disembarking in the capital city of Port-au-Prince. That January, she had traveled to Haiti to help with the humanitarian effort following the earthquake. Overwhelmed by the suffering she witnessed, Makeda committed to remaining in the country for a full month—guilty about not staying longer.
Her high school French proved useless because most of her patients spoke Creole. One patient in particular touched her heart. A frail older woman named Nadege. The elderly woman suffered multiple injuries during the quake. The most serious was a head wound from falling debris. Despite her age and trauma, the octogenarian survived.
Through an interpreter, Makeda spoke daily with Nadege, encouraged by the woman’s progress. A language barrier couldn’t impede their affection for each other. Their last encounter, though, had been unusual.
“How are you today?” she had asked, tucking the older woman’s thick braids under a head scarf.
“Mèsi pitit mwen,” Nadege had said, bringing Makeda’s hands to her heart.
She knelt beside the cot. “Don’t thank me. I’m glad you’re better.”
Clouded lenses fixed upon her. “Ou se yon pitit dou. Ou se yon bon mambo.”
Makeda waited for the interpreter, who for some reason hesitated.
“Is there a problem?” she had asked.
Nadege craned her head off the pillow, also regarding the interpreter.
For probably the millionth time, Makeda wished she had learned Creole. Listening to the two women converse, she deduced the problem involved the word mambo. As the discussion proceeded, she noticed her patient become distressed.
On a shaky elbow, Nadege pointed a reed-thin finger at the interpreter. Then she gestured toward Makeda.
“She says you’re a good nurse,” the interpreter had said, lowering her gaze.
Nadege relaxed back upon her pillows, apparently satisfied.
Dubious about the translation, Makeda had no time to dwell upon it. She kissed Nadege’s wrinkled cheeks.
A crinkled charcoal face beamed back at her, as Nadege’s arthritic hands caressed her cheeks. “Beni ou, se pou Bondye Gid ou. Asire w ke ou sèvi ak pouvwa ou pou bon.”
“She says may God bless you.”
When Makeda glanced over at the interpreter, the woman stared at her feet.
Even without understanding Creole, Makeda had realized Nadege said more than the interpreter relayed, but what could she do? Still, the event had bothered her. Before she left Port-au-Prince, she asked another interpreter what mambo meant. He confided it meant healer, or witch.
Standing before the massive conference doors, Makeda wondered what Nadege had said. To her disappointment, the following day her elderly patient had been transferred to a different section of the hospital. Despite searching, she never saw Nadege again.
“Hello.”
Makeda’s stomach bounced up into her throat. She spun around and found a towering man with a deadpan, impassive face gazing at the doors.
He spoke in a flat bass voice. “What are you doing here?”
While recovering her composure, Makeda pointed at the conference room. “I was appreciating these beautiful doors. What type of wood is this?”
“Mahogany. They are beautiful, and expensive.” After a moment admiring the doors, his gaze shifted back toward her.
Her shoulders tensed as Makeda realized their isolation from the rest of the hospital. An odor itched her nose. It wasn’t the wood, but for the moment she couldn’t place it. She studied the stranger.
His lanky arms were too long for his torso, almost marfanoid. With his pale face and disjointed features, she considered the possibility he was a vampire. But it was daytime. They were inside though, and away from sunlight. Possible.
Yewande had taught her about other monsters, koleo and biloko. Maybe not as prevalent as werewolves and vampires, but as deadly. Time to leave.
“I should get back to work.” She maneuvered around him, hustling toward the lobby. Using the gift shop windows, she checked to see if he pursued.
His gaze followed, but he remained in front of the massive conference room doors.
Witch or a healer. Had Nadege—
“Hey.”
Makeda grabbed the hand that landed on her shoulder and twisted the wrist. A second later, she glanced at the person’s face. “Michael.”
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About the Author
Born in Illinois and raised in San Diego, CA and Charleston, SC, Michelle Corbier grew up around military bases. She obtained my biology degree from UC Santa Cruz and a medical degree from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. As a Pediatrician with over 25 years in medicine, Michelle transformed her passion for writing into a second career.
Michelle Corbier is a member of Crime Writers of Color, Capitol Crimes and Sisters in Crime. The genres of her creative outlet are mysteries, paranormal, suspense and thrillers. The first book in her mystery series premiered in May 2022. The mystery series sequel will be available soon in addition to the first book in her urban fantasy series Mwindaji premiering on January 31, 2023.
Connect:
Website: https://MichelleCorbier.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/michellecorbier
Twitter: Michelle Corbier (@mwindajis) / Twitter
TikTok: @MrsDoctorwrites
Bookbub: Michelle Corbier Books - BookBub
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/amazoncomauthormichellecorbier
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