Darkness Before Dawn (Darkness Before Dawn – Trilogy)

My parents’ memorial service had barely ended when Valentine notified the Agency that he wanted me to take over as delegate

didn’t come home. Their burned carriage was found abandoned by the road, the ground around it soaked in blood.
Valentine sent condolences and an assurance that those responsible—rogue vampires traveling through the area—had been dealt with. Later I learned that he tied the

accused to crucifixes outside the wall, forced them to greet the sun. Because vampires heal quickly, it must have been a long, excruciating death as they slowly turned to ash until all that remained was their fangs. For some reason, those never burn

Tomorrow night the Agency—which is responsible for protecting the city—will send me out beyond the wall. Alone for the first time as the official delegate to one of the most powerful vampires in the world: Lord Valentine.
Just like my parents. For two long years they met with Lord Valentine twice a month to discuss vampire-human relations, negotiate the blood supply, appeal to his mercy—what little he has of it. Before them, other delegates served, but none lasted as long; none pleased Valentine the way that they did. While my father was the official delegate, my mother wouldn’t let him carry the burden alone. They loved each other so much. I try not to resent that she placed her love for my father above her love for me. She knew the dangers, knew I could be left an orphan. Still, she traveled at my father’s side. Then one night, three months ago, they didn’t come home. Their burned carriage was found abandoned by the road, the ground around it soaked in blood

THREE MONTHS LATER…
Standing on my balcony, I watch the sun paint its descent across the sky. Soon the monsters will come out to play. They like the night. They feed on it.
Sometimes they feed on us

“A shame,” the assassin murmured.
“What is he talking about?” the woman asked, concern etched across her face.
She doesn’t know, the assassin realized. Her husband has kept the truth from her. I’ll never understand these humans.
“It’s nothing, love,” the husband said, his attempt at a comforting tone so butchered it was comical.
“Oh, it’s everything,” the assassin replied.
“The past was buried long ago. There’s no reason to dig it up.”
The assassin looked at them both and was satisfied. Those would be their last words on this earth.
No pain was felt. It happened too fast. All was over before they could even scream

“Dawn lives in ignorance,” he said

“Lord Valentine was pleased with the latest blood supply figures,” the wife said, a nervous tic in her voice, as she perhaps recognized that not all was right.
“Of course,” he assured her, although quantities and numbers were irrelevant to him. He marveled at their innocence. “I would like to ask you a question,” he said, looking directly at the husband. “Does your daughter have any idea about her true heritage?”

YEAR NINE OF THE NEW WORLD ORDER