GtPGKogPYT4p61R1biicqBXsUzo" /> Google+ Character Confessions: Devlin Dalcon (Promise Me series) | I Smell Sheep

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Character Confessions: Devlin Dalcon (Promise Me series)

Who loves a villain? Tara Fox Hall's vampire, Delvin Delcon from her Promise Me series is here to confess how he plans to get his side of the story told...


Thank you to Sharon and I Smell Sheep for inviting Promise Me Series vampire Devlin Dalcon here today for a Character Confession! 

<A tall handsome blond man with golden eyes enters a room where a seated and somber priest waits. The priest indicates the chair opposite him, and the blond man sits down leisurely> 

Father Vernon<friendly smile> You’ve been invited here today for a confession, Devlin Dalcon. I’m Father Vernon. Please start at your leisure. 

Devlin: Good morning, Father. <turns to face the audience> I think I may have a shock in store for you, dear audience. Today there will be no cute allusions to sex scenes, no stamping of proverbial feet to say how I’ve been unfairly cast as the villain in the pages of Promise Me books—and sometimes the Lash books as well. I am not a boy toy here for your amusement, though I do invite your lusty looks, and any other warm inviting niceties you’d care to shower me with— 

Father Vernon<irritated> Enough posturing, please. Get to the confession. 

Devlin<unruffled> All in good time. <turns again to look at the audience and smiles, golden eyes gleaming> Where to start? There is so much to confess to. 

Father Vernon: Do you admit to torturing your vampiric brother, Danial, and taking his loves— 

Devlin<waves a hand dismissively> Yes, let’s get that out of the way. He betrayed me with Anna, the only woman I ever loved, so yes, I have taken his loves from him over the last hundred years. And while we’re at it, yes, I tried to break up him and Sarelle, the latest mortal woman he professed to love. I tried to seduce her at my brother’s home, and then later attacked her home. But that was justified, as she had given a promise to Danial and had instead shacked up with his best friend , that werecougar Theo— 

Father Vernon: Readers already know you’re not telling the real story, Devlin. Sar took some time apart from Danial, and then found out pretty harshly that he’d moved on. She and Theo got together after that. < pauses> But it’s obvious you dislike Theo. Did you have anything to do with Theo’s disappearance in Taken in the Night, the third Promise Me Series book? 

Devlin: No. <frowns> I’d have liked to have him killed years ago, but Danial cares a good deal for him. While I have no problem seducing Danial’s loves away from him, Danial has few friends. <smiles> If he goes insane, the fun in torturing him would be affected. 

Father Vernon: But isn’t that torture you’ve inflicted on him for the last hundred years or so already at an end? Sarelle refused your advances, Devlin. She was willing to die rather than be with you, as we readers understand it. 

Devlin<arches eyebrows> Women can be very deceitful when it comes to their true feelings…especially when all you hear is their version of the story. <settles himself in chair, leaning back> Which is why I’m here today to set the record straight. 

Father Vernon: About Sarelle’s feelings for you? 

Devlin: About Sar, Danial, Theo and the rest. <holds up hand, palm extended> Be assured, I have full clearance for what I’m about to say. God knows, I’ve waited long enough to say it. 

Father Vernon<curious> What do you mean? 

Devlin: Three Promise Me books so far, and I’m the big villain in all of them. When I’m not terrifying, I’m busy either masterminding elaborate torture or being seductive. 
Father Vernon: And you take offense? 

Devlin: No, I like being terrifying and seductive. That’s what being a vampire is all about! <laughs> But truthfully, I do have a problem with some of the events in the Promise Me Books to date. They did not happen as you fans were lead to believe they happened. 

Father Vernon: Such as? 

Devlin: That comment about waiting until later for making love that I supposedly said to Sar the night I delivered her to Danial dressed in only her black velvet robe was completely taken out of context. I meant it as a joke. 

Father Vernon: I don’t think anyone took that for anything except a threat. 

Devlin: I know <agitated>. I’m not adverse to all the threats that I supposedly made against other characters. I’m irritated that the books say that I carried out almost none of them. That makes me look at best a windbag and at worst incompetent. I am neither! 

Father Vernon: Say what you’re stating is true. Why would this skewed version of events be included in the story instead of the truth? 

Devlin<grins> because I have a role to play in these first books, the role of the villain, the true vampire to my noble brother’s pale shadow. In other words, I was supposed to lose. But I do have it on good assurance that my role will shortly be changing to something more true to life, so to speak 
Father Vernon: Elaborate, please. 

Devlin: I haven’t lived this long to stand on the sidelines. And it’s past time I involved myself. Sar has birthed a dhamphir with my brother in the most recent book, which will shortly result in a good deal of interest in her, all of it unwelcome. Then that stupid half-demon Terian told her Theo was alive. It’s not hard to guess she’ll try to find that werecougar, risking her life in the process— 

Father Vernon: I ask you again; did you have anything to do with his disappearance? 

Devlin<smiles> No. 
Father Vernon: We know from Terian’s last line in Taken in the Night that Theo is alive, not dead as Sar and Danial presumed. Do you know where he is? 

Devlin<smiles widely>I plead the fifth. <Stands> But If I did know, I wouldn’t reveal it. I don’t have clearance for that. <bows> Thank you and good day. 
Father Vernon : <also stands, irate> You can’t leave now. You didn’t confess anything! 

Devlin<turns to look at the Father Vernon> Then how is this for a confession: I am not done with Sar and Danial. I’ve merely been biding my time. 

Father Vernon: You are not Ruler of anything now, Devlin. Danial dethroned you at the end of the second Promise Me Book, Broken Promise, when he took your crown as Vampire Ruler of America. 

Devlin<narrows eyes> Sad and unfortunately true. Yet do you really think that I would be content to be a bit player in this paranormal drama just because I fell from power? I, who happen to have the most published mentions of any of the Promise Me characters? <pauses meaningfully> That was not an accident, Father, my being in so many stories. That was deliberate. 

Father Vernon<shocked> You got to her. You got to the author. 

Devlin: Seduced her, actually. <malicious smile> Everything I do has a purpose. I do not mind being cast as a villain in some stories, so long as my noble—or daresay, heroic—actions also eventually make their way into print. 
Father Vernon: <alarmed> What are you going to do? 

Devlin: Regain what is rightfully mine <grins> 
Father Vernon: <stammers> How? 

Devlin: The one thing correct and true in all the Promise Me Books is my irresistibility and charm. And that I have no qualms at all about doing everything I must to get what I want. Stay tuned, my devoted audience. There are some delectable sins and heroic twists in store for you. <blows a kiss to the audience> Adieu. <walks out>

The Promise Me series





Taken in the Night (Promise Me Series Book #3) When Theo disappears, Sar is left bereft, the uncertain guardian of Theo’s newly born werecougar daughter, Elle. As months pass, clues emerge about Theo’s disappearance, yet the twisting trail ends repeatedly without answer. In her grief, Sar turns to Danial and hesitantly begins to build a life with him and Elle. 


Excerpt
“I should go,” Danial said reluctantly. “It’s late.” 

I stopped him, my hand on his arm. “Please, stay with me a little while.” 

“Sar—” he began warily. 

“Please, Danial. I have to talk to you. Come with me.” I held out my hand. 

He sighed, and took my hand. I led him below to the bedroom that had been his not long ago. Danial sat on the edge of the bed with me. 

“She understands us,” I said quietly. “I didn’t want to talk in front of her.” 

“What is it, Sar?” he said tiredly. 

“You remember the Hallows party a year ago?” 

“Of course,” Danial said with longing. “I remember being so nervous, worried you wouldn’t show. I remember how you looked in the dress, dancing with me.” He paused. “Why do you bring it up?” 

“Because you must be going to have another one soon, unless you’re skipping this year.” 

“Yes, in late November,” Danial said edgily. “I closed the business while looking for Theo, and am going to reopen it next year. I need the last months of this year to finish up loose ends of old business.” He sighed. “And I need to hire someone to replace Theo, if such a thing can be done.” 

“I want to be there, Danial,” I said. “If you would permit me to come.” 

“I had hoped you would be,” Danial said, kissing me gently on the forehead. “I wanted to invite you, but wasn’t sure you’d want to—” 

“I know you will invite Samuel,” I said forcefully. “I want to question him about Theo—” 

His eyes tinted red immediately. “Sar, that is not what I had in mind. I have already talked to him, and he said he did nothing.” 

“I don't believe him, Danial. You weren’t there when he and Theo had words.” 

“That doesn’t matter,” he retorted. “He is a Ruler. You cannot question him as if he were a mere human.” 

“I certainly can—” 

“Sar, I forbid it,” Danial said arrogantly, grabbing hold of me. “And that is the end of it.” 

“Who are you to forbid me anything?” I said furiously. 

“I’m a man that loves you,” he said furiously back, and kissed me hard, pulling the length of his body against mine as we fell backwards onto the bed. 

I struggled, but he kissed me more thoroughly, his lips and body cool against mine. I shuddered in his arms, the feeling of being held and desired making me weak with relief and happiness. 

Danial moved, rolling me from my side unto my back, his kisses intensifying. He shifted suddenly, pressing down with his hips. I felt his erection pressing firmly to my belly, and I shuddered, my mouth opening to let out a gasp. He saw the opportunity and took it, sliding his tongue into my mouth to taste me. I trembled, and then kissed him back for all I was worth. 

Danial broke the kiss, his black eyes staring at me beneath him as he pulled off his shirt. I arched my back, pulling my sweater off over my head. All I’d needed to do was kiss him, and I wanted him so badly I could taste it.
 
Buy links: 


About the Author:
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Tara Fox Hall’s writing credits include nonfiction, horror, suspense, erotica, and contemporary and historical paranormal romance. She also coauthored the essay “The Allure of the Serial Killer,” published in Serial Killers - Philosophy for Everyone: Being and Killing (Wiley-Blackwell, 2010). Her first full-length action-adventure novel, Lash, published in April 2012. Her vampire series begins in June 2012, with the 1st novel Promise Me. Tara divides her free time unequally between writing novels and short stories, chainsawing firewood, caring for stray animals, sewing cat and dog beds for donation to animal shelters, and target practice.


GIVEAWAY
international

I am giving away a custom T-shirt, size large, with the cover of Taken in the Night on the front, and Promise Me Book cover on the back with the words "When the love of your life disappears without a trace, who do you turn to?"


a Rafflecopter giveaway

18 comments:

  1. Yes, I like when an author transforms a villian into a hero. It is interesting to follow how the character changes emotionally.
    bhometchko(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. Hello BookLady :) Devlin's character--both villain and hero--is one of my favorites to write, which is why he ends up in so many stories. That bit about seducing me isn't true at all....though I will admit that the fifth Promise Me Book, Immortal Confessions, will be taking us back in time to give an account of what REALLY happened with Danial, Anna, and Devlin a few hundred years ago...from Devlin's point of view.

      Good luck, and thank you for commenting! :)

      Delete
  2. I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme.
    Did you make this website yourself or did you hire someone to do
    it for you? Plz answer back as I'm looking to design my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from. many thanks

    My webpage - Cheat on Words With Friends

    ReplyDelete
  3. I do love it! One of my fav character's of all-time is Eric Northman from the Sookie Stackhouse Novels and this is mostly because for the first book he was the big bad. Then, in book two you saw a softer side and so on and so forth. Soon enough, he became honorable and a big marshmallow all for Sookie. Adorable.

    mestith at gmail dot com

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    Replies
    1. Hi Meghan. I too liked Eric's character in the Sookie books. Who can resist the aloof vampire? :) Thanks for entering and good luck!

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  4. Great excerpt, Tara. Hope you sell a million!

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  5. I absolutely love it when the bad guy's good colors start to leak out. I am a firm believer in characters you love to hate having more to them than just that bad boy facade. Of course it takes a talented imagination to make them believable and I am certain that is at work here. Looking forward to Devlin's new shenanigans and heroic reformation - snigger. Thanks so much Devlin for stopping by to shed a little light and teaser of forthcoming events and thank you Tara for sharing the treat of an excerpt with us.

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    1. Beware of Devlin's reformation, Denise...I think I can safely say his intentions are not as pure as he'd like us all to believe...:)You are most welcome, and thank you for stopping by!

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  6. I feel that a lot of circumstances are perception. So, I think there are times that a villain isn't a true villain, sometimes their actions are based on their perceptions of right and wrong and when the writer writes about them, we find that they weren't truly evil, just trying to do what they thought was right.
    evanlea at gmail dot com

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    1. Good to meet you, Evanlea :) I think Devlin would like you to believe that he isn't a true villain. He certainly is doing what he thinks is right. But is it really right...or just what's best for him?

      :) Good luck!

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  7. Yes.. that's a nice surprise.>:D

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  8. A note for the Lash series...Double Dragon is repubbing this, as the initial publisher went under. Kindle versions are reasonably priced on Amazon, but print is jacked way up. Print books will be available soon off Amazon via lulu... and are available on lulu now. Use MARCHBOOKS13 to get 20% off!

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  9. Replies
    1. Good luck, BN100. Thanks for joining my mailing list! :)

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  10. Excellent excerpt and confession. Decadent, delightful. Yum.

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    1. Thank you very much, Susan :) Dev is ALL about decadent delights!

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