Mortis Series by J.C. Diem

Librarian's Note: This is an alternate/new cover for ASIN B00C6PW0B4. Working late one night, Natalie Pierce is kidnapped by a creature that looks like a harmless old man, but is something far more terrifying. Waking up in a creepy mausoleum, she is forced to endure three nights of indescribable agony. Her life is forever altered when she is transformed into a monster of myth and legend; a vampire... moreLibrarian's Note: This is an alternate/new cover for ASIN B00C6PW0B4. Working late one night, Natalie Pierce is kidnapped by a creature that looks like a harmless old man, but is something far more terrifying. Waking up in a creepy mausoleum, she is forced to endure three nights of indescribable agony. Her life is forever altered when she is transformed into a monster of myth and legend; a vampire. Lonely and full of despair, she comes face to face with the irresistible and enigmatic Lord Lucentio. Justice bringer for the European Vampire Council, Luc has been sent to Australia to kill Natalie's maker, but someone has already beaten him to it. He quickly discovers that Nat is far from an ordinary fledgling. He suspects that she is Mortis, a figure of both hope and dread among their kind. Natalie is propelled into a dark and mysterious underworld that takes her far away from her hometown of Brisbane. Her arrival was foretold long ago and her fate is already sealed. Nat's entire species is in danger and it is her job to save them. She desperately wants to escape from the burden that has been thrust upon her, but she is inextricably linked to a two thousand year old prophecy. An unknown enemy has begun to whittle down their already limited numbers. If Nat fails to accept her destiny, all vampires will soon cease to exist. less

Natalie Pierce awakens to find herself not only buried in a box but also missing her body from the neck down. After some initial confusion she remembers that she has become a member of a very exclusive club; the living dead. While Luc, her closest companion, was responsible for beheading her, he had simply obeyed an order that had been impossible for him to resist. The Comtesse, ruler of the European vampire nation, can be blamed for Nat’s current uncomfortable incarceration... moreNatalie Pierce awakens to find herself not only buried in a box but also missing her body from the neck down. After some initial confusion she remembers that she has become a member of a very exclusive club; the living dead. While Luc, her closest companion, was responsible for beheading her, he had simply obeyed an order that had been impossible for him to resist. The Comtesse, ruler of the European vampire nation, can be blamed for Nat’s current uncomfortable incarceration. Natalie has three important tasks ahead of her. Her first objective is to escape from her underground prison. The second goal is to hunt down the Comtesse and introduce her to the holy marks on Nat’s palms. The third task is the most daunting; she must discover who or what is behind the cause of the sentient shadows that only she can see. As the long awaited and highly unanticipated Mortis, Nat has abilities that no other vampire has ever possessed before. She must utilize the strangeness that sets her apart from her new kin to fulfil the prophecy that was written over two thousand years ago. The ancient prophecy predicts that it is her destiny to wipe out the vast bulk of her own kind. Natalie has learned one undeniable fact since becoming a vampire, despite all of the weird and wacky powers that she has gained, not even Mortis can avoid her fate. Size: Approximately 83,000 words. less

From the moment she’d been turned into Mortis, Natalie Pierce had been fated to come face to face with the first vampire ever created. Hideously transformed over thousands of years by the diseased blood that runs through his veins, the First had created an army of grey skinned imps. His plan is to enslave humanity and to turn them into a vast herd of cattle to feed his offspring. Nat and her friends are all that stands between the humans and the bat faced, orange eyed imps... moreFrom the moment she’d been turned into Mortis, Natalie Pierce had been fated to come face to face with the first vampire ever created. Hideously transformed over thousands of years by the diseased blood that runs through his veins, the First had created an army of grey skinned imps. His plan is to enslave humanity and to turn them into a vast herd of cattle to feed his offspring. Nat and her friends are all that stands between the humans and the bat faced, orange eyed imps. Aside from the overwhelming odds against them, Natalie foresaw an even bigger danger. As vampires, they were all highly susceptible to becoming possessed by their shadows. Once that happened, they could then be turned into imps by the First. Luc, Geordie, Igor and Gregor would be doomed from the instant they set foot inside the First’s lair. A recent prophecy had foretold that an army would come to Natalie’s aid. With many of her new kin already possessed by their shadows, Nat was uncertain where this mystery army would come from. She could only hope that the prophecy would come true. If it didn’t, she would be facing the First and his growing army of ravenous offspring alone. less

With the threat of the First now behind her, Natalie Pierce has little time to celebrate before yet another problem arises. By killing the first vampire ever made, she inadvertently set his ancient enemies free. Ten withered, starving creatures have now been unleashed from forty thousand years of forced entombment. Only Natalie and her vampire kin have the strength and speed to eradicate the inundation of fledgling undead that are about to rise... moreWith the threat of the First now behind her, Natalie Pierce has little time to celebrate before yet another problem arises. By killing the first vampire ever made, she inadvertently set his ancient enemies free. Ten withered, starving creatures have now been unleashed from forty thousand years of forced entombment. Only Natalie and her vampire kin have the strength and speed to eradicate the inundation of fledgling undead that are about to rise. The last thing Nat ever wanted to do was rule but destiny cannot be denied. In her role as Mortis, she must bring her kin together or the entire human population will be destroyed. Somehow, she must find a way for the Japanese and European vampire nations to put aside their ancient enmity and work together for a common cause. less

Having destroyed a horde of fledgling vampires with the help of her friends and allies, Natalie Pierce’s hunt still isn’t over. Their foe has fled from Africa with the intention of creating a new army of undead slaves to turn the human race into their cattle. Nat begins to feel uneasy about the fragile alliance between the Japanese and European vampire nations as well as the truce they have with the human soldiers. Both she and Kokoro know that death and darkness awaits their kind... moreHaving destroyed a horde of fledgling vampires with the help of her friends and allies, Natalie Pierce’s hunt still isn’t over. Their foe has fled from Africa with the intention of creating a new army of undead slaves to turn the human race into their cattle. Nat begins to feel uneasy about the fragile alliance between the Japanese and European vampire nations as well as the truce they have with the human soldiers. Both she and Kokoro know that death and darkness awaits their kind. A betrayal is coming that will tear their alliances apart. Their fate has been decided but neither yet knows exactly how or when their dwindling species will be decimated. less

Evicted from their own world by the humans that they had twice saved, Natalie Pierce and her few remaining kin float in the void of space inside the ship that has become an icy tomb. Rescue comes in the form of an alien spacecraft and Nat and her friends are soon facing adversaries that they have never encountered before. Their dwindling species is on the brink of extinction and it quickly becomes apparent that their new enemies would be only too happy to finish them off once and for all.

With most of the Viltarans now dead, Natalie Pierce and her small band of friends must find a way to return home. It will be up to them to stop their remaining enemies from turning Earth into a ruined wasteland. Once more, Nat must come to the rescue of the very species that she has begun to loathe. Even worse, she will come face to face with the man who betrayed her and all but destroyed her kind... moreWith most of the Viltarans now dead, Natalie Pierce and her small band of friends must find a way to return home. It will be up to them to stop their remaining enemies from turning Earth into a ruined wasteland. Once more, Nat must come to the rescue of the very species that she has begun to loathe. Even worse, she will come face to face with the man who betrayed her and all but destroyed her kind. She might not have control of her own destiny but Nat would be the one to decide the fate of her betrayer. less

Grieving for Luc, Natalie Pierce is forced by fate to once more come to the rescue of the human race. Her new aquatic adversaries are far more dangerous than anything she has ever encountered before and she needs all the assistance she can find to take them down. Nat must take steps she never thought were possible to combat the rising menace. Her conscience is torn between her personal morals and her role as Mortis. Her job is to safeguard the humans, but at what cost to herself?

Natalie and her friends have saved Earth and its inhabitants from vampire, clone and alien invasions, yet their task still isn't finished. She and her small army of vampires must eradicate yet another undead horde. Her dreams have given her hints and clues about their new enemies, but they are still largely a mystery. Nat has been advised by Fate itself that the new undead creatures are only part of the final task that she must face. The greatest threat to humanity still awaits... moreNatalie and her friends have saved Earth and its inhabitants from vampire, clone and alien invasions, yet their task still isn't finished. She and her small army of vampires must eradicate yet another undead horde. Her dreams have given her hints and clues about their new enemies, but they are still largely a mystery. Nat has been advised by Fate itself that the new undead creatures are only part of the final task that she must face. The greatest threat to humanity still awaits. This time, she must conquer it alone. The ordeals that Natalie has suffered in the past have given her the power to overcome this new and final menace, if only she can figure out how to utilize her talents to their fullest. less