Hello everyone! Today we have two lovely guests in Throwing Books! Anya and Declán from Blood's Voice by Áine P Massie. They accepted to come here to talk a little bit about themselves and about their relationship, their dreams and fears.
Hope you enjoy!
Anya: Thank you for having us Idris. I’m glad you have enjoyed our story so far and hope you will continue to. We are very excited that our second book will be released soon. Well, I am. I’m not so sure about Declán.
Declán: Hey, I’m glad Áine is still being our biographer. I’m just not sure how some people will feel about some of the things that happened.
Q: Anya, Can you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?
I don’t mind speaking to others as long and they remember the rules. *wink* Though, you have to by default, being human and all. *smile* I am, as you know, a vampire, though I’m a bit different than most others you might find. Being an aberration in my world – I refuse to kill humans just to live – can be complicated. I am not fluffy though – so do not underestimate me or those with me. We are lethal when we need to be but humans are off the diet.
*Declán chuckles under his breath*
Fine, most humans are off diet. He just loves trying to be an exception to that rule. But, back to your question. I am the leader of the House Millar, the only House dedicated to aberrations and protecting humans. I am also hunted by a few . . . um, determined creatures that wish to use my voice ability as a weapon. Why they keep hunting me is beyond stupid as they keep dying, but. *shrug*
Q: How do you feel being a Vampire? Do you think you're missing something important about life? A human life? Or do you feel you have much more?
Hum, well . . . it’s hard to miss a life you don’t remember. I now have a few memories from before *shudders* but even those are only of my earlier vampire life. All I know of human life you have, or soon will, read. There are things that I regret not having though. I wish I could have a family like human women can. We can’t have children. Otherwise I have no regrets about being a vamp.
Q: Were you scared when you started at High School? Full of humans?
Terrified! I wanted to learn and couldn’t think of an easier way. Unlike others of my kind, I had a lot of trouble blending in with humans, a very frustrating issue when I found them to be so interesting and fun. I didn’t worry that I would lose it and hurt them, just that I would be too weird.
Q: What was your first impression of Declán?
*Looking over and running her fingers down his cheek she paused* The first time I saw him he just seemed a simple human. Boy was I wrong! This slightly taller than me, sweet smiled, blue-eyed boy sat next to me in our ASL class. It wasn’t that he wasn’t cute; he was and is, I was just too worried to really look at him. Well, until the pull overrode my senses, but that’s another story.
Q: And you, Declán, what did you think of her?
I didn’t know what to think of her. She was so beautiful. I was scared to talk to her, a really bad thing since we sat together along with my sister and were expected to be practice partners. There was something otherworldly about her but not in the ew, scarry, kill it kind of way. I wanted to be around her, know her, yet couldn’t manage to even make eye contact. I’m not usually shy like that but well, you can see her . . . she’s . . . well, her.
Q: Describe your perfect date? Where, doing what… ? Who? Movies, beach…? : D
Hum… Until Geoff and Peony interrupted I thought we had a great date on my birthday. I took Anya to the lake for a late night picnic. Soft grass, gentle lapping of water, clear night gazing at the stars and my Anya. For me, that is perfect. Nic has taken me out too but as you invited Anya and me I figure I’ll stick to our dates. ;)
Q: Declán, can you talk a little about yourself, and what exactly is a Guardian?
I don’t think I’m that interesting *shrug* so I’m not really sure what to tell you. I’m eighteen, an architecture student at Cornell, and I’m the bonded husband to a couple of crazy, human loving vaps. I’m also, as you said, a Guardian though my take on what to do with my skills and drive is a bit different than the ones way back when. I protect our family and any like me I can.
As to what a Guardian is. . . Guardians were once a group of natural born vampire hunters that traveled the world alone or in small groups. They brought down any and all vampires they could find, or at least did until they were defeated. Being defeated was kind of a permanent thing. No vampire would leave one of us alive. *He paused, seeming to think for a moment* Well, no tradition vampire, as Anya refers to them, would. Some of the aberrations might, depending on the situation. I don’t know what makes us what we are though. My twin sister isn’t a Guardian. Pyotr says there were girl Guardians but I’m kinda glad she’s not. I’d go crazy worrying about her.
Q: I know this is a tough question, Anya when you found out that Declán was a Guardian, how did that affect you and your relationship? Did you felt betrayed, or scared, or if that changed something in the way you saw Declán?
Anya: Honestly? I was terrified but not of him, for him. The way they proved to me he was more than just human didn’t help the situation either. I wanted to kill Jonathan, not a normal attitude for me, I promise.
The fact it meant he was more endurent and would be better able to protect himself was a boon as far as I was concerned but the thought of him going out to fight others like me, still worries me… even now that he’s proven he can survive combat with a vampire.
In same ways it has affected our relationship. Eh, before you but in Declán, let me explain. The thought that he is supposed to kill me and yet loves me instead makes me worried for him mental health at times. Will there come a day that the conflict within him causes him true pain? Will others of my kind use his ‘perceived’ weakness of loving us against him? Such things are a real concern, though he refuses to agree with me.
Declán: I disagree with her on this point. I only stop or destroy those that seek to harm and kill humans. There is no conflict to me. Bad vampire – dead. Good vampire – not dead.
Anya: See what I mean? He’s very stubborn on his view of vampirism.
Q: If you could change something in your life, what would it be?
Declán: I like my life the way it is. I get to be with those I love, study for a career I feel passionate about, and use my skills and abilities to protect others. What’s not to like?
Q: Have you ever wondered what your future may be?
Declán: I try not to focus on the future too much really. I want to be a great designer, creating buildings that are memorable, not just boxes like so many are now. But my future is a bit longer than most. Being the bonded mate to vampires on top of being a Guardian messes with your life span. . . if you manage to survive that long anyway.
Q: The last one, the lovely Áine has been in charge of writing your story and she has done a great job. Something you want to say to her?Anya: Thank you for allowing others to peak inside our world.
Declán adds quietly: Stop listening to Nic on what to edit, lol.
Q: Well, thank you so much, guys, I really appreciate your visit and your time, and please, say hi to Nicholas! : )
Declán: Any time. And yes, we’ll be sure to tell Nic you said ‘hi’.
Anya: Glad you thought to call us. It is interesting getting to tell our story and even more so when humans enjoy reading about us.
And that's all, guys. If you want to know more about these books visit Áine P Massie's website, and be sure to check out all the stops on the Blog Tour:
