Many of you have requested an interview with Angus Campbell, the villain of my series The Redemption Prophecy, and a few have even submitted some questions for him. Let’s return to Midnight Hunt’s setting of 1636 in the Kingdom of Germania…
I arrive in the town of Vollstadt, where a portion of the novel takes place. Broderick has moored his ship, Knightly’s Refuge IV, at the docks. When I scheduled the interview, Angus requested I meet him in the center of the German town. I right the coffee-colored shawl on my shoulders to stave off the chill of the evening and, lifting a handful of my woolen skirts to avoid tripping, I trot through the darkness. A small list of questions for our interview is clutched in my hand.
The cobbled streets are quiet as I navigate between the moonlit buildings. For those of you new to the series, Angus is a vampire – or Vamsyrian as I have dubbed them in my books – and can be burned by the sun. As such, I am forced to meet Angus during the evening. A rather dangerous time for a woman to be running about in this time of witch trials and a male-dominated world.
Blazing sconces adorn the exterior walls of The Red Stag, an impressive two-story wattle and daub inn and tavern, which is my destination. Considering how late it is, a surprising cacophony of voices float out of the open entrance as I step inside. This little establishment does well. Customers hunch over their meals in conversation, while a blonde serving girl bustles around carrying an armload of steaming plates and a fistful of beer mugs.
But no sign of Angus yet.
I pick a small square table in the corner and settle myself in to wait.
Only a few moments pass before Angus’s imposing figure fills the doorway. Very much like his brother Broderick, Angus is tall and his shoulders broad, his hair a deep, fiery auburn. But where Broderick’s emerald green gaze has a sparkle of mischief, Angus’s surveys the room with suspicion and wariness. Without looking my way, he heads in my direction, his eyes still darting about the room. Knowing the villain in my novels as well as I do, I know Angus is assessing every angle, listening in on thoughts and taking in as much information as possible.
Finally, his eyes settle upon me, and the corner of his mouth turns up in a devious grin. “Guten Abend,” he greets in German.
I smile. “And a good evening to you.” I motion for him to sit.
Angus yanks the chair opposite me and lounges—his long, muscular legs intersect at his booted ankles, his arms cross over his broad chest covered in a dark-brown plaid woolen vest. He cocks an eyebrow and I’m subtly startled at how similar his mannerisms are with Broderick’s. I often wonder if such things are genetic or learned behavior.
“What is this genetic thing?”
Yes, my vampires annoyingly read the thought of mortals. I frown. “Nothing. You’ll learn about it when you’re older.” Funny, since at this time in the novel Angus is 178 years old.
He chortles. “Go on, Scribe. Ask me your questions. I’m a busy man.”
I open my crumpled piece of paper, where I had hastily scribbled some of the questions my readers submitted for our villain. I glance at the first question: Boxers or Briefs? Since I already asked this in a previous interview, I quirk my mouth to the side as I ponder the question. There were no such thing in this time period as men’s undergarments were very different. Some didn’t even wear any at all.
“Your readers are curious about what I wear under my clothes?” He tosses his head back and enjoys a hearty laugh. “Saucy little wenches!”
I suppress a smile.
“Nothing.” He unfurls a rakish grin.
“Right.” I glance at the next question. “Some of my readers would like to know if you’ve ever been in love.”
The smile drops from Angus’s face, replaced with a frown. A tick throbs along his cheek as he clenches his jaw. “Nay,” he says quietly.
So quietly I strain to hear him. “Do you ever hope to find love?” I elaborate softly.
“I suppose you already know the answer to that question, Scribe.” He glares at me.
I smirk. “You’re dodging the question.”
Angus narrows his eyes and leans forward, planting his elbows onto the table. “Revenge is my first love,” he snarls. “And she’s a jealous lover. Until she is satisfied, I shall love no one else.”
An icy chill scampers down my spine.
Angus settles back into the chair once more and crosses his arms.
I clear my throat. “Another reader would also like to know—
“Can I get you something?” the barmaid interrupts in German, thankfully breaking the tension.
Angus inclines his head toward the blonde and winks, dropping his scowl in favor of a wolfish sneer. Angus’s changes in mood are always astounding to me, as they were to Cailin in Book 2. She had a much more brutal experience with this phenomenon, though. (Sorry, Cailin! Says the guilty writer.)
The barmaid returns his greeting with a seductive smile. “Beer… or something else?”
He chuckles at her suggestive question. “Beer… for now.” He waves a dismissive hand in my direction. “And whatever she wants.”
“Nichts, Danke,” I decline.
The barmaid saunters away, a lingering hand slipping off Angus’s shoulder.
I clear my throat again. “As I was saying, one of my readers is wondering, ‘What is the best thing about being immortal?’”
He sneers. “Being able to read thoughts and sense someone’s fear.” Angus tilts his head to the side, regarding the ceiling with his eyes as he ponders. “Having the strength of twenty men is rather convenient.” His eyes level on me again, piercing… intense. “The thrill of the hunt.”
Goose pimples flutter over my arms and up my shoulders. Angus grins, obviously sensing my fear. But I’m determined not to let him get the best of me. “One final question, ‘Will you ever reconcile with your brother?’”
“Reconcile?” Mirthless laughter rumbles from him and he leans forward, stabbing me with his gaze. “I’m here to kill Broderick MacDougal, not make peace.” Angus rises from his chair. “Tell your readers to say farewell to their hero.” He saunters off after the barmaid to claim his beer and her time, effectively ending our interview.
Hrmmm… Angus Campbell is certainly a tough nut to crack. But I promise you one thing, my devoted fans: You will eventually come to love this guy. Oh… I can hear your protests now, but those readers who have read further into the series will testify they once felt as you do. Mark my words… Angus Campbell will win many of your hearts.
Thanks for reading this interview and a special thank you to those who contributed to the questions. If you’d like to see my villain in action, be sure to read Midnight Hunt re-releasing on September 9th!
See you on Tuesday!
Ever yours in the shadows,
Gina 🖤