*WARNING – CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR BLOOD SHADOWS*

One of the most enjoyable things in writing Blackthorn is laying clues throughout the story of what could be to come. There’s no greater way to do this than through back-stories.

Both Kane and Caleb have an alleged history of manipulation, slaughter, mind games, sexual domination, let alone a need for control and power, both of them driven by hatred, revenge and self-satiation. Hardly heroic traits. But is it really that simple? And, more to the point, is it all true?

One common thread between Kane and Caleb that is true is that they have both suffered traumas in their life – the most significant of those being a terrifying loss of control. This, amongst other things they have faced, and how they handled themselves, provides huge clues of how they might act in the future.

So let’s delve into a few key incidents in their pasts, starting again with Kane…

Has claimed: ‘I don’t harm anyone who doesn’t deserve it.’

DESTROYED…

Kane lost his parents at the hands of human vigilantes after their home was raided when he was a child. The vigilantes’ reason was simple – turf war. They wanted to use the slaughter of the Dehains, a master vampire family, as a warning to other vampires wanting to share their territory.

Determined to save their children, Kane’s parents insisted he escape through the underground tunnel with his little sister, Arana. He either complied, or they all died.

PROVOKED…

But far from running straight away, Kane waited hidden under the floorboards as he watched his parents being murdered. He wanted to see the faces of as many of his parents’ killers as he could with one simple intention – revenge.

‘How old were you?’

‘Old enough to know who I was and that I’d make them pay.’

Kane escaped with Arana, leaving their burning home behind them. For a while, they disappeared.

AVENGED… 

What followed was a tirade that earned Kane his notorious reputation. Re-emerging some years later, he succeeded in picking off each of the vigilantes, all thirty of them, one by one and, if the rumours are true, everyone they knew. Even those that ran and hid, he found. But it wasn’t just that which earned him his reputation, it was the fact he took his time whilst each knew he was coming for them.

‘I’ve done a lot of bad things for a lot of bad reasons, most of the time to bad people but not all. Some things I regret, some things I don’t. But I can’ t change any of it.’

Once he’d succeeded, he regained his family land as well as his family’s status and dignity.

No one dared cross him again.

HUNTED…

Three centuries later, the regulations came into being and another turf war was instigated – this time globally. Kane moved from northern territories of the country to find his home in Blackthorn. For decades since the regulations, he remained elusive to the TSCD but is alleged to have confirmed his reputation enough to justify topping the most wanted list.

‘Like I keep saying – I haven’t done a third of what Carter claims I have.’

During this time, Kane’s bond with Arana was infallible. He loved her deeply, bringing her up and remaining her protector. Unfortunately, she was also his only weakness as far as the TSCD were concerned. The TSCD, more specifically Xavier Carter, wanted Kane and he knew just how to get him – he’d set him up to fall.

‘Xavier wanted Kane and he wanted Kane bad. What better way to send the most controlled vampire off on a self-destruct vengeance mission than to have his sister slaughtered and debased by a pair of out-of-control lycans?’

Kane failed to save his parents then he failed to save his sister – both times at the hands of humans who wanted their own way. Finding his sister slain in the cruelest of ways opened old wounds – ones he had no intention of letting heal.

‘Arana was the only goodness left in me…maybe it exposed who I really was when I didn’t need to love or think of anyone else.’

CORNERED…

But the TSCD made a big mistake when they underestimated not only Kane, but Jask Tao – the lycan leader. Far from behaving as they predicted – as they provoked him to behave – Kane went back underground and plotted a very different revenge to the rampage they had tried to instigate. Kane found out that under Xavier Carter’s direction, Rick, Rob, and Max all set up Arana’s murder and stood by as she was brutally slaughtered. The common thread to them all – Caitlin.

‘Kane’s got a temper but it never outweighs his need for justice. When he wants that, he’s meticulous and calculated and logical.’ 

Once Kane worked out that Rick had died at the hands of a soul ripper, he waited seven years to get it confirmed. Once he did, he knew exactly how to make Caitlin the integral pawn in his game.

‘Kane is going to make them pay. He’s going to make all of you pay. Slowly and painfully. He’s waited a long time for this…’

STILL WANTED…

Of course, his feelings for Caitlin got in the way. But their story is far from over – not least because at the end of Blood Shadows, Kane found out that Xavier is embroiled with Higher Order vampire, Feinith. More to the point, she has been exposing vampire secrets about the prophecies. Kane may have planned to let Caitlin live, but not Xavier. Now he’s got that extra curveball to contend with…

So, why is he angry that the Higher Order are sharing secrets about the prophecies? What exactly does he know? Why is Feinith so keen to get her hands on Kane? Is he still intent on destruction? And are he and Caitlin strong enough to stay loyal to each other whatever is revealed?

Tomorrow, it’s Caleb’s turn.