Five Hundred years ago Vlad Dracula ruled the Carpathians. He had a thirst for conquering worlds and fought off the invading Turks with determined ferocity. When his wife died he lost interest in destroying armies and disappeared, half a century after the death of his wife the land surrounding his once home is terrorized by sporadic unexplained murders. Isabella is born into this uncertain and dangerous land. Her mother dies in childbirth and with her mothers death dies any chance of happiness. She grows up in a household that despises her existence and in this place she is taught to hate by her father, her stepmother and especially her sister Natasha. There are three good influences on Isabella's life, the man who is to become her husband, Nicolae, her grandfather Alexei and her good friend and confidant Katya. As the years pass by and Isabella becomes what she is destined to become, a vampire the memories of these three people are responsible for any goodness that still lies buried in her rotting soul. When Isabella becomes a vampire, she and Vlad form an uneasy and dangerous bond. They travel through four centuries, sometimes together, often apart. Along their epic and murderous journey they encounter Cosimo De Medici, the grand duke of Florence, Kit Marlowe, Elisabeth Báthory, the Blood Countess and the perpetrator of the reign of terror himself, Robespierre. Despite each partner's jealous rages, declarations of hatred and sometimes even murderous intent, they remain loyal and dedicated to each other even through their long and frequent separations. During what is to be their last separation Isabella is warned that Vlad is danger and rushes to his aid. However she does not save him and Vlad is killed by English Vampire hunters, Isabella swears revenge, but she needs help and seeks out Nicolae, one of her own descendants who she killed and resurrected as a vampire many years before. Nicolae and Isabella travel back from America to England to avenge Vlad's death. Isabella is merciless in her disposal of Vlad's killers and this is where her story almost ends.