Yeah, I know. I said this is a spoiler-free zone and this is, technically, spoiler-free for "Dark Hunger." But it does offer some spoilers for "Dark Thirst," so if you haven't read it, you might want to skip this interview.


The following is a reprint of a post that originally appeared on the Novel Thoughts blog. (http://novelthoughts.wordpress.com)

Today, were interviewing Brandon Noble from the books, DARK THIRST and DARK HUNGER. Brandon is Tessas twin brother and the character at the central point of the growing conflict in the Brethren Series. Please note that because Brandon is deaf and mute, his responses are offered all by means of American Sign Language and translated for us through an interpreter.

Brandon, thank you for joining us today.

Brandon: Thank you very much for having me. Its a pleasure to be here.

Q: Youve caused a lot of trouble for the Brethren, havent you? Theyve worked very hard for hundreds of years thousands, even to keep themselves hidden away from humans, and yet youve defied the laws of your people and run away, havent you even though you know the punishment for this will be a death sentence. Why would you take such a risk?

Brandon: I may have been born among the Brethren, but Ive never been one of them. Theyve never been my people, and they never will be. With few exceptions, there was no one among the Brethren who gave a **** about me one way or the other. My grandfather, Augustus, went out of his way to have as little to nothing to do with me as he could manage, and then when he would have anything to do with me, it was usually violent. The son of a bitch broke my hand crushed every bone in it, then told my brother to break the other one. And thats not counting the fourteen million other times he or Caine my brother used to beat me up, belittle me, insult me. My life at the Brethren compound was hell. I knew no matter what the punishment might be, whatever lay on the outside in the human world had to be better.

Q: And has it been? Better, I mean.

Brandon: (smiling) Oh, yeah. Hell, yes. I found Lina again.

Q: Lina?

Brandon: Angelina Joneswe call her Lina. Shes Renes former police partner and my old tutors sister. I used to have the biggest crush on herstill do, in fact. I met her again when I left the farm, and shes with me now, traveling with me. Things with her are perfect I cant even explain it. She knows what I am, she accepts what I have to do to survive; she loves me. All of my life, Ive wanted someone like her, someone to be unafraid with, to face the future together with to build a life with. And she wants that, too. She wants that with ME. Sometimes I still feel like I should pinch myself, just to make sure Im not dreaming.

Q: But things arent all good, are they? I mean, the Brethren Elders are hunting you. You and LinaRene and Tessayoure on the run?

Brandon: (his smile fades; his expression grows forlorn) Yes. I feel terrible that theyre all caught up in this. This isnt their fight, not any of them. Im being selfish, I know, and if anything happensif any of them get hurtor worse, I know it will be my fault. Especially Tessa. She followed me to try and protect me, warn me. Shes pregnant, you know. God, if anything happens to her or the baby, IIll never forgive myself.

Q: Rene is with her.

Brandon: I know and thank God for that.

Q: You trust Rene, then? To keep her safe?

Brandon: Yes. Of course I do. Renes already put his life on the line the life hes worked hard to build for himself, all of it at risk to help us. He saved my life, not once now but twice. Hes given us everything we have out here on the road our car, our money, our food, clothes, gas. All of its because of him. For no other reason except were alike, me, Rene and Tessa. All of us Brethren. And by that, hes helping us.

Q: It sounds like you admire him.

Brandon: Hes my friend. I love him like a brother. ****, I love him more than my brother.

Q: What would you think if he and Tessa became involved?

Brandon: You mean romantically? Are they?

Q: I dont know. Would you be upset if they were?

Brandon: God, no! Are you kidding? Tessas husband is a son of a bitch. The Davenants thats Martins clan they hate us, all of the Nobles. They hate my grandfather and take it out on all of us, and while I cant really blame them because I hate the son of a bitch, too I know theyve treated Tessa like **** for the three years shes lived with them. I cant even imagine, and she wont tell me. Doesnt want to worry me. I know Rene can be kind ofoff-putting sometimes, but hes really not like that, and I think hed be really good for Tessa. And shed be really good for him. Theyve both been hurt and alone for a long time, and I think they would feel safe together.

Q: What do you think is going to happen when the four of you reach Lake Tahoe?

Brandon: I dont know. Rene told us hes got a place out in the woods there, a cabin that used to belong to his father. Its in the middle of nowhere, a really remote location, and Rene thinks well be safe there. We can rest, regatherkeep the Elders off our trailfor awhile at least. He said he wants me to practice, too.

Q: Practice what?

Brandon: (shaking his head) Oh, Renes got it in his head that Ive got all sorts of untapped powers and abilities going on in my head. All of the Brethren have telepathic powers, you know we can read peoples thoughts, manipulate their behaviors, that sort of thing. Only when I was a kidafter I was attacked, my powers never developed right. Ive always been weak. Well, except until recentlyand suddenly I can do all kinds of things I never could before like control birds with my mind, that sort of ****. Rene says its just the tip of the iceberg of what Im capable of and my grandfather and the Elders know that.

Q: Do you believe it?

Brandon: No. God, no. Renes wrong. Theres nothing special about me. Im no different than him or Tessa.

Q: What will happen, do you think? If the Elders find you?

Brandon: II dont know. I dont like to think about it. I justI hold on to the moment, try to enjoy the here and now spending time with Lina, being near her. Because it could all endany moment now. For all of us.