A vampire is hiding from the Order of the Sons of Light. Her name is Andreea, but in the present time, her undercover name is Melissa Gray. Working for the Elite Missions Operations (EMO) as an assassin, she vowed not to kill the innocent. That is why she saved Dr. Kevin Alinsky and Ashely when she felt that there was something off in the mission. Clearly, the EMO had been lying to her. With a feline alien on the loose and several ripped bodies of humans and animals alike, Andreea teams up with the town's sheriff to prevent more gruesome killings and finally catch the culprit.

WJR Parks' novella, The Undying, is the first installment in the Hidden World Series. The book welcomes readers with fascinating but sometimes graphic imagery. It is nicely done though, without being overpowering, and therefore will not be too much for readers' tastes. This thrilling and action-packed tale is fast-paced and does not waste time. Parks writes in a certain style where the chapters are divided into multiple scenes, each introducing a different character and his or her own thread in the story's web. At first, the connection is not that clear, but they all come together and contribute to the big picture. This is a complex story with so many layers, so kudos to Parks for wonderful narration and delivery. The Undying is not your typical vampire story, which is usually superficial -- this one has more intellect and is highly recommended to those who love heart-racing urban sci-fi fantasies.