Dark Dance (1992) is the first novel in The Blood Opera Sequence by Tanith Lee.
Rachaela grows up unwanted and unloved with her single mother. She knows nothing of her father, other than he left Rachaela’s mother before Rachaela was born and he belongs to a wicked and dangerous family, the Scarabae. Her mother warns Rachaela to stay far away from the Scarabae, but when Rachaela as a young woman is left completely alone in the world after her mother’s death, the Scarabae arrive to bring her back into the fold.
Arriving at the old Scarabae mansion, Rachaela is introduced to the rest of the family, a collection of ancient and peculiar individuals. Among these is Adamus, Rachaela’s father, who still look supernatural young and handsome.
Soon Rachaela comes to realise the Scarabae are not just peculiar, they are an ancient family of vampires who brings forth new generations through incest. And now that the young Rachaela has arrived, she is destined to give birth to new Scarabae through her union with Adamus, her father.
After becoming pregnant Rachaela flees and later gives birth to a daughter named Ruth. But Ruth is no ordinary child. In her path she leaves tragedy and catastrophy. When the Scarabae again seek them out to bring Ruth home, even the mighty Scarabae may have gotten more than they bargained for.