Brooks, Vanessa

Tara Cross was the mother of Blade and wife Lucas Cross before she arrived in England legally changing her name to Vanessa Brooks.
== History ==
=== Early Years ===
Tara's childhood is not known.
=== Teen Years ===
Mrs. Cross' teenage years are not known.
=== Adult ===
It is only known that Tara met and wed Lucas Cross. Lucas, a member of the secret society the Order of Tyrana, sent his pregnant wife Tara to England before he was taken prisoner in Latveria. There she took the name Vanessa Brooks and found shelter with brothel owner Madame Vanity, another member of the Order of Tyrana. Experiencing labor complications, Tara was forced to seek a doctor's assistance. The doctor, Deacon Frost, was actually a ravenous vampire and feasted on the woman as she gave birth, passing on a series of enzymes that altered her baby. The enzymes entered the infant's bloodstream, transforming him into a dhampir - a being tainted by a vampire's kiss, but not converted. In other words, half-man, half-vampire. Frost was driven away before he could slay the child, but Tara perished, leaving the orphaned Eric Brooks to be raised at Madame Vanity's brothel.
She was later resurrected by Dracula as a vampire to use against her son but was then destroyed.