We fell into an exhausting routine as the swarm thickened: bait with metal, throw firecracker, defend against any bugs that slipped through the firepower. Our supply of explosives dwindled.
Around me, soldiers’ faces were marred with grime. The oncoming swarm of the bugs was never-ending, their terrifying faces displayed in the night vision visors with a demonic glow.
“We might have something,” a tech shouted excitedly.
Directly above us, the floodlight sparked to life for a blissful moment. The bugs stopped, then retreated as the added light shone on them. Then the floodlight popped and went black. A tech swore. For a horrific second, my entire body went numb.
“Nice try, bugs!” Kane roared somewhere in the sky.
In an instant, beams of light fell on the surrounding area. I looked up to see Kane and Dorian atop two redbills, bright floodlights strapped to their underbellies. The bugs scattered back into the darkness for safety.
Dorian and Kane swooped down, expertly maneuvering the redbills to push back the monstrous insects. Dorian swept past, and the sight of his triumphant face filled me with a fierce surge of joy.
“There’s a creek past a bike path and a tree grove,” I said into the comm. “If you can start pushing them back there, it’s a start until we can herd them to the river.”
“Got it,” Dorian said. “I think it’s working. Sorry we couldn’t get here sooner. We were outfitting the redbills with stronger floodlights.”
Thank God you did.
Harassing the bugs with the portable lights, Dorian and Kane pushed the creatures farther into the darkness toward Main Street.
“We need to hold until dawn,” Paulson muttered next to me, in his weariness apparently forgetting his irritation at how I’d ignored his commands. “If your water idea works, we can throw all the dormant bugs into the Colorado River and drown those suckers.”
I stared at Roxy. Her brow was coated with sweat, and she met my gaze with already tired eyes.
Dawn would be a long time coming.
Chapter Ten
“I feel like hell,” I said, rubbing the blooming bruise on my arm. The bug that had attacked me in the grove earlier had left a parting gift.
“You look like hell,” Roxy fired back. That was as good as a heartfelt, “I feel your pain, friend,” from her. She rolled up the leg of her uniform and placed a cold bottle of water against a scrape on her shin.
I stared at the raw flesh with a frown, still processing what we had just been through. Adrenaline was a mighty drug when it came to combat. It was only when you came out the other side that you understood how intense it had been.
Dawn was seeping across the sky, and we were now back in the command tent, battered and bruised but alive. I sat perched on a gear box opposite Roxy and Colin while Zach, bags under his eyes, leaned his head on my shoulder. I expected to hear a snore any minute now. Gina rested her head in her hands, her usually sleek blonde hair hanging in greasy, dusty strings over her fingers. Between the jetlag, blinding lights, and fighting all night, our bodies had seen better days.
One of the soldiers on Clemmins’s staff offered us black coffee in small cardboard cups. Zach took two gladly, nursing one between battered hands and handing the other to Gina. I declined. The caffeine would morph my weariness into jittery nerves. Bryce took a cup as he walked up to our group. He sat on Roxy’s other side.
“Nothing like battling stone insects to keep you young,” he said dryly and lifted his cup to us. He drained it in one go, apparently immune to its heat.
“You’re like a walking advertisement for energy drinks,” Colin mumbled, sipping slowly on his own coffee.
“I hope the vampires come back soon,” I said, scanning the pale sky through the door of the tent for Dorian and his team.
With the powerful torches on the redbills, the vampires had managed to keep the empty swarm from causing too much damage to downtown for the rest of the night. Moab had been saved by the skin of our teeth. I imagined Clemmins was thrilled that Director Runyard had brought us in time.
While Dorian and Kane held back most of the swarm attacking our area, Bravi and the others had used the redbills to herd the rest of the bugs toward the edge of town, forcing the empty swarm toward the Colorado River. Many of the disoriented bugs attempted to hop out of the water, only to get pushed back in by others trying to escape the floodlights.
It wasn’t entirely clear what it was about the water that disabled the bugs, but we believed they drowned. They certainly didn’t come back up once they were in the river. When dawn broke, any creatures still loose in the city curled up into their shells again. Now Dorian and the others were helping spot any lying dormant in the city. Clemmins had sent out groups of soldiers with construction equipment to collect and drown bugs in any available water source. Whatever they needed to get the job done, however inelegant. Somewhere, some poor kid’s inflatable pool was probably being used for supernatural pest extermination today.
The bank of floodlights, aside from our broken one, held through the night. Unfortunately, anything unprotected by the light appeared to have sustained damage, including most of the property in residential areas. I rubbed at my tired eyes. Moab would have to rebuild, but at least we’d discovered a way to stop the empty swarm before it erased the whole town from the map. My heart hurt for all the displaced people. Nobody should have to worry about their home being destroyed.
“How’s your leg?” I asked Roxy, not letting myself get too caught up in what we hadn’t been able to save. We’d done our best.
She shrugged. “It could be worse. I’m just glad those freaks weren’t flesh-eaters.” She yawned without covering her mouth and spread her arms wide as she stretched.
Paulson eyed us stonily. I’d pegged him as fatigued at first, but now I wasn’t so sure. He seemed resentful, especially toward me and Roxy.
Clemmins, his uniform jacket hanging open and stained with dust, entered the tent, and we all got to our feet, respecting his wishes to follow Bureau protocol.
“What’s the report for last night?” he asked, looking at Paulson. A soldier offered Clemmins a cup of coffee. He took it, his hand steady.
“We were able to contain all the bugs throughout the night,” Paulson replied. “The vampires herded them back, and we’re in the process of drowning any stragglers.”
Clemmins downed his coffee and nodded with a flicker of stern approval. “Excellent work.” He hovered near the planning table. His eyes swept over us. “Thank you for the help last night. We appreciate it.”
Paulson stepped up to Clemmins. “Captain. I’m sure you’ve heard that Sloane and Taylor were a great help last night, but they clearly don’t know how rank works. They disobeyed my direct orders,” he said stiffly. “They made their own decisions instead of immediately calling in for backup. If they are to continue working with us, I request that they learn to treat officers with some respect.”
I said nothing but was so angry I had to grind my teeth to stuff down several choice comments about officers who let their swollen heads get in the way of accomplishing mission objectives. However, Clemmins—now staring blankly at Paulson—had already reprimanded us once. If Lieutenant Paulson’s complaint was strike two, I didn’t want to inadvertently provide strike three.
The captain’s lack of expression morphed into a serious gaze, and he crossed his arms. “Paulson, you are aware that all these people, including Sloane and Taylor, are former Bureau soldiers, yes?”
Paulson blinked, caught off guard by the question. His face fell at the realization that Clemmins wouldn’t be taking his side. “I believe I was aware of that, sir.”
Clemmins nodded once. “And are you also aware that they were involved in the crucial and justified uprising against the corrupt Chicago board? I know you’ll be just as pleased as I was to learn that they took part in numerous active missions removing redbills from civilian areas prior to leaving the Bureau.”
“I… uh… no, sir. I w
as not fully aware of their previous experience.”
Roxy and I shared a slightly smug look as Clemmins continued relentlessly. I hid my small smile behind my hand, and Roxy dropped her eyes but grinned.
“How long have you been an officer, Paulson?” Clemmins asked. “How many successful missions have you led?”
“Well, um,” Paulson stuttered, “I was promoted a month or so ago, sir, and… well… I think last night could be considered a successful mission to some degree—”
“What rank do you think these two women held?” Clemmins demanded, cutting the other man off. “And how many successful missions do you think they’ve been a part of?”
“Uh.” Paulson flushed. Clemmins gave him an inquisitive look, clearly expecting a response. “I didn’t actually think to ask.”
“Exactly.” Clemmins exhaled through his nose, his tone softening. “I’m dismissing your concern and you, Paulson. Go get some rest today. You need it. We’ll have a lot of work to do again tonight.”
Paulson slunk away without another word. He didn’t need to know we were currently suspended. We may have broken rank, but we’d also saved Moab.
I barely had time to savor my sweet victory. Dorian walked into the command tent with a victorious but battle-weary air, his cloak worn around the edges. I marveled that it was still able to become even more tattered, after everything we’d been through, without falling apart. Laini, Bravi, Sike, and the others followed him.
“Thank you for your service,” Clemmins said, stepping forward and shaking Dorian’s hand. “We appreciate your hard work.”
Dorian nodded, a bemused twist to his mouth as he returned the handshake. “We did our part, Captain. We scouted from the air and directed the soldiers to any locations with eggs. I don’t think we missed any.”
Clemmins smiled appreciatively. “What do you vampires plan to do next?” he asked. “I have a few ideas.”
I exchanged a curious look with Roxy, who raised her eyebrows without attempting to hide her surprise.
“Such as?” Bryce asked, another half-finished cup of coffee in his hand.
“Based on this performance, I’d be happy to offer you positions in the Bureau,” Clemmins said, his tone warm. “For the humans, this could mean major promotions, should you choose to return to the Bureau.” He looked to the gathered vampires. “I’d like to employ vampires, too… when the politics are sorted out.”
Zach straightened his back, all ears for both the praise and Clemmins’s offer. A small swell of pride came through me. Although the last board’s actions had left a bad taste in my mouth, Clemmins was a man with high standards. We had impressed him, and that meant a lot.
But a job at the Bureau? My palms went clammy as reluctance made my body sink. At some point in the past, my old self would have taken that offer easily. I didn’t know if going back to the Bureau would be the right choice for me. It felt wrong… like a sweater that used to fit perfectly but got laundered wrong and now pinched and chafed. Our recent adventures spoiled me with a break from hierarchical command structure, the kind that Paulson preferred. The collaborative process between our groups while we were on the run was more chaotic, but it meant everyone had a chance to voice concerns. Could I follow orders barked at me again? My sense of respect for authority deteriorated completely after the Bureau’s corruption came to light. If I returned to my job at the Bureau, it might suffocate me.
“We look forward to that day, but in the meantime I’m moving forward with my task force to the Immortal Plane,” Dorian said firmly. He turned to face the room. “Who’s coming to the Immortal Plane with me? I’d advise you to get your things. We’re leaving from here. As soon as possible.”
He thought he was going to drag us off to the Immortal Plane without any rest after we fought through the night? I didn’t know whether I wanted to kiss his stupid face or punch it. His tenacity was unmatched. After a transcontinental flight, fighting stone creatures, and leading a search group on redbills, Dorian still wanted to move forward. Did he think we were going to hold hands and skip off to battle baddies in the Immortal Plane? Vampire bodies might require less rest, but human bodies had to prepare for a journey.
As hot as my vampire Superman was… I was completely exhausted, and so was the human side of our team. Though I wanted to see the Immortal Plane again, it would take time to gather our strength, not to mention any supplies we might need.
“Now?” I asked, my voice rising with stress. Take the hint, Mr. Charges Ahead.
Dorian nodded. “It’s perfect timing. We’re already here. The sooner we find the surviving vampire community, the better. They could help us avoid our enemies and help us get into the Immortals’ city to gather information about the tear and how the Immortals first contacted the Bureau.”
Clemmins was silent, then snapped his fingers and gestured for his staff to leave. The three Bureau soldiers left the tent, letting the canvas door swing shut behind them. “I admire your focus, Mr. Clave, but such an endeavor will require extensive planning, as well as authorization from various members of the Bureau board and likely Congress,” he insisted. “We’ll need official confirmation. There are five people I can think of off the top of my head that I need to call before I can even consider beginning the process.”
Thank God for bureaucracy.
Dorian stared at him, unbothered. “I’m not asking for permission. I, and any others who choose to join me, will be leaving as soon as we can. We will rest, gather supplies, and then we need to jump on this opportunity. We’re right here by the tear. It’s grown, now low enough to the ground that things like the empty swarm can pass through. Trust me, there are much worse creatures on the ground that even vampires prefer to avoid. We need to stop the problem at its source. Somebody needs to figure out what’s happening in the Immortal Plane, and we are by far the most qualified for the task.” He paused. “Do you want more cities like Moab to fall?”
“We need at least twenty-four hours,” I argued. He wanted to go, but I refused to let him rush us even if he was motivated. “We can’t just rush through this, Dorian.” His eyes met mine, and he seemed to consider this. He gave a tiny nod of acknowledgement.
“And what about the summit?” Bravi asked, her voice strangely flat.
I wondered whether Dorian had failed to tell her of his plans. The hardness in her eyes seemed to suggest so.
“Not all of us can go to the Immortal Plane,” Kane said. “We need to keep the group small and stealthy. Whoever doesn’t go on the mission will represent our cause at the summit.” He raised a hand. “I’m going to the Immortal Plane,” he added, hastily claiming his spot.
Bryce crumpled his empty coffee cup with a laugh. “Captain, they’re on the right track. It wouldn’t be hard to throw this mission together.” His face flickered with excitement. “I mean, we’re already independent contractors. I’d be happy to go, as an experienced human operative, to oversee the mission in the interests of the board.”
He was on board, too? It would be good to have him along. I looked around the room, judging faces. Zach stared at the ground, thinking deeply. Gina and Colin exchanged hesitant glances. A wild grin spread across Roxy’s face.
Dorian glanced at me with confidence. “So Kane and Bryce are joining me and Lyra in the Immortal Plane. Anyone else?”
He hadn’t even questioned whether I would go with him. It warmed me that he knew I was as eager as he was to figure out the mysteries of the Immortal Plane. I’d wanted to return ever since he first showed it to me.
Bryce clapped his hands together. “I wouldn’t miss this for anything. Another world? Count me in. Morag will be sick with jealousy.”
“Well, you guys can’t have all the fun,” Roxy said with a laughing huff. “I’d like to see how well my combat training fares against these Immortal goons.”
“I’m in,” Laini said. I tried hard to suppress my surprise. I figured Laini might want to stay behind, but… Dorian was her only remaining family. S
he probably would rather risk it together than apart.
“As am I.” Arlonne stepped up beside her.
“We can probably only fit two more on the team,” Dorian warned, glancing over everyone impassively. “We leave tomorrow morning. The rest of you can discuss which two will come to the Immortal Plane and who will attend the summit.”
“Neo and I will stay here,” Drinn said, sharing a look with the other vampire. “We saw what happened to Castral, and we barely escaped with our lives last time. We’d rather go to the summit, then return to help our clan in Scotland.”
“Well, I’m coming,” Bravi said, stepping closer to Dorian. “As if I would let you go on your mad schemes without me.”
“Actually,” Dorian said, placing a hand on her stocky shoulder, “I have a more important request for you.”
A more important request than going to the Immortal Plane? It must be big if he could only entrust it to Bravi.
Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t like where this is going.”
He grimaced. “I suspected you wouldn’t,” he said. “I need you to act as the head of the clan back in Scotland. Take Riven, Torran, and the others to the summit, then take them back to Scotland. Find a new portal to send groups through for feeding. Work with Morag on the asylum claim. Keep everyone working together and training.”
Bravi gave him a sharp look. “Oh, so you’re dropping all your responsibilities on me, so you can go and be a reckless fool in the burned-out shell of our homeland?”
“No,” Dorian said, giving her a serious look. “I am doing what must be done if any of us want the chance to return home and rebuild. I ask you to care for the clan in my absence because there is no one I trust more.”
Bravi blinked several times, and I swore I saw tears briefly, but they never left the confines of her bright green eyes.
“Fine,” she said roughly, shrugging off his hand. “But if you die over there, I’ll find you and kill you again myself.”
Dorian grinned, his appreciation for her loyalty showing clearly on his face. “Understood, dear friend.”
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