“She’s right, though. Raptors aren’t the only predators out there, and they’ll be drawn by the fight,” Seth said.
Rogue punched him on the shoulder. “Spoilsport.”
“I tell you what,” Seth said, relenting. “Why don’t you take Bruce back to the boat? I’m sure he could use your help.”
“Really? You’d let me skip work?” Rogue said.
Seth leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Only if you don’t tell Moran.”
Rogue winked. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
Seth watched as she and Bruce ducked back into the boat. Yet again, they’d beaten the odds, and he could only hope their luck didn’t run out. But with a war looming on the horizon, things could get tough. Though not very demonstrative, he did know one thing for sure: Nothing and no one would ever hurt her again while he was around.
Chapter 11 - General Sikes
General Sikes watched as the gates were opened for the first time in years. A team of soldiers tore down the brick and mortar, carting the debris away. Others oiled the ancient hinges and removed the numerous iron bars that held the structure shut. More men stood at attention with their weapons kept ready to defend the city. On top of the wall, sentries watched for danger, ready to sound the alarm if needed.
He’d thought long and hard before giving the order to open up the main entrance to Prime City. After a disastrous attack by a T-Rex, the wooden structure was bricked up and sealed on Douglas’ command. The platform, pulley system, and ladder became the only means of leaving the city.
This made the city more secure, but it also rendered the raiding and hunting parties obsolete. Why bother going out for supplies when you had to hoist it up a thirty-foot wall? At first, it hadn’t been a problem. They had enough to live on for a long time, but eventually, the cracks began to show.
Medicine grew scarce, followed by meat when a sickness wiped out nearly all of their livestock. Other items such as shoes, clothes, blankets, needles, batteries, and a hundred other things ran out. Finally, small parties braved the outside world, desperate to find goods. Their efforts met with varying degrees of success, and sometimes, devastating failure.
All of that would have to change if they hoped to survive. Prime City was failing, and while looting the Zoo would bolster their supplies, they had to do more. Sikes recognized that fact. Besides, if the Exiles could survive out in the wild, so could they. We will prevail. We must.
“What an inspiring sight,” Kat said.
His attention shifted to her slim form, clad in a simple black dress and heels for the occasion. Her hair was swept back into a loose knot, and she wore only a touch of makeup. With a pearl necklace around her throat, she looked both demure and graceful—the perfect foil to his masculine authority.
“It is a great spectacle, indeed,” he agreed.
His gaze ran across the assembled men, drinking in every single detail. It filled him with a sense of deep satisfaction. Finally, things were falling into place. Douglas was gone, he was in charge, and a great victory lay ahead of them. He was sure of it. The Exiles don’t stand a chance.
The Watch formed a large square formation made up of several smaller squares. These boasted a Junior Captain and a flag bearer, and they were armed according to their expertise. There were spearmen, crossbowmen, swordsmen, and the rarest of them all: gunmen—two squadrons of gunmen armed to the teeth.
General Sikes had made certain each of these men were crack shots. He’d also turned Prime City upside down and confiscated every gun that remained after the Shift, no matter what its condition. A team of people worked overtime repairing, cleaning, and oiling the weapons while another team manufactured bullets.
The gunmen were his hidden advantage, an ace up his sleeve. They would remain in reserve at the back of the army until their particular services were needed. But he was confident in the strength of his forces. Even without the gunners, they outnumbered the Exiles ten to one.
His chest swelled with pride, bolstered by the cheers of the townspeople. A festive atmosphere reigned across the city. People crowded the space, waving pieces of colored cloth above their heads. Children chased balls while hawkers sold their wares to passersby. The smell of roasted corn and sweet rolls filled the air, a delight to the senses. For once, all worries and cares had been set aside, and every person in Prime sported a smile.
“The people love you,” Kat remarked. “They rejoice that Douglas and his followers are gone.”
“Not all of them are gone,” Sikes said with a grunt. “But I’ll mop up the remnants soon enough. Their blood will run red in the gutters.”
“I have no doubt, my lord,” Kat said. “No doubt at all.”
It had been her idea to turn the army’s departure into a festival. She’d argued that it would bolster the men’s courage and cement Sikes’ leadership. The townspeople would see the army march out of the gates with him in the lead. Their new Lord and General.
Kat was right, of course, and it reminded him of her worth. She was the perfect woman: Beautiful, graceful, loyal, loving, and well-mannered. She made him look good, and the people seemed to like her too. Perhaps, when I come back, we can formalize our union. She’d make an excellent wife and mother. She’s both beautiful and strong. As healthy as a horse. I owe it to my legacy, after all.
“You will be gone for several days,” Kat murmured, her face impassive.
“It won’t be that long. A week at most,” Sikes answered.
“I will miss you,” she added.
“Will you?” he asked.
“Of course,” she said, her lower lip trembling ever so slightly.
“I’ll be back before you know it,” he said, relenting. “Besides, in my absence, you’ll be in charge of Prime Hotel.”
“Me?” she said, clearly taken aback.
Sikes nodded. “I’m relying on you to take control of the women and servants and to keep the place running smoothly and efficiently.”
Kat dipped into a deep curtsey. “You honor me, my Lord.”
The title was one she’d started using recently, ever since he’d gotten rid of Douglas. It pleased him a great deal, and the other civilians had begun to follow her example. It made him feel like the real leader of Prime City, instead of just its general.
“I’m also leaving behind a man I trust to take charge of the city and its defenses. Should you have any questions or problems, you can turn to him for assistance. His name is Callum MacNamara.”
“Do I know him?” Kat asked with a slight frown.
“No, you do not. Thus far, I’ve kept him in the shadows, moving behind the scenes,” Sikes said. “That will change now that Douglas is gone.”
“I see.”
“Do not interfere with him or his duties. Also, I expect you to whip the hotel back into shape before I return. The servants have become lazy of late,” General Sikes said.
“I will see to it,” Kat said.
“Good. I expect a great celebration upon my return,” Sikes added, ticking off his requirements. “It can serve as my inauguration too. I wish to be officially recognized as the Lord and General of Prime City.”
“Of course, my lord. You deserve no less,” Kat said.
“And get rid of those useless airheads in the hotel. They do nothing but cause trouble, and they are a drain on our resources,” the general said.
“Airheads?” Kat asked with a slight frown.
“The wives and mistresses of Douglas and his men. They have no place under me, and I want them out of the hotel.”
“Where should I send them?”
“I don’t care, and neither should you. They can sleep in the gutters,” Sikes said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Just get rid of them.”
Kat inclined her head. “I will attend to it.”
“Make sure that you do,” Sikes said. “I cannot stand incompetence. If you wish to rule Prime by my side, you’ll have to adhere to the highest of standards. My standards. Or you can join
the other women in the gutters.”
“I won’t disappoint you,” Kat said in answer, curtsying once more.
“Good.”
At that moment, a triumphant cheer rose from below. The gates were open, and the way forward was clear. The sentries above announced that the area outside the city was safe, and the general waved a hand. “It is time. Lower us to the ground.”
As the platform dropped, a man with red hair and a tall, muscular body approached. His clothes were practical and straightforward. Not at all like the ostentatious gear the other prominent citizens sported. Instead, he wore dark brown trousers, safety boots with steel caps, a cotton shirt in navy blue, and a worn coat. From his belt hung a pair of working gloves, a multi-purpose tool, and a hunting knife in a leather sheath. He looked like a working man, weathered and tanned by the outdoors.
“Kat, I want you to meet Callum MacNamara, my trusted right-hand man. You can turn to him if you have any trouble while I’m gone,” General Sikes said.
“Mistress Mewes. Tis a pleasure,” MacNamara said.
Kat inclined her head. “The pleasure is all mine. Sir MacNamara.”
General Sikes grunted. “Now that’s out of the way, it’s time for me to go.”
He waved a hand, and Bones approached with two horses. The larger animal, a magnificent white stallion, belonged to General Sikes. The smaller, a leggy roan, was Bones’ mount. They were the only two on horseback: The General and the Captain. The rest would go on foot.
Sikes mounted his horse with smooth proficiency and addressed the crowd. “Today, we set forth on a dangerous but worthy mission—a mission to secure our freedom and safety from those who seek to do us harm. Keep us in your hearts as we fight for the future of this beautiful city, our homes, and for our loved ones. But above all, pray for victory!”
The townspeople cheered long and loud, tossing colored streamers into the air. The men of the Watch shifted, eager to get moving, and the wagons carrying their supplies rolled into formation. The entire city was ready for the battle to come. Never in twenty years had such a momentous occasion come to pass.
Sikes favored Kat with a curt nod. “Farewell.”
“Farewell, my lord. I shall pray for your safe return,” she replied.
With a flourish, he wheeled his horse around and cantered toward the gate. There, he paused for a couple of seconds before bellowing at the top of his voice, “To victory!”
The army rolled through the gates like a ponderous beast. Its progress was slow at first but gained momentum with each minute that passed. At its head rode the general and his captain. At the back followed the servants with supplies in carts and wagons. It was a grand spectacle and one that wouldn’t be forgotten for many years to come.
Prime was going to war.
Chapter 12 - Kat
Kat woke in the middle of the night with a gasp. She stared into the darkness, her heart beating wildly. Her silk pajamas clung to her damp skin, and a continuous shudder worked its way up and down her spine.
For several moments, she sat frozen, waiting for the terror to recede. It was slow to relinquish its hold on her mind, but finally, she was free. Free to push aside the sheets and walk across the room toward the balcony.
She slid open the glass door and stepped outside. A cool breeze cut across the balustrade and caressed her bare skin. With her head thrown back, she contemplated the moon. The silver orb soothed her soul. She’d always been a creature of the night, preferring the cloak of darkness to the brightness of the day.
At least, the general wasn’t there this time around. Although they lived in separate suites, he often stayed over. Those nights were the worst. His presence made it hard when the nightmares struck, for he was not a kind man. Explaining a bad dream to Sikes was like trying to describe color to a dog. Fear had no place in his vocabulary, and he despised weakness of any sort.
Her mind flashed back to the nightmare that woke her in the early morning hours. A recurring dream about the one person she’d never been able to forget.
Dorian.
It was always Dorian.
How she hated him, and yet, she’d loved him once too. Loved him with a passion that almost destroyed her.
Seeing him again had triggered the memories and emotions she’d buried deep within her. So deeply she could forget it ever happened for a few blissful moments, until now.
Kat closed her eyes, breathing through her nose. His face flashed before her eyes; each tiny detail, infuriating in its perfection, was seared into the very fabric of her being. When they first met, she thought it was fate. She believed he loved her as much as she loved him, but she was wrong.
Once he had her in his grasp, he manipulated and twisted her until she obeyed his every command. With cruel indifference, he’d peeled away the layers that made her a person until she was left raw and exposed. A quivering, bleeding wreck. A puppet without a voice.
Even then, she’d stayed, believing things would change. Especially when he allowed her to stop working. That gave her hope, and when she discovered she was pregnant, she let her dreams of a family blossom. A dream he crushed beneath the heel of his boot. A hope he tore away from her womb and her arms in one single unforgiving act.
A tear ran down Kat’s face. A single drop of pain. She never wanted to go back there again. Never wanted to feel the way she’d felt when she walked out of the Crimson Door, never to return. A creature filled with an intense hatred for all mankind.
It was the general who took her away from Dorian, of course. He was the only man capable of overruling Dorian. The only one besides Douglas, who had the position and influence. It was the reason she chose him, the reason she seduced him with the full force of her wiles.
But, as with all things in life, it came at a price. The general gave her everything a woman could ask for. Comfort and riches in a world where poverty and suffering were never far from the door. Yet, he was harsh and demanding, shackling her to his side with invisible chains. She became a prisoner once more. Doomed to a lifetime of servitude.
But not anymore. Soon, she would have her freedom, and both Sikes and Dorian would pay for what they did to her. That she swore on her mother’s grave.
Kat sighed, feeling wrung out. In the morning, she had a meeting with Callum MacNamara, a man that was a mystery to her. As the general’s right-hand man, she should despise him. He was one of them, after all. One of the elite. There was something about him, however. Something that made her believe he hid many secrets. Secrets not even the general knew about.
A movement below her balcony drew Kat’s attention, and she stared into the darkness. Her gaze honed in on a mysterious figure standing motionless next to the rose bushes. Her apartment overlooked the gardens, a beautiful sight during the day. However, at night, the grounds were deserted. The only signs of life were the flickering lights of the city beyond the hotel’s borders. A distant reminder that she wasn’t alone.
Like now.
Although she couldn’t make out many details, Kat could see it was a man. She could feel his eyes burning into her flesh. He was watching her, of that she was sure. But why?
Suddenly, the man whirled around and disappeared into the shadows. As quickly as he came, he was gone. She’d seen something by the light of the moon, though. A brief flash of color in the night. A glimpse of red.
***
Kat woke the next morning with a fierce headache. It stabbed into her temples until she wanted to scream. The maid fussed around her, offering kind words and hot tea.
“Thank you, Mary. That’s enough,” Kat said after her pillows were fluffed for the hundredth time. “You can draw me a hot bath.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Mary said. As she turned away, she paused. “This came for you this morning.”
Mary handed Kat a note. Written in a rough scrawl were the words, “Meeting at eight in the dining room. MacNamara. PS: Don’t be late.”
Kat choked on her tea, uncertain if she should be angry or amused. Maybe a
little bit of both. He definitely did not know who he was dealing with.
She glanced at her watch. It was half-past seven. If she hurried, she could meet Mr. MacNamara on time.
“Will you still be wanting that bath, ma’am?” Mary asked.
Kat thought about it for a brief moment. A languid smile curved her lips. “Why, yes. I do believe so.”
“And what will you be wearing?” Mary asked.
“I think I’ll put on something simple today. Jeans and a flannel shirt.”
“Jeans and flannel?” Mary repeated, her eyebrows raised.
“Exactly,” Kat replied, leaning back against her cushions. Suddenly, she felt a whole lot better than before. The nauseous feeling in the pit of her stomach was gone, and the headache was receding. As always, she responded well to a challenge. If MacNamara wished to be the boss, he’d better learn who he was dealing with.
At ten minutes past nine, Kat strode into the dining room. She felt comfortable in the casual clothes Mary had dug out of the closet and had rounded it off with tennis shoes and a ponytail. That should shock the bejeezus out of Mr. Callum MacNamara.
When he saw her, he rose to his feet, his expression thunderous. “Mistress Mewes. Dinna ye get my note?”
“Oh, I got it,” Kat said, heading straight for the buffet. There she poured herself a strong cup of coffee and gulped down the hot liquid.
“Then why are ye late? I told ye to meet me at eight,” MacNamara said.
“I was late because I do not answer to you, Mr. MacNamara, and I have my own duties to attend to,” Kat answered, her voice sharp.
“Duties? What duties?” MacNamara asked.
“The general tasked me with overseeing the servants. They’ve grown lax, and they need a firm hand to keep them in order,” Kat said. “As such, I stopped by the kitchens and called for a meeting later today.”
“The servants?” MacNamara said with a disbelieving look. “Ye blew me off for a chat with the help?”
“It was more than a mere chat,” Kat said, her tone acerbic. “I inspected the premises and arranged for a staff gathering. There is much work to be done.”
The Extinction Series | Book 3 | Primordial Earth 3 Page 7