by J. A. London
We always met our blood quotas, but only just. And we met them out of fear. Murdoch Valentine’s shadow fell across the city even when the sun was up, one that chilled the bone, froze the heart. People felt his presence at all times, even if no one spoke his name.
Victor and I used to talk on my balcony about a better world, and the one thing we could agree on was that fear was no way to control a city. We were convinced that cooperation between humans and vampires would achieve so much more. We were convinced it would encourage people to donate. I hate to think that we were wrong this whole time, and that Murdoch Valentine was right: Fear rules above all else.
Chapter 15
When I enter my VIP room—Christopher right on my heels because he was waiting for me outside the dining car—Tegan hops out of her chair. “How was dinner with Ian?”
“Fine,” I say, not wanting to go into details with Christopher here. I may have let Ian in on my mission, but that doesn’t mean his protégé needs to know.
“Then let’s go party!” Tegan says cheerfully.
“I want to change—”
“You look fantastic,” she says, grabbing my arm. “We’re already going to be late enough as it is.”
I want to tell her that I’m not here to have a good time, but where’s the harm in a little innocent fun? Besides, it’ll be nice to forget everything for a while, to pretend that we’re on an exciting adventure, exploring the world.
“Let’s go.”
I look over at Christopher as he holds the door open.
“I’m surprised you’re okay with us doing this,” I say.
He just shrugs. “It’s a party; the kids here have all the time in the world and little to do, so they need to fight the boredom. Besides, it’s safe. It isn’t like a party in one of your cities, where vampires show up every time and kill half the people.”
We pass through a few cars of sleeper berths. No one’s walking the hallways. It must be really late, most everyone asleep. As we approach the lounge car, I can hear the music thumping through the metal door. When I open it, the sound blasting into me almost rattles my teeth.
It’s dark inside, flashing strobe lights giving it a surreal feel. It’s also crowded with a lot of young people.
“Hey! You made it,” a guy says as he comes up to us. As far as I can tell he has short-cropped blond hair.
Tegan greets him with a hug and introduces him as Jake. Beside him is a guy with dark hair and rings piercing each eyebrow.
“This is my friend Doug,” Jake says. “So y’all got on in Denver, right?”
“That’s right,” Tegan says, smiling brightly.
“Y’all part of the redistribution process?” Doug asks.
The VampHu treaty stated that the vampires would strive to keep the population in the cities balanced, but I’ve never known anyone who was identified for “redistribution” from Denver. The old Valentine wasn’t concerned with the other cities. He was powerful enough that he wasn’t intimidated by the Vampire Council that oversees the fourteen Old Families and the management of our country.
“No,” Tegan says. “We’re just going to Los Angeles for a few days. Don’t know that I’ve ever heard of redistribution.”
“Dallas has a lot of people,” Jake says. “Apparently Los Angeles is in short supply, so they asked for volunteers. We decided we wanted to see what other parts of the country looked like.”
I’m wondering if the people in Los Angeles have decided to start donating blood again—or are these guys going to be delivered straight to Lord Carrollton, kicked off the train right outside his manor?
“Booze is free. Help yourself,” Doug says.
We head over to the bar. Michael gets us each a beer. Tegan grabs hers, then joins Jake and Doug on the dance floor. Christopher starts talking to a tall brunette. Michael and I back away into a corner. He takes a chug of beer while I slowly sip mine.
“‘Redistribution’—that word always bugged me,” he says after a while. “It’s like vampires just see us as commodities.”
“Yeah, unfortunately, most do.”
“All of them do.”
“Victor isn’t like other vampires.” I’m watching the people gyrating on the dance floor. The slowly flashing lights are starting to give me a headache. I see flaming red hair—
It can’t be. But the next moment it’s gone before I can be sure. I search the crowd. I catch a glimpse of a guy, a narrow braid of hair hanging down one side of his face.
Crap!
“Want to dance?” Michael asks.
“Sure,” I say automatically, still wondering if the impossible really followed me onto this train.
We both finish off our beers and grab another before we wind our way toward a small empty space between people. I see Tegan smiling brightly, laughing, and I’m glad she seems more like her pre-Sin self. I turn my attention to the rest of the room, looking—
“You okay?” Michael asks.
“Oh, yeah.” Gotcha! I think when I see the couple who caught my attention earlier standing against a far wall. “I’ll be right back.”
I’ve barely taken a step away when another girl wiggles in front of Michael. I can’t blame her for her interest and realize that she’ll keep him distracted for a moment.
I march over to the brown-haired guy and the redheaded girl. They don’t look surprised to see me, but then vampires aren’t known for giving away their emotions.
“What are you guys doing here?” I whisper, grateful vampires have such keen hearing so I don’t have to yell to be heard above the music.
“Heading home,” Richard says, leaning in so I can hear him.
“Sightseeing,” Faith says.
Yeah, right. Do they really think I’m that stupid? I give them a pointed glare.
“Victor’s orders,” Richard admits. “Faith and I are to protect you.”
But even with his spies Victor didn’t have time—
And then it hits me. “How long have you been following me?”
“Ever since you left the hospital.”
I should’ve known Victor wouldn’t let me out of his sights that easily.
“How did you even get tickets?” I ask.
“It’s amazing what large sums of cash can buy at a moment’s notice,” Richard says.
“Why didn’t you try to stop me?”
“Our orders were not to interfere with your life. Just follow and protect.”
“What about Sin?” I ask. “With him running free, causing havoc, shouldn’t you two be protecting Victor?”
“If Sin comes after you,” Richard says, “he is going after Victor. Nothing will bring Victor out faster than you being in danger.”
I feel like a pawn being moved across the board. It’s always the vampires’ game; I’m just a piece in it. Or worse, a bargaining chip.
“Do you know how dangerous it is for you to be here?” I ask.
Faith scoffs. “Please, the most dangerous thing so far is this outdated décor.”
“Ian Hightower is dangerous.”
“No, he was dangerous. He’s a washed-up alcoholic now, probably hasn’t staked a vamp in years. The guy’s thirty-eight years old and he looks sixty—talk about letting yourself go.”
A vampire’s arrogance, always her greatest weakness. I look over at Richard. He’s at least a little more humble than Faith, but he doesn’t seem very concerned, either.
“Ian wants the train to arrive without any incidents,” Richard says. “So do we. Really, we’re on the same side.”
I don’t know if I buy his logic, but so long as I have them here, something has been bothering me.
“Listen, I have a puzzle for you,” I say to Richard.
He grins, shifts his gaze to Faith. “I love puzzles.”
“Some of these people, the young ones,” I begin, “are being moved from Dallas to Los Angeles.”
“Yeah,” Richard says slowly, “I overheard a few of them talking about that.”
&
nbsp; “Why? If Los Angeles isn’t giving blood to the vamps, why would they put in a request for donors?”
“I’ve been wondering the same thing. The last time I checked, Los Angeles had more people than any other city.”
“Maybe your father grew a pair and reestablished control over the Agency and city,” Faith suggests.
“Could be,” Richard says. “But it’s doubtful.” I know he and his father, Lord Carrollton, are not on the best of terms.
“So maybe they eradicated the Thirst?” I ask. It was rampant there because the citizens weren’t giving blood. Maybe seeing the rampage made them realize giving blood wasn’t such a bad trade-off. If I can bring back that kind of news to Denver, then our own citizens might start donating, too. At least, I can hope for that.
But instead of answering me, he says, “We’re looking forward to seeing Los Angeles.”
I furrow my brow in confusion just as a hand lands on the small of my back, and then I get it. I look over to see Michael.
“Thought I lost you for a minute there,” he says.
“No, I was just talking with—”
“Faith Fitzgerald,” Faith says. “And my … boyfriend, Richard Young.”
If I didn’t already know her, I might not have caught her slight stumble over the word “boyfriend.” I also can’t miss the irony of the name she chose for him. He’s not young. He’s almost as old as Victor.
“I don’t recognize you from school,” Michael says, and I can sense his suspicions.
“We attended another school,” Richard says, “but we were at the Teen Initiative party. We were just telling Dawn how unfair it is that her wonderful plan was tainted by what that guy Sin did.”
“Well, I’m glad we had a chance to talk. Maybe later—”
My sentence is cut off when the wheels howl and squeal beneath us. And then a half second later, a terrible crashing sound echoes through the compartments of this long steel can. It sounds like the tracks split, and the train is tearing itself apart. The car stops violently. With the sudden jolt, I’m lifted off the floor. The momentum throws me forward and I cringe, afraid of where I’ll land, and who will end up on top of me as all the kids fly through the air.
But Richard, with his vampire speed, catches me before I hit the floor. Faith’s right there, too, her arms wrapped around me.
The music has screeched to a halt. The macabre lights are still flashing, in an odd way camouflaging Richard’s and Faith’s actions because only a few movements are seen.
“What the hell was that?” Faith asks.
“I think we crashed,” Richard says.
What did Ian say? This was the most desolate part of the journey. A full day and night’s ride from any other city. A wasteland. Dead space. A void.
And we’re in the middle of it.
Chapter 16
Michael pulls me out of their embrace and snakes an arm around me. “I need to get you back to your car.”
“Where’s Tegan?” I glance frantically around. People are scurrying out. “Tegan!”
I can’t see her anywhere.
“We can’t wait on her.”
“Michael, we have to find her! I won’t leave her behind again.”
I try to fight my way out of Michael’s hold knowing I’ll lose, but I have to make a point.
“Dawn, we don’t have time.”
Richard steps up beside me and puts a comforting hand on my shoulder. “I’ll find Tegan, you get back to your room.”
“No,” Faith says, pulling Richard away. “I don’t trust you with a damsel in distress. I’ll find Tegan, you follow Dawn back.”
“Fine.”
Maybe I’d laugh at this squabbling if everything weren’t so serious.
Michael, still holding my arm, lets Richard lead the way through the crowd of people. Most of them have scurried into their assigned bedrooms, and the hallways are clearing out. Too bad we’re at the far end of the train, nearly twenty cars away.
Suddenly we see Ian coming down the narrow corridor.
“Dawn, go to your compartment,” he orders, never losing step. He passes us and then turns toward Michael. “Stick close to her. And lose the jacket.”
Michael nods and begins ushering me through the dining car. Along the way, he takes off his jacket and I see the stakes strapped to his body, hanging from bandoliers and belts. I try to imagine this as no different from the walks we used to share in school, holding hands as we strolled down the hallways to our next class. But this is nothing like that; his grip is so tight around my wrist that it hurts.
As we pass through a berth car, one of the doors opens and Christopher steps out. He quickly begins buttoning up his shirt and jacket.
“What were you doing?” Michael asks.
“Come on, Colt. What do you think? Girls find me irresistible.”
Richard is still far up ahead, keeping a lookout.
“Have you seen Tegan?” I ask, as we begin moving again and Christopher falls into step behind us.
“She was with that Jake guy.”
“Did they go somewhere?”
“I’m not her mother.”
This is awful. I have no way to find her, no way to know if she’s okay. All I can do is trust that Faith has found her.
We finally reach my car. Michael takes the key from me and unlocks the door. He enters first, checks to make sure it’s clear, and then signals us in. Richard immediately scopes the place out, too, using his vampire senses to detect any unwanted intruders. He checks every nook and cranny carefully.
“The place is clear,” Michael says, not bothering to disguise his irritation that someone he’s just met seems to think he’s in charge.
But Richard takes his time, and when he’s satisfied he makes a move for the door.
“We should stay here,” Michael says.
“No, I have to check the rest of the cars, make sure everyone’s okay.”
“Are you crazy? What if there are vamps out there? They’ll tear you apart. Have you ever even seen a vampire up close?”
“No, but I’ve heard they aren’t pretty.”
Somehow I keep a straight face. If only Michael knew.
“Just let him go,” Christopher says, already sitting down in a chair and kicking his feet up onto a table.
I rush over to Richard as he stands by the doorway.
“You’re going after Faith, aren’t you?” I ask.
He nods.
I squeeze his hand, give him a slight shove out, and then lock the door behind him.
Now it’s just the three of us, and I feel much better knowing that two Old Family vampires will be protecting Tegan. If they find her.
“You should take off your jacket,” Michael tells Christopher, pacing the room.
“Why? So we have ‘easier access’ to our weapons?” he asks, complete with air quotes. “This isn’t the war, you know? Times have changed.”
“The vampires haven’t.”
Christopher waves Michael off, like he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
“You might as well settle in, Dawn,” Christopher says. “We’re going to be here awhile.”
Taking that as his own signal, he does the settling down by pouring himself a drink from a crystal decanter.
“Why do you think we stopped?” I ask Michael.
“I don’t know.”
“Does this happen often?” I ask Christopher.
He just shakes his head.
“How can you be so nonchalant about it?”
“What do you want me to do?” he asks. “Get out and push?”
He’s impossible!
“What does Ian even see in you?” I ask. “I mean, there are hundreds of hunters—why you?”
“Don’t let the good looks fool you,” he says, a tad more serious, finally. “I’m fast with a stake. Vamps knew not to mess with me. I was a professional hunter for a while, made my living selling fangs.”
“That’s barbaric.”
“That’s reality. That’s money. But this gig paid more. Though I’m starting to regret it.”
“How long have you been doing this?” Michael asks.
“A few years. But I’ve never been out this way. I usually work with Ian whenever the train is on the east coast, making the trip from New York to Miami. He picks up another guard there to make the trip out west.”
“Why stay in Miami? Why not ride the whole way?”
“Like you have to ask? Sunny beaches, beautiful women, why would I leave? Of course, by the time Ian comes back I’ve always blown all my money and need the job again. This time I decided to stick with him for the whole route. That won’t be happening again. It’s so boring.”
Only now that the train is completely still do I realize how strange the lack of motion feels. The slow rocking of the carriages had brought a strange peace, and without it, I’m aware of every little sound, every little creak. The night outside seems so much larger now that we aren’t moving through it.
The time passes slowly, and while Michael is like a statue, Christopher keeps lolling his head around as though he’s bored. Finally, he pulls out a pocket watch and checks the time.
“It’s been thirty minutes,” he says, for the first time showing a hint of worry. “That’s way too long. Something is going on. I’ll go find Ian.”
“He told us to stay here,” Michael says.
“Well, either he’s dead and won’t come relieve us, or it’s nothing and he just forgot about us. Come on, man, we can’t stay cooped up in here until sunrise.”
“Why not?” I ask. “That seems like the best thing to do.”
“You two stay, then. I’ll do some ‘reconnaissance,’” he says, pulling out the air quotes again. I’m not sure if he’s mocking our concern or trying to mask his own.
“Don’t open that door, Christopher!” Michael says. “You don’t know what’s on the other side.”
Christopher puts his ear to the door and listens. “Oh my God. You’re right. Vampires are everywhere. They’ve somehow made it through ten inches of solid steel, past Ian, and are slowly killing everyone onboard. Oh, the humanity!”
“That’s enough …”