Father Leodenin gasped in pain as the vampires tore at his body. He tried to let loose a blood curdling scream as the pain suffused his body, but all that escaped was a bloody gurgle as one vampire set his jaw over his throat. Unable to move in the hands of the pale faced beasts, Leodenin submitted to his fate until an unintelligible roar lit up the moonlit night. The vampires lifted their heads and he was freed. He lay inert as voices drifted to his ears, afraid to consider the possibility of hope.
A lilting voice rasped overhead, “Can’t we just finish him off?”
“No,” replied another, “That isn’t Alain, but Esteban will make life hell if we don’t come when he calls. Besides, what if something happened to the great lord? Esteban is the next in line.”
“I know, but Esteban has no hope of ever beating our reverent lord.”
“That’s true, but why else would he be calling for us now?” the other replied.
Their hands left him and the conversation ended, but soon the echo of Madelin and Jedd’s familiar voices came to him on the wind. Leodenin glanced in their direction and saw his chance. With their gazes elsewhere, he propped himself on his elbows and crawled around the tree, distancing himself. Their voices faded until two of his men appeared out of the shadows ahead. They were beaten and bruised, but more mobile than he.
“Hurry, Samson, grab an arm,” whispered Frank as he leapt to their supervisor’s rescue.
“But why?” asked Samson. “Just let the bastard die.”
Hefting Father Leodenin, he replied, “You wanna live out your life here, Samson?”
The agent saw his logic and emerged from the shadows to grab the other arm. They pulled him out of sight like robbers attempting to hide their loot. When out of sight, they readjusted him, propping one arm over each of their shoulders, and ran from the maelstrom of death that had erupted over the last hour. The two of them covered a couple of miles before they sat down. Their bodies were strained and they panted for air while nervously peering behind them. Even trained agents such as these had their limits. The agents flopped on the ground when they saw no one in pursuit and tried to regain a semblance of their strength.
Leodenin sat looking back as the rush of auras came to a stop where he had been left for dead. The group milled around for a few minutes before another unintelligible command sent them hurtling through the woods again. This time they were heading straight for him.
“Shit!” Leodenin hissed.
He fumbled at the case on his belt. Removing a syringe, he plunged it through his chest and into his heart. The two operatives watched from their prone positions. Stifling the scream that forced its way to his lips, Leodenin removed the needle and dropped it to the ground. As he lay there, his heart pumped like an overworked steam engine, forcing the liquid Satia through his veins. Within seconds, he sat up, feeling better than before. As the army of vampires sped toward them, their time dwindled.
“What’s wrong?” asked Samson.
“We have to go,” Leodenin demanded, pushing himself up unsteadily.
He limped over to a shimmering thread outlining a building in an adjacent plane. Leodenin focused on the line and waited for the star-blessed stallion to appear. The horse materialized, galloping forward till it emerged from the plane. It stood suspended on a sheet of air. Leodenin felt the glistening lines and picked one similar to this plane. Running his magic finger along the thread, the stallion followed the path and left the air rippling behind it. As it finished its journey, it reared and galloped back into nothingness, as though retreating from the vampires that emerged from the distant tree line. Roars of hunger and lust echoed around them, and the multitude of inhuman steps vibrated across the distance and up through his soles. Leodenin lifted the rift’s edge and dove through, panic gleaming in his eyes.
* * * * *
Chapter 29: A Barren Future
Tuesday, June 27th
Life never seems to go as I expect. Those people I cherish are in pain because of me, but it’s a sacrifice they’re willing to make. What does the future have in store for us now? How can I allow them to make these sacrifices…?
~Excerpt from the Journal of Madelin Boatweit~
Turning to the rest of the group, Madelin stood panting after such a close escape. A ruined world greeted her in all directions. Her previous view of the sky was limited and had not allowed her to see the landscape. Everywhere she looked was devastation. It was as though she had emerged on another planet. Barren red rocks and boulders shone in the crimson moonlight. On the horizon, the remains of a large city stood in stark contrast to the barren landscape. Even at this distance, the spires towering into the sky were skeletons of what they once were.
“My God! Who did this?”
“I have a feeling this is the result of humans,” replied Jedd, as though expecting the ghosts of this world to rise up against them.
Daniel scanned the endless ocean of ruins, then muttered, “To think, this could be our world.”
“I hate to spoil the fun,” Juno chimed in, “but it won’t be long before the sun is up.”
At the mention of their dwindling time, they cast their eyes to the heavens. The moon was settling on the horizon.
“Quick,” Jedd spat in a rush, “toward the city. We have to find shelter.”
Jedd and Madelin hoisted Roger up while Daniel half carried Juno over the rocky terrain. They hurried across the parched landscape, but saw no sign of life. The city was too far away. Even the buzzards of the El Paso they knew were nowhere to be seen. It was as if all life ceased to exist. Struggling through the night, the sun opened its eye on the opposing horizon, thrusting its gaze down on the exhausted party. The group ducked into the shadow of a large boulder.
The Cajun moaned in pain as they slid him to the ground. Madelin knelt beside him and felt his head. “He’s burning up.”
“It'sss normal,” slurred Juno as Daniel helped him down next to Roger.
Daniel and Madelin walked over to join Jedd, who had wandered out into a large semicircle of overarching cliffs. The rocky giants stood against the morning rays of the sun, as they had for eons.
“What do we do, Jedd?” Panic infiltrated her voice.
Her godfather shook his head in frustration. “I don’t know.”
“You heard Juno before. They can’t stand this heat for long. It’ll kill them.”
“I know, but there’s nothing better within reach. The city’s still miles away.”
What do we do … What do we do? He racked his brain for answers, but came up empty. It seemed that they’d escaped with their lives, only to sacrifice those closest to them.
The two turned pitying gazes on their companions, sweltering in the diminishing shade of the boulder. In a matter of minutes the sun would rise higher and clear the rock, leaving nowhere for them to hide. A tear streaked down Madelin’s face and leapt to the ground below, taking her hopes with it like a midnight thief.
Daniel perused the imposing cliff face in front of them. The rock was sheared and unnatural, as though it had been sanded smooth. Craters aren’t this precise, he thought, noticing the flat ground beneath him. The rest of the terrain rolled across the horizon, pierced by jagged rocks. He slammed a foot down on the ground. The impact amazed them all as it resounded across the large cliff face and echoed deep beneath them, like a metallic well.
Jedd and Madelin’s conversation came to an abrupt stop. Daniel did it again and was greeted by the same hopeful prospect. With no time to lose, he took off around the cliff face with Jedd and Madelin in hot pursuit.
“What was that?” shouted Madelin.
Daniel answered her as he scanned the area. “I think it might be an old missile silo.”
He rounded the side of the rock face and climbed its peak. His eyes landed on a flight of ruined sandstone stairs that led deep within the mountainous cliff.
Turning to Jedd and Madelin, he shouted, “Hurry, get the others,” and disappeared down the steps.
Jedd and
Madelin retreated back down the cliff. Jedd grabbed Roger while Madelin helped Juno to his feet. They lumbered across the open field of sand and back up the mountainous crag. Juno grimaced as they left the shadow of the boulder and staggered into the bombarding rays of the sun. The distance felt like a lifetime, but as they disappeared into the cliff’s shadow, he felt a cooling sensation come over his sun-burnt neck and arms.
At the bottom of the stairway, they found Daniel standing in front of at a shattered metal door. The veteran removed one of the frilled shirts that had somehow made it into his bag and wrapped it around the end of his rod. It was alight and illuminated the vacant corridor ahead of them. Hoisting it high above, he shuffled past the door and entered the dark chamber for a second time. Daniel soon found himself in a vast room full of large military computers. They were coated in thick layers of red dust.
Jedd stared in astonishment at the blessing lying before him. I’ll have to look into that later, he reminded himself.
Helping Juno down the stairs, Daniel led them deeper into the compound and into a small room. It contained two sets of bunk beds and the mattresses were still intact. They lowered Juno and Roger onto the lower beds. The old vampire sighed as his back sunk into the cushioned mattress. Turning, Madelin screamed and leapt back against the wall as her eyes fell on a mound of bones lying in the corner.
“It’s okay.” Daniel placed a firm hand on her shoulder. “The previous owners hadn’t quite made it out of bed yet. I just helped them make room for our two.”
She nodded and turned away from the corner. She sat down her bag and removed the bandages and supplies that Juno gave her. Kneeling down, she tended to Roger’s wounds in silence.
Daniel turned to Juno and asked, “You need anything right now?”
Juno shook the leather canteen he retrieved from the bag and smiled as it sloshed. “Not right now, but we’ll need more water tonight. And all of you will need to stay away from Roger till tomorrow. You don’t want to be around when the blood thirst sets in. I’ll take him out and try to find something to satisfy his thirst later tonight, but I’m not sure what lives in this blasted place.”
Madelin jumped at the announcement, but recovered as the logic of his words became clear. She knew what was happening to Roger, but had not given it much thought. Holding out a candle, Daniel lit it with his makeshift torch.
“We’ll see if we can find some water,” replied Jedd as they left the room.
Madelin set the candle on the metal side table. Then, removing Juno’s clothes, she began cleaning the encrusted blood and cloth away from the dozens of wounds littering his body. She uncorked his miracle salve and applied it.
“What will you do now?” he asked as he shut his eyes, enjoying her gentle touch.
“All we can. We haven’t learned everything we need to yet. Father Leodenin did some odd things. I might be able to do them too, if I practice. I need to learn as much as I can before we move against the agency. There are others like myself there, but we can’t help them if we don’t know how to use my skills. What will you do?”
Juno sighed as the answer came to him. “I would like to go home, but that cannot be.”
“Why not?”
“Many reasons, but one stands above the rest. I cannot leave you to the likes of that man.” Saying his name was unnecessary. Madelin knew all too well, the horrors of dealing with Leodenin and PASTOR. She flushed at his concern.
“I know it may not seem like it, but we can take care of ourselves with your training,” she replied as she spread the salve over his skin.
“What I’ve taught you is basic. What if you encounter more people like my family, or worse?” He shook his head, dismissing the thought. “I cannot allow that to happen.”
Madelin finished wrapping the wound at his side and objected to his concerns, but as he placed his hand over hers, her voice dwindled to nothing. “I’m staying. Besides who else can deal with Roger?”
The mention of the man lying across from him caused Roger to stir. Madelin looked over at the occupied bed and her eyes welled with pity. “You’re right.” Turning back, she mumbled, “Will he make it?”
“Yes,” Juno replied, caressing her hand with his thumb. “But how will he cope with the change? That is the real question, the true test. I don’t know if he’ll be the same man you knew before. Keep away from this room tonight.”
With that answer, his hand stilled and he drifted into a deep sleep. Madelin propped her back against Juno’s bunk and pulled out the journal to add yet another day.
“Thank you, Roger,” she whispered to the man who had sacrificed so much. A tear streamed down her cheek with each word she wrote.
###
Thank you for reading my debut novel, Invisible Dawn. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about Madelin and her friends as much as I did penning each line. The sequel will be out soon, but until then I have included a treat from my upcoming novel, A Life of Death, scheduled for release June of 2011. I certainly hope it is to your liking.
To find out about upcoming books, visit me at:
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My Blog: http://www.authorwakincade.blogspot.com/.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/wkincade
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A Life of Death
Excerpt
(First Three Chapters)
by Weston Kincade
A paranormal coming-of-age mystery about one boy's pain and hardship endured in a small Virginia town.
Losing a father and growing up with an abusive, drunk replacement is hard enough, but when you hardly knew the first because of his constant military deployment, it alters your perspective. As a seventeen-year-old high school senior, Alex Drummond learns the value of family and the meaning of dedication the hard way, but reliving people's horrendous murders does have its upsides. Join him as he struggles to find his destiny, understand love, and discover what really happened to his father and the skeletons hiding within his small home town.
* * * * *
Chapter 30: 1 – Beginnings
February 12th, 2010
Alex smiled as the wind buffeted his dark hair through the open window. While exhilarating, something tickled the far reaches of his subconscious, struggling to make itself known. The car sped down the wet pavement without regard to physics or the elements, curving through mountain passes. Rocky cliffs flashed by like lone sentinels as he took the blind turns. The grudging squeal of diminishing tires was his sole company, screaming as he straddled the yellow lines through each twist and turn.
Where am I? wondered Alex for the umpteenth time, but his past memories were consumed by the dream’s vividness.
Trees and deer flickered in his peripheral vision. A glance in the rearview mirror displayed olive skin, a stern jaw and partial day’s growth of whiskers. The stony brown eyes held his attention a moment longer; they weren’t his own.
Who am I? Memories of a man four years gone flared in his mind, and recognition set in. Oh no. Not again...Dad!
In a split-second, everything fell into place like pieces in a puzzle. Alex glanced back at the road, but his fateful knowledge did nothing to stifle his shock. Around the bend, brake lights flared under the chrome bumper of a silver semi. Alex stomped on the brake. Tires squealed, and he jerked the wheel right. The car veered toward the striated rocks of the mountainside and he spun the wheel left … too late. Time slowed as sunlight glinted off the sky-blue hood. It met the truck bumper with a crunch. The shriek of Metal on metal pierced the air and the car slid beneath the cargo truck’s rear. The hood crumpled like an accordion, rushing at Alex’s face, and the bumper slammed into the windshield, splintering it like a collection of glistening spider webs. The last thing Alex saw, what he always saw, was a shredded bumper sticker that read ‘How’s my driving? Call 1-800-EAT-SHIT’.
“Hey, Dad, can we get started now?” Jamie exclaimed as he pulled a wooden chair up to his father’s desk.
Alex bolted at the adolescent voice, almost tumbling backwards in his sturdy office chair. He overcorrected and slammed his hands down on the piles of papers covering his desk. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust. His son and the vast room flooded his vision. A dozen vacant desks, computers, and workstations littered the dim office. Forms and documents were stacked on each of the desks, but some were worse than others. Though, none were as clogged as his. His heart slowed its rapid pace.
God, I hate that nightmare. Is it even real?
His eyes settled on his young son, and he wiped sweat from his forehead with a trembling sleeve. After taking a staggered breath, he pushed the question aside and asked, “What’d you say, Jamie?”
“Are you ready, Dad?”
Alex relaxed his shoulders and flexed his fingers. His knuckles popped. “Sure, son … sure,” he muttered.
He glanced at the desk. It was large enough to accommodate them both, but was cluttered from end to end. The edge of his faux-wood placard peeked out from beneath the far edge, announcing him to visitors as, ‘Detective Alex Drummond’. Jamie peered over the towering papers like an African tiger searching for prey in the grassy plains. His father set the stacks aside, clearing a space in front of the boy.
Jamie set his spiral notebook on the desk and extracted a pin from the coiled, metal binding. He pressed down on the end, and the ballpoint clicked into position. The youth thumbed the top of his pen. It clicked, and he assumed a journalist’s calm that doubled his fourteen years. His jet black hair hung across his forehead in long tufts that reminded Alex of Clark Kent. It was a trait Alex had passed down. No one ever questioned who Jamie belonged to.
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