Commander

by Kim Faulks

  Behind me, the child’s cries turned to sobs of desperation and fear. “AnderAnder…Ander…Ander…”

  “Please…please help me!”

  Terror yanked me from the infernal sight. My hands were numb, reaching, guiding on their own, as one after another, the Wolves piled through the doorway.

  “That’s the way, one after another,” a stranger’s voice filled my own throat. I looked into every set of eyes and tried—God help me, I tried. “You’ll all get through, just focus.”

  An old woman clutched a baby to her chest and stepped through.

  “You’re doing fine,” I brushed her arm. “Just fine.”

  “Eva!”

  I wrenched my gaze over my shoulder at the name. Bodies and beasts crammed the space. There were too many—swarming the grounds, all heading for…

  Pale eyes called me.

  I stumbled, finding the Vampire Queen as another group of Vampires attacked. They came from all sides, lunging, biting. One latched onto her arm before she cocked her fist and swung, knocking the vermin free.

  Blood smeared across her face, the mess splattered her clothes. She raised a hand to the Vampire in front of her, and the monster rose. His feet kicked, arms thrashed. He whipped his head side to side in a frenzy as he dangled in midair.

  “Eva!”

  I scanned the mess, finding the female protector cornered against a tree. Metal glinted as she whipped a sword through the air. Her battle cry was swallowed by the roar of the undead.

  Body parts fell. Arms and torsos littered the ground like bloody chunks of confetti. She lunged, and yanked the sword above her head, and was slammed from behind.

  Momentum took her, sending her sprawling until she rolled and swung, severing the Vampire’s legs at its knees. There was fear in her eyes…but not for herself as she jerked her gaze left and searched the crowd—the fear was for her Queen.

  But the wave was still coming, tens…hundreds swarmed. They attacked mindlessly, lunging, biting, hunks of flesh and fur flew into the air.

  I scanned the bloody path—surged toward the Vampire Queen and raised my weapon. A creature flanked Eva’s side, mouth open at the ready, fangs glistening with need. Center of mass was a blood-soaked chest. I squeezed the trigger. The shot was a boom. The beast’s head snapped backwards, and its body followed.

  Heads turned as the sound carried. These monsters now stared at me.

  My chest was silent—my mind numb…

  I stumbled, turned, aimed my weapon. My finger trembled against steel as I squeezed the trigger, again and again—until there was no kick, no heat, only a lonely click, click, click resounded.

  I was caught in the middle of the massacre—I stepped backwards and hit the wall—cries and anguish called from inside.

  “Goddamn human!” Eva screamed and swung her hand. “Over here! Come to me!”

  She wielded no blade, and aimed no gun. Still, power raged as the Vampire Queen curled her lips. Her words were lost, drowned out in a sea of terror. Until around her, the air changed.

  Shadows curled her, formless at first, finding shape with arms and legs, some stretching above her until they surged like a wave of forgotten soldiers and headed for me.

  The bitter cold slammed into my body, carving through flesh and bone to exit from my front. The dark wave swarmed the vampires, pushing them backwards.

  My hands shook as I stabbed the release on the Sig, wrenched the empty mag free and slammed a fresh one into place.

  Shots rang out and echoed as the first of the Vampires plunged through the shadows.

  I raised my weapon, and sighted down the muzzle.

  The familiar sight of dress blues stilled my finger…a Marine.

  Her skirt was filthy, split down the middle. Blood-stained khaki blouse gaped, exposing the swell of a breast. I stared at her…finding something familiar.

  I know her…

  Connie…her name flared neon bright inside my mind. I could still see her smiling, laughing, flirting as she leaned over her desk on the fourth floor at Marine Headquarters.

  Jesus…Jesus Christ. I know her…I know her.

  The image was a punch to my chest. There was no laughter now, no life, no coy smiles on a lonely Friday night…there was nothing more than ravenous need as she raised her head and fixed her inhuman gaze on me.

  I couldn’t move, couldn’t fire. Couldn’t do a damn thing but stand there and tremble.

  This wasn’t real…these things weren’t real. Not monsters, not really. This was some kind of joke…right? Some kind of make-believe. I shook my head. Laughter bubbled up to the surface as I stared at the bodies. Wolves twitched. Vampires stared in stony silence—gone forever.

  My mind tried to make the connection, tried to piece this immortal world with mine as I wrenched my gaze back to this beast. “Why…why are you doing this?”

  But there was no answer as she stepped on fallen bodies of the slain. Her lips curled, the tips of white fangs revealed. I’m a father…I have a family…children…Fear strangled the plea in my head. Only one word resounded with a roar…

  Run!

  I turned, heart lunging before my feet moved.

  The sound of savagery echoed around me. Wolves and beasts collided. I didn’t understand…didn’t comprehend…

  The punch at my shoulder sent me sprawling, the ground a blur of dirt and blood. I hit, and rolled, wrenching my weapon high.

  The sick, deep-throated sounds of hunger closed in. She was a blur, straddling my legs…and then my thighs as I raised the muzzle. “Get off me…get the fuck off me!”

  Infernal midnight eyes sparked with desire. Her lips curled, revealing blood-smeared teeth.

  My finger danced against the trigger…squeezed with everything I had.

  I pulled the trigger, and the sudden boom tore free. The Sig kicked, slamming into the webbing of my thumb. The shot went wild, slamming into her shoulder. Dark hair fluttered as she flew backwards and landed hard.

  No…No…Jesus help me. The heel of my boots gouged the ground as she turned her head, her gaze fixed on me. The feral growl clenched my stomach, my bladder trembled with need.

  Dark blood spread from the wound in her shoulder, staining her khaki shirt. But it was her fangs that filled me with terror.

  The heavy throb filled my head. For a second, I was suspended between life and death.

  All my judgement brought me here. To this very moment…to this cruel fate.

  The creature reared back and lunged.

  The scream burned all the way along my throat. “No!”

  The Sig smashed against her neck. Pointed fangs lengthened as she opened wide. My muscles trembled, tendons howled. She bore down like a compactor, buckling my elbows, crushing my hand against my face.

  The sting was blinding and instant, as a sickening pop followed.

  The cold skin of her throat warmed. The muscles tightened, clenching, riding the wave as she sucked and gulped. I bucked, thrashed. Gripped my fist and swung. My knuckles cracked against the side of her face.

  She pinned my arm above my head. Her legs wrapped around mine. I wrenched my head to the side and a sickening tear filled the air. A hiss escaped, slow, desperate. There was no stopping her as red bathed my world.

  No stopping her hunger…no stopping my pain.

  No stopping the rush of death…

  4

  Annabelle

  Kill them.

  Kill them all.

  To save her…

  Pain flared for a second before I swallowed the rush. Nails drove into my calf as this thing clawed, hissed, and fought for a hold. Battle cries and terror mingled in the air. The sound was deafening, drowning out the roar in my head. I sucked in a breath, my chest constricted, squeezing the lifeless thing in my chest.

  Blood ran the length of the blade as I raised the weapon high. The trickle was thick, slow, cresting the meat of my thumb. I dropped my gaze, stared into soulless eyes, and then swung.

  Pale skin
parted, bloodless lips turned red and raw as the creature’s mouth ripped all the way to its eye. Vacant stares found mine. Nothing more than vermin. I stepped to the side, wrenched my boot into the air and lashed out. Nothing more than death.

  The sickening crunch faded into the background. I knew death. The Vampire squealed, arms flailing as it fell backwards. Another took its place, scurrying over the body of a Wolf toward me—knew death better than any.

  Dark beady eyes found mine. Bloodless lips curled, revealing crimson-smeared fangs. My stomach tightened as this thing lunged. My fangs ached, hunger reached into the deepest part of me. I was cold. I was rage. I was the beast they created…

  I dropped my shoulder and lunged. Violence met violence, and only one of us would win.

  A roar of agony lashed my arm as the creature struck. Panic reared, driving my fist forward as I gripped its throat and lifted. It kicked and squirmed, fighting, because that’s all it knew—survival raged in its empty eyes. Bite, kill…and live…

  Nothing but a monster—nothing but a thing.

  Just like me…

  I wrenched the beast close and opened my mouth wide. Fangs met flesh. Blood rushed, filling my mouth as the icy blast of Shadistin power hit. I shuddered, bit, ramming the creature against my mouth until I scraped bone.

  And in that second, I found peace as I wrenched my head to the side and tore the creature’s head free. I wanted to be back down there, in the dark, in the empty…in the safe. Where the beasts above didn’t venture, and where Guardians remained…dead…

  They were not my friends. The whack of a bullet hit something beside me. A heavy thud followed. I glanced down to the young Vampire as it twitched, and died—one half of its head missing, and then turned to find the Marine to the side.

  He lowered his rifle, met my gaze—gave a nod, and then raised his weapon to fire again.

  They were not my allies.

  Not my warriors.

  A snarl slipped through the air behind me, standing the hair on the nape of my neck—and neither were the damn Wolves.

  I wrenched my blade high as the Wolf leapt. Heavy paws punched my shoulder as the beast sprung high, driving its long, lanky body through the air. Fangs glistened as it slammed into the Vampire behind me. Then they were gone, consumed by the countless Wolves and Vampires in the throes of death.

  Chaos ruled, blending screams into screams, and howls into howls.

  Bodies toppled, and there they stayed. Silver flames lashed the air as Lucas charged clear. His head turned, eyes searching, as I was hit from behind. “Over there!” I yelled, raising my bloody blade and pointing to a mass of bodies.

  Amongst them, in a blur of black, white and red, was a Shadistin Queen…my Queen.

  “Protect the front!” Marcus screamed at my right. I wrenched my gaze to his blood-soaked face. “Protect the damn front!”

  The Guardian Xael reared and lunged, driving her stinger into the rush. The wicked point pierced the vermin and drove them to the ground. In the distance, the guttural roar of the Guardian Zadoc tore free.

  She lowered her body, soulless eyes held mine—and then she was gone, turning from the littered remains and scurrying through the trees.

  My blade trembled as I took in the carnage. I spun toward movement, yanked my blade high and sliced deep, leaving nothing but pieces behind as the invasion slowed.

  Piercing screams erupted as the Guardian unleashed his rage. Silver flames lashed the air, shooting like arrows to pierce a creature’s chest. The smell of burning flesh carried, swallowing me as the bloodlust raged.

  My throat tightened. My hunger was an animal of its own, driving me harder, swinging the blade. I buried the steel into flesh, wrenched it free, and lunged.

  “Annabelle!” Eva lifted her head, her pale eyes found mine. Her chest heaved with heavy breaths. “I’m losing control,” she whispered. “Help me.”

  Her need was a blazing sun in my gray, cold world. I lunged, slipped, clawed the air. She needed me…she needed me. Desire ripped through my chest. I loved her…like a sister—like my Queen. I would die for her…if only she’d…show me a flicker of affection.

  Her boot caught on a creature's arm as she fell. Reflex drove me forward, reaching for her hand as a bellow cut through the air.

  “No! Don’t touch her!”

  I wrenched my head toward the roar. My lips curled and a guttural snarl slipped from my lips. The Guardian Lucas flinched at the sound. His brows narrowed, dark eyes seized mine. There was a flicker of confusion as my Queen whimpered behind me. “Annabelle…I need you.”

  “You don’t want to die—not that way.” Lucas warned, moving into view. He jerked his gaze behind me. “Look at her. She’s not just a Vampire anymore.”

  Pale eyes shimmered as she stared at me. Desperation gave way to torment. My fingers twitched, muscles ached.

  “She’ll kill you…” Lucas warned. He glanced behind me. “She won’t mean to, but she will, just the same.”

  “Eva,” I lowered my hand, took a step closer. “Tell me what you need.”

  The air around her seemed to tremble, drawing me closer with the glint in her ivory gaze. To me she was more than a symbol, more than the head of our line. Desperation rose, burning like hunger in my chest.

  “Something’s changed,” she whispered, her voice feral and strange. Pale eyes shone with a hint of madness. “Something’s changed in me.”

  “I know,” hard breaths bowed my chest as I skirted the bodies at her feet. I’d give my life to ease her pain. “It’s okay, let me take care of you.”

  I lifted my hand, fingers curled…lifeless and desperate. Blood welled under my nails. I stared at the mess. Not worthy. The words flared, an ache so cruel my knee buckled. I caught the fall, locking my knee straight.

  “Lucas,” life flared in her pale eyes as she took a step.

  The Lowest Kynd’s outstretched fingers crunched under her heels as she stepped. I surged forward, filthy fingers outstretched as she stumbled into the Guardian’s arms.

  “I’m okay,” her lonely words were muffled, whispered in the swell of his chest. “I’m okay now…all the rage, and the blood.”

  My hand hovered in the air, and then fell.

  I loved her…more than a sister, more than a Queen—and yet, to her, I was nothing.

  The Guardian lifted his head. Silver flames raged in his eyes. That fire in my chest eased, turning as bitter as the Shadistin wind as he growled… “You did well, warrior.”

  Carnage lay everywhere. I could hear them out there, bellowing, howling.

  And all I could do was stare at the person I loved, wrapped in the arms of the Dragon.

  I gave a nod, and stepped away. I wasn’t needed here…wasn’t wanted here.

  I clenched my grip around the hilt of my sword and carved the air with the blade.

  But there was more to kill…always more to kill.

  “Jesus Christ! Commander…Commander!”

  Alpha punched the air, cartwheeling before he hit ground.

  Blood spurted from the gash across the Commander’s throat. Red blended with khaki green, turning his Marine uniform a sodden brown like decaying autumn leaves.

  A fine crimson mist caught the breeze with a harsh gasp—I stared at the mortal…not dead—not yet. Alpha’s fingers slipped in the mess, clutching the torn flesh as though he could knit it back together. “Help me!” He turned his head, panic filled his gaze. “Someone help me!”

  “Jesus Christ!” Lucas roared. “Doc…Doc!”

  Bellows and howls cut through the air until the heavy thud of footsteps drew my gaze to the thin makeshift door.

  “Let me through!” Doc Angel called from inside. “For God’s sake, get out of the way! Let me through!”

  The thin sheeting slid upwards, and the Doc lunged out. She scanned the bodies and the blood. Her perfect brows narrowed, as terror sank its fangs into her soul.

  “Over here!” the Marine growled. “Doc…over here!”
>
  She yanked her head toward the call, and the life dulled in her eyes as she whispered. “Jesus.”

  Bodies piled on top of bodies. Arms and paws mingled of the dead—but there were more of them than us. I’d left enough in my wake…to save what? This building? These people—this weak damn mortal?

  There was no saving him—I moved closer, drawn by the thick, heady scent of blood—even I could see that.

  “He’s dying,” Alpha cried as the blood spurt gave way to a trickle. “Do something for God’s sake! He’s dying!”

  “Get…” a harsh gasp tore free, until she wrenched her gaze to Alpha and desperation flared. “Get him inside now.”

  The spell was broken with a rush and roar. Lucas stumbled forward, and gripped the Commander under his arms. Alpha grasped his boots, and shoved upwards. They heaved the Marine into the air, one scurrying backwards as they raced for the open door.

  I followed the thin trail of blood through the doorway until the jagged splashes turned weak, leaving drops like breadcrumbs in their wake.

  “Stupid…stupid damn human,” my Queen snarled behind me. “He should’ve stayed with the others, not charged in like a…like a…” Words failed her.

  “Hurry,” the Doctor yelled, as Dragons and Wolves scampered out of the way. “In my room. Get him to my room.”

  “Commander! Jesus, Commander!”

  The Sergeant shoved through the crowded room. Chairs squealed, the mammoth table moved. He was a blur, this human, filled with desperation and fear as they rushed the Commander into the hallway.

  “He can’t die,” spittle flew from the Sergeant’s lips as he scanned the room. “Do you hear me? He cannot die!”

  5

  Samson

  “Commander…Commander, can you hear me?”

  Get off me…get off! Please…Please get off me…no….no!…NO!

  Panic beat like midnight wings inside my head.