by Dale Mayer
Thank God.
He thought about the guy he'd knocked out. How had he made it through the chaos, when no one else had? Why was it so important that he make it? Unless it was because of the meeting he'd mentioned. Where was it supposed to be? Jared hadn't seen any offices or similar types of rooms inside the warehouse. Then again, who knew what they might have hidden in there? And if they had hiding places, how many more people had Tessa's group missed? People who knew the group was in the warehouse, and yet had stayed hidden themselves.
Damn. How could he warn them? He had no cell phone, and even if he did, it would likely be dead by now.
The circle of light up ahead grew larger. The silence in the tunnel unnerved him. Inside the warehouse, his head had been filled with the screams of the living dead, but out here the only thing screaming in his head were his own worries. And they were bad. Maybe the sense of being all alone amplified them. He'd loved silence prior to this week. Now he longed for noise, crowds of people, and loud music. Anything to fill the dead space and crowd out his fears.
The light was daylight. Relief washed through him. Thank God. He might make it out of here after all.
Then the crushing silence was broken.
By crowds. Angry crowds.
Shit.
*.*.*
The back of Cody's neck prickled. The warehouse seemed empty, and that couldn't be. The enemy had to be hiding somewhere. He held up his hand. David stopped behind him, and Cody searched the area. Nothing.
Hissing softly, he said, "I can sense them, but I can't see them."
"That's instinct, I suppose." David moved ahead, silently. Frowning, he too studied the same space. "Where are they, though? I don't get it."
"Me, either." Crouching down, Cody searched under the rows of hanging bodies. "There's no sign of anyone."
"Which means nothing, as we well know." Hands on his hips, David surveyed the long hallway. "Do you think they might be hiding in the rooms up ahead?"
"I don't see where else they could be. Let's go." Cody slipped close to the wall and raced down the hallway until he came to the first closed door. He waited until David settled in on the other side, then shoved it open and jumped inside.
Empty. A room full of empty beds.
Hearts pounding, they did the same to the second door.
This one held more empty beds and a desk. Nothing else.
"I don't get it." Cody stared at David in confusion, and then walked out into the hallway. "I can still feel them."
"I can, too."
Without warning, a pair of long arms engulfed Cody and squeezed him in a vice so tight he couldn't get any air. He struggled frantically. He hadn't even seen his attacker. Next to him, David fought with another man.
The vice tightened around Cody's chest. He couldn't breathe. He gasped for air, and the fight slipped from his muscles. Just as he struggled against losing consciousness, his attacker lifted him off the ground and carried him aloft. Helpless, he watched as David's assailant did the same with him.
Cody's vision blurred, and then he couldn't see anything.
Tessa followed the elders out of the room. Goran should stay behind, but he'd refused. He was even more stubborn than her father. As if reading her mind, he walked faster. Tessa could only roll her eyes. She didn't know if all men were like this, or only old men, but talk about stubborn.
As much as she hated to admit it, she was wearing down – again. That shouldn't have come as a surprise to her. Down here, she couldn't tell night from day. She had no idea how much time had passed since she'd been kidnapped. Worry and stress had taken their toll on her. She needed another shot of vampire adrenaline.
Casting one last backwards glance at the room where they'd left everyone, she asked, "Dad, do you really think we should leave them alone back there?"
"Now you're questioning our leaving them. What else can we do?" His face darkened. "Ian isn't back to full strength yet, Jewel is still suffering from the effects of the drugs, and then there's Rhia. I'd love for us to stay together, but we need to find Cody."
Tessa knew that. But just ten minutes ago, her mother had also been missing. Leaving her behind again felt wrong, but necessary. It had been on the tip of her tongue to suggest that Goran also stay behind, so he could heal. She could just imagine Goran's response.
"Stay close, Tessa. If you can't keep up, we'll take you back." Goran's words made her snort.
She caught up with them again. "I'm right behind you. Go back if you need to lie down."
He spun around so fast she could barely saw the movement. But the outrage on his face made her step back.
She giggled. "Okay, so maybe not."
Goran stared at her for a long moment. Then he grinned. "Sass. You're just pure sass these days."
They made it to the long hallway and did a systematic search of each room. Nothing. Again.
"It's like they just disappeared. Where the heck is everyone?" Mystified, Tessa stood with her hands on her hips, surveying the empty hallway as the two men rejoined her.
Goran flipped the light switch on and off a few times. The hallway lightened and darkened in rhythm. Tessa turned to search the area closer to the warehouse.
That's when she saw it.
"Stop! Lights off." The urgency in her voice had Goran hitting the switch.
"What do you see?" Serus slipped up beside her. "Tessa?"
She'd crouched down to make sure, then stood and studied the energy patterns up ahead. "I was too tired to see it before, and only caught it when he made the lights flash on and off," she murmured.
"Saw what?" Goran turned to look in the same direction. "Is it that strange energy stuff again?"
"Yeah and now I know where they are. Or rather, where some of them are." She chastised herself for having taken so long to see it. Pursing her lips, she pointed upward. "Some have gone up."
"Up?" Serus walked to end of the hallway and stared upward. "You mean, like fliers?"
"Not really. Well, maybe. I don't know how they got up there, but I can make out at least four different energy signatures heading in that direction. I can't see where they've gone, but they haven't come back down here. So either they've flown to the far area, or they are still up there."
"Hiding?" Goran growled, flexing his wings. "I'll fix that."
"No, wait. What if they're all fliers? Up there, they don't have to worry about anyone catching them. They can sit up there and watch every move we make. Who'd know?"
Goran's face chilled. "Very few vampires are fliers. I only know four, and they are friends."
"But we've already come up against other ones," Serus said. "Where they are from I don't know. Jacob was a glider. Moltere was a flier. They could be his family."
He glanced at Tessa. "Can you tell us how many went up?"
Tessa walked closer, until she could see the energy separate.
"Two were on the ground." She walked around and frowned, then raised her gaze. "David and Cody. Then someone, or rather, two people, came down and picked them up."
She turned to search for a direction.
"They headed that way." She pointed to the back of the warehouse. "Above the offices – what do you want to bet we missed a set of stairs somewhere?"
"If they're fliers, they don't need stairs."
"I'm going up to see just what's up there." Goran stretched out his wings. "Tessa, lead Serus as close as you can. We'll hit them from both sides."
Tessa raced to catch up with her father, who was already striding away. Behind her, the rush of wings heralded Goran rising above her. She studied the heavy piping, but couldn't see any kind of space that would hold people. The ceiling rose high above them, and with all the pipes in the complex system, she supposed they could have several apartments hidden up there. What an ingenious concept.
And it would explain where the spare men had come from.
"Are we still on the right path?" her father asked.<
br />
"Yes," she said. "Straight ahead. I can see about thirty feet of energy pathways, then I lose them among the hanging people."
Her own breathing was the only sound that met her ears as they raced toward the end of the energy pathway. Five minutes later they were on the other side of the warehouse, but to Tessa it seemed like hours had passed. She had a stitch in her side, too. If they were being watched, they could have easily been picked off one by one.
Frustrated she hadn't seen the pathways before, she shook her head. "We've been through this area so many times already. I didn't see it."
"We all missed it." He strode toward the wall. "Ah ha! Here's a door."
Surprised, she joined him. "Really?
He pulled the door open, revealing a set of stairs. Only...
"Uh oh. Wrong direction." Tessa shook her head. "We're looking for steps that go up, not down."
"We're looking for anything. We need to check out these stairs, too. First, though, we need to find the boys." He closed the door and spun around, looking for another. He stared at her, anger and impatience in his voice as he said, "Why isn't there another door here?"
"I don't know. It only makes sense to have the stairs going up in the same place as the stairs going down. Anything else is just...well, weird."
"They could have been built at different times."
"I suppose." Tessa wandered back and forth along the hallway. "Barely any energy signatures are left now, and those that are still here are all mixed up."
Serus walked into the next room. Tessa trailed along behind him and halted at the door. Here, she could see only a faint energy trail.
Serus came back out. "Nothing here."
"I know what I saw." Tessa rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. "But for the life of me, I have no idea how or when they got there."
"It doesn't matter." Serus turned away from the hanging bodies and backed up in between two rows so he could look up. "Might be some space up there."
He wandered up and down the rows, changing his vantage point until he came to a sudden stop.
"There." He pointed upward.
Tessa searched the darkness, but couldn't see much, only a faint outline of...well, something.
"Stay here." With less effort than Tessa would make to walk one step, her father took to the air. Effortlessly, he soared into the darkness above her. He might not have wings, but damn little would slow him down.
She stared after him in wonder until she abruptly realized she was alone again. A chill washed over her, and she surreptitiously glanced around, hating the bodies silently pumping out blood nearby. The man beside her might have been obese at one time, but he now looked as if he wore a suit of skin one size too large. Liquid had pooled around his lower body. Thankfully, the liquid had distorted his genitals, but that only made his situation seem that much more pitiful. With a shudder, she stepped away.
Then compelled by a reason she didn't understand, she turned back. And gulped in horror.
His open eyes stared down at her.
*.*.*
Jared peered around the corner. The conflict had him wanting to run for cover. As much as he'd love a chance to fight back at those who had strung him up, he didn't want to get into any more fights he couldn't win.
He straightened and gritted his teeth. He owed Tessa his life. Now she needed his help. He couldn't let her down. He didn't know who might be out there, but there were two sides to every war.
He just needed to find the right one.
Sidling up to the entrance, he paused to let his eyes adjust to the bright light. Tears stung them, and he leaned back, blinking hard. Crap. If adjusting to the brightness after just days underground was this hard for him, how could those other poor people who'd been hanging below for much longer ever do it? Or would they simply be blind?
He shuddered. Maybe they'd be better off dead. Then he remembered Bryce, and the short time Jared had spent with him. He was so young. He deserved a normal life. Not this feedlot coma.
Shouts rang out beyond the mouth of the tunnel.
Jared winced. If only he could get out without attracting any attention. Hoping that maybe he could, he slid forward, shielded his eyes, and crouched low in search of the source of the commotion.
No sign of anyone.
Either they were on the other side of the rock face up ahead, or they were above the tunnel entrance. Both were good for him. A dense clump of pine trees off to the left looked to be his best chance. Not allowing himself to question his decision, he darted for cover.
Throwing himself behind the trees, his heart hammering in his chest, Jared closed his eyes. Please dear God, let no one have noticed me.
A few moments later, he peered around the tree. He still couldn't spot the source of the ruckus, and he thought that maybe the fighting had moved further away. Good. He really didn't want to meet anymore vamps.
Straightening up, he peered through the woods. Which way was civilization? A road would be good, but might mean more vamps. The way down the mountain through the trees might mean wild animals and given his experiences so far, he'd take them any day.
He started off.
*.*.*
Cody groaned. He hadn't meant to make a sound, but it had just kinda slipped out. He hurt. Why?
"Hey, boss." A male voice rang out behind him. "Sounds like the bigger one is coming around."
"Wait a bit," a dark, deeper voice answered. "He's probably having nightmares."
That voice? Cody recognized it, but couldn't place it. The first man laughed, and it pissed him off for them to assume he was so weak. Lying quietly, he struggled to clear his head and figure out a plan of action.
"Just make sure he ain't moving around," the deeper voice said. "He might need a bigger dose. Tell Rohan to fix another syringe."
Cody's brain froze. Drugs. Like Rhia. God, no.
Before he could latch on to another thought, the guy kicked him in the side. Reeling from the force of it, Cody absorbed the shock and let his body rock. Asshole. I owe you for that one when I get out of here.
"Nah," the guy said with another laugh, "he's out cold."
"Good. Go tell Rohan anyway. We don't want him fighting the programming."
"Right."
A rush of wind told Cody the asshole had left. He didn't understand how. Opening his eye lashes a fraction, he peered around him. He was in a room of some kind with half-walls, if what he was seeing was actually true. A boot lay in front of him. Attached to a jean clad leg he'd seen before. David. Good.
Now if only Cody could figure out who else was up here with him.
The boot in front of his face swung around. Cody's eyes widened as it barely missed his face. David was waking up.
Thank God.
"Damn it. Can't those assholes do anything right?" That same deep voice spoke from behind him. Sounds of a chair being pushed back and footsteps had Cody stiffening inside.
A second blow slammed into Cody's kidney. He used every ounce of strength he had to suck back a groan of agony. Then he didn't have to try anymore as blackness washed the thought away
Tessa froze, too terrified to tear her gaze away from the man staring down at her from his hook. She gulped and closed her eyes briefly before flashing them back open. He still glared down at her. Was he aware of her? She peered at him more closely and struggled with the horrible concept. Surely the drugs they'd given him had knocked him out. His open eyes had to be just an accident. Maybe they'd shifted when his captors had hung him up.
Gulping harder, she tried to convince herself of that. Then she realized his eyes hadn't moved, not even a little. He hadn't blinked, either. He was just staring at her with those blue eyes.
She stepped back as sadness overwhelmed her. Even if they freed the poor man, he'd have no joy in his life. His corneas had dried out. And blindness was likely to be only part of the damage to his system. Anger welled up inside her. How could anyone do this
to these people? What had they done to deserve this?
"Tessa?"
She spun around and searched for her father.
"Pssst. Up here."
Raising her gaze, she peered into the dark above her. "Where are you?"
"Damn it, use your eyes."
Crap. She switched to vampire vision and looked again. He stood in the dark, leaning off the platform. He motioned for her to join him. Tessa looked around. She wasn't good at jumping from a standstill. In fact, she didn't think she could do it at all. Rubbing her face hard, she took a deep breath and jumped. And barely got lift off. With a groan, she backed up and studied the long hallway. She could get a running start.
"Hurry up."
Damn it.
She backed up and took a running jump. She went up all right, but came right back down again. She was just too tired. "Shit."
Her father chuckled. "Stop trying so hard."
She stopped and looked up. He was right. She was struggling to force a motion when it should be happening naturally. She should be relaxed, settling into a rhythm, and using her natural ability to lift off naturally. And just like that, Tessa soared upward.
She smirked when she landed in front of him.
"About time." He turned around and led the way forward. "Keep up. I’ve found something."
Tessa tucked away her sense of accomplishment and stepped in behind him. She wasn't sure what they were walking on. Not a real floor, more like the roof over the clinical rooms.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
He looked back at her. "Just up ahead."
They came up against the back wall, and her father disappeared around the corner. Tessa followed – and just about slammed into him. He'd come to a dead stop in front of her.
Holding up a hand, he motioned for her to be quiet, and then pointed upward. Tessa peered around his shoulder. Suspended from the rafter beams was a large platform of some kind. From where she stood, she couldn't see a way to access it. Just looking at the hanging chamber gave her the chills.