by Dale Mayer
With a shrug, Tessa said, "Sorry, but he found him in one of the rows. Been hanging there for a long time. Most likely since Jared was a little kid. I don't think Jared's father can be saved. Not sure any of them can be actually. That was the original warehouse and the bulk of those people might have been there for decades. I highly doubt there is anyone hanging that has been there for less than six months. They probably have those in a different warehouse
"Except Darren." Jewel frowned. "Although he has been missing longer than six months."
"At least that long," David piped up. "If you think back, it's probably been longer than a year."
"But he can still be saved," Jewel cried. "The vampires here can't die from just this."
"Maybe, and maybe not." Cody spoke up for the first time. "Their muscles are still wasting away from lack of use. And you don't know what else has been done to them."
Jewel shuddered. "I sure hope they don't have any females here. Not after what that guy wanted."
"Yeah well, he won't be asking for that again." Tessa glared at the piles of ash. "We heard him while we were coming down the tunnel. Asshole."
"Okay, everyone listen up," Cody said, "We have a choice to make."
Serus nodded. "Exactly. We can go back down the railway and get out. We know from Jared that there is a way out from there. Or we go after the bosses."
He waited for someone to say something.
Tessa just raised an eyebrow and stared at him. He glared at her. "You're tired, Tessa. Home makes the best sense for you."
"So are Jewel, David, and Ian. Besides, you're not looking all that ready to dance either," she retorted, her gaze narrowed and locked on his face. "Besides, none of you have eaten in how long? I'm starving but will last longer than any of you."
David chuckled. "Give it up, Dad. She's not going to leave until the rest of us do." He looked down at Jewel. "Except Jewel might want to go home."
"Not anymore," Jewel said. "Sure, I want to leave, but that vamp's suggestion made me afraid that there are female vamp captives here that might need rescuing." She shook her head. "I'm not leaving them behind to suffer any more because I'm tired."
"I got news for you. I don't think they'd care one bit if the women were vamp or human." Tessa snapped out at the group in general. "I sure didn't see any young attractive women hanging in that damn blood farm, that's for sure."
That made everyone stop and stare at her.
It was Ian who verbalized what they were all thinking. "I sure hope you're wrong about that. But if you aren't, then every last vamp in this place gets taken out permanently 'cause that is wrong in so many ways."
Goran walked over. "This is the end of the tracks. Now I'm not seeing a door, set of stairs, or any place to go but further along by foot." He swept his arms open toward the black hole of a tunnel. "Does anyone see anything different?"
'Tessa?" Cody asked. "What about you?"
She walked over to the front of the mini train and studied the energy ahead of her. "There's nothing going down the tunnel. Nothing recent anyway."
She turned and studied the wall on the left. "I can't see anything in this direction either." She turned to look at the right wall. Then shrugged her shoulders. She turned back to face the mini train and its bright ball of combined energies and wondered what she was supposed to do with that. She caught sight of something on the wall to the left. She walked over, her hand instinctively reaching out to trace a faint line in the tunnel wall. Painted a dark brown dirt color, the wall blended in with the darkness.
Cody's hand reached over and traced the same door. "A door from the looks of it."
"Yeah, but how do we open it?" Ian asked.
David laughed. "Most likely like this." He lashed out and kicked it dead center.
Silently, the door opened.
*.*.*
Jared stood outside the garage and wondered what the hell he was doing. The others had tried to coax him into the vehicles and leave with them, but he hadn't been able to. He couldn't help but think that someone should stand watch. In case the asshole vamps came out or more arrived. Besides, Taz had given him a small camera. He planned to take a picture of anyone coming or going. It made him feel useful.
It was almost morning so maybe there'd be no one in or out, but he wasn't prepared to take the chance. If they had security cameras out here that would be a different story but they didn't, so he'd take on that job.
And he really had nowhere else to go.
Besides, Tessa and his father were still down there.
How could he just leave? He was surprised that Taz was leaving until he realized the doctor was planning to return with his own reinforcements. Medical staff that he could trust. People who would be able to make decisions on how to save the people below.
Jared knew in his heart it was unlikely they could still save his father. He'd wondered about the other kid he'd spoken to in the blood farm. He hadn't been moving all that much, but he'd been capable of talking and thinking and surely that was worth saving. But...Jared hadn't seen him hanging. In fact, it seemed like no one hanging was younger than forty, if not sixty. A scary thought.
Then he remembered what one doctor had said about there being different programs and that Jared wouldn't be given a choice which program he went into. He'd forgotten about that.
Was that information worth contacting Taz about? He had Taz's phone number saved in his new cell phone and now that he was outside again, he had reception.
He called Taz and quickly relayed that information.
"It's possible the younger healthier people are in another place altogether. But we can't go down until it's cleared and we know it's safe. I'll try to return in an hour with more medical staff. And there's going to be some special forces and a special military group arriving soon. Stay out of their way and answer any questions they might ask. Got it?"
"Got it," Jared said. "Glad I called. They'd have scared the crap out of me arriving out of the blue like that."
"In fact, you might be able to show them the way in through your escape tunnel. I'm sure they'd like to know about that bolthole. To plug it, if nothing else."
Jared stared at the still empty road. "I think I can find the way again." At least he thought he'd pointed out the right door to Tessa. In theory, he'd be able to show the army the same door.
"Good man. Hold tight. I'll be back soon."
Jared hung up the phone and looked for the best place to stand and watch the proceedings. He didn't want to be in the open and he didn't want to appear like he was hiding. There. In the shadow of the front steps up by the double doors. He could stand there and appear to be part of the house until he knew for sure it was safe.
As he ran up the steps, he had to wonder at the ashes on the ground in various places. There were still several parked vehicles and in a pinch, he'd drive out if necessary – if he could find the keys. He studied his spot and nodded. "This should work."
He leaned against the wall of the alcove and stood watch.
*.*.*
Cody stepped forward and studied the staircase in front of them. "I'll go first." He didn't bother waiting for the inevitable argument. He stopped at the first step, almost afraid of what might happen. Booby-trapped like almost all the others they'd tried? But the stair held. Silent and dark, with no way to go but up.
Taking a deep breath, he walked up the stairs as quietly as possible. If there were vamps waiting for him, he didn't want to give them any warning.
The others traipsed up behind him just as quietly.
The staircase appeared to go on forever. How did that work? They came down one part of the mountain only to climb back up another side of it? Why not go straight across? Was that even possible? His mind reeled with questions that had no answers.
See anything?
Tessa's curious voice made him smile. He answered. Not yet. Just stairs and more stairs.
It feels like a trap.
I'm h
alf expecting someone to jump out of the walls. Or at least to be waiting for us at the top.
All of us came inside. I wish we'd left a couple of us behind in the tunnel. Maybe I should go back.
No! That's not good. No more splitting up. At least any vamps travelling down the tunnel will think that we were taken to meet the bosses.
Yeah, except for the piles of ashes we left behind.
True. Cody came to a stop at the top step. There was nothing there but a small landing. He stretched out a hand to find a wall in the small landing, but there was no apparent door. No handle or obvious way to open it. Again.
"Damn."
"What's wrong?" Ian asked from behind him. "Is there a door?"
"No idea. I can't find a way to open it."
"Kick it."
Right. Except there wasn't much room. He motioned for Ian to watch out, then moved his leg back and gave the wall an awkward kick. The door didn't move. He kicked it again at a different spot. This time, there was a loud scraping sound as the door opened.
So much for stealth.
Be careful, Tessa warned.
Yeah. And with that, he stepped into the unknown.
*.*.*
This was not how she'd imagined shutting down the blood farm business. Rhia thought it would be dealt with by the various enforcers and council members. Not with her being at the forefront of a raid on the first of the addresses found on the laptop. Daylight had hit full force. The vamp members were in full motorcycle gear to protect them. But she found the leather constricting. With the gauntlets on, she couldn’t use her lethal claws. Wearing the heavy boots, she'd lost the ability to be quiet.
More protected than normal, yet she felt more vulnerable than ever. She hated it. But the options were limited.
Sian squeezed her arm. She turned to look at her best friend. At least she was smiling. Rhia had to grin. "You look ridiculous."
"Almost as silly as you do."
Rhia rolled her eyes at that, then turned to stare in the direction of the warehouse front door. The others should be in position at the back of the building. They had several guards on this side, but she couldn't imagine that anyone was in the warehouse at this hour of the day. At least not any vampires.
Still, better to be careful and all that. The guard opened the front door and slipped inside. Rhia waited for their signal.
There. The guard opened the door and motioned to them. Rhia and Sian strolled across the street, pretending to unbuckle the chin strap of their helmets. Rhia couldn't wait to remove it, but it was only coming off if the interior of the warehouse was safe.
Inside, they stood for a moment and reoriented themselves. It looked like a large warehouse full of shelves and boxes. Everything was labelled.
Then she realized that the warehouse was cool – cold even. As if the contents of the boxes need to be kept at that temperature.
The guard took off his helmet. "The place appears to be empty."
Councilman Adamson spoke up. "I'm going to the office to see what we can find."
"I'm coming with you," Rhia said, happy to have her head free of the helmet. She shook out her long hair. "Sian?"
"On it." The three raced upstairs. "If there's a computer, we need to grab it, too."
The guard said, "We'll stay down here and search the back."
Everyone, and there had to be a dozen vamps on this raid, spread out as Rhia reached the second floor.
The office was empty. But there was paper everywhere. Sian snagged the computer and took it to a side counter. She studied the contents while Rhia searched the desk and found an accounting book. "Names and dates on this ledger."
"Grab it. We'll use it to find more of the missing pieces."
Councilman Adamson called out from the far side. "Grab everything. Gloria just said that the raid on the second location went off with a hitch too. As if no one was expecting our presence."
"Good, but we don't have much time. Let's grab what we need and leave the rest for the team to secure. There's a clean up crew coming. They'll take care of this place. It's in our hands now. We need to move on to the next address on the list."
They were planning to hit as many as possible – they had to. And fast. There were several teams coordinating the hits.
Rhia nodded, gathered up the ledgers, checked the drawers for more, collected a large stack of paperwork, and checked the rest of the room. There was nothing more that she could find. She handed everything to a guard that had followed them upstairs. With Sian right behind her, she led the way down the stairs and headed to the front door.
Only it opened as she reached for the knob.
Being caught in the middle of the line sucked. Tessa couldn't see much in front and even less behind her. Goran stood in front and her own father was coming up behind in last place. Both were big and protective. She wished she was in front with Cody. The line had stalled while he tried to open the door. The problem was, she couldn't help but think they were sitting ducks in here. Who would know or even find them if the doors at both ends suddenly sealed shut.
She couldn't stop the shudder that rippled through her at the thought.
Then Goran went up several more steps and she realized that Cody must have found a way through.
I did. But there's nothing up here. Seems to be a small landing and another big empty room, but I can't see anything inside.
Well, if I could join you, maybe I could see if anyone was up there recently or had been for a while. But getting there is taking a bit of time.
You'll be here in just a moment. Patience.
She let a snicker out at that. And drew a frown from Goran as he turned around at the unexpected noise. Damn. She gave him an apologetic smile and rushed up the last of the stairs.
By the time she'd entered the room at the top, her father had reached the top of the stairs as well. She walked into the room. Cody grabbed her arm.
Easy, he whispered. We don't know if we're alone.
She nodded. I have to check for energy signatures, and that means I have to get away from the ball of energy from the group. It's too hard to see otherwise.
He dropped his arm and she took several more cautious steps forward before turning to look back. The combined energies glowed bright in the dark. She shifted to stare at the rest of the space. There didn't appear to be anything in the room.
She frowned and squinted. There had to be something. There. A sound had her freezing. She spun around and searched the dark corners. Still nothing. Then that weird sense at the back of her neck urged her to look up.
There. She smiled. And pointed.
The sound of rustling wings whispered beside her as Goran and Cody took to the air as one. Serus wasn't far behind.
Tessa moved back to the group while trying to keep watch on what was going on above them. To have another flier here would be unusual. Cody's line only had a handful of relatives left, and there were few others that could fly. They'd already caught several fliers, so chances were they were all related.
The fliers reached the cloud of colored energy she'd seen up above.
But she couldn't tell what was happening.
"Tessa, can you tell how many are up there?"
She shook her head. "It was too far away. I doubt there is more than one or two, but I don't know. I also don't know if they were all fliers. There could be rooms full of vamps up there."
"Let's look for another way up." Ian and David ran around the room checking the walls for doors or stairs, anything that would let them join the fight. Jewel and Tessa just stared at each other. Tessa shrugged. "I'm happy to leave it to them. I didn't see any energy trails at this level, but that doesn't mean there aren't any."
A faint smile crossed Jewel's face. "You've been right every time so far."
"Yeah, and that's when I'm likely to be wrong." Tessa grinned as both Ian and David came back, frustration and anger on their faces as they tried to keep watch o
n the proceedings up above.
Tessa, we're good here. Bringing two assholes down.
Oh good. She laughed. "Cody said they caught the two up there."
David looked at her, then up at the high ceiling. "Good. I wonder who they caught."
She shrugged and continued to stare upwards, looking for Cody. "Doesn't matter to me. I don't know any of them."
"No, but I might."
As they watched, Goran and Serus came down with another winged vampire in their grasp. He didn't look so good. And he was old. Like seriously old.
She was surprised to see the lines on his face, the pain showing in his bent over stance. But she had no time to sort it out as Cody came down carrying the second vamp. An unwinged and much younger vamp.
"Interesting." David asked, "Who are they?"
Goran snorted and pointed to the old one. "He's an ancient. Haven't seen much of him in centuries. Didn't know he was still alive. And he doesn't look so good."
"Will he talk?"
Serus shrugged. "Who knows? He's been around too long to care at this point."
Ian circled the ill-looking vamp. "Other ancients don't look like he does."
"No, he appears to be dying," Serus said, "And I'm not sure from what."
Tessa remembered Bart and his comment so long ago. "Bad blood?"
David glanced over at her. "There was something about bad blood a long time ago. Surely that wouldn't still be affecting him, would it?"
"It could." Goran studied the old vampire crumpled on the floor. "Depends on how long he was drinking it and if he's had so much that the good stuff can't heal him anymore. Bad blood is a slow poison that can seep into his system and slowly eat away at him from the inside."
"But that would mean he's been doing this for a long time," Jewel protested.
Goran straightened. "You may not like this, but there are some ancients who have never had anything but fresh blood. For centuries, that's all most of us had. In his case, he might not have converted to the synthetic stuff."
God, what a horrible thought. Tessa studied the old man, wondering how many people he'd killed. Sure, it was their way. It might be their nature, but they had a choice. They could take what they needed and leave the humans alive. And clear their memories so that no one would remember. Now with synthetic blood available, they didn't even need to do that.