by Dale Mayer
He waited, camera ready for a chance to take a picture of the man's face. A second human exited from the passenger side. No uniforms. No bags. Nothing.
And that made him leery. He watched to see what they'd do. Was Taz coming in a separate vehicle? Or did these guys know of this place because they'd been here before? There were no other people exiting the vehicle so he assumed it was just the two of them.
But then they walked toward the garage – and him.
Shit. He ducked out of sight. Good thing he could still hear the conversation.
"No one is here."
"No one is topside, you mean. The others could be down below."
One guy coughed several times before continuing. "I doubt it. Most are too scared to go down there in case they never get out."
"Well, they did pull Peter out of the last meeting and made an example out of him. Remember that."
Jared shuddered. He didn't want to know what they meant by that. He kept an ear tuned in to the conversation.
"Hell, I'll never forget. This place is my worst nightmare."
"Just a couple more jobs and we can get the hell away from here for good."
"Says you." The man's voice rose to a high-pitched whine. "I'm afraid they won't ever let us go."
"Nah. You heard the boss." The first man coughed a second time, his voice hoarse as he answered, "They just need us to take care of the doctors they got locked up inside."
"Great, now we're killing our own doctors. And why us?" There went that high-pitched voice again. "They sent us up here just for that? They could have taken care of this on their own."
Jared had to ask the same question. Then he realized these guys had come to take care of the medical team that he'd helped rescue.
"Maybe it’s a test. We're not exactly on their good side after the last couple of problems we had."
"It wasn't our fault. Jesus, those kids are a pain in the ass."
"That one wasn't supposed to leave the group home alive, remember?"
Jared closed his eyes, scared to breathe in case they heard him. This was his first confirmation that he had been targeted. And boy, was he glad he'd chosen to go to Tessa's house instead of returning to that home.
"Yeah, but that wasn't our fault. By the time we got there to haul him down to the station, he'd booked it. Hell, everyone there is in deep shit."
Back to the station? Oh crap. Jared finally realized that these two were cops. They weren't in uniform and they certainly didn't look official, so they were likely off duty. Also, he'd never seen them before.
"Yeah, but not like we're in trouble for that. We didn't do anything wrong. It's just things didn't go right."
"I think they are the same thing to the boss."
Their voices faded slightly as the garage floor lowered, the grinding noise drowning them out.
Jared peered through a hole in the wall and took a few pictures before they were too low to get a face shot. His mind was still reeling from what he'd heard. He had left to buy a new cell phone and while he'd been gone, they'd actually come for him. Jesus. The close call scared the crap out of him.
And then he thought about what he knew and what they didn't.
The vamps had done something to the mountain so that everyone in there wouldn't survive. And those guys were sent to go down there anyway.
He smiled.
Maybe there was justice after all.
*.*.*
Rhia stayed in the vehicle when they arrived at the next place. Sian sat beside her. They were talking to Gloria, who was coordinating the raids from the council headquarters. So far, the other buildings had been taken without a hitch. A good half dozen or more vamps had been taken captive and the rest had been killed. The captives were being transferred to the human jail. That was the safest place for the moment. And the cops had silver on them in case the vamps resisted.
The captured vamps had all been low-level operatives and appeared cooperative. Then again, they were vamps, and that made them liars and cheats and not trustworthy. For all anyone knew, they could be much higher up on the food chain.
They had just arrived at what Rhia hoped was the last warehouse. It was much larger than the others. Because of that, they had a second team here for back up. There were still suppliers to pick up. Apparently, several Special Forces teams were rounding them up. It was assumed that they were humans, but who knew?
The sweep had been going wonderfully well.
And that scared her.
It was going too well. That meant it was going seriously bad somewhere for someone. Given the news Taz had passed on, she just hoped to hell that it wasn't with her family.
"Taz is trying to organize a biohazard team to go up with him and the other doctors. And a military team. They'll check out the place first. Who knows what these assholes might have done?"
"Or are planning to do."
Sian reached across the seat. "We'll get your family out."
Rhia smiled and clasped Sian's hand. "I know. I just feel so helpless. It seems like they've been up there forever."
"Not that long really. Besides, with it being daylight, there is only so much they can do. They could be hiding out in the trees again."
Rhia knew Sian was trying to make her feel better, but if Serus was hiding out in the trees he'd have contacted her by now. Especially after not doing so the last time. She hadn't done it in front of the kids, but she'd reamed him out good in private. They could communicate, so therefore they should communicate. Especially now. Especially when her whole family was inside that torture chamber.
"Oh, there's something here from Gloria."
"What?" Rhia leaned over to see a large image open up on the laptop screen. "What is that?"
"I don't know." Sian rotated it. "But I'm thinking it might be a blueprint of the mountain. Or at least part of the mountain."
Rhia looked closer. "There's the garage that Tessa found. That's where we entered."
"And there is the blood farm below." Sian used a long nail to outline the path that led down below. "This is great. We should be able to have the entire thing searched this way. Look at all these rooms."
"I don't understand all the writing, but some of it appear to be under construction. Like there, it says Phase 3, medical labs. Look how big that area is."
"And what do they need medical labs there for?"
Sian and Rhia stared at each other.
"For experiments. Drug experiments?"
"We certainly know about those." Rhia studied the drawings carefully. "There is the mini railway. And look at the other end of it. There are all kinds of rooms in there. We'll have to make sure we check them all out."
"It could be another warehouse. Look at how the small room on the side seems to lead deeper into the mountain. And to that massive cavern or room ahead."
"I wonder what's in there." Sian wondered.
"Nothing good."
Pain like she'd never experienced before shot through Tessa's body and mind. She understood that the silver stake had been removed from her hand and that blood dripped steadily from the injury. But comprehending anything more than that was beyond her. Ice and fire melded in her palm. The ice was winning. Was that a good thing?
She could hear the shouts and screams all around her, but it was the voice in her mind that she latched on to.
Cody.
Hold on, Tessa. We're trying to help you.
There's nothing you can do. That's silver.
But you're not fully vampire. Maybe we can save you. We have to try.
Shakes slithered through her tired body. I'm so tired. Feel so odd.
Don't sleep. You have to stay awake. The silver didn't incinerate you, so something is working.
Old vampire. Poison.
No. I won't accept that. Call on your human genes to fight. Throw it off. Silver isn't poisonous to humans like it is to vamps.
She understood what he was saying
, but it was hard to do anything. Her body shivered as if some internal battle waged deep inside. Her head felt heavy. Too heavy to hold up. She wanted to drop it, only to realize she was being held in Cody's arms. He was trying to support her, trying to keep her alive.
It's too late, she whispered. I might be a hybrid, but my vamp system is in shock.
That's good. Your throwback genes can handle this. It can spit out the poison from your system with no problem. But you need to call on it like you do for your vampire genes. I've heard you. When you're tired or frustrated at not being able to do something. I've heard you call on your vampire heritage to pick up the slack. Now you need to call on the human side of your body. You are both.
Am I? My mother said her great-grandmother, a Leant, was like me. Maybe I'm just two different types of vampire.
And that's fine too. But whatever you are – you can do this. Look, you're still alive. Any of us would be ash by now. You didn't get scratched, you were stabbed. The spike went clean through your hand. You're not burning up; you're not even showing signs of starting to smoke. You're weak. You're cold. That's good. Use that to fight off the poison.
My hand…
Yes. I know. But the hand is still there. And yes, there is some kind of discoloration around the injury but you can still move your fingers. Right? Tessa, move your fingers, he urged. Let me see.
She tried to feel her hand, but that damn iciness made it almost impossible.
Come on, damn it.
She struggled past the numbness, struggled past the pain, and urged her fingers to move.
Tessa?
Trying to.
Try harder. Now.
And she did. Her fingers, coated in fiery burns, moved.
The effort it took to make that happen was too much to handle. She slipped into the deep dark abyss waiting for her. The last thing she heard as she went under was Cody's cry.
Tessa? Tessa!
*.*.*
Horror and anger surged through Serus as he stared at his beloved daughter. This was one time that he really hoped her throwback genes carried human DNA.
"It's a good sign that she's still alive," Ian said with forced cheer.
Jewel said, "Not if she's going to die slowly, poisoned like the old vamp."
Cody shifted her in his arms. "She was talking to me until just a few minutes ago. I made her move her fingers to prove her hand was still functioning. That the poison wasn't working further though her system." He rested his cheek on the top of her head. "It was after making that effort that she became unconscious."
"Maybe that's a good thing," Goran said, "Maybe her humanity will save her."
"Only we don't know exactly what she is, do we?" Serus snapped. "We've all treated her like she was part human, but according to Rhia she might be part Leant. And although they were vamps, they were different in so many ways."
"But she's alive." Goran pointed out. "And she doesn't appear to be showing the same symptoms as that old asshole."
"Or it's too early to tell. Does anyone know what silver does to humans?"
Ian said, "Outside of metal poisoning, I don't think there’s anything to worry about. They wear jewelry made of the stuff." He leaned closer. "Look at her hand. It's pulpy around the edges, but it's not even black. If that were any of us…"
"We wouldn't be here to talk about it. We know." David straightened from his crouched position. "I wish we could ask Taz."
"He's not going to be able to help us. No one is. Like so much in her life, Tessa is going to have to handle this battle on her own," Goran said, his voice sober but calm. "We have to trust that she can do that. Vamp. Human. Something else. As she's already done so much we didn't know about, who knows what else she's capable of doing?"
"Look." Jewel exclaimed. "Look at her hand."
Everyone crowded around Serus to the point that he had trouble seeing anything. "Back up," he ordered. Then he carefully lifted Tessa’s injured hand for everyone to see.
"Wow," David said in a soft shocked voice. "How is that possible?"
"If she was vampire and it was anything other than silver – it's what we'd be doing."
"So she can survive silver and heal like a vamp?" Ian asked. "I think I'm jealous."
"She hasn't survived yet, and the effort to heal appears to take a lot more out of her than it would from us. We normally regain our health and strength much faster and without the same effort. She’s unconscious, for heaven's sake. That would kill us in battle. Our enemies would finish the job while we struggled to heal."
Serus nodded. "True, but Tessa shouldn't be in this battle. I've been saying that since the beginning."
*.*.*
Cody let the conversations and suppositions go on around him. He didn't care what conclusion they reached – he just wanted to hear Tessa's voice again. To know that she was going to be fine. This connection with her was a part of him now. He couldn't have imagined such a thing happening before, but now he couldn't imagine life without it. The dead emptiness in his mind right now was horrible. Like a massive black pit. Cold and dark. Waiting for someone to return. Someone who was having trouble finding her way back.
Tessa? Are you there? Please be there. Talk to me.
Silence
He closed his eyes. He didn't know what to do for her. No one did. He understood his father's words to mean that this was new for Tessa too, and she'd have to handle this on her own. But that didn't make it any easier. Cody needed her in his life.
A sudden movement had him lifting his head to look at her. She shifted again, trying to move. But her eyes were closed along with her mind. He couldn't sense her at all.
She twisted as if in agony, but her face was pale and expressionless.
"What's she doing?"
Cody thought it was Ian who asked, but no one had an answer. They could only watch as Tessa's body struggled.
"Look at her hand now."
Serus raised her hand again so they could all see. The puckered edges of the fleshy palm was slowly becoming smooth again.
Jewel gasped. "Is that hole closing?"
It was hard to see as the flesh had closed in on itself after the spike was removed. It had left a bloody red circle but as Cody stared, it appeared that the circle in the palm of her hand was getting smaller.
"She is healing!" he exclaimed.
"Good. Now do we all stand guard here while it's happening, or should some of us head off and look for more assholes?" Ian asked.
"We stay here. Together." Serus said. "No more splitting off."
"Besides," Goran said. "We came here to meet the bosses. We met them and killed them. Sounds like it’s time to go home. We could just as easily carry Tessa down to the tunnel and exit through the other side. Can't say I'd be sorry to get out of this place."
Jewels faint gasp of hope had Cody considering the issue. He could easily carry Tessa. But was that the right thing to do? How could getting the hell out of here be wrong?
"What about the other bosses," David asked. "The ones they wouldn't tell us about?"
"I don't think we will be able to find them now." Serus straightened but stayed close to Cody and Tessa. "I think given Tessa's condition, we need to get her out of here and home as fast as possible. We have to keep her safe until she's strong enough to fight off any attackers."
"To that end, I suggest we get back down those stairs and through the tunnel to the outside." Goran said, straightening up to look back at the way they'd come.
Ian nodded.
David stood up and wrapped an arm around Jewel's shoulders. "I guess we've done our part. Now it's time to get some help in here to take care of the rest. I think you mentioned Gloria would be able to contact people to help." He looked over at Goran. "It would be good to get out, reconnect with everyone, and create some kind of organized plan to finish this." He looked down at his sister. "Her safety comes first and I know Jewel is tired. She needs to go home and rest
too."
"So am I." Ian snorted. "I like a good fight as well as the next guy, but this fight never seems to end. I really hate not being able to fly."
"Good." Goran placed a hand on Cody shoulder. "Are you carrying her or am I?"
"I am." Like hell he was letting anyone else take Tessa anywhere. She wasn't that heavy and he was an ancient like his father. He stood up in one smooth move, shifted Tessa's body in his arms, and looked at his father. "If I need to switch off, I'll let you know." But his voice was hard, as if to say it wouldn't happen.
Goran stared from Tessa's unconscious face to his son's and sighed. "Fine."
Serus wasn't so agreeable. "Are you sure?"
Cody glared at him. "I'm fine. And I've flown with her before." Surely the gentle reminder that it had been Cody who had saved her before wouldn't hurt right now.
Serus's gaze was hard as he stared into Cody's eyes. "If you need help, tell us. She's been through enough without you dropping her."
He turned away, leaving Cody gasping. "I wouldn't drop her," he muttered out loud.
David smacked him on the shoulder. "Nope, you wouldn't. And if he didn't believe that, he wouldn't be letting you carry her either."
"Now that's all settled, can we get out of here, please?" Jewel's voice trembled with exhaustion. "This place is getting on my nerves. I can't help but think something else is going to go wrong before we're all safe and sound."
"Yeah, they have bad guys hiding around more corners than I could imagine this place having." Ian turned to study the large open empty room. "This place is a nightmare."
"It's actually a maze, and given a chance to reconnect with a laptop, I'd love to track down some blueprints. I think we need to do a complete sweep and make sure that no one is left behind in one of the many hidden rooms here. And after all this time, we still haven't found any sign of the three other blood farms."
"I wish we had a way to contact Motre."
"There are going to be many captives here somewhere." David pointed out. "And we'll find them, but not right now. We'll come back with help."
Jewel turned to look at the closed door where they had originally entered. "Did we close that door?"