When the last of the zombies lay dead, Rose leaned against the back of the truck, waiting until Nomad and Sturgis closed the hood. Rose made sure both men were inside the truck before she went over to her side. The four girls were already in the back seat. Moon Dog and Red Hawk had managed to cram in beside them, leaving the passenger seat open for Rose. Sturgis walked to the back of the truck and joined the soldiers on the flatbed, and before Rose could close the door, Rafe slid in beside her. Everyone was excited and congratulating one another as Rose shut the door, and Nomad headed down the road.
“Can you humans shut up?” asked Rafe. “We’ve got Shadowguard following. Don’t start looking out the windows for them. They’re out there. Trust me. I’m sure the zombie ambush was their idea of a good time.”
Lotus let out a snort. “If you saw them watching, why didn’t you fight them?”
“Uh, I was busy killing zombies, flower girl,” said Rafe. “As hard as you humans tried to keep the zombies off Nomad and that old man, Rose and me killed more than the rest of you put together. You’re just lucky it was zombies and not Shadowguard. Imagine what would have happened if the Shadowguard attacked in daylight? The only reason they don’t is so you never know their number. Sure, the wolves helped out…some… but overall it’s the Dark Angels that saved the day.”
“Protecting us is supposed to be your job,” said Kirin. “If you don’t like it, Rafe, you can go back to the hotel. Camp was nicer without you around.”
Monkey nodded. “Yeah, Rose could have handled it all on her own. She’s too nice to say it, but no one likes you, Rafe.”
Between Rafe and the ninja girls, Rose couldn’t take anymore fighting. Nomad had turned on the radio, and the music helped cut out the bickering, but not the sickening sound of squish squish whenever they rolled over a zombie. Rose turned to face Lotus, Dragon’s second in command, and decided to set her straight about a few things. Being liked by everyone didn’t seem important, and Rafe certainly didn’t care if he was or not. Rose knew it was time she stopped worrying about what the kids thought about her; it was time to make them face reality, no matter if it was cold, hard, and ugly.
“Last night Star was abducted by the Shadowguard,” said Rose. Her announcement caused everyone to fall silent, and Nomad to turn down the music. “So were Blaze, Raven, Heimdall, a few soldiers, and the Elite. The A-Team was found slain near Midnight Falls. I was going to let Commander Cadence tell you what happened, but with all the love I’m feeling in this truck, I decided it couldn’t wait.”
“Star and Dragon are both in the hands of the Kaiser.” Cricket’s voice could be heard, loud and clear. “What are we going to do without them? What’s going to happen to us?”
Lotus, Kirin, Cricket, and Monkey all stared at Rose. Rafe was squished against her, so she didn’t bother turning to see what kind of look he had on his face. The two werewolves growled softly and Rose noticed Nomad gazing at her out of the corner of his eyes, but it was his brief smile that gave her the confidence needed to continue, not Rafe’s elbow in her ribs. The kids were all looking for guidance and reassurance, something she assumed should come from Cadence and Highbrow, but now was expected from her. Rose hadn’t counted on her own opinion having any value with the humans; after all, she was a vampire. But she was also the camp doctor. Her opinion clearly mattered.
“We’re going to stop fighting and pull it together to get through this alive,” said Rose. “That means we have to put aside our petty difference, prejudices, and dislike for one another and start acting like a team. And that goes double for you, Rafe. If we’re going to defeat the Kaiser, we have to work together and be there for one another. It doesn’t matter anymore if we’re vampire, human, or therianthrope. We’re in this mess together, and that’s just how it is, so deal with it!”
Nomad gave Rose a thumbs-up and rolled on toward camp.
* * * * *
Chapter Seventeen
During the night, Blaze heard crying and screaming coming from the other cells. There were far more humans being held at the Citadel than she realized, even though everyone at camp assumed they were the last survivors. She didn’t know where the other people came from, but it was nice to know the kids at Seven Falls weren’t the last humans on earth.
Blaze had tried breaking out of her cell, but a guard caught her in the hallway and had remained at her door all night. She hadn’t slept a wink knowing someone was watching her. There was no hall pass for taking a potty break, so she’d gone in the corner of her room. No one came with water or food. No one cleaned her cell. She didn’t know what time it was when Big Nose showed up and handed her a light blue scarf to tie around her arm. She was taken out of her cell and lined up with the prisoners. Her guard hadn’t explained why she had to wear the scarf or where they were going.
She followed the group down a hallway, turned right, and the line came to a halt. Blaze twisted around to yell at Big Nose, but her guard was no longer around; instead, there were more than a hundred prisoners standing in the hallway. Blaze didn’t know anyone, but that was more a relief than a concern. A large, hairy guy with bad body odor stood in front of her. He wore a red scarf around his arm. Every prisoner wore colored scarves. She spotted only a few with light blue ones like her own.
“I’m Billy Bob,” he said.
“I’m Blaze. You know where they’re taking us?”
The big guy shook his head.
Blaze scrutinized the hallway. No guards were present. They weren’t needed. Surveillance cameras seemed to be the norm at the Citadel, and there were five trained on the prisoners that she could see. Picturing vampires watching her as they drank from a cup of warm blood filled Blaze with a yearning to escape. She decided to make a break for it when Billy Bob started crying.
“Hey, knock it off,” said Blaze. “You’re too big to cry. Surely you won a few fights in prison?” He shook his head. “Not a convict? Okay, well, stop crying anyway. We’re not fighting right now. We fight Halloween night. You can cry then, Billy Bob.”
“I’m from Arkansas,” Billy Bob said, drying his tears. “Me and my buddies came in on a bus. Never been to prison, until now. The driver said he was taking us to a safe place with no zombies or fangers. I should have known it was too good to be true. We should have stayed in Little Rock.”
“Who was your driver? A vampire?” Blazed rolled her eyes when Billy Bob nodded. “I didn’t come in on a bus. I came in a helicopter.”
“You a champion?” Billy Bob wiped away his tears with the back of his hand.
“In my own way,” said Blaze. “The point is, Billy Bob, if they brought you here all the way from Arkansas, then the vamps place some value on your life. You’re big and hairy. Use that to your advantage. Growl and snarl a lot. If they want a show, give it to them. Did all these people come in on a bus? Are they all from Arkansas?”
“No,” he said, sniffing. “I heard people talking last night in their cells, and they’re from all over the place. Some people come from Los Angeles, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Kansas City. Where are you from?”
“Right here,” said Blaze. “Our camp used to be on the Peak, but we moved it.”
“Really? I thought you were on the game circuit?” asked a man behind her. He wore glasses and a dirty business suit. “They’re turning the football stadium into an arena. In Denver, the games are held in the Nugget’s arena. Who is your guardian?”
“What are you talking about?” asked Blaze. “What’s a guardian?”
“The color of the scarf you wear means you are owned by someone. Slave owners are referred to as guardians. We all have a guardian.”
“That’s new to me. But I didn’t know there were any other human survivors, until now,” Blaze said. She wanted to find out more but was still eager to escape. “Were all of you bused in here? How did the vampires get things set up so fast?”
“You may call me Mr. Smith,” said the guy with glasses. “I can’t believe I took you for a national fighter.
Not everyone was bused in. Many were captured in nearby towns. We’re being led in for breakfast. You’ll get another meal this evening. Tomorrow they’ll watch us compete and decide what event you’ll be fighting in. Everything will be broadcast live on TV.”
“No way,” said Blaze. “I don’t believe it. Since when did the vamps start broadcasting on TV? For that matter, how did vampires take control of the world? I thought they were only in Colorado. This has to be some kind of sick joke; there can’t be that many vampires around.”
“As of today,” said Mr. Smith, “vampires have officially made their presence known in every major city in the U.S. Apparently, vampires have been around almost as long as zombies. It’s simply another form of the virus. I don’t know how it happened; I only know what they told me. I worked for the Kaiser, and I can tell you there are about a dozen vampire lords that control most of the United States. In addition, Salvatore D’Aquilla arrived this morning on a jet from Italy; I bet you didn’t know there were also vampires in Europe.”
Blaze shook her head. “I had no idea.”
“Vampires exist in the U.S. and Italy, but that’s only because D’Aquilla acted so fast. He holed up in his villa and put together an army while the rest of Europe was overrun by zombies,” said Mr. Smith. “I suppose there are vampires everywhere, but D’Aquilla is the boss overseas, and he’s only interested in protecting his own country, at least for now.”
Everyone was listening. The line started to move. Doors opened at the end of the hall, and the prisoners were being let into a gym.
“Where are the U.S. Marines, Army, and Air Force?” asked Blaze. “How come no one has fought back and killed these guys? Please tell me someone is fighting back somewhere? What about Russia, Australia, South America, or Africa?”
“I don’t know. I was the Kaiser’s attorney,” said Mr. Smith. “All I did was handle money transactions since the vampires still use cash. In a way, they have restored civilization. Unfortunately, an agreement with the Turk went sour, and I was blamed for a financial oversight. I was given the choice to fight in the arena or be executed. At least in the arena, I have a chance to survive.”
“Who is the Turk? Another vampire lord? Do they all have stupid names?” Blaze groaned when Mr. Smith nodded. “I don’t want to fight in the arena. This is crazy. I’ve got to find a way to get out of here. We’re not chained up. There are no guards. I’m sure I could make a run for it. Why don’t you and Billy Bob come with me?”
“Where would we go, Blaze? Back to your camp?” asked Mr. Smith. “I think I’ll stay here. It’s time for breakfast and I’m starving.”
“Well, I’m not sticking around long enough to fight in the arena,” said Blaze. She spotted a door and ran for it.
Seven other people came with Blaze. She found herself in a storage room, filled with sports equipment that had once been used by the Falcons. The room had a small window, and a panic started as the prisoners all tried to get to the window first. Instead of fighting, Blaze left the room, only to find more of the prisoners standing outside the door wanting to get in. Billy Bob pushed through the crowd, grabbed Blaze by the arm, and stuck with her as they walked back in the direction they’d come from, leaving the riot behind.
A siren began to wail somewhere in the building, and Blaze and Billy Bob started running and went through an exit door that led out of the gym. Blaze knew they needed to get away as fast as possible. With Billy Bob at her side, she ran behind the gym, heading around the music hall, only to find the main area filled with trucks, tanks, and vampires. Grabbing Billy Bob’s arm, Blaze yanked him behind a bush as a platoon of vampires in black uniforms went marching by. A truck was parked next to the curb. Blaze didn’t see anyone in the cab so she dashed toward the truck, Billy Bob on her heels. Opening the door, she climbed in and slid behind the wheel, happy to see the keys in the ignition. Billy Bob followed and shut the door. They both ducked down as another platoon of vampires marched by, headed to the gymnasium. The side door opened and prisoners ran out.
At the sound of gun fire, Blaze turned the key, and the truck started right up. She headed down the road, but had only gone a short distance when the passenger-side window was shot out by a sniper on a rooftop. Blaze turned the wheel, heading across a huge courtyard filled with thousands of big boxes, new cars, furniture, and several choppers. She kept going, heading for the main road, excitement building as freedom loomed ahead of them.
A hand reached in, grabbed Billy Bob, and yanked him out of the truck. Blaze heard him cry out, but she didn't stop. Bullets pelted the side of the truck, and Blaze spotted a vampire at the window where Billy Bob had been seated. A gun lay in the front seat. She picked it up and shot the vampire in the face. Reaching a sidewalk, she drove right for a goon squad of vampires, scattering them as she drove toward the main drive to the academy. Two big trucks pulled out into the road, blocking her path. Blaze drove onto the grass, heading toward the burned out apartments where she’d been the previous day with the Tigers.
Cars and trucks followed, and a helicopter was in the air as well. As Blaze came around the apartments, dozens of vampires in trench coats swarmed over the truck like ants. Several entered the cab from Billy Boy’s window and one reached in and dragged Blaze out. The truck went out of control, slammed into the side of the building, and exploded, showering the area with flaming debris that barely missed Blaze and her captor. The vampire held Blaze in his arms and ran back toward the academy. She fought back and managed to hit him in the nose, and the vampire dropped Blaze on the ground.
“Don’t move,” said an angry voice.
Blaze rolled over and found Aldarik holding a revolver aimed at her head. He continued to stare over the sights at her while someone grabbed her from behind and yanked to her feet. Her hands were bound behind her back, and she was given a shove forward.
“That was an incredible and stupid escape attempt,” said Lieutenant Aldarik. “I’m taking you back to your cell, while everyone else enjoys a nice breakfast. They’ll be allowed to work out in the gym, take a walk, relax, and talk, but not you. If you didn’t belong to Pallaton, I’d kill you. I don’t like troublesome humans.”
“I don’t like vampires, so that makes us even,” Blaze said, falling into step beside Aldarik. The pursuing vehicles and chopper returned to the Citadel. Behind her walked more vamps in trench coats and black uniforms. “How come there are so many of you? What’s the difference in the outfits? Are some of you soldiers and some international spies?”
Aldarik glared at her. “Be silent, human.”
“Who are you guys?” asked Blaze, fuming. “Where the hell did you come from? How come you had to come here? And why do you get a uniform but those others nerds have to wear stupid trench coats? Is this the Kaiser’s idea of a fashion statement? It’s not working.”
“I’m a soldier. They’re guards. We’re all Shadowguard.”
“Soldiers?” Blaze stopped walking. Aldarik pointed his gun at her. “Hey, I’m not resisting. I only want to know what’s going on. Why are you here? Why Colorado Springs? Why did you take me prisoner?”
Aldarik grabbed Blaze. His eyes glowed bright yellow and his fangs appeared as he bent his head to bite her neck. Terrified, Blaze sank to her knees, holding her hands to her throat. The blonde vampire grabbed Blaze by the arms, pulling her into the air, jerked her against his body and started to sink his fangs into her neck.
“I wouldn’t do that,” said a deep voice coming from behind.
Aldarik dropped Blaze to the ground where she landed in a heap. A hand reached down, lifting Blaze up by her shirt collar. It was Captain Pallaton. Aldarik laughed as he put away his gun. His fangs vanished, and his eyes returned to their normal icy blue color. Blaze pressed against Pallaton, not knowing if he intended to bite her, but he’d at least saved her from Aldarik. In fact, Pallaton was the only vampire who’d shown her any mercy since she’d arrived, and she wanted him to know she was grateful, especially if he was her guardian.
“She’s your fighter,” said Aldarik. “I wasn’t going to bite her, Captain.”
“I don’t like my property being mishandled,” Pallaton said, his tone fierce. “Do what you want to the others who tried to escape, but Blaze belongs to me. She’s my slave. My fighter. But first, clean up this mess, Lieutenant Aldarik.”
“That girl killed one of my men!” Aldarik pointed an accusing finger at Blaze. “I want her punished. Whip her. Right now.” He snapped his fingers. A guard brought over a whip and handed it to Pallaton. “It’s the only way to handle unruly humans.”
“Lieutenant Aldarik, take your men and return to your regular duties,” said Pallaton. He jerked the whip out of the guard’s hand and flung it aside. “I’d no more whip one of my fighters than bite them. Don’t ever tell me what to do or interfere in this manner again.”
Blaze followed behind Captain Pallaton as he led her down the street. He went over to a parked Army Jeep, set Blaze in the passenger seat, and removed the ropes tying her hands. The Shadowguard filed past the Jeep, glaring at their captain and Blaze. Aldarik was laughing as he walked by, but she turned away, refusing to look at him. The captain slid behind the wheel and started up the engine. As they headed down the road, the Shadowguard dashed forward and vanished from view, reappearing a hundred yards away, near the Black Hawk chopper.
“Never try that again, Blaze,” said Pallaton. “I may not be around the next time to save you. Lieutenant Aldarik knows you belong to me, but that wouldn’t stop him from sucking you dry when my back is turned. He isn't a Maker. Unless he snapped your neck, Aldarik would have turned you into a zombie if he had bitten you. You’ve fought too hard and too long to end up as a zombie. Don’t you agree?”
Dead Hearts (Book 2): Forsaken Hearts Page 16