Strain of Vengeance (Bixby Series Book 3)

by Michelle Bryan

  My mouth gets drier with every word Amy says. None of this makes any fucking sense. Is she telling us right now that she can understand those things? How is that even possible?

  “How long have you been able to understand them?” Sam asks gently, thinking more rationally than I am at the moment.

  “I don’t know. Only in the tunnel. Never seen one before. Never heard them talk before. I don’t think anyone else heard them, though, ‘cause when I was talking to the monsters, everyone else told me to be quiet, so the bad things wouldn’t find us.”

  This was not making one lick of sense. What exactly is Amy saying? How is it possible? She’s never been in a pod or connected to any hive mind. She’s never had any contact with queen leeches. And what does she mean they were looking for us?

  “Can you hear them now?” I ask, and she shakes her head.

  “No, silly. There’s none here.” Suddenly, she stops and points to the dilapidated buildings to our right. “Oh, look at that. I remember that big yellow M. Daddy used to take us to that place for fries. Remember, Sammy?”

  Our conversation obviously forgotten, Amy is more enthralled with the remnant of the past. I forget how most of the Grand’s people rarely saw the outside other than the Grand’s rooftop gardens or small courtyard. Being back out in the bowels of the city is all new to them again. I let the questioning drop for now. I know how Amy can be. If she didn’t want to discuss the leeches anymore, she wouldn’t. Not until she was good and ready. Stubborn little critter.

  “In here.”

  Morley yells out from the front of the group and hops up the concrete steps leading to the sturdy brick building of a public library. With its narrow, barred windows and two heavily enforced oak doors, I gotta give him kudos. It was a pretty decent choice of a hideaway, and nothing like crushing my belief that they all lived underground. Easy to defend and no one would probably ever entertain the idea of raiding the library for supplies. As much as I enjoyed reading in my younger years, scavenging for books was pretty low on our list of priorities.

  As our people file inside, still mute from shock and exhaustion, Sam, Amy and I bring up the rear. By the time we get in the doors, most everyone is already lining their way up the wide staircase flanking the back wall to the upper level. We follow them up as Morley and Tina lead us to a smaller, windowless room at the back of the building.

  Inside, we see traces of this being the primary living quarters. Made sense. No windows meant no chance of light being seen from outside threats. The heavy doors are reinforced with bolts and locks on the inside and the large, ornate fireplace dominating the middle of the room is a perfect source for heat and cooking. Not a bad spot all in all. Cots set up between random empty shelves provide a semblance of privacy for sleeping quarters.

  Tina flits about the room, lighting lanterns as someone else starts a fire burning in the hearth.

  “Everyone find a place to settle down.” Luke’s voice booms in the crowded room. “There probably aren’t enough cots but try and get some rest. As soon as we are able, we’ll have you set up with water.”

  They do as he orders. They just don’t have the gumption to disobey.

  “Sam, pick a spot for us, and get Amy settled in. I’m going to check on Jess then I’ll be back with water for you both.”

  I’m grateful he agrees with me. Amy does need to rest, but Sam has been looking peaked after his melt down. As much as he won’t admit it, he probably needs the rest as well.

  I find Jess being attended to by Cookie. She smiles at me as I draw close. Even Cookie’s grumpy face doesn’t look as pinched as normal. It usually looks like she’s dealing with a real bad case of constipation, so this is the closest I’ll get to a smile from her I’m thinking.

  “How you doing, doc?” I ask

  She shrugs her uninjured shoulder. “I’ll live, thanks to you guys. The bullet went all the way through. The people here tell me they have wild honey for my wound, so that should work just fine to stop any infection. Fingers crossed.”

  “Good. Cookie, you holding up okay?”

  Cookie ducks her head slightly. “It is what it is, yes? I take it you lot have been to the Grand?”

  I swallow hard, knowing what she’s asking me. “Yeah. We were there.”

  She looks down and fiddles with the cloth in her hands. “How bad is it?”

  “We found survivors. At least eighty or more, including the kids you hid, Cook. You saved them. But we lost a lot of people. Kingsley, Coop, Liv.” My voice hitches on the last name as Cookie closes her eyes and crosses herself in prayer.

  “I’m so sorry, chica.”

  I shrug and cross my arms, keeping my grief at bay. This is not the time. “As you said, it is what it is. At least we managed to save you lot, even if we didn’t get to you all in time. It churns my gut knowing that he took some of you for trade.”

  Jess’s troubled glance meets with Cookie’s before returning to me. “I think it’s worse than that, Bix. Cookie overheard them while they were taking the others away. It sounded like… well, it sounded like they were taking them to the leeches as a sacrifice.”

  A sacrifice? What kind of new fuckery is this?

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  Jessica’s eyes are wide. “That’s all we know. My guess, they were feeding the leeches.”

  An uneasy murmuring from the middle of the crowd draws our attention. The muttering evolves into a question shouted out to Luke.

  “How bad is it back at the Grand? Are the rest of our people still alive?”

  The question rings out from a young man at the back. Seems like Cookie’s not the only one with questions. My heart constricts in my chest knowing the answer that awaits.

  Even from this distance, I can tell Luke struggles to find the right words. “Everyone please rest up first. You’ve been through a lot, and there’ll be plenty of time for answers after a night of rest.”

  “No, I think we need answers now,” another voice vents from the group accompanied by a few shouts of agreement. Cookie steps away from us and joins Luke in front of the huge fireplace.

  “Calm down, all of you.” They quiet down at her stern words. She turns to Luke. “On behalf of everyone here, we want to thank you for saving our lives. Without you, we would have all perished, like so many others did. For that we thank you. But the people at the Grand are our families. Our loved ones. Everyone deserves to know.”

  Never thought Cookie would be the voice of reason but she’s right. No one would get any sleep tonight wondering about the fate of those left behind. I glance back over at Sam and Amy. She doesn’t need to hear this right now. Not in this way. But Sam tilts his head Amy’s way and mouths the word ‘asleep’. She’s already out cold on the cot. One less thing to worry about.

  My eyes return to Luke. He runs a weary hand over his face, and I’m overcome with a wave of pity for him. And I’m ashamed to admit relief that it’s him carrying this burden of leadership and not me.

  “Okay. I won’t lie to any of you. I know you must have seen some of the destruction before you got taken away, but it’s worse than you can imagine. We did find survivors. Some of our people escaped to the roof during the attack. All of the children made it, thanks to Cookie and Mrs. D.”

  Sobs and gasps of relief echo around the room.

  “Not everyone made it, though. We lost a lot of good people, Cooper and Kingsley amongst them. Most of our guards and hunters. The ravagers showed no mercy. They cut our numbers drastically.”

  Silence fills the room once again as all eyes stick to Luke. The silence is overwhelming. You can feel the grief and despair emanating from them like a tangible thing.

  “So, will we head back to the Grand tomorrow?”

  “Who’s there guarding our people now and keeping them safe?”

  “Do you know if Josie from the kitchen is one of the survivors?”

  Questions start sprouting up from everyone, reaching an uncomfortable level.

>   “Quiet, all of you.” Morley’s shout stuns them into silence. “Not sure if you’re all aware or not, but noise is one of the things that attracts the leeches in hordes. Last thing we need is to have a gaggle of them scratching at our door, right? Now quiet down, and let the man speak. Least you can do since he saved your asses.”

  The noise drops off. They know he’s right. I decide I kind of like this Morley dude.

  “I know you all have a million questions, but I’m afraid I can’t tell you the names of every single survivor. When we left the Grand, we were all in a state of shock ourselves. What I can tell you is that we won’t be going back there. Our people are no longer there. On our trip to Ottawa, we met a new bunch of survivors. They have a farm on Highway Seven. It’s well hidden, well protected, with plenty of room and food. Our people have gone there. As we will, too, first thing in the morning. The Grand was our home for many years, but it being compromised means we’d never feel safe there again. We need to go somewhere safe. Start over. Coop and the others would have wanted that for us.”

  That familiar hitch in my chest starts up again at the mention of Coop’s name, but I bury it deep. I know I’m going to need time to process the grief for him and Liv, and time is something I don’t have right now.

  “Who’s going to lead now that Coop is gone? You Whitman?”

  One of Kingsley’s men hurls the question. Luke looks up in surprise, almost as if the question throws him for a loop.

  “That’s not something that can be decided by me. That’s a decision to be made by all of us. But I do promise you this. I will get you to the farm, all in one piece, if it’s the last thing I do. So as I said, rest up. Sleep if you can. We have a long journey ahead of us, but trust me, you’ll get your answers when you get there.”

  His explanation appears to appease them. They break off into groups to find a spot to settle down as Morley’s people start handing out the water. I wait my turn, getting water for Sam and Amy and myself before heading back to the corner of the room Sam chose.

  I guess the wait for water took longer than expected because Sam has curled up by Amy on the cot and joined her in dreamland, his arm protectively around her. Not wanting to disturb them, I lay the cups of water by the head of the cot where they’ll be sure to find them and head back to the front of the room where Luke and the others sit. My mind is in overdrive, and I won’t be able to sleep while I’m so on edge. Things are bouncing around up there, driving me nuts. The decision of my crew about Sam. The idea that Amy can understand the hybrids. What Jess said about our people being a sacrifice. It all threatens to boil over and leave me blubbering with madness. I need to do something to occupy myself, to keep my mind off that and my growling, empty stomach. I have a proposition for Luke.

  He watches me from across the room, and his quiet conversation with Morley tapers off as I approach. He eyes me, waiting for me to speak first.

  “I’ve been thinking.”

  “Sounds dangerous,” he replies.

  I ignore Morley’s quiet snort of laughter. “It’s going to take us twice as long to travel to Tanner Street with everyone in tow tomorrow, especially without food. Plus, it’s kind of out of the way going to the farm.”

  “I’m aware,” he says.

  “I can get there and back in six hours. Me and maybe Gordo? We know every shortcut there is to know. We can get there, get the food supplies, provided the place hasn’t been ransacked.” I glance over at Morley and scowl. He holds his hands up in surrender.

  “Haven’t found that place yet so if it’s raided, it wasn’t us.”

  “I’ll radio Kip at the farm to send her trucks halfway to pick us all up. We could do that and be back before the sun comes up. Whaddya say?”

  He eyeballs me in silence before rubbing his eyes wearily. “I must not be running on all cylinders, else I would have thought of that already. I agree. It’s a good idea, except for one thing. You aren’t the one going.”

  “What?” I snap, lowering my voice as I receive a few curious looks. “Of course, I’m going. It’s my idea.”

  “Too bad. When was the last time you slept, Bix? Not to mention, you’re still recovering from a goose egg on your head and almost being throttled by that queen leech. You think you’re the best one to be out and about right now?”

  I bite my lip in frustration, before glaring over at Morley who’s watching us in amusement and not even trying to hide it.

  “Mind giving us a minute?” I growl, and he leisurely wanders off into the room.

  “You’re not going to change my mind on this,” Luke says to me as he crosses his arms over his massive chest. I take a deep breath to stop the angry retort from spewing from my lips. Instead, my response is more desperate than angry.

  “Please, Luke. I need to go. I need to do this. I cannot stay cooped up in this room for hours. I need to be out there. I need to be doing something to take my mind off my grief and guilt and depression else I will go insane. I need to be away from…” I glance around the room. “From all of this just so my mind can have some peace and quiet. I feel like I’m coming apart at the seams and being around everyone is making it that much worse. I don’t expect you to understand, but please let me go. Please.”

  I don’t know what changes his mind. If it’s my words or the sheer desperation he hears in my voice, but he finally sighs.

  “Fine. You can go. But on one condition. I go with you.”

  Chapter Seven

  The city is quiet. Peaceful. Asleep under its blanket of cloudy darkness. A little slice of heaven as far as I’m concerned.

  Not sure if it’s the absence of the steady drone of sniffling sobs or being away from the cloud of sorrow hanging over my people that’s giving me this false sense of calm. Maybe it’s simply the company of the man at my side. Whatever it is, this is the most tranquil I’ve felt in a while. My mind is focused on the task at hand, my guilt and grief tamped down. For now. I know I’ll have to face it sooner or later. I know that, but my priority right now is keeping my wits sharp and on the lookout for any dangers awaiting us in the dark.

  We slipped out of the library without any fanfare, not telling any of the crew of our plan. They would have insisted on coming along, and they all needed this rest. The only ones who knew we left were Cookie and Morley, and with the promise of food upon our return, Morley was all for it. Why wouldn’t he be? All the rewards and none of the danger.

  We walk in silence, our footsteps muffled by the sea of leaves and dead vegetation littering the city streets. If I don’t think about it too hard, I can almost convince myself it’s like old times. Luke and I out on a run. Watching each other’s backs. Talking silliness. Knowing we’d be together later back in the privacy of our rooms. But then all the other shit burrows its way into my brain, and the realization that it’s not like old times hits me hard.

  Everything is messed up now. As if it wasn’t already fucking messed up enough.

  I sigh to myself, and the breath crystalizes in front of my face. It’s cold. Winter is coming fast. Gordo was right. It is colder than a polar bear’s ass. I snort to myself as I remember his words. It really was hilarious. I swear I don’t know how he comes up with such shit.

  “What’s so funny?” Luke’s deep voice rumbles at me through the dark. He hasn’t spoken for the past two hours at least, and the question startles me.

  “Nothing really. I was just thinking about something stupid Gordo said.”

  “Considering practically everything he says is inane, then you have a lot of food for thought.”

  My snort turns into a bark of laughter as a tiny shot of warmth sparks in my gut. Luke just made a joke. He actually joked with me. I’ve become so used to his sarcasm and coldness these past few weeks, the joke seems foreign.

  “Tell me something I don’t know,” I shoot back. “That kid is so full of useless crap it’s no wonder his eyes are shit-brown.”

  He chuckles softly, and the spark ignites into a flame. I’ve miss
ed that laugh.

  “It’s not nice to pick on Gordo when he’s not here to defend himself,” Luke chides, and I snort again.

  “I’m not saying anything behind his back that I haven’t already said to his face.”

  “True dat.”

  “True dat?” I repeat. “What the fuck, Luke? I swear to god if you break into your valley girl impersonation or some other shit, I will throat punch you. Hard.”

  “Always with the threats,” he sighs.

  “True dat.”

  His laughter is genuine, and the warmth floods my body from head to toe. His laughter tapers off, and we fall back into silence, listening for anything out of place. The night is still quiet, however. Cold enough to keep the predators inside I’m guessing. I’m okay with that.

  We continue without another word, but the silence is more companionable now and less of the awkward, walking-on-glass type. I like this better. I’ve missed this, even though I know I got to ruin it by talking about Amy and her connection to the QL’s. I don’t want to bring it up. I don’t want to talk about Sam and Amy, not yet, but I know I have to. It’s all I’ve been able to think about for the past few hours. No more keeping secrets. I clear my throat and open my mouth to break the silence, but he beats me to it.

  “Bix?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I haven’t had a chance to thank you for saving my life back there in the subway. Thank you for coming back for me.”

  “We don’t leave any of our crew behind; you know that. Would have gone back even for Dom, though I’m not sure I would have taken on the friendly giant for him. Fucker nearly squashed me like a pancake. He was ginormous. So the way I see it, you saved me from a hellish death of starvation from being pinned under Goliath.”

  “We were always good at saving each other’s asses. That was our thing.”