Dead Girls Don't Cry

by Casey Wyatt

  The family broke into applause. Whistles and catcalls rang down from the balconies. The rouges, revenants and zombies filled the seats. Louis pumped his fist in the air. Harmony gave me a knowing smile.

  Overwhelmed by the support, I pivoted around the stage. “Thank you.”

  Prior mouthed from the front row, “Bravo.”

  I reconstructed the curtain. As soon as it closed, I faced Ian. “What happened to you? Where have you been this whole time?” I sank back into his embrace. His broad chest smashed into my face. I hung on, not wanting to let go.

  “I lived. It took me a while to get out of the ravine. Climbing and healing don’t mix well.” He cocked his head to the side as if listening to a distant sound. “The details will have to wait until later.” A fierce gleam smoldered in his eyes.

  “Right. Battles to win, asses to kick,” I said. “We can catch up later.” Later. The word made me giddy. We had a later.

  “Ready to end this?” Ian took my hand and we walked off the stage.

  When the blackness cleared, I was still underwater. Ian was gone. A reassuring voice spoke in my head.

  He is not far, Kyrene said.

  Kyrene, why were you ignoring me?

  I’m sorry. The trauma of separation stunned me. I am recovered now.

  You mean I don’t need the bracelet to speak to you?

  The silver peel of laughter tinkled, No. You never did.

  I don’t understand. I continued to dive deeper in the lake. Thalia was nowhere to be found.

  The bracelet is a conduit to Kasia. Since you have merged with the queen’s essence, you don’t need it anymore.

  Thalia doesn’t know. A plan formed in my mind. Can you get the bracelet away from her? I need her on shore. Could she wield the bracelet’s power?

  No. It would reject her. Its power is not hers to take. I shall retrieve it for you.

  I reversed direction and started pumping my legs. Strong kicks propelled me toward the surface.

  The bellow of a wounded creature echoed in the water.

  Looking over my shoulder, I saw a glint of gold speeding toward me. Hot on its heels, swimming with a missile’s velocity, was Thalia.

  My plan: return to the shore and confront her on solid ground.

  She had other ideas.

  The cuff was almost in my grasp. I reached forward to intercept it. The metal band split open, ready to fit onto my wrist.

  With an epic burst of speed, Thalia re-captured it and fastened the cuff on her wrist.

  We both surfaced at the same time.

  She crowed with glee, “It has chosen me.” The crazy shine in her eyes confirmed what I already knew. Thalia was nuts.

  “Have fun with it.” I swam to the shore. I had feared Thalia’s power until I realized – she didn’t have any. It was based on the illusion of control. Belief in the status quo allowed a weak, ineffectual ruler like Thalia to control us.

  “With this bracelet, I won’t rule just the vampires on Earth, I will rule humanity.”

  Delusions of grandeur. How nice.

  A large wave at the ready, Kyrene rose up behind Thalia.

  I shook my head, no. The need for vengeance had sated with Ian’s return. I wanted to stop the bloodshed.

  The colonists congregated on the beach. The remainder of Thalia’s men knelt in the soft sand, fingers laced behind their heads.

  “Give it a rest, Thalia. The bracelet won’t work for you. Your ship is disabled. You’re stuck here with us.” Agreement hummed in my head. The ancient queen stirred, urging me to try a different path.

  I emerged from the water, soaked to the bone. Ian landed beside me and slung an arm around my waist.

  Thalia pointed to him, anger lacing her voice. “You’re dead. Joel swore you died.”

  “Well, he’s a sod. And clearly wrong.” Ian gestured up and down the length of his body. “See all here.”

  Joel’s head still lay on the beach. Thalia’s expression darkened. “You will pay for killing him.”

  Kyrene spoke in my head. She will not change her ways. Let the bracelet judge her.

  “Good idea,” I said aloud. Ian gave me a strange look.

  I called to Kyrene, “Come join us, please.”

  She emerged from the water fully formed and more solid than she had ever appeared before. Her skin, no longer translucent, glowed with a pale moonlike aura.

  Thalia watched Kyrene proceed. Her gaze locked onto the entity, no doubt sizing Kyrene up for a leash and dog collar. Good luck with that one.

  The ancient runes emerged on the cuff’s surface as Kyrene passed by. The colonists watched her, jaws hung open, awestruck. A few, like Jay and the rogues, took her in stride. Harmony placed a restraining hand on Prior’s arm, the scientist in him poised to come over and examine Kyrene.

  Thalia smirked. “Have you come to bow down before me?”

  I leaned over and whispered to Ian, “Seems too much power has gone to her head.”

  Her ego and the bracelet’s power, while not hers to possess, had clearly affected her mind.

  “I am not yours to command.” Kyrene stared down the bridge of her nose, a giant towering over Thalia’s diminutive figure. “You have no place here. We already have a leader.”

  Thalia scoffed. “Ian?”

  He shook his head, “Not me.”

  I raised my hand.

  “Cherry! You’re nothing. You’re a dumb—”

  “If you say whore one more time…” I let the threat hang in the air. “Look around, Thalia. You lost. You have two choices. Either shut up and join the colony. Or—”

  “I’ll never join you. I’m of royal blood. I do not do manual tasks.” She fingered the bracelet, mesmerized by the glowing runes.

  “Or,” I continued, projecting a calmness I didn’t feel, “You’ll die. Mars isn’t for pussies.”

  “None of those options appeal to me. I have a better alternative,” she sneered, fingers dancing across the runes. “I choose death. For you.”

  She raised her arm. “Die, whore!” Blue energy raced toward me.

  The power stopped. For a split second, it hung in the air. The color changed from blue to red, then the lightning reversed course.

  Thalia opened her mouth. She never got the words out. Red light encased her. Brilliant sparks spread across her body. She writhed, howling in agony. Hotter and hotter, she glowed like a star.

  Ian covered me with his body. “Everyone! Down!”

  The concussive force of the explosion rocked the cavern. Sand rippled like water, undulating under my back. Unbearable heat blanketed us. Ian’s hair caught fire. Blisters formed on my exposed skin.

  Cold liquid rushed over us and doused the flames, easing the burns.

  “Is she gone?” someone asked.

  A large black mark stained the soil where Thalia once stood. Only the gold bracelet remained.

  Ian and I stood up. The blisters had healed. Silk touched my face. Red strands drifted down from my forehead. I patted my head, astounded. My hair was back.

  Kyrene rose from the water and winked. She pointed to the cuff. It sailed through the air and latched back onto my wrist. “It belongs to you.”

  “Was it so bad to stay with us?” someone else said. Marron, I think.

  “There’s no cure for stupid,” Philip responded. He grabbed Ian into a bear hug. The rest of the rogues circled us and offered equally enthusiastic greetings.

  I moved back, leaving them. My top concern was the family. I circled the crowd, taking a mental inventory. To my relief everyone had survived, including the revenants and zombies. The loss of any of them would have hurt me.

  I walked over to the prisoners. Loosely assembled, they wore the hang dog look of the defeated. A few of them shrank back when I approached. Anger lit up my gut. They were babies in vampire years.

  “What did Thalia do? Recruit and turn you five minutes before lift-off?”

  None of them answered.

  “What should we
do with these guys?” Jay asked, clad in an oversized t-shirt. “I hope they have some useful skills. They suck as soldiers.”

  “We’ll make room for them. They’re welcome here.” I said it loud enough so everyone heard me. Then I addressed them, “No one will harm you here. But, you’ll have to work. Agreed?”

  “Yes, Ma’am,” was the universal reply.

  Harmony sidled up to me, sliding her arm into the crook of my elbow, “How are you doing?”

  Shaking my head, I said, “I’ve had way better days. We’re doing fine.” I splayed my fingers across my tummy. A little shiver rewarded me.

  I smiled. “We’ll be fine.”

  Epilogue: Six Months Later

  They say time flies when you’re having fun. I’m not sure how true that is. Time seems to fly even when you’re busy.

  The colony, since renamed New Hope City, thrived. After Thalia’s defeat, word reached Earth – the new Queen was dead. A vampire civil war immediately ensued.

  We sent Kasia and Thalia’s ship to retrieve any of the undead who wanted to start a new life.

  How did Thalia reach us so fast? Trent had been feeding her information. A spy in her employ, he had betrayed the mission back on Earth when he revealed the missile silo location.

  Later, on the ship, he broke into Prior’s files and learned there was a second sister ship to Kasia. The other ship, Lethe, was commandeered by Thalia once she mastered its control. We learned this from her former soldiers. Officially unemployed, each one, I’m happy to say, remained with us.

  The rogues found Trent and Pearl holed up in a canyon, half-starved. For the good of the colony we sent them back to Earth. Of the original colonists, they were the only two to leave.

  Good riddance to them.

  The Moral Committee and Improvement Committee made a unanimous recommendation to live in the caverns. Further exploration revealed the Ancients lived luxuriously, with such amenities as baths fueled by hot springs buried deep in Mars' mantle. Sonic showers were saved for the arrivals at the new space dock.

  Yup, we have a port now. And commerce. There are two pubs, three juice joints and one house of burlesque. Old habits die hard. More on the club in a moment.

  The greenhouses have quadrupled in size, supplying nutritious shakes to supplement the diminishing need for blood to survive. The scope of the changes are under investigation, but we continue to be doubly blessed with eternal youth and immortality.

  And the baby. I’m the size of a house. She’s due to arrive any day now.

  In fact, I was in my office wrapping up my final duties as Colony Leader. My elected predecessor would assume leadership the next day.

  “Knock, knock,” Ian stood in the doorway, tall, blonde and smiling. “How’s my little mum today?” His lips captured mine, reminding me again why I loved him. Kind, brave, and smokin’ good in the sack.

  With a low sigh, he pulled away. “No offenses to the baby, but I miss you.”

  I laughed, a throaty purr, “I didn’t satisfy you enough this morning?” I knew what he meant. We had to ease back on the rough bed play.

  “Ready for you new duties, Mr. McDevitt?” I traced my fingers over his silken, cream colored tunic. The red jumpsuits were long gone as attire. They’d been re-purposed as a stage curtain over at the Cherry-dome, red velvet being in short supply. I was the proud proprietor of the new burlesque house.

  “As ready as I’ll ever be. I have big shoes to fill, Mrs. McDevitt.” He brushed my lips with his, hands sliding down to the swell of my breasts.

  “Cherry!” Louis burst into the still too tiny office. “You’re needed outside.” Highly agitated, he didn’t seem to notice Ian’s hand down my shirt.

  “What’s wrong now?” I waddled my way to the door. I called back to Ian, “See what you get to deal with every day?”

  We stepped outside and walked towards the space port terminal.

  “They arrived moments ago. We thought they were from Earth.”

  I skipped a step. “Where do you think they’re from?”

  Louis held open the door for me to pass. “I’m not sure.”

  An away shuttle, similar in design to Kasia’s, was parked on the landing pad. Kneeling revenants filled the tarmac. Harmony stood at the front, arms raised skyward.

  “Bloody hell,” Ian muttered.

  The entire crowd turned in unison and stared at us. Down to the last revenant, their eyes glowed. Creepy.

  Diaphanous creatures bathed in white light stepped out of the ship. They hovered, floating an inch above the floor. The revenants moved aside to let them pass.

  The visitors’ features, obscured by the light bath, were humanoid as far as I could tell. No extra eyes or appendages.

  Ian moved closer to me, his protective instincts on high alert. Warning sirens rang in my head.

  The lead creature stopped a few feet away and spoke. Its voice breathy, almost unreal. “Who leads you?”

  The revenants pointed to me.

  Crap on toast.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  I am so grateful to have such wonderful friends and family in my life.

  Jane – this one’s dedicated to you. No one could ask for a better friend or critique partner. I’m so glad I was brave enough to venture to the library that night. I can’t imagine life without your friendship and guidance.

  To Lisa S. and Lisa G. – thank you for not laughing when I told you about the concept for this book. Thank you for reading the first drafts and pointing out the ridiculous typos and for your unfailing support. To my fellow writers, Tam Linsey and Jamie Pope – I appreciate your honesty and suggestions to make this story better. I also want to thank my friends in CTRWA. You are the best, most supportive writer’s group ever!

  Like Cherry, this book has been through a journey of changes. Originally published as The Undead Space Initiative, I’m forever grateful to Mary and Julie at Jupiter Gardens Press for loving this story as much as I did.

  And Kim Killion Designs deserves a heap of praise for the awesome cover and for helping a deer in the headlights (that would be me) with formatting and cover designs.

  And many thanks to my readers. I love to hear from you so please drop by my website: www.caseywyatt.com. To receive advance notice about new releases and special sales, I’d love it if you subscribed to my newsletter.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Casey Wyatt has no personal knowledge of the paranormal, but she hopes someday that may change. If there are ancient Gods, elves or satyrs living nearby, they’re more than welcome to visit. Bring pizza and chocolate please!

  Casey’s paranormal romance and urban fantasy novels have won or placed in numerous RWA contests. When not writing, Casey enjoys time with her family, loves to read, and enjoys knitting and crocheting.

  She lives in a bustling Connecticut town with her husband, two sons and a herd of cats (none are shape-shifters, but you never know!).

  Visit Casey on the web: www.caseywyatt.com. You can also find Casey on Facebook and Twitter (@CaseyWyatt1). To receive advance notice about new releases and special sales, subscribe to Casey's Newsletter.

  OTHER BOOKS BY CASEY WYATT

  The Mystic Series:

  Mystic Ink

  Mystic Storm

  Mystic Hero

  Lachlan’s Curse

  Misfortune Cookie

  The Undead Space Initiative Series:

  Dead Girls Don’t Cry

  Dead Girls Don’t Sing – coming soon

  Dead Girls Don’t Lose – coming soon

  Dead Girls Don’t Cry

  Copyright © 2016 by Casey Wyatt

  Cover Design and Interior Format by The Killion Group, Inc.

  http://www.thekilliongroupinc.com

  First published as The Undead Space Initiative, July 2012, Jupiter Gardens Press, Jupiter Gardens, LLC., PO Box 191, Grimes, IA 50111

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are u
sed fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons living or dead, is coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner or publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials.

  Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.