Night: Final Awakening Book Three (A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller)

by J. Thorn

  “Don’t do this,” Dax said.

  “Then kneel and surrender.”

  “Uncle Dax, don’t let them hurt me,” Kanesha said. It had been so long since Dax had seen his niece, and yet he still thought of her as the sweet little girl his sister had raised.

  “They’re not going to hurt you, sweetie,” he said.

  “Do it, or she’s the first I turn.”

  Dax looked to Zoe and Saw, and then to Alex. He mouthed the words, “I’m sorry.”

  Facing Isaac again, Dax looked to the ground. He took a deep breath, then kneeled on one knee.

  “Good,” Isaac said.

  He kicked Dax in the face, splitting his lip and knocking him back onto the dirt road. Dax wiped the blood from his mouth.

  Isaac laughed.

  “Get him on his feet and bring them all,” Isaac said. “Master Ambrose will be glad to know this fool took the bait.”

  43

  Dax fell face first into the stall, landing in a pile of moldy hay. The Screamer shoved him in last after all of the children and the Casket Girls had been tossed inside. The door then slammed shut and the door locked.

  “Dax!” said Anthony, Gabby’s son.

  Rolling over and sitting up, Dax opened his arms. Anthony, Kanesha, and Kim hugged him, knocking him back down into the hay. He cried as he held the three children, his arms wrapped around them. They looked thin and tired compared to what he could remember from when he’d last seen them, but the Blackout had taken its toll on everyone—including children.

  When Gabby’s kids finally stepped back, he saw Monica and Darius in the stall. Like the other children, they were also crying. Dax stood up and walked toward them, opening his arms wide again for another round of tearful hugs.

  “I’m so sorry, Dax,” Darius said. “I should’ve done what you said.”

  “No, don’t say that,” Dax said. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have left Monica on the boat, and I shouldn’t have left you alone.”

  “All that matters is that we’re together again—and alive,” Monica said.

  Dax heard the last word Monica said and immediately looked across the stall to where Alex and Zoe were kneeling next to Saw, who lay unconscious on the floor.

  “How is she?” Dax asked.

  “She’s fine,” Zoe said. “But she’s still out, and there isn’t anything we can do for her.”

  Alex and Zoe stood, and Dax introduced the children to two of the three Casket Girls.

  “How long have you been here?” Alex asked the kids.

  “They brought us to the barn after the docks,” Monica said.

  “We arrived around the same time,” Kanesha said.

  “Uncle Dax,” Kim said. “We have to tell you about—”

  The girl started crying before she could finish the sentence.

  “About what?” Dax said.

  Anthony joined her in crying. He was the youngest of Gabby’s three kids.

  Kanesha was the oldest. She had tears in her eyes, as well, but could speak.

  “Our dad,” she said. “They… they took him from us.”

  “Did they turn him into a Screamer?”

  The tears intensified as she shook her head.

  “Oh, God,” Dax said. He brought the kids in for another hug, and their tears wet his shirt.

  “They did it in front of us,” Kanesha said.

  “I’m so sorry, you guys,” Dax said.

  Dax shook his head and fought down the tears. He felt responsible for everyone, and yet he’d never wanted any of it. He’d never asked to be the one to defeat the vampire Masters. Dax was supposed to be in prison, doing time for the pain he’d inflicted on an innocent family. But the world had come and gone, and now he was repaying his debt to society in a different way.

  Anthony raised his wet face to look up at Dax. He sniffed a couple of times, then wiped his eyes.

  “Did you try and find Mommy? Is she okay?”

  Dax’s heart sank. Through all that had happened that night, he’d forgotten the kids didn’t know about their mother. He couldn’t tell them about Gabby, though. Not now.

  He shared a glance with Kanesha. She knew. Somehow, she could tell her mother had left this world.

  “Mommy’s fine,” he said, trying to swallow the bitter lie that he knew was in the best interest of Gabby’s youngest kids at this moment. The truth would have to wait until some of their mental wounds had healed. “Uncle Dax wasn’t able to get to her. But I’m sure she’s fine.”

  “How did you find us?” Monica asked.

  Relieved at the change of subject, Dax told them about what had happened—how Papa Midnight had been killed, and how he’d been taken by Serafino. He explained how Chuck the street thug had redeemed himself, partnering with Dax to take down Serafino. He told them about the trip north out of New Orleans and through Mississippi, including the dreams and visions along the way. Zoe and Alex filled in the gaps, also including an explanation of what a “Casket Girl” was.

  “You have to find an Angel who will help you defeat these things. Is that what you’re telling us?” Kanesha asked Dax.

  “That’s what the prophecy says,” Alex responded. “Papa Midnight believes your uncle is the man that can do that, and so do we.”

  “But they’ve caught you,” Anthony said, his eyes welling up again. “Does that mean we’re going to—”

  “No,” Dax said. “We’ll find a way out of here.”

  The doors to the barn opened.

  Isaac appeared with his hands behind his back. He stood in the doorway of the barn.

  “Master is coming. Bring the man out, and the three young women, as well. At least the two who can stand. I am sure Master would like to have a word with these Casket Girls,” Isaac said, putting a heavy emphasis on the last two words.

  The stall gate opened, and several Screamers appeared. Two grabbed Dax while several others took Alex and Zoe by their arms. Another half dozen or so followed, offering a show of force to prevent Dax or the Casket Girls from trying something. But Dax wasn’t that stupid. And of the three Casket Girls, the most unpredictable one was lying in the stall, unconscious.

  Isaac waited at the doors, raising his hand for the escorts to stop for a moment.

  “Are you ready to serve the Master?”

  Dax sneered at Isaac. “I’ll say the same thing I said to you the last time I saw you—not today.”

  “Don’t be so sure that today is not the day,” Isaac said. “The Master can be persuasive.”

  44

  Isaac brought Dax and the Casket Girls out of the barn and lined them up in front of it. He made them face the wall until the Master known as Ambrose arrived. Ambrose wore a tailored black suit. His gray beard matched his silver hair, making him look like a Civil War re-enactor playing a Confederate general.

  But the Master’s presence wasn’t what concerned Dax the most. Beyond Ambrose, and behind the tree, stood a sea of Screamers. Their glowing eyes pulsed like a massive, hovering cloud of fireflies. Dax thought that there had to be hundreds, or possibly thousands of vampire warriors amassed by the Masters’ alliance.

  “Jesus,” Alex mumbled.

  Ambrose looked to the armies, then faced Dax and the others with a smile. “No, darling. He has nothing to do with this.”

  The Master sauntered over and stood before Dax. He looked him up and down, his hands behind his back and his chin held high.

  “So, you’re Jackson Harper,” Ambrose said through a wide grin.

  “Dax.”

  Ambrose laughed. “Very well, Dax. My name is Ambrose. I believe you already know Isaac.”

  “You can’t be too smart if you’re keeping him at your side.”

  Isaac grunted.

  “Yes, well, you killed my former lieutenant.”

  Dax shrugged. “Maybe you don’t have a keen eye for strength.”

  Ambrose glanced over to the barn and nodded. The doors opened again.

  “And how about this
one? Does he meet your standards of strength?”

  Dax turned and saw Kevin approaching. The young boy wore the same clothes he’d been wearing when Serafino had turned him. But now, his shirt and pants had been torn and he wasn’t wearing shoes. His eyes glowed brighter than the last time Dax had seen him.

  Biting his lip, Dax turned away.

  “What’s the matter?” Ambrose asked, leaning in to Dax’s face. “You can’t look at him?”

  Dax glanced at the Master out of the corner of his eye.

  Ambrose stood up straight and patted Kevin on the head; he now stood at his side. “He’s strong, of that I can assure you. And I suggest you listen to me and agree to my proposal. That is, unless you want me to turn the other kids. Young Kevin here could use some friends closer to his—”

  “Cut the shit,” Dax said, turning back to face Ambrose. “Tell me what you want.”

  The fist rocked Dax’s jaw and dropped him to the ground. He stumbled back to his feet and then flicked his tongue over his teeth, checking for missing ones.

  Isaac was before him, both hands clenched into fists. “Don’t you ever talk to the Master like that again. I swear, I’ll—”

  Isaac arched his back, and his eyes pulsed with the glow. Ambrose had his hand up and gestured toward Isaac so that the younger vampire was forced to spread his arms like an angel. The Master pulled his apprentice through the air until Isaac’s face met his.

  “Do not touch him without my command,” Ambrose said, his words sharp and perfectly annunciated. “If you do that again, I will turn you back into a human, bathe you in blood, and feed you to those pigs we found at the back of the property. Do you understand?”

  Isaac must have given a mental nod to Ambrose, because the Master released him from his invisible grip, dropping him to the ground.

  “I apologize, Master.”

  “Of course you do. Now, on your feet.”

  Isaac rose and stood tall, his chin out but his hands shaking as he avoided Dax’s eyes.

  “What was I saying?” Ambrose asked, turning back to Dax.

  “You said something about a proposal,” Alex said, speaking for the first time since Ambrose had arrived.

  “Ah,” Ambrose said, keeping his eyes locked on Dax. “More than just a pretty face. But you probably know that already, right Dax?”

  Alex didn’t speak again, but she didn’t avert her gaze from the Master either.

  “You are strong,” Ambrose said. “I can see it in your eyes.” He looked at Zoe and ran the back of his hand down her arm. “And you’re so much more beautiful than Serafino described.”

  Alex grabbed Ambrose’s arm. “Don’t touch her.”

  Shit, Dax thought. Don’t be stupid, Alex.

  Ambrose looked down at her hand wrapped around his arm. He then looked into her face. Alex didn’t look away. The Master grinned.

  “Strong, but stupid,” Ambrose said.

  His eyes brightened. Her body stiffened, her back arching as the color washed from her face.

  “No!” Zoe said.

  “There is much pain inside of you,” Ambrose said.

  “Stop this!” Dax said.

  Alex’s feet floated off the ground, and Ambrose’s eyes burned with an unholy fire. Sweat gathered on Dax’s brow as he watched helplessly while the Master began to turn yet another one of his friends—the leader of the Casket Girls.

  “It’s me you need,” Dax said. “Let her go!”

  Ambrose looked at Dax, and then at Alex again. His eyes dimmed, and Alex fell to the ground, collapsing on her back. When she opened her eyes, they were her natural green color.

  Dax sighed.

  Alex shivered and moaned as Dax and Zoe helped her back up to her feet.

  “Walk with me,” Ambrose said to Dax.

  Dax followed. As they walked away, Isaac caught up, moving to Ambrose’s right side.

  “You will not be needed here, Isaac,” Ambrose said.

  “But, Master, I—”

  “I am not asking you.”

  “Yes, Master.”

  “Good. Now keep an eye on the perimeter of the property. Keep the children in the barn and make sure you keep the other Masters away for now. Dax and I have an important conversation ahead of us, and I do not want to be interrupted.”

  Dax saw a hint of jealousy in Isaac’s eyes as the young lieutenant glared at Dax, then turned back to his Master and bowed.

  “The other Masters are here?” Dax asked.

  “Can you not feel them?”

  Dax could. He had not wanted to tip his hand to Ambrose, to let the Master know how refined and intense his powers had become as he’d come north in search of the Angel. But it seemed as though Ambrose had known the extent of Dax’s power already anyway. Now he had to hope he could keep the location of the Angel hidden from Ambrose, provided Dax could find him.

  “How are you able to talk with me without them being here?” Dax asked.

  “I can be quite persuasive. And they did not know I was going to make a confidential offer to you.”

  “Go on.”

  “Have you ever thought about living forever, Jackson?”

  Dax felt the lump in his throat tighten.

  “I can make that happen,” Ambrose continued.

  “What makes you think I want to be one of those things?” Dax asked, using his chin to nod at the army of Screamers standing in the dusty fields.

  “I can do far more than turn people into things.”

  “There’s nothing human left in them. Isaac doesn’t remember anything from before.”

  “You are right. He does not.”

  Dax didn’t respond. He shook his head, waiting for Ambrose to reveal his proposition.

  “You killed Serafino before you could really get to know him. Makes sense, considering that he was hunting you. But had you known him, you would have seen a different kind of Screamer—he was very much human. He still had all of his memories from his real life.”

  Dax still said nothing.

  “What I’m offering you is immorality. Not only that, but I want you at my side. The Prince Eternal.”

  “What?” Dax asked, narrowing his eyes.

  “You are the most powerful human I have ever seen. I know even better than you what you can accomplish. I can refine your powers, and together we can defeat the other Masters and rule the entire world.”

  Ambrose paused to give Dax a moment to think, but started again before he could ask a question.

  “You would be in charge of the entire southern United States. Everything below the ol’ Mason-Dixon Line could be yours, my friend. Not only that, but you’d be my second-in-command for the entire continent of North America.”

  “What about Isaac?”

  Ambrose shrugged. “You can decide his fate. I have little faith in his ability to control his erratic impulses.”

  “And if I say no?”

  Ambrose stopped walking. He turned to face Dax.

  “If you refuse, then you choose indescribable pain for the rest of your natural life. And not only physical pain. No, I believe you’re far too strong for that. But those Casket Girls you brought along… the children…”

  Dax clenched his hands into fists until his knuckles turned white. “You’re not going to hurt them.”

  “Not if you accept my offer. But if you refuse, then I will make you watch them die, one by one. And not all at once. It could take weeks—maybe months.

  “When I’m not pulling your loved ones apart, one piece of flesh at a time, I will be inside your mind. You will spend entire days reliving Chloe’s death. Experiencing the pain and grief over and over again. On other days, I’ll force you to experience other tragedies. Maybe Gabby hanging herself in the closet. Or, perhaps, the death and destruction of the family you murdered. Do you remember that little boy’s face?”

  Dax would never forget the child, whether he lived another five minutes or for all of eternity. But he struggled to hide it from Ambrose. The Mast
er had entered his mind in a way that felt overwhelming and inevitable—not like the visits from Papa Midnight where Dax had still felt at least a bit of control.

  But he felt a flicker of strength suddenly, a kernel of power that Ambrose had either overlooked or disregarded as insignificant. Dax drew a new power from this place, and he wondered how close he was to the Angel and if he was somehow helping him.

  “I believe I'm quite gracious in extending you such an extraordinary offer. This is your best option if you want to live, and if you want your loved ones to, as well. You and your crew of women and children cannot defeat four Masters and their armies. You know this.”

  Ambrose extended his hand. Dax stared at it, sweat gathering on his forehead.

  “So, tell me. Do you accept my offer?”

  45

  “What’s he doing?” Jing asked.

  “Good question,” Jaraca said.

  “Oh, don’t worry about it,” Bronwyn said. “We’ve captured the human. It’s not like he can get away. Let Ambrose do as he pleases.”

  But as she did her best to ease the other Masters’ uncertainties from the side of the road, Bronwyn harbored her own suspicions about Ambrose’s intentions. She’d watched as he’d spoken softly to Dax, and as he’d used his powers to threaten his own lieutenant. It was Dax, the human bent on destroying them all, who he should be threatening.

  Ambrose was up to something. And Bronwyn didn’t like it. Not one bit.

  “We have an entire army at our disposal,” Jing said. “Why is he taking the human for a walk? We should destroy him now and be done with it.”

  “Exactly,” Bronwyn said. “We have an entire army. There is nothing one man and a few puny girls can do to save themselves. Stop worrying.”

  Bronwyn stepped away from the others.

  “Where are you going?” Jaraca asked.

  “To get some coffee and a cigarette,” Bronwyn replied with a smile.

  “Humorous,” Jing said.

  “I’m going to catch up with Ambrose, and I’ll be back to let you know our next move. Wait here.”