by Janie Marie
After Jane locked the dogs in the playroom, she returned to the kitchen. The kids had already eaten dinner, and she figured Jason had told them to go play before bed since they were in the living room.
She watched him as he stared at their children play. There was no way to tell what he was thinking. His silence irritated her, but she kept her frantic thoughts to herself and put the groceries away.
“There’s a plate in the microwave,” she told him.
When he didn’t make any effort to get up, Jane went to the microwave for the cheeseburger and fries she’d made for him. She placed it in on the table and waited. He still didn’t look up, but he did start eating.
As each minute passed, she grew more annoyed with his silence. She wanted to yell at him to tell her something. He was keeping something to himself, and she wanted answers. But she held back from snapping and put everything away.
Finally, she sat next to him. He didn’t react. She wanted to scream at him but controlled herself and spoke in a calm voice. “What happened, Jason?”
He continued chewing his food in a daze, and her anger dissipated when she realized he was as much a nervous wreck as she was.
Horrified, but eager to hear him answer, she scooted closer and lowered her face so she could see his brown eyes. “What happened? What else did you see?”
The strain on his face made him appear much older than his twenty-eight years, but he finally answered her in a low whisper. “There was a little boy and girl in the parking lot. I heard them screaming.” He lifted his hands to cover his face. “I thought they were screaming for their mom and dad, but they were screaming for their parents to stop hurting them.” She moved back and stared at him with wide eyes. “The mom and dad were doing more than just attacking their kids. There was blood—so much blood—and their screams. They were—they were eating them.”
Jane didn’t realize she was hyperventilating at first. Too many images were rushing through her mind: the scene at the grocery store over the weekend, the scream, the sirens and helicopters, the fainting reporter—the man yelling that he and his child weren’t bit.
A pulsing hum in her ears grew louder. For a second, she heard her panicked breaths before the hum mixed with the disturbing blare of a siren.
“What’s that?” She gasped. It wasn’t a normal siren. It was a creepy, terror-instilling sound.
Jason looked around. “It’s the outdoor warning system for the city.”
They kept growing louder in a high-pitched wail before fading, then high again. It reminded her of war movies when they were preparing for bombs to drop over towns, or when a tornado was close.
“Jane, breathe!”
She didn’t know he was talking to her. There was so much pain in her chest.
For a tiny moment of awareness, she knew what was happening; she’d had too many panic attacks to not know—but it never stopped her from thinking she must be dying. “It hurts—I’m dying... D—”
“Dammit, Jane!” Jason’s face came into view. She didn’t know she was lying on the kitchen floor now. “Quit saying that. It’s a panic attack. You’re not going to die.”
She heard him, but only barely. The pulsing sound in her head continued to mix with the sirens as Jason’s words kept coming back: they were eating them.
Yukon Territory, CANADA
THE CASTLE DOORS BURST OPEN as a well-built male with black hair and vibrant sapphire eyes entered. His heavy footsteps echoed off the polished marble floor, and he barely glanced at the many gilded portraits along the walls as he passed them. They all portrayed ancient battles from legend and myth, but here they were displayed as true history. History that this man had been a significant part of.
His name was David.
There were several of the castle’s occupants talking in small groups and as he passed, they all halted their conversations, bowing their heads in respect. They always treated him like a god, both with fear and desire. A few women even smiled seductively while they made obvious attempts to enhance their figures. The temptation was certainly enough to make the most devoted man stray, yet David made no acknowledgment of those around him. He never did.
There were rumors about his sexuality and lack of interest in women, but too many feared his wrath to question him. Despite his disinterest or how many times he refused their advances, women continued to throw themselves at him. It was hard not to. According to all who saw him, he was the most beautiful male of their kind.
His beauty didn’t make him look soft. He oozed masculinity. With his chiseled features, a strong jaw, high cheekbones, straight nose, he stole your breath. His sapphire eyes glowed against his golden skin, and his smile melted your heart.
If you managed to pull your eyes from his gorgeous face, you’d have the urge to run your fingers through his thick black hair, which, at the moment, lay messily over his forehead. He suddenly jerked his head to move that hair from his eyes and blissful sighs sounded from every female who watched.
At an impressive six-foot-five, he was pure muscle, and those muscles could be seen through his plain gray T-shirt. It fit tight across his wide back and arms. With every step, his leg muscles flexed and bunched under his black cargo pants.
“Perfect,” they whispered as he passed. “Deadly.”
Even though he looked to be in his mid to late twenties, something about him made most people wary of coming closer.
Out of all the stunning features on his face, the most distinct were his vibrant blue eyes, the faint glow illuminating his skin, and his slightly elongated canine teeth. Those particular markers warned the normal person that he was much more than a human man, and he was. He was something beautiful and frightening.
He and those he lived amongst went by many names. They were legends, heroes. Gods. Beautiful, strong, and brave beings who traveled the world, fighting evil and aiding mankind. But other labels followed them as well: demon, cursed, vampire. Monster.
They were the myths our world hid in the back of our minds, and when spoken about, were mocked and called impossible. They were the forgotten truths to our story as men and children of God. They were the Immortals.
Once David crossed the grand hall, he passed two men standing guard outside the door without a word and entered the next room.
David looked around the circular room briefly and nodded to the twelve others already seated at the round table.
“Arthur,” said David, greeting the man to his left.
“Welcome back, brother. News?” Arthur asked.
David glanced at the empty chair beside him but looked back to his brother-in-law. “The Greeks are gathering to divide into groups. Scouts are locating key areas to start the extermination. They are going to select cities with high concentration of infected mortals to start with and work outward.”
“And Lance?” Arthur asked in a slightly more agitated tone.
Shaking his head, David answered. “No one can find him.”
“Anything about the risks to our kind?” asked the friendly and less serious-looking man next to Arthur.
“No, Gawain,” said David, ignoring Arthur’s anger. “There was a report Sin decided to attack a horde of the infected by himself.”
“And?” Gawain asked. “What happened to the reckless devil?”
David eyed his best friend, who also happened to be second in command of his personal team, and smirked. “It is fair to say we are immune and remain only susceptible to our normal threats.”
“I think we will work our way south, rather than select cities,” Arthur said, bringing David and the other’s attention back to him. “Best if we concentrate on pushing them back.”
“The Norse are planning that as well,” David said. “But they have no concern for the rest of the world, merely their own feeding grounds.”
Gawain let out a sharp laugh. “That figures.”
“And the Hounds, what of them?” asked Tristan.
“No word on the Hounds yet—or Nyc’s wolves,” D
avid answered. “They have disappeared, apparently. No one has heard from them in months. I believe I was the last to see them.”
Arthur stood, causing all conversation to halt. “We will set out as soon as we can gather our supplies. I will not wait around to discuss what others are planning. Our duty to the mortals will not be ignored. First, we will secure Canada. The guards will ensure the kingdom’s continued safety. Canada alone will provide adequate feeding for those here. Gwen will speak for me while we are gone and relay news from our allies.”
“David, what about the South? Any word on what they are doing?” Gawain asked.
“They do not seem to have any plans to work against the plague,” he said. “They are frantic in their feeding habits, and there are rumors of rogues doing the same. They are not making attempts at hiding their identities anymore.”
Uproar erupted around the table. “Stupid fools!” Gawain bellowed as he slammed his fist on the table. His laid back personality was easily shed to display the fierce warrior he was underneath.
“We will deal with them later.” Arthur quickly quieted his men. “Our mission is to eliminate the plague. Should we come across any rogues, they will suffer God’s law.”
David’s lips twitched when Gawain returned to his previous easygoing state, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms behind his head, a wide grin taking the place of the angry scowl he’d worn moments ago.
“Kay, see that the plane is prepared,” said Arthur, looking at his adoptive brother briefly. Kay nodded, and Arthur made eye contact with each of them. “Gather your supplies and bid your wives farewell. We leave at once and will not return until the threat to the mortals is eliminated. Bors, make sure we are stocked with blood to get us through the first month. We will not feed publicly.” He didn’t bother saying goodbye and left the room with unbelievable speed.
The rest stood. Some left at the same inhuman speed as Arthur while a few spoke quietly and exited at a more human pace.
Gawain walked over to David and slapped him on the back. “Bidding anyone farewell, David?”
“You know the answer to that by now.” David shook his head. “Quit worrying about me, will you? Go see your wife.”
David never took what Gawain said on the subject regarding his lack of female companionship to heart. Apart from Arthur and David’s sister, Guinevere, Gawain was the only friend who knew of his sacrifice. They all understood that when the time was right, he would be granted the woman of his dreams, the other half of his heart, and at the same time, fulfill his destiny.
“Come on, David,” said Gareth, Gawain’s younger brother as well as the third and final member, of David’s personal team. “Surely one of them is worth consideration after all these centuries.”
They chuckled, but David stayed quiet as he continued walking to the door. He knew his friends were teasing, but it was a constant reminder of how alone he truly was.
“He has his standards, brother,” Gawain spoke up. “None have proven worthy of a second glance from our David. Let’s get ready, shall we?”
Gawain winked at David and playfully shoved Gareth on the back.
David nodded to him, relieved to be done with the conversation, and followed them out of the round room. He wasted no time and ran upstairs to his quarters.
After entering his room, he went to his closet and selected his necessary clothing items, then several handguns, a rifle, and ammunition for both before examining a large, ornate sword. Even though it was a much older weapon, it remained his favorite, and if using a gun could be avoided, he did so.
David quickly placed everything in his bag. He wanted to see his sister before leaving, but a delicate knock on his door made him forget all about stopping to see her. All he could wish for now was to be on the plane, a thousand miles away.
Several impolite words came to his mind, but he held back as he reminded himself that, in just a few short moments, he would escape the daily pressures he encountered at the castle.
He opened his door. “Hello, Melody.”
The breathtaking woman smiled up at him. Her wavy, blonde hair hung to her slim waist. The immortal woman before him could have any man she wanted. But not him.
She peered at him with green eyes. Her bell-like voice seemed to make the faint, golden glow of her skin sparkle. Most were enchanted by her sweet voice, but David couldn’t stand to hear her talk.
“Hello, David.” Melody smiled. “They say you are setting out on a mission for the mortals?”
“Yes. We are leaving as soon as we get everyone prepared.” He quickly dismissed her presence and returned to the bed for his bag. When he turned to leave, he was almost growled as he realized she’d let herself into his room.
Melody reached out to take his free hand, but he only looked at it before looking back at her face. She withdrew quickly, masking the hurt in her eyes, but he caught it.
He resisted snapping at her and felt little for hurting her feelings. She was one of the many females who followed him wherever he went, and one who would not take no for an answer. It was no secret Melody desired power and status, and everyone knew she hoped David would claim her his Other.
“I do not have time to entertain you, Melody.”
She stuck out her chin. “I merely came to inform you that you have nothing to worry about. I will wait for you, as always.”
With a frustrated sigh, he gave her a firm look. “I have told you before, there is nothing for you here. I urge you to find another. I do not want you to hold on to any false hope. My decision will not change.”
Anger burned in her eyes while her pride took yet another blow of rejection. In a bold attempt to stare him down, her eyes swirled with varying shades of green. He couldn’t believe she was trying this shit on him. Her ability to manipulate and control others allowed her to get whatever she wanted, but her power never worked on him.
To show her that her attempts were futile, he returned her stare and let his eyes change from their hypnotizing sapphire color to the palest glacier-blue, reflecting his cold feelings for her.
Finally, she huffed and walked out without another word.
He knew she wasn’t finished and wouldn’t put it past her to return. So casting a final glance around his sparsely furnished room, he left to meet the others for their departure.
They all lived to fight, but he knew his comrades enjoyed being home. He, however, welcomed the bloodshed he was about to encounter. He knew one day he would find the woman he was told about during his creation, but for now, he needed to embrace what he was made for.
Battle.
“JANE, YOU CAN’T PACK THIS KIND OF SHIT,” Jason said, holding up Nathan’s dinosaurs.
She rubbed her sore eyes and pulled the toys from his hand. “He needs them.”
Jason sighed and continued digging through the bag she’d packed, then held up two DVDs. “Really?”
Jane glanced over and saw Nathan and Natalie’s favorite movies. “They like them.”
“Jane,” he said, tossing them on the floor next to her. She grabbed them and put them on her lap as he ranted. “You are supposed to pack stuff we need in case we have to run. Toys and movies are not going to help us survive.”
Her eyes watered as she stared at the plastic dinosaur in her hands. “I just want them to be happy. If we need to leave, that’s it. They won’t have anything left. And Nathan will have a hard time with everything if he’s taken away from what he knows.”
“I know, but we have to think about surviving.”
“I’m sorry.” She wiped her tears and more fell as she listened to him groan because she was once again crying. She’d been crying for two days since the plague had broken out. They’d boarded up all their windows and doors as they listened to gunfire and screams, even explosions, and she’d broken down each time, afraid the infected people would break down their door.
“I’m sorry,” she repeated. “I don’t know what you expect me to do! I’m trying to pick what I know
makes them happy. If it’s such a big deal, I’ll take my stuff out and put their toys in my bag.”
“Instead of food and supplies, you’d rather take toys and movies?”
“Yes!” she snapped, looking back down as he gave her a look that made her feel pathetic every time he sent it her way.
“Get it together, Jane. You’re acting like a baby, and they need you to think about them. Food, clothes, medicine—that’s what is going to help them. Not this!” He held up another movie. “Do you really think if we have to leave here that we’ll be able to play these?”
Jane looked up. “I got the portable player out.”
He looked at her like she’d lost her mind. “Where did you put it?” She didn’t answer him, and he dug into the bag until he found it. “Dammit, Jane! I’m not carrying this. Be an adult for once.” He stood and dropped the portable DVD player on her lap before stomping away with his bag.
She cried and double-checked to make sure the player was intact. It was, and she placed the movies on it before getting her backpack. She pulled out most of her clothes, medicine, and toiletries, then added the toys and movies. There was a little room to re-add a few things, so she started to put her medicine and toiletries but stopped when she realized she’d also pulled out a photo album.
More tears clouded her vision, but she picked up the album. She flipped it open and first saw a picture of her and Wendy, then one of her and Jason, then one of her holding the babies when they’d just been born. Closing it up, Jane looked back at her bag, then removed her toiletries and replaced them with the album.
“Mommy?”
Jane zipped her bag shut and turned to see Natalie watching her. “What’s up, baby?”
“Why are you crying?” Natalie asked.
She smiled sadly. “I just have a headache. I’m okay.”
“Oh. Will you come help Nathan sleep? He doesn’t like having our beds in the living room.”
Jane nodded and got up. “Yep. Let’s go help him sleep.” She held out her hand and went to the living room to see Nathan frantically looking around the bed.