“Kill him,” Blaze shouted as she ran to Cadence. “He killed Lachlan. This monster deserves nothing less.”
The vampire gazed at Blaze, a proud creature.
“No. Darkmoore should be rewarded for bringing us to the spear. Drink my blood,” Cadence said. “It will give you the immortality that your Prince Balan denied you. Go on. Bite me, Darkmoore, and find out why Richard sent me.”
Cadence held out her hand, offering it to Darkmoore. He stared at her, confused. A moment later, he sped forward, seized her hand and sank his teeth into it. A shiver shot through Cadence as his yellow teeth pierced her flesh; however, one taste of her blood sent Darkmoore into convulsions. He fell to the ground, writhing in pain, and he was dead seconds later.
“Disgusting,” Cadence said, as she wiped her hand across her tunic.
Whisper approached Cadence, carrying Lachlan’s sword. “I know you cared about Lachlan,” he said. “He was an honorable man.”
Cadence nodded. Her heart ached. “Lachlan was that and much more.”
“Come on you two. Let’s open it,” Blaze said. “Take the spear, Cadence, and let’s go.”
Placing her hands flat on the crystal coffin, Cadence felt a surge of a warm energy prickle through her palms and arms. She gave a shove, and the lid moved an inch. Whisper and Blaze joined her and together they opened it. The lid fell unbroken to the ground, and they watched the man inside. The scent of vanilla rose from the coffin. Apollo wore gold bracelets, and his necklace held a medallion engraved with two horses pulling a chariot. A gold circlet adorned his head, and blonde hair filled the sides of the coffin, curling around the spear like ivy.
“Is he alive?” asked Blaze. “Touch him. See if he’s breathing.”
Cadence leaned over and cupped Apollo’s cheeks. His flesh was pliant and cool to the touch. She placed a hand on his chest and felt a faint heartbeat. His strong hands grasped the ordinary-looking spear. Flecks of dried red blood covered the iron tip. If this was the Spear of Destiny, its supernatural properties provided her with the means of killing Prince Balan.
“Well, he’s not dead,” Cadence said. “Being in an induced-coma for centuries is the worst imprisonment I can think of, but he is sleeping.” She ran her finger across the puncture marks on her hand before they finished healing. Cadence rubbed her blood across his lips and his gum line. “You need to wake up. We need you, Apollo. You’ve slept long enough and the world is suffering. Wake up.” She gave him a slap.
Whisper leaned over the coffin and gave Cadence a quizzical look.
“Apollo is infected with the virus,” Cadence said. “My blood will either wake him or he’ll stay this way forever. Perhaps we should take him with us?”
“No. Leave him.”
“It’s hard to imagine he’s like us,” Blaze said, hefting her gun against her hip. “Every god or goddess was just like us. They had the virus and turned into super humans.”
Whisper stood straight. “Take the spear, Cadence. Hurry!”
Holding her breath, Cadence reached for the spear. Apollo’s grip was firm, but she pulled hard on the spear and ripped it from his grasp. She half-expected his hands to crack and crumble into dust. Her eyes opened wide in surprise—the spear was so light and seemed as fragile as a splinter of wood. She held it out for her friends to examine.
“So much fuss over an ordinary spear,” Blaze said. “I thought it might be made out of gold or something.”
“It’s Christ’s blood on the tip that makes it a potent weapon. Set fire to the rafters and let’s get out of here,” Cadence said. She took Lachlan’s weapon, leaving her own sword behind, and slid the spear into the scabbard at her side.
Whisper and Blaze set the wooden beams aflame, after which they set the dead bodies throughout the cave on fire. The werewolves’ fur sizzled and popped, and the wraiths withered like bad fruit on a vine.
Cadence knelt beside Lachlan. The Irish vampire showed no sign of injuries and looked peaceful in death. She brushed his red hair away from his eyes, closed them, and leaned in to kiss Lachlan one last time.
“It isn’t fair. We had so little time together,” Cadence said, letting her tears flow. “Forgive me for leaving you here on English soil, Lachlan. I will never forget you. Never, my love.”
It was late afternoon when Cadence and her two friends emerged from the caves. Clouds filled the sky, and rain mingled with the stench of death. Blood drenched the ground, but there were no bodies to be found. Whisper gazed over a cliff and whistled. Cadence and Blaze hurried over to see countless bodies of Old Ones broken on the rocks below.
“We must run,” Cadence said. “The Old Ones will be waiting for us on the road.”
“What’s the rush?” Blaze said. “The monolith isn’t going anywhere.”
“You heard them earlier. Pevensey Castle is under attack. We need to help Lord Montagu and Sir Thomas if we don’t want the stone to fall into the wrong hands.”
Whisper dashed off without saying another word, racing for the trees. Cadence and Blaze glanced at one another, and ran after him.
The dog soldiers followed.
* * * * *
Chapter Eighteen
Logan walked the entire length of the fourth lake, bundled up against the cavern’s chill. He had a printout of Mallory’s translation of the Babylonian script on the monolith, and he knew with certainty he was looking at a portal through time.
After a long discussion with the Dark Angels, they agreed to set up explosives where the Vescali had dug a tunnel to the Citadel. They constructed a net lined with magnets and covered the stone to contain the electromagnetic energy. The Dark Angels left the front unveiled and positioned high-wattage lights around it. Logan carried a camera in case the portal exhibited any new activity.
Dodger and Smack stood watch behind a barricade of sandbags. Phoenix and Moon Dog walked with Logan, who relayed the information he was collecting to the Dark Angels in the control room. Thor led a second team setting explosives in the tunnel.
“I can feel a breeze on my face,” Phoenix said. “The tunnel the animals were using is close. Come on, Moon Dog. Use that nose of yours to find it.”
The werewolf trotted forward with his nose to the ground and let out a woof. He raised his head as Sheena raced toward them. As she approached, the werepuma morphed into human form. Logan didn’t mind. He found her attractive.
“Smile,” Logan said, grinning as he pointed the camera at Sheena. The Dark Angels had to be enjoying the images. “What’s got your tail on fire? Run into something scary?”
She laughed, cheeks dimpling. “If an intricate labyrinth of tunnels is scary, then yeah, that’s what we found,” she said. “One leads to the Citadel. Some are dead ends, but a few lead further into the mountain. Thor thinks the Vescali have their own underground bunker, but he didn’t want us exploring. He sent me back to tell you not to advance beyond this position.”
“I think we’ve found the tunnel to the outside,” Phoenix said. She stood with Moon Dog who was sniffing the cave wall. Logan hoped Moon Dog was not simply trying to find a place to urinate.
“Why don’t you morph back and help Moon Dog find the exit?” Logan asked. He lowered the camera. “A werepuma’s nose is as good as a werewolf’s, plus yours is cuter.”
Chuckling, Sheena walked over to Moon Dog. “What do you smell? Bat crap?” She winked at Logan.
Moon Dog transformed into his human form. His bare backside pointed at Logan and, unlike Sheena, it was not a pretty sight.
“Rotting flesh,” Moon Dog said. He whipped back his long, black hair and looked up at Phoenix. “There’s fresh air coming out of a crack here. I also smell foam padding and paint.” He tapped the wall with his fingers. “Fake. Thought so.”
Logan placed his hand over his pistol as Moon Dog pulled away a large section of the cave wall. He tossed the foam piece aside and revealed the entrance to a tunnel. Light was visible from the far end where fresh air was entering.
&n
bsp; “Good work,” Logan said. He knelt beside Moon Dog, grateful when the werewolf turned back into a wolf. Lifting his camera, he took a shot down the tunnel as Picasso began talking in his ear.
“Send Sheena through the tunnel,” Picasso said, “and have her blow up the outside entrance. Freeborn and Star are waiting out front. She’s to go with them afterwards to escort the survivors back here.”
Logan relayed the message to his team. He held out a bag containing a small mound of gray clay. “This is powerful stuff. I assume you’ve used plastic explosives before? Just set the bag at the entrance and position yourself far enough away to get a clear shot. Let’s hope the mountain doesn’t come down on your head.”
“I know what I’m doing,” Sheena said. “Good grief. I was a Head Hunter once. Don’t worry about me. I can handle myself.”
Phoenix handed Sheena her side arm, and the young woman took the bag and gun and entered the tunnel. Moon Dog replaced the foam in the wall, then they cleared the area, following the side of the lake. They stopped to look back as a loud explosion rumbled through the cavern, sending ripples dancing across the black lake. Smoke and red flames burst out of the small tunnel, showering the water with blazing foam and rocks.
Logan tapped his earphone. “Are you getting this, Picasso?”
“Affirmative,” Picasso said. “Thor isn’t responding. His headpiece must not be working, so tell me when he comes back.”
A loud splash of water turned everyone toward the lake. The hairs on the nape of Logan’s neck rose as he spotted something big moving under the surface. He aimed his camera at the water, and the heat signature showed a large mass that was bright red in the cold, dark water. It was coming straight toward the shoreline, fast.
“I’ve got movement. Something is in the lake!”
Moon Dog and Phoenix stood only ten yards from Logan, staring at the lake, as a large serpent lifted its scaled green head out of the water. Logan dropped the camera and reached for his weapon. The creature smacked the water with its tail, stretched out its neck, and lunged for the werewolf, jaws snapping. In one continuous movement, Phoenix pushed Moon Dog aside and swung upward with her sword opening a large gash across the monster’s head.
Logan fired into the gaping jaws of the beast. Dodger and Smack appeared on the far side of the lake, targeting the serpent’s head. The beast swung toward the two teens, as Phoenix jumped and landed on its back. She plunged her sword deep into its neck. Its screech echoed through the chamber as it flailed backward trying to reach her. She held on, moving out of danger each time it snapped for her legs. Thor, Xena, and Rafe came out of the tunnel and joined the battle. They stood near Logan, filling the cavern with the deafening sound of gunfire.
“What’s going on?” Picasso shouted.
“Something creepy and angry just came out of the water,” Logan replied. He retrieved the infrared camera and turned it on the creature; however, the Chameleons were the real entertainment as they worked together to destroy the monster.
They moved so fast the creature could not keep up with them, nor could Logan. Its thrashing tail sent waves of water slopping out of the lake, while its head hit the ceiling hard, sending rocks tumbling through the air. Phoenix released her sword and leapt to the shore. The group exhausted their ammo, but brought it down in the end. With a final screech, the water serpent vanished beneath the murky water.
“Did you even fire your gun, Logan?” Rafe asked as he shouldered his M16. “Or did you just film the action? It didn’t look like you did a whole lot.”
“I did as much as you,” Logan said, annoyed.
Thor stuck a cigar between his teeth, lit it, and exhaled a cloud of smoke. “You were both useless, if you want to know the truth. From now on, leave the serious fighting to us. Get back to work, Logan. As for you, vampire, why don’t you go to the kitchen and make us lunch? I’m starving. Get yourself some bear blood while you’re there, and take Picasso and Tandor some.”
“Are you serious? You can’t order me around, you Neanderthal.” Rafe brushed a hand across the sleeve of his coat. “I’m a Maker. Not a cook.”
Rafe stomped off. He gave Logan a push as he walked by, sending him staggering toward the water. “This is your fault, Logan. How could something this big go unnoticed? If you’d done your job and read all of Mallory’s reports, I’m sure he must have mentioned something about a giant serpent in the lake.”
“Mallory mentioned nothing about the damn thing, so get off my back.”
“Maybe you just told no one, hoping it would kill us. I think we should have left you at the Citadel. You’re pathetic.”
“Hate isn’t good for the soul,” Logan called out after the vampire. He waited for Thor to catch up. “You rigged the tunnel leading to the Citadel? What about the other tunnels?”
“I know what I’m doing, Logan,” Thor said, defensive.
Logan turned the audio up on the camera so Picasso and Tandor could hear the conversation loud and clear. “We could use the tunnel and attack the Citadel tomorrow night. You still have friends imprisoned there.”
“Thanks for the insight,” Thor said, blowing smoke. He patted Logan on the shoulder. “Keep those ideas coming, Agent Logan. I might like one of them. Then again, I doubt it.”
Logan fell silent. There was no winning.
They walked by the monolith toward the barricade where the rest of the team waited. As they did, the stone emitted a loud hum. Logan stumbled as the ground beneath his feet shuddered. Thor dragged him to the barricade. Xena, Dodger, Moon Dog, and Phoenix were already behind it. Logan set the camera, aiming it toward the monolith as it opened wide and released a bright, green light.
“This is what we’ve been waiting for,” Picasso said, excited. “Be ready, Logan.
Something’s coming out.”
Logan crouched and peered over the sandbags as five cloaked figures emerged from the center. They shielded their eyes from the lights shining in their faces. Thor let out a shout and his team stood, weapons ready. The figures threw off their cloaks and morphed into their true demon forms. They were Vescali. Like Trotsky, they were tall, thin, and had small bat-like wings that flapped swiftly as they rose from the ground. One demon flew across the lake toward the tunnel, leaving the other four to attack.
Moon Dog rushed after the departing demon. Logan stood up and fired at the lead demon as it flew toward him. The rest of the team shot down its companions, but the leader broke through. Logan fell backward and lifted his arms as the demon slammed into him. He grabbed the demon’s head to keep it from biting his face.
Phoenix hit the demon in the back of its head with the hilt of her sword, and the creature went limp. Logan scrambled to his feet.
“Don’t move,” Thor said, placing his foot on the demon’s stomach. Its wings were riddled with holes and it bled from a shoulder wound. Thor pointed his gun at the demon’s head. “Come over and talk to this thing, Logan.”
“As if I’m an expert,” Logan said. “It speaks English.”
The demon looked at Logan. His expression revealed hope, until Moon Dog returned carrying a Vescali leg in his jaws.
“Where did you come from, pal?” Logan asked, eyeing the demon. “See, if you cooperate, these guys may not kill you. Start talking. What do you know about the monolith?”
Thor tossed a cloak at the demon. He stood back as the demon returned to the form of a man.
“I am Tamal.” The demon’s voice was high-pitched, and Logan imagined it would shatter glass if it was any higher. “My slain companions were priests. We were guards of the Roman Stone at Pevensey Castle until the battle broke out. We fled through the stone.”
“Do you work for Dr. Leopold?” Thor kept his rifle aimed at the demon’s head; it was an effective way to pry answers from the terrified demon.
“Dr. Leopold is our master. Yes, that is true. We’ve used the portal for some time now. Few of us remain.”
Logan leaned forward. “What my associate is tryin
g to say, Tamal, is a few of our friends went through the portal. We want to know if you ran into anyone from our time period. Four went through. Two women. Two men.”
“I met two strangers who arrived at Pevensey Castle a fortnight ago, Sir Lachlan and Squire Clay. Sir Thomas told us they were old friends. But when the woman with purple hair and the tall one arrived, we knew they came from the portal.”
Logan lifted his lip in a snarl. “And? What happened to them?”
“Lord Montagu charged them with killing Lord Darkmoore. I blessed your friends and watched as they rode away. I do not know what has happened since.”
“Ask him about the monolith,” Thor said, impatient.
Not caring to argue or to point out the demon spoke perfect English, Logan continued. “Tell us about the stone. How does it work? How do you open and close it?”
“Only immortals can open the stones and properly used them. The portal allows us to travel to parallel moments in time, chosen by the Great One whom we all serve.”
“Great One? You must mean the Kaiser,” Logan said, “but I somehow doubt that’s his true name. Enlighten me, Tamal. What’s the Great One’s true name?”
Tamal seized, shaking his head. “I can’t tell you.”
Thor pulled the trigger, just missing Tamal’s leg. The loud report echoed through the cave and caused the demon to panic.
“The name,” Thor said. His voice was calm, threatening.
“P-p-prince Balan,” Tamal sputtered. “A great demon lord, the only one of his kind, that is, on Earth. He is an Axon demon, similar to vampires, but immortal. He has gone by many names through the centuries. Is it revenge you seek? We can help. We are tired of being his servants.”
Thor squinted, tilting his head.
Tamal continued. “We do not serve him by choice. He’s held us captive, ever since the defeat of the old gods. Let us join forces and free both of our people! Together, we can—”
Dead Hearts (Book 3): Vengeful Hearts Page 20