“Trying to find Salustra. She’s here somewhere.”
A growl from Luna turned Raven’s attention to a familiar face attached to a cyborg zombie body. Seeing its swords for arms, her mind flooded with memories of the Captain. He was fighting Lieutenant Habit and Nightshadow of the Freedom Army. The three had once been leaders at their camp on Pike’s Peak. Luna and Loki fought around Raven.
Hundreds of images overwhelmed Raven, beginning with her first day at Pike’s Peak as a scared Arizona refugee fighting her way to the front of the check-in line. Her memory reminded her of a raven that had landed on the registration table. Nightshadow saw the bird, then looked at her. She was known as Raven from that day forward. She remembered meeting Thor and joining the Vikings, fighting against zombies, and the day she first saw Luna and fell in love.
Raven met Nightshadow’s hope-filled eyes and hesitated as Luna ripped through a zombie that came too close, splattering her fur with goo. Lt. Habit turned and spotted Raven. For a moment, she knew she was fighting for the wrong side, but a surge of zombies separated Raven from her former allies. Luna grabbed Raven by the end of her dress, pulling her away as the horde surrounded Lt. Habit. His screams faded as Raven and Luna broke through the press of filthy zombies and moved into an open area.
“Raven, help!”
It was Salustra. She was on her own fighting a group of zombies. Luna and Raven attacked the zombies from behind, clearing a path to Salustra. The Maker had several bite marks and was missing an arm. Salustra collapsed to the ground, sobbing and begging for help. As Raven moved toward her, a black shadow swept past and surrounded Salustra. Luna held back the zombies as Raven dropped her shield and sword, reaching for her pistol. Salustra withered in the gloom of the shadow. Raven took pity on her and shot her through the heart, and then the head.
The foul shadow lifted from Salustra’s dead body and vanished into the stands. Raven felt an overwhelming wave of guilt. Killing her best friend was the last thing she wanted to do. She dropped her gun and reached for her wedding ring to pull it off while she still had the strength, but it had fallen off somewhere on the field. She fought back tears of grief and regret.
Luna yowled in excitement as Loki ran by holding a small red werewolf. Cricket followed him as they raced toward the end of the field. The two super humans leapt upward, clearing the stadium, and vanished.
“That was incredible. Did you just see that? Loki, Cricket and Red Hawk have escaped,” the announcer said, in a throaty voice.
Blinking back tears, Raven turned and gasped to see the number of dead bodies littering the field. Shadowguard surrounded Skye and Monkey as more vampire soldiers arrived, shooting the remaining zombies and anything that still twitched.
Raven looked up in the stands and spotted the Kaiser’s glowing eyes as he stood under the pavilion beside D’Aquilla. He waved at her. She looked at Luna.
“I’m no longer under Balan’s thrall. We can go too, Luna. But how? Where do we go? We won’t be able to jump out of the stadium like Loki and Cricket.”
“May I have your attention?” Pallaton’s voice boomed over the speakers. “Would the guards in the arena please escort Raven to the north tunnel. This evening’s events are canceled. Please leave the stadium at once. There has been a bomb threat. Please locate the exit nearest you and depart in an orderly fashion.”
Sirens blared, and the crowd panicked, pushing and shoving to escape. A tide of bodies poured over walls and through the tunnels. Raven and Luna started for the wall intending to flee with the crowd, but found themselves surrounded by guards in trench coats. A few wandering zombies distracted the Shadowguard, leaving Raven and Luna unguarded, and they fled down the ramp and entered the north tunnel’s chaos, along with crowds of vampires attempting to escape the stadium.
A familiar, eye-patched face appeared at Raven’s side. He wore black, but no trench coat. In his hands was a folded Death Games blanket used by the fans when it snowed. Before she could speak, the disgraced captain threw the blanket over Raven’s head, holding her arms tight as he guided her through the crowd. The sounds of screaming, along with Luna’s angry snarls and Pallaton’s words of encouragement kept Raven moving despite the terror she felt. He led her back into the arena. Freedom had been so close.
“I’m not taking you back to him,” Pallaton said. His strong arm wrapped around Raven, guiding her through the mob. “You can see under the blanket. Just watch your step, try not to trip. Luna is right here with you.”
Raven glanced at her bloody feet, careful as she took each step. People pressed from behind and in front. Now and then, she spotted Luna’s white paws gliding along beside her own feet. The voices of fighters could be heard begging for release, as they were hauled back to their holding cells.
“What’s going on?” Raven asked, trying not to shout under the blanket.
Pallaton pulled her head to his shoulder. “Highbrow is moving to Cadence’s camp. Bechtel will find an empty camp at Seven Falls. I was told to get the rest of your friends out of the Citadel. Loki knew the plan, too, but he wasn’t able to get Skye or Monkey out with him. The Shadowguard took them to a secure location.”
Raven trembled. “And the bomb?”
“The stadium is rigged to blow by me,” Pallaton said. “Now that the cursed ring is off your finger, you’re able to see just how powerful the Kaiser is. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get it off before Salustra blew her cover. She was a Dark Angel, like me, and soon you will join us.”
“Why do you care? I was horrible to you, to Salustra, to everyone. I deserve to die,” cried Raven. “Take Luna and go to Cadence’s camp. Save yourselves and leave me.”
Pallaton pulled the blanket from her face and glanced over her shoulders, making sure no one watched. Luna stood guard and glanced back to hear the answer, ears pricked forward. A stream of well-dressed vampires filed into the bomb shelter behind them, helped by the Shadowguard. Pallaton wiped away a tear from her cheek and offered a tender smile.
“I will not leave you,” Pallaton said. “I’m going to save us, including Luna.”
Pallaton took her by the hand and led her beyond the hall, around a corner, and down a flight of stairs. He opened a maintenance door and allowed Luna to trot in first, then pulled Raven into a dark room filled with pipes running across the ceiling. He locked the door behind them.
“Trust me?” asked Pallaton.
“With my life. You are the two people I love most in this world,” Raven said. “This time we are running away together.”
They hurried through the room and came to another door leading to a service tunnel beneath the stadium. Pallaton again secured the door behind them. The lights were dim and the scent of gasoline mixed with waste was overpowering. Luna objected with a snarl as they walked. Rats scurried away from the direction they were taking, moving fast. Something frightened them at the end of the tunnel. The werepuma sensed danger and crouched low, putting her nose to the ground, and twitched her long tail in agitation. Raven and Pallaton followed behind her, unable to see far ahead. Midway, a deep blackness enveloped what little light was in the tunnel.
“Do we have to escape through the sewers?” Raven’s bare feet squished things that oozed between her toes. The smell was horrible.
Pallaton drew his gun. “I’ve been planning this a long time. No one uses this tunnel. It leads to Colorado Springs. I have a car waiting.”
“But where will we go from there?”
“You’re not going anywhere,” a deep, angry voice said.
The darkness moved aside, revealing the tall, muscular form of the Kaiser, along with eight of his private guards behind him. Luna growled as the Kaiser’s eyes glowed brightly. Raven had trouble seeing, but it appeared the Kaiser’s nose, ears, and fingers were growing longer. The Kaiser held out his hand. In it glittered her ring, with a red flame dancing in its center.
“You dropped your wedding ring in the arena, my dear.”
Raven shivered and squeezed Pallaton’s hand. Lu
na hissed and bared her fangs, snarling as the Kaiser continued to grow larger.
“How clever of you,” Pallaton said. “I’m sure one of my men ratted me out. Only a few knew about this sewer system.”
“Oh, they didn’t tell me plans.” The Kaiser gestured to the shadow on the wall. Under a dim light, the darkness revealed its expansive wings and horns. “You have blinders on, my friend. Rose Standish has filled your head with promises of a better life among the Dark Angels. After what you’ve done, do you think they’ll accept you? Or my traitorous wife?”
Raven found her former courage, and her temper, “What do you want from us? Why can’t you just let us go? I’m one of hundreds of wives you’ve had over the centuries. You don’t love me. You love no one but yourself.”
“Till death do us part,” the Kaiser said. “I’m not ready to die, nor do I want to be parted from my wife. I’d like you to put on your ring, Raven, and come back with me.” He took a step forward and held up the ring. “We are meant to be together. Forever.”
Raven stepped back, afraid, and bumped into Pallaton. He placed his hands on her shoulders to steady her. “You never loved me, nor I you,” she replied. “You manipulated me. I will never put that cursed ring back on. Never!”
Her voice echoed in the tunnel. In the distance, a zombie answered with a searching groan. She glanced at Pallaton as Luna snapped at the Kaiser. The guards pointed their guns at the werepuma, prepared to fire. The Kaiser lifted his hand, holding them back.
“Raven and Luna are coming with me,” Pallaton said. His gun trained on the Kaiser.
The Kaiser trembled with fury. “I’m not talking to you,” the Kaiser said. “I’m speaking with my wife! Come with me, Raven, or I’ll kill both of your friends.”
“No,” Raven said, shaking her head. “I won’t go anywhere with you, demon.” The Kaiser gave a shrug and pointed his weapon at Pallaton. “You disappoint me, captain. You were the first human who caught the virus and turned vampire. The first Maker of this age, and I loved you like a son. A wiser man would have accepted my offer. You leave me no choice but to kill you and the cat.”
Raven struck the Kaiser’s hand, sending the ring flying through the air. She heard it fall somewhere in the tunnel. It was a grave mistake. The Kaiser shook with rage, and the shadow danced on the wall. The flesh on his face rippled with darkness and scaled over, while fangs the size of daggers extended from his widening mouth. He grew until his head pressed the ceiling, turning from a man into his true, hideous form. With a snarl, the demon lifted his clawed hand to swipe at her face as Raven cried out.
“I command you to stop and let us go, Prince Balan!”
For a moment the Kaiser stood shaking, desperate, and then let out a roar before convulsing once and freezing in place. His fanged mouth was open wide, releasing foam and drool that streamed onto his broad, scaled chest. He neither blinked, nor stirred, but remained as a statue. Water around his feet rippled as pipes burst through the sewers, expelling a warm, fetid stench. The shadow, likewise, could not move, and the walls trembled.
Guards stared in shock at their leader, and Pallaton shot them all in the head then put a second round through their hearts. The echo of gunfire faded, and the groans of the approaching zombies grew louder.
“My love,” Raven cried. She threw herself into Pallaton’s arms and kissed him. “It worked. Speaking his real name is the only way to subdue him. But Balan won’t stay like that forever.”
“We must hurry. Let the zombies have them.”
Pallaton, Raven, and Luna ran with vampire speed, passing a group of stray zombies. They ran for what seemed like miles, until they came to an intersection where the tunnel split into four directions. Pallaton led the way to the tunnel on the left and they soon reached metal handrails leading to a manhole. Pallaton climbed the rails, pushed the cover aside, and climbed out.
“It’s clear. Come up, Luna,” Pallaton called, standing back.
The werepuma sprung upward and cleared the opening. Raven took a step back and jumped. Pallaton caught her and pulled her into his arms. He kicked the manhole cover back into place and led them across a city street to a black Hummer.
“We’ll drive to Cadence’s camp,” Pallaton said. “Rose will meet us there. We’ve helped the survivors enough that we should be welcome, but I do have one stop to make on the way.”
Eyes scanning, Raven watched for any unwanted followers. As they turned a corner, Luna rested her big head on Raven’s shoulder. Raven stroked Luna’s face and received a warm, wet lick across her jaw as Pallaton came to a halt at an exit ramp leading to Interstate 25. Raven glanced in the side mirror and spotted the three figures running toward the car. Two humans and a wolf—Loki, Cricket, and Red Hawk. Loki opened the back door and stuck his head in.
“Thanks for the lift,” Loki said with a wide grin. The scar on his right cheek was visible and looked redder than usual. “We were beginning to wonder if you’d forgotten us.”
Pallaton nodded. “Get in. Hurry! We may be followed.”
They climbed in, and as soon as the door closed, the vehicle was speeding up the highway. They passed a group of zombies standing under a streetlight, staring up at the light in wonder.
“I’m so glad you made it out alive,” Raven said, turning to face the three.
A smile appeared on Loki’s face. “It’s too bad about Monkey and Skye,” he said, though he didn’t sound remorseful. “I told them to follow me, but they wanted to protect Nightshadow as long as possible. He was bitten right about the time Lt. Habit was devoured. I grabbed Red Hawk, and Cricket followed her sweetheart.”
The sound of a large explosion filled the night, followed by a series of smaller ones. In the distance, a fire could be seen coming from the Citadel. Raven and the others turned to look out the back window as the stadium burned.
“We’re not coming with you to Cadence’s camp,” Cricket said. “Red Hawk and I want to find his tribe. Please give our love to everyone. Tell them we are safe and going to join Chief Chayton.” She tapped Pallaton’s shoulder. “You can let us off right here, captain. We are close to Cave of the Winds. The tribe may still be there. We’ll let your brother know that you two got out.”
“Chayton won’t care if I’m alive or dead,” Pallaton said, “but thank you.”
Raven gave Pallaton a worried look. “Bechtel will be looking for them; they’re not safe there. Please don’t stop.” She turned to Cricket. “Come with us, instead. You can meet the wolf tribe later. Cadence will know where they’ve gone.”
“Red Hawk can find them,” Cricket said. “I appreciate your concern, but it’s what we both want. Stop the car, Pallaton. Please.”
The Hummer slowed and stopped. It was snowing, and the moon lit up a sign that read ‘Cave of the Winds - 3 miles.’ Loki opened the door, and Red Hawk crawled over him and jumped out. Loki helped Cricket out of the vehicle. When Raven looked in the side mirror, she no longer saw Cricket or Red Hawk.
“Well, that was a short reunion,” Loki said. “I should have warned them though. One drop of chameleon blood can kill a vampire and turn a werewolf into an animal forever. It’s something I discovered in the arena. Pity about Salustra; I heard she was a Dark Angel.”
“Let’s not mention it to the others,” Pallaton said. “They won’t understand, and I’d rather not give Cadence or Highbrow another reason to hate me and Raven.”
Driving up a mountain road, Pallaton pulled up behind a line of vehicles parked outside the Cheyenne Mountain Complex. Highbrow had brought the entire camp to the bunker, and supplies were still being unpacked and carried inside.
Dragon approached the Hummer and Pallaton rolled down the window. “Leave the vehicle here and follow me,” Dragon said. “You’re wanted inside.”
* * * * *
Chapter Twenty
Highbrow sat at the head of a large conference room table. Picasso, Tandor, Micah, Rose, Pallaton, and Raven had gathered, along with Lt. Sterling, Thor, S
tar, Dragon, Freeborn, and Luna. Pitchers of water and bottles of synthetic blood dotted the table. As Highbrow discussed tactics, Loki slid into the remaining vacant chair. Highbrow had not invited Loki, but he did not ask him to leave, either.
“Thank you all for coming,” Highbrow said. “I’ll get right to business. To attack the Kaiser, we will have to stage a ground assault. We have one Black Hawk, and Picasso will use it to fly the Dark Angels in and engage the Shadowguard choppers. Three teams will go in on the ground—the Dark Angels and two divisions of Earth Corps. Team leaders will be Tandor, Thor, and Dragon. We’ll send one through the tunnel under NORAD and two will come down from the mountains. The Vescali, according to Picasso, number at least six thousand strong, but we don’t know if they’ll fight for the prince. Pallaton has confirmed seven thousand Shadowguard. I’ll set up a position on the outskirts of the Citadel to coordinate our assault, and Lt. Sterling will stay here and assume command of NORAD. Since vampires stay inside in daylight hours, we’ll attack at dawn.”
“I’ve tried to contact every U.S. military base in North America,” Picasso said, “but so far no one has responded. The Bulldogs are in the control room, but I need to get back in case we get a response.”
“It can wait. This meeting is more important.”
“What about Cadence?” Star asked. “I thought we were going to wait until she arrives? Logan and Rafe will find her. I know it. She’s the one who should lead the attack.”
Highbrow frowned. “The vampire lords are still here. If we wait until Cadence arrives, if she arrives at all, they may leave. Pallaton said D’Aquilla has a jet at the city airport, which means the other vampire lords probably have escape methods, too. If we’re going to attack them all, we can’t wait, Star. Now, does anyone have any questions that don’t involve Cadence?”
Tandor pushed his long hair back from his face and glared at Pallaton. “Why is Pallaton part of this war council? He’s not one of us. Nor is Raven. Just yesterday these two were conspiring against us.”
Dead Hearts (Book 3): Vengeful Hearts Page 22