Dead Hearts (Book 3): Vengeful Hearts

by Susanne L. Lambdin

  Cadence watched Blaze peel the demon off Rafe’s body and toss it aside. Rafe was as handsome in death as in life. His eyes were closed and a strange, peaceful smile remained. Rafe had been her first serious relationship. She had kissed Lachlan and could do no less for Rafe. Kneeling, she placed a kiss on his cold cheek. Both vampires who loved her were now dead.

  “I’m sorry,” Blaze said. “Despite all his faults, Rafe loved you, Cadence.”

  Not saying a word, Cadence turned to the winged demon and kicked its ribs until she heard bones cracking. Then she thought of Lachlan. She jumped and landed on the demon’s chest, caving its ribs under her boots.

  Blaze put her hand on Cadence’s shoulder. “I think it’s dead. There are bound to be more inside.”

  Cadence thought of nothing but revenge as she strode toward the castle. Blaze ran ahead and met her on the drawbridge with Whisper. The gates were open, and there were more dead bodies inside the courtyard. Several Vescali lay among the slain castle guards. The bodies trailed their way to the castle’s keep. A few small buildings were on fire, but nothing moved. At the sound of a lone wolf howl from outside the castle walls, Cadence lifted her massive sword.

  “We need to find the monolith,” Cadence said. “The priests were guarding it so it must be in the chapel.”

  “Shouldn’t we look for the rest of the rescue team?” Blaze asked. “Logan and Rafe might not have come alone. There could be others in the keep looking for us. We need to spread out, Cadence. We can’t leave anyone behind.”

  Cadence stared up at the keep. The banners were hanging flat without a breeze, and no lights shone from any of the narrow windows. “Whisper, go to the chapel and secure the monolith if it’s there. If it’s not, meet us back here in thirty minutes. Blaze, search for any of our people. I’ll start with the dungeon and work my way up.”

  “Gotcha,” Whisper said.

  Cadence found a side door that led to the dungeon. She walked down a flight of stairs; the stones were damp, and torches flickered as Cadence passed. She checked each cell and found a few emaciated prisoners. Without knowing if they were infected, she ignored their cries and left them in their cells. She made her way up to the kitchen and found it covered in blood. Dinner was still cooking over the fire; it bubbled over, causing the burning logs to sizzle. Mrs. Fulbright and her kitchen staff were dead. One young kitchen boy sat up and looked at her. His mouth opened, screeching.

  Cadence gritted her teeth. “Wraith.”

  Sword held high, Cadence lopped off the boy’s head and did the same for Mrs. Fulbright. From what she could see, the vampires left no one alive. Those victims would rise again. She took a torch from the wall and set fire to the bodies. She backed out of the room and tossed the torch onto a table. Covered in flames and screaming, the former staff creatures moved toward Cadence. She slammed the door and slid the wooden plank into place. The monsters beat on the door, trapped.

  Cadence went to the top floor where Lord Montagu’s quarters were. She entered his bedroom and found the decrepit lord lying on his bed, bathed in blood. A tall knight stood on the far side of the bed. At the sound of her footsteps, he looked up and gasped.

  “Highbrow? It’s you!” Cadence ran around the bed and stopped short of hugging him. “Did you come with Logan and Rafe? Is anyone else with you?”

  “I came alone,” Highbrow said. “The battle was over by the time I arrived. I’ve been looking everywhere for you. The old man was dying when I found him. He asked me to stay with him until he died, so I did.”

  “Rafe and Logan are dead. So is Lachlan.” Cadence looked away before Highbrow could see her tears. “We think we know where the monolith is and how to get back home. Come on. Whisper and Blaze are waiting for us.”

  Highbrow looked at the dead man. “Lord Montagu told me who he was and the story about the three Mallory brothers before he died. A priest told him to send his forces out to meet the Devil head on and God would spare his life. It was a lie. He also said the Vescali are a serious threat and won’t stop until they take control of the world, even if you kill Prince Balan. This is what they’ve been waiting for, a chance to break free from Balan and seize control. Montagu thought the Vescali needed him, but a priest killed him. The priests are Vescali, Cadence. I found no one else alive, and I didn’t find the priests. If you’re ready, I’ll take you back to NORAD. I’ve relocated my camp there. We’re mounting an attack against the Shadowguard, but we can’t do it without you.”

  “Or without this,” Cadence said, excited. She held up the spear. “I found it guarded by Apollo, a real immortal, but I couldn’t free him from his sleep.”

  “And that is…?”

  “The Spear of Destiny. A holy weapon. I believe this is what we need to kill Balan.

  Lachlan died helping me find it.” She looked away. “We need to find Blaze and Whisper, and get out of this awful place.”

  Highbrow was too much in awe to touch the spear when she held it up to him. Nor could he find the words to express his regret that three of her friends were dead. He took hold of Cadence’s arm and pointed her toward the bed. She glanced toward Montagu.

  “You should see this before we go. I thought I smelled something odd about the old man. He’s not human. After he died, he grew scales and claws. Montagu is Vescali, Cadence, but he wasn’t evil. He warned Richard and Leopold not to go through the monolith. They wouldn’t listen to him. He tried to keep others from going through it, but the priests were too powerful, and they kept him here under guard. They’ve been using the stone for months.”

  Cadence gave him a hard look. “What do you mean you smelled something? You saw him change. Montagu smells dead, but it’s not that ripe.”

  “I can smell better than you, Cadence. I’m infected with the virus.” Highbrow looked at the ground, embarrassed. “I’m both Chameleon and werepuma now. We can talk later. The important thing is getting you back to Colorado.”

  Smoke was thick on the lower levels. They kept to the stairs and entered the main dining hall, finding more dead servants, guards, the lord’s hounds, and several Vescali in demon form. The fire from the kitchen had spread, and it filled the room with flames and haze. Exiting the keep, they entered the courtyard and found Blaze waiting beside a fountain, loading her carbine with the last ammunition. A few slain Vescali lay nearby. Blaze took one look at Highbrow and smiled.

  “Look who came to save the day,” she said, laughing. “It’s nice to have you back on the team, Highbrow.”

  Cadence looked around the courtyard. “Where is Whisper?”

  “In the chapel.” Blaze nodded toward a humble wooden building with a tall steeple. “The stone has to be there. Whisper never came back out. With the fire spreading, these demons keep coming out. I enjoy shooting them.”

  Highbrow took the lead and reached the door first, opening it up for the two young women. Inside, they found Whisper standing over a half-turned, dead priest. He appeared calm for someone who had just cleaved a demon in half. Candles burned bright, while a bowl of incense produced a fragrant aroma. Highbrow walked over to Whisper and shook his hand.

  “Good to see you, captain,” Whisper said, offering a lopsided grin. “Once a Tiger, always a Tiger. I knew you’d come back to us. Never doubted it for a minute.”

  “It just took me a while to figure it out,” Highbrow said, “but we can talk about that later. We need to leave before the Vescali find us. Montagu said they’ve been guarding him for years. I can smell them. They’re close. Did you find the portal?”

  “I did. It’s downstairs.”

  As they turned for the stairs, movement at the door revealed several cloaked figures. More Vescali waited outside in the gloom. Throwing off their cloaks, they turned into bat-like creatures and swept across the pews, aiming for Cadence and her friends.

  “Get to the monolith!” Cadence shouted.

  Swinging her sword, Cadence swatted a demon from the air before Highbrow dashed by with a loud roar. His clothes h
ung off his body, although he had not fully turned; he had the head of a cat with long teeth and claws. Highbrow tore the demons apart, destroying the chapel in the process; but more demons continued to file in behind their slain brothers. Cadence shouted for Highbrow and waited for him on the stairs before joining the others. She shut the door and bolted it. Vescali pounded on the door, screaming, but it held firm.

  “The stone’s over here,” Whisper said.

  Lit torches, a few hung paintings, and the monolith were all that occupied the chamber. The black stone stood in the center of the room, projecting from the earth, and it glimmered as if wet. As they approached the stone, it hummed, and an opening formed in the middle. A familiar tug pulled the team closer. The Vescali broke down the door as Whisper ran into the light emanating from the rock, followed by Blaze, Highbrow, and Cadence, with the demons in close pursuit.

  * * *

  Raven stood with the Dark Angels behind the barricade, guarding the monolith. Since Highbrow had given the Earth Corps the slip to find Cadence, Thor assigned the Dark Angels to security.

  “The Cheyenne Stone is humming,” Pallaton said. He sat holding a rifle and turned to look at a security camera. They had been working since the magnetic net covered the great stone. “Get the Earth Corps in here. Now!”

  The portal appeared, swirling in light. Raven slid down beside Rose, peering over the barricade. She noticed Pallaton’s eyes glowing yellow. The rest of the Dark Angels’ eyes turned violet and their fangs extended as the ground trembled. The portal widened. Whisper, Blaze, a werepuma, and Cadence rushed through the portal and ran for the barricade. The Vescali followed. The Dark Angels fired on the demons as their missing friends joined them behind cover. Raven handed each of the three Chameleons a gun, and they formed a line at the side of the lake and fired at the demons as they appeared.

  “Where the hell is Thor?” Cadence shouted. “There are hundreds more behind us. We’ve got to destroy the monolith or they’ll get through!”

  Bodies piled outside the Roman Stone, and the Vescali had to crawl over their own dead, slowing their progression. Raven heard the door behind her open and smelled a familiar odor as Thor and the Earth Corps charged into the cavern. The teenagers lined up behind the Dark Angels, and the firing paused as Freeborn dashed toward the monolith.

  Raven led three pumas and a werewolf in a coordinated attack against the demons. They held the Vescali back as Freeborn approached from the rear of the stone. The portal grew so wide Raven could see Vescali waiting to come through. A thunderous sound filled the cavern, and the light dimmed. Raven looked up as Freeborn slammed her fists against the stone. A few more blows and shards of rock crumbled to the ground. Freeborn raised her fists high, and, with one last strike, she split the monolith in half. The light vanished, and the portal closed on the Vescali as the remainder of the Cheyenne Stone shattered into thousands of pieces.

  Cheers filled the cavern. The Earth Corps were the first to reach Cadence, Whisper, and Blaze. A strong hand gripped Raven’s shoulder, and she turned to find Pallaton smiling at her. She returned the gesture with a grateful embrace.

  “We did right, coming here,” Pallaton said. “I feel like I’ve done something right, something good. I’d give anything to see the Kaiser’s face when he hears about this.”

  “Rafe and Lachlan weren’t with them!” Raven kept hold of his hand as she climbed on top of the sandbags and counted heads. “They’re missing. So is Logan. Something’s wrong. That’s two more Dark Angels we’ve lost.”

  “Let them celebrate,” Rose said, worried. “There’ll be even fewer of us after the assault on the Citadel. I need to find out what happened to Logan; he may have fled the moment they arrived, though I can’t imagine him enjoying life in medieval England.” She hurried over to greet her returning friends.

  Raven knew that Logan wouldn’t have stayed behind, not when Rose was waiting for him. She glanced over at Thor and Loki. They hung back looking unhappy. Raven walked over to her former teammates.

  “What’s wrong? This is a joyous moment,” she said. “Our patrol team never received a welcome home like this, but that never stopped the Vikings from congratulating the other teams for a job well done. This is your team now, Thor. Why are you standing there scowling like an old goat? Now Cadence can lead the attack…or is that the problem?”

  “Highbrow is lapping it up like the credit is his for bringing Cadence back,” Thor said. “I suppose he’s made up with Cadence. At least Rafe and Logan didn’t make it back. I was hoping for that; I say good riddance.”

  Loki snickered. “You’ll never fill Highbrow’s shoes, Thor. Why do you even try? He’s Cadence’s boyfriend.”

  “Something bad happened. Cadence is handling it well enough, but Rose is crying. Baldor and Heimdall wouldn’t hold a grudge like you two. They would both be celebrating. Loki, you’ve never had manners, but Thor, you’re a team leader. Stop being so immature and get over there.”

  Thor snarled. “Don’t tell me what to do. You’re not a Viking anymore, Raven, and you’re not Earth Corps either. This is complicated.”

  “It’s not,” Pallaton said. “With Cadence and Highbrow’s return, it makes you third in line for command, Thor. But you don’t see Dragon complaining. I thought this was about your team, not individual glory.”

  A smile appeared on Loki’s face as he nudged Thor in the ribs. “Dragon is a follower, he always will be. Second best.”

  Cadence walked over, and the conversation ceased. Pallaton pulled Raven aside, while Loki remained at Thor’s side. The commander’s chain mail and tunic were covered with blood. Her smile faded as Thor bristled and clenched his fists.

  “What were you thinking, Thor?” Cadence said. “Logan and Rafe had no business coming after us. Did you send them, or did they come on their own like Highbrow?”

  “I sent them to find you,” Thor said. “If they didn’t make it back, then they weren’t meant to come back.”

  Cadence punched Thor in the jaw. The broad-shouldered hunk tumbled hard into the sandbags, collapsing to the ground.

  “Don’t be so quick to blame me,” Thor said, rising to his feet. He waved off Star when she stepped forward to help him. “Rafe and Logan wanted redemption. I didn’t force them to go. Nor did I send Highbrow. That was his idea.”

  Loki ducked out of the way as Cadence glanced in his direction. Raven held firm as the commander turned toward her and then faced Pallaton.

  “Things have changed since I’ve been gone,” Cadence said. “But if Rose wants you both here, I won’t challenge her decision. We need everyone we can get if we’re going to defeat Prince Balan.”

  Pushing through, Rose approached Cadence. Raven had never seen the doctor look so heartbroken. She remembered working beside Rose and Logan in the lab at Seven Falls. She remembered the two getting on each other’s nerves. It didn’t take a Ph.D. to know they had fallen for each other.

  “Did Logan say anything, before he died?” Rose asked.

  Cadence dug around inside of a leather pouch and held out a gold necklace. “I wasn’t there when he died, Rose. I’m so sorry. We found Logan and Rafe outside Pevensey Castle, amongst the castle guards, murdered by Vescali. We lost Lachlan trying to obtain the spear. They sacrificed their lives trying to help our cause. I swear I’ll avenge their deaths by killing Prince Balan and every Vescali that gets in my way.”

  Rose turned toward Micah, sobbing. He held her tight. The giant werepuma lunged over the sand bags, landing between Thor and Cadence. Highbrow opened his jaws and let out a thunderous roar. Cadence nodded and pulled the Spear of Destiny from her side.

  “This is it,” Cadence said, her voice filled with emotion. “Thanks to Richard Mallory and his brother Thomas, we found the sacred spear in a crystal coffin that contained the body of Apollo. Whether my blood will awaken him or not, I can’t be sure. But the gods and goddesses of old are just like us, infected with the virus. Others may still live. Once we defeat Balan and the
Shadowguard, we must turn our attention to the Vescali. They are a bigger threat than any of us imagined.”

  Freeborn stepped out front. “I’m behind you, Cadence. The Earth Corps are, too. I believe you were meant to find this spear and bring it here. You’re meant to lead us into battle.”

  “When you face Prince Balan,” Raven said, “say his name out loud. Using the name against him will weaken him for several minutes. Freeborn is right, Cadence. You are meant to lead us into battle. We’re all behind you, and we’ll do whatever is necessary to defeat Balan and the Shadowguard.”

  The door to the lake opened and Picasso burst in, his eyes violet with excitement. “You won’t believe what just happened. It’s a miracle! I just got through to Senator Powers, and he’s coming to Colorado Springs!”

  At the mention of his father, Highbrow morphed back into his human form. He stood up, naked and with his mouth open. Freeborn chuckled. She removed her Army jacket and tossed it to Highbrow. He tied it around his waist before running a hand through his hair. Cadence, Freeborn, Smack, Dodger, and Blaze gathered around him. All the former Fighting Tigers were united again, as if they were never apart.

  “I can’t believe it,” Highbrow said. “All this time we’ve been waiting to hear from my father. Didn’t I tell you he was still alive? I knew he wouldn’t let me down. Is he coming here, Picasso? Did he say?”

  Picasso grinned from ear to ear. “I spoke with General Winters, who is in command of the military. Your father intends to come here, but first General Winters is sending the Air Force to take out the Citadel. They’re already on their way. You can talk to your father later, Highbrow. We’re supposed to launch our attack after the air strike. Our orders are to destroy the Shadowguard and take the vampire lords as prisoners. General Winters asked that we try to take the Kaiser prisoner.”

  “Not a chance,” Cadence said. “He’s going down.”

  “Did my dad give me a message?” Highbrow asked.