“She’s in the cult and the party.” Miriel stated before setting the wallet on a side table. Almost everyone was in the cult now, just to be on the safe side, but Miriel was still worried. What if Emily had met Lucian, told him about her friend Elle. Lucian wasn’t an idiot, he’d know exactly who Elle was and if Emily had told him anything else he’d know where to find her.
“She seems stable enough for the condition she’s in, but we need to find a way to close up these wounds, especially the bit on her arm.”
Miriel nodded and swallowed, pausing just a second longer than she should have. William was too preoccupied to notice. Carefully she helped stitch up the wounds as best she could. The girl looked pale enough to pass for dead, but her breathing was getting more regular and the blood had finally stopped flowing out.
“How do you think this happened to our Emily?” Miriel stood next to William and stared down at her.
“It had to be patrols. I’ve seen cuts and slashes like that before, and the bites are a giveaway. Never so many on the same person though. That, what’s his name, Lucas?”
“Lucian.” Miriel answered.
“Right. That Lucian has really let those things get out of control. Not that Kristopher’s trying too hard to fix anything. Mark my words, one day the two of them will be at each other’s throats for full control.”
Miriel nodded, that was obvious. “And what do you think will happen to Emily if she gets better? Someone obviously didn’t want her to survive.”
“That’s not our tragedy to worry about.” William shrugged. “Besides she might not even make it out of this alive.”
26. Alexander and Kristopher
“It’s not working nearly as well as we’d hoped.”
“Yes, I know. Alexander, would you like to explain to me why we’re still hemorrhaging citizens?”
“You’re the one who ordered the zombie patrol. Just because I can control them doesn’t mean they’re all my fault.”
“Don’t give me that just following orders bullshit!” Kristopher was in rare form. Everything was falling apart around him and he chose to blame it all on Lucian, who in return, was becoming more difficult to work with.
“These outskirt societies aren’t self-sustaining, especially not with this kind of surge in population. All you have to do is wait a few years and they’ll self-destruct, problem solved.”
“You sound just like Lucian, and I assure you, Lucian is the last person I want to hear from right now.”
“He has a point, Kris. You have all the time in the world. Why don’t you just wait them all out?”
“Because all those citizens who would be off doing something illegal are now living off the grid and I’m running out of people to kill.”
The remainder of Kristopher’s Cabinet looked around anxiously. None of them were on board with what Lucian’s people did, and whenever Kristopher brought it up the room went silent. None of them were ready to admit aloud that they had put their support behind a crazed serial killer, but they were all thinking it. The more Kristopher made decisions based on keeping his immortality paid for, the more his Cabinet looked for a way out. They were all starting to feel they’d made a disastrous decision, but leaving would put them and their families in a compromised position. However, the longer they waited the harder it would be to get out safely.
“Then why don’t you just go hunting. The way things are now a few people could disappear in the middle of the night and no one would notice.”
“That is not the way I do things! Every single thing this administration does has to be legal.”
Alexander laughed. “Legal? Nothing about this whole administration, not even the fact that it exists, is legal. It’s a little too late to pretend you’re the one with morality. Even if that’s what you’re doing to throw Lucian under the bus. You know those zombie patrols wouldn’t be anything like they are now if Lucian had full control.”
“Going back on your choice of sides, little Alex? Because I assure you it’s too late to go running back to the Lord of the dead.”
“I know that,” Alexander hissed. “I chose your side because you were willing to give me more control. Don’t think I haven’t noticed you pulling back. You think I’m a threat, don’t you?” Alexander smiled. “Now it all makes sense.”
“I can still kill you, Alexander. Never forget that. You’re always around, and maybe the next time I’m running low on live bodies I’ll just give you a visit.”
“You wouldn’t do that.”
“And why not?”
“Because I control your share of the patrols. If Lucian decides he wants to go up against you, you’ll need to have those zombies on your side.”
Kristopher knew he was right, he hated how insightful the necromancers were, always one-step ahead. “Fine. Let’s say you’re right and I can’t kill you, but Lucian can.” Kristopher’s eyes gleamed, he might not be able to take control of the situation himself but he could play the two against each other. “I’d say that’s a good reason to make sure things go well for me. Because if Lucian and I get back on good terms you can be sure your life will be part of the deal.”
Alexander nodded. He knew the only thing keeping him alive was Kristopher.
“Alright. You need to wait them out. Let the compounds fall apart, force everyone to leave. I can promise you it’ll be worth the wait, you might find some of these places have hidden assets.” Alexander thought back to the woman he’d seen outside the gates. If it was Miriel, and he was almost certain it was, she could be a great pawn. Lucian would go to hell and back for her, and Kristopher would never be able to show enough gratitude for finding her.
“I’ll keep that suggestion in mind.”
Alexander nodded and went back to his patrols. At least that was one thing he could do himself.
“Shut it down. Immigration is now illegal. Kill anyone who has paperwork dating back two weeks or less.”
“Should we bring some back here, to keep your prison stocked?”
“Of course.” Kristopher nodded to his Cabinet. There were only three of them left now, but that wouldn’t be a problem. He’d get by without the rest of them.
27. Miriel and William
“What do we do now? We could survive with an almost nonexistent number of incoming citizens, but none?”
“William, we have plenty of people here now even after Kristopher’s men came in and killed off a handful of them. And with Perkins forcing everyone to get married as quickly as possible we’ll eventually have a population increase from the inside.”
“We can’t kill infants. Or their parents. How am I supposed to play the game now with everyone busy having children!”
“Will, just calm down.” Miriel was relaxed about the situation and that frustrated William even more than the situation itself.
“I’ve worked hard to get here, I’m not going to let anyone take my place.”
“We’ve both worked hard to get where we are, but be rational. If we’re in this position then so is everyone else. The game will stagnate for a while, but only until we all adjust.”
“And what if it doesn’t adjust?”
“It will. We can find a way to entice some people to brave the patrols, the worse it gets the easier it’ll be for them to get here.”
“And what do we do while we wait? We’re losing supplies, we won’t be able to support growing families. We can’t expand.”
“So what? Everything you’re talking about involves playing by the rules. We can keep ourselves and a few select people alive indefinitely. The Victorian age was filled with disturbed peasants, destitute, starving, and crazy. Plenty of orphans too. Let things get true to life. Then we can get rid of people we don’t need, put the poor out of their misery.”
“Well, that is a plan. But without new people coming in and out we won’t be able to sustain it.”
“Kristopher could turn around any day. All we have to do is wait and things might change on their own. For now we
just get on with life as normal.”
“Like setting an example for everyone else?”
“Exactly.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.” William fixed Miriel with a dark stare. “Because Madame Perkins has been busy planning our wedding.”
“Our what?” Miriel felt her stomach drop.
“That’s right, I’m not letting you off the hook. You can’t just stall and hope things change so you can go out and leave me here. We have a deal, and it’s time you follow through.”
“I have been following through with everything I’ve promised you. Trust me, if there was any way I could go back to my life outside I’d not only leave I’d kill you on the way out. But I can’t. So I’m stuck here with you until the end of time. Don’t threaten me, we both know I can’t go anywhere.”
“That may be true, but there’s only one way to prove it. A marriage here is just as legal as one out there. You’re stuck with me.” William tried to use his most threatening tone but Miriel still looked at him without emotion.
“I want to wait until Emily is better. She’s going to be my maid of honor.”
William laughed. “Absolutely not. You don’t get to wait. This is going to happen now. And as a little wedding present, I think maybe Emily should be the first to die.”
“She’s one of us.”
“That bitch left us as soon as things started to look better on the other side. Just like I’m sure you would if you’d had half a chance. So let’s consider this a message.”
“There are plenty of other people for us to kill. It doesn’t have to be her.”
“But I want it to be. And I’m going to be your husband. This will be your first choice as my wife, do you want your life to be easy, or as difficult as possible?”
“Fine.” Miriel didn’t hesitate. Emily wasn’t worth the fight. No one was.
“Good. Now, go spend your last day with Madame Perkins and I’ll see you at the church.” William gave her a kiss on the cheek as he left.
For the first time in her life, Miriel felt herself shed a tear because of her situation. She had never felt so trapped, and there was nothing she could do about it.
Madame Perkins and all the other women of the house were expecting her. The wedding dress was laid out, a disgusting, yellowed antique with a high collar and lace. It made Miriel sick to look at. The idea of actually wearing it was repulsive. Somehow, the women managed to get her into it without much of a struggle. Miriel tried to lock up inside herself. Maybe if she was numb to it all it would feel less like she was walking herself to the slaughter. The women tugged at her dress and pulled at her hair, turning her into a very beautiful, if unwilling, bride. They even managed to paint her face with some contraband makeup someone had brought in from the outside. Miriel couldn’t remember the last time she’d been forced to get so dressed up.
“Oh, you must be so happy!”
“The best day of your life!”
“Just think how gorgeous your children will be. William is quite a catch. You must feel so blessed to have had him before the rest of us got here.”
Children? Miriel had never in her life thought about children. And with William? That thought was even more repulsive than the dress. Raising a child required a true partnership between likeminded people. She could never enter into that kind of life with him, and she highly doubted William would want to be a father. But, of course, people would expect children. It was going to be a disaster. Maybe she could claim she couldn’t have children, but then people would go around saying ‘poor William’. Miriel didn’t think she could handle that anymore than she could handle a child.
“And let’s not forget the woman who made it happen.” Madame Perkins stepped up to take her place in the spotlight. “Elle, you’ve been like a daughter to me. I hope you feel the same.” Madame Perkins was glowing. She was the only woman who’d managed to get one of her protégés married off during the crisis Kristopher had created for them. Miriel had helped her win her game, and she had to show her gratitude while taking credit.
“Of course.” Miriel forced the words to come out but she spoke with someone else’s voice. She knew she should have forced a smile, but she didn’t have the energy.
“Aw, she’s nervous,” one of the women cooed.
“How precious!”
Miriel wondered if it would be easier to kill them all and run outside hoping for the best, or go through with the wedding. There was always a chance the patrols wouldn’t notice her, but there was an even larger chance Kristopher was looking specifically for her.
“Come on, Elle!”
“Time to go!”
Miriel had never been one to be indecisive, but she couldn’t think of what option would be better. She was swept from the house before she could come to a conclusion. Poor Emily, it wouldn’t be the same without her. All these women fit their stereotype too well. Maybe one of them would be more like her if she got to know them. She could try to find a replacement Emily. Miriel decided that would be her new quest, to find a replacement Emily. At least that would get her out of William’s house. There would always be tea with Madame Perkins, that could take several hours a day. Maybe it would be possible to survive after all.
The chapel was rarely used and located in the back corner of the compound. Madame Perkins and her women had been busy, it looked festive. All the white made Miriel dizzy and every voice in her head told her to run. The doors opened and Miriel noticed several other founders were there with William. Everyone had dressed up for the occasion, Miriel hadn’t even known the compound had invested in so many formal and intricate costumes for occasions that seemed to happen so rarely. Music started from a source Miriel couldn’t place, and the women dispersed to their seats, leaving Miriel to make the trek to William alone.
As she started to walk down the aisle Miriel noticed William lick his lips.
28. Lucian and Kristopher
“No.”
“Lucian, we’ve promised it to our people.”
“Do you have any idea how many men I’ve brought back today alone? Not to mention this month or the past year? You can believe our friends on the other side, whatever they are, aren’t too happy about that. They need new souls to join them in their world to keep them on our side. That won’t happen if no one’s dying.”
“Don’t you control what they do? Don’t give them a voice! Just use what you know and do what you do.”
“Kristopher, I don’t think you understand. One day we will need a favor from them, or and possibly even worse, we’ll die. Do you have any idea what kind of torture they’re capable of inflicting on a soul in the short time we’re in their world?”
“Of course not, Lucian, but if we know we’re coming back I don’t see why we need to humor the wayward souls. What happened to this all just being a scientific approach to life and death. Isn’t that what you told the people to sell them your little religion?”
“Don’t be so naïve. Imagine, my dear Kris, living in both worlds. Your soul is with them but your consciousness is in your body. Do you have any idea what that will do to you?”
“Of course not, but neither do you, Lucian, not really. You’re just spouting hypothetical situations to get me scared. I know all your tricks.” Kristopher waved a hand, his favorite gesture of annoyance, and turned back to the room where a dead soldier and his family were waiting for Lucian to give them a miracle.
Lucian flew in front of Kristopher, throwing him against a wall then pinning him to it by clamping a hand across his throat. “You have no idea. You’re a child when you take into account the things I’ve seen and lived through. Things in both worlds. I know very well what that kind of torture does. My mother slit her wrists in the bathtub, felt the pain, but couldn’t die. She hung herself while her soul screamed out to stop, but couldn’t die. My father had to bury her alive. It is the closest to a real death she can ever hope for. We built the house over her.” Lucian looked down at the floor without emotion, sympathy had
run its course a long time ago. “And all because she couldn’t be like us. She couldn’t let anyone die.”
Kristopher opened his mouth to ask more questions but all that came out was, “What do we do?”
Lucian nodded and released his grip on Kristopher, who then slumped back against the wall. “Did you promise his parents we’d bring him back?”
Kristopher nodded.
“Did you say as what?” Lucian started to smirk as he looked at the corpse.
Kristopher shook his head as he began to figure out what Lucian was getting at.
“I think it’s time we build our zombies publicly,” Lucian’s smirk widened. “And what a good looking Marine we have to start with.”
“Wait!”
Lucian paused.
“How would this be any different from, well,” Kristopher let his voice trail off but his eyes focused on the floor.
“The man that once controlled that body is already gone. Mind and soul. I’m just reanimating tissue, the body can function because it was built to do so. I could let it talk for the family’s sake, because you promised. There will be nothing inside. Our Marine is dead and that’s how he’ll stay. We’re just playing with an empty shell. That’s how all my undead work.”
Kristopher nodded like he understood but wasn’t convinced. “But they’re part of the party.”
Lucian shrugged and walked into the room where the body was laid out. Loved ones stood around it, not sure what to do or how to react. They all looked up when Lucian came in and stared at him hopefully.
“Well, what do you say we bring your boy back?” Lucian gave such a sincerely fake smile Kristopher was almost regretting he agreed to not bring the soldier back to the way he had been before their war. In fact, he was starting to feel sick.
Lucian made a show of waving candles around and mumbling a lot of words that didn’t mean anything. He even pretended to wipe sweat from his forehead and throw Kristopher a few worried looks.
“What’s going on?! It seems like something’s not right! What’s wrong! What’s wrong!” His mother shrieked at Kristopher, too scared to interrupt Lucian in case that would ruin the rite.
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