“Here to offer us salvation?” taunted Robson.
Vladimir was unfazed. “Salvation is a religious word that implies holy deliverance from harm. I think we both agree that does not apply here. I’m here to correct a miscalculation that I made.”
“Vladimir the Great made a mistake.”
“I miscalculated. I assumed you’d be the only one in your group to reject joining the coven.” Vladimir addressed the others. “It appears there are others equally as stubborn.”
“You mean me,” said James.
“You and Ed.” Vladimir walked over to James and knelt. His gaze went back and forth between the two men. “That’s why I’m giving you both one final chance. You would both make excellent vampires and would be valuable in reestablishing our dominion on Earth. How about it?”
“Go fuck yourself,” Edward answered.
“I’d rather die,” said James.
“So be it.” Vladimir stood and backed away from James. He raised his hands like a messiah calling his flock to the fold. “Feast, my children.”
Morphing into their vampiric forms, the coven split into two groups and converged on James and Edward, except for Dravko who stood by the barn door. James rose to his knees, closed his eyes, and prayed. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I shall fear no evil for thou art with me, thy rod and thy—”
The Psalm was cut off when Tibor plunged his fangs into James’ throat. Gabrielle and Sean each grabbed an arm and stretched it out, drinking from the arteries in his wrist, while Mia and Tamara fell to their knees and fed off of the arteries in his inner thighs. James’ grunts devolved into pathetic whimpers as the undead drained him of his blood and his life.
Edward opted to fight back. When the vampires approached, he climbed to his feet, propped himself against the wooden rails of the horse stall, and coiled the loose chain around his right fist.
Linda glided up to him, her movements enticing, her voice seductive yet threatening. “You wouldn’t hit me, would you?”
Edward slammed the bunched up chain into her face with all the strength he had left, spinning her around. The crack echoed through the barn. Linda’s left cheek had been gashed open, revealing the shattered hinge to the jawbone. Her mouth fell open at an obscene angle. Linda covered the wound with her hand and backed away. As she retreated, the other four vampires attacked. Edward uncoiled the chain and, holding it in both hands, strung it across Lewis’ throat to strangle him. Stamos swung around to Edward’s flank and side kicked his right leg on the torn Achilles’ heel. Edward cried out and fell to his knees, releasing his grip on the chain. In one rapid move, Lewis pulled the chain from across his throat, wrapped it around Edward’s neck, and looped it around the top slat of the horse stall, choking Edward and holding him in place. Edward kicked out with his right leg despite the agony of his wound, catching Lewis in the groin. Lewis snarled and butted the human’s forehead with such force that Edward’s skull fractured. His body slid down the stall until the chain grew taught, snapping his neck. Lewis used the chain to lift Edward’s lifeless body off of the ground and bit into his neck. Stamos, Jonathon, and Miles each took a limb, the four drinking quickly while his blood was still warm.
“Stop it!” screamed Yukiko, pounding her fists into the dirt. “Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!”
Magda closed her eyes and mumbled a silent prayer. Corey could not avert his terrified eyes from the horror taking place before him. Roberta looked to Robson for solace. All Robson could do was yell at Dravko.
“Aren’t you going to do anything?”
Dravko lowered his head and exited the barn.
Vladimir chuckled, his back still toward Robson while he enjoyed the feeding frenzy that played itself out. “I hope you realize how futile it was to count on Dravko to intercede for you.”
“I thought he was our friend,” Robson confessed.
“You mistook his weakness for friendship,” Vladimir said. “Humans and vampires can’t be friends. You knew that when you banished me from your camp. Tibor always knew it. I’m sure Sultanic and Tatyana did, too. What you had was a marriage of convenience. That’s over, and things are going back to the way they should be.”
“You mean where humans hunt you down.”
Vladimir laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Robson said, trying to control his anger.
“I don’t see you humans doing any of the hunting.” Vladimir crouched in front of Robson. “When I say going back to the way things should be, I’m referring to vampires having dominion over humans.”
“You mean vampires keeping us as cattle.”
“Yes.” As if to emphasize the point, the rest of the coven joined Vladimir after having finished feeding off of James and Edward, their hands and mouths covered in blood. Vladimir snapped his fingers and motioned to the barn door. The coven exited, leaving behind the drained bodies to rot alongside Caslow’s and one lamp so the surviving humans could dwell on the fate that awaited them if they refused to join the coven.
Once the chain had been secured around the barn door handle and the vampires had left, Yukiko curled up in the fetal position and sobbed. Magda shifted her position so she did not have to face the corpses of her friends. Roberta moved as close as the chains would allow to Robson.
“What are we going to do now?” she asked.
“I don’t know. Things didn’t go as expected tonight.”
“Seriously?” Corey asked. “Do you fucking think? I hope you have a better plan for tomorrow night bef—”
Magda backhanded Corey across the face. “Knock off your shit. Give him time to think of something.”
“He should already have a plan.” Corey ran his tongue around the inside of his mouth and spit a wad of blood at Magda’s feet. “Well? Do you have a plan, or are you just winging this?”
Robson said nothing.
“That’s what I fucking thought.” Corey lay dawn and snuggled against the wooden wall of the stall.
Roberta mouthed, “Do you have a plan?”
Robson closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the main support. He did have one, although he could not let the others know it.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
The three Angels sat in the top row of bleachers facing Piedmont Hills High’s baseball diamond, munching on their MREs. Natalie would have preferred to be alone, but Ari and Doreen wanted to join her, so she’d accepted. The other two chatted amicably, and Natalie occasionally added something to the conversation so as not to appear rude. In truth, all she wanted to do was get some sleep. After the day they had gone through, she needed it.
Following the race across San Jose to rescue the downed Apache crew, headquarters had ordered Tango Alpha One to set up a Forward Area Refuel Point and be ready to provide support for the ground troops if necessary, which never happened. The drive through San Jose encountered no concentrations of rotters that the regular forces couldn’t handle. Natalie and the others didn’t see any activity until half an hour before dusk when the advancing line swept past the school and continued on to the foothills of the Diablo Mountains half a mile to the east. The rest of Tango Alpha joined them and, after setting up a makeshift perimeter, settled down for the evening.
Doreen finished off her MRE and packed the remnants into the main pouch. “If you’ll excuse me, I have the nine to midnight watch.”
“Better you than me,” Ari joked.
“Good luck,” Natalie said.
“Thanks.” Doreen stood up and made her way down the bleacher, pausing long enough to place her hand on Natalie’s shoulder. “I’m glad we’re back together again.”
Natalie patted her wrist. “Me too.”
Ari waited until Doreen had reached the bottom of the bleachers before saying, “She’s right.”
“About what?”
“About us all being back together.”
For the first time in days, Natalie thought about the Angels no longer with them. Leila had died at S
ite R after being bitten by a baby rotter. Bethany had succumbed at the beginning of the trip west from an infection caused by a bite. Rotters had killed Tiara on a sandbar just north of St. Louis, and Katie during the evacuation from Omaha. Sarah and Emily were lost in the explosion on the Golden Gate Bridge. The losses that hurt the most, however, were Josephine, Stephanie, Amy, and Sandy. Deaths were understandable, and she could deal with that. Those four joined other parts of the government-in-exile. Having them walk away from what they had built, what they had gone through for so long, felt like betrayal.
Natalie also thought about Robson, which weighed even heavier on her heart. She had not wanted to leave him behind in Portland. They had only recently fallen in love, and going ahead without him shattered what little hope she had left for the future. Deep down, she knew she had no choice. Every life lost over the past month would have been wasted if the Angels had not at least tried. She had no illusions about ever seeing him again, or even about his still being alive. Natalie only wished she knew what had happened to him. The closure would have been nice.
“You okay?” Ari asked.
Natalie suddenly realized tears were streaking down her cheek. She nodded and wiped the back of her hand across her eyes.
“You’re thinking about Robson, aren’t you?”
“I know he’s probably dead. Even if he isn’t, the chances of us ever seeing each other again are….” Natalie choked back a sob.
Ari slid across the bleacher and wrapped an arm around Natalie’s shoulder.
“I’m fine,” Natalie lied.
“No you’re not.”
“I am. Believe m—” Natalie never completed her sentence before the tears began to flow again. She cried for five minutes. Ari cradled Natalie’s head against her shoulder, stroking her hair. She said nothing, letting her friend purge. When there were no more tears to flow, Natalie lifted her head.
Ari rubbed her shoulder. “Do you feel better?”
“I do. It’s….”
“What?”
“I hate for anyone to see me weak like this.”
“Look at me,” said Ari.
“No.”
“Why?”
“I’m a mess.”
“No you’re not. You’re as beautiful as ever.” Ari placed her hands under Natalie’s chin and raised her head. She used her thumbs to wipe away the tears. “As for being weak, no one could have done what you did over the past year without crying at least once.”
Natalie chuckled. “You’re biased.”
“I admit it. You’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever known.”
Natalie smiled. “Thanks.”
Ari leaned forward and closed her eyes. Before Natalie could respond, their lips touched. The kiss was gentle. Ari’s tongue glided along Natalie’s lips. Natalie didn’t know what to do. When she pulled back a little, Ari released her.
“I’m sorry,” Ari said quickly. “I shouldn’t have done that. It was—”
Natalie placed her hands on Ari’s cheeks and pulled her close. Their lips met again, only now the kiss was more passionate. Their tongues explored each other’s mouths. Ari slid her hands around Natalie’s waist and leaned onto the bleacher seat, pulling Natalie on top of her. She ground herself against Natalie, who moaned deep into Ari’s throat.
Ari broke the embrace. “Are you sure you want to do this here?”
“Are you changing your mind?”
“No,” Ari said. “I mean out here in the open.”
“Who cares? I need you now.”
For the next hour, Natalie and Ari lost themselves in each other’s love.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
“Will I be okay?” Linda said, her voice cracking from the pain.
“You’ll be fine.” Vladimir stroked the back of her head. “Your body will regenerate quickly, and by tomorrow night you’ll be healed.”
“It’s agonizing,” Linda moaned.
“You get used to it after a while and learn to control it. Remember, we have a much higher tolerance than do humans. Levels of pain that would shock their bodies into closing down have little effect on us.”
A quiet knock sounded on the door. Tibor stuck his head inside the bedroom and mouthed the words, “We found him.” Vladimir nodded, and Tibor discreetly exited.
“I have to go,” said Vladimir.
“Please don’t leave me.”
“I have things to attend to.” Vladimir raised his right arm and placed his wrist in front of Linda’s mouth. “Take some of my blood.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“It’s not for food. A vampire’s blood is curative to other vampires. It’ll help you regenerate.”
Linda placed her mouth over the veins in Vladimir’s wrist. She extended her fangs, bit through the skin, and drank. After a few seconds, she let out a sigh that sounded part relief and part sexual. Vladimir let her continue for a minute before pulling his arm away. When Linda leaned forward for more, he placed a hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her back onto the bed.
“When you wake up tomorrow night, you’ll be back to normal.”
Linda fell asleep before her head hit the mattress.
Vladimir exited the bedroom and closed the door behind him. Tibor stood further down the hall at the top of the stairs.
“Where did you find him?”
“Miles and Tamara found him wandering the woods,” Tibor replied.
Vladimir descended the stairs. “What was he doing out there?”
“Brooding.” Tibor fell in behind the Master.
“About what?”
“What else? Having to turn Robson and the others.”
Vladimir reached the bottom of the stairs and entered the room the coven used as their living area. Dravko stood by the fireplace, his back to the door. Vladimir crossed the room.
“Do you mind telling me what your fucking problem is?”
Dravko turned to face him. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Bullshit.” Vladimir moved up close and got into Dravko’s face. To his credit, he did not back down or wince. “Why did you leave the barn tonight during the feeding?”
“You know I have a problem with us going after Robson.”
“I know. You’re protecting your pet human.” Vladimir nearly spat the words. “But tonight we fed on the other two.”
“They’re friends of Robson’s.”
Vladimir took several steps back to lessen the temptation to rip out the insolent bastard’s throat. “You betrayed the coven back in Maine when you went along with banishing me from the humans’ camp. Even after I offered to give you another chance to redeem yourself, you betrayed the coven again.”
“I didn’t betr—”
“Shut up!” screamed Vladimir. Even Tibor jumped at the virulence seething from him. “I’ve fucking had it with you. You need to get something straight. You are no longer the Master of this coven. You never should have been. I’m in charge now. The only way to keep our species alive and rebuild our numbers is to create a coven of vampires who are strong and loyal. You’re undermining that effort. I’m sick of coddling you. Tomorrow night, one way or another, I’m making you an example for the rest of the coven.”
“An example?” asked Tibor from the open doorway.
“Yes.” Vladimir glanced over his shoulder at Tibor, his icy glare warning the vampire not to question him, and then back to Dravko. “Tomorrow night you are going to turn or feed on one of the humans and show the rest of the coven that you’re a loyal member of our group. If not, then Tibor and I are going to cut you down where you stand. Is that understood?”
Dravko hesitated.
“Do you understand me?” Vladimir hissed.
“Yes.”
“Good. Now get the fuck out of my sight.”
Dravko stalked across the room and exited the house, refusing to make eye contact with Tibor. Once he had left, Vladimir stepped up to Tibor. “Don’t you dare tell me you think I’m out of line.”
/> “On the contrary. I think what you’re doing is long overdue.” Tibor pushed himself off the door jamb. “He’s grown weak after spending so much time with the humans. And you need to exert dominance over every vampire in your coven.”
“Even you?”
“I didn’t think my loyalty was in question.”
“It’s not,” Vladimir said. “It’s good to know I can count on—”
The opening of the front door interrupted Vladimir. Jonathon and Stamos entered. They were agitated.
“What’s wrong?” Vladimir asked.
“We’re in no immediate danger,” said Stamos. “We were hunting north of here when we heard something that sounded like gunfire, and plenty of it. So we investigated.”
“What did you find?”
“The noise was too far away, maybe thirty or thirty-five miles from where we are. It sounded like the humans were battling the rotters and trying to push their way south.”
Vladimir stepped away from the group as he thought this over. He had always expected that sooner or later the humans would try and take the world back from the rotters, he just didn’t think it would happen this soon. Based on what Jonathon and Stamos told him, he would have to change his plans and move the coven before it reached the size he had hoped for. Even with eleven vampires, they would prove no match for a heavily-armed group of humans on the hunt for the living dead. It sucked because this was the ideal location to rebuild the coven. At least he had a contingency plan.
He stepped back over to Jonathon and Stamos. “You said this gunfire was about thirty-five miles away?”
“Yes.”
“Then we have time.”
“Time for what?” Tibor asked.
Rotter Apocalypse Page 23