Their musk hangs heavy, and I scan the trees, searching for more of them. The horses buck, kicking their front hooves in the air. I fight to keep the animals in control. Beside me, the scent of fresh blood, heavy with berries and tinged with metal, wafts to me. Looking to Emmett, I see a large gash in his forearm.
“What did you do?” I deflect another arrow as it barrels at me.
“I’m saving my queen.” Emmett pushes me to the floorboard and takes the reins, redirecting the horses into the forest.
As the cart jostles over the bumpy ground, he kicks me, and I fall into the dirt. I roll as I hit the ground and jump to the first tree.
Will drops from a branch opposite me and gives chase. I dart after him. “What about Emmett?”
“He’s not the target. Can you smell them? Where did they come from?” Will sucks in a deep breath as we run.
“I don’t know. I was distracted.”
“You and me both. Damn human drama.”
I jump into a tree and swing from branch to branch, trying to position myself above them. They are fast, and I push my muscles to match their pace. All the while, I take in every clue I can from the environment. Then it hits me, the slight tinge of smoke in the air.
“Smell the smoke? It’s a trap.” I halt my pursuit.
Will freezes in front of me. “You’re right.” He lets out a sharp whistle.
Emmett approaches on one of the horses and slides from its back. “What’s going on?"
“Fire. We smell smoke.”
“Come with me. I can keep you safe on my family’s property.” Emmett tugs at my arm.
Will shakes his head. “You don’t know anything about Anne if you think she will leave her people while we’re under attack. Let’s loop around the other side, try to get a sense of what’s going on.”
Will and I start to run, and Emmett chases on horseback. Light grows in the south, and smoke grows thicker. As we approach the main compound, the smell of blood almost overpowers me. My eyes cut to the skirmishes between our tribe members and bare-chested attacking vampires, assessing there to be at least sixty enemies in the space.
“Emmett, go save as many animals as possible. Help get the fire out.” I point him towards the barn, knowing he won’t last a second in direct combat.
Seeing Will drop his first enemy, I run to aid Gregor. “You shouldn’t be here, Anne.”
The attacker swings at me, giving Gregor a clean shot. His dagger slits the vampire’s throat.
Another five enemy tribesmen run from the woods. I keep one occupied while Gregor runs a blade through the man’s middle. We move to the next skirmish.
A tall vampire wearing a feathered headdress saunters towards me. With hatchets in each hand, he crouches and circles us.
“What do you want?” I ask.
“Do you not recognize my tribe? We have amassed many against you. You have more numbers than I anticipated. But at least we can send a message. You cannot enter a foreign land and make new rules for us.”
Sniffing the air, I search my memory for similarity. Then, it hits me, an image of warriors lined on a tribe’s border in South Florida. They’d said nothing, only stood there as if in silent protest.
There’s not time to argue politics and I lunge at him with my javelin. My spear pierces his torso just beneath his ribs, but he doesn’t stop. I pull my dagger from my boot and jab at his arm. Pulling the spear from his side, he barrels towards me. Guessing the chief to be stronger but perhaps not quicker, I take a running step and leap over him. Spinning around I kick my leg out, and my foot lands on his chin as he faces me.
Off balance for a second, he compensates and comes at me again. I take in my surroundings. The fire seems to be contained, but all my forces in the vicinity are locked in combat. The sentinels within hearing distance haven’t returned, and I fear they were taken down first. The tribe attacked from the south save the ambush on Emmett and me. I’m comforted thinking my western and northern scouts should be safe as they would have been too far away to round up.
Eyes gleaming, the chief studies me. “At a loss, Princess? Is that what they call you?”
“No.” I hold his stare. “They call me Queen.” I sweep my left leg around, hitting his calf. His knee buckles, and he falls. The next second, he grabs my ankle, and I slam into the sand.
A guttural cry echoes through the space, and I know it’s Jacob’s. I scan the bodies, looking for him. To my left, he falls to his knees beside Mambi. “Jacob!” I yell. “Go! Take her!”
His eyes lock on mine. The next second, he jumps to his feet and thrashes his spear into the skull of the vampire beside him. Hands pull at my leg, and I refocus on the chief. He scrapes my body over the dirt. Injured but healing, he thinks smart to conserve energy. I flip and land my dagger in his forearm. Still, he claws at me with the other hand. I stab his bicep, ripping a gash in his muscle.
Jumping to my feet, I loom over him, wondering for a second if I can kill again. Arms wrap around my middle, halting my blow. I kick my boots into the shins of my captor and punch at his torso. He’s huge, twice as big as me at least, and my thrashing has no effect on the grip on my chest. Before me, the chief rises to his feet. His mouth draws up on one side. “So, Queen, what have you to say now?”
Inhaling a breath, the scent of blood, human blood, accosts my senses. A hush falls over the clearing, as if we freeze in place. With another lung full of air, I realize whose blood is spilled. Emmett!
Not wanting to lose our advantage, I sink my fangs into the arm holding me and squirm from his grasp. The chief runs in the direction of the smell of blood, and I start after him, a host of other vampires trailing me. Jumping to the window sill, the chief scales up the barn. Looking up, I see Emmett standing on the top, blood dripping from his wrist.
Rage and horror erupt in my thoughts. I jump to the window and bound towards the chief, missing his foot as he fords the roof. As I swing my legs over the edge of the shingles, I see Emmett running the other way. The chief darts after, and I follow. The next second, my soldiers jump to the roof and surround the chief.
Gregor and another our tribesmen named John take hold of his arms. “Queen, the honor is yours.” Gregor pushes the chief towards me.
Realizing my left hand clenches my dagger, I let it fall to my side. I straighten my spine. “What say you, chief?”
I rotate in a slow circle, taking stock of the battle. Emmett’s stunt gave us the upper hand, and fifty-six, I count quickly, of the chief’s men lie dead save two held by Jacob and Will.
The chief’s jaws swivel in their sockets, and he spits on my feet. I jump back to avoid the liquid, guessing it to be venom. “I know you don’t enjoy killing. I wonder if you’ll live by your own law and have me stand fair trial or kill me with your own hands.”
“We will live by the law. Shackle him in the hot house.”
“How will there be a fair trial?” Jacob yells.
“We’ll ask for witnesses. Gather representatives from neighboring tribes.”
“But, it’s their word against ours.” Will clenches the arms of his captive.
“That’s for tomorrow. Secure him and the other two. Keep six guards watching at all times. We attend to our own tonight.”
I let Gregor and John pass with the chief. Then, I set my sights on Emmett who holds a piece of his shirt against the wound on his arm. I walk towards him with slow deliberate steps, willing my rage to abate one breath at a time. Reaching him, I release my fangs and puncture my wrist, letting the blood from the vein collect in my cupped hand. I offer Emmett the liquid and he wraps slurps it from my palm.
“Let me see.” Taking a step back, I lift his injured wrist and unwrap it. With my fresh blood pumping through his veins, the wound closes and begins to heal.
“You’re angry.” He slides his arm from my grip.
A couple of our warriors stand behind me, and I collect my thoughts. “Your diversion may have saved several of our soldiers. Thank you. Go home and
make sure your family is safe. We need to attend to our lost tonight and tomorrow. I will talk with you when our mourning is over.”
Emmett shakes his head. “These are my people too. I would like to pay my respects.”
“Make apologies to your parents for tomorrow night and join us for the funeral pyres at sundown.” I jump to the ground, leaving him standing there.
I look to the spot where Mambi last lay. She’s not there, and I search the area. Seeing Jacob carrying a form towards the main house, I dart to his side.
“Can I help you? Let me prepare her body.”
Bloody tears run down his face. “I can’t let her go. How can I ever be without her?”
I rub my hand across his shoulders. “You will hurt for a while. But the pain lessens. Let me take her.”
He stands frozen for a few seconds and then hugs her to his chest and releases her into my hold. Will appears beside me. “Shall I call several of the other women?”
“No, I will attend her.” I look into Jacob’s eyes. “She will be safe with me.”
“Brother.” Will grips Jacob’s shoulders. “Let us go and rest. I shall keep watch.”
Jacob nods his head and follows Will. I swallow hard, holding back tears as I climb the porch stairs. Three women join me in the kitchen as I lay her body on the table. A tear drops from my cheek as I close Mambi’s eyes. Filling a bowl with water, I clean her body, washing her hair and braiding it around her head as she did for celebrations.
One of the women fetches Mambi’s marriage gown, and we dress her in the white linen. Another brings flowers, and we fit them into her braid and clasp her hands on her chest. As I stare at my friend, guilt rises in my chest, and I fight more tears.
Remembering my place. I stand. “Can you watch over her? I need to attend to the rest of our warriors.”
Gregor stands near the front door, and I approach him. “How’s Jacob?”
“Will’s with him.”
“How many others did we lose?”
“Nine, but we’ve gathered fifty-six of their dead so far.”
“Did any escape?” I cross through the front door to the porch.
“The sentinels are tracking three.”
“Make sure they’re brought back alive. Also, send four ambassadors to the Gulf and Valley tribes of Florida, we made need to ask them to be judges. Have the ambassadors wait for instruction before making contact.”
“But the Valley tribe is not friendly to our cause.”
“That’s the point. The trial should be fair. This is the only way it can be.”
“As you wish.” Gregor raises his eyes to meet mine.
“What?”
“You should know it was Emmett’s idea. He must have had it planned it all along. As soon as I met him at the barn, he told me to amass a group to lie in hiding.”
“He’s beginning to be more trouble than he’s worth.” I let my eyes wander in the direction of his property.
“Why do you say that? It was a good plan. We could have lost many more.”
“You’re right. But, we outnumbered them. We would have overpowered them eventually. It’s not a human’s fight, and his family and lands could have been in jeopardy. We have no way of containing rumors if another human witnesses what we are.”
“You mean without a witch and without killing them.” One of Gregor’s eyebrows rises.
“Yes, we can’t keep amassing human pets.” I wring my hands, praying Emmett’s family is unharmed.
“Emmett is much more than a pet, and you know that.”
“I won’t have him put himself in harm’s way.”
“Because you care for him?”
“Because he’s more fragile than the rest of us. He had orders, a protocol to follow, and he broke rank. Send someone to his property to make sure they’re safe.”
“Yes.” Gregor runs down the steps, hailing the first two men he sees.
I find Will and Jacob in Jacob’s room. Head in hand, blood spills from his eyes, over his palms, and to his pants. I place a hand on each of his shoulders.
“Queen.” He swipes his cheeks with his arms. “Forgive me.”
“Jacob, do not call me that now. We’re friends, even more, brother and sister.”
“Forgive me, I did not know and could not comprehend your grief until now.” Arms locked around his middle, he rocks on the mattress.
“It’s okay, brother.” I wrap my arms around him and hug him to my chest.
“I want to see her. I need to be with her until it’s time.”
“Let me take you to her.”
Arm around his shoulders, we walk with Jacob to the kitchen. We leave him to sit with her, having one of the women stay outside the door to fetch us if needed.
Will and I find the other fallen nine and help prepare their bodies. Next, we walk to the marsh where others are building rafts for the pyres.
Watching the work, I’m overwhelmed with feelings. My mind reels with thoughts, trying to understand how we missed sixty enemy vampires gathering to ambush us. I face Will. “How did this happen?”
“They came through the marshes to mask their scent.”
“Is this not a good place for us?”
Will shrugs. “There are only three sides to guard. It’s better than most.”
“This is a tragedy. I can’t believe we lost Mambi.” I look to the ground.
“With this victory, our largest enemy is no more. We have nothing else to fear.” Will lifts my chin, forcing me to look at him.
“Except the witches and the humans living across the forest from us.” I step back from him.
“Emmett is strong-willed and brave. Don’t be mad at him.”
“He knows what we are. That we can defend ourselves, that I can match almost any foe. Why does he insist on getting in the fight?”
Will places his hands on my shoulders. “He loves you.”
I throw off his arms. “That is ridiculous. He can’t love me that way.”
“You know it to be true.”
“We should prepare for the funerals.” I stomp towards the main house.
Nearing it, my thoughts flash back to Mambi and our time together, her bravery, love for Jacob, wide smile, and infectious laugh. The strain of the night catches up with me as I reach the door, and I pull myself up the stairs to my room by the railing.
Dirt, sweat, and blood stains my skin, and I rinse in my wash bowl. My wounds are healing, but I need sustenance. Still, we will not eat until our dead are returned to the earth. I dry and dress in the linen gown Mambi made me for their wedding.
Outside, we gather in front of the main house and walk through the marshes to the beach as light grows in the east, painting the sky pink and orange. Beside me, Jacob carries Mambi and rests her on a bed of feathers topped with a deer’s pelt. The other dead are laid on their pyres, and we speak of each one in turn, lighting their rafts, and pushing them into the surf. Smoke billows up from the waves as the current takes them to sea.
I grasp Jacob’s hand as his eyes stay fixed on the horizon. We stand and watch until the fires burn out and the pyres sink into the ocean.
Next, we make our way to the stack of fallen enemy soldiers. Our men have formed a large circular path of dirt around them to prevent the fire from spreading. Jacob takes a torch and throws it into the middle, and the others light the edges, shrieking and yelping as the flames engulf the bodies. It’s hard for me to delight in these lost lives, and I stand frozen, cloth to my nose, wondering how I can count myself a good leader amid so much death.
Leaving the group to tend the fire, I set off towards the main house. Gregor and John are beside me in a second. “I’m fine. Join the others.”
“Will says we’re not to leave your side.” Gregor matches my pace.
“Fine, then you will help gather a meal in the great room. We’ll eat together this morning.” The sound of pounding hooves and creaking wheels reaches my ears, and I stop short. “Who is that?”
Our noses go to the air at the same time. “Emmett,” we repeat together.
“And his father and four others,” I huff, stretching my stride.
Gregor catches my arm. “Remember your place.”
I see the carriage rounding the curve, horses running at full speed.
Eugene pulls the reins to stop in front of us. “We saw smoke. Is everything okay?”
“Yes, I’m sorry. We should have sent someone to warn you.”
“Emmett says you were attacked by natives last night.”
I wish I could shed regular human tears and pray he believes me still to be in shock. “It was horrible. They came out of the marsh and killed nine of our people before the men could scare them away. Mambi is among the nine, so Will is with Jacob.”
“Mambi?” Eugene’s face turns ashen. “I can’t believe it.” He jumps to the ground. “Dear, you must be grief-stricken. I will send Mary right over. Emmett, stay with me. The rest of you go tell Mary to bring something to eat.” He wraps an arm around my shoulders. As soon as his fingers touch my skin, he pulls them back. “You look like you haven’t slept, you poor thing.”
“Jacob is distraught.”
“I believe you know that loss and will be a great help to him.” Eugene motions to the stairs leading me to the porch of the main house.
I stop at the top, blocking his path to the door. “I’m sorry. The house is a mess, and we’ve just come back from the burials. I thought we sent apologies for postponing our dinner tonight.”
“Yes, you did, but I saw the fire and came right away.”
“Oh, yes, I believe we may have different traditions for funerals than you.” I smooth the fabric of my dress, glad I took time to wash.
Eugene’s face again drains of color, and he clears his throat. “I believe so.”
I lay my hand ever so lightly on his shoulder blade. “Perhaps Mary could call tomorrow. Once we’ve rested and recovered a bit.”
“We’ll have you to supper tomorrow. You shouldn’t be alone at a time like this. We’ll understand if Jacob wishes to send his regrets.”
Kingdom of the Damned: Provocation (KIngdom Journals) Page 19