by J. C. Diem
“Our soldiers will back you up and supply you with ammunition,” Merwe said. “They will have equipment to help guide you towards the centre of the city.”
“Our plan is to drive the creatures into one place then combine our forces to eradicate them,” Sanderson continued. “A large force of our troops will remain on the surface and shoot anything that tries to emerge.
My former team leaders and Anna-Eve had drifted closer to overhear the plan. Eyeing each other suspiciously, none offered any objections. I opened my mouth to split the teams up further but Luc beat me to it. “Gregor, Igor and I have decided to relinquish our positions as team leaders. We wish to stay with you during the battle ahead, Natalie.” Geordie nodded emphatically and I just couldn’t shatter his hopes.
“Fine.” Turning, I pointed at Nicholas. “Congratulations, you’ve just been promoted to team leader.” With a bunch of soldiers watching his every move, I doubted he’d be dumb enough to do anything stupid.
“You would allow that traitor to lead a team?” Anna-Eve sneered.
“Don’t worry, you’re now a team leader, too.” I smiled at her sunnily. At a quick count, we had one hundred and fifty-four vampires on our side. Working quickly and keeping in mind who would work well together or would be likely to kill each other, I split the teams up.
“We’re ready when you are,” I said to Sanderson. He’d chosen ten team leaders of his own, with himself and the general as the final two.
“My men have been advised of their entry points and I’m sending soldiers to those locations now. You should make your way to join them and wait for my signal.” Now that it was crunch time, the colonel was focussed.
“Good luck, everyone,” I said to my troops. As a pep talk, it sucked.
Aventius was the only one to acknowledge me and offered me a bow. Ishida stomped off in icy disdain. Nicholas hesitated then stalked after the team I’d assigned him to be the leader of. They were already disregarding his authority by leaving him behind. Anna-Eve looked like she wanted to say something catty but simply flounced off instead. Her entire team comprised of courtiers. My fingers were crossed that they’d accidentally blow each other up during the up-coming fight. Somehow, I couldn’t see any of them being particularly useful.
I was unsurprised when Colonel Sanderson crooked his finger at me. “Since we work so well together, I thought we should continue the tradition,” he said with a tight grin.
General Merwe offered us both a short nod then trotted off with his mixed team of vampires and soldiers hastening to catch up to him.
Our entry point was fairly close by and we were shortly surrounding the rusty manhole. Geordie fidgeted nervously, playing with one of the explosives. Igor sent him a warning glare and the chastened teenager slipped the device back into his pocket.
Booted feet sounded in the distance and rapidly drew closer. Sanderson saluted his men, a blend of African and American soldiers as they arrived. The two leaders of the armies weren’t taking any chances this time and we had hundreds of men at our backs. Sanderson ordered some of his men to shadow each of my people. They carried the ammunition that would assist us in annihilating our common enemy.
My new lackey offered me a nervous nod. I returned the gesture, pretending to be calm. We were about to descend into the unknown and battle beings that were crazed with blood hunger. Our band of vampires was the first line of defence against the fledglings. The meat sacks that had been delegated to be our backup would quickly become dinner in the event that we failed.
Chapter Thirty-Five
We waited in tense silence until the last of the teams radioed in that they were in position. Raising the radio to his mouth, Sanderson spoke. “All teams, move in!”
Igor bent, pulled the manhole cover up with one hand and tossed it aside like it weighed no more than a coin. I was sliding down the ladder before the cover even hit the ground. After a short drop, I landed in water. The odour of human waste was all pervading. Gagging at the taste at the back of my throat, I shouldered my weapon and turned rapidly in a circle. “It’s clear!” I whisper-shouted then moved aside. Filthy water lapped at my knees, pouring into my boots that only reached halfway up my calves.
Luc was next into the sewer. He wrinkled his nose at the smell but kept his complaints to himself. Geordie voiced his, loudly. “Ewww! Why do humans always have to excrete so much waste?”
Sliding to a stop beside his apprentice, Igor nudged him out of the way. “We go left,” he said and moved off into the dark. The vamps I’d chosen joined us and followed closely behind.
An intersection halted our progress and we waited for Sanderson and his gaggle of soldiers to arrive. All wore night vision goggles, which made Geordie snigger. The colonel checked a gadget he held in one hand and pointed to the right.
Taking point, I loped along at a pace that the humans could keep up with then slowed when I sensed a group of fledglings ahead. Using hand signals, I indicated that we had company.
My chosen team, consisting of mostly European and only a couple of Japanese warriors, gathered close. Sanderson and his men hung back to give us room to fight. Igor pushed Geordie into the middle of the group and he immediately wormed his way forward until he was at my back.
Creeping as quietly as we could, we neared the corner, being careful not to slosh the soiled water and possibly alert our enemies. Ducking down low, I peered around the corner. Two dozen filthy, mostly naked fledglings were waiting for us, watching both directions for intruders. One spotted me, pointed and screeched a warning. Whirling around, the group charged.
Staying low, I leaned out, flicked off the safety then aimed at one of the leading vamps. Mine was the first bullet fired but Luc was right behind me, backing me up. Stumbling at the twin impacts in his chest, the fledgling continued for two more steps then exploded. Flesh, blood and guts hit the walls, ceiling and his brethren then instantly evaporated.
I took down another fledgling then a glint of flying metal caught my eye. Geordie howled in triumph when his explosive eradicated several of the fledglings in one blast. Then the rest of my team was either lobbing the small black devices or firing their guns. In less than a minute, the way was clear.
Far in the distance, more shots rang out as another team ran into resistance. The disciples had to know we were here by now. I hoped the soldiers watching the streets above were vigilant and didn’t allow any to escape.
Clicking his safety back on, Igor gave his gun a disturbed look. “I am afraid I have to agree with Nicholas,” he said grimly. “These weapons are very efficient at killing our kind.”
“We shall have to do our very best to remain on Colonel Sanderson’s good side,” Gregor murmured as he joined us. His latest suit was already ruined and we’d only been in the sewers for a few minutes. My boots were completely full of water. I hoped the explosive devices didn’t float away.
“Speak of the devil,” Luc said in a low voice as the colonel arrived.
He searched for signs of the battle but all that remained of the fledglings was their crude weapons and clothing. “Let’s press on.” He pointed at an opening halfway down the next path. “We go that way.”
Despite his very recent acquaintance with the prototype, Luc had no trouble removing the magazine and checking the number of rounds he had left. His lackey was at his side in an instant, offering my beloved a fresh magazine.
My shadow hastened forward when I held out my gun to him. Since he was getting paid for this and I’d just been roped into it through my unfortunate status of being Mortis, he could do the honours.
Freshly loaded again, I took the weapon back and held it ready. Geordie was at my back, grinning excitedly and carrying half a dozen explosives ready to throw. I was much happier having him behind me where he was safe rather than out in front. He really has become like a little brother to me, I thought in wonder. While he was still highly annoying at times, I’d hate to see the teen come to any harm.
Sensing more fledglings
nearby, I alerted the others. This time when I peeked around the corner, I saw a far larger number of our kin lying in wait. They had gathered at a convergence of intersections. Easing backwards, I turned to indicate how many we were facing. I flashed one hand at them ten times.
“How many is that?” Geordie whispered to Igor in confusion.
He wasn’t quite quiet enough and a babble of screeches and howls rang out. Abandoning any attempt at stealth, I rounded the corner and opened fire. Hastening to surround me, my team cut down the first few rows of rabid vampires but they were gaining too rapidly. Machine gun fire from our shadow soldiers rang out and another two rows went down.
One of the lead vamps leaped into the air just as Geordie lobbed one of his explosives. The device detonated right in front of the fledgling’s face and his head evaporated.
Only ten blood hungry vampires were left and they had closed the distance, rendering our guns useless. My swords were in my hands without conscious thought and limbs began to fall as they reached out to claw at us. Focussed on trying to reach the humans behind us, the fledglings went down almost too easily beneath my blades.
Igor finished off the last vamp with a knife through his chest. He pulled the weapon free from the astonished fledgling then snatched up his tattered pants before it hit the ground. Wiping his blade clean, he offered the scrap of cloth to me.
“My God but they’re fast,” Sanderson breathed as he waded over to me. “Even with our new prototypes we don’t stand a chance against them.”
I had to agree. Bullets and explosives weren’t much use when the targets could dodge out of the way so quickly. Clean again, I slid the blades back into the sheaths on my back. “You’re lucky we’re on your side, then,” I pointed out.
“That we are,” Sanderson agreed fervently.
His men replenished our ammo and we pushed on. The night was young and we still had a lot of work ahead of us.
Chapter Thirty-Six
I wasn’t sure how much time had passed and I’d lost track of how many groups of fledglings we’d encountered. Several times, we’d stumbled across piles of corpses that hadn’t yet risen. Sanderson’s soldiers hauled them out of the water and roasted them all with their flamethrowers.
Sensing the greatest number of vampires I’d felt before just ahead, I cautioned everyone to come to a halt. “Where are we now?” I asked the colonel when he strode forward.
“We’re pretty close to the centre of the sewer system.” His response confirmed my hunch.
“Is there a large area in the centre?”
Sanderson nodded, picturing the map in his head judging by his expression. “I’m expecting most of the surviving vampires to be gathered there by now.”
“How close are the others to reaching the centre?” We’d have to time our final attack well or some of the disciples and their servants might escape from our trap.
“They’ll be arriving any minute now.” Turning to his men, the colonel issued orders for them to check their ammunition.
My lackey gave my weapon the once over and deemed it to be ready. We only had a short wait before Sanderson gave us the signal to close in.
Rushing through dark tunnels with Luc at my side and my friends at my back, I surreptitiously crossed my fingers that we would all make it out of the next battle alive. You mean unalive, my subconscious reminded me. Even it sounded nervous of the possible outcome of our encounter with the Second.
The sounds of many creatures gathered together in a group echoed around the corner of the next bend. Knowing that the other groups would be closing in as well, I didn’t hesitate but rounded the corner and burst out into the open. Thousands of fledglings were crowded together on higher ground in the centre of a gigantic open space. Water lapped at the edges, leaving noisome tidemarks.
Being confronted with over a dozen men wearing familiar camouflage uniforms, I hesitated with my finger on the trigger. Looking beyond them, I saw thousands of fledglings. Returning my attention to the soldiers, I realized who they were just as they brought their weapons out from behind their backs and opened fire.
Being at the forefront of the group, I was instantly cut in half. Gregor gave a cry of pain and went down a few feet away. Igor knelt in front of him, shielding his friend with his body. He coolly fired at the former African and American soldiers from our fallen team that had been converted into the enemy.
Ignoring my lower body for now, I lifted my gun. Propping myself up on my elbows, disgusting water lapped at my chin as I aimed for the soldiers that were still standing. A few shots picked several of them off. Luc moved to my side and gave me a concerned look but I waved at him to attack. The remaining soldiers exploded and the danger lessened slightly.
Splitting my consciousness, I ordered my bottom half to worm its way forward. I became reconnected with the usual flash of pain. Regaining my feet, I checked on Gregor. He’d been hit several times but the shots had missed his heart. Unfortunately, a bullet had hit him in the face and had torn half of one cheek away.
Geordie gagged at the sight of Gregor’s exposed teeth. Turning away, he armed two explosives and threw them at the mob of fledglings. If he’d been human, they would have fallen far short and caused no damage at all. Being far stronger than a mere mortal, they landed at the outer edge of the throng and tore a small hole in their ranks.
From twelve different tunnel openings, my kin attacked the force that outnumbered us by at least thirty to one. The fledglings mainly ignored our attack despite the large number of them being cut down. Then one of the soldiers somewhere to our left made the fatal mistake of entering the chamber, most likely thinking he could help. Spying food, the closest blood hungry fledglings went berserk with their need to feed. Whatever control the disciples had disappeared as the vamps surged forward.
Sanderson must have crept forward to the mouth of the tunnel to watch because he shouted an order into his radio. “All soldiers, open fire!” Both his men and my vamps would be overwhelmed in seconds and the fledglings would be able to escape back through the tunnels if we didn’t stop them.
Hundreds of soldiers spilled out from the safety of the tunnels and unleashed their superior weaponry on the mob of fledglings. Slinging the gun over my shoulder, I bent and reached into my boots. My bombs sailed into the midst of the crowd and fledglings screamed as they burst apart or caught on fire.
Geordie had lost his excitement and was absolutely terrified now. He staunchly lobbed his bombs then patted his empty pockets when he ran out. I handed him my last few explosives then grabbed him by the shoulder to get his attention. “Keep everyone back, I’m going to try something.” He had no idea what my plan was but he nodded then yelled for Igor.
Dashing into the milling, hungry mob, I was completely ignored since my blood wasn’t tasty to them. So far, Sanderson’s guns were keeping the monsters at bay but it couldn’t last. Once I was deep inside the fledgling’s territory, I hoped my friends were standing well clear. I also hoped my experiment would work. I’d only tried this particular trick on imps before and that had mostly been by accident.
Reaching out, I grabbed two fledglings by the backs of their heads. They turned curious looks at me then went back to attempting to claw their way to the food. Concentrating, I let the power of the holy marks grow until I was all but thrumming with it. I had an inkling that my plan was going to work when the ground trembled beneath my feet.
Unleashing the holy marks, I covered my face with my hands an instant before every vampire within a fifty foot radius exploded. Goo splattered me from head to toe with the unpleasant sensation of being doused with a bucket of fish guts.
“Holy crap, you just unleashed a vampire bomb!” Geordie screeched in awe.
Grinning fiercely, I waded back into the fray and repeated the act until the fledglings were more worried about being slaughtered than they were about feeding. Soldiers pressed the advantage and moved in closer. Many of the humans were dead and I’d lost half of my own small team. From
the glimpses I had of the other teams, they were faring just as badly.
My human lackey placed a fully loaded gun in my hands since I could no longer get close enough to the fledglings to use my holy marks. I took stock of my team, relieved to see my friends still alive even if they weren’t well. One of Luc’s arms dangled uselessly. He patiently allowed a medic to slip it into a sling. Igor had a tear in his shirt and his intestines were trying to slide free as he closed with a fledgling and decapitated her. Despite missing half of his face, Gregor kept up a continuous barrage of fire. As yet unharmed, Geordie popped up beside me, smacked a kiss on my goo ridden cheek then lobbed a couple of explosives at the cringing fledglings.
Somewhere deep in the centre of the enemy, I could hear the remaining disciples screaming orders. The Second’s plan for world domination was rapidly falling apart. Sanderson had called for backup and fresh soldiers arrived at regular intervals. We’d already reduced their force to a third of its original size. Now that some of the vamps were more concerned with survival than with feeding, they were fighting to escape rather than trying to attack.
Shooting a fledgling that raced towards him, Sanderson barely waited for the vamp to explode before jogging over to me. “Work your way around to the left,” he shouted over the din of gunfire, explosions and screams of terror and triumph. “We need to push them back into the centre.”
Seeing that the fledglings were bulging towards the team to our left, I complied with his order. Word spread amongst the fledglings that I was approaching and they instantly surged in the opposite direction. With my remaining team members backing me up, I worked in a gradual circle until the soldiers had managed to whittle the numbers down even more.
In a last ditch effort to overwhelm the soldiers, the disciples ordered their servants to attack. Unable to fight against a command given by their makers, the fledglings turned and flowed towards us once more.
I became separated from my team during the initial surge and had to trust that they could look after themselves. My main targets had just become visible. Standing side by side, two disciples stared at me arrogantly. Both wore only loincloths and had revived enough from their enforced starvation that their withered flesh had mostly filled out.