Blood Will Tell: The Blood is the Key (The Blood series Book 1)

by Colleen S. Myers

  She needed to beat them to safety. Her pursuers had to be the raiders. The boat wasn’t close enough for rescue. She lengthened her strides and tucked her arms close as she pushed harder.

  Gah.

  A shout followed her when she hit land. Ahead of her, a small steep hill loomed. She grabbed a root and it gave beneath her weight. Soil rained down into her hair, but she got enough leverage to get her other hand on another root and pull.

  Her foot sunk in the mud of the bank then hit a hard spot, rock maybe. Footing more secure, she pushed up and threw her hand over the ledge. Heaving, she pulled herself up and got to her feet. Whirling, no one close. She took off heading deeper into the woods. A car horn sounded behind her but no good came from a car out there. Probably the raiders. Better to head out alone, find shelter farther away.

  A shot rang out. Splinters showered her face. She dodged to the left, away from the direction of the shot. Her muscles burned. Her breath stuttered. Jesus. Branches cut into her arms. Her pants caught on a nearby thorn bush and slowed her for a few vital seconds.

  Something hit her, taking her face down in the dirt. She smacked the ground hard, head spinning. Knees connected with her back and she gasped. Hands grabbed her arms and held them above her head as a vampire growled and snapped near her neck, straddling her. With just one hand on both her wrists, his other hand smashed her face into the ground.

  She turned her head to the side.

  His tongue licked down her neck.

  “Mmm,” he moaned, fangs flashing. His eyes dark brown and muddy met hers. She always thought it was funny, the vampiric gaze. Nothing special about it. No red, no mesmerizing lights, no shine. Just regular eyes filled with hate and hunger.

  His lips pulled back and...then his head exploded.

  The echo of the shot came as the bloody debris covered her. She blinked as she stared at the spot his head was a second ago. It took her a moment to register what happened. His body hemorrhaged all over her. She pushed him off as she crawled backward in horror.

  A few feet away, the leader of the boat smiled at her, decaying teeth evident. “He had orders not to touch you.”

  He held the gun level on her then jerked it to the left, indicating his desire for her to get up and follow.

  Three more shots rang out in quick succession. The leader’s body jerked with each hit. Alex ran up, checkered shirt flapping. He reached out without a word, finger to his lip. She took his hand and he yanked her up next to him. He all but dragged her the next couple of miles. Every so often, he pulled her to a stop and checked around corners, over ridges. He his hands laced firmly with hers.

  After what seemed like forever, he slowed to a walk and looked back. “Smart girl, playing dead for the gators. They surprised us. It’s a bad area for ambushes, thus we weren’t expecting them to try. It’s my fault.” His breath heaved and his grip tightened.

  “I can’t believe you followed me off the boat.”

  He waved the thought away as he caught his breath. “The ship will run without me. We’ll meet them in a day or two. I have my ways of getting back. No use going on if we don't have you. Your mother would string us up if we arrived in Louisville without you.”

  “My mother again. You sound scared of her.”

  “Less scared, more awed.”

  “Anyone else follow us?” Maybe Roke?

  “Not that I saw. I was a bit busy though, you know. Running.”

  Isa snorted. “Which way do we go?” She settled against a nearby tree and bent over, gripping her legs. Her lungs hurt. Running outside was much different that running on a treadmill.

  Alex stopped and turned in a circle, confirming where they were located. “That way.” He pointed left. “In a couple of miles, we should run into a highway. I can hot-wire any car we find.”

  “You’re a man of many talents.”

  He put his hand on the tree above her head and leaned in deliberately close. “Oh yes.”

  Lips curving, she shook her head. These guys. Such flirts. Never saw that in the city. People were too downtrodden.

  “Break’s over, hotcakes.”

  “All your nicknames have to do with food. You hungry?” Why did she say that.

  He laughed and blessed her with a suggestive leer. “Always.”

  She rolled her eyes.

  Chapter Eleven

  The forest was silent around them. An odd slither came from the brush occasionally, but the rest was still. Normally, she enjoyed parks and wildlife. There were so few of them in the city. Most of them had been converted to tenements for all the people crowded inside the walls. One or two areas were kept as token areas, yet, rarely did anyone ever take advantage. Maybe it was the reminder of the past. Whenever she went on a walk, she was always alone.

  Trees of all sizes grew abundantly around them. Dry grass crackled and leaves crunched under their feet as they walked. Grey-green moss grew up the trunks and light shone in rays through the branches. It felt magical and unworldly regardless of how many walks she took on tamed paths. This was the real world. The world those in the city had long been denied. No animals in sight. She heard so many tales of animals gone wild, unfettered in the wastes she didn't quite know how to act now that she was here. So far, no rabid animals charged from the underbrush to maul them.

  “Is all they told us lies?”

  “About what?”

  “About out here.”

  “Oh, probably, most of it, anyway. It’s no different than before, just wilder. The Madness killed the animals just like the people. Some survived, some didn't. The predominant species changed in all the areas. Here, this is mountain lion territory; they tend to be solitary animals. We’re safe, though. Make enough noise and it’ll scare them off. “

  She stepped under a tree and glanced up. Birds fluttered in the leaves, sun danced in the branches. Smiling, she looked back at Alex. “It’s beautiful.”

  He smiled back, eyebrows quirking. “I can’t imagine living in those cities after living out here.”

  “We didn’t have much choice in the matter,” she said.

  “I know, just saying. I survived out here. My father and I were camping when it hit. We’d brought our own food and water. He made it a game with my brothers and sisters. We went snipe hunting, stayed up late looking at the stars. Daddy didn't trust the water, so we drank bottled water, canned food. Slept late. By the time we woke up and headed home, it was all over. Mom died long before we got to our house. She'd been attacked by someone.” He paused and sucked in a breath. “My dad and mom, they were high school sweethearts. He was lost without her. He stayed around for another year. Pretty sure his heart wasn’t into it. Taught us everything he knew then walked out into the wilderness one day and never came back.”

  Snipe. One of her daddy’s favorite games to play.

  Eyes burning, she dashed away tears and grabbed Alex's hand squeezing. “At least you had that time with your dad. Mine disappeared after the Madness. We never saw him again.”

  He brought her hand to his lips, kissed the knuckles lightly, and squeezed.

  The forest grew silent, even the odd creaking noises dimmed. Isabelle barely noticed, caught in the newness of walking hand and hand in the forest, but Alex slowed and turned.

  The snick of a gun being cocked broke the unnatural silence. Between one moment and the next, both tensed. Alex gripped his gun, Isa her knife.

  Six men approached. All heavily armed. All with military haircuts and government BDUs. The sight of the uniforms made her lips curl. Wanna-be warriors. There was no government anymore. Just the council and individual clans.

  “Aww, there you are.” A smooth cultured voice with a hint of the Boston flowed said. One of the wannabe’s walked toward them. Older than the rest, he held himself with confidence, salt and pepper hair gleaming. “I’ve been looking for you.”

  Alex moved in front of her, his hand on her hip, urging her in close to him. “And who might you be?”

  “Don't be c
oy, Alex, you know who I ram.”

  “El Capo.” No delusions of grandeur there. Alex stated the words so flatly she knew this wasn't a good thing. Alex kept hold of her hip and pivoted to keep the southern gentleman in view.

  “No need to get fussy. Just follow us. There are no plans to hurt anyone. Just negotiations. You know how this works, Alex.”

  Alex's jaw tensed, but he didn't reply. As they followed the men, he leaned toward Isa. “Just follow my lead. They know who you are, so I don't believe they will hurt you. They will threaten to hurt you, try to scare you into compliance. Don't let them. You need a strong front to prevent abuse. Return violence with violence.”

  Startled, she looked over at him “But—”

  A guard shoved Alex who stumbled into her. He took advantage of the opportunity to whisper, “Violence with violence. You don't want to be seen as weak. Trust me.”

  Through all of that, he kept a hand on her hip. The group moved in silence to a massive black Humvee nearby—a sure sign of overcompensation in these times—and climbed into the backseat.

  The leader lit a cigar and smoked it, the haze filling the confined spaced. Alex coughed. The leader laughed and turned to blow a smoke ring into his face.

  Riding through the deserted towns depressed her. All the waste, so much decay. In a few places, some efforts had been made to clean up. They dug a few graves, cleared a few cars but other than that, rot. Signs of looting and rioting remained glaringly evident. Few buildings were intact. Windows broken. No lighting or power. Most walls tagged in some crude manner. No life. Anywhere.

  Street after street, the story was the same until they arrived at local supercenter. Wouldn't it figure? That mecca of bargain prices, home of raiders everywhere. Be they corporate or otherwise. With a start, she realized she knew this store; she knew this place.

  Dusk had fallen by the time they arrived and the parking lot had lights, probably from a generator. The glow felt odd, out of place in this new world. Bright when nothing was bright anymore.

  When the car rolled to a stop, the goons pointed their guns at them. They were prodded into the store. Ironically, the inside of the store didn't look much different than she remembered. Goods still piled on shelves and gleamed in rows of commercial goodness.

  They moved through the store into the back storerooms. She noticed the smell first. Shit and sweat, and then there were people. That quick, Isabelle went from amused to horrified. Rows of men, women, young and old hung naked from chains. Pale, their bodies covered in bruises and bites, they were not long for this world. Next to them were young men in cages, and the last row had the girls. Naked and oiled, rouged nipples, hair wild and unkept. Some cages were empty but most had bodies.

  El Capo was a slaver. Wonderful.

  Old southern guy noted the direction of her gaze and laughed. “One of the oldest markets in the world. Don't worry, little one. This is not for you. Your momma will pay a pretty penny for you. She let it be known those that hurt you will no longer benefit from her knowledge. Those little potions of hers have been very useful here. Given us a chance against the damn suck heads. Someday, maybe, we can take back our own damn world.”

  “Take back our world to do what? Sell people for your own gain? You talk like you’re a freedom fighter as you whore and slave out the very people you say you fight for. How are you any better than the suck heads?” Alex said.

  Her stomach churned at one girl’s expression. Curled up in her cage, she rubbed her arms and legs rocking back and forth, humming. The blank expression on her face and scars on her body proved it wasn't her first time here. Her skin was red and chapped. Hair matted and her song sweet. She sang a lullaby and patted her stomach. Her expression as she patted her stomach called to her. Isabelle would bet anything she lost a baby to disease or slavery. She seemed broken.

  Isabelle hated this place. They shoved her to her spot, her very own cage. Yippie. This one appeared clean and had a small toilet at one side and table at the other. The Embassy Suites of cages.

  Alex was not so lucky. He was placed with the meatheads. His shirt was ripped off and his skin oiled. They took off his pants but left his heart shaped boxers. Alex paced the cage, the other men moved out of his way. He kept glancing at her and slamming his hand into the bars.

  This situation sucked. Guards rotated constantly. At minimum, they had twenty heavily armed men in the back room alone. When the buyers came, only two were let through at a time and watched closely. They explored the cages at their whim, touching what they pleased. When they got to the broken girl’s cage, one of the men encouraged her to come to the bars and she willingly went, smiling.

  Isabelle had to turn her head after the man unzipped his pants.

  Thankfully, Isa didn't get the same treatment. She was left alone. They fed her three-square meals and when buyers came, they didn’t let them near her, but the cries haunted her.

  Alex never made a peep. Every time she saw him, he stood stoically at the back of his cage.

  After two days of waiting, the southern gentleman returned.

  “It’s time, my pretty.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “Isabelle,” the southern gentleman exclaimed with forced cheer. “We heard from your mother. She’s sending emissaries even as we speak. And that sweet, sweet juice of hers.” A leer covered his face. His steps brought him closer when she didn't look up at his words. “Answer me.” A baton slipped through the bars and nudged her hard in the side.

  Isa looked up, hatred shining in her eyes. “I didn't hear a question.”

  A donkey braying would have been more pleasant than the sound he made. “True. How do you feel about meeting your mother? From what I understand, you don't know anything about the amazing Mrs. Mendes or her war.”

  “No, are you offering to tell me?”

  With a smile, he sat by the cage, angled to look at her. “Yes. You interested?”

  Any information, even from shady sources, would be good. She shifted so they faced each other. “Yes.”

  Alex called out from behind her. “Don't listen to his lies, Isa.”

  Thuds followed his words and a short scream. Isa wanted to look, but couldn't glance away just in case the Southerner retracted his offer of information.

  The man continued. “Rosa Mendes. Belle of the Romeran clan. She is responsible for most of what we know about the Inmortalus virus. How it works. Your father’s father discovered the marker long ago, ironically. But we’re not talking about him, we’re talking about her. Rosa Mendes helped prevent a lot of deaths.”

  “Of course, she did, she was a doctor.”

  The man snorted. “She was not just a doctor. She might have worked in an ER prior to the Madness, but she was an infectious disease expert.”

  He leaned forward. “Did you know most vampires historically have cut to feed so they do not alert their foes? Bites spread the virus, but cutting and lapping up the blood does not, nor does it leave distinct marks. Alas, not all vampires are so disciplined, especially in the middle of sex. Your mother made a serum that helped stop the virus if it was administered quick enough after contact. That way there were no unsanctioned conversions, or rash of deaths.”

  The man leaned forward, his hands on his knees. “Your mother, and your mother’s mother, worked for the Romeran clan. They were bound humans. Didn't you ever wonder where all your money came from, why your family was always gone at night? Not just your mother, either. Thomas James was a famed geneticist. You come from quite a distinguished line, little lady. Too bad about your dad. Most think a rival vampire clan took advantage of the Madness to wipe him out.”

  Isa’s heart twisted, but she didn’t want to interrupt his stream of words.

  “Rosa Mendes was the star though. She created diseases that worked only on the vampires and potions to stop them. She did it all on the down-low, too, sneaky wench. Her inventions spread to the resistance fighters such as myself who don’t want to be in vampire control. She figured out ab
out the Madness as well.”

  All those years in the walls. Isa always wondered why no one fought. Sometimes she felt like standing in the street and screaming how unfair it was, they weren’t cattle to be fed and watered prior to slaughter. Interest stirring, she moved closer.

  He leaned his forehead against the bars. “The vampires didn't mind the Madness, not like the rest of us. It allowed them to come out of the closet, if you will, and take control. No, they didn't mind that at all. What they minded was that Rosa didn't do as ordered. She saw their manipulations and balked, but they never doubted her loyalty. After all, they had you.”

  He reached through the bars and brushed back her hair.

  Isa shuddered and sat back as far as she could in her cage.

  “They never realized what she was doing until recently. She got away and they thought she died. Now, they know she didn’t and the vampires are mad.”

  “They locked you down tight, but they knew your momma was coming for you. They couldn't have that. They couldn't have her being free. Unlimited specimens and access. They planned to imprison you, no more pretend job or life. They planned your capture the night you got away.”

  That explained the guards, but not the scene at her house. Why set her up for a crime? Why send the goons?

  El Capo continued. “Your mother is a very grateful woman. I will make a great deal from this bargain. I get money and power, I get more power to negotiate with the resistance for all my needs. Win-win for me.”

  “There is a resistance and your part of it?” Isa asked breathlessly.

  “Oh no, not me. I resist the vampires but to make a profit and live my life. I’m not as interested in the saving the world aspect.”

  “But there is a resistance that does want to save the world?” No more walls.