Death Banishes (Mortis Vampire Series Book Six)

by J. C. Diem

  “What are you thinking about so fiercely?” Luc asked as he strode along beside me. The dismembered robot was far to the rear of our noisy group and was in no danger of overhearing us. It was strapped to a small cart rather than being dragged through the dirt. None of the Kveet would be able to understand what we were saying so I decided to tell him the truth.

  “I’m thinking that fate isn’t quite finished with us yet.”

  “Did you ever really believe that it was done with us?” He lifted his eyebrow in sardonic amusement.

  I gave him a one shouldered shrug. “Not really.”

  “Fate is a fickle yet harsh mistress,” my beloved mused. “While she has whittled our people down to the brink of annihilation, I fear she will never allow us to slip from her grasp completely.” His mouth might have been smiling but his eyes were bleak.

  We were speaking quietly enough that even our kin would have to strain to hear us. No one seemed to be paying any particular attention to us but I checked to be sure before speaking my thoughts. “You think you’re all going to die and I’ll be left alone, don’t you?”

  Taking my hand, he lifted it to his cold lips. He didn’t need to voice his answer out loud. The dread in his eyes said it all.

  .~.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  We reached the vast cavern that held the elevator that would take us up to the surface and only had to wait for a few moments for it to arrive. I was astounded to see over twenty elevators appear this time as cleverly hidden doors that had been carved into the rock walls swished aside. One of the Kveet carried his own monitor and seemed to be controlling the lifts with it. I was pretty sure he was the same one who had programmed Ishida’s monitor on our mission to destroy the factory.

  Piling inside one of the elevators, we waited until everyone was on board the others before the doors slid shut and we began to ascend. The ride was smooth and silent and it was almost a shock to step out into a raging dust storm. With our eyes slitted shut and our hands covering our faces, we huddled together as Ishida led the way.

  We had only a short distance to go before a staircase leading to the nearest underground facility appeared. While we could all survive the toxic air, we were glad to be out of the wind. I’d only been clean for a short while and was now coated in dust again. The thought of living on this planet forever filled me with despair. I wondered if anyone else was feeling homesick or if it was just me.

  We still had an hour or so before it would be daylight and the Viltarans would presumably retire to their hard, uncomfortable metal beds. Their droid bodyguards would remain vigilant, watching the monitors and hallways in case of the very ambush we were planning on setting up. We would have plenty of time to make sure our people were in place then wait for our enemy to take the bait.

  We walked at a pace that was slow enough for the Kveet to keep up without having to run. They chattered quietly in their high pitched voices, sounding eerily like their kin that had been turned into grey skinned clones. We were in no danger of being attacked by anything alive, not with my senses on full alert. Two of Ishida’s warriors scouted ahead just in case any droids had been dispatched to roam the halls.

  Our chosen ambush site was positioned directly between two of the Viltaran groups. The other parties were much further away and hopefully wouldn’t join the other two. As far as the evil alien race was aware, our army consisted of nineteen vampires. Hopefully, they didn’t know that we had formed an alliance with the Kveet. With luck, they also weren’t aware that the small brown creatures were scampering through the halls with the intention of lying in wait and killing anything with grey or silver skin.

  Carefully stepping around the Kveet, Geordie sidled up to me. He wore a pensive look as he walked beside me almost close enough for our shoulders to touch. “Do you think our plan will work, Natalie?”

  I may have been voted in as their leader but I was the last person he should be discussing strategy with. Look how long it had taken me to break them free from their torture chambers in Colorado. Since Gregor had been the main force behind our ambush, I had no reason to doubt that it would work. Yet luck would play a big part in the events that would unfold once we set our trap. Don’t forget fate, my subconscious reminded me. It still has its claws in your hides.

  “Of course I think it will work,” I said to reassure the teen. His smile was grateful and relieved yet he still looked worried.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked him softly.

  Glancing past me to study Luc’s serene face, Geordie was reluctant to tell me what was on his mind. Slanting a glance at me, Luc winked and increased his pace to catch up to Igor and Gregor.

  As alone as we could get while surrounded, Geordie still didn’t want to spill the beans. I waited patiently and clasped his chilly hand with mine. “I have a bad feeling,” he said at last.

  I’d had a bad feeling from the moment I’d realized I was the living dead. My new life had lived up to the feeling of doom ever since. “Can you be more specific?”

  Darting a glance to make sure no one was listening, he elaborated. “I feel that none of us are going to be around for much longer.” His usual mischievousness was gone and moroseness had taken its place. “None of us…except for you.”

  My hand tightened on his with shared anxiety. The words I wanted to say were lodged in my throat so I remained silent. I didn’t want to promise him that I would keep him safe because it would be a lie. I would do my best to make sure none of my friends came to any harm but if fate decided it wanted them, I wouldn’t be able to do anything to stop it.

  “What will you do if we all die and you are left all alone?” he asked me softly.

  It was a question I’d asked myself many times and one that I didn’t have a definitive answer for. “I don’t know,” I replied. “Go insane, probably.” He didn’t smile because he knew I wasn’t joking.

  “Will you avenge us, chérie?”

  I checked to see if he was serious and his expression was solemn. “Geordie, I promise you that if any of you come to harm, no force in this world will save the Viltarans. Not even G-G-G,” giving up on attempting to say God, I tried again. “Not even the creator of the universe itself would be able to stop me from wreaking my revenge.” It was a promise that I would keep and he knew I was speaking the truth.

  Geordie’s smile was huge but it trembled slightly. “I thought you would say something like that.” Having his death avenged would be a small comfort but I guessed it would be better than nothing. “Promise me that you will never forget me?”

  “I don’t think it would be possible for me to forget you,” I said in all seriousness. I’d never met anyone like Geordie before. He was a contradiction of youthful mischievousness and surprising wisdom all rolled up in the same package. He’d wormed his way through my defences and straight into my unbeating heart. Sensing the emotion choking me, he clutched my hand tightly and looked away so he wouldn’t burst into dry sobs. Doom was stalking us and it was slowly closing in with the intention of picking us off one by one. Casting my gaze over our dwindling numbers, I wondered which one of us would be the next to be sacrificed to destiny.

  Before either of us could spiral into depression, Ishida’s voice floated back to us. “Our target destination is just ahead.” The scouts he’d sent out had returned to report that the area was empty of droids. They had steered clear of the dining room where we would set our trap. We wouldn’t enter the hall until our allies were in place.

  Gregor worked his way through to the former emperor, careful not to step on any of our diminutive allies. Studying the map on Ishida’s screen, he hunkered down next to the Kveet who carried his own monitor with an identical map on it. The robot was dragged forward on his trolley to interpret.

  Pointing to the map, Gregor spoke in a hushed tone and everyone quieted down to listen. “The dining room is only accessible from two doors.” He indicated the doors on the map then pointed out a series of hallways and rooms. “Your people shoul
d split up into several teams and hide in these areas. Most of you should set your weapons to destroy the robots but make sure some have theirs set to target the Viltarans, who will most likely be bringing up the rear. Wait until the robots are almost upon us before you begin your attack. As soon as we hear the sound of battle, we will come to your aid. Does anyone have any questions?”

  It seemed like a fairly straight forward plan to me but Gregor spent the next few minutes answering questions from both our kin and our new allies. Once everyone’s fears had been settled, we were ready to set our trap. Half of the Kveet split off and headed to the far side of the dining area. Their map would show them how to reach their destination without having to enter our ambush site. The rest split into smaller groups and hid in the rooms up and down the hallway.

  Most of my kin were hiding their fear that they were all about to die behind stoical expressions. Geordie fidgeted nervously until Igor calmed him with a hand on his shoulder. He didn’t say anything but the teen seemed to find comfort in his mentor’s presence. Igor had lived for a very long time and it was hard to believe his lengthy unlife might soon be snuffed out.

  Luc and Gregor stood side by side in companionable silence. Gregor somehow managed to appear debonair while wearing one of the modified Viltaran suits. My one true love wore his borrowed black outfit well. He looked powerful and almost invincible. Ishida stood nearby and should have looked frail in comparison. Instead, he appeared young, wiry and full of energy. Kokoro seemed like a warrior herself wearing all black instead of her usual white garb. Her eyes roamed the corridor, searching for trouble. They lit on Ishida and Gregor and I sensed her concern for them both.

  When he’d estimated that enough time had passed for our allies to be in place, Gregor waved us forward. Most of us didn’t have to pretend to be weary and beaten down. I still felt fine and in no particular need of sleep. The Viltaran blood in my system was still powering my cells to full capacity. I had no idea what this would mean in the long term but for now I would enjoy my added alertness while it lasted.

  The door to the dining room whooshed open as Gregor approached it. Only the tightening in his shoulders belied his nervousness as he stepped across the threshold. We filed in behind him quietly, dragging our feet. If we were being watched, and something told me we were, we wanted to appear to be defeated. The more pathetic and bedraggled we seemed, the more confident the Viltarans would be. If they were as warlike as the Kveet said they were then they would be driven to seek us out and kill us. All we had to do was stay in one place long enough for them to approach with their murderbot bodyguards.

  .~.

  Chapter Thirty

  From the moment I stepped into the dining area, I felt hostile eyes latch onto me. Hidden cameras were watching and someone was monitoring them. As per Gregor’s request, I kept my senses trained on the two closest groups of Viltarans. It didn’t take long before first one then the second group stirred. Our alien ancestors should have been tucked away in their metal beds and sleeping by now but the two groups were on the move. They didn’t go far, probably just to their monitor rooms to gawk at us.

  Gregor caught my eye and I nodded subtly. Everyone who didn’t already know we were being watched was silently notified of the fact as we chose a spot to lie down. We spoke in quiet murmurs, not mentioning our plan at all just in case we were being listened to as well as being observed. What one robot knew, they all knew, with the exception of the Kveet’s droid captive. They would be able to translate our words for their masters and we didn’t want to give them any cause for alarm.

  Lying down on the cold metal floor near the gigantic table, I cuddled against Luc’s side. For once, Geordie kept his distance and remained near Igor. While we looked like we were spread out, we remained within touching distance of one another.

  I knew our plan had worked when the Viltarans went on the move several hours later. Touching Luc’s arm to warn him, I then reached out with my foot and nudged the leg of the vampire closest to me. Within seconds, everyone was aware that the enemy was on their way. As per the plan, we continued to pretend to sleep.

  Gregor had been worried that the Viltarans would send in their droids to annihilate us while remaining behind and watching from their monitors. With their blood infecting me with battle lust, I knew they wouldn’t be able to resist the lure of seeing us die with their own eyes and at their own hands.

  As we’d hoped, the enemy approached from two directions. They stopped a short distance away, probably so they could communicate and coordinate their attack. I hoped the Kveet were ready because all hell was about to break loose. I elbowed Luc then nudged the nearest member of our group again to warn them to get ready. A ripple of movement spread through the room as we all tensed for battle.

  “Any second now,” I murmured just loudly enough for everyone in the room to hear me.

  Just as the doors whooshed open at both ends of the room, the Kveet burst out from concealment and began to shoot their hated oppressors. Springing to our feet, we opened fire on the robots through the doorways. Torn between shooting us and defending themselves, the droids hesitated. Deep in their midst, a Viltaran roared an order in his grating language. “Kill them all!”

  His enraged bellow helped to add to the confusion and the killbots couldn’t decide who to shoot first. We cut down half of their numbers before some turned their backs on us and began firing at the larger numbers of Kveet warriors. Bright violet light from the death rays lit up the dining room and hallways. The European next to me was bathed in brilliance before his body turned to dust motes and slowly began to fall to the floor. If the droid had aimed to my right, Luc would have been the one to turn to dust.

  Chilled at how close my beloved had come to death, I zapped the droid before it could cut down anyone else on our team. Shrill, high pitched screams of rage and triumph came from the Kveet warriors as they slaughtered the droids. With most of their metal bodyguards destroyed, the Viltarans tried to flee. They didn’t get far before the beams were altered to destroy flesh and brilliant violet light stole their lives.

  When the last grey skinned alien turned to ash, there was a short silence. Then one of the Kveet gave an ululating cry that was taken up by the rest of the diminutive warriors. Dancing in joy, they revelled in their victory. Their captive translator watched on in silence. The robot wasn’t capable of much emotion yet he still seemed dour to me.

  After a quick count of our numbers, Gregor closed his eyes in relief. I’d also taken a tally and only one vampire had met his end. Luc ambled over to his old friend and I followed in his wake. “I’d say our ambush was a success,” my beloved said.

  Sparing a moment to watch our allies celebrate, Gregor didn’t look as though he was in the partying mood. “The Viltarans are too intelligent to fall for this ruse again.”

  “Then we’ll have to think up another way to trap them,” I said as I reached them.

  “If they are as vicious and battle minded as the Kveet has told us, then they will no doubt retaliate against this attack.” Knowing Gregor, he already had some idea of how our ancestors would take their revenge on us. Frankly, I didn’t even want to know just yet. I preferred to bask in what would probably be a short victory. We had all seen just how thirsty for death and destruction these aliens were. They had killed off most of their population simply because they hadn’t had anyone else to kill. They’d brought their own planet to the edge of destruction in their endeavour to gain supremacy over each other. I had no idea how the remaining few could work together instead of simply throttling each other as their instincts drove them to. The remaining leaders of each group must have wills of iron to keep their people from fighting amongst themselves.

  “How many Viltarans are left now?” Igor asked as he and Geordie joined our group.

  Closing my eyes, I sent my senses far and wide and counted how many foes we faced. “Seventy-three.”

  “I wish we could monitor our adversaries as they do us,” Ishida said h
e and the rest of our kin gathered in the centre of the room. “It would be good to know their plans.”

  “I’m pretty sure we shook them up,” I told him. “They’re scattering like ants in a kicked nest right now.”

  “What is our next move?” Luc asked our master planner.

  Gregor didn’t need to think about his answer. “We target the closest group of Viltarans, hunt them down and kill them.”

  All eyes swung to me to judge my reaction. “Sounds good to me,” I replied with a shrug. I might be their leader but I was the first to admit I wasn’t the smartest amongst our group.

  “Before we embark on our next hunt, would it be possible for us to rest?” Cristov asked. Although they were being fed regularly, most of my remaining kin looked tired. Maybe the Kveet blood didn’t have enough nutrients or something. I still felt chock full of energy, as did the other six who had fed from the Viltaran.

  “I think it would be a good idea to leave this area first, just in case some more murderbots are sent after us,” I proposed.

  Geordie giggled at my name for the droids. I wasn’t sure if anyone else had noticed that the teen’s eyes were glowing faintly. Mine were no doubt blazing scarlet from the latest battle. The strange lust to kill and maim was already receding, thankfully. Unlike the imp clones, I could control my instinct to destroy.

  Ishida and Geordie used their monitors to locate another area where we would hopefully be safe from attack. As my kin began their trek, I checked on our allies. M’narl had lost a lot of his people during the fight and grief bowed his gnarled head. Their celebration at besting their enemies had died swiftly once they had taken a headcount.