The Price We Pay (Life After War Book 7)

by Angela White

  Perhaps it has been too much?

  Marc disagreed. He knew more about his origins now than he’d ever suspected. He was a leader of men, of all men, and he would continue to be, even after this war was finally over.

  Marc forced himself to come to alertness, not wanting to stay in that heaven much longer. The temptation to take the easy way out was one that every person in hard times struggled with, but he was made of sterner stuff.

  Marc’s eyes opened to show him darkness and a host of people on the ground around him. His magic was stronger now and the bubble he’d placed over their small camp was still standing. Outside that clear dome, the snow was falling. That had been the only thing to get him to call it a night. Traveling through the snow would make it easy to miss the tracks.

  “I know where the call came from,” Kendle stated on his right. “I found it in Ivan’s thoughts before you sent him to camp.”

  Her tone was rebellious and Marc quickly leaned over, face blazing. “I was never promised to you!”

  Kendle flinched, wounded. “She’s at Mercer Bio Labs. It’s the only place near here that could house a government facility.”

  Five minutes later, Marc dropped the shield and strode down the steep mountainside into Dalton. Very few people knew about the bio lab, but Marc had been there before doing security work. That high-security complex wouldn’t keep him out.

  6

  “We’re leaving now.”

  Cynthia nodded, busy with the paperwork Kevin kept handing her. “Check-ins, okay?”

  Neil and Jeremy motioned to their team and the van rolled over to pick them up. The five vehicles slid from Safe Haven’s rear gate, where few of the camp members were awake to witness it. Inside these vans were only a few people, but they were angry and it would make up for their numbers. These men and women had been told this war was over, but they didn’t have their leaders. It was time to remind everyone that Safe Haven wasn’t powerless either.

  Cynthia heard the gates shut, but didn’t watch the van fade from view. She had her hands full, even though most of the camp was still in their tents and campers. There were schedules for the next day to write and deliver, meals and caregivers to be arranged, guards shifts and posts to be checked on and rotated, and of course, questions to be answered.

  “Are we on full rations?”

  Cynthia wasn’t sure how much they had now and shook her head. “Not yet. I need to know where we are on food and water before I lift it.”

  Kevin wrote that down and continued on to the next of his ten items. “How many shower campers open?’

  “Three.”

  “Is that enough?”

  “We have to be careful with our water,” she answered. “And I don’t have the totals yet, remember?”

  Kevin flushed, trying hard to act as if she was Angela so it wouldn’t be as awkward. “Right. Um, what about the animals? No one can find the vet.”

  Cynthia sighed. “Draft some people for feeding and watering. Maybe the kids can do any of it, or the older people.”

  “Good idea. Okay, the last harvest gave us seeds that were drying. Should we restart the garden or wait for spring?”

  “Restart it now,” she instructed.

  “Can I ask why? We’ll still be finding stashes of can goods for a while.”

  “Because the winter may not let up by spring,” she told him, handing over the last schedule, his.

  Kevin didn’t let himself read it yet. Camp business came first. “We have questions from the camps around ours about leaving. Many of them have people of their own to prepare for the season change.”

  “They can go,” Cynthia stated. That, at least, was one area she didn’t have to worry over. The Eagles and other fighters in Safe Haven were no longer afraid of magic and the descendants were tired of hiding it. If they were ever attacked again, there wouldn’t be any hesitating. The problem in camp was how the pieces of Angela’s plan were coming out and showing her to be so totally ruthless. It had shocked and amazed all of them to discover that Angela had planned to be captured all along.

  “Cynthia?”

  She glanced up to see they had more men standing around, waiting for her last answer and she shook her head to clear the thoughts that were suddenly flying at her faster than she could examine. Had Angela done all of this on purpose?

  “Repeat that, please.”

  “Is it okay to get a mass grave going or should we stick to individuals?”

  That was an ugly thing to be considering and Cynthia held up a hand, turning to view the camp. These people would want to pay their respects, but with more than two dozen funerals, it would run into dreaded monotony and not be given the honor it deserved. “Mass. And I’m sorry for that.”

  The men understood and were glad of the choice for more reasons than the work that could be done quickly with some heavy equipment. They hadn’t wanted to spend the next four days saying farewell to the deceased. They wanted to be sure they were still alive.

  Kevin motioned the others to go on and handed her the paper with his final three questions on it. “They’re a bit personal.”

  Cynthia read them without a change in expression.

  Can you find a replacement for me? I can’t do this job anymore.

  If so, can I leave come dawn? You don’t need me.

  Please forgive me?

  Cynthia felt the weariness, and the guilt, but the relief was greater and she hugged him tightly. “Thank you.”

  Kevin understood she wanted him to go, and that was the final push he needed. He started to remove his Eagles jacket, but she shook her head. “You’re always one of us, Kevin. Come back when you can live here. We’ll still need you.”

  He smiled at that, glad to know it wasn’t banishment that would follow him and he headed for the gate, where he already had a truck waiting. There was another person in that vehicle who’d had enough of Safe Haven as well, and Jeff held out the joint as Kevin slid into the passenger seat. “Hit this, turn up the music, and we’ll forget about them all.”

  Kevin did as he was bid, but he knew forgetting would be impossible. He was walking away from the greatest thing he’d ever done. The rest of his life would be wasted trying to figure out why he hadn’t been able to make it work here.

  Fate watched the truck roll quickly into the night and be swallowed by the darkness, but instead of sadness, there was hard, cruel amusement. Just because someone left Safe Haven behind, it didn’t mean that Safe Haven would leave them. Magic like that couldn’t be erased by time or grief, no matter how deep.

  7

  “The Maker’s Call has been made.”

  The voice was unfamiliar to most of the soldiers it was controlling from the private complex inside the Utah Bunker. There was no reason to be friendly with subordinates and that philosophy ran these tunnels.

  “We’ve tracked it. Donner has them in the Mercer labs in Dalton We’ve prepared a team to intercept them.”

  “Good. Keep me posted.”

  The leader of the bunker hadn’t been more than a Secretary before the war, but Benjamin had outlasted all those above him to claim this position during the chaos.

  The room emptied and the man in charge opened the thick, laminated book. On it was a symbol of the Freemason, the Knights Templar, and other mysterious designs that had haunted them throughout history. The truth of it all was in this book.

  The man glanced at the orders he’d removed from the safe, as he had been instructed to do upon confirming that one the forbidden calls had been made. He lifted the orders and the book together and slowly placed them into the fireplace the Presidential suite had come with.

  In minutes, all record of the centuries of abuse and manipulations was only a charred frame that couldn’t be used against any of the Masons who had survived. And there were more. Across the world, bunkers like this one held the remnants of the elite who had perpetrated this evil on the world. If anything came from the Call, there would be no evidence.

&nbs
p; It was a bit like shutting the stall door after the horse ran away, but Benjamin didn’t refuse the orders that had been written decades ago, when the scientists had started trying to determine what combinations of descendants could bring the Maker.

  He pulled up the latest figures for his bunker and then sat stewing over them, as he did every day at this time.

  It wasn’t good. There was less than four months of food and water to sustain the two thousand people still here. Half of those were in cells, draftees he’d refused to release because of needing their skills, but that would change. Once he let them lose, those men would overrun every town they came to and Benjamin had to be prepared for them to try to do the same to the bunker.

  “It’s time for us to relocate,” he chose, reaching for the files that explained in detail how to relocate people onto the rail system and get them settled in the next shelter. It would use a lot of fuel and time, nearly three of the four months they had left here, but there was no other choice. And if there were no other bunkers in reach, the order would have to be made to reclaim the topside. He would send his little ants scurrying from their holes to reestablish the government’s hold over this country. He’d kept enough men in each bunker to do so. All he needed was a bit of time, a little luck for a smooth ride to the next site, and maybe a descendant to guide the way.

  Benjamin pushed the personal files button and stared at the number of births they’d had since the war.

  14

  The next stat wasn’t any more encouraging.

  Ragonidusin Infection levels: 27%. Increasing by .3% daily.

  Yearly Deaths: 9,432. Average 1K monthly.

  Current terminal population: 142

  Extinction odds would rise with every month that passed, until people here finally began to notice and panic. He would have to get them topside before that happened.

  Benjamin hit a last button and leaned back with his drink in hand. The image on the screen was of the Maker’s Call, the energy force sent out. It was blinding even for a fictional representation, with no one able to determine what was behind the light.

  Benjamin didn’t like surprises. Donner going rouge on them had come as one and now, the major had accomplished his life’s goal and sent out a successful call. What would come of it?

  The scientists assured Benjamin that it would be nothing, but he’d felt the power of the call while buried a mile beneath the ground. That sort of force was bound to draw attention from someone. Or something.

  Donner’s obsessions had been tolerated because of his exemplary record of getting their jobs done right. To lose him now, when he was needed the most, was an intentional blow that Benjamin intended to see the Major hung for. And the descendants who’d made the forbidden call would also have to be handled. Two matched alpha’s running around the country was worse than a camp of oddballs. Alpha’s were a real threat and Benjamin knew what to do about those. Once he was sure there wasn’t going to be an answer to the call, he intended to destroy Safe Haven and all of the magic-users there. Two large warheads would remove all traces of that rebellious camp and Donner right along with them.

  “One more day,” Benjamin promised. “Make it count.”

  8

  “It’s the ghost!”

  Those words were said with same fear as the other moments in this war, but it wasn’t enough to make these soldiers flee in terror. They had survived all five rings of Angela’s plan and come here to make sure Donner kept his word. He’d promised them Safe Haven and failed to deliver that, but the woman in his custody was worth more. As long as Donner had her under control, they would all be safe and not want for the basic items.

  Many of Angela’s gifts were known and these men were looking forward to having a bloodhound to track down food and gear. In this apocalyptic hell, that would be the advantage to keep them all alive.

  “Move in!” Marc roared, first in the wave of fighters that burst from the buildings and trees nearby and attacked the men on guard around the Lab.

  Marc’s demon wanted to help as well, but Brady didn’t need it. His fury lashed out through his Colts and then his K-bar when there wasn’t time to reload. He sliced through the men and leapt over their useless barricades to charge toward the only door.

  Kenn followed Marc, their places switched, except that Tonya was also here and she kept pace with them, firing steadily as they ran. When she had to reload, Kenn took up the slack, clearing the soldiers closest to her. These men hasn’t expected a full-on frontal assault after all the sneaking tactics Angela had employed, but they’d forgotten or refused to believe who her mate was.

  Kendle wasn’t using her gifts either, preferring to feel the blood spilling around her fingers, but Becky quickly used her power to hit the soldier running up on them while Kendle was distracted.

  Angry that the brunette was so careless, Becky ran toward Neil and partnered with him as they followed Kenn and Tonya into the main driveway.

  Kendle barely noticed being left, too busy causing crimson to shoot from the screaming man’s eyes.

  The soldiers weren’t helpless. As the alarms on the facility began to blare, they grouped together, firing rapid shots that forced the Eagles behind whatever cover they could find. A wise man among these fighters grabbed at his grenades and the sound of thunder lit the area.

  Marc was almost to the door, uncaring of the explosions, the shrapnel and the flames. All he could see was the sentry on the door, who would have the code.

  Kenn ducked a swing, out of ammo and lifted the soldier into the air. He tossed the man into two soldiers grabbing for Tonya’s arm and the trio went down together.

  Kenn landed on the pile and shoved his knife through two eyes hurriedly before they had a chance to do the same to Tonya.

  Kenn jerked her to her feet and shoved her after Marc, who wasn’t stopping for anything.

  The Marine grunted as pain sliced into his arm and he ran faster, almost dragging her along.

  Tonya was trying to keep up, but amid the chaos, she was lost. She’d wanted to help, to fight, but this panic-laced feeling was telling her she had no business here.

  Tonya spotted Becky walking calmly through the rubble, waving her hands to deflect bullets and grenades, and quickly looked down, not wanting to witness anymore. She would pretend she hadn’t seen that. It was too much to accept right now. Or maybe ever.

  Marc reached the door, arm drawing back to threaten and the Private tipped his cover up. “Damn, Brady. I thought I was gonna hafta to do this alone.”

  Marc didn’t spare time for the grin, just looked at the door and Seth quickly opened it. As Marc vanished inside the dark lounge, Seth was a clear target and a nearby soldier fired at him in betrayed rage.

  Neil shoved Seth, hard enough to knock him into the wall and then over the railing. The slug plunged into the wall where Seth’s head had been.

  Almost to them now, Becky grinned her thanks. “Guess we’re even now, O’Neil.”

  Seth picked himself up and followed the others into the complex, glad they had finally chosen to attack. He’d felt them out there last night, but hadn’t been able to contact them without drawing attention from the twitchy soldiers. He’d been ready to trigger the fight himself to keep from hearing Adrian scream anymore. Donner’s torture had been continuous until a few hours ago and Seth assumed the Major had needed to sleep between sessions. Whatever Donner had wanted, Adrian certainly hadn’t wanted to give it to him.

  That was proven further when they entered the bottom cells and found the room where Adrian had been held. His bloody Eagles jacket in the corner was collected by Kenn.

  “He ran!”

  Marc’s anger echoed through the complex and the heartbreak underneath it was crushing.

  “He ran. The coward!”

  The fighters began stripping the facility, waiting for Marc to choose their next course. Except for Kenn. He knew what Brady would do from here and he motioned Tonya toward a dark hallway. “Come on.”

&nbs
p; Tonya went curiously, relieved no one had mentioned her lack of fighting skills yet. “What are we doing?”

  “Looking for a…” Kenn grunted, forced to use arm strength to turn the handle and force the door open.

  The door opened and Tonya shined her light into what was obviously a tunnel made for a subway-type car of some sort.

  “Go get Marc,” Kenn ordered. “And then go to camp. I’ll meet you there.”

  Tonya didn’t like being ordered around, but she knew he was right. She would only distract him from helping Marc.

  Tonya ran a hand over Kenn’s filthy hair and he sighed, tugging her close for the hug she seemed to want. “Jeez, woman.”

  Tonya chuckled and then went to tell Marc they’d found the hole Donner had gone into.

  9

  Marc looked down at the wolf, who had stayed on the outer edges of the battle, picking off the wounded soldiers rather than to come down into the tunnels. The wolf didn’t like the underworld, but he’d been sitting by the door when Marc came out.

  Can you track her, like you did with me?

  Dog whined, head lowering. Yes.

  Marc understood the wolf’s reluctance. Being underground was like a cell and it brought bad feelings for the animal.

  Will you find her? Look after her until I can get there?

  Dog moved through the door without saying anything else. Marc needed him. He would conquer his revulsion and do his part.

  Marc waved at Seth. “Burn it all after we’re gone.”

  “You got it,” Seth vowed, arm around Becky’s shoulders.

  “Kenn’s been trimmed,” Tonya said, jerking the medical kit from her belt.

  “We leave in ten minutes,” Marc ordered. “Wounded will head for home. Everyone else, get set.”

  Seth understood that he was supposed to return to Safe Haven after covering their trail into the tunnels, but he had no interest in being in camp unless Becky was there.

  “I’m going with Marc,” Becky said quietly.

  Seth sighed. “I figured. Kenn?”