Death Be Rising (The Terra Vane Series Book 7)

by Katie Epstein

  Dan led the way. Me and Grady followed, absorbing it all. The CDC had set up a white tent further back, the thrumming generators mixed in with chatter, radios and orders being snapped from one to another. Soldiers offloaded supplies, others trained. We passed a tent with the sides rolled back out of the way, hearing a few soldiers being sold a strategy. But it was worthless for what we all faced.

  We headed for the master tent. Dan pushed the flap aside and entered, his ID at the ready.

  “I’m Special Agent in Charge, Dan Vasquez of the FBI,” he ordered a man dressed head to toe in his military gear. The officer checked his ID and nodded, then walked over to another man chatting on the radio. When the larger one finished speaking, the soldier said something to him, pointing at us.

  The senior officer came over and put his hand out to shake Dan’s. “I’m Lieutenant General Hanley, Agent Vasquez. I hear you’re the one who pushed for us to be here with utmost priority?”

  “That’s correct. I’ve only heard good things about you, General,” he replied. He turned to us. “I have Agent Vane and Agent Grady here with me, and I’ve cleared it so five other agents will soon join them. They’re the team assigned to this for the next forty-eight hours at least. What’s the assessment so far?”

  Hanley studied me, taking in my leather jacket and jeans, realizing I wasn’t preened like Grady in his tailored suit. But Hanley couldn’t judge if basing on stereotypes. He didn’t look old enough to be General with his youthful face, caramel eyes and rigid jaw lay sitting beneath the green cap.

  Eyes back on Dan, Hanley said, “The Infected, as we’re deeming them at the moment, are behind an invisible, impenetrable wall. They’re standing, doing nothing more at this point. We’ve secured the perimeter and evacuated anyone who falls inside of it. We also captured three people reported to be…” he hesitated. “Reported to be zombies. We’re not using that term.”

  “I understand. Where are they?”

  “In isolation in the white tent being investigated by the CDC. They’re testing what they can on site to figure out what’s caused this. The rest they’ll send off to Atlanta for assessment. Victims of the Infected are being put into quarantine elsewhere. We’ll continue to monitor the situation. But we’re concerned.”

  “With what?”

  “We’ve got an ID on those we have in isolation. And according to the records they’re already deceased.”

  Dan didn’t bat an eyelid. “Go on.”

  “We’re also troubled by what is causing the force field. It scales the perimeter of the abandoned mall. We’ve tried ways to get through to no avail. Usually I’d escalate this through proper channels to bring in the DoD specialists, but I wanted to speak with you first.”

  “Thank you, General. Our specialists are among the agents coming in soon. They will assess what’s blocking us from moving in any further.” He nudged a thumb toward me. “Agent Vane is lead agent and therefore, in charge while I’m not here. I would appreciate it if you can liaise with her before we escalate anything.”

  “I will engage proper protocol. But I have a chain of command. And I will adhere to it for the safety of our citizens.”

  “I wouldn’t expect anything less. I’ll stick around, introduce you to the others, then I’ll make sure we support everything from all channels that may want in on this. Including the local law enforcement who can aid with managing the press and public further away from the perimeter. Is this your HQ?”

  “That it is.”

  “We will require another tent set up for our team. They are dealing with classified information they need to monitor and keep secure at all times. Can you arrange it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good.”

  The noise of another vehicle pulling up outside broke up the conversation. Two minutes later, in piled the rest of the IET.

  “Ooh, fancy,” Bernard said, looking around the tent as he entered. The onyx hair that fell against a pearl complexion screamed vampire. But he had the blessing of the magical ring he wore to move about in the day, throwing people off track. Impressive, his height and slim, toned build got attention. And depending on the person, his fluid movements were either sexy or deadly.

  Kaleb entered next, taller than average over six feet, dark blond hair falling to his shoulders. He’d dressed casual, but there weren’t many clothes that could hide his muscled frame. He also looked tired, his shoulders slumped. I frowned, concerned at what might be wrong. But when he caught my eye, he winked, and his charm took me into his fold. But I wasn’t the only one susceptible to it. Tall, built, too attractive for his own good, he demanded attention wherever he went. Many men saw him as competition, and many women their ambition. But as dressed as he was, he still looked impressive. And when his eyes caught mine…

  Oh, boy.

  Libby wiggled in after them wearing her tight leather pants and a green shirt that clung to every curve. I cringed, wondering what Hanley would think of her choice of attire. He wouldn’t see a demon trained in martial arts, or her ability to have men melting to their feet in blind lust within seconds. And from his expression, he hovered between interest and uncertainty at the thought of someone like Libby being one of the team.

  Mayra trailed in, carrying her trunk of magical supplies. We’d invested in a black and silver tool box to make it easier for her to carry around than her wooden one.

  Her dress sense had changed since being on Earthside. Gone was the steampunk fashion of chemises, corsets and lace. In arrived the floral dresses and long cardigans. She’d tamed her wild white blonde hair. It no longer resembled her back-combed style. But even with a more sensible trend, her unique aqua eyes still garnered attention. She gave Hanley a tentative wave, and he frowned.

  Zax entered then. The final member of the IET. He carried the equipment, grinning as he pushed his glasses up his dark nose. At least someone found excitement among the human military.

  “This is your team?” Hanley asked, his eyebrow raised. A group of soldiers gathered near the open side of the tent. Some tittered among themselves, others gaped at Libby.

  I coughed and cleared my throat to make the introductions and show an element of leadership. Libby giggled and waved at the ones watching her. A few waved back. I rolled my eyes.

  “Lieutenant General Hanley, meet my team.” I gestured toward Bernard, Kaleb and Libby. “Agents Vostreux, Cipher, and Alala, they bring the muscle.” I waved toward Mayra and Zax. “Agent Shade and Dracheon. They’re our specialists who will establish what’s going on.” I shoved a thumb in Grady’s direction. “And Agent Grady used to work as an agent in the HRT. He’s former military.”

  Hanley, confused, dragged his eyes away from the others. But they shone with interest when I mentioned Grady’s resume.

  “Military, eh?”

  “Yes, Sir,” Grady replied. “I served eight years before applying to the FBI. I spent two years there before being fast tracked into the HRT. Because of an injury I returned to the FBI, and I’m now assigned to a specialist team led by Vane.”

  Hanley nodded. “Then I’m sure we’ll see good things from you, agent.” He looked to me. “Where would you like to start, Agent Vane?”

  “Call me Terra.” He frowned at that. I continued, “Or Vane. Reduce the syllables.”

  He thought on it. “You may call me Hanley. Anything further we need to know?”

  Looking at Dan, he urged me to keep going. “We’ll assess and inform you as we go along,” I told the General. “I can only serve up bits and pieces.”

  “And why’s that?”

  “Classified. We’re operating within the lines of high level information here. I’ll tell you all I’m able without telling you what I can’t, so to speak. But our intention is to review the situation, get in there, end the threat, and leave with as few casualties as possible.”

  “All right.” He looked at the soldiers now watching Libby do a slut drop. “Get back to your stations!” he barked. The soldiers scurried.
<
br />   I stepped closer toward a table they’d set up near the comms at the back of the tent. “I see you already have the blueprints of the mall?”

  “Yes. Although our first issue is getting close to it.”

  “And we’ll investigate that.” I studied the blueprints. “Let’s begin with what’s keeping us from assessing the location. We’ll head out to the boundary and run a diagnostic.”

  “I will arrange for my people to go with you.”

  “Thank you, but that won’t be necessary. Soon, I want to visit the individuals the CDC have in isolation. I would also like access to the police reports and witness statements of the people involved.”

  Dan’s cell rang, and he drew it out of his pocket. “I’ll leave you to it. Agent Vane, call me if you need anything and I’ll return when needed.”

  A few seconds later, Dan left the tent chatting away to whoever had called.

  “I’m unorthodox in my approach,” I told Hanley. “But I get results. We wouldn’t be here if Dan Vasquez didn’t think us capable.”

  “I’ve seen what’s out there. My opinion of your approach doesn’t matter.” He scowled. “All I care about is you’ve got forty eight hours to back up your claim.”

  He said nothing more, his face grim, and exited the tent.

  7

  We made our way out to the border the soldiers guarded.

  The grass beneath our feet changed to manicured fauna borders as we neared the location where the force field hovered. Something ominous filled the air as we approached.

  Aiming for the part with more privacy near a row of trees, the seven of us tried to behave like we knew what we were doing. But chills crept up my spine the closer we got.

  The undead stood there, waiting in their groups, remnants of hair on their graying skin flittering in the breeze. Some looked worse than others, their faces half gone with empty stares that gazed at nothing. Not one of them broke their stance; not one flicker of reaction to our approach. It didn’t matter that there was an invisible shield between us. The thought of them shrieking and suddenly breaking free from their trance put me on edge.

  I put my hand out and walked forward until it hit something hard. I saw nothing, but energy sizzled against my skin. The harder I pushed, the more it pushed back.

  Mayra stood next to me and did the same. I asked. “How do you want to play this?”

  She thought on it, continuing to test the shield. “I’ll require a short time to the assess the magic woven within it to see what I’m dealing with. But it means connecting with it and casting a spell.” She gnawed her lip. “The guards…”

  “We’ll lose the guards on this side. But look at them.” I nodded my head toward the waiting zombies. “There’s a few hundred here alone. If this is Dreven’s work, then what’s his plan?”

  “There are no others among the escaped prisoners capable to pull off such a thing,” Bernard told me. “This is Dreven, all right. And didn’t it state in his files he tried to raise a dead army over on Portiside?”

  “Yeah. And here we are, trying to pass through a shield around an abandoned shopping mall of all places.” I gestured to the others. “Let’s get hold of those police reports. People called it in claiming they saw the zombies get aggressive and start attacking the public. But then they stopped. Something, or someone, drew them to the mall.”

  “I’ll take lead on that,” said Grady.

  Kaleb went to speak but stopped and swallowed hard. He squeezed his eyes tight and shook something off. Righting himself, he said, “We’ll also need supplies.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m good.” He nodded, his tone pinched.

  Not believing him for a second, I asked Mayra, “What do you require to cast the spell?”

  “A few things. Mainly to help me break through the shield if you’re sure we’re going in there.” She looked over her shoulder at the bodies behind us. “The assessment I’ll be able to do easy enough.”

  “Why don’t you and Zax return to the house. Grab your extra supplies.” I turned to Zax. “Bring any equipment, too. Is it possible to secure them?”

  “I’ll get the boxes with biometric locks,” he replied. “In there, I’ll store our equipment, files, Mayra’s potions. I’ll bring them.”

  “Great. Thanks. What else are we going to need?”

  “I’m not fighting in these clothes,” Bernard scoffed. “This is my best jacket. I’ll go with Zax and Mayra, and bring our combat gear Cole assigned us. It may as well get some use.”

  “We’ll also need weapons,” Kaleb reminded him. “Bring more blades than guns.”

  Bernard nodded. “Good thinking. I’ll grab the harnesses. They came over with the weapons.”

  “And the protective vests,” I told him. “Do you want to make a list?”

  “With my luscious mind I don’t need to. Zax, Mayra, and me will go on the supply run then.”

  “Thanks, guys.” To Grady, I said, “Take Libby to the scene where they reported the attacks. Discover all information from local authorities and get copies of any files.”

  “What about dealing with Hanley?”

  “At the moment, we’re just bringing it all together. I promise to be on my best behavior.”

  “I’ll believe that when I see it.”

  Libby winked at him. “Just me and you, Sexy. Can’t wait!”

  Grady looked like he wanted to kill me.

  I hid a smile. “I guess that leaves Kaleb and me checking out those CDC put in isolation. We’ll reconvene upon your return. Keep it under two hours.”

  “What will happen when we penetrate the force field?” asked Zax.

  “That’s the next step.” Glancing over his shoulder, I watched the dead waiting. Their bodies bruised, rotting, became a chorus of sunken cheeks and empty eyes. And they were getting ready for something. “If we release this shield, we release them.”

  “So what’s the plan?”

  I had no clue, and looked to Bernard for assistance. “You’ve lived a long time, right?”

  He quirked an eyebrow. “I have.”

  “So you understand zombies?”

  “I suppose I’m classified as one of the living dead if one believes in the myths,” he smirked.

  “That’s not what I mean and you know it.”

  He shrugged. “Maybe not. But in answer to your question, I haven’t come across a zombie personally. They don’t do it for me in the bedroom. But I’ve heard of them.”

  “What about those raised by a necromancer?”

  “It depends on the person’s necromancer skills. I’ve known only a few who can rise bodies with the souls intact. Often, the soul has already moved on, so they can only call on those in limbo. It’s easier for a necromancer to control the dead by magic. The body becomes a puppet, nothing more. Once the magic retreats, it’s a shell that continues to decay. Skin and bone.”

  “So he’s controlling an army of dead bodies. What will arise when we attack them? Will the magic disappear? Are we even able to destroy them?”

  Mayra answered this time. “To my knowledge the magic will keep them moving. But it’s also down to the strength of the wielder, the one holding the reins. The level of their power, their ability and their intent, are all important. If they are able, they will issue an order for the magic to run on its own, only needing to recharge it every now and again.”

  “So what does that mean?”

  “It means that the mage may have given our dead statues an order to attack the second the shield goes down. You’ll have a few hundred zombies operating, in some respect, of their own accord. They’ll follow that order without limbs, while being burned, being shot. We have to take out their ability to move.”

  “Ah crap,” I whispered recalling every creepy zombie I’d watched since moving to Portiside all those years ago. TV access was limited in the hospital where I’d spent most of my youth.

  “We’re not certain that’s the case,” Bernard told me. “But it
makes the most sense he’d do something like that if he wants an army. He’s not only a necromancer. He’s a mage. And a powerful one at that.”

  “So, if we drop the shield, we let these guys loose, ready to attack.” Thoughts whirred through my head. “We have a bunch of zombies controlled by a mage with a dangerous agenda. When we release the shield, they’ll aim to attack an army of humans who have no clue on what they are or how to take them down. We could create an opening in the shield, go in, but Dreven can release it anytime, and we won’t be out here to help. The zombies—I can’t believe I’m saying zombies—could overthrow the small number at our back, slow or fast. We don’t even know what they’ll capable of, and then Dreven can send them out and attack the humans for whatever reason he has up his sleeve. We have the same problem if we take the army in with us, lower the shield, control a perimeter of how wide, with how many soldiers? I need to call Dan, and tell him to send further help from Portiside over here. We need more than us on this. It’s ridiculous!” I blew out a breath.

  Kaleb stopped me from reaching for my cell.

  “Wait, okay? Let’s assess the situation first. Supply run and intel. After that we’ll know more.”

  “There’s nothing more Dan can do that we’re not doing now,” Bernard added.

  They were right. I had to rein in my shit.

  “Okay.” I took a deep breath. “Then let’s do what we said before I race off into those trees and leave you behind to get your brains eaten.”

  Chuckles erupted, but Mayra broke free of it to give me a reassuring smile. “If anyone can do this, Terra, it’s you. You’re not in it alone.”

  I sighed. “Thanks guys. I always knew I’d be in the middle of a damn apocalypse someday,” I muttered. “Freaking zombies.”

  8

  After going our separate ways, Kaleb and I avoided General Hanley on our way to the CDC tent. Neither of us wanted him breathing over our shoulders for this.

  Pushing the flap aside, we walked in, and a CDC Disease Detective wearing remnants of a hazmat suit approached. She introduced herself as Doctor Simone Zhao.