I squeezed his fingers, my heart clenching. “If you die, I'd rather go out at your side.”
“I can't let-” Erik started but Julius cut him off.
“We get it, you'd both die for each other. Now can you get moving please, lovebirds, or you might end up actually fulfilling that promise.”
I released a small laugh as Erik and I started running side by side.
His movements were already smoother and relief ran through me to know he was going to be okay. Julius raced on in front us, raising Menace ahead of him as he returned Vicious to its sheath.
I took Nightmare from my hip, releasing Erik's hand as I mentally prepared myself to face any enemy who found us. We had to reach the others and get the hell out of here. That was all that mattered.
The lights flickered overhead and a shiver raced across my skin.
“There's a way out here,” Julius whispered, pausing next to a ladder that ran up to a hatch.
“Let's see where we are,” Erik encouraged, his back straightening as his wounds healed.
Julius headed up the ladder, quietly pushing the hatch open and peering out.
“What can you see?” I whispered.
“I think I’m in a chicken shed,” Julius said then a surprised ca-caw! sounded from above and a flutter of feathers fell onto Julius's shoulders. “Yep, definitely a chicken shed.”
“Get up,” Erik ordered, stepping onto the ladder below him.
Julius climbed out and Erik swiftly followed. I darted up after them, hauling myself into a large shed full of hay. A row of wooden nests ran along one wall and several chickens were gazing at us indignantly.
Erik ran to the door of the shed, tugging it open a crack and peering outside. He quickly closed it again, turning to us with a dark expression. “The truck is three hundred yards away up the hill. But there's twenty Biters out there and no sign of the others.”
“Oh no,” I breathed, my grip tightening on Nightmare. “What do we do?”
A yell of defiance tore through the air outside and Erik tugged the door open again in alarm. “Fuck, Clarice is running at them alone.” He darted outside, but Julius shouldered his way past him, tearing off across the field.
I gasped, chasing after them, my heart scrunched into a tight ball in my chest. Ahead of me, Julius released a battle cry, slamming his sword through a Biter and sending her to ash.
I raised Nightmare at the ready, adrenaline pounding through me as I ran into battle with my mind set one thing: survival.
We’d almost made it to the top of the cellar stairs when Chickoa burst through the door, slamming it behind her again. Her eyes widened as she spotted us but she didn’t slow her descent.
“Take cover!” she cried as she charged towards us.
I had no time to figure out what she meant before an explosion rang out in the space above us and the blast threw me from my feet.
I screamed as I was propelled backwards into Magnar and Fabian and we all fell in a heap at the bottom of the stairs.
Magnar groaned as I scrambled off of him and I offered him my hand as I dragged him upright.
“Are you okay?” I breathed.
“You’re heavier than you look,” he teased and I narrowed my eyes at him in response.
Fabian lay unmoving at the bottom of our heap and Chickoa tutted irritably as she realigned his broken spine, leaving him to heal on the floor. She shot across the room, flicking on a flashlight before yanking a hidden door open.
“This leads to the stables,” Chickoa said. “Everyone else is outside already. I need to make sure the horses are okay and the rest of my animals too. You’ll have to come this way as well.”
“Why the hell do you have so many grenades?” I asked, eying the cluster of them strapped to her belt.
“There was a military base not too far from here during the Final War but the bombs dropped so suddenly that the soldiers based there never even got deployed. During the mayhem that followed I decided to head there and arm myself just in case the war ended up at my door. Of course I never could have guessed that the Belvederes would seize power. And after they had I just put the weapons I’d gathered aside in case Fabian ever came knocking on my door.” Chickoa shrugged.
The sound of coughing started up at the top of the stairs and I stilled as a second vampire groaned.
“Which way did she go?” a female asked.
“Through one of those doors,” a male replied roughly.
Footsteps sounded on the landing above and I focused on Fury as I assessed what was coming for us. Six Elite and nine lessers were close by. If they all came for us armed with guns then I wasn’t convinced we could stand against them.
“We need to move,” Magnar breathed, propelling me towards the hidden door.
“I’m not leaving him behind,” I protested, pointing at Fabian.
His fingers twitched as he shifted towards consciousness again but he still hadn’t woken.
“I’ll wait for him and we’ll catch up,” Chickoa replied though she didn’t seem overly thrilled at the prospect. “We’re faster than you.”
“You swear?” I clarified, unsure if that was really the best idea. Fabian was vulnerable in that state and the vampires hunting us were moving closer with each second.
“Yes, I’ll deliver your husband back to you safely,” Chickoa agreed.
“He’s not my husband,” I hissed.
More footsteps moved across the landing, heading straight towards our hiding place. Chickoa raised her shotgun as I hesitated, not wanting to split our group up.
Magnar sighed as he realised I wasn’t going to leave and moved past Chickoa to pick Fabian up. He tossed him over his shoulder and hurried towards me.
Chickoa raised an eyebrow in surprise just as the door above us burst open. I turned my back on her and raced into the dark tunnel behind Magnar.
Chickoa followed quickly, pulling the door closed behind us so that we were left in the dark. After a beat, orange lights flared to life and I stared at the long tunnel ahead of me in surprise. They flickered a few times then died, plunging us into darkness once more. Chickoa cursed, quickly turning on a flashlight. She raised her shotgun, tossing Magnar the flashlight as she aimed at the door where the Biters were sure to appear at any second.
Fury hungered for me to stay and fight, longing for the blood of the creatures who chased us and I had to push my will against the blade’s to quiet its persistent nagging.
Feed me their blood, Sun Child!
Magnar started moving, passing the flashlight to me and looking vaguely disgusted by it. Fabian groaned softly as he shifted towards consciousness.
“Go,” Chickoa breathed as I hesitated. “I’ll hold them off and catch up.”
I eyed the shotgun in her hand, nodding my acceptance as I turned away. My blade was no match for those weapons and she could move faster than me when it came time for her to abandon her post. I started running, the flashlight’s beam bouncing back and forth along the corrugated metal walls in time with my steps.
“Is everyone else okay?” I asked Magnar as we ran.
“I hope so,” he replied darkly and I tightened my grip on Fury as concern spiralled through my chest.
The tunnel angled left then suddenly swept right again. We raced on and Fury started to grow warmer in my palm once more.
Gunshots rang out behind us and I ducked my head instinctively as the sound echoed through the tunnel and sent panic skittering through me.
Behind you! Fury screamed and I hesitated, pointing the flashlight over my shoulder to make sure we knew who was chasing us.
Chickoa appeared and I gave her a warm smile as relief filled my chest. More gunshots rang out and I doubled my speed as I charged towards the far end of the tunnel.
“We’ve got ‘em on the run!” a Biter hollered behind me and raucous laughter followed his words as they sped towards us.
Adrenaline surged through my veins as I raced on, my legs trembling with the effort of
moving me ever faster. My slayer gifts made me really damn fast but there was no way I could outrun a horde of vampires for long.
“I’m awake - let me down!” Fabian snarled in Magnar’s arms and I almost tripped over him as Magnar let him fall to the floor.
Fabian regained his feet almost instantly, hissing his disapproval as he took up position at the rear of our group. I wondered why he didn’t just run on ahead of me and Magnar and realised he was using his immortal body to shield me from harm.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” I panted as I ran.
“There are certainly better ways to die than to be crushed beneath a slayer’s ass,” Fabian growled and I couldn’t help but laugh.
Magnar chuckled darkly, catching my hand as he propelled me to move faster.
I ran flat out but Chickoa outpaced me easily, her black hair billowing behind her as she sprinted on ahead.
More gunshots fired behind us and I flinched, imagining them tearing through us just as soon as the Biters managed to get a straight shot in our direction.
Every turning in the tunnel gave us an extra reprieve. Each left turn was another few seconds before they could aim at us. Every right was a few more moments that we would remain breathing.
“Here!” Chickoa called urgently and my grip on Magnar’s fingers tightened in anticipation of us escaping that infernal tunnel.
Magnar and Fabian kept close to me and my heart pounded unevenly with fear for my sister. I hadn’t seen her since all of this started and I had no idea if she was okay.
We charged on as we approached the end of the tunnel and I flicked the flashlight off. It was one long straight run to the exit but I could feel the vampires gaining on us with each second. They’d turn that final corner before we’d make it out, I just knew it.
Chickoa threw the door open and my lungs felt fit to burst as we shot towards it.
Gunfire started up behind us and the air was knocked from my lungs as I was propelled through the door by Fabian as he collided with me and Magnar, giving us the final spurt of speed we needed to make it outside.
Chickoa scrambled out of our way and I tumbled aside, wheezing for breath on the straw-covered floor of the stable.
Nightmare guided my hand, but I used the skills my friends had taught me just yesterday too. It seemed like a dream now, but my muscles seemed to remember the moves. I cut through a male's heart and ran through his cascading remains as I hunted for Erik.
He was alive. And the Biters he was attacking had more to worry about than he did.
I turned away from him, facing down my next opponent. I felt strong, powerful, impossibly able to take on this group of psychos.
I lunged sideways to avoid the slash of the female's nails, rolling to the ground and sweeping out her legs just like the slayers and vampires had taught me. She tumbled across the grass and I launched myself on top of her with a wolfish snarl.
End her, Nightmare urged and I gave the blade what it wanted, finishing the girl with a sharp stab.
Miles and Warren joined the fight, crying out their rage as they tore guns from the hands of lessers and turned them back on them. In seconds, the remaining five Biters were overwhelmed, their bodies guided away on the wind.
I glanced over at Erik then turned to search the yard, the fields, desperate to find Callie.
Where is she?
We ran toward the armoured truck as a unit and I tossed Erik the keys as we slowed to a halt in front of it.
“Get in,” Erik ordered everyone. “It's fitted with high-powered weapons, we can take out any Biters who come for us from inside.”
Clarice, Julius, Warren and Miles clambered into the back and I got into the passenger's seat beside Erik. A loud clunking noise sounded the truck locking and I sucked in a breath, resting my head back against the seat and soaking in the small moment of calm.
“Did anyone see Callie?” I asked, turning to face the others in the back as my anxiety found me again.
They all shook their heads and Erik reached across the space parting us, laying a hand on my knee. “She’s probably with Magnar. She’ll be fine,” he said and I nodded, a lump swelling in my throat.
“Sound the horn, the others might hear it and come running,” Miles called from the back.
“Is that a good idea?” Clarice hissed. “We don't know how many Biters are out there.”
“This baby can handle it,” Warren said, knocking his knuckles on the metal wall beside him. “Titanium alloy with enough firepower to destroy an army.”
“I love when you talk truck,” Miles said and tense laughter broke out between us.
I glanced over my shoulder, spying Julius and Clarice side by side, angled away from each other as they worked hard not to touch.
Clarice's eyes suddenly lit up and she snatched a phone out of her jeans' pocket. “I can call Fabian!”
“By the gods, Clarice,” Erik laughed. “Do it now.”
She dialled a number, holding the phone to her ear. It rang on and on and finally, I heard Fabian's voice down the line.
“Hey, you alright? Did everyone get out?” Fabian asked.
“Yes, we're all fine.” Clarice listed off our names. “Who's with you?”
“Callie, Magnar and Chickoa,” he answered and the tension ran out of my body. Erik gave me a comforting smile and I had the urge to crawl into his lap and die of relief in his arms.
“That's everyone,” Clarice sighed. “Where are you? We made it to one of the trucks. Can we come pick you up?”
Fabian murmured something I couldn't hear then replied, “Chickoa said there's no road out here. We're at the stables. We’ll come to you.”
“Okay, be careful,” Clarice breathed then hung up.
A loud bang made me jump and I turned to find a Biter on the windshield with a rock in his hand. He smashed it against the window with a feral snarl.
“I'm coming in,” he said in an eerie tone.
“No you’re not.” Julius lunged forward between Erik and I, jamming his hand against buttons on the screen embedded in the dashboard.
Erik shoved him, trying to push his hands away. “Stop it, you don't know what you're doing.”
The wipers turned on and the Biter's face was swatted with them.
“There's another one here!” Miles yelled as a Biter slammed into the side door, trying to wrench it open.
“I have the gift of technology,” Julius said, tapping on the screen, his elbow nearly catching me in the face.
“I can manage,” Erik said, trying to push him aside again and a gun started firing randomly at the back of the truck.
“We need the front guns,” Julius muttered then a huge bang sounded as the truck fired some sort of missile into a tree.
“Julius!” Erik barked, trying to wrestle him back.
“Aha!” Julius announced, slamming his palm down on the screen. The truck nearly left the ground as another missile fired over the head over the Biter on the windscreen. I gasped as I spotted it taking out a group of Biters running down the road.
“Oops, not that one,” Julius muttered. “But that was a lucky shot, right?”
The vampire on the windshield snarled, bashing his rock on the glass again.
“For fuck's sake.” Erik forced Julius into the back of the truck then tapped several buttons on the screen. A mechanical noise sounded and the Biter looked up as a gun bent down from the top of the windshield.
“Oh f-” the Biter's head exploded and his body swiftly followed as bullets threw the remains of him from the hood and turned him into a cloud of ash.
Erik fired more shots from the guns and the other Biters trying to get in were destroyed under the onslaught.
Silence rang out and I uncurled my clenched fist.
I ran my thumb over Nightmare's hilt, letting its reassuring vibes roll through me.
I turned to gaze out of the windows, hoping to spot Callie running toward us but all was still.
A clunking noise sounded as the door
s unlocked and I turned to Erik in alarm. “Why did you unlock it?”
“I didn’t.” He jammed his thumb on a button but the locks didn’t respond. “Shit.”
“What’s wrong with it?” Julius called.
“I don’t know,” Erik said anxiously, pressing the button again to no avail.
“There’s no Biters close at least,” Warren said with a note of relief in his voice.
A heavy presence washed over me and fear stung my heart as I sensed a deity drawing near.
“Oh fuck,” Erik gasped, gazing left and right beyond the truck. “We’re outside the boundaries of the ring’s power.”
“Drive the truck! Get closer to Callie!” Julius demanded.
Erik turned the key in the ignition but the engine didn’t start. All four doors burst open and I felt the grip of Idun pulling my arm. I was hauled from the vehicle, tossed into the dirt. Julius and Clarice were thrown out too and I heard the others hit the ground on the far side of the truck.
I sprang to my feet, but Idun’s power dripped through me and I winced as she held my limbs in place. I spotted Erik over the hood of the truck, rigid as he fell under her control too.
Panic crashed through me as my legs started moving of their own accord. Clarice and Julius marched forward ahead of me and we met with Erik, Miles and Warren at the back of the vehicle.
I trembled as my feet guided me to the piles of clothes on the ground which had belonged to Biters. My fingers rooted through them of their own accord and I gathered up six guns before being forced to face my friends.
Hand them out, good girl, Idun purred through the air and a shudder seized me. Tears blurred my vision as I stode forward and handed everyone a gun, keeping one for myself.
No, this can’t be happening!
My finger slid onto the trigger and I bit down on my lip as I tried to fight the compulsion taking me hostage.
No need to struggle, Idun whispered in my ear and her will butted up against mine, forcing me to raise the gun and point it at Erik’s heart.
“No,” I snarled through my teeth, a tear of rage escaping my eye as it tracked down my cheek.
Age of Vampires- The Complete Series Page 162