Aareth
“We’ve been over this.” Aareth tried to control the frustration he felt inside. “She’s staying because she feels like she owes something to the town, like she owes something to herself for allowing herself to be duped by the queen for so long. We don’t owe anyone anything. The only thing we should be worried about is getting your memory back and our lives back on track.”
Brenda gave him that stubborn look she had used so many times before. It was an expression Aareth had come to know well through their years of dating and marriage. It was going to take an act of God to get this woman to budge.
“And your friends, Edison and Elwood?” Brenda crossed her arms over her chest. Another sign she wasn’t going to move any time soon. “You’re going to leave them, as well?”
“I can’t force people to leave.” Aareth did his best to control the volume of his voice. Despite his efforts, the stream of travelers that flowed around them stopped to give the pair of arguing lovebirds a sideways glance. “They have to make their own decisions.”
Aareth turned menacing eyes to the travelers, and he locked stares with a nosy woman who had nearly come to a standstill to listen to the couple. Her mouth was open, eyes large.
“Can I help you with something?” Aareth growled.
“Oh … oh my.” The woman shuffled along.
“You keep telling me that we were in love.” Brenda looked at Aareth with penetrating eyes. “You keep reminding me that my name is Brenda, not Ashley. Somewhere deep I want to believe what you’re saying, but one thing keeps holding me back: How could I have fallen in love with a man so cold, so distant and selfish, he would leave his own friends behind to fight and maybe even die?”
Aareth’s anger was melting, being replaced with confusion, even a hint of shame. Brenda was right. He wasn’t the same man she had fallen in love with so many years before. He was scarred, tainted by the world now. He had been chewed up and spit out, and he wasn’t better for it.
The last of Term’s travelers passed by the two, chancing sideways glances at them from the corners of their eyes. The very last rays of the sun were just dying over the horizon.
Brenda shook her head at Aareth. “I’m going back to help her. I can’t tell you what to do, just like you can’t tell them. This is my choice. I may not have a heart, but I have a head, and it’s telling me I need to go back.”
Without another word, Brenda pivoted on her heel. She began the long walk back to Term.
“Brenda!” Aareth called after her, feeling so many emotions he didn’t know which one to give priority to first. “Come on, don’t go. Don’t leave me. I can’t lose you again.”
“My name’s Ashley now.” She turned back to Aareth for a brief moment before she continued to move forward. “And I’m not leaving you. I’m inviting you to come with me, back to save our friends. You’re the one leaving me this time.”
Ashley walked on with a hint of sadness on her face.
Aareth sunk to his knees alone on the road between Azra and Term.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Sloan
“Seriously, I appreciate the sentiment, but you two can’t be here.” Sloan looked over at Edison and Elwood in the last rays of the dying daylight. “They’ll be here soon. They may be here already.”
Elwood shook his plump gnome head. Edison’s tiny helper was clad in armor—actual steel armor. Where they had found a metal suit for his small frame, Sloan had no idea. More than likely the gnome had conjured it himself using his magical abilities. Along with the armor, Elwood held a double-bladed axe that looked so large in his small hands, it might very well topple him over.
The gnome looked at Sloan with solemn eyes and shook his head.
“I’m sorry, I’m going to have to agree with Elwood on this one.” Edison looked at Sloan through the wire mask he wore.
Edison, unlike Elwood, did not have the luxury of wearing a steel suit to battle. The inventor had to settle for gear he had found at Kimberly’s estate. Lucky for him, the gargoyle was a sports and fitness fanatic. Edison was wearing the mask an umpire would wear to a baseball game. Shoulder pads, kneepads, and a torso piece that covered him from neck to shins completed the outfit. The brown leather of the cushioned pad covering most of Edison’s body was ribbed, making him look like a giant roly-poly bug.
Along with his ridiculous battle garb, Edison held a rifle the likes of which Sloan had never seen before; there was no ramrod to jam an iron ball into its barrel. There was, however, an extra lever underneath the trigger portion.
Sloan was torn at the moment. Above anything else, she was grateful to have friends willing to stand with her at the last moment. She was also unwilling to see them in harm’s way.
“They’re going to come fast.” Sloan smiled sadly at her friends. “You don’t have the healing ability that I do, nor the experience needed to survive what’s coming. I can’t let you do this.”
Elwood spat out a phrase of high-pitched gibberish, placing his axe over his shoulder.
“Elwood says that’s not your decision.” Edison looked down at his gun. “Besides, we’re more than capable of taking care of ourselves. Don’t let our stunning good looks fool you. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’m going to be able to do some damage with my latest invention. I call it a Repeating Rifle. It can hold eight rounds at once, and what’s more, it can—”
As gently as Sloan could, she caught Edison across the jaw with a right cross. Edison stumbled, mumbling something, and fell to the ground, unconscious.
“Come on.” Sloan grabbed a surprised Elwood by the back of his armor. With her other hand, she hefted Edison’s still form from the ground. “No one else is dying because of me.”
Sloan ran with both the unconscious inventor and the struggling gnome back to Kimberly’s estate. The house was silent as she entered the front room and made for the cellar.
Elwood was yammering away in his native dialect, still struggling to free himself from Sloan’s grip. It was useless. With her foot, Sloan opened the door to the cellar and placed Edison inside. She set a tearful Elwood beside the inventor.
“I’ll come back for you when this is over.” Sloan felt her heart ache at the tears coming down Elwood’s tiny face. He reached up for her, still mumbling. “If I don’t come back, stay here until the vampires leave the city.”
That was all the advice she could give him. She knew if she stayed any longer, her resolve would crumble. Sloan shut the cellar door behind her and ran back out of the estate to Term’s main road.
It was completely dark now, with no one to light lanterns or posts along the city streets. The only light that came now was from the stars and the moon overhead. Sloan skidded to a halt as she reached the main road into town. She wasn’t alone. A large group of three or four dozen New Hope soldiers stood at the entrance. Even from this distance, she could see the pale nature of their skin.
Sloan unsheathed her sword. Her thumb reached for the switch that infused her blade with the humming red mage power. She bottled her fear and embraced the rage that lay just under the surface. This time, she could feel her top canines lengthen.
“Charlotte Sloan.” One of the vampire soldiers took a step ahead of the rest. He was still a block away, but his voice carried over the calm night air. “For treason to the queen of the city of New Hope, you are ordered to lay down your weapon and surrender yourself.”
The voice of the commander wasn’t familiar to Sloan. But that was no real surprise; the queen’s army was massive. She would choose a leader with no personal ties to Sloan to bring her in.
“I am not a man of patience,” the vampire leader barked again. “Lay down your weapon!”
Her senses were on overdrive, so much so, she heard someone approaching from behind. Of course they would surround her.
Sloan’s vision went red as she felt adrenaline soak her veins with power. “Come and take it!”
Chapter Forty
Sloan
Sloan ad
justed her stance to provide herself a view of the main force of vampires in front of her, as well as whoever was walking up the road behind her. When Sloan caught sight of the approaching figure, she had to do a double take.
Through the darkness, Ashley Brookhaven’s familiar form came into view. The undead woman’s two-handed sword dragged in the dirt road behind her as she approached. The blade of her weapon cut deep, leaving a waving line in her wake.
“Thought you might want a hand.” Ashley hefted the heavy sword over her shoulder, looking from Sloan to the group of enemies in front of them. “It just didn’t seem right to leave you alone.”
“But, Aareth?” Sloan did her best to put into words what she was feeling. A surprising amount of relief had come when she realized she would not be fighting alone. At the same time, a deep feeling of sadness penetrated through to her heart. “You two were supposed to be going to Azra.”
Ashley shrugged. “He’s a big boy. He made his decision; I made mine.”
While the women spoke, the leader of the vampire soldiers moved his unit closer. They now stood on one end of The Shifter; Sloan and Ashley stood at the other end.
“Commander Ashley Brookhaven, I presume.” The leader of the vampire soldiers looked her up and down. “My name is Captain Hunt. You are ordered to lower your weapons and turn yourself in to the crown for your crimes against the queen.”
He was close enough now that Sloan could see his face. He was middle-aged and wore the same black-and-grey uniform that all of the queen’s soldiers did, with two alterations: his uniform came with a deep-set hood to cover his head during the day, as well as thick, black gloves. This was true for all of the vampire soldiers. It seemed they were prepared for the rise of the sun while traveling in the Outland.
Before Ashley could answer the captain, the swinging bar doors of The Shifter creaked open. Everyone was caught off guard. Sloan, Ashley, and the entire vampire contingent pivoted to brace for an attack.
Kade walked out into the cool of the night. His orange eyes looked like tiny lamps glowing in the reflection of the bright night sky.
No one was more surprised than Sloan to see the shifter. She was so sure he had gone with the others to Azra for the time being, she had blocked his face from her memory. Seeing him here now, and smiling at her, sent her heart racing. She couldn’t help smiling, herself.
“Hey, beautiful.” Kade walked down the three short steps of The Shifter. He made his way to stand by Sloan’s side, opposite Ashley. “I feel like I owe you an apology. People are allowed to change. If the woman I’ve gotten to know over the last few days is the real you, then I’d like to get to know her better.”
In that moment, Sloan felt like she could have taken on an entire army of vampire soldiers. More than anything, she wanted to lean over and kiss Kade, but their precarious position made that all but impossible. She managed a nod, and that was it.
“Well, if you don’t have anyone else joining you”—the vampire captain rolled his red eyes—“then let’s get this over with.”
Kade winked at Sloan before beginning his shifting process. He fell to all fours as his clothes and skin turned into short, golden fur. His body elongated; his teeth grew along with his mouth. The ears on the sides of his head transformed into short, perky triangles at the top of his head. A long, swishing tail grew out of his tight butt.
In the space of a few seconds, a giant saber-toothed tiger took form beside her. His head came up to her breasts; he was the size of a small horse. Only one thing remained the same during Kade’s transformation: his eyes. The same orange orbs looked at her, and then to the gathered vampires. A low growl rumbled from his chest. Two giant fangs curved down from the top of his mouth, passing his lower lips and ending at two sharp points.
“Well, you don’t see that every day.” Ashley shrugged at the massive saber-toothed tiger.
“Second squad!” Captain Hunt shouted. It seemed the vampire leader had seen enough. “Prepare to attack!”
All around the trio of Term defenders, black shadows separated from the dark. They emerged from behind them in the street, in alleys to either side of the main road, even on the tops of the surrounding buildings.
Sloan’s heart sank. Not only were there dozens in front of them now, there were also at least as many to their right, left, and rear.
Sloan gripped her mage saber tighter.
Ashley switched on her own mage weapon, holding her broad sword with both hands. She assumed a position with elbows locked, both hands on the pommel, blade in front of her body. The blue light emanating from her weapon bathed her expressionless face in a dull glow.
Where Sloan’s blade was meant for parlaying and quick, easy, maneuvering, Ashley’s weapon was designed for brute force and strength.
“First Squad!” Captain Hunt barked orders to the vampires he had walked into Term with. “Present weapons!”
The sound of swords being unsheathed peppered the air. The vampires around the captain flipped on their own mage weapons. Each blade was bathed in a faint white light.
“Stay away from the ones with swords as much as possible,” Sloan whispered to Kade. “Let Ashley and me deal with those. You take the others behind us.”
Kade bobbed his feline head. His body quivered with anticipation. His chest and stomach were low to the ground as he prepared to pounce. The muscles between his shoulder blades bulged.
“Kill the other two if you have to.” Captain Hunt raised his own sword and flipped the switch at the handle, bathing his pale face in white light. “Take Sloan alive.”
In one smooth motion, he lowered his sword, signaling the attack. What followed could only be described as bloody chaos.
Chapter Forty-One
Aareth
As soon as Ashley left, he knew he had to go back. It was only his sense of pride that made him hesitate for the slightest bit. He couldn’t, wouldn’t, leave his wife, no matter what the cost. If she died in Term, then he would die by her side. Living life without her again was no option at all.
The main question, as he trudged back the way he had come, was how he was going to transform back into the monster that had singlehandedly dismantled the queen’s men once before. Did he even want to turn back into that monster?
A whoosh overhead interrupted Aareth from this internal debate, and the stars and moon were blocked out for the slightest moment by a massive figure.
“You are going back, as well, Beast Man?” Kimberly thudded to a stop beside Aareth. Her wings folded on the back of her massive shoulders. “Although it would be better if you transformed out of your human skin for the job. I suspect there will be a fair amount of killing and dying to be had.”
“Yeah, I’m thinking about that. Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be taking the citizens of Term to their new home?”
“My men are capable of the job. Besides, I’m a warrior and a leader. I don’t send others to do my fighting.”
“Fair enough.”
“You, on the other hand, are going because the human you love has, are you not?” Kimberly didn’t wait for an answer. “You humans and your love. What dramatic creatures you are. You see, when a male gargoyle falls in love with a female gargoyle, the process is quite simple. He shows her his—”
Aareth heard the sounds of conflict at the same time Kimberly did. The wolf and the gargoyle looked at one another with wide eyes.
“Hurry, Beast Man. Change into your hideous form.” Kimberly unfurled her wings to take flight once again. “The battle has started without us.”
“I’m trying,” Aareth grunted, contorting his face.
Come on, Aareth thought as he tried to locate the animal that now lived within. Where are you when I need you?
Whether it was his own voice talking back, his imagination, or the new part of him, a voice in his head growled: Oh, now you need me.
We’re one being now. We have to learn to coexist. Help me. Please.
“Are you having a bowel moveme
nt, Hideous Beast Man?” Kimberly took a step back, gauging Aareth’s expression. “You do not look well.”
All right, but you owe me one, the voice grumbled.
A howl ripped from Aareth’s throat as he transformed into the wolf for the second time. His clothes shredded around his growing body. Long, black fur rippled across his bulging muscles. Within seconds, Aareth stood looking out through yellow eyes.
“You are an abomination.” Kimberly admired Aareth, who was now large enough to look her in the eye. “Come, horrid one. I will give you a ride into battle.”
Chapter Forty-Two
Sloan
This time, when the fog of war settled over Sloan’s senses, she was ready. Her vision was red, her fangs had already elongated, but this was now to be expected. Her transition into vampire was becoming easier and easier to accept.
Sloan met Captain Hunt’s men head-on. Ashley kept stride with her as the two women cleaved their way through the vampire ranks. As instructed, Kade fell back to engage those vampires without mage swords.
The two women were polar opposites when it came to fighting, but each was twice as deadly as any warrior in the queen’s service. Sloan was faster than the vampires who struck out at her with their glowing white swords. For the most part, Sloan was able to dispatch them to the afterlife with single strokes, or at least wound them badly enough to remove them from the fight. When her shimmering red sword made contact with one of her assailant’s weapons, a shower of sparks would erupt onto the battlefield.
Sloan didn’t waste time with trying to pick apart her enemies; she went for killing strikes. Soon, blood filled the air just as much as the showering sparks of their engagement.
Sloan could only keep track of Ashley out of the corner of her eye, but the undead woman was managing to hold her own. The upper hand in both speed and strength belonged to her opponents, but Ashley made up for her handicaps with the brute power of her weapon compared to her opponents’, and her superior fighting style.
The Complete Vampire Project Series: (Books 1 - 5) Page 50