by Sela Croft
I passed out again, and when I regained consciousness, my first thought was of Mirela. She was in trouble; she wasn’t in Washington anymore. If she had been, I would have seen her. I couldn’t locate her, which was a bad sign.
My heart ached worse than my body. Then a skirmish down the hallway drew my attention. My torturers normally appeared, silently, like horrific ghosts. There had to be something else going on. I listened intently to see if I could tell.
There were voices, a welcome sound. I’d been alone too long and longed for my comrades. Then miraculously, Quin’s tall, chiseled form appeared around the corner. His golden-brown hair gleamed in the pitch dark, and I looked into his gunmetal-gray eyes.
Strong, muscled, and imposing, he would have been a threatening sight to another—but not to me. Relief washed over me, but I couldn’t find my voice. I hadn’t the strength. My comrade rushed over, followed by two others.
Jon and Spence stood shoulder to shoulder with Quin, bringing tears to my eyes. Before I got all sentimental, I said, “Stay back. This collar is live.”
Jon said, “I figured as much.” He was as hard and lean as I’d seen him. Unflinching, he stared, boring holes into me with his glowing bronze eyes. He had a scar across his left cheek, running from his temple to the edge of his mouth, reminding me of a certain battle I’d rather forget.
Seemingly calm at my admission that I was wired with light, Spence studied the collar. “I recognize that brand—a Dark Fighters specialty.”
“Hello to you, too,” I said.
“It was a bitch finding you,” Quin said. With my night vision, I picked up the purple tinge in his gaze. He was pissed.
“Yeah, well, you can imagine what it has been like on my end.” I would have much rather been doing the hunting than serving as the trapped prey.
“Damn, we have to get you out of there,” Jon said, stepping closer. “All we need is for your legs to give out, and you’re toasted.”
As the shock of seeing my friends subsided, a lot of questions came to mind. “Are you guys alone? How did you get in?”
Quin huffed. “If the fighters think this place is guarded, they’d better think again. We took out a few skeletons on the way in. Child’s play.”
“But we aren’t alone,” Jon said. “We brought a small group of Guardians with us. They are outside, holding the fort. We figured it would take a bit to get you out of here.”
“There must be more guards than those white-hairs who have been entertaining me,” I said.
“There were.” Jon didn’t have to say more; I could fill in the blanks.
“How in the hell did you find me?” I said. “I’d given up on any rescue.”
Quin grinned. “It was no easy task, and lesser vampires might have failed. I do have a few special skills, you know. Unless the fun and games in here has made you funny in the head, you’ll remember my tracking skills.”
My eyes widened. “You could smell me?” I paused. “From such a distance?”
Quin seemed to take his ability in stride. “Not at first…but we ruled out certain areas. That left only a few. The first ones we went to didn’t pan out. But when we got close, I homed in.”
I’d been in so many battles with Quin, over the centuries, that we were like brothers. We’d shared blood a time or two, out of necessity. That bond had paid off more than once. But this time was impressive.
“I’m grateful for that nose of yours.” I looked at Spence. “Now, if you could get me out of this thing, we can motor out of here.”
Spence was a skilled technician. Like a human who could defuse a bomb, he was adept at deactivating the enemy’s weapons. I’d seen him do it numerous times. Yet the collar my hosts had fitted me with was a notch above what I’d seen before.
“This won’t be quick,” Spence said, and loosened his tool belt. “But I’ll do my best.”
“As long as it doesn’t take as many hours as I’ve been wearing this thing…you’ll be commended.” I watched Spence remove several tools. “And try not to sear my head off in the process.”
Spence ignored my sarcasm and focused on the collar. He put on gloves. “Wouldn’t want to get my hands burned,” he said.
The other two stepped back but watched intently.
“You sure those guards are occupied?” It occurred to me that I may not have the time required. “And more will be on the way. If those skeletons don’t report in, that will set off an alarm.”
“Yes, they are permanently occupied…if you get my drift,” Jon said. “Our troops are guarding the perimeter. Let’s hope they can handle whatever comes up.”
My Guardians were top notch, skilled vampires of good bloodlines. But they couldn’t have brought more than a handful of men. The Dark Fighters seemed to have plentiful resources of late. The image of a massive army descending upon my comrades wasn’t a pretty picture.
“Hurry,” I said to Spence.
“Some things can’t be rushed.”
To occupy my attention, and serve as a distraction, Quin brought me up to date. In my absence, much had transpired—none of it good. The fighters had resorted to ever more devious tactics, and Alban’s royal army had been growing in size and training relentlessly.
As my second-in-command, Quin had done his best to keep our troops in shape. And to regroup after battles. It was a tough job, one that I was very familiar with. Competence didn’t mean that winning was assured. Skill level was no guarantee either.
The other factions were determined and deadly. Ruthlessness was their guiding principle, and deception their basis of operation. The game was ever-changing, and the enemy was becoming more formidable. It was good that I’d returned, even if not of my own volition.
“And as if all of that wasn’t enough,” Quin said, “the vampire hunters have shown signs of resurgence.”
My kingdom had a human population, coveted for their blood. They were also used as workers and servants. Humans who had been lost in the ocean, too close to our home, had been taken. Over the centuries, their race had propagated, which had been useful.
Yet the humans hadn’t been satisfied to live and propagate as we saw fit. They’d managed to put together a guerrilla force of their own, a new breed of hunter. Over time, they’d learned some effective methods of killing vampires. Undaunted by our size, our immortality, and our magic, they’d proceeded to pick off as many of our race as they could find and overcome.
It was annoying, to say the least. I vowed that once the other enemy factions were thwarted the vampire hunters would be next. I couldn’t very well have them going around killing my race at their discretion. But their kind would have to wait, as there were more pressing challenges to deal with first.
“Any progress?” I said.
Spence’s stoic look didn’t reveal much. He worked slowly, but precisely. It would have been a joy to observe his skill, had the collar not been around my neck. “Almost there,” he said.
I looked at Jon, trying to read something in his bronze eyes. He caught my look and nodded. “Sit tight. You’ll be out very soon.”
I prayed that very soon meant seconds, not minutes or hours. As if my prayers had been answered, I felt a weight lift from my neck. Spence held the titanium collar in one hand and his tools in the other. “I deactivated the son of a bitch.”
“Quick, get me out of these chains,” I said, anxious to move.
Each taking a side, Jon and Quinn picked the locks on the cuffs holding my wrists and ankles. The metal dropped, hanging heavy on the ends of the chains. I’d been freed. Tentatively, I tested my limbs. I bent my knees and waved my arms. Then I moved my head from side to side.
“I’m in one piece,” I said. “We’ve dallied long enough; time to get going.” But when I took a step, I crumbled to the stone floor. “Dammit.”
Jon and Quin helped me up.
“That collar was a killer,” Spence said. “It might have detonated and severed your head. And it kept you immobilized for too long. If we
hadn’t arrived, you’d have died anyway.”
Starving and weak, I managed to walk to the cell door with my comrades’ help. “I can manage,” I said, unsure that I could. But I wasn’t about to be carried home. “I just need to get my balance.”
My friends ignored me, then whisked me out of the cell and down the hall. It appeared to be unguarded. When I stepped outside, I assessed the situation. The prison was surrounded by dense forest; the massive trees dripped with thick moss.
It was the rainforest in the southernmost part of the kingdom, a good choice for a remote prison. A clan of humans had originally lived there. But the Dark Fighters had since taken over deeply forested areas, since they provided good cover.
It was difficult to locate the enemy within the bowels of the forest. And if one did, the fighters had the advantage. The trees, rocks, and rivers provided good vantage points, so the area could be effectively guarded. It was easy to set up an ambush when one’s troops occupied the forest.
My men shoved me into the trees, behind dense foliage. The short trip out of the jail had made me queasy. I hadn’t eaten in so long that I was drying up inside. But there was no time to feed, even if a comrade offered.
Enemy troops could be seen in the distance, riding their stallions down the hillside. They were far enough away that we had time, and a chance to get away—maybe. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw several guards emerge and head for the prison. They were dressed in the black garb of the fighters, with ivory-handled swords in their scabbards. The tips were poison, a special type to incapacitate a vampire until he could be dispensed with.
My comrades stayed close, and we watched from behind the rock. Fighting ensued, and I was consumed with pride for my Guardians. Expertly, they came from behind and picked off the fighters one by one. Starting with the last enemy in line, my men worked their way up.
Approaching stealthily, each guard was taken out before he was aware of the intrusion. Not a footfall was heard, as my soldiers approached like cats in the night. One at a time, the guards dropped to the ground, and when it was all clear, my men dragged them into the brush.
I let out a breath. “That was close.” My comrades could have done the job just as well, but they wouldn’t have left my side—not while I was in such a weakened condition. “It won’t be long before that other mob arrives.”
Breathing the fresh air after my long captivity made me dizzy. I leaned against the rock, refusing to pass out in front of my men. Quin stood up. He flagged the troops, letting them know he was out of the prison, and I was with him.
My muscles weren’t responding as they should. After the endurance-fest I’d been through, my body had finally collapsed. My thirst was excessive and my need for food had pushed me into a ravenous state.
Yet the enemy was rapidly approaching. Every minute counted, so my needs would have to wait. The moon overhead lit the dense forest. I looked up at the dark, star-filled sky. It was a beautiful sight that I hadn’t been sure I’d see again.
I breathed in and tried to relax. I needed every ounce of strength I could muster. During my confinement, I’d survived on adrenaline—and found motivation in my purpose for existing. Too much had been at stake; too many counted on me. And there was Mirela…
My heart palpitated from stress, and a bout of dizziness washed over me. Then I couldn’t feel my legs. But I dared not panic. “What’s your plan for getting out of here?” I said to Quinn.
“We came by boat,” Quinn said. “We just have to get over those hills.”
Jon and Spence lifted me up, and I peered over the rock. My troops had regrouped and waited at the edge of the trees for us to join them. Through the dense forest, I spotted a path, and far beyond, the hills rose above the trees.
“We’ll have to stay out of sight, though,” Jon said. “We don’t want to run into that Dark Fighter battalion coming our way.”
“No doubt they’ve been alerted to our presence,” Spence said. “They’ll be watching for us.”
“We need to move now,” Quin said.
I wobbled to my feet and, with support, walked over to the troops. No one said anything, but their expressions showed how glad they were to see me. There was no time for talk; that would have to wait.
I estimated how far the river was, and it seemed like a very long distance, especially in my condition. My group split into teams; that way we could surround the enemy, if it came to that. Or, at least, avoid being completely surrounded and taken.
The trek to the ship was arduous. The forest was damp and the path rocky. But the cool air felt good after being so long in a sweltering prison cell. As a small group, we foraged through undergrowth and sawed off branches to make travel possible.
My throat was dry, and my head was spinning. Yet I walked on. I didn’t have the energy to levitate, even for a short distance. I wondered if I had the capacity to return to my former state. My wounds had healed but my strength had not resurged.
And it wouldn’t until I was properly fed and had time to recuperate. The more distance we covered, the worse I felt. My stomach was empty and my veins dry. My throat was parched, and my head pounded. I’d lost track of how far we’d come, or how far we had to go.
When my comrades stopped, I spotted our boat on the wide river, and a welcome sight it was. But there was a problem. The Dark Fighters could be seen upriver. They were still some distance away. Yet if we took that route—the way home—we’d be caught.
I was swept through thick trees and, at the edge of the river, hustled onboard. The rest of my troops got onto the boat, as quickly and quietly as cat burglars. I glanced into the distance at the Dark Fighters. There was no sign that they’d seen us.
The boat shoved off, and my men took charge. Quin laid me on a bed below deck. “You need to feed,” he said, then extended his fangs to pierce his wrist. “This will have to do.”
Vampire blood was liquid health, but only for humans. It could heal them and even turn them into vampires, if enough was given. But for a vampire, only human blood provided the nutrients needed. Drinking from Quin was a temporary measure and might not be enough.
There were no humans available. And no blood supplies around. A search-and-rescue mission required traveling light. The boat was meant for speed and designed for stealth. It wasn’t equipped to hold many supplies.
I’d have to get home before I could properly feed. Quin stuck his wrist in my mouth and I sucked down blood. Lying down—safer than I’d been in what felt like years—I went limp against the bed. My deprivation was too great, and the vampire blood insufficient.
I needed to get back to my city. Yet the Dark Fighters were in that direction. I was weak and starving. I was been cut off from the main army—and my home. My eyes closed, and my breath slowed. It was quite possible that I might die after all.
Chapter 3 – Mirela
My eyes weren’t focused clearly. There was a splatter of bright colors above me, and I tried to remember where I was. The image overhead was gold, rust, and blue. The rounded shapes blended into concentric circles, and the center was a hexagon with a colorful flower in the middle.
As my vision cleared, I realized that it was a mural on a domed ceiling. It was quite elaborate and expertly created. My gaze roamed over the expansive ceiling then to a stained-glass window on the far wall. I was in an unfamiliar bed.
I was at a loss as to how I’d gotten there. My body seemed fine, and I suffered no discomfort. My eyelids were a little heavy, as though I’d woken from a deep sleep. The bedroom was luxuriously outfitted, as a royal castle chamber might be.
I pushed my body upright for a better look. The bed was quite plush, and was positioned on top of a platform, lifting it a foot above the floor. Two wooden steps provided a way down. The thick bedposts were carved from dark wood, and there were chairs of the same wood, padded with gold velvet cushions.
There was a dressing table with brushes and other items, below a mirror trimmed in gold. The carpet was in rust, gold, and
orange hues. I slipped from the bed and navigated the steps down, then my feet sank into the thick rug.
It was a marvel that I was living and breathing. The last thing I remembered was plummeting toward the ocean’s surface in the grasp of a horrid, clawed woman. I must have blacked out, as I didn’t recall touching the water, or anything that had transpired since.
Waking up in an elaborate room was puzzling. There were so many questions I wanted answers to, yet I had no one to ask. I held out my ivory satin nightgown and looked at the shimmery material. Someone must have dressed me for bed.
Curious, I padded over to the window and looked out. Peering through some of the lighter panes of glass, I observed the grounds outside, with rows of neatly trimmed shrubbery and flowers along stone pathways. The exterior confirmed that I was in a castle.
I couldn’t very well wander the halls in my nightgown. Confused and feeling lost, I sat on the cushioned chair before the dressing table. My long, dark hair had been braided, something I wasn’t in the habit of doing. Otherwise, I appeared to be my normal self.
Only I didn’t feel normal at all. I didn’t know where I was, or who had brought me here. And even more important—why I’d been abducted. There was some comfort in the fact that I was unharmed. It was also good that I’d been given quality accommodations, instead of being thrown into some dark prison.
Yet my current circumstances only brought more questions to mind. I was being treated like a guest, but I hadn’t been invited. I’d been brought to the castle by force. That part was unsettling. Not only was I quite healthy, I felt more vibrant that I was used to.
The environment seemed to have a good effect on me. As opposed to being weakened from travel, I was rejuvenated. The energy I’d previously sensed when around supernaturals seemed to abound, so that I was able to draw power from it.
Before I could ponder my state further, the door opened. A petite girl about my age entered, and I noted with some relief that she was human. “I see you are out of bed.” She had light brown eyes, and hair that was swept into a white servant’s cap. She smiled. “I’m here to assist you.”
