by Kallysten
"Here you go.” Spencer placed a plate in front of her along with a glass of water. “On the house."
Her mouth already watering, she thanked him and picked up a couple of fries. They burned her fingers, but she ate them anyway before biting into the sandwich. The food at the camp was more than decent, but it lacked variety. It almost was worth coming to Claremont and missing the fight for a few days if only for the different food.
Spencer served a couple of newcomers before coming back to her.
"So, anything new at the camp, then? How's Daniel?"
He had fought by Daniel's side for a while, and never failed to ask about him. Kate swallowed a bite of her sandwich and drank a little water before she answered.
"He's all right. Always cracking the whip over out heads when he thinks we're not fast enough."
Spencer chuckled. “You should have heard him, back when the squad still fought in Claremont. Always had these wild ideas about going into the City and fighting back. Even tried to get the higher-ups to let him do recon down there, though what he hoped to find ... I wonder if he's still looking for the same thing."
He let the sentence hang in the air between them. Kate couldn't mistake his expression for anything other than hopefulness. He thought she knew what Daniel was looking for, and he was waiting for her to tell him. Very slowly, she picked up a few more fries. What had he heard, and from whom? Everything that related to the squad was classified information.
"He's looking for the rip,” a woman said as she sat next to her. “Isn't he?"
Kate choked on her food. Coughing into a napkin, she picked up her glass and drank deep. She looked at the woman through watering eyes.
"What's a rip?” she asked in between two more fits of coughing.
The woman smiled indulgently, though no warmth touched her brown eyes. She pushed her auburn hair over her shoulder as she pivoted on the stool, facing Kate fully. She wore dark jeans and a light blue jacket. Her bright red lipstick made her skin seem even paler than it was. She looked to be in her late twenties, about Kate's age.
"Let's not play this game,” she said. “You know what a rip is. You've been looking for it for weeks. And I can lead you to it."
Kate blinked, then forced a laugh from her throat. As tempting as it was, she couldn't admit anything to a stranger met in a pub, and even less when Spencer was looking at the two of them with wide, greedy eyes, waiting to hear more.
"Listen, I don't know what you're talking about, Miss, but it sounds like a fun story. Let me buy you a drink and you can tell me—"
"I'm afraid not,” she interrupted, her smile hardening slightly. “I'll talk to—Daniel, isn't it? And no one has called me ‘Miss’ since long before you were born, child. My name is Jen."
Kate's automatic protest that she was no child died on her lips. Her eyes widened, and she stared at the woman. Her pale skin and words added up to a clear conclusion; she was a vampire. Her name and the fact that she knew about breaches ... In a blinding flash of certitude, Kate knew. This was the vampire Marc had told them about, the vampire who had been prisoner of the demons and who had guided him to the first breach he had helped close. How she knew where to find the breach in the city or that it was what Daniel's squad was looking for, Kate didn't know. What she did know was that she couldn't let this chance pass. Thanks to this woman, a breach somewhere in Louisiana had been closed. It was Claremont's turn to be safe at last.
Jen in tow, she went to the squad headquarters in Claremont and took the truck. By chance, the demons weren't attacking the town that night and after some arguing with the sentries, she convinced them to let the truck out. She tried not to drive too fast; it wouldn't help anything if she ended up in a ditch. Still, she hoped to get to the camp before Daniel left for recon. The sun hadn't set very long earlier; she might just make it. And in fact, she did. She drove into the camp just as Daniel walked out of the main building with three other soldiers. Kate searched their faces, expecting to find Blake or Marc with him and was a little disappointed that they weren't there.
"Kate!” Daniel didn't look too pleased to see her. “You were supposed to stay in Claremont for two weeks!"
"It couldn't wait."
She walked to him. Jen followed her. Daniel's expression darkened.
"Not only you disobey direct orders but you bring a civilian to the camp? Did you get a blow to the head, too?"
"Her name is Jen,” she said quickly, wondering if he'd remember. “She knows where the breach is."
"Jen?” He blinked and looked at her through widened eyes. “You know..."
Jen smiled, more in amusement than friendliness. “I do, yes."
"That's...” Daniel shook his head as though he could barely believe what he heard. He straightened suddenly and pulled the map out of his jacket, unfolding it for Jen. “Here. Can you show me on this?"
"I'm sorry, I can't, no. But I can lead you there."
Daniel frowned, his enthusiasm damped. “I don't understand."
She shrugged. “I've passed through a rip just like this one. Since then, I can ... I want to say feel it, but that's not exactly it. It's like a beacon. It calls to me. I've visited the City on my own. I've seen this breach. I can lead you there. Do you know how to close it?"
Daniel folded the map, his eyes never leaving her, thoughtful. “We do, yes. A vampire taught us how to do it. I think you know him. His name is Marc?"
She tensed at once, and her eyes darted around her. She didn't look pleased. They didn't seem to have parted in good terms, Kate thought, and somehow a part of her felt a little relieved.
"We do know each other, yes,” Jen said, diffident.
"Where is he?” Kate asked. “Where's Blake?"
Daniel's brow contracted. He snorted. “They decided they'd be better off exploring on their own. They've been going out alone for three nights now."
Jen relaxed at the news. “So, will you come with me?"
"Of course. We can go on a reconnaissance party tonight, and tomorrow—"
"No need. I know where we're going."
"Most of my men are on leave, we can't—"
"We'll be better off with a small group. It'll be easier to hide from demons."
Daniel seemed as taken aback by her insistence as Kate felt. His eyes darted between Jen and Kate. “I'm not sure ... What do you think, Kate?"
She thought about it for no more than a second. She hadn't driven at night from Claremont for nothing. “We could end it tonight. I say we go."
"We?” Daniel shook his head. “Oh no, don't even think about it. You're not coming."
"I'm fine,” she said, as calmly as she could. “The Healers barely left a scar!"
"Try that one on someone who didn't go through their clutches."
Kate crossed her arms. “I brought her here. I'm coming."
"As I said,” Jen intervened, “we will hide from demons rather than fight. I could lead your mage by himself if you wanted. The fewer who come, the safer for all."
"He'd never go on his own,” Daniel said, still looking at Kate with a slight frown. He sighed. “All right, Kate.” He nodded at Elliot behind him, who had been listening with rapt interest. “Go grab Simon. Tell him it's the night. I want him ready in five minutes."
Grinning widely, Elliot hurried toward the barracks. It was a measure of his excitement that he didn't seem wary in the least about following a vampire into the City. Kate followed so she could get a protective vest and her knives. She needed to get a sword, too. She'd pick one of the lighter ones. The effects of the drugs were beginning to fade, and diffuse pain radiated through her abdomen. She would be OK, though. There was no chance in hell that she'd miss this fight. Whatever had happened between them afterwards, she imagined Marc had followed Jen for her courage. She wanted to show him—show herself—that she was just as strong. It would be a shock, when he and Blake returned to the camp. She just knew Blake would be mad that they had closed the breach without him, and Marc ... She suppo
sed he'd be glad. And then, she would know. Once this reason to fight with the squad was gone, would they go? Or would they have a different reason to stay?
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Chapter 18
Marc glanced sideways at Blake and could barely stop himself from chuckling. Hours earlier, Blake had been silent as they drove to the City to explore a different area. His uncharacteristic moroseness had been starting to worry Marc. All had changed with a shimmer on the eastern side of a plaza.
"I've seen you do many things, but bouncing is a first."
Blake stilled in the car seat; it didn't last long.
"I'm not bouncing. Can't you drive any faster?"
"Yes, throwing the car into the ditch is going to help, you're right."
Even his sarcasm didn't affect Blake's excitement. Marc doubted anything would tonight. They had found the breach.
"You should calm down,” he said as he turned onto the unpaved road that led to the camp. “Daniel is probably in the City himself by now. We won't be able to go back until tomorrow."
Blake let out a quiet snort. “It's not like we need him. If the mage is at the camp, we can go back right away. Give Daniel a taste of what it's like to be left behind."
Marc didn't respond. If Daniel hadn't kicked Blake out of his recon group, Marc might have done as much himself. A couple of nights spent thinking about why he wasn't on the frontline had given Blake some of that empathy he sometimes appeared to lack toward humans.
The regular bouncing of Blake's leg next to him slowed down and stopped.
"A pity Kate won't be there,” Blake said. “She would have liked this fight."
Marc weighed each word before answering. “There will be other breaches to close."
From the corner of his eye, he saw Blake turn sideways with his back to the passenger door. Marc kept his eyes on the road, a little uncomfortable at the feeling of being scrutinized so closely.
"I thought we would leave the squad after this was over."
Blake's toneless words didn't allow Marc to guess what hid behind them, and his scent held no clearer answer. Was he irritated that Marc was thinking of staying with the squad? Or hopeful, maybe? Why had it become so hard to talk to his Childe?
"We can leave if you want to. I just thought you might want to stay a little longer."
"So you'd be staying for me, then? Not because you want to stay?"
They had arrived at the camp. The sentries let them through, and Marc drove up to the main building. He shut off the engine and looked at Blake, whose face was an expressionless mask.
"You know I like the girl,” he said very low. “But if she likes you, I've got no problem with that. If you want to stay and try to get past the obstacles Daniel will put in front of you, that's fine with me. If you want to forget about her and move on to work with another group, that's fine as well. Just...” He didn't want to plead with Blake. It wasn't in him to do so. He just hoped Blake could see how tired he was of the games, tired of being reminded of his mistake. He sighed and finished. “Just don't make this about the past, OK?"
He half-expected Blake to claim he didn't know what Marc was talking about, and so his small nod surprised him. They climbed out of the car to find that a couple of soldiers had come out, probably alerted by the noise from the engine.
"Look at that,” Blake said, his excitement obvious in his voice. “We even get a welcome committee. It's like they already know we've got good news."
Marc froze mid-step and turned his head sideways toward the nearby truck. He could have sworn ... He breathed in again, and again smelled the same familiar scent.
"We thought Daniel and Kate were back,” the closest soldier answered Blake, arms crossed but grinning.
"Kate is back?” Blake said at once, sounding excited.
"She is. And she brought information back with her. They took Simon, and they went to close the breach."
"They what?” Blake exclaimed just as Marc stepped forward and asked urgently:
"Was a woman with them?"
The soldier looked at him in surprise. “How do you know?"
Marc swore and ran his gaze around the camp. He could already see the demons sweeping in and destroying everything. He had to do something.
"Listen. They walked straight into a trap. And the demons now know where the camp is."
The three soldiers in front of him exchanged glances that, though wordless, clearly questioned his sanity.
Blake touched his shoulder. “What are you talking about?"
Marc ignored him. He knew he was only pushing back the inevitable by not answering him, but he would understand soon enough. “How many soldiers are left here?” he asked the one who had talked so far; he thought his name was Mike.
"Six. The rest went with Daniel."
"What's going on?” Blake insisted.
Six. With him and Blake, eight fighters, against who knew how many demons. Their only hope now was that the demons wouldn't consider them a big threat and would only send small numbers. Unless...
"Can you call back the soldiers who are in Claremont? Can you ask for reinforcements?"
Mike shrugged his shoulders. “I could, but they wouldn't arrive for at least an hour."
Marc couldn't understand how Mike could remain so calm. Didn't he understand? “Then go ahead and call now!"
At his side, Blake had fallen silent. He walked over to the truck and sniffed the air. Marc closed his fists. Mike still wasn't moving.
"Why should I do that? You're not part of the squad, and you come here spouting nonsense. If I followed your orders, Daniel—"
"Daniel might be dead by now. At the very least, he's a prisoner.” It was all Marc could do not to shout at the idiot. “The woman he left with works with demons. If she came here, they will, too. They won't wait. We've got to fortify the camp and get ready to fight. And call for those damn reinforcements!"
Eyes wide and sweat pearling on his brow, Mike turned to his two companions. They conferred quickly before running in together. Marc wanted to sigh in relief, but it was much too early for that. He still had a lot to plan and organize.
"Jen works with the demons,” Blake said, his voice strangled.
Marc observed the camp around him again, turning around. Everything had been so peaceful until now; by morning, a lot would change. “What do you think,” he asked Blake, “should we defend the perimeter? Or let the demons in and fight them inside the camp?"
"When did you find that out?"
He was ready for this fight. He had known it might come at any moment. He could make it through this. “Drawing them to fight in the main building might work best. They'll only be able to enter one at a time, or they'll lose time trying—"
He jumped at the sound of broken glass. Blake had just put his fist through the car's window.
"That's why you left her, isn't it?"
Blake's still-closed hand fell to his side, blood slowly dripping from it. The smell covered other scents still clinging to the air around them. Marc made himself look up at his face.
"You found out she was a traitor,” Blake continued, his voice shaking as hard as he was, “so you left her. And all that time I thought you came back for me."
Marc wanted to take that bloody fist and pull the glass shards from it. He wanted to tell Blake that they didn't have time for this, not now, but he'd explain anything Blake wanted to hear later. Blake's fiery eyes, however, told him that doing anything other than answering him would be a mistake.
"I did come back for you. Her working with demons has nothing to do with you."
Blake shook his head slowly. “Then why didn't you tell me?"
His blood still dripped to the ground. He took a step back, and Marc's stomach clenched. He knew that look on his Childe's face. He had seen it once before, and then he had deserved the accusation of betrayal in Blake's eyes. Not this time, though. He hadn't done anything wrong. He had only tried to protect Blake.
"Because I
knew you'd get it all wrong, like you're doing now!"
The gravel beneath Blake's boots crunched as he stepped back again. “Would you have come back for me if she hadn't been a traitor?"
Marc could hear voices inside the building, coming back toward the door for instructions. He clung to the excuse those voices gave him. If he kept giving Blake answers that didn't satisfy him, things would only get worse. He'd keep this fight for when they were done with the demons—if they survived. He tried to sound calm and reasonable, but even so a frantic edge crept into his voice.
"We don't have time for this, Childe! Not now! We'll talk about it later."
Blake didn't answer. He reached into the car through the broken window and pulled out his sword. Without a word or a glance toward Marc, he walked to the truck and climbed in.
"Blake! Stop! Where are you going?"
"As far away from you as I can, that's where."
Blake started the truck and drove to the gates. The sentries hesitated for an instant, then opened the gates for him.
"I made the call,” Mike said behind Marc. “They said not to expect them before at least an hour, maybe more. What now?"
The truck sped on the dirt road, going faster than was safe. Marc stared at it until it had disappeared past a group of trees, then turned to Mike.
"Get everyone in here. Just leave a sentry outside. We need to get a plan ready. We don't have much time."
Marc glanced back to the road. Not much time, and not much hope either. Daniel, Kate and whoever had accompanied them had to be dead by now, and Jen must have reported the camp's location to the demons. With heavy steps, he entered the main building. He wished he had killed her when he had had the chance. He had been so stunned to realize she was the one who kept interfering with their mages’ efforts, so disappointed to lose all the hopes he had placed in her that he hadn't reacted until it had been too late. She had escaped. And now she was back. Maybe he would get a second opportunity to kill her. Even if he did, though, he doubted he'd get a third chance with Blake.
