Vengeful Hearts (Dead Hearts Book 3)

by Susanne L. Lambdin

  Star wrinkled her nose. “Everyone is always telling me what to do. Go here. Do this. Sit in the corner. Eat your mush. Give more blood. I’m getting sick and tired of not getting to do what I want. And I want to see Thor.”

  “We do appreciate your help, Star,” Rose intervened, handing the vial to Maria who capped it with a rubber top and placed it on a tray. “While I’m not going to start injecting everyone with your blood to see if they grow wings, I might be able to modify it to use as a cure-all for the flu.”

  Highbrow became unsettled when the two female vampires began moving so fast he could no longer see them. He hurried outside with Star and found Odin with the Bulldogs. Trudging to the nearest R.V., Highbrow opened the door and looked inside. A number of children were bundled together in one bed or on floor pallets. Coughs, sniffling, and crying were intermittent. Nomad sat in a chair holding a little girl in his arms.

  “I wouldn’t come in, son. We all have the flu. You don’t want it.”

  Star pushed Highbrow aside and entered. “Well, I can’t catch the flu, so I might as well help. You look like you need to rest. Take a break, I’ll hold her. Sorry, Highbrow, but you’ll have to make the rounds without me.”

  Highbrow closed the door and took a deep breath of fresh air. The Bulldogs remained outside, bundled in coats, gloves, and stocking caps. He left with Odin.

  “At this rate,” Highbrow began, “we’re not going to have anyone on patrol or guarding the gate. Tandor better send help soon. How are you holding up, private?”

  Odin shouldered his rifle. “I’m not sick, but I’m a little depressed. Lieutenant Sterling has a handful of soldiers at the front gate, and there’s a few up at Moon Tower. I don’t understand why antibiotics aren’t doing the job. The drugs aren’t that old, but no one is getting any better. It’s getting worse.”

  Micah came around the corner of an R.V. and beckoned Highbrow. The vampire still carried an air of gloom about Ginger’s death, but he looked well rested. “What’s all this moaning and groaning? I’ve been up and down the road several times and the camp is in good shape.”

  “For now,” Highbrow said. “I keep wondering if I should send you to the vampire nightclub to dig up some local gossip.”

  “I might swing by tonight,” Micah said. “I heard D’Aquilla was here from Italy with three of your people—Loki, Monkey, and Skye. We could get everyone out of the Citadel at the same time, or so we hope. Man, its bright today, and just when I was getting used to the gray clouds.”

  The sunlight wouldn’t hurt the Dark Angel, but he put on sunglasses and zipped up his leather coat as a precaution. A long sword hung at his side and a pearl-handled revolver rose from the holster strapped to his waist. Odin gazed with longing at the revolver. The vampire noticed him staring and held it out to him as the trio walked to the waterfall.

  “Where did you get the Smith & Wesson?” asked Odin. “This is cool. It must have cost a fortune.”

  “EBay,” Micah said, grinning at the younger soldier. “Before the Scourge I used to be a gun collector. I also owned a flower shop in Santa Fe.” He re-holstered the gun. “Man, I haven’t thought about the past in ages. I used to teach on witchcraft at the local university.”

  “Is it just me or is it freezing today?” Highbrow asked. “I’m wearing two sweaters under my coat and a thick pair of wool socks. My toes feel like icicles.” He pulled back as Micah reached for his forehead. “I’m not sick.”

  “Yes, you are. I can smell it. You have the flu, Highbrow.”

  The captain shrugged. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

  “Rose mentioned you were worried about the Kaiser using black magic on the camp, and it might be the reason everyone is getting sick. Magic is real. One of my students once lost her brother in a car accident and asked if I’d arrange a séance so she could communicate with him. I agreed and contacted the coven.”

  Highbrow crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow at the vampire. “Is this going somewhere?”

  “Though I’m not a medium, I’ve been able to contact the dead many times. On this occasion something went wrong, because it wasn’t her brother we contacted, but something else. Something dark. A few days passed, and she didn’t show up at class. When I looked into it, I found out she committed suicide. That’s when I started to notice a dark shadow following me around at the shop and university. I’ve seen a similar shadow at this camp, but I didn’t say anything because of everything else that’s been going on.”

  Highbrow felt his skin crawl. “I’ve seen it too. Several times. I thought it was my imagination running wild. Is it what you summoned?”

  “You know, I’ve thought about that possibility. The same shadow was in Denver. It’s one of the reasons I joined the Dark Angels and came here. I hoped it wouldn’t follow, but when the Kaiser showed up with the Shadowguard, I started to think it wasn’t a coincidence. I think the shadow belongs to the Kaiser. If that doesn’t scare the crap out of you, it does me.”

  Highbrow glanced over at Odin. “I don’t want anyone to hear about this until you’ve had time to look into this more. I need to know what it is, and how we can get rid of it.”

  “I’m doing that very thing,” Micah said. “After being turned by Salustra I believed I’d lost my magic, but it’s grown stronger since coming here. I don’t want to scare you anymore, but what I summoned back then was a demon. Which one, I don’t know yet. Ginger saw it, and it was here during the battle. I saw it hover over Ginger’s dead body before it vanished into the trees.”

  Hearing the pain in Micah’s voice touched Highbrow. “I’m sorry. We’ve all lost people we love,” he said. “I have to ask more of you. I need to know how to defeat the Kaiser and anything working for him. If you feel Salustra can shed light on this, then I want you to contact her and find out what she knows. Whatever can be used against the Kaiser and this demon is top priority.”

  “To control a demon, you need to know its true name, and if it manifests into physical form you will need a holy relic to kill it. With any luck, the shadow can’t take solid form or we’ll have a much bigger problem.”

  “You don’t think we’re safe here, do you?”

  Micah wiped a stray lock of white hair from his eyes. “Pallaton’s visit was a wake-up call, captain. We must vacate Seven Falls and move these people to Cadence’s camp, or start digging graves now. Even there, I’m not sure we’ll be safe.”

  After making the rounds, Highbrow and Odin returned to the barracks and jumped in the Jeep. As the vehicle rounded the Pillars of Hercules, Highbrow spotted a dark shadow gliding across the canyon wall. He broke into a sweat and turned back to watch the road. Odin parked outside the former tourist cabin.

  “I heard you and Micah talking, sir,” Odin said, opening the vehicle door. “Demons have scared me since I learned about them in Bible school. I still wear a crucifix that my mother gave me at my first communion. Never took it off.”

  Highbrow slammed the door behind him. “The Kaiser isn’t the devil, Private. I’m sure of that. But he is evil and twisted. Just keep saying your prayers, and you’ll be alright.”

  Once inside the control room, Highbrow took off his coat, grabbed a bottle of water, and sat down in front of the shortwave radio. Odin turned the small space heater to high and stood at the window, mesmerized by the sun as it vanished behind the mountains. Static greeted Highbrow, no matter what channel he tuned into. He picked up the telephone, but it was dead.

  He slammed the phone back in its cradle, startling Odin and Star. The Chameleon had entered the room without a sound.

  “I know what you’re going to say, captain, but Tandor should have arrived at the other camp and sent someone back by now. I’m going to their camp, and I’ll find out what is going on. But I need to know where I’m going.”

  “It’s not safe for you to leave,” Highbrow said. “The moment you do, the Shadowguard will attack. I need you here, Star. I’ll send Micah.”

  Star faced Highbrow
. “This isn’t a request. Micah and the Dark Angels are here to protect the camp. I’m going, and I’ll send some people back to help.”

  Packing the entire camp and leaving at that precise moment was not possible, even though Highbrow wanted to go. He knew he could not keep Star at camp any longer and did not bother giving an order she would not follow. She missed Thor. She was worried. He had to let her go.

  “I can’t tell you where their camp is,” Highbrow said, “but they might be at NORAD.” He picked up a map from his desk, opened it, and pointed at the location. “It’s not far, especially for someone with your speed. If I’m right, tell Cadence I need reinforcements. If you return with Thor and Phoenix, I’d feel a lot better. Of course, if I’m wrong about NORAD, then you’d best get back here fast.”

  Star was there one second, and the next she was gone. Highbrow took a sip of water, set the bottle down, and flopped onto his cot.

  “Have you ever been in love, Odin?”

  The younger soldier’s cheeks burned. “No, sir.”

  “Love is the only thing that can make you feel miserable and happy at the same time. It makes you do stupid things, and sometimes it’s the only thing that matters. I hope I sent Star to the right place.” Highbrow grew quiet and heard Christmas music playing in the barracks.

  “White Christmas. Is this the only album we have? I feel like that song has been on repeat. Would you please go find some new music?”

  Odin hurried out of the room laughing. Highbrow checked in with two guards posted at the door, and went back to his cot. He wanted to rest his eyes for a few minutes before he was back on duty. As his eyes closed, he heard a deep growl outside his window. The captain grabbed his pistol and turned toward the window. Something scratched at the pane. He stood and peeked through the blinds.

  A black werepuma stared back at him. She was leaning on the windowsill with her paws and her nose pressed against the glass. The right paw was bloody and missing three toes. He threw open the window, and stepped back.

  “Barbarella!”

  The big cat leapt in the room and shook her fur, sending wet snow and ice flying across the room in every direction. Highbrow shut the window and turned toward his guest. Barbarella stood in human form, wrapped with the blanket from his bed. She stole his water bottle, finished it off, and tossed it aside.

  “How did you get here?” Highbrow asked. “I thought you were still at the Citadel.”

  “Logan helped me,” she said, curling up on his cot. “He found me in the lab. After you defeated Pallaton, he lost his fighters, and I was handed over to the Kaiser’s doctors. They would have killed me if Logan hadn’t arrived. I didn’t know where else to go, so I came straight here.”

  “Star escaped from the Citadel as well,” Highbrow said. “You just missed her. She’s going to Cadence’s new camp.”

  Highbrow looked around his room. He had cases of ammo, cans of beans, and extra blankets. It was all he had to offer.

  “Are you hungry? I’ll send Odin to find you something to eat. You’re about my size, Barb. You can wear my clothes.”

  “All I want to do is sleep,” she said, “I hope you don’t mind, but can we talk later? I need to sleep.”

  Highbrow nodded. “Sure, sure. Later is fine. Just rest.”

  He stepped out of his room to let Barbarella sleep in peace. Highbrow met Odin in the hallway; he had been successful in finding some new music. Odin blushed when he heard Barbarella had arrived.

  “You’re fond of Barbarella? I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you checked in on her.” Odin perked up, grinning from ear to ear.

  Highbrow smiled in return. “You sly fox. I had no clue you had a crush on Barbarella. She’s been through a lot and needs to rest, but you should come back later and spend some time with her. I’m sure she’d like that, private.” He patted Odin on the back.

  “I wouldn’t know what to say. I don’t even know if she likes me.”

  “Then we’ll find some mistletoe, and you can give her a Christmas kiss.” Highbrow snickered. “She may bite you, but then again, she might kiss you back. You never know. The ones that play hard to get are the most fun to chase. Better get your running shoes on, because you sure picked one that runs fast.”

  Odin beamed as he and Highbrow walked into the snowy night.

  * * * * *

  Chapter Thirteen

  Rain poured on the small church. Blaze used her lighter on several candles, lighting the grainy altar with a warm glow. Cadence scrutinized the humble interior. There were no modern conveniences—no electricity, no heater, and no phones. Many of the hand-crafted wood pews were overturned and broken. Wind and rain intruded through holes in the wall. Cadence attempted to block the larger holes with benches, and was able to secure the entrance with some of the broken wood. Hay and debris littered the floor, and rats were not strangers.

  A thread of moonlight appeared on the altar, capturing their attention. Mary, the baby Jesus, Joseph, and the winged archangel, Michael, completed the scene depicted in stained glass watching over the altar.

  “There’s a full moon tonight,” Blaze said.

  The distant cry of a wolf snapped them from their inactivity. Cadence began closing shutters as Blaze formed a barricade around the altar with the remaining pews. When they finished, Blaze cleaned her gun. Cadence scrounged through a bundle of rags behind the altar and returned with an armful of odorous, tattered clothes. She dumped them beside Blaze and pulled out a faded, green tunic and a frayed tan cloak. These she put aside for Blaze. Cadence chose a large dress made of burlap.

  “I’m not wearing this,” Blaze said, lifting up the tunic. “It stinks.”

  “It was probably worn by a dead person. We need to look the part if we’re going to pass as villagers. Put those on over your own. A priest may show up here and I don’t want a lot of hassle.”

  Blaze stood, clearly disgusted, and put them on. She sat back down, threw the rest of the rags to the floor, and picked up her rifle. A scurry through a pile of nearby rubble caught Cadence’s attention. She lifted her gun, resisting the urge to shoot. A rat. She spotted a Bible in the rubble. Cadence picked it up and sat with Blaze. The Bible was damp and the blue ink inside was smudged for the most part. The date written on the inside cover was legible, however.

  “It’s dated 1345,” Cadence said, in awe. “That can’t be right? I can’t remember why, but the date is familiar.”

  “Lots of graves. Lots of rats,” Blaze said. She’d been talking a while but Cadence wasn’t listening. “Sound familiar?”

  “The Black Plague? Yeah, that makes sense. But that’s not why I remember that date.” Cadence set the Bible aside and took out Mallory’s journal. “I think I read something about 1345 in here. I need more light. Get me a candle, will you?”

  “My watch doesn’t work,” Blaze said. She held up her wrist. “Why doesn’t my watch work? If you want a candle, go read by the altar, my lady. I need to take inventory.”

  Cadence moved to the altar, while Blaze rummaged through her pockets. She had two pistols, a knife, a flashlight, and a pack of cheese crackers. Opening the crackers, she shoveled one in her mouth and pointed her gun to threaten an approaching rat.

  “It’s stale, but it’s better than nothing,” Blaze said. She froze as they heard another wolf howl, much closer this time. “Did you hear that?”

  “I’m hurrying.”

  Flipping through the journal, Cadence scanned the pages until she came to the parts mixed with Latin and English. She started reading out loud.

  “Mallory was from Lester and served as a surgeon to King Henry, the third. He came to Pevensey Caster in 1342, by invitation of his brother, Sir Thomas, to investigate a number of disappearances and animal deaths. The castle was built on top of an old Roman fort called Anderida, where a monolith, called the Roman Stone, was found.”

  Another howl brought Blaze to the altar. She placed two pistols beside the Bible, and clutched the carbine. “Read about the monol
ith later. Does Mallory say anything about werewolves? A wolf pack is closing in on us. They don’t sound normal.”

  “The werewolves in this age are called Old Ones. They’re man-eaters, turning at full moons with no conscious or rational thought. They can only be killed with silver.” Her voice caught in her throat as she turned the page and studied the illustration of a rustic wooden spear with an iron tip. “The ‘Spear of Destiny’ is the only known weapon that can kill a Prince of Hell. It can be found in Anderida, guarded by legions of the damned.” She paused. “Don’t you get it, Blaze? We’re here to find a Roman spear. It will kill the Kaiser. Mallory knew about it.”

  “Okay,” Blaze said. “Sounds great. None of this will make any difference if we’re eaten, so put those books away. They’re coming.”

  Cadence pulled the jeweled dagger from her boot. The blade was silver. She placed it on the altar and stuffed the journal into a coat pocket. When she turned to pick up the Bible, it was no longer there. With no time to look for it, she prepared for the attack.

  A chorus of growls and snarls encircled the church. Cadence held a knife and pistol, one in each hand. Frantic scratching terrorized the door. Several creatures answered another deep howl and a large body slammed against the church door. The door and its blockade were smashed into pieces.

  Part-man, part-wolf entered, walking on its hind legs. Its wolfish head framed an elongated muzzle and slanted, yellow eyes. With a savage snarl, the werewolf and its pack charged, saliva flying from their massive jaws.

  Blaze launched a grenade and pulled Cadence to the ground. The explosion erupted into a shower of splintered wood and bloody anatomy that rained on their heads. Both stood and opened fire as three more werewolves rushed through the door, moving with fury toward the altar.

  Cadence riddled a black werewolf with bullets. Unwavering, the beast jumped onto the altar, knocking over a candle and caught its tail on fire. Howling with pain, the Old One leapt from the raised platform and ran out the door as two of its companions rounded the altar to attack Blaze. She kept firing until one knocked her aside with its paws. The second beast raced toward Cadence. As the creature extended to its full height Cadence plunged her silver knife deep into its heart. The werewolf let out a scream and toppled to its side. In an instant, she dislodged the blade and rushed to help Blaze.