“Many of those here have friends or loved ones with them. We’ll ask around, find out who they were close to and leave the decision up to them.” Vlad nodded, but stayed planted where he was with his handsome features set in a deep scowl. “Is there something else? Have you gotten word from the magi?”
Chewing on the inside of his cheek, Vlad scanned the crowd for any campers who may be listening in. “There’s a broadcast playing on every channel of that radio we found. One meant specifically for you.”
Palms to my face, I tried to rub away the sticky coat of dread clinging to every fiber of my being. Unfortunately, such a thing wasn’t possible. “How bad is it?’
Stepping forward, he rubbed his hands up and down the lengths of my arms. “Bad enough that you may want to find a quiet place to listen to it before word spreads. And believe me… it will. When that happens, I fear we may have a riot on our hands.”
Placing one of my hands over his, I glanced to the people struggling to rebuild after Dorian’s attack. “No. I refuse to hide anything from them. Lives were lost today, proving they’re part of this war whether they like it or not. After that, I owe them complete transparence.”
Vlad’s hands stilled on my forearms. “They are your priority, and you are mine. I think only of your best interest, my Queen.”
Rising up on my tiptoes, I treated myself to a kiss from his rose petal lips. “I appreciate that. I do. But we are stronger as a mass. If we are going to ask them to risk their lives we need to be truthful with them about everything.”
Vlad released my arms, and dipped into a formal bow. “As you wish, Madame Draculesti.”
Unclipping my walkie talkie from my belt, I turned it to the channel we reserved for on-premise communication. “Finn?”
A crackle of static.
“Yeah?”
“Go to the south side of the camp and turn the volume up on your walkie talkie to full volume.” Glancing to Vlad, I nodded toward the north ridge. “You head to that corner of the perimeter with yours.”
“I take it Vlad told you,” Finn sighed in exasperation. “Any chance I can talk you out of this monumentally stupid idea?”
“Have we ever had that kind of relationship?” My head tilted as I mulled over my own question.
Finn relented with a huff of laughter. “Yeah, that one good week, right before everything went to hell. That said, if you want an extra speaker to broadcast the voice of impending doom, you’ve got it.”
“At my signal, turn your walkies to any channel looping the message.” I glanced from Vlad to Finn to make sure they were in position, then gave them both a nod. Turning the dial on my radio, I found Dorian’s voice and cranked the volume as loud as it would go.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the voice of our enemy echoed through the yard, thanks to a slight lag time between the differing channels we chose. “I come to you today from the first floor of The Hospital of Central Connecticut. For those of you who don’t know, this is the maternity ward. At my side is the lovely Micah Walker. In life she was a brilliant scientist. Death, however, has reduced her to a sulfur-addicted Nosferatu who’s taken four lives already today.”
“Your math is wrong, asshole,” I grumbled under my breath.
“It is up to the woman who the media has dubbed the Dragon Queen to ensure that number goes no higher.” Arrogance dripped from Dorian’s tone, slathered on by his smug sense of self-worth. “The Dragon Queen has something of mine. I demand it be returned before the clock strikes midnight. As long as she does, Micah will be handed over into her custody with the hopes she can get the girl the help she needs to overcome her terrible vice.”
Across the crowd of attentively listening campers, I watched Finn roll his eyes and flick his wrist in a jerk-off motion. The situation being what it was, I felt he made a valid point.
“If she fails to do so,” Dorian continued, “Micah will be given a fresh dose of sulfur and turned loose on this very floor.”
Jaws swinging slack, a collective gasp moved through the camp.
“There now, that got your attention, didn’t it?” Dorian chuckled. “At last count there were over a dozen babies here in the nursery. It’s truly garish to think of what Micah would do to these tiny, innocent souls. None of us want that… but justice must be served. I put policing this matter in the hands of all those listening. I ask you good people to ensure she brings me what’s mine. And to clarify, as long as my artifact goes unharmed, I don’t care if she’s dead or alive. Is her life more important than that of these children, kind listeners? Would you sacrifice innocent souls to save one false messiah? The choice is yours. At eleven fifty-nine, I will plunge the syringe into Micah’s neck. When the clock strikes midnight, I set her free. Bring me the head of Vincenza Larow-Draculesti, or stand idly by while these infants are needlessly slaughtered. The choice is yours.”
With that, the transmission cut out and began again from the beginning of its loop.
Feeling hundreds of eyes burning into me, I kept my head down and clicked off the radio.
My people.
My followers.
All staring my way like I was their golden ticket into Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.
Vlad was by my side in a blink, the bow of his lips set in a thin white line. “And that is why I suggested you listen to the message in private first.”
Wetting my lips, I fought back the urge to go full Dragon on him. “We haven’t been married long, but I’m going to need you to read the room. Does this seem like prime I-told-you-so time?”
“In retrospect… no.”
“Next time, when I’m hellbent on a mission of self-destruction—”
“And we can both agree there will be a next time,” Vlad cut in.
“Of course, there will be a next time! I’m hard-headed and don’t learn from my mistakes!” I snapped back, then attempted to breathe my way back to a place of Zen… which was hard as hell when you only occasionally breathe. “Next time, maybe give me a heads-up beforehand that the message is going to turn me into public enemy number one. That would be useful information to have.”
Before we could continue our discussion on picking up on subtle social cues, Vlad’s still-live walkie crackled in his pocket.
“Vinx!” Carter boomed across the line. “We cleared the police station, and all the bases we hit! I know you heard that broadcast, but there’s something you need to know.”
Curling my fingers, I gestured for the walkie. “It doesn’t matter,” I responded after Vlad passed it to me. “None of that matters anymore. My fight ends tonight. I’ll turn myself and the painting over before I allow him to hurt one more person.”
I didn’t allow Carter to finish, but clicked off the walkie and dropped it to the ground.
Chapter Twenty
Vinx & Carter
“Seriously, Vinx? You can ignore a lot of people, but not me.”
“Get out of my fucking head, Carter. If I had anything more to say I would have. I think cutting off the line was pretty final.”
“And yet, here we are.”
“Because you can’t take a hint.”
“Or, maybe I was trying to show you another side of this you had yet to consider.”
“Invading my brain was the best way to do that?”
“If you retreat in here to sulk… yes.”
“I’m not sulking. I’m plotting a way to bring Dorian Gray down.”
“All by your lonesome, huh? In the same Wyatt Earp, gun’s blazing fashion you broke out of the prison?”
“It worked, didn’t it?”
“That time. But it doesn’t make you invincible.”
Pause.
“I know that.”
“What was that?”
“What was what?”
“You hesitated.”
“I mul
led over what you said. It’s called active listening. Look it up.”
“No, you got caught up on the word invincible, because you have no intention of making it out of this alive. Whatever plan you’re concocting is a kamikaze suicide mission.”
“Kamikaze missions were suicide runs. That makes that statement redundant.”
“Vincenza, stop the bull shit quips. Real talk, what are you planning?’
“Real talk? I’m going to hand deliver this portrait to Dorian Gray. Then, I’m going to force him to look into the damn thing, even if that means I get sucked into it right along with him.”
“If I can point out one major flaw in this plan? How do you intend to make him look? This whole mission could be foiled by him shutting his eyes!”
“Then I’ll slice his lids off with my talons so he can’t look away.”
Silence.
“Wow, I’ve seen some shit, but that was dark.”
“Don’t like it, Carter? Again, I invite you to get the fuck out of my head.”
“You swear a lot in your head. Like, more than you do in typical conversation.”
“If you want me to be civil don’t commandeer my brain.”
“Before you embark on this mission of self-destruction, if I could offer a piece of the puzzle of what we learned today?”
“No.”
“I’m sorry. What?”
“Believe me when I say I couldn’t be more proud of you and all the magi for freeing the bases and stations you did today. But what it teaches me, more than anything, is that you can pick up the fight when I’m gone. I’m going to cut the head off the snake. I will need all of you to make sure another doesn’t grow back in its place. Once I get Dorian inside of that painting, I’m going to torch the damned thing whether I’m inside of it or not.”
“Before you do—”
“Stop, damn it! I don’t want to hear it! Sometimes you have to go down with the ship to prevent it from hurting those you love. That’s what I’m prepared to do for my people. This conversation is over. You have anything else to say to me, meet me at the hospital. I’m sure you caught the address. Otherwise, I’ve got a job to do.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Vinx
I refused to saddle my people with the choice of turning on their queen. No one should have to face that kind of guilt-ridden burden. For them, and the innocent lives at stake, I poured Batdog a fresh bowl of kibble, grabbed Dorian’s painting, and exploded from the manor in a black cloud of steadfast determination.
Soaring over the city, I saw the full effects of the plague that was Dorian’s influence. The once beautiful Grand Street in New Britain was boarded up. Gang symbols had been spray painted onto the faces of the brick buildings that lined the row. While sunrise was still a few hours away, it wasn’t just the early morning hour that left the streets hauntingly bare. The rug had been pulled out from under polite society, leaving people terrified to venture out into a world that would rob them of all they held dear.
I planned to give Dorian his portrait back, conceding that he won this battle.
But the war was far from over.
Banking hard to the left, I rounded the corner that lead to the parking lot of the medical center. There, I solidified. It seemed only right considering a blockade of thousands of humans and vampires alike surrounded the place. They undoubtedly wanted to ensure I did the right thing. I couldn’t blame them for that. Head held high, I strode straight into the horde that shifted to surround me.
“You have to be the most hard-headed person I’ve ever met—living or dead.”
“Carter?” Watching him emerge from the crowd, confusion creased my brow.
Stabbing a fist onto each hip, he planted himself in front of me in a wide-legged stance. “Hey, Vinx. You ready to listen to what I have to say now?”
My lips parted with a pop as I scanned the sea of faces. “Attentively, in fact.”
“Good.” He glanced over his shoulder to where Elodie and Thomas stood, the trio exchanging smug smirks. “You’re aware that your blood directly from your veins can start the heart of a long undead vampire. Do you know the second-hand effect it has for those who have ingested it?”
“Improved credit scores?”
Carter’s sapphire eyes sparkled with something that resembled hope. Gleaming hope. “Even better. We lost none of our people in the field, and we have you to thank. All any of us with your blood in our systems had to do was let the dosed vampires bite us. It counteracted the sulfur and put them back in control of their senses. Thanks to that, every single one of them have now deflected to our side.”
Lowering the painting, I rested the bottom of its frame against the top of my foot. “That’s amazing, it truly is. But it doesn’t change Dorian’s ultimatum.”
“We’re done letting Dorian Gray control everything!” a voice in the crowd shouted.
“Yeah!” others crowed in agreement.
Taking a step closer, Carter’s features softened. “All of us whose lives you’ve touched came to stand by your side in mutual agreement that you can’t give him that portrait. Holding on to that, you’ve got him by the balls. Now is the time to squeeze tighter, not let go. We’ll find another way to get Micah and those babies out, but we can’t give up the one thing that truly matters to him.”
Shifting my weight from one foot to the other, I allowed myself a beat to entertain their idea. “What do you have in mind?”
“I believe they may have a few suggestions.” Gaze drifting over my shoulder, Carter nodded.
Dressed in his full armor, Vlad led all those I left behind at Lockwood in a march on the hospital. His cape snapped behind him; sword hung low on his hip. Striding straight for me, the intensity of his stare burned into my core.
“M’lady.” Coming to a halt before me, he sank into a formal bow. “We’ve come for bloody payback. Care to join us?”
“Just tell me how.” I couldn’t have fought off the grin tugging at the corners of my lips if I wanted to.
“I believe that honor goes to you, young miss.” Chin to his shoulder, Vlad glanced to Natalie.
“You’re goddamned right it does.” Nostrils flaring, she unclipped a police issue megaphone from the belt of her blood-stained skirt. Clicking it to life, her voice rang out in a thunderous boom. “Dorian Gray! Many people underestimate what they’re capable of in the face of unspeakable odds. Those were the words you said to me. Guess what, asshole? I’m here to be your motivation. You’re going to hand over those babies, safe and unharmed, or we’re going to find out what happens when we torch this painting of yours. My guess? All that ugliness will come pouring out and drag your sorry ass to hell. You can stay where you are, and we can test that theory. Or, you can bring us the children and the canvas stays intact. The choice is yours. What’s it going to be? Tick-tock! Tick-tock! Make a decision or I’m making it for you, you sadistic fuck!” Lips curled back to reveal newly acquired fangs, Natalie passed the megaphone to Vlad.
“Feel better?” he asked, amusement bubbling through his tone.
“Not yet,” she snarled. “But it’s a start.”
A window on the first floor slid open and Dorian leaned out with his elbows resting on the edge of the sill.
“Well, well, well…” he taunted, with a wicked grin, “it seems you’ve cornered me with a perplexing predicament. What to do? What to do? I suppose, the situation being what it is, I have no choice but to wave a white flag. Allow me to hand deliver each and every one of these infants to you, then we will discuss the terms of my surrender.”
Without giving us a chance to respond, he vanished.
“Anyone else terrified he’s about to punt those babies right out the window?” Finn shielded his eyes from the glare of the parking lot lights as he peered up at the space Dorian vacated.
While none of us responded, we
did move into a tighter huddle in case catching suddenly became mandatory.
“You know this is a trap, right?” No longer wearing my face, Elodie’s usual stoicism was a welcome return.
“Without a doubt.” My words slurred around lengthening fangs. “And whatever’s coming, it’s going to be horrific. Game faces on, kids. He’s about to bring the fight to us.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Carter
Careful to mind the head, I passed the last of the infants into the eager arms of its anxious mother. To expedite the transfer safely, one magi was allowed to venture into the hospital and bring the babies down. I was the first to volunteer.
“Vlad bless you,” she murmured, her gaze flicking from the baby’s face to mine and back again. “That’s the proper response to a Nosferatu, isn’t it?”
“A simple thank you works, too.” I smiled.
Happy tears streaked down her face as she held her baby tight. “The words seem inadequate, but… thank you.”
“And you have my thanks as well.” Dressed in a dapper silver suit, Dorian stood at the main entrance to the hospital with one hand clapped protectively on Micah’s shoulder. With the effects of the sulfur wearing off, her posture hunched under the weight of her regret. “It would have taken me ages to bring them all down. While I have the luxury of an eternity to wait, I realize I’m in a rapidly shrinking minority.”
“I didn’t do it for you.” Striding straight for him, I stopped an arm’s distance away and offered my hand to Micah.
Her almond-shaped eyes met mine, chin trembling with emotion.
As her arm lifted to reach for me, Dorian’s fingers dug into her shoulder and pulled her back. “No, I would wager you didn’t. But you did it, like a good lad, because you knew there were forces larger than yourself at play here. Forces you couldn’t begin to fathom.”
“We had a deal, Dorian!” Vinx shouted, her irises contracting to reptilian yellow slits.
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