“You know I don’t mean it in that way,” he started softly, reaching forward to touch her shoulder.
“I meant you’re already under exhaustion. I feel it. I see it. If you go out there, you could get hurt. You won’t be at your full strength.”
She swallowed. Her hand gripped the gun at her side with force.
“Then don’t let me go alone. Either way, I’m going.”
She didn’t look back to see if he went to get more weapons or the others as she took off running to the exit.
****
The rush of oncoming autumn air hit her face when Zarah made it outside. She took a deep breath. Scents of fire and ash filled her, and somewhere she smelled humans. Closing her eyes, she fought the immediate growing hunger. The desire to attack and feed overwhelmed her. The screams were back. She had to remain focused.
Slinking against The Compound wall, she remained hidden in the darkest shadows as she followed the sounds to the north side of the building where Draven had said he’d seen the Hunters. She only had her one gun, and she was still in just her shorts and baggy tee.
“Tell us where we can find more of you filthy bloodsuckers and we can end this easily.”
She saw them. There were four Hunters surrounding two Hiders in a circle on the lawn. It wasn’t much of a yard really, but it was space enough between the building and the road. There were a few stubby, wide trees, and concrete benches. A sign in front advertised The Compound to be a closed down hotel.
The Hiders were on the ground whimpering, injured from apparent burns and silver markings. She ground her teeth. Zarah knew she couldn’t rush over yet. A plan had to be calculated first.
Her eyes scanned the group of Hunters one by one. All male. Most were. Hunters were employed by the President and other political leaders and consisted of the military, sometimes volunteers. Like it had once been her mission to protect humans, it was their mission to destroy vampires.
They were large. Not fat-sized large. But tall and muscled. Despite her supernatural speed, strength, and power, Draven could be right. She was outnumbered here.
“Well are you going to sit here and scream all night, or are you going to talk?”
One of the Hunters spoke again. His voice was rough. It sounded like sandpaper. Zarah followed his voice and glanced him over. He looked to be the elder one of the group. Perhaps in his mid-forties. Though his physical appearance was well-kept and it was obvious he was in shape.
“Come on, Boss, quit trying. Let’s just finish them off already. They’re not worth the time,” another said impatiently. She frowned at the group, noting that they all seemed to be staring at “Boss” with frustration, their guns pointed at the vampire couple. He didn’t have his drawn. He’d only been standing there trying to extract information. This made her curious of the middle-aged Hunter. Her feet edged a few more small steps away from the wall, still remaining in the shadows out of their view.
When the Hunters began to grab the vampires on the ground, Zarah froze. Their pained yelps filled the air around her and gave her chills. She watched in horror as three of the humans wrapped silver wire around the Hiders’ necks in tight knots, throwing the other ends into a branch of a tree. They were going to hang them? That wouldn’t kill a vampire, though it would be torturous. But then the thought occurred to her seconds later. No, the hanging wouldn’t destroy them. The sun would.
The Hunters weren’t going to wait a couple hours for the sun though. She saw one leave with a sprint, disappearing behind the fence, only to come back moments later with a gas can.
There wasn’t any time left to lose. She had to go stop them.
As Zarah started toward the group with a low, angry growl, she realized she had company. Draven and Thomas had come outside sometime in the last few minutes to help. She almost smiled with relief, but there would be time for that later.
“What was that?” One of the Hunters asked, looking up and around the scenery after hearing them. She tip-toed behind him and tapped him on the shoulder. He whirled around, his eyes going wide at the sight of her.
“Hello.”
“You’re…you’re a…” he stuttered.
“Vampire?” She smiled and revealed her extended fangs. The human smelled delicious. Before approaching, she had told the guys they were to try and not to kill them unless necessary. They’d agreed. It would draw less attention. They didn’t want to attract more Hunters to the scene.
She flicked her eyes past the shocked human momentarily to see Draven and Thomas approaching the others. They were fighting. The one in front of her was still young, and apparently overwhelmed with his job. He started to fumble for his weapon. She threw her fist forward and connected it with his jaw, and it sent him sprawling backward across the grass. He stared up in horror.
“I don’t want to hurt you. Actually, we don’t want to hurt you or your friends. But you’re hurting us. Do you understand?”
She knelt down by his side and took his shirt in her hands, bringing his body up. She aimed her gun at him.
“You’re coming with us.”
“Like hell,” he said through a clenched jaw and threw up a leg. His foot landed hard into her side. She cried out in pain, falling on her back. Her vision swam. She heard him crawling toward her, and saw the flash of silver. The gun still remained in her hand by some odd chance. She was going to have to make the first move. The problem: if she fired her pistol, it could draw attention of other area Hunters. It didn’t have the same sound as their larger rifles.
With some quick thinking and maneuvering, she turned in time and threw up her feet with a force before kicking out. They connected with the young man’s head, followed by a sickening crunch, and his body crumpled on top of her. She breathed a sigh of relief at managing to get him unconscious instead.
After Zarah shoved the Hunter away, she slowly made it to her feet and looked around. The guys had managed to work together and get the others unconscious also. They were now at the tree cutting the Hiders loose.
“Are they okay?” she asked with a hoarse voice, limping over.
Draven nodded.
“They need blood to heal some of their wounds, but they’ll be fine. They’re coming in with us too.”
She nodded and watched Thomas lead them gently inside. A few minutes later, other Guardians stepped out and began to drag the Hunters inside with them. Draven wrapped his arm around her waist to help her walk.
“Use one of them. To feed.” He was whispering close to her ear, his lips pressed into her hair, as he referred to their new human captives. She looked up at him appalled at his suggestion, but inwardly found it appealing and tempting.
The last time she’d fed from a live human, she’d been Rogue. Could she do it again? Or would the memories be too haunting? What if somewhere deep inside, the Rogue virus still lived, and if she touched a live human she’d never be able to stop?
She only shrugged and let him continue to lead her back inside The Compound, not voicing her fears.
Fifteen
Zarah stepped into the holding cell where the humans had been tossed. It was more of a room than a cell. They had cots and a bathroom with a few small tables supplied with water and snacks. The only drawback: their feet had metal cuffs attached to chains drilled into the wall. They only had enough slack to get to the restroom when needed, and to lay down on their beds. Since their hands were free, she’d have to keep her distance when in there. Though at the time, she didn’t have to worry much—they were still unconscious.
She thought back to Draven’s suggestion and closed her eyes. They’d parted ways once back inside.
Feed. Feed. Feed. The voice teased her at the back of her mind. She bit her lip and dug her nails into her thighs. She didn’t realize she had slid down the wall and was sitting on the floor until then. Before a decision was made, one of the Hunters started to groan, rolling over on his side in bed. He was waking up. It was the middle-aged man, the one they’d called Boss. He coughed
. She smelled blood and her nostrils flared at the scent. The urge to sink her fangs into the man was powerful. Instead she let out a frustrated huff and cracked her neck, remaining in her seated position.
He heard her. Their eyes met. His gasp was audible but he stayed still. Her lips quirked into an amused smile and she sarcastically waved her fingers at him.
“You look so young.”
Okay, she wasn’t expecting that kind of comment. Please don’t kill us, maybe. But a reference to how she looks?
“Well if you quit stereotyping, perhaps you wouldn’t have a specific image in mind.”
He stared at her in horror and shock. His mouth moved like a fish for a few seconds, trying to form words. She watched him, unblinking, with interest.
“I wasn’t a part of that. I didn’t want to be,” he barely whispered. She still heard him.
“That’s funny because I saw you out there when those two vampires were being hung to burn.” Zarah could feel the center of her chest growing warm. It was a sign of the energy building. She quickly clamped it down.
“You have to be a Hunter now. Or you’re under suspicion of being an ally of the vampires. I have too much going on in my family as it is. I can’t afford the attention.”
She narrowed her eyes. This human was chatty for a prisoner. Maybe he was telling the truth. She rolled her eyes, clasping her hands onto her knees. After a few seconds of awkward silence, he shifted, and she heard him moving on the cot. It got her attention and she turned back to him to see him sitting up. His bed was the closest to her. His ankle cuff was the only one that could come close enough to reaching her because it needed the slack from his side of the room to the restroom. If he even dared. She came prepared, taking a brief glance at the pistol sitting on the floor beside her, ready to be grabbed at a moment’s notice.
The human saw her eye the gun and put his hands up in defense.
“I’m not going to do anything.”
“Better not. I move fast.”
He turned away, looking over his fellow unconscious partners before speaking again.
“Are you going to kill us?”
“It’s not decided yet.”
“You’re not like the ones that are hunted.” He spoke softly. His tone didn’t hold any disgust or malice, but simple curiosity. She tilted her head to the side.
“As I said, since the war began, there have been stereotypes. All you humans do is cower behind them, rather than learn. We are not all evil. You all only know the silly myths that your kind created through books and movies.”
She watched him swallow, sensed his nervousness.
“Even after all this, you sit there and say you might not kill us. I hardly believe you could be that kind though,” he dared to snap back. She smiled and her fangs revealed in the dim light. He visibly flinched.
“True. But there are other things we could use you for.” She stood, her joints cracking as she stretched, and slowly approached him. The gun was held in her hand down at her side. He didn’t move from his position on the bed.
A silence passed between them while they stared at each other.
“I don’t care,” he said at last in a hushed whisper, though his voice trembled. He smelled different from other humans the closer she got. Blood had a faint metallic taste and scent to it. His smelled more earthly instead of metal. And sweet. Then again, she’d been drinking cold bags from blood banks for the last year. She didn’t remember the tastes and scents much from her time of being Rogue, and before being rabid, she’d drank the bank bags then, too.
Shaking her head to clear it, she frowned.
“Is your name Boss?”
“Yes. Which is odd if you want to know the truth. I’m not suited to lead anything. Especially anything like what you saw outside.”
Zarah had to admit it to herself. Boss seemed like a genuinely good human who just happened to be in a bad situation at the wrong time. The others she didn’t know about. Thinking back to the events, they seemed to enjoy their job. She could see into her new guest’s mind, a bit fuzzy in some areas, and knew he was being sincere about not wanting to be a part of it.
“What’s your name? Or can I ask that?” He interrupted her thoughts.
Her eyes focused on him again, and she took another step toward his bed.
“Zarah.”
He was scooting closer to the edge toward her, too. Good, she thought, it was exactly as she wanted.
“You do look young, now that I see you better.”
“Yes. I was nineteen when I was fully fledged Vampire.”
“How long ago was that?”
She shrugged, taking another tiny step forward.
“A while. Before you were born, I’m sure.”
He let out a nervous laugh.
“I can’t imagine you being older than me.”
The others were still unconscious and Boss seemed to be relaxing more with each minute. He had a few purple bruises forming on his cheeks, but nothing serious. She watched him reach across to the little table nearby and grab a bottle of water.
“It’s bad out there. I don’t blame you and your friends for hiding out,” he continued to talk. He wasn’t really watching her anymore. She smirked. Already too trusting.
“I’ve heard. If you ask me, I’d rather be out there in the fight. At least letting humans know we can co-exist.”
“How so? You drink blood. That much I do know is true about your myths. I don’t know if a peaceful existence is ever possible.”
She stopped. He was right in some ways. Humans and Vampires would never be able to peacefully co-exist. There would be times they could get along in some ways, but in the end, there would still be violence. Vampires would need sustenance, and the humans would stop going to blood banks in retaliation. She could see the outcome of that situation.
Boss turned and looked at her. He saw how close she’d approached by then but didn’t move.
“Go ahead,” he said with a sigh. He stuck out his arm toward her. She flinched in surprise. The scent was too powerful; she couldn’t resist the urge anymore. With a flash, she stood beside him and had his wrist up to her mouth.
“There will be no harm to you,” she said before she sunk her fangs into his soft flesh.
Sixteen
“He’s what?”
Draven looked at Zarah incredulously. They all sat in the lounge some time later. And by all, it meant everyone, including the band of Fallen brothers. It was a bit claustrophobic. She stood in the doorway with her arms crossed, cheeks still slightly rosy from the short feeding.
“I said he’s half Vampire. I’d say his daddy was a vamp, maybe left him when he was young, I don’t know. Either way, he is. He just was never fully fledged and turned.”
She was talking about Boss. The feeding had been brief. Not enough to even satisfy her, but it would suffice. She’d felt the guilt immediately afterward, then followed with the confusion because she’d tasted what he truly was. No wonder his scent had seemed so different to her.
“What about the others?” Draven asked.
“No, I think they’re just your average human assholes. They were still unconscious when I left.” She kept quiet about how she knew of Boss in the first place. As far as they were concerned, she only figured it out from his scent.
After a sideways glance at Draven, his eyebrows rose. He knew the truth though. She shook her head, warning him silently with her eyes, and turned back to the conversation. Thomas was saying something. She tried to focus.
“The Hiders are staying in one of the empty apartments down the hall. They’re healing, but the man mentioned that there were a couple more in their residence when they were raided. They disappeared during the commotion.”
“There’s not much we can do about the separation. You know that. All we can do is hope the others made it somewhere else safely,” Zarah said after a moment’s thought.
“Where was the residence?” she added.
“He said it was o
nly two blocks over from here.”
“Let’s go have a look tomorrow night, then.”
Thomas and Draven nodded in agreement with her. Seth stood with a frown. She stared up at him in defiance.
“What?” she demanded.
“I thought we agreed it’s best to stay inside. We don’t need to go out into that war zone, and we certainly don’t need to get involved.” The other Fallen exiled warriors began to stand with him. Their large frames took command of the room as they tried to intimidate her and the others, but she wasn’t going to step back. Instead, she stepped forward and growled. Her fangs glinted in the fluorescent lighting.
“No, that’s what you agreed to do. We don’t take orders from you. We will go out there and fight. You all can sit in here and cower behind these walls for all I care.”
Her power came out with each word. By the time she finished, her hands emitted their violet aura and she felt the heat radiating through her chest. Seth took the first step back, his gold eyes dark and stormy with growing anger.
She turned on her heel without another word and stormed from The Lounge.
“So, are we going or what?”
She almost didn’t hear Thomas running up behind her to catch up over the pounding in her head. Calming herself, she forced a small smile when she turned her head sideways to see not only her brother, but Draven and the other surviving Guardians some steps behind.
“Yes. Tomorrow night, we all meet at the garage doors at sundown. Make sure to have plenty of ammunition on you,” she instructed.
“Oh, and Thomas? Bring Alyssa. I know she’s going stir crazy, too.”
She heard the boys whoop with joy as she proceeded down the hallway.
Zarah stopped at the apartment door where the two Hiders were staying and knocked. Thomas had talked with them earlier, but she wanted to check on them herself. The door opened, but she wasn’t greeted right away. Instead, a figure moved immediately back into the room and left her standing inside the open doorframe.
Through These Wicked Nights (Guardians of the Night Book 2) Page 7
