The Dead War Series (Book 2): Desperate Times

by Simmons, D. N.

  Ovidius blinked and straightened himself as if coming out of a trance. “I'm fine.”

  Both looked off to the right when they noticed a helicopter approaching.

  “I wonder if this is the government agents sent to 'watch' us, or the team of doctors from Adeline's coven?” Ovidius speculated. The helicopter drew closer and he smiled. “Ah, neither, it's Hans returning with more humans.”

  “And hopefully more fuel. That thing comes in handy,” Madison said.

  “Indeed,” Ovidius agreed as both watched overhead as the helicopter hovered, kicking up dust and wind.

  It descended slowly, carefully until the landing skids touched the tar covered roof. The rotor blades began to slow to a stop as the humans exited to aircraft keeping their heads low. Hans followed them, his clothing covered with splotches of blood and bits of flesh and other gory parts. Ovidius approached him, his eyes scanning over the other vampire's attire.

  “Were you bitten?” Ovidius inquired.

  Hans shook his head then bowed. “No, Master, but I came close to several times while trying to save these humans. Those things are fast as fuck, stronger than I had anticipated, too.”

  Ovidius nodded then his gaze shifted to the human bounty, taking count of all fifteen, nine adults and six children of varying ages. “You did very well. Are there any among them of worth besides sustenance?”

  Hans shook his head. “Not that I could gather. I managed to gather this lot from an elementary school.

  “That would explain why you were fortunate enough to find the children,” Ovidius eyed the youths with a hungry, predatory gaze.

  “It was the reason why I chose the school, over the barber shop.” Hans smirked as his eyes settled on the children as well. He could already taste their delectable, sweet blood on his palette.

  “They should join the others.” Ovidius nodded toward the rooftop door. “How is the fuel level on the copter?”

  “We're good. We managed to load up and gather another helicopter at the barracks,” Hans said.

  Ovidius nodded. “Very good. Were you able to gather any other weapons?”

  “We took a nice stock of high-powered weapons. With the right aim, you can shoot off an ear or blow the brains completely out of the skulls of those dead fucking things,” Hans said, smiling. “I tested a few from the chopper.”

  “Even better.” Ovidius returned his smile, pleased that they had discovered another way to kill the zombies, and from a safer distance to boot!

  Hans walked over to the helicopter and began unloading the fuel and weapons he gathered, sitting them on the rooftop. Once he was finished, he turned to Ovidius to await his next order.

  “Well, since we're good on fuel, gather more humans.”

  Hans nodded and with a short bow, climbed back into the helicopter, taking his seat beside the pilot. Ovidius looked at the helicopter seeing the pilot still sitting quietly in the cockpit. A few words from Hans and the engine clicked on and the blades began to rotate.

  “Should I go with him, Master?” Madison asked.

  Ovidius shook his head. “No, I need you here. Guard the wall, report any weak links and slay all that get close to breaching the wall. Try your best to do so without bringing risk to yourself.”

  Madison swallowed hard. The very thought of having to get close enough to those zombies didn't sit well with her at all. Sure, it was a relief knowing that she would return to herself eventually, that was based solely on if her maker bothered to risk it if she'd become too dangerous for their self-preservation. She didn't voice her opinion, instead she nodded. “Yes, Master.”

  “Good.” Ovidius turned, making his way back to the door and inside the building.

  Madison stood still for a moment, allowing herself a brief moment in the sun as the rays warmed her caramel skin. Unlike most vampires, she enjoyed the sun and spending time with her human lover under its light. Had this day turned out normal, that'd be exactly what she'd be doing. Probably making love to him in their cool, backyard pool. Unfortunately, this day was shit and she was pissed. She leaped from the rooftop to the top of the trailer barricade, staring down at the few hundred zombies that were gathered there, clamoring to get in. The smell of rotting flesh assailed her nostrils and she frowned as she watched them clawing at the thick steel of the trailers.

  Madison watched them all with a morbid fascination, she couldn't help herself. She took note of their bodily conditions, some were full intact, and others were missing limbs. Some still had a bit of semblance to their lost humanity while others looked absolutely hideous. Their black eyes, ominous and their large mouths gaping open as if they could unhinge their jaws like snakes. Another thing she didn't like was that they all seemed to be immune to pain. She wondered how they were still functioning, their eyes were dark voids, soulless, unlike vampire eyes that captured the light making whatever color they were even more vibrant.

  “Fucking--”

  “Shit!” Madison yelped, spinning around to face the man's voice that startled her out of her contemplation. She groaned, a scowl appearing on her face.

  “Damn, how deep in thought were you, baby. I think that's my first time ever sneaking up on you?” Elijah said as he continued to climb up the ladder.

  “And it will be your last. Don't do it again. Why are you here anyway, it's too dangerous.”

  “I came to see you.” Elijah stepped up onto the top of the trailer, standing before Madison. “I was worried. This shit is just so fucking creepy and you've been so busy and... well...” He shrugged one shoulder.

  “I'm fine. I had things to do, you know this,” Madison snapped.

  “Don't be mad at me.” Elijah looked at her, his jade eyes softening as they roamed over her curvaceous body.

  “If you don't go back inside where it's safe, I will be. One bite from one of those fucking things down there and I'll have to cut off your head.” Madison pointed to the zombie horde below.

  Elijah peeked over the edge, staring down at the things he'd only seen in monster movies. Like Madison, he became fascinated and took advantage of his safer location atop of the trailers to get a good view.

  “My God, this really is real, isn't it?” he murmured.

  “It is, as much as I wish it wasn't.”

  “I heard on the news its spread to Tennessee and North Carolina. Some news stations are already off air and others are predicting those zombies will be in Florida within a few hours. They really can't judge how fast it's moving because the outbreak is sporadic. They don't know infected vampires are the cause of it.”

  “Have they shown any footage of vampires?” Madison looked at him briefly before returning her attention to the zombies. “Hold that thought.” She walked towards another of Ovidius' vampires as he was monitoring the zombies as well.

  “What are your plans?” she asked Elliot.

  “Fuck if I know. We can't risk jumping down into the fray and taking heads. Not when it's this many here.” He looked out beyond the crowd of zombies. “I'm thinking we attack from behind. Their focus seems pretty single-minded from what I've gathered.”

  Elliot had been one of the vampires who was their first line of defense, killing as many zombies as he saw before their number grew too great and he was forced to retreat back to their stronghold. His clothes were clean now, brand new thanks to the resources provided from their location. It was the first thing he did after reporting to Ovidius, terrified that the infected blood would be absorbed into his skin somehow. To all of their relief, he remained of sound mind, but still, he would rather be safe than oh, so sorry.

  “Elaborate.” Madison kept her hazel gaze on the threat below while listening.

  “When I was fighting these things, they didn't seem to follow any kind of logic other than feeding from the nearest food source. What worries me, is I'm not sure which senses they're using. Do they smell or is it sight and sound?”

  “Well, I'm guessing it's probably sight and sound at this point. I'd think we'd ha
ve more of them here banging on our wall if they could smell us. The final construction brought this lot here,” Madison said.

  “That's bad enough. How well is their hearing? Is it on the level of humans?” Elliot asked, looking at Madison, who appeared to be thinking about what he was saying. Her bottom lip caught between her teeth as her eyes narrowed.

  “Let us test them, shall we?” Madison pointed to the roof of the gas station located a half block away from the main building. “Go over there and making the slightest of noises, only something I'd be able to hear.”

  Elliot nodded, then levitated before he took off towards the gas station to take his post. Once there, he knelt, claws extending before he scraped them lightly along the metal edging. Madison motioned for him to make a louder sound and he obliged by digging his nails into the metal and ripping it back. Madison raised her hand, giving him a “thumbs up” as she monitored the zombies below. None seemed to be aware of what Elliot was doing. That was a good thing. Madison motioned for him to make a louder noise and he did, screaming at the zombies.

  “Hey, here I am, come on over!” Elliot's voice carried over the distance, immediately capturing the attention of the monsters. All seemed to turn as one solid unit and race toward the gas station. Those with limbs moved considerably faster than those lacking. Madison watched in horror as several of the reanimated corpses dragged their severed torsos towards the gas station. She watched as one dragged its organs long the ground leaving blood-clotted trails. Some of the organs detached from the body along the rough graveled pavement and grass terrain. Bits and whole pieces of hearts, splines, livers and entrails clung to twigs, pavement and dirt as the zombies crawled over them.

  Behind her, she heard an ugly chocking sound and turned in time to see her human servant and secret lover leaning over the edge of the trailers. Vomit spewing from his mouth, landing on the pavement below. A few of the slow-moving zombies turned their attention back at the new sound. They began to crawl towards the trailers again. Madison advanced, taking Elijah by his waist and leaping onto the ground on the safe side of the trailer before leaping back on top. Removing her sword from its sheath on her back, she jumped down and with her vampire speed, raced to the seven zombies that were crawling back. The blade slicing through their necks, severing their heads from their body. The sound she made, which was barely audible was enough to attract the attention of more zombies and they began to rush back, some faster than others. Without wasting another second, she leaped back onto the top of the trailers, safe from their grasp. Elliot rejoined her.

  “Nice move,” he complimented.

  “Barely made a dent. And the noise we made only drew more.” Madison watched as more zombies joined the others as they were split between the gas station and their trailer wall.

  “We needed to know what we are dealing with,” Elliot said. “The risk was necessary.”

  “I know.”

  He looked down at Elijah and frowned. The human was getting over his nausea as he looked up at them. “He needs to be inside. He's a distraction.”

  “I know,” Madison agreed. “I'll send him away.”

  “You give him too much leeway. He's lost his understanding of his place in our world. In your life,” Elliot chastised.

  “Elliot, we are friends, you and I. There are times when I value your council but it is now you who oversteps.” Madison turned toward the other vampire, glaring. Her hazel eyes boring deeply into his gray.

  Elliot inclined his head slightly. “Apologies. It's just that... well, people talk. There are rumors that you care for your human too much.”

  “It's no one’s business what I do with my human.”

  “True. But as your friend, I really must advise against caring for him so much. Ovidius may not allow you to turn him and you'll be left with having to watch him wither and die. It's best not to get too attached.” Elliot gazed down at Madison, his expression void of recrimination.

  “Keep an eye on the wall, I'll return shortly,” Madison said, not bothering to respond to his statement. Instead, she jumped down in front of Elijah, and taking the human by his hand, she led him into the building.

  Elliot watched them walk away, then he turned to see the helicopter lift from the rooftop. Soon, it was flying overhead, drawing the attention of the zombies below and they ran after the sound and away from the wall. For now.

  ~*~

  “I need you to stay inside with the others,” Madison told Elijah as she led him back employee lounge where the human servants were located.

  “Fine, but promise me you'll stay safe,” Elijah said, hand on the door knob.

  “I will, but that's only if I don't have to worry about you. Now go,” Madison said, kissing him quickly before turning and walking away.

  Elijah watched her for several seconds before turning the knob and entering the lounge. He looked at the other servants, some he recognized, others he'd met for the first time that day. One he found in particular to be the most obnoxious he'd ever met, was Robert, Cassian's human. Apparently, the bastard thought that gave him some kind of royal fucking status over the rest of them. His arrogance was almost as annoying as that of many vampires. Elijah figured that Robert thought that one day, if he was a big enough asshole and asskisser, that maybe he'd be picked. He tossed a glance in the man's direction, seeing him lounging on one of the comfy, leather chairs with a bottle of Sprite in his hand.

  Get Real, he thought with a snort. Vampires rarely turned their human servants. As much as he loved Madison and he knew she loved him, which was frowned upon in the vampire community, he wasn't holding his breath that she'd make him. Even if it was a possibility, it was a less likely one now that they had zombies to deal with and a human food shortage.

  “Where did you go?” Ericka asked, slipping her arm around his and leading him to the sofa.

  “I stepped outside for some fresh air. Hey, I'll be right back, just need to go to the bathroom,” Elijah said, gently disengaging himself from her grasp. He gave her one of his charming smiles before walking off. It was true, he did need to piss and rinse the foul taste of regurgitated food from his mouth. But more importantly, he needed some space. Some of the other human servants looked at him differently, as if envious, yet pitied. He'd heard the rumors that were being whispered about him and Madison, and thought there was truth to them. Still, he didn't like the looks he'd been getting at the receiving end as if they wanted him to explain himself. Fuck them. He felt sorry for them. What little time they had left in this world was precious and at least he knew he was spending it with someone who loved him and not just using him.

  He finished his business in the bathroom and returned, as promised to the lounge. He took a seat beside Ericka in the space she'd saved for him and watched the television screen. The TV stayed on the news, not only was it the most entertaining thing on any network, but it was imperative that they knew what was going on. They watched the replayed footage of an amateur cameraman using his basic cell phone video app to capture a vampire shredding and feasting rabidly on a family trapped inside their car on the highway near Alabama. The footage was terrifying and all of their eyes were glued to the screen as they re-watched the video for the tenth time. So far, no one had any clue as to what they were seeing. The official word was that the virus was somehow mutating even as it was spreading and turning the already powerful threat into something more devastating. The vampire ravaged the family, husband, wife, three kids then simply vanished from their sight. They didn't know if he ran or flew, but whatever he did, it was too fast for the camera to pick up.

  “That fucking video creeps me the fuck out every time I see it,” Don said, human servant to Rebecca. One of Ovidius' lords presiding over the Mark Twain District.

  “At least it doesn't last,” Ericka said.

  “Yeah, but while they're running around batshit crazy, they're making this shit even worse. It would never have spread this badly this fast if not for the vampires,” Renee accused. Human servan
t to Angelo, lord of Ovidius' LaSalle Park District.

  “Why don't you go out there and tell them just how badly they're fucking things up, then. I dare you,” Robert said, a sneer playing on his lips as he watched the blonde female's reaction.

  She scoffed, then gave him an offhanded gesture. “I'm just making an observation, is all.”

  “Sounded a lot like a complaint to me.” Robert arched a brow. “I wonder how well your vampire would receive your observation?”

  “I don't know who the fuck you think you are, but you're no better than the rest of us here. You've been walking around here like you're some kind of fucking gift and you ain't shit,” Renee said, her voice rising along with her temper. No one sought to stop her just yet, as she was speaking their minds as well. She just beat them to it.

  “If not for my Master, you'd probably all be zombies by now. Ovidius had to be told to prepare. Like so many others, he thought this would all blow over or that the government would get a handle on it. My Master, Cassian...” Robert made sure to do the name drop for the umpteenth time that afternoon. “Was the only one who foresaw this getting worse and made plans for our future.”

  “What the fuck does that have to do with anything?” Roman said, finally voicing his opinion. He'd be annoyed by Robert since meeting him for the first time that morning.

  “I'm the servant to the most powerful vampire here. I serve only him. As far as I'm concerned, that means everything,” Robert boasted before taking a swig of his soda.

  “Go fuck yourself,” Renee cursed. She rose from her chair and stormed out of the lounge slamming the door behind her.

  “Should anyone go after her?” asked another female servant.

  “Nope, let her cool off,” Roman said before turning his attention to Robert. “You may be Cassian's servant, but you don't run the rest of us. And in this territory, I'm the head servant. Think about that the next time you open your big ass mouth. You're here because Cassian needed sanctuary for him and his coven.”

  “And being Cassian's child, Ovidius had to oblige. Either that, or face war. There was no favor given, only a sound judgment made on the part of your Master,” Robert said, not being easily silenced or put in his place. Especially since he felt his place was above all.