Hand in hand with her sword leading the way, they darted down the sidewalk. The pedestrian only section ended with a blockade of the car stopping concrete planters. The street beyond was a mix of crashed cars and burned out buildings.
“Which way,” Savanna whispered.
“Best guess? We get to the Arcanum and maybe they can help us find the source and we can put an end to this nightmare.” Visions of the pictures John showed her of a daughter she didn’t know swam in her head. She had to push those aside and focus. She couldn’t afford to think about them now. Even if it was all she wanted to think about.
Savanna shook her head, “I don’t think the Arcanum is a good idea,” her vision fresh in her mind.
“Did you see something?”
“It was like I had several visions at once. Maybe being away in the Fae world queued them up, I don’t know. I’ve never really been sure how it works. The relevant point is, the Arcanum won't help us. There in ‘survive’ mode and hoping to wait this out. They just don’t know what I know.”
Alexi felt a shudder of fear at what she suspected Savanna would say next.
“What’s that?” she asked hesitantly.
“End of the world, Alexi.”
“So—Tuesday then,” she smiled.
They both chuckled. Alexi closed her eyes for a minute. She shored up her will which she was certain she would need every ounce of it. They’d come too far to quit now. She shook her head at the unfairness of it all. They healed Savanna, against all odds. Now, they come home to find zombies everywhere.
Alexi steeled herself for what was to come, she could do this. How hard could it be? She killed a master vampire which was supposedly unkillable. She fought zombies, which supposedly didn’t exist. She could do this. They had only one course before them.
“Okay, here’s what were going to do. Let’s find a vehicle that works, find the Arcanum and we’ll make them listen.”
“How?”
“What did you see?” she asked.
Savanna told her in detail the vision she had. She left out nothing including the part where Savanna killed herself.
“But why would you do that?”
“A spell, one too powerful to cast without a complete sacrifice.”
The Arcanum were in a skyscraper downtown, that narrowed things down a little. Shoes shuffling on concrete reached her ears.
“We can’t stay here let’s head out and cross that bridge when we get there. Maybe knowing what we did wrong will help us do right.”
Alexi coiled her muscles and launched herself forward. She couldn’t afford a protracted fight but she was also aware of the fact that she couldn’t burn through her reserves trying to avoid one. The world blurred as she sliced through all three zombies. The sword cleaved all three in the same swing. The bodies dropped as one.
“Come on,” she whispered. Savanna fell in line behind her. Alexi darted from car to car sliding along walls when she could. Anything to keep from attracting a mob. Even with her power, strength, and speed, she couldn’t stop all of them. Twenty-third ave wasn’t the place to be. The streets were too wide, the sidewalks to open. And there was an appalling lack of cover.
A roaring engine a few blocks away caught her attention. It was moving fast, she could hear the tires squeal as it cornered. 23rd was littered with stalled vehicles and debris. She looked to the west. The next street over had hardly any vehicles on it. If someone were driving they would likely be there.
“C’mon, this way,” they didn’t have much time. She heaved up Savanna over her shoulders and poured on the speed. The witch let out an involuntary yelp at the sudden burst of acceleration. Alexi didn’t know the extent of her full speed but fear powered her legs. In a span of a heartbeat, she slid to a halt in the middle of the next road. Savanna fell down on her ass with a screech. The headlights of the large vehicle illuminated the road and Alexi held out her hands toward it.
“Stop,” she yelled. The truck skidded tires screaming and leaving a trail of smoke behind them as it slid to a halt a few feet from Alexi. The driver side door opened. Alexi struggled to see past the headlights.
“Alexi?” a familiar voice asked.
Sudden relief flooded her body. Her heart felt like a hand had been squeezing it and now had let go.
“John, oh thank god,” she ran around the Police SUV. Detective Yu stood on the side rails to look above the door. She grabbed him off the rails, slammed him up against the side and kissed him hard on the lips. She poured all her joy into that one kiss. When they broke she was breathing heavy.
“I’m happy to see you too,” he whispered.
She gazed into his brown eyes and she felt like she could get lost in them.
“Alexi,” Savanna interrupted with a slap on the hood, “zombies!”
***
“Three weeks?” Alexi couldn’t hide the astonishment in her voice. The inside of the SUV had plenty of room for the four of them. It was a nice vehicle on the outside, but the inside was all business.
“Warren warned us this could happen,” Savanna said. The look on her face was just as surprised.
“I know, I know, but three weeks?” Alexi said again, repeating the number as if it would help it sink in. Her time away had faded to a memory of a pleasant, but strange, dream. Bits and pieces flashed back when she wasn’t thinking about it. A scary tree, giant lizards but nothing specific. Vaguely she recalled the knowledge that time passed there differently.
“It would explain how they’ve been around for so long,” Savanna said.
“I’m confused, where did you two go?” John swerved the SUV to dodge debris as the made their way downtown.
“It’s hard to explain, and we’re not a hundred percent sure ourselves, but—” Alexi sighed. He knew she was a vampire, it wasn’t like he would think she was crazy.
“It’s called The Emerald Isle, it’s where the Fae live,” Savanna interrupted. When John and Siegel gave her blank looks she flapped her hands like little wings, “You know fairies, leprechauns, elves?”
John turned back to the road. She could tell he was processing it. That gave her a second to turn back to the other officer who sat in the back seat with Savanna. She was a slight woman not much heavier than Savanna but Alexi could tell she could handle herself.
“Hi, I’m Alexi, this is Savanna,” she said holding out her hand.
Calculations ran through her eyes, part of it was fear, part of it was cool and collected she took Alexi’s hand, “Crystal Siegel,” she finally said.
The SUV lurched as it clipped a parked car John slammed on the breaks and spun the wheel into the turn throwing the vehicle into a slide. Tires screeched as it slid to a halt.
Burned and burning vehicles completely blocked the way.
“How far?” John asked.
Alexi rolled the window down to poke her head out. With a little height she could see the Arcanum's building, it rose out of the dark a few blocks away. No lights were on in the windows. Other buildings downtown had power—why didn’t theirs?
“Three blocks,” she pulled herself inside, “If we’re fast and quiet we should be able to get there. In thirty minutes tops.”
“Wait,” Siegel said, “Arcanum? We should be heading south for the border. Let the Army deal with this—whatever it is.” Her voice had a panicked edge that Alexi couldn’t fault. She gathered her will and focused it on the officer.
“Stay calm Crystal, we’ll be okay. We're going to move slowly and quietly the three blocks to our friends. I promise we will get this mess sorted.” Her powers washed over the occupants of the SUV even though it was directed only at Siegel. The panic in her eyes faded and calmness re-asserted itself. She nodded.
“How did you do that?” John asked in a whisper as the girls in the back got out.
“Same way I do everything,” Alexi said with a grin, “magic.” She pulled him over and kissed him. She couldn’t lie to herself, nor to him. She could tell Siegel it would be okay but t
hey both knew it wasn’t going to be. Alexi had power, as did Savanna but John and the Officer were humans with nothing other than their wit and their weapons to keep them alive.
If this was to be the last kiss he ever had she would make sure it was a good one. When their lips parted his eyes were glazed over and his cheeks were red.
“I want some more of that when this is all over,” he whispered. His lips only an inch from her face.
“If we get through this you can have the whole thing.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
Outside the SUV the city was unrecognizable. Flames burned in the distance and the streets were littered with ruined vehicles. The absolute quiet was the strangest part. No sirens. No aircraft. Nothing. This close to the freeway the city was never quiet. Now an eerie hush blanketed the city.
“The building we want is there,” Alexi pointed to the west, “three blocks, under the freeway on the other side of 5th. Easy squeezy.” She drew her sword. As fast as she was,she didn’t want to spend the half second drawing it when she needed it.
John loaded his shotgun with ammo from a bag he had with them. Siegel opened the back of the truck and took out a police issue M4, loaded it and hung it on her shoulders with a sling. The sleek compact battle rifle looked deadly in her hands.
“Ten shotgun rounds and three mags for the Glock. Siegel?” John asked.
“Two, thirty round mags for the M4, and two for my Glock,” she said calmly.
“Alexi, did you want one?”
She waved her sword a little and smiled, “It’s good to have a quiet option.”
“Speaking of which,” Savanna drew her dagger and slid it along the palm of her hand. The two humans winced as blood welled and begin to drip. Savanna started her rhythmic chanting and Siegel's eyes went wide. Savanna’s eyes burned with power. The wind picked up whipping her black hair about her face and her violet eyes glowed a pale light.
After a moment the power faded. Savanna smiled, “We will be as quiet as kittens now. I don’t know if they can see us but they won't be able to hear us or smell us. Alexi?” She held out her hand. Without thinking, Alexi pulled Savanna to her and ran her tongue along the wound. Instantly her body perked up. Her senses sharpened and her heart sped up.
She held the hand for a second longer savoring Savanna’s sweet taste.
When she let go Siegel’s wore a horrified look, “What are you?”
“On your side, that’s what I am. Let’s go.” She moved out. Not looking behind her. It had been a thoughtless thing to do. People were hardwired to be afraid of the supernatural and she had flaunted it in front of Siegel and John.
Shame burned deep within her. She had to do what she had to do to survive. She drank people's blood, she lived on it, craved it. She couldn’t change that. What she could change was what she did with her gifts—and today she was saving the world.
Savanna’s voice intruded in her head. Followed by the warmth of her love.
How many times do I have to tell you? You’re not a monster.
I know, but when people look at me like that, it’s hard not to doubt, she replied in her mind.
Savanna leaned into her from behind. Letting her warmth wash over Alexi. She closed her eyes for a moment and let her friends love reinforce her.
“Thanks,” she whispered.
“It’s what I’m here for,” Savanna responded.
TWENTY
Connor slammed his rifle down on the counter, “dammit Monique, we should be doing something!”
“What would you have us do?” she asked in her lightly accented voice, “There are thirty of us, and one million of them.”
“We’re trained we could be getting people out of the city and help those left behind.”
The SEAL in him wanted to serve, to go out there and do the most good. He could see past Monique’s cool resolve to know that she felt the same way. The Arcanum was suppose to stop this very thing. But in the rare case that it couldn’t it was then tasked with making sure humanity survived. That was why they were hiding in the underground bunker with enough supplies to feed a small army. Or them for six months.
“When it subsides, then we will go out and save who we can. Right now? In the thick of it, our orders are inviolate.”
Connor nodded, there was no getting around her. His anger at sitting helplessly by while people died and the city burned was getting to him.
“Go get some food Connor, you’ll feel better.”
He nodded. As he left he stopped, “Sorry, Monique,” he said quietly.
“Don’t be, we all fee the same way.”
Connor slung his weapon. He let his feet carry him where they wanted. He couldn’t think about food at the moment. Savanna sweet face loomed over his thoughts. Sure she had Alexi, hopefully. But she was fragile. Out there? Even with a vampire and magic he didn’t think she could survive. If they were alive wouldn’t they have contacted him when it happened? Three weeks and not a word. No, they had to be dead.
The bunker had everything, private rooms, showers, a large entertainment area, armory, the works. Lost in his thoughts he wandered for the better part of an hour before he came to stop outside the security post.
Don’t torture yourself like this man. The monitors are going to show the same thing they did last time—nothing.
He pushed into the room, Osei was on duty, sipping coffee and watching the buildings perimeter. There wasn’t anything of value above the ground level. They’d cleared it all out when it became obvious that this was more than just a ‘virulent strain of rabies’ like the CDC insisted.
He nodded to the big man, “Anything?”
“As much as I wish there was, no. I guess there’s no chance of us getting out of the city and going to our homes?”
Connor shook his head.
“The Arcanum says we stay put and wait it out. I hope the Government can get this under control, but I’m not holding my breath.”
Osei smiled, “I understand. Keep me in the loop.”
“Will do.” Connor turned to walk away.
“What the hell,” Osei mumbled as Connor walked down the hallway.
“Connor, look at this.” Osei called him back. The monitor around the outside of the building showed the streets, and the walkway that led inside. Connor’s heart leaped out of his chest. Savanna waved at the camera, her violet eyes flashing in the high definition image.
Connor slapped the man on his shoulder and ran. He hollered at two agents to move as he slid around the corner to the main row of offices where Monique worked. He burst into hers, panting as he pointed at the main door.
“We have to open up,” he said.
“We’ve had this discussion—” Connor waved his hands at her interrupting.
“No, Savanna and Alexi are out there, we need to let them in.” When Monique didn’t move Connor stepped forward, “Monique?” he asked.
“We can’t let them in, we can’t spare resources on a vampire and a witch. No matter how much they might mean to you personally. If this is the end of the modern world, the Arcanum wants to make sure no supernaturals survive.” She pulled a folder out of her file cabinet and put it on her desk. Connor flipped it open to look. It was full of projections, spreadsheets, charts, all about how to kill the remaining supernaturals once the Arcanum were the only people left. Thirty day is how long it would take for the Vampires to starve without humanity. It was as long as they could last by burning through the remaining viable food source. The next page was werewolves, after that it went into detail on witches.
“What? Why do we even have this? Are we planning the end of the world?” He shook his head and held up his hand. “It doesn’t matter and I don’t want to know. It’s is also irrelevant. I’m not talking about letting them in to live here,” he said.
Monique raised an eyebrow, “What are you saying then?”
“If there are two people more qualified to save the world, I don’t know who they are. You can always kick us
out later.”
“Us?”
“If Savanna goes, I’m going with her.”
***
The entrance to the Arcanum’s secret headquarters was relatively easy to find. The lobby doors had opened under Alexi’s inhuman strength. Once in they went down to the sub-level until they arrived at the bottom. The cameras were still active and Connor and his team had been waiting for them to arrive. Then it was up to Alexi to explain why they were there.
“…and that’s all of it. We find the source, zombie zero so-to-speak, and Savanna can burn the disease out of it, and all the infected, curing everyone at once,” Alexi said. Savanna tried to stay out of it as Alexi spoke. Thirty agents, including their boss, Monique, Connor, and Sing gathered in a circle in their underground mess. Detective Yu and Officer Siegel were taken to get a shower and some clean clothes.
Even without pushing people your glamour sure keeps them enthralled. She wasn’t sure if their blood connection was still active. It lasted based on the amount of blood Alexi drank and she only had a little bit.
The blonde glanced at Savanna and gave her a sad smile.
The agents all seemed ready to follow Alexi out there and kick some zombie ass. Savanna knew there was a problem. A rather large one. In her explanation of what was going on, Alexi had left out one crucial detail.
Neither of them had any idea how to find zombie zero.
“Last time we guessed based on a search of all the people who went missing,” Sing interjected, Savanna was glad to see him up and around, even if he had a large sling on his arm to keep it from moving.
“Any chance you all noticed the infection spreading and where it spread from,” Alexi asked. A chorus of muttered negatives and shaking heads told Savanna what she already knew. If they were going to find the thing that started it then magic would be the answer. She glanced down at her dagger. She carried it casually. When they let them in she hadn’t put it away.
In her vision, she had plunged her dagger into her heart and cast the locator spell. It should have worked but something blocked it. She pulled her legs underneath her as she contemplated her decision. She was afraid, no doubt as was everyone here. With her fear came her shame. She had been down this road before, letting her fear and shame make decisions for her. Healing Sing had been the absolute right decision. She smiled as he looked at her as if he knew she was thinking of him. He mouthed, “Thank you,” while everyone was talking strategy. She nodded. Warmth flooded her heart. Him being alive made it worth it.
Blood Sacrifice (Faith of the Fallen Book 2) Page 19
