Hope and Vengeance: Saa Thalarr, book 1

by Connie Suttle

"I can smell it, my heart. Therefore, it is my desire to make you wait just a bit, to make it wilder and sweeter."

  "I can rip some of this out," she ran her fingers through my hair.

  "Really?" My fingers gripped much shorter hair, lower down. "Tit for tat?"

  "Uh, no, thanks."

  "Then make no threats. I promise this will be worth your while." Backing her against a wall, I proceeded to undress her slowly, kissing my way up and down her body. If she became too breathless and aroused from my stimulation, I backed off and traveled to safer territory.

  "You're driving me nuts," she said eventually, burying her fingers in my hair. "I'm not sure I can stand up much longer."

  "You think I can't hold you up?" I tilted my head back and gazed up at her. I proceeded to show her that she could straddle me perfectly well, her knees hanging over my shoulders while I stood and busied myself with the scent and taste of her. She may have shrieked a time or two when she came, but it only made me smile.

  * * *

  "I find this quite appealing." I ran a finger down the black leather vest. Like Dragon, she'd dressed in black leather for our trip to the oil platforms. The vest was sleeveless and fit like a second skin.

  "It's better protection than cotton," she shrugged.

  "How are we going to sneak up on them?" I asked. "They'll know we're coming."

  "We're posing as night fishermen. That happens often enough. You're going to get us onto the platform, Adam, by turning us to mist."

  "But," I began.

  "I think you can take all of us. I think you just don't realize yet what you might do after getting my blood."

  "If I can, I will," I said, still feeling skeptical. I'd only been able to become mist alone, before. After all, I hadn't gotten used to becoming mist so quickly.

  "Adam, if we survive, that trick is going to be quite handy in the future."

  "Generally I don't worry beforehand about surviving, but you've certainly planted the seeds in my mind," I shook my head at her. "Do you know how beautiful you are?" I pulled her against me. "Your mouth is perfect." I kissed her to illustrate my point. "Together or not, I've loved you for a very long time."

  "I'm still trying to comprehend that," she mumbled against my chest. "I never knew you were there."

  "I'm very good at stealth," I kissed the top of her head. "You weren't meant to know, unless I wanted it."

  "Mission accomplished."

  "Exactly." I kissed her again.

  * * *

  "I come from a family of merchants," I said. "My father was in the shipping business. I've been on boats before." Joey had trouble getting his balance while I stood comfortably on the deck of a large charter fishing boat, watching as seawater splashed up from the prow with a loud hiss.

  Griffin piloted the boat while the rest of us lined the rails, watching as the first platform became larger as we sped toward it. Shirley Walker had come with us, bringing Sam Greene's widow, Kathy Jo, with her. Daniel and seven other werewolves had also joined our party.

  Griffin didn't intend to join the fight—he wasn't ready for battle, according to Bearcat. That brought our total to seventeen fighters. Seventeen, to do battle with what Kiarra described as an army of spawn.

  "Griffin calls them demons, in case the enemy is listening for the word spawn," Dragon moved to the rail beside me. "Most of the rest of us follow his example. Kiarra's the one who refuses to call them anything but what they are."

  "The vermin that shouldn't be named?" I lifted an eyebrow.

  "If that's how you wish to look at it."

  "It doesn't matter what they're called. We need to make them dead," I replied.

  "Agreed." Dragon slapped me on the back.

  I'd always worked assignments alone, until I met Joey. I didn't mind working with him at all, once we got to know each other. I now found myself fitting comfortably into a fighting force that most couldn't comprehend—one that I couldn't have imagined in my wildest fantasies.

  "Whether we live or not, we'll be fighting beside our brothers and sisters," Dragon nodded. "There will never be a doubt that they care, because they do."

  "Adam?" Kiarra worked her way under my arm, wiggling between Dragon and me.

  "My heart?" I smiled down at her.

  "Are you ready for this? I wish this weren't so dangerous, but there's no help for it."

  "I'm ready."

  "All right." I rubbed her arm as she turned her gaze to the dark waters flashing past the boat. There is a sound the spray makes as a boat flies through the water. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed it as a vampire.

  "You're not regretting your decision, are you?" Her eyes turned to me again.

  "No. This is merely a long-forgotten memory," I said. "I'll buy a boat, I think, if we survive this."

  "I'll buy it for you," she said. I smiled at the thought of it.

  * * *

  "When I give the word, send them," Saxom instructed Xenides by cell phone. "They'll see what attacking any of mine will get them."

  "It will be as you wish, my sire."

  "I trust you to accomplish this mission with extreme prejudice," Saxom added. "You know whom to spare."

  "I do."

  "Wait for my instructions."

  "Of course."

  Chapter 13

  The first platform resembled a small city from our position. Griffin dropped anchor a quarter-mile from the platform and we studied the structure—it was well lit at night, so as not to arouse suspicion.

  Built on three levels, the platform held housing for a crew, a helideck and a drilling derrick that rose higher than the rest of it. "How will we flush them out?" I asked, shaking my head at the warren of decks, platforms, modules and multiple hiding places.

  "Don't worry," Lion reassured me, "once we attack, they'll converge on us like hyenas on a kill. So far, they think we're just fishermen."

  "That's not comforting at all," I mumbled. "Do you suppose any of our vampire friends are there?"

  "Griffin says there are blank areas, so I can't say for sure."

  "Not good."

  "You have Merrill and Joey with you. I imagine they'd have to be highly skilled to get past all three of you."

  I've seen Joey go down already. I don't want that a second time, I sent.

  Then put him between you and Merrill. I figure both his fathers might keep him on his feet and fighting.

  I nodded my answer.

  "It's time," Kiarra said. "Turn to mist, Adam, and set us down outside the housing area."

  "All right." I let her go and pushed myself away from the rail.

  * * *

  "I wish we had Radomir, Russell and the others with us," Merrill shook his head at Griffin, who sat on the captain's chair, staring through the window at the platform beyond. "I know you asked me to call back and tell Wlodek to keep them in England for the moment, but we could use their help here and now."

  "I feel it's necessary," Griffin's eyes went strange. "You have to trust me. I can't say exactly why they needed to stay there for now, but they do."

  "Then I hope we live past tonight, brother."

  "So do I."

  * * *

  Charles set his laptop bag inside the boot before closing it. Brock was driving them to the Council meeting in Merrill's Rolls-Royce. Wlodek was already inside the vehicle, waiting. Charles's shoulders sagged as he walked around the car and opened the door.

  * * *

  I never thought to be carrying so many with me before. Sixteen were inside my mist as I flew toward the platform. There, Kiarra sent. I agreed with her—there was space enough for all of us to materialize just outside the housing module. Barely. I didn't see anyone or anything in the area, but suspected Lion was right—the moment our feet touched any part of the platform, they'd come. They'd likely not be slow about it, either. In my limited experience, spawn were wicked fast.

  It took a vampire, werewolf or some other type of supernatural being to fight them. Humans wouldn't have
a chance.

  This was why Merrill intervened in my assignment, I thought as I lowered my mist toward the platform. I'd been angry at the time. He—and Griffin—had known to send me.

  Be ready, Dragon warned all of us. I wondered if the werewolves might hear his mindspeech. I should have known better than to ask. Every one of them, Daniel included, was wolf when they materialized, their teeth bared and growls rumbling as spawn erupted from every shadow and crevice about us.

  * * *

  "Now we wait to see if our army can defeat theirs," Saxom shrugged. Xavier, who sat dejectedly at a desk nearby, felt fear steal his breath.

  * * *

  They crawled down pipes and across rails faster and more surely than any spider. We formed a ring, much as we had in Nevada, to fight what came against us. I never imagined there would be so many. We'd upset an angry hive of wasps, and fought to keep them away from us when they attacked in waves.

  Dragon's blades rang nearby. Werewolves snapped and growled, their nails digging for purchase against metal flooring. I heard a yelp. We were down one. Our circle tightened. I kept fighting methodically, my claws swiping heads off anything that came close. Joey fought between Merrill and me, as suggested. He was holding his own.

  Bearcat, who truly was an animal resembling both large creatures, fought on my other side. I knew he wanted to be near Joey, but I was astounded at how effective he was at fighting spawn. Being labeled a healer didn't give him due credit; he was lethal.

  Lion also fought in his animal form, but Kiarra and Dragon had their blades ready, cutting heads and barely blinking when the spawn dusted as they died. My concern, however, was how long the wolves would last, and if the rest of us had enough strength to fight off what seemed to be an endless mass of spawn.

  * * *

  "We knew there would be losses." Saxom's eyes were strange as he turned toward Xavier. "We have lost less than a third. More than acceptable. They have lost two wolves already. How much longer do you think they might continue to stand?"

  "I don't know." Xavier's hands covered his face.

  "Don't be so concerned. Your skin is safe," Saxom chuckled.

  * * *

  "Pryce Fleming, you are brought before the Council, accused of killing humans and risking our race. Do you have any defense for your actions?" Wlodek asked. "If so, present it now, before I submit this to the Council for a vote."

  "They threatened me," Pryce declared.

  "I can't imagine that a seven-year-old threatened you in any way," Wlodek responded, his voice dry. "I remain unconvinced. Does any member of this Council wish to question our prisoner?"

  "What were you doing near that school function? Surely you could hear them from quite a distance," Susila began. "That alone should have warned you away."

  Pryce snorted and refused to reply.

  * * *

  We'd lost three werewolves and our fighting circle was shrinking. Still, we weren't desperate.

  Weren't.

  I could see the back edge of the sea of spawn when something roared behind and below them. For a moment, I didn't breathe as the monster came into view, climbing up the side of the platform as easily as a monkey climbs trees. He was dripping seawater as he leapt over the railing and came down on the platform with a thump that shook everything beneath our feet.

  From the other platform, Lion's voice sounded in my head. He's almost ready to make the turn into the ultimate enemy. Stand steady and keep killing spawn—he'll wait until they're all dead before he attacks.

  Of course, I returned, not sure at all that I trusted Lion's words. This thing looked ready to jump all of us.

  Twenty feet tall. How could anything survive an attack from that thing?

  Stay steady, Adam, Lion said. Keep Joey from panicking.

  All right. I went back to lifting heads from spawn shoulders. Joey, who'd appeared rattled at the giant spawn's appearance, settled back into a rhythm once he saw that Merrill and I still fought beside him.

  The lines of spawn thinned. The twenty-foot monster took a step toward us. And then another. A fourth werewolf fell.

  Stand tall, Joey, I sent. We won't go down without a fight, and I reckon Bearcat will stand over you and protect you with everything he's got.

  I will, Bearcat joined the mental conversation while killing another spawn. We're not without resources.

  We still haven't seen vampires, Merrill pointed out, slicing two heads so swiftly I barely saw movement.

  You speak too soon, I said. From the edges of my vision they came, moving in between the monster and remaining spawn. Six of them.

  * * *

  "They've lost four," Saxom chortled. "And the vampires have only now joined the fight. Let's see if they can survive them and our eldest spawn together."

  * * *

  One monster was bad. Two was worse. Combine that with six vampires and we were in real trouble. The second monster, almost as large as the first, climbed over the railing as the vampires stole closer.

  With claws out, eyes red and fangs showing, they headed straight for Merrill, Joey and me. I never saw Dragon and Kiarra change; I was too focused on what stalked in my direction.

  Don't worry, Joey, I have a plan, I sent.

  I'm glad you have one. I'm too scared to think, he replied.

  I knew they'd rush us. I held my claws in the ready position—we'd finally eliminated the last of the spawn. Joey and Merrill did likewise. Bearcat, beside me, prepared for their onslaught.

  I wanted to laugh—I went to mist and gathered Joey, Merrill, Bearcat and the remaining werewolves.

  Lion, Dragon and Kiarra waited as six vampires flew right through my mist, confused as to how their targets had disappeared before them.

  * * *

  "Guilty," Montrose said.

  "Guilty," Jarl intoned.

  "Guilty," Oluwa agreed.

  Pryce watched and listened as his fate was decided by the members of the Vampire Council.

  * * *

  Vampires, I discovered, are no match for a huge, fire-breathing dragon. Had their claws been able to pierce Dragon's scales, they still would have died. He was swift. Efficient. Thorough.

  Ash blew across the platform when Dragon stopped breathing fire. As mist, I and the others floated above Dragon, Kiarra and Lion, who'd gone to his larger form.

  Were they impressive?

  I couldn't begin to describe how impressive they were. A red Dragon, whose scales gleamed in the platform's light, a blindingly white unicorn and a Lion so black he shone blue at times. The giants strode in their direction.

  * * *

  "I abstain," Cecil muttered.

  "Seven votes guilty, with one abstention. Let the records reflect the vote," Wlodek announced.

  "You're all dead," Pryce sang. "You're all dead, you're all dead, you're all dead."

  "Keep him quiet," Wlodek jerked his head toward Radomir, who waited against a wall of the cave. "Gavin, will you perform the execution?"

  "I will consider it an honor." Gavin peeled away from the cave wall near the entrance, just as thirty rogue vampires stormed into the cave at his back and the battle began.

  * * *

  Dragon! I heard her scream. Something was happening, but I couldn't guess what.

  Oh, no, Joey sent.

  What? What is it? I shouted mentally at him.

  The Council is under attack, Merrill informed me. They need our help.

  What the—we can't get there, I blustered. Below, the first monster leapt at Dragon, who jumped away and snapped at the neck, missing by inches. Lion went for the creature's back while it was turned toward Dragon, expecting another attack.

  Lion raked the monster's back, forcing a terrible shriek from its mouth while Dragon's head snaked in and bit its throat.

  What concerned me, however, was the second creature. Kiarra faced him down. I wanted to shout advice to her—give her warnings. I worried that her hooves would slip on the flooring. That she might be knocked down. Th
at the monster would take the opportunity to make his kill.

  Steady, Griffin warned.

  He stalked her. She backed up. He took another step. She backed up again, her hindquarters coming in contact with a wall of the housing module. I worried that she was frightened.

  She was looking for leverage.

  I only saw the blur as she launched herself toward the creature.

  Karzac was right.

  When her horn touches evil, the evil dies.

  I was more than grateful I was mist; the fist-sized chunks of both monsters flew harmlessly through on their way toward open water. I heard the plop and hiss as they rained into the gulf around the platform.

  Some of them clanged against metal as they smashed into this wall or that railing.

  It didn't matter.

  Kiarra was shouting at me to drop the ones I carried. I set them down as swiftly and safely as I could.

  "Daniel, the wolves have to stay here. Get Griffin to take you back," Kiarra nodded to him. "Everybody else, we're needed elsewhere."

  With that, I suddenly felt as if the breath had been squeezed from my body as Merrill, Joey and I were flung to a distant shore.

  * * *

  Gavin cursed in Italian as he faced another rogue. One had clawed his back in the initial attack, but Gavin ignored the pain and turned swiftly, decapitating his assailant.

  These had been trained well, he realized as he feinted in an attempt to catch his foe off guard. The members of the Council and a handful of Enforcers fought with them, but after the first wave of thirty, another group of thirty rogues joined the fray.

  He'd never imagined that so many rogues existed, or that any of them thought to destroy the Council. There'd been no rumblings of such, and those who'd been captured in the past were always questioned carefully before sentencing.

  The rogue answered with Italian profanity of his own. Gavin smiled grimly and switched to French.

  * * *

  We're breaking too many rules to mention, I sent as we ran for the entrance to the meeting cave. Both vampires assigned to guard the entrance were dead—ash littered the inside of the cave as we raced through.

  The tunnel was long and narrow, but somehow the rogues had managed not only to get through, they'd done so without alerting anyone inside the cave. When we reached the Council chamber, the battle had already become deadly.