by Kim Schubert
Again she nodded, looking down at her hands, fidgeting.
“Olivia can’t protect you forever,” he pushed on.
“Hey asshole, yes I fucking can,” I told him.
Raphael gave me a pointed look. I closed the distance between us. “Look, Mal, this is the best option I see for you. The good news is that the protection Logan and I have granted you won’t go away with you moving Houses.”
Her gaze jerked to mine.
“Olivia is correct. The protection we have extended is for your lifetime.” Logan came to stand behind me. “And for the record, Raphael, we can protect her forever.”
Raphael gave a disgruntled snort.
“The point being, if Raphael turns out not to be the moral and ethical good guy we think he is, I’m not above killing him,” I finished.
“Me either,” Logan added.
“Really? This is how you treat your allies?” Raphael asked us, annoyed.
“This is how we treat those we have sworn to protect,” Logan informed him.
“I am trying to help your friend. I don’t have to offer her a place in my House,” Raphael countered.
I raised an eyebrow. “Moral good guy,” I reminded him.
“You are testing the limits of my morality,” he huffed.
“I’ll do it,” Mal said softly. “I wish I had time to mourn,” she finished sadly.
Raphael nodded, lifting her chin up. “You will, we just have to survive what is coming.”
She nodded, trying bravely to give him a smile.
“Alright, hold on to your asses!” Anna yelled, hitting a button.
I pulled Logan down behind the SUV, covering my head.
“Geez, Olie it’s not that big of an explosion,” Anna reprimanded me.
I lowered my arms, glaring at her. “You are the reason I don’t like explosives.”
She laughed, explaining to the others, “One time I added too much powder.”
“I lost all my hair!” I yelled at her as we surveyed the damage.
She continued to laugh. The west wing slowly caved into itself.
“Perfect!” she congratulated herself.
I turned to Logan, who was smiling at the wreckage, shifting his legs longer and thicker.
“Can you hear him?” I guessed as to why he was smiling.
He nodded, turning to Darren, who began shifting in turn. I hadn’t heard them speak. Actually, even with my guards down, I hadn’t heard any of the shifters’ thoughts. That was an interesting tidbit to file away for later inspection.
I saw the rubble shift and almost took off running after Logan and Darren.
“You going to let them have all the fun?” Anna asked.
I shrugged, “It seems like a lot of work.”
Her gaze cut sharply to me. “Not advertising,” I warned her. My body was still sore and while I wanted to go after Logan and prove I wasn’t the weaker partner in the relationship, my ego was going to have to admit that for the moment, I was.
She nodded, saying nothing as we watched Logan and Darren kill a few vamps, their spray of ash mingling with the settling dust.
“They’re starting to come up,” Mal said, wiping her face clean. I smelled fresh blood and I hoped she really had joined with Raphael.
“Do you have any issue if I take in others?” Raphael asked me.
“No, just don’t let them interfere with killing Zachariah,” I told him, pulling a sword and moving in front of the pile of rubble formerly known as the west wing of the Centennial House to protect Logan and Darren’s flank.
“What’s going on?” a blond vampire yelled, pointing at Logan. “They can’t do that!” he screamed.
“Listen and listen well. Your Master Tate is dead, and Zachariah will be suffering the same fate for abducting me and attempting to kill me,” I bellowed over the hundreds of vampires. I didn’t actually need to bellow.
Blondie sneered. “The Vampire High Council will not stand by while you kill two Master Vampires.”
“I certainly hope not. I’d appreciate their help in cleaning up the mess they have left me with. Not to mention the rogues,” I countered.
Blondie shifted at that reminder, scanning the area around us. “What do you know?” I asked, laying my sword point against his neck.
“Nothing I will tell you, succubus whor—” I sliced his head clean off his shoulders before he could finish the last word.
“That seemed a little rash,” Mal said at my side.
I shrugged. “Anyone else want to volunteer information?”
“We don’t even know what is going on!” someone yelled. “Our Master is dead!” another sobbed.
I blew out a breath. “Alright, listen up. Zachariah has four trailers, each filled with twenty rogues that are set to be released onto the city in less than two hours.”
Shocked whispers met my announcement, but not everyone shared that shock. “Now if you have information on what is going on, I highly suggest coming forward.”
Not a soul moved. I grunted.
Raphael stepped forward and I moved back. By all means, get these assholes to give a shit.
“You will all be Masterless before the day is done. Those of you who choose to fight with us to save the humans and Supernaturals alike from the rogues will earn a place in my House.”
That got their attention.
“I’m going back where it’s safe,” one said, moving to go back into the house.
“Whatever,” I hissed, annoyed.
I turned to see Logan and Darren hauling Zachariah over the rubble. I moved toward them, my sword still drawn.
“Easy, Olie,” Anna warned, my blood thirst coating the air.
I snarled as Logan shoved him to his knees. “You will pay for this,” Zachariah laughed, a thin tendril of blood at his temple.
“Call off the trailers,” I demanded.
He laughed again, the blood running down from his temple disappearing as he healed.
“I can’t. I made certain that no one and nothing could stop the retribution you so justly deserve.”
“Please tell me he is lying.” I looked to Logan, Darren, Mal and finally Anna.
“I don’t scent a lie,” Logan said softly.
“How do we save them?” I whispered.
Zachariah laughed, an insane sound. “You can’t. That is the beauty of my design. The untold deaths will fall onto your head! You will lose everything!”
I lifted my blade, but Logan beat me to it, ripping off Zachariah’s head.
“That was my kill,” I reminded him, irritated at his swiftness in ending the asshole’s life. Zachariah was a major pain in my ass. I wanted some drawn out torture.
Logan shrugged, unconcerned with my annoyance. “You can kill the next Master Vampire. Besides, keeping him alive with part of his House behind you was asking for him to escape.”
I ignored the wailing behind me, trying desperately to scrape together a plan. Time was running out and I still had an entire city to try and protect.
“Alright, I have a plan. We are going to commandeer a news station and get a warning out. I can’t find the damn trailers, but I can try and get the humans organized. Now, I’m open to suggestions on where to herd them to.”
Okay, herd, not my best choice of words.
“The sports stadium,” someone called out. “It’s centrally located, with large parking lots, and enclosed.”
I chewed on my thumbnail. “Alright, get there. I have a news station to hijack.”
…
In the SUV, I called Tommy, relaying our plan.
“So you want me to hack into all the news stations, cancel their programs and run whatever you are recording?” Tommy asked me.
“Yeah,” I answered, wondering if I had finally hit my boy wonder’s limits.
“Done. Call me when you get there,” he commanded. Not really sure I liked his tone, but I had bigger issues.
“What’s our time?” Darren asked.
“I
don’t want to know,” I groaned.
It was less than two hours, I knew that.
Logan drove. Raphael and the rest of the cooperating vampires went to the Garland Arena. I wasn’t sure it was going to be enough room. Besides that, how did I get an entire city there in under two hours?
I rubbed my forehead and Logan drove faster, feeling my angst, actually the entire car felt it. I gave thought to shoring up my guards, but my body needed the energy more than I needed to contain my raging emotions.
“If I was Zachariah, I’d be sure one of those trailers got dropped off right by the mansion,” I said, thinking out loud.
Logan growled.
“I was thinking the same thing,” Anna said, turning to me.
I met her icy gaze. “They have the panic room,” she tried to reassure me.
“And the electric fence,” I added.
“Protection wards,” Anna said.
“Don’t forget the people we left behind. Jerry, your father, Doyle, and an entire brigade of vampires and shifters,” Logan reminded us.
“Plus the executioners,” Darren supplied.
“They alone should hold the line,” Logan stated.
“I know. It just doesn’t feel right not being there to protect my house,” I muttered.
“Our house,” Logan corrected.
I had no response for that. It was ours, but I still felt the burden to protect it falling on my shoulders.
“Hey, I wouldn’t have left Ginny there if I didn’t feel she’d be safe,” Logan tried again.
I nodded, chewing on my thumbnail.
“He’ll send the others where they will do the most damage, the heart of the city,” Anna guessed.
“That’s that I would do,” I answered.
…
We pulled up outside a news station. I was expecting security, but we drove right up to the front doors, no one stopping us.
Logan didn’t bother to find a parking spot, throwing the vehicle into park before we all emerged. I could imagine what we looked like, two females sporting weapons at every angle and two pissed off linebackers flanking us. At least we’d had extra clothing so the linebackers weren’t naked.
We pushed through the glass doors and people stopped to stare.
“Where can I get on TV at?” I asked a slack jawed man in front of me.
Open-mouthed gawks met my question.
“This way,” Logan said, turning to the right down a hallway. “I can hear them.”
Shifter hearing, gotta love it. We followed Logan, humans getting out of our way, pressing themselves against the gray walls.
“I thought it would be fancier,” I muttered to Anna. She just shrugged as we pushed through the final doors and into the newsroom.
Heads turned to us, angry glances thrown our way with whispered demands.
I kept walking to the petite woman in the brown dress and the man in the navy suit. I could scent their fear, or maybe that was Logan’s sense of smell I was picking up on, either way I didn’t stop until I stood in front of them.
“What do you want?” the brunette asked.
I turned to the camera, looking at the red dot.
“Are we live?” I asked.
“They’re trying to cut the feed, but Darren is dealing with it,” Logan said, coming to stand next to me.
I nodded.
“My name is Olivia. I am the Head Executioner for the Supernatural Council and you are all in danger. In an hour, four semi-trucks filled with twenty rogue vampires each will be released into the city. We are asking everyone to get to Garland Arena. We have protection set up there.”
“What are rogue vampires? I thought vampires were friendly?” the brunette squeaked.
“Rogues vampires no longer possess rational thought, they are driven by the need to feed and cannot drink enough,” I answered, turning to her. Logan adjusted me so my back wasn’t to the camera.
“You can’t stop it?” the man demanded.
I shook my head. “I tried. There was no failsafe built into the vehicles. I don’t have time to track them down, nor do I have any additional leads. I can only try to minimize the losses.”
“Why?” the brunette whispered.
I shook my head. “I don’t have a good answer for that. I can tell you the one responsible is dead.”
“Who is protecting the stadium?” the man asked.
“Vampires,” I answered.
“Vampires!” the brunette screamed. “I thought they were coming to kill us?”
“Rogues are coming to kill you, the vampires are trying to stop it,” I clarified. “Shit, did we call Tommy?” I asked Logan.
He nodded.
“Why are you people still here?” I yelled. “This isn’t a joke. If you stay here, you die!”
“How do you kill a rogue?” one of the guys behind the cameras asked.
“Beheading is the fastest way. If you can shred both hearts, that will work as well,” I answered.
“What about fire?” he asked.
“It has to be a steady steam for a long period of time. Their flesh heals just as quickly as it burns,” I told them with a shrug.
“What about those who want to fight?” he pushed on.
“The rogues are fast, deadly and fueled by the need for blood. They retain their vampire speed, hearing, and sense of smell. Sneaking up on them is impossible unless they are feeding, and even then, as a human, your chances of not becoming their next meal are slim. Get to the stadium, we can protect everyone there.”
The room began to clear out, but not everyone left. I wasn’t foolish enough to think that everyone would listen, but I had done all I could.
Darren exited the top rows. “Tommy has the feed running continuously and on all channels.”
I nodded. “Let’s go to the stadium.”
Chapter 11
When we arrived, Raphael was outside, setting up patrols.
“More Supernaturals have stepped forward to help after your TV appearance,” he informed me.
I nodded, seeing sirens gearing up in bulletproof vests. It was good they had the extra protection; fighting wasn’t their strong suit, but I appreciated that they wanted to help.
“Is that Myrtle?” I asked as a purple head of hair peeked out.
“Yes, she is making a fortune right now,” Raphael admired.
“Sneaky troll,” I muttered.
“Resourceful,” Anna stated.
I shrugged, feeling good with my weapons collection. I didn’t need the shiny knife I saw her wave around. Clearing my throat, I turned to Raphael. “So, what’s the plan for patrols?” I asked.
“We have enough manpower for a ten-mile perimeter to bring in stragglers. I don’t anticipate the stay here to be long. The rogues won’t attempt to hide. It should be over relatively quickly once we know their locations.”
Logan nodded. “Agreed. We need to have teams ready to go once we find out where those locations are.”
“I was hoping you and your band would take a hot spot,” Raphael said.
Logan nodded. “We move quickly and the girls can ride us.”
“Not to mention we are the best killers,” Anna bragged.
I laughed, “Bloodthirsty much?”
She shrugged, noncommittal. “You going to get the knife Myrtle keeps flashing around or am I?”
I laughed, “It’s all yours.”
Police sirens had all us all turning. In my emotionally open state, I felt the anger they were pushing off.
“Strange,” I muttered. Logan inhaled the air, coming to stand next to me.
They stopped their cars in a barrage of squealing tires. I stepped forward for a closer inspection. An officer threw open his door, pulling a bullhorn out.
“You are all trespassing. Leave peacefully and no one gets arrested.”
My mouth literally dropped open.
“We have to shut him up,” Logan hissed, storming over there.
“Be careful!” I warned.
>
I wasn’t walking into a volley of gunfire.
“I need to speak with you,” Logan stated, not slowing his gait when the officer landed a hand on his weapon.
“Come, Olivia, I’ll block you,” Raphael said, standing in front of me. I grunted my thanks before we walked.
“I told you, Governor Hash has demanded you and your freaks leave. There is no credibility to this threat you have fabricated.”
I moved from behind Raphael. “Proof?” I yelled. “You want proof?”
The officer adjusted his stance, thumbs settling into his work belt. “Yes, your word isn’t good enough.”
“We don’t have the resources to take him to the trailer,” Raphael reminded me.
“It doesn’t matter, we killed those rogues. All that is left behind is—” Screams interrupted me. Terrified, soul-numbing screaming.
“It’s too soon!” I yelled, pulling a blade.
“By the Gods,” Raphael cursed, at least I think that was a curse. He didn’t waste time, though. “Logan, you and yours get to the north, start at Hardwater and Edge and work back.”
Logan nodded, apparently not having issues taking orders from a vampire. That was nice, unexpected. I checked the bond and felt his change.
“If you have family who aren’t here, get them in here. It’s your only bet,” I told the officers. The blood had drained from their faces as they listened to the fighting.
“What, what will guns do?” asked another officer, coming to stand next to the frozen first.
“Not much, you have to hit both hearts or shoot off their entire heads. Swords are your best bet, but they are fast, so much faster than you.” I shook my head sadly, seeing the truth of my words registering in his eyes.
He blinked, his resolve gaining strength. “Can they get through the cars?”
“The glass will be easy for them. But they won’t be thinking like rational beings, so you should be able to outrun them or run them over with your vehicles,” Anna added, coming to stand next to me.
I pulled the bullhorn from the trembling fingers of the officer. “Get your families in here. Shoot for the head, try not to get out of your vehicles.”
It wasn’t enough, but it was all I could do.
Logan felt my resolve and nodded, letting the growing lion inside of him out. It was only a moment of snarling and the tearing of clothing before a furry lion stood next to me. With a huff, I stowed my blade, sliding onto his back.
