by Justin Sloan
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Right.”
Royland, for his part, definitely liked this side of Cammie, though he had to wonder where it came from. One minute she’d been all business, the next she was flirtatious as a dog in heat.
He cocked his head, looking at her, wondering if this was some part of being a Were or something. She just frowned at him and followed Valerie into the elevator.
“Keep up, pretty boy,” she said over her shoulder.
He stepped in behind them and asked, “Where are we going?”
Valerie pressed the lobby button and waited for the doors to close before she said, “To war.”
Royland pressed his lips together before shrugging, “Oh, good. I always go to war without a shirt.”
“I’d give you mine,” Cammie said with a smirk, “but I think it’d be a little small.”
He smiled to the shorter woman, “Ah, it’s the thought that counts.”
Valerie looked at the two of them, then to the other two. “Are they always like this lately? Did I miss something?”
Presley shrugged. “Even if she wouldn’t admit it, I saw it in her eyes the first time I saw these two together.”
“Bullshit,” Cammie said. “He’s a vampire, I’m just playing around.”
“Wait, so to be clear,” Royland raised an eyebrow, hands on his hips, “You think of me as lower because I’m not a Were?”
“Now, don’t take this wrong, this is subjective, “Cammie shook her head. “Not really lower, just probably not as good in the sack.”
Royland’s response was quick and succinct, “What?”
Valerie snorted, and the other two just smiled.
“It’s nothing personal,” Cammie said. “Just, you probably lack a certain animal instinct.”
He shook his head in wonder, “Wow, I so hope we live through this so I have a chance to prove your sexist thoughts wrong.”
She bit her lip and actually blushed. The doors dinged open and Valerie stepped out, the rest following, but as they did, Cammie leaned over and whispered to Royland with a wink, “Me too.”
Royland felt his knees go weak at that, and had to steady himself on the wall. Valerie cast an uncertain glance his way, but then turned to the few cops and vampires on watch in the lobby and said, “Alert everyone. Only the essential few stay behind. I need everyone fully equipped and geared up, ready for the fight of your lives.”
They ran off to do her bidding, when Sandra came running in with Karl.
“I’m coming,” Sandra said. “There’s nothing you can say to—”
Valerie nodded agreement, “Of course you are.”
“I… what?” Sandra stopped, trying to asses the new situation.
Valerie smiled. “If I’m bringing the shirtless cripple here,” she jerked a thumb to Royland, “of course I’m bringing my best markswoman.”
“To be fair,” Royland said, “I am going to heal, and will probably be healed before the night’s up, based on the amount of blood I drank. Well, war and all, I guess I’ll be healed or dead.”
“Optimism,” Valerie said with a chuckle. “And stay at my side, I’ll see that you aren’t dead. Only,” she stopped to frown at him, “how well did you know the other Forsaken clans in the area?”
He shook his head. “Not well at all, aside from the occasional squabble.”
“Good, then you’ll have no problem killing a bunch of them.”
“I don’t suppose I would.” He looked at her like she was crazy, and then felt the realization dawn on his face. “You’re serious? We’re going to war with the Forsaken clans?”
“Some of them have been infiltrating the city,” she said. “Setting up camp, quite literally. Only thing is, they’re armed with silver weapons, and trained quite well.”
“The CEOs grip extends far,” he replied, already feeling a mixture of nerves and adrenaline preparing him for the fight.
“And I plan on cutting off their hands tonight,” Valerie said. “Tomorrow, I hope to get to their heads.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Near the Northern Bazaar
The police pods had been sent out around town to gather up anyone that could be spared aside from a bare minimum needed to keep the city safe, and now they were gathering at the northern wall at the edges of Old Manhattan. Not enough pods to carry all of the police, Weres, and vampires, but still a good number of them. The rest were marching over.
Everyone was geared up, body armor, guns, and arc rods at the ready. If the city saw them like this, they’d likely assume the worst and start a new riot. Luckily, the time of day was also on Valerie’s side—it being only three or four in the morning at this point.
But so far this was working out. Cammie and the others had briefed her on the situation in town, and they had all agreed that leaving sentries in strategic locations around the city would do while the main force came here. That, and Jackson’s people had no reason to be in this fight, so he had agreed to see to it that his people stood united should there be any problems.
A small army of Forsaken could not be allowed to go unchecked within the borders of Old Manhattan.
The city’s defenders were gathered, ready to lay their lives down for her. Sandra was cleaning her sniper rifle, preparing it for major action after already ensuring she was loaded and ready in every other possible way she could think of.
Royland had taken extra blood to help the healing and, though he still couldn’t put on a shirt and his rock-hard abs were glistening in the early morning moonlight, distracting Cammie, Valerie was glad he was there.
She even saw Dreg the werebear, nodding at him to let him know she was happy he had joined the winning team.
These and the others were all present, all ready.
Valerie walked over to the edge of the parking lot, behind a tall building where they’d taken to setting up. She sure was happy that she had remembered to change out of those crazy shoes and put her fake Pumas back on, but she had ended up keeping the leather.
It was growing on her.
The lights of the Bazaar were just visible in the distance. There were still people moving about on patrol, others darting here and there, and these were the ones she suspected were making plans to march on her.
They would try to take the city from her, but she had come for them instead.
“Where do you want me?” Sandra asked, walking over to stand beside Valerie.
Valerie pointed out a building not far off, and then said, “Come on, I’ll get you set up. There’s some stuff I want to grab there anyway.”
“The sword?” Sandra asked. At Valerie’s nod, she added, “Yeah, I kind of wondered about that.”
Valerie waved down Duran and told him she’d be right back, but to send over some Weres to defend the building, and pointed it out.
“They’ll help defend the lower level of the building if the Forsaken attack up here,” she said, walking alone with Sandra over to the building. “But I think they’ll be plenty busy enough with us down there.”
They made their way over to the building Valerie recognized from her earlier visit here, noting the dark blue sky on the horizon, with a hint of light starting to show.
“We don’t have long,” Valerie said. “If the fighting gets close to sunrise, I’ll have the vampires among us take cover in this building until it’s over.”
Sandra furrowed her brow, looking over at Valerie with curiosity. “So all this live in the shadows talk? I mean, that basically just happened and we’re already out here at war again.”
“I’ve been thinking about that.” Valerie paused, turning back to see more pods arriving, staying low to the horizon, which was good to avoid the Forsaken seeing them. “I’m not sure what the answer is yet, but it seems pretty damn clear the CEOs aren’t going to simply fade away.”
“You want to go after them?”
“To Chicago?” Valerie shook her head. “I have no idea. To leave this place…”
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“And Jackson.”
“Right. Jackson… we haven’t heard much from his people, have we? The ones who split off?”
“Not that I know of, but I hear we have Ella,” Sandra said. “She was playing a big role in their revolt, and if she’s in Enforcer HQ….”
“If she’s in…?” Valerie wanted to smack herself. She had seen Ella in the sick bay, even wondered about it briefly, but had she put her sentries in danger by leaving HQ exposed with Ella on the inside?
“I don’t think we have to worry about her,” Sandra said. “Not really, I mean. I sent Peterson back to stay with her, talk her out of anything horrible. Would she hurt her own brother?”
“We can certainly hope not.” Valerie sighed. “All of this, did you have any idea what we’d be getting into when we set off on that blimp?”
Sandra laughed. “Not in the slightest. But… going with you, I knew I’d never regret it.”
“Thank you, for that.” Valerie reached out and took Sandra’s hand, squeezing it gently before letting go.
Sandra looked at her friend a moment, her voice gentle, “You going to be okay?”
“I have the safety of these people to think about,” Valerie said. “Me and Jackson? If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be. But I can’t keep drawing unwanted attention, especially the violent kind, to people who don’t deserve it.”
She turned to look behind her for a moment, “But for now? Let’s just help these bastards find the next life, or the great void or whatever’s out there waiting for them.”
“Deal,” Sandra said, tapping her sniper rifle. “Me and my little friend here are anxious to do our part.”
Valerie smiled, and said, “Good, we’ll need you, I’m sure. Any Forsaken or Nosferatu come running out, especially toward the city, you take them down.
Sandra nodded, and then glanced up at the windows of the building. “I’ll go find myself a good vantage point. Remember, be safe.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got protection.” Valerie pointed to the bottom floor of the building, where she’d stashed her sword. “I just have to go get it first.”
Sandra gave her a quick hug, and then scampered off.
The area below the stairs seemed even darker now that Valerie knew what was coming. She entered and then crouched. Moving aside the piece of wall she’d set up earlier, she found her sword and purple jacket, waiting.
“I missed you,” she said to the sword, holding the hilt in one hand, balancing the blade on the other. She strapped on her sword belt, put on the jacket, and then took a sip from one of the blood vials. She didn’t need it yet, but a little pre-emptive medicine seemed smart in these circumstances.
All ready to go, she exited the building and found the three Weres Duran had sent. She put them in position, and then returned to the parking lot to assess her troops.
The pods were set up with gunmen ready, and the Weres and vampires stood in rows with weapons at the ready. According to the plan, they would all charge at once, pods from above and in a circle around the Bazaar to ensure no escape, with half the Weres transformed so as to put terror into the hearts of any others that might be thinking of taking up defense alongside the Forsaken.
A smaller group led by Felix, the Were who had saved Diego from the Golden City, was going to raid the Bazaar itself. Since most of what was there was pirated supplies from trading blimps, Valerie didn’t have a hard time justifying it. She’d seen the medical supplies and food, and knew what a difference all of that could make to her city.
Maybe someday she’d make an attack on the pirates themselves, to see that no trade blimps were ever intercepted again, but this would have to suffice for now.
Taking her place at the front of her troops, she said, “You all stand before me of your own free will. If I am wrong, you are free to go.” She waited momentarily, and then added, “That is the big difference between us and them. We do not enslave, blackmail, or harm innocents. The police are led by Colonel Donnoly, the Weres by Cammie, and the vampires by Royland, while Jackson has remained behind to see to the streets.
“But tonight, we act as one. Tonight, we tell those CEO bastards that they can’t send enemy troops inside our walls, and that to do so means there will be repercussions.”
“Damn straight!” Diego shouted from the crowd.
She smiled at him and nodded. “And tonight, we don’t just fight because these bastards are in our back door and mean us harm. We fight because of what they represent. They are the downfall of humanity, the rift between vampires, Weres, and everyone else. Their existence is a smear upon our honor, and every heinous act they commit means one more person looking down on members of the UnknownWorld. We cannot let this continue. Not just for vampires or Weres, but for all of us. For the future of this earth and whatever else is out there.”
As the crowd cheered, she looked at the stars and wondered what was happening up there at this very instant. It was an entirely different feeling to be wondering when you actually knew something was happening.
But right now, her focus was on defeating those bastard Forsaken.
Valerie turned, drew her sword in one hand, accepted a pistol from Cammie, and said, “For Honor!”
And they charged, shouting and howling as they did so. Some of the Weres had transformed, including Dreg the bear, and it was a sight to behold. Valerie ran at their head, shouting just as loud as the rest.
Halfway there, a force of Forsaken came out to confront them, as she had suspected they would. They were here for her, after all. Why would they run or hide? And judging by the bit of fighting she’d seen so far, they were the elite. They likely believed they could take her and her army.
How horribly wrong she was about to prove them to be.
The Forsaken charged up the hill, some stopping to fire their rifles, some dropping as Valerie’s side fired back. A sniper shot rang out in the night and a Forsaken in Valerie’s path fell as its head exploded.
“That one was mine!” Valerie shouted back toward the building where she knew Sandra was taking aim at the next one. She’d better hurry, or Sandra would take down every one of them that stepped close.
Pushing her vamp speed to match that of the Forsaken, who were now darting around the battlefield, she then pushed it to the next level so that she was twice as fast as any of them. Her silver sword gleamed in the moonlight as she cut through Forsaken flesh, removing limbs and heads as she cleared a path.
Ahead, she saw people fleeing the Bazaar from the rear, so she paused long enough to spot Felix moving around the main fighting to intercept the supplies they planned on confiscating.
People were shouting and screaming from within the tents, and she knew it must be chaos down there. And then she saw why—several of the Forsaken were attacking the people from the Bazaar.
A sniper shot sounded nearby and she spun, seeing the Forsaken’s blade inches from her face. He collapsed, weapon clattering at her feet.
She spun, looking for the tall Forsaken who had led the attack on her in the fighting arena, but he was nowhere to be seen. A tall one like that would be impossible to miss out here, unless he had already fallen. Since she was pretty damn sure he was the one with the connection to the CEOs, she couldn’t let him escape. And since he wasn’t out here, he must still be in the bazaar.
Cammie came charging past her, kali sticks cracking a Forsaken’s skull open, and Valerie grabbed her. Spinning and ready to attack, Cammie had glared at Valerie with yellow eyes and snarled, then realized it was her.
“Careful,” Cammie warned.
“I need you with me,” Valerie said.
Cammie nodded and then whistled. A moment later, Esmerelda and Presley were at her side. “You just tell us who you wanna kill.”
“There’re more inside, likely the best.”
“Understood.”
“You can count on us,” Presley said, and Esmerelda gave her a curt bow of the head.
Valerie had to remember that thes
e Weres followed Cammie, not her. So she turned to Cammie and waited.
With a smile, Cammie said, “On me,” and led the way.
Fighting continued around them, and two Forsaken leaped into their path, only to find one blown to bits by Royland as he appeared from the left, still shirtless though it looked like his back had practically finished healing. Valerie couldn’t help but notice the look Cammie gave him as he turned on the second Forsaken, muscles strained as they locked into mortal battle, and then he broke the Forsaken’s arm and snapped his neck. A final stomp exploded its skull and Valerie had to cringe.
Cammie, however, was still watching with wide, intrigued eyes, while her two Weres fought off more attackers on each side.
Valerie slashed across an attacker and turned back to Cammie, “Need a rag for all that drool?”
“What?” Cammie snapped out of it and whacked a Forsaken who had just caught Presley with a slash of its claws across her shoulder. A quick glance showed Presley was fine, so Cammie turned back to Valerie and winked. “Usually nudity doesn’t faze me, but something about that guy with his shirt off…”
“Enhanced hearing,” Royland shouted from twenty feet off. “Don’t forget!” He grabbed the arm from a Forsaken attacking him and broke it over his knee before grabbing the head and twisting it. “Not helping me focus, here!”
“I’ve got nothing to hide,” Cammie said as she worked her way over to him, whacking at more Forsaken and pausing to stash one of the kali sticks in favor of a pistol so she could shoot down a couple more of them coming her way. She reached Royland, took him by the hair and pulled him in for a kiss, then opened her eyes and shot a Forsaken who had sneaked up behind him. When she pulled back, she smiled, “For good luck.”
Valerie joined them and said, “Really, is this the best time?”
Royland glanced over at the Bazaar, realizing where they were heading. “I’m coming with you.”
“No, your fighters need to see you,” Valerie said.
He grunted his displeasure at that, but nodded in agreement. “Be safe,” he said to Cammie, and this time he pulled her in for the kiss. Presley and Esmerelda turned to shoot a couple of Forsaken who had risen, while Cammie’s hand caressed Royland’s chest and abs.
