Typically the response was immediate but after an hour or so passed, George was beginning to grow concerned that something was wrong. He looked at the information he had written down. Yusef and Umar Tahir were in danger. George didn't care what he had to do to make this right. He knew he had to act and quickly. He stormed up and began grabbing items that might help with his journey. Within an hour he was in the driver seat of his silver El Dorado. He didn't know if he would be able to provide much more than a glorified taxi service, but George was firm in his decision. He wanted to help the Tahir family in any way he could. And right now, no one else was going to do it, so he resolved that he would take care of it himself.
***
They watched her as she stood tall and proud in Ishan's body. She watched back with curious anticipation qute sure the enemy queen was watching her as well through those eyes. For what seemed like hours a sort of staring contest went on back and forth between Bellona from inside Ishan's body and the ancient vampires looking down on her from the cave ceiling. Then their mouths opened as one and the high screech of the ancient tongue cried out from each of their lips, each one speaking in unison.
Mother of War, what have you done with my beloved? If you have hurt him you will never stop regretting what you have done from the molten pits of the hell I will cast you in.
A great deep and heady laugh escape Ishan's lips. "You and I both know the only hell that exists was created in the minds of the weak."
I will create a very real hell just for you if something has happened to him.
Ishan's voice rang out with laughter again. "Oh, I'm sure you will. Let us test this power you think you have." Ishan's body stepped forward one pace and waited. When nothing happened, Bellona willed him to move again and there seemed to be no resistance from the enemy queen and her children. Very well then... If you won't try to stop me, that will just make this easier.
Bellona willed Ishan to step slowly as she contemplated which exit was the safest.
Chapter 37
Taken
"You'll need to step forward about two feet, keeping your shoes at least two and a half feet above the ground to avoid the wire that is currently waiting to be tripped in front of you, Mr. Cross. Do you think you can manage?"
Jonny still couldn't make out that anything was there but he knew better than to doubt what the old bastard was telling him. Jonny backed away for a moment and stretched his legs to be sure he could bend them properly. A moment later and he very slowly lifted his right leg and reached his calf forward one long pace forward, being sure to keep it steady in the air as he bent forward. He was about as acrobatic as a clown with big bright shoes. When his foot flattened down on the ground and nothing exploded, no alarms screamed out for his blood, he let out the breath he'd been holding.
Then he brought his other leg forward, a little more confident he could manage this time. His left foot stepped down safely with the other one and he wiped his forehead of the sweat building up along his brow.
"Very good, Mr. Cross. Now let's see how you do with the next task."
Jonny ran as silently as he could toward the back door of the house. He carefully and quietly tried the handle and found it unlocked just like Hank had said it would be. The Emperor's brazen voice punched in, "It looks as though, unlike yourself, Mr. Evans is a man of his word." He gave a light chuckle at his own joke and then went silent. Jonny gritted his teeth in response. He opened up the door and snuck inside, careful to close the door as quietly as possible.
Inside, he set foot on tiled linoleum floors, the moonlight shining in a small window above a large kitchen sink. He traced a line along the tiles with his eyes, studying them for any signs of a trapdoor. At first he couldn't find anything but then, slowly at first, a small pattern began to emerge and he realized quickly that he was standing on the very spot he was looking for. He stepped away and double checked and, sure enough, the trapdoor was there. How to open it, however, was still a mystery. Sliding his hands softly against the floor revealed nothing. Scraping at the tiles with his fingernails had no effect either.
He sat there on the floor trying to figure out how to open the door when he leaned back against the cabinets and pushed against something dull and unpleasant. He turned around to find a small odd handle poking out from one of the cabinet doors. The others didn't have such a handle and so, he took hold of the handle and pulled downward on it. A draft blew up suddenly and Jonny knew the trapdoor was open behind him. But when he turned around and looked down inside, he hadn't been prepared for just how dark it was in the depths of this house.
His eyes had adjusted to everything else so far, but now he wasn't quite sure they could take on this task. It was like utter blackness down there. He reached his hand in and felt for the stairs and found them easily accessible save for the needing to use touch over any other senses. He hated doing that. Especially in dank dark places like basements or cellars. It made his skin crawl to think what all might be slithering about in the deep recesses of this old building. Jonny swiveled his backside so that his feet dangled just over the trapdoor opening. He set them down on the first step and began to make his way downward.
Even the deep murky blackness of the house's basement wasn't completely void of light. Jonny quickly found that faint rays of moonlight were easily finding their way into the room through sheer force of will and reflective angles. The main part of the basement appeared to split into several tiny rooms. Jonny edged forward, keeping an eye out for whatever Hank might have waiting for him down here. The bookshelves along the walls almost made him forget why he was there, but he did his best to ignore them after that.
At the far end of the room, a large doorway led out into what seemed like a parking area, though the earthiness of the odors coming from that way kept Jonny from venturing forward to try and find out. He was only here to find and capture and deliver Hank, there was no need to explore every nook and cranny. Jonny began checking the tiny living quarters housed within the small rooms along the left and the right of the great hall. The first three were empty and the fourth contained nothing but the remnants of a one-time occupant; blankets, a pillow, and about a half dozen magazines laid out on the bed. It was hard to make out anything in the fifth door at first and when Hank's shape took form beneath the shadow of the top bed bunk, the sight of it nearly gave Jonny a heart attack.
"I knew you would come," Hank said, his voice lined with the promise of a threat. Before Hank could say another word, Jonny spoke up, his hand pulling the needle from the safety of the plastic guard that covered it in the darkness.
Jonny laughed. "There's no point in playing the theatrics. I've already told Caesar everything. The escape plan for Julie, the electric jolt to disable my implant. It's too late to do anything now to stop it. Everything's already set in motion."
Hank stared back at Jonny, a look of deep wounded shock showing through the shadows below his eyes. In the opening that moment provided, Jonny lunged forward and stuck the needle in Hank's chest and plunged it inward with one fluid motion. Hank grabbed hold of Jonny's arm, twisting it, and Jonny screamed. A moment later he was on the floor and Hank was staggering to keep on his feet, mumbling something about a boy named Toby. "He's alive. I saw him. He's alive and before I die, I'm gonna find him..." He fell to the floor with a thud and lay still. Jonny reached forward and poked at his shoulder, flinching backward in a premature move of defense. But Hank didn't fight back, didn't so much as move.
***
Jonny wasn't exactly as strong as an ox. When the truck was in place outside, he came in and tried to no avail to lift Hank to his feet, his attempts ending in various bruises on Hank's body and a good kick in his own shin as well as a couple of stubbed toes. Finally, he just grabbed Hank under his arms and dragged him by his shoulders like a big sack of potatoes, allowing Hank's shoes to bounce along the steps as he made his way down from the front porch. The truck sat, engine running and exhaust floating up into the sky like the rising smoke of a bu
rning building. The driver side extended cab door hung open as Jonny dragged Hank over and swung the man's back up into the floorboard. Jonny lifted up his feet and pushed with everything he had and, after a few minutes of putting every muscle in his body into the effort and a whole lot of grunting, he managed to get Hank's body completely inside. He closed the door and sat down, fighting to catch his breath.
Now the hard part was over and it was just a matter of driving and delivering. He'd certainly done enough of that over the years. Not much chance he could screw it up now. When he was rested as well as he was going to manage, he got up and climbed into the truck, shifted it into drive, and softly pressed down on the gas. The truck started forward and before long he was back on the road, making his way back to the highway.
The Emperor's voice piped into his ear. "Very good, Mr. Cross. You made the right decision in confessing your burden to me, son."
Jonny nodded. "What about Julie? You will keep your word, right?"
"Yes, Mr. Cross, I will make arrangements to have your sister released as soon as you arrive at your destination and the package is delivered intact."
Jonny let out a long heavy sigh.
***
The red LED of the intercom began to blink and Joseph hit the mute button for the implant's input audio then pushed the answer button. "What is it?"
Lead Warden Tori Connor's voice came through the speaker. "My Lord, Detention Center 4215 has reported an escape."
"And why are you bothering me with this report? Can't you handle it?"
"Lord Caesar, you flagged this specific prisoner as high priority is all."
"Wait a minute. Just who is this prisoner?"
"Inmate 2633456, my Lord."
"I meant the name, Warden, what is the prisoner's given name?"
"Let me look... Lord Caesar, I have it right here. Her name is Julie Jennifer Cross. And... this just came through, my Lord, but apparently, she disappeared during an unauthorized prison transfer conducted by Imperial Officer... Jordan. Officer Matthew Jordan."
Joseph's hand gripped hold of a nearby pen and shattered it as soon as his fingers closed over it, sending ink splattering up toward the ceiling. "Find them, Warden. Find them and kill them. I want their heads brought to me in a sealed bag so I can burn them myself, do you understand, Warden?"
"Yes, my Lord. Your will be done."
The transmission ended in static.
Chapter 38
The Light in His Eyes
The pain of every contraction was becoming more and more bearable. It wasn't that it was lessening so much as the Queen was building up her tolerance for it as each renewed push from inside of her tempered her sensory threshold and strengthened her sense of focus on controlling her powers. Bellona would find her soon enough and she needed to have herself under control when the hour came to protect herself and her unborn children.
From the moment her first vision wrapped her inside of its majesty and power, she had waited for this day. Though she never could see it clearly, she knew it was what her whole life had led up to. Even if it were her final breath, she would exhale it with pride knowing she had brought change to this beautiful world that had cradled and protected her and her children from the great burning sun.
It would be hard to face Ishan's body when the time came, but she knew she would hold strong in the presence of her enemy. And still, there might yet be a chance to save her beloved. She had to try.
The ground swelled beneath her. The tendrils of her will were massaging their way through the ground, giving her something to focus her energy on as the contractions rolled in and out. The unrestricted visions that had come before had ceased for the most part, but every now and then a flash of some horrible distant future or some ancient traumatizing memory came flooding back into her world and washing away the very foundation of reality around her. The worst of them were of those she had sacrificed. Those who, had she not used them as some living breathing pawn in her tactical game of chess against Joseph Caesar, would have lived long and happy lives despite the war raging on around them.
The pain emanating from her belly was growing again and this time it wasn't so easy to push out of her mind. The cave ceiling shook again, sending dust and debris of salt and rock in chunks of stalactites raining down on her and her ancient children clinging to her side. Her voice called out into the darkness, a moan much deeper than the ones she hadn't been able to hold in before. Now the room spun and writhed and the pressure in her abdomen seemed to pull her into that dreamlike black hole from her visions, sucking her into some eternal void. The sensation was one of gently and slowly imploding. She began to breathe again in fast succession. It helped her focus as did the shaking of her nearby surroundings, but it didn't stop the pain or the pressure or the fear. The fear was the worst now. She knew that when it was all over and done and her new children were free, she would be dead; her eyes staring in wonder at nothing; her soul dispensed from its shell and dissipating into nothing.
Her fear brought her back to Ishan. That monster was inside him, using him, hurting him. She let her vision shift to the ancient's nest and to her surprise, her beloved's body was no longer present in the cave. Immediately her closest children, lying all around her rose up in unison and floated out of the room. They would find him and they would... What? What would they do against one so powerful? She called out to her children then. Do not try and stop him. You will not survive. But their internal voices returned to her with loving disobedience.
There was a struggle from the nearby main chamber. She watched through two pairs of her children's eyes as they tried to fend off her beloved. He was strong. The struggle was over in seconds and then a new wave of her children flocked to keep him at bay. If this continued they might hold Bellona off for a time, but they would all pay with their lives in the process. A sacrifice the Queen was not willing to make. She commanded them then with the tether that bound them to her. Gave them no choice to do anything but follow her will.
Through that same tether she watched them back away. Watched Ishan's body walk up to the entrance to her chambers and step inside unchallenged.
Ishan's eyes shone red in the darkness. His face was magic to behold even if he wasn't currently the light in his own eyes. His body slithered with a grace even he hadn't developed across the gamut of centuries since his awakening. He came to a stop a dozen feet or so from the foot of the Queen's bed. Ishan's long black hair hung in soft perfection from his head. Bellona had brushed it. "I can understand why this body pleases you. It is strong and yet delicate and yet... alluring." Perhaps you will take some comfort in knowing that these hands and these teeth will end you. I won't make the same mistake your petty lover did though. I will rip your throat out and watch your blood drain away onto the dirty ground where it belongs... But first..."
Ishan's finger reached out and his nails pressed against the Queen's thigh where it met her pelvis and penetrated the skin softly then slid down and inward, coming to rest just above the inner side of her knee. "I've always wondered what it would be like to fuck someone with one of these." His other hand grasped and massaged the hard protruding bulge at his crotch. "I think it's time I found out."
***
Loud dissonant alarms rang and reverberated off of every solid surface. She could smell them everywhere. Hear their movements. Hear their voices. In such large numbers, the enemy vampires had no reason to fear being heard. No reason they yet knew of anyway. Rosadelma’s initial urge was to run head on into the place and kill every vampire she came across, but a single face stuck out in her mind and kept her from what would have obviously been a quick certain suicide.
Harek.
He could be here. She wasn't sure, she couldn't be. But it was a good probability he was, given the sheer number of Imperial vampires that were present within the city limits. Quickly she slipped down from the ventilation shaft onto a slotted metal walkway. Keeping a low profile would be complicated in such a place. It was easy hiding from hum
ans. But vampires not of your kin. Not so much. Rosa walked on, imagining what it would be like to drain Harek of all his blood and watch as the light in his eyes dimmed down to nothing.
Chapter 39
All the Leather and Ammo in the World
Jonathan Braldon's old green rust bucket of a truck roared hard against the wind as he pushed the pedal to the metal. In the passenger side of the truck, little Julie Cross sat, clutching the shoulder strap of her seatbelt against her chest. By Jonathan's best guess the girl was no older than eight or nine years old. He'd been charged with the responsibility of saving children before but not this young and not a little girl. It was certainly proving to be a learning experience so far.
After months of infiltrating the executive branch of the Imperial Police, it had been a completely baffling surprise when Hank called him and told him about what would be his last undercover Imperial assignment. But Hank assured him it was the most important thing he could do in this position. Jonathan didn't trust a lot of folks in this world but he certainly trusted Hank Evans. The man had more than proved himself on the battlefield since taking up arms and he'd lost more than most could imagine in the process.
"Jonny? Can we get something to eat soon? I'm hu-ungry!"
Jonathan rolled his eyes and glanced over at Julie. "I'm only gonna say this one more time. My name is Jonathan, not Jonny. You can call me Jon, though."
"Yeah, yeah, they're the same name, you don't fool me. I should know, my brother's name is Jonny, so ha!"
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