Follow the Bloodshed (The Executioner Trilogy Book 3)

by Sowder, Kindra

  “Because I believe in you, I believe in us, and I believe our child wouldn’t exist now if there wasn’t a world after this.”

  I nearly melted, my knees turning into limp noodles. He had an effect on me I couldn’t describe and at that moment in time I was so thankful no one was watching. Or at least, that I could tell.

  “Good. I’m glad you do. I was beginning to think there would be nothing left after this. It all feels hopeless.” Again, I couldn’t look at him. It happened a lot when I didn’t like to say what I was thinking, but it was staring me in the face with no way to avoid it. He didn’t force me to look at him and I was grateful.

  “Everything will work out, even if I can’t be there to see it.” He pulled me into his chest and I laid my head there, listening to the thump, thump of his heart beating beneath his ribs.

  “Everything will be okay, and you will be there to see it. We both will.” I let the words fall from my lips. I meant every single one of them.

  I couldn’t help but wonder why he thought he wouldn’t make it out of this to see our child grow up. I desperately wanted to know. Right now wasn’t a good time to ask. Not when we were about to go out into what could be a blood bath to find the one person who could give us some answers. His hands rubbed my back and he pulled away, the emotions in his face and eyes changing within a few seconds.

  “We need to get going. We may be out for a while.” He smiled. I smiled back.

  He was right. We did need to head out and get this done as quickly as possible. I bobbed my head and moved away; looking towards Sam who was cleaning the silver knife we had given her at the house, her gun loaded at her side. She looked like Lara Croft standing there polishing the metal, minus the long hair and the inappropriate clothes. She was wearing hiking boots though. When we got here from hell I gave her some of my clothes to wear because she didn’t have anything and it looked like we wore the same size after all. I couldn’t help but smile.

  She looked up like she could feel me staring at her. For all I knew she could. I was able to feel quite a lot of things I couldn’t see so I was pretty sure she could do the same. In Hell she must have been going crazy. I commended her for keeping herself as sane as she was able to while there. She was practically a shining example of sanity at the time and she had only gotten better since being on the surface. She was terrified at first, but picked herself up and dusted herself off to turn into an extremely helpful part of our little entourage.

  “Are we ready?” she probed. We both nodded in her direction as she reached into the back pack in front of her, pulling out a few thick silver chains from its confines. “Are you sure these will hold him until we can get him back here?” This was to Gordon.

  He nodded again and answered, “I’m positive. He’s extremely sensitive to silver, which is why he avoids it at all costs.”

  I reached up and fingered the pendant around my neck. This explained some of the reason he gave the necklace to me when he did. He had absolutely perfect timing. The silver around my neck with the perfect burning stone was exactly what I needed to keep Vlad from ripping my throat out. We stood for another quiet moment, looking at the ground and scuffing our shoes along the worn floor. Instead of looking down on ourselves because of the danger we needed to build each other up. Someone needed a pep talk.

  “Hey guys.” Both set of eyes turned up to me at the words. “Everything will be alright. You want to know how I know?”

  They both looked confused.

  “It’s because, no matter what, you two have never stopped fighting. Sam, while you were in Hell you continued to kill the monsters that scared you. Gordon, because you loved me and are more powerful than even I realized to begin with. We are stronger than them. We just don’t know it yet, but we will.”

  Sam’s eyes brightened and Gordon’s burned with a passion I only saw when he looked at me. That was a lot easier than I thought and my grin returned. I was expecting to have to make an even grander speech than the small one I made just now, but I was thankful for that. We needed all the time we could get and we didn’t have any extra to convince them we could do this. That we could go out there and bring them all to their knees.

  “Now, let’s go out there and make the darkness our bitch.” Never had I said words I felt were truer. We were out the door within moments, and about to meet destiny.

  Chapter 30:

  Ashes to Ashes

  We didn’t want to go too far, but we didn’t want to be too close to our little hideout either. No need to draw anything somewhere it didn’t need to be. The only monster coming back, if Gordon and I didn’t count, would be Vlad and he would be locked in silver shackles. We weren’t half a mile away from the warehouse, still within the maze of the district. I hoped any stragglers we didn’t slay would get lost amongst the twists and turns of the loading docks. The loading docks all looked the same, made from brick with one door for people to enter and a place for semi-trucks to pull in and unload. Somehow I had never managed to notice the large door in the back of the warehouse made specifically for that purpose, but it was there.

  “Are you ready?” We had decided on our way to this spot that one of us would need to use our blood as a draw. I decided it would be mine. They knew mine, or at least Vlad knew mine and would come running because of his obsession. That would be all it would take. He and whatever vampire entourage he would bring with him would be dust in a matter of minutes and he would be dragged to our hideaway if everything panned out.

  Gordon slid the knife from the sheath on his hip and handed it to me, our fingers grazing ever so slightly. Our eyes met and he gave me a frail smile, looking like he could crumble at any moment under the weight of what we were about to do. I returned it without even thinking. Without my gaze leaving his I put the blade to my skin and dragged it across it, a burning, stinging pain sprouting from the thin line. I let out a hiss and handed the knife back to him, turning to see the blood running from my veins and down my arm to the ground. Now they would come, and Vlad would come with them. This I was certain. I could smell the iron on the fragile breeze sweeping through the maze of warehouses and moving my hair gently around my face and neck.

  Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and took in the air billowing around us and the scents that came with it. The iron smell of my blood, Gordon’s musk from next to me, Sam’s fear, and the smells of the city. They all moved around me in perfect synchronicity.

  I tuned my ears into the sounds coming with the breeze and heard nothing at first, but soon there were subtle noises of footsteps and growls. These were followed by a few howls drifting towards us. I knew both Sam and Gordon could hear them. My eyes snapped open as I heard the one sound we had been expecting.

  A man was among the group of vampires speaking Romanian. I wasn’t sure how I could tell it was Romanian, but I could and when I looked at Gordon I knew he had heard it too. Our eyes met, and I knew he was in this with me. His hands balled into fists. He was ready to take on his brother. To betray his brother once more.

  I wasn’t sure if I was ready for him to relive what he had already done to Vlad again, but if he was prepared so was I and I couldn’t turn down the help. Plus, this betrayal would help save the world. Last time it was for more selfish reasons. I didn’t know what they were, but Gordon had sided with the Ottoman Empire so his intentions were unclear. I would’ve asked him, but I didn’t have the stomach to hear the truth.

  “Are you sure about this?” I asked him as I took his hand in mine and squeezed it, letting him know that it was okay if he couldn’t go through with it. I would’ve said I knew what it was like to betray someone you love, but I honestly had no idea.

  A wide and crooked smile spread over his lips, “Absolutely.” I mirrored the grin and turned to face the music. It was made up of growls, howls, snickers, and beautiful words of the foreign language Vlad had spoken to me recently. I was not about to give into them. If he wanted to talk to me, it would have to be in English. English wasn’t nearly a
s beautiful as Romanian but I was more willing to listen to it. It didn’t have the allure that others did. I guessed it was because I had always heard the English language. There was no newness to it that hypnotized me. Yes, I was going to go with that.

  Then, within the darkness beyond our still forms, I could see shadows in the distance emerging into the subtle light from the streetlamps beyond the maze of warehouses. I couldn’t make out faces, just the tops of heads and a few torsos as they made their way towards us. From what I could tell there were no crawlers. They were scarier than the vampires themselves.

  They stalked towards us, choosing to walk instead of run to seem more menacing. If they had come outright, eyes trained at the blood flowing from my arm the air of intimidation would be gone. They chose wisely. I was frightened.

  My heart was beating loudly, the glow of the fire within me spreading from my pulsating heart down towards my arms and legs. Liquid fire was spreading through me like water through a network of rivers and canals. Slowly but smoothly and with life and flowing and ebbing in such a way that it was like the beast lived in that fire. I was sure it did just as sure as I was that it was now housed in every bone and muscle. If I wasn’t careful I’d begin to glow everywhere instead of through my veins and capillaries.

  I couldn’t keep my eyes off of the small crowed forming at the end of the alley, the walls of our own maze closing in on us like a sarcophagus,. There was nothing that could calm the ache inside of me like good, old-fashioned violence. I was about to indulge in just that. There was nothing to top that off like kidnapping a very old and very powerful vampire who could rip our heads off without trying. He wouldn’t have to flex a muscle or bat an eye. The snap of a finger would do more damage just by the sound and not the action. I shook my head and pulled my mind to the task at hand.

  Gordon release my hand, pulling the thick silver chains from the pockets of his jeans and wrapping them around his fists. He wouldn’t have a problem trapping his brother with a well-placed chain around Vlad’s throat. I was truly hoping it was as easy as it sounded when I thought about it.

  I let my eyes take in the scene before me, each vampire growling in the darkness as the soft light from the remaining street lamps illuminated their figures just enough. We would be able to see them and could know we weren’t killing each other by accident.

  Not only were they snarling at us in the short distance, but they were beginning to make their way towards us. Rain began to pour down around us. It was warm on my skin almost like blood. I looked at my bare arms just to be sure and found no hint of crimson. It was just the water running down my flesh and skidding along the fine hairs on my arm. It didn’t stop me from envisioning dark red blood flowing over my skin as it poured down around me. I couldn’t get it out of my mind.

  From within the bleakness, Vlad made his appearance. The only reason I could tell it was him was because he made his presence known before. If it hadn’t been for our small meeting I would’ve never known it was him. Not even in the slightest. Except maybe for the tingle in the air that told me. Despite the warm rain and the humid air a chill ran up my spine and ricocheted through my arms and legs, causing my knees to buckle.

  Vlad had emerged from the horde of vampires like a thick, evil shadow, the hunger for blood coming off of him. He was most eager for my blood with Gordon’s running a close second. He wasn’t aware of Sam because her blood hadn’t been exposed to the air. I said a silent prayer that wouldn’t change. If it did, we had no idea if this would still work. Having two targets instead of one would change things. We needed this to work in our favor. As if on cue Vlad stopped ten feet in front of our small entourage, waiting for us to make the first move. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

  He opened his mouth and spoke with the same fluid voice I had heard during our first meeting after his children had torn into the man right outside our home. A home that was now lying in a pile of ash; like they would be soon. All except him. I smiled at the thought.

  “Executioner,” a sly grin, a lot like Gordon’s crossed Vlad’s face, “I was beginning to wonder when I would see you again. Or at least catch that lovely scent of you on the air.”

  The smile left my face and was replaced by pure disgust. What was I supposed to say to that? I couldn’t think of anything. My mind was completely blank. What did you say to someone who said the loved the smell of your blood flowing from your veins? Nothing as far as I was concerned.

  His eyes shifted to Gordon, his smile widening. His eyes shifted back to me as he sniffed the air, obviously catching someone else on the air besides my blood that caused excitement to ripple through him. I slid the machete out of the sheath on my back, letting him know I meant business. Pleasantries weren’t necessary.

  “There’s something else, too,” he stated as his eyes moved from me to Gordon. “Radu, you have been a naughty, naughty boy.” My eyes widened in horror. He knew about our little bean. The scent of my blood moving past his nostrils on the breeze tipped him off to the fact that I was pregnant. All he had to do was guess who the father was.

  Gordon’s voice was crass and angry as he said, “We can’t all be you, Vlad. At least my child isn’t a plague on the Earth.” He sounded snide as the words slithered from between his lips, penetrating the rain and hitting Vlad just where they had intended. Vlad’s face didn’t change as he looked at his brother,. He was mad and was acting like his property had been violated and trespassed upon. Well, didn’t we have news for him? He may have had an unhealthy obsession but I belonged to no one, least of all him. I was not property.

  “Now there’s no need to be spiteful, brother. After all, I didn’t betray you.” His eyes slid back to my face. I wasn’t amused. He was attractive like his brother, but not nearly as beautiful.

  “No, but you are trying to take something that doesn’t belong to you.”

  “And how do you see it, Executioner?” His eyes never left mine. I couldn’t tear my eyes away. I didn’t have to, to know Gordon was watching me carefully. There was fear in the air. Wouldn’t Vlad be disappointed to learn I still wanted him and Lilith dead? Did he think meeting changed anything somehow? I was about to disappoint him more than his brother had all those centuries ago.

  Blinking past the rain on my eye lashes I stared directly into his eyes, feeling the same pull as before but resisting it. The beast was beating against my bones as I looked at Vlad and I knew this was part of the reason I was able to fight him.

  “I’ll have to side with humanity on this one. Sorry.” I wasn’t sorry. I could tell he could taste the sarcasm as he breathed in through his mouth, letting my words sink in. An amused look spread across his face, seeping into his eyes as he stared at me through the rain that was coming down in sheets. What was it about the men in this family? They were alluring. I had to admit Vlad had the same charms as Gordon, but he wasn’t Gordon. But that smile as he watched me so carefully, interpreting the way I stood there and how I responded to him. I had the machete at my side, gripped firmly in my hand. My grip was growing tighter by the minute as we considered each other.

  “Then it looks like we are at an impasse,” he breathed. He hadn’t moved since I denied him. I was betting he wouldn’t be the first to move. One of his vampire minions would because they didn’t have the patience or the smarts Vlad did. For some reason this new breed of vampire wasn’t as intelligent as the ones that came before. Yet another question to add to the ever growing list.

  Vlad took a step back as one of his vampire flunkies launched forward, grabbing my throat and pushing me away from Sam and Gordon. They wanted me alone and outnumbered. The beast was rolling around inside of me, begging to be free. Our nearly perfect merging left me wondering what I could do. I was about to find out.

  Heat flowed through me, melting into my skin, bones and muscles. My veins were on fire as the vampire pushed me farther into the darkness and up against the unforgiving brick exterior of a warehouse. The machete escaped my grasp and went skittering ac
ross the ground out of my reach. He began to lift me from the ground, my back grinding against the rough brick behind me. Gripping his wrist, I let the power flow into my hand into his flesh, causing it to sizzle. The smell of burned flesh hit my nostrils, but I wasn’t about to let go. He screamed against the pain but refused to loosen his grip. He was made out of tougher stuff then I thought he would be. His rough features were twisted into a snarl as his skin continued to broil under my touch. We were playing a game of chicken.

  “You don’t have what it takes,” he growled.

  I kicked out and he dropped me to the ground. I took the moment of shock and lashed out with a well-placed fist to his left temple, sending him to the ground. I could hear Gordon and Sam fighting in the background. The vampire was on his feet in an instant. I could tell he wanted this to be over quickly, but I wanted to play.

  My heartbeat was running rampant in my chest as the light inside of me grew, illuminating the network of warehouses around us. The vampire squinted and lashed out blindly, barely missing my face with his fist. I felt the air whoosh past my cheek and leaned back enough for him to miss me entirely, but the wall behind me suffered, pieces of it breaking off and falling to the wet ground with a splash. I ducked underneath his arm as he punched again; sweeping my leg behind his so he would fall to the ground. He fell and I straddled him, letting the heat pour into my fists as I launched my assault.

  When the first punch landed the heat caused his left cheek to crumble into an ashy hole, embers crossing over his cheek bone within seconds. His cries echoed through the wet atmosphere as he scrambled to cover his crumbling face, but there was no reprieve. The light from within my chest was flashing, causing everything to move in slow motion like when you’re walking through a club with a strobe light. It was unsettling and I had to fight the urge to close my eyes against it. Screams and growls surrounded us as I pummeled the vampire, reducing his skull to pieces of embers and ash. Once his head was obliterated his corpse crumbled underneath me, sending the ash in a small explosion. It was floating around me as I knelt in the puddles of water.