Dedication
For my readers. Thanks for waiting.
Dark Horizons
Book Two in The Red Sector Chronicles
By
Krystle Jones
CHAPTER 1
There are some things that will stay with me forever: the boom of a gunshot; the sensation of broken glass falling on my face; my twin brother screaming my name as he plummeted to the pavement below.
It’s remarkable how quickly our lives can be ripped apart. In the single violent span of thirty seconds, everything I believed in – beliefs I had stood for my entire life – irrevocably changed forever.
There was no going back. There was no denying the cruel truth.
My brother, Orion, betrayed us the day he tried to wipe out all vampires with a super-virus. And I betrayed him, in a way, when I put a bullet through his heart to stop him.
Shock and guilt should be what I’m feeling now. Yet somehow, I can only think of those tiny specks of blood on Aden’s sleeve, of the horrible moment when I realized he was doomed.
Aden – my maker – had caught the virus and was going to die.
And I was completely powerless to stop it.
***
The office was a wreck. Pieces of broken furniture lay strewn across the blood-smeared marble floor. A few feet away sat a chair, looking perfectly innocent, but I knew better since I was chained there only moments before. The body of a small blonde girl lay at its base, her long-lashed eyes closed as if only sleeping. Her death was still fresh on my mind; the blood spewing from her mouth as her insides turned to soup, the pain in her eyes as she undid my binds and set me free. Without her, Aden and I would be dead.
With a stone-cold feeling of dread, I eyed the bloody spots on Aden’s arm, where he had turned to cough a few seconds ago.
I looked back at Angel, the blonde girl I had come to think of as a friend. My imagination kept replacing her image with Aden’s, and I blinked several times to clear my vision. My stomach turned as fresh tears stung my eyes. Prying my gaze off her, I said, “We have to get you out of here.”
Aden combed his blond bangs out of his eyes. “Not before the rest of my team gets here.”
The words were barely out of his mouth when a gunshot rang in the hall, and the doors burst open as black-suited soldiers flooded the room. Every single one of them had on a mask.
“Good work, Lieutenant,” Aden said to a tall, dark man striding toward us.
The man saluted Aden. “That’s an honor coming from you, Captain Knight. I am glad you are alive and well.”
“Not exactly,” I said, cutting in. I glanced around, lowering my voice as Aden’s agents combed the room. “I think he may have been exposed to the virus.”
The man’s eyes widened. “Here,” he said, reaching into his bag and pulling forth a mask. “Put this on.”
He handed it off to Aden, who snapped it in place with a roll of his eyes.
“Hey,” I said, quirking a brow and giving him a pointed look. “Don’t sass me.”
I knew he was smiling because it reached his eyes. “I wouldn’t dream of it. I’m too afraid to sass you.”
“Never stopped you before,” I muttered. I stared at the second mask dangling from the soldier’s outstretched hand. “What’s this for?”
“If he’s been exposed, then you could have been as well.”
I pushed his hand away. “Don’t worry. I’m immune.” Thanks to my brother and me sharing the same blood, I silently added. Guess being descended from the first vampire king has its perks.
The man glanced at Aden doubtfully. No one except Aden and a few others knew I was the emperor’s twin sister. “Sir, I don’t think she –”
“It’s the truth,” Aden said, his voice cool and strong. “That’s all you need to know.”
“But how?”
Aden’s eyes hardened.
“Er – sorry, sir.” He bent his head toward his walkie-talkie, calling for someone. I heard him mention the word “hospital.”
I slipped in another worried glance at Aden and his eyes sparkled. “You know,” he said in a low voice, his shoulder bumping mine as he came up behind me. “You could always be my nurse, if you’re that worried.”
“Stop,” I snapped. “It’s not funny.”
He snickered, which only made me blush. I was about to reprimand him again when someone said, “Captain.”
We all turned as a blonde woman walked up to us. “Sir, the car is ready.”
I wanted to ask Aden how in the world they had working cars down here, several hundred feet belowground, but at that moment we were steered out of the room. The lieutenant whispered something to the woman as we walked, and she paled. I practically had to jog to keep up with her as she quickened her pace.
They proceeded to usher us downstairs, where a ramshackle thing on wheels I took to be some sort of car sat waiting for us by the curb. After stuffing us into the backseat, the woman leaned over the side of the door, gazing at Aden grimly.
“God speed, Captain,” she said, then slammed the door.
I snorted. What is this, the Titanic?
Aden leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and his forehead against the torn leather seat.
“What is it?” I asked, placing a hand on his back.
“I’m just a bit dizzy,” he said dismissively.
A little surge of fear zapped through me. “Here,” I said, grabbing hold of his shoulders and gently pulling back. “Lay down on my lap.”
He tried to hide the teasing sparkle in his eyes as he leaned back, using my lap like a pillow.
I shot him a warning look. “Don’t get any ideas.”
Hushed, urgent voices came from up front; the woman was speaking with the driver. When they finished talking a few seconds later, she slapped the side of the car as if it were a horse and the driver sped off, squealing tires and leaving a cloud of dirt in our wake.
My shoulder slammed into the door as we took a turn too fast. I winced but kept my hands firmly planted around Aden’s shoulders, hoping he couldn’t feel how badly they were shaking.
Aden groaned as the engine growled. “What is that God-awful sound?” he asked, rubbing his temples.
“It’s the car.” The thing sounded about two potholes away from completely shaking itself apart. “How are you feeling?”
“Fantastic.” The mask made his words a little muffled, which only made me listen that much harder for any sign that his condition had worsened. “Aside from this migraine, I feel fine.”
“You have a migraine?” My brows knitted together as I leaned forward. The car swung around another curb, nearly flinging me on top of him. He reached up to steady me, causing my breath to catch in my throat.
“Easy now,” he murmured. “There’s room for two if you’d like to lie down.” Mischief sparkled in his blue eyes. “Then again, now that you mention it, I am a little chilly. Care to be my blanket?”
Feeling my face heat, I straightened and pushed back a strand of curly black hair behind my ear. “If you can think of pick-up lines, then your head can’t be hurting that badly.” I thought his lame attempts at hitting on me were mostly for my benefit than his, some chivalrous attempt to make me feel better, which it did to some degree. It felt normal, and not like we were rushing to the hospital because he might die at any minute.
“You should stop talking and try to get some sleep,” I said. “We should be at the base soon.” I hope. I had no idea where we were, since my brother had me kidnapped, blindfolded, and taken to his “palace” of iron and glass at the heart of the vampire city. Judging from our ludicrous pace, it couldn’t take that long to get
back.
“You sure you won’t accept my invitation?” Aden murmured, trailing his fingers along the back of my hand and sending chills up my arms.
The flush went all the way into my toes. “I’m sure.”
He chuckled.
I bit down on my lip, knowing he’d seen me blush. Though I tried to suppress it, a smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.
I turned my head, trying to glance out the window. They were tinted to the point of being opaque, making it nearly impossible to see anything, even with my enhanced vampire vision. Since a privacy wall separated the front of the car, I couldn’t see out the front windshield either. I knew we still had to be in the vampire city, dubbed “The City of the Dead” because vampires might as well be dead to the rest of the world. I wasn’t sure exactly where it was located, since I’d never been outside the military base to find out. I was curious as to what it really looked like. The way Aden described it, it was a cluster-thing of different civilizations and eras, all piled on top of one another. I bet it probably wasn’t as artsy as my imagination made it up to be.
“Sloane?”
“Hmmm?”
Aden was studying me with concern. “How are you doing?”
“I’m great. I’m not the one with the…” I bit down on my lip, unable to finish the statement. It seemed crass, saying, “I’m not the one with the vampiric equivalent of the Black Plague.” Saying it out loud like that stung, as it was yet another reminder of my brother’s betrayal, how he had planned on using the virus he’d fashioned from our blood to wipe out all the vampires for ruining his life.
Though I disagreed with his methods, I couldn’t blame him for being bitter about the whole thing. He was the brilliant one in the family, having been on his way to a full academic ride before he was turned. Having your future ripped out from under you like a rug had to hurt.
“That’s not what I meant,” Aden said softly, resting his hand over mine. Even in the darkness of the car, his skin looked extremely pale next to mine, which was caramel colored. His fingers also felt way too clammy. I reversed our hands so mine was resting on top of his, in an effort to warm it.
“I know.” My throat constricted and I looked away. “But given the choice between seeing someone I care about get hurt, or to try and save them, I’d always take that risk, no matter who’s standing in my way.”
Aden’s eyes turned somber. “I never meant to pit the two of you against each other. I didn’t want you to have to choose.”
I still wasn’t over the shock of knowing Aden had been working for my brother all along. Though the fact he’d tried to cover up the fact Orion was even alive hurt, I knew now he had only done it to try to protect me.
“There’s nothing to be sorry for,” I said in a half whisper.
Aden inhaled a breath to say something when the car came to a screeching halt. My head slammed into the seat, but I managed to catch Aden before he could roll onto the floorboards. I knocked loudly on the barrier. “Hey!” I shouted, then bit my lip when I saw Aden wince. “What’s happening?” I called, a bit softer.
A rectangle slid open in the middle of the barrier, allowing me to see the driver. It was a guy and his eyes were brown; that was all I could make out. “There’s a barricade set up.”
“What? Why?”
“Er, protesters, I think.”
Protesters? For what? “Never mind. How close are we to the base?”
“Less than a few hundred feet, I’d say.”
“Good enough. We’re getting out.”
Aden was already sitting up, giving me a look of amusement as the driver protested. “Sergeant McAllister,” he said as I fumbled for the door handle, “I advise you to stay in the vehicle. I won’t have anyone to escort you and Captain Knight to the base if you get out now.”
I snorted. “Please. I don’t need an escort – I am the escort.” I finally grabbed what felt like a thin length of metal and pulled. Something clicked and the door cracked open. Shoving it, I stepped out onto a dirt road.
We were back on the base. The vampire city was nowhere to be seen, and the gray and brown structures that resembled crude buildings stuck up all over the place. Directly in front of the car were a series of roadblocks on every entrance to the base, and even a web of yellow caution tape. Several shoddily assembled vans rested outside the barricades, their doors thrown open as if its occupants had left in a hurry. I scanned the area, frowning slightly. Where were all the guards? They wouldn’t still be back at the academy, or at least, I didn’t think so. And who did all these vans belong to, and where were the owners?
I heard another door open and Aden stepped outside, much to the disgruntlement of the driver. He surveyed the area, eyes sharp and ready, though I could see the creases of pain around them.
Ever the soldier.
He took a step – and nearly went down.
I was around the other side in less than two seconds. “Easy,” I said, looping his arm around my shoulders and hauling him up. “Can you walk?”
He nodded. The area around his eyes lifted, and I knew he was flashing me one of his token, devil-may-care smiles. “Sloane, please. While flattering, you’re –”
His breath was lost in a fit of violent coughs that buckled him over.
“Aden!” I knelt in front of him, feeling his arms tremble. Strong, invincible Aden was trembling. My fear spiked as I saw the mask stain deep red with several splotches, a telltale sign that the virus was taking its toll. “We have to get you to the medical wing right now.”
Without arguing or coming back with some smartass remark, Aden let me haul him past the barricades and down a dirt road.
As we hobbled along, with Aden’s arm draped over my shoulder and my hand at his waist, holding him up, I thought my heart was going to bruise my sternum because it was beating so hard.
“Sloane,” Aden said a little breathlessly. “Really, I’m fine now.”
“No, you’re not.” I shot a quick glance at him. His forehead was dotted with sweat, and his platinum bangs were plastered to his skin, which admittedly was a good look for him. But the fact that Aden kick-your-ass-and-never-break-a-sweat Knight was perspiring meant something was terribly wrong. “You even sound breathless. Breathless, Aden.”
He chuckled and tugged me to a stop. Before I could blink or even sort out what had happened, he’d spun me around and had one hand in my hair while the other caressed my cheek. Gently, he lifted the mask and his lips hovered right over mine.
My breath lodged in my throat, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe as I took in his angel blue eyes.
“If you give me a few seconds, I could make you a little breathless too, then it wouldn’t seem so out of place,” he said, his voice becoming husky.
“I – er –” I squeezed my eyes shut, sucked in a deep breath, and let it out slowly. When I opened my eyes, Aden was grinning. “Oh, stop gloating,” I said, placing his mask back on. I took his hand and laced my fingers through his. “You’re still sick, and I’m taking you to see Paris.”
“And I believe you, Sergeant McAllister, sound a little breathless,” he said, letting me pull him along.
I pursed my lips, not saying anything, and turned away to hide my embarrassment.
Stay focused. Remember why you’re in a hurry.
Ice-cold fear washed over me and I quickened our pace.
More people cropped up as we neared the Syndicate, our training academy. There were a ton of black-uniformed military men and women running around, which didn’t surprise me. After all, when the emperor of the vampires gets shot out his office window, it was bound to make a scene.
What I did not expect, however, was the hoard of vampire civilians, soldiers, and reporters swarming outside the main doors to the training academy.
I drew up short, stunned.
For some reason, it never really dawned on me there would be reporters down here. But there they were; microphones, cameras, fake smiles, and all. They scrambled betwee
n the protesters, a cluster of at least one hundred vampire civilians from every corner and era of the world. I heard a multitude of different languages being thrown around. It made the noise seem that much worse, like a static hiss from a television that’s lost signal.
“Do you guys have a, I don’t know, unified language?” I asked.
Aden shrugged. “Not really. English tends to be the most common, with a scattering of others. The government thought about making it the primary language but later dropped that idea. Imagine trying to teach a three-hundred-year-old Italian vampire English, and you’ll see why they did. The brain’s capacity for learning starts to go after a while.”
For the most part, the civilians were dressed in twenty-first century attire, though I caught sight of an elderly gentleman who looked like he’d stepped off the set of Gladiator.
Aden whistled, surveying the vampires along with me. “Seems the crowd isn’t taking the overthrow of their emperor too well.”
“How did they find out so fast?” I asked. “It’s been, like, thirty minutes.”
“Vampire media is no different from humans’. A hot story will usually catch fire and spread fast. As for the signs and stuff, the protesters probably grabbed whatever they had at home and marched over here as soon as the story broke. The city’s not far.”
I squinted. He was right. Some people had signs, though only a few of them were in English. They said things like “Long live Nero,” which was my brother’s alias, and “military dictatorship” with a big red X running over the words.
Several protesters were being interviewed or screaming at the line of shield-wielding militia standing in front of the main entrance. Every single one of the soldiers wore gas masks.
So far it looked like the protest was still under control, since the crowd wasn’t pushing against the barrier or anything. As I’d grown used to doing, I scanned the entire area and found several black, nearly indiscernible forms sprinkled along the rooftops.
Snipers.
Beside me, Aden shuddered and my attention snapped back to him. “Come on,” I said, taking his hand and charging forward.
Dark Horizons (The Red Sector Chronicles) Page 1
