Dark Horizons (The Red Sector Chronicles)

by Krystle Jones

  I first came upon this place when Aden and I had been chased here by my brother’s lackeys. We had hid out belowground, where I first learned about the tunnels that could take me back to the surface, where I thought I truly belonged.

  I was wrong.

  “Now what?” Arika asked. I noticed she had both her sai ready.

  “We make for the base,” Rook said, his jaw clenching. “It’ll probably be crawling with guards. No matter what, Sloane has to get inside so she can get the sample to Paris.” I tried my best to ignore the tint of doubt to his words that said, “If we aren’t already too late.”

  We quickly went over some ideas. For the most part, Ivan lurked in the background, staying quiet. At last, we decided upon a plan that probably would have been brilliant had it not sounded like a suicide mission.

  I tapped my foot, anxious to start but scared I wouldn’t succeed. What if Aden were already dead? What if they had this place surrounded and we were all killed the moment we set foot outside?

  Rook took me by the shoulders, gazing into my eyes with the weight of steel. “No matter what happens, keep going. I don’t care what you hear behind you, just go.”

  I held his heavy look for a few seconds before nodding.

  Feeling more tense now than ever, we crept out the morgue and silently glided past the fake rosebushes. Down here, most everything resembling a plant was fake, from the grass to what few flowers decorated the lawn.

  Our first stop was a small convenience store. It didn’t have much, just the essentials, but then again, vampires didn’t need much down here. People learned to go without candy and other superfluous goodies when just finding a decent meal was a top priority. Judging from the five-star meals Mrs. Knight had served up while I stayed with her, vampires apparently didn’t have as much trouble finding decent food as humans. Then again, I hadn’t had trouble either while human; being the Sovereign’s daughter meant I ate well. It was the poorer folk who had to worry.

  A guard stood by the corner of the store, near the entrance. Rook snuck up on him before he could ever turn around. I watched as he deftly knocked the man out, dragging him into the alley and stashing him behind a garbage bin before taking his gun.

  Ivan’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head. “Incredible. What strength. What speed.”

  “Can it, Doctor,” I snapped, growing irritated. I could just visualize him wanting to use us as science projects in some mad scientist lab. I still had to pick his brain later over whether or not he intended for the virus to morph humans into monsters so my mother could create her twisted utopia. I also wanted to question him over the whereabouts of the first vampire king. Though I was dying to get some answers, that part would have to wait. Now wasn’t the time or the place.

  I lifted my brows as Rook sauntered back toward us. “Not too shabby, Captain,” I said.

  “That’s why I earned that title,” he said, smiling with a wink. “Though Frost has probably demoted me by now for aiding ‘criminals.’ Here goes.”

  Kicking the door to the store open, he fired off a shot toward the ceiling and shouted, “Everybody down!”

  A few civilians screamed and ducked, covering their heads. The behind-the-counter clerk paled as Rook stalked up to him. “Hey, man, I’m not going to hurt you, but I need your help. Got any matches?”

  The man nodded in quick, jerky movements, pointing toward the second aisle. Dezyre took off to find the matches while Rook leaned on the counter, keeping his voice low. “And what about a milk carton, or something I could hold some liquid in?”

  “In the back,” the man stammered.

  Leo walked away, and Dezyre returned with a box of matches. “Looks like we’re kicking it old school,” she said.

  “That’s fine,” Rook said. “We don’t need some fancy lighter to do what we’re about to do.”

  Once Leo had grabbed the milk, we went out. “Don’t follow us,” Rook said to the clerk. “And if you call for help…” He cocked the gun for dramatic effect. “I’ll come back for you.”

  The man looked ready to faint.

  I rolled my eyes as we walked away, a satisfied smirk on Rook’s lips. Once outside, I said, “Did you really have to scare him like that? I mean, he looked ready to pee his pants.”

  He shrugged. “If it keeps him quiet.”

  We sneaked back toward the base, hiding between the parked news “vans.” I say “vans” because they pretty much resembled boxes on wheels. We all watched mournfully as Leo dumped the milk carton’s contents onto the street. Milk was pricey, averaging twenty dollars a carton, since a lot of the farm properties where cows were kept now lay within Red Sectors. The countryside was one of the first areas to be blocked off upon the Eclipse.

  After the carton was empty, Rook grabbed it and began going around to each car – I guess technically, each “Chimera” – shimmying under them and poking a hole in the gas can so the gasoline drained into the carton. The others and I kept watch. It seemed the militia was too preoccupied with taming the increasingly boisterous crowd still gathered outside the base to worry about patrolling.

  Once the carton was full, Rook capped it and we all convened. “Dezyre and I will split off and create the diversion while the rest of you make for the hospital wing.”

  We hadn’t planned much further than that. All of us knew how this mission would most likely end.

  I swallowed, feeling hollow inside knowing these were most likely the last few minutes of my life.

  Might as well go down saving someone I care about.

  Feeling sadder, I grabbed Rook in a fierce hug. “Be careful,” I whispered harshly into his ear.

  He squeezed back. “You too.”

  We parted, and Dezyre and I just looked at each other while Arika and Leo spoke quietly off to the side. Neither one of us seemed willing to make the first move. After a few moments of tense silence, Dezyre said, “Well, try not to die.”

  I smirked, relaxing. “Thanks, Dezyre. I’m worried about you too.”

  Her lips pulled up in the hint of a smile.

  When Dezyre and Rook took off, taking a pale Ivan with them, Leo, Arika, and I readied ourselves. “You don’t have to come with me,” I said, glancing at them. “Either one of you. I can’t ask you to die for me.”

  “You don’t have to,” Leo said, smiling softly.

  Arika avoided my gaze, clearly saying she felt otherwise.

  Once again, I was reminded of her loyalty to Leo. She must love him something fierce to risk dying for him.

  Preparing myself mentally, I stalked forward toward the base and ultimately my death.

  CHAPTER 26

  Three days had done nothing to calm the civilians’ protests. If nothing else, they had grown in number and seemed even edgier than they were before. Unfortunately because of that, the size of the guard lining the outside of the base had doubled.

  I allowed Arika and Leo a few seconds to stand there and gawk at the base before getting down to business.

  “How are we going to get in?” Leo said.

  “We wait for an opening,” I said grimly, getting comfortable. Who knew how long it would take for that to happen.

  Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait long. A few minutes passed before a ground-shuddering boom rang out behind us, distracting the crowd and the guards for a few seconds. A column of fire erupted about half a mile away.

  The promise of rising violence somehow sent the crowd into a crazed frenzy; they obviously thought it was protesters laying siege to the base. Shouting louder than ever, they started charging the shielded guards. Some went down completely as the angry mob pulled them to the ground, practically trampling them as they fought to get inside the building.

  “Now’s our chance,” I said, “while the guards are, well caught off guard.”

  We took off for the base, racing for the back of the mob.

  Arika looked like she was going to puke or maybe pass out. I could sympathize with her. It was how I felt when I first learn
ed I was surrounded by vampires the night I’d been brought here.

  As we forced our way through the crowd, with me in the lead, Arika kept glancing around her. I suppressed the urge to snicker whenever someone bumped into her and she jumped.

  By the time we got to the front, someone had already grabbed a downed guard’s badge and had swiped it in front of the scanner that locked the doors. The light flashed green and the doors swung open. A veritable floodgate opened up as everyone tried to cram inside the building. It was all the guards could do to manage the mob; they were way outnumbered.

  I kept my head down as I passed through the doors, trying to stay hidden in the chaos so nobody would recognize me.

  Things were just as chaotic inside the lobby. The siren was going off, and someone was shouting instructions to the guards over the intercom. The secretary was cowering in the corner, trying to keep from being noticed.

  “We don’t have much time,” I said as Leo and Arika looked around. “They might be overwhelmed now, but that won’t last for long. Reinforcements will be here soon.”

  I heard a click and whirled around. The mob had managed to get the double doors leading to the hospital wing open, but enough guards had followed them in that they were having a hard time getting past.

  “Cover me,” I said, yanking off the insufferable heels and throwing them to the floor.

  “You got it,” Leo said, getting his gun ready. It was empty but would still make a great hard object to bludgeon someone with.

  I sprinted toward the doors. A guard came up, ready to block me, but Arika came around the side and hit him hard in the back of the head with the pommel of her sai. He staggered then went down, at which point Leo hit him again and he went completely limp, knocked out. I leapt over the body and burst into the hall.

  Medical personnel were running around, frantically shouting to one another and wheeling patients about, trying to evacuate them. Everything was bathed in shades of red, thanks to the flashing sirens.

  I grabbed a nurse by the arm as she ran past. “Where is Captain Knight?” I demanded.

  She obviously hadn’t been here long enough to know who I was by face recognition alone. Sweeping over my ruined gown in confusion, she pointed and stammered, “Down the hall and to the left. They’re getting ready to move him.”

  I sighed with relief. So he wasn’t dead.

  “Thank you,” I said, then bolted down the hall.

  As I ran, it dawned on me that I was finally here, that my quest had come full circle. Everything around me slowed down, and I lost sight of anything but my goal. The only sound I could detect was my own racing heart.

  I flew around the corner and started walking down the hall, looking into open doors. Arika and Leo trailed behind me, ever alert.

  Another type of high-pitched beeping was going off in the room at the end of the hall. Doctors and nurses were flying in and out, shouting instructions to each other.

  My frown deepened. Aden wasn’t to be found in any of these rooms.

  As I neared the last door, I was able to place the frantic beeping.

  It was a heart monitor alarm.

  A tall woman with messy auburn hair strolled into the room, yelling directions at her staff like a commanding officer.

  I gasped. “Paris.”

  The heart monitor. Paris’s presence. That could only mean one thing.

  I shot toward the door, grabbing the frame as I swung into the opening.

  There were so many people flitting about in the room, I almost didn’t see the sweat-soaked figure spasming on the bed. Blood spurted from his mouth as one violent cough after another shook him.

  Everyone had on a mask; they flinched at the sight of his blood flying all over his hospital gown, as if afraid to go near him.

  I started to go in then swore. There was no way I could let Leo walk into this mess and potentially contract the virus. He was, after all, my responsibility now.

  Whirling on him, I grabbed his shoulders. “Listen, it’s important you stay as far away from this room as possible.”

  He frowned. “Why?”

  “Just do it.”

  Without another word, I marched into the room – at the same time the heart monitor flatlined.

  My heart nearly stopped beating too.

  One of the other doctors immediately moved toward me. “Ma’am, you can’t be in here. I have to ask you to leave now.”

  Pushing past him, I ran straight to the bed. Aden looked even worse up close. Big purple veins ran under his skin, making him look like he was already dead.

  My mind raced through options. I gripped the bed railing for support, to try to stop myself from shaking apart in a panic.

  I was too late. Paris would need at least a week – if not longer – to make a cure. And I was running out of time to make a choice.

  It was like I was in the nightmare again, with my world falling apart around me. Staring at Aden’s face, so lifeless, I had a crazy idea. I lifted my wrist to my mouth and bit down hard, not giving myself enough time to rationalize the ludicrously of this decision, or the likelihood it would not work.

  “What are you doing?” Paris shouted as I sucked in a mouthful of blood.

  Snatching the bottle out of my bra, I popped the end off and dumped most of its contents into my mouth, swirling the liquid around. It tasted different, my blood and my brother’s mixed together, like sugar and sunshine and hope.

  Shoving the half-empty syringe at Paris, I leaned over Aden and pried open his mouth.

  Sealing my lips to his, I let the blood mixture drain into his mouth. I closed my eyes as a stream of blood escaped, dribbling down the side of his chin onto the pillow.

  I had never prayed so hard for anything in my life, except maybe Orion’s safety when he was attacked by the Rogue three years ago.

  We all saw how that request turned out.

  I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to push the negative thoughts aside so I could focus.

  None of the doctors moved as I at last straightened, my mouth empty. I stood there panting as I watched, waiting, wishing, and hoping for the impossible. Even Paris was leaning over the bed, gripping the rail with white knuckles.

  A few minutes passed with no sign of life from Aden, and my hope began to crumble. It felt like a black hole had opened up right inside my chest, sucking away all my dreams and wishes. Throat tight, I fought back the swell of rising tears, feeling my face burn for being so foolish to think something this stupid would work.

  It was no use trying anymore. It was worthless pretending everything was going to be okay, because it wasn’t.

  Aden was dead.

  CHAPTER 27

  Every part of me felt numb. Inside, I shut completely down. I knew if I thought about anything, then I would immediately think of Aden, and the horrible black feeling would continue eating away at my core.

  Even when Paris put a hand on my shoulder, I didn’t flinch. I just stood there, unblinking, staring at the man who had shared a part of my soul.

  “I’m sorry,” she said quietly.

  “Sorry” didn’t cut it. “Sorry” couldn’t bring Aden back.

  I finally blinked when my eyes began to burn. The sensation brought on a wave of tears. A rising sense of hysteria fought to break free, but I kept it at bay as I leaned over Aden and delicately brushed a stray bang from his forehead.

  I blinked and a tear fell onto his face.

  I couldn’t say it out loud, couldn’t formally acknowledge I had failed.

  Closing my eyes, I leaned over him, resting my head on the pillow beside his. I squeezed his gown in my fists, shaking.

  Maybe if I hadn’t been such a total wreck, I would have noticed the subtle rise and fall of his chest.

  I froze, thinking at first I had hallucinated, that my brain was just refusing to accept his death. But as I lay there, not breathing, I heard the gentle intake of air as he took his first breath.

  I bolted upright so fast my head almost smacked i
nto Paris’s nose. “Do you mind!” she hissed, ducking out of the way.

  I didn’t care what she said. Nothing else mattered.

  I leaned over the bed railing, wide-eyed. Slowly, Aden’s everblue eyes opened and found mine. “Hey, angel.”

  We stared at each other. So many things flew through my mind; elation, hope, fear, and love. Real, burning, honest-to-God love.

  “Aden,” I breathed.

  He smiled slightly. “It’s good to hear you say that. For real, that is.”

  Blinking, I smiled so wide my face hurt. I bent over the bed, hugging him gently for fear I would break him. “I can’t believe it worked. You’re alive.”

  “Thanks to you,” he said softly, wrapping an arm around me and holding me close. “I’ll never be able to repay you.”

  “You don’t have to,” I said, at last sitting up.

  You already did by coming back to me.

  Still smiling, I tentatively reached out, intending to brush my hand along his cheek. Instead, Aden caught my hand and pulled it to his mouth, brushing a butterfly kiss across my fingers.

  Heat rose in my face.

  “Glad to see you’re back, Captain,” Paris said, winking on the last word. Her body looked more relaxed. She and Aden had been good friends for a long time. I imagined this must have been hard on her too.

  Aden dropped my hand, smiling tiredly. “It’s good to be back, Doctor De Lange.”

  I rushed to help him sit up. He smiled at me, letting me know he was fine, and I forced myself to back away. He wasn’t going to break.

  “I should start working on a cure right away,” Paris said, her face all business as she stared at the vial. “But first –” her eyes caught one of the nurse’s – “send word to Frost.”

  The nurse blinked. “Of what, Dr. De Lange?”

  Paris looked at him. Her eyes held ice.

  “That our emperor is dead.”

  ***

  The flurry of events that followed rivaled all time warps.

  I knew the second Frost received Paris’s message because a hoard of troops marched into the room, with Leo and Arika in tow.