Immortal Echoes (Haunting Echoes Book 2)

by Caethes Faron

  “What?”

  “Come with me. I want to see if everything is the same as it was last time.” Instead of heading directly to her destination, which would leave behind her scent for later vampires, she ran to a thickly wooded hill. Finding the tallest tree she could, she scaled it and hoped her vision would be keen enough to find the structure she hoped still stood.

  “There.” Amaia pointed so Michael could see.

  “Those ruins?”

  “Yes. Specifically, the tower.” Where a castle had once stood, only a few crumbling walls and a solitary stone tower remained, holes and weeds making it appear as if a strong wind could topple it.

  “What’s so significant about it?”

  Amaia turned to Michael. “It’s where Zenas hid his mate during the last battle, unguarded.”

  “But won’t he know that you have this knowledge? Surely he wouldn’t leave himself vulnerable that way.”

  “Zenas is used to fighting Ezekial and other clans. He’s only ever fought for the thrill, not to eliminate his enemy. This is different for him than it is for us. I doubt he’ll expect us to go after her. Even if he does, it’s a better strategy than blindly fighting.” Amaia focused her gaze back to the tower. “That is where we are going to win this battle.”

  Chapter 36

  Michael sat across from the first victim in a dank prison cell. Overtaking the guards had been easy. They’d met a laughable amount of resistance. He supposed the humans thought they had put up a fight.

  It hadn’t taken long to split them up into different groups based on aura. The man in front of him had readily agreed to become a vampire. Michael would have preferred not to speak to him at all, but the subject had to be willing in order for the transformation to work because he needed to drink the venom-blood.

  Saliva pooled in Michael’s mouth as he prepared to perform the transformation. His fangs descended, and he proceeded to feed. The blood tasted tangy and sweet, unaffected by the dark, oily aura of the man. Michael refused to look very hard at his victim or even learn his name. He wanted as little to do with him as possible.

  Energy flowed into him with the blood. Every gulp he drank took more of the man’s life. He couldn’t lose himself to the sensation. The timing needed to be exact. If he fed for too long and didn’t get his venom-blood into the victim soon enough, then the man would die and reincarnate. This wasn’t a joy kill. It served simply as a means to an end.

  As soon as the heart stopped, Michael pulled away and bit into his wrist. He squeezed the blood into the man’s mouth until he awoke and drank for himself. Michael tried not to think of his own transformation. Such precious memories had no place here. Liam held the transformation kill, waiting. It didn’t take long for the man to leap to the human’s throat, tearing into the flesh and gulping blood. Michael turned from the sight. The thought of so cavalierly killing humans didn’t sit well with him, but he consoled himself with the knowledge that he shortened the man’s prison sentence, freeing him from his bondage to be reborn and attempt a better life. All of the transformation kills had clean auras.

  Once the human was dead, he and Liam left to do the next one. The man would eventually fall into his transformation sleep. Michael saw no reason to guide him through it. After he awoke, he’d be dead within a day anyway.

  * * *

  The four of them sat on top of the prison, watching for any curious humans who might approach. The new vampires dozed in their transformation sleep. None of them would leave the prison now until it was time for the battle. Soon the newborn vampires would awaken, and it would be time to feed them the remaining humans. Michael wished it didn’t have to be so, but they needed to ensure the strength of their army.

  “As soon as they’re all awake and fed, we should go to the battlefield. We can’t risk others coming before us and leaving when we’re not there,” Liam said, not taking his eyes off the dark horizon.

  “Agreed.” Michael sat with Amaia in front of him, her head resting against his shoulder. A comfortable silence descended. For hours they gazed into the darkness until the inky blue turned purple then red with the peeking sun. It shouldn’t be much longer before the newborns awoke. They’d timed it carefully. The next time the sun set, the battle would begin.

  “They’re almost awake.”

  “How can you tell?”

  “I can speak to them.” Given Amaia’s experience, it didn’t surprise Michael that she had detected the mental link before him. When she had transformed him, she would have been anxious to speak to his mind, trying repeatedly until she felt the ability emerge. With new awareness, Michael searched his mind for the link to one of the men he’d transformed. He could speak to the unnamed man as he could Amaia. It felt wrong, a foreign intrusion on the intimate bond he shared with his wife.

  “Don’t talk to them,” Michael ordered. “There’s no use teaching them about it. It’ll cause chaos if they all start speaking to us. We’ll save it for giving orders in the battle. They’ll be too worried with survival to try to answer.”

  “All right.” Amaia rose. “It’s time to start feeding them.” Meg and Liam hadn’t sired any of the new vampires. It would only dilute the advantage if the mental link was split. This way, the entire new army was linked to Amaia and Michael, who were linked to each other.

  Together they went downstairs to take the lambs to slaughter. Hopefully these sacrificial animals would prove enough to bring them victory.

  Chapter 37

  Looking out over the vista, Michael was amazed by the sight before him. Zenas’s numbers were massive. Despite everything, they were outnumbered. Some vampires had failed to show for the battle. Others had come, taken one look at Zenas’s army, and fled. All the work they had done was for naught. They would have been better off spending their last time on earth enjoying each other’s company.

  The thought that plagued him most was that he’d never taken Amaia on a ship. The woman he loved had never shared in the one thing he’d loved most next to her. An odd thought to have when faced with impending death.

  He hoped all of the vampires they’d created would be killed. Then again, he didn’t really care if evil vampires ran wild once he left this life. Perhaps all vampires were just varying degrees of evil anyway, himself included.

  Amaia slipped her hand into his. All would be well. Even if they died this night, they would die together. The sun had already begun to kiss the sky goodnight, and the sky answered with her blush. Amaia had told him that tradition dictated the battle not begin until nightfall. Odd how they could all agree on the time at which they’d begin to slaughter each other, but they couldn’t agree to simply live in peace.

  Michael looked at Amaia. He wanted to see her face before the battle began, etch it into his memory as if it weren’t already there. Her blank stare greeted him. Damn Lawrence. Michael hoped he lived long enough to kill that man. Couldn’t he give them some peace during their last hours? He’d already taken so much from them. Michael wouldn’t let him take these precious moments. He gripped Amaia’s shoulders, preparing to shake her, as if he could shake Lawrence’s voice from her mind or at least get her to ignore Lawrence and focus on him.

  He didn’t need to. As soon as he took hold of her, she spoke to him. “He says his offer still stands.”

  Liam overheard from where he waited with Meg only a few paces away. “We should accept his offer.”

  “No.” Michael would rather die than accept help from that worm.

  “You’re going to let your pride stand in the way of protecting your mate? I thought you were a better man than that.” Liam’s disdain dripped from his voice.

  Meg was gentler in her approach. “This doesn’t have to be a bad thing, Michael. You have more reason than anyone to hate Lawrence, but don’t let him steal more from you than he already has. That’s all your pride is doing. If we survive the night, you could have thousands of years with Amaia.”

  “If we accept his help and live, we’ll be beholden to him,
always looking over our shoulder for him to call the debt due.”

  “They’re right, love.” To hear Amaia say it sounded like a betrayal. “If we take his help now, that buys us time to come up with a plan to deal with him. I have no intention of letting him control my life ever again.”

  Michael searched her eyes, drawing strength from them. There was no guarantee that even with Lawrence’s numbers—and Michael wasn’t convinced he even had the support he suggested he did—they would win. However, without help, he knew they could die tonight. There was too much life to live, too many star-gazing nights with Amaia, too many runs through nature, too many passion-filled moments left unlived for him to give up now. As much as it hurt him to do so, he nodded his consent.

  Amaia’s eyes took on a faraway look. A moment later she said, “He’ll attack Zenas’s troops from behind. That’ll force them all into the battle instead of going in waves.”

  “How do we know he’ll follow through?” Michael didn’t know why he asked. He held no trust in Lawrence, but he was curious to see what Amaia’s answer would be, if she would keep faith with the man after all this time.

  “We don’t, but it doesn’t really matter. He either will or he won’t. There’s nothing we can do to change things now.”

  Michael’s mind drifted back to a room in the King’s Head and a conversation they’d had over two hundred years ago. He smirked. “We could run away. It wouldn’t take long to get to the coast. We could commandeer a ship and let these vampires fight it out amongst themselves while we’re at sea.”

  A wistful smile graced Amaia’s lips. “Sail to Calais?”

  “We’ll dock and travel to Paris.”

  “I’ve always wanted to go to Paris,” she said, hearkening back to a centuries-old conversation. She played her part well, and Michael loved her for it.

  The dream was a familiar one. They’d shared it since Amaia had first realized she loved him as Jocelyn, her mortal self. They seemed so far from that long-ago dream. Standing on a battlefield, waiting for the sun to turn away from what must be done, the dream seemed both silly and supremely important. He said the words they both needed to hear even though he didn’t believe them himself. He’d believe them for her sake. “We’ll see it again.”

  Amaia nodded.

  The last of the sun’s light faded over the horizon. A ferocious roar erupted, and the battle began.

  Chapter 38

  A safe distance away from the action, Amaia surveyed the fighting with Michael, Meg, Liam, Marcus, and Jacob. It wasn’t cowardice. Amaia yearned to join the fray, rip heads from bodies, and watch as vampires went mad at the death of their mates. As soon as the first vampires had clashed, her blood had buzzed with the familiar urge to kill and hurt and maim. Destroying her opponents satisfied her in a way nothing else did. A high came from surviving, dancing that dangerous line, knowing luck played as much of a role as skill. Killing fellow vampires may be unnatural, but defeating an opponent who wanted her dead always thrilled her.

  They had decided before the battle that their small group of six would abstain from the fight. Part of her felt relief. As much as she had enjoyed her last battle, Amaia now had someone to live for. He’d fight by her side, their mental link syncing their movements perfectly, but she didn’t know if she’d be able to abandon herself to the fight. Or perhaps her ferocious need to protect Michael would cause the same effect.

  “Fight! Kill them or they’ll kill you.” Amaia issued her order to the vampires she had sired. She could sense their confusion in the few sounds some of them managed to communicate back to her through their link. Not using the link before now had been wise. The newborns didn’t know what it was or how to use it, so they wouldn’t be pestering her and Michael.

  “Don’t speak to them anymore. Whatever you do, don’t reply to any who contact you,” she cautioned Michael. She worried that his good nature would lead him to help the newborns rather than focus on the task at hand.

  “Don’t worry. I issued the command and then went silent. I’ll not let myself feel anything for them.”

  “Let’s go.” Amaia set out, leading the group to what she hoped would be the hiding place of Zenas’s mate. From experience, she knew Zenas wouldn’t allow Sabine onto the battlefield. He didn’t like the risk of her being killed. Amaia always wondered how much of his concern was born from love and how much came from self-preservation. Once she died, he would go insane and follow soon after. As uncomfortable as it made her, Amaia knew Zenas did love Sabine. She’d seen it. She shook the thought from her head; it wouldn’t help her here.

  She led them on a wide arc around the fight. Her navigation came from memory alone. Scouting the location beforehand hadn’t been worth the risk of Sabine smelling any traces of their scent and discovering their plan. Screams rent the air as the fight waged on between the two armies. From this distance, there was no way to tell who was winning.

  “How much longer?”

  “Not much.” Amaia spotted it up ahead, the ruins of a castle. Only one tower remained, and if Amaia was right, Sabine would be inside, unguarded, not willing to spare any vampires from the fight.

  Amaia halted and held up her hand for the others to do the same. “We need to strike quickly, before she can give Zenas much notice. He’ll come running as soon as he knows what’s happening. Liam and I will make quick work of her. Be prepared for Zenas’s arrival.”

  “And remember, Zenas is ours. We want him alive.” Jacob’s cold voice sent a chill down Amaia’s spine. Even when she’d taken pleasure in torturing her victims, she’d never stomached forcing one to live after their mate had died. It was unnatural. A vampire always died when their mate did. The pain of the loss always drove a vampire to death, either by their own hand or another’s. If anyone deserved that fate, she supposed it was Zenas. He’d brought it on himself.

  “Is everyone clear?” Amaia waited for each person’s nod.

  “I want to help.”

  “Then stay out of the way.”

  “I can’t just watch you fight.”

  “I’ll be perfectly safe fighting Sabine. The last thing I need is to be worried about you. Please don’t do anything foolish. Follow Meg’s lead, and do whatever I tell you. I have more experience in these things. I’ll let you know when I need you to act. Remember, it does me no good to sacrifice myself for you knowing that the very act will kill you. Likewise, you getting yourself killed to protect me will only end in my death.”

  “Fine.”

  Amaia held Michael’s eyes until he nodded as well.

  “It’s time then. Good luck.” Amaia started toward the tower, running at full speed, not making a sound. Liam followed on her heels. She felt Sabine’s aura shift, aware of the danger. Amaia pushed her legs harder. If Sabine left the tower before they could trap her inside, it would make their task much more difficult.

  Amaia’s body slammed into Sabine’s in the doorway. “No escape for you.”

  “I knew Zenas should have killed you the moment Lawrence brought you to us.” Sabine’s glacial blue eyes and long raven hair were just as Amaia remembered. The only difference was Sabine’s fierce battle stance.

  Amaia longed to tell her that it was Lawrence they should have killed, but she couldn’t risk Sabine warning Zenas of his traitor. Instead, she jumped onto Sabine, gripping her neck. Liam grabbed their victim’s arms from behind, wrenching them out of their sockets, preventing her from defending herself. Amaia lowered her fangs, prepared to rip off her opponent’s head with her mouth and hands. Right before she descended, she whispered, “Yes, he should have. I always said Zenas was weak.” Anger flared in Sabine’s eyes and remained there, frozen in time as her head detached.

  The familiar thrill rushed through Amaia. Sabine ceased to exist, and it was her doing. She stared at the pale face she held in her hands and turned around.

  Michael stared at her in shock.

  The head tumbled to the ground.

  This was the moment Michael r
ealized what a mistake he had made marrying her.

  “You were right to have me stand back. I would have hesitated. It’s not as clean of a kill as with humans. My delay would have gotten me killed.”

  Amaia didn’t understand. Where was his contempt? “You don’t disdain me now?”

  Michael rushed forward and embraced her. “For destroying our enemy? For killing the woman who would have taken you from me if you hadn’t acted first? I’m only glad you were able to do it.”

  Relief overwhelmed her. He’d seen the worst of her. There was nothing left, and still he loved her.

  They’d have time for this later. Their work wasn’t finished. She stepped back and faced the others. “Zenas is coming. Whatever you do, don’t let him get to your neck. As desperate as he’s going to be, he’ll likely lunge for your hearts as well.” Amaia had never seen Zenas fight, so she had no idea what his normal strategy was. Most vampires didn’t go for the heart because it required more accuracy and was therefore the more difficult kill.

  “We won’t have any trouble subduing him.” Jacob appeared as calm as if they were above his funeral home in Crawley. At that moment, Amaia felt sure Jacob and Marcus had only agreed to help them to exact some sort of revenge on Zenas.