Dead Hearts (Book 2): Forsaken Hearts

by Susanne L. Lambdin

  The sound of footsteps sent up a flock of birds out of the trees. Smack and Dodger came down the same path used by the werepumas. They were carrying M16s over each shoulder as well as backpacks. Neither was out of breath nor perspiring. When they paused beside the pit, knowing what lay within, Dodger let out a soft groan. Smack came over next to him, and they stared down at the remains of former friends and vampires.

  “Let’s not talk about this right now. What happened at camp?” asked Thor. “Was anyone else shot or captured?”

  Smack shrugged. “Luna and the pride didn’t reach the barracks,” she said. “Destry was waiting for them and opened fire. The War Gods and Buccaneers were with us, but they took off running the moment Destry started shooting. No one else wants to join us. Most of the kids are too afraid of Lieutenant Sterling. They know he’s really running the camp, not Highbrow.”

  “Where are Loki, Xena, and Phoenix?” asked Thor. “Are the rest of the Amazons coming or not?”

  “No,” said Dodger. “Like Smack said. They’re too afraid of Lieutenant Sterling. Loki went with Xena and Phoenix over to the garage to wait for China Six and Whisper. We told Loki to meet us here once he gets everyone to join us. Where’s Freeborn?”

  “Captured,” said Thor, hanging his head. “I’m not leaving without Cadence, though. We’re going to have to go back and rescue her. I suppose we better rescue Freeborn, too.” He offered Smack a reassuring smile. “I won’t leave without the Tigers, kiddo.”

  “Hey, you’re covered in blood. You were shot.” Smack pulled back from Dodger and pointed at Thor’s bloody clothes. “Why aren’t you dead?”

  Luna turned into a pretty, naked girl. “I was wondering the same thing,” she said in a sweet voice. “You heal as fast as my kind now.” She leaned toward Smack. “You guys also give off a strong scent. It’s not human. Vampires smell like vanilla to their own kind and to us, but you guys smell like the earth.”

  Without warning, Barbarella, Skye, and Sheena all turned into their human forms. The former Amazon leader’s shoulder wound was already starting to heal.

  “No one volunteered to be a werepuma,” Barbarella said. “Luna, Sheena, Skye, and I were bitten by the same puma. We didn’t have a choice, Thor, but we’re happier this way. Highbrow can’t see that. He doesn’t realize that we’re the same people. Destry didn’t even ask why we were there, he just opened fire on us. We won’t go back. It’s too dangerous for us.”

  “We’re not afraid, but you three move faster than we do,” said Skye. She was a tall, slender girl, with hardly any breasts or hips, and short, brown hair. Her eyes were bright blue and set wide from her nose. “When you lead a team to the Citadel, we’ll go with you. We want to help free Raven, Star and the rest of the kids. You can count on us, Thor.”

  Luna gazed up at the night sky. “Dodger and Smack can help us take the supplies to a nearby cave,” she said. “Are you sure China Six will join us? Star never seemed to mind that we’re werepumas, but I know Lotus doesn’t like us. Not anymore. She avoids us whenever we come to camp. Something about her bothers me. It always has.”

  “Dragon will convince his team to join us,” Thor responded. “I’m not worried about China Six, nor should you be, Luna. When the ninja girls take Chameleon Blood, they’ll be different, too. They won’t think twice about you being werepumas. I’m going to go back to the garage and wait with Loki and the girls. Don’t go far.”

  “We’ll be close by,” said Luna. “Promise.”

  The group picked up the supplies, along with Thor’s backpack, and headed up a trail that led to higher country. Luna, Sheena, Barbarella, and Skye turned into their puma forms. The two Tigers gathered the supplies. Watching the change was extraordinary, now that Thor himself was different. He was able to see fur appear on their arms, their faces elongate and bodies reshape into that of animals. When they went around a large boulder, he took the path that led toward the Pillars of Hercules, hoping that he could figure out a plan to save Cadence and Freeborn by the time he joined Loki and the Amazons.

  * * * * *

  Chapter Nineteen

  Dragon escorted Salustra to dinner wearing a white tux and black bow tie. Salustra wore a beautiful red gown and black gloves. He had no idea who all the vampires were or where they came from, but vampires apparently were attracted to wealth and beauty. The male guests all wore black tuxes while the women wore beautiful gowns and jewels, not trinkets, but diamonds, sapphires, and rubies. A great deal of preparation had gone into the formal affair. Six long tables were draped in white tablecloths. Silver plates, gold stem ware, and crystal vases filled with white roses were set out on each table. The guests glided toward the tables, looked at the place cards, and quickly found their seats.

  “We’re at the head table,” said Salustra.

  The head table was placed in front of four other tables. A string quartet was set up in the corner, and champagne was being served to the guests. The Kaiser sat in the center on a golden throne. Raven sat on his right in black velvet and Star sat on his left, wearing a silver dress and a diamond collar. Lieutenant Aldarik, wearing his uniform instead of a tux, was next to her. Captain Pallaton sat next to Aldarik. Two empty seats were available and Dragon pulled back Salustra’s chair next to the captain, sliding into a seat at the end of the table. He glanced down the table. Star wasn’t talking, but Raven was animated. She smiled and flirted with the Kaiser, leaving Dragon to wonder if she was still human.

  “You look beautiful this evening,” Pallaton said. He waved a waiter over and handed Salustra a glass of champagne. “I see you’ve brought your pet monkey.”

  Salustra quickly patted Dragon’s arm. “Don’t pay any attention to Pallaton. He switched cards with Aldarik. We should be seated next to the Kaiser.”

  Dragon didn’t care where he sat; he was too busy studying the room. There were more than one hundred guests in the banquet hall. Armed guards were stationed at the doors and in every corner of the room. His two friends were so close that Dragon considered trying to make a break for it, but he knew the Kaiser expected him to do something foolish. Dragon had no weapons and doubted he’d get very far if he tried to escape with Star and Raven. He noticed quite a few guests were watching him, and wanting to blend in as best he could, he accepted a glass of champagne.

  At the clink of a knife against a crystal glass, Dragon turned toward the Kaiser. The pretentious little bastard was standing on his throne. At the other end of the head table, he spotted the two vampire children, Queen Cinder and Lord Cerberus. A giant white werewolf sat behind the queen’s chair. Dragon felt his temper rise as he spotted Logan seated near Cerberus, on the far end of the table, wearing a black tux. Logan caught Dragon’s eyes and smirked. Dragon didn’t know whether Logan had been brought in with the long line of prisoners on the Black Hawk the night before. He wanted to ask Salustra about it but decided to wait until after dinner so the other vampires wouldn’t overhear.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” called out the Kaiser in a high-pitched voice. “I thank all of you for accepting my invitation. This is our first Halloween gala. Most of you are local, however, those who traveled by air do me a great honor.” He paused as the guests clapped and held his hand toward the two vampire children. “Allow me to introduce our local royalty: Queen Cinder and Lord Cerberus. Quite a few of you here tonight were made by them.”

  A few of the guests held up their hands, acknowledging that they were the offspring of Cinder and Cerberus, for their eyes glowed the same shade of bright blue.

  “While I have ordered the elimination of all Makers, with the exception of current company,” said the Kaiser, “please be assured that all of you have my affection and trust. I want you all to think of Cinder and Cerberus as my own family.”

  More applause filled the room. Salustra clapped her hands, while Dragon kept his face blank. Rafe’s name wasn’t mentioned, leaving him wondering if the Kaiser was embarrassed that one Maker had slipped through his pudgy fingers. Dragon
finished his glass of champagne and reached for another, finding the company of that many bloodthirsty vampires unsettling. He expected any minute to be dragged from the table and forced to fight, though Salustra remained relaxed and didn’t exhibit any sign that this was the case.

  “I’d now like to introduce you to the beauty on my right,” said the Kaiser. “This is Raven, the newest member of my family, just turned last night. Raven, please stand and say hello to my friends.”

  “Hello, everyone,” Raven said, rising to her feet. The crowd went wild when she blew them all a kiss. She gazed at the Kaiser adoringly. “Your wish is my command, Master.”

  Dragon wasn’t all that shocked by the change in Raven. They’d never been friends, and considering the way Raven used to claim zombie kills that belonged to China Six and steal other teams’ salvaged supplies, he wasn’t surprised she was enjoying her new life. Yet, after the way she’d helped Freeborn, he’d thought they’d made a connection, but that clearly wasn’t the case. Raven blew another kiss to the crowd and met Dragon’s gaze as she took her seat. Her eyes were glowing yellow, and her fangs were out.

  “A special thank you goes out to Agent Logan, formerly of the F.B.I.,” the Kaiser continued. “We’ve known one another a long time. He has proven to be most resourceful over the years. While I don’t want to give him all of the credit for making tonight possible, my Shadowguard successfully raided the survivors’ camp at Seven Falls with Logan’s help to acquire new fighters for the games. I’m sure you can smell the two humans at my table. Star is Lieutenant Aldarik’s new mistress and Master Dragon is Salustra’s new fighter.”

  The audience applauded. Star stared at the crowd, not saying a word. Dragon resisted the urge to grab a spoon off the table and shove it down the Kaiser’s throat. He forced himself to relax at Salustra’s gentle tap on his arm.

  “Tell us, Master Dragon, how you managed to kill seventeen Shadowguard?” asked the Kaiser. “You look like an ordinary human, only you’re not. What makes you so different from all of the little mice at Seven Falls?”

  Salustra laughed loudly. “Dear Kaiser, let’s not spoil the mystery about Dragon’s magic. He fights Aries of Athens tomorrow night, and I’m planning on winning a great deal of money. Some things are best kept secret.”

  “You’re right,” the Kaiser said, grinning wide. “On Halloween night, all of you will see Master Dragon in action, and you can determine for yourselves what makes him so special. If you bet on the winner, you may all leave the Citadel with money in your pockets.”

  Dragon wasn’t sure, but he thought he noticed a deadly look in the Kaiser’s expression as he blew Salustra a kiss. Salustra might not be a favorite after all. The vampires made a big deal out of their Makers. Most of the Dark Angels had the same bright violet eyes. Picasso, Lachlan, Tandor, and Rose had the same Maker, and he had a feeling it was Salustra. Only Micah and Ginger had bright green eyes, so he knew they’d been turned by someone else. The Dark Angels had rebelled against the Kaiser, coming to join Cadence at Seven Falls, but Salustra had for some reason not gone with them, causing Dragon to wonder if she was part of the Kaiser’s family or a prisoner as well.

  “I will give you ten humans to have a front row seat, my Kaiser,” shouted a rotund vampire from one of the guest tables. A few strands of hair stuck out of the top of his head, and in a tux, the vampire resembled an overweight penguin.

  “Make that fifteen humans,” said another male vampire. “I want to taste Master Dragon’s blood when Aries rips him apart.”

  “That’s the spirit,” the Kaiser said. “Mr. Rafferty and the Turk will both have a front row seat. What about you, D’Aquilla? You came all the way from Italy. Would you like to sit next to Raven in a box seat? What do you say?”

  A tall gentleman with gray hair, wearing a black tux with a red tie, stood up from a table. He was seated with two beautiful women, yet he gazed at Raven. “I will give you twenty humans if I am allowed to sit next to Raven,” he said, without missing a beat. “Surely European blood is more valued. Americans all taste the same…like hamburgers.”

  “Why pay in humans?” asked Dragon, under his breath, leaning close to Salustra.

  “Zombies are worthless,” Salustra said. “Mainly because there are so many of them, and no one bets with therianthropes simply because they are considered animals. Only humans have any real value because they are who we feed on and are in greater demand.”

  The crowd applauded at the theatrics. Dragon was stunned. He hadn’t realized vampires existed all over the world. Zombies inhabited every known city from Colorado Springs to Timbuktu, and now, apparently so did vampires. Finding humans ranked above zombies and therianthropes, but beneath vampires wasn’t at all surprising. But he didn’t like to think of himself as a food group or currency. The giant white wolf behind Cinder’s chair listened to everything being said. Dragon noticed the little queen was feeding the wolf scraps from the table. One look told him that it was a male werewolf, and from the way the wolf licked the little queen’s fingers with delicate precision, Dragon figured the wolf was content being a pet.

  Hearing a rustle of material at the head table, Dragon spotted Star rising from her chair. She stumbled toward the door, and Dragon jumped up and ran to help. The guard lowered his gun, blocking their path. Star slumped against Dragon. Holding her in his arms, he stared and noticed her pupils were as large as plates; she’d been drugged. It explained why she’d been so calm during the introductions and why she stumbled now. Trying to escape with Star drugged was going to be complicated.

  “Where do you two think you’re going?” asked Aldarik.

  Dragon sensed Aldarik was about to make a move. Spinning around Dragon shoved Star into the arms of a guard and ducked just as Aldarik swung at the air. Dragon dropped down and spun around, knocking Aldarik’s legs out from under him. The big vampire hit the floor, but was up on his feet in an instant, a dagger in his hand.

  “Stand back,” shouted the Kaiser. “Let them fight.”

  Aldarik lifted the knife and charged. With a few simple moves, Dragon knocked the blade out of his hand and brought Aldarik crashing to the floor, trapping him in a judo hold. Using his legs as scissors, he easily pinned Aldarik’s arms to his sides. Aldarik struggled to get free, but Dragon didn’t let go. A small crowd gathered around the two combatants, shouting out bids. Dragon released Aldarik and scrambled to his feet. He adjusted his tie and sought out Star. She was back in her seat.

  “You’ll pay for that, slave,” said Aldarik, red with shame.

  Aldarik darted forward, showing some skill in martial arts as he knocked aside Dragon’s karate blows and seized hold of his throat with both hands. Dragon kept his hands stiff and fingers extended. He made two swift, knifelike moves to Aldarik’s diaphragm, knocking the wind from his lungs. Aldarik released his throat and staggered back. Dragon gave a quick karate chop to his opponent’s neck, coming in from the other side with his knee, lifted high, and sent Aldarik tumbling backwards. While the crowd cheered, the vampire rose to his feet. Dragon attacked using his hands as weapons. He battered the taller man with hard blows to his chest and ribs. Aldarik came back, spinning around and dropping down, sweeping his leg across. Dragon jumped over his leg and, in midair, landed a kick to the vampire’s exposed chest. His opponent didn’t make the same mistake again. The vampire moved fast, displaying a knowledge of karate that Dragon countered with expert skill. They moved across the floor, knocking over chairs and scattering guests, until a tall figure stepped in the middle, ending the fight.

  “Enough,” said Pallaton in a fierce, loud voice. “This is a dinner party. Not the arena. We’re not savages.”

  With a snarl, Aldarik slunk back to his chair without a word while Dragon bowed to his defeated opponent and to Pallaton. The captain merely held his hand out toward Dragon’s chair. The room was quiet as Dragon resumed his seat. Pallaton bent down, picked up a discarded napkin, and with a flip of his wrist, sent it fluttering down into Drago
n’s lap. While the guests returned to their seats, music started to play and dinner was served. All of the guests were served a plate filled with human entrails in a bloody broth. Salustra picked up a spoon and dipped it into the red broth, swirling it around until a little piece of flesh was scooped up.

  A waiter placed an entire roasted chicken with boiled potatoes and green beans in front of Dragon, along with a fork. Tearing off a chicken leg, he sank his teeth into the tender meat, noting the irony that it was basted in garlic. He hadn’t tasted anything so delicious in months. Everyone was talking in the banquet hall, but he ignored them as he gobbled down the chicken and started scooping potatoes into his mouth. Feeling someone staring, Dragon glanced up and noticed the Kaiser watching him.

  “Master Dragon, are you not curious about the fate of your friends?” asked the Kaiser.

  Dragon set his fork down. “I assume they will all fight in the arena. But if I may ask a question…tell me what you are doing here in Colorado Springs? You could go anywhere in the world, but you came here. We can’t have the only survivor camp in the country.”

  “Why not Colorado Springs?” asked the Kaiser. “It’s a lovely place.”

  “Then you plan to stay here for a while?” Dragon wiped his mouth with a napkin and tossed it onto his plate. “I’m sure the camp at Seven Falls seems like an easy mark. You came away with a few good fighters. It won’t be so easy the next time.”

  “I have no intention of attacking your camp.” The Kaiser smiled. “Of course I would like to meet Commander Cadence and Captain Highbrow. They’re the real reason I came here. Your camp is the only one that has tried to offer resistance, though you haven’t been very successful. If your commanders would surrender, willingly, I might spare the rest of your camp.”

  “Yeah, right,” said Dragon. He had nothing further to say to the Kaiser and leaned back in his chair. His plate was soon removed by a waiter. A growl from the werewolf brought the waiter over to place Dragon’s plate on the ground. The werewolf ate the rest of the chicken, bones, and all.