Dead Hearts (Book 2): Forsaken Hearts

by Susanne L. Lambdin

  Pallaton stood and came over to Dragon’s chair. “I have instructions to escort you to the slave quarters. The Kaiser wants you to see the living conditions of the non-classified slaves compared to how a champion lives.” He caught Salustra’s eyes and shrugged. “Don’t worry, Salustra. I have no intention of letting anything happen to him. The Kaiser does insist though. It’s that or you both return to your room. Now.”

  “Very well,” she said, sounding slightly annoyed.

  Leaving the banquet hall by a side door, Dragon followed Pallaton and stepped into a hallway filled with more than fifty Shadowguard. Apparently the Kaiser had counted on Dragon trying to escape. Steel handcuffs and leg chains were placed on Dragon by several guards. All of the guards followed behind Dragon and Pallaton as they headed over to the football stadium. Pallaton selected a dozen Shadowguard to accompany them down the stairs to the slave pens, leaving the rest to remain on guard on the upper level.

  Dragon had expected to see human fighters, not zombies kept in a corral with an electric fence. Many of the zombies were former F.A. soldiers he’d known at Pike’s Peak, good men and women who’d never made it to Seven Falls. The former captain was one of them. He still had both of his arms and legs, though his green uniform was nearly unrecognizable under layers of dried blood and zombie goo. Smelling fresh meat, the captain swept through the weaker zombies and stopped at the fence. Black goo dribbled out of the corners of his mouth, and rotten flesh hung from his face. His eyes were covered with a gray film, like all zombies, but despite their decay, he seemed to recognize Dragon.

  “This was your former captain?” asked Pallaton. At Dragon’s nod, he continued. “We brought these zombies back from the town of Cascade. They’ll open the games.”

  “Why doesn’t the Kaiser just kill all the zombies?” asked Dragon. “If he intends to restore civilization, then clearing them out would be a good way to start. I don’t want to kill people in the arena that I used to know. The captain and the F.A. soldiers don’t serve this, Pallaton. They gave their lives protecting us. You can’t tell by looking at him now, but at one time, the captain was a good man and in charge of nearly one thousand people.”

  “Then what happened to your camp? There’s only one hundred that remain alive.”

  “War,” said Dragon. “War against the zombies and now your kind. People die in war. He did his best. Cadence merely picked up the pieces.”

  Dragon walked around the corral, watching the captain as he pushed through the dead, keeping up with him. It seemed impossible for the captain to remember him. Zombies didn’t remember who they were, nor did they have any real thoughts, yet his former leader behaved differently than what Dragon knew about the living dead. The Shadowguard covered every door and stood in front of the stairs. If Dragon had the means to tear down the fence and not get shocked, he’d have released the zombies and escaped in the chaos.

  “Your captain failed to protect his people,” said Pallaton. “The Kaiser won’t make that mistake. Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, and Atlanta are now major vampire cities. We came here because Colorado Springs is centralized, and from here, the Kaiser can rule North America.”

  “What about the U.S. government?” asked Dragon. “The Kaiser made it sound like Seven Falls is the last survivor camp, but there have to be more out there. With all the vampires I’ve seen around here, you’ve found plenty of survivors.”

  Pallaton snorted. “Many more, but as for the U.S. government, I don't think it exists. We have looked for them, but if President Houston is alive, he’s at sea with the U.S. Navy, and that’s where they’ll stay. The Kaiser is expanding his borders unopposed and unchallenged. He’s killed most of the Vampire Makers in North America, except for a few. D’Aquilla rules Italy, but he’ll branch out, eventually. Your friend Rafe is an exceptional vampire. It’s a shame he’ll only be recaptured and sent to the arena. Rafe can’t save Cadence. He’ll try, of course, but there’s little chance that any of your friends will survive.”

  “The Dark Angels fight for us,” said Dragon.

  “There aren’t many Dark Angels, and the Shadowguard continues to grow.”

  “This can’t last,” said Dragon. “The Kaiser will deplete all of his resources at the rate he’s going. When the U.S. government resurfaces, and they will, vampires will be the first to go. You’re far more a threat than zombies.” He paused and let the captain catch up. “Say what you will about the captain, but he kept the camp at Pike’s Peak running for nearly a year. When the National Guard fell back, he offered safety, and he stayed when he could have left.”

  “Well, he didn’t offer much resistance when we captured him,” said Pallaton. “It’s not that difficult to catch zombies. They’re stupid creatures, although I must admit it’s interesting that this one seems to know you, Dragon. Put him in the arena, though, and he’ll act like all the others. I’m not a fan of the Death Games, but they provide entertainment for the troops if nothing else.”

  Turning away from the zombies, Dragon glanced toward the exit. Pallaton followed his gaze and laughed.

  “Fearless and brave to the end. You are an unusual human,” said Pallaton. “Why not try to escape? I thought if you saw the F.A. soldiers kept here that you might try. Tomorrow night you will fight Aries of Athens. Aries is Greek and one of the first to fight in the Death Games. For all your speed and skill, not even you will be able to defeat the European champion.”

  Dragon glared at Pallaton. “I feel sorrier for you than I do for the captain or myself. Zombies can’t think. They don’t know they’re prisoners, but they’ll fight for food. Me? I can leave any time that I want, Pallaton, and you know that. Bringing me here doesn’t frighten me, nor does it leave me without hope. I have friends waiting for me. When I’m ready, I’ll leave by the front door. But you,” he said, shaking his head, “you’re stuck.”

  Pallaton’s eyes lit up bright yellow. His fangs slid out. “We’re through here,” he said, his voice tight.

  On the way back to Salustra’s room, Dragon pondered why he was stronger and faster than the vampires. Something had changed him, starting when he’d cut his finger picking up the broken vial in the infirmary. Some of Cadence’s blood had entered his cut. It had healed in seconds, and since then, he’d noticed all sorts of changes, including regeneration. His hair and nails grew faster. If a small drop of her blood could change him, he wondered if it worked on Freeborn.

  Was his girlfriend still a zombie or she mutated into something else...something like him?

  * * * * *

  Chapter Twenty

  A thin crescent moon hung low in the sky as Nomad pulled up to the barricade. Rose stared out the window, amazed by what had happened during their absence. An enormous pile of dead zombies were being burned in the middle of road, far more than she’d ever seen before. The Panthers and War Gods were adding bodies to the stack, while the Bulldogs poured kerosene on the fresh bodies, keeping the fire well fed. Micah was the only Dark Angel present. He was holding a rifle while standing lookout on top of a Subaru. Captain Highbrow and Lieutenant Sterling stood at the open the gate with a dozen soldiers. Teen patrol teams stood in each of guard towers. More soldiers stood inside of the observation deck.

  Rose had filled China Six in about Freeborn’s condition and the earlier attack on the camp. China Six was understandably upset about the loss of both Star and Dragon. She knew Highbrow would be equally troubled to hear Whisper, Dragon, and Tandor weren’t coming back. The captain lifted his hand, waving the battle vehicle through the gate. The truck started down the road, barely clearing the bottom of the observation deck. Nomad pulled up outside of the newly-built garage and parked behind a modified armored bank truck. The doors to the garage were open, and several people were visible welding a metal cage over the windshield of a truck.

  Nomad opened the door. “Everyone out!”

  Sliding out of the truck, Rose stepped aside as the soldiers and girls climbed out. The soldiers headed straight for
Highbrow while China Six and the wolves headed in the opposite direction. Rafe shut the door and glared over at Highbrow.

  “I better go sort this out,” said Nomad.

  “You do that,” said Rafe, smoothing back his blonde hair. “I have no intention of going over there and talking to High Horse Powers. I’m going to find Cadence.”

  One second Rafe was standing next to Rose, and then he reappeared further down the road. Rafe took off again, vanishing, and Rose’s gaze transferred to the girls of China Six. Her vampire vision allowed her to see the ninja girls standing in the shadows of tall pine trees, talking to Loki and two Amazons. The kids all turned and followed Loki down a path, giving Rose a strong feeling that something was amiss. Heading over to Nomad, she walked with him over to the young captain and was relieved when Nomad immediately filled Highbrow in about Chief Chayton, the battle on the highway, and Rafe sighting Shadowguard following them back to camp. Something other than their tardiness seemed to have both Highbrow and Sterling considerably agitated, and she didn’t think it was zombies.

  “Go after Rafe,” said Highbrow, glancing at his lieutenant. With a crisp salute, Sterling took a few men, grabbed a golf cart, and headed down the road after him. “You’re confined to the garage, Nomad. Coming back this late is unacceptable. I’ll make an allowance, this time, since it’s you. Pull another stunt like that and I’ll toss you out of camp.”

  “Captain, you seriously can’t mean that!” said Rose, jumping in. “Nomad hasn’t done anything wrong. Some of the items we picked up were spare parts needed in the garage. The enemy is at the Citadel, not here. We’re all on your side.”

  Highbrow crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m in control of the situation, doctor,” he said. “You’ll be escorted back to your RV. I won’t need you in the lab tonight. For the time being, it’s closed.”

  “Do I get guards too?” asked Nomad, in a sarcastic voice.

  Highbrow stepped forward. “Things are going to change around here,” he said, hotly. “Personally, I don’t care whether Rafe stays or goes. If he causes trouble, he’ll be asked to leave. The same goes for anyone else who disobeys a direct order.”

  With a disapproving shake of his shaggy head, Nomad turned and went back toward the garage. The scavengers were already on thin ice after Logan had betrayed the camp, yet Rose felt her heart go out to Highbrow. The teenager was doing his best. Wanting to comfort him, Rose patted Highbrow on the arm, receiving a small smile from the young man in return. She started down the road, wanting to mull over the events of the day before she returned to work at the lab, but as she neared the Pillars of Hercules, she heard a golf cart driving down the road toward her. Turning around, Rose waited as the captain pulled up beside her and waved her over.

  “Get in, Doc,” said Highbrow.

  Odin, one of the Vikings, sat in the back seat, and Rose sat next to Highbrow. The cart took off down the road.

  “You know how I feel about you, Doc,” said Highbrow. “You’re the only person I know who has really tried to help this camp. Of course I realize I’m asking a lot from you, but I need you on my side. I’m depending on it, actually.”

  Several trucks rolled past, transporting armed teenagers to the main gate, and patrols walked the road or stood watch in guard shacks. Large spot lights lit up the road and every RV parked under the trees. Frightened kids peered out of the windows of their RVs, darting back when Highbrow was spotted. Not one campfire was lit, nor were teenagers out roasting marshmallows or playing music. As they drove by the Tiger RV, Rose saw the Bulldogs standing guard at the door and assumed Cadence and Freeborn were being kept inside.

  “What’s going on, Highbrow?” asked Rose, the moment they stopped outside the infirmary. “You have the camp under lockdown. Is this about the Shadowguard, because that I’d understand, or is this about Freeborn? Have you arrested her and Cadence?”

  Highbrow turned off the engine. “While you’ve been gone, Thor and Loki stole Chameleon Blood and passed it out to their friends. Both Cadence and Freeborn were part of the rebellion. I’ve had to lock Freeborn in the brig, and Cadence is in the infirmary being guarded by the Dark Angles. I don’t know where Thor and Loki are, but when we find them, they’ll be locked up until I can figure out what to do with them.”

  “How many kids were infected?” asked Rose. “Do you have any idea?”

  “I know the names of the rebels,” said Highbrow, looking intently into her eyes. “I also know that Cadence gave you a direct order to infect Thor with her blood. Instead of leaving, you should have stayed in camp to monitor your patients. I made it clear that I wanted to know what would happened if a healthy person was infected with Chameleon Blood, but this isn’t how I wanted to find out. Thor has changed like Freeborn. I don’t know what they are, but they’re certainly not human. To avoid the virus spreading further, I’ve given orders for the rebels to be shot on sight if they return to camp.”

  Rose felt her pulse speed up. “Please don’t tell me that someone has been shot,” she said. “There is a better way to handle this, Highbrow. You don’t have to shoot your own people.”

  “The werepumas are involved,” said Highbrow. “Both Thor and Barbarella were shot, but their bodies have not been found, so I assume they’ve healed from their injuries. So far I’ve learned that Chameleon Blood can cure a zombie bite, but it also changes the host into some type of superhuman, with the same strength, speed, and healing ability as a vampire or a therianthrope. In short, Doctor, you’ve created a new type of species…mutants.”

  “That wasn’t my intention,” said Rose. “After seeing the way Freeborn reacted to Chameleon Blood, Cadence decided to give it to Thor. Her intention wasn’t to create a new species, nor was it mine. We thought we’d found a way to cure injuries.”

  “By infecting people with the virus?” asked Highbrow. “I want to preserve the human race, Rose, not alter it. I’m very disappointed in you and Cadence. You both let me down.”

  Rose wasn’t sure what to say. Highbrow was right. She’d failed him, but as camp doctor, she couldn’t very well disobey Cadence. “I’m sorry,” she said, knowing it wasn’t enough to undo the harm she’d caused. “I warned Cadence about the risk. If I’d thought Thor would lead a rebellion, I wouldn’t have left, Highbrow. I’ll understand if you think the Dark Angels should leave camp.”

  “Now that I’ve taken command, things are going to change around here,” said Highbrow. “I intend to use every means possible to ensure my camp remains safe. Asking the Dark Angels to leave is the last thing I want to do. I need your help, Rose. You are the camp doctor and it’s your job to protect every man, woman, and child. There’s no way to undo what you’ve done, but you can make certain it doesn’t go further than this.”

  “What do you intend to do with Cadence and Freeborn? You can’t ask them to leave.” Rose placed her hand on his arm. “If you do, you’ll only make things worse. Most of these kids worship Cadence and would follow her to the grave. Sending her away will divide the camp and it will destroy your friendship. You need Cadence as much as you need me.”

  “I thought I did,” said Highbrow. “But that’s all changed now.”

  Highbrow got out of the cart with his bodyguard. Rose slid out of her seat and walked over to the two young men. The Blue Devils appeared around the side of the infirmary and walked over to the door. All six kids were armed with assault rifles. The door opened, and Picasso stepped outside. He took one look at Echo and her team, and then went back inside. As Rose started to head toward the building, Highbrow blocked her path.

  “We’re done playing games, Doctor,” said Highbrow. “The only way to make sure my people remain safe is to destroy the lab, along with every blood sample you have in your possession. I no longer care about finding a cure to the zombie virus. I want you to go inside and talk some sense into Cadence. What you’ve both done is a crime against humanity and against God. I expect her to address the camp and tell them that Chameleon Blood is dange
rous. Anyone infected with her blood is to turn themselves in. I’ll decide what to do with the rebels once I have them all locked up.”

  “Shouldn’t you go inside and talk to her, Highbrow?” asked Rose. “You’re putting me in the middle of an argument. I’m afraid you’ll send the wrong message if you exile the rebels and destroy the lab. It’s also the infirmary. People still catch colds and scrape their knees. I can get rid of the Chameleon Blood, but you need to resolve this with Cadence, and unify the camp.”

  “What I need is your cooperation, Doctor.” Highbrow’s tone had turned hostile. “If you want to remain here as camp doctor, do what I ask. Cadence will either abide by my rules or she will be asked to leave. Right now, I think she needs to apologize and talk to the camp. If anyone can’t follow my orders, then they can leave, and that includes the Dark Angels.”

  The Blue Devils were joined by Lieutenant Sterling and the Bulldogs. Rose hurried over to the building and went inside. The majority of the Dark Angels were inside and all were armed. The moment Picasso closed the door and locked it, the vampires gathered at the windows and stared at the kids gathering outside. Lachlan stood beside Cadence with his galloglass sword in hand. Cadence was armed, as well, and looked furious. Rose noticed Rafe was present, but Micah and several others were missing.

  “I thought we agreed not to take sides,” said Rose. “We’re here to protect the humans and offer medical assistance. Highbrow wants Cadence to come outside and address the camp. If she’ll apologize and help round up the rebels, then Highbrow will allow us all to stay.”

  “I’ll do nothing of the sort.” Cadence crossed her arms over her chest. “This is my camp. Highbrow isn’t capable of running things without me. He’s the one who should be apologizing, not me. I’m not about to help him arrest Thor or the others.”