by Brandon Hale
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Epilogue
Copyright © 2012 by Brandon Hale
Cover design by Brandon Hale
Book design by Brandon Hale
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
To Darrell and Joyce. Thank you.
Prologue
Feeling the Purge
From within his cave far beneath the jungles of Vietnam, the vampire screamed. The pain was intense, but he was glad to endure it because it meant something very important.
It meant other vampires were dying.
His name was Jesse Merrickson and he hadn’t seen another human or vampire in over fifty years. Jesse had managed to break his mental connection to the other vampires of the world, but he still felt the pain when they died.
And right now, Jesse could feel thousands of them dying, all at once.
Despite the pain, Jesse laughed. The idea of thousands of dead vampires made him extremely happy. For the past several decades, he had felt them multiplying. That feeling disturbed him because it meant something was happening in the world above.
Something big.
Something bad.
But now, the world above seemed to be righting itself.
Jesse tried to take a few steps, but the pain was too much. He fell to the cave’s floor and let the agony flow through him. It was awful and exquisite at the same time. He looked across the room at a small clay bowl sitting in the corner.
“I bet,” he said to the bowl, “you’re enjoying this, aren’t you. You always liked watching me suffer.”
The bowl didn’t answer.
“I swear,” Jesse gasped, “when this passes, I’m dumping you in the ocean.”
The bowl sat silently on the floor.
Technically, Jesse wasn’t speaking to the bowl. He was speaking to the ashes inside the bowl.
“What is going on up—”
Another wave of pain caused him to fall back and continue screaming.
Jesse had long ago lost the ability to track time like a human, but the pain continued for what felt like days. When it finally subsided, he remained motionless for hours. Eventually, he crawled to the side of the cave and sat beside the bowl of ashes.
“What the hell was that?” he asked. “Do you think the humans finally rose up against them?”
The bowl sat silently.
“You’re right,” Jesse said. “Those deaths were too fast and too many. No way humans could’ve done it. The vamps were killing each other. Some kind of vampire war?” He looked at the ceiling of the cave. “Really, what’s going on up there?”
He looked down at his own naked body. He was disgusted by the thing he’d become. “I know what you’re thinking,” he said to the ashes, “and the answer is no. I can’t go back up there. Look at me. Half a century of starvation isn’t exactly good for a vampire.”
You could feed. Just enough to gain your strength.
“No,” Jesse said.
Something has happened up there. The world has changed. You know this is true.
“I don’t care,” Jesse argued. “If I get near the humans, I’ll lose it, Bao. I won’t be able to stop. I can’t risk it.”
Risk what? For all you know, the humans are dead. Maybe that’s why the vampires are killing each other now.
“They’re up there,” Jesse whispered. “I can smell them from here.”
That’s your imagination. It’s a delusion brought on by starvation.
“It’s real.”
You can resist it. You’re a soldier, Jesse. You have discipline.
“I was a soldier in the sixties,” Jesse said. “That was a long time ago.”
What if they need you?
“I’m a damn vampire,” Jesse said. “They don’t need me.”
It’s time for you to accept the obvious. Vampires have taken over the world.
“No.”
Yes. We both know it’s true. They probably have the humans in cages or dungeons.
“Don’t be stupid.”
Why have you stayed here all these years?
“Shut up.”
You did it for them. The humans. You did it so you wouldn’t kill them.
“I mean it, Bao. Shut the hell up.”
Now, you’re killing them by staying here. Go up there. Feed. Regain your strength. Maybe you can help them. Maybe… just maybe… you can make up for what you did to that platoon.
“Shut up!”
Jesse threw the bowl across the cave and watched it shatter as it hit the opposite wall. He looked at the ceiling and sniffed.
It wasn’t a delusion. There were humans up there.
“Just enough,” he whispered as he climbed to his feet, “to regain my strength.”
You realize that’s a rationalization, right?
Jesse looked at the ashes scattered across the floor. “This was your idea!”
My ideas are your ideas. I am you, idiot. You’ve been alone in this cave for decades, starving yourself the entire time. Clearly, you’ve lost your damn mind.
“Yeah,” Jesse said. “Probably. But something has changed.”
The pain.
“Yeah.”
It’s pulled you out of your state of crazy.
“Maybe,” Jesse said. “Or maybe it just pushed me over the edge. Either way, I’m done with this damn cave and I’m done with you.”
Thank God.
“No,” Jesse said. “Thank whoever killed those vampires.”
Five minutes later, Jesse stepped into the jungle and began to walk toward the scent of human blood.
Six Months Later…
Chapter 1
Iveyton, Virginia
The Day Soldiers watched from their high vantage point as the female vampire walked through the woods.
From a branch far above the vampire, one of the soldiers – a muscular and handsome young man with dark skin and a shaved head – whispered, “Shoot now.” His name was John Grung, but most people just called him Grung.
A female soldier squatted on a branch beside him. Her reddish brown hair was pulled into a tight ponytail. Her name was Lily Baxter and she was Grung’s commanding officer. She shook her head and mouthed, “Not yet.”
“Why not?” Grung whispered. “She’s alone. We could have an arrow in her heart before she ever knew we were here.”
“Grung, think for a minute,” Lily whispered. “They’d feel her death and come after us. We’re not here to kill one vampire. We have to wait until dawn and then we can—”
“I know, I know,” Grung said. “It’ll be easier to rescue the prisoners after the sun is up.”
Lily grinned. “Actually, I was going to say it’ll
be much easier to kill them all after the sun is up. But yeah, rescuing the prisoners will be easier too, I guess.”
Grung smiled.
“Don’t laugh,” Lily ordered, pointing an index finger in his direction. “The last time you laughed, we ended up fighting two dozen vampires on a boat in the middle of a damn lake.”
“I’ll stop laughing when you stop being funny,” Grung said. He looked down at the vampire. “If she tries to feed on one of them, I’m killing her.”
“No problem,” Lily said, “but you’re waiting until dawn before you do it.”
“I can live with that,” Grung said.
“You’ll have to, soldier,” Lily said. “That’s an order.”
“Tyrant,” Grung whispered.
Lily chuckled silently. “Shut up and watch the vampire.”
“Sir, yes sir.”
Lily just rolled her eyes.
Pat was a beautiful vampire. With her white skin and long black hair, she looked very much like a living china doll. As she walked through the Iveyton woods toward the human enclosure, she thought of her good fortune and smiled.
After the purge of the ugly ones six months ago, Pat was among the first humans to volunteer to be turned. The pretty vampires had made many promises.
No human will ever be killed by a vampire.
No human will ever be turned against his or her will.
We will do everything we can to make your lives better than the lives you had before the war.
If you choose to become a vampire, you will never have to harm a human being.
To the amazement of the humans, the vampires were true to their word. Pat had been a vampire for six months now, and she had to admit her life was good.
Hell, truth be told, her life was great.
Eventually, she came to a large clearing surrounded by a tall fence. She effortlessly leaped over the fence, landing softly on the other side.
The enclosure covered about one square mile and was the home to thirty humans. The vampires had built them ten small houses toward the back of the enclosure. A river ran behind the houses, providing the occupants with a steady supply of water. Most of the front yards were vegetable gardens. The animal pens were kept on the eastern wall.
The humans here led a simple life, but it was by no means bad.
Pat waited patiently by the front fence. After a few minutes, four humans – two men and two women – approached her. They each carried two large jugs.
Pat could smell the contents of the jugs as the humans got closer. “Hi, Jake,” she said with a smile as the humans placed the jugs in front of her.
“Hey, Pat,” the man in the front said. He was an older man, in his mid-fifties. “I hope this’ll do you guys for a while. It took a lot out of us.”
“I think it’ll be plenty until everybody gets good and healed up.”
“If you talk to the sheriff,” Jake said, “ask him if he can get more people sent here. I’m scared we just ain’t enough to support this town. We’re willing to share the houses.”
“I’ll tell him,” Pat said. “How many you think you need?”
“We figure ten more, if he can make it happen.”
“Sheriff’s a reasonable guy,” Pat said. “I think he’ll do what he can. In the meantime, I’ll ask him to extend the wait period this time. You look like hell.”
“Feel like hell,” Jake said. “You bloodsuckers need to be more conservative.”
Pat looked at the others, then turned back to Jake. “What do they think of us?”
“You’re vampires,” Jake said. “What do you think they think?”
“No, Jake. I mean the people who volunteered. Like me and Shawn. What do they think of us?”
Jake sighed. “Most of em call you traitors.”
“I figured,” Pat said.
“I wouldn’t give it much thought,” Jake said. “I reckon they’re just jealous that you got chosen over them.”
“Still,” Pat said, “it hurts a little. If they offer it again, are you going to volunteer?”
“Nah,” Jake said. “I’ve been in this world for fifty-seven years. Long enough to know I don’t want to stay here forever.”
“Fair enough,” Pat said. She looked at the jugs. “I guess I’d better start hauling these things back to town. Sun’ll be up soon.”
“Stick’s right there.” Jake nodded toward a pole leaning against the fence.
“Thanks,” Pat said. She picked up the pole and slid it through the handles of the jugs. “Shawn says hi.”
“Hi to Shawn,” Jake said. “Take care of yourself, kid.”
“You too.”
Shawn filled his glass and returned the jug to the refrigerator. As he placed the glass in the microwave, he heard Pat enter the house.
“How was the visit to the old homestead?” he asked as Pat stepped into the kitchen.
“That’s not funny,” Pat said. “And you should be more conservative with your drinking. Those people are suffering to keep you fed.”
“It was for you,” Shawn said as he pulled the glass from the microwave, “but if you don’t want it—”
“Give it,” Pat said.
“You need to get over this guilt thing,” Shawn said as he handed her the glass. “It is what it is. You were chosen and they weren’t. You did nothing wrong, Pat.”
“I feel like I cheated,” Pat said.
“You didn’t cheat,” Shawn said with a sigh. “You were just the volunteer they chose.”
“Because of you,” Pat said.
“So?”
“So,” Pat groaned, “I didn’t earn it. In the old world, Phyllis was a doctor.”
“Vampires don’t need doctors, Pat.”
“Yes they do,” Pat argued. “They need doctors to keep the humans healthy. But instead of picking her, they picked me. A damn kindergarten teacher.”
“You’re more than that,” Shawn said.
“I know,” Pat said. “I’m also the girlfriend of an avionics engineer. I cheated, Shawn.”
Shawn waited for her to finish the drink, then took the glass and placed it in the sink. “Listen to me,” he said. “I don’t give a damn why they picked you. I’m just glad they did. Contrary to what they said, they would’ve turned me with or without my permission. I wouldn’t have survived without you, and they knew it. I’m not the reason you’re here. You’re the reason I’m here.”
Pat leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. “That’s sweet. It’s complete nonsense, but it’s sweet.”
“It’s not nonsense,” Shawn said. “It’s the truth. Bottom line, I convinced them to bring you over because being with you for the rest of our natural lives wasn’t a satisfactory option. I wanted nothing less than eternity.”
“Jake says hi,” Pat said.
Shawn laughed.
Pat looked out the kitchen window. “The sun’s coming up. We should probably get to bed.”
“Yeah,” Shawn said.
“Sorry for the freak out,” Pat added. “I hate when I have to go there.”
“Understood,” Shawn said. “On the bright side, it’ll be a while before it’s your turn again.”
“Yeah,” Pat said. “The sheriff promised he’s going to try and get them a few more—”
She was interrupted by a knock at the kitchen door.
“What the hell,” Shawn said as he looked out the door’s window. “It’s a girl.”
Lily stood on the back porch.
“A human girl?”
“Not sure,” Shawn said. “She has color, but I don’t smell her.”
“She probably just fed,” Pat offered. “Sometimes that makes you pink for a while.”
Lily knocked again.
Shawn opened the door. “Can I help you?”
“This house doesn’t belong to you,” Lily said.
“I’m sorry?”
Without another word, Lily dropped to the floor as a bolt of wood zipped over her and slammed into Shawn’s chest
.
In the yard, Grung quickly reloaded his crossbow.
Pat instantly felt Shawn’s death and began to scream.
On the porch, Lily climbed to her feet and pulled a stake from her boot. “This is my house and you don’t have an invitation.”
“You’re a Day Soldier,” Pat whispered.
“Iveyton,” Lily said as she and Grung stepped into the kitchen, “is a town that will never belong to the dead.”
Pat stared at Shawn’s dead body. “He never hurt anybody.”
“And he never will,” Lily said as she stepped closer.
Pat fell to her knees. “Go ahead,” she said. “Without him, I’m already dead.”
“You’re breaking my heart,” Lily said as she drove the stake deep into Pat’s chest.
Grung looked at the bodies on the floor, then turned to Lily. “Your dark side is showing,” he said. “Just FYI.”
“Shut up,” Lily said as she activated her headset. “This is Baxter. The sun’s up. Team one, go set those people free. Team two, come into town. We’ve got some cleaning to do.”
Grung looked back at the bodies. “Do you ever feel a little sorry for them?”
“No.”
“Not even a little?”
“No,” Lily said. “And if you do, I swear to God I’ll have you transferred off my team.”
“I don’t,” Grung added quickly. “I was just asking if you do.”
Lily sat at the kitchen table. “I was sitting here,” she said. “Leo was sitting across from me. Wallace was about where you are, trying to figure out the coffee maker.”
“The last time you were here?”
Lily nodded. “A million years ago.”
“They’ll eventually come back, you know,” Grung said. “And the next time, they’ll take stronger security measures.”
“They won’t come back,” Lily said, “if there’s no town to come back to.”
