Day Soldiers (Book 2): Purging Fires

by Brandon Hale

  “I know, sir,” Cooper said, “but I didn’t want to tell you this over radio, just in case the vamps are listening in. My team’s at the cave north of here. We figured as soon as you heard the news, you’d order us back anyway.”

  “Ma’am,” Abbie said. “I hate being called sir.”

  “Sorry, ma’am,” Cooper said. The excitement in his voice was hard to miss. “I knew that. I guess I’m a little distracted right now. I have some big news.”

  “Well, go ahead and tell me before your head explodes from the anticipation,” Abbie said.

  “Abbie,” Cooper said, “we hit a jackpot.”

  “How big?” Abbie asked.

  “Ten thousand men!” Cooper said. “They’re hidden in a facility the size of a small city.”

  “Ten thousand,” Abbie whispered. “Coop, that could change everything.”

  “No shit,” Cooper said. “With the vamps and werewolves split up, we can do a lot of damage with that many soldiers. And if Wallace succeeds with his mission, we could take back the country.”

  “Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Abbie said. “There are still millions of vampires out there.”

  “If we’re able to liberate one big city,” Cooper said, “we’ll have millions of humans. They keep a lot of prisoners, Abbie.”

  “Where is this facility?” Abbie asked.

  Cooper grinned. “That’s the best part. But right now, I’m starved. Can we get something to eat while I explain everything?”

  “Of course,” Abbie said. “Come on.”

  Cooper looked around the room and saw only Charlotte and one other researcher. “Are the others in the rec room?”

  “No, they’re dead,” Abbie said. “I hope you like fish, because that’s your dinner.”

  “Wait,” Cooper said. “They’re dead?”

  “Yes,” Abbie said. “They were turned into vampires, so I had to kill them. That’s why I’m so happy you’re here. We really needed some good news.”

  “Abbie,” Cooper said, “am I a vampire?”

  “She’s not crazy,” Charlotte said. “It happened.”

  “I’ll tell you all about it,” Abbie said, “after you tell me about this facility. Now, let’s go eat.”

  Abbie placed a plate in front of Cooper. He immediately started eating. “So have you heard from Wallace?”

  “Last week,” Abbie said as she sat in the seat across the table. “They’re looking for Talbot somewhere in New Mexico. Wallace rarely checks in, so I’m not concerned. He’ll complete his mission.”

  “The Legion declared victory too soon,” Cooper said. “They split themselves up and went to enjoy their spoils of war. That decision will be what sends em all back to hell. We’re going to win this war. Soon. I can feel it.”

  “Coop,” Abbie said, “where’s the facility?”

  Cooper leaned back in his chair and flashed a very satisfied grin. “The capital.”

  Abbie was stunned. “DC?”

  “DC, baby,” Cooper said. “Those dumb bastards made DC their capital as a ‘screw you’ to humanity, but they had no idea there’s a city of soldiers living beneath their feet.”

  “The Congressional Defense Force,” Abbie said. “It makes perfect sense they would have built a facility beneath DC. They could get all the important people to safety quickly.”

  Cooper chuckled at the obvious sarcasm in Abbie’s voice when she referred to “important” people. “Well, it didn’t work out so well,” he said. “DC was right on the edge of the battle lines, so almost no politicians were there when the big assault came. But the base has apparently been fully staffed by soldiers for years.”

  “How did you come by this information?” Abbie asked. “You obviously didn’t visit the facility.”

  “We came across a scout hiding out in a deserted town in Georgia,” Cooper said. “She was looking for survivors of the big assault. Ironically, we found her because of a vampire.”

  “How so?”

  Cooper leaned forward. “We were attacked by two vampires. When they saw we were Day Soldiers, they ran. We didn’t want them reporting that we were in the area, so we chased them. We lost the vampires, but the chase led us to the town with the scout.”

  “Where is she now?”

  “In the cave with my team,” Cooper said. “She’s going to show us how to get to the base. Apparently, they’ve got a few passages that run out beyond DC.”

  Abbie leaned back and thought about the potential this provided. If Wallace could keep the werewolves distracted, Abbie felt sure they could take DC back. And from there… who knows?

  “Did this scout say why they’ve been hiding?” she asked. “Will they help us?”

  “She thinks so,” Cooper said. “Their SOP says that if they determine the war is lost, they’re supposed to stay hidden for two years. So they’ve just been hiding because it’s their orders.”

  “But they didn’t know our plan to separate the vampires and werewolves,” Abbie said.

  “Exactly,” Cooper said. “They’ve not mounted any kind of assault because they thought the werewolves would return. If we can explain that we’re preventing that from happening, I think they’ll attack. They are Day Soldiers, after all.”

  “With werewolves and vampires,” Abbie said, “ten thousand troops wouldn’t last very long. But if it’s just vampires, they could win.”

  “They would win,” Cooper corrected. “Vamps survive through hiding and sneak attacks. In a straight assault, they’re nothing without the wolves. Truth be told, I wish we had a way to get even more vampires there. With those troops surprising them, we could devastate their numbers.”

  “And the leaders are in DC,” Abbie said. “At least we think so.”

  “We could cut off the head of the beast,” Cooper said. “We know they consider DC the capital. There’s gotta be a way to get them to gather there.”

  “There’s one way,” Abbie said, “but it’s not something I’m willing to do.”

  “Baxter,” Cooper guessed.

  Abbie nodded. “If they capture her, they’ll almost certainly take her to DC for the execution.”

  “And they’ll announce it, so vampires will probably come from all over to see it,” Cooper said. “And that bitch in charge will want to be the one to execute Lily. We could do some major damage.”

  “I won’t order Lily to allow herself to be captured,” Abbie said. “If the timing isn’t perfect, her and her team would be killed.”

  “But it could be the beginning of the end for those bloodsuckers,” Cooper said. “Every damn one of them.”

  Abbie sighed. “Let me make something very clear here, Cooper. We’ll never stomp out every vampire. Never.”

  “That’s a little pessimistic,” Cooper said.

  “We can’t kill them all,” Abbie said. “The world has changed forever. We will always have vampires. The best we can hope to do is drive them back to the shadows.”

  “I’m good with that,” Cooper said. “And I’d give my life to make it happen. I’m sure Baxter would too.”

  “I won’t order her to do this,” Abbie said. “If this were a sure thing, it would be different, but we don’t even know those soldiers will be willing to fight.”

  “They’ll fight,” Cooper said. “They’re Day Soldiers.”

  “You’re probably right,” Abbie said, “but we don’t know. And I’m not going to order Lily Baxter to die just so I can find out.”

  “So don’t order her,” Cooper said. “Ask her. Let her decide.”

  “If I ask her, she’ll do it,” Abbie said. “She won’t hesitate.”

  “Because she’s a good soldier,” Cooper said. “Let it be her choice. Abbie, I know I’m not one of the decision makers around here, but this isn’t a tough decision. We have over sixty channelers out there roaming the countryside. And I’m sure they have channelers under DC. With ten thousand troops behind us, we can slaughter those bloodsuckers. We just have to get th
em there.”

  Abbie got up and walked to the intercom by the door. She pressed a button and said, “Charlotte, are you in the communications center?”

  “I am,” Charlotte said. “Whatcha need?”

  “Contact every team, except Baxter and Wallace,” Abbie said. “Tell them to get back here as soon as possible.”

  “Will do,” Charlotte said. “Do you want me to contact Baxter and Wallace for anything?”

  “Don’t worry about Wallace, but after you talk to the others, try to reach Baxter,” Abbie said. “I need to speak with her.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Charlotte said.

  “You’re doing the right thing,” Cooper said.

  “I know,” Abbie said, “but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

  Chapter 21

  Vampires in Alien-town

  Travis stepped from Joseph’s store. His face was smeared with blood. He stretched, then pointed west. “He said the werewolves took them that way.”

  Enrico nodded toward the airplane parked in the field behind the store. “We flying?”

  “Not in that,” Travis said. “It’ll just warn them. We should be able to catch up without a problem. I doubt they’ll stray from the road.”

  “What if it forks?”

  “We’ll know which way they go,” Travis said. “Humans are so easy to track, it’s almost disappointing.”

  “You know,” Enrico said, “you could have let me have some of the Indian’s blood.”

  “I could have,” Travis said as he stepped onto the road and began walking.

  “You don’t keep me very well fed,” Enrico went on, following Travis. “I would be much stronger if I fed more often.”

  “You’re the whiniest minion I’ve ever had,” Travis said.

  “I’m the only minion you’ve ever had,” Enrico said.

  “Then my statement is true,” Travis said.

  “Yeah,” Enrico conceded, “but that means I’m also the most handsome minion you’ve ever had. And the meanest. And the funniest.”

  “And the most annoying,” Travis said, just before disappearing into the night.

  “Hey!” Enrico yelled. “Wait up!”

  The town was deserted. Everyone who lived there had either been killed or captured.

  “I’m sick of ghost towns,” Lily said.

  “Me too,” Ellie agreed. She looked around the empty street. “But this one’s kinda neat.”

  The entire town was decorated with an alien theme. Every shop’s window had pictures of little happy aliens or flying saucers.

  “Did anybody catch the name of this town?” Carl asked.

  “No,” Lily said.

  “I think we’re in Roswell,” Carl said. “Or we’re near it. Before the war, this place was famous for that alien crash back in the forties.”

  “Cool,” Ellie said.

  “I think we can camp here for the night,” Lily said, “and hope that Travis guy doesn’t track us here.”

  “Why are you so freaked out by him?” Greg asked. “You’ve killed thousands of vampires.”

  “He turned into fog,” Carl said. “You were up front, so maybe you didn’t get the full show. This guy’s different. Lily should be scared.”

  “I’m not scared,” Lily said. “Just… cautious.”

  “That means you’re scared,” Carl said.

  “Okay,” Lily said. “Maybe a little. This guy did some crazy stuff after we made it to the ground. I don’t think we can kill him.”

  “We’ll kill him,” Greg said. “He can’t avoid the stake forever.”

  “He doesn’t have to,” Lily said. “That’s the problem.”

  “What do you mean?” Ellie asked.

  “I’ll explain after we find a place to rest for the night,” Lily said.

  “We should stay in a hotel,” Carl said. “Plenty of rooms to hide in, plenty of exits, and – most importantly – beds.”

  “I second his suggestion,” Ellie said.

  “Sounds good to me,” Lily said.

  It didn’t take long to find a hotel. They found a suite with four beds and a balcony. The building didn’t have power, but the plumbing still worked, which was all the team needed. They found some canned food in the hotel kitchen and went back to the room to eat dinner.

  “Carl,” Lily said as they stepped inside the room, “you and Greg stand guard while we eat. After we’re done, we’ll guard.”

  “Can’t we all just eat with our weapons beside us?” Carl asked. “I’m starving.”

  “Alright,” Lily said. “I’ll take your watch. You and Ellie can eat first.”

  “No,” Carl said, “If we have to have a constant watch, I can take the first one. I just don’t think we need a constant watch. This guy’s not going to find us. Those werewolves carried us for miles. He could be on the other side of the state by now.”

  “He’ll find us,” Lily said. “Probably tonight.”

  “That dude really freaked you out,” Greg said.

  “Yeah,” Lily said as she sat on her bed and opened a can of ravioli.

  “I still don’t see how you can eat that cold,” Ellie said.

  “It’s not bad,” Lily said as she spooned out her first bite. She looked at Carl and Greg. “Stand on each side of the balcony door. Hold stakes, not crossbows. If he shows up, you have to get a stake in his heart and you have to hold it there.”

  “Hold it there?” Ellie said as she opened a can of green beans.

  “Yeah,” Lily said. “Don’t just stake him and think he’s done. Climb on top of him if you have to, but do whatever it takes to hold that stake in place.”

  “You don’t think a stake will kill him?” Carl said.

  “I staked him,” Lily said. “He pulled it out and escaped.”

  “You missed the heart,” Carl said.

  “I didn’t miss the damn heart, Carl,” Lily shot back. “This guy is different.”

  “There’s plenty we don’t know about vamps,” Carl said, “but one thing we do know is that a stake in the heart kills a vampire. You missed his heart, boss.”

  “Carl, shut up,” Ellie snapped. “If Lily says she got him in the heart, she got him in the heart. If you want to survive out here, you have to learn to trust your teammates. Of course, if you want to die, go right on being an argumentative little prick.”

  Greg snorted.

  “Okay,” Carl said. “Sorry.” He tightened his grip on his stake and looked at the darkness outside the balcony’s glass door.

  “You’re worried about Grung,” Lily said.

  “Yeah,” Ellie said. “I guess no more than you guys, though.”

  “Maybe a little more?” Lily said quietly.

  “Maybe a little more,” Ellie admitted.

  “He’ll be alright,” Carl said.

  “How the hell can you say that?” Ellie said. “We saw him get his heart ripped out.”

  “I believe in Wallace,” Carl said. “Almost as much as I believe in you guys. I really am sorry about arguing with you, Lily. If you say you got that guy in the heart, I believe you. Sometimes, I just act like an insufferable know-it-all for no good reason. It’s my curse.”

  Lily finished her ravioli and placed the can on the floor. She got up and walked to the balcony door. “I’m done eating. I’ll take over your spot. Get yourself some dinner.”

  As he sat on his bed and picked up a can, Ellie said, “Sorry I yelled at you. I like that you’re an insufferable know-it-all. I’m just worried about Grung.”

  “I know,” Carl said. He turned to Lily. “If this guy really survived a stake in the heart, how do you plan to deal with him?”

  “I don’t know,” Lily said honestly.

  “Daylight?” Greg offered. “Maybe that’ll do it?”

  “Maybe,” Lily said. “Not sure how we can get him in the daylight, though.”

  “Gotta be getting close to dawn,” Greg said. “If he comes tonight, we might be able to keep him busy until
the sun comes up.”

  “If he shows up,” Lily said, “you just focus on getting a stake in his heart and keeping it there. Got it?”

  “Got—”

  Before Greg could finish his sentence, the glass doors exploded, sending shards of glass across the room. Lily instinctively threw her arm up to protect herself from the glass. When she pulled her arm down again, she saw Travis and his companion standing on the opposite side of the room. The companion’s name immediately shot into Lily’s head. Enrico. It was a name she’d never forget.

  He was holding Ellie against the wall. His forearm was pressed against her neck. In the dim light, Lily could see that Ellie was breathing, which meant he wasn’t trying to kill her. Not yet, anyway.

  Lily quickly scanned the room. Carl was climbing to his feet. One of the vampires had obviously knocked him to the ground as they flew into the room.

  Travis had his fingers wrapped around Greg’s throat. Apparently, he had grabbed Greg when he burst through the door.

  “Let them go!” Lily screamed.

  Travis leaned toward Greg and whispered something Lily couldn’t hear. He then threw Greg to the floor and turned around to face Lily.

  Lily took one look at him and said, “What the hell is wrong with your face?”

  Travis’s forehead looked… odd. It stuck out above his eyes, which made him look very much like a ghost-white Neanderthal. “I’m a vampire,” he said. “Haven’t you seen vampire movies where the vampires have cool looking foreheads?”

  “That doesn’t look cool,” Lily said. “You look stupid.”

  “You look like a cheap sci fi alien,” Carl said.

  “Shut up, nerd!” Travis yelled. He shook his head violently for a second and the strange forehead shifted back to its normal state. “I’m still working on it, okay?”

  “You should really perfect it before you start using it in public,” Lily said.

  “I’m not a nerd,” Carl added.

  “Yes, you are,” Travis said. “If I didn’t have other plans right now, I’d give you a wedgie.”

  “What’s a wedgie?” Carl asked.

  “Tell your friend to let Ellie go,” Lily said. “This is between you and me.”