by Dale Mayer
Although it looked like Cody already had found so much better. Tessa was not who Goran had envisioned for his boy, but now he couldn’t imagine anyone else.
They were lucky. Goran had espoused long relationships like Serus and Rhia, but mostly because he knew he was likely to never have one. He was envious of what they had. It had been odd to be so close to both of them and know that they shared something he had never experienced. And now Cody had already been blessed more in that area than Goran.
He was happy for his boy. But would Goran ever find a partner like that? Or was it not in the cards?
He gave a hard pull of his wings, loving the way the wind flew past his cheeks and butted up against his eyes. He adored being out here. This was a short flight, which was unfortunate, but after all the running around and fighting of this last few weeks, his wings were wanting a long flight. A few days to stretch and glide and forget about all this nightmare.
Change had happened so slowly over time that the world was different. He’d opened his gaze to where he was and was sad to see that in his head, he was still living decades ago. Vamps changed. People changed. The relationship between them changed. For the better in some cases. But he’d always flitted from one thing to another and now looking back, although passionate and fun, he’d missed out on the constant and enduring. With any luck, he had centuries more ahead, maybe, just maybe, there’d be time for him to find another partner – a love that lasted.
He glanced down to see the humans traveling convoy-style way below him. Did they know he was here? Were they stupid enough to shoot him out of the sky when he was their ally? And wasn’t that partnership a surprise. Who’d have thought he’d be going to war with humans against his own kind? Not him. His phone went off. He rolled onto his back and glided so he could read the text without the wind in his face. It was from Ian. Goran read the long message in shock. He knew Resnick. Had known him for centuries. Or was that the senior Resnick? No, the younger one had been on the finance committee since forever. Hard to believe he’d been a traitor. Just the thought. The kind of information Resnick had been able to siphon off and feed to the enemy was grotesque. Not to mention he had access to steal their funds.
Had anyone looked into that?
He immediately texted Sian and asked. After he hit send, he realized there’d been no update on Sian’s whereabouts. He didn’t know if Ian had sent the same message to Serus but on the assumption too much information was better than none, Goran forwarded the text to him at command central. He sniggered. Serus at a desk job…
With a shout of laughter at the thought, he did a series of somersaults in the sky and with a sudden burst of speed, he raced ahead of the convoy to land at the right spot. He stood arms crossed, waiting for them as they drove around the corner.
The humans had better understand he was leading them and not the other way around.
Or else.
Chapter 12
Tessa slowly shook off the effects of the attack and regrouped in her head. Beast slept at her feet. Then she’d been standing here as if in a fog for the last few minutes herself. “They were a trap,” she said softly. “For anyone coming up the stairs. And we fell right into it.”
“Our second one of the day,” Cody growled. “We need to be more careful.”
“There wasn’t much I could do,” Motre said in an apologetic tone. “The vamp swooped down behind me and snagged me before I understood what was happening.”
Tessa nodded. “They are getting smarter. More organized. They have built an army and are learning how to lead them.”
Cody glanced over at her. “We’ve done the same.”
“We have.” She looked at the set of stairs and the perimeter of the long circular column they were at the bottom of. “Interesting system. Why all the stairs?”
“And why the cats down here?” Motre said.
“I’m thinking the cats were new,” Cody said. “The guys we killed down below probably warned his team we were coming. The cats were there as a backup measure.”
“When Motre arrived, they probably considered him a good test case,” Tessa waved her hand at the walls rising steeply above them. “Whoever it was is likely up there ready to attack again. And have already passed on the results of the test.”
“They must wonder about Beast,” Motre said, eyeing the sleeping dog at her feet. “He’s not exactly their best effort.”
“He might have been, but he also had enough of his original personality to fight this off. The other animals weren’t likely so lucky.”
She glanced at the other two. “We need to get moving. Ready?”
They both nodded, and she walked to the bottom of the stairs and shook her head at the height they’d have to climb. She took the first jump then a second and a third. Before she landed a fourth, Cody flew past her, carrying Motre on his back.
“Hey, that’s cheating,” she called out with a laugh. Then realized that Beast was coming behind her. “We’ll be fine, won’t we? We can do this together.”
She picked up her pace and focused, willing herself up the miles of stairs. She didn’t know how Beast’s energy was but as they neared the top, she could see him falling behind. She stopped and waited for him. He was panting hard when he reached her. And likely needed water. Damn, they were ill-prepared to travel with a large animal. And he appeared exhausted. He lay down. His long body stretched across, covering several stairs as he struggled to catch his breath.
Tessa sat down beside him, happy to have a rest. “Hey, buddy. It’s okay. A few minutes won’t matter. They’ve already checked out what’s up top. If it was important, Cody would have come down and gotten us.”
If he could. She lifted her head and frowned. Cody? You okay?
I’m okay, he growled in her head. Where are you?
I’m resting with Beast. It’s a hard climb for him. She didn’t want to admit she was tiring, but…
I’ll come and get you, he said instantly.
No, I’m not leaving Beast. She hopped to her feet and called to the dog. He got to his feet, valiant and willing. She hoped he was okay. “Come on, boy, let’s get up this last set and then we can rest.” In her head, she said to Cody, We need to find him water. This has worn him out.
Cody snorted. Right. I’ll look around up here but if you’re not here soon, I’m coming to get you and Beast can either make it on his own or he gets left behind.
She smiled down at Beast. “Don’t worry about him. I won’t leave you alone.”
And moving slower than she’d like but still too fast for Beast, they made their way up the circular stairs. At the top, she stopped and stared. “What the hell?”
“Yeah, we climbed to the surface somehow and past the Council Hall level.”
They stepped onto the top of a platform outside, stepping down at the Council Hall at the bottom of the hill they were on.
“We’re on the hill behind the Council Hall?” She surveyed the huge building below her. “This is bizarre. In a way, it’s also perfect from a strategic point of view. This is great for defense. And quick access to the basement. Another big plus.”
“We must have missed a door,” Motre said. “There has to be a way into the Council Hall. Doesn’t make sense otherwise.”
“There would have to be,” Cody agreed. “But not likely well used for centuries.”
“And we don’t know where the other staircase goes or if there are others.”
Tessa studied the hidden burrow where the stairs had opened to. “This is really amazing. I never knew this existed.”
“None of us did. The entrance is hidden by trees and bushes.”
“Let’s go back down and find the way in. We were expecting an attack to come from several directions. Instead there is no sign of anyone.”
“Are we faster than expected?”
Motre snorted. “I doubt it. After the fighting we did, there’s no way.”
“So was the attack delayed?”
Tessa shook he
r head. In a low voice, she said, “Or is the fight already inside?”
“So back down from here or go down there,” Motre nodded toward the parking lot ahead of them. “Best chance?”
“Or we split up and check out both ways,” Tessa said. She hated the idea, but they were spread so thin their options were limited.
“No. No splitting up.” Cody was adamant. “Look what happened last time. If we’d been together, Motre wouldn’t have been picked up or the two of us pinned by the cats. No, we stay together.”
“Fine. Let’s go then.” And she jumped down to the ground and raced toward the Hall.
*
“Hmmm, Tessa?” Cody called behind her, running as fast as he could. Of course he did. Where she led, he went. Wasn’t it supposed to be the other way around? Hell, she’d been racing ahead of him since this mess began. It was all he could do to keep up.
“Tessa, do you have a plan?” he called.
Motre snorted at his side. “That girl doesn’t know what the word means.”
Cody grinned. “So true, but she’s done well so far.”
“That she has, but this Deanna mess has me worried.”
“Me too. I’m also a little concerned that the Ghost is in there with her.”
Motre shot him an odd look. “Doesn’t that make you cringe? To think of someone inside you like that? It does me.”
Cody wasn’t so sure. He had Tessa inside his mind. It wasn’t that far a stretch to imagine someone else doing something similar. It was important to make sure whoever the host was and who was the guest both understood the roles here. And followed whatever rules were set.
Not that Tessa, innocent and naive and who believed in the best of everyone, had even thought to set rules. Or was she assuming Deanna was gone? Cody didn’t trust that witch at all. She was too dangerous.
He finally caught up to Tessa – of course she’d stopped outside the grounds to study the back of the building. There were many windows on the tall, castle-like building. Many turrets and rooms on every floor. It wasn’t a castle, more a huge imposing mansion. He’d never really thought about the architecture of the building before, having taken it all for granted all these years. He stood and stared up at the roof, realizing just how vast it was.
“What is in all those rooms?” Tessa asked, puzzled. “I’ve gone down several floors, but never up.”
“Several of the ancient council members keep rooms here, and the oldest of them keep apartments on the top couple of floors.”
“How many ancients are we talking about?” she asked, puzzled. “I thought Deanna would be classified as one, and she wasn’t living there. Why not?”
“She had problems with many of the other members and still had a partner. My understanding is the other ancients are single, very old, and that this has been their home for so long I’m not sure anyone remembers that they have lived elsewhere.”
Motre stood with his hands on his hips. “I’d forgotten. How the hell had that happened?”
“Because we deal with those active on the council assuming that they were the only ones. I think there is one more who is so old he doesn’t attend meetings anymore. Like Deanna, but I can’t be sure.”
“Was Deanna’s partner ever part of the Council?”
“No,” Motre said. “I think he tried to be and was refused. He turned his back on them after being rejected.”
Tessa nodded. “Is there any benefit to trying to communicate with whoever lives up there?”
Cody frowned. “I don’t think…”
“But if we don’t know who is up there, then how can we know that?” she said. “More than that, if the Hall is being attacked, are they safe?” She studied the soaring building.
“If vampires prefer the dark and deep depths of the earth, why would someone choose to be living up there?” Motre said with a frown on his face.
“True. Look at it. Location-wise, it’s more suited for humans.”
Tessa snorted. “Yet as a way to come and go without anyone knowing, I’m thinking a flier lives there.”
She walked a few steps closer. “I’d like to know for sure.”
“You might,” Cody said, “but there are other priorities. Like Sian and keeping the Hall safe. We can do a full-on check after we know where we stand.”
As they stood and studied the building, Cody could hear sounds of vehicles approaching at high speeds. “Sounds like we’re just in time for a little action ourselves.”
“About time,” Motre said. “I’m wanting a little payback for that cat luncheon someone tried to invite me to.”
At that, Cody laughed. “You’re too ugly. Even the cats wouldn’t touch you.” He motioned to the side entrance that led to the main hall. “Let’s go.”
*
Goran watched as the humans exited the vehicle, guns out and forward. Had they been given any warning he’d be here?
Hey, Serus old boy, did you tell the Human Council that I’m vamp and I’m here to help them? Because they don’t look like they want anything but to fill me with holes.
I’m calling them now.
Goran watched, eyes narrowed as a phone rang and the leader pulled out his phone. “Serus, what’s up?”
He listened then turned to study Goran. “Ugly, huge, and dressed in black. Actually, he reminds me of you. Both of you were with your daughter that day when we were looking for the traitors in our group. We need her back to do more, you know that. If we can’t find who’s mixed up in this, we’ll never stop it completely.”
He nodded. “Well, let’s get through this mess, then I want her to walk through the ranks and sort out the good from the bad. That’s not negotiable. With your buddy here, we’ll see what’s down below. Anyone there is free game.”
He hung up the phone. “You’re Goran, I presume?”
“I am. Not only ugly and huge and dressed in black, but if you decide to turn those guns my way again,” he said, “I’ll take that as an insult and make sure you can’t do so again.”
He drew himself up to his full height and glared at the humans. “I’m here to help. You don’t want my help, that’s fine, I’m happy to leave.”
The leader held up his hand. “Stand down. This is Goran. He and Serus are with Sian.”
Goran watched with satisfaction as all the weapons were lowered. “Damn right.”
He motioned beside him. “There’s a ventilation shaft here. A ladder gives us access. Single file. I’ll go first.” And he led the way around the hill where the shaft had been cleverly concealed. It had taken him a few minutes to understand what he saw himself. The leader joined him and studied the metal structure completely overgrown on the one side. “I’d never have seen this on my own,” he admitted.
Goran nodded. “I didn’t at first either.”
He took the first step down, slid around the large venting pipe, and started the descent.
*
“Sir, do we have anyone coming to help us here?” A young female vamp stood in front of Serus. He lifted his gaze to study her, wondering what exactly caught his eye. She looked familiar, but he couldn’t place why. “Do we need anyone?” he asked mildly. “What is our head count at the Hall now?”
She flushed. “I’m not exactly sure. So many are injured. We need to protect them.”
“Sure we do, but they’d better be injured and not just avoiding what’s coming as that’s never going to be allowed.” He glanced at the board where the layout of the rooms floor by floor had been filled in by Sian. “According to Sian, on many other floors, rooms are full of men leaving soon. If they don’t get to leave today but need to help us instead, then too bad. They can leave tomorrow just as easily.”
She flushed. “We didn’t know, and without Sian to let us know, we let many of them leave.”
“Interesting.” Serus walked over to the board.
“Where are the men we sent back with the injured? There would be at least fifty able-bodied men to help us fight off an attack.”
The young woman reached up and wiped off the names on several of the rooms. He frowned mentally, counting off the dozen or so that had left. He couldn’t blame them. They weren’t in on the finer details of what he and his own clan were up against right now, and most had been set up by their councils at home. “What about the Nordic team?”
“They are still here.” And she tapped the board where one of the larger community rooms showed and said, “There are dozens of men here. They are recovering.”
“Well, consider them now recovered,” he said with a snort. “We’re vamps. We need minutes, not hours to return to our full strength. Especially we need their fighting ability. If any say anything to you, you tell me.”
She hesitated then said. “That’s why I am here. They are bored and want to leave.”
“And leave they can, after the attack has been neutralized,” he said. “Sounds like it’s time for a talk.”
He strode to the door as the young woman ran at his side, trying to keep up.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
“Talia.”
He nodded. Her name meant nothing to him. But she sure looked familiar.
*
The darkness behind the door was deeper and blacker than anything David had seen yet. The climb up had been dark without overhead lights or windows to lead the way. But this…it was as if the stone walls had been painted black. He could sense Jewel’s unease and when she slipped her hand into his, he understood. Whatever was going on here had elevated the creepy factor.
Then he heard it. A soft moan.
Jewel dug her nails into his palm. He squeezed her hand reassuringly. In his other hand, he clutched a spike. He had no idea what was up there but whatever it was, it wouldn’t have any defense against silver and he’d seen too damn much lately to get all cocky now. Especially with Jewel beside him.
