Star appeared in a flurry of motion, setting upon Pallaton. She spun around and kicked the tall vampire in the chest, knocking him across the room. Before Pallaton regained his feet, she pulled a spear from a ledge and threw it at him. He ducked, and the spear slammed into the wall behind him, but Star had another weapon in hand. The vampire threw a chair in her direction and moved for the door, but she was too fast.
Raven watched in amazement as Star attacked with lightning speed, hammering Pallaton’s chest and stomach with blows that broke his ribs. Pallaton fell back, angry and in pain, but unable to defend himself. Desperate, he reached for his gun, but Star was quicker, and low-kicked his legs out from under him. Pallaton lost the gun, and Star jumped on him, holding an Egyptian khopesh to his throat.
“Touch her again, bloodsucker, and I’ll kill you. I’ll kill your guards. I’ll destroy anything that holds meaning for you.” A savage look raged in her eye.
Pallaton laughed. Star pressed the blade of the sword into his skin. “Stop laughing, or I’ll slice you open and let you bleed out.”
“You should be in the arena with Dragon,” Pallaton said. “I had no idea you were a superhuman. You acted so demure and obedient.”
Star smiled coldly. “You’re nothing but a coward, Pallaton. Your yellow streak twists up your spine. I should cut it out of you.”
He swallowed hard. With an angry scream, Star hauled Pallaton to his feet and tossed him into a gold, wing-backed chair. With a sweeping move, she ripped cords from the drapery and tied him to the chair.
“Please don’t hurt him,” Raven shouted. She climbed off the bed, running over to sink beside the chair. “He didn’t hurt me, Star. It’s a misunderstanding.”
“He shouldn’t be here,” Star said. “I won’t have him hurting you.”
“That wasn’t my intention. Are you going to kill me or give me a close shave?” asked Pallaton, his voice smooth as honey.
Star looked at Raven. “I know you care about this filth, but you shouldn’t love someone so much when they don’t feel the same.”
Pallaton caught Raven’s gaze. “The only reason I’m here is because I love you. Having you marry the Kaiser is better than seeing you be his slave. I don’t want you harmed. If I can protect you.…”
“Are you my Maker?” Raven cupped Pallaton’s face. “It’s you, isn’t it? You’re the one who turned me. The Kaiser can’t make vampires. Those with amber eyes aren’t his offspring. They’re yours, and so am I.”
“You weren’t supposed to know,” Pallaton said, in a gentle voice. His eyes gradually returned to a normal dark-brown as his fangs retracted. “Please don’t be angry. I did what I was told to do, but I can no longer be a puppet. I loved you the first time I saw you, Raven. You must know I felt this way.”
Raven’s heart leapt to her throat. Not caring if Star watched, she threw her arms around Pallaton and kissed him. He fought at the cords, wanting to break free and hold her, but the cords were too tight. Raven sat on his lap, pressing her nose against his, and laughed while she cried.
“I love you, too, Pallaton. I wasn’t sure…I’ve been so confused, but I’ve never felt like this for anyone before. I don’t care who knows. I don’t care what they do to us. Just knowing you feel the same makes all this bullshit worthwhile.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Star said. “How can you say this after what’s he’s done? How do you feel anything but hate and revulsion? This man technically raped you. He made you a vampire against your will, forcing a life of bloodsucking, day-sleeping, and oppression on you. Let me kill him; we’ll leave for camp together.”
“I’m going to untie him,” Raven said. “He won’t hurt us.”
“Star may be right.” Pallaton lifted his head as Raven untied the cords. “I’m leaving for Seven Falls and I’ll bring Highbrow back. They’ll put him on T.V. and demand Cadence turn herself in. By the time Highbrow is begging for her help, I doubt there’ll be much left to save.”
“Leave him be,” Star said. “Let’s get out of here while we still can.”
“When do you leave?” Raven finished unfastening the cords and dropped them to the ground. She wanted to believe in Pallaton. “If it’s tonight, then Star and I have plenty of time to reach Seven Falls and warn Highbrow.”
Standing, Pallaton kept Raven between him and Star. “Straight away. My team is waiting outside. I need to change clothes first. I’m a bit over-dressed for an assault.”
The sound of glass breaking spun Raven and Pallaton toward the window. Star had ripped the drapes from the wall and used a chair to break the window. She jumped onto the ledge barefoot, wearing a thin negligee.
“I’ve got to go, Raven,” Star said. “You want to stay here with this guy, it’s your call. Try to help Dragon and Luna, if you can. I’m out of here.”
Star jumped out the window, vanishing as the morning light spilled into the room. Instead of shouting at her, Pallaton held Raven close and kissed her, passionately, blocking everything from her thoughts.
One moment Raven was in Pallaton’s arms, the next she was tossed onto the bed.
Confused, Raven looked up and saw Pallaton had gone out the window. The bedroom doors splintered inward. The kiss, and Raven’s dreamlike state, was over. Figures sped through her room like hornets repairing the windows, replacing the glass, and vacuuming the carpet with vampire-speed. New drapes hung from the windows, cutting off the pink and purple glow of dawn. It was as though nothing happened.
Raven sat up and saw the Kaiser in the doorframe, donning his smoking jacket. He wore a look of disbelief and anger. The cleaning crew scurried out.
“Your slave escaped,” the Kaiser said. “I wasn’t aware Star was superhuman. All this time, we had a Chameleon in our tender care. What was I thinking? How careless of me to place you in such danger, my darling. Please forgive me, Raven, my poor child.”
The Kaiser removed his jacket to cover her, as only a thin negligee clung to her body. His eyes were dark and filled with hunger as she placed the coat around her shoulders. The doors closed on their own. Raven shivered with renewed fear.
“You must choose your friends with more care, my dear,” the Kaiser said, his voice anything but cruel. He made no move to touch her, yet she had never been more terrified. “Star will not get far. Pallaton, even now, makes his way to Seven Falls. Cadence refuses to give herself up, so I must take more drastic measures. By collecting the young captain and bringing him here, she will have no other choice but to concede to my demands.”
“You don’t know Cadence well if you think she’ll surrender.”
The Kaiser sat on the edge of the bed. “Oh, but I do know her. Cadence will always come to the aid of her friends. Her true friends. It’s clear she does not consider you one, but I do. Which is why I sent a delivery of human children to Queen Cinder. In exchange, she has returned the Hope Diamond to you.” He leaned toward her. “It’s right there in my pocket. Go on, Raven. It’s meant for you, not a child.”
With no other recourse, Raven reached into the Kaiser’s pocket and removed the large blue diamond. There was a trace of blood on it. “Did you kill Cinder?”
“Not yet. I’m helping her, as you asked.”
Movement at the doorway lifted Raven’s eyes. Along the wall she saw a shadow creeping toward the window and she grabbed the Kaiser’s arm, a look of alarm on her pale face. He glanced back at the shadow and let out a deep chuckle.
“It won’t hurt you, my dear. Not if you agree to be my wife. This is the last time I ask. Marry me, Raven.”
“Yes,” Raven said, gulping. She would promise anything to save herself. “I’ll marry you, my lord and master. I’m sorry to give you cause to doubt me. Nothing stands between us and…happiness.”
“Everything is forgiven, my dear.” The Kaiser slid a strand of black hair behind her ear. “Forget these books, and I will teach you whatever you desire to learn. From now on I shall protect you, comfort you, love you, and be at your side.”
<
br /> Raven didn’t say a word. The shadow stopped at the foot of her bed. It was so dense and dark she couldn’t see through it. Dread filled the room, and she moved closer to the Kaiser, putting him between her and the strange darkness.
“Reach into my other pocket, my dear.”
She did as she was told, fingers closing around something small and plush. His arm slid around her waist as she withdrew and held up a purple, velvet box.
“Accept this sign of my love. We shall one day leave this place and go where the sun is warm and the sea tranquil. You will be a goddess and forget these friends and any misery you’ve ever known. And I shall love you, alone. Always.”
Raven’s eyes widened as she opened the box. Inside was a large white diamond, grasped by tiny gold claws on an ornate band. The ring was alluring with an ancient flair. But there was something else. Something wrong.
Her first inclination was to hurl it across the room and run. The shadow gave a shudder and loomed over the bed, blocking any escape as if it could read her thoughts.
“Put it on. Let me see how it looks on your hand.”
Raven placed the ring on her finger, and a sudden dizziness overtook her. She swooned against his body, felt his warm lips on her neck, and the world slipped sideways in her mind. Her worries, feelings, and doubts vanished in an instant. The room danced with bright colors, candied sheets, and walls made of silk. The lights became as glowing crystals.
“You are more beautiful than Helen of Troy or Marie Antoinette,” the Kaiser said, his voice deeper and richer than she had realized. He kissed her cheek, the soft brush of lips causing her to shiver with delight. “You are by far the fairest creature I’ve ever encountered, and now you are mine, Raven. Truly mine.”
A red flame danced within the diamond, holding Raven transfixed. She heard the Kaiser speaking to her, but stopped paying attention. Only the ring held her interest, until at last, he grabbed her arms, pulling her back, while he gazed into her eyes.
“Never remove the ring, my dear. Gaze upon it a while longer, and then say, ‘Yes. I am yours, Prince Balan,’ and everything will be perfect.”
“Yes, I am yours, my love.”
Raven leaned against her master and kissed him on the mouth. The shadow creature stirred, but she paid it no attention. She only cared about her fiancé.
“Never tell my true name to anyone, Raven. It’s our secret. Tomorrow night, I will announce our engagement at a reception. I’ll be sure Pallaton and Luna are present, and anyone else who would take you away. They will all understand that you are mine.”
She silenced him with a deep, passionate kiss.
* * * * *
Chapter Eight
The camp sirens blared as an army of zombies advanced on Seven Falls with unprecedented eagerness. Bodies sizzled and sparked as they came into contact with the tall electric fence. With uncanny resilience, the undead scrambled over the growing mound of bodies, trying to reach the top, and found themselves hindered by razor-sharp barbed wire. Echo and her team of Blue Devils used flamethrowers to remove zombies from the chain-link fence. The Panthers and Monster Squad were stationed in the forward towers and lobbed grenades into the throng of moving corpses. More zombies marched toward them, as if under the control of an aggressive puppet master.
“If the generator fails, Captain, we’re in for one helluva battle,” Sterling said. “That fence will topple right over without electricity to keep them back.”
The stationary guns riddled the zombies from the battle deck. Everyone old enough to fight, including those from the brig, stood on top of buses at the barricade, firing at the enemy. The only ones absent from the battle were the sick in Rose’s care, hidden inside the tunnel. The Bulldogs were stationed outside to protect them. Tandor was the single vampire present in the battle. The remainder of the Dark Angels patrolled camp.
“These zombies are cyborgs,” Tandor said. “You can see the metal in their skulls and a blinking red light. They’re under control of the Shadowguard.”
Highbrow stared hard at the zombies. He could make out red blinking lights on their heads, but Tandor’s vision was impossible to match. The Dark Angel wore a black racing suit, with a katana strapped to his back and a 9mm pistol on each thigh.
“I should have known the Kaiser never meant to respect a treaty,” Highbrow said. “You were right about this being a ruse, Tandor. Even if Cadence agreed to surrender, they had every intention of attacking us.”
Tandor headed for the door. “You’ve got Micah in charge of the Dark Angels at Midnight Falls. The Shadowguard won’t find it easy to come in that way, but they’re here, Highbrow. I think I’ll take the path Micah has been using and make sure the Shadowguard aren’t flanking us.”
“Go ahead, but be careful. You’re just one man.”
A smile cracked on Tandor’s face. “I’m a vampire. Don’t worry about me. Nobody is coming through that path, except me.” He tucked his head and left.
Lt. Sterling held up his radio, listening intently. “Nomad and Destry are in position with rocket launchers. Should they begin firing, sir?”
“Affirmative. Have them concentrate on the zombies coming up the road. The flamethrowers can protect the fence. If it falls, set the safe-zone on fire. There’s enough kerosene in those pits to burn for hours. I want the battle tanks in position behind the buses to send in as a last resort.”
Highbrow watched the battle, his confidence rising until Private Caesar of the War Gods came rushing up the stairs and through the door. The young man had one arm in a sling and carried a pistol.
“Sir, the Shadowguard broke through to Midnight Falls. I just heard from Micah. The Dark Angels have gathered at the Moon Tower, but he’s asking for reinforcements. The War Gods and Razorbacks are ready to move out, if you are?”
“I’ll be right there,” Highbrow said. Caesar ran back out the door. “Tandor had to have run into trouble on the ridge. Contact Picasso and tell him to send in the Earth Corps. There’s not a moment to delay.”
Sterling paused. “Sir? We’ve got this. We don’t need the mutants.”
Highbrow bristled. “You heard me! Make the call! They can be here in minutes!” He headed to the door with Private Odin. “Take command, Lt. Sterling! Don’t let the zombies through our lines!”
With Odin at his side, Highbrow ran to a battle-truck and jumped onto the side. Odin and Caesar climbed into the back with the two teenage patrols. The truck accelerated over the winding, snow-covered road. As they passed the R.V.s, they heard heavy gunfire and shouting ahead of them. The truck came to a halt outside the mess hall. A swarm of vampires in trench coats was pouring in from beyond the stairs at the waterfall and into the campgrounds.
Micah and the Dark Angels were no longer in the Moon Tower, but fought at close quarters with the Shadowguard in front of the HQ. A fire at Midnight Falls had moved into camp. The small HQ cabin was ablaze and casualties from both sides lay in the snow.
“Razorbacks to the tunnel,” Highbrow shouted. “War Gods with me!”
The young soldiers climbed out of the truck. The Razorbacks raced to the left, toward the tunnel where Rose and the children were hiding. An elevator at the back of the tunnel led to a lookout point where the Buccaneers held an advantage for sniping. The Bulldogs fought shoulder to shoulder at the entrance, firing at anything that moved, proving more dangerous than effective. A Dark Angel lay on the ground shot by friendly fire, blood pooling.
Highbrow charged forward, flanked by Odin and the War Gods, to support the Dark Angels. The Dark Angels and Shadowguard fought with swords and traded gunfire. Ginger ran forward, firing a large-caliber automatic rifle, heading for the stairs. The War Gods took cover behind an overturned golf cart, firing over the top and in opposing directions. They held, waiting until the Shadowguard moved from their cover before firing again. It was an effective way to kill vampires, resulting in a number of enemies scattered in the snow.
“We need to get to cover,” Odin said, s
tanding back-to-back with the captain.
A rush of wind passed in front of Highbrow, alerting him that a vampire was close. He fired in the direction the breeze was blowing and a Shadowguard tumbled to the ground. Highbrow shot the vamp in the head and through the heart. He grabbed Odin’s arm, hauling him to the mess hall where the Bandits were keeping the Shadowguard at bay.
“Betsy and the kids are inside,” a Bandit called out. “We found them hiding in the hospital, but couldn’t get them to the tunnel in time.”
Highbrow spotted Odin kneeling behind an over-turned trashcan. The private took out a vampire, but more were coming. The Shadowguard swarmed around the golf cart where the War Gods stood in tight formation. Caesar just escaped the mass of struggling bodies. An explosion sent the golf cart and countless bodies flying into the air. Caesar fell yards from Highbrow, a section of the cart’s fender sticking from his back.
Another explosion lit the hospital in a huge fireball. A teenager burst through the front door engulfed in fire, screaming in agony before falling to the ground. The Bandits reformed their defensive line outside the mess hall, as roaring flames from the two buildings turned to clouds of black smoke in the sky.
“Odin, go help Betsy.” Highbrow had to shout to be heard. “You’ve got to get those kids out before they set the building on fire. Try to reach an R.V. and stay out of sight.”
“Me?” Odin said in a panic. “I can’t do it alone!”
There was no time to argue. Highbrow pushed Odin toward the mess hall and took position behind a cement park bench, leaving the Bandits to defend the doorway. Micah appeared in the center of the battle, swinging a sword. His opponent was missing an arm, but continued fighting with a knife. Highbrow aimed at the Shadowguard and fired, striking him in the temple before Micah was lost in a surge of bodies in trench coats racing toward Highbrow.
“Get the Captain,” commanded a vampire, tossing a mangled Bandit into the snow. He drew a small blade and raced for Highbrow.
Dead Hearts (Book 3): Vengeful Hearts Page 8
