“Do you know how to get out of here?” It was beginning to feel like a rat’s maze, and Grayson was getting frustrated. He was relieved when she nodded and motioned to a doorway that led to a separate corridor.
Grayson followed her direction with the tiny blonde dogging his every step until they reached the door that led outside to the mews; there the girl hesitated.
“What’s your name?” He asked distractedly scanning the courtyard through the window, for any sign of the creatures.
“Celia…” He noticed the girl’s voice was shaking nearly as much as her entire body and Grayson felt a sudden kinship with this girl. So far she was the only live person he had come across; perhaps they were the only two human beings left? The idea filled him with despair.
“You are going to have to be terribly brave Celia. You cannot scream once we get out there, it will most likely attract those creatures.” Celia nodded her head, her eyes going wide as her anxious gaze swept the courtyard for signs of the beasts and Grayson felt a little better, she seemed to comprehend the danger.
“We have to reach my gray charger Pegasus; he is being stabled in the mews. He is large enough that we can both ride him without trouble.”
At his words, Celia let out a whimper causing Grayson to look at her sharply.
“You have ridden before?” His heart sank as she shook her head no.
“That’s alright.” He hastily reassured her, for her face had blanched in obvious fear that he would leave her. “It will be easy; you must simply hold onto my back and not let go.” He instructed. Celia looked uncertain.
“I am afraid.” She confessed, and Grayson once more had to stamp down on an irrational urge to snap at the girl. God, she was only a child.
“The horse is the least of your problems.” He informed her matter of factly, wincing inside as he saw her pale further at the harshness of his words.
He probably should have reassured her that he was afraid too, but that just wasn’t his style; instead of saying anything further Grayson eased the door open, ignoring the labored breathing at his side from Celia. Sussex kept to the shadows. He was relieved that Celia had decided to follow him. He was not sure if he could have left her behind had she balked. They made it across the yard without notice, for the back yard was deserted of creatures; they were too busy pillaging the square out front. Reaching the stable he bolted the door behind them.
“Stay close to me.” He ordered Celia as they heard a low, breathy rattle coming from a darkened corner of the stable. The sound had Celia shrieking and clinging to his back like a leech, despite his previous warnings for her to remain silent. Grayson spun sword at the ready and sure enough a soulless creature came charging clumsily out of the darkness. Grayson swung more easily this time, using his previous experience as a guide; he aimed for the neck, as it appeared to be the only way to kill them. One cut had the beast slowed, the second he was immobilized and by the third; the man, a stable hand by the look of his uniform, was beheaded completely and laid on the ground blood spurting from the space where his head had been.
Celia was sobbing uncontrollably; staring at the decapitated figure in the straw. Grayson reached out and pulled her along with him as he took off at a half run down the deserted aisle searching each of the stalls trying to find the one his prized stallion had been stabled. He found Pegasus serenely munching hay as though the world was not going to hell around them all.
Grabbing the bridle that was hanging on a hook outside the stall Grayson entered the sweet smelling, straw laden stable pulling Celia in after him. He did not want Celia lingering out in the aisle where he would not be able to reach her in time if she needed his protection.
Pegasus whinnied a gentle greeting; snuffling his palm expectantly as he slipped the bit into the horse’s mouth and the head piece over his ears. Not bothering to lead him from the stall he swung easily onto his back despite the lack of saddle.
Celia was staring wide eyed up at him now as though she expected him to leave her standing there and ride away. Leaning down low over the massive horse’s mane Grayson extended his hand to Celia and grasping her thin wrists inside his own, much larger hand he pulled her easily up behind him; she weighed next to nothing. Her arms encircled his waist instinctively, and he nearly coughed as her grip tightened uncomfortably across his ribs.
Kicking Pegasus into a walk Grayson ducked his head down as the large horse walked through the stall door. Behind him, he could feel Celia’s terror radiating off her body as she burrowed her face uncomfortably into his spine.
Grayson had had to make certain that the doors of the stable were shut tightly to keep the zombies from swarming them but thankfully the long aisle way that separated the stalls on either side offered an escape. The aisle led to the end of the barn that was entirely open though blocked by a high gate. Pegasus was a prime jumper and Grayson prayed that he would live up to his name and sprout wings large enough to carry them safely over the tall bit of fence.
“Hold on tightly.” He shouted back to Celia as he spurred Pegasus into a dead gallop. His hooves clattered loudly on the hard floor, and he could feel the mighty horse’s muscles bunch beneath his legs as he prepared to jump. He felt a moment of apprehension; he had never before jumped bareback… But it was too late to rein him in now. Pegasus was gaining momentum; ever closer to the looming fence and Grayson did the only thing he could do.
Bending low over the stallion’s neck Sussex grasped the bridle and a large fistful of mane in his hands and squeezed tightly with his legs. A moment later they were in the air. Pegasus, living up to his name, his back legs didn’t even tap the top board of the six foot high fence as they sailed easily over.
Grayson felt Celia begin to slip but thankfully she managed to right herself, her clinging grip tightening even more across his abdomen but Grayson didn’t mind it at all; he was too grateful that she hadn’t fallen off. They landed with a heavy thud on the opposite side of the fence, but Grayson did not allow the horse a moments reprieve before kicking him into a dead gallop. Aiming him towards the grassy center of the square where he hoped he would be able to shorten the distance of their ride considerably.
All the creatures milling about turned hungrily towards them with their horrible death rattles as they began moving in the direction of the horse. Grayson noted, with a prayer of thanks to the heavens, that they did not appear to be any faster than a regular human and the horse easily outdistanced them. The distance between them spanned, and Pegasus being no stranger to battle, for he had accompanied Grayson in the battle of Waterloo, was not fazed by the large amount of people like creatures rushing at them from every side.
There were four creatures standing directly in their way and Grayson braced himself for battle as they approached the first. Swinging wide with his sword he managed to strike the creature across the throat as the horse thundered past. Hazarding a glance backwards Sussex saw the beast down on the ground, struggling to get back up, but still maimed was better than nothing. Two more approached at once, and Sussex was glad to see his horse had not forgotten his battle training as Pegasus bared his teeth and snapped at a creature. The horses speed did not slow though Pegasus managed to sink his vice like jaws into the neck of an unlucky zombie as they galloped on. Pegasus’s teeth tore into the creature ripping out its throat and Grayson finished the job with a swing of his sword while Pegasus kicked out; knocking the creature that was quickly approaching from the rear back several feet. Grayson nudged his charger back into a dead run; if they stayed still too long neither Pegasus’s strength during battle or his own prowess with a sword would save them from being swarmed from all sides.
The horse took off like a shot, and Grayson saw his townhouse approaching as they left the grassy shrubbery of the middle of the square. They hit the cobbled road, and a lone creature standing directly their way fell victim to Pegasus’s sharp hooves as the horse came out of his jump straight onto the zombie.
Grayson rode the horse right up the front steps swinging down
off his back before the horse had come to a complete stop. He motioned Celia to stay put when she made to follow him, and she sent him a terrified look, but Pegasus stood still as a statue for her. Grayson tried the door, but it was locked. Shit, he had not considered this. A glance back at the rapidly approaching hoard of creatures had the Duke pounding on the door with both hands.
“Jackson! Cook, Opal, anyone? Open the damn door.” He bellowed at the top of his lungs hoping that someone inside would hear him and still be human enough to comply. The first creature was already mounting the bottom step when Grayson heard the lock sliding slowly out of the bolt, and it was the most jubilant noise he had ever heard in his life.
Grayson pulled Celia from the back of the big war horse pressing her behind his back, in between him and the door, before turning to fight the creatures that were nearly upon them. Swinging his sword high the Duke met the filmy eyed creature while it was still climbing the stairs; giving him full advantage of higher ground and he quickly hacked away at its neck. Another replaced the first and adrenalin pumping like crazy Grayson stabbed it in the eye, kicking it in the chest to push it off his sword tip he watched it stumble back into another creature and they both fell down. The creatures lumbering forward to attack were growing larger, and Grayson knew that he wouldn’t be able to hold them off for much longer. From the corner of his eye, he spotted his valet Jackson tentatively open the door.
“Get the girl and the horse inside.” He yelled to his valet not taking his eyes off the creatures for a moment. There were two of them now and he stabbed the first in the throat before gaining momentum and slicing across the throat of the second in the same sweeping swing; severing its windpipe and causing them both to fall. He did not have a moments respite; another zombie was coming after him already; clambering over the prone bodies of its fallen comrades. His muscles were beginning to quiver from the most intense work out he had ever had with the sword. The report of a pistol sounded behind him, and a faint breeze ruffled his hair as a bullet zipped past him, to lodge in the head of the creature. It fell where it had stood, dead. Grayson turned to find his valet with smoking pistol in hand.
“Get in the house Your Grace.” His valet yelled to him over the din of snarling and rattling and Grayson did not have to be told twice; slipping through the door as Jackson was already pushing it closed against the onslaught of creatures.
Grayson helped the valet; lending his weight to the struggle, and between the two of them, they managed to get the door shut; chest heaving from exertion, muscles cramping and aching Jackson quickly bolted the door and hammered several boards across the entrance for added support.
“What in the devil is going on out there?” Grayson demanded of the man, as his valet turned to him, hammer still in hand. “Where did those damned things come from?”
A frown of concentration creased his valet’s brow. “We have not a clue Your Grace; try as we have been racking our brains we cannot figure how such an abomination came to be.” The man paused for a moment as though emotionally overcome, which was strange enough for the usually sombre valet, before he continued in a gravelly voice. “We are bloody glad you came back to us in one piece. We were worried that you were…”
“A creature?” Sussex supplied for him, but the man shook him head.
“No, Your Grace those are no creatures created by our Lord; those things are from the devil.” He looked pale and shaky. “They are the un dead.” He confided with a shudder.
Grayson snorted derisively. “Come on man that is impossible.” He eyed his valet.
The man shifted nervously beneath his hard gaze but did not take back his words.
“It tis true. No one rightly knows how it happened, but those creatures are the walking dead.” Jackson was adamant.
Grayson did not know what to think; his valet seemed to believe it and who was he to naysay. The idea of the walking dead seemed impossible but so did the idea of human beings turned into mindless creature’s intent only on devouring flesh. He was reminded back to earlier that morning when he, himself had considered the possibility of vampires.
“If you could come with me Your Grace? There is something I think you need to see.” Jackson interrupted his musing.
Grayson nodded, motioning to the girl, who was standing in the corner crying silently, for her to join them before nodding to Jackson to lead the way.
He followed his valet down his own hallway until they reached a small sitting room on the main floor of the house that Grayson did not use. There Jackson paused looking uncertainly at the girl.
“Perhaps the girl should wait for us outside?” Jackson suggested giving Grayson a significant look.
Grayson caught his meaning and turning to Celia he placed a comforting hand upon her thin shoulder.
“I will be back momentarily; you are safe here.” He looked steadily into her eyes as he spoke, though he honestly did not know if he spoke the truth. Celia looked as though she wanted to follow him, but she did as she had been told.
“That’s a good girl.” Grayson said gently giving her a small smile.
Jackson nodded at the girl and turning motioned for Sussex to precede him into the room. Grayson did not know what to expect though he was fairly certain his valet would not intentionally put his life in danger, but he gripped his sword tightly none the less.
At first it was difficult to find anything out of place in the green brocade sitting room. It had been closed up for ages, and white dust covers shrouded the furniture giving it an eerie unlived in feel. Then Grayson saw it. A body had been laid in the middle of the floor upon one of those dust sheets. Creeping closer Sussex stared down at his housekeeper; an elderly matron who had served him well over the years and his father before that. He felt an immense sadness as he stared down at the woman who had been the only one in the ducal household to treat him with open affection despite their difference in stations.
“She was a … creature?” The words stuck in his throat, and Grayson had to clear it several times before forcing himself to turn away from the slightly bloated corpse with the large butcher’s knife sticking out of its head; choosing instead to stare at Jackson.
The valet nodded gravely.
“Aye, but she didn’t start out that way.”
Grayson felt shock course through him at his valet’s words. “What do you mean by that?” He asked an icy foreboding trickling down his spine.
“This morning there weren’t as many of those creatures out there as now. Opal here was nearly all the way to work before she noticed them. One attacked her and bit her on the arm, but she bashed it over the head with a rock and got away. She was right hysterical when she came crashing through these doors. None of the live in staff knew anything about it…” Jackson trailed off, snuffled a bit and blew his nose before continuing.
“She was in a right state going on about monsters attacking her. We didn’t even believe her until she showed us the bite, poor love.”
Jackson pointed to a plainly visible imprint of teeth upon her forearm. Bits of flesh had been torn away, and the wound appeared to have turned putrid and black.
Grayson had to fight down the urge to retch as he stared into the grey face of his beloved housekeeper.
“What happened then?”
“We barricaded the doors and watched the slaughter from the windows. Half the staff left to find their families. We told them to stay; that it would be safer but you know how people are about their families...” He shrugged helplessly.
Grayson didn’t know, but he wasn’t going to admit that to Jackson. His mother was long dead from complications birthing a brother that Grayson had never met for he had died that day too. He had been raised instead by an army of tutors paid for by a cold father that he had barely seen nor particularly liked.
“About an hour after Opal arrived she got a terrible sweat. It was like she was burning up inside and then just as suddenly she was as cold as ice.” Jackson continued taking his employers silence as an indi
cation to continue.
“She was dead?” Grayson asked a frown marring his classically handsome brow.
“As a doornail; I checked her pulse myself.”
“Then why did you feel the need to stab her in the head with the knife?” Grayson asked incredulously, not at all liking the way his dear housekeeper’s body had been handled.
“It didn’t start off like that Your Grace. We had her all set up nice on the settee in the main salon… but then she woke up.”
Grayson blinked. “Beg pardon?”
“Yes Your Grace, I said she woke up, her eyes were all covered in that white film and she was intent on killing the lot of us.”
“She would never…” Grayson began to protest, but Jackson seeming to forget his station in this time of crisis interrupted him.
“She wasn’t herself Your Grace. It was like a demon possessed her. She chased us into the kitchen. That’s where Cook seized one of her great butcher’s knives and cleaved her in the head with it. She saved us all.
“So it was the bite that turned her into the monster then?” Grayson struggled to understand this new development.
“It would appear to be, it certainly explains how there are so many of them so quickly.”
The idea horrified Sussex…If that were true they could easily overtake the entire population with nothing more than a single bite. Grayson blanched thinking back to how easily he; himself could have been bitten today.
Jackson looked grim at the prospect, as well.
The sound of breaking glass followed by a scream that could only be Celia shattered the silence in the room causing Grayson to spring into action.
Kidnapped Page 7
