Pagan (MPRD Book 1)

by Andrew Chapman

  That’s what happens when you let the vampires in.

  Of all the vampiric myths and legends, the one about inviting a vampire into your home is one of the few that’s based in truth. A vampire cannot come into your home unless you invite them in. Once you do, you’re neck deep in blood. So what happens when the government invites vampires into the whole country? Gives them citizenship and asks them to make themselves at home?

  That’s what happens. You get mass-murdering leeches expressing concerns on television and everyone just lapping it up. The blood of that pretty-boy’s last victim was probably still warm in his throat, but the women in the audience were all wondering what he was like in bed. All the guys were probably jealous, wondering where they could sign up.

  It was making me sick. The news was full of sly hints and innuendo about how we were worse than the vampires we hunted. As usual, money talks. The vamps had a lot of money. A few hundred years of working behind the scenes means a lot of wealth, and that much wealth buys a lot of power and influences a lot of journalists.

  I continued flicking through the channels. Some moronic talking head in an expensive suit ranted about the hunters killing indiscriminately on a channel that, I knew for a fact, was at least part owned by prominent vampires. They quickly segued into a story about an MP who was campaigning on a platform of cutting the hunters’ funding and making peace with the vampires. Several biased polls showed that public support for this idiot was large and growing. I finally gave up when the same channel started a gushing piece on a vampire in California who was taking a case to court because he wasn’t allowed to stand for election.

  And then we came to the worst thing on television by a long, long way. Me. The Ministry is fighting the war on two fronts. We fight the vamps on the ground, but we’re also fighting a propaganda war. The vamps have their 24-hour suckathon channel and we have me, Pagan. I’m the poster boy for the hunters. They make Pagan movies—I think they’re up to the fourth or fifth—and there’s a TV series. Some chiseled steely-eyed hero who fights the dastardly vamps and foils their nefarious plots, all in under thirty minutes. Right now this pseudo-me was investigating some ‘orrible vampire murder and being awfully British about the whole thing.

  I switched the set off in disgust and lay back on the bed. The whole world was going mad, had been for decades.

  I heard the bathroom door open and felt Marie sit on the bed next to me. I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling.

  “What’s wrong, Jack?” she asked.

  “The whole world, that’s what’s wrong. Half of the fuckers don’t even want our protection; most of the rest just don’t want to see us. What the hell are we fighting for?”

  She leaned over me, her damp hair framing her beautiful face. She was wearing only a fluffy white towel and she looked, in my opinion, simply stunning.

  “You’re fighting for us,” she said softly. “You’re fighting for all of us, for all of humanity. Just because they don’t want it and don’t understand it doesn’t mean they deserve to live with the consequences. We can’t let the vamps win. If they do we’re all screwed.”

  I nodded and rolled my eyes.

  “That’s the trouble with being the good guys,” I said with a smile. “You have to keep on fighting even when it seems hopeless—especially when it seems hopeless.”

  She leaned closer and kissed me. Marie has the softest, nicest lips I’ve even known. Her lips parted and her tongue slipped hesitantly into my mouth. I responded enthusiastically. The kiss went on for a long time. Eventually she broke it off and smiled at me.

  “Better?” she asked.

  “Much,” I said. “I can get behind the idea of fighting to save kisses like that.”

  “Wow,” she said and laughed. “That should be the cheesiest line in the world. How did you make it sound romantic?”

  “It’s a talent, I guess,” I said with a shrug.

  “Ah, but remember, only use your powers for good,” she said with a wink, “Now go shower and we’ll go to sleep.”

  “Sleep? You think I could sleep after you just did that to me?”

  “Not tonight, honey.” She said, her face growing serious. “I’ll explain it to you in the morning. Just trust me on this.”

  She leaned in and kissed me again, longer and deeper this time. Yeah, I was going to have trouble sleeping tonight.

  CHAPTER

  5

  I awoke to moonlit darkness. The blinds were slightly open and the room was dimly lit with a silvery sheen. The bed next to me was empty again, but that wasn’t what had disturbed me. I lay there, alert and attentive, listening for the sound that had sent me hurtling from sleep. It came again, a wet snapping sound followed by a soft gurgling noise.

  I knew that sound. There was a werewolf in the room and it was changing. I went for the SIG as a huge weight landed on my chest and a pair of powerful, clawed hands pinned my wrists to the bed. There was a brief flurry of hair, teeth and hot breath in my face, and a low, continuous growl came from an inch in front of my nose.

  “Marie?” I whispered, trying to calm my pounding heart. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

  She moved closer, her cold, wet nose touching mine, and gazed at me. Then she licked my cheek.

  I laughed softly, not wanting to wake anyone else. The moonlight through the open blinds must have triggered the change. I looked left and right at my trapped wrists.

  “Wanna let me up, sweetheart?”

  She shook her head and bared her teeth. That was a werewolf grin. Suddenly I didn’t feel as relaxed about this situation.

  “Marie?”

  She straightened up, keeping my hands pinned, and wiggled downwards until she was straddling my hips. She leaned back down and licked along my jaw, then caught my ear between her teeth, gently tugging, her breath hot and passionate.

  “Marie?” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. “Not like this, okay? Sweetheart? Not like this.”

  She pressed against me, making small, urgent noises in her throat, and my body started to respond.

  That was something that had taken me a while to come to terms with. In her wolf form Marie was almost as cute as she was as a human. She was as tall as I am and her lithe body was still beautiful under the fur. She still had a cute behind, even with the tail, and her breasts were just as full and firm. Her eyes were a deep, liquid brown and her blonde hair had become a thick, soft mane that curled over her shoulders and down her back. The rest of her body was covered in short, soft brown fur and her muzzle was petite and tapered, more like a fox than a wolf. Her muscles were bigger and more defined, and her shoulders broader, but she still managed to look amazingly feminine.

  No, I had never had the urge to mess about in her wolf form, but she was naked, on top of me, and she was being fairly forward with her movements. My body was responding big time. She stopped and made a soft interrogative noise before raising her hips and looking between us.

  “Marie? Please don’t do this.”

  She gave me another wolfy grin and moved close, her face inches from mine. Her lips parted and her teeth glistened in the moonlight. Then she suddenly started licking my face in a passable imitation of a dog happy to see its owner. I did the only thing I could, screwing my face up and shaking my head from side to side in an attempt to get out of her reach. I was trying not to laugh too loudly and losing the battle.

  She let go of my wrists and sat upright, her hands clamped to her stomach and her shoulders shaking with silent laughter.

  “Oh very funny,” I hissed. “Okay, you got me.”

  She climbed off of me and collapsed onto the bed, still silently laughing. I sat up and reached for the cord to close the blinds. Behind me I could hear her changing back to human and gave her time to finish before turning around. In the darkness I could make out her naked body on the bed and I slid down next to her. She threw herself at me, snuggling close and burying her face in my neck.

  “Oh, that was hilarious,”
she said after a few minutes of uncontrollable laughter. “You should have seen your face. That was too funny.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” I said, trying to remain stern. “Joke’s on me. So what brought that on? And what happened to the clothes you went to bed in?”

  “Well, I was gonna give you a different surprise. I was going to let you wake up next to me being all naked, but when I came out of the bathroom the blinds were open and, well, I couldn’t stop it. I changed.”

  I understood that part. Marie could change at will, but when exposed to the full moon the change happened automatically and there was nothing she could to about it.

  “Is that something to do with earlier?” I asked, gaining a sudden insight. “Why you didn’t want to make love tonight?”

  She nodded against my shoulder.

  “Full moon tonight. It was taking an effort to stay human; it still is. I didn’t want to change halfway through. That might have freaked you out a little. Trust you to want it the one night I couldn’t do it.”

  I opened my mouth to reply when a scream rent the air. I was halfway out of the bed before the echoes had died away, my MP7 in my hands.

  “Stay here,” I hissed as I opened the door a crack.

  “It came from outside,” she whispered.

  I went down the stairs, feeling slightly ridiculous in just my boxers. Picker was at the door, peering nervously into the night.

  “Picker?” I whispered. “What the fuck?”

  He replied without even turning.

  “I dunno, I can’t see shit, but there is something going on out there!”

  There was another scream.

  “I’m going to get dressed. Stay there!”

  I went back upstairs at a run and pounded on the door to Anna’s room, then went back into ours.

  Marie was sitting up in bed with the lights on. I pulled on my combat trousers and began to struggle into my boots.

  “What’s going on Jack?” said John from the door.

  “Didn’t you hear the screaming? Don’t tell me I woke you guys!” I said, surprised.

  “No, we weren’t asleep,” he replied defensively.

  “Well get Anna up and get armed. Something’s happening.”

  I pulled on my body armor and turned to Marie.

  “What are you waiting for, an engraved invitation?”

  Marie gave me a stunned look for a second and jumped out of bed. Whilst I buckled on my gunbelt she slipped into her fighting clothes. She had a one-piece that came down to her knees and elbows, made of lycra so it wouldn’t tear when she changed. When she was human it looked a little bulky, thanks to the armor plates that protected her kidneys, spine, stomach and chest, but when she changed it was form-fitting and sleek.

  I picked up my FAL and stepped into the corridor. Anna and John were halfway downstairs. John was in full DPM and Anna was dressed much like me in olive green combat trousers and a black t-shirt. On her back was her medical pack.

  Marie changed as she came down the stairs and stepped into the bar as a werewolf.

  “Mon Dieu!” exclaimed Frenchie.

  “Okay,” I said professionally. “You all knew about Marie so let’s not act like scared children. Let’s get outside and find out what’s going on.”

  We stepped cautiously out into the bar’s yard, keeping a watch for ambush. We spread out, covering all angles. I turned to watch Marie as she stalked forward, delicately sniffing the air. She turned to face me and growled softly.

  “Vampires,” I said loud enough for everyone to hear.

  Marie loped out of the Wheatsheaf’s yard and down the road towards town. I jogged after her, eyes intent and senses alert. I knew Marie would spot any danger before I would but the adrenaline was pumping and I was on my game.

  Ahead was a crumpled body lying by the side of the road. I slowed, bringing my rifle up as Marie circled around the recumbent form. When I nodded to her she cautiously turned the body over. It was human, a young girl with twin puncture marks on her neck.

  There was a commotion off to the side and a young man came boiling out of a house, a shotgun held in his trembling hands.

  “Get away from her you monster!” he screamed, bringing his gun up towards Marie.

  “No!” I bellowed, stepping in front of her. “She’s one of us!”

  Norse and his crew arrived along with Anna and John.

  “Anna, see what you can do for her. John, stand guard.”

  Anna shrugged off her pack and knelt beside the girl. The army clothes were important. If anyone noticed she was a vampire, they’d freak. In the uniform she looked just like the rest of the hunters and most people didn’t tend to look much further than that.

  “Coop,” said Norse. “Stay with them. Make sure the kid with the shotgun doesn’t get enthusiastic.”

  Coop nodded and went to stand over Anna and John, his Sterling 9mm SMG held ready as he glared around.

  Marie again took the lead, I followed, with Norse, Bolt and Frenchie behind me. Happy took position to our left, his G3 tight against his shoulder as he scanned ahead, and Hacker took the right, his belt-fed Minimi swinging across the buildings. Norse had his Steyr AUG and Frenchie had stubbornly clung to his FAMAS, both 5.56mm bullpup rifles and good in close quarters. Bolt had his Russian SVD sniper rifle covering our rear.

  I’m often of the opinion that there’s no such thing as too much firepower when it comes to vampires, and even with all those weapons around me I felt exposed.

  We were moving down a narrow street, Marie sniffing the air and leading the way when we heard the noise of breaking glass ahead. As we drew near we could see why.

  A pair of young vamps in matching leather jackets and with long, flowing hair stood in front of a house. One had just thrown a petrol bomb in through a broken window and flames were already licking around the frame.

  “Come out and play with us, little ones!” shrieked one vamp in a high-pitched voice.

  The other lit a second petrol bomb and threw it through a broken upstairs window, giggling manically. My FAL hit my shoulder and I shot him through the chest, spraying blood and tissue from the ragged exit wound. Marie was already in mid air, landing on the first vamp with teeth and claws flashing with reflected fire, tearing the bloodsucker apart and roaring her rage.

  A third vamp, a lit bottle in his hand, stepped out from the side of the house, his eyes widened as his companion died. Bolt hit him with a well-placed shot, shattering the bottle and spraying burning fuel all over his body. The vamp, a barely recognizable humanoid shape in a pillar of flame, screamed pitifully until Hacker tore him in half with a long burst.

  An old couple came staggering out of the house and collapsed, coughing and weeping on the road. I knelt by the man and shook his shoulder urgently.

  “Is there anyone else in there?” I asked.

  The man looked at me with brave eyes and shook his head before the coughing took over. His wife seemed a little better off and actually managed to speak.

  “Our son and his wife took the baby out the back way,” she gasped. “They’re making for the Wheatsheaf.”

  “Bolt, Hacker,” I ordered. “Go find them, make sure they get there.”

  Marie came back over, her hands and face streaked with blood. The woman from the house looked the werewolf up and down before breaking into a broad grin.

  “Did you do for that little bastard, dear?” she asked, nodding at the broken remains of the vampire.

  Marie nodded and bared her teeth in a grin.

  “Good girl,” said the woman.

  I gave her a questioning look.

  “Oh the werewolves were never any trouble,” she said with a dismissive wave. “Such a shame when the bloody vampires ran them off.”

  I suddenly noticed that neither Bolt nor Hacker had moved. I opened my mouth to yell at them when I was interrupted by the sound of slow, sardonic clapping. A figure stepped out of the night. He had long black hair held back with a scarlet ribbon and a pale, flawle
ss complexion. He was wearing tight leather trousers that bulged rather obviously around his crotch and a black silk shirt that was ruffled at the neck and cuffs. Vamps always seemed to like that flamboyant crap. He slowly applauded us as his lips parted in a sarcastic smile, showing pointed fangs.

  “Well done,” he purred, his voice touched by a faint European accent of some description. “You managed to kill my little pets, but I am here now.”

  I cursed silently. My FAL was pointing at the ground, what seemed like a mile away from the vamp. Mind tricks don’t work on Marie’s wolf side, so she and I were the only ones free to move. I bunched my muscles in anticipation. I would have to stand to shoot because the old couple was in the way.

  Marie inched slowly, circling the vampire, trying to distract him.

  “Oh no, my pretty little wolf,” he said seductively. “Stay where you are or I’ll have to order one of my new humans to kill you and that would be so tiresome. I’d dearly love to know how much punishment you could take in my bed. Such fun we will have together.”

  Frenchie, his face shiny with sweat, his shoulders shaking with the effort of fighting the vampire, raised his assault rifle and pointed it at Marie.

  “Shall I have the human kill you, little wolf?” the vampire asked.

  Marie and I moved at the same moment. I stood and raised my rifle in one fluid movement as she leapt to the side. The vampire made Frenchie pull the trigger, spraying rounds on full auto.

  My FAL roared its opinion—and my outrage—at the vamp, tearing a hole in his throat and blowing most of the back of his neck away. For some reason that broke his concentration, which was nice.

  The vamp stood, blood soaking his shirt and a stunned expression on his face as six guns swung towards him. His hand was raised, palm out, and he seemed to be struggling to speak. Seeing as there was nothing he could say that we wanted to hear, he died in a fusillade of silver-tipped rounds.

  Before the vamp had even hit the ground I was sprinting across to where Marie had landed. Her leg had a bloody wound where at least one of Frenchie’s shots had hit the mark and I went to my knees next to her. Frenchie stood anxiously, his eyes wide and frantic.