I leap down to the ground, my blood pounding, my head clear.
The older vamp is running towards me, lips drawn back from his teeth. He leaps into the air, his hands extended like claws.
I have the real thing. I step into his strike, sinking the claws on my left paw into his face, grinding them into the bone beneath. My right punches through his chest and I simply tear his head from his body.
The truck had stopped by a farm, a field of crops, on the other side, a dense group of trees. I drop the vampire's remains as I hear a groan from the back of the truck. I leap over the fence and start running.
CHAPTER
30
There was a knock at the door and Lucia called for whoever it was to enter.
"His Excellency Lord Huang," said the guard who opened the door.
The vampire who walked in the room was wearing a severely tailored dark suit and had long hair pulled into a braid that ran down his back. He stopped, his oriental features briefly registering mild surprise.
Once the guard had left us alone he bowed formally.
"You are the one called The Pagan, are you not?" he asked.
"I am," I replied.
"It was not such a leap," he replied, smiling slightly. "There are few humans who could be in here with ease, fewer still that would be welcomed by Lady Lucia so calmly."
Huang had a faint Japanese accent and a rigidly formal mode of speech.
"I must apologize for the actions of my servant," he went on. "and had you not already disposed of the problem I would gladly have offered you his head. Let me assure you that I had nothing to do with this ... outrage."
"I only disposed of part of the problem," I said. "I still have others to kill."
"Indeed, they must be punished. And they will be punished. Your mate should not have been taken if the target was you. It is dishonorable. The act of cowards."
Huang had spat the last word like it was the worst insult in the world. I wondered if he knew that Marie was a werewolf. Snatching me would have been less risky. Still, I found myself actually appreciating the sentiment for a second or two before reality asserted itself. Huang was doing the vampire's favorite trick: mouthing all the correct words and wringing his hands. It was the work of a rogue minority. It wasn't our fault. We will provide whatever assistance we can to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
Bullshit. Pure, bloodsucking bullshit.
Nevertheless, it could be useful.
"Thank you, Mr. Huang," I said politely. "My sentiments exactly."
"I offer my humble services in an attempt to expunge this stain upon my honor."
Humble services, my aunt Fanny, I thought. I recognized Huang, now that I saw him face to face. He was a majority shareholder in HPtD Media, which meant he not only ran the 24-hour vampire suckathon channel, but was the world's largest producer of vampire-funded movies, television and pornography. He also owned—outright—Huang Holdings Ltd, which meant he owned an airline that exclusively serviced vampiric needs, the third largest chain of hotels in the world, which is also the largest chain in the world dedicated solely to vampire clientele, and the third most profitable publishing house in the USA. On top of that, KnightStar Industries was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Huang Holdings Ltd. That meant KnightStar Security, KnightStar Armaments, KnightStar Specialist Vehicles, KnightStar Avionics, and, if not already, surely it was only a matter of time, KnightStar Nuclear Missiles. All that taken together meant that he, individually, legally, and solely, controlled more military hardware and almost as many trained troops as the President of the United States. According to the report I'd seen he was the 17th richest individual on the planet. And he was rising.
All thanks to US laws that allowed vampires rights like property ownership.
"I appreciate any help you can give," I said, keeping my voice level.
"It is my duty to offer," he said, bowing again. "And, if I may, I believe this help might begin immediately. I have been in contact with my people. My former employees were seen boarding a airplane just a few hours ago at your Birmingham International Airport."
"Where are they going?" I asked.
"Nashville International Airport in Tennessee."
"Then we have time," I said. "I have some contacts in the States. Enough to get the plane met when it lands."
"It has already landed," said Huang.
"What?" I exploded. "What the hell were they flying in?"
"A Swan."
I swore. I'd heard of the KnightStar Avionics Swan. It was a passenger jet based on the airframe of the USAF B-1B Lancer supersonic swing-wing bomber and heavily modified. It cost about ten times as much per mile as Concorde and could only carry a tenth of the passengers, but they rode in luxury—if they were vampires. Only five were in operation and all were part of the KnightStar Airlines fleet. Painted a glossy white, they really did look like swans with their long necks and wide wingspan.
"They loaded a large item onto a truck and drove away," he went on. "Nobody I spoke to knows what it was."
"I can guess," I said bleakly.
My heart sank. Without support from the Ministry—and I'd effectively burned those boats—the chances of me getting into the USA legally were pretty much nonexistent. And with those same boats in ashes the number of ways I could enter the country covertly were seriously curtailed. I was just wondering what the chances were of hopping a flight to Mexico or Canada and crossing the border when Huang offered an unexpected nugget of hope.
"Indeed," said Huang. "However, there is, at this time, another Swan at Birmingham International that is due to complete a flight to Washington Dulles Airport. It would be a small matter to have you registered as part of KnightStar Security and then you can freely come and go as part of an escort for a vampire client."
I had a bad taste in my mouth. I had a feeling I knew where this was going.
"A vampire client? Who?"
And then Huang surprised me.
CHAPTER
31
I made it to the treeline and crouched down to watch the road. The female vampire had staggered out of the back of the truck and was talking urgently on a cellphone. The car that had been following the truck, meanwhile, had driven up and disgorged a foursome of guards—two vampires, two humans—in maroon and black uniforms.
Traffic on the road was light but a passing car illuminated a road sign that made my jaw drop.
The road we had been traveling down was Interstate 75. In Tennessee. I was in America.
I shook myself, trying to throw off the shock. I had to move. This was no longer a simple matter of finding transport back south. Now I had to get out of the country. I briefly considered the British Embassy but wasn't that in Washington DC? I vaguely remembered that the British government had consulates all over the country but I had no way of knowing where the closest was. Was there one in Tennessee? I groped for the names of cities nearby. Knoxville? Nashville? Memphis? Those were the only ones I could remember. Would any of those have a consulate? And how far away were they?
The adrenaline of my escape was starting to wear off, leaving me drained, exhausted and groggy from the drugs, but when a second truck pulled up and what seemed like a platoon of soldiers in that same uniform got out I turned and ran.
CHAPTER
32
I hated this stupid uniform. It was a camouflage made up of black, maroon and dark gray swirls, obviously chosen for the visual effect more than any concealing qualities. The black-on-gray oriental dragon emblem on the shoulders did mark me as part of KnightStar Security and thus allowed me to openly carry my various weapons. I may look like a prat but at least I looked like a well-armed prat. The glossy black rampant bat badges—how charmingly cliché—on my collar identified me as holding the rank of Security Chief, which put me about as high on KnightStar's promotion ladder as a non-vampire could rise. I was standing at ease, my back to the gate we would be using, facing the long concourse, so I saw my client approaching.
She was dressed in black; a skirt that ended at the top of her calves over knee-length high-heeled boots and under a suit jacket. Anna looked every inch the cool, aloof, international jet-setting vampire. Beside her strode John, all in black right down to his sunglasses. To their left was Bolt, in a similar uniform to mine, his usual Dragunov sniper rifle replaced by a H&K MP5. To their right was Cam, also in KnightStar DPM, carrying what I recognized as an ARWEN 37 police-issue riot gun.
Behind the group was a sight that raised my eyebrows. Liam and Jason. Liam was dressed pretty much as normal, in his leather jacket and jeans that looked like he'd picked them for comfort rather than for style. Jason, however, was wearing a KnightStar uniform.
"Is everything ready, Henderson?" said Anna as they drew near.
"Yes ma'am," I said. "If you'll step this way."
I indicated a private departure lounge and Anna swept past me. To her credit she wasn't openly smiling at the change in our circumstances.
I turned to the two werewolves.
"Jason?" I said.
"I thought the presence of our friend might prove beneficial," said Liam, his eyes full of hidden meaning.
I got the message. Jason was coming with us for a specific purpose and would explain when we were somewhere less public. I got the message, but I didn't like it. Jason's presence was a fait accompli and I hated having that kind of decision taken out of my hands. I reluctantly agreed.
"Okay, Liam."
"You said you had a favor to ask me?" he said, acknowledging the doubt in my eyes.
"Yes, could you take this and look after it?"
I swung my FAL off of my shoulder.
"It's a little cumbersome for security work," I explained.
Liam nodded and took the big rifle.
The fact of the matter was that the modified battle rifle was easily recognizable and I wanted this to go off without a hitch.
"I'll make sure it's safe," he said.
"You didn't have any problems getting up here?" I asked.
"Not with an escort of twenty wolves and uniformed KnightStar agents driving their vehicles as an escort.”
"Well, be careful getting home, okay?" I said. "I've already managed to misplace one member of my new family. I don't want to lose any more."
Liam clapped me on the shoulder, almost driving me to my knees.
"Don't worry, brother," he said, lowering his voice. "Just do what you do best. Bring her home and make them pay."
I nodded.
"Stay safe, brother," I replied.
I led Jason into the departure lounge where everyone was waiting for me.
"How secure is this room?" asked Bolt bluntly.
"Very," I replied. "Sometimes it pays to have help in high places. I threw my new rank around and created a big fuss about confidentiality."
"Okay," said John with a nod. "So what's the big deal boss? What's the plan?"
"We go, we find her, we bring her back, we kill anything in our way."
"Isn't it great how he just overthinks his plans?" said Anna.
"I'm serious. We don't know a hell of a lot so we're effectively going in blind. I have arranged for some help on the other end."
"Help we can depend on?" asked John, meaning ours and not theirs.
"Yes, an old friend from back in the day. And he's under the impression that this is above board and sanctioned."
I took a deep breath.
"On that note I want to say something," I went on. "Should the shit hit the fan over this none of you knew this was under the table and off the books. As far as you're all aware this is an officially sanctioned rescue op."
"Jack," said Anna. "We can't—"
"No argument. I'm probably going down over this and I won't take any of you with me just because you were dumb enough to come running when I yelled for help."
I looked from face to face.
"I want your promise. When this is all over you all plead ignorance. If you can't give me your word on that you can just go home right now."
Each person gave me reluctant nods.
"I can't hear you," I said sarcastically.
Everyone gave me a variation on "yes, boss", which I decided to accept for now.
"Okay, Jason?"
The big werewolf grinned easily.
"Oh, I wouldn't worry. You lied to me just like you lied to everyone."
I laughed.
"That wasn't what I meant. Why are you here?"
"Oh, that. Liam believes that our best bet in finding your mate is to work through the werewolf population. They probably know more about what's going on than the President does."
"Okay," I said, giving the word that 'go on' spin.
"And I'll be doing duty as Liam's representative for you to their packs."
And the fact that, with Cam, we now had two whirling claw-equipped weapons of mass destruction with us, I mentally added. Jason was actually a really smart, gentle kid that nature had seen fit to build like a particularly muscular bull. If he could ever be persuaded to get his head out of cyberspace he'd be a one-wolf reign of terror.
"Is that for me?" I asked, indicating one of the two weapons he was carrying.
He handed it over. An MP5 for me and another for him. Yeah, we looked like a team but I don't particularly like SMGs. Limited range, limited accuracy, limited stopping power, limited armor penetration. Great for FIBUA but not much else.
I turned to Anna, my mouth open to ask a question, but she patted her jacket and smiled. She was armed, too.
"Okay, Mistress," I said, inclining my head. "Shall we depart?"
"Certainly, Henderson," she said, straight faced. "You've delayed me enough as it is."
"My humble apologies, Mistress," I replied, matching her serious demeanor. "Can you ever forgive me?"
"I could get used to this," said Anna to John.
"Yes, Mistress," he replied, bowing.
"That, too," she said with a speculative look.
"John, that spanking business?" I said.
"Soon as we get home, boss," John promised as Anna stuck her tongue out at me.
The jokes and innuendo we were casually tossing around might seem, from an outsider's perspective, to be a little out of place, considering we were about to illegally enter another country, hunt down the vampires who had kidnapped my mate and, having killed them, rescue her. But in reality nothing could be further than the truth. In our line of work sometimes you either choose to laugh or you're forced to cry. You figure it out.
CHAPTER
33
I was getting an education about Tennessee. When you think of Tennessee you think of Nashville, the self-proclaimed Music Capital of the World. You think of Elvis, of Graceland, of country and western music. You don't—or I didn't—think of practically mountainous hills covered in thick forests. That is what I found, and I was grateful for it. A vampire couldn't keep up with a purebreed werewolf on foot under normal circumstances, but with helicopters and radios I would have been in trouble. Under cover of the trees and running like my tail was on fire I left the accident behind and was losing myself in the dark. Still, I didn't slow down for a second. I had one aim and that was to put as much distance between me and the vampires as I possibly could.
I'd been running for over an hour, eating up the miles, when I ran headlong into another werewolf. We tumbled to the ground in a mess of limbs and I spun away. If I was in another pack's territory I was in trouble. I rose to a fighting crouch. I wasn't too worried about this one wolf. One halfbreed wouldn't trouble me physically, but he might have friends around. Without warning he launched himself at me, hitting me in the stomach and bowling me over. I threw him off of me and froze as a shot rang out. It was a high-powered rifle and a patch of tree-trunk an inch above my head exploded.
"Run!" barked the werewolf as he sprung to his feet.
I didn't need telling twice. I took off after the fleeing shape as more shots echoed around the woods.
CHAPTER
>
34
The Swan slowed to subsonic and lost altitude. There was a faint whirring sound, barely audible in the insulated cabin, as the plane's wings extended. We were coming into land at Washington Dulles airport, which serves Washington D.C. but isn't actually in Washington D.C., if my memory served. It was, I thought, in the state of Virginia.
We'd entered US airspace—illegally—and were about to land—illegally—on US soil. We would bypass customs and immigration checks—illegally—and, purely because the vampires wielded incredible amounts of money, we were going to get away with it. In America more than almost anywhere else in the world, money is power. Life, my Dad was fond of saying, is like a shit sandwich: The more bread you have, the less shit you eat. The vamps, it seemed, had so much bread they didn't eat any shit at all.
A part of me hated that the vamps wielded so much influence, whilst another part of me acknowledged just how difficult rescuing Marie would be without that self-same influence.
Even with help from Lucia and Huang this would be an uphill struggle. We had very little to go on and it was a big country. Huang had thought that the vampires who had taken her were actually working for a scumbag leech who lived in a sprawling estate in Tennessee. This leech went by the name of Antonio DeClerc and claimed most of the state as his. This was something new, too. Each state had it's own little fiefdoms, vampires who competed or cooperated depending upon their whims. It meant that I could count on having to face only DeClerc's vampires. The other vamps in the area would simply ignore us, waiting to see how it turned out so they could decide how best to take advantage of our presence.
Renegade (Ministry of Paranormal Research & Defence) Page 9
