by J. C. Diem
“Thank you kindly for pointing that out to us all, Nicholas,” Gregor said dryly. His tweed suit was showing definite signs of wear and tear.
Realizing he’d made a gaffe, Nicholas tried to backtrack. “I did not mean to imply that you lack intelligence.”
“No, you just meant that I lack intelligence,” Geordie said with more than a hint of belligerence. His lower lip was beginning to pooch out, a sure sign that he was about to descend into a sulk.
“I believe a change in clothing is in order,” Gregor said to forestall a fight. Our belongings were stashed in the back of the van. I didn’t bother to change, my suit would last through another night. The dunking it had sustained in the creek last night had washed all of the bloodstains out. It didn’t take long for the group to change into fresh clothes.
Ishida and Kokoro joined me, followed by my friends and Nicholas as I retrieved the radio from the front seat of the van. Sanderson was waiting for me on the other end. “Are you there, Colonel?”
“What news do you have?” he replied immediately, forgoing offering me a greeting.
I really wasn’t looking forward to this conversation but with my friends and allies surrounding me, I had little choice. “We’re going to have to split into nine teams if we want to take down the remaining disciples and their servants.”
He was aware of how many of us there were and did the sums. “That will leave you with fairly poor odds,” Sanderson said doubtfully. “Do you think it’s time my men assisted you? We might not be as fast as your kind but I’d like to see a vampire try to outrun a flamethrower.”
Gregor nodded at me to accept the offer, not that I needed the urging. I was well aware of the needs of our group. “We do need your help and we’d appreciate the extra weaponry but there’s something else we require from your soldiers.” To my credit, I didn’t sound nearly as uncomfortable as I felt at broaching the subject of food.
Sanderson’s breath was indrawn when he came to the only possible conclusion to my inference. His voice dropped to a bare whisper so his men wouldn’t overhear him. “You want me to order my soldiers to let you drink their blood?” I could almost picture the veins pulsing in the American’s temple in fury at the very idea of it.
“We won’t be able to keep up the hunt if we’re weak from starvation,” I pointed out reasonably.
Keeping his voice low, the colonel couldn’t hide his anger. “What if my soldiers refuse to be sheep for you and your kind?”
I had an answer prepared because, if I were him, I wouldn’t have been very happy at forcing my people to offer their blood either and I knew he’d object. “Then you’d better get used to the idea of having a vampire overlord.”
Ishida almost cracked a smile at my quip. Geordie clapped a hand over his mouth to smother a giggle. I wasn’t the least bit amused after spending some time inside the Second’s thoughts. Maybe it was time to reveal what I knew about him. “Colonel, the creature in charge of these attacks isn’t just a mindless, blood crazed vampire. He’s smart, he’s ambitious and he’s adaptable.”
Swallowing an angry tirade before it could escape from him, Sanderson’s voice rose slightly in volume since we had switched topics. “Give me the bottom line, Natalie. What exactly are we facing here?”
Since he was being blunt, I decided I might as well be, too. “He plans to build an army of rabid fledglings that will number in the millions. He will then force you humans to submit to his authority. If you don’t, he’ll wipe out everyone on the planet.” All amusement faded from my friends at the news.
“How can you possibly know his plans in such detail?” Sanderson asked suspiciously.
“Because I’m Mortis,” I reminded him. “I’m different from the rest of my kind. I have dreams that come true nine times out of ten and that is what I saw.” Kokoro’s white eyes gazed directly at me. I wasn’t quite alone in the things that I saw. She and the Romanian prophet were both given flashes of our fate. I wondered uneasily if this made me some sort of prophet as well.
“I can’t make this decision alone,” Sanderson said curtly. “I’ll get back to you after I’ve spoken to General Merwe.” The colonel broke off our contact abruptly.
“I think that went well,” Geordie said tentatively and offered me a weak grin.
Nicholas naturally disagreed. “They will never agree to allow us to feed from their men.” Standing with his arms crossed, he looked down his nose at the teenager.
“They might not like it but they’ll agree,” Gregor countered. “They are intelligent men and they will quickly realize that they have no choice.”
Nicholas was about to make another snide comment when one of the Japanese guards went on the alert. She’d heard something in the jungle and motioned for us to be quiet. It was faint but I heard a group of people moving with complete lack of stealth in our direction. Great, what now? I chose not to voice my internal whine out loud.
Ishida’s guards melted out of sight and the rest of us did the same. Luc and I crouched down behind the van, swords in hand and ready for battle. I wanted to send out my senses to see if it was vampires approaching but it might be another diversion from the Second and I didn’t want to tip him off that I knew he was there.
“I think they’re just ahead,” a male said quietly. “I’m sure I heard people arguing a few seconds ago.”
He was speaking in French and Luc stood as he recognized the voice. It was familiar to me but it wasn’t until the group stepped out onto the track that I recognized them.
“Lord Lucentio,” Aventius said and offered my beloved a short bow. “I am glad we finally found you.” The aged vampire and his small band of followers had discarded the black robes they’d been wearing the last time I’d seen them. They had swapped them for normal clothing that would help them to blend in with humans. Then again, with his sunken cheeks, black bags beneath his eyes and fangs that were too prominent, Aventius would have trouble fitting in anywhere but with other vampires.
“We’ve come as you ordered,” snapped a young man that I had no trouble recognizing. “Now what do you expect us to do?” He directed the query at me, looking me up and down insultingly. “Build a tree house so you can rule over us in the middle of nowhere?”
“Joshua,” Aventius reprimanded his servant gently. “We swore our service to Mortis. Show her some respect.”
Turning still mostly green eyes on me, Joshua ignored the warning and sneered at my outfit. “Who do you think you are? Batgirl?”
Outraged, Geordie strode forward and did something totally unexpected. His hand connected with the back of the young vamp’s head with a slap that echoed around the area. Igor nodded his approval at his apprentice’s actions. Joshua stumbled forward a step and fumbled for the knife he’d shoved through his belt.
I could see this escalating into a free-for-all so made a decision I’d been hoping I’d never be forced into. “If you pull that knife, I will turn you into a slimy puddle of ooze,” I said to Joshua bluntly. His hand was on the hilt but he didn’t pull it. Aventius put a shaky hand on the young vamp’s shoulder. “None of you seem to realize that we are in a crisis situation here.” I met the eyes of each newcomer then turned to rake my gaze across the rest of the group. Ishida looked mildly affronted that I’d included him in my tirade but he allowed me to continue without interrupting. “I’d hoped we could all work together to take down the First’s disciples and their growing horde of servants. I see that’s not going to be possible without someone in charge.”
They could see where I was going with this and uneasy glances were exchanged. Some of the looks came from within my tightknit group of friends. I felt a stab of hurt at Luc’s fleeting doubt that he quickly masked. Fabulous, even Luc doesn’t think that I can pull this off. After all we’d been through together, I’d hoped that he would have had at least a modicum of faith in me. Why would he when he knows you better than anyone, my subconscious roused itself to mutter. It was one more treachery I didn’t need.
“Wha
t are you saying, Natalie?” Ishida asked. His young face was as bland as usual but I detected a hidden frown.
“I’m pulling rank,” was my blunt reply.
“You have no authority over me,” Ishida shot back. “I am the Emperor of the Japanese empire. I have been ruler for over ten thousand years.” Arrogance poured off the kid in palpable waves and he drew himself up so we were a match in height.
“Yeah? Well I’m Mortis and no one on this planet can top that.” He withered slightly beneath my glare. “Until we have killed every last disciple and their servants, I am now in charge.” Not even Nicholas was quite brave enough to challenge me openly. He quailed beneath my glare just like everyone else.
Kokoro placed a hand on Ishida’s shoulder in a show of support. Then she surprised us all and pulled the rug out from beneath him completely. “If we wish to survive as a species, we must follow Mortis’ command.”
“Who are you?” Joshua demanded then cringed when I narrowed my eyes at him.
“I am an oracle,” Kokoro replied calmly. “I have foreseen the fate of our kind and what will transpire if we do not follow Natalie.”
Aventius darted a glance at me before risking a question. “Perhaps you had better explain what will transpire.”
Casting her blind stare at the former Court Councillor, Kokoro’s answer was simple. “Death and then darkness.” She’d been keeping that little gem a secret but we were in dire enough trouble that she felt she had to be honest.
“What would you have us do, Mortis?” Ishida’s tone was formal and I mourned the loss of our friendship. Mourn later, my subconscious ordered. Survival is more important than friendship. If I’d had the time, I would have argued the point. What use was survival unless you had friends to share your life with?
At a quick count, we now had an army of just over one hundred vampires. Aventius had scooped up the small band of vamp’s we’d freed from their possessed master in Russia. They were a snaggle-toothed bunch of less than attractive specimens of our kind. He’d also found others that I didn’t recognize. All were frightened and uncomfortable with the idea of mingling with their hated adversaries.
“I’m going to split us evenly into nine groups. Don’t bother arguing with me or trying to swap around,” I warned them. “Just do as I say and I won’t unleash my holy marks on anyone.”
I chose Ishida as a team leader first simply because his people would revolt if I caused him any further insult. Kokoro automatically went with the teen, keeping her dainty hand on his shoulder as a guide. The emperor crossed his arms and stood very straight, pointedly not looking at me. His way of sulking was different from Geordie’s but just as annoying.
Luc, Gregor and Igor moved to the spots I indicated. My one true love didn’t argue but his jaw clenched when he realized we would be separated. Maybe if he’d believed in me for one second, I’d have kept us together, I thought bitterly. If I wanted to be completely honest, he was a far better leader than I was. We’d have a greater chance of success if we split up.
I chose Aventius to be leader for the next group and he bowed his head in either thanks or gratitude. As a Councillor of the Court, he was well used to being in charge. He’d be able to follow my orders and keep his band together.
My weapons instructor became the next leader. He inclined his head in acceptance and we exchanged polite bows. I chose two more of the Japanese guards I knew to be intelligent as well as clear headed. There were mutters from the Europeans at my show of favouritism but no one outright objected to my decision.
Geordie waited in an agony of suspense until I directed him to join Igor. His smile of relief lifted my spirits a little. Nicholas wore an expression of icy disdain that thawed slightly when I beckoned him to my side. Having him close wasn’t something I was looking forward to. I just didn’t trust him to be on any of the other teams. Luc’s jaw clenched again but he didn’t embarrass me by objecting to my decision out loud.
In just a few minutes, I’d split the teams up evenly. “I’m sure Colonel Sanderson will have radios for us so we can all keep in touch,” I told the unhappy groups. “We’ll need to coordinate our attacks if we want to take down all of the fledglings quickly.”
With excellent timing, Sanderson spoke through the radio I’d clipped to my belt. “Natalie, are you listening?”
“I’m here.” I kept my eyes on the uneasily shifting groups, watching to see if anyone would be stupid enough to disobey me and try to swap teams. I sincerely hoped they wouldn’t because I hadn’t been bluffing. I really would end the unlife of anyone who wasn’t on board with my plan. It would be regretful and I’d be sure to feel guilty for a while but they had to learn to work together. The human population might not know it yet but they were counting on us to end this disaster.
Sanderson updated me with the verdict on my demands. “General Merwe and I agree for our soldiers to feed your people on the condition that you will allow a thousand of our men to join your hunt.”
One thousand soldiers would help but more would be even better. I had a feeling that their survival rate would be low. “Make it two thousand and you’ve got a deal.”
The colonel nearly spluttered in surprise but quickly recovered. “Agreed. What is your current location?”
I estimated how many kilometres we’d travelled from the last village that had been attacked and advised him. They just had to follow the tracks we’d left and they’d find us easily enough. I didn’t need to request radios, his men would be equipped with them when they joined our ranks.
“Stay where you are and we’ll join you shortly,” Sanderson said curtly then his voice cut out. An awkward silence descended. No one seemed to want to brave my wrath.
“May we ask questions, Mortis?” Ishida said a few minutes later. “Is that at least permitted?” His tone was cool, verging on icy. So much for being afraid of my wrath.
Feeling the weight of fate or destiny pressing down on me, pushing me away from the people I cared about, I teetered on the edge of running away again. Why did this have to happen to me? I’m just a clothing store manager! How could I be responsible for the fate of both vampires and humans? Not for the first time, I wondered if someone or something had made a terrible mistake when they had picked me to be Mortis.
Unexpectedly, Geordie came to my rescue. “You might be a ten thousand year old Emperor but you’re acting like a spoiled little brat! Do you think Natalie wants to be in charge?” The teen cast a hand at me and Ishida unwillingly studied me. “She hates the idea of being a ruler. She’s doing this to try to save us all so you can cram your snotty attitude right up your imperial butt.”
Our small army was poised on the edge of imploding until Ishida cracked a tiny smile. “Tell me, Geordie, have you ever killed a zombie?”
Thrown by the change of topic, Geordie was momentarily baffled. “Everyone knows that zombies aren’t real.” Despite his claim, he seemed uncertain.
“I am speaking of computer zombies,” the child king clarified.
Recognition dawned and Geordie shook his head. “I have never played any kind of computer games.”
“When this is all over, you may visit our island if you wish. I will teach you how to master the art of computer gaming,” the emperor invited him.
Geordie stared at the other teenager with his mouth open in surprise. Igor nudged him discreetly and his apprentice graciously accepted the offer. “I would be very pleased to visit your island.” I wasn’t so sure the inhabitants of the island in question would be particularly happy to have him there but it wasn’t my call to make.
Chapter Fourteen
Engines rumbled in the distance and slowly drew closer. Sometime during the day, while we’d been sleeping, the soldiers had relocated the survivors to safety. Not that anywhere on the continent would be safe unless we worked fast to curb the outbreak of new vampires.
Sitting behind the wheel of a jeep, Colonel Sanderson led the convoy. General Merwe sat in the passenger seat beside hi
m. Their expressions were grim as they pulled over. I moved to meet them as they climbed out. A long line of army vehicles parked behind their vehicle in orderly lines. Most of the American and African soldiers remained in their vehicles. I caught frightened snippets of conversation all centred around one theme; they were petrified at the thought of being bitten by vampires.
Sanderson nodded at me in greeting and flicked a curious glance at the nine teams behind me. The general didn’t bother even a modicum of politeness and glared at me contemptuously. In any other circumstances, he’d have tried to kill me. When this was all over, he probably would. To him, I was an abomination that had no right even existing. After everything I’d been through and after all of the undead and imps that I’d killed, I wasn’t sure that I disagreed with him.
“Do you and your people want to feed from our soldiers now?” Sanderson asked. From the sweat beading his forehead, he was also terrified at the idea but he hid his fear better than his men.
No time like the present. The sooner they saw we weren’t going to tear out their jugulars, the quicker we could get on with our job. “Now would be best.” I didn’t want to weaken my standing with either soldier by consulting with the team leaders that I’d chosen. Everyone had to think of me as their ultimate leader or we’d lose cohesion and fall apart.
“You will feed from me,” Merwe stated, pointing at me and meeting my eyes squarely. Usually, men automatically fell to my evil charms when they stared into my eyes. I made a conscious effort not to ensnare him. If his men saw their leader becoming a mindless minion, they might react badly.
When Silvius had bitten me the first time, he hadn’t put me under and the experience had been very painful. I hoped Merwe wouldn’t suffer too much. If he started screaming and thrashing around in agony, his men would most likely panic and start shooting. While most of the soldiers were still in the trucks, enough heads poked out through windows that word would spread quickly when they witnessed the feeding.
“I’ll try not to hurt you,” I said to the general as I stepped closer. He very nearly backed away but clenched his hands and controlled his fear. I was glad he was short so it wouldn’t be quite so awkward to feed from him.
