Death Be Rising (The Terra Vane Series Book 7)

by Katie Epstein

  “Yes we have,” was all she said. We got to our feet and joined the others for a briefing on the madness to come.

  13

  We entered the tent in the middle of guys changing. They were almost done, but not before I caught sight of the angry welts across Kaleb’s back.

  “What the hell?” I stormed over to assess them further but he tugged his black shirt down before I could.

  “It’s nothing.”

  “Nothing?” I was ready to lose it, and he knew it.

  He turned to face me, his hands taking mine. “My wolf can’t help it at the moment. He’s trying to break out against my control. It’s affecting my body. But it won’t be for long. Tomorrow, maybe, after the moon…”

  “You could worsen! You can’t keep doing this.” I grabbed his arm. “You need to claim me!”

  He roared, snatching his jaws shut to quiet down. But something crossed his eyes, a flash of amber spiraling within them. He gripped my arms, sweeping his leg against mine. He caught me at the last moment, lowering me against the grassy floor.

  Pinning me down by my wrists, he growled. “I told you to stop saying that! Stop pushing it!”

  “Why?” I snapped back. Bernard and the others hovered close by.

  He roared. “I will not have you this way!”

  “Coward!” I yelled, goading him into it so he didn’t have to experience such pain—such conflict as his wolf raged to break free. Fire lit up in his eyes as he loosed my hands, and he grabbed hold of my hair, holding tight. But even in his fevered state, Kaleb couldn’t hurt me. He tried. Tried to squeeze it; to warn me against him. But where he’d thought he’d gone far enough, there was barely a pinch on my end. I silently dared him to do it—to do whatever he needed to give him release as the tension in his shoulders screamed pain. But before he could do anything else, Bernard pulled him off me, and Kaleb allowed it.

  “What’s going on?” Libby demanded. Grady helped me to my feet.

  “Terra…” Bernard held tight on to Kaleb who was trying to fight the change. “He keeps trying to shift into is wolf. What is going on?”

  The background noises from the outside, generators, trucks moving, people stirring, created a bubble of privacy.

  I replied, “Kaleb’s wolf has needed to claim me for a while now. The approaching full moon is making him worse. He’s struggling not to shift.”

  Bernard frowned. “So let him claim you.”

  “That’s what I’m trying to do.”

  “I’m. Not. Claiming. Her. Now.” Kaleb bit out.

  “Why not?” he demanded. “You want to don’t you?”

  That seemed to calm Kaleb. “Yes! But not yet. I’ll not to do it with a quickie in the trees or a fast bite on her neck. It’s a special time between a wolf and his mate. And she deserves special!”

  “Oh, give me a break,” Libby said, rolling her eyes. “Don’t deny something you threw me to the kerb for. You’ve desired this for a while. Am I right?”

  He looked at me, a crease in his brow. He nodded.

  “Terra,” she addressed me, “do you want Kaleb to claim you?”

  “Yes.”

  “She doesn’t understand—”

  “Don’t you speak or think for me,” I snapped at Kaleb. “I understand. Anya told me all about it. How serious it is. And I don’t need the pretty gown, or the making love for hours under the moonlight!”

  Bernard snorted and swallowed his laughter. Kaleb glowered at me.

  “Then what’s the issue?” Libby said. “Just go do the horizontal dance, get bitten, connected, or whatever the hell happens. Once that’s done, we’ll have Kaleb back on our side instead of being a lovesick pup wanting to shift every two minutes. We can’t go into this fight without him.”

  “You know nothing of this!” Kaleb roared, but she never flinched.

  “I know more you think, remember? And I’ve seen what waits for us outside. A bunch of dead puppets looking ready to turn feral at any moment. We need you in the fight, so deal with it and stop being such a pussy!”

  I bit down as my lips twitched, having no clue on what to say to that. It appeared Kaleb didn’t either. But his wolf had retreated. The distraction had given him back his control.

  Kaleb shrugged out of Bernard’s hold. “Get your damn noses out of my business,” he growled, tying his hair into a stubby ponytail at the back of his neck. He looked the part. Dressed in black-fitted combat gear, and anger besetting his features.

  “How about we have that briefing now?” Mayra suggested trying to defuse the situation. I agreed, giving Kaleb one last longing look while waiting for them all to take a seat. After we updated them on Mayra’s idea of the second shield, Zax asked me, “When are you wanting to go in?”

  I looked over at Grady. “Is it a necessity to involve the army in this?”

  “I don’t think they’re going to give you a chance. And if I’m honest, so far, with the visuals, we have up to three hundred and four zombies to take on. I’m aware you don’t want the military involved, but we need the numbers to hold ground.”

  “Damn it,” I whispered.

  “We’re not going in until first thing,” he reminded me. “It will give Mayra time to work on the shield and then we’ll have the advantage of daylight when we go in to fight. It will also provide us with time to pull together a strategy with Hanley.”

  I turned to Mayra. “That good enough for you?”

  “Yes. I’ll work with that.” She caught Libby’s eye. “And rest in between if needed.”

  “Okay.” I nodded. “Then that’s where we start. Grady, give us what you’ve got so far regarding bodies.”

  “We contacted the cemetery where they buried Judith Fitzgerald. Only three other graves were empty, all what once held bodies of people buried in the past couple of weeks. I’ll mark them on the map because we found others.” He reeled off the locations, the places he listed including morgues, other cemeteries, hospitals. “They all have one thing in common—they died in the past month, so that means the mage is aiming for fresher bodies. The consensus is they’re of different ages, races, and backgrounds. No kids we’ve found so far. But we prepare on the off chance.”

  “Kids?” Mayra gasped.

  “They’re vessels to him,” I explained. “But if he’s strategizing, if he’s learned enough about the humans, he may have targeted the bodies of children to throw us off.”

  Libby wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders. “They’re shells, Mayra. Nothing more. Their souls are already at peace, long gone.”

  “It’s awful,” she replied, her eyes wide as a tear escaped. “It’s disrespectful. Horrid.”

  “And we might see worse than that,” I told her. “I don’t think they’ll remain standing there while we stroll into the mall to take the mage down. We must fight our way through.”

  “And you doubt me,” she said. I wanted to tell her ‘no,’ but she shook her head, stopping me from doing so. “You should. I’m the weakest fighter here. But you’ll need me to go against him.”

  “I know that. We can’t do it without you.”

  “But you think I’ll be a hinderance. And you should. I am. But I’ll fight my damned hardest. And I won’t turn away from the horrors that await us in there.”

  “I know that,” I smiled, “I’ve seen what happens when people try to steal from your shop.”

  Her eyes twinkled, losing some of the sadness. “There is that.”

  I winked at her, then said to them all, “So we have the shield, a rough idea on number, and the preparation of the soldiers in hand with the demonstration. Grady and Karl are looking at strategies for entering and while we’re inside, so that leaves us with Dreven. What’s his background?”

  Zax put his hand. “I know!”

  I had to hide a smile at his enthusiasm. “Then take the floor, Zax.”

  He adjusted his specs and got to his feet, joining me near the board. “Dreven was born to a mage and a human. He worked hard to
reach all levels of mage as far as the Evolver’s could recall. They confirmed his level of power from the devastation he left behind as a eight point two zero. That’s high-level magic. He is also a necromancer, meaning he can raise the dead. He got that gift from his abusive father who used to beat both him and his mother. When the father killed her with an overzealous beating, he called her soul back into her decaying body and chained her there. Dreven’s dad never allowed him to leave the house until the day came when he killed his father with his athame by slashing his throat. He claims he did it to free his mother’s soul, but Dreven got a taste for killing. He enrolled at the schoolhouse, Portiside’s version of school and college all in one. He also worked for a blacksmith for a while, training hard to be strong physically, mentally. And magically before killing a load of people so he could then raise them from death as his puppets. Like a lot of serial killers he experimented on animals first, moved up to humans, and now he’s taken on the humans of Portiside.”

  “That’s impressive.”

  “Thanks. I’m good with facts. But Dreven’s story struck a chord with me. What he must have suffered during his youth. How on so many levels his father broke him, keeping his dead mother around, her soul locked as a prisoner in her own body. Put powerful magic in the hands of a sociopath like Dreven, and you’ll have no conscience to appeal to.”

  “So what will he want?” I asked.

  Zax didn’t have an answer for that and slinked back to his seat. But Bernard replied, “He’ll desire power. He will want to feel in control. And the one thing that evades him is it will never be enough, no matter how many worlds he commands or destroys. Dreven’s ambition will be to ensure no one sees him as weak ever again. He won’t be caged a second time. Or third if you count his upbringing.”

  Bernard’s past wasn’t a pretty one. He’d never told me the specifics, only ever alluded to it at times when he dropped his guard. The window to his soul opened for a few brief seconds at random moments. And I saw it inside him with the words he now spoke. Bernard didn’t speak from his opinion of Dreven. He spoke from a place of experience.

  “Do we have the reports from the prison on his behavior during that time?”

  Zax put his hand up once more. “We’ve assessed all the prisoners’ files. They put Dreven in the B-Wing where they suppress their magic. He showed signs of rage in the beginning. But then he played the model prisoner. He became a mentor for others in there, helping them on their path, supporting the Evolvers on the jobs around the prison. If not for one senior Evolver who refused to sign him off for the standard wing, he might have escaped sooner.”

  “What did the senior Evolver’s report say?”

  “That because of Dreven’s past and comments in his therapy sessions, he was grooming them to believe something different to what his true self believed. The Evolver refused to take him off the list of high-level danger. He had serious doubts he would ever reform, but needed time to support his theory. He wanted to remove Dreven from the magical circular for the rejuvenation package that keeps mages at an age they’d maintain as a free citizen.”

  My eyebrows raised in surprise. “They do that?”

  “Yes,” Mayra replied this time. “Citizen’s rights. They give a lot of Sapphire Citizens with magical gifts that as a privilege. On the outside they would have kept their youth and healing capabilities with their powers from the outside. They consider it a right for them to retain that. Unless it’s revoked because of a forthcoming death sentence. They do it for the Fey Emerald Citizens, too, only with a terraformed environment where they can connect to their elements while in the prison.”

  “How do I not know this?”

  “We’ve only ever transported prisoners to the outskirts,” Kaleb replied, looking more like himself. “They never allow us to go any further than that.”

  “Then how do you know?” I asked Mayra out of interest.

  She shrugged. “I used to date a guard who worked there. And it’s not as if they keep it all a secret. Even if they don’t advertise it.”

  “What are Evolvers?” Grady asked me, his brow furrowed.

  “Portiside’s version of scientists,” I replied. “They work for the labs that engineer and innovate around medicines, defense, energy. And some work for the prison. Their aim is to reform the prisoners through special technologies and innovations. My stepdad is one. And my roommate. They work over here, too, on occasion.”

  His eyes widened. “Are the government aware of them?”

  I scoffed. “No. Although, I believe we have Portiside supernaturals immersed in your government somewhere. Same across the world.”

  “Okay,” he exhaled. “And the citizens you mentioned?”

  “They categorize citizens with different bandings that represent their species. Sapphire Citizens include mages, witches, wizards, shamans, and psychics like me. They’d class you as an Amethyst citizen being human. If you ever live over there, I mean.”

  “Live over there?”

  Kaleb laughed. “Give him a break, Terra. Take it one step at a time.”

  Seeing the warmth return to his eyes settled me some. “All right. We’ll leave it there.” I checked my watch. “Let’s prepare for the demonstration. Mayra you need to rest. We’ll wake you once we’re done.”

  Everyone got to their feet, but I stopped them before they exited the tent. “Wait. I need you all to do me a favor when I try to sell a lie to the soldiers about the zombies.”

  “What’s that?” Bernard asked.

  “Know that if any of you laugh at my fake explanation for soldiers, I will kill you.”

  He guffawed at that. “Now you’ve got me all excited.”

  14

  Before the demonstration began, Bernard took me to one side.

  “Kaleb almost shifted into his wolf during the drive around the mall.”

  “What?”

  “When we drove out to take the pictures, his wolf was fine for a while. But when we didn’t return soon enough, the animal in him fought hard against Kaleb’s control. He sprouted fur on his face. Claws grew about an inch—and now I know why. But he reined it in. He must have the strength of ten shifters to do that. Or a stubbornness to match yours. And that’s high. Trust me.”

  “Bite me.”

  “I keep telling you. Never say that to a vampire.”

  He smirked. I punched him in the gut, knowing it would barely tickle him.

  “What was that for?” he said on a laugh.

  “I’m not certain. For being so cool under pressure and making me jealous. Because you can take the hit and I need a release. Pick one.”

  “You have a lot on your plate, my dear Terra. But you’re not alone. We’re all braving this shit storm together.”

  “I’m worried about him.”

  His face lost all humor. “So am I. He can’t be near you. He can’t be away from you. When I asked him about it, he just muttered something about the moon. But I noticed when we got back here he’s acting the part for your sake. As soon as your back is turned he can barely stand. He’s in constant pain.”

  “Mayra said there’s nothing she can do to help.” I clenched my fists. “But I can’t ask him to step away from the battle, Bernard. Even if I thought he’d go for it—which he wouldn’t—we’re at a serious disadvantage without him. I don’t know what to do.”

  “Maybe when he’s fighting it will take the edge off? The battle will distract the wolf in him for a time and stop him pining after you?”

  “Do you think that will work?”

  “If it’s the moon’s energy pulling at him, then any release is better than nothing, surely?”

  I nodded, hating the dread weaving its way into my stomach. “We’ll keep an eye on him. See how he does while training with the soldiers. I’ll make the call after that on him joining us. We’ll have to use a potion of Mayra’s to knock him out if he can’t manage it.”

  “He’ll be pissed.”

  “Better pissed than dead.”<
br />
  “There is that,” he smirked.

  “Did you take photos?”

  “A few.”

  He lifted the camera, and scrolled through the images, shielding the screen with his hand from the shine of the floodlights. They’d come on about half hour ago.

  I reviewed every photo. There weren’t as many zombies at the rear of the mall. But still a count over a hundred. “Grady’s right. We can’t go in without the help of the soldiers. And if we had our wits about us, we’d demanded they ship in a thousand more.”

  “You can’t risk that,” he replied. “And Dan knows it. That’s why he’s playing both the government here, and us, to make sure we maintain balance.”

  “What do you mean? Playing us?”

  “Giving us enough soldiers at our back to stand a fighting chance. Keeping others at bay to stop the wrong decisions being made. We’re the key to his problem. Or I should say the Consilium’s problem. He’s using us to his advantage.” He lowered both the camera and his voice. “Makes you wonder what sort of contacts Dan has over on this side. He’s not only used his authority to give FBI jurisdiction, but to have an army at his beck and call—all without the President and higher-ups getting involved. It also makes me wonder why the Senates would entrust such a thing to Dan in babysitting us when he’s only supposed to be a Finder. An elf who can seek gifts in others.”

  “What are you insinuating?”

  “I’m insinuating nothing,” he replied. “I’m merely voicing my thoughts.”

  I’m loyal to Dan. I’d jump in front of a bullet to save him. He’s gone the extra mile for me on several occasions. Not only by giving me a chance in Portiside but also by caring for me: getting me enrolled in the schoolhouse, asking me to work for the FBI on the odd case here and there. He’s given me a purpose, protected me, loved me. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for that man. Or elf.

  Dan cares. And there is no one on Earthside or otherwise who would make me think any differently. But even I had to admit that Bernard’s questions raised eyebrows.