Chronicles of the Uprising (Trilogy 1): Trilogy 1 (19 page)

Another shot fired, piercing her ribs. She couldn’t help the painful moan that caused her to release her prey.

Weaker now, and less filled with rage, the other vampire stumbled where he stood. He finally managed a coherent sentence: “Kill me.”

“Soon enough,” Mira replied. “But this guy has to die first.”

Another shot was fired, scraping the corner of her eye – dangerously close to a game ender. She couldn’t take much more. Despite the damned light in her face, she had to do something. And against her better judgment, she headed towards the searing light. As quickly as she could, Mira leapt on the handler.

For one trained to subdue a vampire, he went down more quickly than she’d expected, but not before squeezing off a few shots straight through her chest as she pinned him to the floor of the transport. The pain was near unbearable, but Mira had dealt with so much in her time that she managed to hold on to her sanity long enough to tear off the bastard’s helmet and dive at his neck. Ripping open his flesh, she drank until the pain subsided.

Then, when she had regained her composure, she lifted her head and stared into the handler’s fear-filled eyes. “You’ve tortured your last vampire.”

Before he could utter any words, Mira dove at his neck once more and ripped out his artery.

He’d bleed out in a matter of moments, and Mira watched every last second of the wretched human’s life fade away. Though she loathed to end life, this one deserved it. Payback for his own actions and all the handlers who’d tortured her over the years.

The UV torch fell from his limp hand rolled away. Satisfied, she lifted herself from the dead body and turned back towards the sickly vampire.

“Who are you? Why did you attack me?”

The vampire was large, probably close to seven feet tall and built thick and sold, but at that moment, he was a blob of man rocking on the ground like a sobbing child. “I… can’t… control. Ahhh it hurts. Just kill me.”

Nothing about him seemed right. And though admittedly she was not familiar with every vampire in the prison, he was definitely not a gladiator. “You’re new. Who made you?”

“Magistrate. I was…death sentence... prison reprieve.”

His revelation stole her voice. A sick feeling churned in her stomach. Life as she knew it – or rather life for the vampires in general – would never be the same. They’d done it. The humans had found the secret to making more vampires. They’d been dangerously close when they’d stolen her blood, though she’d assumed they were still a long ways off from actually accomplishing it. But now, here was the proof; and all vampire kind would be in danger.

“Please. Kill me,” the vampire begged. “It hurts… too much... pain.”

Hurts? That didn’t sound right at all. Unless maybe he was hungry. “You just need blood. Have what’s left of the handler.” She nodded to the lifeless lump.

“No. I can’t.”

It was then she noticed his teeth. Or lack thereof. Where his fangs were supposed to be were empty holes.

“What have they done to you?” This, Mira knew, was just the beginning of the new atrocities to be unleashed on vampire kind. They’d be slaughtered by the thousands now in the arena, and replaced endlessly by humans farmed out of the prison systems. A sick and terrible system devised by the Magistrate.

The vampire’s voice trembled with pain. “When I woke up...” He took a shaky breath. “I was in the transport. Needles injected me… If I attacked you… they’d make the pain stop.”

She’d tasted something familiar in his blood. Metallic and repelling. Mira darted into the transport and rummaged around. She spotted a vial next to the seat he’d been shackled to: silver nitrate.
Liquid silver. Of course. And in one so young. No wonder he was enraged.

“Please, kill me. I don’t want to live like this.”

No doubt he was in agony. “I could try to give you my blood.”

“I never wanted this. Please end my misery.”

Mira nodded. She’d had to do this on many occasions. She was not about to make the poor man beg. This was his wish.

Without another word she knelt down in front of him, placed a hand on either side of his head, and twisted—breaking his neck—ensuring he would be unconscious. Then, with all the force she could muster, she pushed her knee into his chest for leverage and ripped his head from his torso.

Taking a moment of silence as respect for her fallen brethren, she gently placed the head in the corpse’s arms. “Your pain is over.”

Listening for signs of any reinforcements, Mira scaled a large rock and scanned the horizon. Nothing, not even the call of wild beasts in the distance. It was as if all of nature was taking a moment of silence for the dead.

Satisfied the threat was over, Mira rushed back to her human companion.

Sarah huddled low where she’d been left to wait. “I heard fighting.”

“It’s over now.” Anger over what she’d just had to do soured Mira’s tone. “But we might be followed. We need to get back to the transport and get moving fast. You take the day shift.”

Sarah followed in Mira’s wake. Both women made quick work of reaching the transport. Not bothering to wake the others, Sarah and Mira took the front seats, started up the vehicle, and took off heading west.

Chapter 3

Pushing the limits of their vehicle’s solar batteries, taking shifts, driving without stopping, they reached the coast in a couple of days. Night had fallen, and Mira was glad for the ability to step outside and stretch her legs. Hundreds of miles from where they had left, she still felt as if there were eyes watching her every move. Glancing around nervously, Mira wondered if there might actually be someone out there in the badlands, watching. They’d already been followed once. Who knew how far the Magistrate’s reach went?

Something stirred within her – instinct, maybe, or just paranoia – but nervous energy had her jumping at twigs snapping under her feet. There was another sound, too – a rhythmic slapping and rushing from nearby.

Without telling the others where she was heading, Mira took a short walk toward the intriguing noises and found a sight she’d never imagined she’d in all her long years: the beach. Damage here from the great cataclysm was apparent. There was no gentle slope from the land to the beach to the water. Rocks as big as boulders bit into the land. Broken pieces of mountain lay where they’d fallen. In some places trees had been split and found ways to continue growing around their obstructions. The sea was mere steps from her rocky footpath.

Mira had never imagined such a savage and beautiful sight. Even before she’d been turned, she’d dreamed of seeing the ocean. Stories of monsters inhabiting the wastelands kept most humans from venturing too close. She never once thought she’d become one of those monsters, or that if she did, rather than be feared, she’d be enslaved for it.

Inky black water rushed up and retreated from the small shore made completely of glittering sea glass. Each beat of the water slapping the sand and then washing it away had a soothing and calming effect. And the air! Never had she smelled such a wonderful combination of salty and sweet. This place was truly wonderful, and she hoped that if Sanctuary were real, it was close by. She could certainly enjoy living near the sea. 

In the distance, a wolf howled, singing to the silvery moon above, confirming what she’d been feeling. Someone else was out there, or better yet, many someones, and they had been watching her this entire time. Others soon joined in the chorus. Beautiful and melodic in their harmony, Mira understood at once that these were not normal wolves. They were like her – sentient, part human, but more. Creatures that would be feared and persecuted by the humans. But unlike her, they were and had always been free.

Remembering what Theo had told her all those years ago, Mira ran back to the vehicle and shouted, “I beg your mercy and ask for sanctuary for me and my companions.” Theo had said she’d be welcomed in Sanctuary just for being a vampire, but she had to make it known that was her intention. Of course, it was more than thirty years ago that he’d said that. She could only hope the rules hadn’t changed since then.

Using all the power she could muster, she repeated the phrase again, putting as much conviction in her voice as she could manage, saying it loud enough for all to hear.

Lucian’s eyes tripled in size. He looked horrified and confused by Mira, fearful of what trouble she might have stirred up.

Curtis and Sarah, who’d been asleep, were suddenly not and were climbing out of the vehicle. Holding each other close, they scanned the horizon, silently mouthing, “What’s going on?” to Lucian.

He couldn’t provide any answers. Neither could Mira, though she was the one doing all of the shouting.  She wasn’t sure if what she was doing was going to work, but she had to try.

After the third time she repeated the phrase, the wolves silenced. The sudden hush was unsettling. Had she gotten through to them? Would they come? Would they be friendly?

Behind her, Lucian finally found his voice. “What exactly are you doing?”

“Asking for refuge within the borders of Sanctuary.”

“From who – the wolves?”

“Yes, exactly! I’d heard all the wolves had died off, but…”

Before she could finish her sentence a lone naked man appeared from behind some large boulders and walked unabashedly toward her.

She might have been a warrior and no stranger to the sight of a naked man, but to have it so proudly displayed in front of her was hard to ignore. A smile crept across her face against her best intentions to hold it back.
Hello, Wolfman!

The man, this wolf, was more than a treat to the eyes. Sun-bleached waves of golden hair framed a wide chiseled face. A light dusting of that same golden hair spread across his jaw and cheeks, giving him a wild and rugged look that Mira couldn’t help but find utterly appealing. As handsome as his face was, it was only the tip of the iceberg. Even in the moonlit glow, it was obvious that his body was just as sun-kissed as his hair. He was pure toned muscle and firmness that was obviously not the result of hours in the training gym. He lacked the bulk and hard lines that came from intense training; instead, his was all natural, long and lean. A physique that screamed freedom. Mira could imagine long hours spent running through the forests, not to escape but just to enjoy the wind through his hair and the thrill of the hunt.

“If you’re done drooling, would you mind telling me what you are doing out here” – the man sniffed at the air and immediately zeroed in on the vehicle Mira was standing in front of – “with three humans.”

“Drooling?” Arrogance was not a trait Mira enjoyed, but she couldn’t honestly admit that she hadn’t been appreciating his naked form. “No,” she lied. “Just shocked. I didn’t expect… well… Never mind. My name is Mira. I’m a…”

“I know what you are. I want to know why you’re here.” There was no good nature in his tone, and his body language said he was ready for a fight. Tight fists and twitchy muscles were never a good sign. Mira had had enough of fighting with her own kind in the last thirty-odd years; she’d rather not have to take on a wolf now. Her hopes of peace and sanctuary were already beginning to wane.

Opting for the diplomatic approach, Mira held her hands out to show she was unarmed. She took a deep calming breath and spoke slow and clear. “We seek Sanctuary. These humans are my companions. They helped me to escape from New Haven City, behind the Iron Gate. It’s possible we’re still being pursued, and we beg your mercy to allow us inside.”

His narrowed eyes flitted from Mira to the others cowering behind her. “Show yourselves,” he demanded. “Throw down any weapons and show me your hands.”

Lucian, Curtis, and Sarah stepped out from behind Mira’s shadow but did not walk forward. As ordered, they all held up their hands in surrender.

“We come in peace,” Mira said, still holding her tone low and calm. “These are my…” she was at a loss as to how to describe them. She knew the word she should say, but somehow found it hard to push past her lips. “They’ve taken care of me. Helped me to escape at great personal expense to themselves. They will be killed if they return to their city.”

“They will be dinner if they enter Sanctuary.” A smile broke the scowl across the wolfman’s face, but it was not friendly. He snapped his jaw and mock-lunged at Lucian. “My kind would eat them alive.”

Moving purely on instinct, Mira threw herself between Lucian and the wolfman. Fist raised, she snarled, “No one will touch them.”

In the distance, up on the surrounding hilltops, Mira caught the whites of eyes staring down on her, other wolves silently waiting to strike. A subtle reminder that they were not alone. Seven more by Mira’s quick count sat waiting for the moment to make their move. Given the circumstances, she expected no less. Wolves were pack animals; where one appeared, others would follow. And she and her companions were strangers in this land. She lowered her fists and addressed the wolfman in front of her. “We’re here as refugees in need of help. Please.”

“Sanctuary is a place for Otherkin, not humans,” he responded, his tone dangerously quiet.

Sanctuary was real. That fact alone trumped the foreboding feeling caused by the questionable nature of the wolves surrounding them. All those years spent dreaming about it. And now she was so close. But it was for her kind only. That was exactly what she had feared; the humans wouldn’t be allowed. “I can’t let them be… dinner, as you so tactfully put it.”

“And I cannot allow you to enter our Sanctuary with them.” He stood rigid as a statue before her, mouth set hard in a scowl aimed more at her companions than at her.

“I’m sure there can be exceptions made. We’ve come so far, risked so much.” She hoped appealing to his sympathetic side might work. If not, she’d challenge him.

“Which means what, exactly, to us? Uninvited, unwelcome, and unnecessary. That’s all you are.”
The wolfman scrutinized her silently, sizing her up.

“But—”

“Well, perhaps not you. I’m sure you have some valuable skills. As I understand it, vampires are fighters. And you are, in some fashion, one of us. Though you stink of human.”

The nice approach was not working. Mira prepared for plan B, tightening her hands into fists at her side. Fighting might not be her favorite pastime, but it was something she was damn good at. And, if she remembered anything about werewolves, it was that they were all about shows of strength. Alpha mentality and all that.

Surprisingly, his posture relaxed. “These rules are not of my choosing. I am only here to enforce them. And even if they could enter Sanctuary, they would not be safe among my kind.”

“I will protect them. I am a warrior.” Mira stood tall, puffing out her chest, and met the wolfman’s eyes.

He held her gaze long enough to show he was not intimidated by her, but his body remained relaxed. “Beyond the danger to their lives, the humans – no matter how much you trust them – are forbidden to know the location of our home. I am sure you understand why.”

Mira nodded. “I know more than most why you’d want to keep the humans away, but these ones are different.” She pointed to Lucian. “He risked his life and title to save me. And… I cannot leave them here. It’s not the honorable thing to do.”

“Humans have no honor and do not deserve to be honored by our kind.”

“That’s not true.”

“I’ve never met an honorable one.”

“How many humans have you met, then?”

“I’m not the one needing to prove my case.”

“They’ll die in this wilderness. I cannot leave them here.” She hadn’t intended to sound so desperate, but he was not backing down from his rigid stance.

“That is not my concern. If that is all, I’ll be on my way. Good luck.” The wolf man turned to walk away.

That was it. They’d come all this way and failed. No. There had to be some way to make this work.

“Wait. Please.” Mira ran after him. “May I at least ask for an audience with your leaders?”

His jaw tightened. He let out a sigh that was more growl than breath. “You may. But they” – he jabbed a finger at the humans – “will stay here.”

Mira turned to her people. “Can you make it out here for a little while?”

Lucian’s face hardened. He met the wolfman’s eyes straight on and, to Mira’s surprise, approached them both. “We’ll be a target here out in the open like this. What if the Magistrate comes looking for us?”

The wolfman shrugged and turned away from Lucian. “That is not my concern.”

“Of course not,” Mira whispered under her breath.

“As I said, you” – the wolfman pointed to Mira – “may enter. They may not. Work out the details among yourselves, but do it quickly. I have things to do.”

His abrasive attitude and lack of assistance was beginning to grate on her nerves, but Mira had no other choice. If she had to go to a higher power to repay her companions for their good deed to her, then she’d play nice with the wolfman long enough to make her case.

“Please give me a moment,” she said to the wolfman, and returned to her group. “The vehicle is a bit conspicuous. And we’re not certain of its tracking capabilities. You’ll have to leave it behind. Curtis, can you strip out whatever you think will be helpful?”

“I can try, but I doubt we’ll find much of anything to use out here.”

“We have to make due for a few days,” Mira said. “Does anyone know how to hunt or fish?”

Lucian smiled. “That’s something I can do. Used to hunt game in the badlands outside the city walls with my father when I was younger. I’m sure I can make an effort there.”

“That’s something. All you’ll need is some kind of shelter for the time being.” Mira turned back to the wolfman. “Is there any place they can take shelter in while I’m gone?”

“There are some rock caves up the coast a little way. They can only be reached on foot, so they should provide some protection.”

Shock momentarily took her voice. That was surprisingly helpful. Maybe the wolfman wasn’t so bad after all. “Better than nothing, I guess. Lucian, can you hole up there while I work things out with my people?”

“I wouldn’t be so quick to call them ‘your people,’” the wolfman corrected. “You may be Otherkin, like us, but you belong to the human world.”

How could this man say that to her? If he knew what she’d had to endure all these years, or how close she’d come to her own end before finding him, he would never accuse her of belonging to the human world. But how could he? He’d never known anything but freedom.