Reclamation (Book 3 The Ravening Series) (20 page)

Beneath me Tintagelians went about their day as normally as any human would have. They greeted one another but where there may have been laughter and loud calls between humans, these were simply nods and quiet exchanges between the Tintagelians. No smiles were exchanged as heads bowed and they moved by one another.

A bell in the distance brought my attention back to the room beneath me. Though no one spoke, excitement rippled through the crowd as they all moved toward the river. I kept my head up as I tried to appear indifferent, but my eyes kept drifting to the spectacle beneath me as they all lined up at the edge of the river.

Another bell went off and from somewhere in the ship I heard a low rumble. I didn't know what had happened but the water in the river began to go down like someone had just pulled the plug from a bathtub. The olinade swirled down to the concrete looking bottom of the river bed and fell onto their rounded sides.

From somewhere within the ship, the sound of something opening reverberated throughout and a small rumble began to shake the step beneath my feet. In a torrent of red, a wave of blood rushed through the empty basin beneath me. Like a fishing bobber, the fruit popped back up to the top as the blood followed the route of the river throughout the ship.

Saliva filled my mouth; my stomach rumbled as the Tintagelians dipped large goblets into the blood and lifted them to their mouths. The olinade danced and swirled throughout and a light bulb went off in my head as to how the fruit had acquired its sweet, coppery taste. Revulsion swirled through me but I couldn't shake the pulsing hunger that the scene beneath me awakened.

This level of greed and gluttony was what I had expected all along as they gulped down their goblets and went back for more. Some dipped down and took hold of the softball sized olinade with both hands. They wiped away the pink juice that trickled from the corners of their mouths as they eagerly ate it.

After the initial rush of blood the viscous liquid settled down to a few inches off the bottom of the basin, a few inches that was quickly consumed by the thousands lining it like pigs lining a trough. With the fourth goblet load by each Tintagelian the blood was nothing more than streaks along the side of the trench beneath me.

The faint grinding of gears reverberated through the ship again and fresh water flowed forth. Water that served as nothing more than a device to wash away the blood, and as a reminder of the once fertile land that The Ancients had ravaged.

I lifted my eyes from the room beneath me as they all resumed their day again and the walls surrounded me once more. Relief filled me as the step came to a halt at the beginning of a hallway. I stepped off and searched up and down for any enemies, but there was no one about.

"It was very calm from here on out," Jessica said in a strained voice. I knew how she felt. My body fairly vibrated with the need to feed that being in the container had awakened, but the river of blood had fanned the flames of hunger to nearly uncontrollable levels. I felt sorry for anyone that got in our way between here and the Hallowed room. "This way."

I stayed close on her heels as she turned to the right and led the way down the hall. We slipped around another corner and doors began to roll out before us in an endless aisle that reminded me of the cabins I'd seen on cruise ships. There were even more rooms here though and I didn't think anyone would make it off alive when this ship went down.

Our footsteps were muffled by the floor beneath us as we moved forward. It wasn't carpet underfoot, but the material the floor was made out of was almost spongy beneath my feet as it gave way a little with each step. The doors on either side of me were a white crystalline color that resembled the crystals in the main room and the one that I had thrown away all those years ago. The more I studied the doors though, the more I realized that they were made up of a different type of stone as they gradually began to change color to a deeper pink. By the time we made it to the end of the hall they were all a deep orange and becoming steadily redder.

At the end of the hall was another wall with stairs that curled upward. "How much time did you spend up here before?" I asked Jessica as she bypassed the stairs and moved down another hall.

"It took me two days to find the Hallowed room and a whole lot of wrong turns."

I imagined that it had as she stopped before a different alcove. She took a deep breath, set her shoulders and took a step forward. I watched as the step appeared but instead of going up or forward, it began a steady descent straight down. For the first ten feet I could see her head and then the floor reformed beneath me. Walls enveloped me as I stepped onto the stair behind her and began my descent into the bowels of the ship once more.

After what we had seen in the last basement area, I wasn't looking forward to this, but as the stair reached the bottom I discovered we were only in another hall. Jessica waited till everyone had arrived before nodding toward the right and creeping forward. Following behind, I kept my breathing as silent as possible as we moved onward.

We rounded a corner and a massive, arched door came into view at the end of the hall. It was made of the same crystal as the other doors but it was a lot larger and an angry, mottled red. Jessica stopped before the door and pointed to the pad next to it. I recognized instantly that a sample of our DNA would be needed to get the doors to open. Only it wasn't
our
DNA that this pad would accept. My hands fell to the bombs tucked within my shirt as I studied the formidable door before us. I wasn't sure they would be enough to get us through the layer of rock currently blocking our path.

"Are you sure this is it?" Betty asked.

"The only other area of the ship that I was never able to gain access to was the corridor that The Ancients slept in. However I don't think they would keep The Fountain in the same area as their sleeping quarters. I don't know where else the Hallowed room would be, and judging by the size of this crystal I would assume there's something important being protected by it," Jessica answered.

"This is the only chance we have, if we use one of those bombs it's all over for us. They'll know we're here," Craig said.

"We always knew it was likely that we weren't getting off of this ship," I said as I pulled a bomb out.

"Better make it two," Steve said.

"That could bring the ceiling down on us."

He glanced at the walls above us and nodded. "You're right, let's just hope one will be enough."

I was thinking the same thing as they retreated around the corner and I pulled the lighter from my pocket. I took a deep breath, lit the fuse and placed it firmly against the crystal wall. Turning, I sped down the hall and around the corner where I braced myself for the explosion. The force of the blast caused the ship to lurch beneath my feet. I was thrown against the wall but managed to catch my balance before I fell over completely.

Sirens began to blare and orange strobe lights flashed over the walls and floor in a dizzying pattern. If the bomb hadn't alerted everyone to our presence on board, there was definitely no hiding it now. Pushing off the wall, I braced myself before stepping around the corner. The bomb hadn't completely destroyed the crystal, but it had knocked a good four foot round hole into the base of it.

"Let's go," I said as I hurried toward a room I was certain no one other than The Ancients had ever entered into.

Bethany,

"Bethany." Bishop stuck the cotton ball against my arm as Aiden appeared in the doorway of the small house we had chosen to use as a makeshift research facility. Bishop had uncovered a small microscope and a couple of slides in a teenager's room. He'd found some needles in a medicine cabinet beside some insulin. It wasn't much, but he had chosen today to return to examining my blood. I wasn't enjoying being stuck again, but I was actually grateful for the distraction from thoughts of Cade that he was providing. The look in Aiden's eyes caused me to jump off the chair I had been perched upon though.

"What is it?" I demanded.

"The ship."

A sick feeling settled in the pit of my stomach as I grabbed my gun from the table and hurried toward the doorway. The ship hovering in the distance appeared perfectly normal except for the small puff of smoke that was now trailing from the side of it. My heart plummeted into my feet; it took me a minute to catch my breath as terror constricted my chest and tears clogged my throat.

I would have much preferred to have been on that ship, to know what was going on, what he was doing and if he was ok. I understood that I couldn't be there, but as I watched the last of the smoke drift away I would have given anything to be with him.

"Cade," I breathed.

Lloyd looked at me over his shoulder as Bret squeezed my arm. "I'm sure he's fine," Bret assured me.

I nodded but I didn't believe him. Molly stepped forward and took both of Aiden's hands within hers as I waited breathlessly for something more to happen. I didn't know how much time passed but it felt like hours as my muscles became rigid and my neck was so stiff I could barely move it. The sound of Bishop's steps on the porch finally tore my attention away from the ship. "I have something to show you."

I frowned at Bret and Aiden as the doctor retreated into the house again. Forcing one foot in front of the other I followed Bishop into the house. I felt as if I'd just downed twenty sodas as my hands wouldn't stop fidgeting and jumping everywhere as I hovered behind the doctor. It was taking everything I had not to return outside to watch the ship, but driving myself crazy wasn't going to do anyone any good.

"Take a look," Bishop said and gestured toward the microscope set up on the table.

Uncertain if I wanted to see what it would reveal, I took a deep breath and cautiously approached it. Bending down I peered through the lens to the slide before me. As I watched one cell began to mix and blend with another. The invaded cell shriveled like a raisin and appeared to die.

"What am I looking at?" I was happy that my voice didn't shake.

"Your blood cells attacking my blood cells," Bishop answered.

My knees shook as I stepped away from the microscope. "So my blood won't help to keep you moving if they do release another form of the gas?"

"It won't keep me moving; in fact it will kill me. I'd like to test the others though, especially your siblings."

I nodded as I glanced over my shoulder at Abby and Aiden. Aiden was sitting at the table with Bret, Jenna and Molly. Abby was curled up on the couch behind them; her hands were tucked under her head as she slept. She looked so young and vulnerable that it tugged at my heart. Her boyfriend, Matt was curled up on the other end of the couch with his feet entwined with hers. On the floor before them Barney had one eye open as the dog watched everyone.

Aiden leaned over and kissed Molly, his hand trailed over her cheek before he walked away from her and began to roll up his sleeve. "Bethany." I turned back to Bishop as he pulled out another syringe and began to prep it for Aiden. "There is one good thing going on right now."

"That is?" I prompted when he became more focused on Aiden's vein than what he had been saying.

"Your cells have completely stabilized. There are no new changes in them and they are no longer being taken over. Whatever changes your body was going through are over with now."

Relief filled me as I nodded. I didn't mind being faster and being able to see and hear better, who would? I didn't even mind the craving for red meat or blood as long as that was all I would have to deal with. It was a far better alternative to being frozen. But it was petrifying to think that my body may have just kept changing to the point that I became someone I might not recognize anymore; someone that started to attack and feed on people, someone that could no longer be trusted around my loved ones. I knew that Cade wasn't like that, but no one had known what it was that I would become.

Rosemary had said the others that had received blood were fine too, but there had been no way to know what would happen after more time past. Bishop had given me that answer though, this was who I was, who I would be from now on, and I was beyond happy with that.

"That
is
good," I whispered.

He offered me a small smile before focusing on Aiden again. Stepping back into the doorway my gaze instantly returned to the ship.
Cade had made it that far, that was something at least
, I told myself. This standing here, impotently waiting though was enough to drive a person mad as I swiftly moved down the stairs.

Lloyd rested his rifle against his shoulder when I stepped beside him again. His eyes remained distant and cold as his gaze ran over me. He'd never been the warmest of people but I'd considered him a friend, and ally. I would give anything to fix what was wrong between us but I didn't think that was possible. He had trusted me and I had betrayed that trust. I'd chosen my path and now I would have to accept the fact that I may never get his trust back, that I deserved his disapproval.

"Any luck?" he inquired dryly.

"No. Bishop's testing Aiden now."

He nodded as he turned away again. My eyes focused on the menacing alien vessel that had been marring our sky for far too long. I wished I could see through the damn thing to what was going on inside. The not knowing was the worst part but I thought I would feel it if something were to happen to Cade.

But what if I didn't?

I turned around and paced back to the house as Aiden appeared in the doorway. "Anything different with your blood?" I asked.

Aiden shook his head. "No."

My shoulders slumped, if my blood didn't help them than they were all screwed if the aliens decided to release a new gas. I could take a lot, but I didn't think I could take losing everyone that I loved and cared about. I turned away from them and stalked to the edge of the clearing. Deep within the shadows of the forest, I thought I spotted movement amongst the trees. Frowning, I brought my gun before me as I drew within myself like Cade had taught me to do. Searching amongst the shadows, I tried to pick out what it was that I sensed out there, but I didn't see it again.

A chill crept down my spine as I took a quick step back. "There's something out there," I hissed.

"Where?" Lloyd demanded as he appeared at my shoulder.

"I'm not sure."

Another shadow seemed to flit through the woods but I saw nothing as I turned to follow it. I was straining to see through the trees when screaming erupted at the encampment. Lloyd didn't bother to look back before running into the woods toward the people we had left behind. "Stay here!" I yelled at Aiden and the others before taking off into the forest after him.

I caught up and past by Lloyd before we were halfway to the encampment. I jumped and darted around the obstacles in my way as the woods raced by in a blur of tree trunks and branches. This new found strength and speed was amazing, and though I was frightened by what was going on, I was also exhilarated by the power that coursed through me. I wasn't even breathing heavily by the time I arrived at the compound.

It took me only a second to understand the source of the chaos as people ran screaming in multiple directions at once. Three of the giant octopus/tick like Seekers had invaded the camp and were in the process of hunting down as many people as they could.

I didn't know how they had discovered us, but the small bit of security we had found here was effectively ruined. I lifted my rifle to my shoulder and began to fire as one of the creatures picked up a young girl and slammed her viciously into the ground. More Seekers emerged from the woods as screams reverberated through the air and the monsters began to swarm us.

***

Cade,

I ducked down and moved rapidly through the hole into the room beyond. I hadn't known what to expect but I took a large step back as I found myself on a golden balcony that overlooked a tree with its roots embedded in a glimmering pool of water. The tree stretched almost to the top of the domed ceiling. Its boughs were full of thick green, red, and orange leaves that didn't appear to be about ready to fall from it but instead seemed to be the actual hue of the tree. Thick golden fruit that I didn't recognize hung from the lower boughs; the weight of them pulled the tips of the branches into the clear purple water below.

I didn't know what out of this would be considered The Fountain, whether it was the tree itself, the water, the fruit, or perhaps it was everything working together, but I was certain that we had just discovered the source of The Ancients immortality.

The room must have been designed to jut out of the side of the ship, instead of being nestled securely into the bottom like I had originally thought, as the domed roof was translucent enough to see the sun beyond. The rays spilling into the vast room caused a myriad of gold, silver, and blue colors to dance across the white marble floor. Tapestries full of vibrant colors and breathtaking scenes hung from the walls. There were strange animals on some of them. Some of the animals appeared docile but others looked like they could rip my head off with one swipe of their car sized paws. Other tapestries also depicted scenes from different planets, with strange looking species that most certainly weren't human, but I suspected they'd also fallen victim to my people.

There were three tapestries of earth within the mix of thirty or more. They depicted sparkling blue oceans, rolling fields, animals, the pyramids, Big Ben, what I assumed was the Grand Canyon, and one of people gathered before a fire with their heads bowed as if in prayer. A tug of longing pulled at my heart as my thoughts turned to Bethany. At least she was safe right now, and if we were successful she would continue to be so, for what I hoped was a very long life.

"This is not what I was expecting," Jessica whispered from beside me.

"None of this was what I was expecting," I told her. "Let's go."

These stairs didn't move but were more what we were used to as they wound down to the bottom in a twisting design that was beginning to annoy me by the time we were a quarter of the way down. Grabbing hold of the banister I kicked my feet up and propelled myself over the side. It was a fifty foot drop, but I barely felt the impact as one of my knees bent to rest on the ground.

Rising, I raced across the floor as I narrowed in on the tree and pond. I didn't know what I was going to do with it, blow it up or poison it, but I had the driving urge to get to it soon. Behind me, I heard the muted sound of the others shoes hitting the hard floor. Climbing onto the lip of the small wall surrounding the pool of water, I couldn't help but feel repulsed as I saw what the wall surrounding The Fountain had hidden.

The roots of the tree were fibrous and crimson in color as they moved like eels seeking a meal in the water. The fine hairs covering the roots rippled over and all pointed toward me as they seemed to sense me standing on the ledge. As one, the roots rushed forward and I swore I could almost hear eager chatter amongst them as they crashed against the wall beneath my feet.

"
This
is the source of their immortality?" Becky inquired in a low whisper from behind me.

"I don't know what
this
is, but it's awful," Jessica murmured.

"Is it the water or the tree?" Craig asked.

"It doesn't matter, we're going to destroy it all," I said as one of the roots began to slide up the wall toward me. I didn't move away from it as it broke free of the water. The fact that it was out of the water didn't slow it as it slithered upward and that odd sound of excitement continued to resonate in my ears.

"They feed it too," Jessica whispered. "They feed it humans."

"No," I said as I stepped off the ledge. "They feed it
us
. Our vitality, our life source runs this thing and in turn it runs
them
."

Betty inhaled sharply as Jessica's face scrunched up. Craig and Steve took an abrupt step back as the tip of the root thrust over top of the ledge and began to poke around. "That's disturbing," Craig said.

"And right, I believe he's right," Jessica croaked.

"They must have been crazy to drink or eat from this originally," Steve muttered as he eyed the fruit like it was going to bite him, which I wasn't entirely sure that it wouldn't.

"They're not exactly sane," I replied.

"Well that's not very nice." A cold chill ran down my spine as I froze in the act of pulling out another pipe bomb from within my shirt. My head came up as from behind the tree eight Tintagelians began to emerge. I hadn't seen them in years but I knew immediately that The Ancients had just arrived.