The Dead War Series (Book 2): Desperate Times (20 page)

“Five thousand, forty-seven, in Atlanta, Master,” Dahnay replied. “Three-thousand, seven-hundred and ninety-four in Miami, sir. We have enough for each of our four-thousand, nine hundred and thirty-seven vampires combined... and then some.”

“Very well, tell everyone to lock down. No one goes out until I give word,” Ade said, then he raised his hand. “One thing, I would have you pay a visit to St. Louis. Cassian is there, it's where he's taken sanctuary.”

“Two Masters, one territory. I don't see that ending well,” Dahnay said, giving a harsh chuckle as the prospects flowing through her mind of warring factions.

“Ovidius is his. He wouldn't dare challenge him. But the balance of power will have to be respected between the two. As far as last minutes plans, go... it was the best he could do considering he obviously didn't plan for such an attack. Arrogant as always, although I'm sure he would disagree.” Ade made an offhand gesture. “Regardless, whatever resources they were able to gather from that miserable little lab in Chicago will most likely not be enough. They will need what we've gathered, therefore, I would make a bargain with them.”

Dahnay's shoulders tensed, but she remained silent as she waited to hear what her Master wanted her to relay.

“I would like all of the research data they have on hand in exchange for whatever resources we have that they will no doubt need, I'm sure.  Let them know this offer will be extended only once and if they refuse, our fate will be our fate. I will not seek to help them again,” Ade said. “Do you understand my orders?”

Dahnay nodded once. “Yes Master. You want to work on a cure, as well?”

“Of course. This... whatever this is, affects us all. I would have had the scientists brought here upon arrival had he not intercepted their route.” He turned back around to look at the monitors again.

“What about that scientist? Shouldn't we bring him here?” Dahnay asked.

Ade chuckled deeply, the rumble vibrating through his chest. “Cassian's no fool. That scientist is on every vampire’s most-wanted list. He'll turn him, I'm sure. Bind the man to him, it's what I'd do. I would be surely turned down if I were to make that part of my bargain. No, at this point, the research is good enough. If he agrees, it will open our lines for collaboration in the coming days.”

“Very well. I'll leave now,” Dahnay turned and Ade calling her name stopped her. “Yes, Master.”

Ade looked at her over his shoulder. “Be careful. Do not get bitten, I don't want to risk you being eliminated by another Master.”

“Trust me, I will be careful. I'll take two blades with me,” she gave him a cocky half smile then turned and walked away towards the winding staircase that would lead her to the mansion that was several stories above ground. The main mansion was dark, all of the titanium shutters were sealed over the windows and doors. She would take the roof access through the attic, but first, she went to the weapons room.

The room was filled, wall-to-wall with weapons and cabinets that contained even more weapons. If it was one thing vampires invested in, it was weaponry in all its many glorious forms. At any time a war could break out between covens and one must always be prepared. It was also the reason why vampires were very particular about who they turned. Warriors first and foremost. Men and women who were born to fight and had no qualms about killing. It was why she'd been chosen. In her village, she was a great hunter, but she was an even better fighter. Fearless and savage in her attack against her enemy. She was a rarity, even when she was human, but it was that reason alone why Ade turned her himself, giving her the status of Lieutenant. A position coveted by all and held by only four. The second life skill that was important to vampires were people who knew how to create things. Architects, contractors, mechanics, engineers, seamstresses, etc. It was how Ade was able to build so many bunkers. The human had to be of use. The only professions they didn't need were scientists, doctors... that is, until now.

She walked to a section of the room where the Katanas rested on hooks and shelves on the wall. Taking two off, along with the double back sheath, she strapped up and slid the deadly weapons into the sheaths comfortably on her back. Dahnay wasted little time making her way to the attic exit and taking flight. She'd never met Cassian or Ovidius, but both Masters were well known. Cassian more so for his sheer brutality when it came to warring with other covens. He was an extremely powerful vampire, the second most powerful next to Ade. She was hoping he wouldn't take his wrath out on the messenger. If he did, it would surely incite a war between him and Ade and that worried her. Risking a war in the middle of a zombie apocalypse would surely result in more deaths and probably little results. But she was getting ahead of herself. Deliver the message, that was first and foremost. This was the one time in history where it would be advantageous for vampires to work together. Their survival counted on it. As the wind whipped through her red and black streaked braided locks, she looked down below and could see the horror with her own eyes. Everywhere she looked people were being eaten alive. They were screaming for help, running with nowhere to go. She couldn't save them... at this point, no one could. It would take her a few hours to get to St. Louis, so she pressed forward using just enough energy to increase her speed but not to drain her entirely too early. She would have to take a break at least once, but time was ever of the essence.

~*~

Dahnay landed on the rooftop of the
Costco
store. Both Cassian and Ovidius stood before her having sensed her aura the moment she entered their territory. It also helped that she sent a mental message to the strongest aura beseeching safe passage. She bowed to both Masters, as was the custom among their kind.

“Master Cassian and Master Ovidius, I thank you for allowing me passage,” Dahnay greeted.

“Your purpose for requesting?” Cassian asked, his tone curt and precise.

Dahnay nodded. “My name is Dahnay and my Master, Ade, has sent me with a message.” She relayed the message word for word, what Ade wanted her to tell them. “He will only extend his hand this once.”

Cassian stood before her, arms crossed over his broad chest. He smirked as he thought about the bargain. He turned towards Ovidius, to see if the other Master vampire was as put off as he was. Ovidius' brows were creased slightly, but he remained silent as he pondered the offer.

“What good would all of the resources he acquired from the CDC do him without the data from SciTech Labs? Tell your Master, I don't take kindly to weak threats. He needs what I have, not the other way around. Now, answer me this, has he taken over the CDC?” Cassian asked. He stood still, like a statue with a presence that was just as menacing and authoritative as that of Ade's.

“No, sirs. My Master has a few numerous underground bunkers in both his Atlanta and Miami territories. Plenty of humans to feed from with a
wealth
of resources and comforts.” Okay, she didn't have to brag, but damn it, Cassian's arrogance pissed her off. He may have thought he was quick by arranging from what she could see was a damn good stronghold, but still... it didn't beat the bunkers with their own generators, ventilation systems, beds, food for the humans and other amenities.

Cassian's jaw tightened as her boasts didn't go unnoticed. “Watch your tone,” he warned.

Dahnay's shoulders stiffened, but she kept herself in check, only giving the Master a bow of her head in a show of humility and respect which was expected of her. “Apologies, sirs, I meant no disrespect,” she lied.

Cassian snorted. “I would have more from your Master if I agree to share our data with him.”

“Sir?” Dahnay looked up, her brows arched in her curiosity.

Ovidius spared a barely perceptible glance towards Cassian, but he remained silent still, waiting to see what was going to transpire. His outward appearance was calm, cool and collective as he stood beside Cassian, hands casually placed in his side pants pockets. Internally, he was seething with rage and mentally trying to connect with Cassian who had put up his mental walls blocking his communication.

“I would have a vow from your Master. A treaty if you will, that he will join with our covens if we were to come under a declaration of war. Also, a mutual sharing of our resources. If he is in need of what we have, we would be obligated to share and vice-versa. It would be far better to have us as allies than enemies.” Cassian looked at Ovidius, he knew his child was raging, having not been consulted, but this was more so a matter of self-preservation that the younger Master wasn't aware of and didn't fully concern him. He returned his cold, blue gaze back to Dahnay.

“This was not the response my Master was expecting. He make not take kindly to it,” Dahnay said, her eyes narrowing as she watched the crafty and manipulative Master vampire before her.

“It is my terms if he seeks our research data. Please remind him that his scientists, which I'm sure he's gathered from the CDC have nothing to base their experiments on. Do you even have a location where you can run your experiments if you have to bring an infected human into one of your
numerous
bunkers? That is if your Master refuses my terms and is left with that for an alternative,” Cassian said, feeling confident that he had enough leverage to bend the powerful Master vampire to his will, if only to the terms he laid forth. He knew he was playing a dangerous game, gambling this way. Ade had over four thousand vampires in his combined Atlanta and Miami covens. He was one of the few vampires strong enough to reign over more than one large territory. And he could easily take over a third if he wanted. Chicago was still his, but it was now vulnerable and he had to make sure he could secure it.

Dahnay smirked, but kept her opinions to herself. Seeing Cassian's attempt to gain favor with her Master let her know that he needed them and perhaps he may even fear Ade. “I will relay to him your counter-offer, Master Cassian.”

“I would say you should call him, but our cell phone service became disabled an hour ago,” Ovidius said, showing his support even though he was still in the dark as to Cassian's motives, though he could guess what they were.

“Then it will take me until tonight to return with his answer,” Dahnay said. “Will that be all?”

“Those are our terms,” Cassian said.

“Farewell.” Dahnay bowed once more, then took off, heading back to Atlanta.

Both Masters watched her fly further, when she was less than a speck in the sky, Ovidius turned, glaring at Cassian. “What the fuck was that? You're making decisions for the both of us without discussing them with me. You shut me out, why?”

Cassian looked at Ovidius. “Because I could sense you would have agreed to his terms and that was unacceptable.”

“And what if he decided to bring his army here, tear down our walls?” Ovidius gestured to the trailer barricade surrounding the building.

“The risk would be too great to declare war at this time. Exposing his vampires to those things would weaken his army. In addition, he would not risk me taking drastic action,” Cassian said as he leaned over the roof's ledge peering down at the vampires keeping guard.

“And that would be?” Ovidius inquired.

“Whatever is necessary,” Cassian said, eyes staring forward now. “Whatever is necessary to protect what is mine.”

The Nightmare Continues in Book Three: Greater Good