Liz felt a nudge from the left. Another vampire rushed out of the bathroom. Turning, she sliced him neatly in half, surprised that she had missed his head. She took another swing and took his head off at the shoulders. Blood splattered all over her, the walls, and floor. For an instant, she thought, “Crap it’s going to take forever to clean this mess up,” and then moved into the living room to help Michael.
In the few seconds it took to get rid of the six renegades in the cabin, the front door burst open and seven more came through it.
“Outside. It’s too hard to fight in here.” Michael said.
Shards of glass flew as they crashed through the living room windows. Four females faced them as they landed in the front yard. Liz had taken one girl’s head, and was moving towards another, when two of the males they’d retreated from grabbed her from behind. She doubled over bringing them with her. As their grip loosened, she launched into the air and tucked into a roll. Before she’d hit the ground, one lost an arm for his effort, and the other took a blow to the head.
Michael efficiently mowed down three more and was working on two others. Flashes of light bounced off the metal as his sword spun into a blur. Both renegades proficiently ducked and dodged the deadly blade, keeping their heads intact. Their other body parts weren’t so lucky. Severed fingers, an arm removed at the elbow, and even a foot lay strewn about the yard.
The one armed vampire’s head landed with a dull thud as Liz turned towards the next attacker. A blood curdling scream rose from behind the house. “Shit,” she exclaimed and glanced at Michael. “Avery!”
He fought two males and the three remaining females; she knew he could handle them, but she did not want to leave him to fight alone. “Go!” he yelled.
Liz growled and with one long hard stroke sliced through his neck. Without waiting for the body to fall, she raced behind the cabin.
Avery and a male renegade circled each other in the back yard. He moved to the left and she’d move to the right. Her face was already bruised and swelling from at least one blow she’d received.
Liz screamed in rage at the tattered newly-made and advanced on his position, prepared to cut him to shreds. She barely felt the blow that slammed her into the outside wall of the broken-down garage. As if in slow motion, she watched as her sword soared through the air in the opposite direction. Landing on her feet, she crouched low and hissed. A female from the front yard had somehow escaped Michael, and now held her sword firmly in her grasp.
The male laughed and made a lunge at Avery, while the woman snarled viciously at Liz.
Liz leapt to where Avery stood. In one fluid motion, she shoved the girl behind her. Her eyes moved between the two attackers as she hissed, “You have to get through me first.”
“With pleasure,” the male returned.
The renegades assumed positions on either side of her. Liz laughed at their inexperience. She’d been trained for this. It was obvious they hadn’t been.
“You’re pretty tough with your fancy sword, but let’s see how good you are at hand-to-hand, bitch.” the woman sneered.
Liz slid her hand behind her back and pulled a long dagger from its sheath. Bringing it out to the side, she smiled and motioned with her free hand. “You going to run your mouth, or do something?”
The woman returned her smile, tossed the sword to the male, and said, “Kill her, Carl.”
Avery leaned into Liz’s back and whispered, “Duck down.”
Liz refused with a quick shake of her head. It wouldn’t do them any good if the know-it-all girl got herself killed playing hero.
“Duck down.” Avery fiercely repeated.
Now both the male and female advanced, if they both came at her at the same time there would be no way to keep Avery safe. Liz crouched so low that she looked like a tiger waiting to pounce.
As soon as Liz was low enough to open up Avery’s line of sight, the girl threw a potion bottle at the male. On contact, it exploded in a red cloud of dust. He flew back into the trees nearly two hundred yards. The female screamed in rage.
Liz was on her in a heartbeat. The dagger moved in and out, cutting and slicing like a knife through butter. The woman was easy prey for someone with Liz’s training. Her body went limp as Liz pulled her close and sunk her fangs into the woman’s neck.
Blood gushed from the gash as she gurgled in pain. The hot bitter fluid rushed into Liz’s mouth. Even though she had not intended to swallow any, it coursed through her giving her a new sense of power. Liz leaned her head back and screamed in victory, then threw the female off to the side and headed for the male coming out of the trees.
Michael’s hand on her shoulder brought her back to her senses. The male watched them, terror and confusion washing over his face.
Michael, covered in blood, smirked as he spoke, “The way I see it, you have two choices. You can settle down, talk to us, and hope we let you live. Or you can keep coming and meet death.”
The male straightened, appearing to have given up the fight, and shrugged his shoulders in acceptance of Michael’s words. “Who are you?” he asked them.
“We are the ones asking questions here. You were in my home and most definitely did not have my permission.” Michael returned.
Carl gave Michael a derisive look and then suddenly looked very afraid. He nearly stammered when he next spoke, “You’re him? You’re Michael?”
Michael smirked at the recognition blanketing the man’s face. Some time had passed since he’d seen the fear his name instilled on those of the vampire nation. “I am he, and you and your clan have done me a great disservice. This is my home you so arrogantly took up residence in.” Michael nodded at Liz. “This is my mate that the lot of you tried to kill.” With another nod to Avery, he finished. “And last but not least, this is my charge--that you beat and tried to feed upon. What do you propose we do about that, Carl?”
Words gushed from the tattered young vampire’s mouth. “We thought you were dead. All of us did. We were told that you died in the fortress!”
“Who told you I was dead?”
“The Council. They said that you, and all the rogues with you, died when the fortress collapsed.”
Michael laughed at his answer, and Liz laughed with him. “So Monroe is calling us the rogues now, is he? Well let me tell you something, the Council is in place and not one among Monroe’s friends sit upon it. He, and his followers, have been sentenced to death by the new Council. There are hundreds of assassins now, and all of you who will not bow to the will of the true Council of Elders will die.” Michael was furious. It had not occurred to any of them that Monroe would take over and act as though they’d never existed. Was it possible that the rest of the vampire nation believed Monroe’s lies and followed him because they thought they had no choice? It was astounding to think anyone could be that stupid!
“I know you won’t believe me, but we were told to live here by the new Council. We were told to protect the area because renegades roamed and killed without cause. Our assignment was to watch over the property and rogue free.” Carl stammered.
Michael and Liz looked at each other in disbelief as Carl continued, “We don’t even feed on humans most of the time! We stick to the woods.”
“Damn!” Michael exclaimed.
“Oh no, Michael,” she whispered.
Liz was nauseous at the thought of what they’d done. Her heart and body sick with the knowledge that all over the world, hundreds of vampires were being exterminated for believing lies. She looked at Michael in desperation and said, “This is horrible. We have to inform the Council. We have to stop it!”
A faraway look came over his face as he contacted his maker. “Gregorio has been informed. We must return to the Citadel. Carl, you’re coming with us.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Saving Grace
Even after hours of debate and argument, the Council remained divided over what to do about the roving renegade clans t
hat may not actually be traitors. The termination teams were recalled, and thankfully, most had time, or the opportunity, to make contact with any nests. Few of the council members had a problem with taking out the other nests. According to vampire law, they shouldn’t exist to start with.
“We are right back where we started.” Rene spouted angrily. “If we don’t do something, anything, then we might as well go join the other Council and give up on all that we have been trying to accomplish here!”
Angered by Rene’s do-or-die attitude, Athena spoke up, “Be reasonable, Rene. These newly-changed did not ask to be turned. Nor did they ask to enlist in a war, and they most certainly weren’t given a chance choose a side. We cannot in good conscience, sentence them to death without first discovering where their loyalties lie. It is a travesty to our own law to do such a thing!”
“I agree with you, Athena, but have any of you taken into consideration that this Carl, might be lying to all of us?” Minerva countered. “It is not as if vampires are naturally inclined towards honesty and integrity. No offense meant to those here, of course.”
Liz, still too shaken from the ramifications of what she had done, barely listened. Not once during the battle at the cabin, had she doubted the necessity of her kills. They’d been vicious, even ruthless. She had followed her orders without question. Orders she’d given with no thought to the potential right or wrongness of them.
Liz half listened while the others argued about what should be done now and Carl’s fate. Some of them wanted him put to death. She couldn’t agree with them until she had more information. It was hard to think with all the bickering, she needed to get out of the Council chambers and be alone. She wanted to walk alone in the woods and think in the peace and quiet of nature, not sit here in this stuffy room suffocating in noise.
Gregorio began arguing with Rene and the others chimed in here and there. Her nerves were shot she just couldn’t take any more.
“Just shut up!” shot out of her before she could stop herself.
The room instantly became silent as all eyes turned to Liz.
She shook her head and sighed. “I’m sorry, that was rude. I didn’t mean for it to come out like that. I can’t take anymore bickering right now, I really can’t. I need to get out of here and think. So do the rest of you. We’ve been arguing the same positions for hours. No one is thinking clearly at this point. Can’t we just recess and take some time to really mull this over?”
“Well that’s the smartest thing anyone’s said in the last hour.” Callista replied.
“I’d like some time to think as well.” Michael agreed.
Gregorio called for a recess and everyone went off to ponder the situation and try to find a solution to their dilemma.
Michael walked quietly with Liz through the halls of the Citadel. When they reached the main entrance, she stopped and leaned against the giant wooden doors with a frustrated sigh. They stood there in silence for a short time. Knowing what she needed, he bent down and placed a kiss in the center of her forehead. “Go on darling. Call me when you’re ready to talk.”
Liz half smiled at him, gave his arm a thankful squeeze, and stepped into the darkness.
She loved walking through the trees at night. She hadn’t enjoyed the act when she was human. Fear of what might be in the woods at night, kept her locked safe and warm in her home. Things were different now. It would be highly unlikely that she’d run across anything more dangerous than herself. The night’s song was in full motion. She listened, letting it calm her as she walked. The wild life, scampering about on their nocturnal errands, didn’t even notice when she passed.
“Where is Cass? They are all so certain that I am to be their leader, they don’t even question me now,” she thought. She knew without a doubt that she was not nearly as strong as the vampires on the Council, and she was positive that she wasn’t as smart as half of them. Everything those people, her misguided friends, had based their opinions on were only dreams and prophecies. That wasn’t even logical. Sometimes a dream is just a dream. They had been so adamant before about dreams, and everything that Brogan had said, that they had her believing all the malarkey herself. “Think, Liz. Think!” she told herself out loud.
She had been wandering without much thought of where she was going or what she would do when she got there. Looking around her now, she realized she was just outside the clearing where Brogan had made his camp. Even here, she couldn’t concentrate. She didn’t really want to think about what had happened. She wanted someone, anyone, to tell her what to do. Since when is wanting to be told what to do “Queenly?” Liz sat on the old tree stump that had been Brogans resting place waiting for an epiphany, half hoping the wise old man would show up.
Liz had always known right from wrong, that had never been an issue for her. Even when she was young, she had never gotten into much trouble because she had always chosen to do the right thing. Now, there was too much grey area. Killing anyone, anything, without thought to what they were about or what they thought was just wrong. Wasn’t it? A person cannot just randomly go around killing other beings that don’t happen to agree with them, can they? This whole greater good thing, the better for all mankind crap, what does that really all mean? Liz stood and created a portal. She wanted to go back to the cabin. She needed to look death in the face and deal with the reality of what had been done there.
***
Thunder boomed and another bright flash of lightening streaked across the sky. The windows rattled from the force of the wind and rain outside. Liz stood in the kitchen, shocked at first to find no bodies or blood blanketing the kitchen floor, before remembering that Gregorio had sent a cleaning crew to get rid of the evidence. Even the doors and windows had been repaired as if nothing had ever happened there. She could smell the fresh paint on the kitchen walls and was amazed that so much could have been accomplished in just a few hours.
She meandered thought the rooms, checking to see if anything had been missed or was out of place. Everything appeared to be just as they had left it the first time. She had been looking forward to this being their home for a while, to having Michael alone here in the place where it all started. The place where her love for him began. She sat at the small wood table, waiting for something, but really had no idea what it was. The storm outside raged in perfect harmony with the turbulence inside her.
Liz’s head snapped back, bringing her out of a daze. She felt them coming. Two vampires moved stealthily towards the cabin, as if they could feel her as well, and took great care in their approach. She let her mind stretch out to them and felt the fear and uncertainty. They were newly-made, not more than six months old, she would bet. She felt no malice from them, just fright and insecurity.
Liz went to the front door and pulled it open. She moved to the fireplace to get a fire going. They would be chilled after traveling on foot in such a fierce storm. She could feel them just inside the tree line, watching, afraid to come further. Using her mind, Liz called out to them and invited them to enter. “It’s cold and nasty out there, do come in and warm up by the fire. I mean you no harm.”
The couple made it to the front porch and were at least out of the rain, but neither of them wanted to be the first to enter the house. They were close enough now that Liz could tell they were a male and female. Her senses told her that both were very young, almost too young to have been turned in the first place. The fire had grown hot and bright, warming to cabin to a toasty comfortable temperature.
After she had finally enticed the two teens to come in, she lit the old oil lamp on the kitchen table, and flashed them an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry I can’t offer you something warm to drink. The power’s out, so I’m afraid the best I can do is the fire.”
The freckle-faced boy shrugged his shoulders and cocked his head to the side, but remained silent. With his carrot red hair and small build, Liz thought he barely looked fifteen, and the girl could not have been much older. Unusual as it was,
her skin had not paled with her turning. She’d remained a deep ebony, with long thick braided corn rows all over her head. The poor dear shivered and quaked. From the look on her face, Liz could tell it wasn’t the weather that bothered the child.
“Please sit down and rest. Go sit by the fire and get warm, I will not hurt you. That is not why I am here.” Liz told them.
The young people looked hesitantly at her, and then at the fire, before cautiously making their way over to it.
“It’s okay to talk to me. I won’t bite, I swear. Tell me, what are your names?” she asked.
“My name is Jeremiah, but most of my friends call me Jeremy or Jay. And this is Sharice,” the boy boldly answered.
“Well hello, Jeremy, and Sharice. I am Liz. It’s nice to meet you.” She stretched out her hand to the boy.
He hesitated for a moment, and then gave it a quick shake.
“Would you mind if I ask what you are doing here?”
“Are we in trouble? We were told to come here and find out where the others went. Do you know where they are?” the boy asked.
“No you’re not in trouble. In fact, I’m glad to see you. I had wanted to be alone tonight, but I’m kind of glad to have some company. How old are you anyhow? You both look to young for turning.”
“I’m sixteen, and she’s fifteen.” Jeremy proudly replied.
The entire time they talked, Sharice sat with her head down. She didn’t even glance up to take a peek at Liz. They were so young. What kind of idiot would turn a child? It was preposterous! Liz watched the girl while talking to Jeremy, waiting for her to say something.
Jeremy finally noticed the concern on Liz’s face and piped up, “She’s deaf. She can’t hear a word your saying. Changing never fixed it. We kind of thought it would in the beginning, you know. That’s why we picked her to start with, but it didn’t work. She can’t hear you unless you use the mind thing. She’s not dumb though. I never understood why they say the deaf and dumb thing; it’s just that she can’t hear is all.”