Chapter Fourteen
Belly of the Beast
Sarah signaled to stop and wait, waving her hand out behind her. It’d been three days since April had disappeared, and time was of the essence. They had waited as Elijah returned to Blaze’s hive and loaded them up with weapons. It had taken a while for him get back carrying so many supplies. The narrow canyon was only passable on foot. The rest of them had waited patiently and studied every possible route on the blueprints. Sarah had it all memorized within a day. Rye had spent his time pacing, ready to lose his mind in anticipation. Patience wasn’t his strong suit.
Sarah jerked her head up and listened to distant footsteps pass down the hall they were about to turn into. Moments passed before she gave the all clear. She was swift and quiet on her feet, and Elijah was enjoying the view from behind. As though she felt his eyes upon her, she swung her head around, sending her long braid swinging over her shoulder, and threw him a knowing smile. Elijah pressed his lips together as she turned back and kept on. Rye came up next to him and threw him a shrug, smiling as he passed by.
Why was everyone so smug? Elijah held back a grunt as he followed behind. He’d made it clear to Sarah that he wasn’t interested back in the City of Vida. The constant stress Katrina had put him under and their frequent missions to secure the Las Vegas Strip around their sanctuary underneath the Wynn was exhausting, leaving him little time to give much attention to the seductive redhead. Finding out that she’d been April’s best friend had surprised him. It had made him realize how little he knew Sarah. It’d been humbling to discover that she had her own fascinating secrets.
So maybe he was intrigued by her now. Things were vastly different outside the City of Vida. Where they had lacked freedom before, they now thrived in it. April had been a wonderful tour director, introducing them to the entire city above ground, something they’d not been allowed to do much on their own before. This had loosened them up. Of the twelve hybrid human warriors he’d been commander of, four had remained in the Vida to keep it safe and under control, and one had died in the battle against Katrina. Of the other seven, only two had joined April on this trip to the Red Rock slot canyon fortress: Elijah and Sarah. Most of the twelve had worked in pairs. Mated or not, they had partners. Elijah had never taken a mate. He’d been the elected leader from the beginning and couldn’t show favoritism. It left an odd number, and Sarah had been left to do most tasks alone or with him, naturally making her his second. He’d never seen her as anything more than his second in command; it wouldn’t have been appropriate.
Now things felt oddly different. Elijah wondered about the prickling of feelings stirring within him whenever he looked at Sarah. It was confusing, for he’d never liked her as anything more than just a friend. Maybe it was this newfound freedom to roam, to go wherever he pleased, which had released his repressed emotions. He couldn’t quite put a finger on it, but he knew he’d have to make a move for her sooner or later. The competition was growing.
Glaring at Rye as he slid into a doorway, he felt the grip of envy. Rye knew exactly who he wanted−April−and would do anything for her. It must be nice to know what you wanted. On the other hand, April wasn’t exactly reciprocating Rye’s affections. Elijah had briefly wondered if April would be interested in him but decided against pursuing her because of Rye’s dedication to the girl. It was obvious Rye would not be willing to let her go any time soon. Still, if she’d ever approached Elijah for a roll in the sack, he doubted he’d be able to resist the sassy, dark-haired beauty. She was every bit a woman warrior, and he liked that.
It was those same traits he adored about Sarah. So why did Sarah cause such confusion? She’d always made it obvious she wanted him. It was hard to admit defeat and give into her. She was so beautiful with her pouty pink lips and voluptuous breasts, not to mention her well-trained physique. She’d been the object of many other men’s affections in the City of Vida, but she’d brushed them off without a second thought, as if they were just not good enough.
Maybe that was it. He didn’t want to mean nothing to her. He wanted to be good enough.
“Come on!” Sarah’s hushed voice brought him back to face her. Her bright green eyes narrowed as she smiled, catching him staring at her. “Eyes ahead.”
He clenched his jaw, hoping the dim lighting in the walkway heading out over one of the warehouses would cover his flushed skin. He avoided her eyes and peered over a short concrete wall, fingering the large hunting knife at his side. The massive room below looked like it was a storage area and infrequently used. There were several Jeeps in various states of repair or in pieces for parts. Several wooden crates were stacked up almost as high as the walkway and were arranged in rows draped with long swaths of drop cloths.
No hybrid vampires in sight. Elijah waved at the others as they continued their careful trek into the heart of the underground fortress.
“This feels too easy,” Rye muttered, gripping his sword. They were hoping to kill any resistance as quietly as possible. Something was wrong, and it ate at his nerves as they crept along. Why wasn’t anyone near the secret entrance? Christian and Mercer must have felt very secure that it wouldn’t be found if they left it unguarded.
“Where do you think they’re keeping her?”
Sarah peered across the room and pointed to a far door on the bottom floor. “That one leads to the main living quarters, right next to the cells where prisoners are kept. At least, that’s what the blueprints show.”
“We can’t just walk into the living quarters. There’s an hour or two of daylight left. It’s probably filled with them right now.” Rye sheathed his sword and brought out his guns, knowing they’d be walking into a sleeping hive. It was best to be prepared to kill.
“I know that.” Sarah rolled her eyes and smacked her gum. Where the hell did she get gum? Elijah smirked at her snarkiness. “What do you think I am, suicidal?” She pointed at a metal staircase. “This is the back way.” She took the stairs with swift, soft steps and was on the ground sprinting through the rows of cargo like she was running through a field of wheat. Elijah admired her carefree nature, even though she really wasn’t that naïve. It was her mask, a front to make others believe she was more vulnerable. If he hadn’t known her for so long, he would have wondered who the hell she thought she was. But he did, and it made him smile.
He made his way down the same way she had gone, swift and light on his feet. His bulkiness made everyone believe he’d be rough and clunky on his feet, but that wasn’t the case. Being a hybrid had its advantages, including being able to move fast but quietly.
Sarah was crouched at the doorway, already sticking pins and her lock picking tools into the slots. This was a regular doorknob without any kind of electronic key pad or lock. For a back door, it was simple and unprotected. Elijah just hoped it wasn’t a trap.
“Got it!” Sarah jiggled the lock once more, and a tiny click resonated in the silence surrounding them. In the massive storage area, the sound felt like it echoed across the pallets and metal, amplified. She slowly opened the old door, and the hinges began to groan. She cringed and stopped, listening for anything or anyone who could be coming down the way. When nothing happened, she slid through the doorway, Elijah and Rye hot on her heels.
The darkness within shifted as their eyes adjusted, and they found themselves at the end of a very long hallway. Hopefully no one would be coming around the corner to trap them in this maze. It could be the end of a useless walkway that led to the warehouse. Either way, the far-off echoing voices were so faint, they seemed to come from quite a distance away. Rye took the lead, and they shuffled close to one another until they came to the bend in the hall.
Peeking around the corner, Rye’s tension visibly relaxed. “It’s an abandoned barracks. Which way, Sarah?”
Sarah stuck her head out to scan the room then pulled back to talk with them. “There’s a door on the end to the right. Through that door is the cell block. She should be in one of the rooms th
ere.”
A small squeak on the tile made them all clamp their lips together and turn toward the barracks. Someone was in there, and the risk of discovery was high.
Rye pressed his back to the wall and dared to peek into the room again to find out what was going on. He was so surprised to see April heading back to the cells, trying in vain to make her boots stop squeaking on the tile. Her face alone made his heart burst with love. It was obvious she hadn’t noticed them yet because she took each step swiftly and softly as she turned into another hallway right ahead of them and proceeded to leave the room. She was laden with a large army bag, half full but apparently heavy. She shifted the strap on her shoulder and cursed under her breath.
“April!” Rye called out softly, afraid she was being pursued.
She froze in her steps. He hoped she wasn’t about to shoot a weapon in his direction. They would be in plain sight if she would just turn around.
She whipped around and held out a gun. He wondered where she had swiped it from. He stepped out into the room and held his hands up.
“It’s me, April. It’s Rye.”
Her hands shook, and she didn’t look as thrilled to see him as he thought she would. Still, who knew what she’d been through down there? He hoped she hadn’t been subject to the torturous experimentation her mother had endured. He waited and could feel the others hesitate behind him. April’s eyes were wild, like a frightened predator. Not exactly an invitation to run and hug her.
He waited, not sure if she was in a killing high or ready to pounce on him. Deciding the best course of action was to talk to her, he licked his lips and hoped it would shake whatever it was she was experiencing.
“April? Are you okay?” He swallowed, his mouth dry.
“April, it’s us.” Sarah peeked around Rye to study her friend. April looked like she hadn’t slept in days, even though she was clean and looked like she’d bathed. Still, the haunted look in her eyes made Sarah glance at Rye and then back to Elijah.
“Rye? Sarah…?” April’s voice shook, and she dropped her hands, letting the gun dangle in her fingers. Bright, glistening tears streamed down her cheeks as she sobbed silently. “You shouldn’t have come.” She shook her head like they’d interrupted her train of thought. “You can’t be here.”
Rye took the opportunity to run to her, and she collapsed into his arms. “April, we’re getting you out of here.”
She shook her head again, her gaze searching his face as she let him hug her. “I can’t. I need to find the antidote before I leave. I lined the bunker with bombs. I have an hour left to find it and get out of here. Oh, Rye… I’ve made a mess of things.”
Rye brushed away the loose strands sticking to the thin sheen of sweat and the wetness of tears on her face. She pulled away, and his heart seized.
“Let me go.” She stepped back, eyeing him and the other two through her tears. “If you want to help me, thank you. But I’d rather you go now. If you can’t, I understand. This isn’t what you came for.”
She turned and held her gun back up, wiping her face with the back of her hand.
“We’re going wherever you go. April, what’s going on?” Rye followed behind, keeping his eyes trained on her back, but as they entered the next hall, he ripped them from her to resume his scan of the surroundings. Stupidity got you killed. Losing control of emotions was a definite risk. So why was April losing it? He’d never seen her so distraught to see him. That couldn’t be good.
She only shook her head, making him clamp his lips together. Whatever had her shooken up, it didn’t look like she was going to divulge what it was any time soon. At least, not here. It didn’t sit well with him and made his imagination run wild as they continued down the halls without a disturbance. April looked determined, and he wondered if she even knew where she was going.
“April,” he whispered, trying to catch her attention. “Where are you going?”
Her lack of response sloughed off his patience, and he tightened his grip on his guns. The place appeared abandoned, but thinking about April made him sloppy as they turned the corner, and he almost ran into her.
“Crap, Rye,” she hissed as she did her best to not fall over. Footsteps at the end of the hall had them scrambling to press themselves against the wall as they came closer. The clicks of the boots on the tile floor had the count at about five of them. They could take them, Rye just didn’t want to bring anyone else to the fight while they were at it. He pulled out his swords after tucking his guns away. He handed one to April as she tucked her gun into her jeans. Her lack of weapons made him wonder how she thought she’d be escaping this place once she had managed to do whatever it was she was doing. Except for the lone gun she had acquired somewhere, she was weaponless.
That has never stopped her before, he thought. The bunch of vampires made it to the corner, and the band of infiltrators jumped the group. Behind them, Elijah and Sarah slipped in and took out the two back guards. The last one had jumped back and was already dashing back the way he’d come when they’d attacked.
April took off after the rogue and reached him in time to slice the sword diagonally across his back. He groaned as he toppled over, slamming his face into the ground and knocking himself out. She hopped onto the fallen figure and thrust the sword deep into his back.
She remained there, perched on the vampire’s back as she huffed and puffed, looking even wilder than she had before. A strange feeling flooded Rye as he watched her reach down to pull the blade out of the guy’s back and touch his blood with her fingers. Her fingers went immediately to her mouth, and she sucked the blood off of each one.
He flinched away and checked the hallway for more soldiers. She had looked somewhat pale when he’d pulled her to him earlier, and the thought of her being drained nauseated him. That was the reason she was probably starved and weaker now, though she had shown them she was on the road to recovery. But what had the draining done to her mind?
“You okay, April?” he asked while turning back to find her finally satiated and licking her lips.
“I’m perfect now.” Her eyes remained hooded in ecstasy. “Let’s find the lab. I need to see Rick again.”
“There’s a lab on this side of the quarantine?” Sarah wrinkled her nose as she swiped her sword across the fallen vampire’s clothes to clean the blood off. “It must have been added later. It wasn’t on the blueprint.”
April stared at her friend as if she didn’t know her at all. “You memorized the blueprint?”
Sarah nodded, looking like it was no big deal. “I’ve had an enhanced memory ever since the change.”
April eyed her friend for a moment before bursting into a chuckle. “I still can’t get over you being a killer hybrid human. Just thought I’d never see the day.”
Sarah scowled as Elijah laughed. “Why not? I can be beautiful and fight like a man, too.”
“You sure can.” Elijah threw her a rare grin, and a blush flared across her face. Her pale skin flashed like a red light, and she was left speechless as they proceeded farther down the hall, April already so many steps ahead of them all.
“April, stop.” Rye grasped onto her arm, hoping she wouldn’t swing back with her sword.
She stopped in her tracks, turned and drilled her eyes into him. “What?”
“What’s wrong? Why are you acting so strange, and why won’t you answer me?”
Her anger melted into anguish as she stared hard into him. He felt his heart pounding as Elijah moved forward to scout for more vampires. Sarah kept to the rear.
“Come on, love. What’s going on?”
“I−I….” She swallowed and turned away. Whatever had her upset wasn’t easy to get out. “I can’t do this right now, Rye. I’ll tell you soon, I promise. I just can’t right now.”
Rye nodded and let go. It crumbled his resolve to pull it out of her, and all he could do was walk away. Joining Elijah, he hoped that when this was all over, there would still be something left between them. Th
e feeling of foreboding twirling in his stomach told him otherwise, but he tried to shake it off.
“It’s just around this hall and through the double doors at the end,” April stated dryly. Her voice came out stiff and calm, as if she hadn’t almost lost her nerve a few moments ago. Her face was now a still mask with cold eyes. She refused to look in Rye’s direction, choosing instead to trudge ahead and swing the lab doors wide open without scoping it out first.
“What the fuck, April! Wait!” Elijah grimaced as he ducked into the room behind her only to find her facing just one other person. Rye had sped up to join them in the lab.
“Rick.”
The man stood from his chair and backed away, eyes widening at the sight of the four of them. “April? What are you doing here?” He walked backward and bumped into the wall swinging his head both ways to find an exit. He was surrounded and looked like a cornered animal. She wasn’t the person he’d been expecting to see today, if ever again.
“I want the antidote, Rick. And….” She walked to a doorway that led into a small hall. “And you’re going to let Randy go, too.”
He shook his head as he watched her approach, glancing at the tiny containment block down a small hallway on one end of the lab. “You shouldn’t take him out of there. His results have only been negative once.” Elijah had a large hunting knife pointed at Rick’s throat, so he stopped talking.
“Where are the keys, chief?” Elijah smirked as Rick’s eyes widened at the massive man pointing the knife at him. He reached into his lab coat and held them out.
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
Rye stared at Rick and then flicked his eyes to April, who snatched the keys from Elijah. She motioned toward the scientist. “Tie him up.”
Rye followed her down the hall to a row of bar-lined cells modified for prisoners who needed medical treatment. “April… who’s Randy?”