Rise of the Phoenix (The Phoenix Trilogy Book 1) (18 page)

“That son of a bitch; I knew it. What a damn coward.” Phoenix began to pace and her hands balled into fists at her side.

“That means you will have no help with a revolt. This can’t be done without outside help,” Hell Raiser offered.

“Lachance has only given me a small dose of blood. So that means you need to find me a way out of here.” She looked at the guard with pleading eyes.

“This place is heavily guarded, but Mustang said that underground cave Adam’s in goes pretty far. I’m not sure if it’s passable all the way though.”

“I have a pretty good idea where it will end. Adam had a hideaway in a cave and we had been exploring it. That was the first time I discovered the sun in years. I think we were looking up at this complex.”

“Are you sure? I think Lachance would notice if there were vamps living close by.”

“It took us hours and miles to find that little spot of sun. That cave is deep as hell,” Phoenix said tossing the bloody rag in the trash along with the needles and thread. “Can you get me down there?”

“You’re going to need help,” Cloud said.

“She’s right.”

Phoenix pondered their offer. “We’re all going to need to avoid the blood for a few weeks no matter how weak we get. What I’m talking about is dangerous and we might not make it, but it’s the only way to help Adam and everyone in this place.”

“Let’s do it,” Hell Raiser said giving her knuckles.

Over the next few days they developed a consistent way to avoid drinking their daily dose of blood. Phoenix followed Cloud to what looked like a nurse’s station in a hospital. A long line of vamps were waiting patiently for the sustenance they craved.

“Why didn’t I know this was here?” Phoenix asked looking around.

“Lachance will withhold blood from you until he makes sure you are compliant. Once you are, well you go here everyday.”

“I’m not sure why he thinks I’m compliant now. Our meeting wouldn’t have given him that impression.”

“If you want my guess—he’s buying you.”

One by one the people got their glass of blood and the line inched forward. Everyone around them mingled, laughed and talked as if they were in an hour-long line at Six Flags for the latest and greatest in roller coaster experiences.

Cloud took her glass and Phoenix was shocked to see that she had a full serving just like the others.

“Buying me is right.” Phoenix slightly rolled her eyes in disgust.

They stepped away from the mingling crowd and dumped the glass of crimson liquid down the ventilation system.

“That’s gonna stink after a while,” Cloud said snickering.

Every afternoon they did the same thing, but decided to play nice and flush the blood down the toilet in their room.

They went through their daily routines and made sure to eat plenty of food. And with every trip to the cafeteria they would smuggle a bottle of water out and hide them in their closet.

Two weeks later they were tired, grumpy, and hungry but, ready to make their escape.

“You’re gonna have to keep walking when we get down there. You can’t stop no matter how much you want to talk to him. The guy isn’t stable and he’ll make one hell of a noise.”

Phoenix took a deep breath and fought back her emotions. “Leaving him here is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”

“Are we ready?” Cloud said beaming.

“You can’t take that,” Phoenix said pointing at the backpack she had.

“Why?”

“If we walk down the hall with bags it will alert everyone to what we’re doing. We’ll pick up supplies when we get the hell out of here,” Phoenix said taking the bag and stuffing it in the closet.

The clock on the nightstand turned to 3:00 am. “Let’s go.” Hell Raiser opened the door to the room and stepped into the hall.

Each carried one bottle of water with them, and only the clothes on their back. Phoenix was happy to have her all black attire and boots. Though they were only clothes they brought her a sense of strength.

The lights were dim and all was silent and still. Each walked with slow and silent footsteps.

They walked through the cafeteria and through a door. A set of metal stairs led down to the cave and their foot falls echoed in the narrow confines.

“You two wait here.” Hell Raiser pointed to a utility closet at the bottom of the stairs.

In the darkness all they heard was a moan and a thud.

“Please tell me that wasn’t Hell Raiser,” Cloud whispered.

Just as the words escaped her lips the door flew open and both of them gasp and jumped back.

“Nice to see you to,” Hell Raiser said grinning. “Let’s go.”

As they reached the bottom of the stairs a tight knot formed in Phoenix’s chest. She hadn’t felt Adam in a while, but now that she was so close his essence hit her like a sledgehammer. She stopped and took a couple of breaths and braced herself for what she was going to see.

Hell Raiser opened a sliding iron clad door and Phoenix stepped into the cavern. The lights were dim, but it was enough for her to see Adam crouched in the corner of a cell. Her heart ached and burned. Tears filled her eyes and streamed down her cheeks. She was frozen in place. Her legs wouldn’t carry her forward and her mind wouldn’t let her leave.

“We need to keep moving,” Cloud insisted. “Come on; you can do this.” She took Phoenix’s hand and pulled her forward, gently.

As they walked past the cell Adam sprang to his feet and slammed against the bars. Phoenix stumbled backwards looking into his brightly glowing eyes. Adam didn’t speak; the only things coming from his chest were feral growls. He was dirty and his clothes were long since tattered and torn. His hair was matted and ratty and his facial hair now resembled a mountain man instead of a rock god.

Phoenix stood five feet away from him, but even in the dim light she could see his nostrils flaring as he smelled them. Her right foot took a step, but not toward the edge of the cavern. As she moved closer to the cage Adam’s eyes bore into her with a pure evil expression. “Adam?” she asked in a soft voice.

Now she was only a couple feet away and his arm burst from between the bars. She squealed and jumped back causing his fingertips to graze her shirt. His growls became more insistent and angry. The cavern was filled with echoes that bounced around with each sound Adam made. The reverberations sounded like an entire pack of wolves.

“We need to go,” Hell Raiser said shaking her.

When Phoenix didn’t move or respond he scooped her up and ran. Her eyes didn’t leave Adam until only darkness was left. Hell Raiser set her down on a boulder in an offshoot of the cavern. As soon as her butt hit the cold stone she began to dry heave and hyperventilate. All she could do was rock back and forth trying to get the shocking sight out of her eyes. “He’s gone,” she said over and over as she rocked.

“We’ll find a way to help him,” Cloud said stooping in front of her.

Phoenix looked into her roommate’s eyes and took her hands. Her head shook back and forth as she spoke. “He’s gone.”

“No. Don’t you talk like that; we’ll find a way to help him.” Cloud’s words were stern, yet gentle.

Phoenix’s grief switched to rage. “Decklin Lachance will die a torturous death at my hands.”

“Good. You focus on that. Let’s keep moving and figure out a way to save Adam and the others,” Cloud gripped her hands tight as she spoke.

Phoenix nodded and stood.

As they continued through the cave the passageways became narrow and steep. It didn’t take them long to get to the small cavern where Adam had discovered sunlight. Phoenix stood there looking up at the hole cursing the day they had worshiped in that bright beam. “It will be a long hike from here,” she said between clenched teeth.

She led them through the cave system to the spot where she and Adam had made camp. A few times along the way they needed to stop and drink some water. All of them were weak from the lack of blood so moving through the cave took twice as long as it should have.

Once they reached the camp Phoenix instantly went for the cooler Adam had sitting in a cold spring, containing blood. As she tossed a bag to her friends they’re eyes lit up and they tore into them ravenously. The only sound echoing around the cave was slurping.

“Gosh, I really needed that,” Cloud said wiping her mouth.

“Want to tell me how you have this?” Hell Raiser lifted the lid of the cooler.

“Adam stocked it, so I have no idea.” Phoenix found a stash of clothes she left last time she was here. “There’s a pool with a water fall that’s good for bathing. I’m gonna go first.”

As she walked away she could hear the rumblings of her friends voices. Right now she didn’t care what they were talking about. She needed time alone with her thoughts.

Her hands began to tremble as she shed her clothes. She jumped in the water and wrapped her arms around her body and broke down crying.

Adam was being tortured and her plan to get him out could get all of them killed.

AS EVERYONE WOKE and rubbed the sleep from their eyes Phoenix explained her plan. They packed the supplies that were left in the cave and headed out.

Phoenix led them across the field to Ben’s village. “This is where we were taken. We can search the place for weapons and get something to eat.”

She made her way into the crawl space where Vera had stored the moonshine. There were shelves stocked with canned goods, both store bought and home canned. As she moved to the back the wood planks sagged beneath her. Phoenix kicked it with her heal and the space echoed back with hollow sound you would expect to hear from a hidden space. When she pulled the boards up her eyes lit up with the sight of a weapons stash.

“Guys, get down here,” she yelled excited.

“Damn,” Cloud said as she looked at the hidden stash.

Phoenix pulled a gun out of a box and handed it to her. “You know how to use one of these?”

“I was daddy’s girl, I just wish he would have understood me. Anyway he would take me shooting all the time.” There was a hint of sadness in her voice.

Phoenix slung a crossbow over her shoulder and tossed a fully automatic rifle to Hell Raiser. “Let’s drag the rest of this upstairs so we can take inventory of the ammo.”

They sat on the floor and separated all the guns and ammunition by type. “I’m not sure this will be enough,” Phoenix said sliding a clip into a handgun.

“Maybe you should give a bit more detail.” Hell Raiser and Cloud stared at her waiting for an answer.

“We’re going to New Orleans.”

“I’m glad I finally get to see the French Quarter, but why do you sound so glum?” Cloud asked.

“You haven’t been in the world for a while. It’s been taken over by vicious gangs of vamps, and Marcus’ gang is the worst of them.” She paused. “To say he doesn’t care for me is an understatement.”

“So why are we going?” Hell Raiser slid bullets into the clips for the full automatic.

“Because we’re going to need his help. All I can tell you is we may not make it out alive. Marcus’ doesn’t take kindly to those that refuse to join his gang.”

“Well I’m still in,” Cloud said cocking the handgun.

Phoenix grinned. Her roommate looked as if she belonged in a magazine ad for clear skin, not invading a gang of ruthless freaks.

“If I’m going to meet Marcus I’m going to look good.” Phoenix went to the room she had shared with Adam and found her backpack with hairspray and other beauty products.

“That damn Lachance refused to stock hair products. He thought we would use them as torches.”

“Help yourself.”

Cloud gasped like someone had just handed her the keys to a Bentley when she stood in front of the mirror styling her hair.

“While you ladies get ready for the prom I’m gonna check out the other buildings.”

Phoenix stood her faux hawk straight up and sprayed it in place. She brushed her lashes with mascara and blew herself a kiss. “Now I’m ready.”

The girls stepped outside and stood side by side. Hell Raiser was carrying a box of food and chuckled.

“What?” Cloud scowled.

“Phoenix looks like the Terminator and you look like a California valley girl.”

They looked themselves over. Phoenix had her usual black tank top, black jeans, and black boots on; Cloud on the other hand wore a pink t-shirt, blue jeans, and purple Convers. They spent time scrubbing the only clothes that they had to make sure to present themselves professionally.

“It works,” Cloud said smiling. “And they’re clean again.”

“I found some smoked meat. We should eat up,” Hell Raiser said.

“We should pack what we can and get going,” Phoenix directed. “It won’t take long for those assholes to find out we’re gone, and this is the first place they’ll come to look.”

With their backs loaded with packs, cooking gear, weapons and ammo they set off across the open fields down to the refinery where Adam and Phoenix had stashed the boat.

Once they hit the marshlands they turned to the east and kept walking, munching on jerky as they went.

When the tree canopy became thick they slid off all their gear and set up a camp. Phoenix stared into the fire, while Cloud warmed up some canned food for them.