Shadow Born: Book 1 of the Shadow-Borne Chronicles (32 page)

“Listen, I need you to call for Silas Montgomery or Marcus Roma.
 
They are with the FBI right now.
 
They can vouch for me.”

Both cops looked doubtful.
 
The others were surveying they area for anyone else in the area, shining the bright spot light back and forth.
 
Alec hadn’t really thought about them searching the area.
 
The remaining cops drew their flashlights and walked towards the area where Alec had come from.
 
Damn!
 
They were going to find Steven.

“Contact the FBI officers dealing with the hostage problem in front of the hotel.
 
They will tell you, I’m with them.”
 
Alec tried to sound calm and authoritative instead of panicky, like he felt.
 
He heard the cops yelling and realized they had found Steven.

The cops seemed more interested in what was going on with Steven than listening to him.
 
They both had hands on their weapons ready to draw if necessary.
 

The cops came back around the corner with Steven in tow with his hands cuffed behind his back.
 
They were carrying his backpack as well.
 
Alec wasn’t sure if they’d gone through it yet or not.
 
He knew he should have dropped that damn gun.

“Just let the FBI know that you are with Alec Carson.”
 
Damn he thought, the FBI thought his name was Michael.
 

“Tell them you have Michael, the one that was negotiating for the hostages.
 
They will come get me.”

The black cop squinted at Alec.
 
“Who’s Michael?”

Alec sighed.
 
“It’s a long story but it’s me.”

“But you said your name was Alec Carson…which is it?”
 
The black cop was starting to get suspicious.
 
Great, just what Alec needed.

“My name is Alec Carson, but the FBI knows me as Michael, like the archangel.”
 

The cop rolled his eyes.
 
“Do they now?
 
And you were negotiating on the behalf of the FBI as the archangel Michael?” he asked sarcastically.
 
“Makes perfect sense, right guys?”
 
The cop scoffed.

“Look, I know how this sounds, but I promise if you’ll just get ahold of them and ask for Silas Montgomery everything will be cleared up.”

One of the other officers opened Steven’s backpack and said, “Uh, you need to check this out, Sarge.”
 
The cop searching the backpack was wearing a pair of disposable gloves.
 
He carefully pulled out the semi-automatic gun to show it to the other officer.
 
The black officer looked back at Alec.

“You need to come with us to the station.
 
We have a few questions.”

“Sir listen,” Alec was almost frantic now.
 
“Get on the radio and let the FBI know I’m here.
 
Ask for Silas or Marcus.”

The cop just said, “Let’s go,” and pulled Alec by the arm towards his car.
 
Alec jerked loose from him.

“You don’t understand.
 
I need to talk to Marcus or Silas.”
 
Alec was almost yelling now trying to get the cops to listen to him.
 

“You guys are in danger.”
 
The cop had his hand on his weapon now.
 
He opened his mouth to say something when suddenly the end of a blade appeared through his throat, spraying blood all over his uniform.
 
The cop’s eyes were wide with fear and pain and then he slumped to the ground.
 

Alec snapped the handcuffs easily and dodged the sword swing aimed at his chest.
 
He jumped to the top of the police car and then dodged again as the blade bit into the roof where he’d been standing.
 
Alec kicked out with his right foot catching the vampire in the jaw and flipping him backwards away from the police car.
 
One of the other cops pulled his gun and opened fire at Alec, who jumped straight backwards and landed in a roll on the ground to avoid more bullets.
 

Alec saw one of the black-clothed vampires stalking a female police officer that was firing shots and shouting orders into her police radio.
 
The vampire dodged the bullets easily.
 
The female police officer was frantic and crying.
 
She wasn’t sure what was going on.
 
Before the vampire could get any closer, Alec kicked the police car sideways to take the vampire down.
 

The police cruisers tires squealed in protest as the car hurtled sideways towards its intended victim.
 
With an easy jump the vampire cleared the car and quickly closed the distance on the cop, crushing her throat with one hand.
 

Alec looked around and jumped straight over one of the cops that was attempting to shoot a vampire and landed beside Steven who was huddled on the ground whimpering.
 
Alec turned him to get to his cuffs and ripped them open and threw them aside.
 
He grabbed Steven’s backpack, pulled Steven off the ground and shoved him towards the safety of the street.
 
Alec turned to help the cops but quickly realized that they were all dead or dying.

“Come on,” he said and pushed Steven ahead of him away from the carnage and chaos. He knew though that the cops hadn’t stood a chance.
 
The vampires had mowed right through them.
 
More blood was on his hands.
 
Shit.

Steven and Alec ran blindly through the dark streets not caring which direction they were going as long as it was
away
from death and destruction.
 
Alec stopped to listen several times but didn’t hear any sounds of pursuit.
 
They saw several passing cars but no one paid them much attention.
 
Alec thought about flagging one down but was afraid of what would happen if the vampires attacked again.
 
He didn’t want to see any more innocents killed.

“Gimme your wallet,” a rough voice said from an alleyway causing both young men to jump.
 
Two mean, greasy looking men stepped around the corner.
 
One had a knife open and was cleaning his nails with it.
 
The other had a gun tucked into the waistband of his jeans.
 
Both of them looked like they hadn’t bathed in several days.
 
Alec could tell by the smell it had been longer.

Alec just shook his head.
 
“Go away.
 
I don’t have a wallet.”
 
He was too tired for this.

The other man peered at Steven.
 
“Whatcha got in that backpack?”
 
Steven had his arms wrapped around the pack clutching it to his chest like a life preserver.
 

“Let’s take a look see, shall we?” the first man asked and reached for the backpack.
 
Alec’s hand shot out and grabbed the man hand.
 
He started squeezing.

“Look dude,” he said getting in the man’s face.
 
“I’ve had one hell of a night.
 
You and your buddy need to walk away now before you both get hurt.”
 
This close Alec could smell the cigarette smoke and liquor on the man’s breath.

The man with the knife rushed at Alec.
 
Without batting an eyelash Alec tilted and kicked the man square in the chest, slamming him several feet backwards and into a wall.
 
Alec hadn’t meant to kick him that hard, but he was accustomed to fighting vampires not humans.
 
Besides, he had warned both of the men.
 

The other guy went for the gun in the waist of his jeans.
 
Alec was still twisting and squeezing his hand.
 
He easily grabbed the other to prevent him from pulling the gun out.
 

“Seriously?” he asked the man staring at him.
 
The man brought his knee up to hit Alec in the groin but Alec turned effortlessly and avoided it.
 
Having had enough, Alec let go of the man’s hands and hit him in the chest with the palm of his hand.
 
The thug flew through the air and slammed against the wall and slid down to lay groaning beside his cohort.
 
Alec just shook his head and he and Steven walked away.

Alec heard the gun behind him cock and turned to find the thug back on his feet with his gun pointed at Alec.
 
Clutching his chest, the man smiled nastily and pulled the trigger.
 
Steven threw himself to the side and huddled on the ground.
 
Alec easily dodged the flying projectile and started walking towards the man with the gun.
 
The thug’s eyes grew round with surprise and he started squeezing the trigger over and over.
 
Alec dodged the bullets easily, moving his head and body out of the line of the flying projectiles.
 
He cleared the distance between himself and the thug, looked at the man through narrowed eyes and punched him squarely in the face.
 
The man crumpled to the ground, unconscious this time.
 
So much for not letting anyone know where he and Steven were.

Alec had no clue what was going on.
 
All he knew was that he was in a strange city, surrounded by strange people, and walking with a witness that was wanted by the police and FBI.
 
Hell for all he knew he might be wanted as well.
 
He had no clue where he was going or where he should go.
 
He looked at the sky and realized that it would be daylight soon.
 
They would be a little safer then.
 
They would just have to avoid the cops instead of cops and vampires.
 
Nice.

Steven looked dead on his feet.
 
He had wilted quickly in the last thirty minutes or so.
 
They hadn’t done any talking simply because they’d been doing too much running and hiding.
 
Thankfully it would be daylight soon and they could find a place to hole up and rest for a few hours and try to figure out a plan.
 
Steven stumbled and nearly fell, but Alec put out a steadying hand.
 
He nodded his thanks.

Alec had been looking around for an empty or derelict building they could rest in.
 
Hopefully, they wouldn’t have to fight with an old wino for the spot.
 
He found what he was looking for and crossed the street, Steven following slowly behind him.
 
The doors and windows of the place were boarded up but that didn’t present a problem for Alec.
 
He easily tore the boards away, wincing at the sound of nails being ripped out of wood.
 
He opened the door, stepped in to check it out and then motioned Steven in.
 
He checked behind him to make sure no one was watching and closed the door.
 
There was an old heavy desk sitting there so Alec moved it in front of the door.
 
No one would get in without them knowing it.

Steven dropped his pack on the ground and then slid down the wall to the floor.
 
He looked exhausted.
 
Alec kept peeking out the window to see if there was anyone out there.

“Is this it for the night?” Steven asked.
 
“If I need to I can take more meds and I’ll be up and ready to go in no time.”
 
He laid his head back.

“What are you talking about?”

Steven opened his backpack and pulled out a pill bottle and shook it at Alec.

“Amphetamines.
 
I take it for my ADD.”

That explained a lot.
 
No wonder he had wilted so quickly.
 

“I don’t think that’s a wise idea.”
 
Steven looked a question at him.
 
“Listen, you’re going on very little sleep, you’ve had a traumatic experience, you’re stressed and scared and then adding amphetamines to the mix.
 
Not a good combo.
 
You are begging for problems.”
 
Steven thought about it for a moment and nodded.
 
He threw the pills back in his bag.

“Dude, who are you?” Steven was looking at him.
 
He had seen the man do some strange, bizarre things tonight.

“I told you. It’s one of those things I can’t talk about.”
 
Alec looked outside.

“Screw that, man.
 
I know too much already.
 
I don’t think you telling me this is going to change my life one way or another.
 
I’m way in over my head.
 
I don’t know why you didn’t just let them off me and save the
other
vampires from having to do it.”

Alec thought for a moment.
 

“First off, my name is Alec Carson.
 
Not Michael.”

“Yeah I kinda got that back when we were picked up by the cops,” Steven said smiling.

“You told Vic you weren’t a vampire, but I watched you fight them tonight and escape.
 
And you jumped four stories from the hotel.
 
If you aren’t a vampire then how did you do those things?”

Alec sighed.
 
“You can’t tell anyone what I’m about to tell you.”

“Or what, they’ll kill me,” Steven smirked.

“I’m half vampire and half human.”
 
Alec let that sink in.

“Say what?”
 
Steven looked like he didn’t believe Alec but he was more awake now and interested in what Alec had to say.
 
“You’re some sort of human-vampire hybrid?”