Wayward Son (15 page)

“It’s my job.” Her voice was low and whisper quiet.

“You’re an assassin?” Spalding’s grip tightened on his weapon as he assessed her response.

She shook her head slowly. “No, I’m one of them.” She suddenly lifted her face to meet his gaze. “I mean, I’m a vampire as well, but I don’t kill like they do.” She quickly turned and faced each of the squad members. “I mean, I drink blood, I have to…but I don’t kill people.”

“Do you feed from animals like the
Lamia Beastia
?” John asked as he pushed closer.

She shook her head again. “I steal from blood banks.” She swallowed hard. “When I can’t steal from blood banks, I’ll feed off people, but I only take small amounts. I haven’t had to kill to feed in…a
very
long time.”

“What happened, Brooke?” John pushed past Spalding and towered over his older sister. “That night, I mean. I…I never gave up on you.” His voice cracked as he spoke.

Raven turned away, unable to look at her little brother. “My life ended that night, Johnny.”

“But you’re back now. And you don’t kill, so…” He turned and quickly looked to Spalding for guidance. “Surely we can figure out something, can’t we?”

Spalding lowered his weapon and hiked a brow at his crew. “I think if Ms. Sullivan here will give her word to cooperate, we can cut some slack.”

She turned untrusting eyes to Spalding. “You kill vampires. I’m supposed to just trust you?”

“You kill them too. Sounds to me like we may be on the same team.” Spalding shot her a crooked grin. “And you wouldn’t be the first vampire to work with us.”

Her wide eyes turned to John who nodded. “We have a genius doctor who’s been helping for…well…forever.” He held a hand out to her. “Come on, Brooke. Come home.”

She pulled back slightly and stared at his huge open palm. “I…”

“It’s okay.” John extended his hand further. “I promise, nobody will hurt you.”

She lifted her gaze to meet his and suddenly saw that same ten year old boy that once idolized and terrorized her when she was human. For the briefest moment she wanted to cry. Instead she stiffened and squared her shoulders. “I’ll go back with you. But I make no promises on staying.” She turned and walked past the other members of the team leaving John standing with his hand still extended.

Spalding placed a hand on the larger man’s arm and slowly lowered it. “Don’t worry, buddy, she’ll come around.”

“I hope so.”

*****

Matt ordered the cleanup crews to the El Cajon mission and a fast transport to retrieve a portion of the team. Apparently Little John, Donovan, and Ms. Sullivan were returning to ensure they arrived before sunup. The rest of the squad had set a perimeter guard while waiting.

With the fires put out, the hangar being repaired and the mission complete, Matt suddenly felt exhausted. He poured a cup of coffee and walked down the stairs to check on his XO. He really didn’t want to be the one to do what he was about to do, but if anybody were going to break the news to Mark, he’d rather it be him.

He knocked lightly on the door and waited for Tracy to open it. “Can I have a word with the two of you?”

“We need to have a word with you, too.” She pulled the door open for him and Matt stepped into the small room, suddenly feeling very crowded in the small space.

“I have some news that…” he paused and tried to think of a way to put it that might soften the blow.

“You mean that Mark is infected? We know.” Tracy sat in the chair beside Mark’s head and saw Matt do a convincing fish imitation.

“H-how did…w-who told you?” Matt’s mind raced, trying to figure out if he could legally kill somebody under the UCMJ for spilling the beans.

“I could feel it inside me. And the fever, it wasn’t natural.”

“But that shouldn’t have…” Matt shook his head as he tried to wrap his mind around the situation.

Tracy lifted her crucifix and shook it. “Silver. Burned his wounds.”

Matt groaned as he leaned against the door. “I didn’t think about…” he trailed off. After a moment, his eyes met Mark’s. “I’m sorry, buddy.”

“I tried to get her to shoot me,” Mark stated plainly. “She wouldn’t do it.”

“If you don’t knock off your crap, I still might. I just won’t shoot you where it will kill you.” She looked to Matt. “A silver bullet in the ass wouldn’t kill him would it?”

Matt choked on his coffee. “Um, I honestly don’t know. I wouldn’t want to test it.”

Mark nodded. “Highly allergic to silver now. You can’t even drive a silver car. It could kill me.”

Tracy stared at him questioningly. “Are you serious? Is there real silver in the paint?”

Mark shook his head. “No. You just drive like a crazy old bat.”

She stood and started to swat at him again. Matt quickly grabbed her hands and pulled her back. “As much as he might deserve to have his ass kicked for calling you ‘old’, he needs to heal.”

“Screw that. Nobody tells me I can’t drive.” Tracy kicked out toward him and barely brushed him with her boot. “Tufo, I’ll plant a foot in your old, wrinkled ass.”

Matt pulled her back and pushed her toward her chair. “It would seem that he is on the mend.” He then turned to Tracy. “And you should be nominated for sainthood just for putting up with him all these years.”

“Kissing up to her will do you no good. She sees right through all of that crap.”

“A little kissing up would do you some good.” She glared through narrowed eyes.

“Believe it or not, I actually have work to do.” Matt reached for the door. “Is it safe to leave the two of you alone?”

Tracy reached into her coat pocket and withdrew the pistol. She handed it to Matt with a huff. “I told him I wouldn’t do it, but damned if he isn’t pushing me to reconsider.”

Matt shoved the revolver into his belt. “I think I’ll keep this in my desk.” He pointed at Mark. “You be nice and get healed up.” Turning to Tracy he gave her a wink. “If he keeps giving you grief, let me know and I’ll dig this back out for you.”

*****

Paul stood near the partially open overhead door and listened to the sounds of the city at night. He desperately wanted to hunt but he didn’t dare leave his brother behind at such a crucial time. He was almost certain he had converted Rufus, but now was not the time to be weak. He had to ensure that the taste for human blood had stuck. The bodies scattered about the periphery of the building was testament to the toll his recovery had taken, but in order to prevent him from swinging back to his old way of thinking, Paul had to make sure that any future feedings seemed to be Rufus’ idea.

He inhaled deeply of the night air and could almost taste the life floating on the breeze. A slight squeeze of his shoulder had him turn and gazing into his brother’s face. “You can almost feel the vibrations, can’t you?” Rufus inhaled deeply and sighed as he exhaled. “The golden strings of energy that ties all life together…you can almost see it if you look hard enough.”

“Almost.” Paul’s voice was barely a whisper. His face appeared feral in the moonlight and he wanted nothing more than to sink his fangs into a soft warm body.

“Our army approaches. I can feel them.” Rufus pulled Paul back into the warehouse and toward the office. “Once they are here, find them safe places to bed down for the day. But tonight, show them where to hunt. Feed them. Get them strong so they can better fight.”

Paul fought the urge scream ‘hallelujah’ at those words. “And what of you, brother? Do you hunger?”

Rufus stretched his neck and flashed his fangs. “I always hunger.” He continued toward the office. “While you’re out, pick me up a snack. Another female, I think.”

“As you will.”

Paul lowered his face but watched as his brother disappeared into the darkness.
His transition is complete.

*****

Little John sat across from Brooke and watched her closely. The noise from the helicopter prevented any meaningful conversation, but his eyes never left her. She had withdrawn inside her hood again as soon as she sat, her face hidden from him. Her hands fingered a silver looking amulet as they sliced across the night sky. John shifted in his seat to try to see it better, but she slipped it back into her cloak. It was almost as though she could see him through her cloak and didn’t want him getting too curious.

Donnie watched the uncomfortable reunion and, to his credit, kept his comments to himself. He couldn’t imagine what it must be like for the larger man. To have lost his sister at such a young age, spent years convinced there were monsters out there, finally getting a job where you could hunt them down, and even after you convince yourself that you would drop her for her own good the moment you see her…here she is. He was stymied as he watched John be transported back to his youth the moment he laid eyes on her. Rather than being a thirty-year-old operator facing an eighteen-year-old girl, he was ten again and seeing his big sister for the first time in two decades.

John reached into his pocket and pulled her photograph out. He ran a finger along the side of her face and for the first time in years, he noticed just how faded and crumpled the photo appeared. He looked up again and tried to see Brooke’s face but the hood still had her blocked from his eyes. John sighed and started to put the photo away. He paused, the photo still in his hand. Without thinking, he stood and moved to the seat next to her. He handed the photo to her.

“I never stopped looking for you,” he yelled above the drone of the engine.

He noticed her head shift slightly under the hood, and then she turned away. He continued to hold the photograph out where she could see it. “What happened to you, Brooke?”

She shifted herself in the seat, turning her back to him as much as she could. John’s shoulders slumped as he withdrew the photo and slipped it back into his breast pocket. “I never gave up.”

“You should have.” Her voice was a whisper, but John’s enhanced hearing picked up every word.

“I couldn’t. You’re my big sister.” He placed a hand on her leg and patted it. Her hand shot out and swept his away.

“I’m not that person anymore.” She shifted further, turning more of her back to him.

“You’ll always be my sister, Brooke. Being a vamp doesn’t change that.” John sighed and stared across the other seats, his mind replaying the night she was taken. “I would have stopped them if I could have. I was just too little to do anything.”

“You did more than you know.” John shifted his head, trying to hear her better. He could almost swear that her voice cracked as she spoke.

“What do you mean? I couldn’t do anything but…”

She turned in her seat so swiftly that she startled him. “Do you really want to know why I hunt vampires now, Johnny?” His blank expression must have read as a ‘yes’ to her because she continued. “I hunt them down because I have to. You see, they took me to use as bait. For the first few weeks, I was used to lure others in to be fed on. Then they turned me. Had to keep me ‘young’. They
used
me as bait to catch people so they could eat.”

“That’s not your fault, Brooke. You were just a kid yourself.”

“That’s not all, Johnny.” She turned more and he could see her face. Tears streaked her cheeks. “The highest crime a vampire can commit is to kill another vampire. Do you understand what I’m telling you? Do you know why? It’s because we have no soul. When a vampire is killed, that’s it. There is no afterlife. It’s just darkness.”

“I don’t get why you’re—”

“They said that the new girl is good, but they needed somebody that could lure more people in. They wanted a kid. They wanted to go back to the house and get
you
Johnny. They wanted to use you like they did me. Use you for bait so they could catch some unsuspecting soccer mom…or other kids your age. I couldn’t let that happen.”

“Brooke, what are saying?”

“I killed them, Johnny. I killed them all.” She pointed to the sword that Donnie now held. “I used that blade and I sliced them all to ribbons. I watched as they turned to ash right before my eyes.”

“Brooke…I had no idea…”

“I did it to protect you, Johnny.” Her face tightened and her eyes hardened. “I turned against my own maker. I killed my entire coven to protect a single human. From that decision on, my life wasn’t worth a bucket of warm spit. From that moment on, it was kill or be killed.” She shifted her body again and stared straight ahead. “So I kept killing. Any time there was a sign of a vampire, I hunted it down. I hunted it and I destroyed it. I kept killing and I kept killing until there was nothing left of me anymore.”

“I don’t get what you’re saying, Brooke.”

“Brooke is dead, Johnny.” She pulled her hood down further, blocking her face entirely. “There’s only the Raven.”

9

A soft knocking had Tracy pulling the door open. She wasn’t prepared for who stood in the doorway, peering over her shoulder at the body on the bed. “May I come in?”

She cast a quick glance toward Mark who nodded. “I hear I owe my life to you.” He tried to pull himself upright more in bed and failed. The pain shooting through his torso was simply too much to tolerate. “Thank you, I think.”

Evan hung his head as he lingered against the far wall. “I suppose you know about the infection then.” He paled even more as if that were possible. “I am so sorry, Major. I did everything in my power to…”

“Doc, don’t. This wasn’t your fault.” Tracy helped pull Mark up to a sitting position and stuffed another pillow behind his shoulders. “You did everything you could.”

“I honestly thought I’d have known sooner.” Evan took the chair that Tracy offered and practically fell into it. His skin appeared so pale in the blue fluorescent lighting that it almost seemed transparent. Dark veins crossed his face and neck and Tracy tried not to stare. “I never thought that the virus would take so long to affect either of us.”

“Hit ya pretty hard, did it?”

Dr. Peters nodded. “The expression, ‘vomited everything I’d eaten since Kindergarten’ came true tonight. Or…is it day? I’ve lost track of time.”

Mark shrugged. “Who knows, Doc.” He closed his eyes and leaned his head back. “I wish you hadn’t saved me.”

“Mark!” Tracy chastised as Evan’s head popped up. “You shouldn’t say such things.”

“Major, we couldn’t have known about the infection. The wolf never bit you. You were torn open by nails and—”

“And the damned thing spat blood and slobber all over me as it tore into me. Teeth or fingernails. If there’s spit mixed in, I don’t think it would matter if he stabbed me with a damned screwdriver.”

Evan contemplated that little tidbit and had to give the major the benefit of doubt. He definitely made a good point. “At least you weren’t infected by a vampire.” Evan’s voice chilled as he spoke. “That truly is a death sentence.”

Mark slowly rolled his head to stare at the vampire. “And this isn’t?”

“You couldn’t possibly compare the two.” Dr. Peters appeared honestly shocked. “To become a vampire you must truly
die
first. To be infected by the wolf virus, you still live. Hell, you live a lot longer and healthier. You just have one day a month where you have to be careful.”

“So, it’s like PMS to the nth degree, is that what you’re saying?” Mark didn’t try to disguise the venom in his voice.

Evan sat taller in his chair and tried to square his shoulders. His hands shook as he pointed at the executive officer. “I’m not saying that at all. I would not begin to belittle your condition, Major. But I also think the same respects could be paid to me.” He pushed up from the chair and turned for the door. Turning to Tracy, Evan placed a shaking hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry, my visit didn’t go as planned.”

She merely nodded as he stepped past her. As Evan reached for the door, he turned slightly and addressed Mark once again. “You say that you wish I hadn’t saved you. I understand your thinking that the infection is a curse, and in some ways it might well be. But that very same virus is now fighting like hell to keep you alive. I wonder if you’re even worth saving any longer.”

*****

Rufus watched from the shadows of the office area as Paul addressed the vampires assembled to act as personal security. When he felt the time was right, Rufus stepped out and approached the group loosely scattered about within the warehouse.

“Gentlemen, so good of you to come on such short notice.” He knew that they had no choice but to drop everything and rush to their aid, but he also felt it was in their best interest to be diplomatic while addressing them. “It would seem that your services as professionals are very much needed. My team of wolves,” Rufus noticed Marco still hovering near the rear and corrected himself, “save one, seemed to have abandoned me in my time of need. And these are trying times, indeed. The vampire council has decreed a meeting this very full moon. My wolves have turned against me and may very well be attempting to turn the Monster Squad against us.” He inhaled deeply for dramatic effect and shook his head. “I fear that we find ourselves between the proverbial rock and hard spot,
oui
?”

Paul nodded and stepped forward, speaking out on his brother’s behalf. “Your primary mission is to guard our master. Rufus
will not
be harmed.”

“
Non
. To protect us both.” He draped an arm over Paul’s shoulder and squeezed his brother affectionately. “I have you back now. I will not lose you again.”

Paul nodded sheepishly then turned back to the vampires he was addressing. “Once the sun sets, you’ll all go out and hunt. Build up your strength. We can’t afford you to be dim witted if you are protecting either Rufus or myself. We will prepare a small team for Geneva. That mission must be completed. The rest of you will be sent on to another of Rufus’ homes here on the mainland. You will secure the property and ensure that the grounds remain cleared.”

A wolf near the front stepped forward and nodded to Paul. “Is the Honor-pact between Viktor’s wolves and us now dissolved?”

Paul turned to Rufus who sighed, his head shaking. “I must speak to Viktor before I answer this truthfully. But my Second, Jack Thompson, is now
persona non grata
.”

“Who then acts as your Second?” another vampire asked.

Rufus clenched his jaw and rolled his head on his neck. “I have yet to proclaim a formal Second.” He glanced to Paul who simply shrugged. “For now, I name my brother. He saved my life and nursed me back to health. He has displayed more than ample loyalties. Consider him my Second.” Paul’s jaw hung open as he stared at Rufus. This went beyond any of his initial plans. Then again, he went astray of his initial plans a long time ago.

“Which of your properties would you prefer us to secure, sir?”

Rufus turned his attention back to the security detail and considered them for a moment. The only property that he thought Jack might not be aware of would be the Aspen estate. A risky move, to be sure, but he had little choice. He turned to Paul and pulled him aside. “If you were Jack and you were aware of my holdings, how would you go about checking them?”

“How do you mean? Which ones first?” Rufus nodded. “I’d go for the ones furthest away probably. The ones that I thought were abandoned. Then work my way in to wherever he calls home.”

“As would I. But I would send multiple teams to inspect as many as possible. I somehow doubt that Mr. Thompson will have those kinds of resources.” He turned back to the security detail. “Aspen. The estate there has plenty of rooms in the main house, the guest house holds more and the land surrounding it is not only clear enough that we can see if anybody approaches, there are no neighbors.”

“Colorado is awfully close to Oklahoma. If Jack went back to the squads…”

“I kept no paperwork on the estate in Aspen.” Rufus gave him a wicked grin. “The registered owner is a fictitious name.”

*****

Laura hung up the phone and leaned back in the chair. She rubbed at her eyes and wished she hadn’t. It felt like she had rubbed sand deep into the corners and now her eyes teared. “What’s the verdict?” Laura looked up to see Jennifer leaning against the door frame.

“Colonel says that if we don’t have our own ride, let him know, and he will gladly authorize two Business Class tickets to the U.S.”

“Business Class?” Jennifer feigned shock. “He does realize that I’m supposed to be his Fated Mate, right?”

Laura chuckled lightly under her breath and waved her off. “When the government is paying for it, that’s a marked improvement from coach.” She stood and stretched, feeling her bones crack in protest. “At least it isn’t a military hop. With those you’re lucky to get a wooden bench to sit on.”

“Business sounds good.” She stared cautiously down the hallway. “Are you going to ask Mick, or do I have to?”

Laura shrugged. “He’s your friend. Besides, we have tickets. We don’t need to ask him.”

“I know, but I feel like we owe him the opportunity to see this through.” She turned away and stared out the open door. “He’s running from my father every bit as much as we are now.”

Laura placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Then go ahead and ask him. The worst he can do is say no.”

Jennifer shot her a sideways smirk. “No, that’s
not
the worst he can do. Trust me on that one.”

*****

Apollo finished stacking the crates next to the aluminum shipping containers. He made a mental checklist and marked off a few more boxes from his list. “Yo, Sheridan, where’s the M203 grenade launchers?”

Sheridan’s shoulders slumped and he hobbled toward Apollo. “Not everything is being delivered at once, old chap.” He pulled Apollo aside and tried to lower his voice. “I had to use more than one supplier to keep expenses under control. This bloke wanted too bloody much for the launchers, so I went with another supplier.”

Apollo planted his hands on his hips and stared at the much smaller man. “Let me guess. You got a budget and figured if you cut corners you could pocket the rest.”

Sheridan sighed and ran a hand through his wavy hair. “My friend, you are every bit as observant as you are large. Just trust me when I say that they are on the way. Your launchers
and
the grenades for them. I give you my word.”

Apollo groaned but turned back to the crates. “I’m bustin’ open every one of these to make sure we get what’s coming. If they be short by so much as a holster, somebody’s head is gonna roll.”

“Be my guest.” Sheridan made a grand sweeping motion as Apollo marched past him.

Grabbing two other English speaking wolves, Apollo began to unstack the crates and going through the contents. Sheridan stepped back, but even on his way back to the office, he could hear the man arguing about where to stow the equipment. He paused and checked the time. The next wave of reinforcements were due in that afternoon, and he needed to be sure that everything was in place. Food stores were in place, the shipping containers with the silver webbing were stacked in place for the men to shift on the full moon if necessary and housing containers had been brought in and set up. Potable water trucks and port-a-potties were brought in. From what he could tell, they were ready to make a short term stay in the industrial park.

*****

Jay Wolf parked his Excursion in the parking lot behind the hangar and watched the flurry of activity as personnel continued to replace damaged equipment and run new cabling. As soon as he stepped away from the large truck, two security guards flanked him. “Identification, sir.”

Jay paused and turned on them slowly. “Jay Wolf here to see Colonel Mitchell.”

“ID, sir.” The guard held his hand out in a no-nonsense manner.

Jay opened his mouth to say something and thought better of it. Whatever was going on here, the men were obviously on high alert. He slowly reached for his back pocket and retrieved his wallet. Pulling his driver’s license out, he handed it to the large man.

The guard looked the ID over then handed it back. “Colonel Mitchell doesn’t have you on his calendar, sir.”

Jay nodded. “I couldn’t get through by phone. It’s pretty important, son. I need to talk to the man.”

The guard shook his head. “Not without prior authorization.”

“If you would just contact him and let him know that I’m here, I’m sure he’d—”

“NOT without prior authorization, sir.” The guard squared his shoulders and stepped between him and the hangar.

Jay deflated and placed his license back into his wallet. Nodding, he reached for the door of his Excursion. “Fine. But do this, will ya? Tell the man if he wants any more
silver ammunition
then he’d damned sure better talk to me.” Jay watched the guard as he spoke and noted the nervous tick form in his jaw. “I’m just going to sit in my truck while you make that call.”

The guard looked to the other one and gave a slight nod. The smaller guard stepped away and pulled a radio from his belt while Jay sat effectively pinned in his truck. Moments later Colonel Mitchell came stepping out of the hangar, yelling something to the guards who seemed to melt back into the background. Jay stepped out of his truck cautiously and looked for the large men, but they had effectively disappeared.

“They’re good. I’ll give them that.”

“What’s up, Jay? Why are you here?” Mitchell looked like he had been through hell. Jay noticed the dark circles under his eyes and the haggard look of his uniform.

“Have you slept?”

“I don’t have time, Jay. Why are you here?” Mitchell crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the man.

“I know silver isn’t the easiest thing to get in bulk. Not the way you need it. I may have found a source, but…”

“But?” Mitchell raised a brow at him.