I shivered and felt the last of my protests dissolve. If Sarren was planning something, he had to be stopped. And if there was a cure to Rabidism, we had to find it. For better or worse, it appeared I would be working with my blood brother. For now, at least. I desperately hoped I was making the right choice and that Kanin would be able to hang on until we could get to him.
I thought you would see it that way. Jackal smiled and rose, his duster falling behind him. So, now that were all finally on the same page, shall we get this party started?
CHAPTER 4
The rabids were back, milling around the perimeter, but Azura showed us a tunnel that led from the house to an empty building beyond the fence. She wasnt sad to see us go, but provided us with maps, thermoses of blood and the reluctant offer that we could return if we absolutely had to.
The subway is several blocks in that direction, Azura told Jackal, pointing to a spot on the half-open map. Its the quickest way to get to the nest, but remember, once the sun rises, the tunnels will be crawling with rabids when they return underground to sleep. I suggest that you hurry. And try to stay off the streets. Use the rooftopthe rabids rarely think to venture off the ground.
Thanks, darlin, Jackal said, giving her a suggestive smile. Maybe Ill drop by again someday, and we can reacquaint ourselves when we have a little more time, eh?
Yes, just let me know when youre coming. Azura gave a tight smile. Ill try to remember to turn the fence off for you.
Minx. Jackal grinned, and Azura closed the door, shutting us out.
The city that lay beyond the fence was dark and eerie, overgrown with trees and bramble, as if a forest had grown up and smothered everything beneath. It was easy enough for two vampires to climb to the top of the nearest building and pick our way over loose shingles and gaping holes. Sometimes, where the space between buildings was too far to jump, we had to drop to ground level, but only until we could get to the next building and scale the walls. On the rooftops, the path was fairly clear, the moon lighting our way as we traveled above the streets, following Azuras map.
Below us was a different story.
Rabids roamed the tangled streets, skulking between cars, climbing out of windows, loping along crumbling sidewalks. They snarled and hissed at each other, blind in their rage and driven mad by the Hunger. There didnt seem to be any humans beyond the fence; I wondered if the ones in Azuras fortified house were the only humans left. An unfortunate cat tried scurrying across the road and was instantly pounced on by a rabid, who shoved the felines head between his jaws and ripped it in two. The smell of blood drew several more rabids to the area, and a vicious fight erupted, with the rabids screaming and tearing at each other for the remains of the animal.
Youre not very talkative.
I ignored him, keeping my gaze straight ahead. Jackal strode easily next to me, sometimes glancing at the map as we traversed the rooftops.
Nothing to say? Jackal went on. Thats a surprise. You were so verbose the first time we met. I must admit, Ive killed a few siblings, but youre the first one I actually thought I could get along with. He sighed. But then, of course, you killed my men and ran off with those humans I worked so hard to acquire. You and that boy. His voice took on a slight edge. What was that kids name again? The old preachers son, the one the humans kept crying over, thinking he was dead? Something biblical, wasnt it? Jeremiah? Zachariah?
Ezekiel, I thought, as my stomach went cold. And theres no way Im ever telling you about Zeke. I shouldnt be here, helping you. I should take my sword and shove it through your sneering face.
So, whatever happened to your humans? Jackal inquired after several more minutes of tense silence. Did they leave? Run away? After you went through so much trouble to get them out of my city? He grinned. Or did you wind up eating them all?
Shut up, I finally snapped, not looking at him. Theyre safe. Thats all you need to know.
Oh? I could feel his sneer, sense the gleeful smugness as we continued over the broken rooftops. Got them to Eden, then? How very charitable of you. He grinned at my sharp glance. What? Shocked that I know about Eden? Dont be. I always knew it was out therea city with no vampires, just a bunch of fat little humans scurrying around, pretending to be in charge. I knew that old man was looking for it, too, and that, eventually, he would slip up and land right in my lap. He and his little band couldnt run from me forever, I just had to be patient. And it paid offwe finally got them. Everything was going to plan. His eyes narrowed. Or, it was, until you showed up.
Yeah, sorry to ruin your plans to take over the world.
That is not true, Jackal said, sounding affronted. I was trying to find a cure for Rabidism.
I snorted. Any living thing bitten by a rabid would Turn rabid itself, but that wasnt the only way to create one. Vampires, through the result of the mutated Red Lung virus, were all carriers of Rabidism, as well. Just biting or feeding from a human wouldnt Turn them, but for most of our kind, attempting to create a new vampire through the exchange of blood would birth not a vampire, but a rabid. Only the few Masters, the Princes of the cities, could spawn new offspring anymore, and even then, they were just as likely to spawn a rabid. Kanin, our sire, was a Master himself, but I was still very lucky to have made the transition to vampire instead of rising again as a monstrous, mindless horror.
That old human was the key, Jackal went on, glaring at me now. He had all the information we needed. The results the scientists had on the plague, the tests they ran, how the rabids were created, everything. I was trying to save our race, sister. I came so close, and you ruined it all.
You were trying to cure Rabidism so you could turn your raider pets into a vampire army and take over everything, I shot back. Dont even try to sell me the saint act. Youre nothing but a scheming, bloodthirsty killer whos out for power. And by the way, where is that raider army of yours? Did they finally turn on you once you couldnt promise them immortality anymore?
Oh, dont worry, theyre still there. Jackals smile was not friendly. Its fairly easy to govern a city that has no rulesthe minions do what they please, and I dont stop them. But, with that old human dead, I had to come up with a new plan. Thats when I thought you and I needed to have a little talk, and I certainly couldnt do that with a raider gang following me about the country. He shrugged. Theyll be there when I get back, with the cure. You havent stopped anything, sister. Youve just delayed things a bit.
If there is a cure. We dont know if this lab created one or not, even a partial one.
I would have shared it with you, Jackal said, sounding angry and hurt at the same time. You and me, sister, we couldve had it all. We couldve had everything.
I didnt want everything. I glared at him. I didnt want your city, your minions, your schemes for power, any of it. I just wanted to get my friends to safety.
Uh-huh. Jackal raised an eyebrow. And how did that turn out? I dont see any of your friends here now. Where are they? Back in their Eden, I suppose? Why didnt you hang around, if youre such great pals? He snickered and went on before I could answer. Heres what I think happened. You got the little bloodbags to Eden, like you said you would, but oh, they couldnt let a vampire into the city, now could they? That would just cause a panic, having a wolf walking among the sheep. So they either turned you away or drove you off. And your little friends, the humans that you rescued from the big bad raider king, the people you stuck your neck out for, they didnt do anything. Because they knew the others were right. Because youre a monster who kills humans to live, and no matter how much you tell yourself otherwise, thats all youll ever be.
If there is a cure. We dont know if this lab created one or not, even a partial one.
I would have shared it with you, Jackal said, sounding angry and hurt at the same time. You and me, sister, we couldve had it all. We couldve had everything.
I didnt want everything. I glared at him. I didnt want your city, your minions, your schemes for power, any of it. I just wanted to get my friends to safety.
Uh-huh. Jackal raised an eyebrow. And how did that turn out? I dont see any of your friends here now. Where are they? Back in their Eden, I suppose? Why didnt you hang around, if youre such great pals? He snickered and went on before I could answer. Heres what I think happened. You got the little bloodbags to Eden, like you said you would, but oh, they couldnt let a vampire into the city, now could they? That would just cause a panic, having a wolf walking among the sheep. So they either turned you away or drove you off. And your little friends, the humans that you rescued from the big bad raider king, the people you stuck your neck out for, they didnt do anything. Because they knew the others were right. Because youre a monster who kills humans to live, and no matter how much you tell yourself otherwise, thats all youll ever be.
Tell me again why Im helping you?
Jackal laughed. You know Im right, sister. You can deny it until the sky falls down, but youre only fooling yourself.
You dont know me. He snickered again, and I whirled on him. And another thing. Stop calling me sister. Were not related just because Kanin sired us both. I have a nameAllison. Start using it.
Sure thing, Allison. Jackal bared his fangs in a sneer. But we both know the truth. Vampire blood is stronger than human tiesour blood links us together in a way they cant even imagine. Why do you think you could sense where I was, where Kanin is? Because youre getting stronger, and the stronger the vamp, the easier it becomes to know where the members of your particular family are at any time. Thats why most covens are all members of the Princes family, the ones he sired himself. He can sense where they are, and sometimes even what theyre thinking. Makes it hard for them to turn on him. But the tie goes both ways.
Thats why weve been able to sense Kanin.
Yep. Jackal looked off to the west as we started walking again. And each other, to a lesser extent. But the strongest pull is toward our sire, or at least, it was until he went into hibernation. It doesnt work as well if the vampire is close to death, but its still there.
Why?
Because, in some small, subconscious way, Kanin is calling for us.
A couple hours later, we were no closer to finding the subway entrance than when we first started.
Hmm. Jackal stopped at the edge of a roof, the open map in both hands, turning it this way and that. Well, damn. Theres supposed to be an entrance to the subway somewhere on this street, but how the hell are you supposed to read a map if there are no damn signs?
I let him fiddle with the map in silence and watched the pale forms of the rabids slipping through the shadows below. Why would Sarren be looking for this laboratory? I mused, softly so my voice didnt alert the monsters under our feet. What do you think he wants? Jackal gave a distracted grunt.
Dont ask me. Im not a psychotic maniac. He paused. Well, not as much of a psychotic maniac. Okay, theres the Foggy Bottom metro entrance Where the hell is the tunnel? He glanced down at the street and sighed. Maybe hes searching for the cure to Rabidism, too, he tossed over his shoulder. Oh, but wait, you dont care about that, do you?
A large group of rabids slid from between two buildings, directly below Jackal. He ignored both them and me as he studied the map. For a moment, I had the murderous thought of shoving him over the edge, letting him fall into the group of rabids, seeing if he could survive. The monster within approved of this plan, urging me to step forward, to attack when he wasnt looking. Yes, it whispered. Do it. Jackal would, and he will someday. As soon as he doesnt need you anymore, hell hit you from behind without a second thought.
But that would make me just like him, wouldnt it?
The opportunity passed before I had a chance to decide. The rabid pack moved away, and the moment was lost. I watched them skulk across the street, hissing and snarling and then vanish beneath a rubble pile.
I blinked. Hey, I said, and Jackal lowered the map, watching as I walked to the edge of the roof and crouched down. I think I found it.
We dropped carefully into the street, glancing around for rabids lurking behind cars or around buildings. Warily, we crossed the road and examined the spot where the pack had disappeared. The building next door had partially fallen, and the ground was strewn with broken glass, steel and cement. But beneath a collapsed overhang, a tiny, nearly invisible hole snaked down into the darkness.
Jackal grinned at me, hard and challenging. Ladies first.
I bristled. The tunnel entrance sat quietly, like the open gullet of something huge and evil, waiting to swallow me whole. I crouched down and peered inside. Darkness greeted me, thick and eternal, difficult to pierce even with my vampiric night vision. Cold, dry air wafted from the crack, smelling of dust and rot and decay.
Whats the matter? Jackals smug voice echoed behind me. Scared? Need your big vampire brother to go down first?
Shut up. Scowling, I reached back and drew my sword, sending a faint metallic rasp into the darkness. If something came leaping at me out of the black, I wanted to be prepared. Holding the hilt backward so that the flat of the blade pressed against my arm, I crouched down, rabid style, and slid into the hole.
My fingers touched rock and cold metal and, when I straightened, I found myself at the top of a long flight of stairs leading down into the unknown. The stairs, partially buried under earth and stone, were metallic, uneven and had a strange rippling effect to them, as if they hadnt been firmly grounded. If you looked at them a certain way, you could almost imagine they had once moved.
Jackal slid in behind me, feetfirst, dropping to the stairs with a grunt. All right, he muttered as he straightened. Unlike me, he had to bend over slightly to avoid scraping his head on the ceiling. Being small did have its advantages sometimes. Shaking out the map, he squinted at it in the dark. So, according to this, we have to take the red line North to get to the nest, which will be somewhere around this area He tapped the paper with a knuckle, looking thoughtful.
Where, exactly?
Doesnt say.
So were going in blind. Searching for a lab that may or may not be there. In the middle of a nest of rabids who will trap us underground if we cant find a way out.
Exciting, isnt it? Jackal grinned and folded the map again. Its moments like this that really make you appreciate immortal life. Dont you love it, sister? Doesnt it make you feel alive?
Ill pass, thanks. Sheathing my sword, I started down the stairs. Right now, Ill settle for finding the lab and getting out of here in one piece.
The staircase descended deeper underground, opening into an enormous tunnel. The familiar rails lined either side of the platform, once having shuttled metal cars back and forth between stations, now quite empty. The ceiling of the huge domed tunnel was strangea motif of concrete squares, some fallen in large chunks to the platform, stretching all the way down the corridor.