He turned on me, and his eyes were cold. Merciless. The monster, staring back at me. It sent an icy lance through my insides, and I dropped his arm, resisting the urge to back up. Zekes gaze shifted away as if hed forgotten me, and I shivered with the sudden realization. For a split second, for the very first time, I had been afraid of him.
On the ground, Jackal started to laugh.
Oh, yeah, he wheezed, rolling into a sitting position, one hand still around his ribs. His eyes still glowed as he stared at Zeke, appraising. I forgot. The little bloodbag joined the undead club a few weeks ago. Now he can throw a proper punch. My mistake. He rose, shedding water, and gave himself a shake, glaring at Zeke with his fangs out. I wont forget again.
Jackal, stop it. Shaking myself out of my daze, I stepped in front of Zeke, my katana between him and my blood brother. Zeke didnt move; I could sense him watching us, patient and calculating, the monster barely restrained. I had the sudden, disturbing thought that this Zeke could be worse than the one Sarren had created, and violently shoved it back. This is stupid. You can see hes not under the compulsion anymore.
I see that, Jackal agreed, his smile no less ominous. Its not going to stop me from tearing him in half. Like I mentioned before, Im kind of a sore loser.
He stepped forward, and I did, too, raising my weapon. Shots still echoed around us, getting closer all the time, but I trusted that Kanin was still out there, taking care of the raiders. I couldnt worry about them now, not until I was sure Zeke and my blood brother wouldnt try to kill each other. Again.
Take your city, if you want it, Zeke said. Its yours, Ill gladly turn it over.
Oh, will you, bloodbag? Jackal sneered. Thats awfully generous of you. But youre missing the point. He gestured back at the balcony. I dont give a shit about this place, or the minions. I can get more if I really need to. They were always just a means to an end. He narrowed his eyes. But Ill be damned if I let any spawn of Sarrens share space with me. That kind of crazy sneaks up on you when you least expect it, and everyone around you suddenly has their throats cut.
Thats not going to happen, I argued, and Jackal shot me a disgusted look. Hes fine, Jackal. Hes not a threat anymore. And even if he is, Im not going to let you kill him now.
If you believe that, then youre more gullible than I thought. Jackal shook his head. Stop trying to fool yourself, sister. You know whats happening here. Youre not that stupid. He jerked his head in Zekes direction. Look at him. Take a good, long look at your precious Ezekiel and tell me hes exactly the same. But I bet you cant stare lovingly into his eyes for two seconds without seeing Sarren looking right back at you.
I shuddered, and Jackal nodded slowly. You know Im right, sister. His mind is broken. Its only a matter of time before it falls apart. Im not killing him because he screwed up my city, took my minions, and, frankly, pissed me off. Im putting him out of his misery. He gave an evil, indulgent smile. Consider this a mercy. Like shooting a three-legged deer.
No, I growled and moved with Jackal as he came forward again, my katana raised. My mind was made up. You want him, youll have to go through me.
Jackals face twisted like hed swallowed something foul. Im surrounded by bleeding heart idiots, he muttered. Sister, you realize youre protecting Sarrens progeny. The Grand Lunatic himself? For all we know, this is exactly what the psychopath wants.
I dont believe that, I retorted, as gunfire nearly drowned out my words, making me wince. The army was almost here. I didnt have a lot of time to convince themboth of them, Zeke and Jackalthat Zeke wasnt like his sire. Even if I was horribly unsure myself.
Allison. Zeke finally spoke up from behind me, and his voice was resigned. I knew exactly what he was thinking, and snarled at him without taking my eyes from my brother.
Zeke, dont you dare start with that!
What if hes right?
I dont care! I roared, baring my fangs at them both. I will not watch you die again. I promised Id help you fight it, and I swear Im going to kill Sarren. But youre going to have to trust me, Zeke! And you, I said to Jackal, jabbing at him with my sword. Youre one to talk. You want to Turn your whole army into vampires. If theyre anything like you, youll have to watch your back every second of every day. I may not know much about sires and offspring, but I know theres always a choice. You dont have to be like your sire. I mean, look at you. I narrowed my eyes at Jackal, curling my lip in a sneer. Kanin Turned you, and you still became a bastard.
Boss!
Gunfire rang out once more. I tensed as a horde of raiders swarmed the room from above, pointing their weapons down into the pit. It seemed the rest of the army had finally caught up. Gripping my sword, I quickly gauged the distance between myself and the balcony, and winced. I was going to get pumped full of lead before this was over.
Minions, stand the fuck down!
I jumped as Jackals voice boomed throughout the chamber, bouncing off rafters and making the water vibrate. It rang through my head, compelling and powerful, and amazingly, whether it was from force of habit or the intensity in Jackals voice, the humans froze.
Thats better. The raider king gave us all a supremely exasperated look and crossed his arms. I could hardly think anymore, with all the gunfire and screaming. Partys over, boys, he stated, his clear voice carrying through the stunned silence. Your new king and I have had a little talk. Weve decided you worthless meatsacks arent worth dying over, and its better for everyone if we come to an understanding. He turned and gave Zeke a pointed look, raising his eyebrows. Fifty-fifty split sound about right to you, partner?
He curled a lip on the last word, as if the thought of sharing was deplorable. But Zeke gazed at him and the raiders without interest and shrugged. I dont care. Do what you want. Sarren is gone, and Im through with this place.
I swallowed hard. The emptiness in Zekes voice was even worse than the sadistic taunting, and for a moment, Jackals warning cast a dark shadow over my thoughts.
Which means you minions, Jackal added, sauntering up to Zeke and draping an elbow over his shoulder, a gesture which was ignored, are in a flying shitload of trouble. Too bad you didnt think of that before deciding to stage this little coup. Not that its terribly surprising, but Im a little pissed off at the lot of you right now. He smiled, all fangs, as the humans shifted apprehensively. But, hey, Im a reasonable guy. Ill offer you bloodbags the same deal as beforefollow me, and have a shot at becoming immortal. Refuse, and the three of us he gestured to me and Zeke will systematically rip the heads from your bodies and send you to a worse hell than this one. Your choice. He chuckled, vicious and eager, and glanced at something over their heads. But if you meatsacks think you have a shot at taking out three very annoyed vampires and one stuck-up Master, then by all means, lets get this massacre started.
The humans turned, craning their necks up and looking behind to where Kanins tall, imposing figure stood perfectly still on an overhead beam, gazing down at them.
So, whadya say, minions? It wasnt really a question. Jackals voice was hard, the edge beneath the surface hinting at barely restrained violence. He grinned at them, the smile of a killer, all fangs and glowing eyes, and several raiders shuffled uneasily. Do we have an understanding? Grovel for my forgiveness now, and I might kill only half of you later.
The raiders hesitated. Several of them looked to Zeke, standing motionless at the edge of the pit. What about the other vamps promise? one called. He said hed Turn whoever killed Jackal and brought you his head. Does that offer still stand?
Jackal laughed, his voice booming through the chamber. You really think that psycho wouldve Turned any of you? he mocked. Really? Because the messed-up face and obnoxious riddles wouldve tipped me off. The raider king shook his head, his voice cutting. Hes not coming back, minions, he called. And if any of you believed for one second that Sarren would keep his promise and not rip your hearts out through your jugulars, then do me a favor and shoot yourself in the face right now, because youre too stupid to keep living.
Sarren is gone, added a deep, confident voice from overhead. Kanin, watching dispassionately from his perch. And as Jackal said before, he is not coming back. We are the vampires you must deal with now. The raiders stirred, muttering among themselves, as the Master vampire continued. You have two clear choices tonightleave in peace, or stay and fight us all. You might win. Your numbers might overwhelm us. But we will decimate this city, and its inhabitants, before we are finished. And neither Sarren nor Ezekiel will protect you.
I stood quietly, sword in hand, waiting to see what the humans would do. I felt like I should say something, but Zeke and Jackal seemed to be handling it well on their own; they were the vamps who had been in charge of this city, not me. And Kanin, by definition, was a Master and someone youd best pay attention to. I just had to stand here and look dangerouswell, as dangerous as a thin, seventeen-year-old girl with a katana could look, I supposed. Hopefully the fact that I was a vampire made up for my height.
There were a few heartbeats of tense silence, before one raider snorted and stepped back from the edge.
Fuck this, he growled, lowering his weapon. His voice echoed through the chamber, and the room seemed to let out its breath. I aint fightin a goddamned pack of bloodsuckers. They want the city, they can have it. I aint dyin for this.
That seemed to be the tipping point. As the one raider walked away into the darkness, everyone else lowered their weapons and stepped back from the ledge. Jackal waited a moment longer, until it seemed the danger was truly past, then nodded.