There, see? I knew we could be civil. Though his voice was amused, his eyes glittered, hinting at future retribution. Murder and thieving aside, were not barbarians. Now, get out of here, the lot of you. Your stupid faces are grating on my nerves.
Oh, and minions? he added as the room began to empty. Most of the humans looked back, and Jackal gave them a very dangerous smile. Dont think for a second youve gotten off easy, he warned in a low voice. I wont forget this. In fact, I think its high time we brought back the public dismemberments, to remind everyone why its a bad idea to piss off a vampire king. He grinned up at them, fangs gleaming brightly, and cocked two fingers. Any volunteers?
The raiders scattered. Guns clattering, they swiftly drew back from the ledge and fled the room, vanishing through doorways and even through holes in the walls in their haste. For a few seconds, chaos ensued as the army scrambled to get out of Jackals immediate sight. Then the footsteps disappeared, the voices faded away, and soon the dripping of water and the faint moans of the building around us were all that could be heard.
Jackal smiled into the silence, then turned to the rest of us, smug satisfaction breaking over his face. And that, he stated, looking mostly at Zeke, is how you rule a raider city.
Zeke didnt answer, but I stepped forward, placing myself between him and Jackal, keeping my sword raised. Jackal eyed me and snorted.
Relax, sister. The raider king waved an airy hand. Put up the damn sword before I shove it down your throat. The minions have come to their senses, and as soon as I hang a few heads from the center of town, all will be as it should. We won this round, so untwist your panties and calm down.
I didnt relax. What about Zeke?
What about him? Jackal shrugged. You wont let me put him out of his misery, hes your problem now. Besides... He glanced at Zeke, watching us a few feet away, and smirked. Id never thought Id say this, but the little meatsack has potential. If he doesnt have a meltdown and decide he needs a tan, he might actually be a decent bloodsucker. And by decent, I mean a proper, murdering, I eat babies for breakfast vampire. Its always the nice ones you have to worry about. Jackal smiled at me, cruel and challenging. Ironic, isnt it, sister? Your innocent, puppy-eyed human could become a worse monster than you. Or me. Or even Sarren. Wouldnt that be a hoot?
I didnt relax. What about Zeke?
What about him? Jackal shrugged. You wont let me put him out of his misery, hes your problem now. Besides... He glanced at Zeke, watching us a few feet away, and smirked. Id never thought Id say this, but the little meatsack has potential. If he doesnt have a meltdown and decide he needs a tan, he might actually be a decent bloodsucker. And by decent, I mean a proper, murdering, I eat babies for breakfast vampire. Its always the nice ones you have to worry about. Jackal smiled at me, cruel and challenging. Ironic, isnt it, sister? Your innocent, puppy-eyed human could become a worse monster than you. Or me. Or even Sarren. Wouldnt that be a hoot?
I scowled, but at that moment Kanin dropped from the ledge, landing with a barely audible splash a few yards away. I blinked as he rose and glided toward us, his face impassive.
I thought you and Jackal were going to wait outside the city, I said, gazing up at him. Wasnt that the plan? Not that Im complaining, but whyd you come back?
One corner of Kanins mouth twitched, very slightly. It wasnt entirely my decision to return, Allison, he said.
For a moment, I was confused. Then my eyes widened in shock, and I turned to Jackal, who was standing in the same place with his arms crossed, looking annoyed. Jackal? I sputtered, and he raised an eyebrow. You decided to come back? Why?
Dont read too much into it, sister. My blood brother sneered at me, golden eyes mocking. I didnt come back to save you from the big bad minion army, trust me. I just wasnt about to let lover boy get away with stealing my city. And I figured you wouldnt have the balls to off him yourself, once it really came down to it. Looks like I was right. He snorted and rolled his eyes. I came to cut off a head and take back whats mine, nothing else. So, dont get all mushy on me.
Regardless, Kanin said, interrupting us, much to Jackals relief, I thought, we are wasting time. Eden is still in danger. Ezekiel, he said solemnly, turning to Zeke, I will ask you this only once. You know the stakes, how important it is that we reach Eden. You know we will have to face Sarren at the end of this journey. Can you do this?
I dont know, Zeke answered simply, unapologetically. But I promised Allison that I would help you stop Sarren. That finding him comes before everything else. So, at least until we get to Eden, Im with you. I cant promise anything beyond that.
And if Sarren uses you again to stop us?
Then kill me, Zeke replied. Stated so bluntly, so matter-of-factly, that my stomach turned. If something happens where its either Sarren or me, dont hesitate. Stop him, even if you have to kill me, too. He avoided my gaze as he said this, his voice dropping to a whisper. It would be a mercy.
Oh, dont say that, bloodbag, Jackal said, ever-present grin back in place. I was just starting to like you.
Chapter 11
We left Old Chicago that night, heading east toward Eden once more. Only this time, things were vastly different. One, Zeke was with us. Still shaken, dispassionate, and numb with what had happened to him, but alive. I was determined to keep him that way. And two, we had a working vehicle again.
Not the prettiest hunk of metal on the road, Jackal remarked as we walked across the floating barge, passing rows of motorcycles to where a rusty old van was parked at the end of the line. I would suggest bikes, but fuels running a bit low, and its a bitch to find more. Better to have to fill one tank instead of four.
Kanin regarded the van impassively. There were slats across the windows, and metal spikes welded to the hood and bumpers, making it bristle with ill intent, but he didnt say anything. Zeke also observed the van without emotion, which worried me. A van like this had been used to kidnap his people and take them to Old Chicago, but if he was remembering that night, it didnt show.
Wrenching open the side door, I peered inside. The interior was empty, seats torn out, rotting plywood laid across the floor. An old, flat tire sat in the corner, and a skull-sized hole, the edges lined with rust, was punched through the opposite wall. Water and snow had obviously seeped in, for the whole thing reeked of mold.
Really? I looked back at my blood brother. Were going to Eden in this hunk of metal? Its two steps away from falling apart.
Sorry, sister. I didnt realize you were such a car expert. Jackal sneered at me. Does the chariot not meet her majestys approval? Were you expecting white horses and gold wheels? You could always walk to Eden, you know.
Youre the king of Old Chicago. Cant you demand a better vehicle?
This is the better vehicle.
The growl of the engine interrupted us. Kanin had slipped into the drivers seat and turned the ignition, making the van cough and sputter to life. It stood there, shaking and wheezing like some ancient beast, and the Master vampire drummed his fingers on the wheel, staring out the front window. Clearly, he was done waiting for us to make a decision. Zeke stepped into the van without hesitation, sitting cross-legged against the far wall, and Jackal opened the passenger door with a smirk.
Shotgun.
What? I said. But he had already slammed the door behind him, leaving me standing there by myself. Glowering, I stepped into the flimsy, rotting interior, pulled the door closed, and settled against the wall with Zeke. The van coughed once more and began to move, rolling across the barge, over a shaky, rattling bridge, and into the streets.
Back on the highway, Kanin turned the van east once more, weaving through cars and dead vehicles clogging the road, until we reached the outskirts of the city and the lanes opened up. As we picked up speed, the broken skyline of Old Chicago faded into the darkness, until it vanished from sight, and only the road was left, stretching on to Eden.
That first part of the night, the ride was hushed. Kanin drove, and Jackal rode beside him with the seat back and his hands behind his head. I sat with Zeke on the floor of the van, watching his still form and wishing I could reach out to him, somehow. He seemed to have retreated deep within himself, and my few attempts to talk to him were met with polite but vague one-word answers. He didnt want to talk, or he wasnt ready to talk, and the more I prodded, the further he withdrew. Eventually, I gave up and sat next to him in silence, just letting him know I was there. When he was ready, he would come around. Until then, I would let him sort everything out in peace.
The van lumbered on, the only sounds being the sickly whine and cough of the engine, and the occasional thump of tires rolling over debris. Sometimes, the road was clear. Other times, Kanin had to slow the van to a near crawl, weaving through clusters of abandoned, overturned vehicles or trees that had fallen into the road. Once, when he drove carefully around a rock slide that covered most of the pavement, the engine sputtered and died, and it took several tries to get it started again. I was relieved when it finally coughed and turned over, albeit very reluctantly. Ancient and unreliable as the van was, we were still covering ground much faster than had we been on foot.
Oh, my, its awfully quiet back there, Jackal remarked after several miles had passed and nothing had happened. Of course, my blood brother took personal offense to peace and quiet, and I could practically hear the grin in his voice. Are you two making out?
Shut up, Jackal.
He snickered. Kanin drove on in silence, determined, I suspected, to ignore us all and the annoyances that were looming. I shifted closer to Zeke, just so that my arm brushed his, and waited for Jackals next comment.
So, little bloodsucker, the raider king went on, confirming my suspicions. Hows life as a vampire these nights? Not that I care, mind you, but we are chasing your crazy-as-shit sire. If he has something nasty waiting for us in Eden, Id kinda like to know about it. Any hints as to what your psycho daddy is up to?