No, Zeke answered simply. I havent seen him since he left Old Chicago, a few days before you showed up.
Well, thats unfortunate. Jackal crossed his arms, his voice contemplative. Havent seen the psychopath at all, huh? He gazed up at the roof. If only there was some sort of link that would let you know exactly where he is.
I jerked up. The blood tie. Of course, how could I forget? Zeke was Sarrens offspring, disturbing as that was, so he should be able to sense where the crazy vamp was through their shared bloodline. I wondered if we could somehow track Sarren down without alerting him to Zekes presence. I also wondered how I could tactfully suggest that to Zeke without completely freaking him out.
But Kanin shook his head.
No, the Master vampire stated, the first thing hed said since leaving Chicago. Its too soon. The blood tie takes time to develop, depending how strong the new vampire is. Sometimes it takes months. If neither sire nor offspring is a Master, it can take even longer. Often, it is triggered by intense emotion or pain; when one member subconsciously calls for help, it is felt by the whole bloodline. But I fear it is too soon for Ezekiel to have developed the link to his maker, at least not one that he can feel. The tie usually emerges after the offspring has been a vampire for a while.
Huh. Jackal didnt seem pleased with this, but I was relieved. Zeke certainly didnt need that kind of burden, having to feel Sarrens presence, like an evil taint, lingering in his consciousness. A constant reminder that he was still out there, waiting. The thought made me shudder.
Jackal shifted against the seat, making it groan loudly. Guess you got lucky there, bloodbag, he muttered, and I wondered if even Jackal found the thought of being tied to Sarren disturbing. Any hints as to what hes doing, then? Plans? Ideas? Creepy riddles? He turned and peered back at us, raising a pointed eyebrow. A message scrawled on a bathroom door in the blood of the innocent?
He didnt tell me anything, Zeke said, with a dangerous undertone that warned not to keep pushing him down this path. Jackal, of course, didnt get the hint or, most likely, didnt care.
Well, youre just all kinds of useless, arent you? He shifted back, settling against the seat with his arms behind his head again. But he wasnt done, yet. Come on, Ezekiel, youre the progeny of the Insane One himself. Sure you cant scrape something out of that screwed-up head to give us the jump on Sarren? Im sure if you dig hard enough, youll find his special brand of crazy right where you need it.
I slid forward and kicked the back of his seat, making him turn to glare at me. Will you shut up? Leave him alone. How is this helping anything?
Hey, pardon me for wanting to be prepared, Jackal drawled. We cant all be like you, sister, charging in blind and hoping your sword hits something as you flail about. You got lucky this time. Thats not going to work with Sarren.
Why dont you tell us what hes up to? I challenged. You worked with him back in New Covington. Im sure the pair of you had plenty of chances to bond.
Youd think so, but not really. Jackal didnt miss a beat. Turns out, crazy psychotic vampires are really difficult to pal around with. They tend to be irrationally paranoid, and his poetry was about to drive me up a wall. So Im afraid I didnt get any useful information out of Sarren because I was busy...oh, what was it again? I forgot why I was there. Jackal mock frowned, then snapped his fingers. Oh, yeah! I was saving your skin.
Funny, I was going to say setting us up.
Youre never going to let that go, are you?
If the two of you would like to walk to Eden, Kanin said at last, not taking his eyes from the road, I can stop anytime. I fell silent, and Jackal gave a disgusted snort and turned to face the windshield again. Kanin sighed. James, we will come up with a plan for dealing with Sarren when we have more information, he said, glancing at Jackal. But antagonizing Ezekiel will not help, so I suggest you cease before your sister runs a sword through the back of your chair. I smirked triumphantly, though it didnt last. Allison, your brother is right. You cannot go charging into Sarrens lair blind this time around. He will be expecting you. Kanins voice turned grave. And he will be ready for us all.
The van died an hour later.
Kanin had slowed again, driving carefully beneath an overpass that had partially collapsed, leaving huge chunks of concrete leaning against each other at treacherous angles. As we cleared the bridges ominous shadow, the van shuddered, gave one final wheeze, and stopped moving. Kanin tried coaxing it to life, but no amount of prodding could revive it this time. It was well and truly dead.
Great. I glared at Jackal as we piled out onto a lonely highway that stretched for miles in either direction. The trek to Eden had just become that much longer, and we didnt have time to spare. I know its irrational, I told him, but I blame you for this.
Whatever floats your boat, sister. Jackal ignored my glare and walked to the front of the van, then lifted up the hood with a creak. Gazing over the complicated jumble of metal and wires, he shook his head. Could be the fuel hose, could be the alternator. Or the engine might be shot to hell. I wont know unless I fiddle with it. He eyed Kanin, who stood calmly at the front of the vehicle. Unless that screws with your time schedule, oh, impatient one. This might take a couple hours, and I dont know if Ill be able to get it started again. But by all means he waved a hand down the empty, moonlit highway feel free to take the runts and start walking, and Ill meet you down the road. If you hear me coming, just stick out a thumb. Jackal grinned, his eyes glowing yellow in the shadow of the hood. Ill slow down. Probably.
Kanin gave him a level stare. No, the Master vampire said, as if that was the end of it. We go to Eden together, or not at all. Unless someone truly wants to leave for good, we face Sarren as a unit. There is too much at stake to take chances. Jackal shrugged and stuck his head beneath the hood again as Kanin went on. We can make up for a few hours if we have a working vehicle. What do you need to repair it?
Besides a bloody miracle? There was a grunt, and Jackal swore. Parts. Tools. And a new engine would be fucking fantastic. But since were sort of screwed on any of those, peace and quiet, without a certain obnoxious sibling bitching at me every two minutes.
Besides a bloody miracle? There was a grunt, and Jackal swore. Parts. Tools. And a new engine would be fucking fantastic. But since were sort of screwed on any of those, peace and quiet, without a certain obnoxious sibling bitching at me every two minutes.
Funny, I think that exact same thing every day.
There were a few vehicles a couple miles back, Zeke said, startling me. His voice hadnt changed; it still was empty as ever, as if none of this interested him. They looked abandoned. Want me to go see if any of them start? Since this is going to take a while.
The puppy speaks, Jackal mocked, peering up from the hood. And he actually said something useful. Yeah, why dont you do that, bloodbag? And while youre at it, see if any of them have fuel. Fixing this thing wont matter for shit if we dont have gas.
Ill go, too, I said, quickly pushing myself off the van.
Jackal snickered and muttered, Big surprise, as he ducked back under the hood, but I ignored him. No way was I letting Zeke out of my sight now. I didnt think he would head off down the road alone to meet the rising sun, but I honestly wasnt sure. This cold, emotionally detached Zeke worried me more than if hed acted angry and bitter.
I wanted to talk to him without Jackals snide comments or Kanins silent but unmistakable presence. If I could just get him alone, talking freely, maybe I could break through the icy shell hed built around himself. Or at least get him to tell me what was going on.
Allison. Kanins voice reached me over the van. I glanced at my sire, saw sympathy and understanding in his dark eyes. Be careful, he warned. You will likely not meet with rabids or humans, but still, remain on your guard. Return immediately if there is trouble.
We will, I promised, and glanced at the vampire beside me. Ready, Zeke?
Zeke returned my gaze and nodded, but his eyes remained distant. Reaching into the van, he emerged with a faded red container and turned down the long stretch of highway behind us. Lets go.
We followed the road for several minutes in silence. Zeke walked next to me, gaze fixed on the distant horizon. Around us, nothing moved. The highway stretched on, empty and still, the only sounds the crunch of our boots on the snowy pavement. I was trying to think of a way to talk to Zeke, to breach the silence, when his voice echoed quietly into the stillness.
Go ahead and ask.
Startled, I glanced at him, seeing his empty face, the cold, remote eyes, and swallowed painfully. Zeke... I hesitated, not really knowing how to put it, what to ask. I cant reach you. Youve pulled so far back, I dont even recognize you anymore. Is this a choice, or is this what you are now? Is there anything left of the old Zeke? The one I...fell in love with?
This isnt like you, I finally said, wishing I knew how to express my true thoughts. He didnt reply, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with me, and my concern spiked. Talk to me, Zeke, I urged. I know you have to have questions, about everything. I can help. Im not as good a teacher as Kanin, but Ill do my best.
I dont want to know, Zeke said. At my confused frown, he finally looked at me, a flicker of pain finally cracking his icy mask. I dont need to understand vampire politics, or rituals, or if they have special holidays, he said. I only have to understand one thingIm a demon. I may not have wanted it, but its what I am now. His jaw tightened, brow furrowing as if he was in pain. This rage, and bloodlust, and Hunger...I can feel it inside me. And if I let it go, for one second, Ill lose everything.
You can control it
Im trying, Allison. He bared his fangs, then his face smoothed out, returning to that blank front of indifference. Im trying. If I dont think about...what I lost, if nothing matters, I dont feel it as strongly. If I give in to anger or hate or regret, its that much closer to coming out.
So, your answer is to feel nothing at all.
Yes. Zekes voice was hollow again, his eyes distant. Better to feel nothing, to be numb, than to lose control. Its the only way I know to deal with it.
And...what about us? I wanted to ask. Where do we stand, Zeke?
I knew it wasnt the right time to ask. Being Turned against his will, the twisted mind games Sarren had played with him, the horror of everything hed done while under the compulsion; he had so much to work out, to come to terms with, before he was anywhere near normal. He wasnt ready to face anything between us.