Okay, this wasnt starting off well.
The monster in me growled, urging me to attack, to take out the threat before it was too late and they shot us full of holes. I pushed down the bloodlust and lowered my sword, trying to appear nonthreatening. I hoped these werent the same soldiers Id encountered the first time Id come through the checkpointthe ones who would recognize me as a vampire. They had to believe we were just a group of normal humans looking for Eden. But something was definitely wrong. The checkpoint was on high alert, and the soldiers seemed twitchy; it hadnt been this way the first time we came through.
Sarrens doing? I wondered. Or something else?
Jackal snorted.
Nice reception, he drawled, gazing at the squad of armed humans with a mix of amusement and disgust. I feel so welcome here. Do all visitors get the red carpet treatment, or are we just special? He shot a glance at Zeke, his smile dangerous. Hey, puppy, I think your welcoming committee needs a few things explained.
Zeke quickly stepped forward, facing the squad. Its all right, he said, as the soldiers turned, their eyes wary and hard. I watched him, hoping he was calm, that he had his monster under control, as well. Thankfully, he seemed composed as he continued, speaking to the soldier out front, the one who looked like he was in charge. My name is Zeke Crosse. Im a resident of Eden. Some of the men straightened, definitely recognizing the name, as Zeke continued. Dr. Richardson knows who I am. If you tell him Ive come back, hell sort everything out.
The soldiers murmured and relaxed a bit, and the lead soldier lowered his gun. Zeke Crosse, he repeated, his brow furrowed in thought. Youre that kid who was working with the scientists. The one they let off the island a few months back. Zeke nodded, and his gaze flicked to the rest of us. What about them?
Theyre friends, Zeke replied without hesitation. And Jackal, much to his credit, managed not to roll his eyes or snort. Theyre here to help.
The man relaxed, and the rest of the soldiers lowered their weapons. All right, he said, and I breathed a small sigh of relief. Ive heard your name before, Mr. Crosse, though you picked a hell of a time to come back. Sorry for the welcome, but we cant be too careful anymore.
Whats going on? Zeke asked.
Come with us. The soldier jerked his head back down the road. Well explain as we go.
Wait. Another soldier pushed to the front. The commander frowned at him, but the humans dark eyes were narrowed on me. The girl, he growled, his voice hard, and my heart sank. I know you, he stated. I recognize you. You were with that group when they first came here, about five months ago. Youre the one Keller let walk away. His jaw tightened, and he raised his gun as the other soldiers tensed. Shes a fucking vampire!
All guns were leveled in my direction, and I bit down a snarl. Raising my hands, I forced my voice to be calm, steady. Oh, we did not need this now. Not with Sarren out there, possibly close. Something was definitely up, and Id bet the deranged vampire was right in the middle of it. The humans might not even know the danger they were in. We had to find him, but getting shot full of lead or inciting a panic was not going to help any of us.
The soldiers glared at me, fear and anger plain on their faces, their fingers tensing around their weapons. The monster within growled, eager for bloodshed. I didnt hurt anyone last time I was here, and Im not going to now, I told the men, meeting their hostile, accusing stares. We dont have to do this.
Zeke stepped forward and swept me behind him in one smooth motion, facing the soldiers and their guns. Shes with me, he said, keeping himself between me and the dozen assault rifles pointed at my chest. I brought her here. At Dr. Richardsons request. Shes not a threat to Eden or the people here, I swear it on my life. I caught the tremble in his voice, the bridled rage, and swallowed hard. The monster had emerged with the threat of violence, and he was barely holding himself back. I shot a quick glance at Jackal and Kanin. My sire watched calmly, patient and calculating, waiting to see what would happen, if he needed to intervene. Jackal stood a few feet away, observing the humans with his arms crossed and a rather dangerous smirk on his face, making me groan inwardly. If this got out of hand, these men were as good as dead.
The soldiers stared at Zeke, stunned and outraged. Fetch Dr. Richardson, Zeke went on. Tell him Im here, and that I have what they sent me for. Hell know what Im talking about.
The lead soldier finally lowered his gun, though his expression wasnt friendly. Well, that might be difficult, he stated in a flat voice. Richardson is dead.
Zeke straightened. Hes dead? he whispered. When? How?
Eden has been compromised, the man said grimly, as the soldiers continued to hold their weapons on me. The island is lost. We cannot give you any more details, but your vampire is going to have to come with us.
Chapter 14
I could sense the snarl rising in Zekes throat as several of the men stepped forward, their guns trained on me. I heard the beginnings of a growl rumble through him, and quickly grabbed his arm. If he attacked, if he gave himself away as a vampire, the soldiers would turn on him, on all of us. They might start firing, and then everything would end in disaster. We couldnt afford that. Not now. Not with Sarren out there, probably within Eden itself.
Zeke, wait! He turned, his gaze angry and intense, the hint of fangs peeking through his lips. Dammit, I had to calm him down as well, before he lost it and savaged the humans. Ill go with them, I whispered, then glanced at the soldiers. Ill go with you! I called, louder this time, and they relaxed, though not by much.
Turning back to Zeke, who still looked defiant, I leaned close and lowered my voice. This is the best way, I told him. Stay with Kanin and Jackal. Try to figure out whats going on.
Im not letting them take you.
Ill be fine. I squeezed his arm, desperate to convince him. What are they going to do, burn me at the stake? God, I hope not. But you have to look for Sarren, Zeke. If they think Im the only vampire here, they wont be watching the three of you. We have to find out whats happened to Eden, and where Sarren could be. Thats more important now.
Zeke closed his eyes. Im sorry, he murmured, giving me an anguished look. I didnt want it to be this way. I thought Dr. Richardson would be here to explain everything.
You couldnt have foreseen what would happen. The soldiers were giving me impatient looks; I didnt have a lot of time. This is the best option, Zeke. We dont want to start a fight. Better that its just me then all four of us. I leaned in even closer, dropping my voice to a whisper. You cant let them discover youre a vampire, not until you figure out whats happened to Eden.
Zeke sighed, looking angry and frustrated, but nodded. Ill find you, he promised, briefly pressing a hand to my cheek. I promise. I know the people here, theyre not unreasonable. Well talk to them and sort this out. Just hang on until then.
I will, I said, though I didnt tell him my true thoughts. That humans in general were not very reasonable when it came to vampires. That the fear of monsters and predators usually took over any rational thoughts when it came to their own survival. That I didnt expect much sympathy or understanding, and I was really just buying him and the others time to find Sarren.
And lurking in the darkest part of my mind was the fear that I kept even from myself. The whole reason Zeke had been allowed to leave Eden in the first place was to bring back a vampire. And now, here I was. A vampire, in a city full of frightened, desperate mortals.
Part of me said I was being incredibly stupid, putting faith in these humans, trusting they wouldnt strap me to a table and dissect me like a rat. Part of me was insisting that I fight my way clear. I was a vampire; who were these mortals to treat me like a prisoner and an animal? We could rip them apart, scatter their limbs in the road, and find Sarren without their help.
I pushed that voice aside. I was not that kind of monster, I told myself. We had come all this way; I wasnt about to slaughter the people Id come to help. And Zeke still had family here; if I gave in to the monster, he could fall as well, and it would be even more devastating for him once he came out of it. No, if it meant keeping Zeke grounded and in control, if it meant the others would remain free to look for our real enemy, I would put myself in the humans custody and not tear them in half. Even though I had zero faith that they would treat me as anything but a monster.
Leave that weapon behind, the lead soldier told me, jabbing his gun at my katana as I walked up. Bad enough we let a bloodsucker walk through the streetsits sure as hell not going to be armed. Take it off.
I bristled, but calmed my anger, stripped off my weapon, and handed it to Kanin. Our eyes met as his fingers closed around the sheath. Look after him, Kanin, I thought, holding his gaze, hoping he could read my expression. Dont let him succumb to the monster.
He gave a tiny, almost inscrutable nod, and I relaxed. Kanin knew what was happening, what had to be done. He would take care of both Jackal and Zeke, and they could figure out what was happening in Eden, as well.
Turning back to the soldiers, I raised my hands to show they were empty and stepped forward. They surrounded me, keeping their guns trained at my center. The lead soldier eyed my companions over my shoulder, his mouth pulled into a grim line.
You three wait right here, he told Zeke and the others. Dont move until we return. Turning to me, he motioned us forward with his gun. Lets go.
They escorted me down the road, where it became clear that something was terribly wrong in Eden.
Rows of makeshift tents and buildings lined the street, filled with humans reeking of pain, blood and fear. Lean-tos made of corrugated metal, wood or tarp had been hastily constructed into crude shelters, and people crowded together for warmth and body heat. Sometimes, a family or group didnt even have shelter; they huddled in blankets around a lamp or fire pit, their lips blue with cold. When Id first come here with Zeke, this had been a sparsely populated outpost, with a few long cement buildings that held military units and the checkpoint clinic, where they tested you for infection before you were allowed into Eden. That was as far as Id gotten; a well-meaning doctor had tried treating my injuries, only to discover I didnt have a heartbeat. Id left immediately after, not thinking Id ever see this place again.