The Forever Song - Julie Kagawa 38 стр.


Allie.

Footsteps echoed on the steps, and Zeke came into the room, followed by several soldiers. The lead soldier, the sergeant I had seen before, gave me a businesslike nod as they entered, then jerked his head at another human, who approached the cell door with a key.

Zeke stood back as the soldier unlocked the door and pulled it open with a rusty screech, but quickly stepped forward as I left the cell. His gaze was worried, hesitant, as if afraid that I blamed him for being stuck behind bars for three hours. Im sorry, Allie, he murmured, regret and concern etched into his face, along with a little anger and guilt. This shouldnt have happened. I promised you wouldnt be treated this way

Its fine, I assured him, lightly touching his arm. They had to protect themselves. I get it. Where are Kanin and Jackal?

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Its fine, I assured him, lightly touching his arm. They had to protect themselves. I get it. Where are Kanin and Jackal?

Theyre with the mayor right now. He paused as the sergeant approached, holding my katana out to me. Surprised again, I took it and slipped it onto my back, and the soldier motioned us up the stairs. He wants to talk to you. Are you ready?

I nodded, then glanced at the man I had thought was a Pet, still watching us from where he stood before the cell. He met my gaze, solemn and unsmiling, but his expression wasnt fearful or filled with hate. Perhaps Id judged him a bit harshly, too.

Thanks, I said softly, and he nodded.

We followed the soldiers up the stairs, out of the building, and into a large jeep humming at the edge of the road. No one spoke. Zeke and I sat pressed between two soldiers, guns held across their chests, gazing straight ahead. Outside the windows, I viewed the tent-and-rubble city, sprawled in messy rows past the pavement and reaching all the way to the distant wall. Ragged, shivering humans wandered the streets or huddled around metal drums, looking scared and miserable. Whatever was happening in Eden, it had to be horrible, to have driven the entire population here.

That did sound like Sarren.

Do you know whats going on? I whispered to Zeke. He nodded grimly.

Mayor Hendricks will tell you everything, he murmured back. Better that you hear it all at once. But its awful, Allie. I didnt think it would be like this when I came back. His voice turned steely. Sarren has to die. I dont care what happens to me, but we have to find Sarren and end this, once and for all.

The vehicle pulled to a stop at another long cement building, one I recognized from my last stay. It was here that Id watched the rest of the group being shuffled off to different parts of the building, never to see them again. It was here that Id whispered my goodbyes to a sleeping, post-surgery Zeke, turned, and walked out of his life without looking back.

The hospital?

Yes, Zeke answered as we piled out of the car. The mayor was badly injured in the flight from Eden and has been recuperating here ever since.

The hospital was filled to capacity, rooms bulging with wounded humans, and the scent of blood and chemicals nearly knocked me down when I stepped through the doors. People in stained white coats shuffled through the aisles of cots, checking patients, administering aid, trying to make them comfortable because that was all they could do anymore. Groans and soft cries of pain followed us as we walked through the rooms, and, surrounded by the wounded and vulnerable, my demon stirred restlessly. Injured people were everywhere. They had even spilled into the halls, huddled in blankets or curled up in corners, looking miserable. The monster, of course, watched them intently, urging me to take advantage of the sick and weak, easy prey. I pushed it down, but the scent of blood and fear made it hard to think of anything else. Halfway through the walk, Zeke reached down and took my hand, squeezing tightly as we ventured deeper into the hospital. He did not look at the beds or the rows of moaning, thrashing humans, keeping his gaze rigidly in front of us. But his eyes were glazed, and his jaw was clenched to keep his fangs from sliding out. I kept a firm grip on his hand as we continued down the halls.

Finally, the soldiers led us to a door at the end of the hall. The two men guarding it eyed us warily as we approached but didnt say anything as the lead soldier pushed open the door and motioned us in. Beyond the frame was a room that had probably been an office once. But the desk was gone, replaced with a single bed, and a man in a white coat hovered over it with his back to us. A pair of soldiers in combat fatigues stood by the door, giving us the evil eye as we came in. Glancing around the room, I spotted Kanin in a corner, nearly blending into the wall, and Jackal slouched against the back window with his arms crossed. He met my gaze across the room and grinned.

Oh, hey, theres the little stool pigeon herself. Make any new friends while in the slammer, sister?

Shut up, James.

The doctor turned at that, eyes widening behind his glasses when he saw me. He was a small, thin man with a balding head and long, elegant fingers. You, he blurted, blinking rapidly in the florescent lights. It is you. The vampire girl. I recognize you.

I recognized him, as well. He was the doctor whod taken care of Zekes injuries when wed arrived several months ago. He was also the person who had discovered I was a vampire, when hed tried to listen for a heartbeat I didnt have.

Dr. Thomas, rasped the person in the bed, and a man struggled to sit up. The doctor turned as if to help him but was waved away by a thick, bandaged arm. Doctor, please. Im fine. Let me see the bloodsucker for myself.

The doctor stepped aside, and I stared in astonishment. The man in the bed was huge. Not tall or muscular, just...big. His stomach bulged against his hospital gown, his cheeks were pale but round, and his neck was thicker than anyones Id ever seen. Id heard the term fat before, but had never encountered such a thing before this. Hunger and starvation were so common in my world; I couldnt imagine having so much food that your body would store it away for later.

His large torso was wrapped in bandages, his skin white and pasty beneath the cloth. His dark hair was short and damp with sweat, and the hand lying on his ample stomach was bandaged tightly, thick fingers twice the size of a normal persons.

But his eyes, tiny and black, regarded me with a sharp, piercing gaze, one pencil-thin brow raised in surprise. This is the vampire? he asked no one in particular. His voice was surprising, too. High and clear. A girl? I wasnt expecting her to be so...small.

We cant all be walrus men, was the retort that sprang to mind, though I didnt voice it out loud. Dealing with volatile vampire Princes had taught me the value of diplomacy, especially when talking to the people in charge. Jackal, of course, snorted a laugh, and I glared at him.

Shes stronger than she looks, Zeke said in a quiet voice, making the mayor blink at him. Trust me on that.

Yes, but... The mayor peered at me intently. When they told me a vampire was being kept in the barracks, I was picturing something...older. Not a girl. She looks young enough to be my niece.

I held my tongue again. You wouldnt know a vampire if it walked up and bit you, I thought ungraciously. You have four vamps standing in this room right now, one of whom is a Master, and youre making comments about my age? How did you get to be mayor of Eden, anyway?

It doesnt matter. Kanins deep, calm voice echoed from the corner. She is still a vampire, and you cannot afford to be choosy at this time, Mayor Hendricks. You need her.

I frowned, glancing from my sire to the mayor, feeling confused and left out. Whats going on? I asked.

Ah, of course. Mayor Hendricks sighed and sat up straighter in the bed. My apologies. Let me explain. He winced, shifting his large bulk under the covers, trying to get comfortable. As youve probably guessed by now...Im sorry, what was your name again, vampire?

Allison, I supplied.

Allison. That seems so normal. The mayor shook himself. Well, as youve probably guessed, Allison, Eden is experiencing a bit of a...situation. With everyone driven from their homes, trapped between the lake and the rabids, tension is running a bit high. We didnt mean to be rude, but Im sure you understand we had to protect ourselves. Especially now.

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Allison, I supplied.

Allison. That seems so normal. The mayor shook himself. Well, as youve probably guessed, Allison, Eden is experiencing a bit of a...situation. With everyone driven from their homes, trapped between the lake and the rabids, tension is running a bit high. We didnt mean to be rude, but Im sure you understand we had to protect ourselves. Especially now.

I got that, I said cautiously, and he grimaced, more in pain then from anything else. What exactly is going on? This was crazy. How had Sarren managed to drive everyone out of Eden? Even if he was insane, unhinged and unpredictable, he was still just one vampire. He couldnt drive off an entire city by himself. What happened on the island?

Well. Mayor Hendricks, pressed his lips together. Turns out, that person youve been chasing is a sick, sick bastard. Early one evening...

He grunted, clenching his jaw in pain, and the doctor stepped forward anxiously. Hendricks waved him off. Doctor, please. Im fine. I need to talk to the vampire before you knock me out again. Give me two minutes, and then you can stick me with whatever you want.

The doctor backed off, his face pinched with worry. Hendricks sighed and turned to me. One evening, he continued, a barge floated up to the island. On the western side, near the town square. People thought it was abandoned. There was no one aboard that we could see, nor did it answer any of our communications. A crowd of people watched it crash into the docks, and gathered on the shore to see if they could help. Hendricks shook his head. Poor bastards, he murmured, running a chubby hand down his face, before looking up at me. Take a wild guess as to what was on that barge, Allison.

My insides felt cold, and I briefly closed my eyes. I didnt have to guess. Rabids, I whispered.

Hundreds of them, the mayor confirmed. They came pouring out like ants, screaming and killing, attacking everything they saw. Instant pandemonium. He snapped his fingers. Eden was lost in minutes. Hundreds of people died fleeing the rabids or trying to get off the island. The military units were overwhelmedthere were just too many, and they caught everyone by surprise. Most of the army died that night, trying to protect the civilians and get them to safety. There just werent enough boats for everyone to leave at once. Hendrickss mouth thinned. My own guards sacrificed themselves so that I could get out of there, and even then, I almost didnt make it. But I know Im luckier than a lot of people.

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