NEVER FALL FOR THE FORBIDDEN (NEVER FALL SERIES) (14 page)

Chapter Twenty-Five

              Armed with weapons of old and new worlds, Umbriel, Triton, three seasoned vampires and James, Nala’s boy toy, set out to exterminate a band of Januar’s clan that set up camp near the northern most border of Triton’s district. Unsure how many were stationed at the long since abandoned prison, Umbriel led the operation and sent in two of the older vampires to scout out the area. Tensions ran high waiting nearly an hour for the two to return, if they would at all.  From the corner of his eye, Umbriel noticed James pulling a handgun from his waistband, pulling out the magazine he checked the clip and shoved back in with over excitement. Swiping the weapon from him, Umbriel took the piece and scolded him like a four year old.

             
“Give me that!” Umbriel cursed. “No gun will kill the undead.”

James
looked wounded, but spoke up, “It will at least stop one enough for a head start, if I have to get away, Nala said so.”

             
Umbriel’s temper flared at the defiant fledgling. Triton quick to notice his friend’s ire stepped in.

             
“How long have you been a vampire?” Triton asked James.

             
“Nearly a year.”

             
“And how old were you when you were changed?” Triton questioned.

             
“Twenty.” James answered sheepishly. Triton shook his head, the same age as when Nala changed him. “Let me give you a bit of advice. Only two things will kill a vampire. Cutting off their head and sunlight.”

A still irked Umbriel piped in, “You forgot the third thing.”

              “What’s that?” James asked.

             
“Stupidity.” Umbriel sneered and walked away. James looked to Triton a self-defeated look on his face. Triton rested his arm on the young one’s shoulder. “Don’t mind him; he’s a lot on his shoulders. But, he’s right one stupid move could mean death.”

             
“Nala said in time I will be strong as you.” James told Triton.

             
“It has taken me over a thousand years to become like this.  Don’t rush the power; learn as much as you can, and you will survive.”

             
“Look!” James pointed to two shadows approaching.  Returning to their meeting spot, the scouts brought news of their findings. 

             
“We only spotted four, one was a pretty powerful he may be an elder.  We didn’t get close enough for them to detect us, but he was putting a strong vibe out.”

             
Umbriel listened carefully, thinking before he spoke, “We keep one alive, Triton will take on this task. Get as much info out of him, I want any intelligence.”

Dividing
the teams, Umbriel took two and gave Triton young James and one other vampire. 

             
“Time is short and it is nearly dawn, get in and get out and back here as fast as possible.” Umbriel said. 

             
Dividing up, Triton and his two disciples entered the building, sneaking down along long corridor towards the room where the scout had observed a lone vampire earlier in their mission. Leading their team, the scout was followed by Triton and James who trailed so closely behind Triton could feel they young vamps breath on his back. As they came to the open room, Triton held back James as the scout held up his fist to halt them. The scent of tobacco and death permeated the air as a lone vampire sat with his back turned. Smoke rings puff upwards as a lone vampire smoked a cigarette, resting his feet up on a table; the vampire blew out a single stream of the white cloud through rings as if he had not a care in the world. Triton’s uneasiness made him reach out for the scout but it was too late. The smoking vampire grinned selfishly as the scout turned slowly to face him. He flicked the cigarette at the scout, as if he was throwing down the gauntlet. In a mere second, the scout pulled a shiny sliver dagger from inside his jacket and flew at him. Neither foe showed an ounce of hesitation or fear. Triton rushed in his old world sword already in hand. The enemies surrounded Triton and the scout, encircling the two forcing them to fight back to back. Triton counted quickly as six more swooped in. Three lay dead from Triton’s wrath before the scout could claim his first victory. Triton yelled for James to stay put as he caught a glimpse of Nala’s boy toy, in a fist fight with another vampire who looked to about his age. Triton shouted for the scout calling his name. Falling on his boot, the head of the scout stared up at Triton eyes wide open before turning to a pile ash on Triton’s boot.

             
As a momentary break in the action subsided, Triton sheathed his sword.
Damn!
He reached to draw it again but was unsuccessful; two opposing vampires jumped him from behind but were no match for his powerful strength. Throwing one off his shoulders Triton took the other, twisted his head around in a 180° turn. The internal the decapitation rendered the foe dead instantly. Swinging his body around Triton pulled his sword from inside his jacket and in one fail swoop, took off the heads of two more attacking solider vampires. Triton stopped to look around for any more opposition vamps. Alone Triton called for the young James until his shouts filled his ears. 

             
“Shit!” Triton yelled as he fended off another round of attackers. Fighting as if were rabid dogs, Triton punched and kicked them back one at a time in order to give him the room needed to swing his sword and end their reign in the immortal world. 

             
Dragging Nala’s boy toy, two much more powerful vampires laughed as James tried his damnest to fight his way out of their clutches. Blood poured from James broken nose draining down into his mouth as he shouted for Triton to come save him. Cell after cell went by, the bars blurring into the darkness as James kicked and screamed down the cold dark empty hallway. As he hit the floor of the empty cell, the slamming of the door boomed thunderously through the empty hollow halls echoing as if the sound mocked James. Scrambling around the dirt-lined floor, James held his hands in front of his face his white skin covered not in dirt but in black charred dust. James eyes adjusted to the darkness of the cell.
No!
James screeched loudly he tried to wipe the burnt remains of corpses off his skin. The charred remains of his fallen brothers smothered him as he tried to scramble to his feet. Screaming out Triton’s name as James rattled the cell door, yelling for him to hurry. 

             
Unsure which direction James’s voice was coming from, Triton sprinted down the halls yelling for him to keep calling. “Triton, here, help me!”

             
The vampires left young James to meet the morning rays that peeked into the open ceiling. Triton ran swiftly, his legs straining to go faster. Tired legs felt as if they were cement filled. Only twenty more paces to the cell, Triton shouted for James to hold.

             
Pulling out his firearm, Triton fired three rounds unsuccessfully into the lock. He tried his damnest to pry the bars to no avail. James pleaded as the sun slinked like a hungry snake towards it unsuspecting prey. James backed into the rear corner of the cell. The light creeping at a rapid pace until James had nowhere else to go to escape the burning rays. Triton reached through the bar in a last ditch effort to try to save James. As the sunshine crept up the young flesh, Triton gasped how quickly the flames rose from feet to the legs up the torso ending his short immortal life. 

             
“Tell Nala I'm sorry…and I loved her.” James said bravely before succumbing to the horrifically cruel death.

             
“No!” Triton yelled still reaching through the bars as the sunlight burnt his fingertips. Pulling back his hand Triton looked up at the hole in the ceiling and realized it was morning. James was dead. He prayed the Umbriel and others were safe and did not meet the same fate as poor James. Triton needed shelter and fast. The light spilled through the ceiling, chasing him down the corridor, down the stairs and into the basement.
What will I do if I can not find
shelter?

             
Triton quickly but cautiously racing through the abandoned halls, until he stumbled upon what would have to do for the time being. An old walk in freezer would have to serve as shelter for the day. Triton held his breath as he reached for the silver handle and opened the door slowly. He held his 9mm with a straight steady arm. Triton’s senses made the arm swing up immediately. Glowing eyes peering out of the darkness sending Triton back a step. Another had sought solitude here. A spilt second passed as Triton held his breath and went to squeeze the trigger.

             
“Brother!” Umbriel shouted. Triton sighed heavily with relief lowered his weapon and holstered the gun. Umbriel stepped one foot forward placed both his hands on Triton’s coat pulled him in to the shelter and quickly closed the door behind them.

             
“Give me your jacket.” He said and stuffed it against the base to keep the light out and the darkness in.

             
“Good to see you’re still alive.” Triton said as his night vision came into focus.

             
“You very nearly didn’t.” Umbriel returned. “We were ambushed.”

             
“So were we.”

             
“And the others?”

             
“Dead. James…the sun.” Triton said and put a fist hard into the metal wall. “It was my fault, I should have watched him.”

             
“He knew his fate. Why would Nala send such an inexperienced kid? What was she thinking?” Umbriel said. Triton took a seat on the ground and rested his head against the cool metal wall.

             
“She was testing him, she tests all her protégés.” Triton said.

             
“Like you.” Umbriel retorted.

             
“Many times over.” Triton scoffed. Umbriel slid his back down the wall opposite his friend and lit a cigarette. The red ember glowing in the darkness made Triton flash to the last sight of James, burning to a crisp before his eyes. No matter how many hundreds times he saw it over the centuries, it still sickened him. Umbriel passed the cigarette to Triton. He did not smoke but he needed something to calm himself. Inhaling deep, Triton took a seat on the opposite wall and finished it. The friends sat in silence for a long time, neither friend thinking of the situation at hand but of who was waiting for them when they returned.

             
“Are you going to tell me now?” Umbriel asked as he kicked his friends boot to rouse the answer from him. Triton let out a half hearted laugh.

             
“The human, Amelia?”

             
“Annasara.”

             
“That was some gift you gave her, ruby?”

             
“Diamond.”

             
“What that cost you?” Umbriel said.

             
“Everything.”

             
“You drink from her?”

             
“No, I was caught off guard, so to speak, down by the gallery; I was out feeding I just happened upon them. Not often, we encounter a human attacking another human. The curiosity got the best to me and I watched. He intended to rape her. Do not ask me why something inside me had to stop the crime and protect her. I killed him easily snapping his neck. It was the perfect opportunity to feed, her blood pumped so fast that I nearly tasted it.”

             
“So what stopped you?” Umbriel asked.

             
“Her eyes. When I looked into them, I felt something inside something I had not felt in centuries…warmth. The feeling I felt in an instant was stronger than my blood thirst. I cannot explain it. Why her, why at the moment, why those feelings.” Triton said exhaustedly.             

             
Umbriel lit another cigarette, took a puff and point his finger at Triton, “If you’re caught there will be hell to pay.”

             
“Don’t you think I realize that? I never intended to fall in love.”

             
“You love her? A human?” Umbriel shocked tones made Triton feel guilty. Umbriel’s what face held the same expression that it had when he found them together in the restaurant months ago. Even in the dark Triton could see the disbelief on Umbriel’s face.

             
“And you never fed off of her?” Umbriel asked again.

             
“No. She has no idea what I am, hell, for all I know she has forgotten all about me by now.” Triton said in a tone trying to downplay the relationship. 

             
“One rarely forgets a love, especially when diamonds are involved.” Umbriel said knowing the extent of Triton’s feelings he was trying to hide. Triton grew silent his thoughts only of his true love Annasara. He had not thought of her this intently in weeks but now the pain crept back in, the hurt of missing a loved one, wanting her touch, her kiss, hold her in his arms, to make love her for hours on end. He pounded his head against the wall trying to clear her from his thoughts but his efforts are in vain.