Vampire Apocalypse #2 Cataylst (21 page)

James nodded in agreement, “That is correct.
You were bold on that day.”

“I was bold that day and things ended in my
favor, and today, I sit here like a bird on a perch waiting for the
King to find me.” She shook her head. It made her brown curls bob
around her face. Sophia felt their smoothness brush against her
cheek. She breathed hard, a habit left over from her human years.
Sophia hardly ever felt fear, but when she did, her mannerisms
mimicked the scared girl she was before she was changed. Sophia’s
hand lifted to her heart. Although it didn’t beat, the memory of it
slamming into her ribs filled her body. It made her think the fear
was real and not a memory. Dread flooded her body, making her feet
twitch in her satin slippers.

Sophia stood slowly and looked over the room
of vampires. Her forces were well over two hundred. As she rose,
dark heads turned slowly toward her. Their eyes watched her silky
red gown, as the fabric fell into long sweeping folds at her feet
and accentuated the narrowness of her waist. A belt studded with
rubies was just under her bust, making her hips look non-existent,
just the way she liked it. At one time, Sophia’s name was enough to
strike down her enemies. Over the years she’d grown tame. Staging
the fights with her brother kept most of her challengers at bay. It
worked, too, on all but one.

Every set of eyes was on her. Sophia held her
head high, making her slender, pale neck look longer—more
aristocratic. Her beauty was the envy of women, and the desire of
men. Sophia’s dark eyes narrowed as they swept over the room. “We
will not wait here like scared dogs, cowering.”

“Your Majesty,” one her guards spoke out. “It
is easier to protect you here. We can predict with certainty that
this location, guarding you in this position, is to your
advantage.”

Sophia stepped off the dais and swiftly
crossed the room toward the guard. She looked like she was
floating. The vampire surrounding her gasped. Sophia caught
whispers of shock, “She moves like the vampires of old.” Before the
flood, Sophia was swift. Her ancient body was powerful enough to
fly, to move without being seen. She was ruthless and attacked
without provocation. The others feared her, and seeing this display
of power reminded them of the former glory of their Queen, and left
them in awe.

Stopping in front of the guard, Sophia looked
him in the eye. “You think we should hide like scared children? Do
you not know your Queen is more powerful than those who threaten
us?”

The guard’s lips parted to reply, but Sophia
didn’t give him the chance. Her hand swept across his throat,
severing it from his body. It thumped to the floor as his headless
body teetered and fell. Sophia didn’t even watch. Instead she
turned to her loyal subjects, smiling like a saint.

“Under my reign the old ways will return. The
power we once held as vampires is within our reach again. Those who
follow me will share in it, and those who question me, will be
silenced.” Her dark gaze fell back to the dead vampire on the white
marble floor. A pool of blackened blood oozed from his body. It was
impossible for the vampires in the room to ignore him, but many of
them refused to look. They feared their Queen, Sophia could see it
in their eyes. The corners of her reddened lips pulled up,
revealing her teeth. They were glittering white. The vampire’s in
the room had various reactions, but most had wide eyes, watching
their Queen as she smiled. Some even leaned forward to see how
sharp and beautiful her eye teeth had become. Content that they all
saw her newly forming fangs, Sophia said, “After tonight, we return
to the old ways.”

The vampires roared with approval, their
voices cheering their Queen. Without another word, Sophia turned
toward the door, her crimson gown billowing around her ankles.
While she could float, Sophia didn’t want to expend the power, not
with Kahli still missing. While she had a few extra drops of
Kahli’s blood on hand, it was not enough. Her supply would be
diminished in days. Sophia knew that if she failed to get the girl
back, everything she gained would be lost. There was one thing
Sophia couldn’t stand, and that was losing.

The vampires cheered behind her. They lifted
their voices, and their weapons, following their Queen out of the
ballroom and through the front doors of the palace. Sophia grinned
widely. She would not lose this battle.

CHAPTER 32

Kahli could sense his presence. The King’s
mood slipped over her like a disgusting blanket, covered in slime.
The sensation made her stomach lurch. If she could feel him, and
knew that he was close, then he must sense Kahli as well. Proximity
did not work in her favor. The closer she got to the King, the more
she could feel. It made her heart race faster. Sweat beaded on her
forehead, and dripped from her temples. Her hair matted to her
face, as Kahli inched through the garden alone, each step taking
her closer to the palace—closer to the King.

Every tree, every shadow, every noise made
her want to scream. He could be anywhere and she wouldn’t see him
until he was right in front of her. Kahli sucked in the frigid air
and held it in until her lungs burned. Steadying herself, she moved
forward. The King was just a vampire. He was like the rest. She
said these things to herself over and over again, but the thoughts
didn’t reassure her. Instead, they made her more jumpy, because
they were lies. The King was not like the rest of them. There was
something different about him. While she saw the other vampires as
vulnerable, the King was not. He wasn’t weak. There was nothing to
exploit, and yet, Kahli crouched through the garden of ice and
stone, inching closer to him with the intention of killing him.

The iced trees cast a canopy of lacy shadows
on the frozen ground. Patches of light and darkness mingled
together, masking anyone who was near. The moonlight was weak. Thin
gray clouds covered the sky. Every few moments, the world went
black as another cloud crossed the moon’s surface, darkening the
night.

Kahli swallowed even though her mouth was
dry. As she moved through the frozen garden, Kahli snapped a shard
of ice from a tree limb. The piece of ice was heavy, with its tip
formed to a perfect point. Holding it in her hand, she could feel
its mass through her glove. Kahli clutched the weapon and moved
forward, knowing each step was bringing her closer to the King.

There was a question burning brightly in her
mind. Normally, Kahli would sneak up on a Tracker and demand an
answer before killing the vamp, but she didn’t think that was wise.
Not with the King. He was too strong, too powerful. Memories of
their last meeting played through her mind and Kahli shivered. The
compulsion scared her the most. She didn’t know how to resist his
commands. The King’s threats rang in her ears as she stalked closer
and closer to the palace.

When she reached the back of the garden, a
long shadow caught her eye. The stake rose in her fist. Kahli moved
forward silently, ready to strike. But, when she realized what she
was looking at, she lowered her arm. The ground was open, like
someone placed a door in the frozen earth. Kahli glanced side to
side before moving forward. The metal doors were thick and coated
with ice. Each door was covered in a sheet of ice that cracked
along the edge. Glancing into the hole, Kahli saw a set of stairs
that descended into the dark earth.

Carefully, she moved toward the hole without
making a sound. Reaching out, she touched the ancient door with her
gloved hand. It reminded her of the doors in the older safe houses.
The metal was thick, and rust-colored, caked in ice. The snow at
the throat of the hole was disturbed, pushed away. There were two
sets of prints that descended the tired old staircase. Kahli
pressed her eyes closed hard. Steeling her nerves, she took a deep
breath and descended the stairs alone, immediately swallowed by
darkness.

CHAPTER 33

Cole moved ahead by himself, methodically
slaughtering every vampire he came across. He smiled and walked
toward them, alone. The vampires didn’t fear him. Most thought he
was wandering the halls because he could. They tried to force him
back to his room. That was when Cole attacked. They never saw it
coming. They never suspected him capable of murder.

As Cole wiped the inky blood off his knife he
muttered, “Arrogant bastards.” His foot connected with the dead
vampire in front of him, kicking the body hard. Killing them wasn’t
enough. It didn’t fix what they did to him, to his family. Cole
tried hard to contain his emotions, but they threatened to pour
out. Killing brought out the worst in him. Cassie knew it, which
was why she wanted him to show mercy, but Cole didn’t want to show
mercy. He wanted to annihilate their kind, and wipe vampires from
the face of the Earth.

Maybe he shouldn’t have told her what the
vamps intended to do with her. The Captain told him that little
piece of information last. She meant for it to make him realize
there was no escape. Killing her shouldn’t have changed anything,
but it changed everything. Cole knew what was happening in the
palace that night and where. Maybe he should have protected Cassie
from the truth, but it was too late now.

After Cole cleared the hallway, he went back
and singled to Cassie that they could follow. Then, the pattern
repeated. As they moved closer to the exit, there were more
vampires moving through the palace. They were flooding toward a
single point like rats running from a storm. At one point, Cole
forced the group into a room. There were too many vampires moving
through the halls. Sneaking the group outside with so many vampires
present wasn’t an option. He needed a better vantage point to see
what changed. This was not what the Captain had planned. Something
was happening.

Cole signaled to Chaucer for him to remain by
the door. Crossing the room swiftly, Cole reached out and pushed
back a massive velvet drape. He looked out the window and cursed
under his breath. From where Cole stood, he could see the front
palace lawn. It was covered in vampires with a single figure
leading them forward, dressed in red. Sophia. Cole watched closely,
trying to determine what was happening. The front lawn was mostly
smooth, with the exception of the front drive that curved toward
the palace with thick snow banks on either side.

Turning his face, Cole looked the other way.
The room they were in jutted out from the side of the building in
one of the remote wings of the palace. It allowed let him see the
edge of the Southern lawn, as well, which appeared undisturbed. The
orchard sat there frozen, the jagged branches jutting up into the
cloudy sky like bony fingers. That side of the palace was all hills
and shadows. While Cole didn’t see anything, that didn’t mean it
was safe.

Glancing back at the front lawn, Cole noticed
that the vamps that moved through the building were all spilling
out onto the front lawn. They seemed to be moving toward Sophia. A
truck was also approaching the front gates, bouncing down the
driveway, flanked by guards on snow mobiles. Sophia spread her arms
wide and laughed as the wind battered her skirt, streaking it like
spilled blood across a canvas of white snow.

Cole turned toward the room of pale faces.
There was only one thing to do, one way to proceed. Cassie was
going to kill him. Drawing himself up to his full height, Cole
spoke with authority that shocked most of them. Chaucer leaned
against the door, watching, as if he knew Cole was capable of so
much more.

“The vamps are moving to a single location on
the front lawn. This is a deviation from the information I gleaned
earlier.” Cole’s gaze cut from face to face and finally landed on
Cassie’s. Her brown eyes were narrowing, as if she knew what he was
going to say before he said it. “We’re exiting through the south
side of the palace. It’s our best bet. Once outside, we travel on
foot until morning. If you fall behind, you’re left behind.” He
directed that comment at Brent specifically, before continuing.
“I’m going outside first to make sure we can get out. Do not leave
this room. Understand? Chaucer, guard the door. Kill anything that
comes through it. It should take me twenty minutes to reach the
South exit and survey the path to the outer wall.”

Cassie pushed to the front of the group, “I’m
coming with you.”

“No, you aren’t. You’re staying here where I
know you’ll be safe.” Cole didn’t even he look at her.

Cassie snapped at his heels, following him to
the door like she intended to punch Chaucer in the face if he tried
to stop her. “You can’t tell me what to do anymore! We aren’t
children. Going out there alone is stupid. At least let me—”

Cole rounded on her. Lowering his face to
hers, he hissed, “There’s nothing you can do, Cassie. Stay here. If
something happens to me, you’ll be the one they look to for help.
If I’m not back within the hour, move out. You can’t stay here.
Understand?”

“Cole,” she pleaded, but he was already out
the door.

Looking over his shoulder, Cole saw Cassie’s
big brown eyes watching him walk away. “Lock it,” he said to
Chaucer, who nodded and pressed the door shut. When Cole heard the
click, he took off at a full run.

CHAPTER 34

Celticad moved through the ancient tunnel,
his feet slipping on the icy stone floor. Although the tunnel was
still there, it wasn’t in pristine condition. The King followed
behind with a wide grin on his face.

“Where will this lead to in the palace?”

Celticad spoke over his shoulder, “I’m not
certain, exactly. It depends on which tunnel we follow. There are
more paths down here that will meet up with this one.”

“What a splendid night,” the King said,
beaming. “Two of my biggest problems are about to right
themselves.” The King sensed her. Somewhere back there in the
darkness was the girl. As soon as she stepped foot in the tunnel,
it was like someone touched a flame to his skin. Kahli was
following him. He couldn’t have asked for a better present.