Chapter 28

I paced back and forth on the sidewalk outside the meeting spot. I drummed my hands against the pant of my legs as I walked in an effort to calm myself. I checked the time again. Three minutes. I continued pacing while my heart pounded and my body sweated. I ran through scenarios in my head. I tried to think of how I was going to get myself and the kids out alive, but it kept ending in us all getting mauled to death.

A small pop and Buddy appeared on my shoulder, "Hi Caleb!"

"Geeze!" I involuntarily breathed, my heart threatening to stop, "Hi Buddy." After recovering from the initial shock, I grew excited, "Did you talk to Paulina? What did she say? Is she coming?"

Buddy looked down at his feet, "No," he said ashamed. "I told her your friend was in trouble like you said, but she said," he looked up and puffed out his chest as he spoke in a mockingly stern manner, "I have other matters I must attend to. Decter will be on his own!"

My breathing grew faster and I wiped my sweaty palms along my pants. Why wouldn't she come?

"Self-conceited witch," I swore under my breath. This just got a lot harder. Being able to cast a veil over myself and the children would have been incredibly useful.

"She did say she was sorry though," Buddy supplied.

"Yeah, a whole lot of good that'll do me once I'm dead," I muttered. I rubbed my hand over my face and through my hair before checking the time again on my phone. One minute. "Alright Buddy," I told the small brownie, "thanks for trying. You should go back to Tony now before others show up and see you."

"You don't want my help?" Buddy asked.

In truth, I would take just about anyone's help right now, but I wasn't sure what Buddy could do against a bunch of vampires, and I didn't want him getting hurt. "No that's ok," I reassured him, giving him a half smile, "You did good."

Buddy looked bashful, putting his arms behind his back and looking at his feet, "Aww well, I'm just trying to help my friend is all."

"Well you sure did. Now get going," I urged.

He gave me one last look and disappeared with a small pop.

I let out a breath looking up and down the street. Where was Jessica and the others?

I worked to calm myself and stretched out my senses. I sensed neither vampires nor my squad mates nearby.

I resumed pacing, wishing I thought to ask Buddy to bring my foci to me, or possibly even my suit. I would need them if I wanted to perform any serious magic. As it was, I stood weaponless and defenseless against them. Not a good combination.

A few more minutes passed before I registered vampires approaching. I looked and noted a black SUV with tinted windows driving up alongside me. The door opened, and I saw Samantha Stone sitting in the seat across from me. Two vampires sat in the driver and passenger seats. "Why hello there," she greeted me with a smile, showing off a perfect set of pearly white teeth. "Are you ready to take a ride?"

I didn't bother responding, instead climbing into the car. I had no leverage, no weapons, and no backup. I only had with me a plucky attitude and a good poker face.

Samantha regarded me as I took my seat, "Where's the wizard?"

I shrugged, "I don't know, where are the kids?"

"Don't play smart with me boy," Samantha reprimanded me, her voice laced with anger, "We wouldn't want those kids to die in their own pool of blood."

We locked gazes and my eyes narrowed, "If you hurt them, you won't get what you want. Now drive."

Samantha smiled widely, "Oh, so feisty! I will say you seem so much different from that scared little boy in the alleyway only a few days ago." She giggled, "I mean, please don't tell me you've already forgotten the place of our anniversary? Why do you think I asked you to meet me here?"

I glanced out my window at the darkened Fighters of Benaiah sign, "Because you're a sadistic bitch?" I guessed.

The vampire threw her head back in a laugh, "Aww, there's that fire! Not that silly thing people call anger, but real fire! It looks like this night still has the chance to turn into something fun!" She looked me over, her hunger growing stronger, "How does that sound?"

"Like I'm past my curfew as it is," I responded blandly. I reached into her mind. She didn't intend to kill me yet. Yet being the key term.

"Aww don't worry, you won't need to worry about that soon," Samantha supplied.

Gulp.

She called to the driver, "Let's go."

And just like that we were back on the road. I noticed a van pull out behind us and reached out my senses.

The others made it.

I felt a new surge of confidence. At least I wasn't going into this completely alone.

No one spoke during the drive. With fewer vehicles on the road we made good time through the city.

"How's the old man doing?" Samantha asked cheerily.

I didn't answer, my fists tightening.

Samantha continued, "You know, the one that got in my way a few nights ago?"

I kept silent but noticed in my periphery Samantha give a sinister grin. She looked out her own window, "I did find his blood especially tasty, despite the trouble he put my brother and myself through. Maybe I'll stop by his room at the hospital on my way home-"

"Stop," I said finally.

"Oh?" Her eyebrows raised in content surprise.

I glared at her, "Stop now, or everyone in this car is dead." I began gathering energy.

Samantha's smooth hand clamped down on my wrist within the blink of an eye. She squeezed with painful intensity, "No," she said simply, "Wrong, and you want to know why," she leaned in to emphasize, "boy?" I held her gaze. "Because the moment you utter your little spell. The moment I feel the slightest headache," she leaned in closer, and I looked away. She whispered in my ear, "I will end you," her moist, hot breath gave me chills. "The first syllable, the first minor itch. Gone, your heart ripped out, your throat in my teeth." Her voice came out softer, "So go on. Try it."

I shut my eyes tightly. I knew what came next, but I didn't know how to stop it.

"And if you don't," Samantha continued, "I'll make you mine." Then I felt lips pressed against my neck.

The vampire venom worked quickly. A spread of warmth moved from the spot of contact throughout my body. I became woozy, the sensation causing my vision to blur. Then my muscles relaxed, and my neck loosened. All my worries seemed to wash away, replaced with a blissful fuzziness. It felt so good. I wondered how I lived so long without it.

A voice in the back of my head told me to fight it. That this was wrong, but how could it be wrong when it felt so good?

My vision darkened, and I slumped against the window.

"I'll make you mine," I heard Samantha's voice. It sounded like it came from a mile away.

I was going…going…

…gone.

I awoke to darkness and gasped for air. My body shook violently as I laid on my side in a fetal position. My whole body felt sore and itchy. I tried remembering what happened, but the aftereffects of the venom clouded my mind. I tried to stand, tried to move, but my whole body only shuddered in involuntary spasms. I managed to lift my head for a second before it fell back down, resting against a smooth, pre-warmed floor.

Slowly my thoughts cleared. Samantha. Paulina. Jessica. The kids. I had to control myself. Now. I took deep breath through my nose and out my mouth. My body spasmed a little less frequently. I gritted my teeth and strained to push myself to my knees. My bare feet pressed against cold flooring. They took my fricking shoes. The simple effort of shifting to my knees sent a new wave of exhaustion, and I struggled to maintain a coherent train of thought. I took several breaths before issuing a grunt and moving to stand.

Eventually I did. My head swooned and I stumbled, almost falling back onto the floor. I straightened and continued taking deep breaths. The numbness throughout my body began to fade, but my neck still tingled uncomfortably. The thought made me slap a hand to it. Sure enough, I felt two small pricks on my neck.

Teeth marks.

My body began shaking and I felt the urge to vomit, still trying to process the information. I was bit. I was bit by a vampire. What was going to happen to me? Was I going to change?

I shook my head, thinking of what Hodge told me. No, I wasn't going to turn. It took a royal or someone of that caliber to turn someone, and as powerful as Samantha Stone was, I doubt Degrada would have a royal vampire working for him.

Right?

A laugh echoed across the room, "Aww, is the baby feeling a little tired? Don't worry. I only took a nibble. Wouldn't want you too far gone, now would we?"

I instinctively tried to reach out my senses, but it was like trying to pierce a fog. Even so I strained and sensed figures around me.

I was surrounded.

Six vampires stood nearby. One directly in front of me, Samantha, stood maybe ten feet away. The other five stood in a loose circle around me. Lights turned on and I winced, blinded by their intensity.

I heard Samantha let out a groan, "Caleb Decter, I didn't know your blood would taste so good!"

Another spasm shook my body. My bones ached with exhaustion.

"The boys wanted their own taste, but I kept them off," Samantha cooed her voice travelling as she started a slow pace around me. "I need you alive and awake for what's next."

I forced my eyes open and blinked several times. The white light adjusted to reveal the five vampires as I predicted, with Samantha circling slowly around me. She moved gracefully, like a jungle cat circling its prey. "Do you recognize this place?" She asked excitedly.

I looked around the bland room. White walls. White paneled flooring. Nothing remarkable. I noticed doorways leading to long hallways that likewise lacked décor. A collapsed hallway on one side made what blood I had remaining run cold. This was their base. The Red Court base we first hit as a group.

Samantha's eyes glistened brightly, "Ahh, you do! Wonderful! I will say I wouldn't have believed you were a part of those meddling spell slingers had I not found out myself."

Her voice darkened, "You put Degrada, my brother, and me through hell."

I spoke in haggard gasps, "Next time…stay there…. Saves me…the trouble."

Samantha smiled sweetly, then in a blur of motion she closed the distance, grabbed my wrist, and flicked her own, making a sickening snap emanate from my body.

I screamed at the top of my lungs as she let go. My right hand now bent grotesquely at the wrist, signaling the break. I clutched my arm with my left, my thoughts overwhelmed with pain.

Samantha put a finger to her lips thoughtfully as if nothing occurred, "You know, I bet you're curious how I was able to figure it all out. I know I would be."

I kept clutching my broken wrist, trying to clear my head.

I looked up in time to see her gazing at me gleefully, "It was your blood," she giggled giddily. "There wasn't much of it the first time we met, especially with the old man's everywhere to mask it, but I got a scent in our little scuffle." She shrugged, "My brother didn't." The vampire then leaned closer, "Then, what do you know? I saw one of those suited freaks just a few hours ago all bloodied up," her teeth widened, her pearly whites smeared with dark red blood, "with the same scent. Now I thought 'this couldn't be right,'" she tapped her nose, "but the nose doesn't lie." She licked her teeth, "Nor does the tongue for that matter."

She turned away, sounding annoyed, "You know, I am disappointed about one thing. That wizard never showed up." She sighed, "I would have enjoyed snapping her neck." She shrugged, "Oh well, guess the necks of those little kiddies will have to do."

"Let them go," I pleaded through the pain. "You have me. Just let them go."

She threw back her head in a laugh, "You think this was all for you?" The vampire pursed her lips, "Silly child. Why would I settle for one when I can have all four?"

I grunted in pain and realization, "No."

"Yes!" Samantha breathed excitedly, "I knew they couldn't resist helping you, and once I've captured you all, I'll wrap you all up in a big red bow for Degrada!"

She chuckled, "I can't wait to tell him who you are," her voice became more sinister, "and for him to turn you."

She stopped speaking and looked up at a ventilation shaft high above, all the vampires followed suit.

I stretched out my senses again, this time sensing the presence of a human, her mind focused on me.

"Well," Samantha noted, cocking her head slightly to the side, "speak of the devil."

I tried to scream, "Run!" but my lungs burned, and it came out as a weak croak.

I sensed the human's surprise, but before she could move, Samantha drew her pistol and shot twice, large barks piercing the air. The panel swung open, and the suited form of Erica fell out, landing hard on the floor. She whirled on her back, head swiveling around at all the vampires around her.

Samantha closed her eyes and sucked her bottom lip, "Mhm, fantastic. The others won't be far behind now!"

She let down her guard. I took the chance. I shut my eyes as tightly as possible and focused all my pain and fear into psychic waves as I lashed out at the vampires and Samantha in particular, "Flash! Now!" I managed to cough.

Erica got the hint, and so did Samantha because I heard the vampire say though her pain and recognition, "Oh no you fucking don-"

Erica moved slow due to the psychic attack, but eventually, I heard and felt a bang as my sight flashed white and red underneath my eyelids.

Samantha and the other vampires let out a scream. I fumbled blindly until a gloved hand took mine and pulled me forward.

I tried to run with them, but the numbness of the venom still lingered and caused me to stumble over myself. I opened my eyes and saw only fuzzy images. My sight focused on the blurred doorway we ran towards.

"You fucking bitch!" Samantha screamed after us, "When I catch you girl, I'm going to shove one of those grenades down your throat!"

"Catch this!" Erica retorted as she hurled something over her shoulder. I could barely make out the size of the object before we exited the room and into the hallway. Another bang cracked the air as another flashbang exploded. "Call me a bitch will yah," Erica muttered. She turned us left and I could make out several blurry forms heading our direction. "Not that way," Erica decided, and we began running the other direction.

The alternate route led us towards another group of figures running towards us. "Go back!" Erica yelled, waving her other arm. "Go back!"

They did, moving away from us as we sprinted after them. The vampires behind us howled in bloodlust and rage and gained on us with every step. At the end of the long hall it opened into another room.

I pushed my legs harder. As feeling returned my stride grew more confident, eventually sprinting alongside Erica. We closed in on the door as the vampires closed in on us. My heart pounded as we drew nearer. With our final steps we dove together through the door, and it slammed shut behind us.

We landed on our stomachs, chests heaving. Vampires pounded into the door furiously. I sensed five others with me and Erica. My sight continued to return, and when I turned over I saw David bracing the door with his body. On the other side of the room was Jessica, kneeling and wrapping her arms around three small crying girls like a mother hen desperately protecting her chicks.

I stood up in a room covered in filth and grime. Iron bars and chains littered the floor, signaling the room's use as a prison. An old grimy wooden bucket stood in each of the cells. A single cracked mirror hung dejected on the wall opposite of one cell.

With each strike the door and David's body shook as he struggled against it. The howling increased to deafening levels as more vampires gathered outside.

"There's no way out," Erica stated.

I looked at her, she stood in the middle of the room her shoulders slumped and defeat in her voice, "There's no way out of here. Not a second door. Not a single vent."

The children began bawling in Jessica's arms. Izzi spoke up, "What do we do? What's going to happen? Are we going to die?"

Jessica took off her goggles and pulled down her mouth cover, "Izzi, just look at me," She told her hurriedly, trying to keep the terror out of her voice, "All of you just look at me! Keep your eyes on me!"

The door continued booming. I took a slow survey of the room. The fear. The helplessness. The knowledge of the inevitable.

We were all going to die.

Then, between the pounding and the howling, I heard a voice. Jessica's voice, sad, beautiful, and pure as she began to softly sing to the children clutching her tightly, "I see trees of green," she began.

Another strike against the door.

"Red roses too."

Furious howling.

I watched tears beginning to brim in her eyes, "I'll watch them bloom for me and you."

Another pound, David grunted, "I can't hold them much longer!"

"And I think to myself," Jessica's tears dropped onto the golden hair of her little sister, "what a wonderful world."

Samantha's voice pierced through the crowd, "Decter!" she roared. "Face me!"

Jessica continued, "I see skies of blue, and clouds of white."

I closed my eyes trying to think. There had to be something. Anything.

"The brightness of the day, the darkness of night."

You know what you must do.

Jessica's voice broke between a sob, "And I think to myself,"

Must I? Anything but that. Please, there has to be another way.

"What a wonderful world."

Another pound. This one causing a dent to appear above David's head.

Yes. I must.

I opened my eyes to see my reflection in the broken mirror. Those yellow eyes staring back at me.

And next to my reflection stood a man.

The man from my dreams. The Man in the Black.

"I love you," Izzi whimpered softly.

Jessica kissed the top of her head, "I love you too." She shut her eyes and rested her face on her sister's head, "I love you so much."

The Man in the Black inclined his head slightly and made an opening gesture with his arm.

I heard the crying behind me. This couldn't be the only option. There must be some other alternative. I bowed my head, telling myself there was nothing else I could do.

I had to let him out.

I regarded the figure only I could see, staring back at his yellow eyes, and nodded.

His face changed into a broad smile, and he nodded towards me as well.

I blinked once, and he was gone.

I knew what I had to do, but first I walked over to Jessica and kneeled down beside her, gently grabbing her shoulder with my uninjured hand.

She looked up at me sniffling.

I stood, pulling her to stand with me.

"What is it?" she asked.

I pulled her into a kiss. After her initial shock she gave in, and the kiss deepened.

Not enough time passed before she pulled away, "Talk about horrible timing," she managed through a weak smile.

I laughed, feeling my emotions begin to overwhelm me. "Better late than never," I chuckled. I then asked tentatively, "Do you love me?"

"What?"

"I love you," I told her. My voice caught in my throat, "I want you to know that."

My eyes locked with her blue-eyed gaze. "Yes," she answered finally, nodding her head and leaning gently against my chest. "I love you Caleb."

I didn't know if I wanted to laugh with joy or cry with sorrow. I ended up with a mixture of both, laughing and blinking away my own tears. I wrapped her in my arms and whispered, "Please remember that feeling."

"What do you mean?"

"This," I rested my cheek on her head, "remember this. Please."

"Caleb," Jessica told me softly and sincerely, "I couldn't imagine feeling any other way."

I wanted so badly to believe that. There was nothing I wouldn't give to make that statement true, but all I could say was, "Ok."

"Hey listen," David interrupted. "The vampires have stopped."

We all listened closely. Even the girls quieted down as we strained to hear. No banging, just howling. Then Samantha Stone's voice rang out over all of them, "Listen here you useless vermin! This has gone on long enough! I will break off this door and every single one of you!"

I pulled away from Jessica and walked by Jessica, holding my injured wrist against my stomach. I approached David, "Open the door," I told him softly.

"Are you insane?" David hissed, "There must be at least thirty out there! We won't make it two steps-"

"Not us," I whispered. "Me. Just me."

David shook his head defiantly, "That's suicide."

"It's a choice," I told him. "Like you said before with the train tracks."

"But that-"

I grabbed his arm, "David," I growled, "let me out."

I felt David recoil as he looked at me, no doubt seeing the yellow eyes. "Are you certain?" he asked hesitantly.

"No," came my immediate answer, "but when's that ever going to change?" I then added more seriously, "Like you said with the train tracks. We need to make a choice. Let me out, count to one hundred, then run. Don't look back."

"What? No!" Jessica screamed from the back of the room.

"David do it!" I spoke forcefully.

"God forgive me," David breathed. He opened the door just enough for me to slip out. I heard Jessica scream behind me as the door slammed shut.

Outside the hallway was filled with vampires. They all stood hunched over in their gargoyle forms, gnashing their teeth as they howled.

I took a deep inhale, no longer feeling any fear or sorrow as something else slipped in, some other entity. My consciousness was pushed to the co-pilot's seat, and as I exhaled, that something felt only cold hatred and bloodlust. My vision altered, no longer just seeing physical colors but the dark red energy that swirled around the outline of each beast, marking their lives full of murder, terror, and continuous bloodshed.

That would end tonight

The vampires continued to howl, taunting me.

I took another inhale and let out a howl of my own, but it wasn't of one voice, but many, and not all human. The roar shook the confines of the hallway we stood in. The lights above exploded in a shower of sparks that continued through the entire facility in a single wave. It cast man and vampire alike into darkness, but the loss of light meant nothing to those within the hallway. The walls now noted in shades of grey which contrasted greatly with the dark red swirls marking the vampires and their emotions. The cry echoed throughout the facility, silencing the vampires as they looked at me.

With a jarring sound of twisting bone my wrist popped back into place. It rotated smoothly when tested.

Eventually rage and hunger overwhelmed shock and curiosity, and the first few vampires began to advance. A sinister smile played on my lips as my fingers snapped.

All it took was a spark, or several sparks rather, to ignite the six closest vampires covered in their own natural grease. The flames that engulfed their bodies casted illuminating light with their howls of surprise and pain.

My head cocked itself to one side, popping it, before doing the same to the other.

"It's good to be back," spoke a voice not completely my own. The smile stretched wider as my body walked forward to meet the army before it.