Leviathan (Fist of Light Series) (16 page)

“You guys want the bad news first?” I didn't wait for an answer. “Perfect because there isn't any good news. It seems we've got some riled up vampires over that way.” I swung my hand swung to point out the position of our adversaries, and I took it on faith that everyone was able to track the movement.

“Think they know we're coming?” Jas hissed in question. He had already unsheathed his rapier and had it at the ready.

“Careful not to poke my eye with that thing.” I was only half joking, since the weapon was swerving about erratically.

Kathryne shushed us. “Quiet, you two. Fire up ahead.”

We secreted ourselves behind an outcropping of rock to get a better look. “You hear that?” Hector cocked his head to one side.

“No, but there's gold in this boulder!” Jas scratched off some of the metal and studied its gleaming surface.

“Not the time,” I told him, exasperated.

We were walking into the clutches of an entire nest of vampires whom likely held Jas' father in their blood-splattered clutches, and yet Jas was admiring a shiny flake of gold. My eyes narrowed suspiciously as I put the pieces together and discerned that my friend was acting entirely out of character. But, before I could confront him the sound of chorused laughter echoed through the underground chamber and my eyes diverted to the enemy. Jas would have to be dealt with at a later time and place, one less cramped with the undead and undying.

“Looks like the Blood Pantheon is hosting a little party. I've always wanted to crash one.” Jas bared his teeth.

“Don't you think we should approach this with a little more tactical sense?” Kathryne asked, ever the voice of reason.

But Jas wasn't in the mood to be making any rational decisions. He rushed off before Kathryne was even able to finish her question. Cursing, the rest of us raced off after his charging figure, his outline becoming increasingly visible as we neared a bonfire of epic proportions. Behind it, a medieval castle of even more stunning size claimed residence. From what could be gleaned of its outline provided by the blazing bonfire, it had been carved directly out of the surrounding earth. It was an impressive sight, more so when I noticed its daunting size when compared to the comparatively small residences positioned against the wall of the cavern. Looking through the darkness, indistinct outlines of more dwellings could be discerned.

“We need to place those charges where they’ll do the most damage,” Herk said.

“And I know just the place.” My finger indicated the castle. “That thing, like all the others, was carved out the side of this cavern. Someone needs to get up there and blow the thing to smithereens. Do that and this place will be nothing but a cemetery for the undead.”

“That's
if
the design is reliant upon the surrounding earth to hold it upright. If it isn't, the blast would be nothing more than a minor distraction,” Kathryne said.

“Guys, I think I'm going to be sick,” Jas managed to choke out before sounds of retching reached us from where he had dropped to his knees.

“Dammit, Jas!” I crouched down next to him while surveying the surroundings, making sure no nightwalkers were about. “You should have told me it had gotten this bad. You're puking up blood!”

Jas brought up a shaking hand and wiped a finger in the viscous liquid dripping from his chin, staring mesmerized at the red fluid. “I puked up blood,” he repeated, delirious.

“You're in no shape to be going anywhere, let alone to confront a bunch of bloodthirsty vamps,” I scolded, helping him to his feet.

He shrugged off the help and my hands were taken back, although unwillingly. I understood the necessity, the fire that drove him. It didn't matter that he was spewing bodily fluids all over the cavern floor. His father's life was at stake and it wasn't my place to stop him. Although, that didn't mean I wouldn't do everything in my power to protect his empty head from coming to harm. Reaching through the folds of subconscious and into my inner being was an instinctual action by now, so it came with no difficulty. The challenge presented to me, however, was a new one altogether. Working on instinct, I wove the whips of Air onto Jas, adhering them to his being. The tendrils of Air would answer to Jas until their power was extinguished or used up. Really, the process shouldn't have been anything resembling possible. But, for whatever reason, and it was likely that reason was related to our bond, it was.

As I watched, the tendrils weaved about absent my will, commanded like a collection of wraithlike limbs. “Now this I could get used to,” Jas strained to inject vigor into his voice, but it was evident he had pushed his body past all its limits.

“Let's go.” I hoped my voice held only a fraction of the uncertainty that had crept into my thoughts.

We set off towards the lights of the festival, where it was obvious the resident vampires were holding nothing back. Eloquent dining tables were set up, although it was too far to make out any specifics. Before closing in on the scene of violence, we hunkered down behind another outcropping of rock to nail down the final stages of our plan.

“One of us will need to plant those explosives.” Herk pointed at the laden bag Kathryne had toted around without complaint throughout the duration of our journey.

A hopeful glance was shot to Jas, but he huffed and ignored the implied statement thoroughly. “Herk here is the best suited. Fast and strong enough to overcome whatever obstacles stand before him.” He glorified Herk, hoping we would latch onto the idea and stop our attempts to keep him away from the fighting.

To my dismay, Hector began nodding and another battle had been lost before I knew it. “All right.” I rubbed at my temples. “You should head off in a different direction instead of coming with us. Wouldn't do to have our enemies discover and confiscate our secret weapon before we'd had a chance to plant it. We'll need every advantage.”

“Right.” Herk took the duffel bag of C4 from Kathryne.

“You've got the detonator.” She passed along a compact transmitting unit with reluctance, which he slipped into his pocket.

“Then what, the three of us storm the castle like avenging angels and rain fire upon these hell spawned beasts?” My eyes panned to Jas expectantly, but met with only empty air. “Dammit, Jas!” An angry whisper was shot out into the darkness, but not even a silhouette of his retreating form was visible.

Honing in on the extension of my power, I was able to locate him, which caused a stream of uncouth words to burst from my lips.

My eyes lit up like crystalline lighthouses, as was their habit when things got heated, and immediately everything was illuminated. “Hector,
go
. I have a feeling we'll be in serious need of a diversion.”

“What is it? Where is he?” Kathryne asked worriedly, her sparkling green eyes locking onto mine.

I looked over to chastise Herk for slowness, but he was already gone. “He's gone and pulled something incredibly stupid. Let's go bail him out of the mess he's about to jump into before he makes a mistake that can't be fixed.”

Skulking forward, I grumbled under my breath things that were highly inappropriate and obscene about Jas' brain capacity. I was going to kill him if we all made it out of this alive. The fires that lit the scene seemed brighter and I found myself wishing that the landscape would be bathed in an all-consuming blackness, because the sight was far from pretty. Pitiful screams filled the endless night, writhing bodies being drained of their last drop forced to experience pain and suffering to amuse their tormentors. Inhuman, drunken grins adorned every vampires face as they inflicted their torments in animalistic pleasure. Bile flooded my mouth and I fought not to throw up the not inconsiderable contents of my stomach. There was still time to exact revenge for those hurt by this band of inhuman creatures. I only wished there were more of them.

Jas had gotten a huge lead by bolting ahead without notice. How he was able to do so successfully was uncertain. Regardless, as frantic breaths of air were expelled from my mouth and we took cover, the distance had to be recovered. The clenching of my gut told me nothing good would come of his little trick. Sounds of music began to reach me as we neared our destination, an orchestra or something similar. The lively, emotional song clashed and only partially drowned out the screams of the dying. Shivering, I allowed the adrenaline in my veins to fuel my movements.

Everything was revealed when he had come within a stone’s throw from the vampire's party. A cluster of hungry vamps formed a perimeter around an unidentified point of interest, partially occluding the scene. An orchestra was visible in another corner, all of whom looked scared out of their mind. I wondered if this bloodbath was a usual thing, or whether this was some sort of special occasion. Bile forced its way up my throat as my eyes panned back across the cavern, again noting the enormous tables. This time I could see writhing humans had been strapped down and made into main courses for groups of bloodsuckers. I counted more than twenty such innocents held down in such a manner, as well as another, equally disgusting sight. A sort of blood buffet had been erected, where fountains squirted a viscous liquid high into the air, pieces of human appendages were laid out, choice cuts piled high. My stomach turned as I realized the fountains weren't your run of the mill jobs and the dark liquid was no colored dye.

“Caleb?” Kathryne's soft voice asked softly from beside me. “You okay?”

An intangible groan escaped my lips, an insufficient response that was indecipherable. Even as the contents of my stomach were lost to the sight, an insistent tugging grew within my mind, calling me onward, outside myself. The sensation grew exponentially as my gagging slowed to a stop and I managed to fall to my side before my reality shifted entirely. My vision was an indistinguishable haze, tinged red around the edges. Saliva dripped from the corners of my mouth expectantly and my stomach rumbled as if denied a meal for weeks. Hands clenched painfully at my sides, I could feel the fingernails digging into skin and drawing blood. Ignoring the running dialogue on the periphery, my fists were brought up to my face and eyes watched entranced as blood beaded and fell to the cavern floor, where it splattered enticingly.

“How long has it been, Jason?” A voice called, its demeaning tone capturing my attention. “Days at least, yessss? Your blood has begun to turn to ash within you. Frankly, it’s surprising you can even stomach the stuff, considering your heritage.” At this, laughter exploded, traveling throughout the crowd. The sound echoed painfully through my ears, threatening to overwhelm my tenuous control.

I tried to return to my body, but it was no use. I was rooted to the spot in this horror show, an unwitting captive with no escape. Jas' eyes locked onto his tormentor, who, at first glance, appeared hardly into his twenties. His long black hair was bleached at odd interval and a black coat fit snugly onto his lean frame. When his fingernails were brought unconcernedly to his face, his black fingernails were on prominent display. A cruel smile adorned his features, with dark eyes that captured and savored every instant of this dark encounter. The whole crowd appeared in their prime, though their steely, bottomless pits for eyes gave away ages that were far older than they appeared.

“A Were who is also a vampire. A disgusting, blasphemous union, something thought to be impossible. Of course it had never been tested, which is far from surprising, considering the animosity between our two races.”

“Why tell me this?” Jas head lolled to one side and I gasped inwardly at what the movement revealed.

The mystery of Noah's whereabouts was uncovered then, although I wished it had remained hidden. He wasn't in good shape and it was obvious from his many wounds that his stay here had been far from pleasant. Chains were attached to his body at each appendage and one around his neck, which were all driven into the ground by an enormous spike. The apparatus seemed largely overkill for a single man, though if he shifted it couldn't do much to hold him. In that way, I wondered how they were keeping him restrained but had no time to ponder it.

“Why wouldn't I?” A malicious grin sparkled. “We're all family here, after all. Do you think you've found yourself here within the stronghold of our clan because your father
happened
upon information leading him to this place? Did you think you could arrive unnoticed and save the day?” He pointed one blackened finger at the hapless form chained impotently.

“No. Your existence was no secret. It was the reason your mother was killed in contempt all those years ago. Good riddance, I say. She should never have fraternized with this filthy
dog
.” He kicked at Noah's prone form and the sound of ribs cracking was painful to hear. His features distorted into an indecipherable mask as he circled Jas' father. “This man has been the cause of innumerable deaths of
our
clan and many others of the Pantheon. And yet, wouldn't it be fitting for his own son to wipe clean the debt he has accumulated?” The grin returned, a knowing, inviting smile.

“Andros, do you think this is wise? We should just kill 'em as planned and be done with this sham. Then everything can go back to normal,” said one of the previously silent observers.

“Silence! You hardly have the strength to move, yes? I doubt you've ever encountered such a group of vampires, if even one. Although even
you
must know we have the ability to influence primal emotion. Your hunger,” he licked his lips in apprehension, “is like a balm to our satisfied palates. You see, the continued existence of your father has been a thorn in the clan's side for centuries. And yet, we are a long-lived race, and so we laid in wait for the opportune time. The prestige of your father made things... complicated, but even then it was only a momentary bother. Now I see your unnatural birth was more than fortuitous. It was fated from the start. Your vile Clan is on the brink of destruction, its careful ties destabilized by their inner struggles for power. I wonder, what exactly would happen if this Skin Walker were to die.”

“I would think the entire Clan would burst apart at the seams,” a lackey provided helpfully.