Chronicles of the Uprising (Trilogy 1): Trilogy 1 (33 page)

Chapter 5

One working transport, a small cadre of warriors, and enough knives and swords to equip them all. Mira and her team were as prepared as they could be to head back into the Iron Gate territory. Wasting no time, they sped through the badlands as soon as the sun had set, each taking turns driving through the day and night toward New Haven City.

Though prepared as she could be, Mira felt hindered by her own weaknesses. Forced to take shelter every morning, she was unable to drive as long as the other members of the group. Hiding behind a blanket just made her feel silly, too. More than once she caught a mocking stare from the wolves accompanying them.

Despite the speed of their transport, the trip back to New Haven felt as if it took days longer than it should have. Neither Stryker nor Lucian seemed to mind much. At least no one made any complaints, other than being trapped in close quarters, but Mira felt on edge the entire time.

During the time she was supposed to be sleeping, her mind wandered to George and the other vampires, trapped within the confines of the Iron Gate prison. Mira wondered if she’d truly be able to do what had been requested of her. The task seemed an insurmountable beast. Talking about it was one thing, but actually making their way back into the city was pure insanity, even for an accomplished warrior like her. She’d never been accused of being the most “with it” of individuals though, so crazy as it was, this plan was par for the course of her life. Still, though, as much a warrior as she was, a small thread of fear coiled deep within her, planting roots in her mind. Death was just beyond the horizon, and the taste of freedom and peace she’d been given might be all she’d get to enjoy in this life.

Before the fear grew wild, she forced the tone of her thoughts to more positive things. George. The look on his face when she released him would be worth all the lightboxes in the world. He’d told her countless times that she’d never escape. He’d have to eat his words when next they saw each other. And, she’d make good on her promise to free him, too. She smiled inwardly. Companions in enslavement, he’d been the closest thing to a brother to her.

“What’s got you all smiley?” Lucian’s voice broke her silent contemplation.

“Just thinking of freeing my people.”

“Well, don’t you sound like the optimistic freedom fighter now.” His words might have been spoken in jest, but there was warmth behind them.

“If I don’t try to stay positive, the truth of how impossible our task is will take over.”

“Such a ray of sunshine…” Stryker appeared in front of her and sat roughly down on the transport’s floor.

“Who’s driving?” Lucian might have tried to hide it, but Mira caught the sneer in his voice.

“Turn around and look, why don’t you? It’s not driving itself.” Stryker sounded more annoyed than tired. He didn’t even bother looking up at Lucian to direct his irritated glare.

Great, more male testosterone and posturing
. Really not what she needed at the moment. Everyone had to have to have their head in the game, and she’d make them understand that – the hard way – if they kept up their little pissing matches.

“How close are we to the city?” Mira snapped at both of them.

“Not long now. We just passed a dam. I’m going to assume that’s their local water supply and possibly power source too. The city shouldn’t be too far. We should see the wall shortly.” The animosity left Stryker’s voice when he addressed her.

She retained her aggravated tone. “Well, then, let’s focus on important things, shall we? Do we have a plan for when we get there? No doubt the city gates will be well guarded and have constant surveillance.”

“If we attempt to enter through the Elite’s entrance, we should have less trouble. It’s a little-known entrance to the city,” Lucian said, more for Stryker’s benefit than hers.

As the city walls appeared out of the front windows, a sense of urgency began to well within Mira. That wasn’t going to work. Mira shook her head as she spoke. “But they know you’re Elite. That changes things. Those entrances will be under more scrutiny in case you were stupid enough to return.”

“Point taken. The only other entrance that should be quiet is used for maintenance and repair of the city walls. There’s a small doorway. It’s going to be out of the way, along the southernmost wall.” Lucian pointed out of the vehicle’s windshield, but the city was still too far away for her to accurately judge landmarks. She’d just have to take his word for it.

Stryker too. He nodded thoughtfully, scanning the horizon. “Stop here,” he ordered the driver. The transport came to rest beside a thick tree trunk. Where once a vast forest must have been, only shells remained. Some trees still stood, but most had died or been cut down to be used in the nearby city. What remained were gnarly stumps, holes, rocks, and dirt.

“I’ll take my wolves and we can scout the wall,” Stryker offered.

“Be careful,” Mira warned. “Go in wolf form and try not to be seen.”

 “We’re not accustomed to seeing wolves in these parts. Your presence might alert someone,” Lucian said.

“My team knows how to hunt in stealth. We’ll be fine.” Stryker looked down his nose at the Elite human, amber eyes narrowing with angered focus.

“Hey.” Mira snapped her fingers in front of Stryker. “We’re just looking out for you.”

“Right…”

Mira caught the slight flush of red on Stryker’s cheeks.
He should feel embarrassed
, she thought. All this stupid aggression between them was going to get someone killed. “Get your head in the game.”

“Sorry. I’m just not used to taking orders from… others.” He turned to Mira, softening his tone before he spoke again. “I didn’t mean to come off as ungrateful for your suggestion for our protection. We’ll be careful.”

“It’s okay. We’re all on the same team.” She reached out and lightly touched his shoulder. “We’ve got to look out for each other.”

“Yes. We do.” The ghost of a smile flashed across his face before disappearing. “I’ll be fine. And when I get back, I’ll have a full report on what we’re up against.” He turned away from her and Lucian.

The time for words had ended, obviously. With an almost imperceptible nod of his head, Stryker and the rest of his wolves stripped down and shifted into their wolf form. Though she meant to be
all business
, she couldn’t help but watch with admiration as the well-toned men shifted and took off heading, south toward the city.

Above her, Mira heard the soft tweets of a bird. She looked out of the transport and saw the little brown Jay perched in a nearby tree. For a moment, she could have sworn she and the bird exchanged a look, and then off little Jay went, chasing after Stryker and the wolves.

Lucian followed the wolves’ path outside of the transport but did not venture too far. He stood, surveying his surroundings, and stretched his arms high above his head. Taking a deep breath, he let out a long sigh.  “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he doesn’t like me much.”

“Why would you say that?” Mira joined Lucian, taking a breath of fresh night air. “He helped keep you guys from being killed for trying to enter Sanctuary. And he didn’t force me to turn you. If he hates you, that’s a pretty funny way of showing it.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean it like that,” Lucian said.

“Well, what did you mean?”

“Just that I might be in the way a bit here. That’s all.”

“Nonsense. We need you, and he knows it. You’re just feeling a little useless right now because you’re stuck here waiting with me,” Mira said.

“I’m more than happy to be stuck, as you say, here with you. I do enjoy your company.” Lucian sat down on a log and patted a spot next to him. “Join me and let’s take a rest while the wolves do their thing.”

“Thanks.” She took the spot next to Lucian. Together they gazed out into the starry sky above the loose canopy of trees. “I feel like that’s all I’ve been doing lately. Rest. Wait. Sit. I’m eager to see a little action.”

“Miss life in the arena?” Lucian asked.

“Not the brutality, no. But the feeling of accomplishing something. Knowing I was the best. Proving it. That part. Being useful in some fashion. Freedom is great, don’t misunderstand me, but I have yet to do anything with it.”

“I’d say you’ve done quite a bit, and have much more to come.” Lucian turned his soft green eyes on her. The depth of his state and the sincerity behind it gave her chills. The feelings he stirred within her were uncomfortable. What was he doing to her? A girl who could stare down a wolf for dominance couldn’t maintain eye contact with a human? She was forced to turn away from his gaze.

Silence between them became awkward. Mira searched for something to say but came up empty. All of her thoughts were on the mission and trying to avoid getting killed.

Lucian finally spoke again. “If all goes well, you’ll be the savior of your people. That’s pretty important.” His tone betrayed his underlying embarrassment, but his face was a mask of calm, eyes still locked onto Mira.

“That’s a great big if. We still have to get inside. Then find some way to release the prisoners, rally them, and get them out of the city to rendezvous with the rest of the Otherkin.”

“Well, when you put it like that…”

“It sounds impossible?”

“No, just involved. That’s quite the to-do list.” Lucian laughed uncomfortably.

“I’m glad you find the humor in the suffering of my people,” Mira said.

“Hey, now. I’m on your side, remember.”

Mira narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Lucian’s face. “Are you?”

“Seriously? You’re going to question my loyalties now?” Lucian looked concerned.

Mira tried to hold her piercing gaze, but laughter bubbled up her chest. “Had you there for a minute, didn’t I?”

Lucian let out a sigh. “A bit, yeah. That’s one hell of a scary look you gave me.”

“Well, if I can scare a Regent, maybe we have a chance.”

Chapter 6

A wolf howl pierced the silence Mira and Lucian had been enjoying. At first, she thought nothing of the sound, but after a moment she wondered at its meaning. They hadn’t set up any type of code. Stryker, as she understood it, was just going to look around and come back. If he was howling, maybe he’d found trouble. 

Mira jumped to her feet and ducked back into the transport for her sword and rucksack. “We better go see what’s up.”

“Wait, what if it’s a trap? Shouldn’t we wait for them to come back?” Lucian asked.

Dozens of terrible scenarios played out in her mind. She knew the atrocities the humans were capable of; she’d lived them. The wolves might only have seconds to live, if they weren’t being killed off already. “I’m not waiting to find out.”

Clearly not as worried as she, Lucian slowly stood. “You go on ahead. I’ll catch up.”

“Don’t get caught,” Mira warned, and then shouldered the rucksack and took off toward the direction from which the wolf had howled.

It didn’t take her long to locate Stryker. He shifted from his wolf form as she approached.

“Where’s Lucian?” Stryker asked.

Mira tossed him a pair of pants from her bag. “He’s on his way. I thought you might have been hurt.” Mira suddenly realized how stupid she’d been to leave the most vulnerable member of their group alone.

“No, I’m fine. I just needed to get your attention. This entrance to the main part of the city looks fairly easy. Only two guards on patrol, and I see only one security camera. We need to hurry, though; I spotted a roaming vehicle circling around earlier.”

“Everything is too quiet. I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw more on foot. The lower town isn’t far away, and it’s sure to be filled with soldiers. I doubt the main city would be so lax as to leave them to their own while the rest of the people are under such strict lock and key.”

“Excellent point.”

Soldiers. Patrolling all around. And she’d left Lucian to his fate. If anything happened to him, she’d never forgive herself. “I’d better go back and make sure Lucian gets here safe.”

“He’ll be fine,” Stryker said.

He’d made it blatantly clear he didn’t like Lucian because of the latter’s interest in her, but the casual way he’d said that made her wonder if he secretly hoped Lucian might be cut out of the picture all together.

Mira glared down at him angrily. “You certainly sound sure of yourself.”

Stryker sniggered at her. “Well, yes, I am. Because he’s right behind you.”

Mira hadn’t been paying attention, but as soon as Stryker mentioned it, she heard his footsteps through the grass behind her. She didn’t need to turn to see him. She felt ashamed for being so inattentive to her surroundings. “Guess I need to be more on my game tonight, huh?”

“If you want us all to survive, sure,” Stryker said playfully.

Lucian came up quickly behind them. “Where are your other wolves?”

“They’re flanking our position, ready for me to give the signal to move in,” Stryker replied.

Lucian nodded. “This is a good spot. Through that gate we’ll have access to the water treatment plant. If we can get inside, there are tunnels that should take us down through to the arena and the lower prison levels.”

“Two guards here and a security camera are all that stand in our way,” Mira said. “What do we do about the camera?” Surely that would alert someone to their presence and send the whole swarm of human guards down on them before they could get in deep enough.

Lucian shrugged casually. “This time of night surveillance is done via recording, unless the Magistrate has ordered otherwise. But I highly doubt they’re expecting us to come back.”

“We cannot take any chances. We need to assume the Magistrate has ordered manned surveillance round the clock,” Mira said.

“Well…” Lucian blew out a breath. “Then there might be someone on camera, meaning there will be an instant alert if anything funny happens.”

Mira mentally prepared for the fight, pushing down the knot of fear building in her chest. She knew this was a suicide mission. How long she and the others survived would be the question.

“How long will we have before reinforcements arrive?” Stryker said. If he was worried, his voice did not betray the feelings, nor was there any hidden fear in his eyes. He looked as calm and cool as Mira wished she could feel. Staring down death as if it were nothing. Maybe he was more the warrior than she.

Lucian, however, did not hide his concern. Hints of worry leeched into his words. “If they know where we’re headed, they’ll have a whole garrison on us in under ten minutes.”

“But they might not know, so if we rush and gain access to the tunnels, they’ll still be scrambling by the time we reach our prisoners.” Mira tried to hold on to some small thread of hope. If all else failed, she was still going to free her friends.

“We have to assume that once an alert is raised, the prison will go on full lockdown,” Lucian said grimly.

Mira nodded. “What’s our plan, then?”

Lucian pinched the bridge of his nose and looked down to the ground. Mira wondered if he’d given up, but then, after a few silent moments, he took a deep breath and looked up again. Mira caught the spark of hope in his eyes. “Assuming my access codes still work,” he said, “if you can keep me alive, I can get the cell doors open. Once they’re open, it will be up to you, Mira, to make sure the vamps fight on our side.”

Well, it wasn’t perfect, but it was something. And something was better than the alternative. “Sure, as long as you disable the lights. If those come on, we’re done.”

Lucian nodded. “That will be the first thing I disable, then.”

“Okay, Stryker. Send in your wolves.” Mira reached down and gripped the hilt of her short sword.  “Let’s get this game going.” 

Though he was still in his human form, Stryker howled long and loud, piercing the stillness of the night. The guards waiting at the door were visibly alarmed by the sound. Lights clicked on in their hands; Mira recognized the UV torches and ducked behind Lucian incase the light somehow reached her.

She turned to look away and caught sight of one of the two flanking wolves sprinting into action. Like big moving blurs of color, they headed straight for the soldiers who were brandishing their lights like weapons.

Mira watched with an eager smile as the wolves they overtook the humans, dragging them to the ground kicking and yelling. She hoped their pitiful wails wouldn’t alert any patrols on foot, but she wasn’t about to wait and find out.

Enticed by the smell of fresh blood on the air, Mira was on her feet and moving. “Let’s go,” she said, and pulled Lucian with her.

They made a bee line for the entrance. Mira wasted no time and scooped up one of the fallen soldiers. Barely clinging to life, he was unconscious and limp in her arms, but his heart was still beating and blood trickled from his wounds. Perhaps she should have had a little decorum around Lucian, but days of hunger and an eagerness to taste fresh blood had her diving at the soldier’s neck with wild abandon. Nothing was better than fresh blood, warm and straight from the vein, a delicacy she hardly ever got to enjoy. Mira savored its coppery tang, picking up small notes of sweetness as well.

As much as she enjoyed the rare treat, she knew she couldn’t waste any more time. Sating her hunger, Mira dropped the soldier to the ground and wiped her mouth clean before turning to see Lucian and Stryker.

“What are you waiting for?” she snapped at the gawking pair. Really, what did they expect from her? She was a vampire, after all.

Stryker took a moment but found his voice faster than Lucian. “Just letting you enjoy your dinner.”

“You’ll be dessert if you don’t stop staring at me. You two should have been breaking down this door.” Mira snatched up the discarded gun from the dead soldier. She aimed and shot a camera above the door that had no doubt captured the gruesome scene. “Do I have to handle everything here? Get that door open.” She gestured at Lucian, who still stood dumbstruck.

No alarm bells had sounded… yet. That wasn’t exactly reassuring, though; silent alarms were what she feared. Not knowing when or where the danger was coming from added to her worry. Gun in hand and sword still at her side, she was ready for a fight.

“Access codes, blunt force, whatever. Just get it open and us inside… Now!” Mira kept her eyes on the horizon, but the order was clearly meant for Lucian.

No one was coming yet, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t. Mira kept a fierce watch as Lucian went to work pushing buttons on the console next to the door.

“Not working. Blunt force might be our next best option.” Lucian’s tone bordered on frantic.

“Fine.” Mira turned and threw her shoulder into the door. Once. Twice. Three times… nothing happened. Lucian kept plugging away at the control pad, entering various combinations of digits.

“Stryker, throw your weight into this too,” she called to him.

Together they prepared to slam into the door, but just before they lunged forward, Lucian shouted, “Wait!”

The door slid open.