Frenzy (The Frenzy Series Book 1) (19 page)

“Oh my goodness. Really?”

“Yes. Her husband and children were killed by the virus. She was immune somehow, and one of the only survivors. They lived in the hills and she walked for days to get to the city. When she got here, everyone was either sick or dead. Within days, there were only a handful of people remaining. The Infected began to attack people, but couldn’t climb the wall or cross the river, so the survivors huddled here until things died down. But things didn’t really end. The people decided to stay, thinking this was the safest place. It took years to build the Colony up to what it is today. People trickled in through the year, looking for shelter in the city and never finding it. Those who weren’t attacked were taken in by the Colony. A city of more than a million was reduced to less than one hundred. It’s a miracle in itself that we have over two hundred people now.”

The gravity of the situation caused me to blink. “When was the last time someone found the Colony?”

“I don’t remember anyone, so it must have been before I was born,” she answered. “Let’s eat before the meeting starts.”

“Are you going?” Saul asked her.

“If you will help me get there. The last meeting was held before I was born, so whatever the Elders have to say is important.”

Before she was born? I assumed that the Elders called meetings once in a while, maybe to keep in touch with residents. I assumed wrong.

The chicken was mouthwatering. “Where’d we get the chicken?”

“Ford delivered it and our extra rations.”

Damn it, Ford.

I chewed the chicken, savoring the cooked potatoes and apples and vowing to try to talk sense into Ford after the meeting. We left our plates for later and set out early enough to get Mrs. Dillinger there. Arthritis in her back and legs stiffened her movements and limited her range of motion, but step by step, she fought. Residents were gathered outside of Town Hall. The small church wouldn’t hold everyone, and it looked like absolutely everyone was there.

A gentleman on a log offered Mrs. Dillinger his seat and we stood behind her. Father stood with Ford near the front steps of the building. They must have gotten there early. Mother didn’t come. I scanned the crowd for her again, but she wasn’t there.

The Elders were nothing if not prompt. At five o’clock, an hour before the sun would set in the western hills, they called the meeting to order.

Elder Beckett spoke, the other two Elders flanking him in support. “The treaty we’ve had with the night-walkers is in jeopardy. People are dying. Two people in less than one week have been attacked and killed. We’ve heard of your concern, and we wanted you to know that your safety is our top priority. Therefore, we need to implement a few changes until a proper investigation can be made.”

“Number one: No resident is allowed out of their homes after dark. The only exception are those in the rotation.” A low murmur rumbled through the residents.

“Number two: The rotation will remain. We will start again next week, as we have plenty of meat from the current hunt.” Beckett paused. “However, no one has volunteered for next week. The night-walkers are…upset by this, and feel that the safety measures we are implementing implicate them in the recent deaths.”

“Damn right it does!” someone yelled.

“Alright, alright,” Beckett said, motioning for everyone to simmer down. “Emotions are running high. What we need is time. The rotation will stay in place for now. Those on the current rotation will remain on rotation until further notice.”

Victor Freeman stood up at the front. “Indefinitely? Is that safe, or even possible for us? I wouldn’t care if it was just me, but my boy is in the rotation for the first time. He’s young.”

“Dad,” James grumbled beside him.

Elder Beckett pursed his lips. “The night-walkers assure us that as long as you have extra rations, you will not be harmed by staying on the rotation indefinitely. It is actually a custom in other settlements for a vampire to select a companion of sorts for long-term feeding.”

Victor scoffed, curling his lips in disgust.

Elder Beckett spoke gruffly. “You will remain in the rotation. The treaty will remain in force for the time being, but mark my words…if the night-walkers are violating the terms, I will make sure they know that they won’t be welcome in Blackwater anymore.”

Nodding heads and arms crossed over chests, the citizens assented. “Curfew is at dusk, so I suggest that you return home and finish whatever outdoor chores you need to complete.”

I pulled my jacket together and huffed out a pent-up breath. Saul was angry. His jaw ticked and his hand held my side tight, pulling me closer to him. “This is ridiculous,” he fumed.

“Let’s just hope they can figure out what’s going on quickly,” I added.

“We’re immune from the curfew. Maybe we can help,” Saul said decisively.

As our neighbors filed out of the yard, their eyes found the wounds on my neck. I should have worn my hair down, should have covered them. Saul and I helped Mrs. Dillinger up and escorted her back to the house, each of us acting as a crutch, but her breathing was labored by the time we got back to her house. “Are you going to be okay?” I asked.

“I’m fine, but you’re going to be late.” Her eyes found my neck and she pursed her lips together.

“We’ll be fine,” Saul assured her, helping her inside. I wished I could be as confident as he was.

“After the evening rotation, I need to find my brother,” I told Saul.

“Okay,” he said, his eyes searching me.

We rushed to the pavilion to find only Dara, Tage and Roman waiting. Victor Freeman had his arms crossed over his chest. James stood beside him. Saul spoke first. “Where are Tim and Mary?”

“It seems that they are refusing to come back,” Roman replied.

“Where are the other night-walkers?” I asked, feeling Saul’s hand grab hold of mine.

“They left in search of greener pastures,” Roman spat.

“It’s just you three left?” I asked.

Tage stood up from the concrete bench he sat on, stretching his arms into the air over his head. “Yep. The two we sent scouting last night never came back. Probably made plans with the others to skip town.”

“Where will they go?” Saul asked.

“Who knows? Who cares? I’m hungry,” Tage drawled.

Roman’s eyes bored into me. “We only need three in the rotation now.”

Victor said, “I’ll stay,” and then told James to go home.

James protested for a moment but followed his father’s instructions, walking into the darkness toward his house. Victor called out, “Straight home, son.” The only reply from James came in the toss of his hand into the air.

Saul squeezed my hand and then stepped toward Dara. I hated that she would feed from him, or touch or even look at him. Tage muttered something to Roman and for the first time since I approached the pavilion, Roman turned his attention from me. “No,” he spat at Tage.

Tage shrugged and winked at me. “Can’t hurt to ask.” He motioned to Victor, who walked to a nearby bench with him. Tage moved quicker than my eyes could keep up with. In a blur, he was feeding from Victor and then pulling away again.

Roman’s hands snaked around my stomach, reeling me in to him. “Do you prefer to stand, Porschia?”

“It doesn’t matter to me.”

His heart beat slowly against my back. “You’re concerned for my comfort?”

I didn’t know how to reply. I didn’t care about him at all, but didn’t want to make him angry again. When he licked my neck, a whimper came from the back of my throat. “I love the little noises you make,” he whispered on a warm breath.

Then he sank his long fangs into my throat on the opposite side from where he marked me. He only drank for a moment before pulling them out of me and sealing the wound. At least
it
would be gone in the morning. “Why did you do it?” I asked softly. I should have kept my mouth shut.

He walked around to the front of me and smiled. “Mark you?”

“Yes.”

Roman grinned like a little boy. “I wanted the others to know that you were spoken for.” His eyes flicked to Tage and then Saul.

“Spoken for? What exactly do you mean by that, Roman? Because I’m with Saul.”

Roman’s eyes darkened. “You aren’t married to him.”

“Not yet,” I said, tipping up my chin in defiance.

A growl rumbled in his chest. “You will
not
marry him.”

“Don’t tell me what I will and will not do. You don’t own me.”

Roman’s face was an inch from mine when Saul intervened, pulling me away from him. “She’s right. You don’t own her.”

Tage laughed from behind him and Dara looked distractedly at her fingernails. “Can we go now?” she whined. “Come on, Roman. Leave the girl alone.”

Roman growled at Saul as Tage and Dara urged him to leave us behind. Begrudgingly, he did. Saul grabbed my hand and pulled me back into the human part of the Colony, back to safety. After the first rotation, I thought Tage was the night-walker to be concerned about. I was wrong. It was Roman.

“I need to stop at home for a few minutes. Are you still coming to dinner tomorrow?” Saul asked carefully. The hopefulness in his voice was laced with residual anger.

“As long as you want me to.”

“I do.”

I squeezed his hand in reassurance. “Then I look forward to it.”

He stopped, pulled me into his chest with a thud, and wrapped his fingers around my neck before pulling my lips to his. I was dizzy when he let go. Roman might have marked me with his fangs, but Saul claimed me with his kiss.

“What was
that
for?” I asked, my voice still breathy and trying to recover.

Saul smiled. “I just needed to know you still felt the same.”

“I don’t like Roman at all, Saul.”

His brows furrowed. “He sure likes you.”

“It doesn’t mean that the feeling is mutual.”

“I know. I just... never mind. It’s stupid.”

I grabbed his arm as he started to walk away. “It isn’t stupid. What’s on your mind?”

“He can give you more than I can, more than I’ll ever be able to.” He pulled away, pacing back and forth.

“What are you talking about? He can’t give me anything. Roman only takes, Saul. He takes what he wants, uses it up, and then tosses it away. Why would any woman want to subject herself to that?”

“I guess I just see the draw. Most girls in the Colony have started swooning over the night-walkers now that they’re more visible. I hear the whispers.”

“They don’t come from my lips.”

He smiled slightly. “Not yet.”

“Not ever. I hate him. I hate them all. Even though I’m afraid of the repercussions, part of me hopes the treaty will end and the night-walkers will be forced to leave.”

“They won’t leave. They’ll just take what they want, like you said.”

We walked toward Saul’s house, the sky darkening with each step we took. From the corner of my eye, I saw Ford walking between two nearby houses. “Ford!”

He didn’t stop. “Saul, I’m going after him.”

“But, I—”

“No! I’ll be safe. He’s my brother. Just talk to your mom and then find me, if you want.”