Absolution of Fate (Fate Series Book 3) (2 page)

The Commander dropped into his chair and rubbed his temples. It had been hours since Chloe knocked him and his men out with a powerful mind blast, but he still felt a little off.
 

“Right now we’re looking at thirty-two humans confirmed dead, fifteen still missing, plus eight civilian vampires dead and another twenty-four still unaccounted for. Unless we find bodies soon, it’s pretty safe to assume that those civilians will be joining Lucias’s ranks before the day’s done.”

“God, that’s no doubt what the missing humans were taken for, to feed the newly- infected,” Jester added, looking up from the screen of his laptop. He’d been glued to it for what seemed like forever; monitoring the news and communications in and around the city with the help of some civilian consultants and a couple Elite on other compounds, who’d remained behind to keep things running when the residents headed to Boston to join in the fight.

“So what does this mean for us?” Cami chimed in. With Layla’s arrival and Dante’s subsequent meltdown, she was the ranking officer on the compound under Commander Claesson. It had taken some persuading for Claesson to let her to step into the role considering how close she was to the recent events, but he’d given in under the condition that Jackson shadowed her so he could take over in the event things became too personal for her.

Commander Claesson shifted his focus to William, looking for some guidance on the rather uncertain subject. “As of right now, we’re going to maintain the physical lockdown of the compound; no one in or out without my or Commander Claesson’s express permission,” the High Commander stated.
 

“The remainder of our Elite reinforcements should be arriving within the next twenty-four hours, and Esther will be here with some other witches from the Boston coven to cast more protective spells over the compound as soon as the sun comes up and ensures that Lucias’s men won’t be a threat,” Claesson added.

“Am I to understand that we will not be sending a team out to search for Chloe?” Cami asked careful to keep her tone neutral.

“I’m afraid that is the case. My granddaughter chose to leave with Lucias for a reason. I’m not sure what that reason was yet, but either way, according to the Commander’s assessments, we’re not in a position to make a stand against Lucias yet. Going after Chloe, without sufficient resources, puts her at even greater risk. Lucias will sacrifice every man he has in order to keep her and he has a lot more men than we do right now.”

As hard as it was to sit on her hands while her niece was carted off by their greatest enemy, the man responsible for so many terrible crimes against their people and her family in particular, she knew the High Commander was right.
 

“So what do you want us to tell the rest of our people?” Jackson asked.

“The truth,” Commander Claesson replied without hesitation. “As much as we can, at least, since there’s no hiding what happened here tonight. With the communications blackout, I’m not too worried about information leaking to the civilian population and I think we’re beyond the point of keeping this shit a secret. Our people need to start preparing themselves; Elite and civilian. The battle is coming, and it appears it will be sooner rather than later. Most Boston personnel already know that Layla was abducted. Let them know Lucias used her to breach our outer defenses and Chloe drew them off before they made it inside, allowing us to recover Layla who will be remaining in quarantine for the time being. That’s all we know.”

“And then what?” Cami pressed.

“When Boston personnel are up to speed, I want you to meet with the ranking officers from the other compounds who are onsite and fill them in as well. Let them handle telling their own people.”

“There are going to be a lot of questions,” Cami replied, shifting in her seat uneasily.

“Then we’ll keep the men focused on their duties instead of standing around gossiping. We need all of our resources working together to get the new soldiers settled in, and I want everyone divided into groups running training drills around the clock. Work with the other officers to determine tactical teams. Research has developed some new rounds,” Claesson said pulling a bullet from his pocket, “the tips are filled with silver nitrate,” he continued, shaking it to show the shimmery liquid. “Our solid silver rounds keep the infected from healing, but those can easily be removed. With these, the silver enters the bloodstream so our targets get a lot bigger. Hitting them anywhere is damn near as good as a shot to the head.”

Claesson tossed the round in the air and Cami easily grabbed it. She smiled as she spun it between her fingers. “We’ve got three thousand rounds ready to go. After everyone’s up to speed and divided up, get them distributed.”

Cami nodded her understanding. “Okay, you know what to do, get to it,” Claesson said, dismissing the group. “Jester, we need you to hang back,” he added, grabbing the young vampire’s shoulder before he made it to the door.

Commander Claesson gestured to the closest chair, encouraging Jester to sit. The High Commander followed suit, pulling his seat up to him while Claesson remained standing.

“I wanted to speak with you privately for a few moments, Jester,” William began. “Commander Claesson and I have discussed it, but before I take it to the rest of the Agency, I wanted to get your input on the human integration protocols. You’ve shown yourself to be well-versed in the current technologies and human culture and, while I’m confident in our experts, I’d like a fresh pair of eyes to take a look. Once it’s done, it cannot be undone and the future of our race depends on its success.”

The High Commander placed a thick folder labeled ‘Confidential: Agency Eyes Only’ on the table. “It goes without saying that you are not to breathe a word of this to anyone else, under any circumstances. I fear we’ll have to make an announcement soon enough, but until then the utmost secrecy is vital.”

“Of course, my lord,” Jester replied, feeling honored by the level of trust being placed in him by one of the most powerful and important vampires in the world.

✧

“Is everything all set up?” William asked, looking at his reflection in the glass while he adjusted his lavender tie and smoothed the collar of his charcoal shirt.

“Yes, my lord,” Jester replied as William slipped his black suit jacket up his arms. “I’ve swept the room for transmitters again and implemented a temporary lockdown of the corridor so we will have complete privacy for the videoconference, as requested. All of the attendants have responded and will be joining in on time.”
 

“Excellent. Thank you, Jester. I appreciate all of your hard work on this. With all you’ve done on this, in addition to your other duties on the compound, I know you can’t have gotten any sleep over the last two days. Why don’t you go get some rest?”

“If it’s all the same to you, my lord, I’d like to stay just in case you run into any technical problems with the connection equipment or the presentation material I prepared.”

“Of course; if you feel up to it. Thank you for your dedication,” William replied.

“I’ll agree to that, on one condition,” Commander Claesson interjected. “You can stay if you feed; we’ve got about ten minutes yet,” he said, tossing a bag of blood over the table to Jester’s waiting hands. “You’re pale enough to make some of the myths about us seem true,” he teased.

“Thank you, sir,” Jester replied gratefully before tearing through the bag with his fangs. Despite the Commander’s constant comments over the week, he had, in fact, forgotten to feed.
 

“You know, Alek, I’m beginning to think our suspicions of a traitor may have been misguided,” William said as Jester started on a second bag of blood and they waited for the meeting to begin. “I’ve been diligent in my, let’s call them, investigations,” he said, tapping his temple. “I’ve spoken to all personnel who possess a high level of clearance and I’ve listened in on everyone else I’ve come in contact with. So far there hasn’t been anything that would indicate treason.”

“Perhaps, but it’s still not worth the risk; and if everything goes as planned we’ll find out soon enough. I hate to think of what would happen if Lucias gets wind of our plans before we get everything in place,” Commander Claesson replied.

“Yes; we’re only going to get one shot at this so we have to be certain we don’t tip our hand too soon. Even with the element of surprise, we remain at a disadvantage against Lucias’s army of infected.”

“My lord, it’s time,” Jester said as images of Agency members and other leaders from around the world began popping up on the screen.

“Good morning, friends,” William began, immediately switching into High Commander mode. “Thank you for joining us. I warn you in advance, this is going to be a long process so please try to be patient. After all, we’re only about to change the course of history.”

CHAPTER 3 -
New Friends

“I’ve been patient with her, but I will not wait much longer,” Lucias stated as he paced across his office. “You assured me with your last vision that she will come around on her own,” he continued, pointing at Asana who sat nervously in front of his desk. She was used to Lucias’s temper and impatience; being so valuable to him had always kept her safe, but now that he was so close to obtaining so much power, she was afraid. Afraid for herself, and for Anna, the daughter Lucias had been holding prisoner for many years. He used Anna to ensure Asana’s complete cooperation since he could not infect her with his virus. Shortly after its development, Lucias captured and infected a vampire who could manipulate fire. Once his transformation was complete, the ability completely disappeared, rendering him no more useful than any other infected vampire in the army.
 

“I cannot control my visions, Sire, but I have seen her standing with you in battle against The Elite with a great army under your command; an army far larger than the one you currently possess and I sense that she is content. Beyond that, I cannot yet see, but despite her power, she is a gentle soul and so very young. It would be unwise to push her. ”

“Yes, perhaps you are right,” Lucias conceded, satisfied with the expectation of gaining Chloe’s allegiance; for the time being. He visited her daily, doing all he could to control his baser urges in her presence. While in truth, her innocence and gentility turned him off, he craved the power the mate bond would give him over her. He felt himself growing hard just thinking of dominating such a woman as Chloe. Though he would never admit it to anyone, he was actually afraid of her, which made her all the more enticing to a man like him.

“Return to your quarters and continue your work. I want you focused on her future night and day, and you are to alert me the moment you see anything new,” Lucias commanded before exiting the office, intent on finding some release.
 

Molly was always close by and had proven quite useful in helping him remain restrained with Chloe. Unfortunately, though she should have known better than to question him, she was growing increasingly bold and constantly inquired about his intentions to turn her into a vampire. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to. In his way, he almost loved her, but despite the notions of popular fiction, turning a human into one of his kind was impossible. He could have forced her to obey him, like so many others who came before her, but somehow she was different; he craved her twisted affection like a drug and he suspected that, once she knew she was destined to live out her life as a human, the spell would be broken.

“No matter,” Lucias mumbled to himself as he made his way to the playroom, where he often enjoyed the rough pleasure of Molly’s company. He would make use of her for as long as she continued to please him, and when she didn’t, he would simply dispose of her.

✧

Kaleb lay on his bed, the door to his quarters left slightly ajar as he remained completely still with his eyes closed, barely breathing as he listened. Since Chloe’s arrival, he’d done little beyond that; only getting up to eat or, when he was certain his father was sufficiently occupied, sit in the corridor just beyond Chloe’s quarters. He wouldn’t even have bothered much with eating if he wasn’t so concerned about keeping up his strength, but he knew what he was going to have to do. He would have to find a way to kill his father, because there was no way he was going to let such a foul man touch the beautiful creature who’d stolen his heart with a single glance.
 

His lips turned up just slightly at the thought of her.

You should get some sleep.

He heard her sweet voice whisper in his mind.

I need to protect you.
He sent back with determination.
 

He’s not going to hurt me, but he’ll kill you, or worse, if you give him a reason. Don’t worry about me.
Chloe replied.

How can you know; have you seen it with certainty? Do you know what will happen?
Kaleb asked. Chloe’s silence told him she didn’t know.

He hadn’t seen or physically spoken to Chloe since the day his father took her from The Elite compound, yet he felt closer to her than he’d been to another person since before his brother died. It was such a strange and unsettling thing at first, hearing another voice in his head, but he’d known it was her immediately.

Concerned that he’d pushed her too far, Kaleb tried to change the subject.
I wonder if you really sound the way you do in my head. I was so entranced the first time I saw you, I’m not sure I ever heard you speak.
 

It’s been my experience that people sound exactly the same in their own minds as they do when they speak, so I’m guessing this is how you will hear me when we’re finally together.
 

Kaleb’s heart began to pound at the thought. He’d never wanted anything more in his long life. His mind raced with images of his fingers stroking her cheek, his lips pressed to hers and he suddenly found it hard to catch his breath.
 

You’re making me blush
, Chloe sent with a giggle.

I’m sorry,
Kaleb replied, sitting up and opening his eyes.