Empire of Blood (Book 2): Fading In Darkness (26 page)

Toby woke to find
himself
alone in the dimly lit cavern. He sat up and stared at the makeshift bed his father had made for himself. Even as a teenager, he was slightly frightened to be in this place surrounded by vampires. A shiver ran up his spine at the thought of blood-drinking creatures being so close by. He found himself pulling his cover up over his neck as if it would protect him from being bitten and drained of blood.

The candlelight cast ambiguous shadows across the cave wall. He wondered where his father went as he sat there trying to remind himself that the shadows were nothing but just that: shadows. His father had seemed on edge ever since Toby arrived at the hive. This had made him even more afraid of the strange place in which they were staying. He thought about the things the
Foederati
had to say about his dad. He was proud of how these people looked up to him. But he couldn’t help but wish his father could somehow trade it all in for the two of them to go away somewhere safe and live quietly together without the worries of war or the fear of the Empire coming after them. But Toby was smart enough to know better. No such fairy tale would happen for them. It would be a long, hard road and Toby couldn’t help but feel like there would be at least a couple of detours along the way. Eventually he fell back asleep and dreamt of fanged shadows hovering over his helpless body.

Chapter 37

Message Understood

The Queen lay curled up to Hank, her head on his chest, their bodies naked and sticky with sweat. “Soon it will be time for you to meet the
Foederati
, young one. You’ve kept them waiting long enough. An army cannot bear to endure battle without having met its king, don’t you think?” she said, looking into Hank’s eyes and stealing his full attention.

“King?
I know I’m somehow destined to be some kind of leader to them, but I’d hardly call myself a king of anything.”

“Titles are meaningless, young one. Power and actions are not. When you are ready to take on the war as I have foreseen, you
will
be a king in the eyes of many. And they will follow you into the darkest, bloodiest corners of the war to help you bring down the Empire.”

Hank stared off into space letting the Queen’s words process in his mind. It was slowly dawning on him that he hadn’t
drank
the ancestor blood but once since his arrival in this place. And yet he felt more sustained and powerful than he ever had. It was the Queen’s blood. He’d known it all along but not really acknowledged it to himself. Every time they made love, he drank from the most pure source of ancestor blood there was. She smiled at him then in confirmation.
You should know by now, young one, to trust your instincts. All too often, you don’t listen to them until it’s far too late.

Hank didn’t reply. He simply continued to let everything he was learning gel within him. And after a long thoughtful moment, he rose and dressed himself.

“I’m ready to meet them.”

“I know.” The Queen cast a sly grin at Hank and held her hand out for him to take. “Follow me, young one. Today you will meet your destiny.”

Hank took her hand and squeezed it with a strange sort of respect that he didn’t know how else to express and the two left the Queen’s cavern.

* * *

Hanging on the wind like an eagle soaring through the heavens in the moonlight,
Bellona
flew with a majestic fury that sent an unseen shadow everywhere she went. That shadow reached down into the darkness of night and brought with it a growing army of angry men, women, and children of all shapes and sizes. They followed her on the ground below mindlessly slobbering as they ran, ready for the kill. She could feel every single mind as it wandered behind her. She had never cared to understand the simple human borders that she was now crossing, she only knew she was headed south to where
he
was. And when she was close enough she would be able to reach into the minds of the people and creatures below and eventually a trail leading directly to him would become clear.

His name was Simon. She remembered him from his time as Mediator from Joseph’s memories. He would pay for Marcus’s life. They all would. A new spark of rage leapt out from
Bellona
and below she could feel as thousands of her followers lashed out and attacked those around them. Rape, murder, beatings, and bludgeoning were forging a trail south. Fires erupted in every
new city
she entered. When she was within a hundred miles of the swamps, she began to drop down to a lower altitude. As she did, the sense of fury and destruction she was causing below grew outward and so did the pleasure it caused within her. Joseph would be displeased with her, she knew. But he would have to allow her this one transgression. She needed this. She needed to take revenge for her oldest child of the night.

Sweet strong Marcus.
Destroyer of nations.
Conjuror and conqueror of empires.

Plumes of smoke rose all around as she lowered herself to the ground.
She would meet this man face to face and take his blood for all to see.
But slowly.
His long-lasting suffering would be her sweetest nectar. A large old city was beginning to spread all around her as she walked. The signs read
New Orleans
and flashes of memory of this place came back to her.
Nothing of much interest.
Just an odd people who she respected for their strength and endurance.
But as they currently stood in her way, she would mold them and use them any way necessary to get what she wanted.

As
Bellona
came upon the French Quarter, the many shops and clubs lit up with neon light, she reached out all around her into the minds of the masses and began to play, the reflection of firelight shining brightly in her fully black eyes.

* * *

When Hank and the Queen entered the main cavern of the hive, a vampire whose name Hank couldn’t recall rushed up to the Queen saying, “Mother, the
Foederati
General is here to speak with—“

“I know, my child. Go and give them my blessing to come inside. We’ll be waiting for them here.”

“Yes, Mother.” And with that he turned away and disappeared. The bonfire that had been filling the cavern with firelight was nearly out and a thick cloud of smoke was hovering above it. The Queen concentrated in its direction for a moment and in a blast that made Hank jump with surprise, the bonfire erupted to its former glory. She smiled and took her seat at her throne. Hank stood in awkward form just watching the fire and waiting for the
Foederati
. He wasn’t sure he was ready to lead an
army,
he hardly knew how to handle his own internal predicaments at the moment yet be responsible for others in battle. But he knew he had advantages that other men didn’t have and a sense of obligation was growing in him lately to use those advantages to help against the Empire.

A crowd of soldiers made their way into the cavern led by a tall confident looking man whose very posture hinted at years of discipline and leadership. His hair was short and brown and he had a small scar along his left temple. He was grinning in an almost absurd way when he walked up and put his hand out for Hank to shake. In an odd mental contrast, Hank couldn’t help but think of when he was introduced to the Emperor’s assistant, Jack Draper. Hank allowed the man to shake his hand and nodded to him. The man’s hand was sweatier than Hank had expected. Behind him all eyes were wide and focused on Hank.

“General
Whindsor
,
honored to meet you, Mr. Evans.”

“It’s nice to meet you, too. But please, call me Hank.” Hank’s face flushed with red. He wasn’t used to this kind of attention and he wasn’t sure how he felt about it.

“Hank, sorry.
You can call me Bill if you prefer.” He took a deep breath.

“Okay, Bill it is. I honestly don’t know where to start…”

“Why don’t you two go speak in private in Hank’s quarters?” the Queen said. Hank turned to look at her and then back at Bill. Bill nodded and Hank said, “Okay,” and gestured for Bill to follow him.

When the two were in the quiet privacy of Hank’s cavern, Hank pointed out a large rock and waited for Bill to sit there.

“I didn’t want to say anything in front of everyone out there, but I’m going to be completely honest with you, Bill. I have no fucking clue what I’m doing. I’ve never led an army. Before I was sent to Necropolis, I was a fucking cabbie for Christ sakes. I don’t understand all this destiny shit and I don’t quite know how to deal with all of it yet. I know I have abilities—gifts?—that others don’t have and I want to do whatever I can to use those against the Empire, but I’m
gonna
need to be able to level with you and for you to level with me, okay?”

Bill looked up at Hank and grinned.
“Yes, sir.
Roger said you would say something like that. And I’ll be damned if you’re not exactly how he described you.” Bill let out a hearty laugh. Hank just looked at him bewildered.

“Roger?”

Bill’s laughter slowed enough for him to blurt out the words, “Roger
Tresney
.” Then with a look of thoughtfulness, Bill became silent for a moment. “Roger started the
Foederati
. He was a very gifted man, not all that much unlike yourself, Mr.
Ev
—
Hank. This would sound crazy if I
were
saying it to almost anyone else, but Roger could see the future. And he saw you. He said a man would live to escape Necropolis. He would have inhuman strength and he would also be able to see the future. Roger said he would lead the
Foederati
to win the final war against the Empire.”

Hank stared at Bill for a long moment unsure what to say. As far as he had known, only the Queen and a handful of vampires knew that Hank had seen the future.

“Well, what happened to him, where is he now?”

Bill looked down at his feet and spoke in a solemn voice with overtones of anger and fear. “He’s been dead almost ten years now. He was found at home, strangled to death.”

Hank mirrored Bill’s posture and stared down at his own shoes as well. “I’m sorry to hear that.
Sounds like he was a good man.”

“He was. He was one of the last true American soldiers left when the war ended. They had him on the run for a long time there.” Bill looked up at Hank and smiled. “It only made him meaner, made him fight harder. He was a tough son of a bitch. And if it weren’t for him, there wouldn’t be an army of men ready to fight this war with you, Hank. And we are.” Bill spoke between clenched teeth. “You bet your ass we’re ready to fight to the death to stop that cold-blooded son of a bitch.”

Hank thought about the day the Emperor threatened to kill his son with the coolest calmest voice whispering in his ear and he truly understood Bill’s anger. But his fear and self doubt kept him at bay. After a long moment of silence, he nodded to Bill in an awkward sort of way and then the uncomfortable silence grew heavy, filling the air of the cavern with a still sort of uneasiness that only amplified Hank’s most pressing concern.

Toby.

Whindsor
sat quietly, expectantly. Hank turned, facing away from Bill, still trying to build the courage to say what was holding him back. A sudden loud static disintegrated the silence and a trebly voice filled the room.

“General
Whindsor
, do you copy?
Over.”

“I copy. Go ahead, over.”

 “Word just came in, fifteen more
safehouses
have been raided:
Chicago
,
Indianapolis
,
Louisville
—“

“Tell me the names when I’m there. Make sure the remaining
safehouses
are aware of the situation and clear them to execute any evacuation plans they have on hand.
It’s
best we all spread out for now and lay low.
Over?”

“Copy, General. I’ll give the order.”

Bill looked at Hank as he rose and headed toward the entrance. “It’s probably best we rush the evacuation here as well. Can you help organize that?”

Hank hurried after. “Yeah, I can. Just let me get my son first.”

Bill nodded as they rushed into the murky corridor.

* * *

As
Bellona
neared the thick smell of swamp and ocean, a crowd of hundreds of men, women, and children followed behind her as if each of them were blindfolded and following the same beckoning sound. She reached out into their minds, down into their souls and filled them with fury and every vile image of hatred she could muster and sent them forward toward the smell of him. He was somewhere underground with the others, she knew that much. Dozens and dozens of people ran forward into the forest ahead until
Bellona
could hear them splashing in the thick muddy waters.