Gods of the Dead (Rising Book 1) (24 page)

There’s a lot of ground between here and the Hive. A lot of darkness. A lot of zombies. A lot of hours.

“It’s after midnight.”

I nod in silent agreement.

Another hour ticks by.

And another.

Another.

Somewhere to the south a wolf cries.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Vin

I have to take care of her the only way I can, the only way that’s left to me.

I have to throw her body in the Sound.

I gather her in a blanket and walk her out through the back corridors in the dark where no one can see. I leave Freedom crying in Kevin’s arms and I gather Madeline in a blanket. She weighs nothing, she never did, and I have to walk with my eyes on her to make sure I still have her.

Her blood fills the blanket and soaks through onto my shirt, then my arms until it’s dripping onto the ground like sand sifting through my fingers, reminding me that I could never hold her. That I could never have her.

When I reach the end of the pier I stand there silently staring at the water as it rolls in the wind. Tiny white caps froth and grow, then die out. The wind is cold coming off the busy surface and I wish I’d grabbed her a second blanket. I’m not crazy, I know she can’t feel the cold, but I can. I’ll know. And I’ll ache for her.

“She’ll float,” Bennett calls from behind me. “Her little bird bones will bob her right to the surface.”

I turn my head toward him, catching sight of him out of the corner of my eye. He’s a good ten paces behind me, bundled up in a jacket with his hands thrust inside. “Where were you?” I ask calmly.

He shakes his head, looking away. “Man, I was where I was supposed to be. I was bringing out the girls.”

“You forgot one.”

“She was working. We couldn’t wait for her or Freedom so we didn’t.”

“You left her alone with a Pike.”

“They know the rules and the limits. They’re harmless.”

I resist the urge to turn toward him and pull the blanket back. To show him the remnants of what used to be Madeline’s face. Instead I straighten up, facing the water again. “They’re far from harmless, you shitbag.”

“I see that and I’m going to deal with it. Marlow just cleared the place and locked Castor and Keith inside the cage. He’s not letting them out until the guy responsible is taken care of.”

“What’s his name?”

“What do you care?”

“Because I’m going with you.”

“It’s not your business, Vin.”

I kneel down and gently lay Madeline’s body at the end of the pier. I carefully pull the blanket tightly around her to make sure it doesn’t blow loose, then I turn to face Bennett. I eat nine of the ten paces between us until we’re nose to nose and he can see my eyes clearly. So he understands I’m not asking.

“I’m making it my business,” I tell him coldly. “You got it?”

His jaw clenches, his face hardening with annoyance, but he nods once sharply because no matter how much time has passed, he’s never forgotten what I did to him in the Underground. What I could still do to him today. “Yeah. I got it.”

“Good.” I push past him, bumping his shoulder hard and spinning him on his heels. “Now help me find some stones.”

Together we build a pile of rock and brick at the end of the pier next to Madeline’s body. Then I tell him to fuck off and wait for me back on solid ground.

When he’s gone I pull open the blanket. I expose her body, naked and white, and I feel the hard sting of the cold wind burn against my eyes. They dry so hard they stick to my eyelids and I blink over and over again trying to wet them, to close them, but I can’t. So instead I look. I take in every ounce of damage, every fading bruise, cut, and scar. I memorize it and I vow that before this day is done I’ll recreate it. Blow for blow.

Blood for blood.

When the stones are wrapped in the blanket with her I throw her body in the water without a word. I don’t have any, none that matter. None that mean anything or that she would have wanted to hear, and even if words existed that could make this moment better I wouldn’t be able to find them. I’m out of touch with the world. I’m so far inside my fury that I can’t feel my own body. It’s a bad way to be. It’s out of control and that’s a place I never visit, but that’s how I’ve felt since I met her. Off balance and wild. So tonight as I grip my knife in my hand and fall in step behind Bennett, I go looking for trouble. I do it because I can’t contain this thing inside me and still live as a human being. I have to level the scales. I have to scratch this itch.

I have to kill someone or I’ll die.

Thank you for reading
Gods of the Dead!

If you enjoyed it please leave a review on
Amazon
.

Watch for book two,
Weapons of War,
coming in 2016.

If you enjoy this post-apocalyptic world the
Quarantined
and
Survival
series are both out now, both completed, and take place in the same world as the
Rising
series. While these three series do take place in the same world, they are written from the perspective of very different people and are meant to be independent of one another. They can be read and enjoyed in no particular order.

Following is a short preview of
Weapons of War,
book two of the
Rising
series
.

Weapons of War
Preview

Vin

The sun is rising on a new day when I make it back to the Hive. I’ve spent the night out in the wild with nothing by my knife and my mind, and I still don’t feel straight. I’m walking like a drunk, falling to the side and stumbling over the uneven streets and it’s a goddam miracle I’m not dead. I faced off with infected more than I have in years and my body is spent. My hands are shaking loosely at my sides, my body is coated in a thickening sheet of blood and bile, and I’m surprised when they open the doors for me without a knock. I probably look like a Risen – glassy eyed and shambling – but Asher is quick to pull me into the dark building and usher me toward the back.

“He’s been looking for you,” he tells me hurriedly. “It’s about time you showed up.”

“What does he want?”

“I don’t know but he’s looking for Bennett too so it’s gotta be about what happened last night. He’s mad you weren’t there to run the Arena. He had to shut down everything.”

“Boo fuckin’ hoo.”

“Hey.” He shakes me roughly. “Tighten up, dude. I know you’re hurtin’ over Seven but you gotta get over it and get over it fast. Marlow is mad. Do you want me to repeat that or do you understand what I’m saying?”

I take a deep breath, rubbing my hand over my tired face. “Yeah. I understand.”

“Are you ready for this or do I need to hide you for a few hours?”

“No, I’m good. I’m solid.”

“Yeah, you look it,” he mutters sarcastically.

He lets go of me and I walk next to him down the hall to Marlow’s office. Andy is outside the door as always. He nods to us as we enter.

I’m surprised that it’s just Marlow and Hector inside, both seated and waiting.

“Vincent,” Marlow greets me graciously with a large, patient smile. “Nice of you to show. Asher, thank you for finding him.”

Asher casts me a quick look. “Do you need me for anything else? I can stay.”

“No. We’re all set here.”

“We’re still looking for Bennett,” he stalls.

Marlow cocks his head, looking at me curiously. He’s still smiling but it’s changed. It’s not patient. It’s calculating. “Where could he be?”

“We’ll find him.”

“Yes, I’m sure in some fashion you will.”

Asher casts me one last glance before taking the cue and leaving the room. Andy closes the door behind him, sealing me in with Marlow and Hector.

“She’s dead?” Marlow asks bluntly.

I nod my head. It hangs heavy on my neck, my chin threatening to hit my chest with every movement. With each even breath I breathe.

“You understand why I have to ask you that, don’t you?”

“Because you didn’t see the body.”

“No one saw the body,” he agrees angrily. “No one but Freedom and the Hyperion kid, two people who I fully believe would have your back if you decided to do something stupid like, I don’t know, smuggle a girl out of my Stables.”

He lets the accusation dangle like bait on a hook, but I don’t bite.

“Where is she, Vincent?” he insists.

“In the Sound. I sunk her body with rocks. Bennett helped me.”

“So Bennett could corroborate your story.”

I stare at him blankly, bristling under my skin.

He grins. “It means he’d agree with you.”

“Yeah. He would.”

“If I asked him.”

“Yeah.”

“If I could
find
him.”

I shrug, looking away. “Yeah. I guess.”

“You guess. That’s helpful. When was the last time you saw him?”

“Last night. At the Hyde’s.”

In my peripheral I see him sit up straight. “You went to the Hyde’s with him?”

“To deal with Robby, yeah.”

“Robby is the man who killed her?”

“Yeah.”

“We can’t find him either.”

“That’s no surprise.”

“Is he in the Sound too?”

“No.” I sigh, turning my eyes back to his. “He’s probably nothing but bone by now. We knifed him. Left him lying in the street crying as a pack of Risen swarmed him.”

“And then what?”

“They ate him.”

Marlow’s eyes narrow angrily. He doesn’t think I’m funny. I don’t blame him. I’m poking the bear and it’s a bad idea. Asher was right. I need to tighten up.

“If Bennett didn’t make it back last night,” I explain carefully, “then we need to start looking for a second set of bones.”

He nods slowly, accepting what I’m not saying. “So you and Bennett parted ways near the Hyde’s place and then you what? Wandered the streets all night?”

“Fighting Risen, yeah.”

“Why?”

“I had some anger to work out.”

“And how are you feeling now? Are you still angry?”

“No.”

My response is met with silence. He stares at me for a long time the way he loves to do, trying to unnerve me. To shake me. He wants to throw me but what he doesn’t know is that I’m already gone. I’m cast out to the west, to the Sound. I’m in the dark shallows where everything moves in slow motion and your skin aches from the icy press of the water until your nerves give up and shut down. Until you’re so numb you’re barely breathing.

“What are you now?” he pushes.

“Nothing,” I assure him quietly. “I’m nothing.”

END PREVIEW

About the Author

I was born in Eugene, Oregon and studied English Literature at the University of Oregon (Go Ducks!) I love writing all kinds of genres from YA Dystopian to New Adult Romance, the common themes between them all being strong character development and a good dose of humor.

My husband, son, and snuggly pitbull are my world.

Visit my website for more information on upcoming releases,
Tracey Ward