Volume Three - WordPress.com — Get a Free Blog Here

Marla worked quickly to free us all. “At least thirty,” I said, waiting my turn. Larry was released first, Brody
right after, and they both went to our pile of armaments. The vampire had dumped it all together, but hadn’t
broken anything. “Make a stand or run?” I asked, rising as shackles clattered to the ground.
“Nothing with you,” Brody snapped, tightening his bandoleer of throwing knives around his chest. “You
can just fuck off.”
My eyes widened, and I stared, completely taken aback. I couldn’t even ask him to elaborate, but I assumed
he knew now why we’d come after the vampire.
Larry settled his gorget, protecting his jugular before anything else. “Not now, Brody. After we get out.”
He settled into his heavy jacket, checking the sit of the leather.
Brody stared, kicking my gear away from the pile. “I ain’t trusting this necro bitch at my back.” He spat at
my feet. “I told you not to let her in. She’s trying to get us killed.”
“I don’t want you dead,” I whispered, too stunned to even care that we were being hunted. Thirty of the
neospawn moved through the complex, and my necromantic powers would only work on a couple of them.
Survival instincts were already controlling my power, reaching for those few. “I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
“Just yourself,” Marla said, shoving plasma blades back into hidden sheaths. We were well-armed; working
for the corporations paid well, and always got us the best weapons. It was corporate backing that had let me find
Alexander, given me his location, given him his name. “We’ve all seen the marks.” Most of them weren’t selfinflicted.
Morris approached, leaning against my back, cradling his broken arm. “We can tear each other apart after we
get through the neospawn. Vanya has never betrayed us, or given a reason to mistrust her.”
His support gave me heart again, though guilt came with it. I’d joined them to fight neospawn, but mostly to
find another vampire. Necromancers weren’t meant to be on their own, constantly craving the feel of death. I’d
used the hunters, but not the way Brody suspected. Spearing my former lover with a nasty glare, I helped Morris
get geared back up.
Brody swore, stomping away. “You’re fucking crazy,” he shouted, pulling his pistols, facing one of the
doors. “She’s got it in for us.”
Morris hissed in pain, blanching when I jostled his arm. “Keep going,” he groaned. “We’ll set it later.”
“You’re a liability,” Marla said to me, coming up to Morris. The healer was like her kid brother, and she
didn’t mean anything cruel. We were friends, and she’d comforted me after Brody kicked me out of his bed.
“Keep close to me,” she told Morris, then shoved my hands aside.
I growled low in my throat. I’d missed my chance with the vampire because of neospawn, and lost my
friends because of the vampire. “I’ll see about shifting their senses, giving you a clear path while they’re
fighting.” It was easier to already count myself out of their group. Resheathing knives and bolos, I couldn’t
meet any of their eyes.
Larry came to my side, checking my armor, touching me with a year of familiarity. “We get out together,
then go our separate ways.” He gave my elbow a squeeze.
My voice was sullen, and I didn’t try to hide it. “I just needed your help to find him. I wasn’t trying to hurt
you. And hunting has been good.” I kept my face down.
Larry grabbed my chin, making me look at him. “Then we’ll let it be good once more.” He smiled, and I
joined him. For a seasoned fighter, Larry really had an easy-going nature.
“Fuck that,” Brody said, pointing a pistol at me. “She stays.”
Marla and Morris were ready, standing with his broken arm between them. “They’ve got our scent. They’re
coming here.” Marla could feel them, but not control them.
Only I could. Neospawn were close enough to dead that my powers worked on them to varying degrees.
Sometimes I could take full control, and sometimes I could only nudge them.
This group was young, full of ghouls I would only be able to give suggestions to. As I expanded
necromantic powers, my physical senses faded. I found the three I’d be able to control, and made note of them.
I’d get to them later, and worked on confusing the senses of the rest.
I made them all think we were on the move, heading away from this room. “They took the bait,” I
whispered, slowly regaining awareness of my surroundings. “They’re headed north.” Even with open eyes, I
saw everything through a haze.