Antithesis: The Vampire Alliance Book Three - FIRST DRAFT COMPLETED

Antithesis Chapter 12: Eve Blakethorn-Sullivan May 2013

Eve Blakethorn-Sullivan, May 2013

While we wait for Grace’s confirmation of how many humans wish to join us Johan decides we must carry out the attack on the Science Facility. The longer we hold back, the more Strix we’ll have to fight. As that endangers everyone he doesn’t want to wait. While I personally feel a great deal of reluctance over the whole thing, especially while facing the possibility that my death may be fast approaching, I know I cannot stay back while Rob and Tul are deployed. That means I’m going along for the ride, even though the idea fills me with a sickening, memory-fuelled, dread.

As it turns out Johan has successfully gotten another hacker in place; Phil hadn’t been his only option, apparently. His best option, he claims, but not his only option as Tul had thought. His second best option now works within the Senate’s information technology team and is perfectly positioned to knock out the Science Facility’s security should we need him to. That’s right, should we need him to. Much of the security system will still be online when we go in.

Our hacker, Gary, will only shut down the defences as a whole if we run out of escape options. We don’t want to warn the Senate we’re coming, which they would realise if we simply took every system offline. With that in mind, Gary’s given us the key codes to allow us facility wide access and he’s going to ensure that we remain under the radar, so to speak. He claims he can interrupt the feed from the CCTV cameras to the monitors so that a previous recording will be shown and we’ll remain invisible. He’ll also be controlling the telephones, alarms and email accounts of any staff working in the places we want to be. He’s putting himself at great risk to get us in and out.

Then again, we’re putting ourselves at great risk even entering the Senate Science Facility. It’s swings and roundabouts.

Between our hacker, the knowledge Rob acquired as 1352, the floor plan and the extra people who’ve been sent to help us, we might actually manage to accomplish what Johan wants. At least I can hope. Not that disrupting the Science Facility’s production of Strix is going to be easy. We may just as easily end up dead or captured and then the Senate will create an undefeatable army who may one day cause the downfall of civilisation. I guess we have to take our chances. We’ve run out of more passive options.

A number of the strongest vampires from each of the ten Alliance zones in the United Kingdom are now with us. Overall the team is twenty-four strong. Most will be deployed around exit points to ensure our escape routes aren’t blocked by Enforcers, Paladins and Strix. Only six of us are actually going to go into the facility. Let’s face it, walking twenty four of us in there would be sure to draw attention to our presence.

Rob, Tul and I are the only ones really strong enough for the task anyway, if it comes to a room full of Strix. Although as Johan’s ensured each of us provided Dr Franklin with a vast quantity of blood and venom I’m not convinced he isn’t preparing to turn others, should we fail to come out alive. I’ve made him swear it isn’t a path he’d take but there seems little other reason for the sheer scale of blood and venom collection he’s had Franklin put us through. It’s disconcerting.

The other three members of our team are Craig, a woman called Rachel from Pat’s Yorkshire branch and Gail, from London, a woman who seems intent on irritating the life out of me. They’ve all fought the Senate before and they’ve all spent many years becoming proficient in various forms of martial arts. On paper they sound great but they’re also all just vampires. Personally, I’m not sure their presence will help us any. Johan insists though, and his only concession was swapping out Alex for Gail and only because of the look of absolute dread he’d seen pass over my features when he’d put Alex’s name forward for deployment.

Now the time has come to act I’ve donned what feels like half the armoury. I’m very much in warrior woman mode, what with the guns and knives attached to every limb and my sword strapped to my back. The others are similarly armed and even Tul is carrying a sword this time. No point in going in without one, even if it wouldn’t currently be his first choice of weapon.

“Does entering this place the same way we got out last time not seem a little obvious and risky to anyone but me?” I hiss as we creep through the deserted personnel tunnels of the metro system.

“Technically we’re going in a different way. The labs and stores have a symmetrical layout; the four quarters of the lab area have a rotational symmetry. We’re going in through one of the other three tunnels this time rather than the tunnel Keep led you out through.” Rob whispers back, although his answer doesn’t make me feel any better.

“That’s minor detail and you know it. The Senate knows we’ve used these tunnels before. Won’t they be wary of it now?” I’d asked Johan the same question but he’d simply insisted we could handle it. “This seems reckless.”

“Is that a prediction or theory?” Tul asks and I hate hearing the words considering what followed his last question on that theme.

“Theory,” the reply is honest, I know it’s not a prediction but it’s still basic common sense.

“Good,” Tul answers, squeezing my hand, “if it becomes anything more solid than theory let us know. For now we don’t have much choice as the only other way into this place is through the front door and that isn’t likely to work out for any of us.”

Gail glances at me, “If you’re so nervous you shouldn’t be part of the team, you’ll put us at risk. As soon as I found out you’d been held captive here I knew you weren’t going to be a good choice. If it’s too much for you then go back now.”

“There is a significant difference between assessing the risks and not being fit to be here,” my snarled response is undeniably heated. I don’t want to be viewed as a damaged liability but nor do I want to walk into the Science Facility unprepared. “And take my advice, you know nothing about my time here or its affect on me, but I warn you against pushing me. Trust this; you are a far greater risk to everyone present than I am. All of you vampires are.”

“We’re all vampires,” Gail responds, “or have you forgotten what you are?”

“She’s Strix,” Craig answers for me, emphasising the last word. “And she’s correct. You should follow my example and shut up, follow those three and don’t piss off the people who will be responsible for saving your ass if this goes tits up.”

“Aw,” I breathe while grinning at Craig. I wink as I whisper, “That’s sweet of you. Still hoping I’ll change you too?”

“Nah,” he retorts with a chuckle, “but I’ve still got a crush on you. Have done ever since the whole sitting on top of me naked thing at the hide.”

Tul glances quickly at our companion with a less than amused expression and ire tainting his scent. “You know what you were saying about pissing off a Strix?” Craig simply laughs, not in the slightest bit threatened, especially as we all know he’s besotted with Felicity and not remotely interested in me.

This time there’s a patrol positioned beside the entrance to the science facility escape tunnels. Luckily for us the three Enforcers don’t take much to dispose of and they’re dead before they can call for help. Their presence indicates we’re at point of no return, the point where this mission becomes a risk. That’s terrifying.

In the metro tunnels it’s easy to turn back but retreat isn’t likely to be an option once we enter the oppressive darkness and narrow spaces of the voids we’ll have to crawl through. Despite my declaration that I’m fit to be here I can’t help but pause, nervous as we lift the manhole cover which will take us back into the tunnels. When I step towards the black maw which leads straight down into hell I have to take a deep, fortifying, breath, and I can only hope I’ll be able to climb back out a second time.

I do not want to do this. I really don’t want to do this. Especially as we’re effectively operating under radio silence and our only direct contact with back up is through a man I’ve never met, a man who will be watching us through the CCTV cameras. Provided he can be trusted.

“Are you alright?” Rob asks guiltily.

It’s not easy to force a smile as I lower my feet onto the first rung of the ladder. Managing to adopt what I presume is a thoroughly watery grin, I repeat the lie, “I’m fine.”

“I’m sorry,” he answers earnestly, his tone filled with remorse.

Grabbing a handful of his jacket I pull him down so that I can press my lips to his. “You have nothing to be sorry for. The Senate do though, so let’s go and make them pay.” With that I hop off the ladder and land, crouched, at the bottom of the shaft. Here I am, back in the pits of hell.

The others throw down the bodies of the deceased Enforcers, to hide them rather than leave them in the open. Then they follow me into the blackness.

Squirming back through the dusty maze of concrete, steel and darkness, the world is grey to my eyes. I’m only vaguely comforted by the presence of Tul and Rob behind me. I’d hoped never to have to do this again, certainly not in order to get into the Senate facility rather than out of it. Who would have predicted I’d come back here by choice?

Eventually I find the opening above me that leads to the concrete tunnel between laboratory walls. Of course no one’s bothered to unscrew the grate at the end of the tunnel this time. After listening intently to ensure no one is nearby I manage to turn in the crawl space and kick out at the grate. It tears out of the wall, clattering to the floor far too noisily. Pausing, we listen again for any sign we’ve been overheard, then once it’s clear no-one’s coming to investigate we finally climb out into the plant room.

Tul squeezes my hand again as he pushes open the door into the storage room beyond, making sure I’m still alright. Alright is subjective, I suppose. I’ve felt worse, but I’m not exactly jumping for joy about my current situation. I guess that’s to be expected.

I’ve already seen the Senate’s capsules with their blinking LEDs and the faces of the dead monitored on the screens attached to their fronts. Rob shudders, a wave of revolted anger rippling through him. I suppose it’s different for him this time. The last time he’d seen a storage room such as this he’d been 1352 and hadn’t really understood. Now though, when he looks at the rows of sarcophagi he can probably see his history.

“Fucking hell,” Craig breathes, grief giving his voice a rough edge as he gapes at one of the sci-fi like coffins, “it’s Phil. Is there anything we can do?”

“He’s dead, Craig,” I point out. My tone is gentle, consolatory, but there’s no sugar coating it.

“Rob was dead too,” he answers, clinging to some vague hope.

“Phil isn’t a Paladin, not yet. That’s just a body in that capsule. What would you have us do? Turn him into a puppet in the hope we can reach some part of him that’s still in there, or so I can turn him?” Craig looks almost hopeful at the suggestion.
“We don’t have the time,” I continue. “Plus, I can’t create more, there’s too many of us already. The Strix were killed off because they were dangerous. I can’t just turn people, not even to save them.”

“You saved those two,” Gail points to Rob and Tul, disgusted and accusatory. “Do you think you can just pick and choose?”

“Of course she can pick and choose,” Rob retorts, eying Gail angrily, “no vampire is forced to turn or not turn anyone. Not even to save a human or let them die. We can pick and choose which vampires and humans we turn or don’t turn, just like you can pick and choose who to sire. She isn’t a tool, you know.”

“We don’t have time for this,” I repeat again.

“Maybe she should be a tool,” Gail considers, “maybe all three of you should be. You’re withholding something valuable. If you won’t voluntarily do as necessary for the greater good maybe you should be made to.”

Growling, Rob stalks towards her and from his outrage he may just do something we’ll all regret. I don’t blame him for his anger, hadn’t the Senate forced him to be little more than a tool? Fighting amongst ourselves won’t get the job done however, and I want this mission over with as quickly as possible. Placing my hand on his chest I stop Rob, shaking my head at whatever he’d do to Gail.

Rather than let him murder her I grab the perfectly sprayed mass of her curly platinum blonde hair and force her face towards one of the sarcophagi so she can see the screen. Making sure she is looking at the perfectly frozen face of a corpse I remind her, “This is what happens when people think they can use others as tools, as weapons, as something other than people. You might want to remember that the sort of thinking you’re encouraging is exactly what we’re here to fight.”

Perhaps I’m slightly rougher than necessary as I push her away from me and she sprawls on the floor. Then again, she had just suggested that I become little more than a Strix making machine. “Come on,” I urge again and head towards the door on the other side of the storage room, feeling her anger filled eyes on my back as I walk away.

Thankfully the dark corridor outside is empty when we step into it and even when the CCTV camera twists, scanning the area, no sirens suddenly sound. “The vault is the priority,” I remind the team, “we need to destroy whatever samples and research they have there. We’ll go to the vault first and see what we can do about the labs on the way out.”

“Who put her in charge?” Gail hisses.

“Johan did,” Tul answers, “remember? Did you sleep through the briefing? Eve’s the only one likely to have any insight into what actions will have good or bad outcomes. Plus she’s one of the strongest people here. That means she’s in charge.”

I twist briefly back to the woman who’d see me harvested for blood and venom and give her a broad, wolfish grin. Truthfully, I’m not any happier about me being team leader than she is. However, the title is purely a formality that Rob and I are sharing as we may have some inside knowledge, through experience or prophecy. Still, I don’t mind rubbing it in that right here, right now, Gail is my subordinate.

We’ve timed our assault to be out of office hours and the corridors are almost as dark and deserted as the tunnels. Very few scientists remain at work in the hours before dusk and there are only a small number doors which we have to creep past. We’re conscious that blades of light still shine out from under their leaves, indicating that the rooms behind them are still in use.  Mainly though, our passage through the facility is uneventful. The patrols of Enforcers we do pass are few and far between and we successfully avoid or destroy them without difficulty.

“This is too easy.” There’s concern in my observation as I add, “I can’t believe that there isn’t more security after last time.” Did the Senate really put so much faith in electronic systems which we had already bypassed once? My sense of foreboding only increases as we type the key code into the doors which exit the laboratory complex and lead out into the main corridor.

Rob and Tul glance at me expectantly, maybe reading more in my concerned tone that the others do. “Something’s wrong. I don’t know if it’ll affect the mission, I can’t see.”

“Everything about this place is wrong,” Craig points out, and he’s right. Past suffering seeps through the halls, it’s soaked into the very structure of the building. There’d been too much pain caused in here and only a fraction of it had been mine. I truly hate this place.

“Keep moving,” Gail hisses, turning right but only managing a few steps before Rob grabs her elbow.

“That way leads to the residential area where the Palatinus, and I imagine some of the Senate’s Strix, live. I don’t recommend going that way. I certainly don’t intend on going there.”

The reminder of just what lives down here is enough to ensure our footsteps remain silent as we follow Rob’s directions. The vault isn’t far from the labs and is made of a large, fortified storage area filled with various sub-vaults. It’s close enough that the scientists have easy access to its treasures but far enough away to make me wonder why the Senate had put so much distance between its researchers and their research samples.

“Rachel, stay out here and keep watch.” She nods at my command as I pull a slip of paper from my pocket and type the pass code into the key pad next to the vault door. The steel leaves swing open on reinforced hinges, the heavy metal moving via mechanical systems. “Ok. Let’s get this done quickly.”

Movement sensors pick up our entrance to the vault, automatically switching on the large white lights overhead. The thick concrete walls of the outer vault have been painted white too, making the storage area glaringly bright after the darkness of the deserted corridors.

Huge metal containers stand in rows inside this vast, white, space, each the size of a room on their own. We take a row each, matching the numbers on the doors of the sub-vaults to pass codes on the lists we’d been provided with. Once inside we set the timers on the explosives Johan has given each of us, intent of destroy the vaults contents. Each bomb is set to go off in twenty minutes time. While they aren’t powerful enough to bring down the building the detonations are still going to be loud enough to draw attention. I want to be out of here before that, if at all possible.

The mental containers themselves contain all sorts; samples of tissue and bone, paper files, hard-drives, a wealth of scientific information. Old fangs, whose owners have long since passed, are stored in bottles with bar codes and I.D. numbers etched into the glass. There are even vials marked with the names of innumerable viruses. Had the Senate been researching disease transmission while trying to understand the transmission of vampirism?

Dr Franklin would have a field day with this collection but it’ll all be gone soon, if we have anything to do with it. Twenty minutes, then all that will remain inside these metal boxes will be scorched remains and ashes.

I’m inside my last container when the sudden panic hits me and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I have to stop whatever Craig is about to do. Trying not to gag at the stench of rotting flesh which only I can smell, I scream his name as loudly as I can as I charge out of my container and towards the row of vaults he’d been designated to sabotage. “Don’t open that container!”

Too late. The warning comes too late. As I round the corner I can already see his face becoming a mask of horror as the abhorrent reek of decomposition and putrefying tissue fills the air, the repugnant musk of old death permeating the room. Stopping just behind him I freeze too, caught by the same sense of stunned horror that has Craig ensnared and immobile.

The vault is filled, wall to wall, with decaying bodies. Some are propped against the side of the container, or against others. Some lie or sit, slumped on the floor. In the gloom of their metal crypt they stare lifelessly ahead, their eyes cloudy white with death. Skin peels from their faces and their limbs and old wounds ooze stinking fluids.

I’ve seen death, I’ve brought it about, but I’ve never seen decay, not like this. I don’t know how long these bodies have been stored here or why they’ve been left to rot in the vault. I’m not sure I want to know. It’s more than my stomach can take, no matter what the Senate’s reasoning for the atrocity is. I bend over, regurgitating blood and gagging at the ghastly sight before me as well as putrid aroma coming from it.
When I manage to look up I watch in dismay as one of the bodies lifts its rotting, lolling, head. With a groan it lumbers slowly to its feet. Its cloudy eyes roll in their sockets as the decomposing cadaver takes an unsteady, shuffling, step forward. Then it takes another and another. It walks over the limbs of other bodies, tripping over legs and torsos and falling down only to pick itself up again with another guttural groan.

More and more of the corpses turn their unseeing eyes towards us as they’re yanked upright like marionettes pulled by invisible strings. Their peeling faces remain emotionless, their eyes empty. Even as they reach forward, grasping with claw like hands, they barely seem aware of their surroundings or one another. They simply hunger for us, for our life force.

No, not for all of us. They hunger for Craig and for Gail as she joins us.

“Close the door,” I demand. “Craig, close the door.”

“But they’re alive!” Craig exclaims.

Can’t he recognise the silence of their un-beating hearts or smell the reek of their slimy, weeping, flesh? They aren’t alive. These people haven’t been alive in years.