Antithesis: The Vampire Alliance Book Three - FIRST DRAFT COMPLETED

Antithesis Chapter 36: Eve Blakethorn-Sullivan September 2013

Eve Blakethorn-Sullivan, September 2013

When the time came I had watched the line of land rovers and range rovers pull out of the parking lot with a sense of dread so profound that Van reprimanded me for sucking all other emotion out of existence. I couldn’t help it though. Today, all over the UK, the Alliance are attacking Senate and Redeemer facilities and I’m stuck here, useless. I don’t like not knowing the outcome. I hate the uncertainty. Fear grips me because my husbands have gone into battle and I have no idea if they’ll survive it
.
Pacing Van’s room I try not to dwell on the memory of our goodbyes. Our kisses had be urgent, desperate with the desire to display how much we loved one another, how much we’d always love one another, no matter what. Then they’d gone to lead the teams of vampires and mortals Johan had assigned to each of them. Rob, Tul, Alex, Robbie, all of them are leading teams and I can hardly bear the agony of not knowing if I will see them again. I should have had a team. I should be with them.

I try to focus on the determination streaming through my connection to Rob and Tul. As long as I can feel them then they’re alive and I have some degree of hope. Some degree, as long as Rob doesn’t do anything stupid. Spinning on my heel I pace back the way I had come.

“Eve,” Van urges as she takes my elbow, “please sit down? You’re making me queasy and wearing a trench in my carpet.”

Sarah looks up at me from where she is sat on Van’s sofa, reading to her daughter. “They’ll be alright,” she assures me but I can see all of my fears reflected in her eyes.

Felicity snorts bitterly, “They might not be alright,” she mumbles to herself as much as to us. “Craig never came back.”

Dropping to the floor I sit cross-legged on the floor. She has a point and we all know it but Van shakes her head, “Felicity,” she catches the other woman’s attention and tips her head in the direction of Alex’s daughter. “It hurts, I know, but this is not the place. They’ll be alright.”

Felicity leans back in the chair, folding her arms over her chest. “Not everyone gets to come back, although Robert and Tulloch are sure to do so, based on past experience.”

I can’t blame her for her anger at me; I have, in many ways, been lucky. My husbands have always come back. Although in fairness I’d been without Rob far longer than Felicity has been without Craig and I had suffered just as much in that time. Still, I should have been able to protect Craig.

As it is Tul had made a suggestion to me last night, perhaps wanting to tell me his plan so I can still implement it even should he fails to return today. The idea is very simple; the zombies are incomplete, partially turned. Why not try to turn them fully? The zombies are not so different to the Paladins, their flaw being the lack of my blood. What if we were to give them Strix blood and Strix venom? Might the results be as successful as turning a Paladin into a Strix?

I’d considered the suggestion, knowing that we couldn’t risk trying to save every zombie. There are hordes of them and if successful we’d create a lot of Strix when there are already too many in the world. But if I could save Craig wouldn’t it be worth a try?

My biggest concern is the process, chomping on 1352’s neck had been a completely different prospect to biting through rotting flesh and trying to drink stinking, coagulated blood. I highly doubt I’d manage to do such a thing and Tul had agreed entirely that it was unlikely any of us could bear to carry out a siring the traditional way. That’s when he had said my two least favourite words, ‘venom collectors’.

Tul’s somewhat brilliant plan is to collect venom; mine, his or Rob’s. It will take a large dose and whoever is the venom donor will have to donate until their venom reservoir runs dry just to make sure we have enough for the change. The same person will also have to donate blood. Then when we go to clean out the Science Facility we will take the venom and syringes and try to perform the siring without anyone actually having to get too close to Craig’s decaying throat.

I’d wondered if it would really be a wise move. What if Craig realised who he was before his body healed? How traumatic would it be to become self aware and realise you are a rotting corpse?

Rob thinks that scenario is unlikely, however. Normally by the time a newly turned becomes aware of anything their body has healed, just like when Johan changed Rob and when Rob changed Tul. In this case it is unlikely Craig will be entirely unaware as the change will be from partially made to fully turned. If we do this it will hurt him but he will likely only notice the agony of the turn, not his rotting state. Not that such a possibility is a vast improvement but at least he won’t know he’s semi-decayed. By the time the pain fades and he regains some appreciation of his state he’ll be healed. Provided the plan works.

Of course I can’t tell Felicity any of this. It would be cruel to give her hope when I have no idea if we’ll be successful enough today to attempt a mission to the Science Facility in the future. I suspect we’ll only tell Johan and Dr Franklin of our plans if we tell anyone. We need access to venom collectors after all. Other than that it’s probably wiser to keep the possibility of saving Craig to ourselves until we’ve accomplished our goal.

Either way, I doubt I’ll be up to the job if Rob and Tul don’t return today. With that thought at the forefront of my mind I stand up again and resume my incessant pacing, much to Van’s frustration.  Only when the first rush of battle-ready anticipation hits do I pause, my anxiety increasing torturously.

“They’re at the Civic Centre?” Sarah guesses.

I nod but I can’t answer as I try to control my emotions, the last thing Rob and Tul need is the chaotic mess of my turmoil assaulting them when they’re trying to fight. I can’t help it though, and it dawns on me that this is just one more reason why I should’ve been at the Civic Centre. My fear could get them both killed.

“I’m going to go and wait in the car park,” I manage at last, struggling to form even that simple sentence.

“It could be hours before they come back.” Van points out but I don’t care.

“I know, but I’m not exactly good company so there’s little to be gained by being here. At least down there on my own I won’t be forcing my anxiety or whatever they feel onto other people.”

Once I reach the cold, concrete car park I clamber onto the bonnet of one of a range rovers to sit it out. I try meditation, I try reciting songs, I even try thinking up baby names in the search for something to distract myself from the mix of emotions flowing from Rob and Tul. I want to scream every time I feel a bullet wound or sword blow and as the hours pass I wonder if this situation will drive me mad. Again.

When their emotions finally settle into victorious elation I sag with relief. They’d done it, they must have won. Johan confirms that suspicion when he enters the parking area soon after, ready to greet his victorious soldiers home.

“They’re on their way home,” he tells me, beaming, “most of the other teams are reporting successes too. We’ve brought down the Senate.”

No sooner does he say the words than the leering face of Hardy Charleston rears before my eyes and as he raises a sword to land a fatal stroke I tumble from the range rover. “Rob, what are you doing?” I hiss, furious and panic stricken. Whatever he’s just decided to do will get him killed. “Charleston’s going to...”

Pain explodes in my skull, Tul’s version of an intervention being to shoot Rob in the head. He does so repeatedly, despite the pain, enough to ensure Rob will have fallen temporarily unconscious. The action may be brutal but at least it might prevent Rob from doing as I fear.

Johan helps me to my feet, genuine concern clear in his expression. “What’s happening? What’s he doing?”

“It’s alright I think, Tul stopped him. He was going to go after Charleston.”

My phone rings, blaring at me from my pocket. Clicking answer I don’t have time to speak before Rob’s words chill me to the core. “Keep’s gone.”

It takes me a moment to process that unexpected announcement. “What?” I demand. This wasn’t supposed to happen, Tul was supposed to stop Rob, not take his place. “What happened?”

“We were on our way back. I just couldn’t do it love, I knew Charleston hadn’t been caught and I wanted to end it, end this, before our child gets dragged into this mess. I pulled over to tell him I wanted to go after Charleston, I was going to...” he pauses and I can feel the ripple of guilt flowing through him, “if he didn’t agree to let me go I was going to shoot him. He shot me first, I woke up on the pavement and the car is gone.”

“He’s driving?” I suppose Tul’s perfectly capable of driving one handed, he still has the hand required for changing gears after all. “Do you know where he’s gone?” The angry edge to my tone can’t be helped. I had told both of them not to go after Charleston and they’d both chosen to ignore me. They should have known better, Tul especially. I’d trusted that he’d learned but clearly I’d put too much faith in him.

“In the files we stole from the archives there’s record of construction of a shelter under Charleston’s house. At least we assumed it was a shelter, there were a lot of invoices for concrete and steel so I doubt it was for a sauna. It wasn’t important earlier; I was focussed on finding a way to stop a human attack so I didn’t tell you. Then since you decided Hardy was your responsibility we decided not to tell you at all encase you decided to pay him a visit. I imagine he’s going there, it’s where I’d go.” Reluctantly, knowing that I won’t like it he adds, “I have to go after him Eve. I’ll never forgive myself if he dies and I didn’t even try to stop it.”

That much is true, hadn’t Tul regretted not trying to save Rob every day since he was captured and executed?  All three of us are alike enough in that respect. He can’t do this on his own though, I know that. “Rob, you have to wait for me...”

“No,” he interrupts, “you’re too important Eve. Stay where you are. You have to have our baby, love, that’s all you need to do. I love you.”

When he hangs up I feel my heart sink into my stomach. I feel ill. How on Earth does he think I can just stand by and let him and Tul die when I’m the key to preventing it?

“They’ve made their choice,” says Johan, “you have to think about the baby.” He recognises the defiance rising up in me from a place that just can’t tolerate losing either of them again. “You do know I can’t let you go after them?”
I laugh, not able to relent to his will. “You do know you can’t stop me going after them?”

He wishes he could but I can see his resentful acceptance too. He knows I’m going to go, he doesn’t know if I’ll come back but he knows I won’t be stopped. “Bring them back, Eve, and come back with them.”

I’ll try my best, I think as I slip into the driver’s seat of one of our armoured vehicles. Anxiety gnaws at me as I pull through the electrified gates surrounding the entrance to our headquarters. Up ahead of me I can see the line of similar vehicles heading towards me. I ignore them as I pass the returning convoy of my colleagues. They’ll return to a celebration, they’ll still be cheering their victory, whereas I could still lose everything I hold dear.

The route to Charleston’s house is still clear in my mind from the last time I’d come this way. Last time I’d taken Donal’s head. This time I can only pray I manage to take Charleston’s. Surprisingly it’s safe to park right in front of the huge gates which, while locked, are unusually free of guards. Were his henchmen in the shelter with Charleston? Had they died at the Civic Centre?

Upon leaping the wall with my preternatural agility the truth becomes plain to see. It’s only once I land in the garden I notice the bodies littering the driveway. Blood flavours the air; the blood of vampires, Paladins and Strix floods over the gravel and between the shrubs. Tul and Rob had obviously fared well up to this point.

That errant thought is a curse and agony blooms in my chest, the scorch of silver tearing through my heart even though no weapon has entered my body. It’s not a fatal wound but as another scorching spear of reflected pain enters my thigh I have to accept that Tul is not going to win the battle he’s foolishly thrown himself into.
Rob’s sudden adrenaline rush fuels my own and I guess he’s in the shelter too.  Tul suffers no further injury, although the existing ones still burn, and I can only hope that proves Rob’s there with him. His presence might keep them alive long enough for me to intervene.

As I career into the house, my feet slipping on the tiled floor of the atrium, a shape glides out of the shadows. Tess laughs, a coldly mocking sound as she steps in front of me. “I’ve killed you before, I can do so again. This time you won’t come back from it.”

“I don’t have time for this,” I state emphatically, growing more frantic when the ache in my chest doesn’t fade. Why isn’t Tul removing whatever is impaling him?
Tess, unsheathes her sword and I realise with no small amount of dismay that I haven’t brought mine. While my gun remains permanently attached to my side I hadn’t been wearing my more unwieldy sword when I’d left the base. No one had intended me to find myself in a position where I’d need it. Shit. Double shit.

My opponent guffaws as my hand goes uselessly to the place my sword should be. “Forgotten something Eve?” She snorts, “Well, not that it matters. Your husbands aren’t long for this world and once they’re gone you’ll be begging me to end your worthless life. You might as well just accept it. You can’t achieve anything here. Hardy is too powerful.”

“Be that as it may be, I think I gave you the wrong impression the last time we met,” I inform her as I grab up the discarded sword of one of Charleston’s dead Strix. I can only presume the woman had fallen to either Tul or Rob. “I don’t usually kneel and take it.”

The wicked smile that twists her features into something ugly sends a shiver down my spine. “That’s not what Hardy tells me,” she says suggestively.

“Hardy won’t be telling anyone much of anything when I’m through with him.” She only laughs again at that claim.

We circle each other and I try to focus although concentrating proves increasingly difficult as Tul’s anxiety spikes and a burst of searing pain explodes through Rob’s shoulder. I need to be elsewhere, every second I waste on Tess is a second closer to Rob or Tul’s death. I’m going to lose them. I can’t lose them.

Blood sprays over me as a sword tears through Tess’ chest, spearing her from back to front. She looks down, staring at the tip of the sword which had entered her body with such force.

“I’ve got this,” Robbie tells me from the doorway as he retrieves another weapon from a fallen enemy to replace the one he’d thrown at his mother. “I saw you drive past and then Johan radioed. I couldn’t let you come alone. I’ll see to this, you go save my father’s ass, eh?”

Part of me doesn’t want to leave him. Tess had been more than willing for Robbie to meet his end previously and I still want to protect him. Ultimately there can be no competition between him and Rob however; I’d rather leave Robbie to face the risk Tess poses than leave Rob and Tul with Charleston. With a nod I spin on my heel, turning towards the corridor on the right and leaving Rob’s son to face his mother.
Following the bright thread of our connection is much easier now and I track my link to Rob and Tul with ease. My feet pound on the marble tiled floor of Hardy’s home until I find a door which has been smashed open, leaving shards of wood and dagger like pieces of metal scattered on the floor and the concrete stairs behind it.

I don’t bother with the stairs, choosing to jump straight over the handrail and land on the concrete floor two stories below instead. Even landing in a crouch barely slows me as I fling myself onwards, leaping over further fallen Enforcers as I go. The steel door of the shelter is open when I reach it. In the briefest flash of a vision I catch a glimpse of Tul forcing the dead Strix now sprawled across the corridor to unlock it.
Stumbling into Charleston’s panic room I have only the briefest moment to take in the scene playing out before me. Tul hangs from the wall, the two swords spearing him in the chest and thigh holding him to the concrete. His blood drenched hand slips on the hilt of the weapon piercing his heart as he tries unsuccessfully to tug the thing free.

I don’t have time to help him though as Rob trips, dropping to his knees at Charleston’s feet. The premonition I’d seen in the car park plays through my mind again even as Hardy tries to make it a reality, leering and raising his sword to take Rob’s head. 

With a yell of rage I leap forward, my sword scraping up the length of Charleston’s as I divert his strike. “Help Tul,” I order Rob as I force Hardy to step backwards.
He thinks about arguing, I see it as he looks up at me. However I also feel the moment he resigns himself to the truth; this is my fight. Rob scrambles to his feet, going to Tul’s aid as I focus my attention on the man who had repeatedly destroyed my happiness, the monster who had seen to the destruction of my family and who had been behind every ounce of my suffering.

“Eve dear,” he greets me, “I wasn’t sure you were going to make an appearance at this show. You weren’t at the Civic Centre. I’m surprised at you; such an assault seemed exactly the sort of thing you’d throw yourself into.”

Shrugging lightly I refuse to fall into the trap of revealing anything, “I can’t always have all the glory.”

“Indeed not,” Charleston agrees just before he brings his sword up, swiping at me with a determined stroke. Jumping back I try to move out of his way but the tip of his sword catches my arm. “First blood already, this is going to be a very short match isn’t it child?”

“Yes, it is,” I hiss back at him as I open myself up to a wealth of knowledge. What was it Tul had said? I can access an eternity of experience. “My ancestors were warriors Charleston; a Strix with more than a century on your age and a mortal who defeated vampires and worse in her short life. Their knowledge is my knowledge. You’ve already lost.” Even as I say the words I know it’s true. “It’s over. Surrender.”

“You’re weak,” he snarls at me, “your ties to those pathetic lovers keeps you that way. I am strong. I am the strongest. You can’t beat me.”

Rolling my eyes at him I sigh, “Fine, let’s get this over with then. God knows I’ve waited long enough.”

He leaps at me but by the time his sword falls I’ve already moved and his weapon clashes harmlessly on the concrete where my feet had been seconds earlier. I can predict his every move and counteract every stroke. I could spend all day toying with him and he’d never manage to scratch me now. That would make me just like him however, if I prolong this to enjoy his struggle. I don’t want to be like Hardy Charleston. There is nothing good to be gained by drawing this out.

When his sword flashes out again I raise mine to deflect the blow. I note with resentful appreciation that he hits with more strength than anyone I’ve ever fought. I’m stronger though, and I’m faster. Twisting and spinning I manoeuvre closer to my target, grinning as I knock his sword from his hand and force him onto his knees.
Raising my sword again I know this is my chance. I can take his head, end his life and have my revenge. I have that right, don’t I? With an exultant cry I sweep my sword down in a deadly arc.

And I stop it. My weapon halts, the edge of my blade resting on the back of Hardy’s neck without even drawing the slightest drop of blood. Rob and Tul stare at me in surprise as I yank Charleston onto his feet. I pull the struggling man towards me without an explanation for my moment of inexplicable mercy. He beats at me, thrashing and trying to throw me off but he’s easy to restrained.

With mild disgust I force my fangs into Charleston’s throat, gulping down his blood as I plunge my sword into his side, letting more of his blood flow out through the wound which I hold open. My husband’s confusion is perfectly understandable as I drain the blood from my enemy’s veins. I’ll try to explain soon enough.

I make sure he’s weakened before I drop him, letting him sink back to the floor where he lies without the strength to pull himself upright. “I taught you well,” he mutters feebly, “draining me before you torture me are you? Trying to make sure it hurts more are you?”

“You misunderstand,” I respond flatly as I retrieve a set of silver cuffs from one of his fallen soldiers. “Your execution doesn’t belong to me, Charleston. I would love to kill you. I would love to hurt you so badly that you beg me to kill you.” Laughing I admit, “I would really love to hear you beg, even if it would make me as bad as you. However, I’m not the only person you’ve ever hurt. Your death belongs to every person you’ve ever killed, every mother who’s lost a son, every wife who’s lost a husband, every child who’s seen the body of a parent return from the grave with red eyes and the desire to destroy the world in your name.

Instead of killing you here I thought I’d present an alternative. Just how much do you like the arena on execution night?” I ask him and he thrashes as I fasten the cuffs around his wrists. His movements are ineffective, his strength sapped by blood loss. “I’m handing you over to the Alliance.” I explain to him, “I don’t have the right to decide your fate.”

Hardly growls, gnashing his fangs at me, “Do you think that if an executioner does the deed you won’t have my blood on your hands? My blood will always be on your hands.”

Kneeling in front of him I smile icily and he shudders, “You mistake me for someone who cares. I’m not doing this for the sake of my conscience. I’m doing this so that all of your supporters can watch your empire crumble and know that the Senate’s reign is over. I’m handing you to Johan because I believe he’ll show everyone you’ve hurt that justice has been served. You’re going to die Hardy and I don’t mind at all that I brought about your death. Yours is the one life I would take with joy in my heart.”