Fangs of Fate (Untish #1)

Chapter 21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHANCE

Shit. Fletcher left HQ the morning prior—before I’d increased surveillance and the travel ban was issued. It was likely a coincidence, but the soldier in me was trained to question such things. Nothing was coincidental. I had checked the recent veil departures, Fletcher hadn’t scanned his world-walking pass, but another familiar name had, Tate. She was posted at the clinic and was mortal-side until this morning. I had informed the guards to contact me directly with any intel pertaining to Tate or Fletcher. At least she’d come back for her Disciplinary Hearing. I’d also instructed any intel to be sent directly to me following the DH.

After hanging up, I now sat in this overheated can of a train car headed for the Southern Outpost. Most occupants were drowsy or sleeping. Holland was, naturally, awake and currently using her disk to go through personnel files from the Southern Outpost. A look of concentration filled her face, but every now and then the side of her mouth would tick upwards in a half-grin when she found what she was looking for. It was kind of cute, entertaining even. Still, her silence didn’t make for the best company.

I shifted in my seat, sweat dripping down my back. The circuit was probably my least favorite way to travel. It was hot, sweaty, cramped, and full of people who all wanted to eat or fuck each other. I’d spent the better half of a day cooking in here and was more than ready for a hot shower and meal. I spotted Shae upon boarding; her new blue hair suited her. I was initially surprised to see her name listed on the roster. She’d taken an anti-guara stand with Tate last year and had chosen to be a blood courier. Right out of high school. Guess being someone’s bitch got old.

I stood and made my way toward the other side of the car and took a seat opposite Shae. She glanced up and gave me a weak smile. The look told me she was in her head again.

“So, did being an errand girl get old?”

“I see being a moron certainly hasn’t for you?”

I laughed a genuine laugh for the first time in days. “It’s good to have you on board.”

“Yeah, well, someone had to come hold your hand ‘cause we all know how edgy you get when being cooped up in these things.”

She had a point, though I’d never admit it out loud.

“So, Dokimos Shae Drew. How does it feel to finally be on your way to becoming a badass?”

“Please, I am a badass. Now I’m just going to have more power.”

“Don’t kid yourself honey, dokimoses get all the grunt work.” I tapped my disk and began to scroll through all the training and menial tasks that awaited the new batch of dokimoses.

She groaned as she rested her head back against the wall. “Don’t remind me. Nora told me the first year is the hardest, so I’m trying to just have perspective. Visualize the end.”

“Visualize the end?” Shae always had the weirdest way of putting things.

“Yes, my therapist said it’s helpful when dealing with strong emotions, unknowns, or making decisions. Just picture what I want in the end and then let that guide me.” She gestured, forming a river with her hands as they danced in the air.

I rolled my eyes. If anyone would go to therapy, and actually pay someone to talk to, it would be Shae. “Therapy? You’ve got a shrink?”

“Make fun of it all you’d like, but I no longer have authority problems and am working on being decisive. Don’t come crying to me with all your daddy issues ten years from now because you thought you were too good for therapy.”

“Shae, we may be friends but let’s not forget rank.” I swallowed back most of the bite from my voice.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“I’m serious, out here you’re Dokimos Drew, I’m Dux Dale.” I leveled a look at her.

“See, you —” she pointed at my chest “—really could benefit from therapy, Dux Dale.” With that she pulled up her hood and closed her eyes.

Things with Shae had gotten better with the years, but still hadn’t returned to how they were before the incident.

“Shae,” I started, voice barely above a whisper.

“Yeah?” She opened one eye.

“If you need anything when we get to the outpost just let me know. I may outrank you, but I’m still your friend. And?—”

I shouldn’t say more but her nose wrinkled in the way it did when we were kids and she thought frogs were gross.

“I thought you weren’t my friend out here.” She mocked my voice while moving her arms like a gorilla. Point taken.

“Just watch your back. That’s all I’m saying,” I said.

“No, you watch my back. I’ll be leaving all of you troubled peeps in the dust as I step into my whole self.”

I scoffed. “I’ll visualize it.” I winked and then stood up and strode back to my seat a couple of cars down. I couldn’t jeopardize this mission, but I also couldn’t not say something to have her more alert. I could only hope it would be enough. She was, in many ways, the sister I never had.

Ten hours later and we arrived at our first stop; we finally were free, if only for the night. Brookside was a small village nestled in the heart of the forest. It was about one-third of the way from HQ en route to the Southern Outpost. Here, most of the vampires were no longer active military, some elderly, but most had been discharged from the guara and now served in the collection center.

That was the way of life. If you ended your military career early at the Glenn, you needed to find an alternative route to still be useful. Most opted to help monitor the human districts, some worked in the vineyards—tough to grow here but still they managed to produce quality wine—while others worked at collection centers like the one here in Brookside. They were still given the rank of arche, even if only for show.

Of course, there were the transporters who drove the wine back and forth from the outposts, villages, and HQ itself. While it wasn’t exactly as valuable as military service, it was still important work. I may be a brute, but I appreciated a smooth full-bodied glass of bloodwine.

The village was small, quaint almost. Well, it would be if it weren’t for the constant moaning coming from the blood district. Personally, I was glad I didn’t have to get my hands dirty managing the blood collections. It was, after all, necessary for bloodwine and blood bags, but still—I didn’t like to get that close to my food.

“Gross. It’s just gross.” Shae had snuck up on me and was staring in the direction of the collection warehouse.

“What, don’t like seeing how the sausage is made?”

She wrinkled her freckled nose and glanced up at me.“No, I don’t. Besides, they’re awfully loud…” She winced as a female cry seemed to echo down the street. The arches of Brookside didn’t seem to notice or care. “I mean, how do we know the humans aren’t being drained?”

“Relax Shae, I’m sure everything here is as it should be. Believe me, if they were breaking laws, the guara would know of it. The circuit makes regular stops here. So, stop worrying and go get some rest and refreshments. We depart at dawn tomorrow.”

She gave a curt nod and adjusted her pack before heading off toward the taverns and other newly recruited dokimoses. Forty-three in total this time. I was a bit surprised any were joining us given our mission, but it also made sense. New blood we could count on to not have been involved in the recent breach. I glanced toward Holland; her back was ramrod straight as she stood speaking with the village dux. He gestured to the blood district. The eeriness of it again poked at me. Beyond the blood district, plumes of smoke dotted the sky from the human villages just behind the hills. It made sense to secure the collection center near the villages, but part of it reminded me of shitting where you eat. It did, as Shae put it, feel gross. Holland turned and began walking over to me, clearly on a mission. I doubt she ever took a day off.

“Dux Bole states all is in order here. Our accommodations are just beyond the blood district.”

I nodded. “Thanks.” I turned to leave but her hand gripped my arm. I jolted at her touch, both from surprise and at the warmth of her skin. Her speed yet again amazed me.

“Look, I know we don’t know each other but we’re on our way to locate the inside mole or moles. If that news gets out, we may not be safe here. We don’t know who is involved.” She lowered her voice and looked around. Was she scared?

“Please, I refuse to be cowed into fear or consumed by paranoia. Our soldiers are good people, and we will catch the mole and he will pay, but I don’t believe it’s as widespread as you make it sound.” Images of Lucas and his unwavering commitment popped into my mind. Perhaps, there was some founded cause for worry. And yet, I’d trained many of the Southern Outpost soldiers. Worked with them, ate with them, partied with them; I couldn’t conceive that they were rebel spies, growing right under my nose. Could I have been that blind?

“I hope you’re right, but still. Watch your back. Something feels off here.” She spoke and studied the shadows again.

“Off?”

“Don’t you feel it ?”

All I felt was annoyance, hunger, and the strange sensation of her hand on my arm—evidently, it’d been too long since I’d last enjoyed the touch of another.

“No, no I don’t. What I do feel is hunger and I see a tavern that looks welcoming. I plan on being responsible and eating so I don’t get cranky and all bloodlusty. Care to join?”

“In a bit, I just need to check a few things.” She bit her lower lip. “You really don’t feel it?”

I paused and reassessed my other senses. There was a certain charge to the air, it felt sour? Overcharged and rotten. It was odd.

“Maybe it does feel off. But we’re only here for one night, and we’ve been in a tin can literally all day. Take a break, eat, and sleep. If you happen to note anything of suspicion, find me immediately.” I adjusted my pack; smaller than the dokimoses’ as they did the heavy lifting and carried most of our gear on and off the circuit when needed, but I liked to keep my personal stuff on me at all times.

She nodded as she dropped her hand and I surveyed the village. Small fires, little shops, taverns, and then, of course, the rolling vineyard in the distance. The blood district was fairly loud for just draining vessels, but nothing appeared too out of the ordinary. Where was that strange charge coming from?

My disk tinged, and I pulled it out opening the hologram. Several notifications were there, none were urgent. All but one I could ignore. At the top of the list, Tate’s name was flagged. I’d set it on priority to send any updates related to her. I stared at the screen numbly. She’d been forced to enlist. She would be joining the Eastern guara. Her freedom had been stripped. My appetite was suddenly gone. Her worst nightmare had come true.

“Damn it, Tate.” I shut the device ignoring the other alerts and headed for the tavern. I needed something strong, and I needed it now.