Bonded Read online

  He refused to think about it further. There was no evidence of Marcus apart from that one glance of him by Sarah. It certainly looked like he was up to his old tricks. But that could have been staged as well. They would have known they were there, there’s no doubt of that, Arturo had to send someone to respond to the challenge, Vampire protocol demanded it. The question is, is Marcus deluded enough to be manipulated like that? Or is he just as crazy as before, rampaging through a country. Neither option sounded good to Alex. He hated the man in his human life and despised the vampire he’d become.

  A tap on his shoulder brought him out of his revelry. Steven showed five fingers. He nodded. Five miles out. Grabbing the headset, he spoke to the pilot, “drop us 2 miles out, keep it as quiet as possible, I’ll signal for pick up at the compound when we’re ready.” The pilot nodded. Moving forward on his seat he gave eye contact to Val and Pete and gave them a nod. They both nodded back. “Alex?” He heard Luce say, “I’m doing coms checks, please double tap that you can hear me correctly.” He smiled, she was like his guardian angel. He double tapped and held it down to talk. “That was quick. Good work Luce.” He told her. “You know I’m good.” She told him. “Actually, I don’t know how good you are Luce, but I do intend to find out when I get back.” He told her warmly. There was silence on the other end. Steven indicated 1 mile out. He was about to cut her off when he heard, “copy that.” Alex smiled. He was sure it wouldn’t be that easy.

  Alex watched as the other members of his group double tapped for Luce. She would be keeping an eye on all of them. He felt a sense of peace knowing that, not that he expected her to have to save his life a second time, but it was nice knowing she was with him. Wow, that surprised him, what a sap, craving the comfort of a female. He liked that. And, the things he had planned for that female. Steven indicated down in 2. “Silent communications on the ground where possible people.” He told them. “Three teams, me centre, Val second team go left, Pete with Steven third team go right. Stop a mile from the site, check in for further instructions, then half mile. Ok?” They all agreed with him. The chopper came in low over some trees and landed in an open area of woodland.

  This was good, it would help cover the noise of the choppers. Alex jumped out followed by Pete, Val and his team. Staying low they moved over to the tree line. As he turned he saw the second chopper land and his take off, the third came in behind it. Everyone was on the ground in 3 minutes. Giving the signal to pan out and move forward, his people moved. Alex watched those taking point leave and he moved to the centre, Val to his left Pete with Steven to his right. He signed forward and everyone moved silently.

  Luce switched her attention between the three groups with Alex. She checked that the cameras were working well and that she could monitor the group’s communications. They were moving fast, Luce noticed, even Pete could haul arse when needed. Shit thought Luce, she needed to use the gym more.

  CHAPTER NINE

  They hit the first check point and Alex stopped. His people came to a standstill around him and fanned out. Val, Pete and Steve came over to him. Keeping his voice low. “Anything?” He asked. Each shook their heads no. ”Nothing.” Said Val. “Ok, if he is around here there should be security, something around, some evidence, he wouldn’t be blind.” “Maybe he’s not here.” Steven told him. Alex nodded. “Ok, let’s move, slowly, well Pete’s pace, half mile out check in.” He grinned. “Don’t want to hold you boys up.” Pete told him in good humour. “You don’t.” Alex told him honestly. “And we need your eyes.” They all turned away to their groups then turned back to look at him. Alex gave one nod and they split off.

  Alex stop at his GPS marker. Half a mile out. There was no word from either group so they had not run into anything. He tapped his ear piece and spoke quietly. “Steven in position?” He got one click back. “Val in position?” He got one click back. “Right slowly in watch for any traps, any signs of life. See you at the boundary.” Alex moved forward. He could see the compound, or what was left of it above ground anyway. The wall was only partially up in places. It had been blown on the previous engagement when they came looking for Jazel. Moving forward there appeared to be no sign of life. No sentries or security. No humans. Not even any wildlife. Alex took time to check the floor for traps, his men around him doing the same. It was slow going but expected. They stopped at the end of the treeline. The compound boundary. He heard two different clicks in his ear. Quietly he told them, “move in.”

  It looked empty to Alex. It still carried the devastation of the previous engagement. That could be deliberate. He watched his men move forward and climb into the compound. The wall had been substantial. It had been well-fortified. No wonder what Sarah had seen on her previous re-con trip had been at a distance. You couldn’t get up close. It had been well thought out. He noticed plenty of small buildings around it, looked like storage and housing, spaced out and in various stages of collapse. A central larger building took centre stage. It didn’t look in good shape either. Part of the roof had caved in. Alex was more interested in what still existed underground. If he was here, Marcus wouldn’t be in the open. He might be crazy but he was never stupid. As he walked in over the crumbling wall he noticed Val across the way and Steve and Pete from the top also crossing the wall towards him.

  His men fanned out and took the buildings in front of them one at a time. Most had underground basements, some extensive. A number had what appeared to be a series of underground locked rooms. The stench of blood permeated the air. There had been a lot of death here. Alex came up out of the last one glad to see the night sky. Although the dark no longer held anything that scared him anymore, being down there was oppressive and unwelcome. He took a few moments to gather he’s thoughts. This seemed like a waste of time. He had just thought that when he heard a click and Val’s voice. “We have something here.” Alex indicated his men should continue and headed over to Val. As he approached he could smell it clearly. “Mass grave.” Val told him as he approached. This hadn’t been mentioned before. “Was this known about when Pierre came to wipe out Jazel?” He asked. Val shook her head no. “Not mentioned as far as I know and its fresh.” That sent Alex on alert. He touched his com link. “Caution, evidence of recent activity.” He told the men.

  Pete clicked in. “Showing four heat signatures in the main structure. Seem to be below ground.” He whispered. Alex turned to Val, “clean out the rest of those structures and meet me out front of the main house.” He told her. He connected with the rest of the men. “Move forward towards the main structure.” Clearly something was still going on here, thought Alex. Time to get to the bottom of it.

  There was no going in the front, it had collapsed and a lot of the wooden structure was burnt. It looked fragile. “Basement door is clear and there appears to be evidence of recent use,” called Steven quietly over the com. “Cover the front and fan round to the back.” He told his men. Coming around the back he spotted Pete and his men converging on what appeared to be a basement entrance. There was a lot of brush covering it, the ground had been swept and covered. If not for the heat signatures, they might have missed it. There appeared to be footsteps. It looked too obvious. “Wouldn’t there have been a less obvious entrance and exit?” He asked. “Quite possibly my Lord but it could be blocked and this is clearly being used.” Pete told him. Alex didn’t like it. “Caution with every step.” He told his man. Steven moved forward without making a sound, he tried the doors. Clearly, they were barred or locked. He came back. “If we break them anything down there is going to know it.” He told him. “Yes well, any vamp worth his salt will know we are here by now.” He told him impatiently. “Yes sir,” said Steven “but the humans might not and start panicking.” Alex understood that, he didn’t want to cause any more trauma to any human left here.

  “Pete.” Alex waved him over. “We going to have to break in. You’ve done this many times in your job. Can you help with dealing with the humans, we don’t know what condition they’r
e gonna be in but I don’t want to cause more trauma than necessary.” Pete nodded at him. “Most likely they’re already traumatised beyond normal endurance or they could be more human tools, bonded to Marcus or whoever is here.” Alex agreed. “Yes its likely but I’d like you to keep calling out that your human and here to recuse them, calming voices in the chaos ok. They might also need medical attention.” Pete nodded. “Sure, I got this.” Alex turned to Val. “Open it”. Pete moved forward and placed a charge on the doors. Coming back to the group, “fire in the hole” he called out and pressed a hand trigger. The basement door broke apart. Pete looked at the damage. “Vamps wouldn’t have been able to do that without help.” He told them. “Doors were too strong.” They walked towards the damage and now broken open doors. “Pull um back.” Alex told them.

  “I hear movement,” Luce heard Alex say over the com and watch him put out his hands to stop his men. “Pete, it sounded human.” Alex told him. Luce knew that humans did not move like vamps. She watched as Pete came forward and called out. “I am human and we are here to help you.”

  Alex heard movement from inside the basement, it sounded like it came from quite far back, another room. “Tell them we are coming in and to not be afraid.” Alex told Pete. Pete appeared to be just going to call out again when Alex heard a female voice. “That would be unwise.” She told them. Alex looked around to verify that he hadn’t imagined it. Val gave a nod. “And why is that?” He called out. “You do not know what awaits you.” She answered calmly. Alex had to concede she was right. “What’s your name, I’m Pete”. He told her. “Pete,” she repeated. “Your human, your friends however are not.” She told him. “Do they own you?” Pete laughed. “No, they do not, Val might wish she did but no, we are friends and colleagues, lovers and mates.” “Such a thing is allowed here?” The female voice asked incredibly. “It is no one’s business but ours.” He told her honestly. “Now, why don’t you tell me your name and come out to see us?” He asked her. Alex could make out movement of the voice going back into the building and murmurings and moved closer to the opening. He could make out the female arguing with two others, one sounded younger, one older. There was a male voice too. It sounded like a vamp. He told the female voice to kill him.

  Alex turned to his people. “We go in now quickly.” He told them and moved into the underground space. He vamped down the stairs to what appeared to be an open storage room. A corridor opened ahead. There seemed several rooms laid out. He and Steven moved on the right side, Val and Pete on the left. His men eased down behind them all as they moved forward. They quickly came to the room with voices. “Their here.” He heard the male say. Alex nodded to Steven to open the door. “Slowly.” He mouthed. Steven picked up a piece of wood and pushed the door open so they could see in.

  The room was lit. Candles. The power was out as in the rest of the compound. The room was cast in shadows. He could clearly see three human females, one a child of maybe eight, a young woman in her twenties and an older female and a male vamp laying on a stretcher behind them. The younger one came rushing forward, “No Angelique” the male called out. “Hurt my family and I will kill you.” She told them all fire and spit. The young woman in her twenties moved to the younger child, “Angelique stay behind me, you are worrying our father.” Alex looked on as the child moved behind her. “Your name.” Pete asked again. “I am Evangeline and this is my family.” She told him proudly. “And what Ang told you will come to pass if you harm them.” Alex moved into the room. He addressed the older woman. “Mam, we are not here to harm you but to assist. Please allow us to help you.” The woman gazed over at him. She had an air of something about her. “Unless you are prepared to aid my husband there will be no help here this day and my daughter will kill you all.” She told him.

  Alex looked at the woman. “The male, is your mate?” “He is my husband and mate, yes.” Alex turned to his people. “Help them.” Val moved forward towards the females, “I am Valentina and my mate is Pete, let us help you.” The women seemed to relax but watched cautiously as they came into the room. Val moved further into the room and must have caught sight of the vampire. She stilled for a fraction, then in vamp speed grabbed the females pulling them out the way. “Marcus.” She called out. The female Evangeline broke free of Val, a feat in itself and stood in front of Marcus. “I will kill anyone who tries to harm him.” The younger child Ang also broke free and stood with her sister. “Compelled?” Asked Pete confused by their actions. “No.” Alex answered him. “They have free will.” “But they broke free of Val.” Pete asked. “Human’s couldn’t do that.” “No,” said Evangeline, “we are not fully human. We are hybrids.”

  “Eve, my angel do not fight them. I knew some of them once. They were better people than I then. Let them help us. I can do no more child. You know this and you have done enough.” Luce watched the young woman known as Eve walk towards Marcus. “Father, we are not unable to defend ourselves, you know this.” She told him. Luce watched the effort on the vamp’s face as he tried to lift his arm and touch the females face in a caress. “You have become a young woman I am so very proud of but you cannot do this alone. Think of your sister, she has seen enough pain. Do not allow her to have more of these memories.” Luce watched as the female known as Eve held onto what appeared to be her father’s hand and hold it tight. “Please allow me to go to my husband.” The older woman asked Val. Val let her go. Luce watched as the older woman approached bringing the younger child with her. “My love, you have done all you could to protect us. Let us now do the same for you.” She told him. To Luce the male looked very weak. “Serenity, I never understood how the fates could think I deserved you and never stopped thinking how a man as I got so lucky.” Luce could feel the love over the camera’s and coms. The woman Serenity moved forward and laid her head on the male’s chest and held him to her as best she could.

  Alex moved forward. “Marcus? Is that you? I do not understand what is going on here. We were told you were challenging Arturo for his territory?” Marcus looked close to death to Alex. Something had happened here that was terrible. “Serenity, give us a moment please.” Marcus asked her. Alex gazed at the woman who would hold the title Lady Serenity as she moved back to allow him access. Marcus looked up at him. Alex hardly recognised his old adversary. “It has been a long-time Alex.” He told him weakly. “It has Marcus. What happened here?” Alex watched the struggle across Marcus’ face. “I was a male reduced to nothing but hate and vengeance when we last met, I know I have done you wrong. I cannot change that but you were always a better male than I. I would ask you to protect my family Alex. I would have your word.” He pleaded. Alex struggled with doing so but nodded. “You have it.” Marcus blinked, looking relived. Alex would never have believed it had he not just seen it with his own eyes.

  “They came to me in Europe. I was happy Alex. Had a good life. My territory was sound, healthy. It took me a very long time to pull in my demon. To not live in struggle. There were days when I could remember and wish to be dead.” Marcus looked over to his wife. “Then the light came to me and I could hold it back.” Marcus looked back at him. “They told me that I had been given the territory here. That Arturo had fallen and the territory was in disarray in need of strong leadership.” Marcus coughed. When he calmed, Alex passed him some water. Marcus drank. “Serenity tell them.” He whispered. Alex turned to the Lady Serenity. She reached out and held Marcus’s hand.

  “They came to our land saying that his old companion had fallen and asked that a strong leader take over to save the colony. That Marcus had been his request at his death. Marcus did not believe it, he knew Arturo would have remembered him as the monster he was and we did not wish to come, to leave our own people. Marcus no longer wished for territories, we were happy as we were. In fact, he refused. They told him if he wanted to protect his family, he had to go. They used us against him. And still, my male refused.” She told him with pride. “Marcus knew that we would fight and they would not t
ake us easily. Our warriors were many and strong. And they didn’t. We left a trail of blood in our wake.

  But we were not enough. They went after Angelique. And brought her to this Country knowing we would follow. Marcus became the monster he had contained for the last hundreds of years in his fight to find her. He accessed his darkest power and became again, that which he had hated most. He became what they wanted. It took us many weeks to find her and all the time, we heard rumours of Marcus battling or killing mercilessly, while he was actually with us, it made no sense. We eventually found her here. By that time, our loyal guard was almost gone, our younger men taken over. And they told us if Marcus put on a good enough show, they would let us live. If not, my children would be whored out. My seven year old baby.” She told him calmly. “Ang had killed several of her ‘carer’s’, Eve, ashed a whole lot more. They thought twice about using us again.

  They said and did things that they knew would push Marcus to struggle to contain his rage. And still, he refused to be used by them. They had someone who looked like him. They said all they needed was to make it known Marcus was here, tell his people they were working for him and they could use that. We were being held in one of the outer buildings at the other compound. When it got hit, our carers took off. We managed to get out and I remembered one of the guards complaining about having to leave this compound as it had been hit, so we came here thinking no one would think of coming back and it would give us time.” Alex wondered how this woman had stayed so strong. “What is wrong with Marcus?” He asked her. She turned back to Marcus and brushed his hair covered in wet from his face. Marcus’s body was also soaked. “They refused to feed him hoping his hunger would make him kill us, but he was stronger than that. I fed him for as long as I could, Eve was able to for a time. But he refused after that. One of them offered him some bagged blood. It came from one of his own people. He didn’t trust it. But couldn’t smell or taste anything in it. He drank grateful he had the chance to do so. It was tainted. Its killing him slowly. He used too much of himself trying to protect us time and time again when they came for us, he has nothing left to push the poison out and he would need stronger blood to do it.”