Revolution Read online

  “Regroup,” she called out to her people. The sun’s early rays were already stinging her eyes. She waved them on and headed back to the camp and the safety of their tent.

  Alec’s blood stained the ground, bleeding out of the tent where she’d left him. Mira’s nostrils flared as she walked past, inhaling the intensity of his scent. She’d intended to take refuge in her own tent, but she bumped into Michael on the way.

  “Who did this?” Michael eyes went wide as saucers as he took in the sight of all the blood caking the ground.

  “I did.” Mira didn’t hesitate to answer, looking Michael straight in his eyes.

  He moved in a flash and had her by the throat. “Give me one reason...”

  She stared directly into his angry eyes. “He gave a blood oath. He lied. I made him pay.”

  “You have proof of this? Or just your word?”

  “I have nothing to prove to you or anyone else here,” she hissed. “Drop me now before I make you pay the same debt your friend did.”

  She couldn’t see them, but she knew other vampires – her kin – were closing in, surrounding Michael and her.

  He dropped her and grumbled under his breath, “Casualty of war.” His eyes darted every which way, stopping for moments on each face around him before moving to the next. She wasn’t sure if it was their presence that had stopped him from a futile attempt to punish her, or the fact that he had an oath to honor as well.

  “We’ve fought your war. We’ve done everything asked of us. As of now, I release my people from any service to the Otherkin.” Mira was done as well, although she knew the war wasn’t truly over.

  The rage in Michael’s eyes subsided. “We need to take shelter now from the sun. Please, step inside.” He ushered her as well as the vampires who’d come to her aid inside the command tent.

  Somehow now, with only Michael there to represent the Council, the place felt less formal. The cushions had been piled in the center of the room, and Mira took one and collapsed on it, thankful to be off her feet.

  “I guess we’re stuck here for the day. That gives you plenty of time to talk.” She directed her comment right at Michael.

  Wearily, the others filtered in to the room and carved out spaces where they could sit. The whole lot of them were dirty and coated in a fine layer of blood. George in particular looked positively monstrous, his bald head sporting a huge gash that had scabbed over. It was healing, but he looked terrible with it. The entire group of vampires looked like the savages they’d been accused of being all those years in prison. And for the first time, Mira felt the title was right.

  “What happened last night was a travesty. Needless deaths.” She didn’t know how many humans and Otherkin had died; the number really wasn’t important, the fact that it should have been avoided was.

  “What happened last night was necessary to break the humans’ forces. We had to clear away the cancer, so that now we can go in and repair the damage.”

  “There is no repair for slaughter.”

  “You and I see things differently. I can appreciate that. Yours is the viewpoint from the sword. One I hope you will not have to use again.” His words sounded nice, but she knew better than to believe them.

  “You have done all that has been asked of you.” Michael addressed the weary warriors like a proud general. It was then that Mira noticed that, unlike anyone in her group, Michael was clean; he hardly had a speck of dirt on him. “Today we rest, tomorrow we take the city.”

  How dare he act as if he were one of them, fighting with them, patting them on the back for helping his cause, when he hadn’t had the balls to face the battle himself? She gritted her teeth, hundreds of nasty thoughts and words swarming around her brain.

  “You warriors have earned a place of honor in our city. When you return with us to Caldera, you will be treated as heroes.”

  She wanted to say the harsh things she felt at that moment, but her brothers in arms needed this kudos. They’d fought hard for a cause that was not their own. Granted, most of them were taking revenge, but they shouldn’t have had to fight in the first place.

  Michael continued his platitudes. “You, though, Mira, I honor most of all. You shall be made a general. And with that, I ask to stay at our side and lead your people as we take the city tomorrow.”

  “Why?” Her eyes narrowed suspiciously on Michael. “We were supposed to be free to go to live in peace. Why are you changing the deal now?”

  Michael knelt down before Mira. “You’re a figurehead. The people know you. Know of your strength and cunning. To see you lead former slaves back into the city will send a strong message. We’ll use that to avoid further altercations during our occupation of the city.”

  It was never-ending. She’d never be free. Never see the end of the fighting. Never be her own person. Slave to the humans or slave to the Otherkin, she could never be her own master. “And if I refuse?”

  “You won’t.” Michael stood and paced the room, arms crossed behind his back, looking at the other vampires as he passed them. “You know as well as I that your presence among these people will work towards non-violent resolutions to our differences. They will be too afraid to rise up with you and the rest of your warriors there as enforcers.”

  No use complaining about it; she’d just have to make the best of her situation. If the Otherkin wanted to play games with her, she’d play them right back. “Then I demand a place among the Council. I hear you have an opening.”

  “Cute,” Michael’s tone said anything but that. “I cannot, however, offer that position to you. You do not speak for any sect of people.”

  “I speak for my people. Those vampires of the Iron Gate.” Mira stood and waved a hand towards her comrades. “These are not your pathetic and weak city-dwellers. These are hardened warriors who do not pander to leaders they could crush under their sandals.”

  That got Michael’s attention. Anger flashed in his eyes, but he did not let his face betray the emotion.

  “Think I’m wrong? Try me. Try any of my people.” She sidestepped, giving Michael a full view of the vampires behind her. “Go ahead and try to take on any one of us. That’s how a warrior earns their place in the pecking order. Or allow me to take a spot on the Council and represent them.”

  The heat of Michael’s gaze could be felt by all, but he remained silent, seething while he again looked at the surrounding group of vampires. He might have the strength of a vampire, but he was not battle-worn like she and her kind were. Of that she was certain, and she was ready to test it if he didn’t give in to her demands.

  “You agree to accompany me into the city?”

  “I will. But I will not force my people to do so.”

  Michael’s eyes flitted to each vampire in the room before returning to Mira. “I will propose and offer my backing to elect you a member of the Council.”

  He’d given in faster than she’d expected, but that was still no guarantee.

  Mira turned her back on Michael to address her people. “I will not ask any more from you all. You’ve served well and earned more than a rest. You all are free to leave. Make a home for yourselves in Caldera Grove.”

  George stood from his spot in the corner of the tent. “I’d follow you into the jaws of hell if you asked. I’ll join your campaign back into the city.”

  “But I didn’t ask—”

  “You didn’t have to. I’m not letting you go back into that city alone.”

  A true friend and ally. The thought of George by her side warmed her heart. “Thank you.”

  A few other vampires stepped forward as well, willing to act as a sort of entourage for her.

  Surprisingly, Tegan too stepped forward. “I’m not saying I’ll be your lackey or anything like that, but if I get the chance to put a few more humans in their place, I’m all for it.”

  Mira turned back to Michael, feeling more confident in her position. “I will return to the city with my crew. As long as I have your blood oath that you
’ll help install me on the Council.”

  “I’ll do what I can, but no promises...”

  “You’ll do exactly what you promise, or I’ll have your blood, just as I did Alec’s.”

  She could see it in Michael’s eyes and the way he chewed his tongue. Men hated to be backed into a corner with no way out, and it was obvious he desperately wanted to squash her like a bug. She knew she was probably overplaying her hand, but there was no other way around it. These Otherkin were not as trustworthy as she’d originally thought. Sanctuary, as perfect as it seemed, was not a true paradise, and if she wanted even some semblance of peace after all was said and done, she had to be in a position to push for it herself.

  She narrowed her eyes at him. He’d waited too long to respond. “Do we have a deal?”

  “Fine. You have my ... blood oath.”

  “We don’t have to be enemies, you and I... remember that.” Mira held her hand out to shake.

  “We are not enemies.” Michael took her outstretched hand in his and gave a quick pump before pulling back quickly.

  She felt more his enemy now than she had been before. At least she had her people’s support. She didn’t know when it would happen, but she knew she’d already made it onto Michael’s hit list.

  Chapter 16

  Filled with victorious energy, the Otherkin army proudly marched through the Iron Gate of New Haven. Niko and Katerina took the lead, dragging the Magistrate, chained and gagged, through the city streets.

  Behind them Mira, Stryker, and Lucian walked.

  They in turn were followed by a mix of vampires, Otherkin, and Shifters, with the remainder of the Council. All together they were a formidable conquering army that anyone would be afraid to challenge.

  Humans looked on from their homes, behind curtained windows, afraid to come out and see their new leaders. Mira could see the tiny faces of scared children peeking out though the windows. She remembered back to her first fight, seeing children sitting in the arena, watching and waiting for the battle to begin. Watching another’s death had held no meaning then; but now, she could see the worry in their not-so innocent eyes.

  Her resolve waivered. Peace. Could it really be? These children had been brought up on the blood sport and lies told by their parents. Their parents had left to fight a war and never returned. Retribution would be what sustained them, not compassion. They’d grow up to be the next group of haters and warmongers.

  “You all right?” George’s hand came down on her shoulder.

  She almost jumped at the unfamiliar touch.

  “Careful, killer.” He laughed nervously. “I’ve seen that look on you before. Those forlorn eyes.”

  “I’m good. Just a fleeting thought,” Mira lied. The deeper they walked into the city, the more foreboding her thoughts became. They were an invading army. And this was only one city. There were many more human strongholds out there.

  “You’ve always been a terrible liar. Just speak your mind.” George knew her best. There was no point hiding anything from him.

  “You know my mind. I don’t want to be here. I don’t think we should be here. Any of us. Peace will not come from occupying the human city, nor from the inevitable retribution from both sides.” Mira looked out again at the buildings as they passed. It was like a ghost town, only she knew the inhabitants were still there, alive and scared.

  “Have some faith. Things look ominous, but I’ll be willing to bet these Otherkin and humans will surprise us.”

  “People of New Haven.” Niko’s voice boomed through the near silent streets. “The human reign of terror is over. We, the Otherkin, have control. This is our city now!”

  Mira’s shoulders slumped. Hundreds of years of life and experience, and that was the best Niko could say to the war-torn city dwellers? She turned a wary eye on George. “Surprised yet?”

  George smiled weakly and shrugged.

  Niko continued addressing the empty street. “Your presence is requested this evening in the arena where you have watched thousands of my brethren slaughter each other.”

  Mira nudged Niko. “Maybe we should try to kill them with kindness, rather than actually...”

  “Any human who does not attend will be rounded up and brought to the arena by force.”

  “Never mind.”

  The Shifter leader regarded Mira sternly. “Thank you for your service, but now it is time to get to the business of running this city as our own. We need to make it quite clear to the humans who they belong to.”

  That was the last thing Mira wanted to hear. The cycle was starting again. Masters and slaves – only the positions had been changed. “No one belongs to anyone; that was the point of this.” She tried to keep her tone even, but the more she had to endure, the harder it became. Images flashed before her of a time in the not-too-distant future where another rebellion would happen, and again, and again. Never-ending battles for supremacy.

  “Don’t be so literal,” Niko scoffed.

  A snippy reply was on the tip of her tongue, but before she could utter a word, Stryker grasped hold of her arm. Instinct more than anything else had her pivoting, trying to escape his grip while her other hand cocked back for a punch.

  “Mira, wait.” Stryker released her arm. “For the moment, we must remain unified. Let’s settle this in closed quarters.”

  She met his eyes with rage at first, but those amber eyes were soft and filled with compassion, unlike the others. She lowered her arm. “You’re right.”

  “Wait... did you just listen to me?” He smiled playfully, and didn’t dodge when she smacked his shoulder.

  Niko made his announcement again as they turned the corner and the arena in all its terrible glory came into view. Jutting up from the ground, a proud testament to human architecture, it was the largest building in the city.

  She’d seen it so many times from the inside, but to see the exterior of the massive building with its domed roof in the light of the moon was devastatingly captivating. Memories flashed before her eyes. Countless deaths had come from that foul place. Cold dead stares, milky-white eyes, former friends and allies, all gone. And too many of them killed by her own hands.

  She wasn’t the only one feeling the building rage. Though he’d never admit to it, she could see it behind George’s eyes. And others, still more vampires, upon seeing that building were overcome with emotion. Anger, rage, hatred... all because of the humans.

  “Do I have to go in there?” Mira tried to keep her voice calm.

  “Yes,” Stryker answered. “But we’ll be with you, and no one has to fight.”

  “That’s not entirely true,” Niko responded. “No one will be forced to fight... But I’m sure I’ll have volunteers lined up.”

  Mira almost stopped dead in her tracks. If not for the hundreds behind her marching onward in the morbid parade, she would have. Fighting in the arena? That was how the Otherkin leaders were going to start their occupation of the city? That was how they planned on easing the humans into being okay under Otherkin rule?

  No. This was not how it was supposed to be!

  As they marched on toward the arena, Mira could hear the screams and cries of people being dragged from their houses, further confirming what she had already assumed. This was only the beginning, and fighting would continue. But, though she wanted to lash out, she knew Stryker was right – it was best to wait until they were out of the public view to settle things. She looked left to George and right where Lucian was standing. Behind her, Stryker was there too. Her three closest allies. Having them close gave her confidence that she could make a difference.

  Chapter 17

  The arena was packed, but instead of the sounds of cheering and drunken masses, there was silence. Eerie and disturbing, it was as if Death himself had taken up residence. Mira looked on from the Elite box where the rest of the Otherkin Council had set themselves up to view their games.

  Stripped of her allies, Mira had to deal with the Council alone. Though it was sli
ghtly unnerving, Mira was certain she could either make them see reason or force her hand, if need be. What was one more death at that point? “End this madness,” she sighed, watching a human dragged out to the center of the arena below.

  “We must show them who is in charge here,” Niko said, settling into a cushiony chair, looking out at the arena through the large glass window, ready to watch the carnage.

  “By doing to them what they did to my people?” Mira asked indignantly. “Eye for an eye, eh?”

  “It’s what they understand.” Natasha stood at the window, eagerly looking down at the humans seated below her. “We’re only showing them the same courtesy they gave our kind.”

  “All you’re doing is proving that we are no better than the savages they believed us to be.” Mira hoped her calm approach would work. She already knew from a lifetime of personal experience that brute force wasn’t the answer.

  “We’re doing them a service, showing them in this manner. We could just round the lot of them up and feed them to the troops. No humans, no more problem.” Her words were as sharp as her fangs. Natasha glared at Mira in a way that a wolf would have taken as a challenge. But they were not pack animals, they were vampires. There was more to that stare than simple dominance. And Mira retuned it in kind.

  “Peace was never in your game plan, was it?” It was all becoming painfully clear now.

  “Peace comes in the end... when we have finished with the humans.”

  “You were human once...”

  “I’m not anymore. I am better than them.”

  That was the final straw. She clenched her fist tight, sizing up the Council members in the room, mentally figuring out who best to take down first.

  The door opened, startling her from her thoughts. She turned and came face to face with Tegan. Behind him, Otherkin soldiers entered brandishing swords. Mira knew from the moment Tegan stepped up to her that thing were going to get complicated.

  “Let’s make this easy, Mira,” Tegan said hesitantly.