Sorcery of the Blood, page 5
“We also need to train,” Tyrone said. “Some of the vampires here like me, Cinder, and Felix, we already know how to fight. But Ash and the others…they need to learn a thing or two. That’s where you come in, Kingston.”
“Excuse me?” I gasped.
“Think about it. You taught Martin everything he knows. He’s one of the best hunters in the country because of you. I’ve seen you both fight, and you’re incredible. If you could teach a tenth of that to my people? We can take Phoenix back from Caleb.”
“You want me to teach a bunch of vampires how to be vampire slayers?” I didn’t keep the skepticism out of my voice. He couldn’t be serious. Not only did he want me to join the enemy, he wanted me to train them.
I was about to tell him to go to hell when Martin cut me off. “He’s right. If the humans stand a chance, we need to make sure we’ve got a fighting force. You’re an amazing teacher, you could do it.”
“This goes against everything I believe in,” I whispered.
Martin got up and knelt in front of me, taking my hand in his. “I know, it’s against my principles too. This is bigger than that. People are dying. They’re corralled into camps and made into cattle. What’s worse, there are people who could stop this and either can’t or won’t. But we can.”
I took a deep breath and had to think. Move past my impulses to see the full picture. The only image in my mind was the video. The newscaster turned live on camera. I thought of the people who would be hurt and the ones who were already dead.
“Can we get word to other hunters? Not Jaden and Makia but the others,” I asked.
Martin looked at the floor. “I tried making some calls today, but no responses. The few who did answer told me to go to hell. They’re not coming back.”
“They probably had warning of what was coming,” Cinder said.
That pissed me off. Running and leaving everyone? When we were needed the most?
I’d made my decision. I wasn’t going to be like them. Running and hiding with my tail between my legs. I let go of Martin’s hand and asked, “How many fighters do we have already?”
“About eight good ones; three great ones,” Tyrone said.
“All of whom are in this room,” Cinder said. She pointed at herself, Felix, and Tyrone.
Felix waved at me enthusiastically. Color me shocked that someone in platform boots knew how to fight.
“How many need training?”
“Thirty.”
That was…a lot. “I’ll need help,” I admitted.
“Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered,” Felix said with a smile.
“Okay, I’ll do it. No time like the present. Let’s make a plan.”
Chapter Six
MARTIN
There was some more talk. Most of which I wasn’t paying attention to. Kingston was asking questions about the people available, protocols, that sort of thing. I didn’t have the patience to train anyone; what use could I be? It wasn’t as though they needed a history nerd. Perhaps someone could get me a new chemistry set. I could make more of the blood substitute.
When the meeting broke up, I followed Kingston back to his room where he sat at the desk while I took the bed. His shoulders were tense, practically up to his ears, and he hunched his head down. He had crossed his arms over his chest as though he were cold. He was brooding. I’d seen him like this before when he was preoccupied with a hunt. Or a difficult client.
“What kind of training regime do you think would work best?” I asked, pushing my glasses up my nose. I’d grabbed my notebook and started to write as was my habit when I was trying to think.
“I’m not sure,” Kingston replied. “I know they’re stronger than we are, but we’ve always fought based on speed and tricks. We’ve never managed to do anything to fuck up their strength.”
“Don’t you mean your strength?” I asked. It was cruel and I knew I was being cruel. Kingston would have to get used to the idea and we didn’t have time for handholding.
His brow furrowed, and he said, “Yes uh… Our strength.” He sighed and put his head on the desk, hands over his eyes, and moaned. “We’re so fucked.”
“Nah, c’mon. We’ll be all right. We’re always all right,” I replied with a smile.
“You know, Martin, your optimism can be annoying,” Kingston said.
I shrugged. “One of us has to be optimistic.”
Kingston sighed and let his hands fall to his sides as he sat up. He was staring up at the ceiling as he said, “I don’t know what we’re going to do. There’s no precedent for this shit.”
“Make one up.” I got up from the bed and knelt by his chair. “You’re brilliant, and I know you can do this.”
“I hope you’re right,” he mumbled.
I ached to hold him. I wanted to tell him I loved him; I’d always loved him. Sure, this wasn’t the best time. Then again, when would the time come? I reached out and squeezed his hand, then said, “I want to talk to you about something.”
“I hope it’s an apology,” Kingston replied.
I pulled away from him, caught off guard. “Apology?”
“Yeah.” He turned away from me.
“What on Earth should I be apologizing for?” I couldn’t think of a damn thing. If anything, Kingston should have been thanking me.
“For getting me into this mess. This is your fault.”
“Like hell it is!” I shouted, getting to my feet. “I didn’t ask Caleb to turn you.”
“No, but maybe if you weren’t so fucking insistent that those monsters are like us, I wouldn’t be in this situation. You’d have had the guts to do what needed to be done,” he replied. Kingston refused to look at me as I backed away from him.
I was stunned; how could he think that? Then, I was angry. “Fuck you! Do you think this is easy for me? It’s killing me to see you this way. Not as a vampire, but as someone who won’t fucking get a grip.”
Kingston turned to face me, and I thought he was going to yell back. He was scowling and spoiling for a fight. Instead, he deflated. “I’m sorry, I’m…lashing out like a teenager.”
“Then think before you speak instead of being an asshole,” I snapped. I wasn’t ready to let go of my anger.
“And maybe you should remember I’m a fucking monster now,” Kingston growled.
“That’s not true!” I was fucking tired of this. I pocketed my notebook. “I’m sorry about Seph. I know how much you miss him. Just like I miss my family. Nothing is going to bring them or your brother back. I blame the vampires who killed them. Not all vampires are monsters and you need to correct your thinking.”
“And why should I? Because I’m one of them?” Kingston shouted.
“Yes!” I screamed.
“That means I’m a monster!”
“No, it doesn’t. It means you’re a vampire. You’re the one who decides if you’re a monster.”
He had me by the throat and against the wall before I could blink. He wasn’t hurting me, but he did keep me pinned in place. I couldn’t move; however, I could still breathe and talk. My heart was in my throat when I looked at his face. He was growling like a dog, fangs bared and bloodlust in his eyes. He hissed in my ear, “Say that again! I fucking dare you!”
“You won’t hurt me,” I said, and I knew it was true. I’d known Kingston for years. He wouldn’t kill me just as I couldn’t kill him.
“You’re sure?”
I nodded. “I know you won’t.”
I waited, and there was that edge of uncertainty, the nagging feeling I was wrong. Then Kingston’s fingers uncurled from my neck. He took a step back. “I’m…fuck, I’m so sorry, Martin.”
“I know you are.” I pulled him into a hug.
He was crying, and I did my best to calm him. I soothed him with words and touches, reassuring him that he was my best friend and not a monster. He listened, for the most part, and I managed to get him to sit on the bed. I sat next to him.
“Shit, I shouldn’t have done that,” he said.
“No, you shouldn’t have, and you’re an asshole,” I told him.
“Yeah, yeah I am.” He hung his head.
“You’ll need to do better, especially if you’re gonna turn the people here into warriors,” I pointed out. I took my notebook out again. “I have some ideas.”
Kingston glared at me, but he nodded and said, “Okay, let’s hear them.”
“Lucky for you, I was already thinking about this.”
“What, how to train vampires?”
“Yeah, I got the idea when I was seeing Tyrone,” I admitted.
Kingston cocked his head to the side, giving me a funny look. “Why?”
“We’re not the only ones who hate the murdering undead, you know.”
“You didn’t mention it to me.” He pouted.
I had to hold in a laugh. “I was working up to it. I have been trying to get you to accept vampires are people too,” I pointed out.
Kingston shrugged. “You got me there.”
I laid out a plan. Ideas that would work with a vampire’s enhanced speed and strength. Fighting styles I’d seen on the internet and at dojos around town. I outlined a regime designed to be fast and easy to learn. Kingston listened, asking questions here and there, and reading the notes himself. At the end of my explanation, he said, “Fuck, you did think this through.”
“Yeah well, had to do something with my evenings didn’t I?” I quipped, and he laughed. It was the first real laugh I’d heard from him in days.
“I’m glad one of us was prepared.” Kingston sighed and looked at the clock. “We need to wrap this up. It’s getting late, and I’m tired.”
I looked at the time as well; it was almost five in the morning. I didn’t know how long I’d been awake. It had been a hell of a day, and I hoped I’d finally gotten through to Kingston. I didn’t expect him to change overnight, so long as he would change for the better. We were all going to be living together, and we had to make it through this.
“I…” I gulped, hesitating. A mad idea seized upon me. “I could stay.”
“Hm?” Kingston hummed, sounding sleepy too.
“I could stay here today. With you.”
Kingston stared at me for a minute as if he didn’t understand what I’d said. Then his eyes widened, and he drew away from me.
“That’s not a good idea,” he said.
“But—” He cut me off.
“Martin, that’s not a good idea, okay? I appreciate you’re trying to look after me, but it isn’t necessary.” He smiled like he hadn’t shattered my heart into a million pieces. “Besides, I’m a cover hog. You wouldn’t want to wake up half frozen, would you?”
“I…I suppose not,” I replied and put on a smile as I got up. I knew how brittle it was, but I’d be damned if I was going to show him how much it hurt. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Sleep well.” I waved at him and walked out of the door.
I kept the tears from coming until I got to my room. I’d taken my shot, and I’d missed. He didn’t want me. Kingston had to know how I felt; I wasn’t a subtle person. Maybe he’d always see me as the stupid kid he’d trained. Nothing would soothe the sting of his rejection.
I got ready for bed and wished I had someone to hold. Someone to tell me everything would be okay. I left my glasses on the sink, unable to look at myself in the mirror. I closed my eyes and imagined it as I showered, washing off the soot from the day. It was Kingston I pictured, and it made my heart throb with pain.
Kingston with his arms around me, helping me to wash and get the soap out of my hair. I imagined him smiling with me as I dried off, telling me something stupid to make me laugh. It was a foolish fantasy, and at heart I was aware of that. I tried to give myself some credit; loneliness did weird things to you. I didn’t have any friends outside of Kingston, and I didn’t have a family. When I wasn’t with him, or at work, I was by myself. I sighed and muttered, “I wish I had someone.”
I crawled into bed and curled up around one of the pillows. I hugged it close, knowing I was pathetic. I promised myself, “Someday, I’m gonna have someone of my own. And they’re going to love me as much as I love them.”
I’d been telling myself that for years. My wish hadn’t come true yet. It could someday; I wanted love. And I wanted the person who loved me to be Kingston. The chances of that were slim to none, but that didn’t stop me wanting it. I sighed and closed my eyes and fell into a troubled sleep.
Chapter Seven
KINGSTON
It was early evening when we got started. I wasn’t in a great mood given the previous night. Ash and a few other vampires gathered in the makeshift dojo Tyrone had set up in the ballroom. They’d closed off the room so no one could see inside. I stretched, not sure if it was doing any good what with having dead muscles and all. As I did, I studied my prospective students.
There were two white boys who looked like they hadn’t graduated from middle school. One with black hair, and the other with red hair. A blonde Hispanic girl, so skinny she’d break if you breathed on her wrong. A Native American man, who had the longest hair I’d ever seen on a person. And Ash, a complete moron.
“This is it?” I asked.
“This is everyone who needs fight training,” Ash replied.
“I thought Tyrone said thirty!”
“The others are out helping the resistance.”
I stared at him for a moment, and asked, “What?”
Ash quirked an eyebrow at me as though I were slow. “What, did you think Phoenicians were gonna take this shit lying down? We’ve got vampires out there connecting with the humans who want to fight back. We’re taking it in shifts, and these guys are the only ones in residence who are training tonight.”
It made sense, and I regretted I hadn’t thought of it first. Instead of responding I turned back to the others.
The kids were giggling about something and looking at a phone. I stepped over and took it from them.
“Hey!” the ginger one yelled.
“Shut up,” I replied and tossed the phone to the side. “Listen up. I’m here to make sure when Caleb attacks you’ll survive. That means be quiet, pay attention, and maybe you won’t get beheaded.”
“Hey, Admiral Asshole,” the black-haired boy said.
“What?”
“Can we be excused? This is stupid,” the ginger one said.
I raised an eyebrow and asked, “How old are you two?”
“Seventy-eight,” they said in unison.
I wanted to roll my eyes. They were twice my age, acting half my age. “Okay, fine. Go ahead and quit. You won’t live to see seventy-nine. I don’t fucking care, one less parasite. Or two, in this case.”
They exchanged glances with each other, and I expected more lip. To my surprise, they stayed silent. The blonde woman was giving me a scathing look. She’d crossed her arms over her stomach and glared at me. The longhaired guy’s expression was blank.
“Now I’m going to show you a few moves I’ve used to hunt. If you’re lucky they’ll save your life.” I pointed at the longhaired guy. “You, what’s your name?”
“Notah.”
“Great, step forward. First, you might want to do something with your hair.”
Without batting an eye, he braided it so fast I was surprised his fingers didn’t get caught. He tied the braid into a knot at the back of his head. He moved toward me and asked, “What do you want me to do?”
“Stay still,” I replied. I took him by the shoulders and turned him so the others could see what I was doing. “First thing, you’re going to want to protect your soft spots. Here”—I pointed to his neck—“and here.” I pointed to his crotch. “Vampires tend to go for something they can bite, and your neck is an easy target. Barring that, they will kick you in the junk, so wear a cup or something.”
“Wow, so helpful,” the woman said.
“Shhh,” Ash said.
“An enraged vampire is going to be the worst. They’re killing machines—no conscience and immune to pain. Like a PCP addict. It’s why I recommend fighting in pairs,” I told them.
“Two against one? That doesn’t seem fair,” the black-haired kid said.
“It’s not, which you should be thankful for because fair will get you killed. What’s your name?”
“Andy.”
I pointed at the ginger kid next to him. “You?”
“Michael.”
I pointed at the blonde, who rolled her eyes at me. “Emilia. Should we go around the room, have everyone talk about themselves to the class?”
“The less I know about you the better.” I turned back to Notah. “I’m going to show everyone a few standard defense moves, and then I’m going to pair you off and have you practice. Pay attention.”
Notah was watching me like a hawk, scowling. I couldn’t tell if he wanted to stay or tell me to go fuck myself. I went to where the equipment was set up and grabbed a wooden practice sword. Tyrone had the foresight to get swords, shields, and even some fake stakes made of foam. It made me long for my own weapons. That was a bit much for the first lesson. I didn’t want anyone losing a hand or a leg.
“I want you to come at me,” I said to Notah, taking a defensive stance.
Notah shook his head. “Fuck you.”
“You want to learn or not?” I asked, straining to keep my voice level.
“Do I look suicidal?” Notah took two steps back.
“It’s cool, man. I’ll do it,” Ash said, walking up and standing in Notah’s spot.
“How do you expect to learn anything if you’re going to ignore my instructions?” I snapped.
Notah didn’t answer. Instead, he went to stand by Emilia, who still had her arms crossed. I let out a slow breath and said to Ash, “Okay, come on!”
“Should have said, ‘come at me, bro,’” Ash replied. He charged at me, arms extended, fingers curled, and nails like claws. I ducked under his grasp and brought the length of the sword down on his back, knocking him to the ground.
I said to the others, “A quick hunter can be a fair opponent against a pissed-off vampire. They may be strong, but you can still outmaneuver them.”
