Dawn Rising

A cold chuckle filled the room in response. "None taken. How about you stop bleeding all over the place." Patrick pressed back into the corner as far away from the scent of her blood as he could get. He was running out of time. She was running out of time. It was just a matter of when his predator would decide to come out and play again. He had to get them out of here before then.

Nikki shuddered and breathed a reply, "I'll try." She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs and pound her fists against the walls. She wanted to fall apart and cry. Instead, she tore the hem of her t-shirt free. The ripping sound of cloth was a shout in the silence. Wincing at the sting, she clamped the cloth over the wound.

**********

Lucien broke through Patrick's mental shield long enough to get a lock on him. Following the prickling sensation, he motioned to the warriors. The warriors wound through a maze of streets and alleyways. Close on his heels as he tracked his mental connection. Patrick was hell bent on locking him out, scrabbling to rebuild the barrier. Lucien didn't have much time before Patrick closed him off again. His brother was in pain, such pain.

Lucien stopped short. "Damn," he hissed. Patrick had managed to block him out of his head. But, not before Patrick sent one last urgent, lingering thought to Lucien's mind. Leave me. Lifting his nose high into the cool night air, Lucien caught a scent, sweet and deadly, cloying so much so that it choked him. Rogues were close by. The warriors nodded their heads in silent understanding as they fanned out to form a perimeter.

Patrick was close. Lucien could sense it. Somewhere, right under his nose. He stalked through the narrow corridors of decaying brick and rusting metal. "Where are you?" he whispered to himself.

Chapter 53

Impatiently, Alex drummed on the console as John Mark expertly navigated the ancient truck along the dark twists and bends in the road. The city loomed ahead of them in a din of orange light. Her agitation made her forget her fatigue. It was nearly four in the morning. Pretty good timing, considering what time they'd pulled out of the drive. John Mark had not let up on the gas pedal once. "Can't you make this thing go any faster?"

"Shh, we're almost there." Alex might feel comfortable with talking while he drove. But, he sure as hell didn't. He felt a little like Mario Andretti at the Indy Five Hundred. Instead of driving a high performance racecar like old Mario did. He was pushing an old farm truck well past the engine's capacity. The thing rode and handled like a log wagon. "Where do you think we should start?" John Mark asked.

Alex bit her lip as she contemplated what their first move should be. The city sprung up around them. Back country roads gave way to high rises and traffic lights. "Take this turn." She pointed, directing John Mark to turn left off the main drag onto a narrow, sleepy side street. "I can feel Lucien." Alex took a deep breath and closed her eyes. There was trouble. She sensed his agitation. He was scrabbling to block her out. "Hurry, step on it!"

************

Lucien faded even deeper into the shadows as the sweet scent of vampire grew stronger. Unwilling to announce his presence, he waited, seeing if the rogues would engage. He watched a young male spin on his heel and stare into the darkness. A sneer spread across his lips. Obviously, he'd caught Lucien's scent. Blades ready, Lucien leapt to meet his foe.

The young vampire was quickly subdued by Lucien's greater strength. Lucien had him by the throat, watching as the vampire's feet kicked out at him in a fruitless attempt to inflict damage. Lucien slammed the rogue into a brick wall, rattling the boy to stillness. "Who is your maker, boy?" Lucien hissed menacingly.

The young vampire glared at him, refusing to speak. He had been in the process of sneaking out to grab a bite and wasn't expecting any trouble. Especially trouble wrapped up in a bulky, dangerous package like the Sons. Eternal life, that's what they'd promised him. At the time, it'd sounded glamorous, a way to escape the boredom of college and the future that awaited him. This, dangling precariously from a Sons's fist, was not what he signed up for. He desperately shook his head, clawing at the iron fingers encircling his throat.

Lucien restrained his anger as he lowered the boy to his feet. "Tell me and I'll let you go." He guessed one so young and defenseless wouldn't travel too far from home. All he had to do was send him on his way and follow the trail.

The boy gasped for breath. "I'm alone." He tried desperately to gather his composure as Lucien bent low sniffing at his clothing.

Lucien trapped the scent from the boy's clothing deep into his lungs. The boy reeked of other vampires, of humanity, and... sorting through the scents, of the dark ones who had recently invaded his territory, Kiros and Kore. He should have known.

The roar of an engine and the tingling sensation rushing along his skin distracted Lucien, diverting his attention from the boy. "Alex." He cursed under his breath.

The truck screeched to a halt as Alex leapt out, "Lucien!" she exclaimed, running down the narrow passageway between two buildings.

Lucien cursed as the boy twisted out of his grip and raced down the alleyway. He turned his attention back to Alex, "What are you doing here?" He glared at John Mark with the promise of retribution, gleaming in his eye.

Alex defiantly raised her chin. Lucien was pissed. "We came to help."

Lucien grunted, "If you want to help, go home." He crossed his arms over his chest as he looked down at his wife. She had no business here. This place was crawling with Rogues and they'd smell her a mile away.

Alex grinned at Lucien's male posturing. "And miss all the fun, no way. You don't need to worry about me. John Mark hasn't left my side." She patted John Mark's arm.

John Mark bit his bottom lip as he gauged Lucien's reaction. "You're not helping," he said under his breath to Alex. Scrubbing toilets with his toothbrush would be a step up from the punishment his leader had in store for him.

"Nonsense," Alex said as she opened her jacket. She hadn't come unprepared. She came to help. "Besides, I've got enough steel in here to handle anything that comes my way."

Lucien grunted again, turning to the group of warriors, approaching on silent feet. Apparently, this was a fight no one wanted to miss. Just what he needed, groupies. "What!" he hissed between grated teeth.

Dane bowed slightly, his eyes darted between Lucien, Alex, and John Mark. "We followed the rogue. He led us to an abandoned warehouse on the far end of the complex. The warriors are setting up a perimeter and awaiting your signal to attack."

Lucien unsheathed his sword ready to defend his woman and recover his lost brother. He pointed the razor sharp tip of his blade at John Mark's chest. "Bring her along. But, if anything happens to her. I will roast your black heart over my campfire." He followed behind the warriors at a fast clip, leaving John Mark with Alex, trailing behind.

John Mark gulped; he had no doubt that Lucien would do as he promised if one hair on Alex's head was damaged in the least. He grasped Alex's arm and pulled her along. "Keep up!"

Alex struggled for breath, sprinting along beside John Mark. She was still faster than an ordinary human. But, was struggling to keep up with his enormous strides. Her heart pounded like thunder in her chest as she thought about fighting a band of rogue vampires. Lucien was right. She shouldn't have come. She was a liability. Determined, she pushed her doubts from her mind, gripping the gun tighter in her fist.

**************

Patrick looked up as the sounds of rushing footfalls and anxious shouts filtered into the room. He leapt to his feet. All this activity could only mean one thing. His brothers were here. Someplace between relief and anger that they'd come to rescue him, his legs shook beneath his weight in weakness. He stood defensively, waiting for the door to open. So sure he was going to die now. He was so weak. He doubted that he could offer much resistance in a fight. He hissed, as Kore, the bitch who had captured him and Kiros, her brother entered the cell.

"I want the tracker alive. Do what you will to the girl," Kiros ordered. Several large, dark, shapes filled the doorway, cautiously entering the room behind him. Panic ensued. Rogues not entirely dedicated to the cause rushed about, adding to the chaos. But, that was exactly what he wanted. They'd provide a nice diversion to entertain the Sons while he escaped with his prize intact.

A gasp escaped Nikki's lips as she scrambled further back into a dark corner. Her eyes were wide with fear, wildly eying the approaching men. Their grins wide and eager, fangs gleamed in the dull light of the cell. FANGS! She recalled the man's words she'd heard from the opening of the door. "Do with the girl what you will." Her heart pounded. She thought about what that statement might entail. At least, she knew where she was, even if she didn't know why. "Do what you will" was pretty freaking vague. She was at the warehouses, stuck in a cargo container. "Patrick," she whispered. Better the devil she knew than the ones she didn't. "Please!"

Patrick tried to shake off Nikki's trembling, desperate grip on his arm. He couldn't even save himself, let alone protect her. He eyed the vampires that crept up on either side him. He cursed his weakness. If he had fed, he would be able to put up a decent fight. He whispered a suggestion to Nikki, it was really the kindest thing he could do for her. "Nikki, sleep for me." He let go of her hand as she sank to the floor. At least one of them would have no pain. Hissing, he faced his attackers. Ready to fight with everything he had left. Prepared to die trying to send a few of them to Hell ahead of him.

Lucien readied for attack as the warehouse doors slid open. He nodded to his band of warriors, signaling for them to advance. Watching the battle, he shook his head; it was more of a massacre. The rogues were young and untrained. Cannon fodder. "Kiros, fight your own battle," he shouted over the fray. His jaw tightened in irritation. Where was the bastard anyway and his bitch of a sister anyway? Eager to put this travesty of a fight to an end, he motioned to his second in command, Dane, and dove into the mass of bodies and blades. Putting down the rag tag band of vampires now was a far better mercy than what awaited them. The mindless, soulless things they'd become if they escaped and were loosed on the unsuspecting world.

***********

Kore gunned the powerful engine, waiting for the last of the cargo to be loaded. The Son was chained from head to toe in tight bonds. His struggling would just weaken him further. Make him a little more susceptible to her powers of suggestion. She'd grabbed the girl for good measure. It seemed, in their short time together, the Son had grown fond of the girl. The little human female could still serve a purpose. Breaking the Son would be more difficult that Kore had thought. It was easier when the prey didn't have a voice, a face, or a name. Her death, delivered by his hands might be enough to push him over the edge.

Giggling in anticipation, Kore watched the warrior, an infant just barely out of his nappies, and the girl, THAT girl, the one her brother coveted, as they crept through the dark. The brick wall of a warehouse kept at their backs. This was going to be fun! The slam of the door rocked the van. Their precious cargo secured. Kiros slid into the passenger side. "Buckle up brother," Kore said, smiling brightly as if they were going out for a Sunday drive and threw the vehicle into gear. The tires spun and the van wildly lurched forward. The girl and the warrior locked in Kore's sights.

Alex gasped, freezing in terror at the blinding glare of headlights, careening wildly toward her. Strong arms wrapped around her waist. She felt her body jerked out of the way and flung weightlessly out of the headlight's path. Seconds before the van crashed into John Mark. The air whooshed out of her lungs from the impact of her body against the concrete. John Mark's body was pressed against the wall, absorbing the impact of the bumper as it struck him from behind. "John Mark! NO!"

John Mark cried out in agony as the van skidded into reverse, ripping its crumpled grill from the backs of his thighs. He'd probably have the Ford logo permanently imprinted on his left butt cheek. He braced himself tightly for a second impact that never came. The air, thick with the scent of burning rubber, the sound of screeching tires, and a woman's cackling laughter, swirled around him as the van shifted from reverse to drive and sped away. He felt Alex's tiny arms wrap around him, struggling with his bulk to lower his big body to the concrete. He wasn't hurt. He was a-ok. Oh damn, where'd all that blood come from? The ground was stained red with the stuff, thick and tacky, all of it his. That was his last cohesive thought before unconsciousness took him down.

It all happened so fast. The van came out of nowhere and there was no escape from it in the alley's narrow confines. His only thought was to get Alex out of the path. There was no time to think of himself. She was just so damn breakable. Couldn't let her get hurt. John Mark exhaled relieved. Alex was safe that was all that mattered. Darkness surrounded him, swallowing him up. He chuckled lightly, pain rocketing through his body. Lucien wouldn't get a chance to carry out his threat of punishment. The van had done that for him.

"Lucien!" Alex cried out frantically with John Mark's head cradled in her lap. She stroked his hair, ignoring the blood that was drying in its dark strands. The warrior had done a very brave and stupid thing. Sacrificed his life for hers. She fought back her tears. His breath was coming out in short gasps as his legs twitched uncontrollably. "Lucien hurry!" she cried out helplessly, wrapping her body around John Mark's, trying futilely to keep him warm.

John Mark was going to die right here in her arms. Alex braced herself for the strike. This time there would be no spell, no pleasure in the act; this was life and death. And she held the key to saving John Mark's in her veins. Awkwardly, her fingers felt along his hip, locking around the hilt of a dagger tucked away amongst his weapons. The onyx hilt was heavy and unbalanced in her grip. The blade, silvery in the dim wash of pale lights from the few and far between streetlights, glimmered, wickedly sharp.

Sucking in a breath and scrabbling for courage, Alex dragged the edge against her skin. The cut was deep and straight, quick as she could make it in her skin. But, that didn't mean it didn't hurt like a son of a bitch. Nauseated from the sight of her own blood, she pressed the cut to John Mark's lips. Gasping in agony when he savagely tore into the broken skin like a starving animal to hasten the flow of blood.

Chapter 54

Lucien raced down the alley, following the sound of Alex's frantic shouts. He cursed as he saw the fallen warrior's head in her lap and his lips pressed against her skin. Rage clouded his vision. How dare he ...anyone...feed from Alex. His woman. Rogues forgotten, he hissed a warning, crouching low, palming a dagger.

"Shit!" The warriors darted to restrain Lucien, scrabbling at his arms and legs to hold him back. They had heard Alex's cries and followed them, arriving fast on Lucien's heels. Lucien was in full attack mode ready to finish off John Mark. Carefully, talking with low tones, they held onto him as if their lives depended on it. As livid as Lucien was, it might.

Lucien struggled against the strong bands of arms that held him back. Ignoring their carefully spoken words, he twisted and bent, trying to free himself from their iron like embrace. "She is mine! Mine!" he spat out the words.

John Mark felt the burn as Alex's blood flowed into him giving his body the strength to heal its wounds. He opened his eyes slowly, turning his head to see an enraged Lucien struggling against his brothers. "Oh shit," he muttered. Gingerly his tongue slicked along the bite wounds in Alex's palm. Groaning, he sat up. Pain danced its way down his legs as his body knitted closed his wounds and repaired the damage. "I feel like I've been hit by a truck."

Alex shook her head at John Mark's failed attempt at humor. "It was a van." Slowly, she rose on wobbly legs; she had given John Mark just a little too much. She took a few trembling steps toward Lucien and landed in his arms. "Shame on you." She pointed a finger into his chest, chastising. "He saved my life you big, jealous bruit. Look at you. You'd better get those fangs back into your head before I knock them out."

The red haze of Lucien's rage faded, leaving him eye to eye with Alex's fury. Tentatively, his brothers relaxed their protective stance around him. He guessed they figured she'd take care of any ass kicking that needed to be done. The warriors wisely hid their scoffs at the tiny female giving their stoic leader a through scolding. He grabbed up Alex in a crushing embrace. "You're ok."

Alex giggled as she buried her nose in the nape of Lucien's neck. "Not for long if you don't put me down." She opened her mouth eagerly as his lips found their purchase on them in a desperate kiss as if the kiss was more to confirm that she was unharmed than any actual need. She leaned against him, turning to John Mark. "Thank you." She pulled Lucien's ear close to her mouth as she whispered. "You owe him an apology."

Lucien grunted begrudgingly nodding his head. Lucien extended his hand clapping the young warrior firmly on the back. "Thank you for saving my Alex. Very well done."

John Mark winced under the force of Lucien's hand, gripping his to help him up off the concrete. John Mark was standing now under his own volition and feeling better with each passing moment. But, the guy had a hell of a strong arm and he was still tender in spots. "No problem," he said nonchalantly, grinning sideways at the couple. Someday, if he were lucky, he would have someone like Alex.

"What of the battle?" Lucien asked, having fully gathered his wits and his woman. The bodies of rogues littered the ground. They hadn't been well enough organized or trained to put up much of a fight. The waste of life sickened him. Amongst the fallen rogues, were mothers and fathers, beloved children, teenagers in the spring of their lives, and grandmothers, and grandfathers.

Kore and Kiros had not been discriminatory in who they'd taken. Every one of these rogues had been important to someone. They'd been human. And they'd been snatched from their lives. Someone waited for news of their missing loved one. He wished he could give the families some resolution. Let them have the luxury of laying their loved ones to rest. He couldn't. Technology had taken that away from them. The best he could for those families was to hold the funerals they could not.

Each one of these Rogues had been thrown into a life not of their choosing. Each one of them fought a battle and died for a cause they had no choice to fight and die for. They were warriors, in their own way. He'd give them a warrior's farewell.

"It's over," Dane, his second in command, reported. "The team is in place and searching for any clues. But, there isn't much left behind. It seems that Patrick was here. But, in the heat of the fight was hastily removed from a holding cell. I have trackers scouring the city for the van."

Lucien nodded approvingly. "Were you able to capture any prisoners?"

Dane looked down, his brown eyes staring at the cracks in the pavement beneath his feet. Blood was drying on the concrete in thick, tacky, rust colored puddles. This had been a massacre. Dishonorable. The rogue had thrown his own creation in the path of destruction. "No, their attack was meant as a diversion. As soon as the battle began, the ones that didn't fight fled into the city. We simply don't have the manpower to track all of them down. I am focusing all our efforts on finding Patrick. While they're on the move with him, it's our best chance. Perhaps the only chance we're going to get."