“Yes. They’re not pretty.”
“I didn’t take you for someone with a weak stomach.”
“Don’t be silly, Amaia. What we do to humans is natural. It’s the predator-prey cycle. What’s about to happen is decidedly unnatural. Fighting our own kind always feels wrong.”
“Aren’t you the one planning a vampire army to destroy your sire?”
“That’s different. I only want to improve our race. I have no desire to fight, but I will if I need to. I’d much prefer it if Zenas would let me go peacefully.”
“That’ll never happen.”
“I know.”
They spent the rest of the twilight hour in silence. A cool wind tugged at the wisps of hair that escaped her pins, tickling her nose. She marveled that after everything she had learned over almost two centuries, she still hadn’t discerned the secret to keeping her hair firmly secured. Strong gusts blew her skirt behind her, pulling her toward Michelle. If Amaia closed her eyes and blocked out the feel of the energies around her, she would have believed she stood alone. Not a sound came from any of the approximately eight hundred vampires present. She waited with Lawrence and Zenas on a hill overlooking a barren valley, their army poised on great boulders, ready to launch themselves at whatever vampires emerged from the forest beyond.
Scanning the forces, she saw each mated pair standing together, crouched, ready for battle. What thoughts were they sharing? Did they comfort each other? Promise eternal love? Prepare strategy? Pass the time with idle chatter? She had no way to know, but Amaia felt the heat of jealousy rise in her stomach. They all had someone with whom to face this. Her partner was thousands of miles away. Even now, Michelle called to her. It took every ounce of discipline Amaia possessed not to turn and go to her.
Amaia longed to run. If she couldn’t run to Michelle, then she wanted to run forward, to meet the opposing force, to start the battle. She needed to do something to clear her mind.
She sensed unrest amongst Zenas’s forces. They crouched deeper, moved slightly in the breeze. Amaia looked ahead and saw a massive force coming toward them through the darkness. It seemed Ezekial had increased his numbers. Amaia doubted they would be very good fighters. Many of them still moved as if they weren’t quite used to their new bodies. They were sacrificial lambs. They would slow Zenas’s army down, make it easier for Ezekial’s real clan.
“Stay right where you are. You’re not to move until I give the order.”
How had he known? Amaia took stock of her surroundings. At some point while watching the approaching vampires, she had rolled forward onto the balls of her feet, practically bouncing in anticipation. “Sorry. I just want this over.” That was a lie. She didn’t want it over. She wanted it to last forever. She wanted to be down there fighting, getting lost in the high. It wasn’t as good as killing humans, but here she could kill freely. Her blood ran hot, seeking other blood to spill.
Ezekial’s army advanced quickly. Zenas’s forces stayed in their places, as if a band of crazed vampires wasn’t barreling toward them. A very real undercurrent of fear hovered in the air. Little scared a vampire. Being almost impossible to kill had a way of driving fear out of a person. But these weren’t mortals. These were other vampires who matched their strength, who had the power to rip off heads and remove hearts. Amaia guessed beheading would be the method of choice. It was the easiest and quickest way under the circumstances.
All at once, Zenas’s army attacked. He must have signaled them through the link. The first wave ran forward, emitting blood-curdling screams. Three more waves stayed put, awaiting their orders. If any vampires wondered how Zenas felt about them, they didn’t any longer. Newer vampires and ones Zenas didn’t particularly care for comprised the first wave.
It was an awesome sight. Several miles away sat a sleepy village. Little boys and girls would be climbing into bed. Some of them might be afraid of the dark. Some of them might have parents who lovingly tucked them in and whispered calming reassurances. There were no monsters out at night. Nothing to fear. None of them knew of the intense battle being fought so nearby between the very creatures they sought the Lord’s protection from.
Many of Ezekial’s front fighters weren’t mated and were easy targets for the mated pairs on Zenas’s side. It was almost sad to watch how easily Zenas’s warriors disconnected the heads of the young vampires. How young were they exactly? They had probably just gotten used to the idea that they would live forever, and now it was taken from them. Then again, Amaia still wasn’t used to the idea that she would live forever, so maybe it wasn’t such a great loss.
“This is ridiculous. Why did Ezekial even send these fools?”