chapter 5: Calm before storm

Silence settled over the ruined pharmacy like a heavy blanket. It wasn't peaceful. It was the kind of silence that came after too much blood had been spilled, when everyone left standing knew more violence was only a matter of time.

The scratching outside had finally stopped. The Wilds had either wandered away or found something else to hunt. Neither possibility comforted Sera.

The emergency lantern sitting on the counter cast a dim amber glow across the storage room, throwing long shadows over overturned shelves and broken crates. Dust drifted lazily through the air, disturbed only by the occasional groan of the aging building.

Jonas slept against the wall nearest the barricaded entrance. His rifle rested across his lap, one hand still wrapped around the sling as though even asleep he refused to let go of it. His breathing was slow and heavy, exhaustion finally winning after the endless fighting.

Sera almost envied him. Almost. She sat cross-legged on an overturned crate, methodically cleaning one of her silver dagers.

Cloth. Oil. Sharpen. Inspect. Repeat. The ritual steadied her mind.

Silver caught the lantern light as she turned the blade over in her hands. Sparkling golden rays in random directions. Tiny chips marked the edge where it had struck the ancient bones. She carefully filed them away.

Across the room, the vampire rested against the far wall. His head leaned back.

Eyes closed. One knee bent while the other leg stretched across the dusty floor.

At first glance, he appeared asleep.

Sera knew better. He hadn't moved in nearly an hour. His breathing hadn't changed once. Yet every distant creak of the building caused one finger to twitch almost imperceptibly. He wasn't sleeping. He was listening. Healing. Waiting.

The silver wounds she'd carved into him had begun closing slowly. Not completely. Just enough. Ancient vampires healed quickly. Silver made sure they never healed comfortably.

Good.

She hoped every wound burned. Her eyes drifted toward him before she caught herself. Even bloodied, he looked composed. His black coat was shredded in several places, exposing deep cuts across his shoulder and ribs. Dry blood stained the fabric dark crimson.

One of her knives had nearly reached his heart. Nearly. The memory irritated her. She hated "nearly." She preferred certainty. Her fingers tightened around the dagger. One clean strike. That's all she'd needed.

Instead...

Instead she'd agreed to a temporary truce which she still couldn't believe. She looked away, returning her attention to the blade. The silence gave her mind too much room to wander. It replayed the subway.

Again.

And again.

Husen had dozens of chances to kill her. He never took them. He'd disarmed her. Thrown her across the station. Pinned her against walls. Wrapped cold fingers around her throat. Any one of those moments could have ended with a broken neck.

Instead...

He'd let go.

Why?

She hated unanswered questions then there were the Wilds that bothered her even more. They attacked anything that breathed. Human. Animal. Sometimes each other.

But in the subway...

Every single one had ignored her. Ignored Jonas. They wanted him. Only him.

Why?

She mentally rearranged every piece of the puzzle.

Ancient vampire. Wilds hunting him.

The strange creature they'd encountered earlier. His obvious surprise at being chased. Nothing fit. Nothing made sense. Her commander always said the truth was like assembling a shattered mirror. Every piece mattered. She just hadn't found the missing ones yet.

Across the room, Husen spoke without opening his eyes.

"If you stare any harder, I might start charging rent."

Sera looked up sharply. "I wasn't staring."

"No." His voice remained calm. "You were plotting."

"You're very confident."

"I'm very observant."

She rolled her eyes. "I was wondering how difficult it'll be to explain your corpse."

One corner of his mouth lifted. "I appreciate the optimism."

She returned to cleaning her dagger. "I wasn't trying to encourage you."

"I know."

Silence returned.

This time it lasted longer.

Hours crawled by. Outside, the poisoned gray daylight slowly began fading.

The first hints of sunset bled through the thick clouds, painting the broken windows with streaks of dull orange.

Night was returning.

With it...

Freedom.

And danger.

A faint vibration buzzed against Sera's belt. She froze. The pager. Carefully, she unclipped the small rectangular device and shielded its screen from the vampire.

COMMAND: PRIORITY

CIVILIANS LOCATED. SAFE. RETURNING TO HELIOS.

MISSION COMPLETE. RETREAT IMMEDIATELY.

Relief flickered briefly through her. The missing survivors had made it. At least something had gone right. Then her eyes shifted toward the vampire resting against the wall.

Mission complete? Not yet. Not with him sitting ten feet away. She quickly typed a response using the tiny keypad.

NEGATIVE. PRIMARY TARGET LOCATED.

ANCIENT VAMPIRE CONFIRMED.

REQUEST REINFORCEMENTS. CAPTURE IF POSSIBLE. TERMINATE IF NECESSARY.

The pager remained silent for several long moments. Then vibrated again.

REQUEST APPROVED.

SQUAD ETA: THIRTY MINUTES AFTER SUNSET.

MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT.

A slow smile crossed Sera's face. Perfect. She slid the pager back onto her belt.

Across the room, Husen hadn't moved. Eyes still closed. Expression unreadable.

She wondered if he'd heard the pager. Probably. He seemed to hear everything.

Sera walked over to Jonas and nudged his boot. Nothing. She nudged harder. Still nothing. Finally she kicked the sole of his boot. Jonas jerked awake instantly, grabbing for his rifle.

"What—"

She smirked. "Congratulations."

He blinked. "...On what?"

"You somehow managed to sleep through the apocalypse."

Jonas rubbed his eyes. "I hate you."

"Good. You're awake."

He sat upright, immediately noticing the fading daylight filtering through the broken windows. "Sunset?"

"Almost."

She tapped twice against her wrist. A coded signal.

Jonas straightened almost imperceptibly. Field language. No spoken names. No direct orders. Only coded phrases every Helios hunter memorized during training.mSera said casually, "Looks like we'll have extra guests for dinner."

Jonas understood immediately. Reinforcements. He scratched the side of his neck. "Hope they don't get lost."

"They won't."

"Good."

"They'll arrive after the market closes."

After sunset. Another code.

Jonas nodded once. "So we're just window shopping?"

"For now."

His eyes flickered briefly toward the vampire. Understanding settled across his face.

Keep him here. Don't engage. Lead him outside when the squad arrives.

Simple.

Dangerous.

Exactly the kind of plan Zelios specialized in.

The vampire opened his eyes. Slowly. Golden-crimson irises reflected the lantern light.

"I assume," he said lazily, "that conversation made perfect sense to someone."

Sera smiled without warmth. "It wasn't meant for you."

"A shame." He rose smoothly to his feet despite his injuries.

The motion was effortless. Almost graceful.

He rolled one shoulder experimentally. The silver wound still restricted the movement.

Good.

He noticed her watching. "You seem disappointed I'm standing."

"I was hoping healing would take longer."

"It did."

He looked down at the dried blood staining his coat.

"Your knives are unpleasant."

"They're designed that way."

"I gathered."

Jonas stood and slung the rifle across his shoulder. The truce had reached its end. Everyone in the room felt it. Sera sheathed her daggers one by one.

Click.

Click.

Click.

The sound echoed softly. She grabbed her pack.

"So," the vampire asked, "where are you two going?"

His tone remained conversational. Almost curious. Sera met his gaze evenly.

"The sun's setting."

He glanced toward the broken window where darkness steadily replaced the gray light.

"It is."

"Our agreement ends here."

"I assumed as much."

Jonas lifted the barricade enough to clear the doorway. Cold evening air swept inside immediately.

Husen tilted his head slightly. "And the wilds?"

Sera shrugged."They're after you." She reached for the door. "Not us."

For the first time all day, genuine amusement crossed his face. "Comforting."

She opened the door. "Consider it professional honesty."

"So that's what we're calling abandonment now?"

"We're calling it survival."

He chuckled quietly. "I liked you better when you were trying to stab me."

"I still am."

"I noticed."

She stepped outside into the snow. Jonas followed immediately behind her. Neither looked back. The pharmacy door closed with a dull thud. For several seconds, the ruined street remained silent. Snow drifted between abandoned cars. The sky darkened by the minute. Jonas walked beside her without speaking until they reached the next intersection.

Only then did he ask quietly, "You think he'll stay?"

Sera looked back once toward the pharmacy. A faint light still glowed behind one shattered window.

"He doesn't have much reason to leave."

"And if he does?"

She rested a hand on one of her silver daggers.

"Then Zelios will be waiting."

Neither hunter noticed Husen watching them from the window as they walked out, planning, a smile creeping onto his face. "These kids, they don't know how many strategies I have seen in these years." He then shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.