Page 17 of Marked Resistance

“I know.”

“Don’t make it worse.”

“Your choice, Zenobia,” Xavier said.

“Fine,” I sighed. “Give me a second.”

I started to thumb through the pages in the folder, only half seeing the information held within. We could go after the rogue, but having another person upped our chances of success and lowered the risk for us all. But, if we rendezvous with the team member, the rogue’s chances of slipping through our fingers are greatly increased.

Ilanis sighed loudly. “We only have time for one, Youngling. Make up your mind and do it quick.”

“Zenobia, we’re putting our success in your hands,” Xavier chimed in.

Ilanis chuckled. “Exactly, if you consider success as breathing. Best make the right choice, 'cause if you choose wrong and the rogue gets away, we’re all dead.”

Great. No pressure at all.

Fuckers.

Chapter eight

“Sure hope you chose right, Youngling,” Ilanis whispered as we walked.

The wooded area surrounding the city of Moft to the south of Dobgar was huge, compact, and blooming. Its canopy was monopolized by oak, Lawrence trees, and walnut, which permitted ample, shimmering lights to descend for a motley of saplings to monopolize the crunchy layer of leaves below. Curving creepers embraced most trees, and a mishmash of flowers, which grew all over the place, added colorful, scented elements to the otherwise beige lower level.

A tumult of noises, predominantly those of prowling animals, added life to the forest and death to vampires, as animal blood had brought even the strongest one of us to their knees. The symphony of sounds almost completely muffled the occasional fluttering of birds of prey as they glided in the air.

“If you want to disappear,” Xavier said. “A forest full of animals is one way to do it.”

As a species, we vampires tended to avoid animals as much as possible. Animal attacks were one way the humans could protect themselves from us as they could sense our presence faster than a human could, and also poison us if animal blood somehow got into our bodies. For a vampire, there was no known cure for animal blood poisoning, and it was considered cowardly for a vampire to use it against another vampire. Even as the four clans warred with one another, there were a few rules which we all observed—no Interclan or interspecies relationships which may result in hybrid offspring, and if you wanted to kill someone, do it through combat. Only a weak person would utilize poison to accomplish their goals, and strength ruled most aspects of vampire life.

The team didn’t have to enter Moft, as the intelligence report indicated our prize held fast along the perimeter. The density of the forest floor prevented us from driving through, so most of the trip had been spent on foot. Command’s mission parameters gave us seventy-two hours to bring the rogue in, and the trip itself cost us two. Coupled with the briefing, preparation time, and rest, we were at about sixty hours remaining.

“Ouch! I fuckinghateLawrence,” Ilanis spat.

The Lawrence tree’s thorns were well known and extremely annoying to anyone unlucky enough to come across them. I resisted the urge to chuckle at her displeasure, no matter how much she deserved it.

“You probably think I deserve that, don’t you, Youngling?” Ilanis quizzed.

I didn’t miss a beat. “Whatever are you talking about? I’m focused on the mission, not you.”

“Uh-huh,” she grunted.

“Quiet,” Xavier commanded.

We were in Shaye territory, as Fang Rangers never crossed the borders to pursue deserters. Command deemed it to be too risky to lose a deserter and then lose two or more clan members to the enemy in pursuit. Still, even as we traveled, aware of our wooded surroundings, we moved cautiously. Pockets of humans who didn’t support vampirism existed throughout the land, and most would defend themselves if caught. These humans either couldn’t travel to human resistance territory or didn’t want to travel and were considered a risk. If a vampire horde discovered a human outpost, it would be open season. The vampires would attack and feed, with a high conversion rate. For the humans, it was kill or be killed, even more so than those we battled from the resistance. This meant any humans discovered in Shaye territory who were not familiars or sympathetic to the elite were considered as deadly as cornered animals.

We came to a clearing full of Queen’s Lace in full blossom and I paused to soak in the scenery. The softness of the field as the plants wrapped the opening in lace made me squeeze my legs together. The animal sounds too had receded into the background of the night and left this field full of tranquility.

Xavier’s deep voice penetrated my thoughts. “He’s on the other side.”

I nodded and reached my hand into my pocket. Cool to the touch, my lighter remained at the ready. With Assurance on my hip, Xavier gave us the signal to advance. He stayed to my left and Ilanis to my right. We crouched low and the three of us began the stealthy journey to the other side of the clearing. Ahead with his back leaning against a tree, was the purpose of our trip. Even partly covered by shadows, I could see he was an imposing figure. He pulled a drag from a cigarette in his lips and blew out a puff.

“Oi,” he called in our direction with an accent which held my breath. “You three are the worst sneaks I’ve ever seen in my two hundred years.”

Xavier sighed and brought himself up to his full height and out of the cover of the Queen’s Lace. When Ilanis did the same, I reciprocated and the three of us walked the rest of the way to the other side.

“I see why Command assigned me to you,” the man by the tree said. “You need some serious help. It’s a wonder any of you are still alive with as much noise as you make traipsing around the forest like a bunch of undisciplined bears.”

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