The Caitlin Chronicles Boxed Set Read online

  Hank hammered on the door.

  “Don’t test my patience, Harrison. I know you’re in there, and I’ve got a dozen good men out here ready to break in and seize your ass.”

  What to do? What to do?

  He looked around the room for something—anything—that might help. He had his sword but knew that even he had limits to his talents. In one-on-one combat, he was great. Even against two, he figured he’d be able to handle himself.

  But one against twelve?

  Unless Hank was bluffing—which was a definite possibility. But could he take that risk?

  “You asked for it,” Hank called with a final fist pound on the door.

  Without another thought, Dylan ran into the bedroom. Jaxon followed, hot on his heels. He looked around, saw the curtains blowing from his open window, and dove out. He executed a perfect roll on the floor to soften his landing, then suddenly remembered that he’d left his bag inside.

  Shit!

  He lingered a moment, weighing up whether there was any chance of climbing back in and—

  “Where is he?” a voice said.

  Nope.

  “You’ve lost him?” Hank called. Dylan gleaned a certain amount of joy in hearing the anguish in his words. “Well turn the place over. Find Harrison and kill that fucking dog. That oughtta bring him out of his hole.”

  Good luck with that, Dylan grinned, edging around the side of the building as he silently thanked Jaxon for being smart enough to follow.

  Dylan left the sounds of the troupe behind and tiptoed through the thin alleys between the residential district. These narrow corridors provided barely enough room for his shoulders to squeeze through when he hurried forward. Occasionally, he’d glance back to check the pooch was still following him. Jaxon stalked along, his head low, focused on his master.

  Such a good boy.

  He zigzagged and navigated the maze in a way that only someone who knew the town like the back of his hand could. Finally, he found himself six-feet away from an opening where the houses ended and the marketplace began.

  People sauntered along at an easy pace. No worries at all. Making their way from point A to point B.

  For a second, Dylan wished he was one of them.

  He paused, closed his eyes, and listened for any sign of an ambush, but heard nothing. Realizing that no matter what he did, he would look out of place emerging from a side street still in his ranger uniform, he puffed his chest and walked out into the open. He prayed silently that he looked as though he belonged with the rest of the crowd.

  “Just remember, Jax. Don’t draw any attention to yourself—”

  “Sneaky worm thought he could escape, huh?”

  Dylan felt a heavy hand on his shoulder. He turned and was surprised to find Victor staring back at him. He looked disheveled. Red marks snaked around his wrists where Mary-Anne had tied him up.

  Damn. Hank must’ve been quick to find him.

  “Thought you’d be able to run away and leave us back there? I can’t wait to hand you over to the Captain. Oooh, he’ll be so happy to see you.”

  Dylan felt the cold metal of handcuffs clicking into place around his wrists.

  “Hurry up, Vic.” Hendrick appeared from around the corner, walking on tiptoes with a hand over his ass. He winced with every step he took. “It hurts.”

  “Oh, hush your face.” Victor struggled openly not to laugh. “It’s not like it’s lodged in there anymore. Hank pulled it out, remember?”

  “I think it’s still bleeding.”

  Eurgh.

  Victor shoved Dylan forward towards the street, almost tripping over Jaxon who raised his haunches and growled at them both.

  “Oh, lucky. Extra points for the pooch too,” he said, leaning down to Jaxon.

  Jaxon launched forward, sank his teeth into Victor’s hand, and shook his head.

  “Why, you little fucker,” Victor complained as he yanked his hand free. He pulled his leg back and went for the kick.

  “Run, Jax! Run!” Dylan shouted, twisting to pull Caitlin’s t-shirt from his pocket. He leaned his body forward and threw it at Jaxon, catching him on the nose.

  Jaxon sniffed, wheeled around, barked, and sprinted down the street.

  “Good riddance to bad rubbish,” Victor yelled, nursing his hand. Across the street, several women turned and stared at him, shaking their heads.

  Dylan watched Jaxon dissolve into the distance, wishing that he had taken Caitlin’s advice in the first place. Without a doubt, whatever the governor had in store for him now, it wouldn’t be pleasant.

  Go get her, Jax. Go get her, Dylan thought as Victor grabbed his elbow and marched him away.

  Chapter Nine

  Governor’s Quarters, Silver Creek, Ontario

  Trisk was spent. After at least seven minutes of fooling around with his concubines, he found himself out of breath, sweating from head to toe, and unable to hold out any longer.

  And I was so close to beating my personal record—eight minutes!

  “Good show, good show,” he muttered, breathless.

  He shimmied to the edge of the bed, pulling the sheets alongside him as the girls lay in bed, giggling behind their hands. They seemed to have enjoyed it as much as he did, though it could all have been an act—good girls being obedient simply to avoid his wrath. He’d long since ceased to wonder why their smiles never seemed to reach their eyes. What did it matter?

  The governor donned his robe, reached for a large goblet on the far wall of the bedroom, and drank deeply. A trickle of dark purple liquid dribbled down his chin and dripped onto the folds of his stomach. He coughed, spluttered, then laughed.

  “Makes a change to see me dribbling, eh, ladies?”

  All three nodded and laughed, hiding their faces with the bed sheet. He liked them all, really he did. But still…he somehow felt emptier without Georgia to warm his sheets for him. He wondered if she had hated him at the moment he had administered the final blow, taking Sean Walker’s knife and driving it through her heart as the final stages of the Madness took her.

  It was only fair, really.

  She was dying, and she was his. There was no coming back from the Madness.

  He donned his dressing gown and exited the room.

  Hank was waiting for him when he stepped into his reception room. “Ah, the finest of the governor’s guards. How the devil does the day find you?”

  He stumbled towards Hank and embraced him, oblivious to his own smell and the slick skin unhidden by the open gown. Hank recoiled momentarily, then recomposed himself when he was held at arm’s length. “Good afternoon, Governor.”

  “Come now, it’s Halrod to you. First, you bring me a Were, then you come back to tell me the good news.”

  “Good news?”

  “You’ve caught the vampire, of course? Why else would you be back so soon?”

  He looked at Hank expectantly but was met with silence.

  He chuckled a hollow laugh and looked at the floor, his face shadowed.

  “You’re telling me that the bitch escaped? Again?”

  Hank slowly nodded. “There was little I could do. The Harrison girl, she…she helped—”

  “You’re telling me that the Harrison girl aided her escape?” Trisk’s wrath exploded. “Well, where are they now? Where did they go?”

  “I’ll have my best men out there looking for her come morning. Every one of them, if that’s what it takes.”

  “Get them the fuck out there now!” the governor said as he hurled his goblet across the room. The wall exploded in a spray of purple liquid.

  “Of course,” Hank said, bowing low. He turned to leave.

  “Hank. Wait,” Trisk said, taking a seat. Though he was more disappointed than he’d been in a long time, Hank was still his number one. He took a deep breath and tried to collect himself. “Fetch me another drink.”

  Hank obeyed, walking to the corner of the room and pouring wine into a spare goblet.

  “Get
yourself one, too,” the governor commanded.

  Hank returned with goblets in each hand and presented one to his master.

  “And with the Were in our hands…” the man muttered. “I thought we were on a winning streak.”

  “If you don’t mind my asking, sir… Why are you so determined to capture the vampire? What guarantee is there that she’ll work on our side?” Hank framed his query with the cautious respect that he’d learned early on in their working relationship. It bought him a little more leeway than the governor would ordinarily allow—up to a point, of course.

  He waved a hand in an invitation for Hank to join him at the table. A stack of books and old sheets of paper which Halrod had collected over the years littered the surface. A few of the loose leaves showed sketches of vampires standing proud on airships. There were variations of Weres who transformed from wolves to pumas to bears. And pinned on the wall was a large sketch of a handsome dark man next to a woman with dark hair and legs that seemed to stretch to her eyeballs. Both had fangs on display, and both were surrounded by men and women looking up at them in awe.

  “The Dark Messiah and the Queen Bitch,” Halrod explained. “They’re of great fascination to me. Two of the most powerful vampires to ever have lived.”

  “I’ve heard the stories,” Hank said bluntly, clearly unconvinced.

  “Not just stories anymore, my friend. Can you believe it? After nearly a hundred years of uncertainty and doubt, Halrod Trisk might finally be the one who brings the Unknown back into the known world. With a Were on one side and a vampire on the other, I’d truly be unstoppable.” Halrod chuckled, then downed his drink. “No matter what it takes, I need to see that vision realized. Can you imagine what we could do?”

  “I’m happy for you, sir.”

  “Happy for us. If all goes well, you’ll be by my side too, Hank. You’ve been loyal over the years, without end or reservation, and Halrod makes sure that he rewards loyalty.”

  The governor drained his cup in one long gulp, then slammed it on the table. He signaled to Hank to refill it, and the man obliged. When he returned, Trisk was lost in his thoughts.

  Hank waited patiently.

  “What about the Harrison boy? Where is he? Did he escape, too?”

  “No, sir. He made a break for it once his sister ran off with the vampire. We caught him back in Silver Creek, trying to sneak away. Seemed he went back for some of his belongings. We found this on the floor of his house, alongside a packed bag.” Hank handed over the charcoal sketch of Caitlin and Dylan’s parents.

  “Such a sentimental pair, aren’t they?” the governor said, screwing the paper up and tossing it into the fire where it immediately curled in on itself, turning to ash in seconds. “Well, at least we’ve got some kind of leverage to use against the bitches.”

  Hank looked confused. “I thought they were not to return to the Creek empty-handed under pain of death?”

  “And yet you returned empty-handed,” Trisk snapped. He brushed a hand over his head and composed himself. “Think about it, Hank. If we kill the ranger, the girl has no reason to come back. But, if we keep him locked up and suffering, she’s bound to come back to try and free him. And, if she really is in the pockets of the vampire, then we can draw two birdies back with one measly little worm.”

  “Sounds smart,” Hank said.

  “Someone has to be.”

  The door at the side of the room creaked open. Both men turned and saw a woman standing there naked, her skin glistening in the candlelight. She looked at Halrod, then saw the guard sat next to him. “Oh, the governor’s brought us another plaything,” she said to the room behind her.

  A chorus of giggles and delighted explanations broke out.

  Trisk raised his eyebrows and turned to Hank, “What d’ya reckon? You in?”

  “I’m on duty, sir.”

  “Duty, schmooty. How about some booty?” Halrod said, jumping up with surprising speed and crashing across the room. He stood beside the woman and presented her to Hank. “Come on, lighten up. A quick bash on one of these speedsters and you’ll be bringing your A-game to your duty.”

  Hank looked at the woman, who was arguably one of the finest women Silver Creek had to offer. He stirred in his pants as she swayed her hips seductively and rolled her finger towards him. He seriously contemplated the offer, thinking how long it had been since he had last lain with a woman…

  Willingly.

  Until Halrod belched.

  That breaks that spell.

  Hank suddenly envisioned Halrod’s wobbling stomach crushing the ladies, his sweat dripping over their alabaster skin, and suddenly, it all seemed a lot less appealing.

  “Maybe later, sir,” Hank said, bowing low before leaving. “I’ve got a vampire to find.”

  “Ah well. More for me!” Halrod exclaimed and clapped his hands and dropped his gown. “Who’s up for round two?”

  Prison District, Silver Creek

  The jail cell was cold, and the floor was hard. Though Dylan knew that it must be daytime now, there was no hope at all of ever seeing the sunshine.

  He thought about Caitlin out there in the wild, and somehow wondered whether he had ended up with the worst end of the deal. While he was what he could consider to be safe in the cells of Silver Creek, she was out there roaming the Mad-infested woods with nothing more than a sword.

  And a vampire. Remember, she does have a friggin’ vampire with her.

  At least Dylan wasn’t alone down there in his cell.

  “I see a little silhouetto of a man…” came that growling voice from the darkness.

  Dylan had never actually been able to see the man singing, but they’d exchanged words since his arrival. Despite their situation, it seemed that jail agreed with him. It certainly did little to dampen his spirits as he crooned a song for which Dylan was fast learning the words.

  “Morning, slugger,” Dylan whispered. He’d already learned that the other man—Kain—had great hearing, way beyond what the guards up front could manage.

  “Morning, sunshine. Did my singing wake you?” Dylan looked in the direction of the voice and could barely make out the shape of his companion.

  Unfortunately, Kain had to speak louder than Dylan to be heard.

  “Oi! Quiet in there.” It was Sid’s voice. Did they ever go home?

  “What’s the worst you think we’re going to do? Talk our way out of jail? C’mon, Sid, lighten the fuck up.” Dylan heard Kain shuffling in his cell.

  Footsteps sounded in the dark. A moment later, a hushed voice came from near their bars. “You won’t be thinking like that when the governor comes later.” If Dylan didn’t know any better, he’d say Sid had developed a soft spot for the growling Kain. “Word has it that he’s on a bit of a buzz at the minute. They say there’s rumor of a vampire out in the wild, which makes him even more keen to see your…talent.”

  Talent? What did he mean, talent?

  Kain replied in a voice that wasn’t as steady as he’d hoped. “Well, he can try all he likes. If he can wobble his way down the stairs again without tripping, bouncing, and killing himself, I’d be surprised. Have you seen that man, Dill?”

  “Yes. Yes, I have,” Dylan replied without a hint of humor.

  “If you say so,” Sid said, returning to his post.

  A length of silence followed. Dylan heard Kain sigh.

  “Shit,” he grumbled to himself.

  “What is it? What’s the problem?” Dylan was already sure he wouldn’t get an upfront response. He had no true idea who Kain was, but if the governor put Mary-Anne and Kain together in the same line of thought, could that mean there was some connection there? Could Kain be a vampire too?

  “I’m sure you’ll see soon enough, kid. You’ll see.” Dylan heard Kain return to his corner and fall quiet again.

  It was several hours later when Trisk walked heavily down the stairs. Kain could hear his gasps for air and imagined his heart thumping at double speed to move the mechan
isms that worked his massive body. How anyone could have gotten so fat in a world where food was so scarce and currency was tough to find was beyond Kain’s understanding.

  The guards parted, and for a brief moment, a sliver of light shone into the room. It diffused the darkness enough for Kain to notice Dylan sneak a peek at his scar-covered body.

  Yeah, drink it in, kid. It ain’t pretty, but it’ll fuck you up in a heartbeat.

  Ace lit a torch for the governor and handed it to him. Kain took the opportunity to examine the full extent of their captivity. Sawdust shavings strewn across the floor were damp and clumped from urine and God knew what else. Stone walls and iron bars completed the dismal picture.

  Both prisoners blinked stupidly in the light, though Kain noticed the human was quick to adjust

  Trisk smiled and held out his arms as if addressing two old friends. “My two favorite prisoners…how are we both today? I hope you’ve not been causing my men any trouble.”

  Kain caught Sid’s eye and watched as he turned quickly away.

  When neither man replied, the governor’s smile dropped. “Very well, abuse my hospitality. It means nothing to me, anyway, to see two monsters behind bars in my jail.”

  Kain growled and opened his mouth to talk but was interrupted by Dylan.

  “If you’re looking for a monster, look to your right-hand man. My sister did what she needed to do to survive.”

  “Enough!” Trisk said, his voice authoritative and booming. A dark shadow passed across his face and Dylan fell silent, shaking with rage. “Your sister betrayed the very town that raised her. She disobeyed a command, and will be killed the instant she’s sighted. I don’t care if she’s with a vampire or a motherfucking Weredragon, she crossed the wrong governor.” He turned his attention to Kain, though his words were still aimed at Dylan. “And besides, if you’re looking for a monster, you’ve been sharing a bedroom with one for some time now.” He withdrew the taser from his pocket and advanced on Kain’s cage. “Isn’t that right?”

  Kain stood in the center of the cell and squared off against his enemy. He held his head high, knowing his ribs and hip bones stuck out, giving him the look of a sheet of elastic stretched over a matchstick skeleton. “You know nothing of monsters.”