Kingdom of War (Kingdom Journals Book 4) Read online

  “We’ve been dealing with calls since sunrise in Europe. I was just about to reach out to you when Hunter triggered the alarm.” Anne closed her laptop.

  “What are they gearing up for? What is the end goal?” I scanned the faces of the group.

  Orm raised a hand. “They believe annihilating the vampire species is ridding the earth of evil and they will be rewarded for the deed.”

  “So, they’re just going to have all the vampires commit suicide?” Alena’s voice rose an octave.

  “I’m guessing once all the vampires are under their control, they’ll limit procreation or go to more drastic means to end the race.” Anne folded her hands on her middle.

  “Like mass extinction? We should have been acting on this before.” Alena paced behind me.

  “We didn’t know it would get this bad.” Camille ran her fingers through her hair.

  “We do the best we can with the information we have. Now it’s time to stop Michael’s coven.” Sliding my chair back, I stood. “Let’s take an hour to think, and then we’ll reconvene and brainstorm solutions.”

  “Their compound is nearly impenetrable, and without a vampire army, I don’t see how we’re going to face off against them. It’s a suicide mission.” Jude knocked his chair over as he stormed from the room.

  Silence descended. Waving to the group, I made my exit. A plan brewed in my head, but I needed time to think and a computer to do some research. Before I took five steps, Alena caught up with me.

  “We should be brainstorming together, not going our separate ways right now.”

  “Everyone needs time to digest things, come up with some strategies, and then we can pool our ideas and see if more arise.”

  “People shouldn’t be apart when they hear tragic news like this. We need to, you need to—” She grabbed my arm, halting my progress down the hall. “I know you’re worried about DJ. We’ll get him back. Something will work. From all my mother’s stories, that was the main thread, peace and good always triumphed.”

  I felt bad, guilty that I wanted to be alone and realized others might want the opposite right then. Hugging her to me, I kissed her temple. “I’m sorry. My mind is buzzing. I need some time to separate my emotions and think. A run and some computer time are what I need right now.”

  She wriggled from my grasp and looked up at me. Standing on her tip toes, she pressed her lips to mine. “Then, I’ll come with you.” A smile emerged on her face.

  I bit my lip.

  “Never mind.” She zipped away from me.

  Drat, I thought. She was mad. But I needed time to formulate the plan circling in my brain. Quiet time and space would help. Changing, I fought the impulse to head out the door and fly to the oldest forest I knew of, the spot I thought there might be creatures who could help us. But it was daylight, and I guessed I’d need the cover of darkness to find them, so I made my way to the gym.

  Ignoring the others filing in, I took the stairs to the cardio area. After three miles, I had a list in my head, showered, and headed to the computer bay. The results of my search surprised me. I fought the urge to bolt out the door, jotting down notes until my alarm sounded.

  Again, Anne conferenced in via video feed. Hoping that the elders of our group would be able to offer guidance, I asked Anne, Chalondra, Orm, and Grady’s thoughts first. Teaming with Marcus to get the witch population on our side seemed to be their best idea for swaying the balance of power in our favor. Witches had come together before against Sonia when she’d crossed the line in siring Hitler. My shoulders shuddered at the thought, as the scenario before us didn’t seem much different.

  How was she freed? Who let her out of her captivity? Did Thanatos? Someone had to have allowed it. There must have been a conspiracy, because Anne monitored Sonia’s body, which laid in a permanent sleep state in the House of Uriel until six months prior. The only witches I trusted were those gathered here.

  Standing, I paced, waiting for other ideas to be thrown out, ones that didn’t involve a sure suicide mission. I didn’t mind risk for the sake of the greater good if it were just me, but I couldn’t bear to see Alena or Camille put in harm’s way.

  “What of other creatures? What other creatures are descended from the angels? faeries? They would be immune to soul swapping, correct? Anne, you knew a faerie, right?”

  Hesitating, she straightened her back. “Yes, our housemate when we lived in London was part faerie.”

  I asked the elders, Anne, Chalondra, Grady, and Orm to review everything they knew about the faerie people. Some stories told of lesser angels siring faeries to protect God’s weaker creatures, the humans, from vampires and others who might prey on them. God wanted the humans to believe by faith and saw the faeries as disruptors of his plan. He cursed them to live in the underworld, but the angels, wishing to see their progeny thrive, created loopholes wherein the faeries could pass into the upper world via faerie Rings.

  “Are they human sized?” I asked.

  “When they pass through the rings, yes, they are.” Orm’s eyes followed me as I circled the room.

  “And they have wings? Can fly?”

  Orm nodded.

  “And they have souls? Would be impervious to being occupied by another soul?”

  Again, Orm agreed with my logic. I inquired about their numbers, but nobody knew how many were left or where we could find them.

  “What of the werewolves?”

  “There are really werewolves?” The color drained from Tyler’s face.

  Chalondra cleared her throat. “They are cursed creatures, not of the spirits, so they would be at risk for being taken over by witch spirits just like the vampires.”

  “But no witch soul would be happy inside a wolf. Not in wolf form at least. Do you think Sonia would risk their departed turning against them?” Grady’s face contorted.

  I pointed at Grady. “That’s what I thought. They may expect us to make alliances with faeries, but surely not werewolves. It would give us an advantage. Do we know how big they are? What they’re capable of?”

  Leaning forward in her chair, Anne released a long breath. “We know of wolves. The packs live in the northern regions of Canada and Siberia.”

  “So.” I stopped and faced the group. “What if we use the faeries to draw the soldiers out of their castle, the wolves to attack and distract, and then we slip in and get the sword?”

  “What if the sword isn’t in the castle?”

  I shrugged. “Do they have anyone else strong enough to wield the sword? Only Theron and perhaps Sonia, right? Even if we can’t get the sword, we can at least take them out of the equation.”

  “You mean to kill them?” Camille rolled her seat back.

  “It’s not the outcome I would choose, but I don’t think they’re just going to turn themselves over.”

  Aaron raised his hand. “Why would the faerie or the wolves help us?”

  “You think Sonia is going to stop with wiping out the vampires. If she is really wiping evil from the earth, werewolves are next, right? The faeries are supposed to protect humans. A war between the vampires and witches endangers everyone.”

  Anne tapped her pen on the tabletop. “Hunter’s right. The vampires are already calling for retaliation.”

  Pulling my notes from my pocket, I mapped out my strategy. “We can leave today.”

  “We don’t have safe houses in those locations.” Dimitri pushed back from the table. “Travel like this is a logistical nightmare.”

  “Forget the security and safe houses. We need to move quick. This must end before Beltane. Theron cannot be allowed to marry. This evil can’t be passed to another generation.”

  Sighs and groans emitted from those gathered. “Okay.” I slammed my list down on the table. “Jude, Grady, Tyler, pack a backpack. We leave for Africa tonight.”

  “Wait, what about us?” Alena glanced to Camille and then back to me. “You’re not going anywhere without us.”

  I leaned down so we were f
ace to face. “You’re not safe. You need to go back to your mother’s compound with DJ. Camille can go with you so you two are together. You’ll be stronger together.”

  “No.” She backed me to the wall. “We’re all stronger together—where one goes, all go.”

  Cutting my eyes around the room, I pleaded with the others. “I’m right, you know it. Alena can’t go with us.”

  Chalondra stood. “I’m with Alena on this one. The trinity must be kept as one. You triumph or peril together.”

  “Well, let’s not sugarcoat that.” Jude lowered his head to his hands.

  Camille rubbed her hand down Jude’s back. “I think we should stay on point with getting the final piece of the Lance of Longinus. If we break the curse, then the witch souls will find peace. We’re so close.”

  “And over a thousand vampires are slaughtered by Sonia and Thanatos once they are no longer of use to them.” I slipped around Alena.

  Alena formed fists. “That isn’t an option.”

  “So, we go to Africa to find the faeries.”

  Things never moved as fast as I would have liked, but by the next morning, Chalondra, Orm, Jacob, Will, and DJ boarded a plane bound for the compound in Mexico, and Alena, Camille, Jude, Tyler, Grady, and I, along with Aaron and Dimitri, loaded a small jet set for Madagascar. The Kakamega Forest in Kenya ranked higher on my list, but I didn’t want to expose our group to a terrorist-infested nation.

  The next morning, we met guides for our trek into the jungle. I felt a bit like a crazed archeologist, wearing my cargo pants and a day pack filled with a compass, water bottle, and REMs. The guides studied us as we milled about waiting for an additional guide team. When the second team arrived, they engaged with the first in a heated discussion, exchanging loud phrases in French.

  I waved Jude away from the others. “Do you know what they’re saying?”

  “They don’t want to take us. They’re wary of Aaron and Dimitri.”

  “Come talk to them with me.” As we approached, their group grew quiet. “Is there a problem?”

  The first guide I’d arranged the trip with cocked his head towards Aaron and Dimitri. “Those two should not go. You will not see animals.”

  “Why?” I played dumb.

  “Their smell, not right, too pungent.” He waved his hand in front of his face.

  Looking to the vampires, I considered the risk of leaving them behind. After our last run-in with Theron, I realized they might not be failsafe guards.

  “Okay, that’s fine,” I told the guide.

  “Him too.” He pointed a finger at Jude and then motioned to Alena. “And her.”

  I rolled my eyes. How had he picked out not only the vampires but the hybrids? The guides were hunters, and I guessed had impeccable senses. Alena wouldn’t like being left behind, and I doubted Jude would want to be separated from Camille. But without the three of them, it was only Grady, Tyler, and me left. I didn’t like the numbers. Splitting the group in half, without the benefit of Chalondra and Orm to stay with Alena and Camille, wasn’t an option.

  “No, they come with us. This is my family. We want to see the jungle together.”

  “Those not your family?” The guide pointed to Aaron and Dimitri.

  “No, they’re our guards. As long as we’re safe with your people, then they can stay behind.”

  “Yes, very safe. You read our reviews. You will have a great day.” Smiling, he folded his hand together and my hopes for finding faeries dwindled by the second.

  If the scent of vampires scared the animals, would having Alena and Jude with us prevent contact with faeries? The day’s hike was a cover for finding the darkest, most remote part of the jungle so we could return later to search for the faerie people. Alena’s and Jude’s senses would be helpful in finding our way through the forest, but perhaps technology would have to suffice.

  I pulled my phone from my pack and opened a hiking app that would track our course.

  “What’s up?” Alena hooked her arm in mine.

  “Nothing.” I slid the device in my pocket. “The guides are leery of Aaron and Dimitri. They’ll stay behind.”

  “These guides have good senses.”

  “You don’t say.” I stepped away from Alena to gather the others.

  Alena’s hand caught my arm. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “What do you mean?” I tapped my toe on the ground.

  “You don’t look me straight in the eyes when you’re trying to hide something.”

  “They didn’t want you or Jude to join us either.”

  “Wow, amazing senses, but that’s not an option. We stay together. I’m not leaving you alone to be Theron bait.”

  My pride got the best of me, and I yanked my arm from her grasp. “I’m more powerful than Theron.”

  “Hunter, I didn’t mean, it’s just, he’s a hybrid.” She reached out to me.

  I shivered at her touch and, hands gripped into fists, lifted my eyes to her face. “I know, it’s fine.”

  She rolled her eyes and strode to Camille. Frustrated, I followed her to join the rest of the group. As we trudged deeper into the forest, the civilized world fell away and lush vegetation, bright flowers, and the smell of the dirt immersed my senses. Looking overhead, I saw none of the monkeys or birds promised in the tour description. The cry of a vulture circling above caught my attention.

  Alena swiped a fern from her path. “How are we even going to notice a faerie Ring? The ground is covered, and there’s not an inch of space. Trees are everywhere. I thought there would be a clearing, a meadow, something obvious.”

  Jude translated to our guide what we were looking for, and he waved us to the base of a tree, pointing out a toadstool. When Jude explained further, the worker shook his head, saying he’d never seen anything like an open space with mushrooms. I reached out with my mind, listening, feeling for any hint of mystical energy, but with my senses on overload from the teeming life of the jungle, I sensed no different energy. We hiked six miles and found nothing.

  Not wanting to waste any more time, we rested for a couple of hours and headed back out, choosing a night hike to continue our quest alone. It didn’t make sense, defied logical reasoning, but in my mind, if we were to see faeries, it would be at night.

  “Tell me again why we didn’t go to Ireland?” Camille slapped her arm, killing a mosquito that landed there. “And why am I the only one getting bitten?”

  “Anne said the rings there died long ago. And you smell sweeter than the rest of us.” Alena held out a bottle of bug repellent.

  I wondered for a second about Alena’s comment. When I’d first learned about Alena being a vampire, she’d noted I was the most fragrant being she’d ever encountered. I wondered if that had changed, if becoming a full witch bearing the mark of Michael morphed how I smelled, who I was to her. The next second, I rebuked the thought. Do you want to smell like a flower?

  The night trek brought us no closer to finding a faerie Ring clearing than the day had.

  “Did anyone sense anything?” Alena pulled her bracelet off as we entered our quarters. “Any zing or twinge, or anything?”

  We all shook our heads.

  “Do we have any proof that faeries still exist. Maybe they’ve all been killed off. Have you ever seen a faerie?” Jude focused on Grady.

  “No, but I’ve never sought them out. I concentrated on finding out who knew what so I could protect Camille. We all need sleep. Perhaps another idea will surface tomorrow.”

  The guys headed to our rooms and the girls to theirs. I lay awake thinking we should have started with the wolves. An hour ticked by, and I grew no closer to sleep. By two, I gave up and, slipping on my boots, wandered outside. The warm night air hung heavy in my lungs as I drew in a breath. Glancing up at the sky, I longed for the release I felt from flying. I glimpsed back at our cabin and in a split-second made my decision.

  Before I could jump into the air, Camille slipped out the door. “Hunter, what ar
e you doing?”

  “I couldn’t sleep.”

  “Me neither. I sensed you were about to leave. Why would you— You’re going to look for the faeries alone, aren’t you?”

  “What if the faeries are like the animals, and they won’t appear with vampires around?” The words spilled from my mouth before I realized I’d committed to the theory.

  “What about Elizabeth and the half-faerie woman? They were friends.”

  “She was half fairy and lived in the human world. These beings are ancient. They don’t come to our plane, or if they do, no one knows of it, which means it’s very rare and only in secret.”

  “But can’t they see what’s happening here? Sense it? Wouldn’t they want to help?”

  “Maybe, but what if the cost of helping is too high? I have to let them know what the stakes are for everyone.”

  Camille shook her head. “Do you even want to break the curse?”

  “What? Why would you ask that? Of course, I do. I even sided with you when Alena wanted to help the vampires.”

  “Why do you want to break the curse?”

  “Because that’s what we’re supposed to do. It’s the right thing.” I stared at her dumbfounded as if it should be obvious.

  “But do you feel it in your bones? Know the stakes for your soul?” Her green eyes pleaded with me.

  “My soul?” I kicked at the dirt. “I wasn’t raised to believe in Heaven and Hell. I’m seventeen. I can’t even comprehend graduating from college, and now I’m going to live a thousand years, and you’re asking me about the fate of my soul?”

  “I’ve experienced it. What it feels like to be in Hell, in the abyss of darkness. When I was marked and they locked me in that cell, I thought I’d never get out. There was no light, no hope, just black and ice penetrating every cell. That’s what we’re fighting for, so our people don’t have to experience that ever again.”

  I took her hand. “Camille, I’m so sorry you had to go through that. You know that Alena and I were searching for you, right?”

  “Hunter, we’re at war, but you don’t have to be at war with everyone.”

  “I don’t even know what you’re talking about right now. What do you mean? I’m not—”