Blood of the Innocent

By SV Macdonald

What would you do to save the one you love? Cal has been conscripted into the army, and Thane has promised to wait. After all, it’s only for a year or two. But unknown to Thane, Cal volunteers for an elite force of soldiers nicknamed 'The Legion', and Thane is conscripted early to work on a special project led by Captain Jack Marksin, a man she thinks she can trust.
As Thane discovers more about Jack’s motives and his intentions towards her, she finds out that the project has created an experimental virus that eats away at the humanity of the soldier volunteers, turning them into blood-crazed monsters that are the perfect secret weapon. As soon as she discovers that Cal is one of the volunteers, he uses his new-found strength to escape from the army compound and goes on the run.
The rebels hiding under the city want to find a cure for the virus, because they know how many of the Legion have escaped to kill innocent civilians.. And only Thane can access the data they need to find it. But in the meantime the Legion deserters have found something else that works. Innocent blood - blood like Thane’s. And they know how to find her.

This book is intended for young adult readers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Suzi Macdonald
• Release date: Oct 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311439475

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Thane woke up suddenly, her heart pounding with the uncertain, panicky feeling that someone had called her name. The bright white sunbeams had made their way around the tree outside her window, and she realised with a sickening feeling in her stomach that she had overslept by hours and almost missed her chance to say goodbye.

'Thane!' Her mother called out from below, her voice fierce with urgency and irritation.

'Coming!'

In her haste she almost fell out of bed and ran for the door, dressed only in the vest and shorts she slept in. Doors slammed downstairs, and a car engine started up outside. The panicky feeling came back, constricting her breathing as she launched herself downstairs and into the startled arms of her brother's best friend. His arms closed around her, and as her face pressed into his neck just under his ear, she inhaled what she could of his warm, scented skin with its undertones of honey and heat. His hand stoked her hair lightly and his new uniform felt stiff under her arms. Most of Cal's warmth was hidden under the cool, starched khaki jacket he wore for his journey and she was suddenly conscious of how much of her bare skin was pressed up against him. Embarrassed, she tried to pull back, but Cal held her close for a moment longer, trying to steal what last memories he could.

'Wait for me?' he whispered into her hair, and Thane could only nod as her brother and then her parents came out of the sitting room. Cal released her then and straightened up, but not before he had earned a frown from her father.

Theo, her brother, managed a small smile. The khaki uniform washed out his pale skin, and he looked like a stranger, as if he were a soldier already. 'It's only a year, Thane. And we'll be home on leave in a month.'

'Look after each other...' Their mother, Anna, choked on the words and her eyes brimmed with the tears she had been fighting.

'Hey, Mum, it's OK...' Theo folded her in his arms. 'They don't let raw recruits like us near the battlefield. And anyway, we're way too valuable to risk. The Generals can't afford to waste citizens with academic scores like ours.'

Anna patted his chest and pulled away. 'I know, I know... It's just the war...'

Outside, the engine revved impatiently.

'We'll be fine. See you in a month, OK?' Theo hugged Thane quickly and then turned to his father and shook his hand.

'I'll walk you out,' their father, Jason, said.

Theo nodded. And then he was gone. Cal held Thane's eyes for a moment longer, his expression soft and sad. She tried to smile for him, but her face refused to obey. And then he, too, was gone.

Anna sighed as the door closed behind them. She wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. Jason put a reassuring hand on her shoulder and she acknowledged him with a watery smile. Then she turned to Thane and her expression changed. 'What happened to you this morning?' she asked.

Thane bit her lip. There was no way to avoid it. 'I was just up really late last night...'

'With Cal?'

Thane held her mother's gaze for a long moment. Then she nodded. 'We were just talking. Just... talking. I swear.'

'I used to be seventeen, you know,' her mother said, scepticism hardening her voice.

'I know... but I swear that's all we did.' The sudden stab of missing him almost took her breath away.

Anna searched Thane's face, and didn't miss the faint blush that coloured her cheeks. Thane's heart sank as she waited to be told off. But Anna had a soft heart that was hurting as much as Thane's, and she relented.

'He'll be back in a month. They both will. And Theo's right. They won't be anywhere near the front.'

She sounded as if she was trying to convince herself as much as her daughter and Thane managed a small, sad smile.

Jason came back inside and closed the door. His eyes also looked suspiciously watery and Thane knew that he was forcing himself to look cheerful for them.

'Well, they're off.' He shook his head as if to wake himself up. 'And you'd better get dressed, Thane. We have to go out for lunch, tradition demands it -' he broke off and swallowed hard.

Thane suppressed a sigh. She wanted some time alone with her thoughts. But she knew that losing Theo and Cal was as hard for her parents as it was for her. Perhaps lunch with the other affected families would help. And anyway, as Jason said, it was traditional.

She forced herself to smile. 'Sounds good. Can I have half an hour to get ready?'

Her father smiled back. 'Of course you can. Take as long as you need.'

This time her smile was real and she skipped upstairs and into her room, closing the door firmly behind her. She opened her wardrobe door and gazed at the rack of clothes inside. But instead of choosing something to wear she dropped onto the bed and picked up the pillow. She buried her face in the cool cotton cover, willing it to hold a trace of Cal's scent from the night before. It wasn't that she had lied to her mother, exactly... They had done lots of talking. A wave of tiredness swept over her and she lay back, wrapping her arms around the pillow and inhaling deeply, as if the faintest breath of his body could conjure him up.

Cal’s only living relative was an elderly aunt who doted on him and let him run wild. So, as Theo’s best friend, Cal came and went as he pleased, sleeping on the sofa-bed in Theo's room when they stayed up past the curfew. And since this was their last summer of freedom they had stayed up late every night, making the most of it.

Except that last night Theo had generously and unsubtly gone to bed around midnight, leaving Cal alone with Thane.

***

She looked up from her book and realised they were alone. It was completely dark outside from the blackout and somehow the only light in the room was the lamp she was reading by. He stood in the half-shadows near the window, staring intently at her, his eyes dark and unreadable.

'What is it?' she whispered. Small nervous tingles started up in her stomach.

His mouth twitched in a tiny, tentative smile. 'Are you tired?'

Thane shook her head. She put down her book and waited. He took a few steps towards her, into the light, and then she saw the strange gleam in his eyes.

'I wanted to talk to you...'

The tingles turned into butterflies in her stomach. She had loved Cal ever since she was old enough to know the meaning of the word, and now it seemed as if one of her favourite dreams might be coming true... She made an inarticulate sound that he took as encouragement and he sat on the sofa beside her.

'I don't know how to begin,' he said. He looked at her hands in her lap, holding her book. He swallowed and picked one up, holding it gingerly in both of his as if it might fly away. She watched her hand in his as if it was something detached from her, and all at once she found it hard to breathe.

'Thane...' he hesitated and then took another breath. 'Thane, I've realised you've had kind of a - a crush on me -'

She gasped and snatched her hand back. Her face flushed scarlet. She opened her mouth but he touched his finger to her lips to quiet her. 'Let me finish.'

Her gaze turned rebellious and her grey eyes flashed. He almost smiled, but bit down on it when he saw the hurt in her eyes. He reached for her hand again, and though she tried to pull it away he persisted and after a moment she let him take it.

'I just want you to know that once I realised I knew I had to tell you that... Well, I feel the same. About you.' His words echoed in her head as she tried to allow herself to believe they were true. He fidgeted with her hand, playing with her fingers. 'Are you going to say something?'

She looked into his eyes, searching for the truth. 'Did Theo put you up to this?' She found it hard to believe they would be so cruel, and yet...

'No! No, I - it's true, Thane!' He looked shocked, and his grip on her hand tightened.

'Then why now? Why, on the day before you go to war...?' But in her heart she knew the answer.

'That's why,' he confirmed softly. 'I couldn't go without telling you. And now I know you feel the same. I just want to hear you say it...'

His whisky-coloured eyes burned into hers.

'Say what?' she whispered, the hint of a smile on her lips.

***

Lying alone on her bed, she breathed in the very faint hint of his cologne, and at once it brought back the way his eyes had blazed with desire as he cupped her face with his strong hands and gently pressed his lips against hers for the first time.

Warmth flooded through her and she curled around it, hugging the pillow tightly. He had followed her upstairs, but instead of turning to Theo's room as usual he had stopped and looked at her with that burning, questioning gaze... And without another word he had followed her into her room and softly closed the door.

Remembering the way his eyes had held hers as his hands gently explored her body brought heat into her face and her fingers clutched at the softness of the pillow, feeling again the shock of his skin against hers, both new and surprisingly familiar. How gentle he had been, despite the fire in his eyes. And her body had responded instinctively, rising against his as if she could get inside his skin and be part of him. But at the last minute he had pulled back, whispering softly that he was leaving in the morning, they should wait... And eventually she had slept curled into his side as dawn crept with slow insidious fingers around the old tree.

'Thane!'

Her mother's voice roused her from her memories and, flushed with pleasure and longing, she pushed away the pillow and got to her feet. She dressed as quickly as she could, throwing on a sun dress that flattered her slender figure and pushing her feet into low-heeled sandals. Her books sat reproachfully on her desk, but her stomach growled and she was suddenly glad that she was going out rather than sitting in her bedroom where she would be tempted to dream away the day. She studied her reflection in the mirror. Her grey eyes were bright and her cheeks were still pink, but she thought the touch of colour suited her. She drew a brush through her shoulder-length dark hair, freeing it from the tangles his hands had made. Then she fluffed it up the way he had said he liked it, and smiled as if he were watching.

Her mother was fussing in the sitting room when Thane finally made it downstairs. 'Ready?' Anna asked.

Thane just nodded.

'Then let's go!'

Her father was already in the car, fiddling with the radio. Talk channels alternated with strident patriotic music as he punched the buttons. Finally he found the news report he was looking for. Thane and Anna settled into the car and he drove off.

As was customary on conscription days, the newsreader was praising the new recruits and promising them glory and fame. He praised the Allied Council of Generals and reminded the recruits that their families were relying on them for protection from the enemy...

Thane tuned out. She had heard the speech so many times before that she could almost recite it. The only difference today of course was that it was Cal and Theo he was talking about. And soon it might be Thane herself.

She shook this thought out of her mind as they drew up at the restaurant. It was the biggest in the city, and today it was full of families all missing a son or daughter.

As they waited to be seated, her eyes searched the crowd for her best friend Jude, whose sister Jina was the same age as Theo. Suddenly she saw a flash of bright blonde hair, and then Jude was waving frantically at her.

'Mum, can I go and speak to Jude?' Thane asked.

Anna looked undecided. 'Well, it might be a couple of minutes before we get a table...'

That was all the permission Thane needed. She squeezed through the tables packed with people she had known all her life. People waved at her or caught her arm. Each time the question was the same - was Theo happy to serve?

She nodded and smiled yes to every person who asked. There could be no other answer, really. Out of the corner of her eye she could see a smattering of Officials among the crowd - some having lunch, but others clearly on duty. She had almost reached Jude's table when a wail went up from the other side of the room. A woman Thane knew only vaguely as the mother of a boy in Theo's class stood up and screamed at the TV screen that dominated the room. Thane glanced at it. It was scrolling through a list of fatalities. The woman was immediately surrounded by Officials who tried to haul her away. She resisted, lashing out wildly and striking one of them in the face. His cry of pain silenced the restaurant. He flushed and punched out, hard, knocking the woman to the ground with a sickening thud. As she fell, his companion pulled out a small black weapon and stuck it into her side.

The sharp, angry buzz of the taser reverberated around the silent restaurant for a fraction of a second, and in that time Thane's sharpened senses noted how the woman's eyes rolled back in her head and how she twitched and then lay still.

At once a babble of voices rose up, talking about anything - everything - except the scene they had just witnessed. Thane stood frozen, her mind struggling to process what she had just seen and this drew the attention of the Officials. She was hardly aware that Jude grabbed her arm and pulled her down onto an empty chair.

'Act normal!' Jude whispered.

Jude's father nodded imperceptibly and then said loudly, ' Thane! How lovely to see you! And was Theo happy to be called up?'

The undernote of panic in his voice forced Thane back to herself. 'Ah - yes.' She forced a brittle smile on to her face.

The two closest Officials stared at her for a moment longer, and then they moved away.

'Thane!' Her own parents stood over her, relief warring with concern in their faces.

Jude's father forced a smile. 'Jason! Anna! Please, join us!'

He gestured to the restaurant staff, who set about extending their table and bringing chairs to make room. The two families made polite conversation while they waited but as soon as the tables were set and the waiting staff out of earshot, Jason said softly, 'A bad business, that.'

Jude's father, Thom, glanced around. 'That was the second son she's lost to the war. And her youngest has gone today...'

Thane glanced between the two men. 'What do you mean?'

Thom sighed. 'Do you see the list of fatalities? Her son's name is among them. That's what upset her.'

Anna shook her head. 'She should have known better than to come here today.'

'What choice did she have? She's supposed to be happy her sons have died for the cause.'

'We're losing too many men - people are starting to get restless. The Generals will have to come up with something soon - even my news channel's been asking questions.' Jason dropped his serious expression as the waitress came to take their order. 'I think I'll have the chicken, please,' he said with a smile.

The waitress stopped and stared at him for a moment and then she blurted out, 'Are you on TV?'

Jason tilted his head modestly. 'Only the news,' he said. Thane rolled her eyes as the girl processed her father's familiar face, and Jude suppressed a giggle as he smiled his famous smile.

The waitress blushed furiously. 'I'll get your order right away, Mr Lewes.'

'Ah, the price of fame!' Thom said mockingly, and Jason bowed his head in acknowledgement.

Thane and Anna placed their orders with a second waitress who had materialised at their side, although Thane's mind was still reeling from her father's words. Surely no-one from their part of the city could actually die?

She opened her mouth to ask the question, but before she could voice it, Jude dug her in the ribs. 'Shh! Look who's coming!'

Jude nodded across the room and Thane looked over. 'Ah...'

A strikingly handsome young man in a lieutenant's uniform was easing his way around the tables towards them. His regulation-short blonde hair was smoothed down on his head, and he smiled with pleasure as people called out his name. He had a word or two for almost everyone he passed, and every girl he spoke to tried to keep him beside her for just a moment longer. Even if she couldn't see him, Thane could have followed his progress across the room by the heaving breasts and flushed cheeks that he left in his wake. Then his dark blue eyes settled on her and his gaze softened.

He paused at their table. 'May I join you?' he asked politely, and Thom had no option but to smile and nod.

The lieutenant gestured for another seat, bestowing a careless smile on the girl who brought it over and seeming not to notice her gasp of admiration. Jude pretended to fan herself with her hand and Thane had to suppress a giggle, just like they did in class when he was teaching them the history of the city and the war.

'Lieutenant Marksin. How kind of you to join us,' Jason said with every appearance of pleasure.

'Call me Jack, please,' the lieutenant said. 'After all, this is a special day for all of us. Was Theo happy to serve his country?'

'Of course!' Jason said. 'Theo and Cal were ready to do their duty.'

'Good, good...' Jack glanced around the table. 'And Jina?'

Thom smiled. 'We are honoured that Jina was chosen for the intelligence corps. She will do her duty and make us proud.'

'Her grades were exceptional. There is no doubt she will make an excellent intelligence officer. You two should try to follow her example,' he said, turning his attention to Thane and Jude, a hint of the teacher in his voice.

'We'll do our best, Sir,' Thane answered for both of them, and he smiled approvingly at her, his eyes lingering long enough to make her squirm inside.

Jude dug her in the ribs again, breaking the spell. Thane jumped back in her seat, and it was all she could do not to giggle. Jack's brow creased slightly. He seemed about to say something else when a senior Official caught his eye and gestured him over. He sighed theatrically. 'Duty calls!' He stood up and saluted the table generally. 'I'll see you tomorrow, girls. Enjoy your lunch.'

As soon as he was out of earshot Jude and Thane burst into a fit of giggles.

'Stop it, you two!' Thom said, but it was half-hearted.

'Oh, come on, Dad. He obviously fancies Thane stupid,' Jude said.

'No he doesn't!' Thane protested, her cheeks turning faintly pink. 'And even if he did, there's no way I would -!'

'Not as long as Cal's around,' Anna said very softly, with an arch look that set Thane blushing furiously.

Jason's eyes flashed a warning. 'Thane is too young for Jack Marksin,' he said reprovingly.

But Jude had missed nothing and her eyes widened at Thane's blushes. 'Come round after lunch and tell me all about it!' she whispered into Thane's ear.

Before Thane could reply their food arrived, and the lunch progressed without any serious conversation. Only as they were finishing did Thom raise his glass just enough to make a toast without drawing the attention of the Officials. 'To our boys and girl - may peace bring them home.'

CHAPTER 2

Thane and Jude left the restaurant as soon as they had finished their meal, leaving the adults to linger over coffee. They hurried along the quiet streets, and as soon as they reached Jude's house they ran upstairs to her room and closed the door firmly behind them. It was as messy as ever, with all of Jude's discarded clothes from the past week scattered randomly on the floor.

'So what happened? Tell me, tell me!' Jude begged, throwing herself down on the bed.

'What do you mean?' Thane teased, clearing a space on the floor with her foot, and then lowering herself cautiously on to the patch of fluffy pink carpet that she had uncovered.

'You know - with Cal! Come on - tell me!'

Thane tilted her head. 'You know how he stays over all the time...'

'Uh-huh...'

'Well, last night...' she hesitated, glancing up through her eyelashes. And then she ducked quickly to avoid the pillow Jude tossed at her. She grinned. 'Last night he didn't sleep in Theo's room!'

'No!' Jude looked suitably shocked. And then her eyes grew huge. 'And did you -?'

'No,' Thane cut her off quickly. 'But... He asked me to wait for him.'

'So now you're officially his girlfriend! God, the girls at school are going to hate you!'

Thane's face fell. 'Promise me you won't make a big deal out if it?'

'But why not? He's such a catch - everyone will be so jealous! If it was me I'd be shouting it from the roof!'

'It would be different if he was still here...'

Jude's face softened. 'Yeah, I suppose it would. OK then, I promise.' She crossed her heart, and then got up and squeezed in beside Thane on the small patch of carpet.

Thane looked at her with a quizzical smile. 'What?'

'Nothing...' But Jude put her arms around her friend and all Thane's defences melted.

'I just wish it hadn't happened last night, you know?' Not just before he left.'

Jude nodded. 'I know.’

Thane ran her tongue over her lips, relishing the slight roughness left behind from Cal's kisses. ‘He's liked me for ages, he said...'

Jude squeezed Thane's shoulders. 'It's only a year. And he'll be back on leave in a month.'

'I know, but I'll be eighteen before his year is up, and if I get called up, too, it'll be at least another year after that before we can be together - really together, you know?'

Jude smiled. 'You'll still