Retribution: Chronicles of the Uprising, #5

By K. A. Salidas and Katie Salidas

Immortality is never guaranteed...

As much as Mira dreams of a simpler existence, blood and violence are her way of life. Former gladiator turned freedom fighter, she has carved a trail from New Haven to Caldera Grove and back, freeing her people, the vampires, from enslavement by the humans. 

But with victory almost within reach, a new and powerful enemy emerges. One who'll be satisfied with nothing less than complete subjugation—or destruction—of all supernat-ural beings.

With a secret army of his own, he's more than prepared for any resistance Mira and her patchy rebel forces can offer, and demands their immediate surrender.

Never one to back away from a fight, Mira believes she's ready for anything. But with the battle lines drawn she will be forced to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Kill or be killed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rising Sign Books
• Release date: May 24, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524205249

Book preview

Immortality is never guaranteed...

AS MUCH AS MIRA DREAMS of a simpler existence, blood and violence are her way of life. Former gladiator turned freedom fighter, she has carved a trail from New Haven to Caldera Grove and back, freeing her people, the vampires, from enslavement by the humans. 

But with victory almost within reach, a new and powerful enemy emerges. One who’ll be satisfied with nothing less than complete subjugation—or destruction—of all supernatural beings.

With a secret army of his own, he’s more than prepared for any resistance Mira and her patchy rebel forces can offer, and demands their immediate surrender.

Never one to back away from a fight, Mira believes she’s ready for anything. But with the battle lines drawn she will be forced to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Kill or be killed.

Retribution

Chronicles of the Uprising – Book 5

©2015 Katie Salidas

Ebook Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

Cover Layout by Willsin Rowe  http://willsinrowe.blogspot.com/

Interior Layout by Katie Salidas  http://www.katiesalidas.com

Editing by Rainy Kaye

Published by:

Rising Sign Books

http://www.risingsignbooks.net

For more information about my books email:

[e-mail]

ONE

Mira

New Haven City

Office of the Supernaturally-Aligned Federation Effort

In a small room no bigger than an office, the council impatiently waited for the signal. Anticipation strangled everyone into anxious silence. Peace was a foreign concept for Mira and her people. Even now, sharing equal footing in congress with those who, a few months, prior would have had her in chains, was difficult. Animosity was hard to overcome but if this group was any indication of the possibilities, then their future could be bright. 

Sitting elbow-to-elbow, the council comprised of those who were the first to see peace as a reality. Lucian and Curtis, humans, were the most unlikely of people to blaze a trail of tolerance, and yet they were some of the hardest workers in the campaign. Alongside them, Otherkin representatives, Stryker the wolf and Katerina the fox. Both were shifters from the city of Caldera Grove, sanctuary from human persecution, now active supporters in the drive to end prejudice between all peoples. And finally, Justine and George, former slaves, like Mira.

Her lot, the vampires, had seen the worst of what humanity could do and suffered numerous torments at their mortal masters’ hands.

A motley crew of diverse species had never been so well put together, and somehow their bond of friendship had managed the impossible.

The city of New Haven and several other Iron Gate territories had signed treaties of peace, but the job was only half done. They were the trail blazers, still spreading the message.

Mira had never thought it possible until she witnessed first-hand the released gladiators flocking to her city in droves. Even in these early days, peace had gelled in some of the farthest regions of the Iron Gate. But there were still some places struggling with the concept of ushering in a new age of equality among the species. Bigotry ran thick in the veins of both humans and vampires alike in the south. And that very struggle was the centerpoint of this meeting.

Peace could not be forced; it had to come willingly. But where prejudice and power were at their height, peace could never be the priority.

Do we have a signal yet? Mira directed her question to Curtis, the gray-haired man in the corner of the room, with his head buried under his desk.

Just a minute. Curtis had been trying to establish a secure connection with the southern city of Lone Star for the last half an hour. Even in a free city like New Haven, traces of animosity gave way to mischief. Damn equipment has been tampered with.

He popped his head up above the desk, cursing as he made contact with the keyboard, knocking it to the floor. After a few more minutes of clicking keys and swearing, Curtis gave a triumphant thumbs up to Mira.

Connection had been established.

It’s now or never.

Viewscreen on. Mira barked the order like a commanding officer, and immediately regretted her harsh tone. She hadn’t meant to speak to her friend that way.

Nerves were on edge. This meeting with Lone Star had been hard enough to arrange, and they were already late in establishing connection. So much was riding on its success. If all went well, peace might be a possibility. Fisting a hand at her side, it took all Mira had to keep her visible emotions in check. Inside, worry churned and bubbled, threatening to explode. Too much bloodshed, unnecessary posturing, and idiotic egos had already taken their toll on her. And that was just the pre-meeting. No more. This all needed to end.

Words appeared across the Viewscreen affixed to the wall opposite the conference table.

Connection Established

No picture yet. Just static and fuzzy pixels.

Damn it! Give me a minute. Curtis frantically clicked the keys at his station and mumbled  more curses.

Collectively, the room took a hesitant breath. Mira wasn’t the only one feeling the pressure. It seemed she was sharing it equally. Everyone knew how much hinged on things going smoothly.

She gritted her teeth, sending the tips of her fangs poking into her bottom lip. Patience was a virtue she’d not been gifted with. She stared forward, hoping to appear determined, but inside her stomach was still churning with anxiety while she waited for the images to process. For all she knew, the other side could already see her though she had yet to view them.

The screen lit up, a window into another office. An ornate iron gate swirling with an intricate vine pattern and a silver star set between its two sides had been embroidered on a blue flag that covered the wall behind a large mahogany desk —the symbol of the capitol of the Iron Gate. An official-looking office for sure, but the person who walked on screen after the connection had been established was not the man she’d expected to see.

Greetings, New Haven, a man addressed the room rather than Mira specifically. A deliberate sign of disrespect that was not lost on Mira, and by the low growl coming from Stryker’s throat, hadn’t been missed by her council member either.

Stryker’s posture straightened. He and Mira exchanged sidelong glances, silently acknowledging the slight against her as well as noting that the true Magistrate, if he could be called that, was not in attendance. That was strike one. The meeting was off on the wrong foot before it had even begun.

Through the window of the Viewscreen, Mira studied her new opponent. No man of highborn air would slouch the way he did. Even with half his body hidden by the meticulously carved wooden desk, his posture screamed, plebe. His clothes, while the traditional purple robe of the Elite class, were also a dead giveaway of his low status: he wore his official robe like a jacket over a plain fighters tunic, a simple linen that was barely more than a rag.

She had never been given the opportunity to have a sense of fashion and even for her, his choice in attire was ridiculous. This had to be a joke, or more poignantly, the truth of how lowly Lone Star’s Magistrate regarded New Haven and its council. 

Lone Star was the largest of the cities and had been home to the previous Magistrate. It, and its sister city, Bay View, were the last two of the Iron Gate cities to refuse to sign the treaty.

Where is your Regent? Mira hissed with impatience.

On the other side of the screen, the pretender, locked eyes with her and a sneer curled his lip. He sat taller in his chair, mimicking proper Elite posture, and glared straight ahead into the Viewscreen. At least he gave the appearance of being Elite now. Still, Mira wasn’t about to put up with his bullshit.

After a few silent moments, he spoke, Our illustrious Magistrate does not recognize leeches. You will have to deal with me, Regent Marshal Ballard.

Mira couldn’t suppress the growl that rumbled up her chest. If that man had been in the room with her, there would have been no holding back. She would have killed him. And it seemed her council was in agreement on that fact. All around the room, the hopeful expressions of her people had soured to disgust and impatience. Mira was two seconds away from giving Curtis the order to end transmission when she caught something from the corner of her eye. Movement across the Viewscreen, in the office in Lone Star. Someone else was there.

I do not deal with lackeys. Mira clenched her fists, nails biting into her flesh. Pain helped to rein in her anger enough to keep her voice even. Your superior will speak if he wants to avoid war.

Marshal Ballard turned his head and whispered something to his left. Mira knew the true Regent or Magistrate, whatever he was calling himself these days, was there, listening. The fact he’d sent in this caricature of an Elite to deal with them was an insult beyond words, speaking volumes of the uselessness of their meeting. No one was getting anywhere. Of that, Mira was certain. Yet war was not something she wanted. Hopefully the threat would be enough to emphasize the seriousness of her cause.

Marshal Ballard eagerly delivered his response. Your threats of war are of no concern of ours.

Then why bother with this meeting? Mira asked. You know very well what we are to discuss today.

The Magistrate was curious, Marshal replied with a laugh. He wanted to see if the leech really had complete control over New Haven.

Mira took a steadying breath. She would have loved to reach through the screen and throttle the both of them.

Stryker, next to her, took her hand in his, under the table. She’d shied away from touch for the longest of times, and as her mate, Stryker was well aware of her limits. But, every so often, that small connection was exactly what she needed. It grounded her, rather than caused her to recoil in fear. A subtle reminder that even in the darkest of times, she was no longer alone. Stryker gave her a quick squeeze, just enough to emphasize his wordless point, and then let go.

Mira looked around: Otherkin, vampires, and humans all here in support of peace. Everyone deserved to live in peace, and freedom was a basic right. She needed to remember that. Use that to steel her resolve so emotions did not get the better of her. That was exactly what this new Magistrate wanted; make her look like a fool, or worse, a bloodthirsty savage, as humans had always painted vampires to be.

She summoned up her inner diplomat and spoke. If your only goal here is to mock and ridicule, you’ll find yourself very short on time to appreciate the joke. My people will be freed, by either the Magistrate’s word, or by the force of our army.

Another voice, rather than the mockery of a man she’d been addressing, responded. I’d heard you had a hot temper, but making idle threats does not engender fear. This was the voice of an Elite, filled with pompous arrogance and dripping with disdain.

This from a man too cowardly to show himself. Mira responded in kind. You fail to engender respect for your position of office.

Prisoner 8245-A, if you continue to speak so disrespectfully—

Mira! she shouted above his words, shocking everyone in the room with her sudden break of civility.

Laughter preceded the Magistrate’s entrance on screen. Just as the Magistrate before him, this Elite too was as overfed as he was arrogant. Mira was thankful she couldn’t smell him through the Viewscreen. She remembered the particularly acrid smell of the former Magistrate. 

She demands to be called by name... a human name. The Magistrate cackled. You gave up that right when you chose to be this... thing.

Would you rather I go by the name my people called me? Mira had no such name but didn’t want to give the new Magistrate the pleasure of out-witting her.

Oh? And what would that be?

Retribution. She delivered the word with all the malice she could muster.

The council room fell silent. The office on the other side of the Viewscreen was silent, as well. For a moment, Mira enjoyed her victory.

Then, the Magistrate spoke. You may have brought a few cities under your governance through fear mongering, but I can assure you, Lone Star is not afraid of a few Otherkin. Remember, the Iron Gates were erected for a reason, and have stood for more than a century without fail.

Humans had always been arrogant, but this one took the cake.

"And, to further solidify our position on the matter, we have the means to make more of your kind to protect our city walls from invasion, so your feeble army is of no concern to me. Bring war to my doorstep, and I will crush you like the insignificant creatures you are."

Surely no. He couldn’t be speaking the truth. Artificially changing a human to vampire. That information had to have died with the previous Magistrate.

Mira recalled the horrid creature that had followed her into the badlands. The poor thing had been barely alive and in such pain, fighting her was his only way to find relief

No. They couldn’t have been breeding and torturing more damned souls.

Why make more of us if you hate us so much? Mira asked, trying to hide the unease in her voice.

The Magistrate’s eyes lit with pleasure. Could he see how his words had affected her? She tried to keep her expression neutral.

There will always be a need for cheap entertainment. He spoke slowly, or maybe it was his very twangy accent causing him to enunciate his words so precisely. Either way, the effect was chilling. And, of course, we will always need expendable soldiers to do our bidding.

Confused as to the true nature of his newly created vampire soldiers’ purpose, Mira tread carefully in her response, hoping to draw out more information. You think those you create will not fight you for their freedom?

You underestimate our control and the power we humans wield.

Flashes of the hybrid man she’d fought in the desert came back. He was truly a tortured soul. Silver nitrate flowing though his blood. He had to have been burning from the inside. What control was that? He’d begged for death at the end. Pain was not a way to control, only a way to force someone to their end.  Now the Magistrate was just talking out of his ass. This meeting was going nowhere. And the new information she’d been given had her almost trembling with anger.

We came to you in good faith with a request to lay down arms and release my people. If you are unwilling, then this discussion is over. With a nod, she instructed Curtis to close the connection.

The Viewscreen went dark, and in the silence that followed the end of transmission, all eyes turned to Mira.

What could she say? All hope for a peaceful end to the oppression had been dashed upon the proverbial rocks. And now, armed with more bad news, she felt the weight of her race again pressing down on her shoulders.

As if waiting for some brilliance to come pouring out of her mouth, the rest of the room sat silently waiting. She was no diplomat. She was a warrior. If they’d pointed at the Magistrate and said kill it, she could do that with no problem. But assuring freedom for her people trapped in Lone Star; that was beyond impossible now.

And still, no one said anything. The weight of all those eyes on her, coupled with the pressure she was feeling, was too great.

She stood quickly, knocking her chair down behind her. If you’re looking to me for answers, I have none.

Mira turned and stormed out, needing air, needing to get away. Staying and discussing things would have been the better option, and a more seasoned leader would have done just that. But she had never wanted this role. She wasn’t cut out for diplomacy and councils. And at that moment, she needed silence. And maybe a pint of O-positive.

"Mira, wait," George called out after her. Though he usually had good advice and a more than congenial manner, she wasn’t capable of dealing with him or any of the other members of the council right then.

What the Magistrate had revealed scared her. She alone had seen the horror of what they had been able to create. More than that, she felt deep sorrow for the poor bastards that underwent such a procedure. The turning process from human to vampire was painful enough, and the constant reminders of their allergies to sun and silver were daily annoyances.

Life as a vampire was far from perfect, but to be born into slavery and to live in such constant pain was beyond inhumane.

That, more than anything, solidified in her mind that this Magistrate could not be reasoned with. Only more bloodshed and violence would suffice, and she’d had more than her lifetimes’ share of that.

No. She wasn’t in any fit state to deal with the