Return from Exile

Chapter 2 Misdirection

It was rare that D would be up this late. Awake yes, but away from Kale\'s side? That was rare. But this night wasn\'t like other nights. A few of the towns people were out in the streets and on the rooftops looking up to the sky. They\'d noticed the increase in the brighter stars overhead, but no one seemed overly concerned. The common knowledge of vampires having space ships was never among the human or mutant population.

But the increase in stargazers, or even stargazing, wasn\'t what drew D to the window in the early hours before dawn. Carefully he opened his senses to the world beyond, finding that one glimmer in the dark that beckoned his kind. \"They\'re calling,\" he whispered.

\"Who\'s calling?\"

He turned quickly to see Kale sitting up. She\'d gasped slightly at his appearance. His eyes were glowing blue, which she\'d seen before, but his expression was a mix of calm and desperate fear, straining against his inner demon. He returned his gaze to the window, his left hand to the frame to steady him as well as to prevent him from charging threw the clear panes of glass.

Finally with quickened breath from his mental efforts, he was able to stand and answer his love\'s question. \"The vampires,\" he said. \"Some of them have joined their powers to call out. They\'re calling to their own kind.\"

\"Why?\"

\"To guide them. I think the call is meant for those that are landing tonight. But the call is just going out. Vampires and Dhampires will hear it here on Earth, and follow it to its source.\"

\"But you can resist it.\"

\"Barely. I was able to shut it out threw sheer force of will. If I open up to it again, I may not be so lucky.\"

\"What about your dad. Adrian and Edward? Will they be alright?\"

\"Father yes, my brothers, I don\'t know. Father will know what it is, Adrian will sense it and may try to resist, but Edward. He\'s so young, I don\'t know if he\'d have the strength to fight for long, if father doesn\'t shield him.\"

\"I hope he does.\" She carefully laced her arms around him, looking up to the roves of the houses behind where they were. \"Do they even realize the danger they\'re in?\"

\"No. The young never do. They\'ve even gathered in the streets.\"

\"Nice buffet for any monster who cares to have a snack\"

\"I know. Even the Sheriff couldn\'t chase them inside. You feel up to traveling? The sun will be coming up in an hour. The call will stop then.\"

\"How long till we get to Barbarois?\"

\"Too long on horseback,\" he said, producing a map. \"We\'ve landed here. Chesapeake Bay. About the only name of a bay left unchanged over time. It\'ll take us weeks to go across country to here...\"

\"Old New Mexico.\"

\"Yes. You know your geography, well.\"

\"It was my best subject in school. Don\'t ask me about math though. I could barely get threw algebra with my head on tight.\"

\"That\'s alright. Thing is. I heard a train whistle yesterday. They\'ve managed to get an old steam engine back to working order, and they\'re running freight and passengers all over the west coast, and for miles inland. Laying new track, and joining up along the old routs that weren\'t damaged during the war or the passage of time, which is very rare, all threw out the country.\"

\"That\'s amazing. Who thought of doing all this?\"

\"Not sure. Only thing is the track that runs to New Mexico, ends about here. Somewhere between Little Bluff, and Lawton Falls.\"

\"I don\'t recognize those names.\"

\"After the war, many towns were whipped off the map. Even small ones. Some, to remember the past, and for size and strength purposes, joined together. Combining their names. Little Bluffs, Little Rock and Pine Bluff. Lawton Falls, Lawton and Wichita Falls. There\'s dozens of others, but those are the two we will be ending up at. It should take us only a couple weeks to get to Barbarois, if the weather holds.\"

\"What exactly is Barbarois?\"

\"It was once a mill of some kind. I think. Then mutants took over the place and fortified it. Because mutants don\'t have a great love for humans, because they\'ve tried to wipe them out, the mutants serve the knight walkers. To the death. They are paid very well, but still...\"

\"So we can expect a fight?\"

\"No. Because of me, they won\'t attack, not until they know my intentions. But you. They have no compunctions about attacking you right off.\"

\"Ok. So, we head for the end of the line, head for Barbarois, and I stick close to you to stay off the lunch menu.\"

\"Lest go. The train leaves just after Dawn. We\'ll need to ride with the horses t make sure no one messes with them.\"

\"Why D. Alone in a boxcar? What shall we do?\"

D just looked at her, enjoying her playfulness. She\'d be fine now, with the experience of the ship behind her. Besides, he had a few ideas himself.

\"God! Why is it so freaking cold?!\" Kale tossed a few more handfuls of straw and bits of a broke crate into the little wood stove, bringing the tiny embers to life once more. The boxcar served as the sleeping quarters of the train\'s staff, and was located at the end of the train. The Engineer\'s night replacement shuddered under his covers as he tried once more to rest. The bunks were small and only fit one person comfortable, and there weren\'t any private cabins, or berths in the rest of the train, so the idea of stealing away to a vacant one was out. Poor Kale was at her wits end. The two could not be left alone long enough to do much of anything but kiss. And it was starting to drive Kale up a wall. \"D is it supposed to be this cold this far south?\"

\"You think we\'re travg sog south?\" laughed the night engineer, turning over in his bunk above her head. \"Girl you really are stupid.\"

\"Where are we?\" D asked urgently. He\'d been so preoccupied when not engaged with Kale, trying to keep from succumbing to the vampire\'s call that he never looked outside anymore. So he\'d no idea where they were in relation to the stars.

\"North. Heading for Black Rapids.\"

\"Why?\"

\"Got word before we left that the line we were to take, was cut. Repair crews were still working on it. So, we sent a small train that way as far as it could go, and we came north. We\'ll head south from Black Rapids & meet up on the other side of the break with the smaller train. Don\'t worry. We\'ll get you there.\"

\"Well thanks for telling us. You\'ve just wasted our time, and out money!\"

\"Cool your tits lady. You\'ll get to where you\'re going, three days ahead of time.\" Suddenly the train lurched to a crashing stop. Sending everyone thudding to the floor. Then all was quiet. \"Or not.\" Sighed the engineer. Kale pushed her way passed him to chon ton the horses, while D climbed out into the rainy morning to see what had happened.

\"The horses are ok,\" she called, the engineer helping her out of the car. \"What happened?\"

\"Avalanche,\" sighed D, eyeing the piles of logs and stones barring the track. \"Looks like it was triggered by a mud slide.\"

\"Well this car isn\'t going anywhere.\" Quipped the engineer, crawling out from under the structure. \"The wheels are off the tracks. So forward or back, we aint movin\'.\"

\"Wonderful,\" she sighed. \"Now what?\"

\"We ride. Nightmare, Max. Lets go.\"

With a squeal from each, the horses were out of the car and carrying their riders south. \"What am I gona tell the train master?!\" but neither rider answered.

Not long afthey hey left the train, the pair joined up with a woman and her family heading for a city called Airomat. Since it was along their way, and the woman was alone with two small children, and a pair of run down D7 draft horses, the two decided to escort her safely to the city gates. Besides, she wasn\'t that bad a cook either.

The nights were getting worse for D. As he told Kale, more and more Vampires were landing and adding their own power to the guiding call. It was to a point where D had demanded Kale cuff him to the woman\'s wagon, with the cuffs used for securing the horses, and to gag him, so he wouldn\'t wake their charges. By day, D was tied into his saddle, sleeping upright if he could sleep, and by night, trying to scream threw the gag to be set free. It hurt to see him this way.
Dawn was approaching, and D was being untied by his wife, a cup of water to his lips. \"You can\'t continue like this D,\" she sighed, wiping the perspiration from around his eyes. \"We should spend at least one day in Airomat. So you can get some real rest.\"

\"I\'m fine,\" he coughed.

\"No, you\'re not. Don\'t be so brave, or stubborn. We\'re staying one day. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.\"

\"I thought I was supposed to be the one looking after you, my wife.\"

\"Sorry, my husband. It works both ways. You feel strong enough to ride?\"

\"Just tie me on like before. I\'ll doze if I can. I still don\'t feel right about it though.\"

\"Hey. It\'s all open country. I can spot trouble coming before it becomes a real problem. You just take it easy.\"

He put his hand to her cheek and she gently leaned into his touch. \"Maybe we should stay two days.\"

She went to kiss him, but didn\'t get the chance, as the six-year-old boy jumped out of the wagon. \"Bang! Bang! Two werewolves are dead !\" he shouted.

Kale just laughed as the three-year-old also joined him and the two charged out over the field. \"Kids, don\'t go across the road,\" Kale called, hearing the woman in the wagon complain about the morning chill. \"There\'s a steep hill and you\'d break your fool necks if you fall.\"

\"Good morning?\" called a male voice. Kale turned, her crossbow ready, to see two men in uniform slowly pulling to a stop at the roadside, in what reminded her of a restored Hummer with the top down.

\"MOVE AND YOU\'RE PEARCED! State your business!\"

\"Easy miss. We mean no harm,\" said one, nodding to the two small boys in the field. \"I\'m Warren, this is Petilla, we\'re with the Airomat Security Detail,\" the men pulled the lapels of their jackets over to show a shiny gold badge, much like a sheriff\'s badge.

\"Means nothing to me,\" she said. \"Anyone can make a badge like that.\"

\"It\'s alright,\" called the boys\' mother. \"I\'ve been to Airomat before, and have seen those very badges. They tell the truth. We must be awfully close for you to be out here.\"

\"Just three miles away ma\'am. Just over those hills.\"

\"Wonderful!\"

\"What do you want?\"

\"Well, we just wanted to warn you. Purists have been kidnapping kids over the last few weeks. Not sure why. But you might want to keep a close eye on your two there, as you get closer to the city. All the incidents have been occurring outside the city, but the kids have only been recovered inside.\"

\"Are they alright?\" asked the woman, eyeing where her boys were.

\"No ma\'am. All children recovered thus far, have been dead.\"

\"Oh god!\"

\"They\'ve all had puncture wounds on their arms, but no drugs in their systems.\"

\"How did they die?\" asked Kale.

\"Throats cut. They\'re sick people. But we haven\'t been able to find their hide out yet.\"

\"MAMA!!!!\" the group turned to see several large men seem to just pop right up out of the ground, and grab the boys. Motorbikes appeared the same way, and carried them all away.

\"SHIT!!!\" And the security officers took off after the bikes.

\"My babies!!\"

\"Max! Nightmare!\" Kale grabbed Max\'s saddle and was galloping after the vehicles, soon followed by D.

The bikes backtracked the road they\'d traveled the night before, then headed off, over the hill, nearly heading straight down. \"DAMN!!!\" shouted the officer driving, and as his partner radioed for help, Kale joined them. \"We can\'t get down that. We\'ll tip.\"

\"It is pretty steep,\" she said scanning the hillside. \"Too many rocks and stuff for your wheels. Pretty dangerous, but possible.\"

\"What do you mean?\"

\"Don\'t suppose you\'ve heard of Snowy River?\"

\"No. Never been North of here. Hey! Where are you going?\"

She ran her hose several yards back from the edge before turning around. \"Sir, central doesn\'t have any units in the area. We\'re gona loose them.\"

\"Where\'s Kale going?\" asked D, seeing she\'d rode away from the edge.

\"Not sure. Those kids are dead. We\'ll never find them. By the time we get down there, they\'ll be long gone.\"

\"How fast can this thing go?\"

\"110 - 150 kph. But that\'s not the problem. The hill.\"

\"You\'re woman said something about Snowy River. Does that mean anything to you?\"

\"No. I\'ve never heard...No...Kale!! NO!!!!\" But realization came too late, as Kale leaped Max over the edge, and ran him straight down the hill, laying nearly flat over his hindquarters, holding tight to the reins. \"KALE!!!!!\"

\"She\'s crazy!\"

\"She\'ll never make it!\"

\"Keep your head up Max!\" she yelled, as his metal hooves dug into the rocky soil. \"We\'re almost there!\" Abruptly Max leapt off the hillside and onto level ground, his rider returning upright on his back. She spurred him further chasing after the bikes, which had slowed considerably, the drivers being secure in their well distanced lead. \"We\'ve gotta get them Max. Don\'t let me down!\"

A third vehicle joined then and continued on towards the city. The third bike however, appeared a bit unstable, but she quickly realized that the passenger of the bike was figg wig with their small captive. Suddenly, they let the little one go. As Kale passed the child, wrapped in a ratty old cloak, her heart sank. The child lay unmoving, blood pouring out over the ground. \"Max, I don\'t care what you have to do,\" she said, spurring him further. \"STOP THOSE BASTARDS!!\" The horse snorted and tried to run faster.

\"Sir! Someone\'s chasing us!\"

\"So, they\'re too far back to really worry about. They\'ll never get to us before...\"

\"No sir! This one is almost on top of us!\"

\"WHAT!!\" The driver switched on his rear view screen to see a silver horse with rider, barreling down on them at incredible speed. \"Where\'d he come from?!\"

\"Not sure!\" said his passenger, looking threw his binoculars. \"But you\'ll love this. It\'s a woman.\"

\"Really! Well, this day just keeps getting better,\" Suddenly the bikes next to him began to wobble, and smoke poured from their engines.

\"Arrows!\" one driver called over the radio. \"We\'re being fired at with arrows! We\'re loosing power!\"

Suddenly the bike he was driving did the same, \"SHIT!! Arm up. Prepare to attack!\"

One by one the bikes had little choice but to stop. As the passengers of the first two held onto the children, they all took cover behind their vehicles, and took aim at Kale with their pulse guns. \"FIRE!\"

Seeing the blasts of deadly light fly at him, Max, stopped and reared high, taking the hits along his neck, chest, and stomach. One shot broke the saddle girth, and Kale fell back to the ground. As Max fell in front of her providing her cover from further blasts.

She drew an arrow across her long bow, and took out one of the shooters, her arrow piercing his left knee cap. The man fell screaming to the ground.

She fired three more arrows, but only managed to land one hit. Knocking away a pulse gun, causing it to overload and explode. She was in luck with the third, his gun jammed, or stopped working for some reason. Kale ran forward, sending a smaller arrow into the two other shooter\'s legs, to keep them from moving too quickly. She then loaded her cross bow, and her long bow at the same time, pointing the longbow to the man who held the youngest boy. \"You want to find out how fast I can fire these, just try and move. NOW LET THE BOYS GO!!! RIGHT NOW!!!\"

Slowly the men let the boys down and stepped back. \"Boys, go to my horse and stay there. GO! RUN!!\" Quickly the older boy took his brother\'s hand and ran to her fallen steed. \"Get on your knees. Face each other. NOW!! Chest to chest! MOVE!!\" The two did. \"Arms around each other, cross your angles.\"

\"BEHIND YOU!\" D shouted charging closer, but she turned too late, as an unwounded man ran at her, with a large bush knife. She jumped back but his lunge sent his blade threw the skin of her thy. She went down screaming, more in shock, than in pain.

The man tossed his knife to the two on the ground. \"Get it back to base!\" he shouted, \"I\'ll hold them here! GO!\" The two scrambled over the hill with the bloody blade, and disappeared. \"I die to save you,\" he whispered, as D came at him and knocked him flat.

\"You\'ll live to face your crimes!\" he hissed. \"Though I wish I could kill you.\" Quickly he joined Kale to inspect her wound.