City of Light (Outcast 1)

I closed my eyes briefly. “He’s dead. He will never harm another child.”

“To which I can only say, ‘good.’” He paused. “I take it he w

as also déchet?”

“Yes. But an assassin, not a soldier.”

“I wasn’t aware there were different types.”

“No, because the few mentions of us in the history books tar us all with the one brush even as they retouch the truth and paint the shifters in a glorious light.”

He didn’t say anything to that, but there wasn’t much that could be said. It was the truth, pure and simple. I waved a hand to the door. “Go.”

He hesitated. “Good luck.”

“Thanks.” I crossed my arms and refused to look at him, even though I could feel his silent command to do so. After several seconds, he walked out the door and didn’t look back.

As the sound of his steps retreated, I released a breath and glanced to where Bear waited patiently. “I know you want to come with me, but I need you here. You’re the oldest of the little ones, and the only one who has had any sort of combat training. I’m afraid it falls to you to protect this place—and them—from attack while we’re all gone.”

His energy caressed my skin. You should not be alone with the others. They are dangerous.

Yes, they were. But they were also déchet, and used to following orders. Maybe not mine, but I was hoping that after a hundred years of guarding nothing more than their bones and waiting for orders that would never again come, they would jump at the chance for action.

They are our only hope against such a large nest of vampires, Bear. I have no choice but to attempt this.

If it goes wrong, if death comes, call, he said. We should be together at such a time.

I closed my eyes against the sting of tears. They’d died in my embrace, and he was now offering the same comfort to me. Thank you. I will, I promise.

He pulled away. I took a somewhat shaky breath, then spun and headed for the weapons room. If I was to have any hope of surviving the next few hours, then I’d better be armed to the teeth. It wasn’t just weapons that I grabbed, but a large roll of light tubing. It was as heavy as hell and would restrict the speed with which I could move, but when all else failed, the pack full of weapons and the attached tubing might be the only thing standing between certain death and us.

With that done, I headed down to the ninth level. The closer I got to them, the more their energy bit. I hoped like hell it wasn’t a bad sign.

Cat returned, her energy briefly brushing my skin, her presence warm compared to the chill the adult déchet were emitting. They have gone. The grate is closed again.

“Thanks, Cat.” I sat down and held out my hand. “I need your help to contact the adults.”

That is dangerous.

I know. But I had no other choice given the adults seemed intent on keeping their distance.

Cat didn’t hesitate, simply let her energy caress my palm and merge into mine. As I became one with that other realm and the creeping hand of death once again began to claim my flesh, I said, “Déchet soldiers, I need your help.”

There was no immediate response, but the chill of death increased, and this time it came from without rather than from within.

Then a sharp voice behind me said, We know what you want. Tell us, why should we help those who are responsible for our destruction?

“Because you’re not helping them. You’re helping their children, who cannot be held accountable for the actions of their parents during a time of war.”

No one helped our little ones. They were left to rot just as much as we were.

“I know precisely what was done to them. I was there, remember?”

And survived.

“Because of my genetics, and the fact I was made immune to all toxins and poisons, yes. That is not my fault.”

We do not blame you for surviving.