Chronicles of the Uprising (Trilogy 1): Trilogy 1 by Katie Salidas, K.A. Salidas Read Free Book Online Page A

to her aid, but lost his head with a clean swipe of a soldier’s sword. When her vision returned, she found her lover, lifeless, drenched in his own blood. 
    It was the beginning of the end for her. Frozen where she stood, she hadn’t even seen the soldier who had come up behind her. A silver-lined hood stole her vision, and the next thing Mira knew, she was being delivered to a Social Reassignment Facility. Vampire prison.
    No fresh air. No beautiful moonlight. No freedom.
    For weeks after, she endured unspeakable torture. The humans knew there was a vampire refuge somewhere, and they knew Mira had been heading for it. It was the only reason she’d been kept alive. But she would never betray her kind.
    Having proven her strength and ability to take abuse, Mira was sold into the slave trade to be used as a gladiator. That had become her lot in this life: fight until the day she died her true and final death.
    Footsteps echoed in the distance. A fast, heavy pace. Men. Handlers, most likely, here to bring round two of torture, no doubt. Mira dreaded the next round of her penance, but resigned herself to it. Couldn’t be any worse than the lightbox.
    “Prisoner 8254-B, stand and make yourself ready,” the short, clipped male voice announced.
    Relief escaped from Mira’s mouth in a loud sigh. Weak as she still felt, and knowing her face was flushed with emotional tears, Mira was never more glad to not have her number called.
    She listened to the sound of the keypad as the handler entered in the code for George’s cell. Interestingly, his code was only eight numbers, whereas hers was ten. Were all the cells coded with not only different numbers but different lengths of code as well? She’d have to pay closer attention each time a vampire was pulled from their cell. Good information for future reference. George might argue against it, but for all he’d done for her, she’d find a way to get him out too. It was the least she could do.
    A soft click confirmed the correct code, and then the cell door opened. Mira glanced over to her friend. The tall, bald vampire held his hands out willingly, ready to accept his shackles. George was always such a good boy. His eyes flitted over to her. “Be a good girl while I’m gone,” he whispered.
    “No talking,” the handler barked at him, and then turned in Mira’s direction. “And you, don’t look so cocky. We’ll be back for you in a moment. You’ve earned yourself extra training.”
    In an effort to appease George, Mira bit her tongue rather than respond to the handler’s taunting.
    Training – that was a funny way to describe it. Just as many vampires died in the training hall as in the arena. “No rest for the wicked,” Mira sighed. She wished she’d had a little more blood to help gain her strength back.

Chapter 4
     
    Harsh fluorescent lights glared down from high rafters. Mira hit the dirt-covered ground with a groan. Still weak from her time in the lightbox, her already screaming muscles threatened to give out, but she had to keep going. The six-foot-five vampire charging her was not about to stop. The only true difference between an arena battle and training was the size of the crowd. Tegan didn’t need a crowd to witness his victory. He’d had a chip on his shoulder since the last time she’d bested him, and given Mira’s weakened state, she was the prime target for his vengeance.
    With a growl of fury, Mira summoned the energy to roll away from the foot Tegan swung at her. Dust blew up in the air, stinging her eyes as she maneuvered to avoid another kick.
    “Not so tough now, are you?” the large male vampire taunted.
    Mira struggled to find her footing and keep away from his wild attacks. He was big and he was skilled, but he was also cocky. Many a formidable vampire had found their end through hubris, and Tegan was well on his way down that road. If Mira let him wear himself out, he’d eventually make a mistake, and that was when she needed to