Vampire Apocalypse: Fallout (Book 3) by Derek Gunn Read Free Book Online Page B

hard in guerrilla tactics against armed, stationary targets
who might be aware that an attack might come at some time, but they
could not remain at high alert constantly. This attack, however,
was on a fully armed patrol that was obviously well trained and
actively expecting a surprise attack. But he really didn’t see
another choice. The fact that this patrol had crossed into Nero’s
territory and had not yet been challenged would expose the fact
that Nero no longer controlled this territory, and that would
invite a much closer inspection, if not an all-out invasion. They
had to ensure that this patrol did not report back or they would
risk losing everything.
    He really had thought that they
would be able to stop this type of hit and run tactics when he had
sent Steele to the vampires to tell them of the danger of the
serum. But something was going on that just did not make sense to
him.
    Since their rescue of the
prisoners three months ago the entire landscape had changed
dramatically. The thralls had taken their destiny into their own
hands and had split from the vampires. In the confusion resulting
from each side consolidating their own positions, Harris and his
team had been able to continue rescuing prisoners, though on a far
smaller scale since they had their own troubles in the
community.
    A deep sadness threatened to
overwhelm him but he forced it back savagely. He understood the
community’s motives even if he didn’t agree with their methods. But
it had been three months now and the prisoners they had rescued
were still being given the serum. It didn’t make sense. Didn’t the
vampires know that they would die as well if they continued to
drink the blood of serum-saturated humans? He knew that the message
had reached Von Richelieu because Steele had confirmed it before he
had killed himself.
    God ! He thought as his
depression grew. There had been so much death already. Good friends
had died during their last mission. Their faces swept in front of
him as if using the thick dust as a movie screen, Steele, Carlos
Ortega, Dee Ratigan, and Rodgers. The list was far too long. It
seemed that there would be no end to this struggle, after all.
Their sacrifices had been for nothing. Maybe he shouldn’t have told
the vampires about the serum, it certainly didn’t seem to have done
any good. And now that they knew that free humans existed they
would continue searching for them until they were certain they were
completely wiped out. Even with Adam Wilkins’ wireless protection
it was unrealistic to think that they could remain hidden
indefinitely. Had he doomed everyone after all? Had it really all
been for nothing?
    Here he was again, lying in wait
for thralls in a hastily prepared trap, but what did it really
matter? Even those who they had rescued had turned against them or
failed to stand with them when the committee had passed judgement
on him. He still found it hard to believe that fellow survivors had
actually cast out their own people. Well, it had been only him that
had been banished, but the many of his team had stood with him and
had shared his fate because of it. On one hand, it had been
somewhat encouraging to see how many people had actually stood up
and wanted to come with him, but, in the end, he had not been able
to accept their sacrifice. Some he had had to force to stay. Men
like Pat Smyth and Father Jonathon Reilly would serve everyone
better if they stayed where they could continue their work. But
others he had accepted gratefully.
    He had been shocked when the
verdict had come in. It had been just after Steele had paid them a
visit as a vampire. The fact that he had been able to just appear
inside their community so easily had shocked everyone and Phelps
had used this fear to force through the emergency meeting that had
led to his banishment. Phelps had argued that if Steele could just
simply waltz in among them, so too could an army of vampires. Of
course, it had all been Harris’ fault. He had