Catalyst

Cole moved ahead by himself, methodically slaughtering every vampire he came across. He smiled and walked toward them, alone. The vampires didn't fear him. Most thought he was wandering the halls because he could. They tried to force him back to his room. That was when Cole attacked. They never saw it coming. They never suspected him capable of murder.



As Cole wiped the inky blood off his knife he muttered, "Arrogant bastards." His foot connected with the dead vampire in front of him, kicking the body hard. Killing them wasn't enough. It didn't fix what they did to him, to his family. Cole tried hard to contain his emotions, but they threatened to pour out. Killing brought out the worst in him. Cassie knew it, which was why she wanted him to show mercy, but Cole didn't want to show mercy. He wanted to annihilate their kind, and wipe vampires from the face of the Earth.



Maybe he shouldn't have told her what the vamps intended to do with her. The Captain told him that little piece of information last. She meant for it to make him realize there was no escape. Killing her shouldn't have changed anything, but it changed everything. Cole knew what was happening in the palace that night and where. Maybe he should have protected Cassie from the truth, but it was too late now.



After Cole cleared the hallway, he went back and singled to Cassie that they could follow. Then, the pattern repeated. As they moved closer to the exit, there were more vampires moving through the palace. They were flooding toward a single point like rats running from a storm. At one point, Cole forced the group into a room. There were too many vampires moving through the halls. Sneaking the group outside with so many vampires present wasn't an option. He needed a better vantage point to see what changed. This was not what the Captain had planned. Something was happening.



Cole signaled to Chaucer for him to remain by the door. Crossing the room swiftly, Cole reached out and pushed back a massive velvet drape. He looked out the window and cursed under his breath. From where Cole stood, he could see the front palace lawn. It was covered in vampires with a single figure leading them forward, dressed in red. Sophia. Cole watched closely, trying to determine what was happening. The front lawn was mostly smooth, with the exception of the front drive that curved toward the palace with thick snow banks on either side.



Turning his face, Cole looked the other way. The room they were in jutted out from the side of the building in one of the remote wings of the palace. It allowed let him see the edge of the Southern lawn, as well, which appeared undisturbed. The orchard sat there frozen, the jagged branches jutting up into the cloudy sky like bony fingers. That side of the palace was all hills and shadows. While Cole didn't see anything, that didn't mean it was safe.



Glancing back at the front lawn, Cole noticed that the vamps that moved through the building were all spilling out onto the front lawn. They seemed to be moving toward Sophia. A truck was also approaching the front gates, bouncing down the driveway, flanked by guards on snow mobiles. Sophia spread her arms wide and laughed as the wind battered her skirt, streaking it like spilled blood across a canvas of white snow.



Cole turned toward the room of pale faces. There was only one thing to do, one way to proceed. Cassie was going to kill him. Drawing himself up to his full height, Cole spoke with authority that shocked most of them. Chaucer leaned against the door, watching, as if he knew Cole was capable of so much more.



"The vamps are moving to a single location on the front lawn. This is a deviation from the information I gleaned earlier." Cole's gaze cut from face to face and finally landed on Cassie's. Her brown eyes were narrowing, as if she knew what he was going to say before he said it. "We're exiting through the south side of the palace. It's our best bet. Once outside, we travel on foot until morning. If you fall behind, you're left behind." He directed that comment at Brent specifically, before continuing. "I'm going outside first to make sure we can get out. Do not leave this room. Understand? Chaucer, guard the door. Kill anything that comes through it. It should take me twenty minutes to reach the South exit and survey the path to the outer wall."



Cassie pushed to the front of the group, "I'm coming with you."



"No, you aren't. You're staying here where I know you'll be safe." Cole didn't even he look at her.



Cassie snapped at his heels, following him to the door like she intended to punch Chaucer in the face if he tried to stop her. "You can't tell me what to do anymore! We aren't children. Going out there alone is stupid. At least let me - "



Cole rounded on her. Lowering his face to hers, he hissed, "There's nothing you can do, Cassie. Stay here. If something happens to me, you'll be the one they look to for help. If I'm not back within the hour, move out. You can't stay here. Understand?"



"Cole," she pleaded, but he was already out the door.



Looking over his shoulder, Cole saw Cassie's big brown eyes watching him walk away. "Lock it," he said to Chaucer, who nodded and pressed the door shut. When Cole heard the click, he took off at a full run.