Day Soldiers

Prologue

The Declaration Video

November 1, 2017.

Before yesterday, you didn’t believe in us. To you, we were just myths from a time when people believed in silly superstitions. We were fictional characters in your books and movies. We were Halloween costumes and art inspirations for your depressed teenagers.

This arrangement was fine with us. As a matter of fact, it was better than fine. We’ve always known how dangerous you are. You destroy everything you touch, whether you love it, hate it, or are indifferent to it. You are, without a doubt, the most destructive force this planet has ever known.

You even destroy the things that are vital to your own survival. You pollute the air you breathe, the water you drink, and the land that feeds you. You hunt animals to extinction and you decimate the very forests that clean your air.

We’ve always known the day would come when we had to step from the shadows and stop you. We knew that day was inevitable, but we’ve tried to put it off. It was just more convenient for us when you didn’t believe we existed.

As long as we were careful, we could do what we pleased to you and you didn’t retaliate. I mean, what would your police say to a man who told them a vampire had been drinking his blood or a werewolf had mauled his wife? As long as we were unknown to you, we were safe from you.

But yesterday, everything changed. Thanks to your Dr. Jackson Bates, you now know we exist. You know we’re here. We are now on your radar of destruction.

And because of this, we have decided the time has come to end your destructive domination of this world. Your day has ended. When the sun comes up tomorrow, the world will no longer belong to humanity.

This video has been sent to every news organization in the world, as well as millions of websites. We don’t want you to hide behind the idea that you’re our victims. You are not. You are victims of yourselves.

If you had left us alone, who knows what might have happened. Our hope was that you’d eventually recognize the destructive nature of your actions and take steps to improve yourselves.

None of that matters, though. We’re no longer in the shadows. You dragged us into the light. You forced us to take action against you.

Tonight, that action begins. The world is no longer yours.

Tonight, we are taking it from you.

Consider this video our declaration of war.

Ten Years Later…

Part one:

Iveyton, Virginia

Chapter 1

The Girl in the Woods

The three vampires watched from their high vantage point as the girl walked through their woods. She walked with purpose and without fear, which intrigued the creatures.

From a branch far above the girl, one of the vampires whispered, She is neither lost nor afraid. I do not like this.

She is searching for something, a second vampire answered.

"She is searching for us, the third creature added. I suggest we let her find us."

Soon, the first vampire whispered, but not yet. This one has me curious.

On the ground, the girl turned on her flashlight, pointing the beam of light at the trees around her. I know you’re here! she yelled. You have an eighteen year old girl, alone in the woods. What the hell are you waiting for?

She makes a good point.

Don’t be a fool.

This is no trap. We can have her dead and drained before she even realizes we’re here. She must know this.

He’s right. The girl came here to die.

Or to become one of us.

Possible.

Let’s find out. Before the others could stop him, one of the vampires jumped from the branch, landing silently in front of the girl.

Still in the trees above, the first vampire closed his eyes.

You’re calling Caleb, the other said.

The first nodded.

You want to turn the girl.

The monster smiled. If Caleb allows it, yes. She is interesting. He leapt from the branch, followed by his companion.

***

Lily Baxter stood silently as the third vampire dropped from the trees, joining the other two as they walked around her, creating a small circle of vampires. Their steps made no sound on the leaves, giving Lily the uneasy impression they were actually floating.

You shouldn’t be here, child, one of the vampires said.

These woods do not belong to the living, another one said as he floated by, disgustingly close to her face.

Maybe it was the same vampire that spoke first. Lily wasn’t sure because they looked exactly the same. White, translucent skin was stretched over their skeletal faces, which were covered in a spider web of blue veins. They were completely hairless, which made their pointed, misshapen ears look larger than they probably were.

Lily fought to control her breathing as she spoke. I don’t want to be among the living, she whispered weakly.

One of the vampires laughed, showing a mouth full of sharp teeth. "Are you saying you want to die?"

Maybe she wants to join us, another vampire added with a whispered chuckle.

Is that it, child? one of the creatures asked as he floated by her face.

Lily just shrugged.

And what do we have here?

The voice came from somewhere in the woods. It was deep and masculine, nothing like the serpentine voices of the vampires.

A powerful looking man stepped into the clearing. His muscular body was the closest thing Lily had ever seen to human perfection. It was hard not to notice, especially since the man was completely naked.

But he’s not a man, Lily reminded herself.

The vampires seemed startled by the man’s arrival. Phillip, one of them whispered.

Phillip smiled warmly. Disappointed to see me?

Quite the opposite, the vampire said. We are deeply honored. We expected Caleb.

Caleb is on assignment, Phillip said. I was in the area and got your call. You want to turn this little girl?

I would consider it, the vampire said, with your permission.

Phillip turned to Lily. Why would you want to be one of these pitiful things? They’re far from the romanticized beings in your literature.

Lily looked at the three vampires, then back at the large man. You’re right.

Then why? Phillip asked again. They’re repulsive little parasites. But werewolves, on the other hand, offer so much more. We’re part of the natural world. We have beauty. We have eternity. We were worshipped as gods by many of your cultures. What makes a vampire more appealing to you?

They aren’t more appealing, Lily said. "And it’s not that they have something you don’t. It’s that you have something they don’t."

You’re confusing me, child.

You’re alive and they are not, Lily said. She wiped the moisture from her eyes. And I don’t want to be.

Phillip laughed. Ah, he said. Broken heart. So what happened? Were you betrayed by a lover? Or perhaps you’ve tasted death and now find life unbearable. Did someone close to you die?

Nobody died, Lily said.

Then it’s a broken heart, Phillip said. He turned to one of the vampires. I see now why you want to turn this one. Melancholy and vampires go together like peanut butter and jelly.

I’m looking at a werewolf, Lily said as she dropped to her knees.

Phillip looked down at her. What an odd thing to say. He turned again to one of the vampires. Is the area secure? I hope you weren’t foolish enough to call me to an area you haven’t secured. I can smell humanity on you three. You’re young little blood suckers. I’d hate to kill you before you got to really enjoy your new condition.

It is secure, Phillip, the vampire answered. The town is very secluded. There is no military presence this far from the war line. We were passing through these mountains, on our way to Jackson’s Folly, when we stumbled across this little buffet. We watched them for a month before we decided to bleed the town dry. There most certainly is nothing here but townspeople.

I don’t mean the town, Phillip said. I mean these woods, right now. Did you make sure she was alone?

Before the vampire could answer, Lily said, Do it now.

Phillip looked down her. The agitation on his face was unmistakable. Do not give me orders, little girl.

Lily smiled. I wasn’t talking to you.

For a brief moment, Phillip looked confused. Just as understanding crept into his eyes, a tiny hole appeared in the center of his forehead.

The vampires watched in horror as Phillip touched the fresh bullet hole in his own head. He pulled his hand down and looked at the blood on his fingertips. He staggered back a few steps, then fell to the ground.

The vampires stood over his dead body, staring down at him in horrified silence.

The silence was broken when two of the vampires gave agonized screams as wooden stakes burst from their chests. They fell forward, landing on the werewolf’s dead body.

Lily stood above them, still holding the bloody stakes she had driven through their backs. She looked down at Phillip. Was he important? The way you’re acting makes me think he was important.

Before the remaining vampire could answer, an arrow zipped from the woods and pierced his chest, then his heart. He fell against a tree and slid to the ground.

Wow, Lily said as she looked at the four dead creatures. That was way easier than I thought it would be.

No kidding, a voice said from her front shirt pocket. It was a young man’s voice.

Lily pulled her cell phone from her pocket and said, Leo, why the hell are you not here?

It’s a long walk, Leo Rosenberg said as he stepped from the shadows. He was a young man, nineteen years old, with short brown hair and a badly growing goatee. A pair of night-vision goggles hung around his neck. A rifle and crossbow hung from each of his shoulders.

Holy shit, he said as he stepped beside Lily and looked down at the bodies. That was intense.

Lily looked at him and chuckled humorlessly. Oh, poor you, she said. Having to hide in the woods while your best friend stood nose to nose with three vampires and a werewolf.

It was your plan, Leo said. He looked back at Phillip and shook his head. A werewolf, he whispered. Damn. When you said you were looking at a werewolf, I was sure he’d figure it out and kill us both.

Me too, Lily said as she nervously ran her fingers through her reddish brown hair. But I didn’t have a choice. I was afraid you couldn’t hear what he was saying. I had to make sure you used the right weapon.

I’m glad you thought of it. I couldn’t hear anybody but you. That’s why it took a few seconds for me to get the gun out and aimed.

I don’t understand these guys, Lily said, pointing toward one of the dead vampires.

Yeah, Leo said. I thought they were supposed to turn to dust or something.

No, dumbass, Lily said. They revert back to their original age. Only the really old ones turn to dust. Clearly, these guys were new to the undead ranks. What I don’t understand is why they just stood there.

Maybe you were right about the werewolf being someone important, Leo said. Looked to me like they were in shock.

Makes me nervous that an important werewolf is this far into Virginia, Lily said.

Yeah, Leo said. I’m just amazed he didn’t smell me. I heard werewolves can smell people from a mile away. We were damn lucky.

No, Lily said. We were damn smart. We made sure you stayed downwind. I made sure to wear perfume and I made sure to make as much noise as possible. And even though we didn’t expect a werewolf, you brought the gun. Don’t give luck credit for our planning and hard work.

Well, I know one thing, Leo said. We’re going to be legends.

Don’t be stupid, Lily said. Day Soldiers kill vampires every single day.

Well, Leo said, that might be true, but it wasn’t Day Soldiers who just saved Iveyton from three vampires and a werewolf.

Lily grinned. Leo, my friend, you make a fine point. Now where’s your knife? We’ve got some trophies to take back to town.

Chapter 2

Iveyton Dawn

Darren Baxter woke early, as usual. Judging from the light filtering into his window, he guessed it was a little after six. He looked at his bedside clock.

6:14 am.

Trying his best to not wake Beth, he slipped from the bed and silently made his way downstairs to the kitchen. He checked to make sure coffee was brewing (thanks to the automatic timer), then picked up the remote on the kitchen table and turned on the TV built into the kitchen wall.

Let’s see who died today, he mumbled as he flipped it to his favorite news channel.

If that’s decaf, Beth said as she walked into the kitchen, I’m kicking you in the face.

Darren smiled. You’re the one always telling me I need to drink less caffeine.

Not at six-thirty in the morning, Beth said. She walked to the kitchen cabinet and pulled down two coffee cups.

Don’t worry, Darren said. It’s fully caffeinated. Did I wake you?

Nah, Beth said. I was awake when you got up. Just not awake enough to move or speak. So anything new happen last night? She was looking at the TV.

Not that I can tell, Darren answered. "No Breaking News across the screen, which is always a good sign."

The coffee pot beeped, signaling that the coffee was ready. Beth poured them both a cup of coffee and sat down at the table across from her husband. So, she said, when are we going to continue our conversation from last night?

Not at six-thirty in the morning, Darren said.

I’ll let you watch your news, Beth said as she sipped her coffee.

Thanks.

She took another sip. You know why I was already up this morning, right?

Darren let a barely audible sigh slip out.

I couldn’t sleep, she continued. Was up and down all night.

So when you said you’d let me watch the news, Darren said, that was a lie.

Totally, Beth said.

Fine. Darren placed his coffee on the table and turned to face his wife. By all means, continue.

Don’t pout, Beth said.

Don’t start an argument fifteen minutes after I crawl out of bed, Darren said.

We’re not arguing, Beth corrected. We’re discussing.

We’re discussing something that we don’t agree on, Darren said. That’s arguing.

I’ll give my sister time to wake up, then I’ll call her, Beth said.

No, Beth. I’m not moving to Florida.

Just give her a chance, Beth continued. I only want you to hear her out. That’s all. She’s much better at explaining things.

You explained it fine last night. It wasn’t your explanation that I disagree with. It was your suggestion. I am not moving to Florida.

Darren, it’ll be years before the war makes it down to Florida, Beth said. Her eyes were begging.

What’s changed? Darren asked. Why are you suddenly so afraid to live here?

I’m amazed you have to ask that, Beth said. In the past month, four people have gone missing. And two were found dead.

Blake fell out of a window, Darren said. He was a drunk. Accidents happen.

What about Marla? She was found on her front porch.

Marla was eighty-seven years old, Darren said. Old people die.

Don’t be an ass, Beth said. She was a wonderful woman.

I agree, Darren said. And she lived a long life.

Darren, there are vampires living in those woods, Beth said. The sheriff might not want to admit it, but it’s true. You know it and I know it. Hell, even Lily knows it.

"We don’t know it, Darren said, but even if it were true, it wouldn’t mean we have to move."

What the hell is wrong with you? Beth said. Of course it means we have to move!

Vampires are a fact of life now, Darren said. Moving to Florida won’t stop them from existing. I promise you, if we do have a vampire problem, it’s not the first time they’ve been here. And I guarantee Florida is not vampire free.

There was a battle in Virginia Beach last week, Darren! Virginia Beach! That’s our own state. And it wasn’t just some random vampire attack. It was a full scale battle!

A battle, Darren said, "that we won. The Day Soldiers drove them out. Besides, Virginia Beach is on the other side of the damn state. I’ve never made that drive in less than eight hours."

An eight hour drive, Beth said, is too close. This war has reached our front door. I don’t know why you refuse to admit it.

Because, Darren said, I’ve lived in this town for forty-seven years. It’s my home. The only home I’ve ever known. He paused for a moment. Besides the damn desert.

Don’t be stupid, Beth said. Don’t sacrifice your family for some misguided devotion to a bunch of buildings in the middle of the mountains.

We’re getting nowhere, Darren said. We said all this last night.

Darren, please. To my sister, the entire war is just something she reads about in the paper. It doesn’t exist down there. Lily could have a life. A normal life.

Lily is eighteen years old, Darren said. I think she deserves to have a say in this. You keep talking about our family. Well, maybe this should be a family decision. I say we wait until she gets outta bed and have a family discussion about this.

That’s not fair, Beth said. You know she’ll side with you. Hell, she thinks the town should send a group into the woods to hunt those things down.

The idea’s got merit, Darren said.

Don’t look so smug, Beth said.

Darren smiled. Can’t help that the girl looks up to her daddy.

Of course you can help it, Beth said. Most parents buy their kids a fishing pole when they’re twelve. You bought Lily her first crossbow.

The day those things crawled outta the shadows, everything changed, Darren said. Besides, I showed her how to fish too. It’s an important survival skill.

Well, I know your heart’s in the right place, Beth said, but I can’t help but worry that it’ll get her killed one day.

That’s a mean thing to say, Darren said.

She’s over-confident, Beth said. She has no fear of the night.

Good, Darren said with cold eyes. Those things don’t own the night. The world needs more people like Lily. If we just roll over and give in to our fear, they’ll win this war. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think a cow has a very good life, and I sure as hell don’t plan to become one. Not teaching her what I’ve taught her would’ve been a death sentence. Or worse.

Beth got up, walked to the coffee pot, and began to fill her cup. She looked out the kitchen window at the old road running into the woods. In the early morning light, she could see the road and the edge of the woods, but nothing beyond the initial tree line. The morning fog still lingered over the ground and between the trees.

I used to love those woods in the morning, Beth said. The road just disappears into the woods, swallowed up by the fog. I used to think it was beautiful.

Seems to me, Darren said, you’d think it’s even more beautiful now. It’s signaling the end of the night.

No, Beth said. Now, when I look at that road and those woods, I just wonder what kind of monster is hiding in there. I wonder if it’s planning to hit our house next. Is it going to crawl up the side of the house and pull Lily from her bedroom? Am I going to wake up to find some horror movie monster standing over our bed? She turned and looked at her husband. I can’t take it here, anymore, Darren. I’m sorry. I just can’t. She looked back out the window.

Darren sighed. Okay, he said.

Don’t say that if you don’t mean it, Beth said, still looking out the window.

I’m not agreeing to move to Florida, Darren said. But we can talk about it. As a family.

Beth just shook her head in frustration.

I’m serious, Beth, Darren said. When Lily gets up, we’ll talk about it. We won’t argue and we won’t let her be the tie-breaker. We’ll seriously talk about it as a family. You tell her what you just told me. We’ll put our heads together and we’ll come up with a solution. I promise, babe. We’ll come up with something.

Holy God, Beth whispered, staring at something outside the window.

The fear in her voice caused a chill to dance its way down Darren’s spine. What is it?

She didn’t answer.

Beth, Darren said, standing up. What’s out there?

Our daughter, Beth said. "Lily is out there. With that Rosenberg kid. And Darren… they’re carrying heads."

Darren didn’t bother to look out the window. He ran straight to the kitchen door and darted outside.

***

Lily and Leo walked down the center of the road, toward town. Leo carried the severed heads of two of the vampires. Lily carried the heads of the other vampire and the werewolf.

All I’m saying, Leo said, is that we’re not equal. Purely from a scientific standpoint, we’re not equal.

And all I’m saying, Lily said, is you’re a damn sexist.

I’m not, Leo said. You said it yourself. Men and women are equal in every way.

They are, Lily said.

Except men are physically stronger.

So what? Lily said. That has very little meaning in this day and age.

Doesn’t matter, Leo said. "I’m not talking about the value of being stronger. I’m saying if men and women are equal in every way but one, and in that one way men are better, then that means men are actually superior to women. It’s irrelevant if you put no value in the one way we’re better."

Complete bullshit.

How so? Leo said. Look at it this way. Let’s say aliens came to earth looking for slaves. They would choose men, because men and women are equal in every way, but men are stronger. They’d choose the men because they would know that men are superior animals.

If you ask me, Lily said, your example means women are superior. We wouldn’t get chosen by your slavers.

No, Leo said. That’s dumb. You’re saying women are superior because they’re inferior.

We can make babies.

Not without us, Leo said with a smirk. Just admit it. From a purely objective point of view, men are superior to women. And I’m not talking about individuals. I’m sure there are women stronger than most men. But overall, men are stronger. And since we’re equal in every other way, that means we’re superior.

Sexist, Lily said. I swear, the only reason I stay friends with you is because I find your shooting skills useful.

Leo laughed. Now who’s full of it, he said. Look, I’m not talking about social equality. Of course we’re equal socially. In today’s world, there’s nothing a man can do that a woman can’t. I’m just saying –

Women are smarter, Lily said.

Leo laughed again. There’s absolutely no evidence of that.

Really? Lily said. Has a woman ever gotten mad at you because you didn’t read her mind and guess what she wanted?

That’s not intelligence, Leo said. It’s the opposite, actually.

Nope, Lily said. It’s because women are far more observant creatures. We’re better at nonverbal communication. That’s why we get angry when you can’t figure out what we want unless we spell it out to you. We’re constantly overestimating men’s ability to pick up on the more subtle forms of communication. Body language and such. And I think the four severed heads we’re carrying pretty much proves that intelligence is the better trait to have.

Well, Leo said, there’s no reason to continue this debate. I’m using proven scientific information and you’re just making stuff up.

Your face is making stuff up, Lily said.

That doesn’t even make sense.

Your face doesn’t make sense.