Dying Days 5 by Armand Rosamilia Page B

Lord."
    "I'd like to come with you."
    Taylor shook her head. "I can't risk it. If I did the wrong thing by bringing you with me, I'm afraid of what he would do to me."
    Darlene was concerned. "He's been hurting you."
    Taylor laughed. "Not at all. In fact, he's made sure I eat good food and I have a nice room of my own. He even found me an iPod the other night filled with great songs and a charger for it." She dropped her smile. "But I don't want to push it. He can still get mad. I don't want him mad at me."
    "I understand. But hurry back. I promise I won't leave," Darlene said. She watched Taylor leave.
    If The Lich Lord wanted her dead, it would've happened a dozen times already. In fact, the zombie seemed to be going out of his way to be nice and accommodating to her. He'd healed her, and she felt amazing right now. Probably better than she had since this all began. Her mind was clear and her body wasn't battered and bruised. She'd been eating well and drinking lots of water and other liquids.
    Taylor came back about twenty minutes later, smiling. "He said he'd see you in the arena. Come on."
    Darlene followed Taylor. She stopped when she saw an open doorway and peeked inside to see cots laid out in rows and many sick and old survivors.
    "This is where I work. They are under my care. I make sure they get everything they want and need," Taylor said.
    "Does The Lich Lord feed off of them?"
    Taylor shook her head. "He no longer needs to feed on blood or with carnal desire. He drains you with his mind, but only those who aren't part of our sanctuary. He's sworn on more than one occasion no harm will come from him. We are his people."
    "You worship him?"
    Taylor shook her head. "No. He isn't a delusional figurehead. He doesn't think he's a god. He just... he knows he is better than us. But he isn't lording it over us. He's protecting us from his kind. It's hard to explain."
    "I'll ask him, I guess," Darlene said. She was led into a large, dark area. Only a single candle was lit on a table in the center of the arena.
    Taylor left without a word, leaving Darlene to enter on her own. She looked around but it was too dark. She hoped her eyes would focus so she could see better, before she was attacked.
    "Would you like a chair?" It was The Lich Lord's voice, coming from somewhere ahead and above.
    "I'll stand. I've been lying in bed for too long," Darlene said.
    "How do you feel?"
    "I feel... great," Darlene admitted.
    The Lich Lord floated into view, directly behind the candle, his feet hovering above the ground for a few seconds before he touched the floor. He was smiling. He looked even more human to Darlene except for his red, haunting eyes. "You are truly unique, Darlene Bobich. I've never encountered anyone like you in this world. I don't think I ever will, in fact."
    "Perhaps my baby."
    He nodded slowly. His left hand idly caressed the flame of the candle, keeping it from going out. "I fear your baby is something even more powerful than you."
    "I find it hard to believe you fear anything," Darlene said.
    "Oh, but I do. With my growth now comes wisdom. I know what I am, but I know what can take this all away from me. While I might technically be immortal and will never grow old, I can be destroyed by someone powerful." He grinned at Darlene. "Someone more powerful than you. And I think you gave birth to him."
    "If you touch my baby..." Darlene said with venom.
    He held up his hand. "I have no wish to hurt the child. In fact, I want you to go and protect him from my brethren. I want you to raise the boy to slay the rest of them."
    "Why would you want me to do that?"
    "So I can rule, of course. But not by fear or violence. The time has come for the human race to evolve." The Lich Lord smiled. "And to survive without a world filled with zombies."
    "We don't have enough bullets," Darlene said.
    "No... but you have the blood."
    "What blood?"
    "Your blood," The Lich Lord said. "Come, I want to show you something I've been working on.