Rajiv translated the announcement, and the ex-soldiers in the courtyard cheered when they were referred to.
Russell watched the army across the river to see what they would do. A few of the officers on horseback rode away. A handful of foot soldiers drifted off into the woods. But the majority of the army tossed down their weapons and waded into the river, heading for Tiger Town.
“Congratulations.” Howard patted Rajiv on the back. “Your town is safe. And the war is over.”
“It’s not over,” Russell growled. “Not till we have Jia back.”
“You’re right.” Howard gave him a worried look. “We’ll get her back. I’ll go with you.”
Russell snorted. “You can’t go. Your wife is expecting. You can’t risk it.”
“We will all be going with you, lad,” Angus said quietly.
Howard punched him on the shoulder. “See what I’ve been telling you all along? You’re not alone, Russell. You never were.”
The tears that had threatened to fall finally slid down Russell’s face.
Chapter Twenty-two
Night after night passed with no word from the God Warriors. Russell’s impatience grew increasingly hard to bear. All he could do was constantly remind himself that time was different in heaven and hell. Jia’s captivity in hell could be as short as an hour, but even that seemed too long. What if she was suffering? Or afraid?
Each day before dawn, Russell returned to the bat cave for his death-sleep. The other Vamps and shifters were staying in the area, either at Tiger Town, Zoltan’s castle in Transylvania, or Kyo’s mansion in Tokyo. Everyone kept smiling and telling him that Jia would be all right, that she would be saved, but their forced cheerfulness was driving him crazy.
And so he escaped whenever he could. He did his death-sleep on the sleeping bags and pillows where her scent still lingered. He removed the bracelets she loved so much from her backpack and set them on the table where he could see them. They kept him company while he cleaned his guns and drank his meals.
For the first four nights, he stayed busy. All of the ex-soldiers at Tiger Town needed to be teleported home. Then all the were-tigers that had been evacuated needed to be brought back. The clinic was overflowing, since over a hundred new supersoldiers were receiving the treatment to turn them back to normal. Russell helped the other Vamps set up tents in the courtyard and along the riverbank.
Dougal’s wife, Leah, was in charge of the medical team, and they were in constant need of supplies, so Russell helped the other Vamps teleport medical supplies and extra food in. He even helped the were-tigers cook, since they needed to produce several hundred meals every day.
On the fifth night, he teleported to Tiger Town, but there was still no news from the God Warriors. He helped Rajiv repair and paint the column in the palace that he’d abused with his fists. He visited Jia’s room, thinking it would comfort him to see where she had lived and slept, but the room was full of gifts from her fiancé, the wealthy prince. Jewelry, embroidered silk robes and slippers, porcelain vases and tea sets. All sorts of things that he couldn’t afford.
He teleported back to the bat cave and paced about. She loved him. He had to believe that. And he had to believe that he could save her. That meant he needed to prepare for a future with her. Would she be willing to marry a vampire? He was dead half the time, so he had only half a life to share with her. He smiled to himself, recalling Jia’s tendency to be a Pollyanna. She would insist that he wasn’t dead half the time, but alive. And even better, he could live as long as she. As a were-tiger, she could live about five hundred years.
But how would they live? He had no job, no money, and no real residence. He couldn’t envision taking her back to Colorado. His life there was over. In fact, he’d been declared dead. And Jia would be miserable so far away from her people.
No, she needed to stay here in China, where she had friends and family. Perhaps Rajiv would let him buy some land next to Tiger Town?
Russell picked up one of Jia’s bracelets and ran his fingers over the hammered gold and inlaid jade. She was a princess. He needed to provide well for her.
His gaze wandered about the bat cave. The microwave and solar-powered generator had some value, but he couldn’t sell stuff that he’d stolen. He’d always intended to give them back once his mission was over.
The now familiar pang struck his chest once again. His mission was over. He’d found Master Han. And he’d killed him. The revenge he’d wanted for so long had ended up a double-edged sword. He’d stabbed his brother through the heart, only to cut himself to the core. He’d fallen in love with Jia, only to lose her.
He shoved the depressing thoughts away and tried to focus on a happy future with Jia. How to finance it? His gaze landed on the wooden box on the bottom shelf of his bookcase. The Colt Single Action Army Pinch Frame revolvers handed down to him from his great-grandfather.
Since they dated from 1873, they were valuable. He set the box on the table and unwrapped the oilcloth to examine the pistols. Could he give up the only thing he had left from his family?
What family? he thought with a snort. It was actually a relief that his parents were dead and would never know that their youngest son had become a murderous vampire warlord. Or that their oldest son had killed him.
Home was gone. The past was over. He could never go back. Better to sell the pistols to provide for a future with Jia. Maybe Zoltan would be interested in them or know where he could sell them.
He slipped one of Jia’s bracelets into his coat pocket, grabbed the box of pistols, and teleported to the armory of Zoltan’s castle. It was dark inside, but he knew his way around. He set the box on the table, then headed up the spiral staircase to see if Zoltan was home.
To Russell’s surprise, the door was locked from the outside. Oh right, he remembered, there are guests staying here. Zoltan had invited a bunch of the guys and their families so they could meet his wife, Neona. If there were children about, he had probably thought it best to keep the weapons locked up.
Russell teleported to the kitchen and discovered Shanna Draganesti and another woman there, stacking homemade cookies on a large tray.
He recognized Shanna right away, since he’d stayed at the Draganesti townhouse in New York a few times during his first year as a vampire. Back then, he’d been employed by Angus’s company, MacKay Security & Investigation, so most of the trips had been for business, such as the battle to defeat the villain Casimir.
But his first trip had been a mere month after being transformed, when he had wanted to check on his family. After learning that his daughter was dead, he’d spent the rest of the night in the townhouse kitchen drinking Blissky. Shanna and Roman had joined him, and he’d always been grateful for the compassion they’d shown.
The other woman here in Zoltan’s kitchen was probably a wife of one of the other Vamps, but there were so many of them now, he couldn’t keep them straight.
“Russell!” Shanna smiled at him as she slipped on oven mitts. “How wonderful of you to stop by.”
“Good evening.” He nodded his head at the other woman. “Ma’am.”
“Call me Heather.” She extended a hand toward him. “I’m Jean-Luc’s wife.”
“Nice to meet you.” He shook her hand. “Is Zoltan around?”
“He’s in the courtyard.” Shanna removed two pizzas from the oven. “Everybody’s there for the party.”
“Please say you’ll join us,” Heather said as she filled a huge ice chest with juice boxes and bottles of beer and Bleer.
Russell shifted his feet. “I don’t really feel like celebrating.”
Heather winced and exchanged a look with Shanna.
“We’re so sorry about your brother and Jia,” Shanna murmured.
Russell shrugged. “I don’t blame you for wanting to party. The villains are all in hell, where they belong. The war is over.”
“True, but it’s not really over till we get Jia back,” Heather said. “All the guys
intend to help.”
Russell swallowed hard. As much as he appreciated everyone’s support, he didn’t want any of the men with wives and children to be at risk. “That’s not necessary.”
“It is.” Shanna sliced the pizzas. “We’re all family.”
“And everyone will want to see you,” Heather added. “Tonight’s a big night for me and some of the other wives. Neona has offered us some of her Living Water. Tonight I take my first sip.”
“So you’ll be able to live as long as your husband without becoming a vampire?” Russell asked.
Heather nodded. “I’m starting the process tonight, along with Toni, Lara, and Olivia. Our husbands are relieved they won’t have to transform us.”
Russell could well believe that, since the act would require draining their wives of every last drop of blood.
Shanna sighed. “It was very hard on Roman when he had to change me.”
Heather gave her a curious look. “You could become mortal again if you drink some of the Living Water.”
Shanna frowned as she gathered some bags of chips onto another tray. “I’ve been giving it a lot of thought. On the one hand, I could have my days back with my children. But on the other hand, I feel like I would be denouncing my life as a vampire, as if it’s not good enough. I can’t do that to Roman.”
Heather nodded. “It’s a tough decision.”
Shanna smiled. “I’ve learned to be happy with my situation. How about we get this food up to the party?” She picked up the two trays of pizza.
Heather motioned to the ice chest stuffed with juice boxes, beer, and Bleer. “Could you carry that for us, Russell?” She picked up the tray of chips and another tray of cookies.
Russell groaned inwardly as he hefted the heavy ice chest up the stairs. When he reached the great hall, he could see the front doors of the castle were open. The chatter of adult voices and squeals of children filtered in from the courtyard.
“We brought food!” Shanna announced as she passed through the door, and she was greeted with cheers.
“And we have a guest!” Heather glanced back at Russell when he hesitated just inside the door. “Come on.”
He gritted his teeth. More smiles and happy faces when all he wanted to do was rescue Jia. More pats on the back with a sympathetic look. If a greeting card company made cards that said, Sorry you had to murder your brother, he would have dozens of them by now.
Deep inside, he knew he shouldn’t be annoyed that these people cared. He just hated the sympathy right now. He hated feeling helpless when Jia was in danger. And most of all, he hated the waiting.
His stomach churned as he followed Shanna and Heather down the steps into the courtyard. White lights had been strung up along the battlements and around the central stone fountain to give the place a festive look. A few floodlights made the place safe enough for the children to run around in. Two long buffet tables were already half covered with trays of food. Shanna and Heather added their trays as a horde of noisy children gathered around.
To the side, there were a dozen round patio tables with chairs, making the courtyard look like an outdoor restaurant. A crowded restaurant. A lot of the Vamps and shifters Russell had met during his first year of working for Angus were here. And they were all smiling and waving at him to come over.
Dammit. He hated that these guys were going to risk themselves. All their wives and children were here. They had too much to lose.
Angus and Emma were at a table, each holding one of the were-dragon babies they had adopted. The twins were only about two months old, but since dragon shifters aged twice as fast, they looked a bit older. Jack and his wife, Lara, were at the same table with their baby. A girl, Russell guessed, by the pink dress.
Roman Draganesti rushed over to the buffet tables to help his wife hand out food to all the kids. He gave her a loving smile. “The family just keeps growing.”
Shanna smiled back. “I know. Isn’t it wonderful?” She waved at Russell, motioning for him to put the ice chest down by the tables of food.
He set it down, and immediately the children swooped in like a horde of locusts and grabbed all the juice boxes. So many kids. He stepped back. Would he be able to have children with Jia someday? He supposed their children would be the first half-vampire, half were-tiger kids in the group. They’d probably be prone to biting. And if they were half as noisy as these kids, they could probably wake the Undead.
Suddenly one of the older kids hugged him.
“Xiao Fang.” Russell noted the dragon shifter was looking much better. The boy grinned at him, then dashed off with another boy. That had to be his friend, Norjee.
Russell smiled, watching the two boys scamper about. That was one thing he could be proud of doing—rescuing Xiao Fang.
Another one of the older children ran toward the stone fountain in the middle of the courtyard. “Let’s finish our game!” He covered his eyes and started counting.
The other children squealed and darted around the courtyard, looking for places to hide.
Howard pulled two bottles out of the ice chest and handed Russell a Bleer. “Have a seat. Enjoy the party.”
Russell shook his head. “I don’t want you guys going to hell with me.”
Howard took a sip from his bottle. “Well, that’s our decision, don’t you think?”
“You have wives and children. How can you risk dying in hell?”
Howard shrugged. “Any of us could die at any time. Not that I’m being flippant about it, but we know that whatever happens to us, the children will always be loved and taken care of. We’re family.” Howard gave him a pointed look. “You’re part of the family, too.”
Russell snorted. “I’m not good at family. I just killed my brother.” He wrenched open the Bleer and took a long drink.
Howard gave him one of those sympathetic looks that he hated, so Russell changed the subject. “Where did all these kids come from? I don’t even know who they are.”
“Well, that’s because you’ve been living like a hermit for the past two years.” Howard motioned to the blond boy at the fountain, who had counted up to forty-seven. “That’s Roman’s son, Constantine. He’s seven.”
Russell recalled meeting Tino over two years ago. “He’s grown a lot.”
“You know Xiao Fang and Norjee.” Howard pointed at the two boys who were crouching by the fountain on the opposite side from where Tino was counting.
Russell smiled. It was a good strategy, and one he’d employed often as a kid. Not hiding at all but positioning yourself so close to home that you could reach it before getting caught.
A girl ran up to Howard. “Help me, Uncle Howard. Mom and Dad went back to the kitchen to get some Blardonnay.”
Howard grinned as he opened the ice chest. “You can hide behind here.”
She kneeled down.
“This is Sofia, Roman and Shanna’s daughter,” Howard explained. “How old are you now? Five?”
She nodded. “Don’t let Tino see me.”
Howard chuckled, then pointed at a flagpole. “See the two little ones who think they’re actually hiding?”
Russell couldn’t help but smile at the two toddlers who were sitting behind the pole. The little girl had black curls, and the boy a shock of red hair.
“Those two are inseparable,” Howard said. “Ian’s little girl and Robby’s little boy. They’ll both turn two in the fall. Oh, they have company.” Howard laughed as two more young children crowded behind the pole. “Those are the Panterra twins, Eric and Adriana. They’ve just turned two. They all know each other from being at Dragon Nest Academy.”
“And those?” Russell pointed to the chapel, where an older girl was hiding with two younger ones.
“The Echarpe kids. Bethany’s about ten now, and the twins are four. And over there, Phineas and Brynley are chasing after their twins. Ben and Gwen have graduated from walking to running at full speed.”
“You keep up with all of this?” Russell gave t
he were-bear a wry look. “You must like kids.”
Howard nodded and aimed a happy look at his wife. Elsa was sitting at one of the tables, deep in conversation with Neona. “Elsa’s helping Neona design a big nursery here in the castle. Zoltan wants me continue to work here as head of security, so it looks like we’ll have our twins here.”
“That’s good.” Russell spotted Connor at the entrance to the castle, helping a little redheaded toddler scramble up the stairs. “I guess that’s Connor’s son.”
“Yeah.” Howard chuckled when the boy grabbed at his father’s kilt. “I heard the Scottish guys complaining that they have to wear underwear under their kilts now. The little ones keep tossing their kilts up. That one is Gabriel. He’s a year and a half.”
At the mention of the name Gabriel, Russell tensed. He was sick of waiting for news from the angels. He wanted Jia back now. “I brought some antique pistols with me. I . . . I’d like to sell them if any of the guys would be interested.”
Howard tilted his head, considering. “Zoltan has a collection in the armory. I think Jean-Luc has a collection, too, though he’s more into swords.”
Just then, Tino shouted, “One hundred. Ready or not, here I come!” He looked about and grinned at the four toddlers lined up behind the flagpole.
Meanwhile, Norjee and Xiao Fang touched home and laughed when Tino scowled at them. Sofia crept away from the ice chest and inched along the tables.
When Tino’s back was turned, she made a mad dash for the fountain. He spotted her and gave chase, finally tapping her on the shoulder.
“You’re it!” Tino announced, then winced when his sister stomped on his foot.
Howard chuckled. “Where are the pistols?”
“In the armory.”
Howard nodded. “I’ll get the keys and the guys and meet you there.”
Russell teleported inside the armory, turned on the light, and finished his bottle of Bleer while he waited for the others to arrive. Soon he heard the door unlock and footsteps coming down the stairs.