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.