Chapter Twenty-nine
Three days later
Neona woke with a jerk and sat up on her pallet in the guesthouse at Tiger Town. She’d fallen asleep again? Ever since the battle at Beyul-La, she couldn’t seem to lie down without falling fast asleep. She suspected it was her mind’s way of escaping a reality she was having a hard time accepting.
The life she’d lived for two thousand years was over. Jia, the were-tigress, had been very kind when Neona and the other women had arrived three days earlier. Jia had said they were welcome to stay in Tiger Town as long as they wished.
Neona stood and wandered over to the window. The sun would be setting soon. Where was Zoltan doing his death-sleep? At his castle? When night fell there and he woke up, would he teleport back here?
She hadn’t seen him the last two nights. After dropping her off in Tiger Town, he’d gone back with the other Vamps to collect soldiers. There were some unconscious ones in Frederic’s valley. Zoltan had returned to the guesthouse shortly before dawn with a grim look on his face.
“I love you,” was all he’d said before falling into his death-sleep. She’d taken Norjee to breakfast, then to the school. She’d helped Emma with the dragon babies, then that afternoon, she’d fallen asleep. When she woke up, it was past sunset, and Zoltan was gone. He’d left a note.
I never quit a job till it’s done to my satisfaction. I will fix things. Remember I love you.
What did he mean by fixing things? She’d read the note over and over, trying to decipher its meaning. Had he gone to his castle to fix things there? Was he planning for her and Norjee to live there with him? Or was he arranging things there so he could live here in Tiger Town? Why hadn’t she heard from him?
She paced about the small room. She should have kept one of those sat phones so she could call him. Tashi had taken one with her when the Vamps had teleported her and her mother to the village, where her farmer lived.
Freddie and Freya were still in Tiger Town. They were helping Emma with the dragon babies, since Emma fell into her death-sleep during the day.
Neona leaned over to roll up Norjee’s pallet. He seemed happy enough. He was going to the Tiger Town school with the other children and learning self-defense and archery. At night, he still cried, worrying about his friend Xiao Fang. She knew he wanted to stay here so he could be close to the action and the ongoing search for Xiao Fang.
It was interesting here in Tiger Town, but after centuries of taking care of herself, Neona grated at the thought of living off the were-tigers’ charity. Jia assured her she would be earning her keep as a healer, but Neona still felt uneasy. She was used to mountains and valleys for as far as she could see. Rushing streams and crisp, cool mountain air. For days on end, she would roam the forests, hunting, with her pet leopard at her side.
Her heart twinged with worry for Zhan. When they’d teleported away from Beyul-La, she’d called and called for him. He hadn’t come. Was he all right? Was he finding food to eat?
And where the hell was Zoltan? She could hear her mother’s voice announcing with glee that she’d known all along he couldn’t be trusted. He had abandoned her.
No! She shook that thought away and left the guesthouse.
As she approached the large courtyard, she spotted Norjee with two dozen other boys, learning martial arts from Rinzen and Tenzen. Norjee waved at her, grinning. She smiled back, then chuckled when Tenzen tapped the boy’s head for not paying attention.
She wandered over to the top of the stairs that led downhill. Before her lay the Mekong River and the village of were-tiger houses built on stilts along the river’s edge. The sky lit up with shades of pink and orange as the sun dipped below the horizon.
Her eyes filled with tears and she blinked them away, irritated by how emotional she’d been lately. She was homesick, that was all. She missed her sister, her valley, her pet leopard, her house, her way of life. How soon would she start aging now? Would she have to become a vampire like Zoltan in order to live with him forever? Would she have to lose the ability to be alive during the day? Would she lose the sun, too?
As if to twist the thorn in her side, the last of the sunlight disappeared, and she was left in darkness. A tear rolled down her cheek. How much would she have to lose? Hadn’t she lost enough?
Were-tigers bustled around her, lighting torches. And she stood still, wondering if Zoltan had awakened somewhere. Where was he? Was she losing him, too?
“There you are!” Leah called to her.
Neona quickly wiped her face and turned toward the doctor.
Leah smiled as she approached. “I went to the guesthouse to look for you, but you were gone.”
“Is something wrong?”
Leah shook her head. “We’ve been so busy lately with the clinic overflowing that it took me several days to get your blood work done.” She took a deep breath. “I have news for you. You’re pregnant.”
Neona blinked. “What?”
“No mistake.”
Neona inhaled sharply and pressed a hand to her stomach. “I’m with child?”
“Yes.” Leah lowered her voice. “I wanted to tell you in private. I assume Zoltan isn’t the father.”
“But he is.”
Leah’s mouth dropped open. “How? His sperm is dead.”
“He was drinking the Living Water.” Neona grinned. “Oh, my God! It worked!”
Leah stepped closer. “Where is this Living Water? Can I get a sample of it?”
“It is gone. Buried beneath a mountain of rubble.” Neona’s breath caught. Was that what Zoltan was trying to fix? He could get himself killed! “Excuse me.”
She ran to Emma’s room. Pregnant! No wonder she was falling asleep so much and getting emotional all the time. She was going to have a baby! She needed to find Zoltan fast.
She burst into Emma’s room. “I need—”
“Guess what?” Freya pulled her into the room. “When Emma woke up, she invited Freddie and me to live with her and Angus at their townhouse in London!”
“And their castle in Scotland!” Freddie added.
Emma finished a bottle of synthetic blood. “I’m desperate. I need help. Angus does what he can, but we’re both awake only at night.”
Freya laughed. “You should have seen it, Neona. Last night, Angus was lifting the little boy in the air, and he threw up all over Angus’s head. The look on his face was so funny!”
“Who?” Freddie asked, grinning. “Angus or the baby?”
“Both!” Freya turned back to Neona. “And while we’re in England, we can see our brother, Frankie!”
“And our family there,” Freddie nodded.
“That’s wonderful,” Neona said. “Emma, I—”
“Oh, dear.” Emma turned toward the crib. “Aiden is crying again.” She picked the male baby up. His mouth was open, but only a small wheezing sound came out.
“They named the babies Aiden and Amy,” Freya told Neona.
“We’ll pay you an excellent salary.” Emma settled in a chair and stuck a baby bottle in Aiden’s mouth. “And Angus will help you get identification papers.”
“Emma,” Neona tried again.
“And guess what?” Freya said. “Tashi called on her sat phone and invited us all to her wedding!”
“Zoltan is missing!” Neona shouted, and everyone hushed.
Emma frowned. “I thought he went to his castle.”
“That was two nights ago! I haven’t heard from him since.”
“Here.” Emma passed the baby and bottle to Freddie, then picked up her phone. “I’ll call Howard. He’s working security there.” She punched some numbers and waited. “Howard, is Zoltan there?” She paused to listen, and Neona grabbed the phone.
“Howard, I haven’t heard from Zoltan for two nights. Where is he?”
“I thought he was with you,” Howard said. “He was here two nights ago. He picked up his wedding ring at the jewelry store and said something about getting the job done for you. I thought he was talking about marrying you.”
“He never came back!” Neona cried.
“I’ll check into it and get back to you.” Howard hung up.
Neona’s hand shook as she lowered the phone. “I-I’m afraid he’s—”
“I’m calling Angus. It should still be dark in Japan.” Emma took the phone and punched in a number. “Angus, we need you here right away. No, it’s not about a stinky nappy. It’s Zoltan. He’s missing.”
Angus appeared and pocketed his phone. “Where is Zoltan?”
“We don’t know.” Emma gave him an exasperated look.
“I’m afraid he may have gone back to the mountain,” Neona said. “He left me a note that he would fix things. I think he’s trying to get to the Living Water.”
Angus winced. “That would be crazy.”
Emma’s phone rang and she answered it. “Yes, Howard? He’s not in Budapest or the castle,” she repeated, then listened with a growing look of dismay. “I understand. As soon as the sun sets there, we’ll pick you up.”
She hung up. “Before Zoltan left, he visited the head gardener and borrowed some shovels and a pickax.”
Neona’s heart sank.
Freya’s phone rang. “Tashi! What? All right, thank you.” She hung up. “Tashi and her fiancé went to Beyul-La to get the donkey and the goats. They found your pet leopard.”
Neona gasped. “How is he?”
“He’s been digging at the mountain.” Freya grimaced. “He told Tashi he heard Zoltan inside it last night. He’s trapped!”
Angus ran from the room, shouting for the other Vamps.
Neona sank to the floor.
“We’ll get a rescue party together fast,” Emma assured her.
“I don’t understand,” Freddie said. “He’s a vampire. Why doesn’t he just teleport out?”
Neona’s eyes burned with tears. “It must not be working for him. I’m afraid he’s in trouble.” She stood on shaky legs. “I have to go.”
“I’ll go with you.” Freya followed her to the courtyard, where Angus had gathered a group of Vamps. Rinzen, Tenzen, and Rajiv joined them, their arms filled with shovels and axes.
Angus paced about.
“What are we waiting for?” Freya asked.
“Still daylight there,” Rajiv told her.
Norjee ran up to Neona. “What’s happening? Where are you going?”
“We have to find Zoltan.” Neona knelt in front of him. “Stay here and have supper with your friends. Maybe you can spend the night with one of them.”
“I want to come!”
She tousled his hair and blinked away tears. “I need you to stay here. I’ll be back with Zoltan as quick as I can.”
Norjee’s chin trembled. “You’ll come back?”
“Yes!” She hugged him. “I love you.”
“It’s time,” Angus announced.
Neona waved at Norjee as a Vamp teleported her away.
Neona’s back ached as she passed another rock down the line. She hadn’t told any of the rescue party that she was pregnant for fear they would insist she sit idly by while they labored. All night long, they had worked. Vamps had teleported in more shifters like Howard and his nephews, who had stayed at the castle with him.
As soon as she’d arrived, Zhan had run up to her. Tashi and her fiancé were still there in the valley, and Tashi had repeated to everyone what Zhan had told her. Zoltan had been talking to the leopard the night before. He’d managed to open a hole, where he’d discovered that even though the larger cavern room had collapsed, a small section of the cave by the Living Water was still intact. He’d teleported in and broken through the wooden covering over the Living Water. While he’d hacked away at the covering with a pickax, the vibrations had caused the mountain to shift. Rocks had fallen and plugged up the hole. He’d been unable to teleport out. Zhan had started digging, trying to save him. Tonight, Zhan had called out to Zoltan repeatedly, but Zoltan had been silent.
The Vamps tried calling him on his phone. Even if he didn’t answer it, the noise could provide a beacon where a Vamp could teleport in. But there was no sound. They tried contacting him through vampire mind control, but no response. The worried looks they gave each other made Neona’s heart clench. It was nighttime. Zoltan should be awake. He should be able to hear them.
She touched her stomach. Had she lost him? Was the baby all that was left of him?
She waited, her heart heavy, while the rescue party figured out the best place to open a hole. Then they formed a line, moving the rocks away carefully, making sure the ground didn’t shift so that the ceiling over Zoltan didn’t collapse on him.
As dawn approached Tiger Town, the Vamps reluctantly teleported away. Neona remained with the were-bears and were-tigers, and they continued to work. Just before sunrise reached Beyul-La, Freya, Tashi, and her fiancé caught some fish from the stream and found a skillet in the ruins of the storeroom. They lit the fire in the fire pit and cooked for everyone.
“We got it!” Howard yelled. Everyone stopped as he peered into a small hole with a flashlight. “I see him! Zoltan, can you hear me?”
No answer.
“Crap.” Howard shoved more rocks aside to make the hole larger. “Jimmy, bring the rope. I’ll climb down.”
“You’ll take the mountain with you,” Jimmy grumbled. “You weigh a ton.”
“I’ll go.” Neona scrambled toward them. “I’m lighter. And if he’s injured, I can heal him.”
Neona tied the end of the rope around her waist and wedged the flashlight under the rope with the light on, facing down. She stepped into the hole, and the were-bears lowered her into the cave.
In the small circle of light, she could see Zoltan’s legs. He wasn’t moving. Her heart clenched with fear.
She landed and looked up. “It’s not far. About as high as one of the roofs on our houses.” She untied the rope around her waist.
“In that case—” Howard jumped and landed with a thud beside her. Jimmy followed. Jesse and the were-tigers remained on top with the other end of the rope.
While Howard ran his flashlight around the small cave, Neona knelt beside Zoltan. He was lying next to the pool of Living Water. Boards and debris were piled close by where he’d uncovered the pool. She felt for a pulse at his neck. He was alive. Barely.
Tears stung her eyes. She hadn’t lost him. “He’s alive.”
“God, that’s a relief. He must have brought a supply of blood with him. Ah, there it is.” Howard shone his flashlight on a plastic container of blood. It had been opened but discarded, and the blood had escaped to form a small pool. “That’s weird. Why didn’t he drink it?”
“I think he did,” Jimmy said, beaming his flashlight on another puddle. “Looks like he barfed it up.”
“Huh?” Howard looked closer. “This doesn’t make any sense.”
Neona ran her hands over Zoltan from head to toe. No broken bones. No injuries that she could see. Her vision blurred with tears. Her Zoltan was alive and safe.
The hole overhead lightened as the sun came up in the valley.
“Crap,” Howard muttered. “Now he’ll go into his death-sleep. We won’t be able to tell if he actually dies on us.”
Neona quickly felt his neck again. “He’s fine. He still has a pulse.”
“What?” Howard pressed his fingers against the other side of his neck. “Holy crap! How is he alive?”
Neona looked at the pool close by. “The Living Water. He drank it so he could survive.” She cupped some water in her palm and lifted Zoltan’s head. The water dribbled on his mouth and down his chin.
“Wake up, Zoltan! You have a wedding to attend. A son to raise. And a dragon boy who still needs to be rescued!” She cupped some more water and tried again. This time his mouth opened.
Howard looked up at the opening. “Find us a cup. Or a bowl. Quick!”
A tin cup was dropped down, and Howard caught it. “Okay.” He passed it to Neona.
She dipped it into the Living Water, then pressed it against Zoltan’s mouth. He drank.
“Sheesh!” Jimmy jumped back. “He’s alive during the day!”
Zoltan’s eyes flickered open, and he looked at Neona. “You’re here.”
“Yes.” She tilted the cup, and he drank more water. A tear ran down her cheek. “I don’t know whether to hug you or scream at you. How could you risk your life like this? Don’t you know how much I love you?”
“Your house, your valley was destroyed. I thought I could at least find a way to the Living Water for you.”
She set the cup down and held him against her chest. “You silly man.” Tears streamed down her face. “I thought I had lost you.”
“I tried to teleport out,” he whispered. “But I couldn’t.”
“I know.” She stroked his hair.
“I’m hungry. The blood doesn’t work for me anymore.”
“Give us some of that fish!” Howard shouted.
After a few minutes, a package was dropped down, and Howard caught it. The fish was wrapped in a piece of cloth. He handed it to Neona, and she opened the cloth.
Zoltan sat up and stared at the light overhead. “It’s daytime. I can see sunlight.”
“Right, dude,” Jimmy said. “And you’re about to eat real food.”
Zoltan gave the fish a wary look. “I haven’t had food in almost eight hundred years.”
“Here.” With a smile, Neona pinched off a hunk of fish and placed it in his mouth.
As he chewed, his eyes widened with amazement. “It’s good.” He grabbed another piece of the fish and stuffed it in his mouth. “I’m not sure what has happened to me.”
Howard knelt in front of him. “I think you’re back to being human. Well, an immortal human like Neona.”
“Shit, dude!” Jimmy punched the air. “You un-undeaded yourself.”
Neona started crying again.
Zoltan gave her a bemused look. “Did you have your heart set on a vampire?”
“I’ll take you however I can get you.” She sniffled and touched her stomach. “And the baby will, too.”
Zoltan blinked.
“You’re pregnant?” Howard jumped to his feet. “What were you doing working all night?”
“I wanted to make sure this baby had a father,” Neona cried. “I was so afraid I had lost you.”
Zoltan wrapped an arm around her. “You can’t lose me. I never quit until a job is done, remember?”
Jimmy snorted. “Looks to me like he got the job done. I mean, she’s pregnant, right?”
Howard shoved his nephew on the shoulder. “Climb up the rope. Bring them more food. He’s starving, and she’s eating for two.”
“Yes, sir!” Jimmy saluted and climbed up the rope.
With a sniffle, Neona wrapped her arms around Zoltan’s neck.
Howard cleared his throat. “I’ll give you some privacy.” He climbed up the rope, and his nephews hauled him out.
“You’re really pregnant?” Zoltan whispered.
She nodded, wiping the tears from her face. “I cry so easily now. It makes me feel silly and weak.”
“You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever known. You healed me, not only my body, but my heart. I love you, Neona.”
“I love you, too.” She cuddled up against him. “I thought I had lost you.”
“You couldn’t lose me.” He kissed her brow. “I still owe you climax number ten.”
She laughed. “Are you still thinking about sex?”
With a smile, he glanced up at the hole. “Your cat is glad we’re all right. He wants to live with us. And Norjee. And the baby.”
Neona sighed. “That will be wonderful.”
His smile faded. “I’m so sorry you lost your house. I’ll try to rebuild it for you.”
“I don’t need the house.” She touched his cheek. “Wherever you are, that will be my home.”
He gathered her close. “And my home is in your heart.”