Autumn Moon (12 page)

Let her go, Tristan,” Jairec demanded.

Tristan’s mouth curved. “Don’t believe I will. Heng wants her. He decided he fancied her at our last meeting.”

Now why would she want a guy who has a face like a lap dog? Just give me the girl and I won’t kill you.”

Tristan’s chuckle strummed from his chest with malice. “Why do you care about this human? What’s so special about her?”

Jairec gave a careless shrug. He had to remain calm, not act desperate, but it proved difficult when he witnessed the terror in Autumn’s gaze. If he could hear her heart pounding in her chest, his brother could hear it, too. “I owe her. She gave me shelter when I needed it.”

“Is that so. You won’t need shelter if you join Heng. We’ll rule California and beyond. He has big plans where a chiang-shih will head each city. We’ll be gods.”

Jairec wondered why the nuts always wanted to take over the world. “Sure. Why not? But a god must have a goddess at his side.” He looked at Autumn. “I claim her.”

“Uh uh. Heng wants her for himself. He’s the boss.”

“I want her at my side.”

Tristan stared at him as he considered his offer. “Hmm, interesting.” He leaned forward and Jairec resisted the urge to lunge. Tristan sniffed Autumn’s hair, inhaling deeply. Autumn closed her eyes. “Ah, I see why you’re so interested in her. She reeks of you, Jairec. You’ve been shagging her, haven’t you?”

“Piss off. That’s none of your concern now is it?”

“Tsk, tsk. Is that anyway to speak to your older brother?”

“Do you mean the wanker who allowed me to be turned into a chiang-shih? That brother?”

The crowd behind him gasped. He didn’t think his language caused the shock. He turned as the shadow swooped overhead, coming dangerously close. Jairec ducked. Then Heng hovered, descending like a savior when he was truly the prince of evil. He wore red and gold vestments for the shindig. His sallow skin took on a darker hue of green. He shook a long pointed fingernail at him as he lowered himself to the ground.

“You might want to clean up your mouth, Jairec. You’re scaring the tourists.” Heng clicked his tongue at him. He then turned his attention to Autumn, tilting his head to the side, his fangs lengthening. He traced her jaw with his nail. “So pretty.”

Jairec didn’t dare look around but he wondered where Yi and Chin were. Where were the dragon thunderbolts to wipe this bastard out?

Autumn jerked her head away and stepped back, but Tristan thrust her forward again. Autumn glanced at Jairec. She blinked and calmness overtook her composure. A second before she lunged, Jairec realized what she was about to do. “Nooooo!” he screamed, but it was too late.

She threw herself around Heng, holding him in a bear hug. Heng cried in pain as the copper burned through his clothing, his skin sizzling on contact, the putrid rot scenting the air. Heng screeched, twirling up, trying to dislodge Autumn’s hold. Jairec leapt forward and grabbed onto Heng’s feet, anchoring him. He didn’t know how long he could hold onto him, but to let go wasn’t an option.

“Get them you fools,” Heng demanded, thrashing to shake Jairec off his leg.

Tristan slashed at Jairec’s midsection with his long nails, but Jairec used Heng to pull himself up, kicking Tristan in the face. He fell back, landing into two of the other minions, causing them to lose their balance. They hissed and spit, trying to dislodge their tangled limbs.

The crowd applauded. Jairec thought the fools deserved to die. Didn’t they recognize a real threat?

Darkened clouds gathered overhead hastening nightfall. “Chin’s magic,” Jairec mumbled under his breath. He wished the old man would work faster. Heng spiraled up, hovering above the ground. He was too high to let go now. He might survive the fall, but he wasn’t sure if Autumn could. He thought about going for her gun in her purse, but it would prove too risky. He could shoot her. He hoped she could hold on. He looked down below, wondering if any of the other vamps could fly. Tristan looked like he wanted to give it a try. He stood ready for battle, but before he leapt off his feet, Yi had come to the rescue. A right kick landed against Tristan’s skull.

Jairec climbed up Heng’s leg like it was a rope. If he could grab Autumn, he’d take her with him, bracing her fall and taking most of the impact.

Heng desperate to free himself jabbed Autumn with his nails, but the mesh held, burning his hands. He grabbed her face, forcing her look at him.

“Close your eyes, Autumn. Don’t look at him,” Jairec warned, but it was too late.

Her eyes glazed and her grip lessened. Heng held her away from him. Jairec snaked out his hand to grab her, but Heng tossed her away. Her shirt feathered through his fingers. Jairec watched in horror as her body hit the ground. She didn’t move. A rage like he never known before welled inside of him. He wanted Heng dead. Now.

Heng’s wounds healed, giving him back his strength. He grabbed Jairec by the hair and hauled him up to eye level. “I would have given you a seat of power, but you’ve deceived me.” He raised his hand to give a fatal blow, but the first rumble of thunder broke through. Heng hesitated. Jairec took the advantage and slammed his fist into Heng’s face. Bone crunched and he knew he’d broken Heng’s nose. He let Jairec go and he flayed his arms around, trying to stop his fall. What he would have done if he could fly. He landed hard, but tucked and rolled. He felt bruised but he leapt to his feet, waiting for Heng to attack again.

The rumble in the heavens clamored. Heng covered his ears and screamed. Tristan and the two other vamps did the same. Yi took his dagger and rammed it into one of the minions then spun, hitting the other demon in the chest. Both exploded into dust on impact.

Jairec waited for the thunder to affect him, but nothing happened. He could still function. He grabbed a hold of his brother as another thunderclap roared in his ears. Tristan’s screech joined Heng’s and the look on his face couldn’t have been worse if Jairec had driven a stake through his heart. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this, Jairec.”

“I know.”

“Forgive me, brother.” He stepped away.

The thunder rolled again.

Tristan covered his ears. His whole body shook so fast his features blurred. An ear-shattering explosion of thunder roared louder, longer. Tristan exploded as if triggered by a bomb. The blast hurdled Jairec backwards, Yi slamming into him.

Heng spun around and around. The whirl of wind brought up debris and dust until he swirled into a black funnel. Heng’s features blurred into the twister and his bellow pierced the air. People ran for cover as storefront glass shattered. The earth shook. Jairec forced himself to his feet and moved toward Autumn who lay helpless. He covered her body with his, ignoring how the copper burned. He would protect her.

The thunder roared again like a mighty dragon, lashing out at its prey. The wind hurled dirt into Jairec’s hair, eyes and between his teeth. Then the dark clouds moved aside and the last of the sun’s rays shone through like a laser beam. The funnel ignited sending sparks of shooting light like a firework show. The last sparks dwindling into smoke and ash.

The roar of absolute silence spread. No one moved and no one breathed.

Jairec rolled away from Autumn. His sweatshirt burned from his body and his flesh was blistered and raw.

Yi walked over and leaned down to look at Autumn.

“Is she all right?” Jairec choked out.

“She’s breathing.”

“We have to get her to the hospital.”

Yi’s gaze traveled over him. “You could use a doctor yourself. You don’t look so good.”

Jairec wanted to curl up in a ball, but he needed to secure Autumn’s safety first.

“Are they all dead? Did we wipe them out?”

“The last one blasted away with Heng.”

Chin pushed his way through the crowd and offered a hand to Jairec, yanking him to his feet.

“A little worse for wear, but you survived, chiang-shih. I’m impressed.” He leaned down to look at Autumn.

“Survived? That’s up for debate,” Jairec mumbled.

“Hmm. We’ll argue the matter later.” He looked over his shoulder when he heard the whistles and shouts from the police to back up. “Help me pick up Autumn, Yi. We must move before we’re forced to answer questions.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Autumn’s eyes fluttered open and she sat up with a start.

“There, there now.” A nurse dressed in white pants and a blue hospital shirt approached her. “I’m glad you’re awake.”

The smell of disinfectants hit her nostrils first, followed by the smell of coffee and food. Her gaze landed on a covered plate set on the turnout tray that was attached to the bed. A steady beep drew her attention to a monitor bolted to the wall. Then her gaze landed on the IV bag hanging from the silver pole. She closed her eyes and rested her head against the pillow, trying to remember what happened.

“I’m in the hospital.” Her mouth felt thick and dry, making the speech difficult. “Water, please.”

The nurse poured water into a plastic blue cup and held the straw, while Autumn lifted her head to sip. The liquid ran cool down her parched throat.

The nurse was young with her dark hair pulled back away from her face.

“Jairec. Where’s… Jairec?” she licked her lips.

“Jairec?” the nurse asked.

“Yes. Dark hair… man… not Chinese… my age.”

There was a nice looking man with gray hair who sat by your side. He had been badly burnt, but he wouldn’t let anyone tend to him. He disappeared before I could summon the doctor.”

Her brows furrowed. Gray hair? Was she talking about Jairec? Had he turned? “I have to go.” Autumn grimaced when she pulled the IV out of her arm.

“No, what are you doing. You can’t leave.”

Autumn ignored her, throwing her legs over the side of the bed. She forced her limbs to move and hurried over to the closet. She was relieved to see that her clothes were there, the damn copper mesh and all. Jairec had risked his life to save her. If his hair was snow white, he was slipping.

The nurse had run out into the hall, yelling for the doctor.

Autumn removed her gown, her limbs waking up as she shoved on her clothes.

Once she donned her shoes, she glanced inside the closet to see if she had everything and her gaze landed on the vest. If Jairec was burned, he came in contact with the mesh. She swung the closet door shut with a curse.

She walked over to the door and poked her head out. By the front desk, she spotted the nurse talking to a doctor. She hurried the other way, heading for the exit sign and the door labeled with the word stairs. She was too afraid to wait for the elevator and have someone stop her. She needed to find Jairec.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Jairec lay close to death—again. After he made sure Autumn would be fine, he came back with Chin not sure where else he could go. Chin took precautions. He locked him in the room above the pastry shop. Salt and wood charms lined the doors and windows. He wouldn’t escape. He’d drunk the pig’s blood, but it didn’t help. It didn’t restore him. It was as if the copper poisoned his system, weakening him. His hair had turned as white as the moon’s lighted surface. His skin a sallow color, but at least it hadn’t turned green.  

He heard a commotion, raised voices from the other room. He heard Autumn’s voice.

“I don’t care grandfather,” she said as she threw open the door, slamming it against the wall.

He sat up in bed. She stood in the threshold her gaze locking onto his. She was so beautiful, a vision for his weary eyes. It seemed a lifetime ago when he had first kissed her, when he had first made love to her.

“Don’t leave me, Jairec.” She took a step toward him.

“Don’t come too close,” he warned.

She didn’t listen.

“Please, Autumn. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t.” She threw her arms around his neck, hugging him.

He chuckled. “You’ve always given me too much credit.”

“I don’t think so. You’re honorable. You risked your existence to save me. Now look at you.” Her voice caught in her throat. “I’ve killed you because of that copper mesh I wore.”

“If you hadn’t worn it, you would have died. You should be in the hospital now. I can’t believe they let you go.”

She didn’t say anything.

He pushed her away so he could look at her. “They didn’t let you go, did they?”

“I’m fine.”

“You need to go back.”

“No.”

“Has anyone ever told you, you’re stubborn, lass?”

“Yep.” She threaded her hand through his hair. “So gray.”

“I’ve looked better.”

She chuckled, but her eyes pooled with tears. “You need blood.”

“Had some. It’s not working, Autumn.”

“You need human blood. I can still save you.” She rolled up her sleeve and offered her wrist.

He shook his head. “No.”

“If you don’t you’ll fade into nothing and your soul will be lost.”

“If I drink too much I kill you and condemn my soul anyway. I’ll take my chances as long as I know you’re all right.”