Twice Bitten (45 page)

Following them into my hut were our two guys, dressed in light shirts and dark suits that were similar to what Kazikli had on, although with the younger feel of Canali. It was the first time I’d ever seen either one with a tie, and the subtle stripes on each seemed to enhance the aristocratic air both males carried effortlessly. Garvan also wore a scowl comparable to Kazikli’s while Armando laughed merrily behind him.

It certainly looked as if everybody but me knew we weren’t going to the castle fortress in India that night.

“See, I told you that she’d still be here and that the big bad Ralu-wolf did
not
blow her straw house down!” Armando announced with delight, once he and Garvan had stepped inside my hut. “My dear Monsieur de sang, you simply must resist the urge to believe what they tell you about sadistic killers on
Investigative Reports!
Ritualistic ‘pre visits’ are for amateurs
only!
…The real pros always strike without warning, and that’s how they get away with it like Jack the Ripper did!”

Armando added a lecturing forefinger and humorous grimace to go along with his mini-speech. Meanwhile, the rest of the vamps looked pained as they waited for him to finish. My entourage all eyed him like the class clown who took it one step too far, while Kazikli studied him as if deciding whether or not to let him live through the night.

Armando was unfazed, smirking insolently while offering me a compliment on my hair and dress. “You remind me of Sophia Loren as
Lucilla
in
The Fall of the Roman Empire
.” He brushed his hands lightly against my robe and hair, and then added a ‘primo’ sign with his thumb and forefinger to go with a playful wink.

“Sophia? I can see that, but much younger when she was
Honoria
in
Attila
,” countered Garvan.

“You think?” Armando’s left eyebrow was raised as if trying to appreciate Garvan’s point of view. “Sophia was only a girl back then, and Txema is now a woman—”

“That’s enough!” Kazikli interrupted sternly, pointing a long, sharp fingernail at them both. He waved it like a small wizard’s wand. Armando and Garvan both watched it warily, as if believing the same magical powers emitted from his infamous cane could just as easily project from his finger. “We need to get her and Alaia out of here and on a jet plane off this continent before Ralu’s army can prevent it!”

“I’m ready to go now, and if I need to change the way I’m dressed, we can do it on the plane,” I said, hoping for a way to keep things on a lighter level. Alaia seemed sensitive to the sudden tension in the room and had stopped cooing on the bed. I gazed around the hut for anything she might immediately need when we reached Racco’s jet. I had already packed everything else I could think of in a small suitcase provided by Yangani. “Is there anything I’m forgetting?”

“No, Txema, there isn’t,” said Kazikli, his tone mellow once more. “In the event we do forget something, we’ll be able to replace it right away.”

“I’ll be happy to carry Alaia if you’ll take Txema with you,” Chanson said to him.

I’m not sure if she intended to offend Garvan, but I could tell he wanted to be the one to carry me. Kazikli studied me and then looked over at Garvan, chuckling softly.

“Actually, I think it will work best if Garvan carries Txema and Armando leads the way for them,” he said, and then he looked over at Raquel and Tyreen. “You two ladies can go together and should lead the way for Chanson, who’ll be carrying
very
precious cargo.” He looked over at me and gave me a subtle wink that reminded me so much of my Papa.

“What about you? You’re coming with us, right?” Chanson looked worried, as if this was a sudden change to an arrangement discussed earlier between them.

“I absolutely wouldn’t miss this trip for the world,” he assured her. “I’ll rejoin you all before the plane leaves at eight o’clock tonight. There’s something I need to discuss with Gustav, and then Nora will journey to the plane with me.”

“Nora’s coming? That’s excellent news!” I felt my spirit lift higher. Even though Chanson is the vampire I feel the greatest connection to, I love being around Nora. Aside from what I mentioned about her earlier, maybe it’s the nurturing air about Nora I so love. She reminds me of my mom’s better qualities.

“She’s finally healed enough to travel again, after her attack from Huangtian Dadi,” said Kazikli. “As long as she can avoid direct confrontation with any of Ralu’s warriors she’ll be fine. It’s my job to watch over her, and my only reason for carrying her instead of you, Txema.”

“I understand.” Really I did, since my biggest concern was keeping my baby safe. I trusted Chanson to protect Alaia as her own newborn.

“Okay, let’s get going,” said Kazikli. “Girls, you first and then Chanson will follow. Next will be Armando, and then Garvan and Txema together. I’ll follow you until you clear Suddhodana’s realm, and then you’ll be on your own.”

Everyone nodded in agreement to Kazikli’s instructions and exited my hut. I then braced myself for the initial jolt, praying that Alaia would be safe and sound in her first vampire flight.

***

I had forgotten what it was like to fly through the air at incredible speeds and dizzying heights while in the arms of a vampire. The last time I had such an experience was when I was back in college. Traveling through frigid Smoky Mountain air in mid November, I mostly remember how cold I was—similar to when Kazikli carried me from the Himalayas in his pterodactyl form.

If only Garvan had warm human blood pumping through his veins during an experience like this, I might have melted against his powerful arms and chest. Sweet to a fault in his inner nature, I caught him continually checking on me during our fifteen minute ‘flight’ to the tarmac at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Our transportation out of the country looked like a bigger business jet than what was used for our trip to China back in November.

“If you need assistance climbing aboard, I will be delighted to escort you up the stairs,” said a young dark haired boy whom I recognized from Racco’s staff that accompanied us on our flight from France to Xu Zheng Palace. “The plane will depart soon, in about—
huh?”

Before he could finish, Garvan lifted me back in the air and through the jet’s open door next to the cockpit. The rest of our group followed suit, leaving this poor kid to stare at us all with his mouth dropped open as we floated into the plane. I guess not all of Racco’s servants have been exposed to such vampire antics.

“You and Alaia will sit near the front with me,” said Chanson, once the stewardess closed the door behind her. The passenger cabin was much bigger, and the interior quite plush this time, with a lot more space between the leather swivel chairs.

I immediately recognized our young blonde stewardess, as well, as she had provided the ‘snack’ for Tyreen on our previous trip. Her nametag said ‘Michelle’ and she looked at us all nervously—especially Tyreen, who couldn’t resist smacking her lips and exposing the wetted tips of her fangs at her. She scurried down the aisle to where the other stewardesses and our lone steward were gathered. They all looked warily at us.

If nothing else, our trip to wherever we were headed would be an interesting affair. My only disappointment was that again Racco was nowhere in sight, although this time I was ready for his absence.

“Where are we going anyway, or do you know?”

I awaited Chanson’s answer while letting my daughter grasp my index finger—something she loved to do in those first few weeks. Alaia smiled when I snuggled up to her and touched my nose to hers, and told her how much Mommy adores her little girl. Meanwhile, Chanson was busy organizing the others, and I wasn’t sure if she’d even heard my question.

“I’m not entirely sure yet, as Gustav and Kazikli were going to determine the destination once they learned more about Ralu’s latest advances,” she finally told me, once she returned to her seat next to mine. Tyreen and Raquel sat across the aisle from us, and Garvan and Armando sat in the chairs toward the back of the cabin from them. It sort of looked like ‘girls versus guys’, except for the seats in front of us that were reserved for Nora and Kazikli. “All I can tell you right now is our initial stop will be someplace in Europe, and then there will be several different options to consider. A bigger plane gives us extra alternatives in case we need them.”

“Options or alternatives for our new home?” I hated her vagueness despite the fact she probably didn’t know any more information than she shared with me.

“Yes…or at least the next place where we can safely stop and rest before moving on,” she said. She eyed me seriously, and yet a wan smile tugged on the corners of her mouth. “I’m really not trying to play a game here. I don’t know enough yet to give you something more specific.”

I nodded thoughtfully and returned her weak smile with my own. I felt less inclined to speak my mind now that she and the other vampires could once again read my thoughts. I mean, why bother? Hell, they’d likely already know the answers to my questions before I could organize them into cohesive speech.

“We still like to hear your sweet American accent, Txema, so don’t quit talking on our account!” Armando playfully jested from his seat. He absently spun the chair on its swivel like a bored little boy, drawing a look of annoyance from Garvan. “Besides, it beats the hell out of listening to anything Garvan has to say.”

He reached over and poked Garvan in the side as he swiveled past him, who immediately feigned a physical injury. So much like brothers, I wondered what one would do without the other, should they ever be separated for a lengthy period of time.

“Oh, there would be plenty of things I could do with some peace and quiet, like read a few books, watch television undisturbed, not worry about being thrown out of movie theatres and burlesque clubs…things like that,” said Garvan, while he returned the jab to Armando’s side when he passed by again. Armando howled in fake pain while Garvan rolled his eyes.

“Maybe that’s your problem, Monsieur, ” countered Armando, still acting as if he had been mortally wounded. “How does one enjoy a burlesque show in peace and quiet? …Unless, I suppose, by staring at a taped performance on a computer or cell phone while doing naughty things to one’s self, no?”

“I’m pretty sure that would be small potatoes compared to the kiddy porn sites you had bookmarked on the Ipad we bought Txema before she disappeared on us, Armando,” teased Raquel, gently rocking back and forth in her seat while she watched the boys at play, her expression almost envious. “You should be grateful that Huangtian Dadi confiscated it when we left Xu Zheng Palace or you might’ve found yourself arrested by the custom’s police sometime tonight!”

“So, do you think that lecherous old dragon threw the only piece of twenty-first century technology he’s ever held into the Yarlung Tsangpo River, as he threatened to do?” asked Armando, abandoning his twirling game to study her. His expression was thoughtful and sincere…although his main audience of Tyreen, Raquel, and Garvan surely knew better. “Or, do you think he thought better of it, and now spanks his wee little monkey every night to the Library of Licentiousness I created for him?
Hmmm
, I wonder?”

That got everyone laughing, including Chanson and myself. It was a nice lighthearted moment, but it also made me wonder about the details behind their final expulsion from China.

“That’s a subject for some other time, I’m afraid,” said Chanson. “I brought you up to date with the most important details earlier this week, Txema. The more unpleasant things can wait. Besides, Kazikli and Nora have arrived.”

She looked toward the door, and as I followed her gaze it suddenly flew open. Our last two vampire companions drifted through the doorway, dressed as if going to a Sunday afternoon matinee performance on-Broadway. Nora looked relieved to be inside the plane, but Kazikli looked irritated.

“I will speak to Racco’s people about leaving the stairs attached, since it is an open invitation to an attack!” he fumed, and then hurriedly pulled the door shut and latched it. “We need to leave now!”

He motioned to Chanson to ‘hold that thought’ while he stepped over to the cockpit and disappeared inside. A moment later, the jet engines began to rev up and before Kazikli returned to us, the airplane was already moving toward the runway.

“It’s so good to be here with you, Txema!” said Nora, as she took her seat in front of Chanson’s. She leaned over her seat to get a better look at Alaia, resting peacefully in my lap. “Oh my, look at our little princess! She is
so
beautiful…so
precious!”

If nothing else, my little girl had a big fan club that I knew would do whatever they could to protect her from harm. That knowledge alone went a long way to making me feel better about things.

Kazikli rejoined us as Nora sat in her seat. He seemed much more at ease, and when I asked him if everything was okay he smiled.

“Now it is,” he said. “We needed to leave twelve minutes earlier than scheduled, but I can live with our 7:49 p.m. departure.”

Like the last time we traveled, I was the only one who had to buckle a seatbelt. Even my baby didn’t need to be tightly secured, since Chanson gently lifted her from my lap and held her in her arms. Nothing short of a bomb blast would loosen her grip.