"We want to fight," Davy announced.
"No," Brynley said. "You're too young."
"But we can shift," Griffin insisted. "We can really tear into them as wolves."
"You can shift?" Vanda asked. "I thought that was last night."
"The full moon cycle affects us for three nights," Brynley explained. "On the first night we shift involuntarily for the whole night. On the next two nights we can choose whether or not to shift."
"And we want to shift!" Davy looked at Vanda. "If you can get us there, we'll fight."
"Please," Gavin pleaded. "Mr. Jones believes in us. We want to show him we're worthy."
Brynley sighed. "Okay. But if any of you gets wounded, you pull out. You stay safe." She turned to Vanda. "How many can you teleport at once?"
Vanda winced. "Just one."
The boys groaned.
"Wait a minute." Vanda grabbed her new cell phone. Relief swept through her when she saw a long list of contacts. Thank God Phil had planned ahead. She called Maggie. "Maggie, this is Vanda. I need you and Pierce to come here right away. Bring some weapons."
"Are you in danger?" Maggie asked. "We'll be right there."
Within seconds Maggie and her husband appeared in the cabin. Maggie was holding a cell phone and a revolver, while Pierce was toting a shotgun. They both had knives stuffed in their belts.
Vanda quickly explained the situation. "You don't have to fight if you don't want to, but we need you to help transport."
"Not a problem." Pierce looked at the group of boys. "You're sure you want to do this?"
"Yeah, let's go," Davy insisted.
"Where exactly are we going?" Maggie asked.
"Phineas said it was a campground south of Mount Rushmore. I thought we'd call some of them and teleport straight there."
Pierce frowned. "If they're fighting, they're not going to answer their phones."
"We've got to try." Vanda studied the list of contacts on her cell.
Brynley whipped out her own cell. "There's got to be a wolf pack living around there. I'll try to find them."
Vanda's eye caught on the name Kyo. The Japanese tourist and his friends had offered to fight before. She punched in his number.
"Kyo, this is Vanda. I don't know if you remember—"
"Ah, Vanda, the famous celebrity. I am honored."
"Kyo, could you and your friends teleport to me? And if you have any weapons, could you bring them?"
"You in trouble? We be right there." Kyo, Yuki, and Yoshi appeared, all with samurai swords.
Vanda explained the situation once again and introduced everyone.
The Japanese gaped at Pierce.
"You Don Orlando de Corazon!" Yuki shouted. "You very famous."
"We are honored to fight with you." Kyo bowed.
Brynley covered her phone with one hand. "I called my sister, Glynis. She's looking up the phone number for the nearest wolf pack to Mount Rushmore."
"Mount Rushmore?" Yoshi asked. "Big mountain, big heads?"
"We were there," Kyo said. "We have very nice photos. You want to see?"
"We want to go there." Vanda wrapped her whip around her waist and shoved the handgun under the waistband of her jeans. "Do you know the way?"
"Hai." Kyo nodded. "We take you."
"Never mind." Brynley told her sister, and hung up. "Let's go."
For the first trip, the three Japanese teleported Vanda, Maggie, and Pierce. Then they all teleported back. It took them two more trips to transport Brynley and all the boys.
They heard the clashing of swords to the south and ran toward the sound, weaving through trees. The clashing sounds grew louder, punctuated every now and then with a shout of victory or a cry of pain.
Vanda saw the light of a bonfire ahead. She stopped behind a cabin and peered around the corner. Brynley looked over her shoulder.
Phil and the Vamps were completely surrounded and fighting for their lives. A panther was dashing around the perimeter, taking down Malcontents and dragging them away to maul them to death.
"The panther's on our side?" Brynley asked.
"Yes." Vanda narrowed her eyes. "Where did the bear come from?"
"That's Howard," Maggie whispered.
"Sweet Howard is a bear?" Vanda winced when the huge bear took a swipe at a Malcontent with his mighty paw and ripped the vampire's head off.
"Cool," Davy whispered. "Come on, guys, let's shift."
"Make sure you attack the bad guys," Vanda warned them. "Our guys are in the middle."
"Yeah, they're surrounded." Davy pulled his shirt off. "But not for long."
Brynley and the boys stripped and started shifting.
Vanda grabbed Maggie and ran to hide behind another cabin. "Maybe we can find Robby."
Pierce followed them, carrying his shotgun. "I'm not letting Maggie out of my sight."
A series of howls and war cries echoed through the camp. Vanda peered around the cabin. The werewolves and Japanese had attacked.
The Malcontents, taken by surprise, suddenly found themselves fighting on two fronts. Their line thinned and faltered. Screams of pains filled the air. The grass was littered with piles of dust that were quickly scattered as the warriors trampled over them.
Vanda saw a group of four Malcontents break away and run down a path. She narrowed her eyes. She'd recognized Casimir and Sigismund. They might be escaping, fearing that the battle had turned against them, or they could be going to Robby.
"Let's follow them," she whispered to Maggie and Pierce.
They stayed in the shelter of the trees and followed the path Casimir had taken. It led to a cave where two Malcontents were standing guard at the entrance. Sigismund and Casimir must have gone inside.
"How good are you two with knives?" Vanda asked.
"Very good." Maggie took the knife from her belt. "I've got the one on the left."
Her husband held a hunting knife. "On the count of three." He counted softly, then the knives spun into the air. They landed with a thud in the chests of the two Malcontents.
Pierce's was a direct hit to the heart, and the Malcontent turned to dust. Maggie's victim fell to the ground. Pierce rushed forward at vampire speed, yanked the knife out, and plunged it into the surviving Malcontent's heart. He turned to dust as well.
He handed the knife back to Maggie before they entered the cave. A lit torch was attached to the cave wall every ten feet. They progressed quietly, then halted when the main tunnel divided in two.
"You guys take the right," Vanda whispered. "I'll go left."
"Are you sure?" Pierce asked.
"Yes." Vanda removed the knife from the sheath on her calf and hurried down the narrow tunnel. It grew darker, so she removed a torch from the wall to light her way. The tunnel opened into a room with stalactites dripping from the ceiling. She weaved through the stalagmites. No Malcontents. No Robby.
She heard a moan and whirled around.
"Robby?" She barely breathed the name, hoping the sound wouldn't carry too far.
She heard the moan again. She held up the torch and peered around slowly. There, a narrow crack in the wall. She turned sideways and squeezed through.
It was another room. And there, in the middle, was Robby tied to chair.
"Robby," she whispered, rushing to him.
He lifted his head, and she halted with a jolt. Good Lord, they'd beaten his face black and blue. One eye was swollen, the other one cut above the brow. Blood trickled down.
"Oh Robby." She wedged the torch between two rocks. Bile rose in her throat as she saw the slashes across his chest.
"Hungry," he whispered.
Oh no, she should have thought to bring some bottled blood. "Don't worry. I'll teleport you out of here straight to a supply of blood." There was plenty at the cabin. She could take him there.
She set down her knife, then grabbed at the chain across his chest. She cried out when it burned her fingers. Of course, silver, so he couldn't teleport away. She w
inced at the burn marks on Robby's chest.
She looked around for something to insulate her hands. Socks? She glanced down at Robby's feet. They were barefoot and bloody. Dammit. Was there no part of this man that they hadn't tortured?
"Hungry," Robby whispered.
"I'll get you out of here." She pulled off her shirt and wrapped it around her hands. Then she unfastened the chain around his chest and neck. She saw his hands, tied with silver behind the chair. They were burned and dripping blood.
He started to shake, and she realized he was fighting a compulsion to bite her.
"Just a little longer, hang in there." She unhooked the chain that strapped his thighs to the chair.
"No!" Robby cried.
"It'll be all right," she assured him.
Something sharp poked her in the back, and she straightened with a jerk, glancing over her shoulder.
Sigismund stood behind her, his sword pressed into her back. "We meet again, Vanda. For the final time."
CHAPTER 23
Vanda glanced at her knife on the ground. She'd never get to it in time. And she couldn't unwind her whip in time either. She let her shirt drop to the ground, then she curled her hand around the pistol she'd wedged under the waistband of her jeans.
Sigismund grabbed her suddenly, pulling her back against his chest. He swung the sword around and pressed it to her neck. "I should have killed you years ago. Jedrek insisted on doing it himself, but he's gone now. You and your nasty friends will pay for his murder."
Vanda held her breath, afraid the sword would cut her throat if she so much as inhaled.
He pinched the sword tighter against her neck. "Maybe I'll have some fun with you first. I always did want to fuck you, you know."
He grunted in her ear. His sword clattered to the floor. Vanda spun around.
Sigismund was a pile of dust. Her sister stood there, staring at his remains, a sword trembling in her hand.
"Marta?" Vanda whispered.
"I–I'm finally free," Marta whispered in Polish. Her gaze lifted to Vanda. She dropped her sword with a clatter.
Vanda took a deep breath. "You saved my life."
Marta's eyes filled with tears. "I killed our little sister. I didn't mean to. I didn't want to." She looked at the pile of dust. "He controlled me for so long." With a sudden cry, she stomped on his dust. She stomped and stomped, crying, "I hate him! I hate him!"
"Marta." Vanda grabbed her by the shoulders. "It's okay. We're together now."
She blinked through her tears. "Can you forgive me?"
"Yes." Vanda pulled her tight and hugged her. Marta was trembling in her arms. "Can you help me get Robby out of here?" She released her sister and moved behind Robby to unfasten the chains around his wrists.
Marta stood still, staring at Robby with tears running down her face.
"Robby!"
Vanda heard Angus shouting in the cavern room. "We're in here!"
The Scotsman squeezed through the narrow opening. He halted when he saw Marta and lifted his sword.
"It's okay, Angus. She's with me." Vanda released the chain binding Robby's wrists, and he slumped forward.
Angus rushed forward to grab him. "Och, Robby, my lad."
"Hungry," Robby whispered.
"Of course." Angus fumbled in his sporran and pulled out a bottle of blood. He ripped off the top and put it up to Robby's mouth.
Robby guzzled it down.
"How is the battle going?" Vanda asked.
"'Tis over," Angus replied. "The Malcontents dinna like being skewered by us and mauled by wild animals. They teleported away. Where did those wolves come from?"
"I brought them," Vanda said. "They wanted to prove themselves to Phil."
"Och, they certainly proved their worth to me." Angus realized the bottle was empty. He pulled a flask from his sporran. "Here, lad. A little Blissky will help with the pain."
"I got it." Robby took the flask in a shaking, bloody hand. His grip faltered.
Angus grabbed the flask and held it to Robby's mouth. "We were so verra worried. I'll kill the bastards that did this to you."
"Robby!" More shouts came from the cavern next door.
"In here!" Angus yelled.
Jean-Luc, Connor, and Phil slipped inside. Vanda's heart leaped at the sight of Phil. He had a few cuts and scrapes, but otherwise, he looked absolutely wonderful.
He didn't seem surprised to see her. He must have realized she was here when the wolves had joined the battle. He grinned at her, then looked at Robby and his smile faded.
"Och, lad." Connor kneeled in front of Robby. "Let's get you back to Romatech and clean you up."
"Did ye find Casimir?" Angus asked.
"Nay," Connor said. "It looks like the bastard teleported away."
"I'll tell everyone we found Robby." Jean-Luc patted Robby on the shoulder, then left the small room.
"Hey, Robby." Phil touched his knee, then looked at Vanda. "Are you all right?"
She nodded and pointed at the dust scattered about the room. "Sigismund tried to kill me, but my sister saved me." She pulled Marta forward. "She's on our side now."
"Welcome." Phil shook Marta's hand. "Thank you for saving Vanda."
Marta nodded with tears still streaming down her face.
Vanda felt tears in her eyes, too. She had her sister back. And Phil had survived the battle. "I'm glad you're all right."
He nodded. "I'm glad you're all right, too." His eyes glimmered with love and longing.
"Och, go ahead and hug her, lad," Connor growled. "Ye're no' fooling us."
Phil grabbed Vanda and held her tight. "I was so scared when I realized you were here." He kissed her brow. "But thank you for coming. The boys and the Japanese were a great help."
"I'd like to talk to the Japanese," Angus said. "Phil, can ye ask them to come to Romatech with us?"
"Sure." Phil released Vanda. "I'd like to bring the boys there, too. They need a home and a school."
"Are they orphans?" Angus asked.
"Banished like I was," Phil replied. "They have no home."
"They do now." Angus helped Robby to his feet. "I'm taking him to Romatech. Bring the others." Angus wrapped an arm around Robby's shoulders, and they vanished.
"Let's go." Phil took Vanda's hand.
She pulled back. "I–I'm going to take Marta to Howard's cabin. We have some catching up to do. I'll see you later."
Phil tilted his head, looking a little worried. "Are you sure?"
"Of course. We'll be fine," Vanda insisted. She blinked back the tears in her eyes. "I'll always love you, Phil. I know you have a great future ahead of you."
His eyes narrowed.
She grabbed her sister and teleported away.
Two hours later Phil left the boys in a conference room at Romatech, filling out registration forms for Shanna's school. He headed down the hall to the clinic to see how Robby was doing. The room was full of people waiting for some news.
He sat next to Brynley. "What are you doing here?"
She shrugged. "Waiting for one of these Vamp friends of yours to give me a ride home. How are the boys?"
"They're getting registered for school. You sure you don't want to apply for a teaching job?"
She frowned. "I don't know. I have a good life back in Montana."
"You could live on campus, see the boys every day."
"And never see my parents again? Or Howell and Glynis?" She gave him an annoyed look. "You don't even want to see your younger brother and sister?"
Phil sighed. "This is my home now."
Brynley looked about the room. "Where's Vanda? I thought you two were inseparable."
"She wanted to be alone for a while with her sister. I tried calling her, but she didn't answer."
"Great. She finally saw the light."
Phil cocked his head. "What did you say to her?"
"I explained who you are. I told her you have a great future ahead of you."
"She said that to
me twice."
Brynley shrugged. "I guess she understands where you belong now. You'll be an important leader someday."
"Maybe. In about three hundred years," Phil growled. "Did you tell her that?"
"You're better off without her. She can't even give you children."
"You think I care?" Phil shouted, then realized everyone in the waiting room was looking at him. He lowered his voice. "I love her, Bryn. I'm going to marry her. And there's not a damned thing you can do about it."
Brynley glowered at him. "You could have everything. Wealth, power, and prestige. You would give it up for a vampire woman—"
"With purple hair," Phil finished her sentence. "Yes, you bet I would."
He left the waiting room and paced around the hall. He could have Phineas teleport him to Howard's cabin. And then what would he do? How could he convince Vanda that she was the perfect woman for him?
She'd always been the one for him. Years ago, when he'd rebelled against his father and ended up at the townhouse, he'd met Vanda for the first time. With her purple hair and bat tattoo, he'd known right away that he'd met another rebel. Another outcast. They were two of a kind, both hiding a passionate, angry beast deep within.
"Phil, how are you?"
He turned to see Father Andrew coming down the hall. "I'm fine, Father. How are you?"
"Good. I've been meaning to talk to you." The priest pulled out his day-timer and thumbed through the pages. "I was researching Vanda's family to see if I could locate her sister."
"We found her. Vanda's with her now. They're working things out."
Father Andrew glanced up, smiling. "Excellent." He tore a page from his day-timer and handed it to Phil. "I thought you might find this interesting."
Phil read it, and his heart expanded in his chest. This was the perfect way to win Vanda back. "Thank you, Father."
"You're welcome, my son." He patted Phil on the back. "So will I be officiating another wedding soon?"
Phil gulped. "You knew?"
The priest's eyes twinkled. "That you were engaging in forbidden acts? Don't worry. I believe in forgiveness."
Forgiveness. If Vanda could forgive her sister, maybe it was time he forgave his father. After all, if his dad hadn't banished him, he wouldn't have ended up in the Vampire World. He wouldn't have found Vanda. "I believe in forgiveness, too. And love."
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