Wu Shen’s eyes flashed with anger. “Why should I tell you anything? You and your friends killed my sons at Beyul-La.”
Russell stiffened. “You had sons there? In the cave?”
“Yes. The cave you blew up.”
Russell winced. “It’s true we trapped them in there. But the plan was to knock them out, then use the cave as a clinic to change them back to normal. We intended to save them.”
Wu Shen grew pale. “Why didn’t you?”
“The trapped soldiers panicked before we could knock them out. They tried to blast their way out with grenades and brought the mountain down on themselves.”
A pained look crossed Wu Shen’s face. “This is true?”
“Yes. Whenever possible, Angus and his guys take your soldiers prisoner. They have two clinics where they’re able to undo the mutations and turn the soldiers back to normal. The goal has always been to kill Han, not the mortals who were tricked into serving him.”
Wu Shen sighed. “I believe you. I’ve known for some time that you’ve been taking soldiers prisoner. There are signs of a struggle, but never any bodies.”
“I’m sorry about your sons.”
Wu Shen nodded. “My boys were lured in with the promise of becoming superhuman. They believed Han, believed that he could take over all of China—even the world—and they would live like kings.” He snorted. “I never trusted Han, but I resigned my position with the Chinese army so I could become an officer here and watch over my boys.”
“I’m sorry.” Russell winced inwardly, recalling how many of Han’s soldiers he’d killed with the attitude that they’d asked for it. Over the last few days, he’d seen Jia’s reaction to killing, and it had opened his eyes to how cold-blooded he’d become.
Wu Shen turned away, his shoulders slumped.
“Can you tell me where Han is hiding?”
He shook his head.
“Then tell me where they’re keeping the dragon boy prisoner.”
With a frown, Wu Shen turned back to Russell. “I wish I could help you, but the boy is in the same place as Han.”
“Is he all right?”
“He’s doing well, but he’s terrified.” Wu Shen grimaced. “Darafer would terrify anyone.”
“You know you’re working for some cruel bastards.”
“If that’s all you came to say—”
“We need your help.”
“If I’m caught, I’ll be killed. If I try to leave, I’ll be killed. I’m as trapped as my boys were in that cave.”
“If we can kill Han, the soldiers will be free. No more will have to die.”
Wu Shen nodded slowly. “My boys sold their souls to Darafer, so now they’re in hell. I might as well join them there.”
“What can you tell me?”
“I received orders from Han earlier this evening. Soldiers from each camp are to move southeast, where the army will assemble. New recruits will be mutated tomorrow to increase the army’s size. I’ve been given three nights, starting tonight, to prepare the army and move them into place. On the fourth night, Han will teleport there to lead the attack.”
“Where is the attack?” Russell asked.
“The main village of were-tigers.” When Russell drew in a sharp breath, Wu Shen nodded. “I suggest you evacuate the women and children. And prepare for battle.”
Chapter Fourteen
When Russell arrived with Jia, the courtyard of Tiger Town was bustling with activity. Angus and about thirty of his employees were there. Most of the were-tiger villagers were lurking about, curiously watching the proceedings. They greeted Jia’s sudden appearance with cheers and waves.
Russell gave her a wry look. “They’re glad to have their princess back.”
Rajiv ran up to them and gave Jia a hug. “Thank God you’re back.” He nodded at Russell. “You did the right thing.”
“We have bad news.” Russell waved Angus and his men over and switched to English. “I just talked to Wu Shen. Han’s army is preparing to march on Tiger Town.”
“What?” Rajiv turned to Jia and asked in Chinese, “Han is coming here?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “We need to evacuate the women and children.”
A series of gasps echoed around them, then a flurry of whispering as the news spread among the villagers.
“This is rotten timing,” Rajiv muttered. “Your fiancé is supposed to arrive in a little over a week.”
Jia winced. “Can we postpone his visit?”
Rajiv sighed as he looked around Tiger Town. “We’ll wait to see how the battle goes.”
“How long before Han arrives?” Angus asked in English.
“He plans to lead the attack in four nights,” Russell replied. “This isn’t like Beyul-La, in the middle of the Himalayas. There are roads here, and his army has transport trucks, so they’ll be moving faster.”
Angus nodded. “I’ll call in reinforcements. About a hundred of the soldiers we saved over the last year have promised to help.” He turned to J.L. and Dougal. “Can ye contact them?”
Dougal nodded. “My wife kept a record of all their names and villages.”
“If we divide the villages up, we can reach most of the soldiers tonight,” J.L. said, and the two Vamps dashed to the clinic.
“We have three nights to get prepared,” Russell said. “Wu Shen said they would be mutating new recruits tomorrow.”
“Any idea how many?” When Russell shook his head, Angus continued, “Over the last six months, we’ve taken eighty soldiers prisoner. Thirty more last night. We figure Han has close to three hundred.”
Russell frowned. Even with the hundred rescued soldiers, Angus could pull together a force of less than two hundred. “You should continue attacking Han’s camps for the next three nights. We need to deplete his army as much as possible.”
“Agreed,” Angus said. “We’ll start after we evacuate the women and children.”
Something nagged at the back of Russell’s mind. He was forgetting something. Something Wu Shen had said.
Angus turned to Rajiv. “How quickly can ye coordinate the evacuation? I’ll lend you as many Vamps as I can for teleporting.”
“I’ll take care of it.” Rajiv bounded halfway up the stairs in front of the palace and called in Chinese for the villagers’ attention. They gathered around the base of the stairs, complaining.
“We don’t want to leave!” an elderly man shouted.
Rajiv lifted his hands, but the grumbling increased.
“You can’t make us leave our homes!”
Jia rushed up the stairs to be by her cousin’s side. When Russell followed her, he was jostled by angry were-tigers.
“You all heard the news,” Rajiv announced. “Han’s army is coming here.”
“It’s those vampires’ fault,” an old woman yelled, glaring at Russell. “They came here, and now we’re in trouble.”
Another woman pointed at Russell. “Why was this vampire with our princess? I thought she was with Your Eminence’s brother in Thailand.”
Rajiv exchanged a worried look with Jia.
“She was!” Russell replied. “But when I learned that Tiger Town was in danger, I picked her up on the way here. I knew she would want to be with you.”
Jia slanted him a grateful look before addressing the crowd. “I will do everything I can to help.”
“Then send the vampires away!” the old woman shouted. “If they leave, Master Han will leave us alone.”
“That’s not true,” Rajiv said. “Han and his vampire lords have plagued us for many years, long before we met the good Vamps.”
“There’s no such thing as a good Vamp!” An elderly man shook his fist.
“My grandfather, the Grand Tiger, lost three of his sons to Han and his evil vampire lords.” Rajiv motioned to his cousin beside him. “Lady Jia and I both lost our parents to vampires. How many of you have suffered and lost loved ones because of Master Han?”
The were-tigers grumbled.
“Since we met the good Vamps, all three of Han’s evil vampire lords have been vanquished,” Rajiv continued. “Russell here killed Lord Ming. With help from Jin Long, Jia and I were able to kill Lord Qing. The captive dragon shifter killed Lord Liao. Han is the only one left. We are so close to being free from them forever! Bear with us just a little longer.”