Secrets of the Deep (43 page)

But his questions would have to wait till later—for now, Jake was mainly grateful.

Janos’s past as a skilled Guardian warrior who had trained under Derek was evident as he fought the two creatures. His black cloak swirling gracefully around him, his blade flashing blue, Janos whirled about the churchyard battling the creatures. Even if he got cut, he healed immediately. He was almost impossible to kill.

The vampire’s ferocity did not make Jake complacent, however.

He still had his two vials of holy water at the ready in case either of the phantoms came after him again.

Nightstalkers, Janos had called them, he mused. The name certainly fit. Then he cheered as Janos skewered first one of the phantoms, then pivoted to finish off the other.

When he stabbed them with the darkling blade, they exploded into a puff of ashes. But one still remained–the one that had bulleted skyward when Jake had hit it with the holy water.

It had recovered enough to make another rush at him, racing toward Jake with its knife raised, rather than attempting to fight Janos.

He was ready with the holy water, raising his arm.
Don’t miss, don’t miss, don’t miss…

He hurled the vial, barely noticing Janos racing across the churchyard, leaping over the above-ground graves to come to his aid.

The holy water hit the Nightstalker square in the chest, but as it turned away with a scream, a little of the stuff splashed sideways onto Janos as he arrived.

The vampire yelped. “Ow! Boy, be careful with that stuff!” he said, then plunged the darkling blade into the phantom, and
poof!
It rained into a messy goop of ashes.

“Sorry about that,” Jake said lamely, panting after that near miss.

Janos scowled at him, taking out a handkerchief and quickly daubing away the drops of holy water that had made his arm and chest smoke and sizzle where it had hit him. “Humph.”

Jake leaned shakily against the wall and eyed Janos a bit nervously. He had never seen him up close in his full vampire form, only from a distance. It was frightening to see the eternally young and handsome man looking so hideous and devilish.

Janos noticed him staring and sheepishly mumbled, “Oh, sorry—forgot.” He changed himself back to his usual human form with a sort of quick shrug and a jerk of his head. Then he ran a hand over his sleek black hair, smoothing his shoulder-length ponytail.

“You have some timing,” Jake added, shakily leaning against the wall as he glanced at him with gratitude. “Thanks.”

The vampire flashed a rakish smile. “My pleasure. That was fun.”

“You saved my life.”

“Ah, never a dull moment with you, m’boy. Just like Stone warned me.” Janos laid a firm grip on Jake’s shoulder and turned him toward the cemetery gate. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.”

When they walked back out into the street, Jake discovered that Janos wasn’t the only one whose protective Guardian instincts had been triggered.

Ahead, Maddox was running down the street with Red galloping beside him and Archie just a few steps behind.

“Jake!” Maddox shouted.

“I’m all right!” Jake waved to them. Farther down the street, he could see the three girls hurrying to keep up. His heart gave a little kick at the sight of Dani.

“What happened?” Maddox demanded as he rushed up to Jake, then gestured at Janos. “What’s he doing here?”

“Hullo, Stick,” Janos said pleasantly.

“He just saved my life,” Jake replied, still a bit dazed by it all.

“What do you think you’re doing, leaving like that in the middle of the night?” Maddox demanded while Red came over to Jake and pushed his head against him, as if to say,
I was worried!

“I just wanted to go for a walk,” Jake replied, steadying himself while the Gryphon nearly knocked him over with his show of affection.

“A walk? And you didn’t see fit to tell anyone? My Guardian instincts were going mad!” Maddox said. “I thought something happened to you! When I woke up and you were gone, I feared the worst. Red and I started to come out and look for you, but then Archie woke up and the girls heard us talking, too, so here we all are.”

Just then, the young ladies came clattering up to them.

“Jake!” Dani cried. “Where’ve you been?”

“Umm…”

“Hullo, Miss Bradford,” Janos purred with a wicked smile, giving Isabelle a courtly bow.

She arched a brow at him. “Prince Janos,” she answered in an arch tone.

“He’s not a real prince!” Maddox said with a scoff, then huffed at Janos: “Don’t talk to her.”

“Nonsense, I shall marry her one day,” the vampire drawled, “as the young lady well knows.”

Dani’s jaw dropped at that.

“Oh, he’s only teasing,” Isabelle said with a snort. “His Highness thinks he’s amusing.”

“But I am,” Janos said.

“You’re a traitor,” Maddox growled.

“Easy,” Jake said. “He just saved my life.”

“So, Maddox was right, then?” Archie asked in alarm. “Someone came after you out here?”

Jake nodded grimly. “Nightstalkers. But happy to say, Janos made short work of them—whatever they were. Horrible fellows.”

“Mm,” Janos agreed.

Jake paused. “Unfortunately, I’m pretty sure the Dark Druids sent them.”

“Likely so.” The vampire nodded.

“What are Nightstalkers?” Archie asked, wide-eyed.

“Dark spirits—bounty hunters,” Janos said. “I couldn’t let them get away and return to their masters to report your whereabouts. Here.” With a warning look, he handed Jake the darkling blade. “You’ll need this if any more should come. It’s the only sort of weapon that can kill them,” he informed the others.

“But don’t you need it?” Jake said as he took the knife by the handle.

“I’ll rearm at Merlin Hall,” he replied. “Come along, now. I don’t have much time. Let’s get you all back to the villa.” Gallantly, Janos offered Isabelle his arm to escort her, but she just rolled her eyes in amusement and walked past him.

Janos laughed.

Privately, Jake suspected the vampire was only flirting with Isabelle to needle Maddox. Maybe Janos hoped to nudge the strict young Guardian-in-training into acting on his far more sincere, but still secret devotion to the girl. After all, the ex-Guardian was longtime friends with Maddox’s birth mother, Ravyn Vambrace, from whom the boy had inherited his Guardian gifts. Along with Janos, Ravyn had gone on many missions led by Derek. So Janos and Maddox’s mother had, along with Derek, known each other a long time.

As they all headed back to the Villa di Palma, Dani walked close to Jake on one side, Red on the other. She poked him reproachfully in the arm. “What was in your head, ye daftling, coming out here all alone at such an hour, when half the world is out to get ye?”

He was not about to admit that he’d only gone out for a walk because he’d been feeling lovesick over her, so he sidestepped the question. “Did you know your Irish brogue always comes out stronger when you’re mad at me?” he countered with a doting smile.

She scowled. “You should’ve at least asked me to come along!”

“I almost did! But after that, believe me, I’m glad I didn’t. Besides, I didn’t want you to get in trouble, in case Aunt Ramona found out. Was she, er, still asleep when you left the villa?” he asked with a wince.

Dani nodded. “Aye. Miss Helena, too. You should be in the clear. You were lucky.”

“I know, I know.”

“Well, I’m just glad he saved you,” she said, then turned to Janos. “How are your little hatchlings, Your Highness? I heard they were sick. Did that potion the Elders made help them get better?”

“How kind of you to ask, young lady!” the vampire prince exclaimed.

“This is Dani O’Dell,” Jake informed him.

“Ah, and a very considerate girl she is. Thank you, Miss O’Dell—yes, the little ones are thriving. The medicine worked wonderfully well. My brides are happy once more.”

“Great,” Maddox muttered. “Then I guess we should be expecting a new vampire infestation in your region in another few years?”

“Don’t fret, Stick. I will teach my children proper manners. They will only feed on animals, I promise.”

Isabelle scowled at him for that.

Janos looked away. “For now, it’s strictly mother’s milk for them. Can you believe some of the little devils are already trying to fly?”

Jake arched a brow, hearing the proud vampire papa gush about his brood. He was a strange one, all right.

Janos chuckled. “They spend half their days climbing all over me and their Uncle Urso, while their mothers spoil them.”

“Urso… Isn’t that your German shapeshifter friend?” Archie queried. “Great, big, loud fellow. Changes into a bear?”

“That’s the one,” Janos said.

“Speaking of shapeshifters! Janos, did Henry come back from the forest with you?” Isabelle asked hopefully.

“No, my heart, he went straight on to Merlin Hall.”

“He did?” she exclaimed.

Janos nodded. “You’ll be proud to hear your tutor completed his spy mission. Seems Henry picked up some very important information from the forest wolves. It was just the tip we needed. The Lightrider dropped me off here, then took Henry on straightaway to Merlin Hall so he could tell the Elders what he learned. Urso went with him,” he added. “I imagine Sir Peter and the Elders are already plotting our strategy.”

“What did he find out?” Archie asked in a hushed tone. “Can you tell us?”

“Eh, why not. I’m not known for following rules. But you cannot tell
anyone
. Or I’ll come back and suck out all your blood.”

“We won’t!” they all vowed, though his threat was obviously spoken in jest.

Janos glanced around furtively. “Your own dear Henry found out where the Black Fortress currently sits.”

Sounds of awe escaped them.

By now they all knew that the Black Fortress was the name of the Dark Druids’ magical headquarters. But it wasn’t easy to find.

Steeped in many arcane spells, the warlocks’ castle had the ability to jump locations, so it was very hard to lay siege to or attack.

“That’s why I can’t stay and visit with you all. The Order is mobilizing fighters to launch an assault on the Black Fortress by tomorrow night. There’ll be a full moon and we want to capitalize on the added mystical energy it brings. I daresay we’ll need it, going into the belly of the beast like that. But there’s no time to lose. We have to get there fast if we’re to rescue Derek and Tex before the castle jumps again.”

“Wait—
what
?!” several of them gasped.

They all stopped in their tracks and looked at him incredulously.

Jake felt his stomach lurch. “Janos, what are you talking about?”

Maddox had also turned to the vampire in shock. “What do you mean,
rescue
Derek and Tex?”

Janos glanced around at them uncertainly. “You haven’t heard? They…were captured. I-I assumed you knew.”

“No!” Dani cried in a panicked tone. “When did this happen?”

“About a week ago. Aleeyah the Djinni returned to Merlin Hall alone. As I said, I’m on my way there now. We’re going into battle—”

“I’m coming with you,” Maddox said at once.

“Me too!” Jake agreed, frantic.

“Absolutely not,” Janos said.

“But I can help!” Maddox protested.

“Don’t be absurd! You’re still in training. You’ve already got your orders right here.” He gestured at Jake. “And frankly, judging by your tardy arrival tonight, you’re not doing the most outstanding job of it, St. Trinian. Besides, it isn’t up to me. Your mother would never allow it, as you know quite well.”

“Birth mother,” Maddox corrected with a prickly look. “Is Ravyn going on the mission too?”

“Of course,” Janos said. “You know how much Derek means to her. How much he means to all of us.”

“But Derek can’t be captured.” Dani turned away with a small sob. “This can’t be true!”

“I’m afraid it is, my dear,” Janos said softly. He gazed at her in distress. “Please don’t cry.”

Jake went and put his arm around her, his own eyes smarting with the threat of tears. He could not even imagine what Derek and Tex must be going through at the hands of the Dark Druids…

Magical torture?

“I can’t believe this,” Archie whispered, pale and staring, while Isabelle leaned on her brother’s shoulder, trembling.

But Nixie balled her fists up angrily at her sides. “How? How could he and Tex have let themselves get captured?”

“Actually, that’s the strangest part.” Janos frowned, hesitating. “Aleeyah said the three of them were doing their surveillance on the Black Fortress, as ordered, when they discovered that the Dark Druids were holding a Light Being captive in their dungeon.”

“An angel?” Isabelle breathed, lifting her fingers to her mouth.

Janos nodded grimly at her.

“But Aunt Ramona specifically told me they don’t have the technology to do that!” Jake nearly shouted, feeling as though everything was suddenly spinning out of control. “She said that knowledge was lost centuries ago!”

“That’s what
we
thought, too,” Janos said with a shrug. “But Aleeyah was very sure of what she saw. Derek wanted to call for reinforcements, but Tex thought they could sneak in and get the angel out of there themselves. Apparently, he was wrong.” He shook his head. “Bloody American overconfidence. Anyway, both men were captured. The only reason Aleeyah was able to get away was because of the djinni’s power of instant magical transport.”

“This is so horrible,” Archie whispered, staring at the ground.

“Please let me come along and help,” Maddox begged the ex-Guardian again. “I won’t get in the way.”

Janos laid his hand on the lad’s shoulder. “You’re needed here,” he said in a kind tone. “Mind your post. That’s what Derek would want. You take care of the others, and we’ll deliver the big, scarred lug and the mad cowboy back to you all in a day or two, hopefully unscathed. You must trust us. No tears, child.” He reached over and chucked Dani gently under the chin.

Her green eyes still glistened, but she managed to nod and held her head high.