“Yes,” Briathos agreed. “But remember this, Russell Ryan Hankelburg. You did not become evil.”
Russell gulped. This angel guy seemed for real. “What about Xiao Fang? He’s being held prisoner. Isn’t that a violation of his free will?”
“The boy remains strong,” Briathos said. “He has not been forced into evil. We are watching the situation, and the second Darafer crosses the line—”
“Why do we have to wait?” Russell yelled. “Tell me where Han is, and I’ll rescue the boy.”
“All will be revealed in due course. Prepare yourself. Your time is near.”
“I’m ready now! I’ve been ready to kill Han for two years! The bastard took everything from me!”
Briathos regarded him sadly. “You still have more to lose. But even more to gain.”
“What does that mean?” Russell demanded, but Briathos and his band of angels vanished. More to lose? He glanced at Jia. God, no. He couldn’t let anything happen to her.
She stepped closer to him, her face pale. “Han put you in a coma for thirty-nine years?”
He winced. In his anger, he’d said too much.
“Jia.” Rajiv waved her over. “We must hurry with the evacuations.”
She touched Russell’s arm. “We’ll talk later, okay?” She turned and accompanied her cousin up the stairs to the palace.
Russell watched her go, his gut twisting into knots.
“ ’Twill all work out,” Angus assured him. “When Han comes with his army, ye’ll have yer chance to avenge yerself. And when the God Warriors send Darafer to hell, there will be no one left here who will want to call him back. We will finally have peace.”
“I hope so.” Russell started up the stairs. There was something still bugging him, something he’d missed. He replayed the conversation with Wu Shen in his mind. The officer had recited Han’s orders quickly and precisely. What was there to be confused about?
With a jerk, Russell came to a halt. Wu Shen had received those orders tonight. He couldn’t teleport, so he must have taken one of those trucks to see Han. When Russell had talked to Wu Shen, the sun had been set for about an hour and a half.
Russell charged up the stairs and into the palace. Rajiv and the women were taping up signs on the wooden pillars, a different sign for each of the were-tiger colonies. “Rajiv, do you have a map?”
“In my office.” Rajiv pointed to a hallway to the right. “First door.”
Russell ran into the office and spotted the big map on the wall with all of Han’s campsites marked. He located the northernmost one where he’d been earlier that night.
Within driving distance, he thought. Han was hiding close to that camp. Probably within an eighty-mile radius.
“I have you now, you bastard.”
Chapter Fifteen
For two months, I have believed that it is possible to escape Master Han. When the moon is full, perhaps this month or the next, I will shift into dragon form for the first time and gain my wings. Somehow, I will escape this underground prison, and as soon as I see the sky, I will fly away.
But last night, I saw Darafer make all the birds plummet to their deaths. What if he does the same to me? I know Master Han is dangerous and I should fear him. But I fear the demon even more.
When Lord Liao and his guards formed a circle to bring the demon back from hell, I shot fire at them to stop them. The flames burned the vampire lord and his guards, but they had no effect on Darafer at all. I have no defense against him.
In the morning, I hear the soldiers grumbling. They wait until Master Han is hidden away in his death-sleep before they dare to complain. They have orders to shovel all the dead birds into a pile so they can be burned.
I mourn for the birds and wonder if the eagles have left behind little ones. Are the eaglets in a nest, hungry and calling for parents who will never return?
My hope is waning. The only comfort I can find is the knowledge that the other dragons survived. They will live on. The remaining eggs will hatch. Queen Nima will raise them well. They will fly and breathe fire for five hundred years.
As for me, I hold on to the truths I repeat to myself every day. I am dragon. I can never surrender. Nor will I submit.
I used to think those truths would set me free. Now I fear they will cost me my life.
Breakfast and lunch trays are brought to me, but I do not eat. In desperation, I consider breathing fire upon the soldiers in order to escape. But I cannot bring myself to harm the soldiers, who have been good to me.
After lunch, half of the soldiers prepare to leave. I hear them grumbling about a long drive to Darafer’s secret enclave, where he is growing the demon herb. They have to be there to guard Master Han during the ceremony. Tonight Darafer is changing more mortals into supersoldiers.
A spark of hope ignites inside me. Master Han and half of his soldiers will be gone tonight. Darafer will be occupied, too, at the ceremony. If I set this place on fire, the remaining soldiers will be busy putting out the flames, and I can make my escape.
I pace my room, waiting for sunset. Waiting for the man in the golden mask to leave. When my dinner tray arrives, I eat. I need my strength tonight.
Master Han knocks on my door and enters. “How are you today, son? Did you sleep well? Do you have enough to eat?”
I bow, hoping I will never hear those words again.
“Are you ready to go?”
I stiffen at his question. Does he know I plan to escape?
Master Han extends a hand toward me. “Come. I want you to attend the ceremony with me.”