would still think her a lunatic and ignore her warnings.
She patted her purse, which she had slung over her right hip and felt comforted by the feel of the gun loaded with the copper tipped bullets. She glanced at the performers who manned the life-size dragon puppets. The fog had rolled in earlier than usual, hiding the feet of the performers, giving the dragons a surreal appearance as they danced to the beat of the drums, the dragon’s faces grinning in frozen delight. They drifted close to the crowd, touching, luring …
Autumn stopped cold and took hold of Jairec’s arm. “I know how he’ll do it.”
“How?”
“The dragons. They’ll take them one by one, under the dragons. The people won’t realize their loved ones are missing, until it is too late.”
Someone screamed to the right of where they stood. The crowd didn’t look alarmed since across from them, teenagers screeched in delight and clapped their hands. Jairec tapped her shoulder and pointed. “Over there.” They nudged their way through the crowd. The dragon swept close, swallowing the onlookers as if the beast feasted on its prey. Autumn tried to step back but the crowd pushed forward. She grabbed onto Jairec’s hand but she was ripped from his hold.
****
“Autumn!” Terror struck Jairec like it had never done before. It spread through him as he watched her disappear beneath the brightly colored cloth. He went crazy then, lashing out, slicing at the material. He had to get to her. He had to save her.
His chest heaved from the exertion and he looked at the damage he wrecked. He realized then he caused a panic. People around him shrieked and moved back.
“It’s part of the parade,” some fool yelled and the people stopped.
Jairec throttled the urge to turn on the man and kill him for his stupidity. The crowd hushed and pointed as if awestruck. Jairec looked over his shoulder. The crowd foolishly watched. This wasn’t a performance and yet they stood there waiting to applaud.
Tristan threw off the head of the dragon, revealing more than one chiang-shih with their hair gray and long. The fog still blanketed the ground and he knew it covered the victims the fiends had drained. He wondered how long before the dead rose, hungry and looking to feed?
His gaze locked onto his brother who had Autumn’s arms pinned behind her. So much for the copper mesh vest she wore. It looked like she needed cuffed arm gear as well.
Let her go, Tristan,” Jairec demanded.
Tristan’s mouth curved. “Don’t believe I will. Heng wants her. He decided he fancied her at our last meeting.”
Now why would she want a guy who has a face like a lap dog? Just give me the girl and I won’t kill you.”
Tristan’s chuckle strummed from his chest with malice. “Why do you care about this human? What’s so special about her?”
Jairec gave a careless shrug. He had to remain calm, not act desperate, but it proved difficult when he witnessed the terror in Autumn’s gaze. If he could hear her heart pounding in her chest, his brother could hear it, too. “I owe her. She gave me shelter when I needed it.”
“Is that so. You won’t need shelter if you join Heng. We’ll rule California and beyond. He has big plans where a chiang-shih will head each city. We’ll be gods.”
Jairec wondered why the nuts always wanted to take over the world. “Sure. Why not? But a god must have a goddess at his side.” He looked at Autumn. “I claim her.”
“Uh uh. Heng wants her for himself. He’s the boss.”
“I want her at my side.”
Tristan stared at him as he considered his offer. “Hmm, interesting.” He leaned forward and Jairec resisted the urge to lunge. Tristan sniffed Autumn’s hair, inhaling deeply. Autumn closed her eyes. “Ah, I see why you’re so interested in her. She reeks of you, Jairec. You’ve been shagging her, haven’t you?”
“Piss off. That’s none of your concern now is it?”
“Tsk, tsk. Is that anyway to speak to your
She patted her purse, which she had slung over her right hip and felt comforted by the feel of the gun loaded with the copper tipped bullets. She glanced at the performers who manned the life-size dragon puppets. The fog had rolled in earlier than usual, hiding the feet of the performers, giving the dragons a surreal appearance as they danced to the beat of the drums, the dragon’s faces grinning in frozen delight. They drifted close to the crowd, touching, luring …
Autumn stopped cold and took hold of Jairec’s arm. “I know how he’ll do it.”
“How?”
“The dragons. They’ll take them one by one, under the dragons. The people won’t realize their loved ones are missing, until it is too late.”
Someone screamed to the right of where they stood. The crowd didn’t look alarmed since across from them, teenagers screeched in delight and clapped their hands. Jairec tapped her shoulder and pointed. “Over there.” They nudged their way through the crowd. The dragon swept close, swallowing the onlookers as if the beast feasted on its prey. Autumn tried to step back but the crowd pushed forward. She grabbed onto Jairec’s hand but she was ripped from his hold.
****
“Autumn!” Terror struck Jairec like it had never done before. It spread through him as he watched her disappear beneath the brightly colored cloth. He went crazy then, lashing out, slicing at the material. He had to get to her. He had to save her.
His chest heaved from the exertion and he looked at the damage he wrecked. He realized then he caused a panic. People around him shrieked and moved back.
“It’s part of the parade,” some fool yelled and the people stopped.
Jairec throttled the urge to turn on the man and kill him for his stupidity. The crowd hushed and pointed as if awestruck. Jairec looked over his shoulder. The crowd foolishly watched. This wasn’t a performance and yet they stood there waiting to applaud.
Tristan threw off the head of the dragon, revealing more than one chiang-shih with their hair gray and long. The fog still blanketed the ground and he knew it covered the victims the fiends had drained. He wondered how long before the dead rose, hungry and looking to feed?
His gaze locked onto his brother who had Autumn’s arms pinned behind her. So much for the copper mesh vest she wore. It looked like she needed cuffed arm gear as well.
Let her go, Tristan,” Jairec demanded.
Tristan’s mouth curved. “Don’t believe I will. Heng wants her. He decided he fancied her at our last meeting.”
Now why would she want a guy who has a face like a lap dog? Just give me the girl and I won’t kill you.”
Tristan’s chuckle strummed from his chest with malice. “Why do you care about this human? What’s so special about her?”
Jairec gave a careless shrug. He had to remain calm, not act desperate, but it proved difficult when he witnessed the terror in Autumn’s gaze. If he could hear her heart pounding in her chest, his brother could hear it, too. “I owe her. She gave me shelter when I needed it.”
“Is that so. You won’t need shelter if you join Heng. We’ll rule California and beyond. He has big plans where a chiang-shih will head each city. We’ll be gods.”
Jairec wondered why the nuts always wanted to take over the world. “Sure. Why not? But a god must have a goddess at his side.” He looked at Autumn. “I claim her.”
“Uh uh. Heng wants her for himself. He’s the boss.”
“I want her at my side.”
Tristan stared at him as he considered his offer. “Hmm, interesting.” He leaned forward and Jairec resisted the urge to lunge. Tristan sniffed Autumn’s hair, inhaling deeply. Autumn closed her eyes. “Ah, I see why you’re so interested in her. She reeks of you, Jairec. You’ve been shagging her, haven’t you?”
“Piss off. That’s none of your concern now is it?”
“Tsk, tsk. Is that anyway to speak to your
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