Chapter 57: Chapter 57 AN ARMY

“Exactly when were you born?” When Scarlet didn’t get an answer she grabbed the bag from him, “Good, now you know you are a minor. Now get in that house before I lose it.”

“I do not look three years old. I am strong and I can fight.” He pleaded.

“And you can die.” Stephan put in.

“So can you.” SJ retorted.

“There is no reason for both of us to die. Then who will stay with your mother? It would kill her if something happened to you.” He begged, “We can’t lose you.”

“The same would happen if something happened to you, but you are still loading your stuff in the Jag.”

“I need to go get your sister. She needs someone there she can recognize.” Stephan thought it was the best idea.

“Then I should go and you stay here. I am the only one Christina has been talking to literally.” SJ made to take his bag back but Scarlet stepped back.

“You are staying,” Scarlet ordered.

“Why?”

“Because I said so.”

SJ marched back to the house a scowl on his face.

“Where did you learn that?” Stephan was amused how three words had shifted the argument back in their favor.

“My parents, when in doubt those are the words you need to use.” Scarlet began walking away when she felt a rush of air followed by Stephan’s solid body against her back.

“I’m going to bring her back.”

“Those words don’t mean anything to me. Try, ‘Scarlet I am going to bring Christina back.’” She didn’t wait for him to respond, because she knew he would never say her name.

“Let’s go.”

Scarlet watched as a large number of immortals poured out of the house like army ants. They followed Xavier and Mathias to the garage.

“Where are they all going to fit?” Scarlet asked Solara when he came up to them.

“We aren’t taking the cars, we are running there. The darkness is a good cover for us.”

“You are running to Brazil?”

“That’s absurd. We are running to the airport in New Jersey.” Solara chortled.

“Oh, ok.”

“Don’t worry we will bring Christina back.”

“I’d feel a lot better if her father could articulate her name.”

“He just needs time. I promise to work on it with him.”

“Thanks. So how does wifey feel about you going to Rio.” Scarlet hated inconveniencing people, especially since he and Kayla just got a new daughter.

“My instructions are not to return without her niece. So I am depending on Stephan’s brilliant plan to work.”

“Me too.”

“It’s going to be fine.” Solara gave her a quick kiss on the cheek then followed the rest.

“We are not coming back without her.” Vincent, Victor, and Eric hugged her then left.

Kayla and Jade joined her outside as they watched the guys disappear into the forest.

“SJ is not happy about staying behind.” Jade put in.

“I’m sorry if he is messing up with your mood.” Scarlet never envied Jade’s gift. She felt everything they felt and in a way had to carry all their burdens with them.

****

“I hate this kid.” Marquis restrained herself from tossing the screaming baby out the window.

“I don’t think she likes you.” Ric snickered, as Christina fisted her hands and punched into the air.

“You think. What gave you that idea?” She dropped the screaming baby into a box and slid it across the room to Ric. “You try shutting her up.”

“Nah-ah. She isn’t my kid and I am not the one who came up with this brilliant idea.” He pushed the carton box back to her.

“I swear if I didn’t think she was the key to her father’s heart I would have wrung her neck by now.”

“Doesn’t she have any powers? Considering she is a hybrid human, vampire, and beast. She must be one tough cookie.”

“Nope, she does nothing except coo, scream, and drool. But I must admit she looks cute doing it.”

“Ahh, are you going soft?”

“Never. Her face reminds me of her mother. I hate her mother, so I hate her.”

“One thing is for sure. She is a pretty baby. Her dark hair brings out her hazel eyes.” Ric cooed at the baby as she stood up in the box and stared at him.

“Her mother’s eyes.” Marquis scowled in an accusatory tone.

“Then Mommy must be beautiful.” He tickled Christina but only managed to make her scream.

“Stop that. And mommy is dead. By now she is rotting away six feet under the ground.” Marquis kicked the box away from Ric.

Christina hit the bottom of the box and began wailing again.

“Why did you do that? You made her cry.” Ric started after the child.

“Take one more step near that baby and I will kill the both of you. I didn’t bring you here to babysit. We need to figure out our next step.”

“I thought you were doing all the planning. Besides, why didn’t we go back to the fortress?”

“Because that is the first place he will come looking for us.” Marquis slapped the back of his head.

“OW!” what was that for.” Ric pouted, it didn’t hurt but the pressure of her hand was annoying.

“You are such an idiot. Stephan wants blood. His wife is dead and his daughter is missing and Dido will give us up to him.”

“So hiding in his backyard is what exactly?”

“This is the last place he would look for us. The other edge of the forest, right under his nose.” Marquis was pleased with herself.

“What about our scents. Can’t he track that?”

“That is why we wadded through the water. You are an idiot, with you as my support you are going to get me killed. I’d rather give myself up to Stephan right now.”

“Sir.” One of Ric’s men entered the room unannounced.

“Don’t these idiots know how to knock?” She turned glaring at the intruder.

“What is it?” Ric ignored her.

“There are a large number of immortals running through the forest.”

“Vampires?”

“Yes and beasts.”

“Stephan!” Marquis felt a chill of fear vibrate through her.

“Get everyone out of sight. No one is to be caught.” Ric barked the instructions. When the warrior left he turned to Marquis, “His back yard, right under his nose. He would never look for us here.” He mimicked her voice.

“Just relax. There is no way he can find us Unless he found one of your men out there.”

“Never. They are trained. They would never let themselves be caught.”

“We’ll find out soon enough won’t we.”

Ric stormed out of the room. Buying a mansion across the forest from where Stephan lived was her idea, and now she was trying to pin it on him.

***