Jack finally set Jean on the ground when they entered their apartments.
Dimitri was still up. Nikola by his side, soundly asleep.
The blonde vampire nudged his husband.
Nikola began to blink the sleep off his eyes.
"What? Oh, you're back!" Nikola stood up, noted that Jack still had his boots on, but Jean did not, and furrowed his brows.
"What happened? Didn't you want to just browse?" Nikola asked, as he looked the two over.
"That was the plan, yes," Jack said, as he pointed at his boots. "But we went by a stand which sold curses, and some of the mana stone dust got on our boots."
"We lucked out that there was a giant snake in the forest," Jean said, as he headed towards the couch. Sitting next to Dimitri.
"Dust? By the stand? We went by that stand too, but there was no dust on our boots," Nikola countered, as he sat on Dimitri's other side. "System, can you shine a light as to how the dust got on their boots?"
"Yes! Seeing as the two are your best friends, Tangra decided that it was high time to target them. I suggest you watch your back. He will try again!"
Nikola saw red.
How dare that demon attack his family?
"I need to hit the library," if there was any information in this world about how to get rid of demons, then the library was the only place.
"I'll stay with the children," Dimitri refused to take any chances. Unlike Jack and Jean, Timmy and Vera could not run away, should something be sent after them.
"And one more thing," Jack said, as he placed a hand on Nikola's shoulder. "You should get protection charms made. Just in case."
"You think he will attack me here, in town?" Wouldn't there be collateral damage, Nikola asked himself. Surely, the deity was not going to want to spill the blood of his future worshipers?
"I think that he will try to hurt you. In any possible way," Dimitri told him. "Since he already tried it with Jack and Jean. I won't put it past him."
Nikola marched out of the door, his lips set in a thin like.
****
Dimitri knew about only one runesmith in their world. Only one willing to work for the better good.
Drusilla the goblin.
He had no idea if Bleda and Andrew were still by the goblins, but he had to try.
The telepathic pendant began to glow green.
Bleda was the one to answer.
"Yes?" The necromancer asked, as he tried to blink the sleep out of his eyes.
"Bleda, is the goblin rune crafter still with you?" Dimitri hoped beyond hope that the goblin had not gone her own way.
"No. But we can find her," the Mongol said, as he looked at the morning sky. "Why? Did something happen?"
"Tangra targeted Jack and Jean," Dimitri told him, as he tried to calm himself. "They barely made it out alive. There was a goblin's ghost which was chasing after them."
Bleda nodded. He had figured that the deity might use Grog's ghost, for the ghost had been banished, but had not moved on.
"I'll see what I can do," Bleda said, as he thought about all the ways he could sick Drusilla at the darn demon.
"How is Andrew?" Dimitri asked.
"Good. He is sleeping. The strange thing is, he is letting out purring sounds. Like a cat. No idea why that is."
Dimitri smiled. He knew but felt that Andrew would never forgive him if Bleda didn't find out from him personally.
"If he doesn't have a fever, then he's fine," Dimitri said, as he looked at Jack and Jean, who were cuddled on the couch. "The babies miss you. When are you going to be back?"
Bleda chuckled.
"I wonder what Timmy and Vera would have to say one day, when it becomes obvious that you are using them for guilt-tripping purposes."
Dimitri smirked.
"That we knew their value from the get-go?" The blonde vampire asked.
"Dimitri, the kids are going to demand a share of the spoils, if you abuse the baby card too often!" Bleda warned him.
He was from a big family. He knew just how small children got, when they felt the center of their families.
"They can take revenge for all the animal onesies I will put them in, but I won't hear their arguments for anything else!"
Bleda rubbed his temples.
"I warned you," the necromancer said. "I will get Drusilla to make some runes. I just need to call her."
"Ok, call me later, ok?" Dimitri asked.
Bleda nodded, said a quick goodbye, then dialed Drusilla with the pendant.
"We have a mission for you," the necromancer said after Drusilla spat out a "What?" at him. "I won't lie; the stakes are high. We might even be risking our lives for this. But I don't know anyone else willing to take up the good fight but you."
"Stop beating around the bush! Just spit it out already!" Drusilla growled. It was early, she was still digging her brother's grave.
The day promised to be a parade of merciless heat and clear skies.
"There is a demon who has taken to tormenting my family. Yesterday, it tried to kill Jack and Jean. They are a part of my party."
Drusilla snorted.
"And why should your human problems concern me?" She asked, as she dug beneath the earth.
Down, ever down. Not even knowing how her poor brother was going to cope with the cold.
"The demon summoned Grog's spirit. Forced it to chase after them. As far as I know, Grog was eaten by a giant snake."
Drusilla swayed on her feet.
"He deserves to rest!" the runesmith roared. "He deserves to be at peace!"
"Everyone does," Bleda told her, keeping his tone leveled.
"Necromancer, can you call and purify Grog's soul? Can you lead him to the great beyond?"
Bleda winced. That would require quite the sacrifice. He looked at the sky. Trying to imagine how he was even going to find a dragon weak enough to kill.
"I will try," he said.
For he didn't want to die. There were other runesmiths. This was a test for Drusilla, as much as it was a test for his honesty.
"Good. Then do that first. I will create the rune later!" Drusilla didn't like Bleda trying. She wanted him to act.
But even her stone heart could be cracked.
"We have two children. They are in danger! Do you really want the blood of babies on your hands?" It was a gamble, Bleda knew.
But he still wanted to try.
"Babies?" Drusilla touched her own bulging stomach.
The new life inside gave her a little kick.
Her decision was made.