Ume skidded to a stop. Jorick pushed her aside and took her place, his face inches from Wolfe’s. “There’s no need for that.”
The Scharfrichter barked at his subordinates, “Take the prisoners to processing. I’ll handle this.”
Jorick snorted. “You think you can deal with all of us at once?”
“Yes.” As if to prove it, a wave of power rolled off the Scharfrichter and crashed around the hallway.
Jorick growled low and answered Wolfe with the same oppressive but invisible strength. It grew, like a thundercloud swelling with rain, waiting to unleash its wrath.
Xandria flattened herself against the wall, her eyes wide with fear. Katelina instinctively stepped in front of her. Not that she could do much against the Scharfrichter captain.
“Hey!” Loren hurried to Ume’s side and glared at Wolfe. “I thought we were friends.”
“Friend is a strong word.” Wolfe made an incredulous noise and lowered his weapon. “I’m aware that she used to belong to Fethillen, but if she tries to interfere I’ll have to arrest her.”
“Why are they in custody?” Ume demanded.
“For interfering in an official Scharfrichter action.”
“You mean that they destroyed the Children of Shadows before you could?” Jorick asked.
Fethillen looked down her nose at them. “That was our intention, but someone was there first.”
Wolfe motioned the guard to drag her through the processing door. “So she says. It will be for the Höher Rat to determine.”
Sorino’s eyes blazed briefly. “You found signs of a battle, and yet the Father of Shadows was not among the corpses.”
Wolfe bristled. “Extermination is a closer word than battle. But that is none of your concern.”
The elevator opened again and a crimson coated vampire stepped out with a pile of ornate sickles, the weapon of choice for the Black Vigil. There were a few other items; some random knives, throwing stars, a moon shaped blade, and a golden dagger set with a large sapphire.
Ume stared at the heap and cried, “How many prisoners did you take?”
“Twelve, including their leader,” Sorino answered.
Wolfe glared at him, then motioned to the guard. “Take those to storage, and you,” he looked back to Jorick. “Move along.”
Sorino chuckled. “Come Kai, we’ve learned enough here.”
Ume hesitated and Loren tugged her down the corridor. “You can file an appeal if you need to. We had to do it with Micah once.”
Wolfe narrowed his eyes at Katelina and Jorick. “Since you’re both here, I can only assume the rescue was successful and Sadihra has returned?”
Jorick’s expression turned smug. “The outcome of our actions is none of your business. Since the corridor is off limits, I don’t have time to tell you what happened to her.” He motioned to Katelina and headed back the way they’d come.
Worry flashed in Wolfe’s eyes, then disappeared under his mask of indifference. “What do you mean, ‘what happened to her’? If she was hurt rescuing your human…”
Katelina felt sorry for him, but his attitude robbed her of sympathy. She purposefully turned her back on him and dragged Xandria after Jorick’s retreating figure. Let the arrogant bastard stew for a while.
After a quick meeting with Oren and the others, Jorick picked their room key up from the information desk. To Katelina’s surprise the Sodalitas had put Xandria with them. “What did you expect? She’s your human.”
“Yes, but—” Katelina broke off and forced a smile. She remembered what it was like to feel unwanted. “It’s fine.”
When they found their room Xandria gave a low whistle. “It’s like sleeping in a castle. Better than being in human-only communal rooms at those other places.”
Katelina had to agree. A large carved bed was covered in a blue satin bedspread, while matching chairs and heavy furniture were scattered around. In place of a second bed sat a pair of coffins on low platforms, in case guests preferred a more traditional sleep. Gilt framed paintings of knights and castles hung on the walls.
Xandria slid aside the lid of a coffin to reveal a silky padded interior, complete with pillow and a blanket. “Since you guys probably want to sleep together I can take this. If I leave the lid off it’s like a bed.”
Katelina didn’t argue, and the woman hefted her bag and nodded toward the bathroom. “If no one cares I’m gonna grab a shower.”
After she disappeared, Katelina flopped on the bed with a groan. “Now we’ll have to try to help Fethillen.”
“Why?” Jorick fished the TV remote from the nightstand and clicked it on. One of the paintings disappeared, the image replaced by the television screen.
“She’s our…” friend seemed like the wrong word. “Ally.”
“Is she?” he asked absently as he scrolled channels. “You don’t need to worry, I imagine they’ll be released. I saw the scene in Fethillen’s mind. The Children of Shadows were literally torn to pieces. That isn’t the Black Vigil’s style.”
“Once they’re released we’ll leave, right?” she asked hopefully.
“We will leave as soon as we have somewhere to go.” He turned to her. “I don’t know where Malick is. With our sizeable entourage, there’s no point in running recklessly all over the world. It’s complicated moving this many vampires at once, which is why few covens do it.”
“The Black Vigil had something like fifty members.”
“And their own planes and helicopters. And an information network that spanned the globe and took centuries to build. I have none of those things, Katelina. The Sodalitas do. Let them gather the information. Once they’ve found Malick we’ll rent a plane, or borrow one, and take care of him once and for all.”
She toyed with a silky pillow sham. “Are you sure you can do that? I don’t mean physically, I mean emotionally. He is your master, the one who made you a vampire. They claim you get some kind of affection for them.”
“Do you feel affection for the Neanderthal?”
“No.” She saw the disbelief in Jorick’s eyes.
“Then why did you protect him from me?”
“Because he meant well.”
Jorick’s smile was cold as he turned back to the television. “When the time comes, I will not hesitate to kill Malick. He’s taken much from me over the years. You…this…it is only the last in a series. I won’t wait to see what he’ll destroy next.”
Katelina wrapped her arms around him. It was a moment before his tense shoulders relaxed. “You have nothing to worry about, little one. This will all be over soon.”
“I hope so.”
A knock came on the door. Jorick pressed a kiss to the back of her hand, then pulled loose to answer it.
Ume stepped inside with a nervous smile. “I wondered if Katelina would come with me to see Fethillen?”
Katelina’s first thought was, “Why me?” but she swallowed it down and managed a halfhearted smile. “Sure.” She glanced at Jorick and he shrugged.
The women headed to the elevator in silence. Katelina tried to think of something to say and finally managed, “They let her go already?”
“No. She’s in the dungeon.”
Dungeon. The word conjured terrifying memories for Katelina. An exposed brain full of needles. Half-starved vampires staring from behind bars. The sharp smell of disinfectant. Jorick had said it was an effect of the drugs, but…
“I didn’t know you could visit people there.”
Ume nodded. “I got the idea from Loren. He visited Micah last time. The information desk was happy to explain it to me.”
“That makes for a change. Usually they‘re the withholding-information desk.” A sudden thought occurred. “We don’t need IDs do we?”
“No. Though we have to agree to restraints.”
Restraints?
The elevator doors opened and Ume led her down the corridor to a large room. Several chairs were arranged at one end like a waiting area. At the other was a heavily paneled counter. The vampire behind it looked up with surprise. Katelina couldn’t help but notice that he was cute. Almost mind-numbingly cute. “You’re out late.”
“Are you closed?” Ume asked.
“That depends how long you plan to stay. Check-ins are welcome twenty-four hours a day.” He laughed at his own joke. “No, you’re fine. What prisoner are you here to see?”
“Fethillen,” Ume said.
He gave her a wink, then turned to a large old-fashioned ledger and murmured to himself. “Fethillen. When was she…Oh! I found her. New arrival.” He opened another book and made a note in flowing handwriting. “Names and relationship with the prisoner?”
“Ume. She’s my master.”
He caught her eye as he wrote it down. “But not your lover?”
The vampiress blushed. “No, no.”
He gave her another teasing wink then looked to Katelina. “What about you, cutie?”
Cutie? She’d never been called that before. “Katelina.”
“With a C or a K?”
“K.”
“Good. I always think the Kates with a C are a little fake, don’t you?”
She wasn’t sure what to say. “Uh…No, not really.” She tried not to notice that his eyes were especially blue when he gazed at her.
“What’s your relationship?”
She started to say, “I have a boyfriend,” then realized he meant her relationship to Fethillen. Her cheeks tinted and she hoped he wasn’t a mind reader. “Uh…” What was she? “Friend.”
He entered her information then motioned them to a door near the chairs. There was a loud click and he called, “Go in. Burton will handle the rest.”
Burton. The name was familiar. When they went through the door Katelina realized why. He was the guard who’d come to take her to the dungeon on her last visit; the guard that Micah had attacked.
“Hello,” Burton froze. His green eyes bulged, then narrowed. “You! Weren’t you human?”
“Weren’t you human once?” she snapped.
He rubbed the back of his neck and scowled. “Yes, but I didn’t get someone suspended for three weeks and then sent to guard the dungeon as punishment. Never mind. Who are you here to see? Have you stepped up from suspension and gone straight to having them arrested?”
“It was your fault. You were the one who tried to force me to go with you instead of waiting for my master to show up.” She cringed as the words left her mouth. It was bad enough that the vampires looked at humans that way, but for her to perpetuate it… “We’re here to see Fethillen. She was just brought in tonight.”
“The leggy blonde? Fine. Come over here.” He motioned them to a little cubby on the right side and held two sets of silver cuffs. “You must both be restrained.”
Ume had mentioned that. “Why?”
“To make sure you don’t do anything stupid like try to break your friend out.”
“That’s fine.” Ume held her hands out.
Burton snapped the cuffs over her wrists then turned to Katelina. The thought of being in the bowels of the stronghold, unable to defend herself, made her heart hammer in her chest. After an encouraging nod from Ume, she surrendered. “Jorick knows I’m here.”
The cuffs snapped closed. “Isn’t that nice? Maybe next time he’ll come with you.” He opened a locked cabinet on the wall. Inside hung row upon row of heavy, old fashioned keys. He made his selection then slammed the cabinet closed and relocked it.
“Aren’t you going to search us?” Katelina asked sarcastically.
He moved to a keypad on the wall. “I don’t need to. Dante is a mind reader. If you had any contraband on you he’d already know.”
“Dante?”
“The guy at the front desk.” Burton scoffed. “You didn’t even notice. I wish I was a cupid like him. I wouldn’t have ended up suspended.”
She wasn’t sure what he meant, but she had no intention of asking.
He led them down a long gray corridor. They walked past doors with red barred windows and finally stopped at number 221. Burton unlocked it and motioned them inside. “I’ll be back shortly.”
Ume nodded her thanks but Katelina hesitated in the corridor. She was cuffed. Willingly being locked in a cell seemed like a bad idea. She gave Burton a warning glare, as if to say he’d better let her out again, then stepped inside. She regretted it the moment the door slammed and the key clicked.
The cell was small, no more than six by six, with benches on either side. One was occupied by a vampire with dark, messy hair and an eye patch. The other by Fethillen. Heavy iron cuffs were on their ankles and chains snaked across the room, anchored to the bare floor.
Fethillen gave them a once over. “Why are you here?”
Ume cast an uncomfortable look at Sushel, then crouched before her former master. “I was worried. Are you all right? They didn’t hurt you?”
“We do not need your worry. You have moved on and we are…happy for you.”
Happiness was the last thing that shone through her words. At the best it was bitterness and at worst cold indifference. If she was as old as Katelina thought then her attitude wasn’t surprising. It seemed the longer a vampire lived, the fewer feelings they retained.
“Why has the human come?” Sushel demanded.
Fethillen motioned him to silence. “No longer human.”
“I wanted company,” Ume admitted. “I thought to ask Loren, but he assured me everything would be fine. It seemed that demanding to see you would be the same as saying I didn’t believe him.”
Katelina tried to puzzle out the thought process and gave up. Ume was older than she was, used to a different culture, and had spent the last two hundred years under Fethillen’s thumb. Free thinking probably wasn’t her strong point.
“What will you do now that the Children of Shadows are dead?” Ume asked.
Sushel moved to stand over her threateningly. “Are you asking to come back, or suggesting we join you?”
“Neither.” Ume turned to Fethillen. “I thought that since our mission was complete…you deserve a life of some kind.”
“We have a life,” Fethillen said. “And a purpose. The Father of Shadows is not yet defeated.”
“But to hinge your life on a single man?”
Fethillen’s face twisted in hatred. “He is no man! He is a worm! Memnon gave him power and I will be the one to take it away. The monster must die.” She looked past her subordinate to meet Katelina’s eyes. “Where is your master?”
“Jorick’s in our room.” With Xandria. She bet that was going well.
“A typical man. Leave the real work to the women.” Sushel scowled, and Fethillen went on. “That’s why you’re here, yes? To discover my plans and see if I can be useful to you?”
“No,” Ume said. “I invited her.”
“And that is the reason he allowed her to come.” Fethillen lifted her chin a notch. “You can tell your master that our paths have separated. We no longer need him.”
Katelina bit her tongue to keep from saying, “And he doesn’t need you, either.”
Sushel added, “We will no longer allow him to interfere.”
Fethillen glared him to silence. “My message is sufficient.”
With a growl, Sushel dropped back to the bench. “If that’s all you wanted you can leave. As Fethillen said you chose a new life, and are no longer one of us.”
“Because you made me unwelcome!”
“Did you expect less? Was it not your brother who murdered Ken? He has yet to pay for that but he will. You all will.”
“Enough!” Fethillen snapped. “Ume has joined her brother and it is over. Ken is dead because it was Ken’s time to die. There is no other reason.” She looked back to Ume. “You have chosen a new life. It would be best for you accept it and leave your old ties behind.”
Ume dipped her head. “You are right. It’s just…You’re still my master.”
“Not any more. I released you.”
Sushel made a smug sound and Katelina glared at him. She remembered his attempt at revenge; the one that had gotten Ume kidnapped and Quenby killed.
The door opened and Burton called, “Visiting hours are over for the night. Come back tomorrow.”
With a grateful bound, Katelina hurried into the hall, but Ume stopped at the threshold. “Blood is thicker than oaths. You may have released me, but you will always be my master.”
“Lovely sentiments.” Burton pulled her into the corridor and locked his prisoners in. “Come on.”
He led them back the way they’d come. At the heavy door he motioned Ume through and pulled Katelina back. “I’d be careful if I were you.”
Here it was. He was going the threaten her. Except she was sick of threats. “Excuse me?”
He scowled. “The Kugsankal wanted you for something. They rarely change their minds.”
Before she could ask for further details, he practically shoved her on. “Move it. My shift is over, and I’d like to go to bed.”
At the cubby, he returned the key and removed their handcuffs. Another guard leaned on the wall, no doubt his replacement. Burton saluted him, then pushed the two girls back into the lobby where Dante was just coming around the desk. He gave them a heart melting smile. “I hope you had a great visit.”
Katelina felt her cheeks heat. Ume nodded and murmured, “It was fine.”
The waiting room door opened and a familiar redhead walked in, hands in his pockets. “Ume! Kately! There you are.”
Katelina stifled a groan. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see how you were doing.” He winked at Dante. “I can take them from here.”
“You all have plans? That’s a shame.”
Katelina had a sudden mental image of pale naked limbs twisted together and her pulse raced.
“Maybe another time,” Dante added.
“You never know.” Verchiel put his hand in the middle of the girls’ backs and steered them out the door. “Come, come. It’s getting late.”
For a moment Katelina thought about arguing. They weren’t that busy and Dante was gorgeous. Once she hit the hall the desire disappeared and left her feeling confused and embarrassed.
Verchiel grinned. “Well, well, a cupid. I haven’t run into one of those in a long time.”
“A what?” Katelina muttered.
“A cupid. Come on, didn’t you notice how unbelievably attractive he was? More than usual, even for vampires? How you couldn’t stop looking at him?” He leaned close and whispered in her ear, “How you thought about licking him?”
She pulled away. “Ugh! I did not!”
“You’re the only one then.”
Katelina’s eyes bulged. “I thought you liked girls?”
“I do. To be fair though, when sex is primarily based on blood…let’s just say blood doesn’t have a gender. Besides, when you’re faced with a cupid that good, what are you going to do? In case you haven’t guessed, that’s their gift. They’re like a whisperer, except they just affect the part of your brain that has to do with physical attraction and sexual desire.”
Katelina flushed and looked away. “Ume’s hard to mind read, so she should be hard for whisperers, or cupids, to manipulate.”
“You noticed she wasn’t drooling as much as you were. It’s a good thing I showed up or God knows where you would have ended up, or what you’d have been doing.” He waggled his eyebrows lewdly.
She smacked his arm. “Just why did you show up, anyway?”
“I stopped in to see old grumpy boots. After I found out you’d done a stupid thing like visiting Fethillen I thought I’d better make sure Ume didn’t end up in prison with her.” He turned serious. “I know she was your master…”
“Don’t worry,” Ume said. “She made it clear.”
“Ouch. Wanna talk about it?”
“No, thank you.” She offered him a smile. “I appreciate your coming, though.”
They stopped in front of the elevator and he ruffled her hair. “Hey, what’s a big brother for, huh? You know, this sibling shtick might be kind of fun.”
Verchiel split off when they reached their floor, but Ume walked Katelina to her room.
“I want to thank you for coming with me. I know it seemed strange, but I couldn’t think of anyone else.”
“No problem.” She managed a smile. “Don’t let her get to you with all that ‘set free’ stuff. I’m sure she cares about you.”
Ume shrugged. “For better or worse, I have a new life.”
“It’s not that bad is it?”
“No, not bad. I miss Sibila, but I will always grieve her, no matter where I am. And there have been moments when I miss the regimentation of my days, and our purpose. Even in the darkest moments, after Sibila was killed, there was still ‘the purpose.’ Not that Loren and Micah do not have a purpose of sorts, but it’s not the same. The battle isn’t their own.”
“And yours was? I thought Memnon and the Father of Shadows were Fethillen’s enemies?” Katelina realized how that sounded. “Sorry.”
Ume’s words came slowly. “You don’t need to apologize. In a way you’re right. Memnon died long before I was born. For two hundred years I have had that purpose pressed on me, driven into the cracks of my mind, until I forgot that it wasn’t really mine. That’s the reason Fethillen can never let it rest. That purpose has kept her alive for more than five hundred years. Without it she has nothing.”
“She has friends.”
Ume shook her head. “I’ve said before that I wouldn’t call the Black Vigil a family. Fethillen, especially. She is above us—has always been above us. She sails her own sea and we watch from the beach. Sometimes I don’t think she cares about any one, least of all us.” Her smile was brittle and fake. “Never mind. It’s late. I will see you later and thanks again.”
Katelina watched Ume go and shook her head. Thank goodness it was bed time. She didn’t think she could deal with anymore weirdness.
Katelina woke the next evening to someone pounding on the door. She reached for Jorick, but he jerked out of bed, slid locks aside, and yanked it open. “What in the hell do you want?”
Katelina cringed back into the blankets, imagining Wolfe, or one of the other Scharfrichter come to drag them to the dungeon. Micah’s voice came as a shock.
“Tell that lazy bitch to get up. We have training.”
The slam of the door cut him off.
“He’s joking, right? The sun isn’t down yet.” Katelina’s words surprised herself. There were no windows, and yet she knew.
“Never mind. You’re not going anywhere with that imbecile.”
Micah pounded on the door. “I beg to differ. Remember that blood debt shit? She owes me until she gets her fucking training done. That was the deal, jackass.”
“You’re the jackass!” Katelina threw the blanket off. “I suppose I have to.” One look at Jorick’s furious face made her look away. “I’m sorry.”
His fists clenched at his sides. “You have nothing to be sorry for, little one. Malick and Micah—” He made a low noise in his throat. “Never mind. We’ll play his game. For now.”
Katelina only had the clothes she’d worn yesterday. She brushed her teeth, and finger combed her hair, more from habit than necessity. It didn’t matter what she did, the blonde locks fell in perfect waves around her shoulders. At least there was a plus side to immortality. Besides being immortal.
Xandria leaned up from the open coffin, her sleepy eyes half open. “What’s going on?”
“Idiocy,” Jorick snapped. “Go back to sleep.”
The woman blinked uncertainly and Katelina added, “If we’re not back, use the phone to order room service. They can just charge it.”
“Ok.” Xandria dropped back into her bed.
Katelina jerked the door open to reveal an impatient Micah. Instead of his usual biker outfit he wore a pair of sweat pants and tennis shoes. In one hand he held three bags of blood and in the other a soft cooler-style bag.
“About damn time. Is that what you’re wearing?”
She glanced down at the baggy t-shirt and jeans. “What’s wrong with it?”
“Hardly clothes to work out in. Whatever, I don’t care. Is crab ass comin’?”
Jorick pushed his way in front of her. “I will be there.”
“Whatever man. I don’t give a shit, as long as you stay on the sidelines and don’t baby the fuck outta her. Here.” Micah tossed them each a bag of blood. “Special delivery breakfast. You can thank Oren for it. Now let’s get goin’.”
Jorick growled low, but they followed the bald vampire down the hall. He tore his bag open savagely and gulped it down. She tried to do the same and splashed crimson on her shirt.
“Fuck, we can’t take you anywhere, Lunch.”
Jorick tore the top off her bag, turning it into a soft plastic cup. “That might be easier.”
The scent of the blood overwhelmed her senses and she gulped it down.
“Goddamn. You’re like a starving animal.” Micah snickered. “If you’re good we’ll grab some more later.”
The elevator took them to a lower level. They followed Micah down a corridor and into a cavernous gymnasium. Their footsteps echoed as they crossed the shiny wooden floor. Micah fished a key out of his pocket to unlock a black door, then motioned them inside.
“Where did you get that?” Katelina demanded.
“That German chick. She thought you’d rather practice in here instead of in public.”
Sadihra. Katelina wasn’t sure whether to be grateful or not. A better tactic would have been to stop this insanity. Though she agreed that she needed training, one look at Jorick’s barely contained rage said this wasn’t the way to go about it.
Micah shut the door while Katelina looked over the room. The floor was covered in thick vinyl mats. A rack stood against one wall. Instead of the sports balls she expected to see, it held different kinds of weapons. On the wall next to it hung three dented shields and some old pieces of armor. Heaped on the other side were various wooden boxes, some large enough that she’d have had to jump to get on top of them.
Micah motioned to one of the corners. “You better stand over there outta the way.” Katelina started to move and he broke into rough laughter. “Not you, princess. The Guild dog.”
Jorick stood in front of him, close enough to punch. “I will kill you.”
“Yeah, yeah. Until then, get the fuck outta the way. Or should I go file a bunch of paperwork bullshit and have that Homer Rat make a legal ruling about whose fucking fledgling she is?”
“It’s Höher Rat,” Katelina snapped. “It’s German.”
And they already had.
“Yeah, whatever, babe. I don’t care what they call themselves, fuck, I don’t even wanna deal with them, but if that’s the only way overprotective here will back off…”
She rolled her eyes. “Jorick, just–“
He growled and flung himself onto the pile of boxes.
Micah tossed his cooler bag aside. All mirth disappeared and he barked at Katelina, “Show me what you got.”
She stared at him. “What?”
He held out his arms and motioned her forward. “Come at me. Show me what you got.”
“You want me to attack you?”
“Yes!” Jorick snapped. “For the love of Christ, smash his face in!”
Micah grinned. “See? Lover boy’s got the idea. I knew you were a spoiled princess pussy, but come on. If I let your Guild dog have a shot he’d punch me, no problem. Course, I’d still kick his ass.”
Katelina glared. “No you wouldn’t.”
“Yeah I would. Just like I’m gonna kick yours. Now come on, Lunch, lay it on me.” He stuck out his chin.
Katelina stepped up to the bald idiot and wadded her hand into a fist. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, and readied her arm. He motioned her again, but she dropped her hand “This is stupid. Let’s start with something else. Like weapons.”
“Fuck weapons. Your fist is your fuckin’ weapon. Besides, what you gonna do when you get attacked and you ain’t got no weapon? Unless you’re planning to keep a sword up your ass.”
“She doesn’t need to worry about it,” Jorick snapped. “I’ll protect her.”
“Right. Like you protected her in Indonesia? That’s why me and Loren had to cut her outta tight spots? And that’s why fuckin’ Malick was there doin’ all that mind control shit? And that’s why Samael fuckin’ took her, cause you were doin’ such a damn good job of protecting her. You were busy, Executioner. You can’t always be on alert twenty-four-seven to take care of her. And what about when you’re not there? Like China. Where the fuck were you when Malick’s goons kidnapped her and dragged her off to that fuckin’ palace in the desert? You sure as fuck weren’t there when they slit her goddamn throat!”
With a howl of rage Jorick jumped off the boxes and charged, only Katelina reached Micah first. His words echoed through her head like a bad dream sequence and she pummeled him in time to the sound. She was tired of it all: tired of cages, tired of being used as a weapon against Jorick, tired of being hurt, tired of being weak, tired of being afraid, and tired of being helpless. She wasn’t helpless. She wasn’t weak!
With a roar she smashed Micah’s nose. He grabbed her wrists and shoved her backwards as blood sprayed. She lunged for him again, and he knocked her legs out from under her.
She caught herself before her face slammed into the floor. Jorick bent over her protectively but she pushed him back and pulled into a crouching position, her muscles coiled, ready to spring.
Micah signaled her to wait. He moved to the cooler bag, with his head tipped back and his hand over his bleeding face. The zipper came free with a tug. An ice pack and several slippery bags of blood tumbled out. He snatched one, punctured it with his teeth, and took a long drink. Though it wasn’t a lot, it was enough to stem the flow of his injury.
When he’d stuffed everything back in the cooler he addressed her. “I guess that’s not bad for a start. At least you inherited some strength. But you’re just throwin’ punches like a wild woman. How the fuck you gonna take out an enemy like that?”
He stopped in front of her and held his hand out. “Now get up and try that shit again, only not quite as berserker-psycho-bitch, huh?”
She could feel Jorick’s eyes on her; feel him wanting to beat the hell out of Micah and whisk her off to some cushioned, protected room where he could take care of her. Except, Micah was right. Jorick couldn’t be there all the time. He had a thousand and one other people and things to take care of, and it was time that she lifted one burden off his heavily laden shoulders.
She let Micah pull her to her feet, and wiped her bloody hands on her t-shirt. He nodded approvingly and maneuvered her around. “Now come again, but not like that. See your fist? That’s sloppy. You’ll get your wrist broken like that.” He molded her hand into the right shape. “Like this. And don’t just throw punches at anything that will connect. Go for the vulnerable spots. The face is good; the nose, the temples. Over the heart.” He touched her fist to his chest. “Kidney shots are good if you can get behind them. And don’t just throw all your punches like that—” he demonstrated her forward jab. —“Hook it like this.” He curved his arm and stopped, knuckles resting against the side of her head. “And bring it up.” He demonstrated an uppercut to her jaw. “And don’t just use your fists. Use your feet. Kick ‘em in the knees, knock their legs out from under them if you can. If it’s a man, kick him in the nuts.”
Katelina cocked an incredulous eyebrow. “Are you serious?”
“Fuck yeah I’m serious. Fight dirty. Hell, pull their hair if you have to, and don’t be afraid to bite them and rip their goddamn throat out if that’s all you can do. Remember, princess, they’re probably trying to kill you, so don’t let high ideals stand between you and living another day. Get ‘em down, then ram your fist through their fucking’ chest and take out their goddamn heart. Crush it to a fucking pulp so they don’t get back up. But, most of all, remember you’re not a fucking human anymore and don’t let the bastards scare you.” He took a step back and held out his arms. “Now try that again. This time put some real fucking effort into it, huh?”
When Micah finally called it a day, Katelina lay on the mat like a dead creature. Micah tossed her the last bag of blood, but she didn’t have enough energy to open it. After watching vampires hop up mountains and walk for hours, she thought they didn’t get fatigued. Why in the hell was she so tired?
“You’re only a fledgling.” Jorick crouched next to her. He opened the bag and held it out. “Endurance comes with age. Besides, you’ve done more today than in a week of mortality.”
Micah stood over her, hands on his hips. “When you were human, you’d have been worn out after the first go round. You did pretty good, slave. We’ll see if you can do better tomorrow.”
“She’s done,” Jorick snapped. “You got what you wanted. Release her.”
“Nope.” Micah picked up the cooler and strode for the door. “See you tomorrow, Lunch.”
Jorick growled and made to go after him, but Katelina grabbed his arm. “Just forget it. It’s not like there’s anything else to do until we find Malick.” She dropped her head back to the mat. “I just have to live through it.”
The bruises on Katelina’s body disappeared with the bag of blood. She stopped at the room to check on Xandria, but found only a scribbled note that said “Took your human for a walk. Promise to bring her back. V”
Jorick wadded the paper up. “And good riddance. He can spend his time trying to get her clothes off instead of yours.”
“He doesn’t— Oh never mind.” There was no point in arguing. She took a quick shower and grabbed the disposable camera from the Ziploc baggy. So much had happened since she’d taken the photos that she didn’t remember them anymore, only that they were for her mother, to prove that Jorick wasn’t a bum and she wasn’t living in a van.
The public area of the stronghold was like a shopping mall. The corridors were lined with stores, entertainment, and even what passed as a coffee shop. They dropped the camera off to be developed, as they had on their previous visit. Last time Jorick had had to fill out the paperwork in his name, but this time she was allowed to do it herself. With immortality came recognition. It was like turning eighteen all over again.
She used Jorick’s account to buy clothes, including some work out gear that was probably going to be uncomfortably tight. She didn’t understand why women had to wear skimpy clothes to exercise. She’d worn floppy sweatpants and huge t-shirts back in her gym days, and been just fine.
Jorick ducked into the book store, as though the rows of jacketed tomes could soothe his fury. Katelina flipped through a few racks, but nothing caught her eye. They left with five paperbacks that Jorick said he hadn’t read before, and headed back to the room. Katelina took a shower and changed into new jeans and black sweater. She found Jorick dressed in clean clothes and immersed in one of the books.
She dropped onto the bed and clicked the TV on but he gave a heavy sigh and slipped a piece of paper into the book to mark his place. “No time for that. We have a dinner invitation.”
She turned the screen off. “With who?”
“Wolfe. He sent a message while you were in the shower.” He pointed to his make-shift bookmark.
“Seriously? Yesterday he threatened to fight us and today he wants to have dinner?”
Jorick cast a regretful look at his book. “I doubt it was his idea. More likely Sadihra’s. But we need information, and if they have any…”
Though he trailed off, Katelina knew the rest. Maybe they’d found Malick. She repeated that to herself over and over as they made their way to the restaurant, and as the attendant led them to the VIP room where Sadihra and Wolfe were already seated at a table. At their approach, the blonde Scharfrichterin stood. Wolfe remained seated, his expression the usual cold veneer.
“We’re glad you could come.” Sadihra sat only after they had. “How did your training go?”
Wolfe cleared his throat noisily, as if trying to stop his girlfriend from discussing a sensitive topic, but she went on, “I hope the room helped. It’s one of the older ones that the Scharfrichter use, but I thought it would be good enough for what he had in mind.”
“It was great. Thanks.” Katelina flashed a false smile and tried not to notice the fury in Jorick’s eyes. “How are you?”
The waiter interrupted with menus. Jorick ordered glasses of blood for the two of them, and Wolfe followed, ordering for himself and Sadihra. She gave him a look that said, “I can handle it myself,” but didn’t comment.
The waiter left and Jorick got to the point. “Have you found Malick?”
Wolfe’s reply was an incredulous snort, and Sadihra fidgeted with the napkin. “Actually, I did not invite you to discuss business, rather something personal.”
If they’d been on a sitcom, crickets would have chirped in the ensuing silence. Sadihra scrunched the napkin uncomfortably and finally Wolfe snapped, “We’re getting married.”
Sadihra held up her hand to show off a plain gold ring. Katelina realized that her gaping response was wrong. She nodded to the jewelry and tried to get her face under control. “I thought he said getting married? It looks like you already did.” She felt bad at her reaction, but it was such a shock she hadn’t had time to pull anything else together.
Sadihra shook her head. “Here we do not have two rings as you do, only the one. It depends which hand you wear it on as to what it means.”
Jorick interrupted the explanation. “What does that have to do with us?”
Wolfe’s irritation seemed to double. “Apparently Sadihra wants your…ex-human to participate.”
“He has six witnesses,” Sadihra explained. “I’m one short.” She cleared her throat. “Of course, we could always cancel it.”
“No!” Wolfe quickly composed himself and said in a calmer tone, “I already told you, if you want the…ex-human in the ceremony, then she can be in the ceremony.”
“I don’t have anyone else to ask. You know I don’t have a coven, and you have already claimed some of the ones I would have chosen.” Sadihra’s voice got louder, “All this wedding business. We have more important things to worry about.”
“More important than our future?”
“There’s a madman on the loose. If he isn’t stopped, there may not be a future.”
“If we wait until the perfect moment, then it will never come,” Wolfe argued back. “There will always be some calamity—”
Katelina shifted uncomfortably and sent a desperate look to Jorick. Surely he could do something to stop their argument.
“If I wanted to,” he mouthed.
The waiter saved the day. Once he’d gone, they sat around the table sipping their blood. Katelina still wasn’t used to it, and had to force the glass to her lips. After that, instincts took over, and she drained the scarlet liquid in a long, hungry gulp.
Wolfe’s eyebrows went up, but Jorick dismissed it with a gesture. “Fledglings.”
“She’s fine.” Sadihra slammed her own empty glass on the table. “If you don’t want to be involved, Katelina, I don’t blame you. I keep questioning it myself.”
Wolfe growled low and Katelina forced a smile. “No, no. it’s fine. Witness. Great.” She paused. “What does a witness do?”
“You stand there,” Wolfe said. “I assume you can handle that?”
Katelina started to reply, but Sadihra interrupted. “It is tradition that the bride and groom each have an equal number of witnesses. The idea was that they were from your coven, and were present to watch over you and make sure that your partner’s coven didn’t harm you or interfere in the wedding. Just because a marriage was approved by your master didn’t mean the rest of the coven agreed.”
“Of course no one is going to be attacked now,” Wolfe said. “It’s a ceremonial position, like your American bridesmaids.”
Katelina thought she could handle that. But would she and Jorick still be in Munich at the time of the wedding, or would they have to come back. “Uh, when is it?”
“As a witness you will need to be present for both the signing of the contract on March twenty-second, and the Binding Ceremony on the twenty-fifth. That is less than a month away. I still need a champion, and the contract needs finalized.” Sadihra gave Wolfe a dark look. “One of us may have to take time off to get it arranged.”
Katelina suspected which of them it would be, despite the fact that it was clearly Wolfe’s idea. She wasn’t surprised that he was pushing marriage. The two Scharfrichter had been estranged for years after Cyprus had wedged his way into a love triangle and then been thrown out of the stronghold. Wolfe had only recently gotten Sadihra back. No doubt he meant to keep her. Katelina felt that marriage was an extreme way to do it. She knew that Jorick had been married before, to Velnya, but he’d been so busy trying to make Katelina immortal that he’d never brought it up to her. Now that that was out of the way, would marriage be next?
“—dress.”
Katelina shook herself back to the present to catch Sadihra’s last word. “Sorry. What?”
“She asked when you wanted to look at dresses,” Wolfe snapped.
“Um, I guess whenever.” As Sadihra had said, there seemed like more important things to do than dress shopping.
“Good. The day after tomorrow.” Wolfe downed the last of his blood.
“After her training,” Sadihra added.
“Yes, after her very important training.” Jorick’s sarcasm was thick enough to be almost tangible and Katelina groaned.
It seemed it was their turn to fight but, before they could, Wolfe announced, “The Black Vigil’s trial was today. They were found innocent of destroying the Children of Shadows.”
Katelina wondered if Ume knew that. “Were they released?”
“Yes, though I doubt they’ll stay long. I’m surprised they haven’t gotten in touch with you yet.” The Scharfrichter gave Jorick a pointed look. “Don’t deny you’re hoping to use them against Malick.”
Jorick finished his drink. “I’m not denying anything.”
“Have they contacted you?”
“I thought you knew everything that went on?”
Wolfe scoffed and looked away. “Hardly, or I wouldn’t have asked. You might also like to know that the Höher Rat has decided not to try the rest of you for your antics in China, or for your involvement in the revolt last month. Your official notices should go out tomorrow. I suggest you stay out of trouble in the future. They’re running out of patience, and the United States’ interference can only do so much.”
Katelina felt a rush of relief. Jorick took the news with a nod, then pushed back from the table. “Unless you have anything else to discuss, I believe Katelina and I will retire to our room.”
They said their goodbyes and headed out of the restaurant. “That was surprising,” Katelina mused.
“Sadihra asking you to be a witness? Not really. She’s been friendly to you before.”
“No, that she’s marrying Wolfe. I wouldn’t.”
“That’s probably why he didn’t ask you.” Jorick’s chuckle faded and something heavy hung between them, something she wasn’t ready to deal with.
She was saved by Sorino. The flashy vampire rounded the corner, Kai behind him on his chain. Bringing up the rear was a dark skinned vampire whose dreadlocks were studded with beads. It was Lurid, his relic hunting friend.
“Ah, Jorick. I believe you’re acquainted?”
“Yes,” he answered impatiently. Katelina remembered the beaded vampire from their quest to find the Heart of the Raven. She still hadn’t decided if he was good or bad.
“Such things are subjective,” Sorino said. His usual smugness was missing.
“You look unhappy,” Jorick commented cheerfully.
“Yes. Things cannot always be as we wish them. Not everyone has their price it seems.”
Katelina scoffed. “You mean there are still honest people in the world that you can’t buy off? How tragic.”
“Not tragic, merely inconvenient. It means more work on my part.” He turned his attention to Jorick and some of the light returned to his eyes. “Have you heard? The Black Vigil was acquitted. But of course you know. It’s a pity they didn’t do the slaying, or I doubt the Father of Shadows would have escaped.”
“And what is your interest in it?” Jorick asked. “Wasn’t there a relic you were looking for? A seal?”
Sorino’s smile turned sly and appreciative. “You are referring to the original seal of Memnon. It is an item that would be highly prized by any collector of antiquities, but that is only a portion of my interest.”
Katelina looked from Sorino to his treasure hunting friend. “Sure. And you met up with him accidentally?”
“Of course not. I invited him to join us. An interesting fact is that when Lurid went to search for the Children of Shadows he stopped at an airstrip in Syria. All of the staff were dead.”
Jorick perked up. “Dead?”
“Yes, as in murdered. Interestingly enough, they were not torn to shreds as the Children were, but rather sliced, as though with a sword… or sickle.” He put special emphasis on the last word, and Katelina understood what he was implying.
“You think the Black Vigil did it?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised, but then who am I to lecture a tiger about claws? Enough from me. I imagine you’re in a hurry to get back to your room. Have a good evening.”
Jorick made a noncommittal noise and tugged Katelina down the corridor. She glanced back toward the restaurant. “What was that about?”
“It was a warning. He thinks I’ve underestimated Fethillen.”
They asked for Fethillen at the information desk. The vampiress and her followers hadn’t checked into rooms. Jorick inquired about travel arrangements. The receptionist told him tersely that it was none of his business. He gave her a smug smile and led Katelina away.
“What was that? Did you get something from her mind?”
“No. But does the name Sushel ring a bell?”
“What about him?”
“He made travel arrangements for himself and eleven others. They’re set to leave in about an hour.”
“I thought you said you didn’t read her mind?”
“I didn’t. It was written in the open log book on her desk. We should hurry if we want to catch them.”
They found Ume and eleven of the Black Vigil in the marble lobby. The missing member appeared from the corridor across the room, carrying a long cardboard box.
Fethillen looked up as Katelina and Jorick approached. “Are you worried that we will take your newest recruit with us?”
“Ume is no recruit of mine," Jorick replied. "She can go where she pleases, just as you do.” He stopped in front of them and crossed his arms. “You’re going after the Father of Shadows?”
Fethillen scowled. “I would accuse you of resorting to tricks, dream stealer, but my mission is known to all. We will not rest until the last remnant has been destroyed.”
The box was opened and the weapons the Scharfrichter had taken from them were handed out.
Jorick said, “I understand why you feel that way, Keirza, but aren’t there worthier wars?”
Fethillen stiffened and narrowed her eyes. “Why do you call me that?”
“I know who you are. Memnon’s sister, who has devoted her life to destroying the evil he created.”
“Yes.” Fethillen fastened her dagger on her thigh. “Have you come to offer your services? As I told your fledgling, they are no longer required. ” She met his eyes. “You were not as useful as I had anticipated. We will finish this ourselves.”
Katelina flinched at the blunt remark but Jorick only asked, “Do you really think you can?”
Fethillen lifted her chin a notch, her gaze icy fire. “You forget, the Father took immortality from my brother. His years are fewer than mine. Like yours.”
The implied threat hung heavy. Fethillen purposefully turned and started up the stairs. Jorick grabbed her arm and she spun around, her sickle raised menacingly. “This is your only warning.”
Jorick ignored her animosity. “How do you plan to find him?”
“I have my ways.”
“Like destroying an airport?” he suggested.
“We learned valuable information.”
“And yet you waited to attack until the Scharfrichter were already there?”
If Fethillen could freeze people with a look, Jorick would have been ice. “We learned the destination of their plane, not the location of the hideout. It is none of your concern.”
Jorick cocked an eyebrow. “You had to follow the Scharfrichter to the hideout, even after wiping out all the staff in the airport? So much death for so little gain.”
Fethillen’s lips disappeared into a hard line. “My mission-”
“Is one of pride. It has left a centuries-high pile of dead innocents and destroyed nearly all your coven. How can you say you are better than Memnon?”
“You think to undermine me with your twisted words, Executioner? Men are all the same. They see a woman in power and must knock her down. ”
“You’ve knocked yourself down with your blind purpose.”
Fethillen growled, then stormed up the stairs. She stopped at the top to look back. “For your previous aid, this conversation will remain unfinished. I suggest you leave it that way, or the end will not be to your liking.”
She and her group disappeared and Katelina sagged. “Why didn’t you try to convince them to help us with Malick? I thought they were our allies.”
“Hardly. We were their tools and when Fethillen realized she could not control us…” He glanced at Ume. “Never mind.”
The vampiress’ only comment was a sigh.
The next two days passed in relative calm. It was one a.m. on the second evening when Katelina dropped on the bed with a groan. Jorick didn’t bother to look up from his newest book. “How did it go?”
“The shopping, or the last half of the training?”
He turned the page. “I hate Micah more than the next person, but you showed you could take care of yourself.”
“Before or after I knocked him across the room for making comments about those stupid spandex pants?”
“After. Besides, today was Braydon’s trial.” He met her eyes. “Needless to say, the coward chose ten years servitude to the Sodalitas over imprisonment, and his restitution is a paltry two thousand dollars. Two thousand!”
Katelina kicked off her shoes and asked sarcastically, “You were hoping for more?”
“He owes me blood! If he hadn’t helped to kidnap you, none of this would have happened. Micah never would have needed to—” He took a calming breath. “It doesn’t matter. How was the dress shopping?”
“Different. Her wedding dress is pretty, but her witnesses aren’t all women.” Jorick didn’t comment and she pushed, “Wolfe said it was like being a bridesmaid, so I thought…” When he still didn’t reply she went on. “Sadihra didn’t want anyone to spend money on matching outfits.”
“Good.” Jorick gave a satisfied nod and turned back to his book.
“She said it was a waste of time and resources, but her champion insisted. You remember Hethin? The white haired guy?”
Jorick made a low murmur of understanding.
“He’s her champion. Apparently the covens sometimes demanded a fight before the wedding and whichever champion won determined which coven the pair ended up in. You probably know all this?”
“Maybe,” he said disinterestedly. “You said he insisted?”
“Yeah. The women ended up with purple dresses. They’re okay, but nothing I’m going to wear again.”
“I prefer white, but I suppose you can’t compete with the bride.” Jorick went back to his book. “Where has your human wondered off to?”
“She’s with Etsuko. I didn’t think she’d want to tag along after watching me train all day.”
“Probably not. Humans get demanding when they’re bored.”
She noticed the humor twinkling in his eyes and purposefully turned the TV on. She flipped the channels until she felt her point was made. “By the way, in case you didn’t notice, they have Oren and Etsuko in the same room. Again.”
Jorick casually flipped a page. “You say they, but Oren made his own arrangements this time.”
Katelina was still processing the implications when a knock sounded, followed by Wolfe’s sharp voice, “Jorick! Open the door.”
Neither of them moved. A loud click sounded and Wolfe stormed in, his face graver than usual. “When I issue a command—”
“I ignore it,” Jorick replied and closed his book. “What do you want?”
“The Sodalitas require your help. You have orders.”
Jorick was on his feet before Wolfe could finish, his eyes shining with cold hatred. Katelina shot him a questioning look and he said, “It’s Malick.”