Amaranthine Special Edition Vol II

by Naylor, Joleene

  He met her eyes and held them. “Malick is much, much older than anyone you’ve ever encountered, and infinitely more powerful. He makes what I do look like a child’s game. If he chose, he could destroy your mind in a moment, without flinching at the effort.”

  Fear murmured at the edges of her consciousness, but in Jorick’s presence it couldn’t take over. As long as she was with him she felt that everything would be all right. “He wouldn’t… I mean he won’t do anything, will he?”

  It took Jorick a moment to answer. “I don’t know. Eileifr wouldn’t say much, and I have limited access to his thoughts. He kept repeating that it was for Malick to reveal. I assume it’s over Kateesha.” He closed his eyes. “He obviously sent the Executioners to attack her and regain that human before you killed her, so it may be that she’d finally earned a death sentence even from him. However, since the Executioners did not actually harm Kateesha, it may be that he struck a deal with Senya, as he did with me in the past.”

  Katelina knew what he was talking about; in the 1860s The Guild had ordered Jorick to kill Kateesha after she and a partner wiped out a coven for no reason. Malick agreed to release Jorick from his blood debt and let him go home to his then wife, Velnya, if he let Kateesha live. Jorick took the deal, though he got home to find his bride murdered by the local human population.

  Jorick continued to mutter to himself and then shouted in frustration, “I need more information!”

  She cleared her throat and decided to tempt fate. “I assume that the invitation didn’t have any details?”

  His face froze and then furious understanding crashed over it. “What else did that buffoon tell you?”

  “Only that the paper wasn’t from the electric company and that the summons was probably the reason you were in a hurry to get out of the country.”

  Jorick snarled, though she knew it wasn’t directed at her. “He’s correct. And no, the ‘invitation’, if that’s what you want to call it, didn’t give a reason. It only said that Malick requested our presence.” His dark eyes burned. “I didn’t tell you because I saw no need to worry you over it!”

  She sighed and let it go. “It doesn’t really matter, now. I wish you’d warned me. I wouldn’t have been so adamant about seeing Mom, but I guess you had good intentions.”

  A knock sounded on the door, effectively ending the conversation. Jorick answered it and returned with a tray bearing two decanters of crimson liquid. He set the tray on the table and quickly drained one of the bottles, his eyes on Katelina.

  She glanced away and tried not to think about what he was drinking. When she looked back he was blotting his mouth with a napkin. He offered her a wink and then moved quickly to the bathroom door. “Dinner has arrived, best hurry before it grows cold.”

  A muffled answer came from within and Katelina dropped onto the closest bed. “Are we all sharing a room?”

  “Apparently.” Jorick took a seat next to her. “We don’t warrant the good accommodations, or at least I hope not.” His eyes skipped around the room.

  “I don’t know, it’s nicer than most of the motels you pick, and it has room service.”

  Jorick smirked. “Wait until we’ve tried to order your food to say that.”

  The bathroom door opened and Oren emerged in a pair of blue jeans and an open shirt that revealed the flat planes of his toned chest and stomach. Katelina’s cheeks flamed and she quickly dropped her eyes to the floor. She heard him sit in one of the chairs and drink his meal, but she refused to look at him. She felt guilty enough for having noticed him at all.

  There was a clink as he set the bottle back on the tray. “Are you two finished?” His bitterness was ill-disguised by his friendly words.

  “I suppose,” Jorick responded. “Unless you’d be willing to sit in the closet for an hour?”

  Oren gave a snort of contempt. “Hardly. I’d rather not be here, as I’m sure you’re aware.”

  “Think of this as reconnaissance, or a deterrent.”

  Katelina glanced up to see Oren’s dark scowl. “I will have my revenge, Jorick.”

  “Or your death.” He waved it away. “It doesn’t matter. This is not the place to discuss it.”

  “No,” Oren agreed. “Nor in front of the present company.”

  Jorick’s tone held a warning. “You can no more hide your thoughts from Malick than she can.”

  Oren settled back into the chair and crossed his legs. “We’ll see,” he said, a scarcely veiled threat in his eyes as he gazed at Katelina. “We shall see.”

  **********

  Chapter Twelve

  The tension in the room was nearly unbearable. Jorick suggested that instead of room service, they go to the sixth floor in person. She quickly agreed and, after she’d taken a shower and changed, they hurried out the door.

  “Do you know where we’re going?” she asked.

  “I think I can find the sixth floor.” He gave her a wink. “The guard said they had a restaurant, there. I assume for the humans who live here and those here on business.”

  Her brow wrinkled. “What humans would be here on business?”

  “A select few. You’d be surprised if you knew who frequents the Citadel.” He offered her a smile, but it didn’t feel sincere. Despite his efforts to lighten the mood they were both terrified, perhaps him more so than her. She had him to take care of things, but who did he have? It was all on his shoulders and that had to be a horrifying burden.

  They reached the elevator just as the doors swished open and, surprisingly, they found themselves staring at a pair of familiar faces. One was a thin vampire whose blonde hair was neatly tucked behind his ears. It was Kale, the vampire who’d taken most of Kateesha’s followers and formed his own coven - the very coven Oren hadn’t wanted Hectia in.

  With him was a large vampire who was bald and black. He wore trousers and a pull over, though the last time Katelina had seen him he’d had on nothing but a suede skirt, and he’d been guarding Kateesha’s throne room.

  Katelina drew back instinctively and Jorick caught her arm to keep her from running. “Kale,” he greeted politely, hiding his surprise.

  Kale didn’t bother to disguise his. “Is that you, Jorick? What are you doing here?” His voice dropped suddenly and he murmured, “Did Thomas…”

  “I don’t know. We’ve only just arrived tonight. We have an audience tomorrow.”

  Kale glanced to his companion. “This is Saeed. I believe you’ve met before.”

  Jorick nodded and Katelina bit back a nasty comment. How could Kale expect them to stand there and greet Saeed politely? She remembered the things he and his twin brother had done to Jorick; how they’d beaten him and held him for Kateesha, their expressions unfeeling as he faced what might have been death. The memories made her tremble with anger, and she wanted nothing more than to pick up the nearest object and smash it over his head.

  Her opinion was on her face, but no one seemed to know what it was about. “Is your human all right?” Kale asked with semi-genuine concern.

  Jorick squeezed her hand, an unspoken message to behave. “She’s fine.” Katelina expected him to make his excuses so they could go their separate ways, then she saw the telltale curiosity in his eyes. He had no intention of going until he found out what Kale was doing.

  Sure enough, Jorick asked, “What brings you two to the Citadel?”

  “We were summoned, though it was a waste of time.”

  “Most meetings with The Guild are,” Jorick agreed lightly. “They have nothing but time to waste around here.”

  “Obviously.” Kale glanced around the hallway as if to indicate it was too public. “If you want to continue this conversation, then might I suggest we move to a more secluded location?”

  She could almost feel Jorick’s delight, though he reigned it in. “Of course. Our room is just down the hall.”

  “So is ours.” Something in Kales’ eyes made it clear that it was his room or no room, so Jorick simply nodded and
let the other two lead the way.

  “What are we doing?” Katelina whispered as they followed the pair down the corridor. “Don’t you know who his friend is?”

  “Yes, but allegiances may change. Let it go.”

  “Let it go? He tried to kill you!”

  “And I tried to kill him.” Jorick gave an almost imperceptible shrug. “I believe I did kill his brother.”

  “He deserves to lose more than that,” she snarled savagely as she pictured Jorick, bruised, bleeding, battered and forced to his knees before Kateesha. “They all do.”

  Jorick raised his eyebrows in mild surprise, but chose not to comment further.

  Kale and Saeed’s room was several doors down from theirs, but inside it looked much the same, only the painting was different. Their host indicated they should sit on the couch and, despite Katelina’s barely controlled fury, they did. The other two settled in the chairs. Kale leaned back, with the appearance of relaxation, though his tense shoulders belied the attempt.

  Jorick didn’t beat around the bush. “Why were you summoned?”

  “They wanted to hear details about what happened with Kateesha. They made it clear I and my second in command were to report immediately.” Kale cleared his throat and glanced at his silent companion. Something in his eyes said Saeed wasn’t the vampire who normally filled that role. “They said it was of the utmost importance and even hinted that Malick had something to do with it. Then, after we got here, we were shuffled around and finally someone from the Lesser Council took our statements, as if it was of no importance at all.”

  Jorick perked up subtly at the name of his old master. “Malick?”

  Kale nodded and his jaw tightened. “I thought Thomas had complained.” He bit the name off as though it were something vile. “But if he did, they didn’t mention it to me. When I saw you, I thought perhaps you’d know more.”

  Jorick shook his head regretfully. “No, we don’t. We were also summoned by Malick and are set to meet with him tomorrow.”

  Hope suddenly fluttered in Katelina’s stomach. If Kale had been summoned by Malick, and then only had to talk to the Lesser Council, maybe she and Jorick and Oren could escape him. Maybe they’d get shuffled around.

  “I imagine it’s over the same thing,” Kale mused. “Perhaps that’s why they changed their mind. Why get a third hand account when they can hear it straight from the horse’s mouth?”

  His words made Katelina’s hope dim, and a sick, sinking feeling consumed her. He was right, of course. Why bother with him when they could torture her and Jorick instead?

  “Maybe,” Jorick agreed. “I assume you’ve had time to organize your new coven?”

  Kale was suddenly wary. “Yes. To some extent.”

  “Have you settled nearby?”

  Kael’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Kentucky. Why?”

  “I don’t suppose you’ve had any unusual visitors?”

  Kale looked to Saeed, but the massive vampire didn’t so much as flinch. “Unusual how?”

  Jorick sighed with impatience. “Traven, perhaps?”

  “Traven?” Kale’s eyes widened in surprise. “You don’t mean -”

  “Yes, that’s him. Smooth double talk and an agenda.”

  “No, I haven’t seen him in a long, long time. Should I have?”

  “I don’t know.” Jorick rubbed his chin absently and Katelina imagined he was trying to decide how much to reveal. “He and Jeda turned up at Oren’s and he was persistent that his coven should meet with yours.”

  “Why?”

  “That’s what I want to know. He claims that he wants to be sure there’s no animosity between your coven and Oren’s.”

  “Why? Has he joined with Oren?”

  “After a fashion,” Jorick admitted reluctantly. “He’s offered to join the war against -” he broke off and looked around the room, as if indicating the very place they were at. “The Executioners arrived and demanded our presence before much else could be accomplished.”

  “He needn’t worry. I was present at the trial, and the verdict was enough for me. I didn’t have any affinity for Kateesha.” Kale glanced at Saeed. “We all just want to move on.”

  The vampires fell silent and Katelina glared in Saeed’s general direction. “Of course some of you are anxious to move on,” she thought bitterly. “By rights Jorick should rip off your head right now.” Jorick subtly pressed his elbow into her ribs, a sign he’d heard her thoughts, but she didn’t care. He had his information, so there was no reason for them to stay.

  Just then the phone rang. Kale excused himself to answer it and Katelina jerked her head towards the door. Jorick didn’t seem to get the hint, or if he did he ignored it. Though he relaxed into the couch, she had the sense that he was listening to Kale’s conversation.

  “No, everything’s fine,” the blonde said with a sideways glance to his guests. “How are things there?” He nodded and murmured his understanding. “Joseff, I want you to keep a close eye out. Do you remember Traven?” He paused for the answer. “We met him a few times, long ago. He spouts French and tried to out-dress Claudius.” A pause. “Yes, that’s the one. He’s been to Oren’s asking about us. He thinks the covens should meet.”

  Katelina poked Jorick in the ribs. “Let’s go. I’m hungry.”

  Jorick caught her hand and squeezed it gently. “It would be rude to leave while our host is on the phone.” Though he didn’t say it, she felt that “Now be quiet” was coming next.

  Kale was oblivious to them. “I don’t know. He’s joining Oren’s war and claims that he wants to make sure there’s no hard feelings between us, though that seems like a stretch to me. He’s up to something and I don’t want to be involved.”

  Katelina understood how he felt. She tried to communicate this to Jorick, but again he ignored her.

  Kale murmured a few more directions and then asked to talk to someone named Rachel. Katelina could tell the moment she got on the phone because his whole demeanor changed. His shoulders softened and a smile twitched across his lips. He dropped his voice so low that she couldn’t hear his words, but she could guess at them. Now she knew why he’d brought a substitute second in command. Either his significant other usually filled the role, or Joseff did, and he’d been left behind to protect her.

  When Kale finished his conversation, he hung up the phone and returned to them. “Sorry about that. Joseff’s going to look into Traven and see if he can discover what he’s after. However, there was something interesting.”

  Jorick’s eyebrow twitched inquisitively. “Yes?”

  “A message arrived yesterday, asking what happened to Kateesha’s belongings. Apparently there’s a question about who owns them.”

  Jorick’s eyes glowed. “Who was it from?”

  “I don’t know. Joseff didn’t recognize the messenger, and the note wasn’t signed. Since I wasn’t there, they left a mailing address for us to send an answer to. It’s a post office box in Florida.”

  The men exchanged puzzled looks. “I don’t know of anyone in Florida,” Jorick admitted. “Not who’d be interested in Kateesha.”

  “Neither do I,” Kale agreed. “Unless Anya went there. I could see her coven wanting to know.”

  Jorick seemed to consider how much to reveal. “I think they’re closer to Oren than that. Besides, subtle messengers and post office boxes aren’t Anya’s style. She prefers to threaten in person.”

  Katelina thought of Verchiel’s maps and database, but she wasn’t in the mood to mention it. She suspected that the Executioner's name would be enough to send Jorick into a blind rage.

  Saeed cleared his throat and in a deep voice commented, “Just because they have a post office box in Florida, doesn’t mean they’re in Florida.”

  “That’s a very good point.” Jorick studied the bulky vampire. “Do you know of anything Kateesha had that someone else would want?”

  Saeed frowned. “She had many things, some stolen. It’s hard to say.”r />
  “I told Joseff to write back and tell them that we don’t have anything of Kateesha’s. I don’t know what it is they’re looking for, but we don’t have it. Anya might. Lennon, Alistair and Bridget joined with her, and maybe they took something.”

  The conversation disintegrated after that. Kale was cryptic and Saeed silent. At last Jorick surrendered. They exchanged goodbye pleasantries and the promise to let one or the other know if something turned up.

  “About time!” Katelina snapped as the door closed behind them. “I thought you were going to wait for Saeed to try to kill you again!”

  Jorick rolled his eyes. “Enough of that. I’ve already told you that alliances change.”

  “Once a bad apple, always a bad apple.”

  He made an exasperated noise. “Everything is very black and white with you. They are bad. They are good. No one is totally good or evil; it all depends on where you’re standing when you look at them.”

  She snorted contemptuously. “Yes, I know, and I’m standing on the he-tried-to-kill-you side!”

  He gave her a tolerant smile. “Never mind. Let’s get your food.”

  The sixth floor looked just like the fifth; a hallway lined on one side with doors. It led to a restaurant that had an open front, like a mall eatery. Though it was nearly four in the morning, the lights were still on and the smell of food wafted out of it.

  Jorick surveyed it, and then led her inside. The walls were painted a pleasant burnt orange and dotted with framed paintings and photographs. A long, broad bar complete with stools ran against one side. Scattered tables cluttered up the open floor space. A half wall near the back of the room separated several tables from the rest and a sign stuck to it read “Humans only”. Katelina could just see the tops of three heads seated beyond it, hiding from the reality of the vampires around them.

  She nodded towards them, as if to ask whether they were on business or not, but Jorick guided her to a table. They’d barely sat down when a human waitress appeared, carrying a glass of water and a menu. She smiled too sweetly at Jorick and found an excuse to bend over so they could see down her blouse. It wasn’t the red bra that shocked Katelina, rather the lumpy pink scars that crisscrossed her chest. She straightened and gave Jorick an inviting look before she slipped off to another table.