He interrupted her thought. “You’d best take a shower and change.”
Forty minutes later, Katelina was bathed, dressed and in the passenger seat of Kale’s car. In her pocket was a wad of money that Jorick had pressed on her. She almost asked where it came from, but then decided she didn’t want to know.
Rachel started the car and stared at the dashboard as though it was a puzzle to be solved. Katelina cringed as she ground the manual car into gear and took off down the driveway.
“You’ll have to excuse me, I don’t drive very often. Kale usually does it.”
Katelina stopped from asking why he wasn’t driving this time, and contented herself with a long, elaborate prayer that begged God to spare her life.
After a harrowing forty-five minute trip, Rachel pulled the car to a stop in front of the super chain store. “They sell paint here, right?”
If they didn’t, she’d have lied. “Yeah.”
“And groceries? I haven’t bought food in a long time.”
“Yeah. They have everything here.”
“Wonderful! Then what are we waiting for?”
The store was bright and glittered with Christmas baubles. Sanitized holiday music played over the loudspeakers and big signs warned “We will close at midnight so that staff may spend the holiday with their families”.
“It’s so cheerful, isn’t it?” Rachel asked as she grabbed a cart. “I’m sorry I was quiet on the drive in. I was concentrating. So, how was your night?”
“Uncomfortable,” Katelina replied automatically. She quickly corrected, “I mean fine.”
“I think your first answer was the honest one. I bet you find it very cramped. Kale and I in one box is a tight fit, and he’s smaller than Jorick.” She giggled. “Sometimes a small man can be handy. They’re easier to jam into little places.”
Katelina stuffed her hands in her pockets. “Jorick isn’t easy to jam anywhere.”
“No, I imagine he isn’t. He’s very stubborn.”
“Yeah. He’s getting better, though. He let me turn his stupid shrine into a library.”
They stopped before a display of Christmas ornaments and Rachel said, “I had no idea he was the religious kind.”
Forgotten bitterness crept into Katelina’s voice, “He’s not, unless you count worshipping his dead wife.”
“So it’s true then? I’ve heard stories, but I thought they were just rumors. Who would let themselves be burned alive?” Rachel looked abashed. “I’m sorry, that was rude, wasn’t it?”
Katelina had thought the same thing before. “Jorick claims she fought back at the end, but it was too late. I don’t know why he was so obsessed with her. She sounds pathetic to me.”
While they shopped, the story of Velnya’s letters tumbled out, made easier by Rachel’s encouraging comments. As Katelina finished, she reached in her pocket and found the familiar silver cross. Rachel turned it over in her hand before she gave it back.
“It’s pretty, but why did you keep it?”
Katelina stuffed it back in her pocket and stared at the cart full of Christmas decorations. “I don’t know. I hate her, whether it’s fair or not, because I sometimes think he wishes she was still alive.” Her voice cracked and Rachel nodded encouragingly. “At the same time it seemed… wrong. He burned the letters and the pictures, and the painting got ruined in the attack. It just felt like…” She blushed. “It’s stupid.”
Rachel patted her shoulder. “It seemed wrong that she’d be completely forgotten?”
Relief swept through Katelina. Rachel had guessed it, so she didn’t have to find the words. “Yeah. That’s all that was left of her, those few things and Jorick’s memories. It’s just kind of sad.” Fears whispered in her mind and asked what would happen when she died.
“It is sad to think how many people are forgotten, but I suppose that’s the way it happens sometimes.” Rachel’s smile seemed falsely bright. “I’m sure there are others who knew her. She had to have been turned by someone.”
Katelina snickered. “Traven and Jeda. She was Jeda’s sister.”
“Really? I didn’t know that! Traven’s that ruffled man that’s allied with Oren.”
“Yeah, that’s him.”
They stopped before a paint chip display and Rachel selected several colors. When her choices were made, she said softly, “You shouldn’t be embarrassed about your sentimentality. It’s probably something Jorick likes about you.”
Katelina gave an uncertain laugh. “Sure, and he also likes that I’m illogical, weak and whiny.”
Rachel patted Katelina’s hand. “You forgot nagging. All men say those things about women, hon, just like we say men are stubborn, idiotic asses sometimes. They can’t help it any more than we can. They get set in their ways, and it takes a long time to train them properly. Kale still has teething problems now and again.”
“You love him a lot?” Katelina flushed. She sounded as blunt as Rachel.
“Yes, I do.” She stared past the paint chips, a wistful look in her eyes. “He’s so kind and gentle. I think I loved him the moment I first saw him. He was dressed to the teeth, looked a perfect Southern gentleman, though his accent gave him away. He never could get the hang of a good southern drawl.”
Her face hardened. “I was so unhappy that night. Thomas turned me and took another lover right after. He enjoyed making me watch, I think. And then he had that stupid gala and expected me to dress up and smile for all his guests. He found it amusing to parade me in front of them and then contradict their every polite compliment. It was like a sick game to him, and I’d had enough. I was on the veranda, plotting how to escape. I didn’t know how to survive on my own and I was terrified of being alone. That’s when Kale showed up.”
Her voice grew soft as she drifted away into her memory. “Oh, he was beautiful. He just came strolling out and offered me his handkerchief. Of course I was trying to pretend I wasn’t crying, so I ignored him. Without so much as a by-your-leave, he started blotting up my tears. I thought I was going to faint on the spot.” She sighed sweetly. “And then he asked ‘What ungodly occurrence could cause such a beautiful lady so much unhappiness?’ That just made me cry all the more. I suppose that’s a stupid story, isn’t it?”
The words popped out before Katelina could stop them, “It’s like a Hallmark movie!”
Rachel’s brow wrinkled. “A what?”
“Oh, they’re usually kind of sappy, romantic movies. Family oriented stuff, mostly.”
“Family? I assume you mean suitable for children, but I doubt that. There was a lot of blood between that night and the one when I was finally with Kale. I’ll never forget what it was like to be free of Thomas and know that Kale and I could be together.” She closed her eyes, savoring the long ago moment. “I was so giddy and nervous, I felt like a virgin on her wedding night! Not that that was the case.” She gave Katelina a suggestive wink.
“Did you ever get married? Oh, I guess that would be difficult since you’re...” Katelina coughed and looked away quickly.
Rachel laughed. “Not really. There are a few vampire priests out there. A church won’t burn down because we step foot in it.”
“I - I didn’t think. . . .” Katelina stammered, but Rachel went on.
“No, we were never married officially. As far as I’m concerned, though, we are.” Her hand tightened around the color cards. “That night, Thomas killed Kale’s younger brother and another of his friends, but Kale never held that against me. He’s always said the blame was Thomas’s because he refused to release me when he was asked. If he had, they wouldn’t have had to attack and no one would have died. Still, I wouldn’t change anything. I let go of it long ago, though now…” Dark anger blossomed in her eyes. “Now I hate him all over again for what he did to Kale -for what he helped them do to him.”
Katelina thought of the sharp instruments hanging in the lab and shuddered. She imagined that it had been Jorick, and not Kale. The idea made her sick - as sick
as the memories of Saeed holding Jorick down while Kateesha gloated over him.
“I understand.”
“I imagine you do. You’ve lost more than one person, haven’t you? There was Michael’s brother, and then your friend.”
Katelina stiffened and her insides turned to ice. “What?”
“I didn’t see any of it,” Rachel said quickly. “And neither did Kale. It was Claudius and his war council, if you want to call them that. I just heard about it.” She seemed suddenly uncomfortable. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have mentioned it.”
Rachel was right; she shouldn’t have. However it was too late, and suddenly Katelina couldn’t look at her. “What - what did they do to Sarah?”
“I don’t know. As I said, I didn’t see it.” She took a deep breath. “I wish I could say that it was over quickly but we know that’s a lie. Troy really enjoyed those things. He liked to drag it out as long as possible-”
“Stop!” Katelina’s hands compressed to fists at her sides. “Just… just stop. I- I don’t want to know.” She tried to blink the tears away.
“I’m sorry. I wish I could offer you more, but nothing I can say or do would bring her back. What’s done is done, and regret and hatred only hurt the person who holds onto them, not those it’s aimed at.”
Though Katelina nodded, she couldn’t fight the bitter taste of remorse that settled in the back of her throat.
The return trip was as terrifying as the first. By the time they reached the den, Katelina was so thankful to be alive that she’d forgotten to be angry. She hurried out of the car and into the relative safety of the house, bags in her hands. Rachel had insisted that she pick out food for the Christmas party.
Christmas party. Two words that didn’t fit her surroundings.
Jorick met her just inside the door. She grabbed his arm and whispered, “She’s a terrifying driver. Don’t make me ride with her again!”
His laughter was too amused for her liking.
While they’d been gone, Kale, Saeed, and the twins had finished cleaning the downstairs. With the wallpaper nearly dry, someone had hung a few pictures. Rachel squealed appreciatively and gave Kale a kiss, as though he was solely responsible.
The refrigerator didn’t work, so they put Katelina’s food in a snow drift next to the back door. As Katelina was tying up the bags, she noticed a figure lumping towards her, dragging something. Her heart caught in her throat and her imagination turned the silhouette into a blood thirsty vampire with a dead body. As the figure drew closer, she realized it was only Joseff dragging a pine tree.
He stomped past her with a snarl and made a point to slam the door behind him. She flipped him off, then marched inside and slammed the door extra hard.
By the time she had her winter gear off, the vampires had the Christmas tree situated in the living room and Rachel was giving orders.
“Ah, there you are! Jorick said you like to decorate!” She shoved a package of bulbs into Katelina’s hands, then called over her shoulder, “Alex, where’s the music?”
“Coming up!” He sat his laptop on the couch. After a few key clicks, a tinny rendition of “Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer” flooded the room.
Katelina held the glass ornaments stupidly and looked for Jorick. He’d already drifted towards the door, and she suspected he’d soon be impossible to locate. He offered her a smile that said she was right and stepped neatly into the next room.
Rachel followed Katelina’s gaze. “Some people just don’t like Christmas. Now come on!”
Like a bizarre television scene, the vampires decorated the tree with ornaments and tinsel, while Christmas carols played. Saeed appeared with a box of old candles and decorations. Rachel cheerfully dived into it. As she tugged out various pieces, she related random stories to anyone within earshot. Katelina assumed they were connected to the ornaments, but she wasn’t sure what some of them had to do with Christmas.
Though she tried to stay out of Joseff’s way, it wasn’t easy. Rachel hovered around her, chattering, and where Rachel was, Joseff was, his dark eyes burning. She wasn’t sure if the intensity in his gaze was hatred for her, or some unspoken emotion for Rachel. Either way, it made her uncomfortable.
When the tree was done, Kale and Joseff lit the candles. Two words summed up Katelina’s opinion of real candles on Christmas trees: fire hazard. She wasn’t the only one.
“Aren’t those dangerous?” Yaul asked.
“Only if you’re not careful,” Rachel said. She looked at Katelina, “Where’s Jorick? You’d better find him.”
Katelina started to point out that he didn’t like Christmas, then surrendered and hurried away. She found Jorick hiding in an upstairs room, his nose in the same tatty paperback he’d been reading last night.
“Where did you get that?”
“I brought it with us, in case there was a lull.”
She rolled her eyes. “What is with your reading obsession?” It was a rhetorical question. “They’re lighting the tree. Rachel sent me to fetch you.”
He looked like he might argue, then relented. “All right.”
As he followed her down the stairs, she asked, “Why didn’t you stay? I know you hate Christmas because of Velnya but-”
He tugged her to a stop. “It has nothing to do with her.” He gave a heavy sigh. “I’ve let most of my past go, but there are some things…” He shook his head. “When I was… young, religion was a topic of bloody debate. People died - lots of people died - because of what they did or did not believe. It fueled the war that killed my sister. God, Christmas, religion, none of it is a comforting subject.”
Katelina didn’t know what to say. Silently, she squeezed his hand and then, she found a handful of words. “Religion has nothing to do with Christmas or God or any of the rest of it. That’s just a bunch of stupid man-made excuses they use to prove they’re better than someone else. Most of the people who use religion to kill or condemn don’t really believe. They just use it as a shield to hide behind, so they don’t have to admit that they’re really after power or money or whatever.” Jorick stared at her strangely, so she cleared her throat. “Anyway, Christmas doesn’t have much to do with religion anymore, so you might as well enjoy it.”
“Christmas, as you know it, never did. But enough. We don’t want to miss the tree lighting.”
As they headed down the stairs, Katelina racked her brain for what historical event he’d been referencing. She knew he was turned in the 1500s in the Netherlands, and that there had been a war with Spain. What she wouldn’t give for an internet connection and a computer!
She thought of Alex’s laptop as they walked through the living room door, but the lights were already off. She and Jorick stopped just inside and stood, eyes on the warm, flickering glow. Something about the candles, the smell of the pine tree and the soft strains of Silent Night made her chest tighten. Christmases past played through her mind; with her mother, Sarah, Patrick. Of all of the holidays, this was the most bizarre, and yet, standing in the glow of the flickering candles, her head against Jorick’s chest, it seemed the most right.
**********
Chapter Six
Katelina jerked awake to the sound of Rachel’s voice, “Wake up! Merry Christmas!” Before she could focus on an answer, she heard the vampiress move away to the next box, where she rapped and repeated her greeting.
Jorick groaned. “I suppose this is inevitable.” And, without further comment, he lifted the lid. They climbed out to find the others were already up.
“Why are you dragging us out so early?” Yaul yawned dramatically. “The sun’s barely down!”
A deep voice came from the stairs, “It’s snowing and the sky is dark early.”
“Well thank you for the weather report, Saeed.” Yaul scratched his belly and yawned again. “All right, all right. We’re up.”
Rachel was still in her flannel nightgown. “It’s Christmas! That’s worth getting up for!” She caught a shirtless Kale in a hug an
d planted an excited kiss on his lips. “Now come on! It’s time for presents!”
She led the way upstairs. Katelina and Jorick hung behind. “Presents?” she asked softly. “From who?” Jorick smirked and she added, “Don’t say Santa Claus!”
“I was going to say Father Christmas, but I imagine it’s the same thing.”
They found the six pajama clad vampires arranged in the front room. Yaul and Alex looked half asleep, and Joseff glared at the world as though it had done something terrible to him.
Rachel stood next to the tree, handing out brightly wrapped packages. “And this one is… ah! Katelina, here you go!”
Katelina stared at the red present thrust into her hands. Rachel shoved a green and silver package at Jorick, then moved off to force presents on Alex and Yaul, leaving Jorick and Katelina bewildered.
“This is unexpected,” Jorick finally said.
“You can say that again.”
With a shrug, Jorick tore off the paper and discarded it. He was left holding a wad of black cloth. When he shook it out, it turned into a long sleeved black pullover.
“I guess she didn’t feel adventurous.” Katelina glanced around to see Alex and Yaul with a handful of CD’s, Saeed holding a book, and Joseff with some kind of tool set.
“Better open yours,” Jorick advised.
Katelina peeled back the paper to find a soft, fuzzy pink sweater. She held it up to herself and noted the silver snowflakes.
Jorick surveyed it. “It looks… sweet.”
“Sweet as in ‘that little girl looks sweet with her lollypop’ or sweet as in ‘awesome’?”
“The first one?”
“That’s what I thought.”
Rachel seemed to materialize in front of them. “I hope those are all right. I wasn’t sure what you’d like. Considering how small your luggage is, I figured you could use clothes, and that’s so cute!”
Amaranthine Special Edition Vol II Page 38