He ripped it open with his teeth and tipped the bag into Oren’s slack mouth. His amber eyes opened and rolled in his head, like Thomas’s had. Katelina moved back, cringing. Dark blood leaked from the corners of Oren’s mouth and ran down his chin, the trails like black ink in the gloom. She watched, too horrified to look away. His throat worked, swallowing the first mouthful. Then another. And another.
The bag emptied and Jorick motioned for a second. Katelina handed it to him and he tore it open and poured it carefully into Oren’s wanting lips. As the blood pulsed through him she could see his skin change. His strength started to return, and by the end of the second bag he coughed and tried to raise his hands.
Jorick tore at the plastic restraining Oren and helped him out of it. The lion-maned vampire looked terrible. His clothes were torn and crusted with old blood, and what remained of a jagged gash was visible in his side. His limbs were still waifish and his skin, though less transparent, was still papery.
Jorick took another bag of blood, opened it, and helped Oren to drink it. When it was empty, Oren licked his lips and looked around.
“Where am I?”
“Hidden,” Jorick answered. “We don’t have much time. The sun will be down soon. We need to be in the garage before that happens.”
“The garage?” Oren repeated. He lifted an uncertain hand to his head. “What happened? The battle?”
“You lost.”
Oren looked up sharply. “The others?”
“They were taken into custody. They’re to be released tonight.”
Worry flashed through Oren’s eyes. “My sister?”
“Is fine. I’m afraid you lost a brother-in-law.”
It took Oren a moment to answer, “I’m not sure he was a loss.”
“I thought you’d feel that way.” Jorick snagged another bag and shoved it at his fledgling. “Drink.”
Oren did as instructed. When he finished it he asked, “How did I get here.” Something flickered over his face and his eyes narrowed. “You.”
Jorick shoved a fifth bag at him and unrepentantly listed his crimes, “Yes. During the battle.”
Oren rubbed his head. “I remember. You were flanked by guards.”
Jorick frowned. “Yes, unfortunately I had to deal with them. I couldn’t have them interfering.” He glanced at Katelina, as if seeking forgiveness, then looked back to his fledgling. “You were already wounded. It was simple enough to cut it deeper, drain your blood and hide you here.”
“Where is here?”
“In the Citadel.”
Oren choked. “Do you have any idea what will happen if-”
“Yes. That’s why you need to hurry. I’ve been assigned to retrieve Zuri. I intend to sneak you out with me. If we go before the sun has set, the guards on duty are human. They’re easy to confuse.”
Oren’s hand clenched into an impassioned fist. “Who says that I want to sneak out? Who gave you the right to decide my fate?”
The slap echoed through the closet. Oren’s head snapped to one side, and when he looked back his eyes were wide.
“Enough!” Jorick snapped. “You’ve had your fight. It’s done! You’re my fledgling and I will carry you out of here if necessary, do you understand? Jesslynn is dead, your children are dead, but your sister is alive. If you don’t want to live for yourself then live for her. The time has come for you to pick yourself up from the ashes and start over. You have wallowed enough! Mourn Jesslynn, miss her, long for her even, but do not waste both my time and Torina’s by following her to the grave. Remember what you have left and be grateful for it!”
Oren drained the rest of the blood in silence. Jorick glared at him and Katelina sat back on her haunches, two cold bags of blood clutched in her hands.
Oren cast the bag aside and Jorick helped him to his feet. He stretched, now looking fully restored and surveyed Katelina for the first time. She expected a sarcastic remark, but he only nodded at her then turned to Jorick. “Now what?”
“We get out of here.”
Jorick shoved the empty bags into Katelina’s arms, then he shook his coat out and slipped it over Oren’s shoulders. He smoothed his hair back and, at a glance, he might have passed for Beldren.
Katelina and Oren followed Jorick through the ruined corridors to what was left of the reception room. They hurried through the door and down the hallway to the guard’s station. The wooden door was intact, and Jorick knocked. A square slid aside and a single, horrified eye peered through.
The door opened quickly and a human with thick scars scampered to get out of the way. “You’re awake early, sir.”
“Guild business!” Jorick barked and flashed his medallion. The guard stared, and then suddenly went slack. Jorick took his shoulder and steered him to the bench. When he was safely seated, he turned to Katelina.
“He will only remember that you and I came through here. We went to the garage, where we parted, and I took the redheaded idiot’s car and left, alone.”
She nodded along, her brow creased with worry. “How long will you be gone?”
“Zuri isn’t far. They moved to a closer temporary den right before the attack. I should be back before sunrise.” He pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her neck. “Go back to the restaurant and dispose of the empty bags, then go to our rooms and stay there. If the moron approaches you, turn him away. Malick is gone. We don’t need to play his games, anymore.”
He released her. “I’ll be back.” With a final look, he grabbed Oren’s arm and pulled him through the door and into the corridor that led to the garage.
Katelina did as instructed. She didn’t know what would happen if someone asked her about Jorick. She could lie, but she couldn’t shield her thoughts. If Jorick had been smart he’d have left her in the dark instead of letting her compromise his plan.
She jolted, disgusted at her own thoughts.
Back in the apartment, she tried to watch TV. The cable was out. The phone didn’t work, not that there was anyone to call. The restaurant was in shambles and she was hungry. Verchiel’s coat hung over one of the chairs. The sight of it brought back memories; not just the fight but Jorick and Jamie’s private conversation. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. How dare he betray her like that!
It was after midnight when the door opened. She started, prepared for Jorick, but it was Verchiel. “Did you miss me?”
She refused to look at him, even as he stopped before her and thrust a plastic wrapped sandwich under her nose. “I thought you might be hungry. The humans are munching on these upstairs.” She batted at his hand and he tossed the sandwich to the couch. “Hello? Earth to Kately!”
“That’s not my name and I’m not speaking to you.”
He frowned. “Any particular reason why?”
Her angry eyes snapped to his. “You stupid ass! Do you know how many fights I had with Jorick over you? I defended you! I told him you weren’t up to anything sneaky, and you were!”
He blinked. “What was I up to?”
“You were only hanging around with me because Malick told you to!”
He shrugged. “So I got lucky and had an easy assignment.”
She jerked to her feet and jabbed a furious finger at him. “You don’t get it, do you? You fucking played me! You pretended to be my friend and in the end you didn’t give a damn! You’re just another one of Malick’s dogs! Get out!” She grabbed the nearest object, which happened to be his coat, and flung it at him. “I don’t ever want to see you again!”
He rolled his eyes. “Aw, don’t turn into a naggy chick on me. Come on, we’re pals.”
“I said get out!”
He stepped back and shrugged. “Whatever you want. You better eat that soon, though, or you’ll get ptomaine.”
He strolled to the door and started out it, then stopped and turned back. His expression was unsettled, as if she’d actually hurt his feelings. “If I was really one of Malick’s dogs, don’t you think I’d have gone with him
?”
He disappeared before she could answer.
Jorick returned an hour later. He brought food with him, too. She thanked him and watched as he sniffed the air and scowled.
“Was the idiot here?” he demanded. “Or is that left over from his last visit?”
“No, he came for his coat.” Jorick waited for more and she added, “I told him I didn’t want to see him again, and I meant it.”
Jorick nodded, obviously pleased. He peeled off his coat and threw it over the chair where Verchiel’s had been.
Katelina stared at the gas station offerings and asked, “Did you find Zuri?”
“Yes and, before you ask, no, they didn’t replace his arms. They were still in the box. I brought them with us. They may still be able to put them back.”
Though she wanted to know, she didn’t ask about Oren. There were too many vampires around who could overhear.
She’d just finished her food when someone knocked on the door. Jorick opened it to find Jamie.
“They’re releasing the prisoners. I thought you’d like to speak to them.”
Katelina wanted to see Loren, so she tagged along. The elevators had “Out of Order” signs on them, so they had to take the stairs. They came out near the atrium, as they had last night, but turned towards the mall. They followed a maze of corridors to a plain silver door that had a card reader next to it. Jamie swiped his master key and the door opened. Through it was another set of stairs that exited into the terrifying black corridor of the sub-level.
Katelina hung back and Jorick gently reminded her, “Malick is gone. You have nothing to fear from the others.”
Like the last time she’d come to the guard room, the doors stood open. Inside were several of the greater guards, weapons out and pointed at a motley collection of vampires.
Jamie and Jorick paused to talk to the guards. Katelina walked past them and stopped near the prisoners. Micah caught her eye and said, “I should have known you guys were fucking traitors.”
“Oh shut up! If you think we wanted to be here then you’re stupider than you look!”
Loren stood next to him, refreshed except for his arm. The stump stuck out of his ruined t-shirt. It was healed over with pale, smooth skin, as though an arm had never been there. “Jorick is a lot of things, but I don’t think he’s a traitor.”
“Then you wanna tell me what he’s doing here wearing one of those necklaces and why Lunch seems to be the pet of the fucking Executioners? Or is that a fucking pet of the Executioners?”
Just as Jorick had done to Oren, she slapped him. He jerked back, more from surprise than hurt. The guards stirred, though made no move to intervene.
“Watch your fucking mouth! Jorick’s here because he got blamed for you idiots killing off too many Executioners! It’s your fault for being so desperate to prove yourselves by fighting everything in a black coat!”
Micah growled and Saeed laid a hand on his shoulder. “The fight is over. There is no point in dragging up old hurts.”
Micah jerked away. “Who said I was hurt? I couldn’t care less if the asshole and his mobile snack betrayed us or not.”
Loren offered her a watery smile. She looked past him to Torina. She stood next to Yaul. Her clothes were stained with dried blood, though her hair was perfect. As if she felt Katelina’s scrutiny, she turned towards her and, for just a moment, Katelina saw something lost and terrified in the emerald depths of her eyes.
“Are they gonna let us go or make us stand here all fucking day?”
One of the guards glanced towards Micah. “Shut your mouth, will ya? They’re talking to the Executioners about your missing coven mate.”
Loren’s eyes went wide, “They still haven’t found Oren?”
“He probably got blown up by that fucking idiot spi-”
Traven moved through the throng and interrupted them, “Jorge was elsewhere. Not that he proved to be as useful as I hoped. Had we not run into the Wind Walker…” he trailed off and gave Katelina a cold look that hinted at the success he might have achieved. But she knew what success that was, and it would have done nothing for Oren’s war.
“Then one of your other fucking retards with the explosives,” Micah spat. “You had it spread all over for fuck’s sake!”
Traven sniffed disdainfully. “Oren’s disappearance has nothing to do with me or mine. He probably ran away.” He stepped towards the guard. “As this oaf so poetically inquired, how much longer until we’re released?”
The guard pushed Traven back. “Just stay where you are and wait like a good little rebel.”
Traven scowled and looked on the point of arguing, but Micah grabbed him by his shirt and threw him into the knot of his coven mates. “You better stay the fuck away from me sleezeball. I ain’t got no respect for your kind and the minute we’re outta here I’m gonna take your fucking arm as a replacement for Loren’s.”
Traven sniffed disdainfully, but wisely slunk behind his followers.
“Fucking pussy prick,” Micah muttered. “He’s the only piece of shit I hate worse than the Executioners. At least they get paid to be sons of bitches. He does it for free.”
Loren’s eyes moved to Katelina, desperate for a new topic. “So what are you guys gonna do, now?”
She shrugged. “They said something about making us go to Germany to see some True Council. What about you?”
Loren moved to shove his hands in his pocket, then jerked to a stop when only one arm obeyed. He took a deep ragged breath. “Fuck. I don’t know.”
Micah clapped a hand on his shoulder. “We’re gonna go have some fun, that’s what. Fuck this war shit for awhile. We’re gonna go find a beach and a bunch of bikini bitches and have us a moonlight party. Ain’t we?”
Loren nodded, though his enthusiasm didn’t ring true. “What about Oren?”
“Fuck, he’s missing still. And even if he does pop up, he’d be fucking stupid to try this shit again. Without God damned Fabian yapping in his ear like a Chihuahua all the time, I think his interest in defeating the fucking Guild will disappear.” He glanced towards Torina. “Course, if he don’t show up we can always see if she wants to come to our beach party.”
Jorick stopped next to Katelina. He and Micah glared at one another, and then Jorick addressed the group. “If you would follow me, you will soon be free to go.”
He motioned Katelina in front of him, and they followed Jamie out the door and back the way they’d come, all the way to the sixth floor. The rubble had been cleaned away and some of the walls had been repaired with fresh white plaster. The holes in the ceiling were patched and most of the lights were working again.
They filed into the reception room and up the stairs to the grain office. Katelina wondered about the farmer and his dog. Both were in perfect condition, the former with his nose in a newspaper and the latter asleep in the corner.
They came to a stop outside. Katelina hunched into her shirt while Jamie gave the prisoners a long lecture that ended with the threat, “Consider yourselves lucky that Eileifr is merciful. If there is a repeat of these actions, you will be put to death.”
The garage door on the machine shed opened and two SUVs came to stop nearby. “You will be given a ride to the nearest town. From there, you’re on your own.”
Guards climbed out of the vehicles and opened the doors. Traven and his remaining three coven members climbed into one of the vehicles. Benny peered through her glasses and suddenly recognized Katelina. She offered her a cheerful wave before the door snapped closed.
Torina stopped in front of Jorick. She glared at him, as if to prove how tough she was, and then the illusion wavered. “What am I supposed to do now?”
“I’d look for Oren if I were you.”
She clasped her hands before her. “We both know he’s dead.”
Jorick cleared his throat and glanced sideways to see where Jamie was. “I wouldn’t bet on it.”
Her eyes went wide and then narrowed suspiciously. She was sm
arter than to press him, and only turned and sashayed to the other vehicle, her confidence back.
Micah and Loren followed her. The teen offered Katelina and Jorick a wave. Micah grabbed his arm and jerked it down. “We don’t wave to traitors!” He stuffed the teen in the backseat and climbed in after him. Before he slammed the door he called, “Maybe your plane will go down on the way to Germany and we won’t have to worry about running into you again!”
She snapped, “Fuck off!” then moved to Jorick’s side. That’s when she noticed Jorge. He hung back uncertainly, his eyes moving from one SUV to the other. Finally, he looked to Jamie and Jorick and asked them something in Spanish. Jamie answered haltingly and Jorge sagged with relief, then hurried to the vehicle Micah was in.
As the SUVs pulled out, Katelina asked, “What did he want?”
Something like a smile hovered on Jamie’s lips. “He wanted to know if he had to stay with the snake, or if he could go home.”
Home.
Katelina closed her eyes and leaned against Jorick. It was going to be a long time before she got to see the little house by the sea again, but since home was wherever Jorick was, it didn’t matter.
THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES IN HEART OF THE RAVEN
COMING WINTER 2012/2013!
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BONUS MATERIAL
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THE AMARANTHINE INTERVIEWS
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Interviews with the cast of Amaranthine, with questions from the readers themselves!.
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Verchiel
Hello! My name is Katelina and I’m from Joleene Naylor’s Amaranthine series. Using state of the art-mumbo-jumbo-author magic, Jo has had me interview other authors’ characters but now I’m interviewing my fellow Amaranthians. Even better, the questions come from you, the readers! So let’s get this party started!
Amaranthine Special Edition Vol II Page 63