Masque of the Vampire (Amaranthine Book 8)

by Joleene Naylor

  She motioned them to follow, then walked back through the secret door, her head held high and her spine straight. Despite the outward show of strength, her overwhelming fear made it hard for Katelina to follow up the narrow stairs.

  Jorick squeezed Katelina’s hand. “It will be fine.”

  The stairs went up two floors. At the top was a door with a heavy lock. Annabelle lifted the chain from around her neck, at the end, normally hidden in her dress, was a key. The door unlocked with a click and the vampiress pushed it open.

  The room inside was the same pink as Estrilda’s. An overstuffed couch, table, chairs, and a television filled the space. A door in the far wall had a crayon colored picture of a flower taped to it. Katelina guessed it led to the little girl’s bedroom.

  As if summoned, the door opened and the child popped out, dressed in lavender. She broke into a wide, lipless smile, but stopped when she saw Jorick. With a squeak she cringed behind the table.

  Annabelle took a ragged breath. “It’s all right, sweetling.” She murmured something in a foreign language. The child nodded and hurried back to her room.

  The masked vampiress perched carefully on the edge of the sofa. She trained her eyes on the wrinkled paper in her hand. “What will you do?”

  Jorick’s tone was stern. “That depends on how you answer my questions.” Annabelle continued to stare at the paper and Jorick said, “She told you about Katelina’s visit already.”

  “Yes.”

  Jorick nodded to the paper. “It’s a letter. The same as you were reading last week.”

  “Yes. She…she writes one every day.”

  “So your explanation to Katelina about an old letter and the anniversary of a tragedy was a lie?”

  Annabelle pursed her lips. “Not entirely. It was the anniversary.”

  “Of when your daughter was burned in an accident.”

  Daughter?

  The vampiress’ voice turned bitter. “It was no accident. He meant to kill her.” Her hand unconsciously drifted to her mask.

  “Andrei?”

  Annabelle looked up sharply. “Never! When the infections wouldn’t heal, Andrei saved her with his blood. It was her father. He was the monster.”

  “Your mortal husband.”

  “Yes. My father married me to The Baron. Estrilda was born feeble minded. At ten years she had the ways of a child of five. He hated her, looked at her as a curse from God.”

  “He tried to kill her,” Jorick finished. “She was burned nearly to death and you were injured putting out the flames.”

  She rubbed her hands together, as if trying to remove the scars from her palms.

  When no more came, Jorick said, “Andrei turned her to save her.”

  “Yes. And me. He wished to marry me,” she said fiercely. “Once he killed the Baron there was nothing to stop him.”

  “You know that to turn a child—”

  “Is wrong because they can never grow up, but don’t you see?” She folded her hands together, as if in prayer. “Estrilda would never have grown up. Had she been left mortal until age twenty or thirty, still she would have a child’s mind. Time would have made her no better, only allowed the infection to destroy her. She is no more trapped than she would have been had fate been kind and allowed her to grow first.” As she spoke, she slid off her seat and knelt before him. “Please. She has suffered enough. We have all suffered.”

  “And the life she lives now isn’t suffering? Closeted in a secret room, hidden from all but your most trusted?”

  “Surely that’s better than death?”

  “Is it? Has she mentioned her daylight activities?” Annabelle didn’t answer and he pressed, “Why Sarah?”

  “She feels a kinship with her. Their pasts are similar.”

  “In what way?”

  “Their fathers. He was cruel to her from the moment she was born.” Annabelle turned tear filled eyes up to him. “Please. Don’t take her away. She is not hurting anyone—wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

  Katelina’s chest caught and she felt moisture building in her eyes. “Jorick.”

  He crossed his arms. “I won’t report this, but it doesn’t mean they won’t find out eventually. I’ve seen it more times than I care to count and I suggest you think about whether it’s worth the inevitable consequences.” He turned for the door, then stopped to look over his shoulder. “I understand Andrei’s parties are a tradition that spans centuries, even before he knew you, but so long as you harbor such a secret, I suggest you don’t willingly invite The Guild into your home for another one. The next Executioners may not be as forgiving.”

  He stalked out the door and down the stairs. Annabelle buried her face in her hands. Her shoulders shook with soft sobs. The bedroom door opened and Estrilda peeped out.

  “He’s gone.”

  With the pronouncement she rushed out to her mother. Annabelle’s sobs grew louder as she wrapped her arms around the child.

  Annabelle spoke aloud in the same foreign language, no doubt to some silent comment of her daughter’s.

  Katelina fluttered uncertainly. She knew she should leave them to their private moment, but at the same time she wanted to apologize. This was her fault. If only she hadn’t woken up to follow Estrilda.

  “No.” Annabelle dabbed her eyes and looked up. The uninjured half of her face was hidden by her hair, so it was only a single green eye and a sea of perfect plastic that looked at Katelina. “If not you, then Sarah would have discovered Estrilda on her own.” Her voice turned bitter. “Your mate is correct, Estrilda gets lonely. But she’s never left her room before.”

  “Sarah is lonely too. And scared.”

  “I know, sweetling.” Annabelle tightened her hold on her daughter. “Like you were. You wanted to help her.”

  Estrilda nodded.

  Annabelle pressed a kiss to the child’s bald head. “Go to your room and play. I’ll visit you later.”

  The girl pulled away, stopping at the door to send the mental message, “Goodbye, Katelina.” before she disappeared.

  Katelina wondered why the girl still wouldn’t speak out loud, even in front of her mother.

  “She has no tongue,” Annabelle said. “She can only speak telepathically. She gained the ability when she was turned.”

  Annabelle rose to sit on the couch. After a long sigh, she arranged her skirt, as if giving order to her world with the gesture. “What will Sarah do?”

  Katelina hadn’t expected the question. “I don’t think she’ll do anything.”

  Annabelle nodded. “Please send Andrei to me.”

  Though Katelina had no idea where he was, she agreed then rushed away. Jorick waited in the room below. The women gave them hard looks and Katelina watched her feet as they exited.

  When they were in the hallway she asked, “You don’t really think Estrilda would be better off dead?”

  Jorick didn’t meet her eyes. “Luckily it isn’t my place to decide. I will say The Laws about turning children also apply to the feeble minded and those so disabled that blood can’t repair it.”

  “Like her scars? Why didn’t Andrei’s blood fix her?”

  “I’m sure it did. I can only imagine what shape she was in before. I’m surprised she survived at all.”

  When they reached the grand staircase, Katelina caught his hand. “Thank you for not turning them in.”

  He cocked an eyebrow. “You think that’s a favor for you? I love you, and I try to please you, but if you weren’t here, my decision would be the same. I told you, I’m done judging who lives and dies. There’s enough blood on my hands.”

  His words came back to her again, “Möngkedai turned several children who had to be destroyed.” Duties like that had to weigh on him.

  Andrei was on the back patio, talking to a group of vampires. The stage beyond was cloaked in a heavy curtain. From the sound of hammering, they were building something big.

  Their host met her eyes and his face went rigid. He gave her a long
, hard look, then excused himself. Though there were no words, she knew the meaning. Shut up and stay shut up.

  Sarah wasn’t in either of the dining halls, and neither was Des. Obviously they were together, but Katelina had no idea where. Jamie admitted he hadn’t seen them. Katelina was left with the option of combing the entire estate or putting off their conversation. Not that there was much point in it now. If Sarah was going to tell Des she’d have already done it. Katelina could only hope that she hadn’t.

  Katelina got ready for bed. She hadn’t seen Sarah all day, and her friend’s bedroom was still deserted. “I can’t believe she spent the whole day with Des.”

  “Maybe she’s with someone else?” Jorick peeled off his socks and wiggled his pale toes.

  “Like who?”

  “The twins and Kali.”

  Katelina shivered. “How can she stand them?”

  Jorick climbed out of his jeans. “I don’t understand your revulsion.”

  “It’s the way they look into me. I don’t know. I can’t explain it. It’s like Malick, only worse; more casual. As if they don’t care about what they see and only do it because they can.”

  Jorick sat on the edge of the bed and looked thoughtful. “The twins are younger than me, and have no documented mental abilities. There’s no way they should be anything like Malick.”

  “At least one of them is. Probably Ren. He seems to be the most interested in scaring me. Never mind. I guess I’ll talk to Sarah tomorrow, though by then she’ll have told everyone.”

  “I doubt it. If she had, we’d have heard, and if she hasn’t, she’s probably not going to.”

  Despite the logic, Katelina’s dreams were visited by the ghostly eyes of another vampire child, one she’d watched burned to death. It was a relief when the dream faded for a brightly lit room. Samael reclined on a lounge. His robe fanned around him and his long hair fell over his shoulders in a waterfall of night. Katelina met his jewel eyes then looked away. Even in the dream he was too beautiful.

  “Welcome child. Come, celebrate with me, for the end draws near.”

  She took a step forward. “The end of what?”

  “The end of the she-demon. The end of my life’s desire. I have found her.”

  Katelina felt his joy wrap around her and a smile rose unbidden. “I thought you couldn’t sense her?”

  “I can’t. Her very invisibility has given her away. Against the backdrop of the world I can sense the void, the place where something should be, but instead there is nothing. One small spot, perhaps, but she has cast her protective net too wide and obliterated too much. A space so large does not exist with nothing in it.”

  Katelina understood. Like a phantom, Lilith masked herself, but she’d also masked everything around her. “When you find her you’ll kill her.”

  His one word answer held a thousand oaths and assurances. “Yes.”

  She felt compelled to help him though, if Lilith was as powerful as he was, she didn’t know what she could do.

  “Do not fear, child. I will destroy her with my own hands. Then the true celebration will begin.”

  The memory of Sorino’s scroll hung in the back of her mind. Subjugating mankind. Destroying the world. “What kind of celebration?”

  “One meant for a god. Do not fear. You and yours will remain safe. It is repayment for releasing me.”

  His answer didn’t set her at ease, but before she could press he said, “You need not concern yourself. All will be as it is meant to be. Sleep now, and share my joy.”

  As the scene faded, she wasn’t sure joy was the right word.

  The next evening, Katelina dressed and knocked at Sarah’s room. The door opened and her friend stuck her head out. “Yes?”

  “I thought you were dead,” Katelina said sarcastically. “Where were you yesterday?”

  “I was…” Sarah broke off to rub her head. “I’m sorry. I had a bad dream and I’m kind of stuck there right now.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah. It was just really vivid.” Sarah looked past her to Jorick. “It’s fine. Let me get dressed and I’ll see you downstairs.”

  Katelina caught the door and said quietly, “We need to talk about Estrilda.” Sarah’s confusion was obvious so she mouthed, “Your stalker.”

  “There’s nothing to talk about. We solved it and it’s done.”

  “Yes, but…” Katelina leaned out and looked both ways. “You can’t tell anyone.”

  A heartbeat passed and she dreaded Sarah’s reply. She’d already told Des, hadn’t she?

  “I won’t,” Sarah said finally. “And I haven’t. I don’t want to talk about it.”

  Just like she didn’t want to talk about her dream. Katelina wasn’t sure why she was so upset. She started to look to Jorick for an answer, but stopped. She’d seen things in Sarah’s mind; things Sarah didn’t want her to see. If she’d done it once maybe she could do it again. Jorick told her to look for something specific, and Estrilda said to relax, and let the thoughts flow.

  She met Sarah’s eyes and concentrated on something unhappy, something horrible, something disturbing. For a second nothing happened. Sarah started to speak—

  Then, like a flash of light, Katelina was in the cage in Troy’s basement, inside one of Sarah’s memories. She was too weak to move, and so hungry. She didn’t know how long it had been, but it felt like years. The cold of the wall seeped through her dirty red dress and chilled her back. She looked down at her legs. They were like thin sticks covered in paper-white flesh, marred by purple bite marks.

  Across from her, one of her cell mates drank from his own arm. His skin was pockmarked with scabs from previous attempts, some by him, some by the others. Just like her legs. But it did no good. The blood was cold and dead, and did nothing to quench the burning in their throats.

  Where was Troy? They knew somehow that he wasn’t coming back. His last present was the girls.

  Sarah squinted through the bars. Most of their remains were scattered from the cage to the stairs. Back when they still had strength, they’d tossed them out. Even the busted skulls had been chucked, globs of meat hanging from them. The rotten stench made the air thick, and Sarah held her breath against it. She could do that now, for hours. As if she didn’t need air anymore.

  She felt the tickle of hair on her arm, but she didn’t have the strength to shake it off. It did no good, anyway. The girls’ hair was everywhere, stuck to them, scattered on the floor, balled in the corner. It clung like guilt with nothing to wash it away. Except Sarah’s guilt was long gone. She was too numb to care.

  The constant slow banging echoed in her ears and she looked to Kurt. He sat hunched on the floor, his face like a skull, hammering at the metal bars with a chunk of bone. They’d gotten part of it loose weeks ago, and they’d all taken turns working on the rest for a while. One by one they fell away, either too weak or hopeless to bother. But not Kurt. Chisel, chisel, chisel.

  There was a sudden clunk and Kurt’s body jerked. With a rattling sound of triumph he pushed the bar and it gave way. She stared at it dully, unable to comprehend the meaning.

  The scene changed. The basement was gone and the fresh night air stung her skin. She stumbled through snow, lurching like a zombie on toothpick legs, drawn to the smell of blood. Kurt went first. He tore through the back door and the others followed. The family was at the dining table. The father was already on his feet, shouting, while the mother hovered, unsure whether to go for the kids or the gun in the cabinet. Kurt snarled and lunged for her. The father cursed and tackled him, defending his wife and his family.

  Isn’t that nice? How lucky for them to have such a great fucking father.

  His blood was in her mouth before she realized it. He writhed and screamed as she ripped and clawed. Her fellows were there, drinking, shredding, tearing. So much blood.

  Katelina tried to steer it away, looking for the nightmare, but instead she was sucked into a barn. Face down on the ground, hay and dirt
filled her mouth and nose. She choked and struggled against Kurt’s weight, her arms trapped behind her back. He clamped down on her neck with his fangs and drove into her harder. He was in her head, drinking in her terror and her pain, and she knew he loved it.

  It was the same barn, but it was over. Sarah tugged at her ruined clothes; a dress stolen from the farmhouse days ago. Kurt lounged back laughing, and the others sat against the wall, guilty eyes everywhere but on her. Just like always. Except now she wasn’t starving. Now she wasn’t weak.

  She launched herself at him. Kurt’s surprise shone in his eyes as she slammed him in the face. He reeled and she struck again, and again. He kicked, he snapped, but her anger was stronger. She was stronger.

  When she stepped back she was soaked in crimson. Globs hung from her hair and clotted under her nails. She wiped gore from her eyes as she turned to the others—the others who watched, who sat transfixed, eyes wide, trying to pretend they didn’t see her, didn’t see Kurt’s splayed and ruined body, didn’t see his heart and organs spilled out on the ground, crushed under her feet.

  A low growl slid from her throat and she turned for them.

  Though Katelina ripped away, she had a sense of what came next. Sarah hadn’t left the others, she’d killed all of them, except Denise who they’d abandoned in the basement, drained of blood. What followed her massacre were days of wandering alone in the shadows. Finally, sobbing Brad’s name, Sarah turned for home, praying he could fix it.

  Only instead he said he was happy with Patty.

  Jorick grabbed Katelina’s arm and pulled her backwards. His voice felt out of place after the visions. “We’ll see you at breakfast.”

  Katelina tried to come to terms with her surroundings and Sarah glared at him, a hand to her head. “What the fuck did you do?”

  Jorick met her gaze. Her mouth went slack, then snapped shut. She shook her head, as if she’d forgotten what she was going to say. “What? Oh, yeah. Breakfast.”

  Sarah shut the door and Jorick pulled Katelina down the corridor, only stopping when they’d turned the corner. She sagged back against the wall and took a long calming breath.