Goddess of Night (Amaranthine Book 9)

by Joleene Naylor

  Before Katelina could process what had just happened, the vampiress sashayed toward the house.

  Chapter Nine

  Jorick and Oren’s so-called plans revolved around what to do with Zander if he showed up. Oren wanted to take him with them— “He’s nearly an ancient!” —but Jorick was hesitant.

  “He may be old, but his own coven said he’s been coddled. Can he fight?”

  “You could read his mind?” Katelina suggested.

  Jorick shook his head. “He and his brothers have a natural shield. I might be able to get past it, but he’d know. I don’t think he’d appreciate it.”

  Oren sighed. “No, I suppose one shouldn’t steal secrets from their allies.”

  “He might not come,” Katelina added hopefully. But, by the time they headed to the basement, she’d resigned herself to the possibility. Did they really need another person they couldn’t trust? Wasn’t Des enough?

  Katelina got comfortable on her blanket as the others bedded down. Torina was the last to appear, wrapped in a silk robe, her curly red hair piled on her head. Katelina stared at the vampiress’ casket long after the lid was shut. The weird conversation came back to her. She made sure Brandle was asleep, then shook Jorick.

  He jerked awake with a start. “Katelina? Are you all right?”

  “Is it true you would have divorced Velnya by now?”

  “What?” She felt his confusion, followed by mind reading. “I don’t know. Perhaps. Go to sleep.”

  “Perhaps? I’d hoped for something more concrete.”

  “Who can say?” he murmured. “I can’t guess what might have been.”

  “But—”

  He gave an exasperated sigh. “I love you, Katelina. You are my soul and my world. Our love was fated from the beginning of time. If need be, the universe would have torn itself in two so we could be together. Now can I rest?”

  The delighted smiled slipped from her lips. “You didn’t mean a word of that, did you?”

  “Of course I did. Stop fretting and go to sleep.”

  She chewed her lip. Her fangs were sharp and she quickly tasted blood. “Ouch!”

  “Goodnight, Katelina.”

  “Fine. Goodnight. You do love me, though?”

  “Yes. I love you. Go to sleep before I enchant you.”

  Katelina broke off the questions. As she drifted off, she wondered if she was really falling asleep or if it was his influence.

  Katelina blinked at the dream, more memory than imagination. The park was awash in bright sunlight. The ice cream cone melted in her hand. It was a treat; a reward for making it through the self-defense class. Or trying to.

  “You could try harder,” Sarah said with her best disapproving look.

  “I’m not cut out for that stuff,” Katelina replied. She wasn’t athletic like Sarah, able to get her foot over her head, or do fancy moves. She was better suited to ice cream and TV.

  “Don’t give me that. You can do anything you want to, and this is important. You need to be able to defend yourself.”

  “Against what?”

  Sarah drummed her fingers on the picnic table. “Against muggers, or rapists, or robbers. Everything. The world is a dangerous place.”

  “I know, I know. But one class was enough. I got the basics.”

  “Kate, you barely passed.”

  “But I did pass, that’s what matters.”

  “Tell me that when you get attacked and I’m not there to save you.”

  Save you. Save me.

  The memory melted into darkness. Sarah’s face changed, twisted. Blood leaked from her eyes like tears. “Why won’t you help me?”

  “I’m trying,” Katelina said desperately.

  “Not hard enough. You just have excuses.”

  Estrilda appeared, crying, her clothing ragged. “Help me,” she begged silently, unable even in the dream world to speak out loud. “Please. Before she kills us.”

  “We’re trying, but…” But what? Why hadn’t they found them? Why hadn’t they saved them? Sarah was right. All she had was excuses.

  Sarah, Estrilda, the clouds, the park, even the ice cream, dissolved, leaving Katelina in a dusty warehouse. Samael sat at the far end, perched on a stack of boxes, his young face creased in anger. Though unhappy, he was still beautiful enough to make Katelina catch her breath.

  The usual feeling of peace was gone, replaced with an itchy impatience. She stepped toward him, and forced words. “What’s wrong?”

  “She’s gone south,” he answered. “I caught a glimmer of her.”

  “South where?”

  “South of where you are. I know not the place names. This continent…it is new to me. I have seen it only through the thoughts of others until now.”

  “Are you following her?”

  “I will, when the sun has sunk enough. Though I can endure much, midday leaves me weak and uncomfortable”.

  Right. Because unlike other vampires, Samael could walk in sunlight, thanks to the thousands of years he’d endured.

  The dream from moments ago resurfaced in her mind. “Lilith. Are Sarah and Estrilda with her? Are they alive?”

  “Yes.”

  Katelina brightened. “You’re sure? You sensed them?”

  “For a moment, then the darkness took them. It is how I know they are south.”

  “You said before, when she shields herself and others it makes a black hole, can’t you find them that way?”

  “Such a hole is harder to detect across distances. The closer it is, the easier to notice.”

  “But we know for sure they’re alive, and Lilith has them?”

  “Yes.” She felt his irritation.

  “I’m sorry. I wanted to be sure.”

  “Be sure of this: I will find and destroy her.”

  Though Katelina had always known it was his goal, she couldn’t stop from wondering. “What will you do when she’s dead?”

  She felt Samael’s smile. Some of the uncomfortable urgency dissipated. “I have told you before, we shall celebrate.”

  Katelina rubbed her arms. “Yes, but that’s a little vague. There’s a prophecy that says you’ll destroy the world, and subjugate mankind and…”

  Samael motioned her words to a stop. “Who made this prophecy?”

  It was a good question. She had no answer for it.

  “Do not worry for what will come. The future watches itself. For now, we must find her. Rest.”

  Before Katelina could say anything else, the dream faded to darkness.

  Katelina woke the next evening. The threads of Samael’s dream hung in her mind. South. What did that mean? South of Ohio, or south of the United States? Since he’d mentioned the continent, she assumed Lilith was still in North America, but since North and South America were connected, did he realize there was a difference?

  At least she knew that Sarah and Estrilda were alive—with Lilith, but alive. That was something.

  With that thought, Katelina headed upstairs. She passed Xandria in the living room. The woman smelled like a combination platter. To avoid an incident, Katelina ducked into the kitchen and downed one of the bottles Etsuko’d prepared the night before. Only after she drained it, did she think Etsuko might have been saving it for something. It was too late, so she rinsed it out, grabbed her suitcase, and headed for a morning shower.

  When she was clean, she brushed her hair and rifled through her luggage for clothes. At the bottom, in a nest of sock balls, was a golden dagger she’d acquired by accident: the blade of Memnon. An ancient vampire cult had used it to sacrifice victims to the Goddess of Night, the same goddess Zander followed.

  She traced the blue jewel on the hilt and thought back to the party in Canada. Half way through, they’d held a feast to celebrate the Night Goddess; a feast that involved a blood bath. Though the memories were strangely hazy, she could see snapshots of terrified people, flashing fangs, and a floor slick with scarlet.

  You were there, and as bad as the others.
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  With a grunt of anger, she shoved the dagger back in her suitcase and pulled her clothes on. More dream than reality, she thought she’d participated, that she’d drank from someone, but she wasn’t sure.

  Maybe I blocked it? Or maybe someone else did?

  In a house full of mind meddlers, it was a possibility. One she didn’t want to think about.

  She packed up and exited to find Micah waiting, clean clothes thrown over his shoulder. “You better have left some hot water. You ain’t the only one in the house, you know.”

  She didn’t reply, only skated past on a quest for Jorick. She came across him in the living room. After calling the hospital, they headed outside. The flower-scented night felt bleak. There was no change in her mother. The nurse said if she didn’t improve, she’d be transferred to a different facility, though she didn’t say where or how soon.

  When Katelina told Jorick, he asked, “Do you want to go see her?”

  “I don’t know. If there’s no change, what’s the point? With the curfew, we’ve got five minutes to get there, get in, visit, and get out. Unless you can teleport, that’s impossible.”

  “I can make them let us in,” Jorick assured her.

  “I know, but…” She’d feel worse staring at her for hours, not better. Unconscious, her mother wouldn’t care one way or the other.

  Though Katelina had the bottle of blood, she fed on a rabbit, then went inside, trying to forget its black button eyes. She mentioned her dream to Jorick. He used the house phone to call Jamie. After a short conversation, he leaned against the kitchen counter. “Jamie’s going to look through their reports, see if there’s been anything in the south, but it’s a broad term.”

  “I know. And Lilith is shielding them. Hopefully, Samael can get close enough to narrow something down.”

  “Or maybe The Guild will come through.” Jorick’s tone implied he’d rather his connections found them than Samael.

  Katelina heard a vehicle pull up, followed by the slam of car doors. Curious, she and Jorick drifted to the living room where Xandria opened the door on Baltheir.

  “Hey, it’s the old guy,” she called.

  “Watch yourself, missy. Oren needs to teach you how to show respect to your masters. In Jesslynn’s coven you’d a been reprimanded for that.”

  Given what Katelina knew of Jesslynn, she suspected a “reprimand” would have been painful.

  With a grunt, Baltheir clumped inside, followed by Zander. His long hair was unbound. Dressed in the same robe as yesterday, he looked like the prince from a fantasy movie—a prince carrying a tatty old carpet bag.

  At the sight of him, Xandria’s eyes went wide. Katelina could feel his years like a mantle. She wondered how they affected someone who was still human.

  Zander nodded a greeting. “As promised, my brother allowed me to come today.”

  “You’re sure this is what you want?” Jorick asked. “As your brother said, it’s not your fight.”

  “But it is. Lilith, as you call her, destroyed my home, my possessions, and the humans I am supposed to protect. If that does not make it my fight, what would?”

  “You’re joining us?” Xandria asked delightedly. “My name is—”

  “Xandria,” Loren butted in unhappily. “I’m Loren.”

  “Zander.” He nodded to them.

  Micah leaned in the front door. “Hey, did you guys know there’s someone—Ah shit. It’s that geezer again.”

  Baltheir gave him a hard look. “I’m leavin’. Tell Oren I said hello, and good luck.”

  He pushed past Micah. A moment later he was gone, leaving Zander behind.

  Great.

  Sorino swept in from the hallway. The annoyance faded from his face when he saw their guest. “Who is this?”

  “I’d like to know that,” Micah said.

  “This is Zander,” Jorick said. “He’s joining us.”

  “A friend of yours?” Micah asked.

  “A local.” Jorick looked to Sorino. “Did you want something?”

  He held up his phone. “Yes. Verchiel believes I’m your messaging service.”

  Katelina stiffened. “Mom?”

  “No. Verchiel found someone named Maria Hernandez.”

  Sarah’s mom. Katelina caught her breath. “Where is she?”

  “Probably the morgue. She’s dead.”

  “Dead.” Katelina sagged. Sarah had already lost so much, and now her mother? How much could she take?

  If she even knows.

  When introductions were done, Etsuko shuffled Zander to the kitchen. Jorick pressed a kiss to Katelina’s cheek, then wandered off in search of a book.

  Torina waltzed into the room. “I heard we have a new friend.”

  Katelina nodded unenthusiastically.

  “I’ll have to meet him.” Torina handed Katelina a paperback. “When Jorick’s rejected everything in the library, give him this.”

  The cover’s half-naked couple and swirling font set the tone for the story. Katelina wasn’t sure she’d read it, let alone Jorick.

  Torina flipped her hair. “If you’re so sure, how would you like to make a wager?”

  Xandria nearly clapped. “I love bets! What are you betting for?”

  Torina studied Katelina. “She has to entertain me.”

  Katelina glared. “How am I supposed to do that?”

  “I’ll decide when I win.”

  Xandria lit up. “If Kate wins you have to let me play with your hair.”

  Torina blinked. “Excuse me?”

  “You have such pretty hair,” Xandria said enthusiastically. “I did Kate’s for the German wedding. Come on.”

  “Fine,” Torina said. “Because it doesn’t matter. I’ll win.”

  “Done.” Xandria patted Katelina on the shoulder. “Go give it to him.”

  Torina pulled the book back. “Wait until he returns. He shouldn’t be long. The book selection is very uninspired.”

  Katelina wanted to tell them to play with each other’s hair and leave her out of it, but Jorick appeared, looking unhappy.

  “Need something to read?” Torina purred.

  Jorick stopped next to them. “Not in this house. I forgot Oren’s only interested in the classics.”

  “His taste is rather dry. I just finished an interesting one.” She held the book out and batted her eyes. “You can borrow it.”

  Jorick took it. He opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again. Katelina silently prodded him: Say no. Say no.

  “It’s better than nothing,” he announced. “Thank you, I suppose.”

  “What?” Katelina cried.

  Jorick shot her a quizzical look and Torina smiled. “We had a little wager. Nothing to worry about. Off you go. Enjoy.”

  Though Katelina expected Jorick to intervene, he only shook his head and wandered away.

  “I’ll be damned,” Xandria said. “I didn’t think…maybe he’ll learn a thing or two?” She nudged Katelina.

  “I doubt he needs to,” Torina said archly. “Now, what shall we do for entertainment?”

  “I never actually agreed to this.” Katelina said.

  “Make Katelina over,” Xandria said gleefully.

  Torina snickered. “That would certainly take plenty of time.” She lifted a section of Katelina’s hair. “Though immortality has helped. All right. That would be entertaining. Come.” She snapped her fingers and headed up the stairs.

  Despite Katelina’s protests, Xandria dragged her to an upstairs bedroom. Inside was a vanity table and a closet overflowing with clothes. Shoes were scattered and a chair was draped in dresses and lingerie.

  “It’s not much. We’ve been here less than a month.” Torina eyed the eggshell walls. “It needs to be painted, for one.” She pointed Katelina to the vanity stool. “Sit.”

  With an eye roll, Katelina took her place. Torina rifled through things, paused to study her, then went back to it.

  Xandria shoved the dresses back and perched on the ed
ge of the chair. “When you’re done with her, do me.”

  Torina tensed, as if trying to decide whether to banish the human or humor her like a child. “Looking to impress Loren?”

  “Or Zander.” Xandria giggled. “He’s smoking.”

  “I assume you mean attractive and not actually on fire?” Torina ran a brush through Katelina’s hair. “Who is he?”

  “Yeah, that means attractive,” Xandria said. “He’s the new guy, who just showed up. What are the chances he’d be interested in me? Pretty low, you think? I mean, he’s ancient, right? Probably doesn’t want to dip his stick in the human world?”

  Katelina glared. “I thought you and Loren…?”

  “Yeah, we have sex but…Oh. I get it. We’re not a couple or anything.”

  Torina laughed like tinkling bells. “Does Loren know?”

  “Of course. I mean…” Xandria trailed off and frowned. “You know, we’ve never talked about it. I didn’t think he might…Huh. Maybe we’d better discuss it.”

  Katelina tried not to sound annoyed, “That might be a good idea, especially before you throw yourself at Zander. Loren already had his heart broken by Ume. He doesn’t need it smashed again.”

  “Ume…” Xandria tested the name. “She was that Asian girl, right? Verchy’s sister?”

  Torina pulled part of Katelina’s hair back. “Verchy?”

  “Yeah, Verchiel is so formal. Anyway, she was the one who took off, right? Because Jorick killed her ex-girlfriend or whatever? When we were in China?”

  It was actually Ume’s master, but it was close enough.

  “I knew Loren liked Ume, but I didn’t realize he liked her that much. I don’t want to hurt him, you know? Especially considering how sensitive he is over his arm. What happened to it, anyway? I asked, but he won’t say. Was it before he was turned? If he was a vampire, they could have put it back, right?”

  “Sometimes,” Torina said. “If a limb is chopped off cleanly it can be reattached, as long as they have all the pieces, but this…It was a few months ago, when Oren led an attack on The Guild. Micah and Loren assisted one of our allies with explosives. When the coward prematurely set one off, Loren’s arm was taken.”

  That was pretty much the way Katelina remembered it. Loren held the charge, ready to place it. A panicked Traven had hit the button too soon. Loren’s arm, up to the elbow, had exploded in a spray of crimson.