The glitter in his eyes was enough to make Katelina stay in her seat, even without the terror of dying in a fiery crash.
They landed in one piece. Katelina hurried off the plane and onto the tarmac. It was Lilith’s fault she had to keep flying everywhere. That was reason enough to kill her.
Katelina had spent a chunk of the flight trying to contact Samael. As usual, it didn’t work. Their connection seemed to be one way. Without communication, she had no idea what they were walking into. Lilith might have been and gone already.
Hopefully gone to the great beyond.
Though Micah had handed out weapons, Katelina preferred her dagger. She turned it, watching the light glint on the blue stone. It might not be as big and flashy as the machete Micah stuffed down his pant leg, but it was easier to control—and to conceal.
Brandle and Torina had also opted for smaller blades. Zander, however, had selected a large, rusty mace. Katelina wasn’t sure how he was going to get through the airport with it. Even hidden in his robes, it looked odd. Then again, his robes were enough to get them frisked.
Despite their bizarre appearances, the whisperers got them through the airport. Des rolled his eyes but she’d like to see him manage without their abilities.
Too cheerful for Katelina’s taste, Sorino led them outside to three waiting vans. Katelina climbed inside, Jorick right behind her. Oren followed a second later, muttering, “If Sorino’s cheerful, it can’t mean anything good.”
She stopped from saying that was what she’d been thinking. “He’s probably excited about getting Traven’s collection since he didn’t get much from Lilith’s.”
Oren scoffed. “I saw the luggage compartment; he took plenty from her. This is a treasure hunting excursion for him.”
“A dangerous one,” Jorick said.
She didn’t point out it was dangerous for them all.
As they left the town behind, Katelina squeezed her eyes shut and tried to call to Samael again. Maybe the closer proximity would help. Though nothing happened, she refused to give up until the van stopped and the driver said in a heavy southern accent, “I think this is far enough.”
She opened her eyes and looked out the window at a moon frosted world. Lights glowed in the distance. Western-style land rolled on and on, peppered with cactuses and scrubby clumps of grass-like bushes. It was so flat, she thought she might see Ohio if she looked hard enough. East Texas, where the fire was, looked similar to home, with plenty of trees. This…this was like standing on a dinner plate straight from one of Micah’s cowboy shows.
She’d have commented, but the heavy atmosphere silenced her. Every nerve in her body screamed she should run away.
Apparently the driver feels it, too.
They all jumped when Oren’s phone rang. The vampire blinked, as if he’d never seen the device before, then answered it. “Hello?…Yes…” His tone turned offended. “Of course I can deal with humans... Fine.”
While he talked, Katelina looked through the windshield to a survivalist-style compound in the distance, complete with a fence topped in razor wire. Near it was a hangar and a plane parked in the open. Was that Traven’s den?
Oren hung up and muttered to Jorick, “Sorino said to make the drivers go on. Through the gates if need be.”
The driver made a strangled noise of terror. “I don’t know what this is all about. I was hired to drive y’all out here, not get in the middle of anything.”
There was a loud roar. Katelina pressed her face to the window, eyes searching. Blinking lights in the sky turned into a plane. She watched as it dropped lower and lower, to finally touch the ground some distance away.
“Who’s that?” Oren asked.
“Lilith?” Jorick suggested.
“I didn’t know planes were allowed to land out here,” the driver said nervously. “This isn’t some kind of drug thing, is it?”
Jorick and Oren exchanged looks, then Jorick focused on the driver. The man’s terror slowly faded. His shoulders relaxed. “Right. I’d best get y’all to your destination.”
The van dropped back into gear. They headed on. Katelina watched the plane rolling closer and closer to the complex. It finally stopped near the other, just shy of the fence.
Sorino had said to drive through the gates, but that wasn’t necessary. They were already torn open, metal twisted and electricity sparking. They pulled past them to an open dirt courtyard. Clouds of dust swirled as they ground to a stop.
The already heavy atmosphere swelled with menace. Katelina had to force herself to follow the others out of the van. A voice sounded in her head, sharp with rebuke, “You are not needed here.”
Samael.
As if to make his point, the wall of the nearest building blew outwards. Katelina dropped instinctively, shielding her head. She looked up to see the last of debris land. A cloud of white dust churned like smoke. As it dissipated, Samael stepped through the fractured wall. Dressed in black, he was coated in white powder, like something from a nightmare. Purposefully, he strode out into the parking area. His head snapped to the side, looking past them to the airplanes.
“She is here.”
Chapter Thirteen
Katelina followed Samael’s gaze to the plane. Lights throbbed in the darkness. Dust, stirred up by the landing, drifted away on a soft night breeze.
Katelina held her breath as the hatch opened, then folded down to a set of stairs. She tugged the dagger out of her pocket, not that it would be much use against Lilith. She remembered the battle at the ball; the way Lilith had thrown energy around, moved faster than sight, and held people in thrall just by looking at them. She’d warned Samael that if she faced Katelina again, she’d take her.
Not that he’d care.
Something moved and Katelina tensed. But, it wasn’t Lilith that walked down the stairs. It was—
“Ishkur?”
“You found the whore,” Samael’s voice reverberated from the buildings. “And she sent you as a sacrifice at my altar.”
Ishkur’s coppery armor glinted in the moonlight. He brandished a heavy war mace, shinier and more jagged than Zander's. “I defeated you once, long ago. I will do so again.”
“You call an attack in the dark, aided by the great whore, defeat? How strange your sense of honor. Can I expect less from her consort?”
Ishkur jumped the last step to land with a little puff of dust. “Your words are loud from the other side of the fence.”
“Then let us be rid of it.” Samael raised his hand. Katelina drew closer to Jorick as the fence twisted and writhed. It ripped apart, curling away like the gates.
Ishkur flinched. Then, with a cry, he raced through the ruined wire, bounded over the first van and landed in front of Samael.
“Eager to die, child?”
Katelina felt Samael’s amusement. Micah jabbed her in the ribs, ripping her attention away from the ancients. “You gonna watch or participate, princess?”
She followed his nod to see vampires getting off the airplane. Among them, she recognized William and a female who’d been at the ball—probably Angelica.
“Come on.” Micah dragged Katelina toward their enemies. Jorick, Des, Torina, Brandle, and Zander had gone ahead, weapons at the ready. Oren and Verchiel hung back, attention on Ishkur and Samael.
Katelina looked around quickly. “Where’s Xandria? And Kai and Sorino?”
“Girly’s in the van still. As to the snake and his pet, I dunno. Who needs ‘em, huh?”
They met Lilith’s horde. Zander swung the rusty mace like an expert, knocking away three vampires. Katelina dodged to avoid getting hit, and nearly bowled Torina over.
The vampiress’ dagger clattered to the ground. “Watch it!” Before she could retrieve her weapon, Angelica sprang. The pair landed in a clawing heap on the ground. Torina kicked and twisted, but her attacker brandished a blade.
Katelina lunged, ready to stab her through the back. Brandle grabbed her arm and swung her away.
&nb
sp; “What in the hell?” she cried.
He jerked Angelica free of Torina and dumped her on the ground. “Stop this.”
Angelica leapt to her feet. “Acwellen! What are you doing here?”
“It’s Brandle now. I’m here to stop you and that fool William from getting killed.” He looked to where William charged Zander, waving a chipped sword. “Fopdoodle!”
When Brandle ran to intervene, Torina pulled up, dagger in hand. She snarled at Angelica. “Brandle may want you to live, but I don’t.”
William shouted and struggled as Brandle dragged him toward the edge of the fight. “Let me go, Acwellen! Or I swear—”
“Be quiet, you imbecile.” Brandle deposited him on the ground. “Enough of this madness. You are both going to get killed, and for what? Because you’re bored?”
William stood and brandished his blade. With an annoyed grunt, Brandle knocked it aside. Angelica pushed between them. “Stop it, both of you. Acw-Brandle. Enough. You know why we’re here.”
“Of course,” Brandle snapped. “You’re here to escape your squabbling sisters. William is under the mistaken impression that Lilith will destroy the Kugsankal and we’ll go back to anarchy and chaos. But let me ask you this, friend, if she plans to take them, why is she in Texas and not Munich? Why does she raid the den of the dead instead of the halls of the Sodalitas?”
“We’re here for a weapon,” William snarled.
“I know why you’re here; a shield Lilith believes has magical powers. Don’t tell me you subscribe to such lunacy? We’ve lived long enough to know there is no magic.”
“Magic or not, Kali—that’s her name, not Lilith—Kali believes it will help in the war. What does it hurt? If it does nothing, we’re no more behind than we were, but if it does…if the Kugsankal are as superstitious as she is—”
Brandle broke into rough laughter. “You fool. You travel with one of them. Ishkur is the leader of the Kugsankal. He’s the king of the vampires, the emperor, the one who conquered and united, the very one you want to vanquish. How can you not see this? The Kugsankal are not her goal. She wishes to kill her former lover. You, Angelica, and the others are cannon fodder.”
William bared his fangs. “It was not Ishkur who did those things, but Suan; Suan whom Ishkur killed.”
“How long ago did he take charge? What has changed since? Has Ishkur released his iron-like grip on the world? Have the Laws changed?”
“Because he’s hampered by the rest of the council. Once they’ve been removed and Kali—”
“To revolt against leaders, one must believe that those leaders wield power. Kali has no plans to overthrow them because she doesn’t recognize their authority. She doesn’t need to overthrow them.”
Katelina tuned out William’s reply, her attention on the fighting. Zander moved through their enemies like a tornado, swinging the mace as if he was born to it. Micah and Loren stood back, admiration in their eyes. Des tore the heart from one of the fallen, blood splattered up to his elbow.
The air was rocked by a roaring crash, like the sound of a wrecking ball hitting a building. Katelina saw a cloud of dust. Samael stood, hand still raised, laughing. “Did she believe such a trick would work? To use you as a distraction while she snuck inside for her prize. How shortsighted to think I wouldn’t have already destroyed it.”
Ishkur growled. Katelina could see a cut on his cheek. Blood trickled down his face.
Cold feminine laughter made Katelina shiver. She drew back, her eyes glued to the fractured building against her will. She felt Lilith; a surge of crushing icy power.
Lilith stepped out into the open. Long black hair was pulled up in a braided crown. Deep eyes glittered like the heart of the universe.
Katelina couldn’t see past them, couldn’t see Lilith’s face, or the ruined building, or those who fought around her. There were only those diamond eyes and the cool darkness they promised. Darkness scented with blood.
A wave of energy slammed into Katelina. She stumbled and grabbed the nearest thing for support. As reality came back, she realized she was hanging onto Torina’s arm. The vampiress shook her head and blinked, as dazed as Katelina.
She wasn’t sure how much time had passed. Minutes? Seconds? Samael was where Lilith had been, his arms out and palms flat. “At last she shows herself, like a rat slinking from the shadows.”
Katelina found Lilith, standing several feet away. “I am no rat, but a raven. I do not fear you, or your pathetic rabble.” With the motion of her hand, another wave of energy knocked all but the ancients to the ground.
Katelina struggled to stand. Torina pulled her back down. “Let them fight each other.”
Samael chuckled. It sounded more like gravel than mirth. “I have no rabble. Unlike you, I do not need to hide behind an army.”
“Then what do you call these?” Lilith motioned around her.
“They do not come to assist me.”
Something snapped in Katelina’s head. He was right. She wasn’t there for him, she was there for Sarah and Estrilda. They should sneak on the plane now, while everyone was busy. Like Lilith had done.
She grabbed the closest ally, which happened to be Torina. “Come on. The plane.”
The vampiress pulled away. “What about it?” Then she seemed to understand. “Are you sure they’re here? Wouldn’t it make more sense to house your prisoners somewhere else?”
“We know Sarah was in Ohio. That was only a couple days ago, so I don’t think Lilith’s had time to find a new den claim it, and make a dungeon. Plus, if Lilith dropped them off somewhere, she’d have to leave guards. She needs everyone she can get to fight Samael.”
“All right,” Torina said. “Come on.”
They stayed low and worked their way back. The others were either crouching, or sprawled in the dirt, where Samael and Lilith’s attacks had knocked them. Jorick was already partially up. When Katelina met his eyes, he stood and moved to her.
They met near the plane. Katelina let Jorick push his way in front. He stopped just inside. She peered around him to see the empty interior, with leather seats, paneling, and a closed door in the back.
“Don’t fucking move.”
Anya stood in the doorway to the cockpit. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Both her figure and pointed features made Katelina think of an action movie. The machete in her hand only added to it.
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle her.” Torina practically shoved Katelina and Jorick out of the way.
Katelina glanced back to see the women locked in combat, then bolted down the aisle to the door at the end. She tried the knob. It was locked. Panic set in before she realized, “I can kick it in.”
With a cry, she delivered a blow that shattered the door. She saw surprise flicker across Jorick’s face. He quickly hid it to burst into the room ahead of her. When his tense shoulders relaxed, she hurried after him.
Sarah stood next to a bed. Her curly hair was pulled back. She wore a pale green dress belted at the waist. That she was dressed and groomed meant she hadn’t been tortured.
Katelina ran to embrace her. Sarah went stiff in her arms, no doubt from shock.
“Thank God.” Katelina released her and looked to the bed where a heap of puffy pink dress was curled into a ball. “Estrilda?”
She leaned a knee on the edge of the bed. The child slowly uncurled. Katelina saw a wrinkled, scarred hand, then the top of her bald head. Finally her face.
With a soft sob, the child latched on to Katelina. A rush of terrified words filled her mind, but she didn’t know the language. The feelings were clear; the fear, the horror, the loneliness.
“It’s okay. We’re going to get you out of here. You and Sarah both.” She turned to her friend. “We need to go, while everyone’s distracted.”
Sarah’s face hardened. “Now you come to rescue me? How conveniently late.”
Katelina faltered. “We came as soon as we could…Ohio…Oh, Sarah, did you see what she did to it?
To our home? And your mom…”
Jorick stiffened. “Take the child.”
Sarah moved to block her exit. “What about my mother, Kate?”
“Later. We need to go.”
Sarah stepped closer, menace in her eyes. “What about my mother?”
“She’s…She’s dead.” Katelina tried to shake away a thousand tumultuous emotions. “We need to go. We can talk about it later.”
Sarah turned her back. Katelina imagined her grief, her agony. “I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you better. I mean, I don’t know if there’s any good way to say it but—”
Her friend’s voice was soft. “I should hope so.”
“Hope so what? What do you hope? Sarah we need to go.”
Sarah spun back around. “I should hope she’s dead. I killed her.”
Katelina blinked. “What?”
“Oh, for crying out loud, are you that stupid, Kate?”
“Katelina, get Estrilda!” Jorick ordered, but she couldn’t; she couldn’t think, couldn’t move.
“You…You killed your own mother?”
Sarah threw up her hands. “Why not? What the hell did she ever do for me? She left me to take the brunt of his anger.”
Katelina caught her breath. “It’s not her fault that your father —”
“Not her fault? God, she wouldn’t divorce him until after I left. Then, then it was worth leaving, because, without me there to take it, she was the one getting hurt. When I was getting beaten she didn’t give a shit. She pretended not to see. Fuck her, Katelina! She got what she deserved. Like your mother and Brad!”
“What do you mean? You attacked them?”
“Obviously. I thought you’d have figured it out by now. I was dying in a cage—starving to death—and what did my so-called boyfriend do? He fucked your mother. That’s how goddamn much he loved me—how much she loved me! She used to say I was like a second daughter to her. Bullshit.”
Katelina couldn’t process what was happening. Sarah… she’d betrayed everyone, her parents, her friends, her whole damn town! How—
Goddess of Night (Amaranthine Book 9) Page 21