Goddess of Night (Amaranthine Book 9)

by Joleene Naylor

  Her mom’s eyes popped open. “Kately? Kately, I’ve been kidnapped. And poisoned.”

  “Shhhhhh. No, you haven’t. Come on, let’s get back in the car.” She stood, lifting her mother under the armpits.

  “No. Not in the car—” she broke off into another cry.

  “It’s the agonies,” Jorick said dispassionately. He stuffed her in the backseat, despite her feeble protests. After he’d fastened the seatbelt around her, he used the blanket to tie her hands together. “So she can’t escape.”

  It was wrong, but… “We’ll be right back, Mom. Stay here.”

  Micah joined them, smelling of fresh blood. “You should gag her, so she don’t start screaming again.”

  “No!” Katelina cried. “This is bad enough.”

  “Whatever you say, chicky-poo.”

  With Micah to keep an eye on her mom, she followed Jorick to the field, then on to the trees. The deer were gone, but there was a fox. When it was empty, he gave her a pair of squirrels. She drained them with the usual guilt. Still, she wouldn’t have said no to a third.

  Jorick looked to the sky. “That will do. Oren should have enough refrigerated blood to get your mother through the day. I can’t wait until tomorrow when you have to teach her to hunt.”

  Katelina shrank in on herself. “I didn’t think about that.”

  “No, you didn’t think about any of it.”

  “If it was such a bad idea why didn’t you stop me? You could have pointed out feeding, and having to teach her everything, and that Brad is going to freak and go to the police.”

  “Would you have listened?”

  She knew the answer, but she wasn’t going to admit it.

  They got back to the car and Jorick enchanted her mother. The ride passed in heavy silence, broken occasionally by a chortle from Micah.

  When they pulled into the driveway, he broke into a raucous laugh. “I can’t wait ‘til you spring this shit on Oren.”

  Katelina hadn’t thought about that, either. Not that Oren’s opinion mattered. Or Verchiel’s. Oh God. He was going to enjoy this.

  Jorick lifted her mother out and motioned Katelina to lead the way inside. Except she didn’t want to.

  Maybe I can hide in the barn?

  She mentally shook herself. Stop being ridiculous. She forced her spine straight and lifted her chin. The others weren’t going to like it, and they were going to make remarks, but it didn’t matter. She’d done the right thing. She was sure of it. Well, pretty sure.

  At least kind of sure.

  The front door was locked. They had to wait for Etsuko to open it.

  “I apologize. The hour was late. We were retiring.” She looked at the burden in Jorick’s arms. “May I ask who this is?”

  Micah announced with delight, “It’s Lunch’s mom.”

  Etsuko hesitated, no doubt clicking through all the things she could say, to find the most polite. “Where would she like to sleep?”

  Jorick asked, “Are there any sun proof rooms other than the basement?”

  “One could be arranged.” Etsuko bobbed and scurried away.

  Inside, Jorick deposited his burden on the couch. Katelina untied the blanket from her mother’s wrists. It wasn’t like she was going to escape anymore.

  Oren appeared. “There you are. I thought—” He stopped to stare. “What is that?”

  Micah almost clapped. “It’s Lunch’s mom.”

  Oren’s mouth opened and closed without words. Finally, he asked, “Her mother?”

  “Yes,” Jorick replied tersely.

  Oren took a step closer. “And she’s…”

  “Enduring the change.” Jorick’s frown deepened.

  “I see.” Oren pursed his lips. “Now I understand why Etsuko needs to paper over the window in the library. I think I’ll help her.”

  He strode away, strangely silent.

  “Ah, what the fuck? I expected something better than that.” Micah frowned. “I’ll go tell the redhead. He should be good for a laugh.”

  Micah forced past them. Katelina sagged onto the arm of the couch. Her mother twitched, and stirred, but didn’t wake. “You must have her under pretty deep.”

  “Yes, though when I go to sleep my influence will disappear. You’ll be on your own with her.”

  “What?”

  “You weren’t planning to sleep and leave her by herself? How do you think that will go when she wakes in an unfamiliar house, terrified, and thirsty for blood?”

  Loren hurried into the room, his eyes alight. “Is it true? Did you really…?” He grinned. “Oh damn! You did! You turned your mom!”

  Etsuko joined them. “The window has been blocked. Kate-san and…her mother should be safe.”

  “Patricia,” Katelina mumbled.

  “Patricia-san.” Etsuko nodded. “I will get blankets.”

  She hurried away again. Oren leaned in long enough to tell Loren to go to bed. “The sun is rising.”

  “I know, I know. But her mom.” Loren grinned. “All right. I’ll make fun of you tomorrow.” He waved to soften the impact of the words, then followed the lion-maned vampire down the hall.

  When Etsuko was finished, Jorick carried Katelina’s mother to the library and laid her on the blankets.

  “Good night, little one. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek.

  She grabbed his arm. “Wait. You can’t leave me. I don’t know what to do!”

  “Comfort her. When she says she’s thirsty, give her blood. There’s some in the refrigerator. You should get a store of it from the kitchen, before my influence is completely gone. Usually, they drink after the first wave of pain. Since I’ve kept her subdued, she’ll be overdue. She’ll want to glut. Don’t let her, or she’ll be sick.”

  He left her with another kiss. Alone, Katelina looked over the prone woman and groaned.

  What the hell have I done?

  Katelina handed her mother another bottle of blood and checked her watch. 12:22 and a heartbeat of sixty-five. She turned heavy lidded eyes toward the window. She could feel the sun on the other side of the garbage bags and newspapers. A primitive part of her screamed that she needed to get farther away, deeper in the earth.

  Her mother gulped the last of the bottle and flopped back, chest heaving. “I’m so thirsty.”

  “You just think you are.” Katelina patted her hand. “Close your eyes and go to sleep.”

  “Where am I? I feel sick.”

  Katelina yawned. “You’ll be fine in a few hours.”

  Her mother rolled over. Katelina tugged the pajama shirt down to cover her back. She’d cleaned her and changed her clothes. When she’d unwound the bandages from her mother’s head, she’d found the surgery site Brad mentioned. They’d shaved a patch about an inch and a half above the base of her skull. Baby hairs stood up, grown in after the fact. A purple scar showed where the incision was. Katelina told herself it would look fine once it grew in. Then she realized it wouldn’t. Her mother would be forever stuck with a prickly patch.

  Luckily, they’d been in such a hurry they hadn’t shaved her entire head. Katelina brushed her hair around and managed to cover it up with the top layers. Though the modern cut suffered without the volume, it wasn’t awful.

  “I’m sorry, Mom.”

  Her mother moaned and Katelina patted her. If only she could get her to stay asleep. When Etsuko had been turned, Jorick told her there were two waves of agonies, with a rest period in between. If a vampire survived the first round, they would be all right. The trouble was, her mother’s first round hadn’t ended.

  I don’t think this is working right.

  Her mother sat bolt upright, eyes wide. “What’s going on? Where am I?”

  “You’re at my friend’s house.” Katelina had told the lie so many times it was effortless. “Relax and rest.”

  “Where’s Brad?”

  “He’s at work,” she said for the millionth time. “Since you’re sick, you’re here with m
e, until you feel better. Now go to sleep.”

  She laid down and closed her eyes. Katelina sagged back against the weight bench. Though the bottled blood was warm, she downed one. Jorick said vampires who didn’t rest needed extra blood. How much extra, she didn’t know. Maybe she’d drain Xandria in the morning.

  Evening, her brain automatically corrected. As if it mattered.

  Her mother stirred. Katelina blinked away tears of frustration. “Mom, go to sleep.”

  “Kately?” she mumbled. “Kately, you’re home. Where’s Sarah?”

  Katelina’s chest tightened. “She’s…She’s not here.”

  Her mother curled into a ball. Katelina tensed, waiting for the moans or screams, but neither came. Maybe things were getting better.

  God, I hope so.

  She stretched out on the floor and closed her tired eyes. She’d had plenty of time to think, but she hadn’t come to any conclusions. Tomorrow, her mother would demand real answers. How was she going to explain everything?

  She tried to remember how Jorick had first told her. After they’d been attacked, and she’d been bitten, he’d said, “They’re vampires”, as if it was perfectly normal.

  I don’t think that’s going to work for me.

  She checked her watch again. It was nearly two. She must have dropped off for a moment.

  Her mom woke. “I’m thirsty.”

  “I know.” Katelina shook up a bottle and unscrewed the lid. How long could this stuff sit out before it went bad? She should have looked for a cooler.

  Her mother practically ripped it out of her hands and downed it in one long gulp. Done, she tossed the bottle. Katelina dived to save it from the floor.

  “Would you not do that?”

  Her mother looked around, face blank. “Where am I?”

  Oh God, not this again.

  The sun was gone when Jorick shook Katelina awake. She stared dully at him, then swung her gaze to her mother, curled up in the nest of blankets.

  “She’s sleeping,” Jorick whispered. “Come and feed. You need it.”

  “What I need is a week of sleep.” She crawled to her feet, and followed him on tiptoe. Only when the door was closed did she relax. “Mom was still awake at seven. She didn’t settle down in between. It wasn’t like Etsuko’s.”

  “Etsuko had an easy time. Yours was more like that.”

  “Really?” She thought about the evening after, when she’d woken in his arms. He’d never mentioned it being hour after frustrating hour of soothing her.

  He shrugged. “It’s a moment’s aggravation for a lifetime.”

  A warm glow spread through her chest. “Thank you,” she said softly. “Especially if I was half as annoying as she was.”

  He kissed her, then led her through the kitchen and out the back door. In her exhausted state, she didn’t appreciate the stars overhead, or the early summer flowers blooming around the house.

  Jorick led her through the field. She carefully picked her way over tiny green plants. They both jumped when a loud crash came from the wooded area. Jorick motioned her to stay, then hurried toward the sound. When the scent of fresh blood met her nose, she forgot his instructions.

  Not far into the trees, she found Micah and Loren, with a struggling buck. The deer kicked and thrashed, his eyes wide and rolling. Micah managed to pin it by pure strength alone. “Come on, kid. I can’t hold the thing forever.”

  Jorick muttered and the animal fell still. Micah looked up, his forehead puckered. “What the fuck did you do that for?”

  “Because it’s easier.” Loren quickly bit into the animal.

  Micah rose, wiping his hands on his jeans. “Where’s—” He saw Katelina and grinned. “How’s Mommy?”

  “Asleep. Finally.” Katelina knelt next to the animal and ran her hand over his glossy fur. The scent of the blood was strong. Without thinking, she bit. She swallowed mouthful after mouthful, oblivious to the world around her. There was only the warm salty flavor and images of a soft green world, budding trees, cornfields that would soon be waving in the wind.

  It faded. She swallowed another mouthful, and another, then came up with nothing.

  She pulled back with a frown. Micah squatted next to her, one eyebrow quirked.

  “What the fuck? You drank it all.”

  “She needed it.” Jorick helped her to her feet.

  She took a deep breath, amazed at how much better she felt. The world was clearer, sharper. The sound of droning bugs louder. The stars brighter.

  “Now I gotta find something else,” Micah complained.

  “You claim you enjoy hunting,” Jorick said. “Go enjoy it.”

  Loren snickered, but Micah shut him down with a glare.

  Jorick guided her back toward the field. She dragged her feet. “Do we need to go back already? Can’t we stay out here a little longer?”

  “Not in a hurry to go back to babysitting?” He chuckled.

  “Not really. I mean, how am I going to explain this to her?”

  They reached the edge of the trees to see Xandria hurrying toward them.

  “I don’t know, but you’d better get ready.”

  “Kate! Kate! Thank God!” Xandria stopped, hands on her knees as she wheezed. “Fuck, that’s a long way.”

  “What?” Katelina asked.

  “If I’m gonna start running I need to quit smoking. Damn.” Xandria straightened. “Oh, right. Your mom. She’s up, and she’s going crazy. Throwing stuff, screaming. She thinks she’s been kidnapped.”

  “For the love of—Okay. Thanks.” Katelina trudged to the house. She paused at the door and leaned her head against the glass. She could hear her mother; demanding to know where she was, demanding to be released.

  With a sigh, she pushed herself inside. In the living room, her mother fended off Oren and Brandle with the coat tree. Kai sat on the couch, eyes hidden by his bangs. Sorino chuckled from the doorway and Zander stood back, unreadable.

  “There you are,” Oren barked. “You need to handle this.”

  “Kately?” Her mom lowered the rack, then lifted it again. “What’s going on?”

  Katelina pulled the makeshift weapon away. “You’re acting like a crazy person.” She set the rack out of her reach. “Calm down.”

  “Calm down? Katelina Phygelius Mauldin! Don’t you tell me to calm down. What in the hell is going on?”

  “Phygelius?”

  Katelina saw Jorick in the doorway, wearing a grin. “That’s unexpected.”

  “Shut up.” She looked back to her mother. “Could you please sit the hell down so I can explain?”

  Her mother blinked, then took the nearest folding chair with a huff. “Don’t you talk to me like that, young lady. You may be on your own, but I’m still your mother.”

  Katelina glared at her audience, particularly Sorino. “Feel free to find something to do.”

  Only Brandle moved. He stepped forward with a bow. “Greetings, madam. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Brandle.” He pressed a kiss to her hand that turned her pink. “You are?”

  She blinked. “Patricia.”

  “A lovely name.” He stepped back. “We’re friends of your daughter, who gallantly rescued you from a county home of some sort.”

  “A nursing home,” Katelina corrected.

  Her mother looked from one to the other. “Why was I in a nursing home?”

  “You were hurt,” Katelina explained. “There was a…terrorist attack.” She couldn’t explain it without dragging up Lilith. “Brad has a broken arm, and you had a head injury. You were in a coma. They transferred you from the hospital to the nursing home after a few days.”

  “Where is Brad?”

  “He’s home.” She wasn’t ready to explain that her childhood house was rubble. “There are few things you need to understand, though I don’t know how to explain it.”

  Torina sailed into the room. She stopped, hands on her hips. “Then how are you going to do it?” She took Patricia’s hand
and helped her to her feet. “Come with me. I think this is a conversation that’s better done without an audience.”

  “I told them to go away,” Katelina cried.

  Her mother looked from Torina to Katelina and back. “Who are you?”

  “The only intelligent one in the house,” Torina said. “Katelina! Come along.”

  Normally she’d have argued, but if Torina was actually going to be helpful… “I’m coming.”

  She followed them back to the library. Though her mother hesitated at the door, Torina soothed her through. Katelina wondered if she had some whisperer abilities. It made sense, since she was from Jorick’s bloodline.

  Torina set Katelina’s mother on the weight bench. “I understand what you’re going through. I was once there myself. However, I don’t know how to break it to you gently. At least I had some notion there were supernatural forces at work.”

  “Supernatural?” Patricia looked to Katelina. “What is she talking about?”

  Torina tapped her chin. “Do you know what a vampire is?”

  “You mean with fangs and blood drinking? Like the movies?”

  “That will work for now. Jorick, your daughter’s boyfriend, is a vampire.”

  Katelina cringed. This wasn’t the way she’d imagined it. “Torina—”

  The vampiress waved her to silence while Patricia struggled with the revelation. “Vampires aren’t real.”

  “Unfortunately, they are,” Torina said. “You’ve never seen Jorick in the daytime, have you? You’ve never seen him eat anything. When he speaks he hides his mouth.”

  Her mother straightened. “I’ve noticed that. Like a criminal. Like he’s always afraid someone might overhear. And he doesn’t exist. I mean, obviously he’s here, but he has no ‘paper trail’ as Brad calls it. He doesn’t turn up in internet searches. Brad paid and finally found an expired driver’s license under Jorick Smit, but the social security number is a fake.”

  Torina nodded. “He’s a vampire, and vampires try not to leave a paper trail, lest someone notice they never age.”

  “But…” Patricia stopped. “All right. I’ll go along with this for now. He’s a vampire.”