Amaranthine Special Edition Vol I

by Naylor, Joleene

  The burning anger washed over her again and drowned her senses until she could think of nothing else. She turned from the dresser and marched towards the door. The key was clenched tightly in her fist as she unsnapped the locks, one after another.

  She marched outside and stormed along the building. Her bare feet sunk into the dew soaked grass but she paid no mind, oblivious to the world around her.

  The door was suddenly in front of her; painted a dingy white. She stared at it in confusion, taking in the minute details. The metal numbers 622 were chipped and most of the gold coating had flaked off years ago. The silver screws that held them on had also turned a dingy color from the years of weather and elements.

  No light seeped out from under the door, so she pressed her ear to it. Nothing. There was only the last of the crickets chirping in the shadows. Jorick wasn’t there.

  Katelina shook herself back to the present. She didn’t even know what she was doing. Why was she there with the room key in her hand? To see Arowenia? She wasn’t even sure that Arowenia was being held there. This was stupid.

  She turned and started back to her room when unbidden thoughts pulsed in her ears to a rhythm of anger and betrayal. Maybe Arowenia isn’t there, but maybe Kateesha is! She’s in there with Jorick and you know what they’re doing!

  Katelina snapped back around and jammed the key in the lock with shaking hands. The door swung inward with a push, but she hesitated in the doorway.

  The room was dark except for a bright swath of light thrown in by the door. Her silhouette was a black blot in the middle of it.

  It was too familiar. She’d seen this before; a golden path of light that stretched into the darkness and lead her to something terrible. It was like standing in a memory and she knew she should leave – but she couldn’t. She had to see. She had to know. She always had to know.

  She reached for the light switch and stopped. A strip of light spilled out beneath the bathroom door, betraying his presence. He’s in there. He’s with her!

  She moved across the floor slowly and stopped in front of the door. A subtle rustling noise came from inside, followed by a soft slurping. He’s in there! He’s with her!

  Katelina was aware of her hand on the doorknob, the metal cool to her touch, but she was really beyond the entire scene. Her consciousness was floating somewhere high above the reality of the situation and above the voice in her head.

  The door swung open and her awareness came slamming back to earth. The world suddenly rushed into confused focus and she found herself in the middle of a nightmare. Kateesha sat on the edge of the white bathtub, smiling obscenely, a limp body in her arms. Blood covered Kateesha’s perfect face and ran down her chin in rivulets. It stained her green dress in long crimson ribbons and dripped onto the dead woman; if the creature could be called a woman. She looked barely over sixteen, with porcelain cheeks and long lashes. She wore a white, tattered dress of some filmy material and her long blonde hair hung down nearly to the floor. Her throat gaped, red and gushing.

  Questions echoed in Katelina’s mind. Where was she? Why was she there? What was happening around her? Her mouth hung open like a lost tourist, and Kateesha laughed obscenely. She licked the scarlet liquid from her lips and savored it like a fine wine. “So you came, you little fool!” She broke into laughter and then added, “How easy it was to trick you! Your mind is so open that any idiot could manipulate it!”

  Katelina’s eyes darted around the tiny room. Blood streaked the white walls and floor, dark red against the chipped tiles and porcelain. Katelina blinked to try to make the horror she was seeing go away, to block out the thick pool of blood collecting at Kateesha’s feet.

  The vampiress smiled. “Don’t worry, our company should be arriving any moment.” She dropped the dead girl to the floor, then looked from the splayed and ruined body to the gaping woman in the doorway. “Oh, should I introduce you? This is Arowenia. Maybe you haven't met?”

  Arowenia? Did she mean the Arowenia - Claudius’ lover that had been kidnapped? But she was dead… And then all the answers snapped into place. Kateesha had killed Arowenia and by her own admission had manipulated Katelina.

  Kateesha was suddenly in front of her, grinning evilly. Katelina dashed for the door, but she wasn’t fast enough. Kateesha caught her around the throat and lifted her into the air, so that her feet just barely dangled above the floor.

  “Where do you think you're going? I thought I told you we were expecting a few friends?”

  “Let me go,” Katelina rasped. She kicked her legs uselessly and tried to pry Kateesha’s crushing fingers away.

  “Don't bother. By the time Claudius has finished with you, there won't be anything left – or at least not enough left to tell Jorick who helped them catch you.” She spoke with mock sympathy. “Poor Jorick! He'll be so bereaved to have lost his new favorite pet, won't he? And when he grieves over your gruesome death, who will be there for him? Faithful Kateesha, who he’s overlooked all these long, long years!”

  She dropped Katelina to the floor and made a slow, half circle around her prostrate form, smirking.

  Katelina pulled herself to her knees and massaged her bruised throat, coughing for air. When she had her voice back she asked sarcastically, “Don't you think Claudius is going to be angry you've killed her?”

  Kateesha crouched down next to her and stroked her head like a cat. “There, there,” she murmured. “Don’t you worry your little head about it.” She suddenly grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled her head back. “Of course Claudius won’t know I had anything to do with it! I’ve made a deal already. They’ll take you and tell Claudius that when they arrived it was too late to save the poor, unfortunate Arowenia, and that Jorick escaped, leaving you to their mercy.” Her eyes gleamed with superiority. “And what do you think Claudius will do to the human lover of one who killed his property?” She snickered at Katelina’s terrified expression. “If I were you, I’d try not to think about it too much – and pray he kills you quickly!”

  “Why?” Katelina croaked, and then comprehension dawned. “You’re the one who told Claudius – ”

  “Hardly. Not that it’s any concern of yours, but until yesterday I was happy to hold the little bitch captive. After Jorick told me The Guild is involved… well, now I think my purposes would be better served this way. And I can get rid of you in the process. Two birds with one stone, I believe is what they call it.”

  A noise sounded in the bedroom. Kateesha stiffened and sniffed the air. Recognition dawned on her features and she broke into a grin and called out, “We’re in here!”

  Footsteps clomped through the bedroom and then a tall, broad shouldered man filled the doorway. His shaved head gleamed in the bathroom’s light and his cold eyes stared at them from beneath sarcastically arched brows. He nodded to Katelina and smirked. “Not real impressive, is it?”

  “No.” Kateesha threw Katelina away from her, like something contaminated. “I was surprised, especially after all the rumors.” She made a snorting noise as she stood and wiped her hands off on the soiled dress.

  “I could have told you she wasn’t much,” the bald vampire remarked. “That’s why I thought Michael was full of shit.”

  “Surprise,” Kateesha sniffed. “He wasn’t. Jesslynn told me that Jorick was taking her with him, but I’d assumed it was something more platonic than this.” She wrinkled her nose. “His taste hasn’t improved since the last one.”

  “Whatever. I’m just here to get them and go.” He gave Kateesha a fanged grin. “So let’s get this over with, huh?”

  “Yes, Troy,” Kateesha drawled. “Hurry up before Jorick returns.”

  Katelina sought for a nonexistent escape and tried to figure out what she was going to do. Despite Kateesha’s concern, she doubted Jorick would return in time to save her. He’d always come before, just when she had no hope left, but somehow she could feel that he wasn’t going to this time. And when he didn’t what would happen? Would they really tak
e her to Claudius? Would he kill her? Was this really how her life was going to end, to die in a pool of blood and terror?

  Kateesha stood over her looking thoughtful, then suggested casually, “She has enough blood on her to look like a battle, but you should rough her up a little to make it more convincing.”

  Troy nodded in the affirmative and grinned. “Don't worry. I'm sure she'll be plenty roughed up by the time we get there.” He turned his head and called over his shoulder, “Won't she boys?” Two voices agreed with him from the obstructed depths of the motel room.

  Katelina’s stomach dropped at the sound of his unseen accomplices. She might have been able to escape from one vampire, but not from three.

  Troy grabbed her arm and pulled her to her knees. He slammed her face into the door and laughed when she cried out. As she wiped away the thin stream of blood trickling from her nose a sick certainty settled through her. Yes, they would kill her, and they would laugh while they did it.

  He shouted directions and another vampire came in to collect the remains of the child bride. He slung her ruined body over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

  Troy looked once more around the room. “You are gonna clean this mess up, right? I mean Jorick’s dumb, but he’s not gonna believe your story.”

  Kateesha cut him off. “I’m well aware of my ‘story’ and what I need to do. Not that it’s your concern, but yes, it will be clean.”

  Troy couldn’t let it go. “I don’t know why you made such a fucking mess in the first place. It won’t look like Arowenia escaped.”

  Kateesha was nearly out of patience. “I have no intention of saying Arowenia escaped. As far as Jorick will know you came and took her back and took this stupid human while you were at it.”

  Troy paused uncertainly, “And that’s going to do what? Send him right for our door. That wasn’t the deal.”

  “What, are you really that scared of him?” Kateesha laughed. “He doesn’t have his inside informant anymore, so how will he know where you took her? Claudius has a dozen dens, doesn’t he? Besides, if things go as planned he’ll believe that she’s dead.”

  Troy seemed to catch on. “He’ll smell all the blood – ”

  “But there won’t be any left. Exactly. The obvious conclusion is that you and your little friends drank it all. Since you wouldn’t have killed Arowenia yourself, obviously it was his pet.”

  “Right. And when he hears that Arowenia is dead? Won’t he find that a touch confusing?”

  “Oh for the love of – Perhaps it would be easier if I just took down my barriers and let you pull it from my mind?” Troy looked a little too eager and Kateesha laughed. “Hardly. Let him hear it and make whatever inference he wants. You’re the one who wanted the war to escalate, remember, not me. I could ask why that is.”

  “You could, but who says I’ll answer?” He gave her a wide, fanged grin. “Come on, sweetheart, this isn’t a movie motive – swap.”

  Kateesha sucked the blood from her fingernails thoughtfully. “I’m just saying, you’re afraid of Jorick storming the keep and yet – ”

  “Not afraid. I just think we should be the ones on the offensive, not the other way around, and after this – ” he nodded toward the vampire holding Arowenia’s mangled body “ – we will be. Finally. No more of this slinking shit.”

  “And you can earn the glory you think you deserve?” Kateesha asked with a flash of amusement. “And… get your own revenge. How interesting. I had no idea that you had a thing for…”

  Troy snarled and Kateesha laughed again. “Relax, your secret is safe with me. For now. Take your little prize before I kill her too and leave you with nothing to give your boss.”

  It was a confusing tangle, but Katelina had gathered enough of it to understand. If only the knowledge would do anything to help her!

  Troy growled low. “We’ll be leaving now.”

  “Good,” Kateesha purred. “Don’t forget your part of this arrangement.”

  “What? Making sure The Guild doesn’t know about your involvement? Daddy refuse to save you again?”

  Kateesha’s smugness disappeared and she looked as angry as Troy. “At least I don’t enjoy screwing little boys!”

  “Patrick wasn’t little, darling. He was of age and then some.”

  Patrick? Katelina’s eyes bulged. What in the hell?

  Before she could think any further, Troy hauled her through the bedroom door, then stopped on the other side of it. “Lose my number after this, huh?”

  Kateesha’s answer was cold. “Gladly.”

  He snorted in reply and dragged Katelina towards the still gaping door, leaving a smear of Arownia’s blood on the ugly carpet behind them.

  Katelina tried desperately to think of a way to save herself. She struggled as she was heaved out the door and through the damp grass, but it accomplished nothing. He dragged her around the building to the front parking lot where a white panel van that sat open and waiting. When they reached it, Troy tried to force her into the back, but she twisted in his grip and sunk her teeth into his hand. The bitter taste of his blood filled her mouth.

  He swore in surprise and loosened his hold just enough to allow her to break free. She ran as fast as she could toward the office of the motel, screaming loudly. Her only hope was Benjamin.

  The office door opened and a fat, balding man with whiskers on his flabby neck stuck his head out. He stared from Katelina to the bald vampire on her heels. “What in the hell?”

  “Help me!” she cried as she closed the gap between them. She’d almost reached him, almost made it to the safety of the dingy motel office when the weight of her pursuer slammed her to the ground. She struggled beneath him, but he grabbed a fist full of her hair and smashed her face into the cement until she stopped.

  She was pulled roughly to her feet, and she saw through blood and tears that the fat man was now brandishing a shotgun and shouting. “I won’t stand for this! You clear on out of here now and quit harassing my customers! I mean it! I’m not scared of you! You get on out of here!”

  Troy jerked his head towards Benjamin, and the other two moved in with evil smiles on their faces. Katelina was dragged away towards the van so that she didn’t have to watch what they did to him. She was thankful to be spared the sight; his echoing screams were horrific enough.

  Troy heaved her up by both arms and threw her into the van. “Now then, you stupid bitch, if I didn’t need you, you’d already be dead.” He slid the panel closed and climbed into the passenger seat. With a glance over his shoulder he and added, “Claudius is going to be delighted to know Jorick abandoned you, and don’t waste your breath saying different. Or maybe you should, it might be fun watching him torture you for ‘lying’.”

  The two who had gone to deal with Benjamin returned, the leader licking blood from his fingers and smiling wickedly. He slid between the seats and crouched next to Katelina, while the other took up his post as driver.

  Katelina glanced warily at her new companion. He made a show of cleaning his hands with his long tongue. When she shuddered he asked, “You like that, stupid bitch? I had other things to do today besides this!” He grabbed a fistful of her hair as the van roared to life and slammed her head into the floor. Dark flowers blossomed in her vision as she fought for consciousness.

  “Let's get going, boys,” Troy commanded. He jerked his head towards Katelina. “And shut her up, would you?”

  The vehicle jerked forward into the deserted street, headed for God only knew where, and the last thing Katelina heard were the words, “With pleasure,” before her head was slammed into the floor and darkness took her.

  **********

  Chapter Eighteen

  Katelina opened her eyes and rolled over to find herself face to face with the corpse of Arowenia. Her throat was red and gaping and the blood had become a congealed jelly that made Katelina’s stomach heave. She coughed and tried not to throw up. As she struggled, she discovered her arms were bound behind her ba
ck and that rope bit painfully into her naked ankles.

  “Awake, are you?” the vampire hissed near her ear. She shuddered as she smelled his breath – the scent of blood and death.

  “You know,” he commented as he stroked her head sarcastically. “Claudius is going to be so happy to see you. His favorite little pet is dead, and here you are, another golden haired thing with terrified eyes.”

  She winced, but didn’t say anything. She had nothing to say, and even if she did, she knew it would only make them bash her bruised face into something else. She closed her eyes again to shut out the sight of his leering face and the dead child bride.

  The driver’s voice called back to them loudly, “Won't be long now.”

  The vampire next to her snorted and she squeezed her eyes tighter, as if that would make the world disappear. Questions poured through her mind; what had Kateesha meant about Troy and Patrick? Who was Kateesha’s daddy? Obviously Troy wanted to escalate the war with Oren but… But why did he need her? Kateesha had said she’d kill her and leave him with nothing to give to the boss. Was she supposed to be some kind of present? Like a consolation prize? “Sorry, your girlfriend is dead, but have this to torture instead?”

  Torture. That was what Jorick had said would happen to her, and he was probably right. She was either going to die painfully or be turned into a slave for Claudius.

  Terror replaced her questions. The acrid stench of blood and fear filled her nostrils. Arowenia’s body bounced around as they drove over bumps. Katelina tried not to look at it, but as soon as her eyes closed they’d pop open again, determined to see where she was and what was happening – as if seeing could somehow help her.

  The vampires in the front seat talked softly between themselves, indistinguishable words in deep tones. She thought again and again that she’d tell Claudius everything; tell him how Kateesha had made her bargain and murdered his mate, but she knew that it would do no good. Troy was right, he’d never believe her. She was sure he’d rather believe his enemy had done it than that his own men were involved. People were that way. They liked to pick and choose which truths they accepted.