Jorick rose into a crouch, growling. “Then I’ll have to kill you quickly.” He sprang, catching the side of Claudius and taking them both down into a heap on the floor.
Claudius looked surprised as his struggles came to nothing, then he called for his underlings. “Fools! He's down here! Down Here!”
Jorick snorted sarcastically. “I’m afraid they’ve been detained – permanently.”
Claudius faltered. His mouth worked, but no sound came out. “You killed them all?” he asked in disbelief And then, as realization hit him, his fury swelled and crashed through the room like a dark wave. He fought back with renewed vigor so that they rolled across the cement, hands flailing, and blood splattering. They ripped and tore at one another like two male lions fighting to the death.
Katelina struggled to follow the fight, but her eyes were so heavy and they both moved so fast that part of the time she couldn’t even see them. They’d be locked together in combat and then suddenly one of them would be across the room, picking himself up and charging while she’d missed the part in between.
She fought a wave of blackness and her eyes fluttered closed. Her breathing was shallow, and she was having a hard time concentrating. She forced her eyes open again and saw Jorick circling Claudius, both of them bloody and furious. Her hand shook and fell away from her bleeding wound to drop numbly to the cold cement.
Her eyes closed again. “Jorick,” she whispered, softly, willing him to save her from the sucking blackness. “Jorick….” But the darkness was faster than he was, and she was lost in it.
“Katelina? Katelina?”
She heard a voice calling her, and yet she didn’t want to open her eyes; didn’t want to see where she was or who the voice belonged to. Better to stay here where it was safe, where there was no pain and no fear.
“Katelina? Wake up.”
The words were a command; an order she didn’t want to obey. She fought against it, but she weakened under the crushing pressure to do as she was ordered. Her eyes opened against her will, and she winced immediately at the light. Slowly, the world came into focus. Above her loomed a pale face framed in flowing black hair. Dark liquid eyes stared down at her, filled with worry.
“Jorick,” she whispered and reached a trembling hand up to touch his cheek. His smooth skin was warm beneath her fingers.
He caught her hand in his and brought it gently to his lips where he brushed a kiss across the back of it. “Shhhhhh, it's all right. I’m here.”
“Yes.” She murmured and leaned her head back into his other hand. “You came.”
His voice was husky and tight with anger, “Of course. I came, as soon as I could.” He released her hand and gently stroked her bruised face. His eyes snapped with a dark fury as he took in the details of her injuries.
She licked her lips and tasted blood. She swallowed it and cleared her throat. Her voice was stronger as she said, “I'm sorry. I didn't know anyone could do that. I didn’t know she could use mind tricks that way.”
Confusion creased his brow, but he shook his head to dismiss the statement. “It doesn't matter now.”
She nodded, though the motion caused her pain. “Is Claudius dead?” She hoped Jorick had ripped him into bloody, unrecognizable shreds.
“No,” Jorick replied sadly. “I had to let him go to save you in time.” The ghost of a smile played on his lips. “We killed many of his followers, though.”
Disappointment filled her. “What about the big bald one?” If anyone was dead then let it be him. This was his fault - his and Kateesha’s.
“Troy?” Jorick asked in surprise. “Yes, he's dead. I ripped his heart out myself.”
“Good.” She tried to smile but it hurt too much.
Jorick mirrored her attempt and managed it better than she had. He wrapped his arm around her and brought her against him, holding her tightly. She clutched at him as she closed her eyes and fought off the sobs that threatened to tear through her.
A familiar voice sounded from behind Jorick, “We need to get going.” Katelina’s eyes flew open in surprise to find Oren standing a few feet away. His clothes were torn and coated in blood and his face was grim and empty.
“Yes,” A woman’s voice concurred. And as Katelina fought off a scream Kateesha appeared behind Oren and laid a hand on his shoulder. Her red lips curved into a smile and her green eyes gleamed. “We do.”
**********
Chapter Twenty
Katelina's eyes filled with fear as the dark demoness stepped forward. “Aren't you happy to see me?” Kateesha asked in mock innocence.
Jorick glanced over his shoulder at Oren and Kateesha and gently laid Katelina on the floor. He pulled his long black coat off and carefully wrapped her in it before he scooped her up.
Katelina tried to ignore her throbbing body as he stood and shifted her in his arms. The pain from everything Claudius had done to her was still fresh, though not as sharp as it should have been. Her shoulder screamed when she was jostled, but it was the “inner” pain that hurt most. All of her blood vessels ached and the underside of her skin trembled from the seizure like state and the burning sensation that had coursed through her. Her mind still reeled from his invasion, and she was so weak. Somehow what he’d done to her body paled in comparison to the rest of it. She remembered him laughing at her “primitive fears” and saying that he could do something much more terrible to her. He’d been right, the mental assault had been far worse than the physical.
She licked her lips again. The salty tang of the blood tasted almost good. She thought vaguely that it must have to do with having lost so much.
Jorick interrupted her thoughts as he glanced towards Oren and Kateesha, his face impossible to read. “As you said, we'd best be going.”
Oren took a step towards the stairs and then paused to warn them, “There may be others coming, Claudius had more than that in his entourage.”
Jorick nodded his understanding and the three climbed the stairs. The fear and shock of everything that happened left Katelina confused and unable to completely comprehend what was happening. All she understood was that Jorick had come and that he’d brought her with him. She buried her face against his chest to blot Kateesha from her sight. She couldn’t understand what the bitch was doing there.
They reached the top of the stairs and entered the corridor Katelina remembered from the night before. Instead of a corridor it was really a long room that ran the length of a small building. The walls were exposed brick and the floor was the same cement as the basement. The wooden stairs that ran down to the basement set at one end, and the large, metal door that led outside was at the other. In the middle was an open doorway that poured black smoke. The dark mist blocked out the ceiling’s electric lights and filled the room with a suffocating stench that made Katelina gag.
As they drew near the smoking doorway Oren’s redheaded sister stepped out of it. Her dress was splattered with gore and she licked blood from her fingers like honey. Her eyes flicked to the three vampires and she stated in a pout, “I can't find any more.”
Oren looked around uncertainly. Worry crept over his features as his eyes swept the vacant room. “It's not right.”
“I know,” Jorick agreed and squeezed Katelina tighter. The four exchanged uneasy looks and then continued their way through the room and out the door. Once outside, the shining yard light bathed them in its strange glow and made everything look surreal. The blood that stained their clothing became deep black splotches. It somehow made it look cleaner and sanitized.
Their feet crunched over the gravel parking area and stopped in front of the white panel van. Katelina’s eyes grew wide with fear as memories slid over one another: the stench of blood, Arowenia’s ruined throat, Troy’s threats.
Oren slid the door open so that it gaped like the mouth of a beast. Jorick took a step towards it, but Katelina’s body stiffened and she clutched at him. “No,” she whimpered and gave him a pleading look. “Not in there again.”
/>
Jorick’s brows drew together. “I thought you might like..” he trailed off and glanced at their companions. “To be alone?”
Katelina followed his gaze to see Kateesha and her evil, gloating smile. She shuddered and looked back to the van. Which was worse?
“Well?” Oren asked with impatience. “Are you taking the van or not?”
Jorick glanced at Katelina then shook his head. “No, we’ll ride with you.”
Oren’s nose wrinkled. “You’ll have to ride in the backseat with one of them.”
Torina half draped herself over Jorick. Her voice was like warm oil. “You act like that’s a bad thing.” She looked up into Jorick’s face, batted her eyes and pouted her full lips. “I'm sure that Jorick wouldn't mind sitting next to me.”
He gave an annoyed grunt and pulled away from her. “You can sit in the front seat Torina – Katelina and I will take our chances with Kateesha.”
Katelina’s mouth opened and she tried to signal him that she’d rather sit near the slut than the bitch who’d tried to kill her, but as she turned her head she found herself staring in Kateesha’s smirking face. The vampiress smiled and reached a hand up to stroke Jorick’s face. “I’m sure you won’t regret it, brother.”
He gave her a warning look before he stepped away and walked towards the car.
A sick panic ran through Katelina. She whispered into Jorick’s chest as softly as she could, hoping he could hear her, “Not Kateesha. She – ”
He cut her off, his voice so quiet she wasn’t sure if he was actually speaking out loud or if she only imagined it. “Later. She won't harm you with the rest of us present.”
Katelina made a small whimpering noise in disagreement, but forced herself to relax a little. Jorick would be right there with her, and he’d protect her.
Thoughts pressed in on her, unbidden, and she tried to force them away, but she couldn’t silence the voice that whispered in her mind, “Did he protect you last night?”
Her head jerked up to see Kateesha’s malicious smile. She narrowed her eyes and thought as loudly as she could, “Shut up!”
Oren opened the car door, then gently took her from Jorick's arms so that the dark vampire could climb inside. Katelina stiffened, both in pain and the sudden realization that she didn’t want to be touched by anyone but Jorick. Somehow he was all right; safe. No one else was. Not now.
But Oren didn’t do anything more to her than slide her into the car and settle her on Jorick’s lap. The dark vampire nodded as soon as he had her arranged and Oren shut the door. Katelina gave Jorick one more pleading look before Kateesha climbed inside and seated herself next to him, the smile still plastered across her too – beautiful face.
Katelina resisted the urge to scream as she felt Kateesha’s eyes on her. The vampiress whispered inside her head, using her own thoughts to form the words, “He'll never believe you. He doesn't care or he'd have been here sooner.” For a sickening moment she found herself believing it, but as she looked at Jorick a soothing, calm descended on her, like being wrapped in a warm, dry blanket after coming in out of a cold rain. She turned her head and glared at Kateesha. “Leave me alone,” she muttered angrily.
Kateesha blinked innocently as Oren and his sister climbed in. “What?” she asked, but Katelina didn't answer her. She just stared at the vampiress, sick to her stomach. After everything she’d been through she didn’t need this. There had to be a way to keep Kateesha out of her head.
Oren started the car and they pulled out of the parking lot. Katelina settled against Jorick and closed her eyes. Her body relaxed as the warm, calm feeling continued to spread through her. She felt as if she was drifting on the edge of sweet dreams, and found herself absently wondering where Oren and Torina had come from. The last time she’d seen them, the house had been burning and everyone had been dying.
“They're the ones I had to meet,” Jorick half whispered to her. “What was left of the coven scattered after that night and they've decided to help me kill Claudius.” His words caught her attention and brought her back from her slumber like world.
“I wish you'd killed him,” she whispered and then added silently, “And Kateesha.”
“So do I,” Jorick whispered with an edge of sorrow in his voice. “But, don't worry, he'll die soon. I'll kill him myself.”
A thick silence descended and left them lost to their own thoughts. Katelina fought against terrifying memories and fears but before she got too lost in them Jorick spoke. “I think we should take her to a hospital.”
Torina turned around in her seat, surprised. “Do you really think so? Can't you just take care of it?”
Jorick shook his head, his voice firm, “Not that way.”
“I thought you already had,” Oren said without looking back.
Jorick cleared his throat uncomfortably. “No.”
Before Katelina could ask what they meant, Torina asked peevishly, “How long will that take? Wouldn’t it be easier to just give her some blood or else turn her and – ” she broke off when she noticed Jorick’s hard stare at the back of Oren’s head. “Are you listening?”
The lion-maned vampire suddenly made a small noise of understanding. “But do you know where a hospital is?”
“There’s likely to be one in any of towns we’re already going to go through,” Jorick replied matter–of–factly. “They’re everywhere now. Most towns have their own.”
Kateesha made a scoffing noise in her throat. “That sounds like a wonderful idea - and when they want to know what happened to her?” Her eyes glittered hard and mean in the dark. The reflection from the dash lights made her face look more evil than usual.
“A dog, of course,” Jorick answered. His words stirred something buried in Katelina’s brain, but she couldn’t grasp it.
“And when they want to call their police to come in and take statements?” Torina demanded. “They don't allow wild dogs to just run loose, you know. Humans are all paperwork and red tape and keeping track. You may have been hiding from their world, Jorick but – ”
He interrupted her angrily, “I am well aware what they are.” He took a deep breath, and thought for a moment. “A wolf then. Some large canine animal – does it matter?”
“It matters,” Oren said quietly. “You know the rules.”
“Then what do you propose?” Jorick demanded. “Have you got a better idea?”
“You know my opinion,” Oren said flatly. “But what’s done is done.”
Kateesha laughed delightedly. “Still arguing like children.”
“If you won’t just give her some blood, then can’t we just sew her up ourselves?” Torina asked sulkily. “It can’t be that hard!”
Jorick’s tone remained cold. “Are you volunteering?”
Kateesha chuckled again while Torina’s nose wrinkled. “No.”
“How about you, Oren?” Jorick asked sarcastically. “Kateesha?”
The vampiress next to him purred in response, “Oh, I’d be happy to try it.”
Again Jorick ignored her. “Unless one of you happens to be a doctor of medicine then she needs a hospital. She’s sustained damage to her shoulder and despite my best efforts it’s still bleeding.”
“Try a hot knife,” Kateesha suggested smugly.
Torina rolled her eyes and made a dismissive gesture. “I still say give her enough blood to heal her or turn her.”
Oren interrupted before Jorick could reply, “Fine. We’ll take her to a hospital. But if it goes wrong, Jorick, then we’ll leave and may the consequences be on your head.”
“So be it,” Jorick agreed.
Katelina leaned back and stared at the car’s headliner. She still felt floaty, as though she was above it all. But the word dog… Patrick. Yes, she remembered now. Patrick always had bad luck with dogs. At least that was what he’d claimed.
She closed her eyes and searched her memories.
Her fingers trailed over a freshly knotted scar on his shoulder. “You disappea
r for weeks and come back with this. What happened?”
“My brother’s dog,” he laughed. “He has it in for me. It’s nothing serious.”
A new voice interrupted the scene. It was Claudius arguing with his underlings. “The human, Patrick, was plainly marked.”
And so he was, she thought wearily. Marked again and again, no doubt by Claudius himself. Or was it Troy who’d done it? Was that what Kateesha meant? Had it been the same for him as it was for her? Had they tortured Patrick with it? But just thinking about that monster and his bloody, leering face made her sick, so she closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on the soothing feeling that wanted so desperately to consume her.
They soon found a decent sized town. Blue hospital signs led them down dark, winding streets until they reached a group of large, modern buildings. Oren parked the car in the section marked “Emergency Room Patients Only.” As the motor fell away into silence he said, “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Oren climbed out and opened the door, gingerly taking Katelina again. He lifted her as though she weighed nothing, and held onto her while Jorick climbed out. Katelina’s eyes strayed to the large building. Like so many hospitals it was all brick and green glass. Electric flood lights made the space around the building a pocket of strangely colored daylight, though the darkness clawed at the edges. She shivered as she stared at the glass doors marked “Emergency Room”. The world was suddenly becoming too real, nightmares and reality crashing together in a terrible mix that made her chest tighten.
Jorick climbed from the car and took her gently in his arms. As he caught her gaze an inexplicable feeling of wellbeing rippled through her. It would be all right, after all.
He carried her towards the shiny building. The glass doors swooshed automatically out of their way as they entered, leading into a lobby done in white and blue with ugly geometric paintings on the walls. He carried her past rows of empty chairs to the counter where a woman sat sipping from a mug and staring at a computer screen. At their approach she looked up, her face shocked.
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