Chapter 133
Wordlessly, Jorick and Katelina walked back through the basement, and upstairs, silently seeking the vampires Jorick had smelled. Their footsteps echoed eerily and each shadow seemed like an enemy waiting to kill them. Something moved in the darkness and she jumped. Jorick followed her terrified gaze and offered her a comforting smile. "There's no one there. It's just your imagination."
Imagination or not, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was creeping along behind them. She spun around several times only to find the empty hallway staring back. When they entered a lavish den, her eyes darted around suspiciously. The room was large and the shadows were thick and long. The huge bookcases, massive desk, and heavy leather chair made the perfect hiding places for an ambush.
"I told you, there's no one here or I'd smell more than just a lingering scent. Besides, in case you haven't noticed, I can sense the presence of others."
"Is that one of those vampire super powers?"
"As a matter of fact, yes." He tipped her a wink and moved to the nearest bookcase.
With an odd faith in Jorick's senses, she released a pent up breath and sank into the chair behind the desk. She stood the flashlight on the dusty surface so that it shone upwards and lit the room like a lamp. Jorick nodded to her and pocketed his flashlight. She watched as he examined the bookcases. He drew an old volume out now and again, only to make a clicking noise and stuff it back. When she couldn't stand the crushing silence anymore, she asked, "What are you looking for?"
"Something I haven't read yet. But it seems his library is as uncreative as he is." He suddenly tensed and his eyes shifted to the door. "And they're here," he whispered. "And probably very aware of us."
"You did kick in the front door."
He shrugged, but regret showed on his face. "What's done is done. Come." He held his hand out and she crossed to him quickly. He took her arm and drew her behind himself, so that he stood between her and the door. "Stay behind me until I tell you otherwise."
She agreed wordlessly, and strained her ears against the silence. Though she couldn't hear anything over her pounding heart and rapid breath, he could.
"They're heading to the basement first. No, the female and one male," he corrected. "The other male is coming this way, but slowly."
The mysterious male's footsteps became audible to her only a second before he appeared through the door, a fireplace poker in his hands and a snarl on his face. He was tall and looked to be in his early thirties with dark hair and light eyes. He wore a heavy parka and a pair of dark pants complete with snow boots. If not for the vampire fangs shining in the glow from her abandoned flashlight, she'd have taken him for a human.
"Who are you?" he demanded. "What do you want?"
"I could ask you the same thing," Jorick responded casually. "What business have you here?"
The new vampire took an uncertain step forward, brandishing the poker threateningly. "What's it to you? You're the one trespassing."
Jorick narrowed his eyes coldly and the tension thickened. "Who is your master?"
A high, lilting voice rang out from the doorway, "I am."
Katelina's eyes snapped to the room's entrance as a slender woman stepped through it. Her hair was long and dark and her eyes were large and fringed in heavy lashes. She wore a white coat that swished around her legs as she moved and a pair of high-heeled boots. "And I know you. You're Jorick, the master of Oren."
"And who are you?" Jorick kept his attention focused on the male vampire. "What right have you to claim this house?"
"I'm Hectia, and this was my master's house. He's dead now, thanks in no small part to you."
Katelina clutched Jorick's back, but didn't make a sound, content to hide from Hectia's dark, piercing gaze. She ran through tangled memories of her encounters with Claudius' coven to try and place the vampiress. She'd all but given up when a picture jumped out at her, like a still framed photograph. It was of a scantily clad vampiress holding a white towel and bowing low to her sulky blonde master. Hectia was one of Claudius' three personal servants, all of whom were supposed to be dead.
"And how is it that you came to be here and not in Kateesha's coven?" Jorick asked.
Hectia growled low. "I wouldn't follow a usurper such as her, no matter what The Laws say!"
"Kateesha is dead and Oren has her coven now."
Katelina recognized the lie, but she had no intention of correcting him.
"It makes no matter." Hectia's eyes were fire. "I will follow no one but Claudius." Her head snapped around to her fledgling, as if she'd just remembered him and was trying to calculate if he could be useful.
"Should I kill him?" he asked. His gaze flicked from his mistress to the intruders and he took a menacing step forward.
Katelina stiffened, but Jorick only asked calmly, "Do you think you can?"
Just then, the second unidentified male walked into the room, holding a long, slender club. His shoulder length hair was so red that it looked fake, and his slanting eyebrows were bright slashes of crayon colored on his pale face. He wore a long black coat and a pair of leather gloves. His eyes darted from one occupant to the other as he quickly appraised the situation. "Maybe he can," he answered for his companion. "And maybe he can't."
Hectia didn't bother to acknowledge the newcomer. "You've broken into my den, Jorick, and you're not welcome among my coven. I believe you know what the laws are concerning that?"
"Oh yes," he answered and Katelina could hear the smile in his voice. "But your own breech warrants death. By rights this den, and your allegiance, belong to someone else."
"Do you serve them again?" Hectia asked suspiciously and took a cautious step back. She looked quickly between Jorick and the redhead. Katelina realized she feared him as a member of The Guild, though he could kill her just as easily without them.
Jorick was slow to answer, as if trying to decide whether a lie would make a difference. "No. But that won't stop me from reporting this."
Obviously relieved, Hectia walked towards the desk. She perched on the edge of it and picked up the flashlight. Thoughtfully, she turned it over in her hands. The light danced around the room as it moved from one palm to another. "If you hadn't helped to kill Claudius, Jorick, I'd have treated with you, but I'm afraid I cannot, not when I know that you had a hand in his death."
The flashlight shut off with a loud, echoing click. Katelina bit back a scream as darkness swallowed them and then Hectia's voice rang out, cold and clear. "Kill him."
