Chapter 154
Katelina knew that the sun was shining outside but, in the small, locked room, the ever present darkness weighed on her like an iron mantle. Besides the black and the stench, there was a thick, sticky silence that reminded her of a tomb. That thought disturbed her even more.
Though paranoia kept her awake and sharpened her senses, with no immediate danger, boredom eventually made her eyes heavy and her brain sluggish. She had no way to measure time and it felt like an eternity passed before sleep finally stole over her. At last, the terrible darkness was relieved by her dreams, though peace was still elusive.
She woke to impenetrable dark, no different than when she'd gone to sleep. She waited, for what she didn't know, and held her breath. Something moved beyond the confines of her cell. A lid opened, a voice spoke. They were waking. She suddenly imagined Verchiel butchered by the strangers, his blood as red as his hair. What would happen next? Would they gorge on her right away, or would they save her for later?
The questions made her sick. Just as she was ready to scream, the light snapped on. It was too bright and she shielded her face from the onslaught. Then, the door opened. She squinted terrified eyes to see the chubby vampire in the doorway. Verchiel's head appeared over his shoulder. At the sight of him, she was torn between relief and fury.
He trilled enthusiastically, "Good morning!"
She jerked to her feet but found no words to express her rage, so he went on. "As much as you like it here, we have to be going. We don't have all night to hang around."
"Fuck you," she snapped. As soon as the doorway was clear she bolted through it and into the basement. The air was clean by comparison and she took deep lungfuls of it. Verchiel leaned against the stairs, watching her, and the chubby vampire moved to huddle with his three coven mates. Their eyes were curious, and their awkward postures said they didn't trust their guests.
When she felt she could breathe again, Katelina strode towards the Executioner, her eyes wild. She grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him furiously. "How dare you lock me up in there like a fucking cow!"
He pulled away from her and dusted off her invisible fingerprints. "Someone's in a good mood, I see." He ignored the shocked expressions of the other vampires and held up a single gloved hand. "Now, now, don't make me do something we'd regret. Like knock you out again."
She bristled at the threat and jabbed a finger in his direction. "You just wait! When Jorick gets through with you -"
"Yes, yes." He mock yawned. "I'm sure I'll be good and sorry. No doubt he'll turn me into jelly or something equally distasteful. Either way, shall we?"
She grumbled, but the steady gaze of the other vampires reminded her of last night's terrors. She could cooperate with him long enough to get out of there.
They started up the stairs, and the unisex vampire hurried forward. "Madam Claire wants to know if you'll feed with us?"
"No, thank you." Verchiel offered them a lazy smile. "We appreciate the hospitality, and I'll put in a word for you. I'm sure your dispute can be handled quickly."
The silent woman bowed her head and Verchiel returned the motion before he caught Katelina's arm. He made to drag her up the stairs, but the androgynous vampire moved in front of them. "Let me show you the way out."
They followed their guide up and out of the house. Katelina allowed Verchiel to tug her along, though she wasn't happy about it. When they reached the car, she let loose. "What the hell did you think you were doing, locking me up in there?"
"And where else should you have slept?" he asked with amusement. "Perhaps I could have taken a page from your Jorick and stuffed you in the coffin with me?"
Katelina gaped and he took advantage of her momentary shock to force her inside. The door had scarcely closed before he appeared in the driver's seat.
"I didn't think he'd like that," Verchiel continued as if there hadn't been an interruption. "Men get funny about their women sleeping with someone else." He started the car. "Besides, you were the one who couldn't behave. Had you been cooperative last night, maybe you wouldn't have had to be locked up."
"I can't believe you expect me to cooperate! It's bad enough that you've kidnapped me -"
"Not kidnapped. I'm only escorting you."
"Against my will! As if that's not bad enough, then you drag me to the freaky vampire house of hell and leave me locked in the cattle pen! What part of that should I cooperate with?"
He backed the car out of the driveway and onto the road. "They weren't that bad."
"They were a freak show! There was the unidentifiable vampire, Madam-never-speaks and a room where they lock people up! Yeah, sure, that's normal!"
He chuckled softly. "Actually, the room is pretty normal and that was a rather nice one. I've seen much worse."
She glared at his indifference. "You're disgusting."
"It's just like a farm."
"Exactly! I'm not an animal!"
"I'd argue with you, but there's no point. As for the androgynous- guy, I admit, you don't see those very often, but how often do you see people who really aren't one way or the other? And for your information, Madam Clair doesn't speak because she's a mute."
"How can she be a mute?" Katelina asked sarcastically. "Aren't all vampires perfect?"
The grin stretched across his face. "Yes, we are, but vampirism isn't a quick fix for everything. If you're missing something, you're missing it. It's not going to re-grow. You don't suddenly get new eyes or new teeth or get a missing body part back. If the problem is just a matter of faulty wiring, then sometimes, if the master is old enough, it will work."
She dismissed the topic. "So, what was the deal with their dispute?"
"Ah, nothing exciting. They're fighting with a lone." When he saw her confusion, he explained, "Jorick is a lone. They don't belong to a coven or a den and they live by themselves. Anyway, apparently there's a lone that's moved in. He's hunting on their ground and they'd like something done about it."
"Then why didn't you do it?" Her stomach rumbled and she looked for the travel can of chips. They were nowhere to be found.
"Not worth it," his voice was almost regretful. "It's very routine. They'll send in a mediator from the Council and maybe an Executioner just to be safe. Chances are it will take ten minutes, including introductions. They don't think it's a rogue, so there's no real danger."
"How terrible," she mocked. "Something easy."
"It is. Had it been something interesting we might have taken a detour." He grinned cheerfully, but she was too busy cursing them both. Him for kidnapping her, and herself for not eating those chips when she had a chance. Somehow, being angry with herself made her even angrier at him.
