Chapter 159
The tension in the room was nearly unbearable. Jorick suggested that instead of room service, they go to the sixth floor in person. She quickly agreed and, after she'd taken a shower and changed, they hurried out the door.
"Do you know where we're going?" she asked.
"I think I can find the sixth floor." He gave her a wink. "The guard said they had a restaurant, there. I assume for the humans who live here and those here on business."
Her brow wrinkled. "What humans would be here on business?"
"A select few. You'd be surprised if you knew who frequents the Citadel." He offered her a smile, but it didn't feel sincere. Despite his efforts to lighten the mood they were both terrified, perhaps him more so than her. She had him to take care of things, but who did he have? It was all on his shoulders and that had to be a horrifying burden.
They reached the elevator just as the doors swished open and, surprisingly, they found themselves staring at a pair of familiar faces. One was a thin vampire whose blonde hair was neatly tucked behind his ears. It was Kale, the vampire who'd taken most of Kateesha's followers and formed his own coven - the very coven Oren hadn't wanted Hectia in.
With him was a large vampire who was bald and black. He wore trousers and a pull over, though the last time Katelina had seen him he'd had on nothing but a suede skirt, and he'd been guarding Kateesha's throne room.
Katelina drew back instinctively and Jorick caught her arm to keep her from running. "Kale," he greeted politely, hiding his surprise.
Kale didn't bother to disguise his. "Is that you, Jorick? What are you doing here?" His voice dropped suddenly and he murmured, "Did Thomas-"
"I don't know. We've only just arrived tonight. We have an audience tomorrow."
Kale glanced to his companion. "This is Saeed. I believe you've met before."
Jorick nodded and Katelina bit back a nasty comment. How could Kale expect them to stand there and greet Saeed politely? She remembered the things he and his twin brother had done to Jorick; how they'd beaten him and held him for Kateesha, their expressions unfeeling as he faced what might have been death. The memories made her tremble with anger, and she wanted nothing more than to pick up the nearest object and smash it over his head.
Her opinion was on her face, but no one seemed to know what it was about. "Is your human all right?" Kale asked with semi-genuine concern.
Jorick squeezed her hand, an unspoken message to behave. "She's fine." Katelina expected him to make his excuses so they could go their separate ways, then she saw the telltale curiosity in his eyes. He had no intention of going until he found out what Kale was doing.
Sure enough, Jorick asked, "What brings you two to the Citadel?"
"We were summoned, though it was a waste of time."
"Most meetings with The Guild are," Jorick agreed lightly. "They have nothing but time to waste around here."
"Obviously." Kale glanced around the hallway as if to indicate it was too public. "If you want to continue this conversation, then might I suggest we move to a more secluded location?"
She could almost feel Jorick's delight, though he reigned it in. "Of course. Our room is just down the hall."
"So is ours." Something in Kales' eyes made it clear that it was his room or no room, so Jorick simply nodded and let the other two lead the way.
"What are we doing?" Katelina whispered as they followed the pair down the corridor. "Don't you know who his friend is?"
"Yes, but allegiances may change. Let it go."
"Let it go? He tried to kill you!"
"And I tried to kill him." Jorick gave an almost imperceptible shrug. "I believe I did kill his brother."
"He deserves to lose more than that," she snarled savagely as she pictured Jorick, bruised, bleeding, battered and forced to his knees before Kateesha. "They all do."
Jorick raised his eyebrows in mild surprise, but chose not to comment further.
Kale and Saeed's room was several doors down from theirs, but inside it looked much the same, only the painting was different. Their host indicated they should sit on the couch and, despite Katelina's barely controlled fury, they did. The other two settled in the chairs. Kale leaned back, with the appearance of relaxation, though his tense shoulders belied the attempt.
Jorick didn't beat around the bush. "Why were you summoned?"
"They wanted to hear details about what happened with Kateesha. They made it clear I and my second in command were to report immediately." Kale cleared his throat and glanced at his silent companion. Something in his eyes said Saeed wasn't the vampire who normally filled that role. "They said it was of the utmost importance and even hinted that Malick had something to do with it. Then, after we got here, we were shuffled around and finally someone from the Lesser Council took our statements, as if it was of no importance at all."
Jorick perked up subtly at the name of his old master. "Malick?"
Kale nodded and his jaw tightened. "I thought Thomas had complained." He bit the name off as though it were something vile. "But if he did, they didn't mention it to me. When I saw you, I thought perhaps you'd know more."
Jorick shook his head regretfully. "No, we don't. We were also summoned by Malick and are set to meet with him tomorrow."
Hope suddenly fluttered in Katelina's stomach. If Kale had been summoned by Malick, and then only had to talk to the Lesser Council, maybe she and Jorick and Oren could escape him. Maybe they'd get shuffled around.
"I imagine it's over the same thing," Kale mused. "Perhaps that's why they changed their mind. Why get a third hand account when they can hear it straight from the horse's mouth?"
His words made Katelina's hope dim, and a sick, sinking feeling consumed her. He was right, of course. Why bother with him when they could torture her and Jorick instead?
"Maybe," Jorick agreed. "I assume you've had time to organize your new coven?"
Kale was suddenly wary. "Yes. To some extent."
"Have you settled nearby?"
Kael's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Kentucky. Why?"
"I don't suppose you've had any unusual visitors?"
Kale looked to Saeed, but the massive vampire didn't so much as flinch. "Unusual how?"
Jorick sighed with impatience. "Traven, perhaps?"
"Traven?" Kale's eyes widened in surprise. "You don't mean -"
"Yes, that's him. Smooth double talk and an agenda."
"No, I haven't seen him in a long, long time. Should I have?"
"I don't know." Jorick rubbed his chin absently and Katelina imagined he was trying to decide how much to reveal. "He and Jeda turned up at Oren's and he was persistent that his coven should meet with yours."
"Why?"
"That's what I want to know. He claims that he wants to be sure there's no animosity between your coven and Oren's."
"Why? Has he joined with Oren?"
"After a fashion," Jorick admitted reluctantly. "He's offered to join the war against -" he broke off and looked around the room, as if indicating the very place they were at. "The Executioners arrived and demanded our presence before much else could be accomplished."
"He needn't worry. I was present at the trial, and the verdict was enough for me. I didn't have any affinity for Kateesha." Kale glanced at Saeed. "We all just want to move on."
The vampires fell silent and Katelina glared in Saeed's general direction. "Of course some of you are anxious to move on," she thought bitterly. "By rights Jorick should rip off your head right now." Jorick subtly pressed his elbow into her ribs, a sign he'd heard her thoughts, but she didn't care. He had his information, so there was no reason for them to stay.
Just then, the phone rang.
