Chapter 223
They all looked to see Jorick standing behind the Executioners, his hands in ready fists and his face twisted in fury. Katelina's shoulders sagged with relief, and for a moment surprise flickered over Senya's face.
"So you're here?" the Executioner demanded.
"Obviously," Jorick drawled sarcastically. "What do you want?"
Senya drew herself up and narrowed her eyes. "That's none of your business. I'm looking for the pathetic little coven who's supposed to live here."
The back door banged open and closed, and Katelina peered from behind the tree to see Joseff leading the way across the snowy yard, followed by Oren and Fabian. Behind them were the twins and Saeed.
Zuri and Dismas stood uncertainly, their eyes moving from Katelina and Loren to the newcomers. With a wave, Senya dismissed their former task. "Leave them for the moment."
Loren stood and brushed himself off, his forehead puckered in a dark scowl and blood running from his nose. Katelina hurried around the tree to Jorick's side. He caught her hand and tugged her partially behind him, as though he were an impenetrable wall.
Senya stepped towards the procession and flashed her medallion. "I'm here on official Guild business! Where is the leader of this coven?"
Joseff came to a stop in front of her, his fangs bared. "I'm the leader."
Yaul made to protest, and Oren silenced him with a look. Katelina could imagine his thoughts, and she agreed. Let Joseff take the brunt of whatever the Executioners want.
Senya surveyed him coldly. "Where is Kale?"
"Dead," Joseff bit off.
Senya's eyes narrowed. "Who killed him? You?"
Joseff roared in outrage and Yaul quickly answered, "It was Thomas."
"Thomas?" Senya's fingers tapped restlessly against her thigh. "I know that name." Her eyes snapped to her partners, who only shrugged.
Surprise flickered over the other vampires' faces and Alex asked, "Didn't Anya send you?"
"Anya? Who is she, and why would she send me?"
"It doesn't matter!" Joseff spat. "Now that you're here you can take care of this murdering bitch!" He jabbed a finger towards Katelina.
Senya brightened like a snake who'd discovered an unguarded nest of eggs. "What an interesting choice of words." She smiled at some private joke and her eyes swiveled to Jorick. "While we're on the subject, how long have you and your human been here?" Jorick didn't answer and Senya all but purred, "Can you prove your whereabouts for the last week?"
Katelina cringed further behind him, trying to hide from Senya's piercing eyes, though Jorick was unfazed. "Why?"
"I'll take that as a no." Senya turned to Joseff. "You! I have some questions. The rest of you go into the house. I will speak with you shortly."
Jorick met Oren's eyes and a brief communication passed between them. With a nod, Jorick caught Katelina's good arm and steered her towards the back door.
"Are you crazy?" Katelina hissed. "We need to get out of here!"
"In due time," he whispered back, his voice so low she could barely hear him. "First there's something we need to discuss."
She bit back a frustrated scream and let Jorick lead her into the house and to the basement; Oren, Fabian, Alex, and Micah right behind them.
The basement was thick with the smell of something burnt, though one of the windows was open. The garbage bag hung from it by a single piece of tape and fluttered in the cold night air. All of the boxes, from both Oren and Kale's covens, had been stacked up and there was a pile of chunky ashes where Thomas had been; no doubt the remnants his dismembered limbs.
So that's why it stinks.
They moved to the far wall and Oren whispered, "What does she want?"
Jorick slipped an arm around Katelina and pulled her against him. "Interestingly enough, I don't know."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Fabian demanded.
Jorick rolled his eyes. "Can you sense her?"
Fabian stared at him incredulously. "Of course I can!"
"Then try it! Where is she?"
"This is stupid! She's..." Fabian faltered. "She's-"
Micah cut in, "She's with Joseff."
"But where? Upstairs? Outside? Can you sense her? Can you smell her?" Jorick looked from one vampire to the other. "Can any of you?"
Oren shifted uncomfortably and his amber eyes dropped to the floor. Alex looked thoughtful, and Fabian stared at the ceiling, his brow furrowed. Micah sniffed and frowned. "All right. Why the fuck can't I smell her?"
"Because she's a phantom."
Katelina shivered. A phantom. Just like-
"Like that fuckin' weirdo who was after you guys?" Micah asked. "Alistair, or whoever."
"Yes, like Alistair. Only she's apparently mastered the ability. You can't feel her, smell her, or read her thoughts if she doesn't want you to. I've heard they can even make themselves invisible, though I've never seen that happen."
"Of course you ain't, not if they're fucking invisible!" Micah laughed at his own joke, then sobered. "So if she was alone she could have snuck up on us, is that what you're saying?"
Jorick motioned impatiently with his hand. "Obviously. The fa?ade flickered for a moment when she saw me. I got the impression she didn't know we were here."
"She said something like that outside." Katelina quickly related the earlier conversation.
When she finished, Jorick nodded. "She was at the institute with the redheaded idiot, so The Guild sent her to rescue Kale. She's probably here to follow up."
Katelina bit back the objection that Verchiel hadn't actually been with Senya. Technically, he'd warned them that Senya was coming.
"Why is she masking herself?" Alex asked.
Jorick rubbed his chin. "I don't know. A phantom can only maintain the illusion for a set amount of time. It varies by vampire."
Micah scowled. "So how long can she do it for? You used to work with the bitch."
"That was a long time ago, and I'd forgotten about her ability. She was a very minor player then and, contrary to popular belief, I didn't leave The Guild under the best of terms. It isn't as if I've been exchanging postcards with them."
"The two who stopped by at Christmas seemed friendly enough," Alex said. Jorick started to object, and Alex added, "I mean no disrespect, only that the black haired Executioner knew you were here, but the woman was surprised to see you."
Jorick nodded impatiently. "Obviously Beldren and Zuri didn't report it. Beldren mentioned the paperwork involved."
Fabian cut in. "This is all very well, but rather than waiting for her to pick us off, let's attack first! There are only three of them."
Micah nodded eagerly. "And the Executioners are split up. She's off with Joseff and the other two are roaming around the house."
"You're sure where she is?" Jorick raked an impatient hand through his hair. "If you kill them - or try to - and survive, The Guild will hunt you."
"Let them." Micah's grin grew until it seemed it would split his face in two.
