Chapter 247
Katelina watched as a door to the left opened and four gray clad guards bustled through. Between them hung a thin, unhappy woman. Blonde hair fell around her face in disarray and tears leaked from large, gray eyes. Her shirt was torn open and practically hung off of one arm. Bruises blossomed on her face and arms like purple-black flowers.
The guards led her to the end of the table and stood, surrounding her. As Malick's eyes swept over her, the pressure on Katelina's mind seemed to lessen. She found Verchiel in a chair next to her, and looked again to Jorick. His eyes were on his hands.
Malick's question boomed through the room, "What is your name?"
As if Malick was holding her up, the woman's spine suddenly snapped straight and she stepped forward. Her hollow voice made Katelina shiver. "Dahlia."
"Show us your mark."
She turned around, her movements wooden. The ripped shirt revealed a slice of her back and her shoulder blade, where a scar was just visible.
"Child, who made that mark?"
"Traven."
Katelina gasped at the familiar name. Griselda had mentioned the murderer, but-Traven?
Malick motioned to the council member. He hurried forward, the book in hand. He flipped pages madly, then peered closely at Dahlia's mark and an illustration in the book. "A double bite, forming an x. The mark is registered to Traven Laurent, fledgling of Henri of the Old World, deceased. It is also registered to eleven others. It is unofficially associated with-"
Malick waved the council member back to his seat and addressed the human, "What were you doing when my Executioners found you?"
The woman turned back to face the room. "I was trying to convince the vampires to join Traven's coven. He needed a mind reader and they were both satisfactory."
Malick smiled benignly. "Can you tell us who murdered their coven mates?"
"I did. Then I called the number Traven gave me and reported it."
"Have you done this before?"
"Yes."
Obi scowled. "Are these her answers, or yours?"
"Perhaps you'd like to question her?" Malick dropped his hands to his lap. Instantly the woman sagged. Her blank eyes filled with fear and she whimpered. Her trembling hands made Katelina sick.
"Human, why did you kill them?"
Tears ran down her pale face and she swallowed hard. "I - Traven - he said to go to Iowa. He was looking for mind readers, and there were some nearby."
"Why Iowa?"
"Please," she whispered. "I'm sorry. I only did what he told me to do. It had to be near Jorick and his human."
Katelina bit back a gasp. Jeda had warned them once that Traven was up to something, but this was too much!
"He - he said they'd be blamed, and the Executioners would go after him, then they wouldn't be here for-"
Malick cut her off, "Jorick and his human were under lock and key. How could they be blamed for the murder?"
Dahlia swayed on her feet. "They - they were prisoners? But - but Traven said-he said 'they're already in Iowa'. He said-"
"How would he know where they were?" Obi asked sharply.
Her knees buckled and she dropped to the floor, her face in her hands. The guards moved to grab her, but Malick motioned to Senya. With too much delight, the Executioner swung to her feet and dragged Dahlia up by her hair. The woman cried out, and Senya shook her like a doll. "The Master asked you a question."
"Gerard probably told him! I'm sorry! Oh, God, I'm sorry!"
Senya shook her again. "Who is Gerard? Answer me, human!"
"He's a - a guard." Katelina noticed that the gray clad guards had all stepped back, concern on their faces. "He helped us. He gave us the app."
"What app?"
Katelina knew the answer before it stumbled from Dahlia's lips. "The vampire app. It has everyone listed, where they live and their abilities. Traven, he had me follow Jorick and his human and find vampires near them that he could use. But I got scared after the big fight, and I lost track of them! When I called Traven, he sent me to their house. They were gone, and when I called back he said they were already in Iowa. Please, please, I'm sorry!"
Malick looked to Jorick. "If I remember, your fledgling has an association with Traven, does he not? How interesting that he would allow such a thing."
Jorick's words were tight. "He knew nothing about it, or she wouldn't have gone to my den. I told Oren we were going straight to Mexico."
Malick turned back to the prisoner. "What else did Gerard do?"
Dahlia sobbed too hard to answer. At a nod from Malick, Senya slapped her hard across the face. She stumbled backwards and landed on the floor. Senya kicked her, then hauled her up by her hair again. "Answer him!"
Her voice was moist with tears and a mouthful of blood. "He recruited them at first. I killed the others, and he came back and offered help to the survivors. But he let one get away and - and he and Traven got in a fight. He said he wouldn't help anymore and his vacation from work was up. I'm sorry. I was just doing what Traven told me!"
Obi looked hard at the guards. "Summon Gerard."
They hurried out, their eyes on the floor, as if betrayal by one had put them all under suspicion.
Dahlia's knees gave way and she'd have landed on the floor if Senya hadn't caught her by one arm. Malick asked quietly, "How many did you kill, child?"
"There - there were three the first time."
"In Maine?"
Dahlia nodded.
"And the second?"
Her voice dropped lower with each answer. "One vampire and one human."
Obi cut in, "There were no survivors. What did you hope to gain?"
"The - the app said there was just one vampire and a human, but there were two vampires, so I killed the one that wasn't as good."
Malick took over again, "And in Kentucky?"
"Three, the first time."
Obi interrupted, "Is it true you used stakes to kill them?"
"T-Traven said it wasn't obvious enough that it was a human, so I used those and started reporting the murders in - in the daytime so they'd know."
Malick nodded. "And the fourth murder?"
"O-Only two. I had to recruit the others for Traven though, because Gerard was gone by then."
"And the fifth?"
The answer was almost inaudible, "Four."
Malick leaned back in his chair, hands on the table. "That was the last one, I believe?"
Dahlia nodded. Her body had gone slack. She'd have been on the floor if not for Senya. "Please don't kill me. Please."
"Do you deserve any less?" Malick asked. "You killed twelve vampires, and even now feel no guilt, only fear. It's a pity; you'd have made an interesting fledgling."
She whimpered and Malick's eyes moved to Jorick. "What do you say, my son? It was your life and the life of your human she jeopardized with her actions. What should her punishment be?"
Jorick's jaw twitched. "I don't want her blood, but her Master's. Bring Traven before the council."
Malick turned to Katelina. His dark eyes met hers and her heart seemed to stop. For a moment she couldn't breathe, couldn't think. Then Verchiel poked her sharply in the ribs and she jerked back to the world to find everyone staring at her.
Verchiel whispered, "He asked what you thought should happen to her."
"Me?" Katelina glanced to Jorick, seeking the answer in his eyes.
"Don't look to him," Malick ordered. "Answer this; if you woke to find her standing over your lover with one of her stakes, would you kill her?"
The answer squeaked out against her will, "Yes."
Jorick smacked the table. "That's a different scenario!"
"Not for those who survived her attacks." Malick's smile turned chilling. "I must agree with your human, my son. The murdering child deserves death." He motioned to Senya. "Take her to the detention cell. She will be executed tomorrow."
Katelina's mouth dropped open and Dahlia shrieked, "No! Please! I'll do anything!"
"You've already done enough." Malick snapped his fingers, and she fell silent, tears dripping down her wooden face.
Senya hauled her out of the room. When Jorick refused to meet Katelina's eyes, she grabbed Verchiel's arm and whispered, "I didn't mean he should sentence her to death! I never said-"
Verchiel lifted a finger to his lips, his eyes meaningfully on Malick.
The door opened and the four guards returned with a fifth uniformed vampire between them. He was slightly pudgy with a ring of hair around an otherwise bald head. His eyes were wide and terrified.
"We've brought Gerard, sir."
Malick nodded. "Very good." His attention moved to Katelina and suffocated her. Amused laughter echoed through her head. "The human and her escort are no longer required. Thank you for your input."
Verchiel had to pull Katelina to her feet, even as Jorick growled. "Thank you, Master." Verchiel bowed formally, then tugged her out the door into the audience chamber.
Her legs were still shaking when they reached the corridor. Verchiel stopped so she could lean against the wall and catch her breath. Her vision was blurry. When she wiped her eyes, she found tears there.
"I never said they should kill her," she whispered. "It's not my fault."
"Of course it isn't. He just asked you to annoy Jorick, because he didn't give him the right answer. It's not a big deal."
She glared at him. "Maybe not to you, but it is to me! Dammit! He basically blamed me for her sentence!"
"It's just a game, don't let it get to you. Be cool, stay slinky, and let it roll off your back. That's the only way to deal with Malick." He glanced at his watch. "If I hurry, I might be able to catch that bit of fluff at the movies. Come on, I'll take you home first."
