Chapter 251
She spent the evening with Jorick. When she slept, her dreams were no better than the night before, and she woke to an empty bed. Jorick was gone, again.
It was early evening when Verchiel sauntered through the door, wearing low rise jeans and a neon green shirt that said "Kiss Me Quick." His coat was over his arm and she suggested he put it on to hide the bad outfit.
They wandered to the first floor and headed into the atrium. The room was just as impressive as she remembered. The ceiling was six stories tall and was made of thick glass with light bulbs behind it to imitate a natural skylight. The back wall was lumpy stone. A waterfall cascaded down and fell, gurgling and swirling, into a rock lined pool. Trees and plants were scattered around, and among the vegetation were benches and lounge areas, some brightly lit and others secluded under larger trees. Vines climbed up the pillars and rows of terraces lined the walls to the left and right. It was funny to think that for a night, she and Jorick had had one of the highly prized terrace rooms, and she hadn't even appreciated it.
In the center of the atrium was a large metal fountain, dramatically lit by spotlights. Verchiel lounged against it and offered Katelina a penny. "Maybe the fountain will work better than the waterfall?"
"I doubt it." She took the coin anyway and tossed it in with a plink. No wish sprang to mind, except to get the hell out of there. Before she could think of a better one, Geneva, the girl from the store, came to a stop in front of them. Verchiel was instantly distracted.
Geneva cocked an eyebrow. "Still palling around with your new friend?"
He feigned innocent shock. "Are you saying you'd rather I spent time with you?"
"How much longer are you going to be skulking around here instead of out doing your job?"
"You do! I'm sure I'm free this evening."
Geneva smacked him in the head. "No, you idiot! I want to know why you're all here."
He rubbed his injury. "Whatever do you mean?"
"All the Executioners." Her eyes darted around as if she was afraid of being overheard. "Ark and that Chinese-"
"Japanese."
"Whatever. Ark and the Asian woman were called back mid-mission, and Aine came back yesterday. Since then no one's left. You're all here."
"Except Zuri," Verchiel offered. "He's a prisoner."
"As I was saying, you're all here and they've got Jamie and that new guy guarding the upper levels. That's not normal, and you know it!"
"Who told you all that?" Verchiel asked.
"Jackie. You know she follows the Executioners."
"Still hoping to land one?" Verchiel took an unconscious step backwards.
"Yes, she is, but that's beside the point." Geneva grabbed the front of his shirt. "Something's going on and I want to know what it is!"
He pulled loose and turned serious. "There's something coming, Geneva. When the sirens sound, be sure you're somewhere safe."
Geneva's eyes went wide. "What?"
Verchiel was back to his usual flip self. "You heard me." He ruffled her perfectly placed hair and she squealed. "Now, I don't have time to listen to Jackie's gossip. Kately wanted to visit the sixth floor."
He tugged Katelina out the doors and to the elevator. They crammed in with a group heading up, and Katelina waited until they got off at the sixth floor to demand, "What the hell was that?"
"She said Jorick was guarding the upper levels. I thought you might like to see him at work."
She'd already seen him working, and the memory still haunted her. "You just want to find out what's going on."
He went on as if she hadn't spoken. "Come on, let's go look for them."
They took the stairs that led to the office. The only occupants were the grizzled farmer and his yellow dog. A twitch of his newspaper was the only indication that he was aware of their presence.
Verchiel led her out of the building and across the brightly lit gravel lot. The fresh air was strangely welcome. The Citadel's many skylights gave the illusion of openness, but it had been days since she'd been outside.
A cold wind buffeted them and Katelina huddled into her shirt. Without a word, Verchiel plucked his coat off and casually dropped it over her shoulders.
They ducked into a corrugated machine shed. Muted light reflected on rows of cars; the Citadel's parking garage. They wound their way through the rows to a trap door. Signs above it said "Service Entrance. Authorized Personnel Only" and "Be Prepared to Show Identification". She'd been through that door and down the ladder before. It led to a narrow, tunnel like hallway and a guard room. It was the entrance Senya and Verchiel had taken her through the first time she'd come to the Citadel.
Verchiel put his hands on his narrow hips. "I wonder where they've got off to? The office and the garage are the optimal strategic points."
"Maybe they're on a break?"
"Yeah, sounds like them. The two most over serious vampires on a smoke break." He scratched his chin. "Maybe they're in the guard room-" He suddenly pointed to the trap door. "There they are."
She stared at the door as if she could see through it, and strained to hear what Verchiel heard. Finally, Jamie's voice floated to her, "You shouldn't be so concerned about him. He isn't a threat."
Verchiel's eyes danced in the half light and Katelina wondered if they were talking about him. Jorick's reply answered her question.
"He's already had her drinking his blood."
She flinched and Jamie sighed. "I admit I wasn't there, but that isn't how I heard it. Regardless, he isn't using it to claim her."
"Not yet."
Their footsteps stopped and Katelina guessed they were at the ladder. She chanced a look at Verchiel. He seemed to puff up, as though she could see his ego swelling. She tried to express her disgust with her eyes. He pretended not to notice.
Jamie cleared his throat. "If he were going to, he'd have already done it. I understand your concern. A blood debt can take a long time to pay off, especially to an unscrupulous Master. But I can't imagine Verchiel taking what belongs to another, nor allowing anyone else to."
Jorick snorted. "You think he'd defend her?"
"Yes, I do. But, I don't think anyone would dare to cross you, Jorick. Not only do you have the advantage of age, you've claimed the human. The law would be on your side. Only Malick would disregard it so freely." He broke off uncomfortably. When he resumed, he sounded surprised, "He has no reason to do such a thing."
"Doesn't he? Why do you think he ordered that buffoon to keep an eye on her, or Senya to watch him? I'd have to be blind not to know that Malick is using her to control me!"
Katelina's accusing eyes snapped to her companion. She mouthed, "Is that true?" He only shrugged.
"But to go that far?"
"We both know he would. Look at what he's done before." Jorick's voice caught. When he spoke again, it was with less feeling. "He's smarter than to use his own blood to create a fledgling of convenience. He'd order someone else to do it."
"If so, it would be Senya or Greneth."
Katelina shuddered at the thought. To be a vampire and owe allegiance to Senya? What a nightmare!
Jorick went on, "Better yet, someone whose abilities are unstable and uncertain. One likely not to pass them on."
"You think that's why he assigned Verchiel to keep your human occupied? Because his mental abilities might not be passed on should he turn her?"
"Yes. He's the likeliest choice."
"But a loose cannon. I doubt that even Verchiel knows what he's going to do from one moment to the next. How can Malick anticipate him?"
Verchiel nearly danced with delight, but Jorick's voice was tight. "Perhaps he can't. That would make it more interesting to Malick; an outcome he can't predict."
"You're reading too much into this. I agree that Malick is using her to control you, and I know he asked Verchiel to watch over her, but I don't think his plans go beyond that. Your past has made you paranoid."
Katelina glared at her companion. Was it true? Had Malick really ordered him to watch over her? No wonder he was so hell bent on being her friend! Jorick had warned her. Maybe next time she'd listen.
Before she could articulate any of that, Jamie commented, "I think we have visitors."
Verchiel grabbed Katelina's arm and dragged her away. The trap door opened a second later and Jamie emerged, followed by a scowling Jorick. His attention went first to Katelina and then to Verchiel. "What are you doing?"
"I could ask you the same thing." Verchiel was still grinning. "We came to see you and where are you?"
"On patrol," Jamie answered. "I'm not sure you should be up here."
Verchiel's innocence was so overdone that it seemed ridiculous. "Really? Why not?"
Jorick growled low as he approached them. He stopped before Verchiel. His eyes slid to the coat Katelina wore and then back to the redheaded vampire. "I have a debt to repay. Don't think I've forgotten it."
"I doubt you've ever forgotten anything. You don't seem the type to let things go. More fun hanging on to them, I suppose."
Jamie made a warning noise in his throat. "Did you need something, Verchiel?"
"He needs to be reminded of his place!" Jorick laid a hand on Katelina's shoulder.
"Perhaps," Jamie agreed mildly. "He does have a penchant for dancing with death. But now is not the time."
"He's right. You wouldn't want to kill me in front of Kately. It might upset her, seeing as she's so fond of me." Verchiel patted her head and she jerked away furiously. "She just wanted to come up and see her sweet baboo at work, but since you're both so obviously busy, we'll be on our way."
Jamie shook his head. "You're going to get hurt, Verchiel."
"Yes, he is." Jorick's hand tightened on her shoulder. "If Katelina came to see me, then your presence is no longer necessary."
"Someone needs to escort her back."
"I will handle it! She's my responsibility, not yours."
Verchiel held up his hands and backed away. "If you say so." He turned his attention to Katelina. "I'll wait for you in the office, Kately. Have fun with your sweety-ookums." He was gone so fast that she didn't even see him go.
"I'm going to eat his heart," Jorick hissed.
