Chapter 271
The interior of the plane smelled like an expensive car and looked like something from a movie. Instead of neat rows of seats, white leather chairs were seemingly scattered around. Two sets had shiny fold-down tables between them, and beyond was what looked like a couch behind a half wall partition. With the gray carpet, gleaming wood, and white textured walls, it looked like a house. It was only the fuselage's curved shape and the row of small, shuttered airplane windows that ruined the illusion.
Verchiel flopped on the couch and Neil perched near him, already buckled into a seat. Cyprus sat in one of the chairs, his feet kicked up on the seat across from him and his bag tucked under one of the tables. Nervously, Katelina took the nearest chair, and fished her seatbelt out of the crack. Jorick took the seat next to her and did the same.
"This isn't the plane they kidnapped us in, is it?" she whispered, her large eyes still moving from one gleaming surface to another.
It was Verchiel who answered, "You guys were probably in one of the smaller ones."
She purposefully spoke to Jorick, "Why do they need a plane like this?"
"For long trips," he replied. "They also rent them out to vampires going overseas. It's easier than trying to find a ride on normal transportation, but it's expensive and it means The Guild knows where you're going."
The loudspeaker crackled and the captain announced that they were ready to take off. He gave them the usual airplane precautions, then added, "Please be advised that in order to arrive in Munich during the night hours, the majority of this flight will take place in full daylight. Every precaution has been made to keep sunlight out. Open the window shutters at your own risk."
The engines seemed to hum louder and then Katelina was vaguely aware of motion. Even without external reference, she could tell when the plane started to climb. It felt like there was cotton in her ears and a small elephant sitting on her chest. It was after they leveled out that her ears popped and a roar of noise slammed through them.
The captain's voice came back. "You may remove your seatbelts and move freely about the cabin."
Katelina reached for the buckle, then dropped her hands. She felt safer with the belt on.
Jorick unfastened his and yawned. "You'd best get some sleep, little one. We should arrive in Germany around nine p.m. their time, so there won't be a chance for rest."
She clutched the arms of the seat and imagined closing her eyes - and missing the crash. "How am I supposed to sleep? We're going to crash any minute!"
"I doubt that. Airplanes fly every day with very few fatalities."
"But it does happen." She wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans and gripped the chair again. "How can you be so calm? It isn't like you've been on an airplane before!"
"We were both on one, albeit unconscious." She stared at him and he sighed. "No. I haven't been on an airplane awake, and I see no need to do so now. You should get some sleep."
As if to say the conversation was over, he reclined his seat and closed his eyes. She nudged his leg with her foot, and he reluctantly sat up and looked at her. "Yes?"
"What if I need to pee?"
"I imagine there's a bathroom back there somewhere," he waved towards the other end of the plane. "And if the redheaded clown gives you any trouble, kill him. Or you can wake me and I'll happily do it."
Though it wasn't much of an answer, he settled back down to sleep. Katelina swallowed hard and tried to relax her stiff shoulders. She needed a distraction.
"What about that vampire in the green coat? You know, the one who- What will happen to him?"
Jorick opened one eye. "He'll be tried in the next couple of days, probably by the Lesser Council." He snorted his disdain. "There were witnesses, so he'll be found guilty and given a punishment that is far less than he deserves. Probably incarceration for a few months." He yawned. "Though I saw that Sorino pressed assault charges, so perhaps he'll get a year."
Katelina remembered the cold gray detention cells and imagined being in one of those for a year. Worse, to be a vampire, who they rarely fed.
"No less than he deserves." Jorick studied her. "You're really worried about the plane."
She tried not to roll her eyes. "I thought I mentioned it."
"Sorry, I thought you were just being melodramatic." The calming sensation that washed over her was manufactured; one of his vampire tricks. She debated on whether to accept it or fight it, and finally struggled free. She might be scared, but she didn't want to be numbed. As long as she was coherent maybe she could survive the crash.
Jorick shrugged. "If that's what you want." He leaned up to kiss her and then relaxed again. "Good night, little one. Sweet dreams."
She mumbled the endearment back, but she had no intention of sleeping.
She was the only one.
If vampires snored, the din would have been deafening, but they didn't. They slept as silent as the dead while Katelina sat rigid in her seat and prayed not to crash. After an hour her eyes were heavy and her bladder was insistent, so she risked a trip to the bathroom.
As Jorick guessed, it was towards the back of the cabin behind a polished door. Though more luxurious than a normal airplane toilet, it was still tiny, and she hurried.
She exited to find Verchiel sitting up on the couch, a magazine in his hands. She moved past him and he commented, "Still awake? After the big exciting day you had, I'm surprised you haven't passed out. Shopping, nearly being kidnapped by a whisperer, and now an airplane trip. Not to mention all that glaring at me. That has to take a lot of energy."
"Shouldn't you be asleep?" she snapped back.
He lowered the magazine and shrugged. "Unlike you, I can always have an extra big snack and -boom- I'm refreshed. But it's nice to know you worry."
"I'm not worried. I just don't want you irritating me."
"You tell yourself that if it makes you feel better." He stretched and yawned. "So what happened with that whisperer, anyway? He nabbed you from the mall and what? Sorino said he found you before the guy got you back to his room or did anything."
She wrapped her arms around herself and shuddered. "I don't want to talk about it, least of all with you!"
"You're really determined to play this angry card, huh? All right, suit yourself. But when you get tired of it, let me know." He gave her a wink and picked up his magazine. "I think I'll finish this article then take a nap."
She had nothing to say, so she strode to her seat and buckled herself in.
