Chapter 278
Katelina's attention snapped to the stairs where Malick stood. His long hair and beard glinted silver and his dark eyes glittered like volcanic jewels. His usual flowing red robe was replaced by a black one that made him seem like he'd coalesced from a shadow; a piece of the night made flesh and topped with moonlight.
The noise stopped, and the room disappeared. All that existed for Katelina was the ancient master's eyes and his soft voice whispering through her. The words were too fast and too quiet for her to make sense of on a conscious level, but some part of her understood and that understanding brought with it a crush of fear and sorrow.
"Leave her!"
She was suddenly aware that she was on her feet. Jorick stood in front of her, one arm behind his back and his fingers laced with hers.
Malick smiled pleasantly. "As you wish." His gaze moved to the Scharfrichter who stood around the base of the stairs. Their weapons were raised, and various expressions of pain and anger were on their faces. Malick regarded them with something like quiet curiosity. "Shall we separate the chaff from the wheat?" He flicked his hand and most of the Scharfrichter crumpled to the floor. Wolfe, Sadihra and two others remained standing, though by their expressions it was a strain.
"Good." He met their eyes and Katelina imagined a recruitment speech. Their angry glares said the offer had been rejected. Malick shrugged. "Very well." He motioned again, and the prone Scharfrichter writhed on the floor. As one they gave a thin, high wail. Katelina could feel the pressure in the room increase, but her head stayed clear, as if Malick had other plans for her.
The cries of a Scharfrichter nearest the stairs grew louder than the others and suddenly blood erupted from his eyes and ears, as if his brain had exploded inside his skull. But not just his brain; blood poured from his mouth and Katelina imagined that all of his organs had been liquefied, like those of the victims at the Citadel.
Katelina stifled a scream and stepped back. Her hand slipped from Jorick's grasp, and the thrumming slammed into her brain. He caught her hand quickly and the agony faded, leaving her sweaty and shaking. Malick wasn't sparing her; rather Jorick protected her.
Wolfe growled low and wiped a splatter of blood from his face. His gray eyes glittered like steel as they focused on Malick and he lunged forward. Katelina wanted to shout at him not to go after Malick, but her warning was needless. He dodged to the right and the pointed tip of his weapon sliced through Greneth's arm. As if that was a signal, the other three Scharfrichter surged forward. Sadihra met Senya's twin daggers, while the other two stormed towards Griselda. In a fluid, practiced motion, the former Executioner jerked a shell from her coat, loaded it into the grenade launcher and fired. The shell tore through one of the Scharfrichter in a scarlet spray and slammed into the back wall. Katelina tried to throw herself to the floor, but her hand was still in Jorick's and it left her half crouched, one arm over her head.
The expected explosion didn't come. Slowly, she opened her eyes to see the shell embedded in the back wall and ringed in bloody silver blades that had obviously deployed on impact with the vampire.
Relief swept through her and she stood to see the other Scharfrichter crash into Griselda. He knocked her to the ground in a heap of struggling limbs and the gun/launcher combo fell away and bounced down the stairs with a clatter. Meanwhile, Greneth dodged Wolfe's jagged blade. Blood ran from a wound on the former Executioner's cheek and Katelina could see cuts in his coat and shirt.
Sadihra circled Senya, her round face contorted in fury. Senya's expression was cold boredom and, when Sadihra drew too close, she spun and kicked the Scharfrichterin's legs out from under her. Sadihra caught herself at the last second and would have bounced away, but Senya threw one of her daggers into the Scharfrichterin's shoulder. Sadihra jerked and tumbled backwards to land on the Scharfrichter with the ruined head. She pulled herself into a sitting position and waved a gory hand. A piece of the chandelier broke off and sped towards Senya, though she dodged the missile and skidded to a stop at the top of the stairs, a sneer on her face.
Malick passed through the fighting vampires. His gait was so smooth that he seemed to float rather then walk. Jorick stepped backwards, forcing Katelina to do the same. Wills battled for dominance in her mind and her legs couldn't decide whether to lock in place or run. The ensuing war made her limbs twitch and she screamed with a mixture of confusion, frustration and terror.
Malick drew to a stop and laughed. The struggle in Katelina's mind ended and she stumbled backwards. Unbelievably, the elevator chimed, and she looked to see the doors slide open. For a moment she could see a short vampire standing inside the plush red compartment, and then it was gone.
The short vampiress was suddenly standing before Malick. She wore a loose flowing dress of blue and her long silver hair flowed down her back. Like a china doll, her face showed no age and no expression, but her cerulean eyes burned with anger.
Katelina clutched Jorick, too terrified to move. Those eyes were seared forever in her memory; it was the woman from the True Council.
The Scharfrichter seemed to realize it too, and the fighting ceased. Even the living, but prostrate vampires stopped moaning and lay still, as if mesmerized.
"So my presence is enough to rouse you?" Malick asked the vampiress. "I'm touched."
The vampiress' voice rang through the room, like crashing waves and summer bird song mixed together. "You are not welcome here."
Malick drew himself up. The air crackled and Katelina's chest tightened until she could barely breathe. When he spoke, his voice boomed, and it was only fear that stopped Katelina from covering her ears. "How unfortunate. I had hoped that you, most of all, would understand."
"Understand what? That you have thrown aside your duties for your own selfish ends? Ishkur was right, you should never have been given power."
"You're using the old names again." Malick's smile grew. "Do you still find comfort in them?"
"Leave now and do no more harm."
Malick laughed. "You have not warmed since our last meeting, Inanna. It's no wonder. To hide in the earth while others live. It is nothing more than waking death. How can you be any warmer than the dead?" He stepped forward, his eyes alight. "Join me and be what you once were. Do you remember so many millennia ago when men sang your name? It could be that way again! There's no need for us to hide, we could be gods!"
"You were never a god, only a greedy child. Those days are gone, as are those people. Modern man does not welcome gods, but topples them. Go now and repent in quiet, before it is too late for you."
Malick studied the diminutive vampiress. Their eyes met as if in silent conversation, and finally he broke away. "A pity. However, it is not you I seek, or even your brothers." He looked to Jorick. "I will take it now."
"Take what?" Jorick asked stiffly.
"Come now. You can shield some thoughts, but not all. Where have you hidden it? Is it with your first?" Jorick flinched and Malick nodded. "So it is. Thank you, my son. I will give her your greetings."
He turned on his heel and snapped his fingers. Griselda grabbed her gun and swung it over her shoulder, then bounded up the steps after her retreating master, Greneth and Senya on her heels.
The Scharfrichter started forward, but Inanna stopped them with a gesture and perhaps a silent command. They turned to her, their faces open questions. Instead of answering, the ancient vampiress turned away. Katelina had a single, burning look at Inanna's perfect face before the vampiress disappeared. The elevator doors slid suddenly open and closed and she was gone.
With the masters' retreat, the atmosphere in the room lightened and Katelina's breathing slowed. Even the Scharfrichter on the floor started to move. A couple sat up and lifted trembling hands to their heads. One pulled herself to her unsteady feet.
Wolfe helped Sadihra stand, then moved to Jorick. "What did he mean?"
"I don't know," Jorick answered stiffly. "Come, little one."
