Chapter 295
Katelina dropped into one of the chairs, her hand to her head. "We're traveling with half the damned Guild! There's Verchiel and a new Executioner, oh, and a guard. And then we picked up one of the German Executioners."
Torina had been busy leaning forward to tease Micah with her cleavage, but she suddenly snapped her attention towards Katelina. "Why are you traveling with them?"
Micah snorted. "You know Lunch can't leave her new Executioner buddies behind, not after they've all gotten so close."
"Fuck you, Micah! And quit calling me that!"
"So now you're offering it to me? Damn girl, you do like to play all sides." His crude laughter followed and Katelina rose, her hands balled into fists. She'd slapped him once and she was going to do more than that now!
As if to diffuse the situation, Maeko came through the door, her blocky pink gun in her hand. She greeted them, and though Katelina mumbled something back, her attention was on the weapon. If Barbie had a gun, that was what it would look like.
Maeko took an empty chair next to Katelina and apologized again for the inconvenience. "I'm afraid that they were able to identify me at the ferry terminal, so when Jorick-ue arrives we should move to the sanctuary. But do not worry. In the meantime, Takeshi-san is going to text a false report to the Yononaka so they will believe that the Keiri is still trailing us." Katelina's doubt was on her face and Maeko patted her hand. "It's all right, Kate-chan. Defying the Keiri is like a game!"
She couldn't stop the words. "A game with dangerous consequences."
"Not as dangerous as you imagine, at least not for me, and should they try to cause problems for the rest of you I'm more than capable of taking care of them." She tapped her gun affectionately.
"You're a good shot," Micah agreed. "But guns are pretty useless against most vampires."
Maeko nodded. "The old ones, yes, but most of the vampires in Japan are less than two hundred years old."
"Then who runs the Yononaka?" Katelina asked. She couldn't imagine Munich willingly letting young vampires rule.
Maeko giggled. "You are correct, Kate-chan! During the Meji Restoration, the Sodalitas sent some old vampires to set up the Yononaka, but we refused to be ruled by them because they were Westerners. The Sodalitas had no choice except to make fledglings from among the human slaves and set them up as our rulers, which is why they are not very old. Though, when old masters make fledglings-"
"They're very powerful," Katelina filled in.
"Exactly! So even though I was the first vampire, they're probably stronger than me. I don't know. I've never fought them, only the Keiri and the ketsumochi."
One phrase jumped out at Katelina. "The first vampire?" Did that mean she was-
Maeko giggled. "Not the first vampire of all time, only the first vampire in Japan. When Jorick-ue and his sensei first came, there were no vampires here."
His sensei? That could only be one person: Malick. And that explained a lot. "So Malick turned you?"
"It was not Jorick-ue's sensei who turned me, but Jorick-ue!"
"Jorick?" Katelina's mind reeled. Maeko was Jorick's fledgling? But he'd never mentioned her! Not once! He'd never even hinted about her!
Maeko stiffened suddenly and stood, gun in hand, and her eyes trained on the door. She relaxed and her smile grew wider. "Jorick-ue is here!"
She hurried out to greet him, and Katelina followed. Jorick was barely inside the door before Maeko flung herself at his feet in a kneeling bow that left her chin scraping the floor. "Welcome, Jorick-ue! We are honored by your presence."
Jorick drew back a step and then his uncomfortable shoulders quickly straightened. "Thank you. Where is-" He broke off as his eyes met Katelina's and she saw relief flash over his face. "You're all right?"
Katelina nodded. The last twenty-four hours were a blur of too much information and too many bullets and Katelina just wanted to hide in his arms and forget everything, but Maeko blocked her path. She debated for a moment and then stepped around the prostrate girl to fling herself at him. He caught her and pulled her into a hug. She nuzzled her face against him, inhaling his musky, comforting scent, and closed her eyes. Everything would be all right now.
"Well hello there!"
Verchiel's voice jolted her from her happy place and she looked up to see him and Cyprus step through the doorway. Maeko leaned up long enough to notice them. She welcomed them, apologized, and then explained the need to move to a new location. "I will have Takeshi-san and Hikaru-san ready the cars, though I am not sure there will be room for all of us."
Hikaru appeared behind the mob of newcomers. "We brought a taxi as well, Maeko-san. The fare will be high, but it should handle the extra passengers."
The girl clapped her hands. "Wonderful! I will get my bags and tell the others. Jorick-ue and Kate-chan, I would be honored if you would ride with me."
Verchiel scanned the little girl, his thoughts carefully concealed under his friendly expression. "And what about me?"
Jorick ground his teeth, but Maeko said, "Of course you are welcome, though I believe we will be able to fit only one other. Hikaru-san, please take our guests down to the cars." She bowed herself out and hurried back to collect her things and the others.
"If you would follow me?" Hikaru gestured them back to the penthouse lobby and into the elevator. Katelina clung to Jorick's hand and tried to communicate to him that the "others" were Oren and company, but he brushed the information aside. Just how he thought he was going to get them past the Executioners was beyond her.
Verchiel shoved Neil into the backseat and then took the front. The nervous guard gave Katelina a nod, but didn't say anything. Though Maeko was small, she had to cram herself into the backseat, and Katelina had to slide over until she was practically on Jorick's lap.
"I am sorry for the close quarters," Maeko said. "I had hoped for more room, but my other guests fill the taxi by themselves."
Verchiel asked who Maeko was, and Jorick's answer was unspecific. "Her name is Maeko. She's- an acquaintance."
Katelina bit back a sarcastic remark; as if the word "acquaintance" would work with a group of mind readers. Frankly, she didn't see how any of his plans were going to work, but just then she was too tired to care.
