Chapter 304
Jorick found a cave and led the group into it. It got narrower and narrower as it twisted back into the mountain. Verchiel cheerfully disappeared into the yawning blackness, but Katelina only went as far as she had to before she laid down on a mesh of old leaves and pine needles.
Sadihra continued on past, though from the sound of her footsteps she didn't go far. Jorick stretched out beside Katelina and she snuggled close to him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his warm, lean body. She buried her face in his chest and tried to wash away the memories of the bloody battle and the feeling of hopelessness that had gripped her ever since.
"You said that Malick might use the Heart to bargain. With who?"
"The Kugsankal. When we left for the New World, Malick stole it from the one who used to be the leader."
"Used to be?"
"He was killed shortly after by the one who's taken charge now. Ishkur, I believe he's calling himself. Their names change when they feel like it."
"But how could he kill him? Aren't the True Council pretty much invincible?"
"No one is invincible, not even one of the oldest. The legend of Lilith should tell you that much. Who better to kill an ancient, than an ancient?"
"And how many are there who are as old as Malick or older?"
Jorick made a thoughtful sound. "Twelve or thirteen perhaps?"
"I guess we need to talk one of them into killing Malick."
Jorick gave a soft chuckle. "Planning his demise? We don't necessarily need someone who is as old as he is, but it would be easier. I still hope the True Council will take care of him, once he's offended them enough."
"And how long will that be? Years?"
Jorick grimaced. "Perhaps- months. You must remember they're ancient. A month to them is like a day."
"That's just great. So what do we do now?"
He lifted her face, his hands tangled in her hair, and pressed a kiss to her lips. "Now, we rest. Good night, little one."
It wasn't the answer she was looking for, but for the moment it would have to do.
***
She woke before the sun was down and squirmed her way out of the cave. The last of the day's sunlight was dazzling. She had to block her eyes and squint in order to see.
After a trip to a bush, she sat inside the mouth of the cave and watched the sunlight fade from the sky. Though she managed to resurrect the fire, it gave very little heat and she wondered if she'd ever be warm again.
As twilight descended, the vampires woke and wandered off to feed. Katelina sat alone in the cave, wrapped in her coat and dreaming of tropical islands and drinks made with rum.
Sadihra was the first to return. She took a seat across from Katelina and absently poked the fire. "So why did you come with them, if you don't mind my asking."
Katelina looked up sharply. "Come where? Do you mean the hiking trip from hell, or the whole trip."
"The whole trip. You could have stayed in the United States and avoided all of this." She waved her hands to indicate the frosty cave.
"I could ask you the same question. Why are you here and not in Munich?"
Sadihra's smile was appreciative. "Fair enough." Silence fell between them, punctuated by the snap of the small fire. Finally, Sadihra said, "I needed away."
Katelina watched the flames carefully. Looking someone in the eyes was the fastest way to make them stop talking. "Away from Munich?"
"Yes. Away from Munich, away from the Stronghold. Away from Wolfe. I assume you've figured out that we were lovers? It ended- badly. He wanted things I didn't."
Katelina remembered Wolfe's remark at the Stronghold, "You'd have better luck in the field. At home she prefers to sleep alone," and her mind instantly dropped into the gutter. "Like what?"
"A soul-binding commitment. The kind where he is the man and I stay behind and play the quiet wife. He should have known I would never agree. The split was unavoidable, but he needn't have gone as far as he did afterwards." She broke off. "It doesn't matter."
But it did. Katelina was dying to know. She imagined a parade of flashy sluts on the vampire's arm, or vicious rumors designed to leave Sadihra in tears. "What did he do?"
"He's trying to get me removed from the Scharfrichter. He has taken every opportunity to report how I am remiss in my duties, how I refuse to follow orders, how I make mistakes. Most of his reports are lies, or the truth twisted. He won't rest until they have expelled me!"
Katelina absently rubbed her hands over the fire. "Won't running off with us make it look worse?"
Sadihra deflated a little. "It may, yes. But sometimes I wonder if I care. No, of course I care. It's- it's complicated."
Katelina wanted to pry more, but something in Sadihra's eyes said it was useless, so she changed topics. "What's Cyprus' deal?"
"Who knows? We were acquaintances before he left, nothing more, and we are acquaintances now."
The way Sadihra shifted her eyes made Katelina feel that she was hiding something.
Verchiel bounced into view, looking completely refreshed and too chipper for a freezing evening on a mountain. "Hello ladies! Did you miss me?"
The answer was a resounding "No."
***
When Jorick returned, they started the trek to Maeko's house. Katelina hurt everywhere, and the cold seeped through her clothes and into her bones. Luckily, the vampires were impatient, and Jorick scooped her up and carried her for most of the trip.
The house seemed like a glowing oasis in a sea of darkness. Katelina was even happy to see the small vampiress waiting for them on the porch. The girl wore what could only be called a lolita dress; puffy sleeves, ribbons and lots of lace. The doll she carried in her arms had a matching outfit.
She welcomed them and sent Ryuu to ready a bath.
"Would Jorick-ue like to bathe?"
He shook his head. "Katelina can go first. She probably needs it more than I do." The twinkle in his eyes said he was teasing, but she knew he was right. Except for his torn, grubby clothes he looked perfect.
"Yes, it will make Kate-chan feel better," Maeko agreed. "And then perhaps Verchiel-san would like a turn?'
Verchiel sniggered. At a dark look from Jorick he only said, "Sure, I'll wait."
Satisfied, Jorick gave Katelina a kiss and headed in to see the other vampires, while Katelina fetched her clothes and bathing supplies. Her luggage was still in the child's doll room and, as she tugged out her clothes, she noticed the doll Maeko had had yesterday. It lay on top of a dresser-sized cupboard, its face shattered.
Ryuu knocked on the door and announced that all was ready, and Katelina emerged to find the child vampiress waiting. Maeko cheerfully led her to the bathroom, though it was really two rooms instead of one. The first was small and tiled, with only a shelf and mirror, while the second was large. Its only contents were a tall steaming tub, a short stool and what looked like a showerhead and hose on the wall.
Katelina tried to calculate how the shower hose could possibly stretch to the tub. At a sound, she glanced up to see Maeko peeling off her clothes. "Um-"
The girl laughed. "You find bathing together strange."
Katelina clutched her bath supplies tightly. "A little."
"Though it is tradition to allow all guests to bathe first, you're not used to Japanese baths, so I'll show you." The girl undressed the doll next, folded their clothes and then moved to the stool and the shower nozzle. "You must wash first before you get in the tub."
Maeko hummed as she washed herself and her doll. Katelina hung back, lost to flashbacks of high school gym class. Even then she'd refused to bathe in the communal showers, not that she'd done enough in PE to warrant a shower.
Maeko rinsed herself off and slipped into the waiting tub. "Your turn!"
Katelina slowly shed her clothes and forced her feet to shuffle across the room, her arms thrown over herself. Her body was marked with jagged scars; the remnants of previous battles. Next to the child's perfect, creamy flesh it looked worse than usual.
Maeko giggled and made a show of covering her eyes. "Kate-chan is very shy!"
"You could say that," she muttered. She sat down on the stool and reached for the shower nozzle. Why are all the bathrooms so weird here?
When she was cleaned and rinsed, she lowered herself into the tub. The water was hotter than she was used to, but the warmth felt good. Despite the heat, she couldn't relax completely with the company.
Maeko uncovered her eyes and sank down so the water went to her chin. "You should not worry about Malick getting the Heart. It is perfectly safe."
"Senya has it," Katelina murmured weakly.
"No." Maeko sat up with a splash and laughed. "The heart in the shrine was a fake. The real one is here."
Katelina's eyes bulged. Loren and Verchiel had been nearly killed, the rest had been injured and she'd risked frostbite, all to claim a fake?
"It was necessary to trick Senya-san. Jorick-ue says that Malick-san will recognize the fake, but it has bought some time."
Some time was better than none, she supposed, but it was scarcely more comforting.
