Chapter 318
It was after midnight before Hector arrived with the new guests. Though Katelina didn't get to see the strange vampire, she heard his clipped British accent crackling over the loudspeaker. One of the scantily clad slave women came to fetch the "interested parties" shortly afterwards. Jorick, Katelina, and Oren followed her.
They wound their way to the back office where they'd found Sorino the night before. The small table had been cleared and sitting in the center was what looked like a tarnished metal cylinder. Thadimus stood over it, his mustache bushier than Katelina remembered and his robes just as white. Sorino sat in the chair with Kai standing next to him, once again on his ridiculous chain. Behind them stood Lurid, a dark skinned vampire with beaded dreadlocks that Katelina had met on a couple of occasions. On either side of him was a woman. One had short cropped hair and a set of glasses, and the other had a hairstyle that made Katelina think of Jackie Kennedy. She didn't recognize the latter, though the former seemed familiar. And then, she placed her. She'd been at the Citadel during the attack. She, Sorino, Lurid and another woman had been having an informal treasure hunters' meeting in the bar. Iris, that was it!
As if called from the memory, the third woman stepped out of the shadows. Her shoulder length hair was cut so straight that it looked like a wig, and her eyes glowed as she surveyed the newcomers. She gave Jorick a once over, then leaned to Lurid and whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear, "Is that him?"
Lurid rolled his eyes. "Yes, Jill. That's him."
Iris squinted behind her glasses. "Who's with him? Is it a woman?"
"It's his pet. You met her once, at the Citadel."
Katelina frowned at the title, but Thadimus interrupted. "Greetings! Greetings! Now that everyone is here! Wait. It seems we are one customer short. Where has he gone?"
"I'm right here." The vampire who stepped through the doorway was both beautiful and elegant. Long chestnut hair skimmed his shoulders, and his embroidered vest and ruffled shirt made him look as though he'd stepped from history. His cold gray eyes revealed the truth of his personality, as did the sly smile that twisted his lips.
It was Traven. Not that seeing him in the company of Lurid was a surprise. The first time she'd seen the dreadlocked vampire he and Traven had been whispering about their plans to find the Heart. Though, they'd thought someone else had it. Neither had suspected a child vampire in Japan, but then who had?
Traven gave them a chilly smile. "Well hello Jorick - and Oren. How interesting to see you alive. I heard you were killed during the battle. My mistake. The story is that you ran away."
"Traven," Oren growled the name like a curse.
"You have no reason to be cross with me. Many of my coven died in a battle that you walked away from. If anyone should be angry it should be me."
"You?" Katelina cried. "You blew off Loren's hand and then you let your wife get executed to save your own skin! You're nothing but a spineless, cowardly-"
Traven motioned her to be silent. "Can't the infamous Hand of Death control his human?"
"She can do as she pleases," Jorick answered. "We were never friends, Traven, and are less so now."
"Why? You don't blame me for the accident with the explosives, do you?"
"It wasn't an accident!" Katelina snapped. "You did it on purpose to try to save yourself from the Executioners!"
"And it didn't work!" Verchiel materialized behind the surprised Traven. "It seems we meet again!"
Traven's self-assurance crumbled and he stepped away quickly, panic in his eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you. After the trial some questions came to light concerning who the true leader of your coven was and we need to question you."
Traven made a strangled noise and practically flung himself against the wall. A collection of chipped pots tottered dangerously and Thadimus lunged to catch them. "See here, this is valuable merchandise!"
Verchiel broke into a broad grin. "I'm only joking. It's nice to see your face has recovered from-" he broke off and mimed slamming Traven's head into the wall. "Funny things happen in war."
Traven adjusted his ruffled collar and glared bitterly. "Yes. Funny." He turned to Thadimus. "Can we move these proceedings along?"
"Yes, yes, of course." Thadimus held up the cylinder. "Shall we start the bidding?"
Sorino steepled his fingers. "Perhaps we could see the scroll first? I don't want to cast any doubt on your otherwise excellent reputation, however-"
Thadimus arched a bushy eyebrow. "I'll try to take your suggestion in the light it was made. Of course, of course, you want to see the merchandise." He snapped a catch on the end of the canister and delicately slid out a rolled piece of parchment. "Here it is, ladies and gentlemen."
Lurid stepped forward. "Could you unroll it?"
"Unroll it? Unroll it? My dear, sir, have you not done business with me before? Have I ever cheated you? But no, no, of course, of course." Thadimus set the canister aside and carefully unrolled the paper on the tabletop. "Here it is for all and sundry to gaze upon."
Katelina leaned forward and stared at what looked like faded scribbles. The writing looked sort of Arabic, but not quite, as if someone had made it up. "What language is that?"
Thadimus sniffed. "Sanskrit, of course, child."
"Vedic Sanskrit, to be precise." Sorino tugged out his jeweler's glass and peered at the paper. "Let's see- an object of power-. The Great Destruction- The Heart of the- hmmm. This translates into something closer to large bat, I believe."
Not to be outdone, Traven produced what looked like a digital magnifier on steroids. He clicked buttons and twiddled dials, murmuring, "Mmmhmmmm."
Thadimus lifted his thumb and the scroll snapped shut again. "That's quite enough. Who would like to start the bidding? Shall we say ten thousand pounds?"
Traven tugged at his vest. "How can we be sure it's the document you claim it is? If the translation is Heart of the Large Bat?"
Thadimus scowled at Sorino's smug smile. "Things are lost in translation. Perhaps Sanskrit didn't have a word for raven? Who would like to start the bidding?"
"What information is in the document?" Jill crossed her arms. "If it's just another version of the legend, we all know it."
Thadimus gave an exasperated sigh. "This scroll is more than just the legend you know! It holds all the secrets of the Heart of the Raven!"
"Including the location?" Sorino asked with a smirk.
Thadimus faltered. "Well, perhaps. Who's to say? Buy the scroll and find out! Let's start the bidding at twelve thousand pounds."
"I thought it was ten?" Iris interjected.
"Ten has come and gone. Who will give me twelve?" No one moved, and then Traven held up his hand. "Excellent. Thirteen?" Sorino motioned and Thadimus nodded. "Fourteen?"
