Chapter 320
Something stirred and Katelina discovered she wasn't alone. Torina and the three treasure hunting women lounged on the benches, their eyes on her.
"Don't you look cheerful?" Torina commented. "What's your problem?"
The last thing she wanted was to discuss it with them. "Nothing."
Torina shrugged. "If I cared enough, I could read your mind and find out for myself, but I don't."
"Good." Katelina leaned against the cool metal building and shivered. Bugs chirped and the generators hummed. A goat bleated. It was Iris' companion that broke the silence.
"My name's Agnes, and this is my sister, Iris. You are?"
"She's The Hand of Death's pet," Jill answered.
It didn't seem to mean much to Agnes, but Iris squinted through her glasses. "Is she all right?"
"Yes," Torina said impatiently. "She's been spying on her little friend and got a nasty shock is all." She met Katelina's eyes. "Just because her body didn't grow up, doesn't mean the rest of her didn't. Why else do you think she keeps her little attendants?"
"But she plays with dolls!" Katelina cried. "She's- she's a-"
"Child? Hardly. She's older than I am." Torina stood and stretched. "If you'll excuse me, ladies, I could use a drink."
Torina sashayed into the nearest building and Katelina started to mumble her own excuses when Traven waltzed into the courtyard, a sour expression on his face.
Jill laughed. "Are you still upset? Honestly, how could you have expected a translation?"
Traven tugged at his vest and sniffed. "How else would Thadimus know what was in it?"
"Obviously he doesn't," she answered. "Really, Traven, do you think we don't know? You planned to buy the scroll and sell it to Sorino, until he pointed out that he knew the language and you didn't. You realized then he had the upper hand and you'd never be able to charge him double for it. Honestly, the competition between the two of you is amusing."
"Think what you want. Either way, I'll get what I wanted, and that's a translation."
Iris squinted towards him. "What are you going to do with it?"
"Make even more money." Traven's smile was cold. "If you'll excuse me, I'm feeling a bit peckish."
He'd taken two steps when Micah's voice boomed, "Traven!"
Agnes clutched her chest, her eyes wide. "Good heavens! What was that?"
As if in answer, Micah charged out of the narrow alleyway and skidded to a halt. His lips were pulled back from his fangs and his chest heaved with fury. "Where is that fruity prick? I'm going to rip his goddamn arms off and beat him to death with them!"
Iris adjusted her glasses. "And you are?"
"None of your goddamn business! Where is he?" He suddenly spied Traven and growled low. Traven took several hurried steps backwards, and then stopped and adjusted his clothes, as if fighting for his dignity. "Can I help you?"
Micah stormed towards him and grabbed him by the front of his ruffled shirt. "Damn straight, you piece of shit!" He flung him against the nearest building. The impact rattled the metal siding, and Traven slid to the ground. He snarled and jerked to his feet.
"You're going to be sorry for that, Micah, isn't it?"
"Don't you wish? Only you ain't got your explosives bitch here!" Micah charged him. Traven dodged but the bald vampire grabbed his wrist and twisted his arm. "How about I rip this off and see if it'll fit Loren, huh?"
Katelina pressed back against the wall and watched. Let Micah tear the coward to shreds. She wouldn't say a thing except, "Good job."
The sisters huddled close together, eyes wide and mouths open. "Iris!" Agnes cried. "We should do something!"
Jill crossed her legs and leaned forward, as if enjoying a show. "Leave them, dear. Traven can handle himself, can't you darling?"
Traven snarled and punched Micah in the face with his free arm. The bald vampire snickered and twisted harder. The snap echoed through the courtyard, followed by Traven's scream.
"Oh my," Jill said. "My money's on the bald brute after all."
Traven's scream strangled into a growl and he sprung at Micah and tore into his arm with his fangs. Micah cursed and jerked away. Traven used the distraction to slip from his grasp and dance backwards several steps. His arm hung at an odd angle and his face was smeared in Micah's blood. His cold eyes blazed with fury and his lips were pulled back from his snarling fangs. He gave a false lunge and then jumped back against the nearest building. "Thadimus!"
Micah wiped the blood from his arm and approached Traven slowly, a cruel smile on his lips. "Callin' for someone to save your pussy ass?" He stopped before him and Traven tried to drop into a roundhouse kick, but Micah grabbed him by the throat and lifted him in the air. Traven's broken arm swung and he clawed at Micah's hand with the other and kicked his legs.
Micah slammed him into the building and then smashed his fist into the vampire's gut. Traven gave a choking cry and gasped out, "Thadimus!"
"Whatever is going on?"
Katelina looked to see the mustached vampire standing in the doorway of one of the buildings, a scantily clad slave girl next to him. He shouted something foreign and clapped his hands. The woman nodded and hurried away down the narrow alley Katelina had been in earlier.
Thadimus moved towards them. "Please, friend, I believe there has been a misunderstanding."
Micah glanced over his shoulder. "I don't think so. This piece of shit is going to pay for what he did!"
Thadimus held up his hands. "Now, now, Thadimus' Treasure Trove is an oasis in the desert; not only an oasis of beauty and refinement, but also a sanctuary of peace. So long as Traven is within the walls of my compound-"
"Oh shut up." Micah bashed Traven in the face. "When I get done pounding the life outta' this prick he can have all the peace he wants."
The scantily clad woman dashed across the courtyard, three dark skinned, half naked men behind her; more of Thadimus' slaves. She motioned wildly and the men hurried forward.
"I ask once more for you to see reason." As Thadimus spoke he moved back, motioning his slaves towards Micah.
The bald vampire snorted and punched Traven in the stomach with enough force to break the skin and leave blood flowering on his white shirt. "Sorry, but ain't no one gonna save him this time."
"That's what you think," Traven croaked out.
Micah turned and saw it at the same time as Katelina. One of the slave men ran towards Micah, swinging a long stick. The bald vampire laughed and batted him away, while the second attacked from the side. Micah spun on him just as the third stepped forward, popped the pin on a red metallic ball, and threw it. It rolled to a stop near Micah's feet, hissing softly, as if releasing an invisible gas.
Invisible gas! Katelina recognized it. It was NR2! The gas that The Guild had created to incapacitate vampires!
"Kick it!" she shouted, but the chemical had already taken effect. Micah dropped his arm and Traven fell to the ground in a heap. The bald vampire blinked once, twice, then staggered backwards.
"What the fuck?"
Traven limped away as fast as he could, his handkerchief to his nose. He hid behind Thadimus and shouted, "I warned you!" Then he broke off into a string of French that sounded like obscenities.
Micah fell to one knee and the half-naked males closed in, their stick clubs raised. As humans, they weren't affected, just as Katelina wasn't. Indecision warred through her. She didn't like Micah, but she couldn't let them beat the crap out of him for doing something she wanted to do herself.
"Hey! Leave him alone!" She charged into the midst and stood in front of the sagging vampire, her hands on her hips. "You already knocked him out!"
The treasure hunting women had moved back, well away from the gas hissing into the night. Katelina could see Jill filling Iris in on the details and waving her hands to illustrate. Agnes clutched her chest, her eyes wide. "You shouldn't get involved!"
She was probably right, but it was too late. "I said back off!" She snapped at the slaves.
"Fuck. Being defended by Lunch. Might as well- let- them- finish me." Micah gave a final gasp and then fell unconscious to the ground.
Thadimus clapped his hands and reeled off foreign words. The slaves lowered their clubs and stepped back, their wary eyes on Katelina.
"Take his blood!" Traven boomed. "The laws demand it!"
Thadimus shook his head. "I am sorry, my friend, but no government rules here and so no set of laws are said to prevail except my own." He motioned to Katelina. "It is all right, child, your friend will not be harmed."
There was no point in arguing labels. "What are you going to do with him?"
"I will see he is taken to his room where he can sleep off the effects of the control gas." He gave his slaves another command and they dropped their weapons and busied themselves lifting Micah's bulk. Katelina stepped aside and watched their every move, as if to be sure they were doing as he promised. Somehow Thadimus had the gas from The Guild. What other devices and poisons might he have?
Traven pulled away. "In that case you can tell Sorino he owes me twenty-thousand pounds. I have no intention of remaining until he finishes the translation."
"Come, come," Thadimus said. "What is a little fighting between friends? You may have some blood, free of cost, to heal your injuries, as well as my word that you are perfectly safe. My guards will see to it that your friend does not-"
Traven mopped up blood from his broken nose. "I'm not afraid of that clownish oaf, if that's what you're insinuating. I could have handled him without your interference, however I have no intention of staying in a place where a- barbarian such as he is given consideration."
Thadimus' eyes hardened. "Of course, of course, whatever you feel you must do. One of the slaves will drive you to the airfield, but it's a three-hour journey. You'll be racing the sun, and you may need to stay in Hector's accommodations. They are rustic at best."
The slaves carried Micah through the door and Katelina followed. She heard Traven say, "I'm sure I'll make do." Followed by Jill's laughter.
"As if he's fooling anyone! He's afraid for his life."
Katelina gritted her teeth as their voices faded away. If anyone deserved to be scared, it was Traven!
