Chapter 327
Jorick woke Katelina when he climbed in next to her. The bed was narrow and she mumbled that there wasn't room but, once he was settled, she snuggled against him and drifted back to sleep. When she woke again, Jorick was asleep next to her. Pale sunlight leaked underneath the door. The room was dark otherwise, and she stared through the gloom at the mattress suspended above. She wasn't sure who was up there, but the lack of movement suggested it was a vampire.
She closed her eyes and tried not to think about what was going to happen that night. Jorick had volunteered her to go in a helicopter and help them- what? Replace the Heart in a several thousand-year-old vampire corpse in the hope that it would spring to life and do their bidding? The whole thing sounded crazy.
The more she tried not to think about it, the more she dwelt on it. When Jorick woke up she was going to tell him that she wasn't going.
Jorick gasped for breath next to her, the sign that he was awake. Since breathing was unnecessary for him, once he was asleep he usually stopped, but when he woke she supposed habit took over. She wondered if the same thing would happen to her when she was a vampire.
When. Not if. The thought was telling, and it told more than she wanted it to. She wasn't in a hurry to become one of the living dead, but- but eventually she'd have to if she wanted to stay with Jorick. The question was how long she could put it off for.
"As long as you want," Jorick said softly. He slipped his arms around her and pulled her to him, pressing her against the unyielding length of his body. She made a soft noise and he nuzzled his lips against her neck. His voice was half humor, half remorse. "A pity we're in community housing."
The body above them stirred and Oren muttered sarcastically, "Perhaps everyone could go away to give you some private time?"
Katelina could feel Jorick smiling against her. "Excellent. If you could organize that?"
Oren snorted and swung to the floor. The last of the sunlight was gone and the darkness was so thick that she couldn't see him, only hear as he walked across the room and then flipped on the light. "We don't have time for that. We have Sorino's trip to the temple."
"It isn't Sorino's trip." Jorick gave Katelina a final kiss, and then stretched and slid out of bed.
"My mistake." Sarcasm dripped from Oren's words. "I forgot it was your idea to track down a useless corpse."
"Perhaps not my idea, but if we can thwart Malick-" he trailed off with a smug smile.
"If. We have only the treasure hunter's word as to what the scroll says. For all we know, it's a trap."
Maeko hopped down from one of the bunks. "I don't think so. I don't sense that much deception in him."
"That much?" Katelina echoed. Comments like that made her less enthusiastic about the trip.
"Of course there's some deception," Jorick said. "Because he thinks he will be able to take control at the last minute, but he's mistaken."
Oren scowled. "And what's to say he doesn't plan to take control by killing us?"
"I wouldn't be surprised if he does, which is why Katelina will come with me and you'll stay here."
Katelina sat up too fast and bumped her head on the bed above. "Ow! What?"
"The women treasure hunters don't appear interested in going, though I can see the desire plainly in their minds. No doubt they're to stay behind and take Katelina hostage while I'm with Sorino in the mountains."
"So you'll leave us to be taken hostage?" A smile tugged at the corner of Oren's mouth.
Jorick chuckled. "I imagine Torina could take the three of them by herself, but if not you and Micah can surely handle them."
Something like a moan sounded from one of the bunks and Micah groaned, "Did I hear my name?"
Jorick continued, "The redheaded idiot has volunteered to go. He and Sorino are friends, so I wouldn't put it past him to be involved."
Katelina opened her mouth to defend Verchiel, then the tarot reading came back to her. "A fearless warrior offers aid then brings betrayal and death." It couldn't really be- He wouldn't really-
"He also volunteered the guard, but Neil's mind is transparent. If there's a plot, he's not involved."
Oren nodded. "That makes seven with the treasure hunters and Sorino's human. She said you could take nine."
"Cyprus," Jorick said. "He won't be part of Sorino's agenda." He glanced towards Maeko. "Sorino will expect you to go."
She nodded. "Sadihra-san should go in my place."
Oren's eyebrows shot up, but Jorick motioned him to silence. Katelina climbed out of bed, a hand held absently to her head and a question in her eyes. It was answered when a knock sounded on the door.
"Come in, Wolfe," Jorick called.
Katelina stiffened as Wolfe walked in. His cold gaze swept over the room, and stopped on Jorick. "The Kugsankal has ordered me to take you back to Munich. Why are they after you?"
"I thought you knew?"
"If I knew I wouldn't ask."
Katelina could see the debate on Jorick's face. "They think I have something they want."
Wolfe's expression stayed neutral. "It's the same thing Malick's after."
"Yes."
Maeko crossed to Wolfe and stared up into his face. "I believe we can trust him, Jorick-ue." She gave him a final scrutiny and said, "We have the Heart of the Raven and today Jorick-ue is taking it to the temple of Lilith to return it to her body and resurrect her."
Wolfe's perfect veneer flickered and then returned. "I see. The Heart was stolen from the Kugsankal when Malick left for the New World." His eyes slid to Jorick. "You took it from him, and he wants it back so he can revive Lilith himself."
Jorick nodded. "Close enough."
"Then I'll go with you."
As the words left his lips, Katelina realized what the fortune meant; not Verchiel, but Wolfe. "No!" she cried. "I don't trust him, Jorick!"
Jorick eyed the Scharfrichter. "Neither do I, but I know he's not allied with Sorino."
"You've already chosen nine," Oren reminded him.
"Cyprus is also a pilot. He landed the plane in Russia and he's capable of assisting the woman," Jorick replied. "We should feed so we can go. The site is more than seventy miles from here."
Seventy miles in a helicopter? Katelina groaned. Being taken hostage by Jill seemed like a better plan.
