Chapter 330
Senya lunged at Jorick. Katelina saw Verchiel standing near Kai, and then he was a red blur that crashed into the vampiress and tackled her to the ground. Her knife flashed silver and he jerked away. Senya swept to her feet and, before Katelina's startled eyes, she seemed to disappear.
Only she didn't. She was there, but she wasn't. It was as if by the time Katelina's brain could process that Senya had been in a location, she was already several steps ahead, leaving nothing but a wavery after image, like a phantom.
Of course.
Neil seemed to be the only one who wasn't affected by her abilities. Though he cringed against the wall, he shouted, "Look out!" just before Sadihra gave a cry of pain and stumbled backwards, a dark gash across her face.
The Scharfrichterin gave a wave of her hand and sent a cloud of dirt and small rocks flying at Senya. As the cloud enveloped her, Katelina could see a dark, bobbed haired silhouette among the dust, and then she was suddenly unable to concentrate on her.
Neil stopped his attempted escape to yell, "She's right in front of you, Cyprus!"
The Executioner grabbed the axe from Neil's pack and swung it. Katelina thought it made contact but she couldn't be sure.
"She can't keep it up much longer!" Jorick shouted.
Senya seemed to flicker like a bad projection and then she was solid. "No, but I don't need to."
The vampires spun in unison as two newcomers appeared. Katelina squinted through the darkness and waited for their faces to register in her memory. It was the wind walkers who'd attacked them at the shrine. Ronnell wore his bizarre metal sleeve again, with three blades extended between his fingers. Arlen wielded a sword whose blade ended in a square with a hook like notch on one side.
Jorick made a show of throwing the pack he carried to Wolfe, then he charged the wind walkers. As he'd no doubt planned, Senya spun towards the Scharfrichter. Wolfe threw the pack over his shoulder and pulled a weapon from his coat. It looked like several different blades stuck on a short handle. Senya drew her second knife and the vampires crashed together in a clash of metal. Sadihra sent a handful of rocks raining down on the former Executioner, but Arlen, the blond wind walker, was suddenly in front of the Scharfrichterin. He slashed at her with his square sword and she dodged out of the way, though the hook at the end of the blade tore her flapping coat.
Cyprus snarled and launched himself at the wind walker. Arlen seemed to disappear and reappeared behind him. He swung his weapon savagely. Verchiel appeared between them and blocked the blow with his sword.
Meanwhile, Ronnell circled Jorick, his right hand a loose fist that let the blades of his weapon stand out like a comic book characters. Neil hesitated and then pulled the pack from his back and threw the folding shovel to Jorick. The dark vampire caught it with one hand, snapped it open and swung it in a single movement. The wind walker jumped out of the way and spun back in a Matrix-style move. His claws bit into Jorick's arm, but the dark vampire didn't flinch, only whirled and clocked his attacker in the back of the head with the shovel. The sharp edge of the blade sent blood droplets flying and Ronnell howled in pain and surprise. He stumbled forward into Cyprus. The Executioner swung the axe at him and missed.
Katelina backed up until her legs banged into the platform. She clutched her hands to her chest, as if that would help conceal the heart she was still carrying. She looked quickly towards Sorino and Kai who stood off to the side. The thin vampire's expression was a cool veneer and Kai kept the flashlight's beam trained on the melee. Katelina wanted to shout at them to help, but she doubted they'd be of much use; not against those three. She well remembered the flight through the woods.
Three unfamiliar vampires rushed into the room. Gold emblems glittered around their necks, and weapons were in their hands. Senya called to them and then she seemed to flicker again, disappear and reappear near Jorick, her knife raised. He turned in time to see her and used a sweeping kick to try to knock her to the ground. She bounced away to land a few feet from him in a crouched position, a snarl on her face.
Kai's flashlight moved away from the battle, though parts of it were still visible in the ambient light. Katelina could see the new vampires bouncing into the fray. She watched Jorick slam into one and send him flying. Sadihra took another one, while Wolfe blocked Ronnell.
Arlen was suddenly in front of Katelina. She jumped to the side, but she wasn't fast enough. He grabbed her arm and hauled her forward. Weaponless, she had only her free hand to fight him with, and it had no effect.
Jorick broke away from his opponent, but Senya was closer. Before he could reach them, the former Executioner snatched Katelina from her captor and held her before her, like a shield. She ripped back the heavy hood to expose Katelina's face and throat, then pressed a knife under her chin. "This has dragged on long enough, Jorick. I'm tired of chasing you from one country to another. I'm not interested in a tour of Europe. Give me the Heart and I'll give you back your pet."
The blade was cold against Katelina's skin and the taste of terror was sharp on her tongue. The brief struggle with Arlen had left her breathless but, even if she'd had the energy, she was too afraid to fight.
Jorick's voice was hard and even, though his eyes burned like black fire. "Let her go, Senya."
"The Heart for your pet," Senya repeated.
Katelina's legs shook and her hands were damp inside her mittens. She looked wildly around the room, seeking an escape. There was nothing.
Jorick stepped forward, the folding shovel raised threateningly. "This is your last chance."
Senya's tone was bored. "No, it's your last chance." She snaked an arm around Katelina's waist and pulled her back against her. "No deal? Fine then, we're leaving. When you've come to your senses you can find us with Malick."
Malick. The name screamed through Katelina's brain. She couldn't let Senya take her to him. Without Jorick there to stop him, there was no telling what he'd do to her. Torture her. Drink from her. Turn her and leave her indentured to him for a thousand years. No, no, no!
Jorick snarled and lunged, but Senya sidestepped him easily. Katelina felt a strange, light sensation, and then Senya dragged her across the room towards the door. Jorick spun in a circle and Katelina realized that Senya had managed to hide them both. At first it seemed impossible, but then it made sense. She could hide her clothing and her weapons, so why not another person, so long as they were close to her?
But, hiding another person had to take more concentration, which meant she was already distracted. If her attention could only be diverted for a second, Katelina was sure she could escape.
"Over there!" Neil shouted wildly, waving his arm towards them. Jorick lunged in the direction he pointed, but Senya gave a burst of speed and dodged out of the way. Neil shouted again, waving his arms. When no one moved, he grabbed the pack like a shield and darted towards them.
Senya snarled and bounded for the door. She glanced over her shoulder as Neil grew closer, and Katelina seized the moment. She dug her heels in and dropped straight down, sliding out of Senya's arms. She hit the floor and rolled away. Senya skidded to a stop and spun back, her knife ready and her lips pulled back in a snarl. Neil bounded forward, the pack raised as if to use it as a battering ram, and his face set. Katelina tensed for the collision but Arlen suddenly appeared in front of him, swinging his sword. It happened so fast that Neil's body kept moving while his head sailed backwards.
A scream tore from Katelina's lips as blood splattered over her. Neil's body crumpled to the floor and Arlen sliced through the torso with his sword, then twisted and yanked so that the hook shaped notch near the end came back full of gore and bone. The headless body twitched once, then fell still, blood pouring from the stub of his neck to pool on the dirty floor.
Katelina scrambled backwards on her hands. Someone grabbed her and she tried to twist away until Jorick's voice sounded near her ear. "Be still."
He hauled her to her feet and shoved her behind him. "Stay near the wall!"
