Chapter 335
But if it wasn't one of them who had healed Katelina, then who was it?
Verchiel kicked his foot absently. "Oh, I imagine it happened while everyone was under that big pile of rocks." He gave another cough. "Almost everyone. I wasn't of course, and then there was that naked vampire you woke up."
Katelina sat up so fast she banged her head on the bunk above. "Ow! What are you saying? Are you saying that Samael-" It was too absurd to finish.
"Take it how you want," Verchiel said. "But someone gave you blood or else you healed on your own. Either way, it's bound to make things interesting later."
"But why would he? He was trying to kill us!"
"Maybe he figured he owed you for waking him up? I don't know!" Verchiel tapped the side of his head. "I might be an occasional mind reader, but I'm not that good, sweetheart."
"Occasional? You do it all the time!"
"Nah, half of it's just guessing. I'm good at that. Among other things." He waggled his eyebrows and she rolled her eyes. "Anyway, if you want to know what he was thinking, ask him next time we run into him."
She flopped back in the bed and groaned. "Does there have to be a next time? The True Council-"
Verchiel laughed. "Sure. The True Council. Because they've done so much already."
He was right. The best anyone had done was to send a handful of unprepared idiots out into the world. Wolfe, Sadihra, Neil. Thinking about the guard made her chest catch. He shouldn't have died like that. He shouldn't- the thought choked off and she blinked away the tears. He'd died trying to save her from Senya! His one act of bravery. It wasn't fair.
Verchiel was suddenly leaning over the bed, his voice low, "You're right, it isn't. But life's never fair. Just remember that he was trying to save you, so as long as you're alive he succeeded, and most of all, don't forget him. As long as you remember them, they're not really gone."
Her breath caught in her throat, and suddenly his serious expression was replaced by his usual cheerful demeanor. His violet eyes lit with mischief as he ruffled her hair. "Rest now, Kately. I'll see you later, huh?" And then he disappeared.
***
When Jorick returned she was still awake. He perched on the edge of the bed and stroked her hair silently. "They're preparing Neil's funeral now. I'm afraid it won't be like Kale's, but they've agreed to burn the body."
Katelina nodded and wiped an errant tear. "It should have been Cyprus," she murmured. "Since he was just going to betray us!" Anger burned in her. "It should have been him!"
"I know," Jorick murmured quietly. "But the universe has yet to give us the power to choose who lives and who dies."
"I thought you didn't believe in any of that?" she asked bitterly.
"I never said that. It doesn't matter. Come, get your coat."
He stood and she threw aside the blankets and did the same. She pulled on her oversized black coat, but her stocking hat was dirty, so she left it and followed Jorick outside. He led her around the buildings and back towards the hills. They walked through low brush until they came to a place that had been cleared. In the center was a mound of freshly cut wood and a black wrapped bundle. The whole assemblage was there, even the treasure hunting women. Sadihra was restored and leaned against Wolfe, his arm around her shoulders and his hand tangled in her hair. Jill held what looked like a champagne glass of blood, while Iris peered through her glasses at what would soon be a pyre. Agnes seemed to shrink in on herself, a look of pained remorse on her face, as if apologizing for her sister's lack of bereavement.
Maeko stood with her crew; Takeshi, Hikaru, and Ryuu. They were silent, hands clasped before them and expressions respectful. Verchiel stood with Sorino and Kai. Like Sadihra, the boy was completely healed.
Micah elbowed Loren and called, "About time you showed up!"
Maeko looked at him and shook her head and he broke off into dark murmurs.
Amari and Lurid appeared, carrying a gas can. Katelina had seen this before, and she didn't want to watch it again. She buried her face against Jorick as they splashed the foul smelling liquid on the pile and lit it. She squeezed her eyes closed as the flames glowed against the night. The scent of burning wood mixed with the smell of scorching flesh and she choked. She would never get used to that stench.
She glanced to where Oren stood with his sister. He stared into the flames and something strange settled in his eyes. Katelina wondered if he was thinking of a different bonfire, the one that had taken his wife and children.
The night was heavy with silence, and it was Jill who broke it. She lifted her glass in a toast, drained the crimson fluid, and tossed it into the fire. "If anyone needs me, I'll be on the plane."
Agnes and Iris followed, both glancing back over their shoulders as the fire grew higher.
"You'll have to excuse them," Sorino said. "They aren't used to events such as this. Relic collecting is not normally a high casualty endeavor. At least not the way they do it."
No one replied and Sorino tipped his head politely towards the fire and then motioned to Kai. "Come. I believe we will call it a night." He started towards the buildings, then stopped and turned back. "I assume you will want to return to the United States now that the Heart has been used?"
Katelina squeezed her eyes shut and prayed that the answer was yes.
"Perhaps," Jorick said. Katelina felt her shoulders sag, but reminded herself that it wasn't a no.
"Very well. Good evening." And then Sorino and Kai wandered away into the darkness.
Wolfe took Sadihra's hand. "We'll return to Munich tomorrow. I need to report to der H?here Rat and the Kugsankal. You should come with us. I am sure they will be interested to hear what you have to say."
"You're still trying to be a hero and bring us in?" Verchiel asked with a grin.
"No. I thought only that they could arrange better accommodations for your return trip. Your Guild has no interest in prosecuting you for anything, and so neither will der H?here Rat. I am sure the Kugsankal cared only to recover the Heart. Since it is lost, they no longer need you, either. Besides, it would be bad for international relations."
"They'll be too busy with me," Sadihra said quietly.
Wolfe squeezed her hand. "We'll ask for leniency. Explain that it was part of our plan to lull the Americans into a false sense of security." Katelina started and the Scharfrichter glanced at her with what looked like the beginning of a smirk, then he led his girlfriend away.
Katelina turned to Jorick. "Was it really?"
"No. And the High Council won't believe it, either. They'll probably punish them both, though not too harshly. With Malick and Samael out there, they'll soon have their hands full."
She had to ask a question, though she was afraid of the answer. "What's to stop him from making an army of super vampires and taking over the world."
Jorick didn't meet her eyes. "Absolutely nothing."
