Chapter 365
And then the Kugsankal's spell was broken and Katelina sagged. She let Jorick lead her away on shaking legs, too exhausted to even bemoan their situation. Jorick was more vocal.
"It's an excuse," he said angrily. "They can't force us to stay here as prisoners."
"Yes they can." Wolfe's attitude was detached. "However, if you cooperate you won't be imprisoned."
Jorick grunted. "Let them try."
They exited the barred door on what seemed like the bottom floor when a Scharfrichter nearly bowled them over. His long white hair fell around his shoulders and his icy blue eyes were alive with dismay.
Wolfe stepped back. "What is it, Hethin?"
"The Turkish stronghold has been destroyed."
"What?" Wolfe's gray eyes went wide. "By whom?"
Katelina clutched Jorick, and tried to digest the vampire's panicked words. A stronghold destroyed? Did he mean one like this?
"We received a call from a survivor only moments ago. The Turkish Dernek was attacked. The stronghold was utterly destroyed by a group calling themselves the Children of Shadows. They said the army moved like a wave, crushing everything in their path. There's barely anything left, and most of the survivors fled. Only a few remained behind."
Katelina caught her breath but Wolfe's face stayed impassive. "So they are back. Who is leading them?"
"Der H?here Rat fears it's Samael," Hethin answered. "They worry we'll be next."
"Samael?" Katelina whispered with horror.
Wolfe was reminded of their presence. "You can find your way back to your room?" Though Jorick didn't answer, Wolfe acted like he had. "You must excuse me." He caught Hethin's arm and practically dragged him down the corridor.
"Come little one," Jorick said quickly and did the same to her. The elevator was empty, but it stopped more than once to pick up passengers. Though Katelina expected them to be panicked, they were as calm as usual. A pair of women even discussed shoes.
Katelina and Jorick exited on their floor and she whispered, "How can everyone be so calm?"
"They don't know," Jorick said. "Don't say anything. Let der H?here Rat cause the panic when they announce it."
They reached the room and she practically fell onto the bed. It was too much in too short a time. The Kugsankal, their forced stay, and now the threat of an attack by a mysterious group. "Are they really coming here?"
Jorick leaned against the door and ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know."
"I thought Samael was supposed to start an apocalypse, not the Children of Shadows!"
Jorick closed his eyes. "Samael's legendary apocalypse is against mankindhumans. But, for all we know Samael is behind it."
"Why start with Turkey of all places? I didn't even know they had a guild!"
"Yes," Jorick said absently. "Though they call it the Dernek, apparently. Most countries have one. Munich's is the guild for Germany. It is also the head guild of Europe, and then, of course, the Kugsankal is over everyone." She looked confused and he explained, "Like Canada. They have a Canadian guild, and we have one in the United States, but it's not only for the United States. It's also over North America, so it's over Canada and Mexico." She blinked. "Never mind. It's a complicated hierarchy, and it doesn't matter."
A knock sounded on the door. Jorick opened it to find Oren and Etsuko. Oren took one look at Jorick's face and demanded, "What's wrong now?"
Jorick motioned them inside, and shut the door. Only after Oren took a seat did Etsuko sit.
"We spoke to the True Council," Jorick began, but another knock sounded. He made an agitated noise and jerked the door open to reveal Ume and her companion, Quenby. "Yes?"
"The stronghold is on lockdown!" Ume cried and hurried inside, Quenby on her heels. "They said we can't leave!"
"What?" Oren jumped to his feet. "What's happened?"
"The Children of Shadows attacked Turkey, and they think we'll be next," Katelina said and dropped into the last chair.
Oren looked to Jorick for confirmation. "We're stuck here?"
"That's what they told us at the desk just now," Ume said. "We were trying to find a way home because we can't afford rooms." She broke off and looked to Katelina. "You said that perhaps you could arrange something?"
Had she? It seemed like a lifetime ago, but a vague memory resurfaced. "Oh. I thought you could share with Torina since she has a room to herself."
Oren was suddenly aware of the strangers. "Who are you?"
"It's the girls we dragged here as prisoners. Der H?here Rat found them innocent and let them go," Katelina said. "Since it's our fault they're here"
Oren cut her off. "It hardly matters. Let them share her room, I don't care. There are more important things to worry about."
A third knock sounded on the door, and Jorick jerked it open with a growl. Verchiel was on the other side, his hands up. "Whoa! Chill out. It's only me."
He sauntered inside. "It's a little crowded in here." His eyes landed on Ume and as quickly moved on. "I guess you've heard."
"About the lockdown?" Katelina asked. "If the damage was as severe as they said, I don't understand what good locking us in will do."
Jorick said, "They have to look as though they're doing something. Everyone will expect The Sodalitas to keep them safe."
"How is keeping someone a virtual prisoner safe? It's just an excuse to take away their freedom."
"When you ask someone else to protect you, you've already given up your freedom. I'm going to go speak to Wolfe." Jorick met Katelina's eyes. "Stay here. You." He pointed to Verchiel. "Come with me."
Verchiel didn't argue, only cast a sort of horrified look at Ume before he hurried out the door.
***
Oren left shortly afterwards, taking the three women with him. Katelina paced the room in nervous circles. The initial fear of attack faded, and was replaced by the terror of being The Sodalitas' prisoner. Despite the words "for your own protection", that was what they were: prisoners.
She dropped into a chair and wrung her hands. What were they going to do?
The door swung open and Micah waltzed inside. "What the hell is going on?" He gave the room a quick once over. "Where the hell is Jorick? He left you by yourself?"
"Yeah, I am capable of sitting in the room alone," she snapped. "I'll tell him you were here."
"Fuck that, I'll wait on him." He threw himself into one of the other chairs. "So what's all this freak shit I hear about? Like you're some kind of mind reading ninja or some shit?"
"Fuck off, Micah." Katelina crossed her arms and glared. "It's nothing like that."
"Then what is it? And don't give me any bullshit. Your Executioner on the side was seriously fucking worried about it. If it's bad enough to shake his ass up, then it must be something pretty fucking big."
"You mean Verchiel?"
"Duh, Blondie, who else? Unless you got a bunch of them going on. I know you like to share with the team but"
"You're such a fucking jackass. Why don't you go away?"
"Coz I'm waiting for the other jackass. So, anyway, what's the deal?"
"There is no deal, all right?" she shouted as she jumped to her feet. "It's-it's just stupid!" All the fight seeped out of her. Her knees folded and she dropped back into the chair.
Someone pounded on the door and she groaned. It was starting to get ridiculous! Their room had turned into the Grand Central Station.
The pounding repeated and Micah asked, "You gonna get that?"
With a snarl she stormed to the door and jerked it open on a pair of crimson clad guards.
"Yes?" She stepped back, unsure of herself.
"Is Jorick here?" one asked in a thickly accented voice.
"No, he's supposed to be with Wolfe. Why?" Though the guards looked and acted perfectly friendly, the hair stood up on the back of her neck and she felt a warning in the air. She took another step back and her nervous eyes automatically searched the room for an escape route. She noticed that Micah stood with his arms loose and ready at his sides. It was as if they both sensed danger.
"You are the human of Jorick, yes?"
"What's it to ya?" Micah demanded as he pushed his way in front of her.
"We have orders to take her to a safer location," the guard explained. "If she will come with us?"
Safer location. What he really meant was the dungeon, and she wasn't going.
"I don't think so," Micah said. "You can wait 'til Jorick gets back and deal with him." He tried to shut the door, but the guard stuck his foot in it, and then wedged himself through.
"I apologize, but our orders say she must go now. You are?"
Micah pulled the door open, then slammed it again as the guard was half through it. He jumped back in time, except for his hand. His fingers were crushed between the door and the jamb. He cried out and Micah snarled, "I told you to fucking get lost!"
There was the sound of static, like a radio, and the other guard called something in German. Meanwhile, the first guard pulled his fingers out and forced the door open, knocking both Katelina and Micah onto the floor in a heap.
Katelina struggled to untangle herself, and Micah snapped, "Sit still, will ya?" He pulled loose and jerked to his feet as the guard stormed into the room. Micah's lips were pulled back from his snarling teeth and his fangs gleamed. For a moment he looked truly terrifying, and even Katelina drew back from him.
