Chapter 369
The sun was already up when the doctor released Katelina, or so she supposed by the empty halls.
As Jorick had said, they were relocated to a room deeper in the stronghold. The plus side was it was bigger. There were two bedrooms, one with a bed and one with a pair of coffins, a sitting room, and a bathroom as luxurious as the previous one. Instead of red the main color was green, though the same style of gilt framed paintings hung on the walls.
The size of the room wasn't the only thing that was increased. So was the feeling of someone prying, reading, watching; the heavy sensation brought on by the proximity of the ancient Kugsankal.
Katelina was still groggy from whatever they'd given her. Though the doctor had explained it to Jorick, she hadn't cared enough to listen. She struggled out of her clothes and didn't bother with pajamas. Her underwear was good enough. Jorick watched her with concern, but didn't say anything until they were both snuggled into bed, and then it was only, "Good night, little one."
She wasn't sure if she answered.
Jorick woke her the next evening. Her head hurt, and her limbs ached, but otherwise she was fine. The grogginess had finally lifted and she could see the world for what it was.
Not that that was a good thing.
The heavy feeling of being watched was more than she could stand. She declined Jorick's suggestion of a bath, as if the Kugsankal would be able to see her, and dressed as quickly as she could. He ordered breakfast, and told her that the trial wouldn't be until tomorrow.
"Tomorrow?" she echoed.
"You thought the Guild was rife with red tape, this place is ridiculous." He sipped his blood and nodded to her plate. "You should eat."
She followed his gaze to her breakfast. There was something she should remember. Something important. Something that had happened when she was in the clinic.
"What?" he asked, looking at her scrunched face with concern.
"I don't know. I can't remember." She tried to picture the scene. "Verchiel was there. He was being an idiot, and then- TV! That's it! The Children of Shadows were on the news. They called them a terrorist group, but I don't understand how they know about them. If I had a laptop I could look it up online."
Jorick stood. "They surely have computers somewhere. Finish your breakfast and we'll look. We have time."
Katelina finished and happily left the confines of the plushy new room. Now that everything was settled she felt stupid for yesterday's mad dash. Why had she supposed they wanted to put her in a cell? On the other hand, the blurry dream-like images of the dungeon were still in her mind. She could see the prisoners behind bars; pale naked skin, gaunt faces, desperate eyes. Jorick said it was a dream but she wasn't sure.
They found a library in the public area. Paneled in wood and lined in large, heavy bookcases, the place was surprisingly busy. A librarian showed them to an adjoining room where computer desks were arranged in neat rows. Katelina took a seat in front of one of the computers and Jorick grabbed the chair from another. With a few clicks she was on a search page. "I can't believe they have a vampire library. That's almost as weird as the shopping mall."
"Why?" Jorick asked. "Vampires read too."
"Of course they do." She tapped the keys and skimmed through the multiple results. "Let's see-" She clicked a link and the page loaded quickly. "Man, their internet is fast."
"I'll take your word for it. Did you find anything?"
"Let me see" She ran through the article, reading pieces aloud, "A little known terrorist group, calling themselves Children of Shadows, has taken responsibility for the bombing in Sivas, Turkey that destroyed buildings- yadda, yadda-millions of dollars in damage- killed people- injured- ah, here we go. Authorities are unsure where the Children of Shadows terrorist cell is based. The communication was traced to a location within Turkey- Local intelligence has no knowledge of the group or their intentions- The communication was a short nonsensical video message- threatens more violence against both children of day and night. Oh, there's a link." She clicked it and the page was replaced by another with a video box that started automatically.
A newscaster repeated most of what she'd already read, then they went to the video clip. A slim male stood in the forefront, dressed all in black and wearing a hood with only the eyes cut out, just like their attackers at the marina.
Behind him stood two males wearing long black coats. Their perfect skin and motionless expressions betrayed them as vampires. One had dark hair with narrow, cold eyes and the other had long reddish-brown hair that fell past his shoulders. Katelina motioned toward the screen and gasped. They were both Malick's lackeys: Ronnell and Cyprus. The first was a wind walker, whose super speed had made him an impossible foe before, and the other was their ally and who had betrayed them at the Raven Queen's temple.
"What in the hell?"
The man dressed as an assassin spoke with an accent that Katelina couldn't identify. "Though the sunlight shines, eternal night is waiting beyond the horizon, giving birth to its children in secret. Soon it will be a secret no longer. Sivas was only the first. We are the Children of Shadows and we bring with us the darkness of oblivion to those who stand in our way, to those who are weak, and those who should never have been born. We will take both children of day and night alike."
The clip ended with the strange horned symbol the attackers at the marina had worn. The newscaster was back, but Katelina paused the video and stared wide eyed at Jorick. "Did you see that? It was"
"Ronnell and Cyprus."
"But they work for Malick, not Samael! Does that mean he's restarted the group?"
Jorick spoke slowly, "I can't imagine Malick using that symbol. Memnon was a monster and an egomaniac. He and the Children of Shadows killed hundreds, human and vampire alike, and bathed in their blood because they could. I'd only been a vampire for twenty years or so. The Sodalitas existed then, but things were different. There were still multiple masters who controlled little kingdoms, with their own armies and servants. Memnon was one, of course, but his goal was to rule them all. Many of the Masters joined together, including Wolfe's master and Malick, and waged a bloody war. We hunted Memnon across Europe and into the dark countries. Taking his life was one of Malick's most honored momentshe was declared a hero. It was that victory that led to his eventual leadership of The Guild. That he would seek to undo that-" Jorick shook his head.
"That means Cyprus and Ronnell left Malick to join Samael." The thought made her shiver. So much for the ancient vampire not being a problem.
Jorick rubbed his head. "Let's see if Wolfe knows anything."
But Wolfe wasn't in the stronghold. Sadihra told them he was on assignment. "It's secret," she said and pursed her lips. "It isn't hard to guess where he's gone."
Even Katelina could figure it out: he was hunting the Children of Shadows.
"They've sent the video to all the governments, immortal and mortal." She broke off. "That Cyprus would be part of this-" She shook her head. "He isn't evil. He's just angry."
"Angry or not, he's publicly taken credit for what happened in Turkey."
"I know, and I worry what the consequences will be for him." She paused. "Have you fed? I could use the company."
Jorick shifted uncomfortably. "I have something to look into, but I'm sure Katelina would enjoy it."
Though she felt like the sacrificial lamb, it was better than going back to their room. "Sure."
"Good, let me get my key."
