Chapter 374
Jorick returned before Oren and motioned Katelina and Verchiel to follow him. They reached the lobby of the movie theater just as it was getting out. A group of vampires swarmed past, talking loudly about the movie and the lockdown. That was when Jorick leaned close to Katelina and said, "Sadihra will help us get out."
"Really?" A wave of relief swept through her.
"Why?" Verchiel asked.
"There's been an attack in Syria. Like Turkey, there were few survivors. Wolfe is in the field and since the attack she hasn't been able to reach him. She's worried he was injured or killed and since she can't go herself she wants us to. She's still suspended for her last rash vacation. If she leaves without permission again she's likely to be permanently relieved."
"Which is what caused the rift between her and Wolfe in the first place," Katelina said. "He wanted her to quit being a Scharfrichterin and she refused."
Jorick nodded. "If she gets relieved of duty then all of that was for nothing."
Katelina understood but it was still hard to believe. "I'm surprised she trusts us to go in her place."
Jorick smiled. "She doesn't, but she can't think of another solution."
Katelina was suspicious. "Did she think of this one on her own?"
"Of course."
She swore she saw something less than innocent in his eyes, but she swallowed her objections. "How are we going to get out?"
Jorick glanced at the dwindling crowd. "Sadihra fears there will be a revolt in the stronghold soon, and I agree. We'll wait until it's started and sneak out during the bedlam. Sadihra knows of a maintenance shaft that leads to the garage and she will arrange for a plane at the airfield."
"And if we get caught?" Katelina asked.
Verchiel grinned. "Best not to be, I imagine. Sounds like fun. When do we leave?" The crowd was thinning and any moment they'd be the only ones left.
"As soon as they revolt." Jorick caught Katelina's hand. "It wouldn't hurt if someone made sure the revolution started at a convenient moment. I suppose we'll have to wait until that moron is out of prison tomorrow. It would be better to go while he was there, more unexpected, but I doubt Oren would come. He has a bizarre sense of loyalty."
"Probably because Micah joined him in his war on The Guild," Katelina suggested.
Verchiel lit up. "So shall we spend time among the masses?"
"I believe that's a job for you," Jorick said.
***
They met the crew at the caf¨¦ the next day. It was teeming with vampires, and Katelina couldn't figure out why Jorick had chosen to meet there. "It's hardly discreet."
"The best place to hide is in plain sight," he answered. "This way the cameras won't be able to catch our conversation."
"What do they need with cameras when they have so many mind readers? Not to mention the Kugsankal in the basement."
"Because they're open to all the thoughts, all of the time. It would be near to impossible for them to keep them constantly untangled."
"Do you have that problem?"
Before he could answer they discovered Oren and the gang at a pair of tables. Micah leaned back in his chair and held his arms out. "What, Lunch, no 'yay you're out of jail' hug?"
"It takes more than that to get affection around here," Torina teased.
Before they could get derailed, Jorick took a seat and motioned them to silence. In a low voice he explained that Sadihra had offered to help them escape during the rebellion.
"What rebellion?" Torina asked. "We've only been locked down for five days."
"That's why it hadn't gotten very far," Verchiel said. "Luckily I prodded a bit. It might take another day or two to get organized."
Jorick nodded toward the corridor. "When the fighting starts we'll meet at the elevators near the coffee shop."
"Are you inviting Ume and I to go with you?" Quenby asked suspiciously.
Jorick nodded. "We want to meet with the Black Vigil."
"It was my idea," Ume said. "They need answers only Fethillen has."
Micah downed his blood in a single gulp. "Where is this Black Vigil at?"
"Northern Finland," Ume said.
Jorick interrupted. "Since we don't know when we'll leave, it's best to pack early and be ready. Take only what you must. The smaller your luggage, the better."
"What about all of my dresses?" Torina cried.
Oren snorted. "I suggest you learn to live with fewer."
The conversation fell off. Katelina turned to her pastry and tried not to seem conspicuously nervous. On the other hand, a human having lunch with eight vampires probably should be worried. She tried to ignore it, but vampires - even vampires she liked - were feeding off of humans in one way or another. The stronghold might sanitize it by getting it from blood banks and donors, putting it in glasses, and even adding cinnamon, but human blood was human blood.
When they'd finished eating, Jorick turned to Katelina. "Come, little one. I'm afraid you'll have to pare down your luggage, as well."
***
She soon learned that Jorick's idea of luggage was a large purse from one of the stronghold's shops.
"Not to sound like Torina, but you're joking?"
"We can get more clothing later," he said. "We cannot get out later. As soon as Wolfe surfaces , Sadihra's offer will evaporate."
"You think he will?" Katelina dumped her clothes and accessories out on the bed and started sorting. The overwhelming heaviness of the stronghold was there, but in the background, like a toothache dulled by painkillers.
"Yes. I imagine he's fine." Jorick pulled out a single shirt, a pair of trousers, the plastic soap holder and his toothbrush. "That should be more than enough for me. Traveling in luxury, really." He gave her a wink.
She gathered all her clean underwear into a wad and glared at him. "Hardly. If you think Wolfe's all right, then aren't we using Sadihra?"
"It depends on how you look at it. You might skip your pajamas. They're not necessary."
She hated to admit it, but he was right. Depending on their sleeping arrangements she might sleep fully clothed. "And that doesn't bother you?"
"What? Your sleeping without pajamas?" He grinned lasciviously. "Not at all."
"No! I mean using Sadihra!"
"She'd use us if she deemed it necessary, as would anyone. People are not as self-sacrificing as you think."
"Maybe they're not as self-centered as you think?"
He gave her an indulgent smile. "I'm afraid in five hundred years I've found the opposite is true. Never mind. Hang on to your optimistic innocence. It's one of the things I find so interesting about you."
"Only one?"
"Yes, there's quite a list." He picked up a Ziploc baggie that held random odds and ends; rubber bands, chap stick, nail polish, some gum, a tarnished metal cross. "I imagine you'll want this?"
She snatched it from him. "Do you really think we'll be able to get everyone out?"
"We'll have to. I can't leave Oren behind, and he refuses to go without his new coven. He'll never get the hang of being free of one."
"Not like you? Or am I the start of your coven?" she joked as she sifted through socks.
"You have to be a vampire to belong to a coven." He smirked. "Until then you're just a slave."
"I'll show you slave."
He leaned over her shoulder and murmured suggestively in her ear, "I might like to see it some time. You could start by calling me master."
He expertly dodged the shoe.
