Chapter 390
The sun was still above the horizon, but in the bustle of the city it was lost behind the buildings. Deep violet shadows gathered and threw fingerlike tendrils across the churned snow. Katelina and Ume left the abandoned building behind and walked down the street. The buildings around them were also empty, marked with signs written in a symbol language Katelina didn't understand. The street ended at another, and it was like stepping from a graveyard into the throbbing pulse of life. People zipped past on bicycles and women in dresses and headscarves moved in chattering groups. Cars wound down the road, but the pedestrians appeared unconcerned, and crossed in front of them at will.
Despite the people Katelina felt they stood out; Ume in her bizarre pajama-like ensemble and herself in a dusty, too big black trench coat and rumpled stocking hat.
Ume shielded her eyes and gazed at the skyline. "I wonder how far the Birlik is?"
Katelina shrugged. They walked in silence, threading their way through the people, eyes on the tall onion domes of a distant building, until Katelina couldn't take it anymore. "You know Sushel is up to something."
"I think so, yes. He and I were never the best of friends and now-" Ume trailed off into a sigh. "He blames me for Ken's death. It doesn't help that AkiVerchielwas the one who killed him."
Katelina remembered Verchiel stabbing one of their attackers through the heart. "I can see how that would make it worse."
"Before Ken joined us, Sushel was always a loner. When they first met they were enemies, but they turned into best friends, and though they didn't advertise it I believe it turned into something more. I understand his anger. I felt the same when Sibila was killed."
Ume stopped and Katelina imagined she was waiting for a response. "Who's Sibila?"
"She was my best friend. She had a mate once, but he was killed long ago, and so she was alone and I was alone. We became friends quickly and did everything together; trained together, worked together. Shortly before I first met you we heard rumors about the resurrection of the Children of Shadows, and Fethillen sent out spies. Sibila and Tye did not return. I begged to search for them, and finally Fethillen relented and sent someone. They brought back Sibila's blood stained sickle and I knew she was dead. The Children of Shadows, or one of their allies, killed her and Tye. That was why I was so eager to go to Indonesia. I wanted blood for blood."
Katelina remembered Fethillen's words, "I cannot find their base, and so I send people to search. Most come back; two do not." Sibila and Tye were the two who'd disappeared.
"I'm sorry."
"We all have many things to be sorry for," Ume said quietly. "Blood for blood did not work out and yet I feel it was Sibila who led me there to find Aki. I believe she wanted to make sure I wouldn't be alone."
"What about the Black Vigil? If you're with them you're not alone."
"Yes and no," Ume said. "You've probably noticed there is a lack of- warmth. It is more business than pleasure. Not to say I don't have attachments to some of them; Gorn, Laura, Jewel, Kellin, but it isn't the same as love. I loved Sibila as a sister, but I do not love the others, and I doubt they love me."
"It's just as well, since Sushel is trying to convince them to kill you when Fethillen's not looking." She covered her mouth, as if she could stuff the words back in.
Ume sighed sadly. "I'm not surprised. I wonder if he'll be able to win them to his side?"
The sky darkened and the city lights grew brighter. Katelina took a couple photos of the skyline and one of a tiled building, and then she and Ume turned back. As they drew near Jorick dropped out through the window and straightened, his expression one of urgency. He spotted Katelina and ran to her with a cry of relief. Before she could react, he'd swept her up into his arms and pressed his forehead to hers. He let out a long sigh of relief that melted into a growl of anger.
"Where have you been?"
"Ume and I went for a walk." She was confused at the sudden one-eighty.
"What were you thinking?" His dark angry eyes snapped from one to the other. "You went for a walk in a foreign city, with no papers and no protection! Do you realize what could have happened?"
"I'm sorry," Ume said quickly. "It was my fault."
It felt like the conversation on the plane, "Little woman needs to know her place!" And Katelina snapped, "There's nothing to be sorry for. Ume and I can take care of ourselves."
Verchiel dropped through the window, his tone agitated. "The Russians saw her earlier but Kately! There you are!"
"Yes," Jorick said coldly. "I found her."
"All's well that ends well," the redhead quipped. "Might I suggest we hop back inside and discuss our plans for the evening?"
Much to Katelina's disgust, the vampires fed on rats. Loren and Micah left and returned with bottled water and steaming cartons of takeout. It was some kind of meat mixed with rice and carrots. Katelina was so hungry she barely tasted it. As she finished her share she heard the bald vampire say, "By the way, you have to have the fucking local currency to buy shit."
"However did you manage?" Torina asked with mock interest.
Loren grinned. "We got it from a guy in the alley on the way over there."
"Tasted better than rats, that's for sure." Micah licked his lips and laughed.
Katelina swallowed the last bite and stared at the empty carton. They'd killed someone to get the money for the rice she'd just eaten. How was she supposed to feel about that?
"You should see this shit. It looks like play money." Micah pulled a colorful bill out of his pocket and waved it around. "Guy had a crap ton of it on him. Bet he'll be running to the police later bitchin' about being robbed. He's lucky we'd already had a snack."
Katelina felt better. At least the mystery man wasn't dead. She finished off the last of her bottled water, and then mentioned the Russians' attempted escape. Verchiel played his mind reading-guessing game, but all he could come up with were images of their miserable shed and the shabby little house. "Unless they want to go home, I've got nothing."
When everyone was packed and ready, they climbed out of the window into a silent street. Most of the earlier bustle had faded, though cars still wove down the streets and a handful of pedestrians moved through the gloom. The street lights were sporadic and on some streets nonexistent. Whenever they passed into a black patch Katelina tensed, waiting for something to leap from the shadows.
