Chapter 397
Though she was reluctant to let him go and step back into the real world; a place full of worry and impending horror, she finally shut the water off and climbed out. She hunted the bathroom for a towel but couldn't find anything. Jorick suggested she air dry, but she used one of her least dirty shirts and then dressed in clean clothes. She felt like she'd climbed into a new skin, and she cheerfully enjoyed the smooth creamy nakedness of his body while he debated what to do about his clothes. His shirt and pants were smattered in old blood but he'd only brought one extra set.
"I told you to bring more," she said smugly.
He surrendered and soon they emerged, both with fresh clothes and wet hair. The rest of their group hung out in what served as a kitchen and they joined them. Etsuko sipped from a delicate tea cup and Hector poured some for the Russians. He spotted the newcomers and smiled. "Some tea?"
"Thank you," Katelina said as she took a seat and the offered cup.
Torina lifted a glass of blood in a toast and after a good drink said, "Though I was planning a bath, I think the bald twins should go next. They smell worse than you did."
Katelina glared at the vampiress and turned to the worried pair of humans. She had no idea what the Russian word for bath was. As she took a deep breath to try, Hector spieled off a string of cheerful Russian. He motioned with his hands, as if giving them directions to the bathroom, and then he held up a finger and disappeared. He reappeared a moment later with a stack of clothing topped with two towels. He thrust the pile at the Russians and gave them some final directions before they nodded and hurried off toward the shower.
"How did you get them to cooperate?" Katelina asked. "Usually they're too scared to listen to anything."
"Tea, of course. Everyone feels more agreeable after a cup. I do miss it," he added wistfully. "I sometimes brew a pot just for the smell." He leaned over Katelina's cup, breathed in the steam and gave a dreamy sigh. "I'll hazard a guess that Gleb and Anfisa are with you?"
"Who?" Loren asked.
Hector adjusted his round glasses. "Good grief! You don't know their names?" He nodded in the direction of the bathroom. "How ever did you come into possession of them?"
Oren told the story with as much disdain as he could manage. When he finished, Hector nodded several times. "I see, I see. What a most unusual story! It does explain their meek behavior. Have you bothered to explain why you purchased them?"
"I think Fethillen did," Katelina said uncomfortably. "None of us speak Russian and they don't speak English."
"Tut-tut. Language can be a barrier sometimes. Never mind. I'll have a chat with them before you leave, shall I?"
***
The Russians returned wearing baggy pants and button up shirts. Katelina noticed they had a thin coating of dark peach fuzz on their heads and, now that the dirt was removed, the male had the beginning of a beard.
Hector pulled a pan out of the oven and laid it on the table. The contents looked a bit like a fallen loaf of bread with fat sausages stuck in it, but it was hot. Katelina was halfway through her plate when a pair of humans wandered in - introduced as Sorino's pilots. They took the seats that the other vampires had vacated and had their share of food and copious amounts of tea. Hector chattered cheerfully with them as he served seconds and poured cup after cup of brew. Katelina thought it odd that he wanted to stay with them; most vampires preferred the company of their own kind, especially if the humans were eating, and took the first opportunity to run, as Micah, Torina, and Loren had.
Hector had just gotten the Russians to speak, when a series of beeps went off in the next room. "You'll have to excuse me," he said. "Seems I'm wanted. Goodness but it's busy today!"
Katelina peered around the door as he took a seat in front of a radio, and, like Fethillen, tapped something out.
"Why don't any of them use modern communication?" she asked.
"He hasn't been human in a while," Jorick said. "Perhaps he hasn't moved on to newer technology."
She chortled. "You're one to talk. You don't even know what a search engine is."
Verchiel raised his hand and waved it furiously. "Oh, me, me! I know."
"Would you quit being stupid?" Oren asked testily. "I realize it's difficult for you, but you could make an effort."
Hector came through the doorway holding a slip of paper. "You're Jorick, aren't you? A message came through on the wireless."
Jorick hesitated and then nodded.
"Good show! Here you are then." Hector handed it over and then turned back to the nearly empty tea pot. "I found it a bit obtuse, but I'm sure you'll know the meaning."
Katelina leaned over and ran her eyes across the penciled words:
Jorick: The hunted wolf is in china. Your father is not troubled with trading for him. Come for the child yourself. Ask and receive.
Katelina bit back a gasp. If the message was for Jorick then "your father" could only be one person: Malick. Could the message really be from him? And if so, what did it mean? She reread it slowly. The hunted wolf was obviously Wolfe, who Cyprus was after, which meant Jorick was right about China. The child was hopefully Ume, and no trade meant he didn't want to ransom her for Wolfe, he only wanted Jorick to come and fetch her.
Of course he does. One more chance to sink his claws into his favorite fledgling.
Jorick tossed the paper to Oren. He and Verchiel read it over and then handed it back. "Will you tell Fethillen?"
"She's been honest with us so far. I'll be back." Jorick disappeared through the door and Katelina met Etsuko's eyes. They were calm and warm, like the tea in her cup, impossible to ripple with worry.
It must be nice, Katelina thought unhappily. Worry was all she could ever do.
And usually with good reason.
