Chapter 40
Katelina tried desperately to think of a way to save herself from the vampires. She struggled as she was heaved out the door and through the damp grass, but it accomplished nothing. He dragged her around the building to the front parking lot where a white panel van sat open and waiting. When they reached it, Troy tried to force her into the back, but she twisted in his grip and sunk her teeth into his hand. The bitter taste of his blood filled her mouth.
He swore in surprise and loosened his hold just enough to allow her to break free. She ran as fast as she could toward the office of the motel, screaming loudly. Her only hope was Benjamin.
The office door opened and a fat, balding man with whiskers on his flabby neck stuck his head out. He stared from Katelina to the bald vampire on her heels. "What in the hell?"
"Help me!" she cried as she closed the gap between them. She'd almost reached him, almost made it to the safety of the dingy motel office, when the weight of her pursuer slammed her to the ground. She struggled beneath him, but he grabbed a fist full of her hair and banged her face into the cement until she stopped.
She was pulled roughly to her feet, and she saw through blood and tears that the fat man was now brandishing a shotgun and shouting. "I won't stand for this! You clear on out of here now and quit harassing my customers! I mean it! I'm not scared of you! You get on out of here!"
Troy jerked his head towards Benjamin, and the other two moved in with evil smiles on their faces. Katelina was dragged away towards the van so that she didn't have to watch what they did to him. She was thankful to be spared the sight; his echoing screams were horrific enough.
Troy heaved her up by both arms and threw her into the van. "Now then, you stupid bitch, if I didn't need you, you'd already be dead." He slid the panel closed and climbed into the passenger seat. With a glance over his shoulder he and added, "Claudius is going to be delighted to know Jorick abandoned you, and don't waste your breath saying different. Or maybe you should, it might be fun watching him torture you for 'lying'."
The two who had gone to deal with Benjamin returned, the leader licking blood from his fingers and smiling wickedly. He slid between the seats and crouched next to Katelina, while the other took up his post as driver.
Katelina glanced warily at her new companion. He made a show of cleaning his hands with his long tongue. When she shuddered he asked, "You like that, stupid bitch? I had other things to do today besides this!" He grabbed a fistful of her hair as the van roared to life and slammed her head into the floor. Dark flowers blossomed in her vision as she fought for consciousness.
"Let's get going, boys," Troy commanded. He jerked his head towards Katelina. "And shut her up, would you?"
The vehicle jerked forward into the deserted street, headed for God only knew where, and the last thing Katelina heard were the words, "With pleasure," before her head was slammed into the floor and darkness took her.
***
Katelina opened her eyes and rolled over to find herself face to face with the corpse of Arowenia. Her throat was red and gaping and the blood had become a congealed jelly that made Katelina's stomach heave. She coughed and tried not to throw up. As she struggled, she discovered her arms were bound behind her back and that rope bit painfully into her naked ankles.
"Awake, are you?" the vampire hissed near her ear. She shuddered as she smelled his breath - the scent of blood and death.
"You know," he commented as he stroked her head sarcastically. "Claudius is going to be so happy to see you. His favorite little pet is dead, and here you are, another golden haired thing with terrified eyes."
She winced, but didn't say anything. She had nothing to say, and even if she did, she knew it would only make them bash her bruised face into something else. She could feel the tightness of her swollen nose - was it broken? Her eyes felt strange, too - puffy - and a soft ringing played in her ears like the echoes of her screams. There was no way she was going to survive this.
The driver's voice called back to them loudly, "Won't be long now."
The vampire next to her snorted and she squeezed her swollen eyes shut, as if that would make the world disappear. Questions poured through her mind; what had Kateesha meant about Troy and Patrick? Who was Kateesha's daddy? Obviously Troy wanted to escalate the war with Oren but- But why did he need her? Kateesha had said she'd kill her and leave him with nothing to give to the boss. Was she supposed to be some kind of present? Like a consolation prize? "Sorry, your girlfriend is dead, but have this to torture instead?"
Torture. That was what Jorick had said would happen to her, and he was probably right. She was either going to die painfully or be turned into a slave for Claudius.
Terror replaced her questions. The acrid stench of blood and fear filled her nostrils. Arowenia's body bounced around as they drove over bumps. Katelina tried not to look at it, but as soon as her eyes closed, they'd pop open again, determined to see where she was and what was happening - as if seeing could somehow help her.
The vampires in the front seat talked softly between themselves, indistinguishable words in deep tones. She thought again and again that she'd tell Claudius everything; tell him how Kateesha had made her bargain and murdered his mate, but she knew that it would do no good. Troy was right, he'd never believe her. She was sure he'd rather believe his enemy had done it than that his own men were involved. People were that way. They liked to pick and choose which truths they accepted.
The van crunched across gravel and came to a stop. She heard the door swoosh open, and looked up in time to see Troy reaching for her. He grabbed her waist roughly and pulled her out of the van, despite her struggles, then heaved her over his shoulder. She hung down his back, upside down, with only glimpses of scenery beneath his arm.
The air stroked her cheeks, cool and charged with the energy that predawn hours always brought; the feeling of promise and hope. But as she was bumped along she knew there was no hope left. Tears welled in her eyes and she tried to blink them back. For the second time in so many days, images of her life danced behind her eyes. She could see her mother standing next to the large tombstone of her father, flowers in her hands and jewel like tears on her cheeks. A large green tree grew behind the house and she sat in its branches eating a banana, her six year old legs swinging in the air. Music played softly and balloons shone with a kaleidoscope of colors as she stood next to the gym wall, her hands sweating as she watched her first real crush dancing with another girl.
She choked back a sob and tried to banish the memories, though she knew she'd never relive them again.
The gravel lot gave way to a set of cement steps. She heard a metal door scrape open loudly and then they plunged inside. She fought to lift her head and saw a half-naked woman staring at her curiously as they moved away from her and down a brick hallway.
They started down another flight of stairs. The vampire's footfalls fell in rhythm with her pounding heart. Fear tasted bitter in her mouth, but she forced herself to swallow it. She was going to die, but she wouldn't die as a coward.
This final thought gave her a strange sense of calm. The finality of accepting her situation and surrendering to it made things seem somehow clearer. She took a deep breath and resolved to be brave no matter what.
