Chapter 403
Katelina tried not to look at their welcome committee. Both had done things she could never forget and never forgive. Once again the scene at The Guild came to mind, Griselda marching with her fellows behind her master, crunching the fallen bodies of the dead. It faded to be replaced by a snowy scene in Japan where Griselda and Arlen had fought together, she firing her massive gun and Arlen swooping in and out, striking and then disappearing. It had been the wind walker who'd fought Verchiel among the cliffs and left him for dead, pale, bloodless, and impaled on a rock. She wouldn't be surprised if the pair of them didn't do something equally horrible today.
Katelina glanced around. Her eyes touched on several buildings and a high fence topped in razor wire. In the distance she imagined she could make out the rubble of the destroyed village.
Griselda turned on her heel with military precision and marched toward a white, two story building ringed in lights. A balcony of dark wood circled the top floor and a matching porch ran around the bottom. Green plants hung in baskets from the porch and their trailing vines stirred in the warm breeze.
Griselda and Arlen led their guests into a small entranceway. Katelina was aware of the crushing presence of the ancient master. Memories of his previous mental assaults sent a flash of panic through her. She remembered the horror as he pried into her thoughts and strolled from one horrible scene to another, forcing her to relive her pain, humiliation, and terror.
She clutched Jorick's hand tighter and repeated the mental message she'd been sent: "There is nothing to fear." He gave her an odd look, but didn't comment.
They walked down a narrow corridor toward an open door. Katelina could hear the sound of falling water, and when they entered she bit her lip and gazed around in surprise.
The center of the house was a large room whose ceiling soared to the roof. The floor was done in saffron tiles, decorated here and there with turquoise and rust inlay. In the center of the room was a large fountain with a heavy basin. Massive palms and other green plants crowded around the edge of the room, no doubt giving the place the oasis title.
Sleek black pillars held up a dark wood balcony. As in the lower room, there were four doors that led out onto it, one on each wall. A huge wicker chair that resembled an African throne from a stage play sat in the center near the farthest doorway, staring down at them.
She felt Malick before she saw him, like an ocean wave rolling up the beach. He walked through the balcony door above, dressed in flowing ebony robes. His long white hair shone, and atop his head sat a golden crown. Like an ancient storybook king, his white beard gave him the appearance of great wisdom. His skin was paled by immortality, but had no doubt been a deep tan in life. The lines around his eyes betrayed the mortal age he'd reached, but immortal grace had softened them. His smile was serene and his eyes were like two dark jewels shining in the sunlight. Katelina didn't want to look but she couldn't stop herself from falling into their burnished depths. The world dropped away and there was nothing but the ancient master and his amusement. And he was amused, very amused.
"Such an army? And will it do you any good?" he asked her silently.
She didn't know the answer, only that the world was getting light and tight. With a jolt she was back in the room full of plants, Jorick's hand on her shoulder and his dark eyes furious. She gasped for air, and realized she'd been holding her breath.
Malick held up his hands in innocence, and moved in front of his throne. He looked the group over and then opened his arms with a smile. "Welcome, my son! I must profess my joy at seeing you."
"We're here for the girl," Jorick replied coldly. "Where is she?"
"Down to business so soon? And when you have new friends I'd like to meet." Malick turned his dark eyes on Wolfe, who showed no effect.
And why would he? Katelina thought. He dealt with the much older, and more powerful, Kugsankal.
Malick barely gave Oren a glance, and was soon bored with Micah. Loren shivered as the master met his eyes, but the teen kept his spine straight and Malick turned to Fethillen.
"My nemesis revealed." His laughter was like singing birds and sunshine. "Though not exactly. Because of course the Children of Shadows would be my enemies." His eyes twinkled and Katelina tried to comprehend his meaning.
Fethillen looked equally confused, but then her face went back to its static expression and Malick laughed again. "It's not important. You don't need to understand. Does she, my son?"
Jorick stiffened and Malick turned to Sorino and Kai. Interest flickered in Sorino's eyes, and Katelina wondered if the master was trying to recruit him. If so, would he go? Sorino gave the master a cool, thin smile, and Malick's attention moved on to Kai. He lingered for a moment, and Katelina noticed that, though still human, Kai's back stayed straight and his shoulders set, as if he was somehow immune to the horrible probing sensation. Or maybe, like Wolfe, he was used to it. Sorino was also a mind reader, after all.
Malick turned away to consider Sushel and his prisoner. "Is this a stray lamb come back to the pasture? The prodigal son perhaps? But no, no son of mine." He motioned to Griselda and Arlen, and the pair jerked the prisoner away from a growling Sushel and hauled him forward. The handless vampire's uncertain whimper turned into a gasp as they tossed him on the floor.
Malick motioned the vampire to rise. He had a hard time without hands. Katelina wanted to look away from the cruel show, but she couldn't.
Malick cocked his head to one side and studied the vampire. "And what secrets have you told them, I wonder? You must have endured much before you broke, my child."
"Y-yes," the vampire stammered.
"Such a pity." Malick took a seat in his throne. "Arlen."
In a flash the wind walker was behind the prisoner, his sword buried in his back. The prisoner gave a moist, gurgling gasp then went limp. The blunt, hooked blade protruded from the prisoner's chest, coated in gore.
With a grunt of disgust, Arlen used his foot to push the body off of his sword. It fell in slow motion. Katelina could see the prisoner's dead face in profile, eyes wide, a trickle of blood running from his gaping mouth, and then he landed on the floor. Blood pooled out beneath him and across the tiles, turning the mortared joints into little rivers.
Malick waved his hand at his servants. "Clean that up." It reminded Katelina of Fethillen ordering her underlings to clean up after the torture, and her stomach turned.
Arlen's weapon was bloody, and he strode from the room, no doubt to clean it off. A moment later a pair of vampires hurried in with towels. One hefted the fallen body and took it away while the other worked on the puddle left behind. Katelina watched as the towel swiped through the mess, smearing crimson across the yellow floor.
Malick turned to his guests. "Will you not stay a while? Your journey was wearisome. Some rest? Refreshment?"
"No," Jorick answered firmly. "You have your prisoner back. Return ours."
"Always so serious! I thought another of you might take the reins of leadership on this quest." His eyes moved to Verchiel. "She is more to you than she is to him. What an interesting tangle you have landed yourself in. A sister! Pity she did not come to us before. Though she does not have your talents, a sun walker is rare enough to have made a fit subject. How beautiful it would have been to see you fight side by side, violet eyes flashing with identical wrath."
Verchiel's jaw tightened.
"It's not too late. My doors are always open to those who wish to enter. I have already come across some new converts." His smile turned from benign to sinister and then back again so fast Katelina wasn't sure she'd seen it.
"And what are you gathering them for?" Jorick asked.
"You already know, my son. Samael has risen. For the moment his thoughts turn to his household, and perhaps even to revenge, but once these things are satisfied he will turn again to the world which betrayed him. You have heard the legendsthe end of the world, the destruction of all. I wonder what the truth will be, don't you? What if he was to raise his army and sweep across the world in a sea of fire and blood? Should not someone make a force to oppose him?"
Katelina felt herself agreeing. He was being sensible. They didn't want that to happen. Perhaps they should-
"Do not be taken in by cunning words and crafty tricks. His illusions are smoke, lift your hand and watch them drift away."
She blinked and looked sharply to her companions. It was only Fethillen, Jorick, Sorino, and Verchiel who remained unswayed. The others, even Sushel, nodded.
