Chapter 456
Unreasonable fear gripped Katelina and it took all her willpower not to race out of the room.
The guard nodded at Xandria and Katelina struggled to calm herself. What in the hell did they want Xandria for? And why was she so terrified?
She swallowed her fear and forced words out, "Is it really necessary?"
The guard checked his clipboard. "Are you her master?"
"Nyes," Katelina amended. That was the point of the marking, wasn't it?
The guard glanced at the council, then back. "Part of the inquiry is to determine who her master is. If they decide it's you, they'll call you forward. Until then stay here." He motioned to Xandria. "This way."
Xandria straightened her spine and stood. "It's fine, Kate. Thanks for trying."
Katelina's terror disappeared, replaced by anger. "This whole council is bullshit. The idea that humans don't matter, that we're second class that"The look on Jorick's face stopped her. We. Of course. She wasn't one of them anymore. How long would it take her to get used to that?
The guard presented Xandria as "Human of questionable ownership," then stepped back.
The gavel sounded and the vampires on the right interjected immediately, "Until it has been determined who the human's master is, by our own laws she cannot stand trial, unless she is tried as a rogue human."
Both councils turned to Xandria. Katelina saw the woman's knees buckle as they assaulted her mind all at once.
"A conflict has been found for ownership," the vampire on the left determined. "She associates most closely with Sanjay of India. There is also a claim of ownership by Katelina of the United States, fledgling of Micah. Suggest an examination of the marks to see which is newest."
The three blue robed vampires left their box and descended on the trembling woman. Katelina had been in that position before; the terrified human surrounded by vampires in a confusing, stilted trial. The anger left over was enough to make her teeth grind.
Xandria nearly fell out of the box in her rush to show the mark on the back of her neck, obviously Sanjay's handiwork, and the new bite Katelina had left. The vampires looked at one another, as if having a silent conversation, then moved back to the central box.
"It has been determined that the human belongs to Katelina of the United States, fledgling of Micah, until such a time as Sanjay of India causes a petition to be filed on his behalf."
Fledgling of Micah. Each time they said it her chest ached and Jorick's scowl deepened.
"Katelina will now join her human."
Her human. The phrase felt wrong, but she took her place in the box. She patted Xandria on the shoulder and tried to look comforting.
The vampires' argument was brief. The gold robed vampire announced the decision in a matter of minutes. "It is this council's finding that the human belonging to Katelina of the United States , fledgling of Micah, being only a human and having no discernable will of her own, is not culpable for her previous master's association with Malick. As she has a new master, has left the company of the reactionaries, and has no information of any value to this council, she is excused. Final judgment has been made."
Xandria gave a groan of relief. Katelina dragged her out of the box, passing Braydon as he was dragged to it. She felt more apprehension for him than she had for Boris, but one glance at Jorick's face made her ignore it. In fact, it would be better if she missed the whole damn trial.
"Presenting Braydon Drake of the United Kingdom, fledgling of Bernard."
Katelina pulled Xandria to the door. She paused at the threshold and looked back as the accusers said, "Braydon of the United Kingdom chose to join an illegal war and fight under the banner of a dangerous reactionary, whose ultimate goal is to destroy the world, using the Children of Shadows as his puppets."
Katelina thought she saw Braydon flinch, but reminded herself it wasn't her concern.
She tugged Xandria into the corridor to the nearest bench. "Thank God that's over."
"You're telling me." Xandria produced a wrinkled pack of cigarettes. "Are we allowed to smoke in here?"
"I doubt it."
Xandria gave the pack a look of disappointed longing before she jammed it back. "I assume we're waiting for Jorick? I hope he hurries up. I feel like crap."
Sadihra's words came to mind, "...you probably need blood-" Katelina looked away and tried not to think about how good Xandria had tasted, or about how she still smelled like a ham sandwich. "About that-earlier-I'm-I'm sorry."
"It's fine. All part of the risks, you know?" Something in her eyes said she didn't completely trust her.
It was several minutes before the doors opened and Jorick stalked down the corridor, Verchiel, Jamie, and Maeko on his heels. "Katelina!" His eyes sought hers. She saw a thousand tell-a-tale fears slither through their depths. "Why did you rush out?"
"I'm fine, but Xandria needs blood."
Jorick frowned. "I suppose she does. You'll have to accompany her, since you've been ruled as her master." The frown deepened.
"You act like that's a bad thing."
Jamie surveyed them. "It depends how you look at it. You will now be held responsible for everything the human does, or doesn't do. Depending on the human, that can be problematic."
The smooth veneer of his expression flickered. Katelina had the impression that something had ended badly. She wished she was a mind reader like Jorick, then she could just pluck it out of his brain. If only it hadn't been Micah who'd-
Maeko bowed. "If Jorick-ue will excuse my speaking out. Perhaps Verchiel-san and I would be more useful if we found Oren-san and discovered whether he has made arrangements to stay?"
"Yes," Jamie agreed. "And I should contact The Guild and let them know the ruling."
Jorick scoffed. "If they care they can find out for themselves."
Jamie cocked an eyebrow. "Who do you want them to send next time? Ark, perhaps?"
Katelina scowled at that name. Ark. The head of the Executioners. He wasn't someone she was eager to see again.
"Let them," Jorick said dismissively. "I'm not afraid of Ark, or The Guild."
"You don't respect them, either."
"Should I?"
Jamie's eyes narrowed and Jorick waved the conversation away. "Do as you like." He turned to Katelina. "Come, little one. We'll get your human taken care of."
