Chapter 470
Malick snapped his fingers. A bulky red haired vampire crashed down from the floor above. He landed in front of Malick, brandishing a weapon that was half hammer and half axe. Katelina could feel the years on him, older than Jorick but not as ancient as Malick.
The bearded master smiled. "Now I will collect what I asked for. I find it interesting that they would actually send it. Though I suppose the threat of annihilation will open doors. How amusing that they took it seriously. I have no desire to destroy the world in a rain of fire. Surely you knew better, my son. Did you think I was here to use their nuclear weapons? The winner of such a battle is not the strongest, only the one who hits the button first. What kind of glory is there in such a fight?"
"Then why should we give you the crown?" Wolfe demanded.
"Because you are already here, and it seems a pity to waste the trip. I believe my followers can handle the retrieval, so I must be going."
At those words, the redheaded vampire charged forward. Jorick met him, while both Catya and Raoul resumed their attacks.
A dark skinned vampiress dropped down from above. She swung a slender pole at Katelina. Slow to dodge, the blow caught her under the jaw and sent her backwards.
She shook away the momentary disorientation and stood in time for another onslaught. She managed to sidestep the first swing, but the butt of the stick rammed her in the stomach. She bent double. She could feel the age of the vampiress. There was no way she could beat her, though that didn't mean she shouldn't try.
She ran through Micah's training in her head. Besides the years, the biggest inequality was a weapon. He'd told her that to win she needed to level the playing field. In this case, that staff had to go.
She tackled the woman at the knees. They sprawled on the floor, limbs tangled. The vampiress snarled in surprise and impatience as she pulled loose. Katelina wrenched the pole from her grasp. She didn't know how to use it effectively, so she threw it away. Better that it end up on the other side of the room where the vampiress couldn't get it back.
Her enemy pulled up into a fighting stance and Katelina did the same. They circled slowly, then the vampiress bounced forward. She grabbed Katelina's arm in one hand and her hair in the other, and slammed her into the floor.
Braydon was suddenly between them. Weaponless, he punched their enemy. The vampiress dodged. In a spinning move, she kicked Braydon's leg out from under him, then grabbed Wolfe around the neck from behind. She used his own momentum to send him into a spin. He crashed into the wall. Before he could recover she pulled the crown from his coat. The wrapping fell away to reveal gleaming gold. Wolfe snatched at it, but Catya knocked him back.
The dark vampiress tossed her prize to Raoul. He caught it, bounded to the hatch, and swung upward, like a monkey. Braydon gave Katelina a once over, then followed.
Wolfe knocked Catya aside and made to do the same when he inexplicably slid to a stop and swung his weapon at midair. Catya started up the ladder. Katelina tried to stop her, but, just as in China, she couldn't move.
Jamie threw the vampiress to the floor and the bonds that held Katelina snapped. She stumbled backwards and barely dodged Wolfe's frantic attacks at midair.
Jorick knocked the redhead to his knees, and Wolfe stopped. He shook his head, as if clearing his vision, then chased the others upstairs. The dark skinned vampiress paused to swing at Katelina before she did the same.
A crash sounded from above and Jamie looked impatiently from the ceiling to Catya. "Surrender and live."
"Like hell." She gave him a bloody smile.
Jamie hesitated, then scowled, as if it was Catya's power holding him back. With a snarl he broke free of her influence and severed her head in a single stroke. He rammed his sword through her chest and swung up the hatch.
The redhead caught Jorick in the knee with his hammer. Furious, Katelina grabbed Catya's discarded weapon. Before she could get to him the room disappeared and she stood in a dark cave. She could hear the sound of battle, muffled and far off.
"What in the hell?" She swung around. "Jorick?"
Though she heard his voice, she couldn't make out his words. "Jorick?" She spun and stumbled. "Jor" The call choked off as she ran into a hard chunk of thin air.
The cave wavered and disappeared. She was back in the steel and concrete room, her face and hands on the bloody support pillar.
"What in the hell?"
She pulled away to see Jorick drag himself to his feet. He limped to her and caught her face in his hands. "Can you see me?"
"Yes. What was that?"
"He's an illusionist. It's like a whisperer, but instead of imparting thoughts they send a full illusion."
"It didn't work on you?"
"No. It often doesn't on whisperers." He looked up to the ceiling. "They're on the upper levels. Come."
Jorick's leg was injured, so they had to climb the ladders. By the time they reached the top floor, they found their comrades rushing toward them.
Katelina moved out of the way just before Wolf leaped past her. Braydon hesitated. Blood was splattered on his face, and his arm hung at an odd angle. He met Jorick's eyes, then followed the Scharfrichter.
Jamie slowed to a stop. His dark hair was free from its customary bun and his cheeks were flushed from the sun. "They escaped. There was a van waiting for them just outside. We tried to follow, but-"
Jorick nodded.
"He got away with the crown."
Jorick scoffed. "Did you expect any less? It was a stupid plan. I imagine he knew our intentions shortly after we arrived. It's not a total loss. It isn't as if the crown could be used to kill someone."
"From Wolfe's frantic thoughts-He fears the scenario you mentioned in Munich. That Malick will wear the crown as proof he's defeated the Kugsankal. The True Council is ancient, but with a large enough army they could be defeated. Speaking of Malick's followers, the last two were older than us. I wonder where he found them."
"More importantly, where did he go?" Katelina asked. "Back to Namibia?"
"I doubt that," Jorick said. "Since we infiltrated it, he's probably cut his losses."
Jamie sheathed his sword. "Wolfe's gone to secure the control room and contact Munich."
"I suppose we should join him." Jorick grimaced but turned back for the ladder.
