Chapter 480
They landed three hours later at a small but familiar airstrip. Terrible things had happened both times Katelina had been there. Etsuko had died, and luckily been turned by Oren, and they'd lost Neil in in a nearby mountain temple when they'd woken Samael.
"This time should be uneventful." Jorick pointed to a parked plane "It appears Sorino is still here."
"How did you know where he was going?"
"Maeko had a conversation with the vampire who filed his flight plan."
In other words she'd pulled it out of their mind.
They headed toward a building that sat off to the side. Though Jamie and Maeko followed silently, Katelina could feel the Executioner's opinion.
Jorick threw open the door and led them into a small, messy room full of newspapers and a few pieces of beat up furniture. A doorway opened into a control room where Burke, a gray haired human, and Amari, a vampire with curly hair and the face of a twenty year old, bent over a panel.
"Okay. Get 'em gassed up and don't forget to get the money this time. Out." Amari flipped off his headphones and stood to greet them. He broke into a wide fanged grin, his dark eyes on Jorick. "It's you!"
Jorick shook the hand he extended. When he finished, Amari didn't let go. "How can I help you, Jorick, isn't it? Do you need fuel? Blood? A place to stay the day?" His suggestive tone said that he had one, though it didn't imply there'd be much sleeping.
Katelina wound her arm through Jorick's and he tugged his hand loose from the vampire. "Actually, I'm looking for Sorino."
Amari looked disappointed. "I had no idea he was your type. Lurid would be a better choice, though Nevaeh might argue."
Jamie snickered and Jorick choked. "He most certainly is not my type."
Amari brightened. "I hoped you had better taste than that." He nodded to Jorick's necklace. "You're with one of the Factions, aren't you? If you ever get some time off, you might think about visiting. The others could handle things around here for a few days while I show you the sites."
Jamie's snicker turned into a chuckle and Jorick took a step back. "Thank you but"
"It's no problem," Amari pressed. "This really is a beautiful region. Behind the times enough to allow for a lot of privacy."
Katelina would have barked out her claim then and there, but Jamie put a restraining hand on her shoulder. "It does seem beautiful," he said. "Right now we don't have time to consider a vacation. We need to find Sorino quickly."
Amari looked at Jamie as if he'd just appeared. "Oh, hello. I didn't see you there. You are?" His eyes moved to the necklace. "Another one. Sorino must be wanted by one of the Factions?"
Faction. There it was again. She could only guess he meant guilds, or vampire governments.
"Yes," Jorick said firmly. "His plane is here."
"He's not." Amari stretched his hands behind his head. "He switched planes yesterday and left. He was adamant that no one should know where he was going." Amari's voice dropped as he leaned in close. "Of course, I filed the new flight plan."
"Where is he?" Katelina demanded.
Amari held Jorick's gaze. "I'll tell you where he went, for a kiss."
Jamie's hand tightened on her shoulder but she snarled, "He can just read it from your mind!"
"Then he owes me one already." Amari stepped closer. "Mind readers think they can just take what they want. It's only fair if you give as good as you get. Balance and karma and all that."
"Fine," Jamie said.
"What?" Katelina cried. "No!"
"It's a deal!"
Before Katelina could move, Amari was on his tiptoes, Jorick's shirt wadded in his hands and his mouth over the Executioner's. She ripped him away with enough force to send him crashing into a futon. Newspapers fluttered to the floor and Amari shook his head, as if to clear his vision.
"Now that was a kiss!"
Katelina turned to Jorick. "Do you know where he went?"
"What? Oh, yes."
He blinked at her and she growled low in her throat. "Then we're done here. And for the record, Amari, Jorick is mine, got it? Hands off or I'll take them off for you."
The curly haired vampire looked at her in surprise. "Who are you?"
With a final huff she dragged Jorick out of the building. Amari's voice floated after them, "I'll file a flight plan for you with the Asian Association so you don't get shot down!"
Katelina pulled to a stop on the tarmac. A vampiress with a long braid stepped out of the hangar. "You're leaving already? I just got the plane parked!"
"Yes," Jamie said quickly. "Sorry for the inconvenience."
She stormed off, cursing under her breath. Katelina felt a wave of hostility and annoyance so strong she thought she might snap someone's neck just to make it stop. She spun toward Jamie and waved her finger with her words. "What the hell was that? How would you like someone kissing all over your girlfriend? Or boyfriend? Or whatever the hell it is you like? Huh?"
"Katelina," Jorick cut in.
"Just because The Guild sent you here to-to-to butt your nose into things doesn't give you the right"
"Katelina!" Jorick grabbed her waving hand. "Enough. It's not worth this scene."
She glared at him. "You don't understand!" Truthfully, she didn't understand herself, but she had no intention of admitting it.
***
The sun was up when they landed in Laos. Maeko ordered Ryuu and the pilots to guard them, then asked the others to please make do with the uncomfortable accommodations. Katelina reclined the seat and closed her eyes. Rest was hard to find. When it came, her dreams were strange. Amidst the sea of body parts, she was transported to the garden of Samael's complex. A pagoda stretched over a stream, and Samael stood on an outcropping of rock. Though the familiar feeling of peace enveloped her, it didn't drown out her thoughts as before.
"How can I still come here?" she asked.
She felt his surprise. "Because I summoned you."
"But now that I've been turned-When I drank from Kateesha's heart it destroyed Jorick's link."
He studied her, then looked toward the horizon. "That was a different kind of link, a weaker one that is dependent solely on the blood bond. Though the giver links to your mind, it is the blood which is the conduit for sharing. We are linked mind to mind, without the necessity of the blood to connect us."
She didn't know what to say, so she leaned against the railing and looked to the blushing sky.
"It is coming," he said.
"The sun?"
"War."
The concern in his voice surprised her. "You're thousands of years older than everyone. You can beat him."
"Of course I will destroy him and all who stand with him. However you took your immortality from a different fount. You are not the same as I. Be vigilant. Do not hesitate to strike."
"Against Malick?"
"Against everyone."
