Chapter 505
It was nearly dawn when Jorick appeared, still covered in blood and dirt. He gave the room a quick once over. "You'll need to block the window." Then he retreated to the bathroom.
Her initial response was that she couldn't lift the furniture, but she could. In fact it was easy. When he returned, everything but the bed was in a stack. He blinked at the pile, then took his place next to her. She waited for him to say something about Malick, about his pyre. Instead he rolled over and pulled her back against his chest. He buried his face at the nape of her neck and inhaled deeply. Then he pressed a kiss to the tender skin and settled in for sleep.
"Is it really over?" she asked uncertainly.
"Yes." It was just one word but it held paragraphs worth of feeling. "Malick is ashes. He can never hurt us again."
Being free from the master's malicious shadow felt unreal, and she steeled herself for the "but". When it didn't come she asked softly, "Are you all right?"
"My injuries will heal with sleep," he murmured.
"That's not what I meant. Are you-upset?"
There was only silence and she sighed. She'd just decided to surrender when he said, "I gave him the pyre he deserved. He was a maniac and a monster, but I believe there was once a spark of good in him. It has been dead a long time, perhaps before I met him. I once admired his strength, his ability to bend others to his will, to kill without conscience. Eventually I came to see those attributes as defects, but I had already emulated them. What I am is mixed up in what he was and I-I don't want to be like him, but I can never erase his influence, as Kateesha could never become anything except the selfish blood-thirsty vixen she died as. We were tainted by his blood. Perhaps it's just as well that Micah turned you. It saved you from the poison of my bloodline."
Katelina's breath stuck in her throat and she struggled to reply. "You're not-Maeko!" she said suddenly. "You turned Maeko, and you can't say she's cruel or poisoned. It isn't blood that made Malick or Kateesha what they were, but choice. Just as they chose to be tyrants, you can choose not to be." She forced herself loose and rolled over to catch his face in her hands. "It's never too late."
She held his eyes and watched the emotions dancing in their depths. They settled into something hopeful, and he pulled her to him and crushed her lips in a kiss. When he broke away, he held her tight, and nuzzled her neck. "I love you, Katelina."
"And I love you, Jorick."
***
Safe in Jorick's arms, sleep found Katelina quickly and the evening came too soon. Since she wasn't the only one with clothing problems, Wolfe commandeered several of the Chinese's black uniforms. The one piece suit was big on top, and narrow around her hips, but it was better than being naked.
When they met in front of the hotel, they looked like a terrorist cell in ill-fitting jump suits. Micah's broad shoulders threatened to burst the seams, and Torina's breasts looked uncomfortably squashed.
Sorino and Kai walked outside. The vampire finished a short cellphone conversation, then turned to them. "I suppose I should bid you farewell."
"If only you'd done it sooner," Jorick said.
Sorino gave him a bored smile. "I'll pretend I didn't hear that. I assume you're going back to Munich, then on to America?"
"Yes, thank God," Oren huffed.
"In that case I don't imagine I will run into you anytime soon. America is rather boring, though I have heard some promising rumors about Brazil." He gazed past them and Katelina looked back to see Lurid approaching. "With this wrapped up, I imagine you'll be back to your boring lives."
Katelina nearly laughed. "It's not wrapped up. Samael's taken off to kill Lilith and jumpstart the vampire apocalypse."
Sorino looked at her as if she'd dropped from the sky. "Vampire apocalypse?"
"From the scroll that you translated, remember? The prophecy? About the sleeping wreaking wrath and mankind being destroyed."
Sorino snorted. "Oh yes, that. You believed it was true?"
"Are you saying you made it up?"
"Of course not. Whoever wrote the scroll did." She gaped and he rolled his eyes. "Did you really believe they had a crystal ball that revealed the future?"
"It's a prophecy!"
"A prophecy is little more than a guess at what might happen. Not all prophecies come to pass, unless we believe in them. Then we see their predicted outcome in the events that take place. I prophesy there will be war. When there is you can say 'ah, he was right! There is war!' but it was a lukewarm guess on my part, said only because I know there will always be war. We see what we choose to see. If you choose to look for a prophecy fulfilled, that is what you will find." Sorino nodded to Lurid as he joined them. "We will take our leave from this excellent party." He gave a showy bow, then snapped his fingers at his companions. "Our transport is waiting. Come."
Kai cast a look back at Katelina. She felt him on the fringes of her mind, as if he had something to say but couldn't decide on the words. Finally he settled for "Good luck."
As soon as they were out of sight Xandria shivered. "I dunno about you, Kate, but that's a vampire I hope I never see again!"
Wolfe distributed packaged blood, then accompanied them back to Beijing. The airport lights were an oasis of daylight in the night. Maeko stopped in front of the building and bowed before Jorick. "If Sensei does not require our help any longer, Takeshi-san, Hikaru-san, Ryuu-chan, and I will depart for our home."
"Of course," Jorick answered.
Katelina moved between them and imitated Maeko's usual bow. "Thank you for everything you've done."
Maeko bobbed again. "We were honored to help, and are happy that Kate-chan is safe." She straightened up and beamed. "Should Jorick-ue or Kate-chan ever return to Japan, we would be honored to host their visit. And should Jorick-ue or Kate-chan need our help, please let us know and we will be happy to assist."
"Thank you," Katelina said again. "If you ever need anything-"
"Of course." Maeko bowed then threw her arms around Katelina in a hug.
Wolfe stood by impatiently as Maeko and her crew said goodbye to each of them individually. When they were finished, the Scharfrichter led them into the airport. Vampires in black waited for them. They flashed ID badges at the airport staff and rushed them through the building to a jet.
Wolfe signed off on a clipboard, then waved them on board. When they were seated he swept onto the plane and sat next to Jorick, as if he was planning to make absolutely sure that they couldn't escape.
She could still feel his eyes on them after the plane took off. She blamed his presence for the subdued mood, even Micah stayed relatively quiet, but as she watched the earth slip away beneath them she wondered if it was really his fault. Like characters in a fantasy movie, they'd completed their epic quest, done what they'd set out to do. The evil king was dead. His army captured or destroyed. The crown was returned to its owner, and all was at peace. The next part of the plot should be the celebration feast with wine and music and a big roast pig, but she didn't feel celebratory. She just felt empty, deflated, and tired.
She hazarded a glance at Jorick and tried to read him. If she felt like this, how did he feel? It was his master, after all, his father in blood that he'd killed. If only he'd tell her.
The trip felt long. When they landed, they boarded the familiar vehicles and rode to the stronghold. Katelina felt the Kugsankal before she ever stepped foot inside.
"They're wide awake now," Verchiel said. "I imagine their trip stirred them up."
Since no one had bothered to check out, Katelina, Jorick, and Xandria were given the same room they'd had. Katelina was delighted to find that her clothing was still there. She changed into something more comfortable, then ordered room service.
Though the plane trip had been seven hours, with time zones they'd arrived five minutes before they left. Plenty of night remained, but Katelina didn't have the energy for it. Jorick seemed just as eager to sleep. After a meeting with the others she crawled gratefully into bed.
They woke the next evening to a knock on the door. Though she was tempted to ignore it, Jorick got up and let Sadihra inside. Katelina climbed out of bed. The Scharfrichterin welcomed them back, congratulated them on their success, then said to Katelina, "I came to ask if you were still able to be in the wedding."
Wedding? "Of course."
Sadihra gave a firm nod. "Then you returned just in time. The contract will be signed tomorrow at midnight. We will meet outside of the office just before. You may bring Jorick, of course."
Xandria sat up in her coffin with a yawn. "What about me?"
Sadihra shifted uncomfortably. "The signing of the contract is a very small affair."
Katelina felt a stab of hurt and knew it wasn't hers, but Xandria's. "No problem. I'll just hang out with Etsuko or whatever."
"I'm sure Verchiel would be happy to entertain you," Jorick suggested wickedly.
"The redhead guy? Eh, I dunno. He's hot and funny, but I don't think he likes me that much."
Sadihra quickly steered the conversation back, "The signing of the contract is a casual event; you do not need to dress formally."
Katelina was confused. "Then what's the dress for?"
"That is for the binding ceremony, which will take place on the twenty-fifth." Sadihra changed tracks, "Are you going to continue your training with Micah?"
She hadn't thought about it, and her surprise was on her face. Sadihra gave her a reassuring smile. "It would be a good idea. I heard that you did well in the battles, but the more you train, the stronger you will become. You do not want to rely on another's strength." Katelina nodded and the Scharfrichterin added, "Micah should still have the key to the training room. You may use it for the duration of your stay."
"Thank you," she said for lack of anything else.
"You're welcome. I must go. I will see you later."
When Sadihra left, Katelina threw herself across the bed. "Why did I agree to be in a wedding?"
"Because you're incapable of saying no." A lascivious smile appeared on Jorick's face. "It's one of your better qualities."
