Chapter 511
Following Jamie's instructions, they loaded into the SUVs and left the rural airfield behind. Katelina's stomach fluttered nervously as she thought of the citadel. She'd been human the last time; human and afraid of the ancients who ruled the massive underground complex. Would they still be as terrifying?
The trip ended at a grain elevator peppered with outbuildings. Xandria leaned up from the backseat. "Is this...?"
"The Guild," Katelina finished. "It's hidden under a grain company. Perfect camouflage for Iowa, I guess."
"It's a bit disappointing."
Katelina nodded. After the luxurious and historic halls in Europe and Asia, most hidden under old ornate buildings, the United States' citadel was underwhelming and very un-vampire.
The SUVs stopped in front of a small white building labeled office. Jamie led the way inside where a wrinkled perma-tan farmer sat behind the counter. A bulletin board with community events and a beat up coffee machine gave a farm-y look. There was even a yellow dog flopped in the corner.
Verchiel rubbed the animal's head. "Who's a good boy?"
The farmer looked up from a ledger. "It's a she. I've told you before, don't bother her."
At a dark look from Jamie, Verchiel snapped his mouth shut, though his expression said everything.
The farmer turned back to the book. "I need to see your official identification."
When Verchiel and Jorick looked surprised, the farmer explained, "New security measures. Since the attack they've been making rules all over the place. Before you can come in you have to send for a photo ID, then you have to show that to me. Then you check in at the new welcome desk and show it to them, in case you managed to change like a chameleon in between. It's all a lot of crap that don't serve no purpose except to keep the bureaucrats busy. And computerized. They wanted me to use a gol-durn tablet or some gum. I told them paper's been good enough for a thousand years, so paper was good enough for me. Now, IDs."
Jamie flashed a card from his pocket. "I'll take responsibility for them."
"Even the redhead?"
Verchiel frowned. "You know who I am. I work here."
"Course I know who you are. That's why I'm asking." Verchiel mock pouted and the immortal farmer grumbled. "Never mind. He'd only stay up here causing trouble. I'll get you checked in and you can go."
He scribbled their names in the ledger. Katelina caught a quick glimpse of a note that said "Executioner Jamie's responsibility" next to each one, as if Jamie would really shoulder the blame for their actions.
The farmer hit a button under the desk and motioned them into a back room. Shelves of seed bags and farm related items seemed normal, but the stainless steel door was out of place. Jamie pulled it open and led them down a set of stairs. A cheerful reception room was painted in autumn colors and complete with a set of overstuffed couches. Katelina had been there before, except there hadn't been a desk with a welcome sign over it.
"They moved the check in," Jamie explained as he led them to it. "It's all handled here, whether you need a room or not. You pay here, too." He turned his attention to the receptionist. "We'll need to check in and we'll need rooms."
"IDs?"
Jamie handed his over and explained the others didn't have any. The vampiress arched an eyebrow but entered their names into the computer as Jamie reeled them off.
"The human?" she asked pointedly when he'd finished.
Katelina started to say she was with Jorick, then caught herself. They didn't mean her anymore, they meant Xandria.
"Katelina is her master," Jamie answered.
Though Xandria didn't seem bothered, the words made Katelina uncomfortable.
"Everyone but Etsuko, the human, and Katelina are in the database, so I've gone ahead and put in ID requests, though they'll need to submit photos. As for the other three, they'll need to go to the office and fill out the forms."
Before anyone could object, Jamie settled their rooms "The High Council has requested they stay, so you'll have to mark it free and Council approved for tonight. Tomorrow they'll be on their own." and handed out key cards to Micah, Torina, and Oren's fledgling Etsuko. Dressed in a peach kimono with white and orange flowers, wooden geta, and a traditional hairstyle, Etsuko looked like she'd stepped from an advertisement for traditional Japan tours. A human servant of a Japanese coven, she'd asked to be given to Oren. When she'd nearly died of yellow fever, he'd turned her. Though their relationship hadn't been publicly acknowledged, it seemed Etsuko considered them a couple. Oren's feelings were anybody's guess.
Katelina tugged on Jorick's arm to ask where they were supposed to sleep. Verchiel and Jamie had quarters in the Executioner block but then she remembered, so did they. When they departed for Europe, she and Jorick left behind a furnished apartment, complete with teddy bear bedding.
A printer chugged paper and the receptionist handed over several sheets. "Here's your registration information. You need to keep it with you until you have your IDs."
Jamie took the stack and steered them away before they could cause a scene. Once in the hallway Micah exploded, "IDs? Check in? I knew there was a reason I'd never been here."
"Except as a prisoner?" Verchiel asked cheerfully.
Jamie stepped between them. "Verchiel, Jorick, we need to check in with Eileifr. The rest of you can go to your rooms until you're sent for."
"Ain't that nice?" Micah asked.
Jamie handed out the papers. "Your rooms are on the fifth floor. There's a restaurant here on the sixth, or you can order room service, which will be added to your bill. If you need any information, check with the welcome desk." He cast a weary look over them. "And stay out of trouble."
Micah scoffed. "What do you think we're gonna do? Rape the women and pillage the fucking villagers?"
"It's hard to tell," Jorick replied. "You aren't known for your intelligence."
"Fuck you, Executioner dog."
Jorick turned his back on the seething vampire and met Katelina's eyes. "I shouldn't be long."
Before he could continue, a pair of Executioners appeared. She knew the tall thin one, with chestnut hair, green eyes, and elven features was Ark, the head of the Executioners, but she couldn't think of the other's name, though the blond ponytail and green eyes were familiar.
"You managed to drag them back?" the blond asked.
Jamie nodded. "Hello, Beldren. Ark. We're on our way to see Eileifr."
"About time," Ark said icily.
Beldren ran his eyes over the group. "What a ragamuffin lot. You always did like to throw yourself in with the oddities, Jorick." His gaze lingered on Verchiel, then stopped on Katelina. "Your human isn't human anymore?"
"No," Jorick answered.
Beldren shrugged. "Welcome to immortality." His focus shifted to Jorick. "You won't believe the rumors floating around. You've done everything from leading a revolt to waking the dead. Did you really kill Malick?"
"Yes," Jorick answered.
Ark sucked air through his teeth, but didn't comment.
"How interesting." Beldren's eyes lit up. "Speaking of interesting things, we had a complaint while you were gone. Kidnapping. Possibly unlawful murder. Collaboration to commit an unlawful attack. You should see the pile of paperwork."
Katelina gaped. Kidnapping? Did he mean Xandria? She'd had a master named Sanjay, but he was on Malick's side and disappeared. Had he filed a complaint?
Though Beldren seemed to enjoy dragging it out, Ark cut in irritably, "It's a woman named Anya. She claims you and your fledgling attacked her house and took her younger brother."
Anya. Anya and her brother Thomas. It felt like a million years ago when they'd partnered with Kale's coven to storm Anya's den and drag her sneering sniveling brother away.
Jorick made a low noise and Beldren shrugged. "I thought I'd warn you. Eileifr will probably throw it at you when you walk in." He leaned casually against the wall. "Now that Malick's not in charge, Eileifr is chomping at the bit to show there's no favoritism; that The Laws apply to everyone."
"As they should," Ark added.
Katelina's heart froze in her chest. Would Jorick end up in prison for something that wasn't his idea? She remembered Kale's coven and their thirst for Thomas' blood, the way Joseff ripped Thomas' limbs from his body, then buried him in the dirt.
Jorick's voice ripped her from the evil memories. "Good. Then I imagine he'll review my unlawful appointment of Executioner."
"That's one of the rumors." Beldren straightened. "We won't keep you. I'm sure you're anxious to get debriefed and hand in your paperwork."
Ark nodded to the binder in Jamie's hand. "I doubt Verchiel has completed his."
The redhead put his arms behind his head. "You know me. Wait 'til the last minute."
"It's going to be quite a minute, considering you were gone for three months. Good luck with that." Beldren nodded to Jorick. "Nice to see you again. We should get together before Eileifr throws you in prison."
His words left Katelina grasping for calm. They wouldn't really put Jorick in prisonwould they?
Jorick squeezed her hand. "Relax little one. He was joking."
But something in his eyes didn't seem sure.
