Chapter 513
Katelina clung to her hope: they'd finally let him go, let him stop being an Executioner.
Jorick glanced past her, to the other occupants. "We'll discuss it later. For now let's get some rest."
Katelina followed him to the door and Micah called, "What the fuck? You ain't gonna tell us what they said?"
Jorick paused on the threshold, his tone icy. "It's none of your business."
Micah called after them, "Told ya. He's no better than the rest of the ancient fuckers."
Katelina and Xandria followed Jorick through the halls. They took an elevator to the second floor, where they walked through part of the entertainment area. A spa, a movie theatre, and other amusements were crammed together like a shopping mall.
Jorick's card got them through the locked door into the Executioner's block. Inside, the hallway wound around in a rectangle. Katelina couldn't remember which apartment number was theirs, but Jorick went to door three without hesitation.
The rooms inside smelled musty, and a fine layer of dust covered the coffee table. Since it was The Guild's idea to send Jorick away, the least they could do was have someone clean!
Katelina moved to the doorways. The small bedroom was empty. The bathroom hamper had a towel hanging out of it, and a roll of toilet paper was balanced on the sink counter. The bed in the master bedroom was still unmade and the closet doors open. It was as if someone hit a pause button.
"This is where you live?" Xandria asked.
"No," Jorick answered. "We were forced to stay here, but Eileifr said we'll be free to go soon."
Katelina narrowed her eyes. "How soon?"
"There are reports to file."
Katelina looked to the paperwork Jorick held. Not reports, but the identification applications. "You haven't written any reports."
"I gave a pair of guards a rundown and they're writing it up. When they're finished, I'll give it a once over and sign it."
Katelina's hands moved to her hips. "You're serious? Those reports are the only thing between us and freedom, and you're letting someone else handle them?"
He grinned. "It will be fine, little one. In all the years I worked for The Guild I never wrote anything. Reports are for underlings to worry about."
"And the important guys just run around and kill people?" Xandria asked. When Jorick shot her a dirty look, she held up her hands. "I didn't mean it was a bad thing. I'm only asking. I've never been with vampires who had an official job."
Xandria stepped closer. Her scent made Katelina's stomach rumble. Jorick smirked and caught her hand. "I'm hungry too. Shall we visit the restaurant?"
The restaurant was on the sixth floor in the "human" section. With an open front like a mall eatery, it encouraged visitors to drop in and sit at one of the tables. It was a shambles the last time Katelina saw it, but now it was restored, with light green walls and a shiny black bar that ran for a section of one wall. The tables and chairs were painted with the same dark gloss. Vases of orange flowers, on emerald table clothes, gave bright pops of color.
A waitress approached their table. In other visits, Katelina thought her flirty demeanor, low cut blouse, and thick knotted scars were disgusting. Now she was busy trying to ignore the warm, roast-beef-sandwich smell of her blood.
As Jorick ordered and earned a flirty wink, Katelina bit her lip and tried to quash the desire to drain the woman dry. She was grateful to see her sashay away.
When she'd regained her composure she turned to her boyfriend. "So Eileifr said we could leave soon? That means he's not going to arrest you for the kidnapping?"
Jorick leaned back in his chair. "I told him to talk to Joseff, assuming they can find him."
Joseff. A vampire with long black hair and scars. He'd been the one to rip Thomas apart and bury him. Not that anyone had stopped him.
"I told them where Thomas was buried. Eileifr already ordered an Executioner and a couple of greater guards to head to Kentucky and dig him up. What they'll do with him is anyone's guess. In the old days they'd have put him out of his misery, but now-" He shrugged.
She imagined Thomas's withered, dirty body dragged up from the hole, his arms, legs, and lower jaw missing. His eyes would be sunk in his head and his voice would be a dry rattle. He'd be desperate for blood, but have no way to attack them, no way to quench the burning thirst.
The thoughts made her clutch her napkin.
"You aren't in trouble?" she asked. "Beldren said"
Jorick made a derisive noise. "Beldren rarely knows what he's talking about, any more than that redheaded idiot. Eileifr could put me on trial and drag things out, but I think he wants rid of us as soon as possible."
"Why?" she asked.
Verchiel's voice chimed in from Jorick's elbow. "Our friend is something of a legend, so in the field others have a habit of following him rather than their orders. For instance, when Eileifr sent Jamie to bring us home, he followed Jorick instead. He encourages insubordination among the ranks, and Eileifr wants rid of the disruptive element as soon as possible."
Xandria gave a yelp of surprise at Verchiel's sudden appearance and the vampire grinned.
"You enjoy that effect," Jorick muttered. "But it isn't magic. You're only moving fast, wind walker."
"Can you do it?" he asked and took a chair.
"He doesn't need to," Katelina said. "He can practically kill people just by looking at them."
Memories of the battle with Malick flashed through her mind. Jorick roared and threw a nearly visible ball of power at Malick. A guard leapt in the way and fell from the roof. He landed in a heap, hands on his ears, a trail of blood leaking from one nostril.
"It was a fit of rage," Jorick barked. "It isn't like I've been practicing in secret."
"You're Malick's fledgling," Verchiel commented. "You don't need to practice."
The waitress brought their order. Katelina barely had the glass of blood to her lips before she downed it in a long, satisfying gulp.
"Don't bother to taste it," Verchiel teased.
Jorick growled. "No one invited you to join us."
The redhead batted his eyes. "I know you forgot, but I was sure you really wanted me."
"None of us want you."
Verchiel arched an eyebrow. "I don't know about that."
Jorick slammed his fist on the table, hard enough to make Xandria's plate jump. His growl turned deep and menacing. "Very soon we'll be free of you forever. Now be gone!"
"Wow, that wasn't very nice." Verchiel made a show of standing up and pushing in his chair. "I can tell when I'm not wanted." The pout slipped from his face and he winked. "I doubt you've seen the last of me."
Then he disappeared.
