Chapter 519
Katelina jumped to her feet. Jorick tugged her back down. "They'll handle it."
The vampires in the front row scattered for the door, followed by the Lesser Council. "Bureaucrats who've grown soft," Jorick muttered.
Joseff dropped into a fighting stance and the guards started toward him, drawing weapons as they closed in.
Verchiel leapt to his feet. He disappeared then reappeared in front of Joseff. He spun the surprised vampire and snapped handcuffs around one wrist. Before he could get the other, Joseff ripped free and slashed with the stolen sword.
Verchiel dodged away. He lunged again for his attacker, and Joseff hopped backwards onto the dais. Calculations rippled over his face before he grabbed Celandine and pressed the point of the blade to her heart.
Verchiel drew to a stop, hands up, and Jamie skidded to a halt. "Stand down, prisoner."
"Or what?" Joseff demanded. "You're going to kill me anyway. At least now the mind reading bitch comes with me."
Celandine's face was marble. Her eyes slid toward Eileifr and the Nordic master nodded. "You may execute the prisoner now."
As though that was what he'd been waiting for, Jamie hopped up on the dais. Joseff tightened his hold. "I'll kill her."
"No you won't." With a single stroke of Jamie's sword, Joseff's head flew away in a spray of blood.
Katelina gasped as Joseff's body crumpled to the floor. Jamie dispassionately ran his sword through his fallen foe's chest, then turned to the council and bowed. "I apologize masters, I should have been faster."
Celandine dabbed at her bloody dress with a lace edged handkerchief. "Your reactions were adequate, Executioner. I am a mind reader more powerful than you, and I did not see this outcome in his thoughts." She looked over the headless corpse and the spreading pool of blood. Crimson rivulets reached the edge of the dais and ran down to meet the carpet. "This session of the Full Council is adjourned. Guards, see the mess is cleaned up."
Verchiel grabbed his fallen weapon and stashed it away. When Katelina met his eyes, he offered her a smile that didn't seem genuine.
With the High Council's withdrawal, what remained of the audience hurried out of the chamber. Jorick stood leisurely and led her through the double doors and into the hallway. The red-haired Lennon leaned against the wall, chatting with another vampire. Though Katelina would rather kick him than be friendly, she pulled Jorick to a stop.
"You were in Claudius' coven?"
Though Lennon glared at Jorick, he gave her a blank once over that said he wasn't sure who she was. "So?"
"There was a human, Sarah, that someone kidnapped. What happened to her?"
"How the hell should I know? I don't remember all the humans Claudius fed on."
Jorick gave him a warning look, and Katelina clarified, "No. She wasn't a meal. They were trying to kidnap-" she broke off from saying "me" and instead said, "Patrick's girlfriend, but they got the wrong girl."
Recognition sparked in Lennon's eyes. "Oh! Her. Troy killed her. Why?"
"You're sure?"
Lennon scoffed. "Yeah, I'm sure. I watched 'til I got bored. Why?"
Katelina forced down her revulsion. "And no one turned her, or kept her?"
"No, why would they? She wasn't good for anything, not even as bait. Why do you want to know?"
"Never mind," Jorick said brusquely. "Come, Katelina."
He pulled her down the hall and into the elevator. As the shiny doors closed, Katelina leaned back against the wall. "I just don't understand how she could have survived. Unless he was lying?"
Jorick shook his head and she added, "Did you see the rest of his thoughts? He said he watched-" She broke off and held up a hand. "Never mind." It was better that she didn't know.
***
The next evening, Jorick left for his final meeting with Eileifr. Katelina finished packing, surprised Verchiel didn't come see them. She was even more surprised when Beldren banged on their door.
"If you insist on having visitors at least give them a key card," the blond Executioner snapped. "I got in late this morning and I'd planned to sleep in, except this oaf kept banging on the block door."
Micah stepped up behind him, meaty arms crossed, Loren on his heels. "Watch who you're calling an oaf, dog."
Beldren snarled and would have turned on him, but Micah motioned to the luggage with the demand, "What's that about?"
"Jorick's meeting with Eileifr, then we're leaving," Katelina answered.
"And good riddance." Beldren turned on his heel and stomped away before she could think of a suitable reply.
Loren grinned at Xandria, and Micah barked, "Leaving? Where in the hell do you think you're going?"
"My mother's, then home."
He snorted. "Your training ain't done, sunshine, which means your blood debt ain't paid, so we're going with you."
"Whoo-hoo!" Loren cried. "Road trip!"
Katelina's eyes bulged. "Absolutely not!"
"It's that or you don't go. I've been doin' research. Ask your boyfriend how the blood debt works."
Katelina's heart sank. Though she wanted to argue, wanted to say he was wrong, he wasn't. She was lucky training was all he expected from her. But how was she going to explain him to her mother? "Maybe I can train after Mom's? Loren lives down the beach from us. You could stay there."
"Nice try princess. You think The Guild dog will go home if he knows we're waiting?"
"Stop calling him that. He isn't an Executioner anymore."
"I'll believe it when he turns in his necklace."
"When who turns in their necklace?" Verchiel ambled in, hands in the pockets of his jeans.
Loren waved and Micah sneered. "What do you want? Thought you'd catch Lunch by herself?"
Verchiel cocked his head to one side. "I don't know why you have such a low opinion of me." He saw the luggage. Katelina thought she saw something shift in his eyes, but it was so quick she wasn't sure. "Ah. Jorick's been officially released. Back home?"
Katelina started to answer when Micah cut her off. "None of your business."
Verchiel grinned. "You're getting as jealous as Jorick. Something we should know about?"
It took Katelina a moment to grasp the implication, but Micah snarled, "Not what you're thinking, Guild dog. I just ain't got no respect for thieves. Lunch belongs to Jorick, so why don't you back off."
Katelina's hands went to her hips. "I'm not a 'thing' to be stolen, and I don't belong to anyone. I'm with Jorick because I want to be."
Verchiel's smile looked in danger of disappearing. "What's with you guys? If someone's friendly it has to be something devious. Are you really that bitter and miserable?"
"I call it realistic." Micah crossed his arms.
Loren moved in front of his friend. "Chill. I know there's all of that master stuff with you and Katelina now."
"Fuck that. Ain't no master crap. I told you a long time ago, I don't like sneaky shit. I ain't no thief and I don't wanna be around one. You can't trust 'em."
"That's enough!" Katelina cried. "No one is 'stealing' me, so you can all get over yourselves."
Beldren pounded on the other side of the wall and shouted a muffled, "Shut up!"
"You shut up!" Micah roared back.
Jorick stormed through the open door, scowling. "What in God's name is going on?"
"Your favorite idiot was trying to schmooze on your chick." Micah jerked his thumb toward the redhead.
The last shred of Verchiel's good humor disappeared. "You're the idiot. I've been nothing but friendly and helpful since I met you people. All I've earned are sarcastic comments and suspicion. You want me to go? Fine! Have a good life!"
Katelina stared, slack jawed and wide eyed, as he stormed out of the room. She shook herself quickly. "Now look what you did."
Jorick shrugged. "Good riddance."
Katelina smacked him on the arm. "I think you hurt his feelings. Someone should go after him." No one moved and she gave an angry huff. "Fine, I"
Jorick caught her arm and met her eyes. "Don't. I've given you leeway where the idiot is concerned, but my patience only goes so far."
"What in the hell is that supposed to mean?"
He released her and straightened his shirt. "I think I was pretty clear."
"I'll go," Xandria volunteered. "No one cares if he seduces me."
As she hurried out the door, Jorick hefted a suitcase and glanced to Micah. "You can follow him."
Micah shook his head. "Ain't got time. Loren and I gotta pack. Come on pipsqueak."
Jorick stiffened, as if he'd read Micah's mind. "No, you're not."
"Oh come on, it'll be fun," Loren insisted.
Jorick rounded on them, but Katelina shouted, "Enough! I'm sick to death of all the squabbling and fighting. Oren has finally shut up and it's time the rest of you did, too. Micah, stop insulting everyone all the damn time. Jorick, I don't like the idea of them coming, but right now I want to get the hell out of here!"
Loren gave a low whistle. Micah muttered a string of insults under his breath then said, "We'll be back. No sneaking off while we're gone," before he dragged the teen out the door.
Jorick dropped the suitcase to the floor. "You want to be in charge, Katelina? Fine. You can carry the luggage, since you obviously don't need me. I'll see you in the welcome room." Then he slammed out.
With a groan Katelina sank into a chair and closed her eyes. Just what she needed: another trip from hell.
Xandria returned faster than Katelina anticipated. "Verchiel said he wants to be left alone, though he appreciated the thought and says for you to take care. And he's sorry he blew up. It's been a stressful few days."
Katelina nodded and scooped up the surprisingly light luggage. "Get the door, would you?" Xandria hurried to obey and Katelina waddled through, her arms full of precariously balanced bags, boxes, and suitcases. "Wonder what he's stressed out about."
"I don't know. You want some help with those?"
