Chapter 532
Katelina rushed toward Sarah, but Jamie got there first. He held up his hands and said in a soothing voice, "It's all right. Let him go."
Sarah started to relax, then shook out of it with a growl.
Her victim gave a cry and struggled. Katelina could smell the alcohol on his breath and in his blood. His human blood. What in the hell?
"Sarah?"
"I saw his thoughts!" She pressed her face closer to the man. "You want to sneak up in the dark? You want to attack women?"
"God no, I swear. I wasn't going to do anything." His eyes grew large and he tried to pull away. "Jesus, you have fangs! Are you some kind of vampire freak?"
With a howl of rage, Sarah slammed her fist into his face. His nose snapped and blood splattered, dark against her skin. The smell made Katelina's stomach tighten.
It obviously did the same to Sarah. Even as Jamie shouted for her to stop, she tore into the man's throat.
Katelina turned away and squeezed her eyes closed. She could smell the booze laced blood. Though part of her was screaming to join, she forced herself to stand back. She heard Jamie curse and Sarah snarl. There was a light scuffle. When Katelina looked again Jamie had dragged Sarah away.
The guards arrived from the van. Cornelius looked over the body and whistled. "She should know better than that."
Roger scoffed. "Why? We're the ones who'll have to clean this up. We always are."
"Good," Jorick said coldly. "Then you know what to do. I suggest you get started."
Katelina tried not to look at the body, the mangled throat, the sideways nose, or the pool of slowly spreading blood. That it made her hungry disgusted her.
Though covered in scarlet, Sarah was calm when Katelina reached her. Jamie held her eyes, and Katelina knew it was his influence.
"I saw his thoughts," Sarah murmured. "He was thinking crude things."
"That doesn't mean he was going to attack you," Jamie said evenly. "Did you sense a violent plan or evil intentions?"
"He's a man," Sarah replied. "Of course his intentions were evil."
Katelina jolted at her words. She knew Sarah's life had been hard, but she didn't remember that stilted opinion.
Jamie cocked an eyebrow and chanced a glance to Katelina. "Tell Jorick to do something. I can't have her attacking every suspicious person she comes in contact with."
"He'll say he isn't responsible for her."
"He wanted the two of you to come, he is responsible."
Jamie stepped away and tested the removal of his influence. When Sarah didn't lash out, he withdrew toward Jorick and the guards. "Never mind. I'll tell him myself."
Sarah's knees wobbled and she sagged, as if the weight of everything suddenly crashed down on her. Katelina caught her before she crumbled, then led her to a bench. "Are you okay?"
Sarah wiped savagely at her face. She stared at her hand, damp with blood and tears, and cried harder.
"It's okay. We'll get some-some diaper wipes, and you can change your clothes." Katelina's eyes moved to the bloody sweater. "This kind of thing happens all the time."
"I don't want it to." Sarah sobbed. "I don't want to be like this! I don't want to do those things! I don't want to be here. I don't" she broke off. "I'm sorry."
"There's nothing to apologize for." Katelina tried not to think about the dead man and the family he might have. It was better to tell herself he was evil. Sarah wouldn't lash out at an innocent person. "He was going to attack you. It was self-defense. Even I've killed vampires in self-defense."
Sarah cleaned her face with the hem of her sweater. "I can't picture you doing that."
"We do what we have to."
Sarah murmured her agreement and they fell silent, as if the roaring waterfall could say it all for them.
Jorick finally approached. "The guards have handled the cleanup. We need to go. If you'd like, I can drive and you can rest."
Sarah's spine snapped straight. "No. I have some nappy wipes in the car and some clothes. Let me get this mess dealt with, then I'll be perfectly fine."
Something in Jorick's eyes said he didn't believe her.
***
The meeting place in Toronto was a low brick building with a bunch of signs advertising tax offices, a lawyer, and something called Senodex Industries. Sarah opted to stay in the car, but Katelina followed Jorick and Jamie to a glass door. Though it should have been locked at four a.m., it opened into a carpeted entry. They were met by a short stocky vampire dressed in a scarlet uniform. He eyed Jamie and Jorick's medallions and saluted.
Wait. Jorick's medallion? When did he get that back? Obviously, Jamie had given him a new one. Or the same one. Again. Like a cursed penny he'd never be free of.
A vampiress in a long black coat swished down the corridor and came to a stop. Her platinum hair curled past her shoulders, and dark brown eyes were narrowed appraisingly. A silver emblem hung around her neck, no doubt the symbol of the Canadian Executioners.
"You're late."
"We apologize," Jamie said before Jorick could comment. "There was a delay."
"Obviously. Let's cut to the chase. I'm Fleur. I've been sent to assist you. The truth is you don't want to be here, and we don't want you. I'd rather they let us handle our own affairs, and I'm sure you have more important things to do. I know it isn't your fault, but don't expect a warm reception from anyone. They're all waiting for you to screw up and give the Assembly proof of your inadequacy."
"We're well aware," Jamie said.
"In that case, we have lodging for you and tomorrow I'll start your escort to Newfoundland. There are four of you, correct?"
"Six," Jorick said. At her surprised expression he added, "We're taking this job very seriously."
"Obviously. Graham, you and Porter will defer to our guests. A night on the floor won't hurt you."
Graham made an unhappy noise but saluted.
Fleur turned to Jamie. "If you'll bring the others inside, we'll get settled."
***
The upper floor housed offices. A staircase in the back led to a basement. Past a couple of storerooms and what looked like a lab, was a small apartment with four bedrooms.
"There's a shared shower room." Fleur tapped the fifth door. "And a mini fridge with some supplies." She nodded to the appliance in the tiny entryway.
"It's like a flop house," Cornelius said. "Why don't we have these?"
"We do," Jamie answered. "If you went on the right assignments you'd know." He gave the guard a stern look, then ducked into one of the rooms.
"Better assignments than this," Roger muttered at Jamie's retreating figure. "I could be at the Citadel. Instead, I'm here."
"You weren't going to get the Executioner job, anyway," Cornelius said. "Every time there's an opening, you put in and they turn you down. Give up already."
"And do what? Learn to play the guitar and start a jazz band?"
Jorick cleared his throat to remind them of his presence. Both guards instantly snapped to attention. "The two of you can share with the Canadian guards. Katelina and I will take the third room."
Sarah interrupted him. "I'm not sharing with your friend."
Fleur stepped up. "You can share with me if you'd rather. There are two cots per room, so it doesn't make a difference."
Katelina thought of Jorick's tirade about sleeping. Maybe he was on to something.
Though Sarah hinted she'd rather share with someone she knew, Katelina pretended not to get it and followed Jorick to their quarters. Roughly the size of a medium closet, there was room for the two cotsblankets and pillows neatly folded at the footwith three feet of space between them.
"Cozy," Jorick murmured as he pushed the cots together.
"Better than Oren's place." She closed the door and stripped off her jeans and shirt, but stopped at her underwear. She still couldn't be casually naked.
Jorick had no such qualms. After he spread out the blankets, he peeled off his clothes and slid in next to her. He pulled her to him, his silky skin warm against her body.
"Good night, little one. I love you."
"I love you, too. And I'll never choose anyone over you, not even Sarah. You know that, right?"
His answer was a noncommittal noise.
