Chapter 535
The reconnaissance done, Katelina followed the others inside. Cutter met them in the entryway and escorted them back to the green lounge, where he produced blueprints of the mansion. It didn't interest Katelina, and she fell to whispers with Sarah.
When the others finished studying the plans, Cutter led them on a tour. Among the rooms were different colored lounges, a library, a den, a ballroom, a formal dining room that seated fifty, a smaller dining room, and a room of glass cases that contained Andrei's "collections". The kitchens had coolers of refrigerated blood, and walk in freezers.
The basement had a bowling alley, a miniature movie theater, and an indoor swimming pool surrounded by sea colored tiles and lush jungle plants. Upstairs were rows of bedrooms and sumptuous bathrooms, a trophy room, and what Cutter called a ladies' sewing salon, though it looked like another lounge to Katelina.
Andrei and Annabelle's chambers had double doors and a small entryway that led into a sitting room. Though the tour didn't go on, she imagined the bedroom and private bath were through the other doors.
There was also a television lounge, with a big screen and a leather sectional. A pair of vampires paused their show to gaze languidly at them. Katelina heard it resume after they left.
"They aren't very friendly," Sarah muttered. "I thought we were doing them a favor."
Katelina shook her head. "Everyone's waiting for us to screw up."
The third floor was mostly bedrooms, while the fourth was storage and servants' quarters. Tucked away in the middle was a locked door that Cutter breezily called, "Annabelle's private room."
"What's in it?" Jamie asked.
Cutter repeated, "Private room," then said, "The tour is finished. I believe it's lunch time. Please follow me."
He took them to a blue lounge full of windows and a shiny piano. Warmed blood was served in cups. A few of the coven members joined them, including Annabelle. Though she nodded a greeting, she didn't speak, and she didn't remove her mask.
"Maybe she's getting in the masquerade spirit?" Sarah suggested uncertainly.
After lunch, Fleur tried to start a meeting. At a look from Jorick she grudgingly backed down and Jamie took the lead.
"We have four days until the guests arrive. The entertainers, decorators, and caterers will begin appearing tomorrow. Their identities need to be confirmed, and they and their goods inspected. Since I have the highest clearance, I'll check them against The Guild's databases. Roger, Cornelius, Graham, and Porter will be in charge of searching their luggage. Should it be necessary, Fleur and Bishop will handle transportation to and from the airport. Jorick, you will interview everyone regarding their intentions and the truthfulness of their credentials."
"Do you really think there'll be a problem?" Cornelius asked with concern.
"Better safe than sorry. Andrei wants us to do a job. We will do it to the fullest."
In other words, if Andrei was determined to waste their time, they were going to make it as inconvenient for everyone as they could.
Fleur motioned to Katelina and Sarah. "What will they do?"
"They'll assist me," Jorick said.
Katelina felt Sarah stiffen, but she stayed silent.
Jamie moved on. "When the guests arrive, we'll follow the same procedure."
Jorick scoffed. "They'll enjoy that."
"As I said, this is what Andrei wants. Once everyone is here, we'll split security up into shifts. I'll make rosters tonight. During your shift, your job will be to monitor where everyone is and what they're doing. There will be no mistakes, and when we're done, Andrei will think twice about his requests."
Fleur glared, but only muttered her agreement. As the meeting split up, Katelina foresaw a house of irritated vampires.
***
It was the following evening when a voice cut into Katelina's thoughts. "Hello."
She looked up sharply, and focused on the young, blue eyed face of a vampire. Kolli, she thought his name was. "Hello."
"I didn't mean to startle you. Cutter sent me to help with luggage."
Katelina nodded to a pile of trunks and boxes scattered over the entryway. Jorick was lost in conversation with three decorators, whose angry accented English slipped into French and back again. Roger, Graham, Porter, and Cornelius were elbow deep in the mess, looking for something suspicious, though no one knew what that "something" was.
"When they finish sorting, I guess you can take it." Her vague directions lacked authority, but she didn't care.
Sarah cut in, "The personal luggage goes to their rooms. The decorations go to the ballroom."
Kolli offered a smile and a mock salute. "As you say." He bobbed his head and plunged into the chaos.
"He was kind of cute." Katelina elbowed her friend.
"As if I can think about romance now that I'm-this."
"Why not? Vampires aren't celibate."
"I wish you'd stop using that word."
Katelina ran through what she'd said. "What word? Vampire?"
"Yes. It makes this seem like a cheap romance novel, or a B horror movie. We aren't vampires, we're-we're-"
"Vampires," Katelina said, though the word felt uncomfortable. "That's what they call themselves, Sarah. That's what we are now."
"No! I refuse! I-" She faltered, her hands in shaking fists. "I need some air."
Katelina watched her friend storm out the double doors. She rose from her seat on the grand stairs to follow, then changed her mind. Jorick sent a questioning look, but stayed with the angry decorators.
Andrei sauntered into the room wearing a tailored suit and a polite expression. He moved to the decorators and gave them a spiel in French. Though Katelina didn't understand the words, she imagined he blamed everything on them; saying The Guild insisted. Whatever it was, the vampires calmed down.
Jorick joined Katelina and she asked, "Having fun?"
"Of course. Moments like this make me sad to leave the Executioners."
The sarcasm was thick enough to drown in. "You're the one who agreed. A favor to Jamie."
"Don't remind me."
"Excuse me." Kolli wobbled past them, buried under a pile of luggage. Katelina thought she should help, but she couldn't summon the will. It was all so much pointless drivel.
Jorick nodded. "Life is pointless drivel. Though you're right. You aren't a mule. Let them haul it."
She leaned back on her elbows. "I may not be a mule, but I'm bored. How much longer is this going to take?"
"I'm finished for the moment. Fleur is helping at the temporary landing strip, and I have no idea where Jamie is."
"Hiding and letting us piss everyone off."
"You're worried about making them angry? What will they do? Write 'Katelina is mean' on the ballroom ceiling in lights? They're only decorators."
"Until they band together and kill us. Never mind. If you're done let's do something."
Jorick feigned surprise. "Just you and I? I thought you'd forgotten how to live without Sarah attached to your hip."
Katelina smacked him. "She's new at this, and she doesn't know anyone."
He caught her hand and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. "You were once new, too. Who did you cling to?"
"You. At least I tried to."
"I remember it differently. It doesn't matter. Come, let's find 'something to do'."
