Chapter 556
Katelina wound her way through the corridors and pulled short in time to avoid running into one of the pale twins. Dressed in white, it was only their blue bloodshot eyes that gave contrast to their figures.
The skin crawled on the back of Katelina's neck and she looked away. "Excuse me."
"Katelina," he purred. "Look, Ren."
"Yes." He smiled. "I said we would see you again."
Katelina stepped back as he laid a hand to her arm. "Um, sorry. I'm in a hurry."
"There is no reason to hurry when eternity is yours," Ren said.
"Yes, you must meet our friend," Tol added.
The crawling sensation worsened, and Katelina pressed back against the wall. "I-I need to-"
"Need to what?" The voice was more purr than words, and Katelina looked up to meet a pair of dark, polished eyes. Gold glittered at the vampiress' throat and dark hair was swept up in an elegant style.
Katelina tried to form words, but her mouth wouldn't work.
Ren poked his head around the newcomer. "This is our friend, Kali."
Katelina couldn't move as the vampiress took her hand. "Hello, child. The twins have told me much about you."
They shouldn't know much to tell, except they'd been picking through my brain. As if the thought was a cue, she felt the spark of a mind reader flame, then disappear.
"Perhaps you would like to go bowling with us?" Ren suggested.
"There is an organized game planned," Tol added.
Katelina struggled through her terror to force out words. "No. No thank you. We-we have plans."
Kali released her and stepped back, pulling Ren with her. "We must not impose. No doubt she and her mate are busy. Perhaps another time."
No, Katelina thought firmly, though her tongue wouldn't work.
"It was nice to meet you, child. Come Tol, Ren. We don't want to make her late."
They walked away and Katelina fell slack against the wall, her chest heaving. Tol and Ren. Despite Sarah's assertion, she hadn't cleared them of suspicion. Not only were they wind walkers, but their eyes were bloodshot, like Roger's when he'd stayed up.
She pushed away from the wall and hurried to the smaller dining room, where Jorick sipped a glass of crimson.
"The twins," she panted as she clutched his sleeve. "Would they be after you?"
"Who?" His expression turned to concern as he laid a hand to the small of her back. "You're trembling. What happened?"
"Nothing. Now would they want to kill you?"
He frowned. "What were their names? Tol and Ren? I don't recognize them."
"They're wind walkers, and their eyes were bloodshot, like they didn't get enough sleep."
Jorick frowned. "There could be several reasons for that besides lurking outside our room."
"You're supposed to take this seriously."
"I am. I've never met them until this party. I'd remember a pair of albinos."
"I don't think you're supposed to call people that, anymore," she murmured, but he had a point about them being memorable. "Maybe you pissed off a friend of theirs?"
"It's hard to tell. I'll keep an eye out for them. In the meantime, I thought we might visit the library."
The library was better than the bowling alley, but only barely. She sat in a leather chair while he browsed the books. "This is what you want to do with your day off?"
He shrugged and stuffed an old tome back on the shelf. "I'd rather find a collection of books I haven't read at least a dozen times."
"You're exaggerating. There's no way you've read every book ever written."
"Just the ones worth reading and then some that weren't."
They fell back into silence until she announced, "I'm sorry, but I'm bored."
"Perhaps I can help."
Katelina jumped and turned to see Annabelle and Trivila in the doorway. Annabelle's rich auburn hair hung down her back in waves, stark against her white lacey dress. Trivila's ash blonde hair was piled on her head, and she wore a pair of hip hugging jeans and a fluffy pink sweater.
"We were passing," the masked vampiress explained. "Would you like to join us for a walk?"
Katelina looked uneasily to Jorick, but like last time he said, "It's up to Katelina."
As if I can say no. "Sure. It has to be more interesting than this."
Jorick murmured his goodbye. At the door, she cast a final glance toward him, then forced her shoulders straight and joined the women.
They wound their way through the house and outside. The sky hung heavy with stars. What remained of the frosty snow crunched under their feet as they circled the lake. The pond lapped the shore, silver in the moonlight, and Katelina watched a boat bobbing on the surface. Though she couldn't see the vampires in it, she could feel them, like throbbing beads of power.
"That's Acwellen and William," Annabelle commented to her scrutiny. "Have you met them?"
Katelina imagined them lurking outside her bedroom door and shivered. "No. But that's all right."
"The old ones can be bothersome," Annabelle agreed, apparently unaware of her own crushing presence. "On to more cheerful topics. Have you been enjoying yourself?"
She wasn't sure how to answer, so she said a quick, "Of course."
"Good. And your friend? Sarah, isn't it?"
"She and Des have hit it off."
Annabelle smiled. "I hope they become friends. I'm sure being a new fledgling and not knowing anyone is upsetting." She paused, then asked, "Last night she and Andrei finalized their agreement?"
"Um-I don't know." Katelina thought of the silent message Sarah'd received, though she didn't know if they'd followed up with it.
"You didn't accompany her?"
Katelina shrugged. "No. After Jorick's shift, we went our separate ways."
"Did she discuss the arrangements with you?"
"Not really. Just that she was getting money and some kind of property." Katelina stopped from saying the whole thing was weird.
"Of course," Annabelle murmured. Their walk had slowed to a near stop. The masked vampiress motioned them onwards at a brisk pace. "Such a lovely night."
Katelina trooped behind her, trying to figure out what was going on. Obviously Annabelle invited her on the walk to pick her brain, but didn't she know what was in the agreement? Wouldn't Andrei tell her?
"No," Annabelle said. "He handles the business matters."
Katelina grimaced at the intrusion. "Then ask him."
Annabelle laughed softly. "You say that as though you expect him to answer. I already asked and was told what he's willing to share."
Katelina stuffed her hands in her pockets. "You could ask Sarah."
"I could, but I don't wish to alarm her."
The word set bells off in Katelina's head. "Why would she be alarmed?"
What was visible of Annabelle's mouth grimaced. "She may think there's something suspicious about the deal, when there isn't."
Despite the assurance, Katelina's wariness of the situation tripled. "Riiight."
They left the lake for the trees that circled the property. The space between the trunks was free of weeds, as though kept clean for walking, but farther in Katelina could see where nature was in command.
"The Feast is tomorrow," Trivila said cheerfully. "I've heard the preparations are under way."
"Yes." Though Katelina couldn't see her hostess' face, she could feel the sideways glance, as if she was warning Trivila to be careful of her words.
"I'm glad I don't have to help with it," the blonde said. "I imagine it's a lot of work."
"It is," Annabelle agreed. "And as Marna said, it doesn't hold much significance anymore, but you know how superstitious Andrei is."
Trivila scoffed. "Not just Andrei. It seems everyone turned before 1950 is."
Katelina could feel Annabelle's smile. "The date neatly excludes yourself."
"Of course. I'm not superstitious, or overtly religious, or any of the rest. Life is what you make it."
"A very modern sentiment." Annabelle sniffed the air. "Do you smell that?" When no one answered, she whispered, "Blood."
