Chapter 561
Katelina punched Sarah back. One. Two. Three. Boom. Boom. Boom. Sarah's ear spurted blood under her knuckles. Her jaw crunched, and her ribs cracked. Sarah rolled to her side, an arm to her face and one wrapped around her middle. Katelina was aware of people shouting in the background. She hit Sarah in the side of the head and readied another blow when someone hauled her backwards. With a cry she pulled away and her captor shouted, "I need a titan! Quick!"
A wiry vampire and a woman rushed over and grabbed Katelina, one on each arm. She struggled, but they were stronger. Memories flashed behind her eyes. Captured. Restrained. Tortured. Malick.
"Let me go! I said let me the fuck go!"
"Calm down!" a voice boomed over the top of her terror and she was compelled to look into a smooth, well sculpted face. Eyes like sapphires glittered and held her attention. "It's all right," the voice promised her. "Relax now. The fight is over."
As calmness flooded her, she became aware of her surroundings: the torn black plastic spread across the floor, the crowd of staring vampires, the blood on her hands, and her weeping friend.
"Sarah?"
Katelina moved to go to her, but her captors held tight. She turned to tell them it was okay, when Sarah rolled to her feet and charged. Katelina had a flash of Sarahher curly hair in disarray, her nose and jaw at odd angles and her honey colored skin streaked in blood and tearsbefore she jammed an elbow into Katelina's throat.
Katelina choked and sagged. The restraining vampires dragged her away from the onslaught and someone pulled Sarah's arms behind her back.
With a scream, Sarah's injured face twisted into something terrifying. She jerked loose and knocked her assailant to the ground. She grabbed the scissors that lay open on the floor and raised them like a knife.
"What in the hell is going on?" Jamie roared. His large hand wrapped around Sarah's wrist. When she turned to him in outrage, her body fell slack. He lifted her up, and spun back to the crowd.
Katelina's captors released her. She stepped away and hastily wiped at the droplets of blood on her face. "We got in a fight."
"I can see that." He handed Sarah to someone else. "She'll snap out of it pretty soon. When she does she'll be emotional. Give her some blood and stay back."
The vampire looked ready to argue but, at a sharp look from the Executioner, he relented and lugged Sarah away.
Jamie wiped his hand on his pants and turned back to Katelina. "Go clean up and have a drink. And no more fighting."
He stalked off and she realized everyone in the ballroom was gawking at her. Cheeks flushed, she muttered, "I'll be back," before she dashed away.
She didn't know where the bathrooms were, so she locked herself in her and Jorick's bedroom. She checked the small mirror. Sarah's blood was on her hands, arms, and face. It dotted her shirt and flecked her hair. Her nose was swollen from Sarah's first punch, and a bruise blossomed on her throat.
You should see the other guy.
After a fast shower and a change, she headed down for the kitchens and the healing drink Jamie suggested. As she headed back to the ballroom, Annabelle's angry voice floated out into the hallway. "Andrei, tell me you didn't!"
Katelina stopped, her eyes on the sliver of darkness revealed by a partially open door. Andrei's reply was muffled, but Annabelle's response was clear as a bell. "How could you? You know what that is. You know"
Annabelle broke off and a sudden stillness made the hairs on Katelina's neck stand up. It was as if she could feel them listening; waiting.
They know I'm here.
She pushed herself forward at a brisk pace, her eyes ahead of her. The fight with Sarah was forgotten under the mystery of what Andrei had done. Was he the one responsible for the dead children?
She returned to the ballroom and her job of cutting tiny holes in black plastic. As she finished the sheet, she looked to where they'd already started hanging pieces. The cheap star effect reminded her of junior prom and the decorating committee. Sarah had enjoyed it, until one of the preppy girls took control. Then she and Katelina refused to work. They spent prom night loudly criticizing the crooked towers and lopsided moat on the so-called fairytale castle that was the gym's centerpiece.
Her shoulders sagged as the memory slipped away, replaced by Sarah's bloody face. She was going to have to apologize later. No matter what her friend said, there was no reason to strike out at her, especially when she was obviously so much weaker.
"God, how does Micah stand it?"
***
At lunch Jorick nearly swept her into his arms. "Are you all right? I heard that you and Sarah"
"We got into a fight." Katelina gave him a quick hug before she stepped back. "She's still mad about this whole vampire thing, and I let her get to me."
"What did she say?"
Katelina opened her mouth, but stopped. How would she feel if he was fighting over Velnya?
"Patrick," Jorick said with no emotion.
She sighed. "She blamed him for her being like-this."
"As you said, she's angry." He squeezed her again. "It's probably best to let her be for the evening. You can apologize tomorrow, if you feel it's necessary."
"Of course it's necessary. I shouldn't have taken her seriously. She was just spouting nastiness because she's upset. I should have been mature."
Jorick smiled and ruffled her hair. "You could also apply for sainthood while you're at it. You never cease to fascinate me. One moment you're chomping for violence over an imagined insult, and the next you're preaching pacifism and understanding."
She shrugged. "I guess it depends on the situation."
"Or on your mood, or the phase of the moon, or whatever mysterious force governs women." He winked at her.
Roger leaned over. "Trying to understand women is like trying to count the grains of sand on the beach."
Katelina tensed, waiting for Jorick to slug him. Instead he grinned and raised his glass. "That's the truth."
Wasn't it nice they could get along to make fun of her?
Katelina mentioned the overheard conversation, but with so many potential eavesdroppers she didn't get to explain her theory. Jorick pressed a kiss to her forehead and murmured, "I'll look into it. I have to help Jamie. When you're done with the ballroom, go ahead and go up to our room. I'll join you with dinner as soon as I can get away."
The glint in his eyes, and a final teasing snap, left her imagination running full tilt.
Back in the ballroom, the stars were hung. A giant grandfather clock and massive fireplace were wreathed in green garlands. A platform was set up at one end, like a stage. The pair of titans placed a beat up stone table in the center.
That's where they'll sacrifice their victim.
Vampires hung a giant curtain over a long narrow cage. She looked away from it and her heart sank. How could she stand by and let them murder a helpless caged someone? But how could she stop it? Though she might be strong, she couldn't defeat all the vampires.
She forced herself out the door. Jorick had taken books upstairs. Reading one would be better than helping set up a crime scene. She could bury her head under a pillow and try not to think about what was going on.
Good luck.
"Just who I'm looking for."
Katelina turned to see Sorino and Kai. The vampire was dressed in a black velvet suit, complete with white ruffled shirt and a short, red lined cape. He held a silver headed cane in one white gloved hand, and a top hat in the other. Conversely, Kai was dressed in a t-shirt and a pair of jeans, his beat up backpack over one shoulder.
Katelina scowled. "What do you want?"
"You may not be acquainted with the Feast, but I assure you it's no place to take a human. If you would be so kind as to keep an eye on Kai?" Sorino hung the cane on his arm and unfastened the boy's chain.
"The last time I did, we got attacked."
Sorino chuckled. "And I made a tidy profit. I'd be happy to do so again."
She wanted to tell Sorino to stuff his hat where the sun didn't shine, but then what would happen to Kai? So much for waiting in her room for Jorick.
She purposefully turned her back on Sorino. "Come on, Kai. We can find something to do."
Sorino chuckled, and the teen followed her through the house and up a set of stairs.
