Chapter 562
On the second floor they ran into Marna. The brunette vampiress smiled. "You aren't going to the Feast, are you?"
Katelina shook her head.
"There are a few of us skipping it and we thought we might have our own party in the TV room. Would you like to join?"
Katelina looked to Kai, but the teen stayed as expressionless as ever, so she nodded.
"Wonderful! I'm helping Annabelle get ready then I'll be in. I think Hannah's already there. See you later." With a smile the vampiress headed off.
As she said, the braid wearing Hannah was already seated on the couch. The once over she gave them was cool, though not hostile. When Katelina offered her a stiff smile, she returned it.
Kolli strolled through the door, his blonde hair mussed in a modern style, and his hands in his pockets. "They're all locked up," he announced cheerfully. "Just don't let me forget to let them out at sunup." He suddenly noticed Katelina and Kai. "Hello! How are you?"
Katelina stopped herself from saying "Guilty," and settled for, "Fine. How are you?"
"I'm good." He took a seat between them and Hannah. "Who's your friend?"
"This is Kai, Sorino's human." After Katelina said it, she hated herself, but it was what it was. "He asked me to look out for him."
"Probably a good idea," Hannah said.
The conversation dropped off, and Katelina tried to resuscitate it. "Who's locked up?"
"The human servants," Kolli answered. "For their own protection. Don't want anyone getting hold of the wrong human."
She forced a smile and nodded. Would the vampires really get so crazed that they went after any available human?
"The guests haven't fed all night, only the staff has."
As the thought ran through her brain, Katelina looked sharply to Kolli. He nodded and followed it with, "It's part of the ritual."
The silence fell thick again, and Hannah turned on the TV. They were watching a movie about killer sharks when Marna came through the door. She carried a tray with several glasses and a large decanter of crimson.
"The best part has arrived," Kolli teased and took the tray from her.
Marna blushed as they poured four glasses of blood and handed them around. Katelina tried not to lift hers near her nose. She didn't want to gulp it like a newbie.
Kolli took his seat and held his glass aloft. "Cheers!" Then he downed it in one quick swig that filled Katelina with relief.
When her glass was drained, Katelina realized Kai might be thirsty. "Do you want something?" He tapped the backpack, and she remembered the protein bars and water he carried.
Hannah poured herself a second round. "I heard Brandle may join us."
Brandle. Katelina knew the name, though she wasn't sure why.
"Really?" Kolli asked with surprise. "Isn't he pretty old?"
"I heard he was turned in the four-hundreds," Hannah replied. "Not fourteen-hundreds, but four-hundreds. As in four-oh-oh."
Kolli whistled. "That makes him thirteen-hundred years older than us."
Hannah cocked an eyebrow. "Older than you. I wasn't turned until 1811. And she's not more than ten or twenty."
It took Katelina a minute to realize they meant her. "Me? No, I've only been- I was-" but she couldn't say it. "It was only a couple months ago."
"Are you serious?" Marna asked. "No wonder you're not ready for the Feast."
Before Katelina could ask what was so major about the Feast, another vampire walked in. Long blonde hair fell around his shoulders, matched by a trim beard and mustache. His face was young and beautiful, marred only by the scar that ran from his forehead to his cheek, over the lid of his right eye.
The eye itself was milky in color, a contrast to the dark brown of the other. His shoulders were broad, though his waist was narrow, and the modern jeans and pullover looked like they were made for him.
"Good evening." He held up a hand in greeting. When his strange eyes met Katelina's, she felt the world give way, but it returned quickly.
Kolli stood. "You must be Brandle. I'm Kolli."
"Aye, Kolli, that I am. And who are our other fine friends?"
Kolli made the introductions, and Brandle nodded to each. When they'd finished he poured himself a glass and took a seat.
It was several minutes before Hannah said, "If you don't mind, Brandle, may I ask why you opted out of The Feast?"
He shrugged, his eyes on the television. "I've never liked it, or her for that matter."
"Who?"
"The Goddess of Night. Nyx. Nox. Batna. Talto. Satrina. Morrigan. Whatever name you want to call her. She is no more real than the others, just an excuse to revel. I don't need an excuse. I revel when I desire to." He offered Hannah a wink and a fanged smile.
"You don't believe in any God?" Marna asked. "Not even the True God?"
"The God of the Catholics, the Jews, or the Muslims?" he asked.
"I think they're the same," Kolli answered uncertainly.
Brandle waved it away. "It's no matter. Religion is something no man will ever agree on, so they shouldn't speak of it. Worship who you will, and leave me to worship who I will."
"Or who you won't?" Hannah suggested with a giggle.
Brandle chuckled and the tension lessened.
When the movie ended, Katelina heard the soft sound of music drifting from downstairs.
"The dancing has started," Kolli announced and checked his watch. "Another movie?"
They all agreed. While Marna set the DVD up, Kai pulled out his bottled water and took a swig. Katelina felt a foreign longing and looked to see the boy eye one of his protein bars. "If you want it, eat it."
"Eat what?" Hannah asked.
Brandle shrugged. "Go ahead, boy. Don't starve on my account. I'm long past being bothered by it."
"Watching humans eat is kind of gross," Hannah commented. "All the mashing and the chewing."
Katelina thought of the countless times vampires had said that to her, yet it didn't bother her.
"It comes with time," Brandle said to her thoughts. "And it goes with time."
"Were you really turned in four hundred?" Kolli asked.
"423, or thereabouts."
"That must have been so exciting," Marna enthused.
The bearded vampire laughed. "No more exciting than 523, or 1523, or 1923. Things stay the same, only the clothing and the methods of war change."
"Did you fight a war?" Kolli asked.
"I've fought in many, for both immortal and human causes, and in the end none of them made much difference. But of course you won't believe me, because you're young." Brandle flashed his dazzling smile. "Enjoy the enthusiasm."
Hannah batted her eyes and earned another laugh. Her smile said she took it as a compliment, but Katelina didn't think she was getting anywhere. It was like an adult teasing toddlers; after sixteen-hundred years of life, they were children to him.
