Chapter 567
Katelina finished her breakfast and glanced at Sarah. The shuffling presence had woken both of them around noon. As usual there was no one there. A quick check revealed all their suspects were at breakfast, except William. Katelina wasn't sure how much more proof Jorick needed.
Maybe a dagger in his chest?
Though she brought it up to him, he brushed her off with the same excuse. She expected Jamie to take their sidehe'd said he took the threat seriouslybut he agreed with Jorick.
"He has to actually make a move before we can do anything. You can't arrest someone for hatred alone. This party is too politically sensitive for that."
Katelina imagined the inscription on Jorick's tombstone: Killed by delicate politics. That would be comforting.
Sarah finished her breakfast. "Let's at least get this knife dealt with."
Sorino was on a patio, Kai bundled up next to him. The vampire gave them a chilly smile. "Yes?"
"You like to buy odd things," Katelina began. "Sarah has something you might be interested in."
"I doubt that, but I'll play along. What is it?"
"Something that belonged to Claudius."
Sorino perked up. "Does this something have a name?" When they looked blank he said, "Never mind. Show it to me."
Sarah pulled the bundle from her purse and carefully unwrapped it. On sight, Sorino hissed air through his teeth. "Oh, no. I wouldn't buy that for any price."
Katelina deflated. "Isn't it worth anything?"
"Everything is worth something to the right buyer, but you're not going to find one. Andrei already tried." Sorino smirked. "He called it the Spear of Destiny, as if we wouldn't know what it really is."
Sarah looked at the tarnished weapon doubtfully. "What is it?"
"The Blade of Nu-Gua. No doubt at least four-thousand years old." Katelina and Sarah's eyes went wide and the vampire continued. "An amazing relic to be sure, but even I'm not adventurous enough to own such a thing. The blade, and the curse, are yours."
"Curse?" they asked in unison.
"It is said the blade belonged to the gods, created for a war among themselves. A weapon that slays a god becomes cursed when it draws first blood. It's said all who own it will endure great misery and untimely death."
"And you believe it?" Sarah asked sarcastically.
"I don't not believe it. I've seen many myths proved true, not always as they are presented, but true enough to make me wary." He stretched a long finger to poke the blade, but stopped short of touching it. "Andrei told you it belonged to Claudius?"
"Yes. He said it was part of a bargain they'd made, but Claudius died before he was able to take full ownership."
"Interesting. Did he give you anything else besides this relic?"
Sarah's eyes narrowed. "Some money."
Sorino chuckled. "So he's willing to pay you to take it. He is desperate." He cocked his head to one side, as if listening to a voice they couldn't hear. Maybe Kai's. "Since you're new, I'll take pity on you. Yes, the blade belonged to Claudius. I don't know where he got it, only that when his assets were frozen by The Guild, he gave this, and several other things, to Andrei as a security deposit against his interest in their joint venture. I can't say if Andrei knew what it was when he accepted it, but I suspect he figured it out shortly after. Claudius' untimely death seems to prove the curse, and no doubt Andrei is eager to see it go before something befalls himself or his little bride." Sorino peered at it again. "In all honesty, I can't think of anyone who would take that once they know what it is."
"If it's so terrible why didn't he throw it away?" Katelina asked.
"For the curse to transfer, ownership must transfer. If he throws it in a lake, how will he ever pass it on and get rid of the curse?"
"Who am I supposed to pass it on to?" Sarah asked impatiently.
Sorino rubbed his chin. "You'd have to find a vampire young enough they wouldn't recognize it. Perhaps the bald imbecile she spends time with, or his teen lover."
Katelina choked. "If you mean Micah and Loren, I don't think they have that kind of relationship."
"Don't they?" Sorino shrugged. "Regardless, they're both young and ignorant. If not them, then someone like that; someone new who has a young master, someone removed from the vampire culture. The kind of fledgling Andrei hasn't come in contact withuntil you showed up."
"Great." Sarah wrapped the dagger up and stashed it in her purse. "Thanks for all your help."
"No need to be so grateful," Sorino replied with equal sarcasm. "I could have told you nothing."
Before Sarah could reply, Katelina murmured a more sincere thanks and dragged her away.
"Now what?" Sarah asked when they stopped. "Who do we sell this to? I don't think that bald guy has any money, and a teenager definitely doesn't."
"You can't pass a curse off to Micah or Loren. They're my friends." The words surprised Katelina and she paused to digest them.
"I thought I was, too. I guess you'd rather leave me stuck with the curse. Thanks a lot." Sarah motioned it away. "Seriously, though, the curse is probably crap, like the Hope Diamond."
Katelina hated to echo Sorino but, after the legend of Lilith and Samael, she was ready to be cautious. "Better safe than sorry."
"Maybe." Sarah looked down at her purse. "Maybe I'll keep it, now that I know it's something besides a dirty bit of metal. He said it was more than four-thousand years old." She reached into her purse and tugged it out. "Imagine, four-thousand years."
Katelina thought of Samael and his weariness with the world and everything in it. "I try not to."
Sarah wrapped her hand around the handle. "I wonder who it really belonged to. Maybe a queen. Or a king. I should have asked him what country it was from."
"I doubt gods had countries."
"There's no such thing as gods. They're just stories. You know, I think I'll get this cleaned up and put in one of those shadowboxes with a little card talking about the curse. Wouldn't that be fun?"
Katelina saw the humor, but she couldn't shake her bad feeling. "I think you should get rid of it."
"Don't worry so much, Kate. There's no such thing as a curse."
Katelina bit her lip to stop from saying, "Tell that to Claudius."
