Chapter 586
Katelina turned to the entrance as the double doors blew open in a shower of wood shards. The vampires around her gasped and spun toward the destruction, all eyes focused on the figure in the gaping doorway. Black trousers and a black button shirt hugged his physique. Both his stancearms raised and palms outand a black robe with wide sleeves made him look like a sorcerer. Long black hair flowed over his shoulders, and dark topaz eyes burned like stars.
It was Samael.
His voice shook the room, "Come forth!"
Verchiel slid in front of Katelina, reaching for a sword that wasn't there. She laid a restraining hand on his shoulder and tried to process what was happening. Samael is hereSamael who said he'd found Lilith, so that means-
The guests stared, trying to decide if this was part of the show or a genuine attack.
-it means Lilith is here.
Cold laughter filled the room. Kali stepped forward and removed her mask. "So it's true. It has been so long I scarcely recall your face, but I would know that anger anywhere. Have you no greeting for me, after years uncounted?"
-it means Kali is Lilith.
Kali? Katelina choked on the revelation. That she was ancient was a certainty, but Lilith?
Can it be true?
As if to prove Kali's identity, Katelina felt the burning of Samael's fury. He snarled something in a foreign language and raised his hand. Katelina sensed the power coalescing around it, and knew what came next. But, like the rest of the vampires, she was rooted to the spot.
Kali snapped her fingers and Sarah stepped in front of her, eyes empty. Samael's expression stayed cold as he readied to release the attack.
"No!"
The scream tore from Katelina just before the ball of energy ripped free. A last second flick of Samael's wrist sent it speeding above them to slam into the wall. Plaster and wood exploded. Dust rained down on the crowd. As it landed on the vampires, they sprang to life amid a sea of cries, pushing, shoving, and scampering for the exit blocked by an ancient.
Andrei rose from his throne, the picture of royal indignation. "What is the meaning of this?"
"Sit puny child," Samael commanded. "My business is with another."
Andrei's mouth opened, but he dropped into his seat at a motion from the ancient vampire.
Kali moved to circle him, Sarah in front of her and the twins behind, their spears raised as weapons instead of props.
Samael turned to her, another ball of power coalescing around his hand.
"Did you not learn with the last?" Kali sneered. "To kill me tonight, you must break your covenant with the one who woke you. Will you do that, you who attach such honor to vows?"
"I need break nothing. You cannot always hide behind your shield."
He moved so fast that even Katelina's immortal eyes couldn't see it. One minute he was in front of the door, and the next he was skidding to a stop where Kali had been. She, meanwhile, had leapt over him, Sarah clutched before her, her wind walking twins behind her.
They stopped short of the door and Kali laughed. "I realize now my mistake. I will not make it again. When next we meet I will find you, and I will slay you with the blade of the gods you once adored!"
She spun for her exit, but Verchiel was in her way. Katelina looked to the spot he'd occupied only a moment before and held back a cry. The redhead advanced a step, a piece of the door held as a weapon. "I'm sorry, but you're under arrest."
The distraction was enough. Samael disappeared and reappeared behind her. In a single sweep, he knocked Kali across the room. She crashed into the orchestra's island, sending musicians and instruments splashing into the fake pond.
Sarah fell to the floor in a heap. Verchiel dodged for her, but the twins swept her up and leapt away. Katelina had a flash of them landing at the edge of the crowd before they disappeared again.
Samael hovered over Kali's prone form. Then she was gone and he crashed into the crowd, thrown by the vampiress in a move too fast to see. He ripped loose from a tangle of terrified guests and threw a blast of psychic energy at his enemy. To Katelina's amazement, Kali made a quick motion with her hand, and the energy bounced away to slam into the ceiling in a spray of plaster.
Of course. If he can do it, she can. They're the same age.
As if to prove Katelina's nightmares, Kali raised her hand and flicked her wrist. The ball of power was almost visible as it sped across the room and slammed into the vampire next to Samael. With a scream and a spray of blood, Borne fell backwards. The angel costumed twins screamed and rushed for him, held back by the panicked crowd pushing for the door.
"It seems your aim has not improved," Samael commented.
"Or has it?" Kali asked. "I would hate to see you die a quick death."
With the door unguarded, several vampires raced out. Katelina looked to see Verchiel hop aside. He shouted directions to them as they streaked past, though his words were lost in the racket of their terror. Katelina saw Fleur among the bedlam, pushing people for the door, but she couldn't see Jorick. Panicked, she rushed toward the redhead, and reached him just as Jorick and Jamie did.
She clutched Jorick's arm. "Thank God. I was afraid you were hurt with the orchestra."
"I'm fine." He forced Trivila and Marna out the door.
A pair of vampires fell to the floor. The surging crowd trampled them in their haste.
"We need to do something with this crowd," Jamie shouted as a fox masked servant stumbled past.
At the other end of the room Andrei stood again, tugging Annabelle after him. They dodged around a chunk of flying debris, sent by a blast from Kali, and raced for the door.
"Not the party you expected," Verchiel called as plaster exploded near the fairy forest. "Or is it?"
Their host paused long enough to shout, "Do something! That's what you're here for!" then sprang toward his escape. An invisible burst of energy slammed above the doorway. The wall collapsed in a roaring pile of plaster and wood.
