Chapter 588
Kali hauled Estrilda up by the back of her dress. Katelina felt Estrilda's mental scream as Kali surveyed her. With a shriek, Annabelle lunged. Yuki, free from the mess, knocked her aside before she could reach her target. She tumbled over the remains of the table that had been in the sewing room. Andrei roared and charged the offending vampiress. They crashed together and Andrei slammed his fist into her. She turned at the last second to take the blow on her side. Katelina could almost hear the crunch.
The vampiress staggered back. Andrei knocked her legs out from under her and stabbed a chunk of splintered wood through her chest. With an animalistic intensity he looked up to Kali, Yuki's blood on his face and hands. "Release her."
"I don't think so. The blood of children is the sweetest, and what would be sweeter than one who has been a child for centuries? William!"
The vampire in question appeared at Kali's feet. She tossed Estrilda into his arms. Jorick and Andrei sprang in unison, but William was gone before they reached him. At a cry from the door, Katelina saw Graham crumple to the ground and William disappear through the narrow opening Annabelle'd dug free.
A mound of rubble exploded near Katelina. She ducked flying chunks and looked to see Samael stand. His robe was torn and a cut across one cheek bled crimson. "Now you die, foul demon!" As he raised his hands, Kali held Sarah before her. Katelina felt Samael's indecision, and her heart stopped when he came to a conclusion.
"I am sorry."
Sarah's death was written on his face. With a cry, Katelina grabbed the fallen shield and flung it at him. The force of impact sent his shot wide to blast a hole in the wall. Kali laughed and evaporated, no doubt racing out the new exit.
Samael met Katelina's eyes. She felt the spark of his disappointment before he, too, disappeared. In the aftermath, Anya bounded for the door, followed by her black masked compatriots. Verchiel and the guards raced after them.
Immediate danger gone, Annabelle dropped to a sobbing heap. Andrei hurried to pull her to him. "We'll get her back." He soothed her with foreign words. When she buried her face in his chest he turned to the remaining Executioners. "You will find her!"
"And Sarah," Katelina cried.
Jamie wiped his sword on his coat. "Be careful with your orders, Andrei."
The vampire glared, ready to argue, when Jorick cut him off. "This is your fault. Had you been honest when you requested security, The Guild would have taken this more seriously."
Annabelle clung to him desperately. "Does he mean Estrilda?"
"No," Jamie answered grimly. "Andrei invited Lilith-"
"Lilith?" Annabelle echoed the name with horror. "She and Samael are myths."
"Myths proved reality," Jamie replied. "Who do you think attacked us?"
"How should we know?" Andrei demanded.
"That was Samael," Jorick said. "And we both know why he came."
Andrei stiffened and Annabelle sobbed. "That cursed dagger. Oh Andrei, I told you to destroy it."
"It wasn't only the dagger he was after, but Lilith," Jorick commented. "Or maybe I should call her Kali."
"Ridiculous," Andrei snapped. "I've known Kali for more than three centuriesunder different names, yes, but never that one."
Jamie waved him to silence. "Regardless, Samael's attack proves that's who she is. Between her presence and the blade of Nu-Gua, this" he motioned to the mess, "was inevitable."
Andrei glared. "If you're finished, my wife is distraught enough without your accusations."
He scooped her up and carried her out the door, leaving Fleur to look from one to the other confused.
Brandle stepped next to her and laid a bloody hand on her shoulder. "Trust the words of an old warrior. Ours is not to question. My assistance is yours if you want it."
Fleur deflated as she gazed around the room. "I won't say no."
Des dashed out the door, but returned shortly, his face wadded in frustration. He hesitated, before plunging toward Katelina. "Kali took Sarah."
"I know. I'm waiting for Jorick and then"
"Then what? They stole a plane. Unless you think Jorick can fly?" He rubbed his head in frustration. "Fuck!"
Jorick abandoned his duties to move between her and Des. "What do you want?"
Their eyes met, hard and angry. Finally Des snapped, "How are we going to get Sarah back?"
"We're going to go after them," Katelina began, but Jorick cut her off.
"Des is correct. None of us are hunters, or pilots. Even if we were, we couldn't track something that flies."
Katelina shook her head. "They can't just take off in an airplane. There are flight plans and all that crap."
"I don't know enough about it. The Guild may be able to find her."
"So we wait on them?" Des demanded.
We?
Jorick nodded sharply. "Unless you have a better idea."
"Fine. But I'm going with you." He held Jorick's eyes, daring him to say no.
Though Katelina expected him to meet the challenge, he only gave a sharp nod and turned to her. "Do you know where Samael went?"
"No. I think he's mad at me." She bit back tears. "Do you think Sarah and Estrilda are okay?"
Jorick pulled her to him and rubbed her back. "I'm sure they're fine, little one. Don't worry, we'll find them." He kissed her forehead, then released her. "I need to work."
She let him go and turned her attention to helping clear the mess. She uncovered both injured and dead, though all told the casualty list was shorter than she expected. Aside from Kali's followers there were four of the musicians, eight of the acting troupe, including the vampiress who'd represented Lilith. One of Andrei's servants. Two from his coven, including Borne, and five guests: the gossipy Jome, Urian the angry ex-lover, Trevor the servant, and the youthful Petta among them.
Rangvald clutched his mate's crushed body and cried openly. His misery was more than Katelina could take, so she excused herself to clean up. She let the hot shower run over her and prayed that Sarah was all right. Why did Kali take her when all she really wanted was the sword?
Maybe she's not a captive.
Though horrifying, the thought was her own. She tried to tell herself it couldn't be true, but there was evidence. Sarah's insistence that Kali and the twins were "nice". Her determination to spend time with them. Her locked mind. Maybe she had asked Kali to do it.
