Chapter 591
Annabelle's voice brought Katelina out of Sarah's memories and back to the bedroom. "How did you find out she was alive?"
Katelina drew a cleansing breath, as if air could wash the visions away. "After they got free, she came home, but I was gone with Jorick and her boyfriend had moved on." She stopped from saying, "moved on with my mother."
"That's why you brought her here," Annabelle said softly.
Katelina nodded. "I wanted to show her that being a vampire wasn't all cages and suffering and murder, but-"
Annabelle laid a hand on Katelina. "You wanted to help her. I sensed that when I first met the two of you. It's the reason Estrilda was drawn to you." She swallowed a sob. "Estrilda also wanted to help Sarah. She felt her loneliness, her fear, and she wanted to be her friend."
"I know. And we'll get them back. Both of them."
With a nod, Anabelle picked up the smiling teddy bear and stroked its fur. "Rodney. He was a present two birthdays ago because the last Rodney had fallen to pieces. I don't know where she got the name, but she always calls them that. And they dance together." She hugged the bear to her. "Have you seen them dance?"
"No, I didn't get the chance."
"You should. Once she's home. It's her favorite thing to do. She spins and sways like an angel. My poor, beautiful angel. When we're in the cottage in England, and it's just us, she gets to go out in the garden and dance in the moonlight. She loves that, especially in the summer when the lilacs bloom. And the roses. She chases the fireflies and dances to music only she can hear."
Katelina wasn't sure what to say. She felt the pain of the memories, but also the warmth. Should she try to steer Annabelle away from them, or indulge her?
She chose the latter, and spent two hours listening to stories about Estrilda; things she'd done, her favorite toys. Then someone came to fetch Anabelle to be interviewed.
"The Executioners demanded it. Andrei's furious."
"It's all right." Annabelle stood and wiped her eyes. "If I don't it might look suspicious." She took Katelina's hands. "Thank you."
Katelina only hoped the gratitude would be earned.
Alone, and with nothing else to do, she went to Sarah's room. Her friend hadn't packed before she was kidnapped, so someone else would have to do it.
She dragged out the empty luggage. Sarah had put things away. In the dresser were rolled socks and folded underwear, dresses hung in the wardrobe. Neat, organized. Katelina took them out one by one and filled the matching suitcases. With each piece, her guilt grew heavier. She shouldn't have brought Sarah to Canada. She should have known she wasn't dead. She should have looked for her, found her, saved her. Hell, she shouldn't have let her get taken in the first place.
Jorick's voice came from the doorway, "How? You had no idea they'd come for you, or that Sarah would stumble into it."
Katelina wiped tears from her eyes and turned to her boyfriend. "But if we'd done something differently-"
He moved to slip his arms around her. She folded against him, inhaling his warm, comforting scent.
He stroked her hair. "You can look back, or you can look forward, little one. Mooning over what you should have done wastes energy you could use to save her."
"If she's alive," Katelina said bitterly.
"Why wouldn't she be? No doubt Lilith plans to use her against us."
Katelina scoffed. "People only keep a bargaining chip if they're afraid. Lilith doesn't fear us."
"Not us, but Samael. You stopped him to save Sarah once."
"I suppose. At least it would mean she'd keep her alive. I just hope the same holds true for Estrilda."
Except, even if it did, they didn't know where to look for them.
?
***
The following day, Andrei called them into his study. Though he still swore he hadn't known Kali's true identity, he'd "called in some favors" and found the location of her secret Canadian den.
He handed them a piece of paper with scrawled directions. "Annabelle informs me you're going to look for her?"
Jorick glanced over the note and nodded.
"May I ask who you're taking with you? Given the sensitive nature of your quest-?"
He meant given the fact Estrilda was illegal.
"Brandle has volunteered to go." Jorick stuffed the paper in his pocket. "And Des."
Andrei drew up. "Both are trustworthy?"
Jorick cocked an eyebrow. "Brandle is your friend. You tell me."
Andrei made an unhappy noise. "I've filed a complaint with The Guild and demanded the Executioners release my guests. I believe all the interviews have been conducted?"
Jorick nodded. "Most of them. They have some of the entertainers left."
"Then there's no reason for the guests to be held hostage. This has been traumatic enough." He eyed Jorick. "I see you're no longer wearing your Executioner medallion?"
"No. My time as an Executioner is over. Working security at this function was my final assignment."
"And what an assignment," Andrei said bitterly.
Jorick shot him a look that said most of it was his own fault. He was the one who'd invited Lilith and had the cursed sword under his roof. "Regardless, with your complaint filed, I imagine they'll release everyone tonight or tomorrow."
"I hope so." Andrei studied them. "If you're no longer an Executioner, what do you plan to do for transportation? I can't be seen to help you or the Executioners will want to know why."
It was a good question, one Katelina had wondered when Jamie and Verchiel left.
Jorick nodded his understanding. "It's fine. Someone has offered a plane."
Katelina looked at him with the same surprise as Andrei. "Who?"
"Sorino."
Katelina ground her teeth. Sorino was a treasure hunting vampire they'd traveled with before. That he had resources and connections was obvious. What wasn't, was why he'd want to help them.
"He is trustworthy?" Andrei demanded.
Jorick crossed his arms and studied the vampire. "When you ask someone else to do your job for you, you don't get a say in how they do it."
Andrei glared. "I haven't asked you to do anything."
"Your wife has." Jorick held up a hand to stop further conversation. "I understand why you can't go yourself, but my point still stands. If you don't trust us to choose companions, how can you trust us to bring your daughter back?'
Andrei rolled the answer around his mouth before he replied, "Because I have no choice."
Katelina bit her lip to stop from saying that none of them did.
