Chapter 607
Katelina woke in the evening, clinging to wisps of her dream. She needed to remember what Samael had said so she could tell Jorick.
As if roused by her thoughts, her boyfriend came to life with a gasp; someone who didn't need air deciding they did. He blinked, then smiled as he drank in her face. "Good morning."
"I spoke to Samael."
It took him a minute to digest her words. "What? When?" Then he understood. "What did he say?"
She poured out the dream. By the time she finished, Jorick was sitting up, a frown on his face. "There was no battle?"
"No. Unless he's lying."
"I can't imagine he would." Jorick looked thoughtful. "If there was no battle-"
"Then Lilith did it herself," Katelina finished. "Would she send me a message that big?"
"It's hard to say." He looked up as Jamie and Verchiel entered. "Come, let's feed, then we'll check on your mother."
When they finished feeding, everyone gathered in a knot in front of the house. Katelina spelled out the dream with as little detail as possible.
Des frowned. "What about Sarah?"
It wasn't the question she expected. "What?"
"You said last night that you thought she'd escaped during the battle, but what if she escaped before?"
Jamie frowned. "I don't follow."
"What if her escape was the reason for the destruction," Des said impatiently. "If I got away from a kidnapper, the first place I'd head to is home."
"So you think she came here and Lilith followed?" Brandle asked.
Jamie looked thoughtful. "It would explain the location, and the messit wasn't a fight against Samael, but against Sarah, an effort to recapture her."
"Maybe that was why Brad saw her," Katelina said slowly. "She might have gone there for help."
Ark ran his hand though his hair. "Right now I don't care what anyone did. We have a job to do and there are eight more guards set to arrive in twenty minutes. We need to be there to meet them."
"That's true," Jamie said. "But this might be important. If Lilith's prisoner escaped, and is still missing, then Lilith might still be here."
Katelina shivered at the thought. "You mean-"
"I wouldn't leave without my prisoner," Jamie said. "If she came here specifically to recapture Sarah, she's not going to throw up her hands in surrender. She'd remain until Sarah was taken again."
"Which means there could be a second attack at any moment," Brandle said.
They fell silent, each musing their own private horror. Finally, Ark said, "Our orders are to deal with the aftermath. Until Eileifr changes them, that's what we're going to do. If Lilith is here, she'll find us. Now, let's go."
He spun on his heel and marched toward the driveway.
Jamie looked to Jorick. "Do you still want to offer your services?"
With a sigh, Jorick nodded. "Yes. It looks like you could use the help."
Des snorted. "So you're joining them again?"
"No, just helping in a civilian capacity," Jamie said.
Understanding showed in Brandle's eyes. "I'm not a whisperer, but I am a dream stealer. If I can be of assistance?"
"Of course." Jamie looked from the lingering guards to Verchiel. "Why don't you finish the hospital? You can drop Katelina and Des off while you're going."
Jorick looked ready to object, but Katelina said quickly, "That sounds good."
"Why do I need to go to the hospital?" Des demanded. "I'm here to look for Sarah, not babysit."
"You're not babysitting," Verchiel said cheerfully. "You're making sure I don't ravage Kately against a wall somewhere."
"Someone else can do that."
"But they're mind readers," the redhead explained. "So they're useful."
"Are you saying I'm useless?" Des demanded.
"Ask Jorick and Jamie," Verchiel said mischievously. "In the meantime, let's go." He offered Katelina his arm. "You're going to love my new car."
"I thought you guys flew here?" she asked suspiciously.
"We did, but we brought the cars in the cargo hold. How else would we get around after we landed?"
"I guess you could rent something."
"And risk not getting our hands on standard issue black SUVs? Like Ark would do that!"
Des muttered darkly as Verchiel led them around the house to an orange sports car. Sleek and showy, it reminded Katelina of its owner.
"What happened to the yellow one?" she asked.
He opened the door with a flourish. "I hit a moose, remember? Luckily, I've had my eye on this one for a bit. I was able to get it right away instead of using one of the company cars. I'll never understand why they all like black."
"Because it doesn't stand out." Des surveyed the vehicle. "Is it as fast as it looks?"
"Faster. Hop in."
He motioned Des to the backseat. The dark vampire cocked an eyebrow. "She's the newest. She gets the back."
Katelina didn't care one way or the other. She climbed in before an argument started. When the doors were shut and the motor running, she leaned forward. "Jamie really sent you because, after I see Mom, we're going to look for Sarah."
Des studied her suspiciously. "Then why not say that?"
She wasn't sure how to answer without giving Estrilda away. Luckily, Verchiel chirped, "Because that's not as much fun. Now buckle up, kiddies."
He laughed maniacally as they sped out of the driveway and down the gravel road. Katelina clung to the seat, praying as Verchiel slid around a curve in a spray of gravel.
Despite her terror, they arrived at the city limits in one piece. Military vehicles blocked the road and a soldier approached.
"IDs," he demanded.
Katelina shot Verchiel a terrified look. She didn't have an ID.
"Is that necessary?" Verchiel asked. "We're heading in to visit Kately's mom in the hospital."
"No one gets in unless they're on the approved list," the soldier snapped. "IDs."
With a sigh, Verchiel met the young man's eyes. Seconds ticked by. Katelina wondered if it was working. Verchiel said it all came and went. What if it had gone? Finally, the soldier relaxed, his tone mechanical. "You may go." He motioned to a second soldier, who moved the barricade aside.
"Thank you." Verchiel saluted and deftly maneuvered past them.
Des snickered. "Now I see why they sent you with us. You're not good at that, are you?"
"We all have our talents. Give me a few hundred years and you'll be surprised."
There were three more checkpoints between them and the hospital. Despite that, Katelina felt a little better. A lot of the rubble had been removed. Houses and buildings had been boarded up, and the fires were long out. Street lights were back on. Even the hospital parking lot was only half full.
Inside, calm had replaced the chaos. Gone were the overflow beds and desperate patients. Katelina's spirits lifted as she made her way down the corridor. Everything was going to be all right. Her mom would be sitting up in bed, watching TV, maybe a dinner tray in front of her.
Her optimism disappeared when she reached her mother's room. Her mom was still asleep, her skin even grayer that yesterday. Still hooked to an IV, they'd added an oxygen mask and replaced the surgery cap with gauze.
Katelina sank into the chair by to the bed. "Mom?" She took her hand. "Mom? Are you awake?"
Verchiel stopped next to her. "She's unconscious."
"I see that," she snapped, then relented. "I'm sorry. I-"
"You're upset," he offered.
"I don't understand why she hasn't woken up."
"Maybe she did and you missed it?" Des suggested.
The curtain on the next bed flipped open. A woman stuck her head out. "She hasn't been awake. Her son was here most of the dayyour brother, I guess?" She looked pointedly at Katelina.
Brother? Did she mean-? "Brad?"
"I don't know. Anyway, good luck getting a nurse around here."
The curtain flipped closed before Katelina could say anything else, not that she knew what to say.
She turned back to her mother and watched the rise and fall of her chest. Was she in a coma? Could she hear them? Did she know they were there?
"See for yourself," Verchiel whispered softly.
