Chapter 611
At the school, Verchiel parked in a no parking zone. Ark was already there, heading into the building. Fuck him, Katelina thought, half hoping he'd pick it up from her mind.
She followed Verchiel past a group of armed National Guard soldiers, her nervous eyes on the ground as she tried to ignore their guns.
Inside, Verchiel led them through the lobby, where a handful of refugees sat in a cluster, then on past the gymnasium. Katelina had a quick peek through the open doors. The polished wood floor was obscured by rows of cots and privacy screens. A group of people worked on setting up more. She didn't check to see if she recognized any of the refugees. Their slumped shoulders were enough without putting names to the defeat.
It wasn't just the survivors that left her feeling melancholy. The school wasn't the way she remembered it. The paint colors were wrong, and it was smaller. Towering ceilings were now claustrophobic. Shiny surfaces looked worn. Most of all, the building felt foreign, a space she had no connection to. Any left behind piece of herself was long gone, painted over in strange new shades.
In the cafeteria, bright flowers taped to the wall promised the coming of summer and summer vacation. Was that right? She did a quick calculation and came away with May tenth.
Time just keeps moving.
Down from the cafeteria, they stopped at a closed door. Katelina thought it might have once been a study hall, but the memories ran together.
Verchiel knocked. Katelina tried to center herself, and reached out to see who was on the other side. It took her a moment to recognize Jorick. Before she could comment, he'd pulled the door open. When he saw her, he lightened. "How did it go?"
As they filed into the room, she said, "Mom's still out, and we didn't find Sarah. You?"
"I'm sorry, little one." He rubbed her back, then noticed Micah. "You found him."
A voice came from the back of the room. "I told him it would be faster to come with us." Katelina looked to see Oren sitting at a school desk, legs out and ankles crossed. His long tawny hair was pulled back in a ponytail. His amber eyes always made Katelina think of a lion waiting to spring and devour someone. Though Oren came off cold, she knew there was a danger to him, hiding under the surface. She'd seen it before, when he battled those who'd killed his family. She hoped she never saw it again.
At a desk next to him was his sister, Torina. Long red hair fell in perfect waves to her shoulders. Her emerald eyes flashed. Painted nails, high heels, and a form fitting dress looked expensive but elegant. With her curvy body, ample cleavage, and sexy pout, she was everything a vampiress should beeverything Katelina wasn't.
Torina's attention was focused on Des, her posture rigid. "What are you doing here?"
Micah made a beeline for the vampiress. "He's with them."
"Since when?" Torina demanded. "Last I knew he hated Jorick enough to walk away from all of us."
The emphasis was a reminder of Torina and Des' relationship. They'd been lovers. From what Katelina understood, Torina had gotten Des to join Oren's war. But, when Des decided Jorick was a spy, he and Torina split ways.
"Where's Anya?" Torina taunted. "Is she waiting in the hallway like a good little woman? I understood your relationship worked the other way around."
Des shoved his hands in his pockets. "Cool it, Torina. I know you're upset."
"Upset? Hardly. You were barely a diversion and certainly not worth worrying about after the fact."
Des flinched at the venom in her voice. Katelina wondered what he expected. To be welcomed back with open arms?
Torina continued, "Jorick said there were 'others', I never imagined you'd be among them. I'm surprised he thought you were worth bothering with."
"He volunteered," Jorick said.
"Did he? And Anya let him go?"
Des made a low angry noise, and Jorick said, "Anya is with Lilith now. He came to help us find Katelina's friend, Sarah."
Torina made a show of stretching. "Why? Don't tell me she's his newest conquest?" Des cleared his throat uncomfortably and Torina laughed. "I see. She's worth racing across the globe for. How-sweet."
"Torina" Des began.
She cut him off. "Who else is in your merry band, Jorick? Did you bring Kateesha back from the grave as well?"
The name was enough to set Katelina's teeth on edge, but she let it go and said, "A guy named Brandle we met in Canada. Sorino and Kai were with us, but"
"They're back," Jorick said. "They showed up half an hour ago. They're in the library with Brandle."
"Sorino," Torina curled her lip. "What's in this for him?"
"I'm not sure yet," Jorick admitted.
Torina motioned it away. "I understand. More help to recover dear little Katelina's friend. How lucky for her that her hero is willing to work with the truly despicable, just to make her happy." Oren growled a warning. She waved him to silence. "Never mind. If everyone's ready, I am."
She sailed past them and slammed out the door with enough force to knock the bulletin board askew.
Micah snickered. "I love a lady with a temper. Rawr!" He followed her out, still chuckling.
Oren eyed Des, even as he spoke to Jorick. "I understand your-reasoning. When necessary, an ally is an ally. If you're right, and Lilith is behind this, you'll need all the allies you can get. Torina won't like it, but if you need a place to shelter for the day, our den is only thirty minutes away."
"I appreciate that," Jorick said.
Des nodded to the other vampire. "I never had a problem with you, Oren."
Oren paused, as if choosing his words carefully. "Let's keep it that way."
Verchiel rubbed his hands together. "It's a shame I'm going to miss all of this. You will let me know how it goes, right, Kately?"
If it goes, she thought. The way they were acting, she wouldn't be surprised if one or more of them was dead by sunrise.
When everyone but Jorick was out the door, Katelina grabbed his arm. "Ark said there was a kid here who saw Lilith?"
Jorick nodded. "He saw her attack buildings on Main Street. She wasn't alone. I recognized William and Anya. There were three others, but I don't know who they were. From her coven, I imagine."
"Did anyone see Sarah or Estrilda?"
The look on his face was her answer. Apparently he hadn't needed to waste his time helping the Executioners after all.
So much for that.
She sighed and followed him out the door. With the lights turned low, a signal for bedtime, the echoing hallways were eerie. The atmosphere crackled with expectation, like the air before a thunderstorm.
As they reached the lobby, a low buzzing settled at the base of Katelina's skull. She tried to shake it off, and looked to where Jamie stood, whispering with Ark and Obrad. He met her glance, nodded to the last of whatever Ark was saying, then headed towards them.
Jorick gave a greeting. Jamie's reply was lost as the buzzing in Katelina's head got louder, more insistent. She rubbed her neck. The tones morphed into sound; a voice with a simple message.
"Come."
It was Samael.
