Chapter 623
Katelina had a hard time sleeping. She hoped Samael would contact her so she could tell him what they'd learned, but she only dreamed about her mother's funeral. She woke unhappy. Even a hot shower couldn't banish the melancholy.
She dressed and met Jorick to feed. When she called the hospital they said there was no change, and warned again that her mom might be moved. The nurse couldn't tell her to what facility but, if it happened, she promised to call the number on file.
With that small comfort, Katelina packed her suitcase.
Oren was right. When given her options, Torina opted to come. That she'd prefer Des' company to Etsuko's-Katelina imagined the two women alone in the house together. The scenario was something like The Odd Couple, only with more lipstick.
When everyone was ready, Etsuko waved them goodbye. It took two hours and three vehicles to reach the airfield. On arrival, they found the plane, but the pilots were at a motel twenty minutes away.
While they waited near the building, Katelina wondered if it would be safe to smoke there.
"You look thoughtful," Brandle commented. "Are you meditating on the universe?"
"Nicotine," she admitted.
"Not a wise place to imbibe." He nodded to a No Smoking sign.
"I know. It would make things easier, though."
"I've never found that tobacco soothed the conscience, only distracted it." She looked at him sharply. He shrugged. "I can smell your turmoil from across the field. If you crave distraction, our new friend Zander looks lonely."
"I'm not sure he's our friend."
"Surely everyone is, until proved not to be? I think I'll go speak with him. Will you come?"
Though she didn't really want to, it seemed rude to say, so she followed.
Zander stood away from the group, clutching his bag. His dark robes looked like something from a cult. The cult of the Night Goddess.
"Hello." Brandle held out his hand. "I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Brandle."
Katelina looked between the two of them. Brandle's pleasant expression was a bright contrast to Zander's impassive face. Was being emotionless something vampires had to learn, or was it the other way around. Did Brandle have to purposefully look friendly, instead of like a beautiful statue?
Zander blinked at the proffered hand, and finally took it. "Hello. You're the master here?"
Brandle laughed. "Not at all. I understand the confusion, considering the age difference, but I'm only helping out. I believe Jorick is running the show."
"I see."
"You're disappointed?"
"Not disappointed," Zander said. "I'm not used to such young vampires."
"You come from an old coven?"
"Yes. Though our master is no longer with us. Sadly, he left some years ago."
"Sadly?" Brandle asked with surprise. "It's rare to find someone who feels affection for their master after so many years. You must have had one who was unusually kind."
"Master was-I don't know if kind is the word, but he was pleasant enough. I have no ill feelings for him. Do you dislike your master?"
Brandle chuckled. "That's the usual way of it, at least with those of us from the old world. Modern vampirism seems to be a friendlier thing, turned by brothers, lovers, friends."
Zander cocked his head. "Master was my spiritual father even before I was made immortal. My brothers, Trefor and Gaius, were already immortal when I was given to them."
"Given?" Brandle asked lightly.
"Yes, as a child. Master was the protector of a village in the mountains. It was understood that children born with the mark belonged to him." He tugged up his sleeve to show a crescent shaped birthmark on his arm. "Is that not how you came to be with your master?"
"No," Brandle said.
"I admit we remained isolated from our kind, but I assumed some things were universal."
Brandle shrugged. "Very little is universal. Each do things their own way."
Zander's brow creased, then melted back. "I see. I've noticed none of you do the sunrise or sunset prayers."
Brandle cocked an eyebrow. "I'm sure some pray to one god or another. Who's your deity of choice?"
Zander looked surprised. "The Night Goddess. Who else?"
Katelina tried to find a non-offensive way to phrase her question, but she wasn't sure there was one. "What does worshiping her entail?"
"I don't understand," Zander said.
Brandle smiled. "She means what are your rituals? Are your beliefs strict? Are there rules you must follow?"
"You don't know?"
She rubbed the back of her neck. "Um-no. Sorry. I've never spent time with anyone who worshipped her-Except for the feast last month."
Zander smiled for the first time since Katelina'd met him. "The Feast of the Night Goddess is one of the highest holy days. You were allowed to join without being anointed? Or were you anointed?"
Katelina thought of the cages, the screams, the orgy of blood and death. "I didn't notice any anointing."
Zander cocked his head. "It might have been a more liberal sect, I suppose. Or perhaps you were not aware of the significance of the anointing? It involves sacred oils on the four corners, and the secret eye."
Katelina had no idea what he was talking about, but there hadn't been any oil. "Nothing like that. It was a big party, with music and dancing. And a lot of prisoners."
Zander looked confused. "What do you mean a lot?"
"Thirty people or more. In cages. When the clock struck three, they let them out and-drank from them." Tore them to shreds was a better description, but she couldn't say it.
Horror flashed across Zander's face. "I've never heard of such a thing."
Brandle laid a hand on Katelina's arm. "Perhaps it is as you said, a different sect?"
"A perverse one." Zander shook his head. "The Night Goddess scriptures say blood is where freedom lies, but they also warn of gluttony. To take more than you need today leaves nothing for tomorrow. To sacrifice that many would be gluttony. Only one is needed. Each year, on the night of the Goddess moon, Father chose the healthiest of our herd. Since we moved to the town, Gaius buys a calf. This dancing you spoke of, and cages-There are none of those. The sacrifice is given on the altar. Each drink of it, leaving a portion for the Night Goddess, then we celebrate the creation."
Katelina wasn't sure how they celebrated the creation in his cult, but she remembered how Sarah and Des had done it. "You said a calf? You don't sacrifice people?"
"As in humans? No. In the old world there were not enough in our village to take twenty a year. And here-We have never lived in a place where it would be less than gluttony. Perhaps if one lived in a city-"
"Twenty?" Katelina demanded.
"One for each ritual. The Feast of the Goddess Moon is the highest day, and so demands the greatest sacrifice, but smaller ones are required for other holy days. I hope this sect you speak of doesn't continue such sacrifices for all of them."
"I think the Feast is the only one Andrei observes," Brandle assured him.
"A strange sect for sure."
A car pulled into the distant parking lot. Brandle nodded toward it. "If I'm not mistaken, our pilots are here."
Zander followed his gaze then headed for the rest of the group. Katelina hung back a moment to whisper to Brandle, "I understood the Night Goddess was a goddess of death and blood who demanded sacrifices and the freedom of reveling in gore."
"That's the incarnation I've run across," Brandle agreed. "Perhaps there are other interpretations. Not all Christians understand their God the same. Some say he's loving and kind, while others scream brimstone and hellfire. Why would her followers be different?"
Katelina stopped from saying, "Because they're vampires."
***
The ride on the plane was only an hour and a half. The pilot explained that they had to detour because of the "disaster" in the area. As long as the detour meant less flying time, Katelina was fine with it.
When they landed, she said a prayer of gratefulness. Outside heavy clouds in the sky blocked out all but the brightest stars. A soft haze turned the lights to plump globes. As the nearest airport to the fire, it was overcrowded, with airplanes parked in rows on the grass. Despite the late hour, people fueled a plane in the distance. Two men scurried toward the buildings.
Katelina turned to Jorick. "I know you said they torched a whole town, but I didn't imagine this."
"Neither did I."
Des exited, a frown on his face. "This smoke must be from the fire what's-his-name mentioned? What do we do? Get close to it?"
Torina appeared, her expression pinched and her eyes everywhere but Des. "We should find a place to stay, first."
Katelina hated to say it, but Torina's plan sounded smarter than heading toward an inferno. Before she could voice her opinion, Sorino disembarked, his phone to his ear. He nodded and ended with, "We'll meet you there."
He snapped the phone shut. "That was our Executioner friend. They arrived last night, and have accomplished little. He's sending cars for us."
"Oh boy," Torina said. "More fun time with the Executioners."
It hurt Katelina to agree with her a second time.
