Chapter 630
Katelina woke, the dream fresh in her mind. She shook Jorick awake, and poured it out to him.
"Katelina. Slow down. What shield? What are you talking about?"
She gave an impatient huff and ran through it again. Already, details were disappearing; the building, the color of the walls. Were the rooms carpeted or hardwood? Every detail could be a clue. She struggled to hold onto them.
Jorick looked grim as she finished. "That's not much to go on, little one."
"I know. But if we can't figure it out-" She sighed. "Samael doesn't need us to fight Lilith, but Sarah and Estrilda might be there. He's not going to worry about saving them. I think the shield may be the key. The room-there were glass cases-like a museum. He said different cultures had different names for it. Maybe it's something Sorino knows about."
"Our resident relic hunter," Jorick mused.
She threw the blankets off. "I'll go ask him."
He caught her elbow. "There's no reason to be in such a hurry. We're awake early."
"Only a few minutes, and we've used them up already. The sooner we find out where we're going, the sooneroh!" Her sentenced died as he tackled her to the bed and claimed her lips. She drowned in his kiss. Threads of the dream slipped away, dissolving in desire and the memory of his bath time promises.
A knock at the door ruined the moment. Jorick tried to take it back. "Ignore them."
Katelina laughed into the kiss. "It might be important."
"It's not."
She tried to reach out, to see who their visitor was. Jorick's kisses made it impossible to concentrate.
The knock came again, louder, more insistent. Katelina burst into laughter. "You'd better see who it is."
Jorick gave an unhappy growl as he pulled away and reached for his trousers. "I know who it is."
Verchiel's voice floated through the door. "Jorick! Kately! Up, up!"
He jerked the door open to glare at the Executioner. "What do you want? Hoping to drag Katelina into danger again?"
"Look, about yesterday"
"You were an idiot and you nearly got her killed. I should rip you into pieces for that alone."
"That's as may be, but your vengeance will have to wait. The wind is picking up. It's going to get hot here in an hour or two."
Air heavy with the smell of burning trees and grass rolled through the door. Katelina coughed more from habit than reflex. "You mean this place is going to burn down?"
"Maybe. Maybe not. But let's play it safe."
Katelina straightened her shirt and moved near the door. Verchiel grinned at her patterned pajamas. "Aw, aren't those cute? I should have known you were a closet kitten lover."
Jorick growled. Verchiel's attention snapped back to him. "Ark and Jamie were recalled to the Citadel."
"What about you?" Katelina asked.
"I seem to have slipped through the cracks. Anyway, best get dressed so we can head back to the airstrip. Since I don't have any packing to do, I'll get the others moving."
"Good idea." Jorick shut the door in his face.
"That wasn't nice." Katelina moved to the bathroom, where she'd left clothing and toiletries scattered.
"I don't feel nice. You could have"
She stuck her head back in the room. "Died? Yes, I know. But I could have died from a thousand dangerous situations you put me in, too. Are you that hard on yourself?"
Something flared in his eyes. He turned away. "Yes."
Her reply stuck in her throat. She wanted to go to him, but he pulled his shirt on and muttered that he'd return.
He wasn't back by the time she was dressed and packed, so she headed out in search of him. The fire was much closer. The smoke was a thick fog that made it hard to see down the highway. Embers danced on the wind, like swirling stars. Ash and dry chunks of debris skittered noisily along the ground, scraping pavement.
Jorick strode out of Oren's room and took the suitcase from her. "Ready?"
She nodded, nervous eyes on the wall of smoke. She needed to talk to Sorino about the shield, but maybe it would be safer to wait until they were in a vehicle?
Jorick led her to the SUVs where Brandle and Des stood. She grabbed the door handle and pulled. Nothing happened.
"They're locked," Des said.
Ark marched purposefully across the parking lot. As he drew close, he pulled out a car remote. "The vehicles are ours. Find your own, Jorick."
"Where should I look?" Jorick demanded.
"It isn't my problem. I didn't invite you. I'm not in charge of your transportation. Talk to Verchiel." Ark clicked the remote and swung into the passenger seat. Jorick caught the door before he could close it.
"This is hardly amusing."
"Isn't it lucky I don't have a sense of humor?" Ark asked coldly.
Jorick glared. "Luckily, I do." He jerked the back door open. Ark clicked the locks, but it was too late. "Get in, Katelina."
Ark swung a foot out threateningly. "Don't."
"No." Jorick's voice was a low growl. "You don't."
They glared at one another, glittering eyes clashing. Finally, Ark looked away. "I'm going to report this."
"Go ahead." Jorick motioned to the backseat. "Get in, Katelina."
Resisting would make him look weak in front of Ark, so she did as instructed. Des and Brandle followed, taking the farthest seat in the back. Jorick came last, sliding next to her. Ark sat in front of him, his back rigid and his attention focused straight ahead.
The others trickled out slowly. To Katelina's annoyance, Sorino and Kai chose a different vehicle, leaving Oren and Torina to join them. As the SUVs pulled out, she squeezed her eyes shut and tried to hold onto what little she could remember. Don't forget. Don't forget.
They stopped several miles up the road to feed on a herd of cattle. Katelina practically leapt out of the vehicle and hurried toward Sorino. He gave her an uncertain once over. "Yes?"
"The shield of ZhuRong. Have you heard of it?"
She could see his mind click away behind his eyes. "ZhuRong. The name comes from a Chinese legend, I believe?"
"I don't know." Samael's exact words were gone. "He said it went with the sword of Nu-Gua."
Sorino tapped his chin. "I've never heard of a companion artifact to the blade. I'm sorry. Who told you this?"
Katelina sagged. That was it. Her one idea. "Samael told me. He said Lilith was looking for the shield. He beat her to it and he's waiting to ambush her. Only, I don't know where he is."
"I see. If I knew where the artifact was housed-"
She nodded.
"I'm sorry. Not only for you. It would have made an interesting relic to-study."
Katelina knew he meant "steal", but didn't bother to correct him.
As she turned away, Kai asked softly, "What does it look like?"
She glanced back. "It was made of metal-dirty. Old." She closed her eyes and tried to picture it. "There was a lion etched on it. With wings or something. I don't know."
She started away when Sorino made a thoughtful sound. "A winged lion?"
"I think it was a lion."
Sorino smiled a slow, smug smile. "This shield. It was about-" He motioned a size with his hands. "And you say Samael has it?"
"Yes. He said Lilith would be there tonight. I know it must be close but" When the vampire broke into laughter she scowled. "What's so funny?"
Sorino tugged his phone out. "The pilots should already be at the airport. I called them when we woke, but it looks like they need to file a new flight plan. The trip shouldn't be more than forty minutes. Hurry along."
"Are you saying you know where he is?"
Sorino lowered the phone impatiently. "The shield you've described is known as the shield of Michael, one of the Archangels of Christian mythology. As for its location, oh yes. I know who snatched that out from under my nose. I've been meaning to pay his den a visit. It looks like it will be sooner rather than later."
"Who has it?" she cried.
"Traven."
Katelina shivered at the name. Jorick's ex-brother in law, a vampire who'd allowed his wife to be put to death for his crimes. A few months ago, he'd been killed by Samael. Katelina had forgotten about him, except as the vampire who'd blown Loren's arm up.
Sorino turned to his call, and she hurried to join Jorick, Jamie, and Oren.
"if you can make them behave, it would be all right, but know Eileifr is thin on patience at the moment," Jamie said.
Eileifr. Jorick was thinking about going to The Guild.
Katelina interrupted them, "Sorino knows where Samael is."
Oren arched a brow "Where would that be?"
"Traven's old den. He owned the shield from my dream." She explained it to Oren and Jamie. "Sorino is calling his pilots, to change the flight plans."
Jamie laid a hand on Jorick's shoulder. "I won't report this until we meet with the High Council. By then it should be over. Good luck."
