Chapter 649
Brad was hysterical, but to Katelina's surprise, her mother didn't mention vampires. "Katelina apparently checked me out of the-wherever I was-Yes-Yes-I'm fine-Are you home?" Patricia's face paled. "Just-no-we'll talk about this later. Kately. Give him directions to where we are-what curfew?"
"We could go pick him up?" Verchiel suggested, while Brad tried to explain the new circumstances in town. "It might be easier. We can get through the roadblocks."
"Brad? Brad. Brad! Listen, someone's going to come get you-Some friends of Kately's-We'll talk about things when you get here-Yes. Yes. I'll see you soon. I love you, too."
She hung the phone up and turned accusing eyes on them. "You'd better not hurt him."
"Me?" Verchiel asked innocently. "I wouldn't hurt a fly. All right, who's up for a road trip with me?"
Katelina didn't want to go, and she didn't want to stay. Moving to Spain was a better idea. That would take care of everything: her mom, Brad, Sarah, Lilith. No one would think to look for her there, and she could have some peace.
Xandria and Loren left with the redhead. Patricia demanded fresh clothes and a shower.
Torina loaned her a dress and sent her to the upstairs bathroom. Katelina waited patiently. When the shriek came, she knocked on the door and stuck her head in. "Are you all right?"
"My hair! What in the hell?"
"They shaved it when they did the surgery. You had swelling on the brain or something, and-I don't know."
"I suppose it will grow back."
Katelina cringed. "Actually, it won't. It's a vampire thing."
Patricia pursed her lips. "I don't want to hear that word again."
Katelina sighed. "Yeah, me neither, but good luck with that."
The crisis handled, she headed downstairs and flopped on the couch next to Kai. A nature show played on TV. She watched a lion tear across the savannah.
"Where's Jorick?"
"I think he's reading somewhere," the boy replied.
That sounded like him. She needed support, and he'd tuned out, his nose stuck in a book.
Several minutes of silence followed before Kai said, "Your mother is taking it well."
"I guess. Mostly I think she's decided to ignore it. Now she's going to drag her boyfriend into everything."
Kai cocked his head. One green eye peeped out from his bangs. "Wouldn't you want Jorick with you?"
"That's different. Jorick and I are a real couple. Not-not-" She looked away from Kai's probing gaze. She could still feel the echo of Brad's panic at the hospital, his terror that her mom might be dead. "It's hard to take them seriously. He was Sarah's boyfriend for two years."
Kai shrugged. "Jorick had others before you."
"Yes, but-the age difference." It was a mantra she'd recited, though it was getting harder to stick to. Kai's unwavering stare made it even harder. "There's no way he's in love with her," she said finally.
"Why? Is she unlovable?"
"Of course not. I mean, by the right person." She faltered again as Brad's memories returned; the overwhelming, soul crushing heartache. The same heartache she'd once felt when she thought Jorick was dead. "You're right. I know you are, but-"
"It makes you uncomfortable," Kai said. "So you pretend the relationship is invalid because validating it means you must accept being uncomfortable."
"Maybe," she admitted.
Why is the kid always right?
***
Her mother was showered and dressed before Brad arrived. Etsuko greeted her, and happily took her into the kitchen for "refreshment". Katelina didn't bother following.
Verchiel was first through the door. Brad came behind him, his eyes glazed and movements wooden.
"You enchanted him?" Katelina asked.
"I had to. He kept asking questions, then he got belligerent. He's determined we kidnapped Patricia and did something terrible to her."
"You better let him out of it before Mom sees him. I don't feel like explaining that to her."
"If you think it's best."
Verchiel stepped back. Katelina watched as his influence drained away. Brad blinked, his good hand to his head, then focused on Verchiel. With a sound of fury he lunged at the Executioner, pinning him to the wall with one arm. "Where the hell am I? Where's Patty? I swear to God if you've hurt her, I will rip you into little pieces!"
It was the sort of thing Jorick shouted. Katelina didn't find it scary. She pried Brad away and pushed him back. "Mom is fine. Chill out."
"Kate!" Brad glared. "What in the hell is going on?"
"Brad?" Patricia leaned out of the kitchen. At the sight of him, she lit up. "Oh thank God you're here."
"Patty!" Brad hurried to her, everyone else forgotten as he pulled her to him. "You're awake. And you're okay? They didn't-No one-?"
Katelina looked away and cursed Jorick. Why the hell didn't he help her deal with this crap?
Because he's punishing me.
She turned back to see her mother's head on Brad's chest. He glared at the rest of them, half challenge, half fury. "Someone tell me what the hell is going on?"
Etsuko entered, bowed, and introduced herself. "If Brad-san would please to take a seat, I am sure everything can be explained."
She showed him to the folding chairs. He seated Patricia first, then took the other. Katelina tried to think of what to say, how to get around everything, when Verchiel said, "Patricia is a vampire, like the rest of us."
Brad choked. Katelina cried, "What are you doing?"
"She wants to keep him, doesn't she?" Verchiel asked. "Just because he's human doesn't mean she can't have him. As long as she marks him, she can keep him as a pet. Or you could, Kately. You have Xandria, already. A second wouldn't be that farfetched."
Brad jumped to his feet. "What in the hell?"
To Katelina's surprise, her mother pulled him back down. "It's all right. I was shocked at first. I'm still not sure I believe everything, but something has changed. Look at me."
Brad gave her a quick once over. "You look fine."
Patricia laughed. "I'm better than fine. I haven't looked this good since Katelina was a child."
"It was the bed rest?" Brad didn't sound like he believed his own words.
"No, sweetheart. It was something Kately did. The woman," she motioned to empty space. "She said Katelina is-she used the word vampire, but I'm not sure that's it."
"But vampires-" Brad sank back into the chair and put his head in his hand. "Sarah's one, isn't she?"
Katelina stiffened. This wasn't what she'd imagined.
"Yep," Verchiel said cheerfully. "How did you know?"
"When she came back-she wasn't herself anymore. She looked different, she acted different, she smelled different." He gave Patricia a sideways glance. "I don't mean we were close or anything-"
"I know."
He sighed. "She was wrong and her teeth-She tried to hide them, but I saw them several times. They were pointed, like yours, like Patty's are. Like Katelina's were when she showed up for Easter, or that guy who was at my house last night. I'm not stupid. Only, it seemed so ridiculous."
Katelina unconsciously raised a hand to her mouth. She thought she'd done a good job hiding her fangs.
"I was glad when Sarah left again. I thought that would be the last of it, that we could go on ignoring it, but I should have known better." He took Patricia's hand. "I'm sorry. I know you tried to talk about it once, and I shut you down. I just wanted it to go away."
"What do you mean she tried to talk about it? Talk about what?" Katelina demanded.
"About how weird everything was," Patricia said. "Katelina, give me some credit. You might have gone to a salon, but it wouldn't make that much difference. Your skin, your hair, your eyes. And your flimsy stories about running away with Jorick, about Sarah going to look for you and 'staying gone'? You should have told us the truth to begin with."
Katelina looked for words. "But-but I couldn't. You're not supposed to tell humans! Not unless they're marked slaves."
"Eh, it happens," Verchiel said.
"Then you kill them!" Katelina cried.
"Sometimes. But your mom's one of us. It's all good."
Brad caught Patricia's chin. He tilted her face this way and that. She opened her mouth, and he looked at her teeth. "Are they sharp?"
"I don't know." Patricia giggled. "I won't lie, I have an overwhelming desire to bite you, but I'm full."
Katelina shot Etsuko a grateful look. She hadn't thought about what might happen when her mother was faced with her mortal boyfriend. God, she could have drained him dry!
"I bet you two would like some alone time," Verchiel said. "Why don't you go for a walk? It's a nice night."
Brad stood and Patricia followed. "Yes, I think we need to talk."
Patricia led him toward the kitchen and the backdoor. "I'll be back, Kately."
With a huff of relief, Katelina collapsed on the couch. "Thank God that's over."
Verchiel laughed. "Over? No, Kately, it's only just begun."
