Chapter 653
The rental vehicle appeared, more mini-bus than van. They piled in. As they drove through the city, Katelina watched buildings move past. Almost everything had red tile roofs, even the fast food places. Palm trees grew like oaks. Cacti were peppered around, treated as shrubbery. Instead of grass, the yards they passed had rocks. It was like being on Mars.
The hotel they stopped at was seven stories and looked like something from the thirties. Katelina expected to see Superman swoop down from the rooftop. On a corner downtown, taller buildings on both sides gave it a fenced in feeling.
Inside, marble floors, chandeliers, and copper doored elevators continued the vintage theme. Katelina eyed a giant vase while Sorino marched to the counter. He'd apparently called ahead and paid by credit card, because they checked his name, then gave him keycards. He handed them out, still wearing that sneaky little half smile.
Micah took his with force. "I've got my eye on you. Don't think you're gonna get away with shit."
Sorino's reply was a purr. "Good. If you're watching then I won't need to worry about anyone sneaking up on me."
Micah growled his reply and stormed toward the stairs.
Katelina waited until they had their key and were on the third floor to ask Jorick, "What is Sorino up to? You can read his mind."
"I can read what he allows me to. You forget he's nearly as old as I am."
The answer didn't comfort her.
Though she hoped for a dream from Samael, pinpointing Lilith's location, nothing came. She woke the next evening no closer to finding her than when she went to sleep.
After a quick shower, she got dressed. She stuffed her dirty clothes in her suitcase, then fished the golden dagger out. If they were going to look for Lilith, she wanted to be armed.
Even if it is just a dagger.
Jorick was waiting when she exited the bathroom. She gave him a quick kiss and commented, "I wish you'd start carrying a sword or something."
He cocked an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Because we end up in fights, and you're never armed. I know Micah's lectured me on being able to take care of things without a weapon, blah, blah, but I'd feel better."
"Where should I carry this sword? In my pocket? Or should I strap it to my belt like Jamie?"
"Obviously not. You'd never get through airport security."
"Of course I would. I'd do it the same way he does." Jorick waggled his fingers, imitating mind manipulation. "In the meantime, you can stop worrying. You might recall that Sorino has a suitcase of weapons. I'm sure he brought them."
"That's another thing. Not only is he paying for transportation, he's supplying the weapons. I know he's up to something."
Jorick caught her hand and brought it to his lips. "I believe he stole those from Lilith, so it's not really supplying. But, should it be necessary, I'll take his heart myself. Then you can have Kai as a matching pet for Xandria."
He laughed as she elbowed him. "Very funny."
"I thought so. If you're ready?"
She followed Jorick downstairs. The scent of nearby humans made her stomach tighten. While they waited for the others, she wondered if she couldn't have a little taste. Jorick could enchant them, and make them forget-
No! For crying out loud, she was acting worse than a fledgling.
The clock in the lobby said it was only eight o'clock, but the sun was down. That seemed wrong. In Ohio it wasn't dark until well after eight. She almost asked Jorick about the discrepancy, then realized he wouldn't know. He might think he was omnipotent, but he wasn't.
Zander and Brandle were the first to join them. Katelina eyed Zander's robes and wondered what the hotel employees thought of him. Though, with the vibe he put off, maybe they didn't look long enough to form an opinion. She remembered dealing with ancients when she was still human. Their presence was overwhelming.
"Good evening," Brandle tipped his head. "What's on the agenda?"
Katelina shrugged and Zander said, "The Night Goddess will guide us."
Torina joined them, wearing a deep purple dress that fit like it was made for her. "Not to disparage your so-called Goddess, but I prefer a map to an invisible guide."
"Faith is a map," Zander responded.
Torina made an incredulous sound, then turned to Jorick. "I assume we're dining soon?"
"When everyone gets here."
"My brother should be along in a minute. Without Etsuko to distract him, his morning routines are much faster."
As Torina suggested, Oren was there a moment later, followed by Verchiel. The redhead gave them a nod, his attention on his phone.
Torina teased him, "What are you looking at? Porn?"
"No, I did that last night."
The vampiress flinched back, lip curled.
Verchiel laughed. "Seriously, though, I'm looking for known dens. There's one a few miles from here, in the middle of nowhere. It's marked with a pending change that says it's been abandoned, but it used to belong to Zachariah, fledgling of Horace."
Katelina perked up at the name. Brandle made a low noise of understanding. "You think he's returned to his old den, and taken his new queen with him?"
"It seems like a good place to start," Verchiel said. "If it's a dead end, there are other local vampires we can question."
"I thought Sorino had people watching the dens of all her new recruits, to see if they went there?" Katelina asked.
"He probably has them watching current dens. The note says Zachariah abandoned this one two years ago."
It sounded fishy to her, but as long as they had somewhere to look, who was she to argue?
It was forty-five minutes before Sorino and Kai sailed through the lobby doors. "There you are. While you've been wasting time here, I procured another rental vehicle. Sadly, no driver this time. One of you will have to do the honors."
He snapped his fingers. Kai held the keys out. Micah snatched them and looked over the group, as if daring someone to challenge him.
The van was smaller than the mini-bus. Verchiel crammed between the front seats and set up the GPS on his phone. When everyone was ready, they pulled into the flow of traffic.
Katelina could smell Kai in the back. Every mile that passed, he smelled tastier and tastier. Finally, Micah pulled over and announced, "We either feed or I'm draining that kid dry."
Sorino sniffed. "You only think you are."
"I am. I bet everyone in here would fucking help me. Now, let's take a walk and see if we can't find something, huh?"
Katelina swallowed down her desire to taste Kai. "We're in the middle of a city. What are we going to find?"
"Dinner." Micah threw the door open and hopped out. "Half an hour, we roll out. Don't be late. Come on pipsqueak."
"He wants us to drink from people?" Katelina asked.
"I'd go out on a limb and guess that's precisely what he means." Brandle unfolded himself and climbed out. "Do you prefer to hunt alone or with company, Zander?"
"Company is fine," he answered.
