Chapter 662
Jorick was back in their room, readying for bed. "How nice of you to join me," he teased as he shut the door.
"I couldn't leave you on your own." She popped the suitcase open and fished out a pair of pajamas.
"Zander wants to speak to you."
She stiffened. "Yeah. I heard him talking to Brandle."
"You mean shouting?" Jorick asked with a chuckle.
She peeled off her jeans and pulled her pajama pants on. "I don't want involved. What if they're right? What if Lilith is the Goddess of Night? Is Zander going to join her?" She stopped to look at Jorick. "My God, I've seen him fight. Imagine him doing that to us?"
"I don't believe he'd join her. More likely he'd pack up and go home."
"You mean back to Baltheir's? That's a bad idea. With him and Brandle we have half a chance against Ishkur. Without them-"
Jorick cocked an eyebrow. "I appreciate the confidence."
She changed out of her shirt. "Ishkur's thousands of years old. You're like five-hundred and something."
"That's as may be, but I'm also amazing."
She shook her head and moved to slip her arms around him. "Yes, you're amazing, but amazing people need help sometimes." She gave him a quick kiss. "What plans did you make with Brandle?"
"We discussed returning to Zachariah's den tomorrow, but I imagine Ark and Jamie will have cleaned up any clues." He sighed. "Do you really want to do this, Katelina? Despite what Jamie said, you don't have to."
"I know I don't have to, but I need to. Like Malick was yours to deal with, Sarah is mine. You could have let someone else handle Malicklet someone else defeat himbut you had to do it yourself, for you. It's the same with Sarah. I don't know that I want to defeat her, exactly, but I need to do something to stop her. Whether that means fixing her or killing her-" Katelina trailed off.
Jorick pulled her to him and stroked her hair. "I understand, little one. I know that you love her, but part of love is knowing when to let go."
"Like when to let someone die?" she muttered.
"Yes, like that. Sarah-the life she has-it's not a good one. Her mind, her heart, what I suppose you'd call her soul, they're nothing but darkness. I know you blame Lilith, but I saw the darkness when you were first reunited with her. It was only the familiarity of home that held her together. When she left-"
"You mean we shouldn't have taken her with us."
"The bonds were already weakening. No matter where she was, she'd have fallen apart. You saw her at Niagara. She's scarred inside, Katelina. Mutilated beyond recognition. She's endured terrible things. Maybe, given a few hundred years, she could get over them, move on. More likely, she'll turn into Malick, or Claudius, or Lilith."
"But if Samael could wipe her mind, lock away her memories-"
"If he can, and if he will, who's to say that will fix the problem, and not just postpone it? Will the memories be sealed permanently, or will they come back someday? Even if they don't, what happens when she lands in the middle of another bad situation? To be so strong, so twisted, the darkness had to be there before she was taken, before she was turned. The hate she feels-It's something that was already inside of her. Taking her memories can't rewrite that."
"You want me to kill her, no questions asked?"
Jorick sighed. "I want you to do what you feel is best, but I will say this; you've already asked the questions. You gave her a chance. She tried to murder your mother. Do you want to wait until she murders you?"
Katelina closed her eyes against his truth. "If she fights me, I'll defend myself. I won't go quietly."
She saw the fear in his eyes; fear he'd lose another wife. But she wasn't Velnya. She wouldn't let them drag her to a tree and not fight back. She'd turn them wrong side out.
He cupped her cheek. "I'm glad to hear it. I couldn't bear to lose you."
"You couldn't be so lucky." She stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. He wrapped his arms around her, cradling her head in one large hand. When he broke away, she could feel his reluctance. "The sun will be up soon. We'd better get some rest."
She nodded her agreement and climbed into bed. He slid next to her and pulled her close. She curled around him, her head on his chest, and closed her eyes. His heartbeat was a steady comforting drum in her ear.
The curtains ruffled in a predawn breeze, bringing with it scents of the city. "You decided on some fresh air?"
"What?" Jorick asked sleepily.
"The window? I didn't know it opened. Not that I mind. I like the breeze, it's just not like you. You normally prefer a good musty enclosure."
"Musty enclosures are safer," he mumbled. "From the sun," came as a sleepy afterthought.
A voice sounded from the bathroom, "Yes, they are necessary for the weak."
Katelina bolted upright. Jorick followed, pulling into a crouch. He growled low as a figure emerged, melting from shadow to light. Long black hair was like a mantle of darkness. A black coat looked new.
"Samael?" she demanded.
The ancient stepped to the foot of the bed. He spoke aloud, his voice a mixture of thunderstorms and lilting rivers. "You found Lilith's lair today?"
"Yes," Jorick snapped as he relaxed back into the bed. "No thanks to you."
"I am not interested in the flotsam she has collected at her feet, as you know. Since they mean so much to you, you may do what you please with them. She is the only one that matters."
Jorick beat his pillow pointedly. "The only thing that matters right now is sleep."
"Then sleep. I do not require you." Samael turned to Katelina. His voice sounded in her head. "You did not see her."
"No. She and Sarah were gone. There were only seven of them there. We killed five."
"Do you know where she went?"
"No. There wasn't a chance for interrogation." She thought of Torina, smashing Anya into crimson jelly.
"It is of no consequence. She has acquired what she came for and will find me herself."
"What she came for?"
"An ancient bow that was housed in an archive within the city, you might call it a museum. Regardless, she will find the relic worthless. With age comes weakness. The weapon would crumble if used. She has gained nothing."
"Then why did she want it?"
"Like the sword and the shield, she believes they are imbued with the magic of the gods. She knows she will need magic to defeat me."
Katelina stifled a yawn. "Now that she has this magic bow?"
"I told you. She will come for me." He moved to the windows and drew back the curtain. The breeze blew his hair back to show his pale face gleaming in the streetlights. Katelina lifted an arm reflexively. "I know you can survive the sun, but we can't."
"The sun is not yet awake."
Katelina could feel it outside, not quite above the horizon, but drawing near. "It will be soon."
"Yes," Jorick said impatiently. "Perhaps you should rent your own room?"
Samael dropped the curtain, then moved to perch on the edge of the desk in a crouch, like an ancient gargoyle. "To be consumed by the waiting-but what is another minute? Another day?"
Katelina stirred with his impatience. She took a deep breath and reminded herself they weren't her feelings. "If you want to sleep"
"I do not require rest."
"I do," Jorick muttered.
Katelina buried her face in the pillow. The atmosphere thickened, crackled with expectant electricity that prickled her skin. She looked to see Samael drop from the desk and stand statue-like.
The air grew heavier, like a weight pressing down, strangling off her breath. She gasped against it. Jorick's eyes popped open. She met them, asking silently what was going on.
Samael answered the question.
"She is here."
