Chapter 676
The guards insisted on statements from everyone, even Angelica. The vampiress looked uncomfortable, but Jamie promised her that as long as she hadn't personally done anything illegal, Lilith's actions wouldn't be held against her. When they were finished, Verchiel left with the Executioners. "I'll see you later," he trilled as they stuffed him into a vehicle. "Don't forget to invite me to the wedding."
As the SUVs rolled away in a cloud of dust, Micah crossed his arms. "There aren't any trees."
He was right, though Katelina wasn't sure what that had to do with anything.
Oren took a deep breath, then looked from Micah to the abandoned trailer and back. The bald vampire nodded, and the pair moved off.
"What's that about?"
Jorick cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Torina's funeral pyre."
"Oh."
The vampires disappeared inside the trailer. A moment later one of the windows shattered. A broken chair landed in the yard, followed by a second, then a piece of planking. Katelina drifted closer as sounds of destruction filtered out. She saw Micah through one of the windows. He ripped faded paneling from the walls, tearing through insulation to the frame.
"They'd be better to start with the top and work down," she commented.
"Probably," Jorick agreed. "But they're not thinking straight."
She shifted enough to see Oren. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, as he attacked the kitchen cupboards. Micah's face was scrunched with the effort and fury, but Oren's stayed hard, carved from unyielding granite. He flung aside the cupboard doors, then yanked the whole cabinet off the wall.
Katelina flinched as he threw it aside and moved to the next. "I didn't realize he was that strong."
"Of course he is. He's a vampire."
"Yes, but-" But he was more suited to having others tear out cabinets while he planned how to do it. Or at least that was how she'd always thought of him.
Jorick made a strange noise in his throat. "I suppose I could help."
She started to ask why, then stopped. Of course. Jorick had known Torina for nearly two-hundred years, had carried on an affair of convenience with her at one point. Though he never loved her, he was bound to have some sort of attachment.
"All right. If there's enough wood left you might save some for Sarah."
She unconsciously slipped her hand in her pocket to touch the necklace and its charms.
Jorick left to join them, and she turned back for the bunker. She knew Micah would make remarks about a funeral for Sarahhell, they'd all say somethingbut she'd just have to deal with it.
And so will they.
She was inside showing Loren the right way to change Jayleth's diaper when Jorick came for them. "I spoke to Oren and we agreed to burn them together."
Katelina slapped the sticky tab down, then turned to stare at him. "You mean Torina and Sarah? He agreed to that?" Jorick nodded and she faltered. "I thought they'd object to doing it at all. I mean, she was with Lilith."
"So was Angelica, but no one demanded her blood."
"Yes, but she repented in the end."
Jorick sighed. "Sarah was your friend. Whatever else she was, they understand that. Besides, Brandle asked that we burn William."
"A triple funeral?" Loren asked.
Jorick nodded.
"What do we do with them?" Loren motioned to the kids. "We can't leave them alone, but we probably shouldn't have them next to a giant bonfire."
Micah waded through the doorway and scooped Paylin up. "Why not? Torina was their adopted mom. Okay, it was only for a fucking day, but without her they wouldn't be here."
"They're babies! No way are they gonna stay quiet," Loren argued.
"Then Jorick can make 'em be quiet. Come on."
Loren rolled his eyes, but hefted Jayleth with his good arm and followed.
Made from cabinets, wall paneling, and studs, the pyre was lumpy and misshapen. The three bodies were already on it, wrapped in the motel blankets. Under the smell of gasoline, Katelina caught the soft odor of decay. She wondered if they knew which was which, and if it even mattered.
They'd made torches from two by fours. Brandle held one, and Oren another. To Katelina's surprise, Micah stuffed the third one in her hand. "She was your friend."
Angelica lit the torches. The flames snapped against the dark sky. Something about the contrast made the moment feel real, primeval, ageless, eternal. Something that had always been and always would be.
Surprisingly, Zander stepped up. "God, Goddess, Divine force of the Universe, unseen but felt. Regardless of your name, you remain unchanged, a guide in the darkness, a path of light illuminating us to our final transformation. We invoke thee, asking you to take the souls of our brother and sisters in darkness; Torina, William, and Sarah."
As Brandle lit one of the bodies, Katelina wondered if the nonspecific prayer meant Zander had made peace with the Night Goddess. The question drained away when Oren took his turn, leaving a blanket wrapped bundle for her. She stepped close and touched the torch to the body. The fire hit the gasoline. She stepped back as it flared.
Zander began again, "We deliver these remains to the flame, that they may devour the shells of clay, and release our brother and sisters to their ultimate divinity."
Brandle poked the torch in a few other places. When the fire was high he tossed his torch in. Katelina and Oren did the same.
Brandle made a sign with his hand and said something in a foreign language. Though she didn't know the words she felt the intent. It was a prayer.
She tried to think of something to say. She'd been to church, but none of the prayers stuck. She thought of grave day, the way her mother recited memories. She didn't have any she wanted to share. Not yet.
Jorick stepped behind her to wrap an arm around her waist. She leaned back against his solid strength. The dagger she'd transferred to her pocket stabbed her in the side. She pulled free of Jorick to tug it out of her pocket. The firelight gleamed on the gemstone. She wondered how many fires it had seen, how many sacrifices, how much meaningless death?
The blade had taken sacrifices at Lilith's altar. Here were the final three, dead because of Lilith's desire for power. She tossed the dagger into the flames. It was fitting the weapon went with them, as if it would stop the flow of blood and death.
It wasn't the only blade who'd seen destruction. She thought of the cursed blade of Nu-Gua, presumably on its way to Munich. Good riddance. Everyone who'd owned it died horribly, even Sarah and Lilith. Maybe the ancient curse was real.
***
The fire died down and the group split up. Katelina followed Jorick into the night. Neither spoke until the pyre was a dot in the distance.
"Are you okay?"
Katelina nodded. "You were right. It was what she wanted. I wish it had been different. I wish a lot of things were different."
He brushed the hair back from her face. "I know. But wishing won't change anything. The best you can do is try to move forward."
"Is there any other way to go?"
He took her hands in his. "Some people try to stay where they are. Worse, others try to go back."
She gave him a sad smile. "I don't have anything to go back to. I lost my apartment long ago. My childhood home is destroyed. My best friend is dead. My mother is a vampire. Good Lord. I turned my mother!"
Jorick chuckled. "Whose fault is that?" He kissed the tip of her nose. "As long as she doesn't live within three hundred miles of us, I'm sure everything will be fine."
Katelina's eyes bulged. "Oh God. Where is she going to live?"
He turned serious. "It will work out, little one."
"I know, I just-And when she finds out about the wedding-"
"Wedding?" His eyebrows shot up in surprise. "I wasn't sure you were planning to go through with that."
"With marrying you? Why wouldn't I?"
He coughed lightly. "Because you're terrified of commitment. I couldn't believe you said yes in the first place. I assumed you'd try to back out later."
A cold spot formed in her stomach. "You asked, expecting me to say no? You didn't really mean it?"
"Of course I meant it, little one, and I wanted you to say yes. I just didn't expect it." He kissed her forehead. "I'm glad you agreed."
"Are you sure it's what you want? I mean, forever is a long time and"
"I knew you'd panic eventually."
"It's not what you think. My mind is made up. I'm saying you might"
"I know what I want, little one."
He sealed the promise with a kiss.
