Chapter 681: Honeymoon Havoc, Part 1
Katelina opened her eyes and blinked at the twilight bedroom. The four poster bed, hung with heavy red curtains, felt medieval. A carved wardrobe and cinderblock walls added to the effect. She closed her eyes and imagined she was in a castle. Outside would be royal gardens, dripping with Sunday morning sunshine.
Except, if there was, I'd be burned to a crisp. The sun does that to vampires.
She opened her eyes to look at the man sleeping next to her. Jorick's dark hair fanned out on the pillow. Long lashes rested on his porcelain cheeks. She might not have the castle, but she had her prince.
She glanced at the golden ring on her finger. Not only did she have her prince, but she had him forever.
As though woken by her scrutiny, his eyes opened, followed by a gasp for air; someone who didn't need to breathe suddenly deciding they did.
He saw her and smiled. "Good morning, little one."
"Good evening," she corrected.
He pulled her to him. "It's our morning." He claimed her lips and she melted against him. It was only the memory of their guests that pulled her away.
"We'd better get up and see to Maeko and the others."
"I vote we let them see to themselves. They're adults."
While technically true, Maeko looked more like a thirteen year old girl. Her boys, as Katelina thought of the girl's three-some entourage, barely appeared college aged.
"She's a few hundred years older than you," Jorick reminded Katelina gently. "And she can take care of herself for a day. It's our honeymoon."
"Then you shouldn't have told them they could stay with us." Katelina pulled away from his grasping hands to reach for her clothes.
"I didn't. You did. You said there was no sense in them traveling all the way from Japan just for the wedding, so they should visit for a few days afterwards. In case you didn't notice, it's been a few days."
"It's been two," Katelina corrected. "Now I need to get dressed."
"The finest clothing made is a person's own skin," he quoted as he pulled her back. "And yours is perfect."
She flushed at the compliment, at the feel of him against her back, his hands on her stomach and waist. "I think Maeko would disagree."
The brush of his lips on her shoulder sent goosebumps down her spine and she hesitated. That moment was all he needed to roll her over and press her into the mattress, a wicked gleam in his eyes. "Then she'd be wrong."
His carnal kiss silenced her objections.
***
It was some time later when Katelina dressed and headed up the basement stairs. She wound through the small house to the living room. A couch and two winged back chairs sat before a cold fireplace, but there were no vampires.
Jorick stepped into the room behind her. He paused to press a kiss to her neck. "It looks like they're out. We didn't need to hurry, after all."
"They'll be back." Katelina stepped away from him reluctantly. "In the meantime we should go feed."
They headed outside into the deepening October evening. Autumn leaves crackled under foot and rattled in the trees. A dark sky spread overhead, strewn with windblown stars. Katelina inhaled deeply and enjoyed the scent of fall and the nearby sea, a mixture she'd never contemplated growing up in landlocked Ohio.
They made their way across the yard and through a stand of trees. On the other side, the grass fell away into sand; the end of the world, as she thought of it.
Jorick took her hand and tugged her gently down the sloping beach. They followed the edge of the ocean, careful to avoid the dark tide slipping in and out, down past Loren's empty house and on to a winding path. They followed it away from the moonlit beach and up into a thick group of trees. There, Jorick enchanted a raccoon and a pair of squirrels.
Katelina drank their hot blood quickly. When she was first turned she'd had no control; the minute she tasted it she forgot everything except the flavor. Months later, she'd gotten better, but she didn't like to linger on living animals. Seeing inside their memories - swaying trees, green grass, tiny fuzzy babies - left her guilty.
"You'll get over it eventually," Jorick commented as he disposed of the bodies.
She wasn't sure she wanted to.
Finished, they made their way back to the house. Though Katelina knew they should hurry - they had guests - she couldn't make herself want to. The moonlight shimmering on the dying grass, the smell of the ocean, the sound of the waves crashing; it was invigorating. The kind of night teaming with possibilities.
Jorick apparently felt the same, because he turned away from the small house and headed farther down the beach. They'd nearly reached an abandoned house when a loud crash sounded in the greenery. Jorick dropped Katelina's hand and spun, fangs bared. She dropped into a fighting stance, then a familiar scent caught her nose.
The tension drained from Jorick's body, but not the anger. "What are you doing here?"
The bushes parted and a redheaded vampire stepped out. His hair was wild, and his new coat torn.
It was Verchiel.
He fixed them with violet eyes and said, "Eli's coming."
"Who?" Jorick demanded.
The bushes rustled and a woman stepped out. Curly brown hair fell around her shoulders, and apprehension played on her features. "He's-well-"
"Who is this?" Jorick snapped, but Katelina recognized her.
"You were at the wedding."
The unknown vampiress nodded emphatically, and Verchiel said, "This is Sharon. Sharon, that's Jorick and Katelina. As I was saying, Eli's coming, so I wondered if I could leave her with you for a little bit?"
Jorick roared, but Katelina hushed him. "Who's Eli, and why does she need to stay with us?"
Verchiel's expression turned tragic. "It's a terrible story, full of jealousy, cruelty, and a rather long blood debt. But it's better told later. I did mention-"
"Eli's coming," Katelina and Jorick said in unison.
He nodded and pushed Sharon towards them. "Here. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to try to distract him."
Verchiel disappeared in a streak of red and black, almost too fast to see; a wind walker enjoying his abilities to the fullest.
Katelina blinked after him, then looked to Jorick's furious face. Before she could think of soothing words, Sharon offered an apologetic smile. "Sorry about this. It was his idea."
"I'm sure it was." Jorick turned back for the house, his shoulders stiff and his hands wadded at his sides. Katelina felt his anger and annoyance throb through her, so strong it might have been her own. While many other vampires could read minds, she was left with only the annoyance of extreme empathy.
Sharon's discomfort fluttered under Jorick's fury, and Katelina sighed. What were they supposed to do with her? They couldn't leave her out there with some mysterious Eli on his way. What if he found her and killed her? It would be their fault.
With nothing else to do, Katelina motioned Sharon after her, hurrying to catch up to Jorick. Though he didn't speak as they walked back toward the house, Katelina could imagine his churning, angry thoughts. He was already unhappy about his fledgling and her entourage intruding. Now his least favorite vampire had just dumped a stranger on them. Could it get worse?
The small white house came into view. Faded paint would need redone soon, and a boarded up window still needed replaced. At least the yard's mowed-
