Chapter 92
Jorick spent the rest of the night wrapped in contemplative silence, though Katelina couldn't understand why. It wasn't as complicated as he made it out to be - at least not to her. She didn't want mixed up in another war. But, on the other hand, she didn't want any more of Kateesha's goons to show up. He'd had to link her this time, what would he do next time? Would it be like his nightmare? Personally, she blamed Oren. If he was more capable, he'd have already disposed of Kateesha on his own.
True to his word, Oren returned the next night. Katelina was just out of the shower and had to make a mad towel-clad dash downstairs. She dressed as fast as she could and was back in the main room of the basement when she heard voices floating down to her.
One of them was Jorick, "-if I do this then what of Katelina?"
"Leave her here," and the other was Oren - the grate!
Katelina moved across the basement and stared up. Sure enough, the newly uncovered metal grate was just above her. She could hear every word they said.
"No," Jorick said quietly. "I won't leave her unprotected. I've learned from that mistake."
Oren's tone was annoyed, "Well, you can't bring her with you. She'd be a hindrance."
Jorick spoke slowly, choosing his words carefully. "Then what would you suggest?"
"Turn her and be done with it. If you're so determined to have her around there's no reason to leave her as a human anymore. Besides, she'd be safer that way."
Jorick's voice came low and almost sad. "She doesn't want that, and I wouldn't make her against her will."
There was a pause and then, "So you've asked her?"
"No, I don't need to. I know her thoughts."
"Did you read them?" Oren pressed. "Or did she share them with you freely? People often say things they don't mean."
"That may be true, but I saw them embossed in her mind. The attack," he paused and Katelina imagined him looking away. "Katelina was wounded."
"Wounded? So you- What? What could you have-" he stopped, and then groaned. "You can't mean? But, no one does that! No. Tell me you didn't."
"There was no other choice." Jorick insisted firmly. "She's as excited about it as you are."
Oren groaned audibly. "Why would you do that, Jorick? Willingly weaken yourself at such an important time? How long is it supposed to take to recover from that?"
"I don't know."
Oren went on as if Jorick had never spoken. "At a time like this! Why would you do that? Why would you link yourself with a human," he broke off. "And one who, by your own admission, was against it."
Jorick's voice was flat, "It was either that or let her die."
"Then let her die. There are others Jorick; hundreds, thousands, millions of them, crawling all over the world. I know you've spoken of your feelings, but I still wonder if they aren't manufactured? Perhaps you only want to feel this way?"
Jorick's "feelings". The word made Katelina smile, even as Oren's remark made her angry. What business was it of his? He was the fledgling, which apparently meant he was under Jorick. If that was the case, he should know his place.
The thought surprised her, but she recovered from it to focus on the conversation.
Jorick's voice was hard, angry, and left no room for further questioning, "I won't discuss this again."
"Fine." Oren snapped. "Whether right or wrong, she's linked now. Use it to your advantage. Leave her somewhere safe, and if she's in danger you'll know."
"And come too late? No, not again. Not ever again. I can't carry that guilt on my soul, Oren."
"Soul?" Oren gave a hollow laugh. "I thought we surrendered that long ago? Besides, you have no guilt to bear. You did what was right. You had a master to serve then; your blood debt wasn't repaid yet. She chose not to defend herself."
"And Katelina can't defend herself against them. Should I abandon her to suit your needs, Oren? Your blood is younger than mine, yet I wonder that you're so much more heartless, like one of the ancient ones."
"I let go of those things which were no longer necessary. We thought you had too, until this." Oren paused. "Leave her and be done with it, before it's too late. She'll only get you killed. This obsession isn't healthy for either of you."
Obsession? Their relationship was hardly an obsession! She bit back a desire to smack Oren in the head with a blunt object. Even better, she wanted to march upstairs and just punch him straight in the nose.
Jorick's laughter echoed through the grate. "So you keep saying, and I listened. Your advice nearly cost me a lot, Oren."
Silence fell and Katelina imagined the two of them staring at one another, perhaps a silent conversation passing between them. What would it say? Were they arguing for power, deciding which of them was in control? That should be obvious by their own rules. Was Oren apologizing? He'd obviously given Jorick advice - bad advice - advice that had led to her almost leaving. What had he told Jorick? That a human and a-she hesitated at the word, that she and Jorick couldn't work out? That he should get rid of her now? No, it would have been something more withdrawn, something more old fashioned. Something like, "let her go for both your sakes", as if that would really help them.
Like Oren knew anything about healthy relationships. Katelina remembered his wife, her cold eyes, and her superior attitude, the way she ran their coven with an iron fist, and turned children - children! - into vampires. Oren loved her, thought she was a perfect wife. With an opinion like that, how could he make judgements on anyone else?
There was always a chance, though, that he really meant well, that he was actually worried about his friend, that he didn't want to see him hurt again.
Or it could just be that he's an asshole trying to manipulate Jorick into helping with his war.
It was Jorick who broke the silence above. His comment left no room for doubt what they'd been silently discussing. Not their relationship, but the war.
"Katelina will come with us or I don't go."
She wanted to shriek, "No! No! No!" She didn't want to go on another adventure. She didn't want to see Kateesha again. She didn't want to deal with any of this. No!
"Fine, encumber yourself," Oren sounded frustrated. "But I won't protect her and neither will the others."
Jorick snickered coldly. "You've said yourself that your blood debt is unpaid. You'll protect her, as will those who swear allegiance to you. When do we leave?"
Katelina moved to the stairs and perched gloomily on the bottom step. She really, really didn't want to go. The idea filled her with a fear that made her hands tremble. Still, a sick part of her wondered which she'd choose if it came to loosing Jorick or going with him. She supposed she knew the answer, though she didn't like to admit it, even to herself.
A voice, smooth and rich, like silky chocolate washed through her mind, "We're going. No arguments. Come, pack your things, we'll be leaving within the hour."
She scowled deeply and pulled herself to her feet. "No arguments?" she demanded to the empty air. "Who do you think you are?"
"You know who I am."
She glared towards the ceiling. "Would it really kill you to walk twenty steps and open the damn door to talk to me?"
"Maybe," came the silent answer, followed by a wave of laughter.
