Masque of the Vampire (Amaranthine Book 8)

by Joleene Naylor

  Katelina’s mother returned with the last chair and motioned everyone to sit. “Kately was in Europe.”

  “Really?” Ben asked around a mouthful. “Which countries?”

  Katelina pretended to wipe her mouth. “Germany, mainly. We went to Russia a few times, and some of those Stan countries.”

  Elsie frowned. “What were you doing with the communists?”

  “They’re not…” It was too hard to talk to waste time on world politics. “Jorick’s a computer database technician.”

  Josh perked up. “Really? I work in IT.”

  Jorick murmured, “How interesting.” And Katelina panicked. If they tried to discuss computers everyone would know she’d been lying.

  Her Uncle Henry inadvertently saved them. “So, Micah, what do you do?”

  The bald vampire shrugged. “Bikes.”

  “Motorcycles?” Henry lit up. “I used to have a BMW R90S. When I retire I’d like to get another one.”

  “I don’t think so,” Charlotte said disdainfully. “They’re dangerous.”

  Micah looked ready to pounce, but Elsie cut in. “Mom, you have to let men have their toys. Ben just bought a new bass boat.”

  “A boat is different than a motorcycle.”

  Katelina heard a giggle and looked to see Elsie’s daughters, pink cheeked and staring at Loren. The boy shifted uncomfortably. Katelina realized with a nasty flash that, despite his appearance, he was older than her. No wonder he looked more disconcerted than flattered.

  The discussion went on and Katelina tried to disappear into her folding chair. She thought about excusing herself to the kitchen, but she couldn’t leave the vampires alone, for fear they’d say or do something stupid.

  Xandria returned, having eaten in the safety of the kitchen, and Katelina’s mother gave another call for pie. To Katelina’s horror, Micah asked for a piece of apple. She shot him a what-in-the-hell-are-you-doing look, but he waved it away and muttered, “Relax, sister.”

  Her mother returned with the pie and a glass of water for Katelina. She studied Loren. “You’ll have to forgive me, I‘m terrible with names, but are you related to Jorick?”

  “Yes,” Katelina cut in quickly. “That’s Loren, Jorick’s nephew.”

  Her mother nodded. “I recognize him from the photos. He was in the jungle one, wasn’t he?”

  Katelina didn’t know, so she just nodded.

  “What jungle?” Leandra asked.

  Katelina held her glass over her mouth. “Somewhere in Africa. The Congo, maybe.”

  Charlotte cocked an eyebrow. “Your boyfriend was working on computers in the Congo?”

  Katelina tried to resist bolting. “It was more like a vacation.”

  Marshy and Cinna giggled and poked one another. Finally Marshy asked, “What happened to your arm?”

  Micah, who had hitherto been sniffing his pie, took a hearty bite and chewed it thoughtfully. “Now that’s some fuckin’ pie.”

  The young girls giggled, and Shelby’s son peered over his glasses at the obscenity. Katelina shot Micah a dismayed look that he ignored.

  He wolfed the dessert down in four bites, then stood, plate in hand. Katelina’s mom jumped to her feet. “I’ll get that.”

  “Nah, I can do it. You sit.” He gave her a wink and strode out. Katelina mumbled an excuse and followed. When she got to the kitchen all she heard was the slam of the bathroom door, followed by loud retching.

  She tapped on the door uncomfortably. “Micah?”

  The retching repeated, and finally the door opened. The bald vampire wiped his face and glared. “What the fuck? Can’t a guy get some goddamn privacy?”

  “Sorry. I—we aren’t supposed to eat.”

  “Yeah, tell me about it.” He grabbed his stomach and slammed the door again. Another round of retching followed, then another. Finally the toilet flushed, the sink ran, and Micah emerged. “One of us had to fucking eat something. You and Jorick look like fake wannabes sittin’ all yuppie and perfect, sipping water. One of us has to look fucking normal.”

  Normal wasn’t a word she associated with him. Before she could say that, her Uncle Henry came through the kitchen door. “Oh. Hope I’m not interrupting.”

  “No.” Katelina stepped away hastily, her cheeks pink with her uncle’s insinuation. “He couldn’t find the soap.”

  “Your mom does a good job of hiding it in the soap dish,” Henry commented with a wink.

  He ducked into the bathroom and Katelina bit back a scream. Could this night get any worse?

  Jorick entered, carrying her empty water glass and wearing a scowl. “I wondered where you’d disappeared to.”

  “I was just—”

  Someone knocked on the front door. Through the kitchen doorway Katelina saw her mom hurry to answer it. She couldn’t make out the visitor’s words over the thrum of the family’s conversation, but she smelled a familiar scent, something musky and heavy, like heather and mist.

  Her mother appeared in the doorway, wearing her hostess smile. “Kately dear, there’s someone looking for you and Jorick.”

  She stepped aside to reveal a broad shouldered vampire who wore his black hair in a bun.

  “Hello, Jorick. I hope this isn’t an inconvenient time.”

  It was Jamie.

  Chapter Seven

  If Jamie was there it could only mean one thing: trouble.

  The men exchanged cool nods. Katelina caught her mother’s arm and dragged her to the living room. “Micah was right. You should sit down.”

  “I’m fine, dear. Oh!” She surrendered as Katelina shoved her into a chair. “All right.”

  Brad cocked his head. She gave him a tight lipped smile and hurried back to the kitchen. It was deserted. Voices sounded outside, and she followed the sound to discover the three men in the shadows of the backyard. Though Jorick and Jamie appeared relaxed, their shoulders said otherwise. Micah made no bones about his attitude, his hands angry fists at his sides.

  Jamie was mid-sentence, “—requested extra security for it. It’s all a political point, because Canada wants their own Guild. Since it’s busy work, Eileifr thought of you.”

  The master’s name made Katelina’s heart stop. “What does The Guild want? Jorick isn't an Executioner anymore.”

  Jamie sighed. “Unfortunately, he's still on the books.”

  “No. I’m not,” Jorick said firmly. “Eileifr is looking for a replacement. He told me to go.”

  Jamie cocked an eyebrow. “That’s not exactly what he said.”

  Katelina glared, daring Jorick to deny the accusation and he relented. “He said for me to go, but he might require me one last time.”

  Jamie nodded. “I’m not excited about the job, but Eileifr wants to be sure it’s handled professionally. He has a lot to prove now that Malick is gone.”

  Micah crossed his arms. “I ain’t goin’ to fucking Canada. Road trip is a road trip, but there’s limits.”

  Canada?

  “That isn’t a problem, since you aren’t expected to go,” Jamie said coolly. “Neither is your girlfriend, Jorick.”

  Micah bristled, but Jorick cut him off. “I won’t leave a fresh fledgling alone.”

  A wry smile twisted over Jamie’s lips. “As though you haven’t done so before? I understand your attachment, but an Executioner cannot have his wife hanging off of him.”

  Wife?

  “I’m not an Executioner,” Jorick said firmly. “I handed in my medallion and signed my dismissal papers. If I go—if I go—it will be as a favor, and I name the terms of my favors.”

  Jamie sighed. “Perhaps I could arrange an invitation for Katelina.”

  “Why are we going to Canada? And what about Sarah?” Katelina asked. “We promised to take her with us.”

  Jamie gave his friend a quizzical look and Jorick shrugged. “A friend of Katelina’s.”

  “Human?” Jamie asked sharply. Jorick shook his head and the Executioner looked thoughtful. “Perhaps something co
uld be arranged, but not for a human. It isn’t an environment you’d want to bring one into. They’re old, and they have different ideas about how humans should be handled.”

  “Who’s old? And what are we supposed to do with Xandria?” Katelina asked.

  Micah scoffed. “For fuck’s sake, she’s an adult. She can take care of herself.”

  Katelina chastised herself. What was she thinking? Xandria wasn’t an infant. All of that ‘your human’ crap was getting to her. “You’re right, and you’ll be down the beach if she needs anything.”

  Micah stepped back. “I ain’t babysittin’.”

  “Is there anyone else that needs to come?” Jamie asked pointedly. “Perhaps we could dress them as a circus and sneak them past Andrei?”

  “No,” Jorick said impatiently.

  Katelina asked, “Where are we going and who’s Andrei?”

  “He’s the vampire hosting the party.” She’d obviously missed something. With a sigh, Jorick explained, “Andrei is an old, powerful vampire who has an extensive den in Canada. Every fifty years he has a two week-long house party. He invites the most notable vampires to glut on entertainment and debauchery. This year he’s requested extra security from The Guild because of the “unsafe” climate created by rumors of Malick’s rebel group, the reappearance of the Children of Shadows cult, and the whispers of Samael’s resurrection.”

  “But Malick and the cult are dead,” Katelina objected.

  “He doesn’t know that,” Jamie replied.

  Micah scoffed. “Why don’t you let Canada provide security? It ain’t America’s job.”

  “Actually it is,” Jamie said. “We take care of all of North America, and that means Canada. They have their own guild, but it’s smaller than ours and we’re over them.”

  Jorick nodded. “The Guild used to rule Canada, Mexico, and the United States. As the countries expanded west, the distances became too great. Mexico seceded before I left in 1868. We’re supposed to be over them, as Munich is us, but they’re still hostile. To keep that from happening in Canada, The Sodalitas intervened and gave Canada a sort of symbolic guild, but they’re still our jurisdiction.”

  Katelina picked the important information out of the explanation. “So Canada’s guild is like the royalty, more symbol than power, and you guys overrule them?”

  “Yes,” Jamie said. “This is a political power play. After Malick’s revolt, Canada petitioned Munich again. They said the U.S. couldn’t take care of themselves, let alone anyone else, and they wanted out from under us. The Sodalitas refused the request, unless they can prove we’re unfit. If we refuse to send security or do a poor job—”

  “They can use it as proof America isn’t taking their duties seriously,” Katelina finished. “I get it, but I thought we were done with this crap.”

  Jamie reached into his coat and produced a letter sealed with wax. Jorick snapped the seal and read it over quickly. With a grunt he handed it to Katelina. “Eileifr promises this is the last time they’ll call on me for Executioner duties.”

  The spidery writing was hard to read. What she could make out agreed with Jorick’s statement.

  “You’ll come?” Jamie asked.

  Jorick ran an unhappy hand through his hair and sighed. “I suppose.”

  Jamie nodded. “We’ll leave first thing tomorrow. I have transportation, so I’ll meet you at your motel. We have other accommodations.”

  “You’re staying at Claudius’ old mansion?” Jorick looked mildly amused.

  “Yes. Vandals have been busy. The ball room is spray painted. Much of the furniture slashed. The library is decimated, and probably half of the silver is missing. It never ceases to amaze me how classless people can be.”

  “As long as they stay out of the basement full of coffins,” Jorick mused.

  Micah interrupted, “There’s an abandoned mansion with silver?”

  “Yes,” Jamie answered stiffly. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll see you tomorrow evening.”

  They exchanged nods and the Executioner made his way around the house. He was barely gone when Micah muttered, “Where the fuck is this place at? I think me and Loren need to pay a visit.”

  “It’s outside of the town,” Jorick answered. “But unless you’re planning to walk…”

  “What the fuck? You’re gonna ride with ass hat, so you don’t need the fucking rental car.”

  Katelina cut Jorick off. “He’s right. They’ll have to have some way to get to Maine, and we won’t need it.”

  Jorick made an unhappy noise, and Micah headed back for the house. “You better wrap it up, before your mother-in-law gets suspicious about what the fuck is goin’ on out here.”

  He disappeared inside and Katelina leaned against Jorick. “I don’t know why you’re doing Eileifr a favor.”

  He caught her chin and tipped her face toward his. “I’m not. It’s a favor for Jamie. We fought together once, remember?” She nodded and he wrapped his arms around her. “As a fledgling you should be delighted to get an invitation to one of the most exclusive vampire events.”

  She felt anything but.

  They wandered inside and bid Katelina’s Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Henry goodbye with a round of uncomfortable hugs and admonishments to stay in touch. Elsie and Ben were next. Like pebbles heralding an avalanche, the others flowed out the door. Katelina hurried to follow them.

  “You don’t need to go so soon,” her mother said, though Katelina wasn’t sure she meant it.

  “Actually we do. It’s getting late, and we have an early start tomorrow.”

  Her mother frowned. “You’re leaving already? What about Sarah?”

  “She’s coming with us.”

  Her mother looked instantly suspicious. “You’re taking her with you? Where are you going? And what happened to Jorick’s brother? What was his name? Jamie?”

  Brother? Had Jamie told her that, or had she come up with it on her own?

  “He had to go. He, uh, owed Jorick some money and stopped in on his way through town to pay Jorick back.”

  Her mother sighed and shook her head. “I’d ask why he was going through town, but I doubt you’d tell me. It doesn’t matter, dear. One of these days I know you and Sarah will tell us the truth. Until then, drive safely, and stay in touch.”

  When her mother released her from a hug, Brad moved in for one of his own. Katelina stiffened and it ended with an awkward pat on her back before he withdrew.

  “Drive safely,” he muttered as he turned to Jorick and offered his hand.

  Jorick shook it, then tugged Katelina out the door before they could get caught in any more goodbyes.

  “Your family’s nice,” Loren said.

  “Yeah, peachy as hell. Except that one bitch. There’s one in every family though. My Gam’s sister was like her.”

  Katelina tuned Micah out as she caught up to Sarah in the driveway. Better to get it over with, like ripping off a bandage. “There’s been a change of plans.”

  “What?” Sarah asked as Micah, Xandria, and Loren headed on to the car.

  “An Executioner showed up—one of the vampire police. They’re sending Jorick to Canada for some stupid thing.”

  “Why are the Executioners ordering him around?”

  “Jorick was one of them. They claim he still is. It’s a long story, but they swear this is the last assignment.”

  Sarah glanced at Jorick standing in the shadows. “So, we’re going to Maine without him?”

  Katelina nearly choked. “We’re going to Canada with him.”

  Sarah looked ready to argue, then relented. “I guess it doesn’t matter where we go. I’ll meet you tomorrow at the motel.”

  She gave Katelina a quick hug, then hopped in her car and pulled away. Katelina sighed with relief. Now if Xandria accepted the news half as well.

  Thanks to Micah’s big mouth, Xandria knew about Canada and she took it in stride. “Have fun, and I’ll see you if you come back.”

  If.
As though there was another option.

  Katelina couldn’t shake the premonition something bad was going to happen, and it followed her into her dreams. She drifted from a misty graveyard to a ship’s hold. Among the dimly lit shapes sat someone who shined like the sun. Samael’s dark hair covered most of his face. What peered out was placid.

  “You’re still on the ship,” she said as she drew closer.

  “Yes. One cannot travel the oceans in an instant without wings.”

  She thought of a plane, but kept the words to herself. Regardless he saw the image. “Such machines. A gift from the gods, or a curse that leads to growing impatience? It is no matter.”

  “How can you be on a ship for weeks without getting caught? You have to feed every day. Won’t the crew notice people dying?”

  “Unlike young vampires, I do not need to feed each day; every two or three days will suffice, and I can go longer with only mild discomfort. There will be no need to drain the crew.”

  “Oh.” She didn’t know what else to say.

  “You are uneasy.”

  Though it wasn’t a question, she nodded her answer. “They want us to guard some party thing.”

  “And you fear to? Why?”

  It was a valid question; one she had no definitive answer to. “It’s a bunch of rich snooty vampires. That’s a recipe for disaster.”

  “You fear they will harm you?”

  “No.” Between her new abilities and Jorick’s protection, she was pretty sure she’d be safe.

  “Then you fear the hurt of a lover?”

  “No.”

  “If you know they cannot hurt you, then there is nothing to fear, child. Sleep now, and worry no more.”

  If only she knew how to.

  The next evening, Katelina sorted through her belongings to choose a single suitcase worth of stuff. She was in the middle of packing when Sarah arrived. Her curly hair was held back with gold clips, and a pumpkin colored sweater draped perfectly.

  “We just need to finish up,” Katelina explained.

  Sarah stood by the door, hands clasped. “How are we going to get across the border without passports?”