Though he meant the children, his eyes lingered on Torina’s bloody body. It felt wrong to leave her lying there, waiting to be dealt with until after…
After what?
Katelina wasn’t sure, but she knew she couldn’t sit there soothing children and looking at Torina’s corpse.
“Here.” She pushed the child at Loren. “I’ll be back.”
“Hey! But—”
His words were cut off by a blast that shook the building hard enough to knock the picture off the wall.
“Holy shit!”
Katelina hesitated. “Maybe you’d better get near an exit.”
“An exit to where?” the teen asked. “It’s after seven in the morning! We’ll fry!” He dropped the squirming children to the bed. “I will, at least.”
He was right, but she didn’t have the heart to say it. She didn’t know what the answer was.
Not for any of us.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Katelina hurried down the hall. She took the stairs as fast as she could. Halfway up, she stopped to catch her breath. Her shoulder burned all the way to her hand, and she was so thirsty. She needed a little sip, a taste…
She tensed when she heard someone running down the stairs, but relaxed when she saw Brandle. His face was flushed, and his shirt was torn. Blood ran down one arm, though she couldn’t see the wound.
“What’s going on?”
“I could ask you the same thing. Jorick sent me.” He frowned. “Sorino ran back here, growling like a madman.”
Katelina flinched involuntarily. “Kai…and Torina…” She looked away from Brandle’s shock. “We were attacked by William and a woman.”
He closed his eyes and sagged. “It was only a matter of time before he killed for her. He’s no stranger to it, but I’d hoped…”
“He was after the kids. He thought Lilith would reward him for bringing them back.”
“Borrowing her power is all he cares about,” Brandle said sadly.
A crash sounded from deeper on the floor. By unspoken agreement, they drifted toward the noise. Another crash came, followed by a roar that could only be Micah.
They hurried down the hallway, and zagged around the corner. Down another corridor, around a second turn, Katelina saw the bald vampire. He swung his fists at thin air. Blood ran from a cut on his cheek, his fury a black wave that rolled over her and stole her breath.
She pushed away the foreign emotion, then rushed to join him. With a curse, she realized she’d left her dagger in the room. A nearby fire extinguisher would have to do.
She wrenched it from the wall in time to be bowled over. She had a millisecond view of William before he disappeared.
“What the fuck are you doing, Lunch?” Micah swung at the spot the vampire had been.
“Trying to help you.” She pulled to her feet.
Brandle hefted his own blade. “William! Enough.”
The vampire appeared long enough to swing his sword. “I warned you. If we met again we would be enemies.”
Brandle spun, trying to face him. “Don’t do this, William.”
Micah grabbed a handful of the blond’s shirt. “I don’t give a shit if he’s your goddamn lover, for what he did, this fucker dies!”
One of Zander’s scriptures popped in Katelina’s head: Blood answers blood. It was damn well going to now.
Brandle wrenched free. Micah launched himself at William. The wind walker disappeared to pop up behind Katelina. He sliced at her shoulder, cutting in where he’d stabbed her before. She cried out and stumbled forward as Micah swung for him.
William vanished, then materialized long enough to stab Micah in the back. He pulled the sword and evaporated again. Micah spun in a circle, swearing and swinging. Katelina stumbled back to press her shoulder against the cool wall.
“William,” Brandle’s voice was a hard warning. “Don’t make me fight you.”
The wind walker appeared a few feet away. His dark hair was mussed, his face remorseless. “Then don’t. Join us, Acwellen. Kali will welcome you.”
Micah lunged, but William disappeared again.
“You know I won’t,” Brandle called.
William popped up at the other end of the hallway. “Then you’ll die, old friend.”
Brandle sighed. “No, I’m afraid you will.”
He disappeared. Katelina gaped at the place he’d been. Micah came up short, his fists swinging uselessly as he spun around.
“What the fuck?”
Of course, she reminded herself. He’s a phantom.
William reappeared in front of Micah, his attention on the spot Brandle had disappeared from. “Cute, Acwellen. But it doesn’t impress me.”
Micah punched the vampire in the back of the head. William gasped in surprise, stumbled, and cried out, bent nearly double. He reached down to his stomach and wrapped his hands around something Katelina couldn’t see. Like a hologram in a movie, an outline blinked on and off. Then she could see Brandle in front of him, his blade buried in his friend’s torso.
“I’m sorry,” Brandle said softly. “But you didn’t leave me any choice. I won’t go back to the days before The Kugsankal, to the chaos, the constant horror.”
William choked and spit out a mouthful of blood. “You’re a traitor.” He made to pull away, but Brandle held him with his free hand while he jerked the blade straight up, cutting a line through his chest. William’s eyes bulged. He stiffened, then went limp, like a sack of potatoes.
Brandle pulled away and let him go. The vampire crumpled to a heap on the floor. Katelina saw the regret on the warrior’s face. She felt his sadness, but she couldn’t embrace it. The bastard more than deserved death.
“You don’t have the history with him,” Brandle said softly. “I fought alongside him many times. My viewpoint is different than yours.”
Verchiel’s words came back to her, “It all depends what lens you look through.”
I’m looking through the one that’s happy to see him gone.
The hair stood up on the back of Katelina’s neck, and someone barked a quick “eep”. She spun so fast it hurt, to see Angelica standing at the end of the hallway, her hands over her mouth. Next to her, holding her back, was—
“Sarah.”
Micah kicked William’s body. Angelica broke free and ran to crouch down next to him protectively. “Oh, God. William! William!” She looked at Brandle and sagged. “Why?”
“Because old friends don’t mean much to him.” Sarah marched with purpose, to stop just out of reach. “Or to any of them.”
Angelica gave a sort of strangled sob. “You were stupid, William. So bloody stupid.”
Sarah hauled her to her feet. “Kali gave us orders.”
Angelica jerked loose. “She gave you orders. I was only here because of him. If he’s dead, I’m done.”
Sarah scoffed. Though she spoke to Angelica, she met Katelina’s eyes. “You’re like the others.”
“Sarah, stop this.” As Katelina’s said it, she felt like Brandle, pleading with William to quit before she had to do what he’d done; before she had to murder her friend.
Except she’s not your friend anymore.
“I already told you what you have to do.” Sarah sneered. “It’s me or Jorick.”
Micah laughed. “You’re a dumb bitch if you think that’s gonna work.”
“No one asked you, asshole!” Sarah glared at him, then snapped her gaze back to Katelina. “Me or Jorick.” When Katelina didn’t answer Sarah said, “That’s what I thought, but it’s okay. Kali will take care of him. If Ishkur hasn’t.”
Katelina looked to the ceiling, as if she could see to the rooftop battle. Sarah took advantage of the distraction. She charged, slamming Katelina into the wall. Pain exploded in Katelina’s stomach as Micah ripped her attacker away.
Katelina saw the bloody blade in Sarah’s hand. She looked down to see scarlet blossoming on her shirt.
Micah lunged for Sarah as another blast r
ocked the building. He stumbled. Sarah hopped away and took off down the corridor.
Micah started for her, but Brandle caught his arm. “If she’s leading you anywhere, it’s a trap.”
Though the bald vampire growled, he stopped. “How many do they fucking have?”
“There’s Gret and Inget,” Angelica said. “Threbold was killed earlier.”
“If Gret and Inga are those redheads, they’re both dead,” Micah said.
“The there’s just Sarah.”
Katelina pressed a trembling hand to her stomach. Crimson oozed between her fingers. Watery panic flowed through her, even as she told herself she’d be all right. She was immortal. She couldn’t bleed to death.
No. But I can end up drained and withered, and might as well be dead.
Micah noticed her injury. “Whoa, there, princess. You better go back to the room.”
“Not until I see that Jorick’s okay. I’m all right.”
“For now,” Brandle agreed. “Perhaps Sorino would allow—” he broke off, though Katelina guessed the rest. “Allow you to have a drink from Kai.” Except Kai was…
She pulled away from the wall, grimacing as pain shot through her. “Damn it. I thought vampires weren’t supposed to hurt.”
“Who the hell told you that?” Micah asked. “We might hurt less, but we still fucking hurt.”
“Great.”
Angelica stood. She gave William a last look, then turned to Brandle. “Okay, now what?”
“Now you decide whose side you’re on,” Micah snapped. “If you’re with us, come on. But if you try to stab us in the back, I’ll use your fucking spleen for a punching bag, whether your friend likes it or not.”
What energy Katelina had was gone, so she made her way slowly to the stairs. Brandle, Angelica, and Micah stayed with her until she waved them on. “He can’t fight Ishkur alone.”
They took off, and she hobbled up the stairs. When she reached the top floor, her heart stopped. As though materialized from her deepest fears, Sarah stood waiting, the long knife in her hand.
“You always were slow when it came to stairs.”
Katelina looked desperately for an escape. She’d told Jorick she wanted to deal with Sarah, that it was her responsibility. Now that it was here, she wasn’t ready for it.
She could see the stairs that led to the roof. The door stood open. She could hear Zander shouting in a strange language.
“Go ahead and yell for Jorick,” Sarah said icily. “Ask your hero to rush to your rescue like usual. Not that he’d hear you.”
Katelina clutched the wall for support. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Do you hear him?”
Katelina strained her ears. She heard Zander, and Micah, and…
“But not him,” Sarah said. “Both of your men are out of commission.”
“Both?” Did she mean Samael? He wasn’t her man, but had Lilith—
“Don’t play stupid. Jorick and the redhead. You can fool the others, but I know you. It’s obvious you have feelings for him, and the way he hangs all over you…But then you would have them both fawning, wouldn’t you? Perfect little Kate with her perfect little life.”
“What the fuck are you talking about? No, you know what? I don’t care. Maybe Jorick was right. Maybe Lilith didn’t do this to you. Maybe you were always this twisted and bitter and…and…” She couldn’t think of a suitable description.
“And cheated?” Sarah suggested. “Not given all the special little things that perfect pretty Kate had, with her blonde hair and blue eyes? Little Kate who ate ice cream and Cheetos and didn’t need to exercise? Perfect little Kate who didn’t notice when the boys flirted with her, or was she too good for them? Little Kate with her mommy and her perfect happy house, and everything she ever wanted handed to her.”
“Fuck you, Sarah. My mother took you in.”
“Your mother took me in. How kind of her to stoop low enough to help the little charity case. No, fuck you, Kate. Fuck you, and fuck her, and fuck Brad!”
Katelina was fed up. “You’re jealous because in all the time you dated him, you couldn’t get him to commit, but he’s been with my mom less than six months and they’re engaged. I guess that shows where you ranked.”
Sarah’s face twisted. With a snarl, she sprang. Katelina stepped to the side and tripped her. Momentum sent her tumbling to land in a heap.
“You…bitch.” Sarah pulled up and turned back, her features unrecognizable. She wiped at one of her eyes, smearing her makeup. On the same side of her face, her curly hair was undone from its clip, lending her an off-balance appearance, one half a wild maniac, the other side the calm, controlled Sarah that Katelina had always known.
Katelina’s anger flickered. “Sarah—”
“Don’t. I gave you a chance—two chances. Him or me. You made your choice and you’re stuck with it.” She brandished her blade. “Did you know Kali has promised a reward to whoever brings her your heart? She wants to drink from it in front of him. That’s why she’s taking so long to finish him off; she wants him to know you’re dead before she kills him.”
Katelina caught her breath. That explained why the battle was dragging on. Two ancients who could level a city should have been able to kill one another already. “He wouldn’t care. We’re not like that.”
“Oh, I know.” Sarah wiped her dirty blade on her leg. “But Kali doesn’t understand that. She still thinks you’ll choose to be his queen. The jealousy is driving her mad.”
“Jealousy? She left him.”
“Do you blame her? She told me the story, how he wanted to cringe and hide and bow. Why? If we’re this—if we’re strong and immortal—why should we bow to anyone?”
“You bow to her.”
Sarah narrowed her eyes. “I bow to no one. Kali and I understand each other, in a way we never could, Kate.” She motioned between them. “Kali knows what it is to be cheated, to be denied all the things you care about, to watch someone else get everything you want.”
“Was that while she was running around pretending to be a goddess and demanding sacrifices? Or was it while she stuffed her husband in a box for four thousand years? Or maybe while she was butchering villages of people for the fun of it. She’s evil, Sarah, and she’s nothing like you!”
“You don’t know her, and you don’t know me.”
Sarah bounced toward her, slashing. Katelina jumped back, grimacing as pain shot up her spine. She wished gone back for her dagger.
Micah’s lectures came back to her from training sessions. “What are you going to do if there’s no weapon?” He’d taught her to fight without one. She needed to quit whining and get on with it.
Sarah swiped. Katelina leapt back. She needed to get off the defensive. If she could figure out how.
She stumbled. The tip of Sarah’s blade cut through her jeans and into her leg. The damage wasn’t deep. She hurriedly hopped away before her former friend could get a better shot.
In Katelina’s peripheral vision, she could see the stairs that led to the roof. If she could get to them, Sarah would have to break off her attack. If nothing else, she could charge onto the roof and into the sun. Without the benefit of Samael’s blood, Sarah could withstand far less sunlight than she could.
Katelina felt Sarah’s surprise and knew she’d seen the plan in her mind. Still, it was all she had, so she took off, Sarah on her heels. She made it to the stairs when Sarah caught her by the ponytail and hauled her back.
Katelina grabbed the railing as she went, shouting. Micah and Oren peered around the door frame, hunkered down in the shade, eyes wide in surprise.
Sarah pinned her to the floor, her dagger raised. Katelina wrestled under her, and pulled an arm free. Before she could hit her, Sarah disappeared.
Katelina sat up, blinking. Sarah was sprawled several feet away, Oren over her.
Oren?
Micah yanked Katelina up. She mumbled thanks, her attention on the other two. Sarah leapt up, re
ady to strike. Oren tensed. Katelina could feel his frustration and impatience looking for release.
There was a cry from the roof. Oren glanced back. Instead of attacking, Sarah raced down the hallway. Oren took a step after her, then waved her away.
With the fight over, Katelina pushed past Micah and up the stairs. The sun had shifted. The shaded area was smaller. She crept past it, braving the light. Ishkur stood near the edge of the building. His armor was dented. Blood ran down one arm and one leg in scarlet streaks.
At least they’d wounded him.
Zander was in front of their enemy, wielding the mace. His shoulders heaved. Brandle stood to his left, his face hard.
But there was no Jorick.
She finally found her fiancé hunkered down behind the damaged penthouse. His shirt was torn. There was blood on his flushed face, but he met her eyes with a nod, as if to say he was all right.
A breeze swept past, then Verchiel was next to her, crouched down in the shadows. His face and hands were red and blistered. “We’ve wounded him, but that’s it.”
So much for them both being out of commission, Katelina thought. Obviously Sarah had told her that to throw her off. The worst part was, it had worked.
Ishkur raised his mace. Zander and Brandle pressed forward. Surprisingly, Ishkur stepped back, then he hopped up on the shallow ledge. He surveyed them coolly. Without a word, he turned and jumped.
“Oh my God!” Katelina hurried to the ledge and looked over. There was no sign of Ishkur below, only flashing emergency vehicles, ruined awnings, rubble, and…bodies?
Before she could get a good look, someone dragged her back to the safety of the shadows. She crouched down, panting heavily, and looked up to see Jorick’s warm eyes. Without thought, she threw her arms around his neck and clung to him, like he was the only thing that made sense.
He returned the hug. “Are you all right?”
“We ran into Sarah. She got away.”
“We’ll deal with her later. Come, let’s get inside.”
She let him lead her down the stairs into the shadowy hallway. The others followed to drop into exhausted positions on the floor. They all needed sleep or blood, but neither was likely to happen.
Goddess of Night (Amaranthine Book 9) Page 38
