Children of Shadows

by Naylor, Joleene

  The heavy feeling of being watched was more than she could stand. She declined Jorick’s suggestion of a bath, as if the Kugsankal would be able to see her, and dressed as quickly as she could. He ordered breakfast, and told her that the trial wouldn’t be until tomorrow.

  “Tomorrow?” she echoed.

  “You thought the Guild was rife with red tape, this place is ridiculous.” He sipped his blood and nodded to her plate. “You should eat.”

  She followed his gaze to her breakfast. There was something she should remember. Something important. Something that had happened when she was in the clinic.

  “What?” he asked, looking at her scrunched face with concern.

  “I don’t know. I can’t remember.” She tried to picture the scene. “Verchiel was there. He was being an idiot, and then… TV! That’s it! The Children of Shadows were on the news. They called them a terrorist group, but I don’t understand how they know about them. If I had a laptop I could look it up online.”

  Jorick stood. “They surely have computers somewhere. Finish your breakfast and we’ll look. We have time.”

  Katelina finished and happily left the confines of the plushy new room. Now that everything was settled she felt stupid for yesterday’s mad dash. Why had she supposed they wanted to put her in a cell? On the other hand, the blurry dream-like images of the dungeon were still in her mind. She could see the prisoners behind bars; pale naked skin, gaunt faces, desperate eyes. Jorick said it was a dream but she wasn’t sure.

  They found a library in the public area. Paneled in wood and lined in large, heavy bookcases, the place was surprisingly busy. A librarian showed them to an adjoining room where computer desks were arranged in neat rows. Katelina took a seat in front of one of the computers and Jorick grabbed the chair from another. With a few clicks she was on a search page. “I can’t believe they have a vampire library. That’s almost as weird as the shopping mall.”

  “Why?” Jorick asked. “Vampires read too.”

  “Of course they do.” She tapped the keys and skimmed through the multiple results. “Let’s see…” She clicked a link and the page loaded quickly. “Man, their internet is fast.”

  “I’ll take your word for it. Did you find anything?”

  “Let me see—” She ran through the article, reading pieces aloud, “A little known terrorist group, calling themselves Children of Shadows, has taken responsibility for the bombing in Sivas, Turkey that destroyed buildings… yadda, yadda…millions of dollars in damage… killed people… injured… ah, here we go. Authorities are unsure where the Children of Shadows terrorist cell is based. The communication was traced to a location within Turkey… Local intelligence has no knowledge of the group or their intentions… The communication was a short nonsensical video message… threatens more violence against both children of day and night. Oh, there’s a link.” She clicked it and the page was replaced by another with a video box that started automatically.

  A newscaster repeated most of what she’d already read, then they went to the video clip. A slim male stood in the forefront, dressed all in black and wearing a hood with only the eyes cut out, just like their attackers at the marina.

  Behind him stood two males wearing long black coats. Their perfect skin and motionless expressions betrayed them as vampires. One had dark hair with narrow, cold eyes and the other had long reddish-brown hair that fell past his shoulders. Katelina motioned toward the screen and gasped. They were both Malick’s lackeys: Ronnell and Cyprus. The first was a wind walker, whose super speed had made him an impossible foe before, and the other was their ally and who had betrayed them at the Raven Queen’s temple.

  “What in the hell?”

  The man dressed as an assassin spoke with an accent that Katelina couldn’t identify. “Though the sunlight shines, eternal night is waiting beyond the horizon, giving birth to its children in secret. Soon it will be a secret no longer. Sivas was only the first. We are the Children of Shadows and we bring with us the darkness of oblivion to those who stand in our way, to those who are weak, and those who should never have been born. We will take both children of day and night alike.”

  The clip ended with the strange horned symbol the attackers at the marina had worn. The newscaster was back, but Katelina paused the video and stared wide eyed at Jorick. “Did you see that? It was—”

  “Ronnell and Cyprus.”

  “But they work for Malick, not Samael! Does that mean he’s restarted the group?”

  Jorick spoke slowly, “I can’t imagine Malick using that symbol. Memnon was a monster and an egomaniac. He and the Children of Shadows killed hundreds, human and vampire alike, and bathed in their blood because they could. I’d only been a vampire for twenty years or so. The Sodalitas existed then, but things were different. There were still multiple masters who controlled little kingdoms, with their own armies and servants. Memnon was one, of course, but his goal was to rule them all. Many of the Masters joined together, including Wolfe’s master and Malick, and waged a bloody war. We hunted Memnon across Europe and into the dark countries. Taking his life was one of Malick’s most honored moments—he was declared a hero. It was that victory that led to his eventual leadership of The Guild. That he would seek to undo that…” Jorick shook his head.

  “That means Cyprus and Ronnell left Malick to join Samael.” The thought made her shiver. So much for the ancient vampire not being a problem.

  Jorick rubbed his head. “Let’s see if Wolfe knows anything.”

  But Wolfe wasn’t in the stronghold. Sadihra told them he was on assignment. “It’s secret,” she said and pursed her lips. “It isn’t hard to guess where he’s gone.”

  Even Katelina could figure it out: he was hunting the Children of Shadows.

  “They’ve sent the video to all the governments, immortal and mortal.” She broke off. “That Cyprus would be part of this…” She shook her head. “He isn’t evil. He’s just angry.”

  “Angry or not, he’s publicly taken credit for what happened in Turkey.”

  “I know, and I worry what the consequences will be for him.” She paused. “Have you fed? I could use the company.”

  Jorick shifted uncomfortably. “I have something to look into, but I’m sure Katelina would enjoy it.”

  Though she felt like the sacrificial lamb, it was better than going back to their room. “Sure.”

  “Good, let me get my key.”

  Jorick disappeared and Sadihra led her to the VIP room of the restaurant. Katelina ordered a sandwich and tried to think of polite conversation. It was Sadihra who finally spoke.

  “What is Cyprus doing, siding with monsters? Does he understand who they are? The Children of Shadows were the most feared, hated…” She broke off. “It isn’t like him. I know he is better than this. And now they’ve sent Wolfe after him. He’ll kill Cyprus if Cyprus doesn’t kill him first.” She shook her head. “I suppose you think it’s silly for me to worry like this? Wolfe is trained.”

  Katelina toyed with her glass. “No. If that was Jorick I’d be worried.”

  The waiter brought their meal and the vampiress sipped her blood. “It’s hard sometimes, being a woman in this position. If I’m too soft then others say I’m unfit for duty, but if I’m too hard I’ll fall back to the way I was for the last ten years; alone, angry, refusing to bend or listen. Those were the grayest years of my life—looking at him but not touching, seeing the anger and hurt in his eyes and not speaking, watching him leave and not knowing if he’d come back and refusing to even tell him goodbye. After Cyprus I thought I must be that way, that it was my weakness—my softness—that caused it to happen, and if I was only strong, if I showed Wolfe how strong and how unbending I could be, then he’d see and he’d forgive me. But he was never unforgiving, only afraid, and I couldn’t see it.”

  Katelina knew the story second-hand, but it was a good chance to get it from the source. “What happened?”

  Sadihra finished her glass and poured another. “My
sister Jilsenna and I were sent to Italy. Cyprus was a guard then, and pulled strings to get the assignment. Wolfe should’ve come too, but at the last moment they changed his orders. It was… It was a bloodbath. I watched Jilsenna die. There was nothing I could do. I was useless in my grief, but Cyprus got me out alive. When we got back to the Italian stronghold I called Wolfe. I…I needed to hear him, to have him dam up my grief so I could function, but he was gone. And Cyprus… Cyprus was there.”

  She closed her eyes and Katelina could almost feel her regret. “You think badly of him, and I don’t blame you, but he isn’t a monster. Inside he is sad, alone. He had a hard beginning and I understood that. We may be vampires but prejudices remain and it is not only humans who are regarded as lower. How many Scharfrichterinnen do you see? Like him I had to claw for my position, and because we understood one another we were sympathetic. His sympathies had turned to something else and I knew it. We all knew it. The men treated it as a joke, even as he spouted poetry to me in the lonely corridors and made excuses to touch my hand, my shoulder. It was never a joke to Cyprus; he meant what he said, and I should’ve seen that and stopped it once and for all. I refused his advances, of course, but perhaps I was never sincere enough, because though I told him to go, he never left. Maybe I somehow encouraged him. I loved Wolfe, I had loved Wolfe, but Cyprus… You can’t deny he’s beautiful.”

  Katelina made a noncommittal noise and wondered if she really wanted to hear the rest.

  Something wistful shifted through Sadihra’s eyes. “And he is kind, and passionate, and gentle. That night in Italy I cried in his arms until there were no tears left and when I pulled away, too embarrassed to look at him, too horrified at my own weakness, he told me not to be ashamed. He was so warm, so strong, and yet so tender and I…I yielded to him. First it was a kiss and then… It was wrong,” she said quickly. “I knew it immediately afterwards, and I have regretted it since and yet…”

  She cleared her throat and gave Katelina a “you understand what I mean” look, then went on, “After that I avoided Cyprus. He thought things would change between us, that Italy was a beginning, but it wasn’t and I couldn’t look him in the eyes and tell him so. I’d seen the ardor in his heart, seen how serious he really was, and I was too cowardly to destroy him. When we came home I confessed everything to Wolfe. Rage does not describe him. He broke things, he shouted, he punched a hole in the door, and then he stormed out. I had never seen such a display and I ran.

  “Cyprus found me and when he tried to comfort me I pushed him away. I told him that I loved Wolfe, and that whatever had passed between us was a mistake. He refused to accept it. He said he had seen the truth in my eyes that night and he knew I cared for him. And maybe I did. In some way maybe I still do, but I love Wolfe more. Of course you’ve heard what happened next; Wolfe complained that Cyprus had taken advantage of me. Cyprus was dismissed and left in a fury and I blamed myself because it was not as Wolfe painted it to be. I was equally at fault, not a victim, but I was too ashamed of the weakness to admit it. Then Wolfe wanted me to quit the Scharfrichter. He was ‘worried’ and of course I thought he was worried that I would betray him again in a moment of vulnerability and things fell apart. I was determined to show him I wasn’t weak; that I was strong and I became so inflexible that I forgot why I was trying to prove it in the first place.”

  Katelina had seen the end of their fight; when they’d reconciled and Wolfe had finally admitted he wasn’t afraid Sadihra would cheat, but that she’d die as her sister had, and that was why he’d wanted her to quit.

  Sadihra took another drink and sighed. “I’m sorry. You’re probably not interested. I suppose I miss having a woman to speak with. We understand things better than men.”

  Katelina agreed quickly. Silence fell and she bit her lip and tried to phrase the question that had haunted her for weeks. Sadihra noticed and asked, “What?”

  “Wolfe—” Katelina started and stopped.

  “You think he’s a condescending asshole,” Sadihra finished for her, and smiled. “I really do know what you mean. He appears rigid and cold. But that’s only one of his faces. He can be kind and gentle, when we are alone. He has even been passionate.”

  Katelina couldn’t picture Wolfe that way, and the images that crowded into her head made her happy not to.

  “He presents a wall and hides his insecurities underneath—his sorrows, his fears, his little tragedies. But they’re there, just like they are for everyone. And I miss him. I thought I would get a reprieve from worry, that I wouldn’t have to stay here, too stubborn to call him and find out if he was all right. The men say ‘You know this is part of the job.’ And I do. But I’m tired of worrying. I’ve spent ten years doing it.”

  That was something Katelina understood. “I’m tired of worrying all the time, too.”

  Sadihra smiled. “Perhaps it’s time we brought the men home and tied them to the kitchen sink where they would be safe?”

  The thought of Jorick barefoot and in an apron stayed with Katelina the rest of the day.

  Chapter Eight

  The official trial notice came the next evening. Jorick explained that it wasn’t for a couple of hours.

  “We’re not that important,” he joked.

  As she ate her toast he went over what was going to happen. “It should be very short. This time the law is on our side. They may love red tape here, but they also enjoy clinging to the letter of the law.”

  She swallowed the dry bread and asked, “What about Micah?”

  “He’s held for assaulting two guards. He’ll have his own trial.”

  “Oh.”

  The hours slipped past and when the time drew near Jorick led her to the Lesser Council’s chambers. They were ushered through the antechamber with the advice, “Take a seat.”

  Inside was the same parquet floor and a similar stained glass ceiling as the Höher Rat’s. But instead of six wooden boxes for the councils, there were only three; two large ones packed with vampires in scarlet robes, and one in the middle where a single vampire in gold and crimson robes stood. There was a polished wood dock, and behind it were rows of benches crowded with vampires, including Micah.

  Katelina motioned toward the bald vampire. He sat with his legs stretched out before him and his hands bound in his lap. Next to him was Loren, the teen vampire; Oren, who looked as irritated as usual; and Torina, sporting an unusually low cut dress, as if extra cleavage might sway the judges.

  Jorick met Katelina’s eyes, asking if she really wanted to join them. At her nod he shrugged and they made their way toward the motley crew. Another case was in session, so they took their seats as quietly as they could.

  “And there’s Lunch,” Micah said. “I take it you didn’t outrun the fuckers, huh?” He glanced at her lack of restraints. “What? The famous vampire killer didn’t take a single guard out? What the fuck?”

  “I’m not a famous vampire killer,” Katelina hissed angrily.

  “Yeah, so what the fuck happened? I‘m guessing they didn’t take you into custody?”

  “We were relocated,” Jorick answered stiffly.

  “Yeah, me too. Though I’m guessing you got a better room, huh, Princess?”

  She tried to temper her anger with the knowledge Micah was only there, in chains, because of her. He’d attacked the guard to… what? Try to protect her? As weird as the whole thing was, she felt she owed him a thank you.

  She cleared her throat uncomfortably. “Look, about yesterday. I mean, you…you tried…I…”

  “Hey, hey, don’t get the wrong idea. I wasn’t trying to save your ass or anything. I was just bored and lookin’ for some fun. Nothin’ like pounding a guy’s face to pulp.”

  Katelina scowled darkly. “Yeah, Micah, that’s what I figured. You’d never do something selfless.”

  “Exactly. It’s not like you offered me a snack or anything.” He snapped his teeth at her. “And I could use one. They don’t fucking feed you shit down there.” />
  Jorick growled a warning and Micah snickered. “Don’t worry, Executioner, your buddies got me trussed up and on my best behavior.” The gold robed vampire slammed the gavel and a guard started toward them.

  Katelina steeled herself, but the guard stopped before Micah and offered to help him up.

  “Looks like it’s my turn, kiddies.” Micah stretched and stood. “Ten bucks I’ll get the death penalty, huh?” Loren looked horrified and Micah gave a coarse laugh then followed the guard to the dock.

  The trial was much like the last one. One box argued for Micah, citing that he’d asked the guard to wait until the human’s master arrived and that the guard had forced his way inside, while the other argued that both Micah and Katelina had been combative and uncooperative, forcing the guard to take those measures. Katelina twisted her shirt collar nervously, and Loren leaned over and whispered, “Can’t Jorick get him off?”

  She glanced at her boyfriend and his stern expression, then back to the teen. “I don’t think so. Not here.”

  Finally, the gold robed vampire banged the gavel. “It is this council’s finding that one Micah was in breach of good conduct and has broken The Laws by attacking a guard of the stronghold who was carrying out his official duties. Due to—circumstances, the usual sentence of six months will be commuted to one week’s incarceration in the stronghold’s dungeon. Sentence to begin immediately. Appeal may be made by filing the appropriate paperwork in the judicial office. Judgment is done.”

  He pounded the gavel again and a pair of guards escorted Micah out of the box. Katelina expected him to fight. Instead he laughed and made a show of bowing and following them through a side door.

  Katelina grabbed Jorick’s arm. “Did you hear that? They do have a dungeon!”

  Jorick shrugged. “I doubt it’s the torture chamber from your dreams. I’m sure it’s more like The Guild’s cell block.”

  “Yeah, I bet.” Despite Micah’s words, guilt stabbed at her. “Are you sure you can’t do something?”