Children of Shadows

by Naylor, Joleene

  “If that was true then they’d know binding me is useless.”

  Fethillen watched the proceedings, her arms crossed. “We did not invite you.”

  “The last I looked, I hardly need your permission to take a stroll through the jungle. If you react like this to us, I shudder to think what you’d say to the friend I left at the plane.”

  Jorick perked up. “So you found him.”

  “Of course. No one has ever eluded me once I set my sights on them.”

  “Found who?” Fethillen asked angrily.

  Sorino gave her a smug, thin lipped smile, but Jorick answered, “Wolfe.”

  Fethillen tried to hide her surprise. “You’re planning to take him to Malick.”

  “Malick?” Sorino asked. “How curious. I understood from the message you left, Jorick, that we were going to see the Children of Shadows.”

  Jorick nodded. “It seems they’re one and the same.”

  “Now that is interesting.” Sorino’s eyes glowed and Katelina imagined he’d have rubbed his hands together if he could get them free. He turned sharply to Fethillen. “I presume you’re the leader? If you must keep me tied, then I accept the loss of liberty, but I fail to see what danger a human can do to you.” He moved his head toward Kai. “Having him constrained is more inconvenient than practical, unless someone plans to feed him by hand.”

  Fethillen made a low angry noise. “Untie the human, but take the vampire into the house so we can speak with him.”

  Sushel growled as he loosened the rope from Kai’s wrists and then shoved him roughly forward. The boy stumbled and his hair flapped out of his face long enough for Katelina to catch a glimpse of placid green eyes. He straightened and stood next to Katelina silently.

  They shoved the luggage at the boy and then Sushel and his friends marched Sorino toward the house.

  “Watch Kai,” Jorick barked at Katelina and then stormed after them.

  She shrugged and turned to the boy. “Etsuko’s cooking dinner, if you’re hungry.”

  She took his silence for understanding and led him to the fire and the makeshift seats. Etsuko was in the middle of removing the rice when Kai carefully laid down his burdens.

  “Welcome, Kai-san. Will you be eating with us?”

  He shook his head and pointed to the pack.

  “If Kai-san has anything that needs prepared I could do so, if it would please him.”

  Katelina could imagine Jorick prodding her and saying, “You could take a lesson from her.”

  Kai shook his head again, then dug through the bag to produce several energy bars wrapped in shiny packages.

  Etsuko bowed, as if to say “okay,” then served the dinner in the scuffed bowls. Oren tapped his leg impatiently, his eyes on the house, and finally demanded, “What happened?”

  Katelina answered, “They took Sorino to question him. Fethillen acts like Jorick inviting them without permission was the same as usurping her authority and I think she wants to prove she’s still in charge.”

  “Women in power are often easily threatened,” Oren muttered. Katelina wondered if he knew from experience. He’d had a domineering wife, and had as much as admitted that she’d run everything.

  They ate in silence. Katelina managed to feed some of the giant fruit to Kai, and choked down as much as she could stand. What had first been a pleasant mango flavor was now getting tiresome and overpowering, but she hated to waste it. She’d just decided she couldn’t stand another bite when Micah and Loren wandered up lugging bananas.

  “Look what we found—” Loren broke off. “Hey, isn’t that—”

  “It’s Sorino’s bitch,” Micah said. “What’s that snake doin’ here?”

  “Jorick invited him,” Katelina said quickly. Though she had no love for the sneaky vampire, she was oddly fond of Kai.

  “What the fuck for?” Micah grabbed one of the bananas and peeled it. He peered closely, as if inspecting it, then thrust the fruit at Katelina. “See if this shit’s any good.”

  More fruit was the last thing she wanted, but Loren looked so hopeful she took a bite. “Yep. Tastes great.”

  Micah wrinkled his nose. “Don’t talk with your mouth full. That’s some sick shit.” He turned to Oren. “So what the fuck did Jorick invite him for?”

  “He wants his plane to go to Malick’s.”

  Katelina swallowed her mouthful and added, “And Sorino brought Wolfe.”

  “Not that Scharfrigin’-what’s-it?” Micah demanded. “Why?”

  She shrugged. “I guess in case Malick demands a trade for Ume.”

  “That’d be about the only thing that cold bastard is good for.” The bald vampire motioned to Loren. “Put that shit down and let’s see what’s going on.”

  The thunder that had been in the distance most of the night finally caught up to them and Katelina kept an anxious eye on the heavy black sky.

  Jorick returned, looking irritated. Sorino followed. He looked vaguely curious and slightly aloof, like someone from the upper class who’d come down to the slums to “look around”.

  Jorick motioned to the group around the fire. “We’ll leave tomorrow. Of course we’ll have to take the prisoner, Fethillen, and at least two others. She wanted more, but we’re already over capacity.”

  Etsuko bowed. “I can be of no help on the journey, so with Oren-sama and Jorick-sama’s permission I would willingly remain behind.”

  Jorick shook his head. “Not alone.”

  “Torina could stay,” Oren suggested. “She’s not likely to be useful, either.”

  Jorick nodded toward the black clad vampires. “Could she defend Etsuko if there’s trouble?”

  “If nothing else she could take her into the jungle until we returned.”

  “Etsuko is your human, so it’s your choice.”

  Katelina glowered at Jorick’s words, but neither Etsuko nor Kai took offense. She felt like she was the only sane one left.

  Oren hesitated and finally said, “If someone can’t trust their own sister then who can they trust?”

  Katelina held back a snort. She imagined the sexy vampiress standing by, playing with her fiery hair or admiring her nails, or even off in a dark corner with one of the Black Vigil while the rest of the secret group fed off Etsuko. It wouldn’t be worth interrupting her selfish pursuits for a human.

  A fat raindrop landed in the dirt in front of Katelina, followed by a second and a third. By the time they made it to the house, the rain was falling thick around them. Thunder cracked loudly, and something stirred in Katelina’s memory.

  “Even this will fade and pass away to nothing.”

  She hoped it was sooner than later.

  Oren waited until the next evening to tell Torina that she had to stay behind. The vampiress glared at him and snapped, “Why?”

  “Because I need someone to look after Etsuko,” he replied.

  “She isn’t my human. You take care of her. ”

  Oren made an aggravated sound. “Just this one time, can you please do what I ask you to do?”

  “You’re leaving me behind because I’m a woman, but I’m more useful than he is.” She pointed a manicured finger toward Loren.

  The teen looked hurt, and Oren quickly dropped his voice. “That may be, but I need someone who can fend off the Black Vigil if necessary. I don’t trust them.”

  “Then what about Micah? Or Jorick’s human. They say she’s done exceptional things lately.”

  Oren drew himself up. “Torina, I am your master. I gave you immortality and you will do as I say!”

  Torina fell back, speechless. Her mouth worked, but nothing intelligible came out. At last she managed, “Fine, but next time it’s someone else’s turn!”

  Etsuko sat primly on her large bag and didn’t seem the least embarrassed they’d been arguing over who had to look after her.

  “If we’ve settled it, shall we go?” Sorino asked.

  They took a helicopter to the airport where Sorino’s plane was park
ed in the hangar. Wolfe waited impatiently inside the leather trimmed, polished wood interior and Jorick was barely on board before he demanded, “How did you get out of the stronghold?”

  Though Katelina expected Jorick to lie he said, “Your fiancé helped us.”

  “Why would she do that?”

  “She was under the impression you needed help.”

  Wolfe gave Jorick a freezing look of outrage. “Why would she think that?”

  Verchiel bounced into one of the seats and kicked his feet up. “Because you quit answering her calls right after the attack on Syria.”

  “I wasn’t in Syria.”

  Jorick’s smile was obviously disingenuous, as was his innocence. “We know that now, but at the time…” He spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness.

  “I am sure she left you with no choice.” Wolfe turned on his heel and strode to one of the chairs. “We’ll deal with that later. For now I’m more interested in this oasis of the Children of Shadows.”

  Sushel, Quenby, Fethillen, and the prisoner boarded last. Sushel glared at Wolfe and then shoved the prisoner into the kitchenette at the back of the plane. Fethillen, on the other hand, stopped in front of Wolfe. “So you’re the one Cyprus is hunting?”

  Wolfe’s face betrayed no surprise. “Is he?”

  “Yes. He attacked the marina in Indonesia to kill you, and again in Uzbekistan.”

  “I wasn’t in Uzbekistan.”

  “I know this, but he didn’t.” Fethillen studied him and then announced, “I am Fethillen, the leader of the Black Vigil. It appears we will be allies for the moment.”

  “Yes, it does.”

  Without another word the blonde vampiress chose a seat and fastened her belt. Katelina did the same with a silent prayer they wouldn’t crash in the jungle.

  It was almost two hours later when Sushel reappeared, lugging the whimpering prisoner before him. Katelina looked away from the stumps where his hands used to be and tried not to think about the screams she’d heard in the dark.

  The vampire took his charge to the cabin of the plane, and Katelina imagined he was giving them directions to the so-called oasis. Verchiel gave her a wink and a grin, but the merriment seemed forced. She wondered if he was worried for Ume, or about facing Malick.

  The plane landed and Katelina peered through the window to see a small airstrip. One end was surrounded by a semi-circle of hangars. Katelina tried to guess how many planes were housed in them and how Malick had managed to acquire them so fast.

  “He may have been collecting them for some time before he left The Guild,” Jorick said.

  That everything had been a carefully orchestrated plan made Katelina shiver.

  One of the planes, a smaller version of the one they were in, sat outside the hangars, as if waiting to take off. She wondered if Malick was planning a trip, or if it was one of his lackeys. As she contemplated it, a pair of black coated figures walked onto the strip. She squinted through the window to see that both were blonde. One was a woman who carried a massive gun and the other was a lithe male who bore a large square sword.

  It was Griselda and Arlen, two of Malick’s henchmen.

  They knocked on the door of the plane and Jorick opened it. Katelina had to strain, but she could hear Griselda say, “If you will come with us?”

  Jorick motioned the others to follow him, then plunged out onto the tarmac. Katelina hurried to catch up, but Verchiel caught her arm. “Give it a minute, in case it’s a trap.”

  The others flowed around them, even Sushel and his prisoner. Finally Verchiel relaxed and gave a mock bow. “After you.”

  She unconsciously rubbed her arm. “What was that?”

  “A stray thought of Arlen’s, apparently.” He gave her a wink and she hesitated. Was he sure it wasn’t a trap just because it hadn’t been sprung yet? Though she hadn’t wanted to be left behind with the Black Vigil she wondered at the wisdom of going to see Malick, the vampire who figured prominently in her terrified memories and nightmares. The manipulative master who always came out on top.

  What in the hell were they thinking?

  “There is nothing to fear.”

  The peace that filtered over her didn’t come from Verchiel, and when they reached the tarmac Katelina gave Jorick’s hand a squeeze of thanks.

  Griselda was mid speech, “—master says you have brought someone with you who belongs to him and he would demand his return before he’ll hand over what you seek.”

  So Malick was bargaining, but apparently for Sushel’s prisoner.

  Katelina tried not to look at their welcome committee. Both had done things she could never forget and never forgive. Once again the scene at The Guild came to mind, Griselda marching with her fellows behind her master, crunching the fallen bodies of the dead. It faded to be replaced by a snowy scene in Japan where Griselda and Arlen had fought together, she firing her massive gun and Arlen swooping in and out, striking and then disappearing. It had been the wind walker who’d fought Verchiel among the cliffs and left him for dead, pale, bloodless, and impaled on a rock. She wouldn’t be surprised if the pair of them didn’t do something equally horrible today.

  Katelina glanced around. Her eyes touched on several buildings and a high fence topped in razor wire. In the distance she imagined she could make out the rubble of the destroyed village.

  Griselda turned on her heel with military precision and marched toward a white, two story building ringed in lights. A balcony of dark wood circled the top floor and a matching porch ran around the bottom. Green plants hung in baskets from the porch and their trailing vines stirred in the warm breeze.

  Griselda and Arlen led their guests into a small entranceway. Katelina was aware of the crushing presence of the ancient master. Memories of his previous mental assaults sent a flash of panic through her. She remembered the horror as he pried into her thoughts and strolled from one horrible scene to another, forcing her to relive her pain, humiliation, and terror.

  She clutched Jorick’s hand tighter and repeated the mental message she’d been sent: “There is nothing to fear.” He gave her an odd look, but didn’t comment.

  They walked down a narrow corridor toward an open door. Katelina could hear the sound of falling water, and when they entered she bit her lip and gazed around in surprise.

  The center of the house was a large room whose ceiling soared to the roof. The floor was done in saffron tiles, decorated here and there with turquoise and rust inlay. In the center of the room was a large fountain with a heavy basin. Massive palms and other green plants crowded around the edge of the room, no doubt giving the place the oasis title.

  Sleek black pillars held up a dark wood balcony. As in the lower room, there were four doors that led out onto it, one on each wall. A huge wicker chair that resembled an African throne from a stage play sat in the center near the farthest doorway, staring down at them.

  She felt Malick before she saw him, like an ocean wave rolling up the beach. He walked through the balcony door above, dressed in flowing ebony robes. His long white hair shone, and atop his head sat a golden crown. Like an ancient storybook king, his white beard gave him the appearance of great wisdom. His skin was paled by immortality, but had no doubt been a deep tan in life. The lines around his eyes betrayed the mortal age he’d reached, but immortal grace had softened them. His smile was serene and his eyes were like two dark jewels shining in the sunlight. Katelina didn’t want to look but she couldn’t stop herself from falling into their burnished depths. The world dropped away and there was nothing but the ancient master and his amusement. And he was amused, very amused.

  “Such an army? And will it do you any good?” he asked her silently.

  She didn’t know the answer, only that the world was getting light and tight. With a jolt she was back in the room full of plants, Jorick’s hand on her shoulder and his dark eyes furious. She gasped for air, and realized she’d been holding her breath.

  Malick held up his hands in innocence,
and moved in front of his throne. He looked the group over and then opened his arms with a smile. “Welcome, my son! I must profess my joy at seeing you.”

  “We’re here for the girl,” Jorick replied coldly. “Where is she?”

  “Down to business so soon? And when you have new friends I’d like to meet.” Malick turned his dark eyes on Wolfe, who showed no effect.

  And why would he? Katelina thought. He dealt with the much older, and more powerful, Kugsankal.

  Malick barely gave Oren a glance, and was soon bored with Micah. Loren shivered as the master met his eyes, but the teen kept his spine straight and Malick turned to Fethillen.

  “My nemesis revealed.” His laughter was like singing birds and sunshine. “Though not exactly. Because of course the Children of Shadows would be my enemies.” His eyes twinkled and Katelina tried to comprehend his meaning.

  Fethillen looked equally confused, but then her face went back to its static expression and Malick laughed again. “It’s not important. You don’t need to understand. Does she, my son?”

  Jorick stiffened and Malick turned to Sorino and Kai. Interest flickered in Sorino’s eyes, and Katelina wondered if the master was trying to recruit him. If so, would he go? Sorino gave the master a cool, thin smile, and Malick’s attention moved on to Kai. He lingered for a moment, and Katelina noticed that, though still human, Kai’s back stayed straight and his shoulders set, as if he was somehow immune to the horrible probing sensation. Or maybe, like Wolfe, he was used to it. Sorino was also a mind reader, after all.

  Malick turned away to consider Sushel and his prisoner. “Is this a stray lamb come back to the pasture? The prodigal son perhaps? But no, no son of mine.” He motioned to Griselda and Arlen, and the pair jerked the prisoner away from a growling Sushel and hauled him forward. The handless vampire’s uncertain whimper turned into a gasp as they tossed him on the floor.

  Malick motioned the vampire to rise. He had a hard time without hands. Katelina wanted to look away from the cruel show, but she couldn’t.

  Malick cocked his head to one side and studied the vampire. “And what secrets have you told them, I wonder? You must have endured much before you broke, my child.”