Children of Shadows

by Naylor, Joleene

  A loud clapping sounded from above and Katelina looked to the balcony where Malick continued to watch with an amused smile. He dropped his hands and said something she couldn’t hear. A black coated vampire stepped out from the doorway behind him, holding a large metal hunting bow. As Katelina watched, he fitted an arrow, took aim and fired. The bolt streaked through the air and lodged itself into Oren’s back. He gave a roar of surprise and reached behind himself wildly, trying to grab the arrow.

  Another arrow whizzed through the air, this time striking Sushel through the eye. He screamed and fell back, leaving Wolfe to fight the scythed vampire alone. The archer fitted a third arrow, and Katelina realized how it would end; Malick was finished with the show and they would be picked off one by one.

  “Take out the cause and the effect cannot follow.”

  With those words, calm descended on her. As if following directions, she hefted Griselda’s giant gun and aimed it not at the archer, but at the ancient master. The trigger was stiff under her finger, and she applied more pressure to pull it back.

  The world slowed until it almost stopped. Malick broke into laughter and met Katelina’s blue eyes. His voice rippled in her mind, “Do you think that will hurt me?”

  I’ll find out.

  She could hear her heart beat, like a long, drawn out drum as the second stretched to infinity. Everything slipped by and then there was the door. The door that should not be opened. Not yet.

  “Release her!”

  The world slammed back and Katelina pulled the trigger. The recoil sent her sprawling on the floor and the gun fell from her hands and clattered next to her. She was dimly aware of Jorick shouting for her but the buzzing in her hears blocked out most of the sound. And then a single word cut through it.

  “Enough!”

  The word was the roar of thunder. As it fell the fighting came to an involuntary stop. Katelina looked to see Malick, blood on his shoulder and his smile gone. A loud, angry thrumming filled the room, and his jewel eyes darkened until they were like the center of a hurricane. The noise grew louder. Loren dropped to his knees, his hands over his ears and blood running from his nose, followed by Micah. Sushel collapsed next, then Malick’s archer.

  Katelina covered her ears as the sound swelled and the others continued to drop. It was like pressing her ear against a resonating speaker and ascending in an airplane at the same time. The pressure was painful, and she looked through blurry eyes to see that Jorick, Wolfe, Fethillen, and Verchiel remained standing, their expressions defiant and furious. Sorino, meanwhile, looked oddly amused.

  The noise built and Katelina screamed. She wasn’t the only one, though she couldn’t tell who the voices belonged to. She struggled to see, to make sense of what was going on, and saw Cyprus rise to his feet, unaffected. He grabbed the nearest discarded weapon and raced out of the room, toward the front door. Fethillen started after him and the throbbing noise increased until she fell to her knees in the doorway, clutching the frame with one hand and her head with the other.

  Jorick was suddenly hovering over Katelina. He laid his hand on her head and the noise stopped. She sagged in relief and looked to see Malick’s archer stand and skitter out the door. Arlen similarly disappeared, and though Katelina expected Verchiel to chase after them, he stood immobile, eyes narrowed and forehead wrinkled in pain or concentration.

  And then the sound stopped. Malick was gone. Katelina could still feel his presence. He hadn’t really left, only slunk deeper into the house. She pulled to her feet and started to go after him, but Jorick caught her arm and shook his head. “Not this time.” Fethillen was already out the door in pursuit of Cyprus, and Sushel hurried after her, his scythe in one hand and the other held to his bleeding eye. Loren staggered to his feet, and Micah caught him, though the bald vampire didn’t look much better. Verchiel helped Ume up, and Sorino sorted through the plants. He stopped and scooped up Kai’s limp body from among the foliage. Blood ran from the teen’s nose and ears. Katelina made a noise of horror, and Jorick said, “He’s only unconscious.”

  There was a loud roar and Katelina clapped her hands to the sides of her head. The sound faded quickly with none of the repercussions. She looked to Jorick, but he silently led her through the narrow hallway and outside into the night. The door of their plane was open and Fethillen charged up the steps. In the sky Katelina could see the lights of another aircraft. That was what the sound had been; Cyprus escaping.

  Just as Malick planned.

  Since Malick had admitted that he couldn’t bring Memnon back, her interest in him waned. She wanted to follow Cyprus, but Sorino refused. His main concern was everyone bleeding on the upholstery. “I’ll have to pay to have this cleaned!” he snapped more than once. He even demanded Quenby’s body be stashed in the cargo compartment.

  They took turns in the bathroom. When it was Katelina’s, she shut herself inside with relief. Her mind still echoed with the horrors she’d witnessed. Quenby was dead. The blonde vampiress had never been especially friendly, but neither had she ever been exactly unfriendly, just frank. And frankness wasn’t so bad. It was better than trying to decipher what lay behind a false smile.

  She pictured Quenby’s dead face, mouth open, eyes staring at nothing in surprise. Had she been surprised? Fethillen said all of the Black Vigil were ready to die, but had Quenby been ready? Had Sushel’s friend Ken, or the others they’d taken out in the woods? Had Malick’s henchmen been ready for oblivion?

  She closed her eyes and opened them to stare at the reflection in the mirror. Her blonde hair was loose in its ponytail and her blue eyes echoed the scene they’d left. Despite the bloodshed, she’d come out with not so much as a scratch. Usually vampires went for the weakest link first, so why hadn’t Malick’s henchmen gone for the human?

  The master’s words came back to her, “I must confess I’d thought to keep you here, my son, a prize fought over by greater gods, but it seems you are not the chosen child…now I would ask a different prize.”

  Of course. He meant her.

  Katelina’s stomach clenched and she clutched the tiny sink. Drops of watery blood were in the bottom and she stared at them until it hurt, as if the reality of such a tiny detail could force away her terror. Malick had never been interested in her, past an object used to make Jorick behave, but now that Samael had healed her… “—the blood of ancients runs in her veins.”

  What would he do with her if he got her?

  Someone banged on the door and she choked back a wave of terror and stumbled out. Her shaky legs took her to the couch where Kai lay and she dropped down next to him. Like her, he appeared unhurt, but there were still traces of bloody trails from his nose and his ears.

  “It could be worse.”

  She jerked at the mental message and eyed the prone teen. His hair had slipped from his face and she saw a single green eye peering out at her. Though he was still human he’d had too much blood and now he was caught in a place in between, with powers he shouldn’t have, abilities inherited from Sorino.

  “How?” she asked aloud.

  “He could have taken you prisoner, and then you’d know for sure.”

  “But look at what he did,” she complained. “Quenby’s dead, and for what?”

  Kai’s eye closed then opened, as if he was fighting sleep. “You went to rescue someone, didn’t you? Was she rescued?”

  “Yes, but…”

  “Then that’s what it was for.” And with those words Kai slipped into oblivion again.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The trip back to the summer headquarters was silent and sober. Even Micah’s usual after-battle banter was missing. They left the plane at the airport and took the helicopter back to the jungle clearing. They were half way to the house when Torina rushed out the door. She skidded to a barefoot stop and grabbed Oren’s arm. “Your human. Something’s wrong with her.”

  “What?” Oren asked, his brow furrowed.

  “How should I know? I’m not a me
dical doctor! She’s hot and she was vomiting.” Torina shuddered in disgust. “Do something!”

  Oren rolled his eyes and pushed past his sister. Katelina clutched Jorick’s arm. How much more could they take in one day?

  Etsuko lay in the sleeping room, Sorino’s sleeping bag spread over her. She offered them a wan smile. “I apologize. There is nothing to be concerned for, Oren-sama. It is merely a small human complaint. It will pass.”

  Katelina crouched next to her and felt her forehead. Etsuko had a fever, though without a thermometer she had no idea how high. “Get the first aid kit out of her bag,” she barked. “She needs some Tylenol.”

  Oren unzipped the bag and rummaged through, discarding little bits of things; her folded fan, a carved wooden box of hairpins, a heavy pair of geisha-style shoes. At last he produced the plastic box and popped it open. “What does Tylenol look like?”

  Katelina impatiently took the box. Acetaminophen was in individual packets and she tore one open and helped Etsuko sit up to take them.

  The Japanese woman wiped her mouth and replaced the lid on the water bottle. “I must thank Katelina-san, but she should stay away in case I am contagious.”

  Katelina couldn’t deny being worried about it, but she put on a brave face. “It’s all right. Lay back and get some rest.”

  Etsuko closed her eyes and then opened them again. “I must apologize, Oren-sama, I did not ask if your trip was successful.”

  Oren crammed her belongings back in her bag and stood uncomfortably. “We got the girl back.”

  “That’s good. I imagine Verchiel-sama is much relieved. I hope Oren-sama was not much hurt?”

  “No, not really,” he muttered.

  Katelina thought of the gaping wound the arrow had left. Luckily Verchiel had handed out some of Sorino’s private blood stash, so she doubted much remained of it.

  “That is very good. And everyone else?”

  Katelina tucked the sleeping bag around Etsuko’s shivering figure. “Quenby was killed.”

  “That is most unfortunate. There will be a funeral?”

  Katelina wasn’t sure. “I don’t know.”

  “Please do not allow me to keep anyone from attending,” Etsuko said and sat up. “I am grateful for your concern but I promise I will be better soon.”

  Oren cleared his throat. “I’ll go ask about the funeral.” He strode out before anyone could reply.

  Torina wrung her hands. When she noticed Katelina looking, she dropped them and resumed her haughty expression. “I’m sure it’s nothing I did. I kept an eye on her.”

  “Yes,” Etsuko agreed. “Torina-sama was an excellent guardian. She is most kind.”

  Katelina choked and Torina sniffed. “I wouldn’t say that.” Then the vampiress flounced out as well.

  Katelina stayed with Etsuko. The woman drifted to sleep, and with nothing to occupy Katelina’s thoughts, they turned to her empty stomach and the bag of food. She dug some jerky out and chewed it thoughtfully. They were almost out of everything, but hopefully now that they had Ume back they would leave with Sorino. As much as she disliked the vampire, he at least made sure there were human facilities for Kai.

  As if her thoughts summoned him, the boy appeared and sat down next to her on the floor. She noticed his collar was back. So much for equality.

  She didn’t bother to speak, only returned his nod of greeting and offered him the bag of jerky. He took a piece and chewed slowly, and Katelina wondered what was going through his mind. Probably something obnoxiously wise.

  When she got bored, she and Kai wandered off in search of the vampires. Most of the Black Vigil were occupied constructing a pyre. No one else was visible, so they wound around the house and through some of the outbuildings. As they rounded a corner they ran into the familiar figure of Wolfe. His black coat lay in a wad on the ground and he walked in an agitated circuit, the phone pressed to his ear. He opened his mouth, then closed it several times, as if trying to get a word in. Finally he shouted, “Why would you do that?”

  He fell back to German, but his tone was no happier. He stopped walking, slapped himself on the forehead, muttered something, and then saw Katelina and Kai.

  “What are you doing here? Where’s your escort?”

  “We don’t need escorted,” Katelina snapped. “Where’s Jorick?”

  “How should I know?” Wolfe’s attention was diverted to the phone conversation and he rattled something off that she thought had the name Jorick in it. He growled and then looked back to them. “Sadihra asked me to send her greetings to you.” He narrowed his gray eyes as if to tell them he was finished with them, and then turned his back to punctuate it.

  If nothing else, Katelina supposed she should be happy he’d bothered to call Sadihra. At least the Scharfrichterin wouldn’t worry anymore, though why anyone would worry about him…

  Katelina and Kai veered toward the jungle where they could hear Loren and Ume’s voices, but they stopped before they reached the trees. Kai shook his head, as if to say they shouldn’t eavesdrop, but she ignored him.

  “—they didn’t torture me,” Ume said. “It was very weird.”

  Loren’s voice came next. “I’m glad you’re okay. I was worried.”

  “That was sweet of you.” She was quiet a moment. “Malick knows Aki? I mean, Verchiel?”

  “I guess so. I think Malick was in charge of the Executioners. Why?”

  “He spoke to me. Well, mostly he looked into my head. He was amused, and then he said I’d be sorry I found Aki. That the truth is never as good as the dream and in the end he’d leave me again.”

  They fell silent and Katelina crept forward half a step. Kai shook his head and she ignored him.

  “I used to have a brother,” Loren said abruptly. “Ashton. He was older than me. After our parents died he got in with a bad crowd. I thought they were tweakers, but it turned out they were vampires. They turned him and then they killed him. I never understood what happened. It was all a blur.”

  “I understand. What I remember of Aki—It’s a blur too. I wish I knew what to do about it.”

  “Well,” Loren said finally. “I don’t think he’s going to join the Black Vigil. But I guess you could quit it. Maybe you guys could form your own coven like Oren and Torina.”

  It took Ume a moment to answer. “I don’t think he’d like that very much.”

  Loren’s tone turned excited, “You could join us. Micah comes off as kind of a jack-ass, but he’s really cool, and Oren’s not so bad and Torina’s—” he broke off as if his normal description of her wouldn’t suit his audience. “She’s okay.”

  Ume cleared her throat uncomfortably. “If I don’t quit to go with Aki then I guess I should probably stay. Fethillen has been nice to me, and she is my master.”

  “Oh.” Katelina could imagine Loren’s shoulders sagging. Suddenly he blurted out, “I like you, Ume.”

  Katelina covered her mouth to keep from gasping. That was an abrupt way to do it!

  Ume must’ve felt the same because she said, “What?”

  “I said I like you. I mean, yeah, I like you, but I like-like you.” He was losing steam. “Like, you know, um, you’re pretty and, um…” his words died in a strangled noise of discomfort.

  Kai looked up to the trees and tugged Katelina’s shirt, but she waved him off.

  Ume’s reply was, “Oh!”

  Katelina felt sorry for Loren. “Oh” didn’t bode well.

  “I, I mean thank you,” Ume said quickly. “That’s…that’s very sweet of you to say.”

  The tension thickened and Katelina could almost feel Loren wanting to sink through the jungle floor. She decided she should do something when Verchiel dropped from the trees in front of her and demanded loudly, “What are you doing wandering around by yourself?”

  Katelina jumped back, and Loren and Ume popped out of the vegetation, both looking relieved at the interruption. “Oh, hey Katelina,” the boy said.

  Verchiel put his arm
around Loren and motioned toward the jungle. “What are you two up to in there? Playing spin the bottle?” Loren blushed and Verchiel turned to Katelina. “We could join them, though there would have to be a no sibling rule.”

  Katelina rolled her eyes. “Thanks anyway. I’m looking for Jorick.”

  “Oh, he’s busy consoling Torina—whoops!” Verchiel covered his mouth in a too obvious gesture. “Not sure I was supposed to say that.” Katelina looked outraged and he laughed. “She’s upset because Oren’s little human got sick on her watch, so Jorick went to explain that those things happen, no matter how good a job you do. He’s had the most recent human-keeping experience.”

  “As if she cares,” Katelina said icily. “Where are they?”

  “Um.” He screwed up his face and tapped his chin. “Where did I see them? Was it in the shed? Behind the hangars? By the waterfall? That’s it!”

  She pictured a romantic movie scene. Moonlight glinted on the water, lightning bugs danced among the dark leaves, and the hero desperately clutched his romantic lead. “What waterfall?”

  Verchiel broke into a grin and grabbed her hand. “Come on, I’ll show you!”

  He dragged her into the jungle, and she had a last look at Kai who stood framed by the dark trees, his mouth a disapproving line.

  Verchiel stopped and dropped into a crouch. “You walk too slow. Up, up, come on.” She hesitated. It wasn’t Jorick that she didn’t trust, but rather Torina. She wouldn’t put anything past her.