Chapter 16

Katelina sat in the backseat of Oren's car, terrified eyes on the mansion and the secrets it held; secrets that tasted like blood in her imagination.

Her blood.

Jorick stood next to the car, expectant eyes on her, waiting for her to climb out. When she didn't move, he opened the back door and stuck his head inside. "Are you all right?"

She shook her head repeatedly and tried to keep the fear from her voice. "I want to go home. I want to go home now."

"Shhhhhh.... it's all right." He smiled tightly but reassuringly and laid his hand on her shoulder. "Let's go inside and you can get a bath and some fresh clothes."

"I can take a bath at home. Where it's safe."

Jorick looked at her, seemingly confused. Then he seemed to understand the effect the scene at the motel room had had on her. "Don't worry," he said gently as he crouched down, his eyes at the same level as hers. "You are safe. No one is going to come for us here."

"I'm not particularly worried about that." Her eyes went over Jorick's shoulder to the impatient blonde man.

"Oren will not harm you, either. He is no mass murderer or psychotic killer. Trust me, I won't let anything happen to you, I promise." His gaze held hers, his black eyes shining luminescent in the brightness from the yard light.

Something in his voice and his gaze made her believe him. It was almost like a soft, comforting blanket wrapped around her, though she couldn't have said why. He helped her out of the car and they followed Oren across the lawn. "All right."

The lion-like vampire opened the large front door and led them into a stone tiled foyer. Under the bright lights Katelina noticed that Jorick was covered in spots of blood. Her wet clothes had dried, but she realized now how stained and dirty they looked. Suddenly she felt stupid and filthy.

They left the foyer for a broad hallway with deep green walls. Polished tables stood beneath large painted portraits and a large staircase of gleaming wood rose to the second story.

Oren opened a nearby door and Jorick stepped into the room. Katelina followed to find a woman with long black hair and sad brown eyes sitting on a couch, rocking a baby. Beside her, a man with the same dark hair and eyes gazed inquiringly at them. On his other side lounged a redheaded woman. The slinky green dress barely covered her body, and her lips seemed to be in a permanent sexy pout. Though beautiful, all three were pale and there was something pinched and unhealthy about them.

Despite the fact it was nearly three in the morning, a small boy of about five sat in front of the fireplace, playing with a pile of colored wooden blocks. Next to him crouched a blonde girl whose tongue darted out to lick her lips. She wore a pale lavender dress and could have been anywhere from twelve to twenty, her features ageless but beautiful, like Katelina had always imagined a wood sprite.

Another man, his hair a mixture of black and grey, sat in the corner holding a worn book. He didn't bother to look up from the pages, but absently stroked his long gray beard, lost to the story.

Oren's eyes went to the black-haired beauty on the couch. "Jesslynn, they're here. I'm going to see them to their rooms."

Jesslynn looked up, dark eyes flicking from her husband to the other two, but she made no comment. The redhead moved ever so slightly, oozing sensuality from every pore. She started to open her mouth but Oren cut her off.

"We'll do the introductions tomorrow, it's very late. Besides, not everyone is here." He gave the redhead a stern look, his lips still tight. Now that Katelina could see him in the light, he seemed unnaturally pale, too, like the others.

The redhead stuck out her bottom lip in an exaggerated pout and crossed her arms over her ample chest like a spoiled child. Oren ignored her and led them back to the hallway. Even as the door swung closed, she could feel the eyes of the strangers trying to stare through her, picking her bones like vultures. As if sensing her worries, Jorick squeezed her hand.

They followed their host up the carved wooden staircase, then down a long hallway, past ornately carved doors. Oren stopped in front of one near the end of the corridor and opened it to reveal a lilac scented room.

"This will be your room, Katelina." Oren paused and cleared his throat. He gave Jorick a sharp look. "I assume you know the way to yours?"

"Yes, I do. Thank you, Oren."

"You're welcome," he replied stiffly. "We may have our differences, but I can never forget our... relationship," and with that Oren turned and strode off down the hall.

Katelina pondered what their "relationship" could possibly be, and suddenly wondered if maybe he and Jorick were.... lovers?

"No, nothing like that." Amusement twinkled in the depths of Jorick's dark eyes.

She stared up at him, unguarded surprise on her face. How had he known her thoughts?

"Come." He smiled slightly, almost as if enjoying a secret.

Inside, the walls were painted pale soothing lavender. In the center stood a massive bed of carved wood. Its white bedspread and lace canopy looked sweet and old fashioned. A wardrobe sat against the farthest wall, and next it was a stand with a pitcher and basin on it. Tiny violets decorated the porcelain in a delicate pattern that gave the room a quaint, charming look and made Katelina feel like she'd stumbled into another time, despite the polished chrome of the bathroom that peeked from the opened door to her right. The only other furnishings were a heavily carved nightstand next to the bed, that bore a table lamp, and a trash can. Draped over the foot of the bed, as if waiting for her, lay a filmy, lacey nightgown.

Jorick caught Katelina's other hand and pulled her closer. "Take a bath, change your clothes, get some sleep. But - " he stared into her eyes, "No matter what time you wake, do not wander the house. Do not leave this room until I come for you - no matter what. It is important that you listen to me. If you don't... well..." He let it trail off as a vague threat of something evil.

He gripped her arms just below her shoulders and she half expected him to shake her for emphasis, but he didn't. She opened her mouth to ask him what was wrong with the people living in the house, but stopped. Beneath the soothing lights she saw for the first time that there was something not quite right about him, either. It was as if he had the same mysterious malady. Her mind whispered something to her, but she couldn't catch the words and half phrases it said; the truths it already knew but she refused to accept.

"You must promise me that you will remain in here, no matter what happens," Jorick pressed, obviously taking her silence for disagreement. He stared at her harder, and she could almost feel him willing her to agree.

She nodded. She didn't want to go meandering through any part of the house. Something was very wrong and she didn't want to find out what it was. "I promise." She looked away from his intense gaze, her heart pounding in her chest at his nearness.

Jorick's smile was small but warm. "All right, then get some rest and I'll see you tomorrow." He gazed into her face as if he might kiss her, but to her disappointment he only released her arms and moved away.

He left quickly and she berated herself as she ran a hot bath. She'd just decided that something was wrong with all of them, so how could she want him to kiss her? He might have a contagious disease!

She scrubbed herself clean and then ran a second bath to soak in until she felt sane again. Her mind tried to replay the day's events but she refused to let it. She needed a few moments of quiet peace where she thought of nothing.

When her eyelids grew heavy, she climbed from the bath and dried herself off with large soft towels. The nightgown provided for her was the color of cream and she slid it over her head. The feel of the material against her skin was almost exciting as it settled into place. The neckline dipped low, with just a swag of lace covering her breasts.

She examined herself in the full-length mirror on the bathroom wall. She moved her hips, admiring the way the silky material clung to her curves. It seemed to shimmer, almost see-through yet opaque. If it wasn't for the wound on her shoulder she'd look hot. Damn, she needed to buy a nightgown like this!

She rolled back the blankets on the bed, then yawned as she settled down into the soft mattress. She'd slept much of the trip, yet strangely she was still so tired. She supposed it was probably shock.

Outside the wide windows, the sun hadn't come up yet. The predawn left the world in a moment where anything in the universe was possible; the strange stillness when nightmares and reality mix to form something new and twice as frightening, where everything is wrapped in shades of gray and purple, frozen expectantly in the dimension of dreams.

Without another thought she rolled over and closed her eyes, too tired to wait breathlessly with the rest of Mother Nature for the sun's cleansing appearance.