Chapter 21
Eight and a half months later...
Catarina Loss hurried down the street. She had been inexplicably delayed that morning and was in danger of being late for work. Late for work just did not happen to Catarina! Only three more blocks she was thinking with grim determination when a sudden blast tore through the street several houses ahead of her. The shock wave threw her from her feet and, just for a moment, she could hear nothing but a strange cacophonous laugh ringing in her ears.
Catarina picked herself up and looked around. The scene before her was one of chaos, people screaming, fire licking at the remains of one building and threatening those on either side. Glass from broken windows littered the street. She had been a nurse for far too long to panic at the sight of blood, or worry about dangerous conditions. Catarina dialed 911 on her cell phone and dove into the fray helping as many of the wounded as she could.
It was a relief to hear the sound of sirens and know that emergency crews were arriving. Judging by the damage, Catarina thought it was likely a gas explosion had turned the busy New York street into a war zone. She had to be very careful when using her healing magic in such a open situation, but it was impossible not to with so many lives on the line. There really was no time to think, only time to do, and so Catarina worked on helping those in the most immediate need before passing them on to the paramedics.
With her magic almost depleted, Catarina rose slowly to her feet. Her back hurt from bending over the wounded and she felt dizzy from fatigue but she looked around to see if there was anyone else in urgent need of her help. Before she could take a step, however, she felt a charge of magical energy shoot through her body and saw the ground racing up to meet her.
Catarina came to with the world's worst hangover... wait a minute, it had been decades since she'd partied like that with Magnus... Oh, God, New York, the explosion, the injured, the dead. She opened her eyes slowly, whatever she saw next, she knew it would not be good. Catarina glanced around at a room that both fascinated and repelled her. The walls were a deep blood red, the furniture heavy fumed oak, elaborately carved and creepily gothic in design. Across the room, flames burned fitfully in the cavernous fireplace, and on the mantel above stood a tall mirror in a heavy black frame which reflected Catarina's pale frightened face back at her.
As her eyes adjusted to the dim light of the room, she took in more of its macabre details. Heavy black velvet draperies covered the windows, a black wrought iron chandelier hung from the centre of the stone ceiling, and on a table by the bed sat the skull of a ram supported by its own long, curled horns. A hole had been carved into the top of the skull to hold a single black taper that burned and flickered eerily in the chilly room.
"Awake at last!" A breathy, childlike voice came from the doorway and startled a soft cry from Catarina.
"Lucia Dragotta, I'd heard you were back;" the healer said frowning.
"I am, and as you can see;" She replied indicating her heavily pregnant form; "I'll be needing your assistance before too very long."
"You should have made an appointment." Catarina snapped. She hated these kinds of stupid games and was in no mood to play along.
"Don't be boring. You know I want to keep my whereabouts a secret for now, so you will be my guest until this interminable pregnancy is over."
It was only when Catarina tried to push past her hostess that she realized magical barriers were in place to prevent her from leaving. "Guest?" She hissed angrily at Lucia.
"Oh, well, if you must be tedious, prisoner;" Lucia giggled. "Now I suppose you should examine me." and with that she snapped her fingers and a vampire entered the room, fangs already drawn.
"Yes, mistress?"
"You are to stay here while the healer does her work, and if she tries anything... you know what to do." Lucia said with an evil grin.
Catarina took a deep steadying breath, she needed to keep her wits about her if she had any hope of surviving this situation. As a healer, she was also very concerned for the welfare of the innocent child Lucia carried, the child of her best friend and his husband. Somehow she was going to have to find a way to get herself and the child away from this mad woman.
"Now, let's get this over with, I have a great deal to do before tonight's entertainment!" Lucia said as she lay down on the bed and prepared herself for Cataina's examination.
Silently Catarina began to work, reminding herself she was doing it for the baby and not Lucia. Everything seemed to be in order and she warned Lucia that the baby could come any time now.
"Well, he'll just have to wait until after the ball tonight;" Lucia huffed impatiently.
"How do you know it will be a boy?" Catarina exclaimed.
"Oh, I don't, not for sure;" Lucia giggled. "I just feel that it will be, and I'm never wrong. By the way, I'll expect you to attend tonight's festivities. I've resurrected the Danse Macabre in every detail! Adding in a few touches of my own of course, you will love it;"
"I assure you, I'd really rather not;" Catarina replied, the tone of her voice clearly indicating her preference to avoid Lucia's company as often as possible.
Without warning, Lucia's slim, pale hand struck a stinging blow to Catarina's cheek. "That wasn't a request!" She snarled; "You will attend me tonight."
Catarina's hand reached up to touch her still stinging cheek, but the healer made no other remark, recognizing it was pointless to further aggravate her capricious jailor. At least by attending the Dance Macabre, Catarina would get to see more of her prison and perhaps even a way to escape when the time came.
~~~~~ ! ~~~~~
Magnus lay on his back staring up at the bedroom ceiling. He and Alec had gone to bed around midnight and now, hours later, he was still awake listening to the soft, steady breathing that told him his husband, at least, was getting some sleep. Life had settled into an uneasy routine over the last several months. Richelieu stayed in touch, sending updates to Magnus on his efforts to track Lucia. Several early leads had led to nothing though, and Magnus hesitated to mention the latest until there was concrete evidence of Lucia whereabouts. Armand had sent word about some troubling rumours around an old chateau in Brittany, but that is all they were at the moment, rumours and Magnus didn't want to get Alec's hopes up for nothing.
Magnus turn slightly to look at the peaceful form laying beside him, and he wished with everything in him that he could have spared Alec the terrible anxiety of wondering if he would ever get a chance to see and hold his child. Raising up slightly, Magnus leaned over to brushed a soft kiss on his husband's shoulder then settled in to try and get some sleep.
What felt like two seconds later, a sharp knock at the door brought both Alec and Magnus out of their slumber. Magnus rose first and, slipping on his favourite bright blue silk robe, opened the door to see Isabelle dressed in gear and looking very anxious.
"Magnus;" She said; "There's a warlock downstairs, he says he must speak with you, something about Catarina. He's not making much sense, but he is very insistent;"
"It's fine Isabelle, I'll come right away." Magnus replied before turning back to Alec and saying; "Why don't you try to get more sleep darling, its only 4:00 am and even shadowhunters don't have to be up that early." Hearing Alec thump back down on the bed brought a smile to Magnus' lips; "Let's go see what this is all about;" He said to Izzy as he snapped himself into an appropriate outfit and followed her down the quiet hallway toward the sanctuary.