Oren returned with Torina and the black vampire she'd been all over at the farmhouse. Katelina learned that he was Des, the vampire Jorick had called from the restaurant pay phone, and that he'd helped Oren and Jorick with the war on Claudius long before Katelina or Patrick had gotten involved. However, his opinion of Jorick had changed in the last few days.

He sniped a few remarks, and then they got down to business. Jorick pointed to some of the papers on the table. ...