And I am still cooped up in a vampire’s lair.
The room is gorgeous, though, like a hotel room, and I haven’t slept so well in ages. The girls are still sleeping, but I’m wide awake.
I’m nervous about today and what it will bring. Will I end up safe at the end of the day, or another one of Zeta’s victims?
I trust John. I trust that he’ll do the right thing, and then I giggle. He’s a killer vampire. My trust threshold must be pretty low.
I freshen up in the en suite and wait for the girls to wake. I need to fill them in on my late night conversation with John, and then we need to make a plan.
Thea and Sally wake first and they look as refreshed as I feel.
“How comfy was your bed?” Thea asks, stretching and yawning.
Sally grins, smothering a yawn with her hand. “So comfy. I cannot believe he didn’t murder us in our sleep.”
I smile. “I have something to tell you – about John.”
“You didn’t murder him in his sleep, did you?”
I shake my head. As if. “Shall we wake Talia first, so I can tell you all at the same time?”
Thea shakes her head. “Let her sleep a little longer. She had a rough day yesterday.”
“So, last night, after you were sleeping, I went to talk to John.”
“Why?”
“Did he hurt you?”
Ah, I didn’t know they cared!
“No. He’s really nice. And he’s not planning on giving us to Zeta. I told him that we have her, anyway, which he didn’t know. But her plan was for him to give us to her today. For her to kill me.”
Even Sally looks upset at that and I can’t help but smile.
“But John is going to keep us safe.”
“You believe him?”
“Yes, we had a good chat by the fire after playing a little snooker.”
They both look confused and shocked and then a little bit sympathetic. They think I’ve cracked. They think the pressure has got to me and I’ve lost it.
“It’s true. Come downstairs with me. Breakfast is at eight.”
They look at each other, eyebrows raised and then shrug, like, yeah, okay we’ll humour her! They’ll see.
Thea perches on the edge of Talia’s bed and gives her shoulder a little shake. “Sis, we’re going for breakfast. Are you hungry?”
Talia gives a little grunt and turns over.
“We can lock her in,” I say, fishing the key out of my pocket.
Thea hesitates for a second and then nods.
“She’ll be quite safe. John is an absolute gent.”
Sally grabs my arm then. “Are you okay? Seriously, now, because John is not a gent. Didn’t you see some vision of him and Zeta killing innocent creatures and, I don’t know, putting their hearts in a box?”
I nod, feeling a little stung. I know it might seem like I forgive easily, but if keeping John onside means that he doesn’t hand me over to a murderous witch, then I’m okay with that.
“I know it sounds ridiculous, but I just knew last night, I knew he wouldn’t hurt us, so I went to find him and he was really nice. He regrets everything he helped Zeta do, but he’s done.”
“I’m sure he is.” Sally shakes her head.
I know where she’s coming from, but in fairness to John – why do I feel such a strong need to stick up for him? – he hasn’t hurt us. He could have poisoned us, sucked our blood, murdered us in our sleep. He has had plenty of opportunities for nefarious activities since he took us from the safe house. We are alive and unharmed. That seems pretty telling to me.
I remember the way to the dining room and already there are servants laying out a feast. I look to the girls, a smug expression on my face but they just roll their eyes.
I sit and they do too. I can feel their reluctance and I get it, but also, I am head witch, I know a bit of stuff about a bit of stuff. They could trust me.
I reach for a jug of orange juice and pour myself some. The girls refuse to move, just sit, staring at the fruit, cereal, cheese, croissants, tiny pastries. It’s exactly like a hotel breakfast. Delicious.
John comes into the room, arms open wide, a beam of pure happiness on his face. “Good morning. Oh, you found the dining room. I’m so pleased.”
I grin at him and toast him with my glass of juice.
Then he turns to the girls, and I tell you, it’s like a cartoon, the joy on his face evaporates and he looks utterly crushed when he sees the empty space on the table where their plates should be. “You’re not eating? Girls? Is there nothing you like? Would you like some scrambled eggs? An omelette? A smoothie?”
They shake their heads, fear making them silent.
I roll my eyes; couldn’t they be a little more gracious? “I’d love some scrambled eggs, please.”
He grins and clicks for one of the servants who nods and leaves the room. I like this.
He pours himself a coffee from the sideboard and then sits at the head of the table. He looks at me. “Tough crowd.”
I laugh and he sips his coffee.
“You were a little easier to convince, I must say.”
“I’m the head witch, so I kind of knew. These girls aren’t so impressed.”
They both turn to me, and frown. I smile at them, trying to look reassuring and then, while I fill up on croissants, pastries, melon, scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, as though I haven’t eaten for a month, I let John speak.
“Ladies, firstly please accept my apologies – humble and sincere – for taking you yesterday.”
Gentleman.
“I had to. Zeta would have known if I hadn’t and somebody less kind would have done the job instead. As far as she knows I have you, and I will take you to her later this morning. She wants to kill Ellis.”
He shakes his head, looking like the saddest man ever. “I cannot let her do it. She has changed so much from the happy, loving woman I fell in love with, and I admit, I hold my hands up, my blood-stained hands, to say that I have changed too. I have done many things I am ashamed of, and many things I knew I shouldn’t have, only to make her happy, but they never did. The more ill we did, the more she thrived on it, but the more miserable she became. It was never enough. One murder became another, became another, became another, and then she went to the dark side.”
I look at the girls and they are riveted, just like I was. He can tell a story, can John.
“The demons.” He lets out an actual cry of anguish. If he’s really not a good guy, then he’s one hell of an actor.
“I tried so hard to talk her out of that one. I come from a species known for being bad, but demons, they are in a league of their own. I know she’s a talented witch, but...demons?”
He takes another drink and reaches for a croissant. “Demons frighten even me.”
Sally reaches for the jug and pours herself a drink, and one for Thea. Then she reaches for the melon, heaps some into a bowl. Thea nods, and so she does the same for her. I knew they wouldn’t be able to resist this gorgeous food for long.
“I have tried to pretend the awful things we’ve done don’t matter, because they make her happy, because she’s been so sad all the time I’ve known her, but they’re just excuses. I cannot let her kill Ellis. I just can’t do it.”
“Why the change after all these deaths? Why would we believe you?”
He nods, and smiles at them, and the sorrow is clear on his face. “My daughter. My daughter is a monster. I have lived in fear my whole life because of what I am. I have a small life, a sheltered life, because if you make friends with a human and they find out what you are, they’d be petrified. Vampires are never portrayed as the good guy in films or books or on TV. We are the bad guy. Always. And now, Efa is a bad guy. She has forgotten what love is, what kindness is, what hope is. She is ugly inside. I cry when I look at her. I wonder at what she might have been if we did our job better. As parents... we let her down. I cannot forgive myself. I will never forgive myself. I can give you croissants
and eggs, but I will never be able to atone for all the bad I have done. But maybe, keeping you girls alive, will help.”
He shrugs and I can tell that Thea and Sally believe him, that like me, they feel sorry for him.
“So, will you take us home?” Sally sounds more like a little girl than the sassy teenager I know she is, and I get it. I feel the same. These past few days have been a nightmare. All of us will be glad to see the back of the drama.
“No.” He holds his hands up. “Please don’t worry. I won’t take you home. I’ll take you to the meeting, but you have my word that you will be safe. Not that it means much, my word... Ellis says that you have Zeta in your safe house. I think the plan is to exchange you girls for her? I won’t do that. Once we are there, I’ll tell her what I’ve done. Then they will have you back and keep hold of Zeta. They can punish her however they see fit.”
The girls relax and tuck into their food.
John gives me a grin and a little thumbs up and I nod. They believe him, I believe him. This will be over soon.
I am buttering my toast, Thea is pouring more juice, Sally is adding ketchup to her scrambled eggs – yuck – when there’s a commotion in the hallway.
We all jump up and the girls glare at me, as if I have anything to do with anything. The door bursts open and Fletcher storms in, followed by his mum, his aunt and Sally’s parents.
“Let them go, you-” He pauses, confusion all over his delicious face. I can’t help but giggle. He’s come to rescue us, and we are all sitting around enjoying the most delicious breakfast I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating.
“Morning!” I am inappropriately chirpy and again, the look of confusion is priceless.
He makes a few noises, like a caveman might, just some grunts really and then Elodie steps forwards. “What the hell is going on John?”
John stands up and bows formally. “Apologies to all of you. I, stupidly, underestimated your worry. The girls are fine.”
“Where’s Talia?”
“Sleeping. Mum, she’s fine, we’re all fine. Honest. He’s on our side.”
Ember snorts.
I speak up for my new friend. “It’s true. He was going to bring us to the park, but he wasn’t going to hand us over to Zeta. He’s sorry.”
They all still look suspicious of poor John, and I can’t blame them, they haven’t had a fireside heart to heart with him, after all.
15
Ember snatches a croissant off the table, takes a bite and then shrugs. “I don’t believe him, but we outnumber him, and I’m hungry.”
John laughs and pulls out a chair for her. “Please help yourself. Eggs?”
She nods. “Poached please. Two.”
John gestures for one of the servants, who scurries out of the room.
Elodie sighs and shakes her head. “Really Ember? You don’t believe him, you still think we’re all in dire straits here, but you’ll stop for a little snack first?”
“Don’t be sarcastic, sister dear. I have no idea if this is a trick or not, but the girls are safe. Alive.”
Fletcher pulls up the chair next to Ellis and kisses her. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“I’m fine. John’s been a gentleman.”
Fletcher glowers at him but accepts a cup of coffee. “So if he’s been a gentleman and you’re all still alive. What are we missing? What’s Zeta missing?”
“Oh poor Zeta,” John says, looking genuinely upset. “I have aided and abetted her for far too long. It’s over. The girls are safe. You don’t even need to take them to the park, you can just keep Zeta. Do what you need to.”
“So you were going to take them to the park?”
“I wasn’t initially, it wouldn’t have been safe. But then Ellis told me that you had Zeta, and so I wanted to go to the park to tell Zeta it was over and hand the girls back to you at the same time. You’ve saved me a trip.”
“When were you going to tell Zeta where to meet you and when.”
“Oh she already knows. Margam Park, where the ceremony always is, for the head witch, at quarter to twelve, midday.”
“She told us she didn’t know.”
John shrugs. “Almost everything that woman says is a lie. But it doesn’t matter. She won’t turn up, and neither will I.”
“But the others will? The rebels and the demons, the others who took her side, your side?”
John nods. “Everybody knows and they’ll all be there. What are you thinking?”
“A final show down.”
A shiver of anticipation runs through the group. Ember nods. “Good idea, Fletcher. Let’s get Talia, and then we can make a plan.”
Talia is awake when they unlock the door and go into the bedroom. She sees Ember and smiles but doesn’t make a move to get out of bed. She looks pale. Ember sits beside her, feeling her forehead. “Are you okay, lovely? You don’t look too good.”
Talia shakes her head. “I don’t feel too good.” She sits up in bed and then slouches back down, the effort of moving too much for her. Her brow is beaded with sweat. “Thea, call Elodie,” Ember says, trying not to panic.
“Ember, what’s wrong?” Elodie rushes into the room, taking in her niece’s pallor. “Talia?”
“I’m no doctor, but I get the feeling it might be related to yesterday’s demon attack.”
Elodie nods. “We need to get her back to our house. We have more medicine there, more potions. She’ll be fine. Come on.”
“I don’t feel too good.” Talia says as they help her out of bed and pull on her shoes.
Her voice doesn’t sound good and Ember kisses her cheek. “Come on, little one, let’s go home.”
John follows them all outside. “Is there anything I can do?”
“I think you’ve done enough,” Ember snaps, cradling Talia in her arms and vanishing. Elodie nods at John and flies off. Thea, Sally, Jane and David all do the same.
Ellis gives John a warm hug, even though Fletcher is still holding onto her hand. She shakes him off. “Thank you for not killing us,” she says to John, who bows low, smiling.
“Thank you for not killing me,” he says, eyes on Fletcher.
Fletcher frowns. “I’m not as forgiving as Ellis. I can’t see past all the bad things you’ve done. Bad doesn’t even cover it. You’re an evil murderer.”
John lowers his gaze and nods, rubbing at his face with one hand. “You’re right, you’re absolutely right. I’m a man who has done bad things, does it make me a bad man?”
“Yes.” Fletcher shakes his head. “You can’t separate yourself from what you’ve done or expect to be so easily forgiven.”
“I don’t expect to be easily forgiven, though I do wish to be forgiven. I hope everyone will look, not to what I have done wrong, but maybe what I have done right. Here, today, sparing these girls. It’s not much, but it’s a step. I cannot undo all I have done, I can only apologise and try to atone. Maybe it will never be okay, maybe I will never be guilt free. But I will try.”
Fletcher shrugs but Ellis kisses him on the cheek. “I forgive you.” Her voice is low, but sincere.
She turns to Fletcher and holds out her arms, ready to be surrounded by him and flown away. He holds her tight, sending one last evil look towards John who smiles grimly and turns back to his house, before flying them away.
They cannot talk as they fly because the wind will take the words, so Fletcher only flies a short distance before stopping.
“Why have we stopped?”
“Because I can’t believe how nice you’re being to that sicko.”
“Fletcher.”
“No, Ellis. You know what he’s done, what he planned with Zeta, all the people who are dead because of them. Including my dad.” His voice breaks on the word and he’s sobbing.
Ellis touches his arm, kisses his cheek. “Don’t be cross with me. I spoke to him, I heard how sorry he is, I listened to the story and I believe him. He’s sorry.”
“You can’t just do awful things, say
sorry, and expect everyone to forget what you did, who you are.”
“Why not?”
He looks at her open mouthed. “Because he’s a murderer, Ellis. Why not just go to the local prison and befriend a bunch of murderers there? Why not let them all out, take them on a picnic? He’s a killer.”
Ellis looks attacked by his words. “Don’t be angry with me because of what he did. I didn’t do anything. And he only did it because he was so in love with Zeta. He was blinded by her.”
“So he says.”
“I believe him.”
“I don’t!”
“Well you didn’t talk to him like I did. He was heart broken.”
“So you’ve been comforting a vampire all night, listening to his tales of woe and feeling sorry for him?”
She nods. “Yes. Actually, I have. I do feel sorry for him and yes I did comfort him.”
“What? How?”
“I hugged him, you maniac. What did you think I’d been doing? Snogging some old time vampire murderer? You’re so pathetic. I wasn’t this jealous when I saw memories of you snogging Sally. I just hugged him, I just felt sorry for him.”
“I’m not jealous.”
“What are you, then?”
“Disappointed.”
They stand glaring at each other, each one too furious to speak. “Take me home.”
“With pleasure.”
He puts his arms around her, holding back so they aren’t close. She does the same thing, barely holding on to him. The tension is unbearable.
Their first fight.
They land at Fletcher’s house and he heads inside. She follows him, stony faced.
Inside, nobody notices, they are all gathered around Talia, who they have laid on the kitchen table. She is dripping with sweat by now, moaning, eyes closed. “I think she’s losing consciousness,” Ember says, holding onto her hand. “Elodie.” There is so much pain in the word, but Elodie doesn’t look away from Talia. She is muttering a spell, at the same time as drip feeding some pale yellow concoction into her mouth with a pipette, and leafing through a spell book. She catches sight of Ellis. “Ellis, hold this.”
Ellis does as she’s told and holds the pipette.
The Accidental Invitation (The Chronicles of the Accidental Witch Book 2) Page 14
