Bed of Ice

by Sk Quinn

  ‘Go on,’ I call, waving my hand at him. ‘Go look. Just come back here to eat, okay?’

  Dan Dan runs into the trees.

  I see his little orange body weaving between tree trunks.

  ‘God I hope he’ll be okay,’ I say, shivering. ‘But you’re right. I can’t keep him in this kennel forever. It’s cruel.’

  ‘Here.’ Grey takes off his suit jacket and puts it over my shoulders. ‘But you’d better not let Patrick see you wearing this. He’ll get the wrong idea.’

  ‘Oh who cares,’ I say, feeling utterly hopeless all of a sudden. ‘He hasn’t come out to find me. He’s in there with her.’

  Grey glances at the castle, a strange look passing over his face.

  ‘Grey?’

  He turns back to me and the look is gone. ‘So. Are you ready to be cheered up?’

  I nod. ‘Ready as I’ll ever be.’

  ‘Good. Come on then. My car’s right over there.’

  ‘But …’ I look down at myself. ‘I need to get dressed.’

  Grey laughs. ‘You really haven’t been to a big posh party before have you?’

  ‘Is it that obvious?’

  ‘When we get to the event, there’ll be a wardrobe room. All the local designers. Dying to get pretty young aristocratic girls into their gear.’

  ‘But I’m not an aristocratic girl.’

  ‘No one’s going to know.’

  I laugh. ‘They’ll know as soon as I tell them my name.’

  ‘Then don’t.’

  ‘I’m not going to lie.’

  ‘Not lie. Just hold back the truth.’

  ‘Is that a motto of yours?’

  Grey smiles. ‘How did you guess?’

  I shake my head. ‘I don’t get it. Patrick values honesty above all things. How on earth did you two end up being friends?’

  ‘That is a story for another time.’

  58

  I feel uneasy as I climb into Grey’s car. The sporty little red convertible has a killer stereo system and soft leather seats. But I don’t feel comfortable.

  I look towards the castle as I settle into beige leather.

  ‘Thinking about Patrick?’ says Grey, climbing into the driver’s seat.

  I nod.

  ‘You’ll ruin your afternoon.’ Grey slams his door shut and revs up the engine.

  ‘Doesn’t it bother you? You know, that Patrick will be furious with you?’

  ‘I’m an optimist. I’m hoping he’ll be furious with you instead.’

  ‘Ha ha. Seriously though. Aren’t you worried? I mean he’s your best friend.’

  ‘Exactly right. And that means we fall out all the time. We always make up again. When he finds out I took you out he’ll probably just punch me in the face and be done with it.’

  ‘But don’t you respect what your friends ask of you?’ I ask. ‘Didn’t he tell you to stay away from me?’

  ‘That all depends on the interpretation. He knows what I’m like. He knows I can’t resist chasing after a pretty girl. If he were that worried, he’d be keeping a closer eye on you.’

  My stomach goes cold. ‘So you think he’s not that bothered about me?’

  Grey laughs. ‘He’s bothered. But he must trust you to some extent. Or he’d be trailing us right now. Maybe he thinks you can resist me.’

  ‘Oh I can resist you,’ I say. ‘You needn’t worry about that.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ says Grey. ‘I’m unbelievable in bed.’

  ‘So’s Patrick.’

  That shuts him up.

  We drive in silence down the bumpy path and through the woodlands. When we reach the main road, I say: ‘I could have guessed you’d have a car like this.’

  ‘Could you indeed? And why’s that?’

  ‘It’s show-offy isn’t it? What is it they say about men who drive flashy cars?’

  ‘They’re very handsome and intelligent?’

  ‘Something about compensating for other areas …’

  Grey laughs. ‘I thought it was supposed to be that men who drive fast cars come too quickly.’

  ‘Isn’t this a fast car?’

  ‘Maybe. But I can make it last a long time. A very ve-ery long time.’

  ‘Can you please stop talking like that?’ I say, watching the country roads get bigger and wider.

  ‘You started it. So what do you drive then?’

  ‘A motorbike.’

  ‘Does that mean you come quickly?’

  I glare at him. ‘Maybe it’s better not to talk anymore.’

  ‘But I love hearing you talk. You have such a sexy voice. I love it when it goes all gravelly and sultry—’

  ‘Shut up Grey.’

  Grey laughs. ‘I can see why Patrick likes you. You really don’t make it easy, do you?’

  The roads get more built up and soon we’re outside the city.

  Grey pulls up by a huge, brown building that looks like a church. He jumps out of the car and opens my door.

  ‘M’lady.’ He does a mock bow. ‘Follow me.’

  59

  We head inside the building and Grey leads me through a huge archway.

  ‘You can get changed in there,’ he says, pushing me towards a large wooden door. ‘That’s where they’ll have all the wardrobe stuff.’

  I hear a tinkling sound.

  ‘My phone,’ I say, reaching into my skirt pocket. ‘Hang on.’

  ‘You brought your phone?’ Grey frowns and looks back over his shoulder.

  ‘Of course I did,’ I say, a little surprised. ‘Why wouldn’t I?’

  ‘You didn’t have a coat. Or a bag …’

  ‘It was in my pocket,’ I say. ‘Girls can have pockets you know.’

  ‘Is it Patrick?’ Grey asks.

  ‘I don’t know.’ I look at the screen. ‘No. It’s my sister. Hang on.’ I turn away from him and take the call.

  ‘Pheeny!’ Wila says, sounding frantic. ‘I’ve been calling and calling.’

  ‘You have?’ I say, frowning. ‘Sorry. The phone reception around here is pretty bad. Are you okay?’

  ‘I … didn’t know … need you to …’

  Her voice goes all crackly and I cover my ear.

  ‘Be right back,’ I mutter to Grey, heading outside.

  ‘Where are you going?’ Grey asks, his voice oddly loud in the echoey building.

  ‘Just … it’s my sister. The reception is bad here. I’m going outside.’

  ‘Call her later,’ says Grey.

  ‘She’s been calling and calling me. Something’s wrong.’ I walk away from him, back out of the building.

  For a moment I think he’s going to follow me. He sort of jerks in my direction. But then the look on my face must make him think better of it.

  ‘You know your way back, don’t you?’ he calls.

  ‘Yes,’ I say. ‘I really won’t be a minute.’

  Outside, the phone reception is much better.

  I stand on a lovely stone porch and look at the city in the distance.

  ‘What is it Lala? Are you okay? The phone kept cutting out.’

  All I can hear is Wila crying down the phone.

  ‘Calm down Lala. Talk to me. Whatever it is we can sort it out. Okay?’

  I hear sniffing. ‘Not this time Pheeny.’

  ‘It’s okay,’ I soothe. ‘Just tell me what’s wrong. It can’t be all that bad.’

  ‘It is. It’s worse than bad.’

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘I’m pregnant.’

  60

  I suck in my breath.

  ‘Are you sure?’ I ask.

  ‘Yes,’ says Wila, and then she bursts into tears again.

  ‘Hey. Hey, it’s okay.’

  ‘I’m so sorry Pheeny,’ says Wila. ‘I’ve ruined everything.’

  ‘No you haven’t. I’m coming back to London right now and we’ll work everything out.’

  ‘Aren’t you working?’

  ‘Bertie’s still in Euro Disney. I’m comin
g back right now, okay?’ I feel weirdly calm. ‘Lala, do you know how many months pregnant you are?’

  ‘A few weeks.’

  ‘Have you taken a test?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Tests can be wrong sometimes …’

  ‘No. It wasn’t wrong. My period is late. It’s never late.’

  ‘Sometimes periods can stop when there’s a lot going on. You’ve had a lot of changes.’

  ‘No, I’m pregnant. I feel … different. Everything smells different. Milkshakes make me feel sick …’

  ‘Then it must be serious,’ I say, trying for a laugh. But I don’t get one.

  ‘Look, this happens to girls all the time,’ I say. ‘Mum had us young.’

  ‘And look how that turned out.’

  ‘It’s okay Lala. We’ll figure out how to deal with this. All right?’

  ‘I’m so sorry Pheeny,’ says Wila. ‘I’ve let you down.’

  ‘No you haven’t. I’ll be back soon okay? I’ll come to your school.’

  ‘Okay,’ Wila croaks.

  I’m about to hang up when I think of something.

  ‘Wila. Who’s the father?’

  Silence.

  ‘Wila?’

  ‘He’s … I’ll tell you when you get down here. Okay?’

  ‘Okay.’

  I slip my phone in my pocket and turn to go back inside. But then I notice something.

  Grey’s car is right outside, two wheels up on the pavement. But there are no other cars parked up.

  Strange.

  If there’s a party going on, you’d think there’d be loads of cars around.

  I walk a few steps around the building and look around the back. There’s a car park, but it’s nearly empty. Except for one other car – a very old black Jaguar.

  My heart beats fast.

  This is weird.

  Has Grey got the day wrong or something?

  My mind spins back to a moment ago and how he was when I took out my phone.

  Panicked. That’s the word I’d use. I was so busy worrying about Wila that I didn’t pay attention. But now I think about it …

  Something isn’t right.

  I walk back around to the front of the building and stare up at it.

  It looks empty. No lights on. And silent as a grave.

  Then I hear a voice.

  ‘Se-era.’ It’s Grey, calling from inside.

  I hear his footsteps come towards the porch.

  61

  ‘There you are,’ says Grey, appearing in the doorway. His eyes look weirdly tired. ‘You should come back inside now. Get ready for the party.’

  ‘Yes.’ I nod. ‘Of course. But … um. Something dropped out of my pocket. In the car. I need to get it. Can you give me the car keys?’

  ‘I’ll get it for you.’

  ‘No! Um … it’s embarrassing. A woman’s thing, if you know what I mean.’

  I smile, wondering if he can see my heart beating in my chest.

  ‘Uh … okay.’

  He throws me the car keys, and for a moment I think maybe I’m wrong. Maybe we’re just early for the party.

  But as I catch the keys, I notice that Grey is watching me so intently.

  I click open the car and climb into the passenger side, pretending to scrabble around on the floor.

  ‘It must have gone under the seat,’ I say, crawling further into the car.

  Frantically, I scan the car dashboard, trying to work out how to drive this thing. Then I look at the pedals. It’s an automatic. And the handbrake … where is the handbrake?

  ‘You look like you’re getting lost in there,’ says Grey. ‘Let me help you.’

  ‘No! No it’s fine,’ I try to keep my voice steady.

  ‘Here.’ He comes forwards.

  I grab the car door and fling it closed. Then I scrabble on the doorframe for the lock and click it down.

  Through the window, I see Grey’s smile slide from his face.

  ‘What are you doing?’ he shouts.

  I slide over to the driver’s seat and click the driver’s side lock. Then I jam the key in the ignition and press the start button.

  Grey hammers on the car. ‘Hey. Hey!’

  I put the car in gear, but I still can’t find the handbrake.

  I shriek as Grey’s face appears at the driver’s side.

  He looks tired and afraid.

  We look at each other for a moment, me frozen in fright. And then Grey does an odd thing. He puts his fist to his chin and drops a finger down.

  He’s pointing.

  I glance down at my feet and see what he’s pointing at.

  The handbrake is on the floor. It’s one of the pedals.

  I press it with my foot and the car speeds forwards.

  Grey is thrown aside and I speed off towards the motorway.

  62

  I try to think straight as I plough down the motorway.

  It’s like I’m dreaming. Did I imagine what just happened? Was I wrong? Am I being paranoid?

  Grey looked afraid. And he was acting strangely. And the fact he took me to an empty party was pretty odd. But then he let me know how to start the car …

  I pull out my phone and call Patrick. I would never usually use a phone while driving, but this is urgent.

  Whoa! I swerve a little as I try to dial.

  Not clever Sera. Not clever at all.

  I don’t want to stop because I’m scared someone might be following me. But I drop my speed and head into the slow lane.

  I put the phone on speakerphone.

  Patrick picks up after the first ring.

  ‘Seraphina.’ His voice is cool.

  Just hearing that strong, clever voice of his makes me want to burst into tears.

  ‘I need help,’ I say, my voice all shaky.

  ‘Are you okay?’

  ‘Yes. I mean, sort of.’

  ‘Are you hurt?’

  ‘No, no. Nothing like that.’

  ‘Where are you?’

  ‘On the motorway.’

  ‘With Grey?’

  I swallow. ‘No. But I was.’

  ‘What’s happened?’ Patrick’s voice is low and angry.

  ‘I went to the party I told you about. With Grey. But there was no one there. It was strange. And Grey got all funny when he found out I had my phone. So I got in his car and drove off without him.’

  Silence.

  Then Patrick says, ‘And he let you leave?’

  ‘He couldn’t do much to stop me. I jumped in his car.’

  ‘Grey is a trained killer. Just like I am. If he’d wanted to stop you, he could have stopped you.’

  I think about that for a moment. ‘I couldn’t find the handbrake,’ I admit. ‘And he sort of pointed it out to me.’

  ‘Where was this so-called party?’

  ‘I don’t know. Some church building.’

  ‘Come back to the castle. Right now.’

  ‘My sister … she needs me.’

  ‘Here NOW Seraphina.’

  ‘Wila just found out she was pregnant. She’s petrified. I can’t leave her alone. I told her I’d come down.’

  Another silence.

  Then Patrick says, ‘Drive very carefully. I’ll have someone follow you.’

  ‘How will you find me?’

  ‘There’s one thing I’ll say for Grey. His cars always stand out.’

  63

  When I reach London, I park outside Wila’s school and spend a moment composing myself.

  My hands are shaking and my eyes are all red and frightened.

  I don’t want to step outside the car, to be honest.

  I check all the mirrors, half expecting to see Grey appear from somewhere.

  A stream of chattering girls in pink leotards walk from one part of the building to another.

  Calm down Sera. Calm down. Wila needs you.

  I step out of the car and head towards the girls.

  ‘Hi,’ I say. ‘Do you know where Wila
Harper is?’

  A few of the girls turn to each other and start whispering.

  One tall blonde girl smiles at me. ‘Wila? She’s in the common room.’

  ‘Eating crisps,’ hisses another girl, and a few of the girls giggle.

  ‘What’s wrong with eating crisps?’ I ask, my voice stern.

  The giggling girls fall silent.

  ‘Nothing’s wrong with eating crisps,’ says the tall blonde girl. ‘Will you lot leave Wila alone?’ She turns to me. ‘Come on. I’ll show you to the common room.’

  The girls are right. Wila is eating crisps.

  She’s sitting on a comfy-looking sofa munching a bag of Hula Hoops. Her legs are tucked under her and she’s wearing grey sweatpants and a loose t-shirt.

  Her face is a little puffy but other than that she looks fine.

  A few other girls sit around the common room too.

  ‘Are they the dancer’s choice?’ I say, nodding at the red packet.

  ‘Pheeny!’ Wila’s face lights up when she sees me. She dives off the sofa and throws her arms around me.

  ‘Good to see you Lala.’ I hug her tight. Then I pull her back and look at her little elfin face. ‘It’ll be okay. You know that, don’t you? We’ll work out a way—’

  I notice the other dancers are looking at us.

  ‘Come on,’ I say, taking her hand. ‘Let’s go for a walk.’

  We head out to a little garden at the back of the school. Spring flowers peak up through the grass. A robin sings on a little stone birdbath.

  We walk under a wooden archway covered in green leaves and I see a stone bench ahead.

  ‘How are you feeling?’ I ask Wila.

  ‘Like I want to die,’ she says. ‘I’m so ashamed.’

  ‘Don’t say that.’

  ‘Why not? It’s true. I can never forgive myself for letting this happen. Never. After all you’ve done for me.’

  ‘It’s okay,’ I say, stroking her hair.

  ‘No it’s not,’ says Wila. ‘I had all these chances. This opportunity none of the rest of us had. I was supposed to save us. To come good. And I’ve ruined everything.’

  She starts to cry.

  ‘Hey,’ I say soothingly. ‘You’re not supposed to save anybody.’

  ‘But … I wanted to pay you back. You and Danny. You’ve done so much for me. I had all these plans. I wanted to buy you both a big house—’