by Pat Spence
“That’s because every three years, their life force begins to ebb away and the accelerated ageing process kicks in. The only way to reverse it is to bathe in the light of the crystal at the time of the Blue Moon. It’s the only way we can recharge our energy and rejuvenate. If we don’t,” he faltered, “well, you saw what happens.”
“You say ‘we’, Theo,” my voice was a whisper. “That means you as well.”
As much as I didn’t want to hear it, I had to know the truth.
“Yes,” he said reluctantly, “yes, I had started to age, which was one of the reasons I couldn’t see you. I couldn’t bear for you to see me looking like that.”
“Oh, Theo,” I said softly.
“Now, perhaps you can see why I’m so confused about everything,” he said sadly. His eyes were full of pain and love and emotions I could barely understand. “This is not the life I want for you. I love you, Emily, and I want to be with you, but, more than anything, I want you to have an ordinary, happy, normal life.”
I stared at him, not knowing what to say.
“And you have to believe me, Emily, there was truly nothing I could do to save your Granddad. Sometimes, you just have to let go.”
I looked down. “It hurts, Theo, more than I ever imagined. I’ve never lost anyone before. Well, my dad, perhaps, but that’s different. I lost him to another country and another family, not to death. It’s just so final. And I feel so alone.”
“But you’re not, Emily, you have your mum, you have your friends, and you have me.”
“Do I?” I asked, “You come from a strange world, Theo, one that you don’t want me to belong to. What future could we possibly have?”
“I don’t know, Emily,” he said sadly. “I only know that I need to be with you. I don’t want to lose you. I love you, Emily, so much. If you only knew….”
I put my hand on his and squeezed it.
“I do,” I said. “My granddad said we went well together. But can’t you see how much I’ve had to take in over the past few weeks? I still don’t know if I believe all you’ve told me, it sounds so far-fetched. And, by the way, I found my phone. I hadn’t dropped it at Hartswell Hall. It was in the pocket of the blue cloak you lent me. So, there’s no way The Lunari can know about me. There’s nothing to link me to the Blue Moon Ball. That is, supposing The Lunari actually exist. Don’t you see, Theo?”
“It doesn’t matter, Emily,” he said slowly. “I’m glad you didn’t drop your phone at the Hall. It makes life marginally simpler. But don’t you see? Pantera and Aquila know about you. At the moment, two things stand in your favour. Firstly, they don’t know that I’ve told you the truth, and, secondly, for the moment, they’re obeying Viyesha and not telling The Lunari about you. But that could change at any moment.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I mean, the hotel opens for business this weekend, and The Lunari are coming to visit. They’ll be here in Hartswell-on-the-Hill and The Guardians will have no option but to tell them about you.”
I looked at him wildly.
“So, I have less than a week,” I said in horror. “Everything changes in days?”
“Yes,” said Theo sadly. “We have just days to decide what to do.”
27. Attack I
Grace Wisterley took her evening constitutional as usual, walking through the fields where her sheep stood grazing, then cutting back through Hartswell Hall grounds, and on to the gravelled driveway that led to the High Street.
She intended to call in on Tom Mastock for a nightcap, as she often did, finding a drop of his Jamieson’s whisky sent her off to sleep a treat when she returned home. But on this occasion, she never made it beyond Hartswell Hall’s driveway. She’d been feeling out of sorts for a few days now and wondered if she was sickening for something. Her head ached permanently, her mouth was dry and her back was playing up something rotten. She’d even developed a stoop in the last few days.
“Don’t know what’s up wi’ me,” she’d said to her daughter on the phone. “I’ve no energy to do ‘owt. All I want to do is sleep or eat.”
“You can’t be feeling too bad if your appetite is good,” her daughter had pointed out.
“It’s better than good, it’s insatiable,” she’d laughed.
And indeed it was. Whatever she ate, she simply couldn’t get enough of it. The shepherd’s pie that would normally last for three days was gone within minutes, shovelled down as if it were her last meal. She’d eaten a whole roast chicken, too hungry to wait until she’d carved it, tearing off great chunks of meat with her teeth and not stopping until it was all gone, bones and all. Then she’d gone to the butchers’ and bought as much red meat as she could carry, staggering home with a variety of steaks, minced meat, cutlets, liver and kidneys, not even waiting until she arrived home before she started to eat it raw, the blood dripping down her chin.
But no matter how much she ate and how much she slept – and she found herself dozing off all the time – she couldn’t shake this feeling of bone-weary tiredness. Her limbs felt heavy and cumbersome, her energy levels were at an all time low, and her back had hunched alarmingly.
“It’s almost as if I’m carrying a huge weight on my back,” she’d told Tom Mastock. “Something’s draining my energy, and no matter how much I eat, I’m permanently exhausted. I don’t think much o’ this getting old malarkey.”
“Pop in for a night cap on your way back home,” he’d suggested. “That’ll make you feel better.”
And that’s what she was about to do, except she never made it.
One minute, she was walking past Hartswell Hall, her feet crunching on the gravel, the next she hit the deck, landing flat on her face, dead as a doornail, her eyes staring straight ahead.
Silently, the black shadow on her back disengaged itself, sliding on to the pathway, replenished and recuperated. As it did so, the dead woman’s bent spine slowly began to straighten as if the cares of the world were finally leaving her now she was unable to carry them any longer.
The black shadow stretched up into the air, blacker and more substantial than it had been for a long time. Quickly, it assessed its bearings, realising it could not have asked for a more convenient drop-off. Without a sound, it glided towards Hartswell Hall, aiming for the great oak front door, and flowing beneath it like a dark, deadly gas.
No one was in reception and it continued on its way unheeded, flowing quickly and unnoticed up the main stairway. The object of its desire was getting ever closer and freedom was at last within its grasp.
28. Martha
Tash and Seth weren’t too pleased when I told them I was back with Theo.
“I thought you said he was a fantasist weirdo,” said Seth, “or is that what you’re into nowadays?”
“Be careful, Emily,” said Tash. “There’s something strange going on and even if you’re not in danger, you could get hurt.”
“I’m okay, guys,” I said. “Just forget all that stuff I told you. I was going through a funny phase after Granddad died. I wasn’t thinking straight. Theo told me this story to take my mind off things. I got muddled up and ended up thinking he was telling me the truth. Turns out he was just trying to make me feel better.”
“But what about the photos on your phone?” persisted Tash. “What was all that about?”
“Oh, they were two separate events,” I lied. “One was a celebrity look alike party and the other was an old folks reunion, both held at Hartswell Hall. Sorry, guys. I didn’t have a very good grip on reality after losing Granddad. I didn’t know what was fantasy and what was fact.”
“Loony toony!” said Seth. “People go on medication for less than that, Emily.”
“I know. I’m fine now. I’m over it. Theo and I are good.”
It sounded odd and I knew it. I could tell they weren’t convinced, but they kept their distance and were coolly polite whenever they saw Theo. For the moment, an odd sort of status quo existed. I knew Tash and Seth were watchin
g and waiting, and in a strange way I welcomed it, like having a safety net in place. In truth, I was just glad to have Theo back in my life, to be able to slip my hand into his, see his magical smile and feel my energy levels rise whenever I was with him. He made me feel good. Very good. But I also knew it couldn’t stay that way, that something would have to change and the days were ticking past.
On a lighter note, Joseph finished working on my car and one evening he and Theo delivered it to my driveway. I could hardly believe what I saw.
“It’s fantastic, Joseph,” I said, giving him a hug. “Are you sure it’s the same car?”
Martha indeed looked completely different: her paintwork, her hub caps and her chrome work shone with an intensity that was blinding, and inside she smelled as if she’d come straight from the showroom.
“She has new spark plugs, new brake pads, a new battery and new tyres, and I’ve given her a spring clean inside and out,” Joseph informed me.
“It looks more like a complete overhaul,” I said in amazement. “Thank you so much, Joseph, you don’t know what this means to me. Tell me how much I owe you.”
Joseph put up his hand. “Nothing, Emily, it was a pleasure. I love bringing things back to life.”
“Come on, let’s take her out for a spin,” suggested Theo. “You can drive, Emily.”
I sat in the driving seat, Theo by my side and Joseph in the back. As I turned the ignition, she roared into life and shot forward the moment my foot touched the accelerator. I braked quickly.
“Whoa! What have you done to her, Joseph?” I squealed. “She was never this powerful.”
“I might have modified her engine slightly,” admitted Joseph. “Sorry, couldn’t resist it. I should have told you.”
I looked in my rear view mirror. “Modified it how, exactly?”
“I’ve given her a V8 engine,” he said gingerly.
“OMG, you’re kidding! Did you know about this, Theo?”
“Nothing to do with me,” he said, grinning. “Just take it slowly, okay.”
“I don’t think that’s possible in this car,” I laughed.
This time I eased forward tentatively, aware of the power beneath my feet. Martha moved effortlessly up the lane and slowly I began to get accustomed to her new levels of responsiveness. She went like a dream, a deep throaty roar emanating from her bonnet, and I headed for the motorway. It was 7pm and the rush hour traffic had dispersed, giving me the open road to play with. Theo turned on the sound system and Jon Bon Jovi’s ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ filled the cabin.
“These acoustics are amazing,” I shouted back to Joseph. “Don’t tell me she’s got a new sound system too?”
“Latest Fender soundpack. Just wanted to check it out,” he grinned.
Once on the motorway, I put my foot down and Martha surged forward, burning rubber and blasting rock music. It felt fantastic and for a short time I was lost in the moment, oblivious to everything but the pounding beat, the roaring engine and the rapidly disappearing tarmac. And, of course, the two beautiful creatures with me in the car.
All too soon, it was over and we were back on my driveway. I turned to Joseph. “Wow. That was unexpected. You are full of surprises.”
He gave a mock bow. “We aim to please, madam.”
How I loved this family. If only they’d been ordinary people. If only they’d been human.
29. Viyesha
After my trip out in Martha, I couldn’t take the grin off my face, but next day came the news I’d been dreading. I was summoned to have a ‘chat’ with Viyesha.
It was now the second weekend in May and Hartswell Hall was open for business. As yet, there was no sign of The Lunari, but I knew their arrival was imminent and there was no doubt in my mind as to why Viyesha wanted to talk with me. Just over two weeks had passed since Granddad died and although I still felt raw and out of kilter with the world, I had begun to accept he wasn’t coming back and that Theo had been powerless to alter the course of events. Without Granddad’s guiding hand in my life, I found myself relying on Theo more and more. My mum seemed glad I had a boyfriend to lean on, especially such a good-looking, reliable, sensible boy as Theo. I had to suppress a rueful smile when she said that. If only. She admitted that she’d met someone, too.
“It’s not serious, just someone from work,” she told me. “We’ve only been on a couple of dates, so I won’t introduce him yet. But he makes me laugh and that’s what I need right now.”
It was a glorious summer afternoon, the bright sun giving everything a lazy, hazy feel, as Theo and I walked up the gravelled drive to Hartswell Hall. I was going to drive over in the new rejuvenated Martha, but decided against it at the last minute as I didn’t want to advertise my presence. I preferred to stay as low key as possible.
Violet stood on the steps waiting for us, watching us approach.
“Hi, Emily, how are you?” she asked sweetly, embracing me and giving me one of her most engaging smiles. “Mother’s in the library. Come and say hello.”
She led the way past the reception area, decorated with beautiful flower arrangements of red and pink roses, blue irises and white lilies. The windows were open, letting in the fresh air and sunshine, and it felt warm, welcoming and normal.
“We have our first guests,” announced Violet.
“That’s great,” I said, feigning interest. I felt too nervous of what lay ahead to take much interest in their new business venture.
“We’re hosting the annual conference of the National Institute of Plastic Surgeons,” said Violet, “and Kimberley Chartreuse, the famous glamour model, has booked in for a couple of nights.”
“That’s really exciting,” I said flatly. “I’ve seen her reality TV show. She looks amazing, but I suspect she’s had a lot of work done. Just as well you’ve got plastic surgeons on hand in case she needs anything else fixing.”
“Take it from me, there’s nothing natural about her,” said Violet. “And what a prima donna. She arrived last night, all airs and graces. Changed rooms three times, insisted on having a full tour, broom cupboards and all, and gave mother a real grilling, asking her where she’d come from, how long she’d been here and how old she was. I don’t know how mother stayed so polite. I’d have told her to take a running jump.”
“Probably jealousy,” I said, “because Viyesha’s more beautiful than she is.”
By now we were standing outside the library and Theo opened the oak panelled door.
“Good luck,” he whispered, as I walked in.
In the library, Viyesha sat on one of the leather Chesterfields, turning the pages of a fashion magazine with beautifully manicured, slender fingers. She was dressed immaculately, as always, this time in a pale blue Chanel-style jacket and matching pencil skirt, with a soft white cashmere rollneck. Her lips were painted pale pink, her blond hair was loose around her shoulders, and her blue eyes sparkled and twinkled. A CD of Liszt’s Liebestraum played softly in the background.
“Emily,” she purred, placing the magazine on the coffee table in front of her. “Come and sit with me. It’s delightful to see you.”
She patted the place next to her and, like an obedient pet, I walked over and sat down. At once, I experienced the most wonderful sensation of wellbeing.
“Hello, Viyesha,” I purred back, “It’s good to see you, too.”
I heard the door close behind us.
“Can I get you anything?” asked Viyesha. “A cup of tea, a drink?”
“No, I’m fine, thank you,” I said politely.
“I won’t beat about the bush,” said Viyesha, sitting back in the Chesterfield and turning to face me. “There are things of which I need to speak, Emily.”
“I know,” I said, feeling nervous. This was it. The conversation I didn’t want to have.
“I understand Theo has told you certain things?”
“Yes,” I said, looking down. I didn’t want to look into her large blue eyes.
“Tell me what you kno
w, Emily,” said Viyesha softly.
I swallowed, unsure what to say, then looked Viyesha square in the face.
“I know about the blue crystal and its powers of conveying eternal youth on those who bathe in its rays,” I began, feeling self-conscious. “And I know you have to wait for a Blue Moon to activate the crystal. I also know you brought the crystal from Egypt…” I faltered, then said, “The truth is, Viyesha, I don’t know what to believe, it all sounds so incredible. Theo said I would be at risk from The Lunari, but I’ve seen no evidence of them. He also said Aquila and Pantera consider me a threat, but apart from them being generally unpleasant to me, there’s hardly been an attempt on my life. Well, apart from the wall collapsing on me,” again I faltered, “but that could have been an accident.”
I dared not mention the Blue Moon Ball, or that I had secretly observed her guests and taken photos.
Viyesha stood up and walked to the window. She looked out over the grounds and seemed to be thinking what to say. Then she turned to face me. “Emily,” she said in a matter-of-fact voice, “be under no illusion what is going on here. Believe me, The Lunari exist and they would eliminate you like that if they so wished,” she snapped her fingers, “Be under no illusion about Aquila and Pantera, either. They are Guardians of the crystal and have killed many times to protect it. While you wear Theo’s crystal necklace you have protection, but should you remove it, I cannot guarantee your safety.”
My hand went involuntarily to the crystal hanging round my neck, my fingers touching its smooth, faceted surface. Viyesha looked at me a little more kindly.
“I’m sorry, Emily. It was not my choosing to bring you into the family or place you in danger. That was Theo’s doing, which leads me to a further complication. Theo believes you to be the reincarnation of the woman he loved and lost many years ago. There certainly appears to be a connection between you, and you bear an uncanny resemblance to the woman he once loved as you saw on the necklace he wears.”
