Lonely Werewolf Girl

by Martin Millar

  “She’s taking a bath,” said Moonglow. “I’m going to help her wash her hair.”

  “Do you want me to help?”

  “You? Don’t you think there might be a problem there? Young naked girl in the bath?”

  “She’s a werewolf,” said Daniel. “She might look at these things differently.”

  Moonglow told Daniel to stay out the bathroom.

  “You called her a wild beauty. That disqualifies you from seeing her naked. It’s no longer innocent. Make us some tea instead.”

  Daniel did as Moonglow requested. Moonglow meanwhile returned to the bathroom to find Kalix lying contentedly in a bath full of hot water. When Daniel arrived upstairs with tea, Moonglow had started on the exceedingly difficult task of washing Kalix’s hair.

  “I think you have a world record for tangles,” said Moonglow. “When did you last wash it?”

  Kalix couldn’t remember. She screwed up her eyes and protested as some shampoo trickled down her forehead. Moonglow had the sudden feeling that she was bathing a child.

  “How old are you?”

  “Seventeen,” said Kalix.

  “How long have you been a werewolf?”

  Kalix looked insulted.

  “What do you mean?”

  “When were you turned into a werewolf?”

  Kalix emitted a small snarl, enough to make Moonglow draw back.

  “Did I say something wrong?”

  “I was not turned into a werewolf. I was born a werewolf, fourth child of the Thane, a pure-blooded wolf of the Royal Family of Clan MacRinnalch.”

  “Sorry,” said Moonglow. “I thought you had to be bitten.”

  “A werewolf can be created that way,” conceded Kalix. “But it’s an insult to a pure-blooded wolf to accuse them of being bitten.”

  Naked, Kalix’s ribs were clearly visible. She was painfully thin. It made Moonglow worry that if she washed her too hard she might break. Moonglow ran water over Kalix’s hair. It was so thick and tangled that working her fingers through it was next to impossible.

  “I think we’ll have to cut some of these tangles out,” she said.

  Kalix snarled again, even more alarmingly.

  “Another insult?” said Moonglow, nervously.

  “My hair has never been cut,” said Kalix, rather haughtily. “And no human will approach it with scissors.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Everything going all right in there?” called Daniel, who was sitting outside the door, drinking tea.

  “Fine,” called Moonglow. “Put some music on.”

  She rinsed the shampoo out of Kalix’s hair.

  “Do you want me to condition it? It might make it easier to brush afterwards.”

  Kalix snarled again.

  “What’s wrong now?” wailed Moonglow.

  “You are not brushing my hair,” said Kalix, aggressively.

  “I didn’t mean I was going to brush it,” protested Moonglow. “You can do it yourself.”

  She started to feel aggrieved.

  “And could you stop snarling at me? I’m only trying to help.”

  Kalix looked surprised, but she didn’t apologise.

  “I don’t see what’s so bad about having your hair brushed anyway,” said Moonglow, still a little annoyed. “Is it another pure-bred werewolf thing?”

  “No,” said Kalix. “I just don’t like it.”

  “My mother used to brush my hair when I was little,” said Moonglow. “Didn’t yours?”

  “No.”

  When the difficult process of washing Kalix’s hair was completed Moonglow gently bathed her nose ring, checking that the accumulated dirt had not caused an infection. It seemed healthy enough and when she complimented Kalix on it the werewolf seemed pleased.

  Some time later Kalix appeared downstairs wearing one of Moonglow’s dressing gowns, looking clean and fresh. Without her layering of dirt she was extremely pale. It made her huge dark eyes even more prominent and now that the lines of her cheekbones could be seen clearly, Moonglow agreed with Daniel’s description of Kalix. She was an extraordinary beauty. Her mouth was unusually wide and her hair, now clean and untangled, was astonishingly long. As she dried and brushed it, it increased in volume so that it swirled round her body, a huge dark mane that made Moonglow rather envious even though her own long black hair was widely admired.

  “Do you have anything to drink?” asked Kalix, suddenly.

  “We have some beer,” said Daniel, who’d packed a few cans to help him recover from the stress of moving home.

  “Do you want anything to eat?” asked Moonglow.

  Kalix shook her head. She only wanted beer.

  “You should eat,” said Moonglow, but Kalix didn’t respond.

  There was a gas fire on the wall which was giving off a lot of heat and Kalix sat next to it, drinking beer and taking in the warmth.

  “Do you want to stay with us?” asked Moonglow, unexpectedly.

  Kalix looked round, surprised.

  “What?”

  “You could live with us.”

  Kalix shook her head.

  “I can’t. It’s stupid of you to ask me.”

  21

  The doorbell rang. Kalix tensed, ready to fight or to flee.

  “Relax. We phoned for a pizza.”

  Daniel paid for the pizza and brought it upstairs. They looked at the box for a few moments.

  “It’s a big moment,” announced Moonglow.

  “Our first pizza delivery in our new flat.”

  Daniel and Moonglow were very dependent on take-away pizza. They had healthy teenage appetites but no desire to cook, ever. Daniel opened the box, tore a slice off with his fingers and shoved it in his mouth.

  “It’s good,” he said, with his mouth full.

  “It’s a good omen,” said Moonglow. Having their first pizza for breakfast made their new place feel like home. They were pleased to have moved. This shabby flat, above a small shop, was no better than their last one really, but at least they were out of debt.

  “Why can’t you stay?” asked Moonglow.

  Kalix said that it was too dangerous, but wouldn’t elaborate.

  “Why are your relatives trying to kill you?” ventured Daniel.

  “That’s the private business of the MacRinnalchs,” said Kalix.

  “But can’t we give you sanctuary?”

  Kalix shook her head.

  “They can find me anywhere.”

  “How have you stayed alive this long?”

  “I used to have a charm, a pendant. My sister gave it to me. It hid me. But I lost it. Now I can’t hide. Especially when I’m a werewolf.”

  “If you don’t mind me asking,” said Moonglow. “How could you be a werewolf tonight? It’s not the full moon.”

  Kalix looked at Moonglow slightly contemptuously.

  “A pure-blooded MacRinnalch werewolf can be a werewolf under any moon.”

  “Oh. Are there some that can’t?”

  Apparently there were. According to Kalix, many of the Scottish werewolves did need the full moon to transform. Those not so pure-blooded as Kalix could change on the night before the full moon, the night of the full moon, and the night after.

  “These are the wolf nights. But I don’t need a wolf night. I can do it any night.”

  “Can all werewolves do kung fu?” asked Daniel.

  “What?”

  “The way you kicked these guys. How come you can fight like that? Does it just come naturally to werewolves?”

  “No. Someone taught me.”

  “Who?”

  But this seemed to be another bad question and Kalix looked displeased. She refused to say anymore about anything. Under questioning she became first sulky and then hostile, till Daniel and Moonglow had to leave her be. When it was time for her to dress Kalix accepted a pair of black jeans from Moonglow, and a belt to keep them up. She took a sweater that was also too big for her but she refused to replace her ragged coat. Moonglow
looked at the shabby garment.

  “It used to be nice,” said Kalix.

  “I can see that. It’s a shame it’s got so ragged.”

  Moonglow looked inside at the label.

  “Thrix Fashions?”

  Kalix snatched the coat from Moonglow.

  “Give me.”

  Kalix had been mellowed by the hot bath and the temporary refuge but now her mood was worsening and she was agitated at having two strangers fingering her belongings and asking her questions. It had been a mistake to stay here for so long. She picked up her bag and put on her coat.

  “Are you leaving?”

  “Yes.”

  Kalix strode out of their flat in silence. Daniel and Moonglow watched her go.

  “Not even a goodbye?” said Daniel.

  “Or a thank you?”

  “She’s not what you’d call polite.”

  “Very pretty though,” said Moonglow, slightly teasingly. She knew it embarrassed Daniel even to admit he found any girl attractive.

  It was time for them to go to lectures. Both of them were due to attend a class on Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens.

  “Which is a good play,” said Moonglow. “Or so I hear.”

  “Probably one of his best,” agreed Daniel. “Are you going to the lecture?”

  “No. I’m too tired. We’ve been moving all night.”

  “My thoughts exactly,” said Daniel.

  They unpacked their duvets and headed towards their new bedrooms where they threw them on their beds, and crawled underneath to sleep away the day. Daniel and Moonglow had known each other for almost a year. They’d met while both lost on their first day at university. Daniel had been immediately attracted to Moonglow but had been too shy to do anything about it. So they became friends, and then flatmates. That was good, but Daniel couldn’t help regretting that Moonglow only regarded him as a friend.

  22

  After his failure to apprehend Kalix, Markus had to explain his lack of success to his mother. Verasa would rarely criticise Markus but she was adept in letting him know when she was disappointed.

  “I would have brought her had it not been for the interference of the two young humans.”

  It was very strange that two teenagers had rescued Kalix. She had no friends, as far as anyone knew. After letting Markus know that she was displeased, Verasa consoled him.

  “Don’t look so disappointed about Kalix, dear. I’m sure you’ll find her again. Will you come with me to see Thrix tomorrow?”

  “You know I don’t get on well with Thrix,” protested Markus.

  Verasa sighed. Sometimes it was a trial, the way that none of her children liked each other.

  “I cannot be in London without paying a visit to my eldest daughter.”

  Markus couldn’t understand why his mother still took the trouble.

  “She does everything she can to distance herself from the clan. If she doesn’t want to know us then why not just let her be?”

  “Someone has to hold this family together, Markus. Your father won’t do it, so it’s up to me. Would you have me suffer the indignity of admitting to my sister Lucia that I couldn’t see my own daughter?”

  “I suppose not. But Thrix had better not try any of her enchantments while I’m there. Is she still friends with that fire elemental?”

  Verasa looked pained. There was considerable ill-will among the MacRinnalch werewolves towards the Hiyasta. It was to be expected that a daughter who was so adept at sorcery might make the acquaintance of various strange creatures but there was no reason to befriend them. Verasa regretted that her daughter had proved to be so talented at sorcery. It was a rare attribute for a werewolf, and hardly a fitting one for a daughter of the Thane.

  “I spoke to your father today.”

  “How is the Thane?”

  “Weak. But recovering.”

  Markus believed his mother was deluding herself. Since Kalix’s savage attack the Thane had never been the same. Markus did not think that he would ever recover. Age and injury were catching up with him. Each full moon he gained some revitalising power but afterwards he was weaker. He couldn’t go on for all that much longer. Markus had little love for his father. The Thane had always been far closer to Sarapen, and Markus had always felt excluded. Markus was jealous, and it added to the hatred he felt for his older brother. Sarapen had always attempted to dominate him. Soon, with the help of Verasa, Markus might be Thane, chief of the MacRinnalchs, lord of MacRinnalch Castle. That would be suitable revenge on Sarapen.

  Though he liked the castle in Scotland, and his rather grand town house in Charlotte Square in Edinburgh, Markus was a frequent visitor to London. His girlfriend Talixia lived here, and he was very fond of her. Recently he’d realised that he might be in love with her, which was a surprise. He was certainly close enough to her to discuss matters which his mother would rather had remained within the confines of the castle. The approaching row over the succession, for instance.

  Talixia wondered if he really wanted the Thaneship. It seemed like a position which would interfere with the things he enjoyed in life. Markus liked painting, and he had some talent for it, talent which might blossom if he applied himself.

  “If you become Thane,” said Talixia. “Will you have time to paint? Time to go to the opera?”

  Markus wasn’t sure. Perhaps he could be the first artistic Thane? It was an amusing thought. Markus had a sense of humour, something which distinguished him from Sarapen, who was so grim it seemed like he might pass his entire life without laughing.

  Markus was not without his cruel side. He had learned to hunt deer and stags on the family estates, and early in his life had become used to the feel of tearing flesh between his jaws. He had a capacity for violence, and it was this which had led to the bad feeling between him and Kalix. When Kalix was around eight years old she’d stolen a watch from his chambers. It was hard to explain why Kalix stole things from around the castle. She just did. Markus tracked her down in the woods and recovered his watch. That might have been the end of it had Kalix not spitefully called Markus a mummy’s boy, this being the best insult the young Kalix could think of. Unfortunately it seemed to strike a very bad chord with Markus and he lashed out at her. Despite being far smaller than her brother, Kalix promptly bit him. Markus responded quite savagely. The sorry affair ended with an unrepentant Kalix being left battered and bleeding in the woods, howling for revenge.

  After this Kalix had always loathed Markus and as she grew stronger she sought opportunities to pick fights with him. Eventually the Thane, frustrated by Kalix’s insane assaults on Markus, had completely lost his temper and brutally chastised her, which only made Kalix hate him and Markus even more.

  23

  Daniel and Moonglow both studied English at King’s College. Daniel minored in social studies while Moonglow took Sumerian history. The main part of the university was in the Strand, in the centre of London. After taking a day off to recover from moving, Moonglow went in early the next day though Daniel, still fatigued, felt he needed another morning in bed. He did make it in around lunch time and waited in the student bar to meet her. When Moonglow arrived she was excited. She brandished her laptop computer.

  “Look at this.”

  “It’s your MacBook,” said Daniel. “I’ve seen it before.”

  Moonglow’s MacBook was a present from her parents. Moonglow’s parents were quite wealthy, and she had more money than Daniel. She connected to the internet and directed Daniel’s attention away from his pint and towards the screen.

  “I mean look at this website. Thrix Fashions. A small fashion house, on the rise or so it says.”

  “So?”

  “Don’t you see?”

  “That’s a lot of money for a pair of shoes,” said Daniel.

  “It’s - ”

  “I mean, £500? For shoes? Are they serious?”

  “Yes, it is on the pricey side,” admitted Moonglow. “Though they are very nice shoes. But you�
��re missing the point. Remember the label on Kalix’s coat? It said Thrix Fashions. Well take a look at Thrix.”

  Moonglow brought up a picture of the owner of the fashion house. Daniel was impressed.

  “What a babe.”

  “Are you wilfully missing the point?” demanded Moonglow. “This woman is obviously related to Kalix.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Just look at her.”

  Daniel looked. He could see what Moonglow meant. Despite the fashion designer’s spectacular blonde hair she did indeed look rather like Kalix. The same large eyes, the same fine cheekbones, the same wide mouth. Not quite so wide as Kalix’s perhaps, but there was certainly a resemblance.

  “Isn’t it great?” said Moonglow.

  Daniel wasn’t really sure why Moonglow was so pleased.

  “So the owner of Thrix Fashions is possibly a werewolf relation. So what?”

  “We can go and visit her and tell her Kalix is in trouble and she might help. Didn’t Kalix say she got her protection charm from her sister? This might be that sister. She can give her a new charm. Then Kalix will be able to hide again.”

  Throughout this Daniel had been becoming agitated.

  “Slow down, Moonglow. Is this really a good idea? Meeting these werewolves hasn’t been that much fun. As far as I can see they’re all violent lunatics. I don’t want to go waltzing into this woman’s office and announce that we know she’s a werewolf and we’re looking for one of her relatives. How’s she going to take that? Badly, I imagine.”

  “We have to help Kalix.”

  “No, we don’t.”

  “We can’t abandon her.”

  Daniel pointed out to Moonglow that Kalix had showed no desire to be helped by them. Quite the opposite. She’d walked out without a word of thanks. Moonglow became agitated.