Lonely Werewolf Girl

by Martin Millar

  “Was that meant to be re-assuring?” asked Thrix.

  “Is it not re-assuring?” said Malveria brightly. “Perhaps it is not. Shall we proceed? Before the violent death should occur?”

  Malveria made ready to teleport them, but paused.

  “Are we making progress towards a series of fabulous outfits for the Sorceress Livia’s party?”

  “Kind of.”

  The Fire Queen looked alarmed.

  “Kind of does not sound like good progress.”

  “Malveria, you know the interruptions I’ve had. I’d be designing for you now if we didn’t have to look for Dominil.”

  Malveria sighed, then waved her hand, transporting them to the edge of Hyde Park where Sarapen’s imposing mansion was set back in its own grounds. Thrix sniffed the air.

  “No sorcerous protection. Sarapen’s inside. Other werewolves too.”

  “Including the white-haired one?”

  “I can smell her blood.”

  “Then perhaps we should enter quickly?”

  Malveria took them into the mansion. They materialised just inside the front door and were immediately confronted by two members of the MacAndris Clan. Thrix pointed a finger at them and they were thrown violently across the hallway.

  “This way,” said Thrix.

  They hurried down the stair that led to the basement. Thrix’s heart was beating quickly. She was surprised to find that she was excited. Though she’d rather have avoided becoming involved in the struggle for the Thaneship, something in her MacRinnalch blood couldn’t help responding to the adventure. Here she was, invading the domain of Sarapen, most feared of the clan. In days gone by such an escapade would have been suitable material for an epic song.

  They found the cell, and in it Andris MacAndris, still unconscious. There was a lot of blood on the floor.

  “That’s not his blood,” said Thrix. “It’s Dominil’s.”

  “Has Sarapen killed her?”

  “No,” came a voice from behind them, “I have not.”

  Thrix was startled. As she whirled round to face her older brother she felt confused and guilty, as if she was a child caught out in some mischievous prank. She quickly buried the emotion.

  “What are you doing in my house?” demanded Sarapen.

  “Checking your decor. We don’t like it. Where’s Dominil?”

  “You dare to invade my lair? With a Hiyasta? Are you seeking death, sister?”

  Malveria tapped her foot impatiently.

  “Please tell us where Dominil is so we may return to designing beautiful clothes.”

  Sarapen looked beyond them to where Andris lay unconscious on the cell floor. He scowled.

  “Did you do that?”

  Thrix shook her head.

  “No. Isn’t he one of your victims, brother?”

  “He is not. Though he may soon be.”

  “Dominil has escaped, hasn’t she?” asked Thrix, who could sense that Sarapen was himself confused by events. Sarapen did not deign to reply. Instead he roared, and charged towards them. Malveria waved her hand and both she and Thrix dematerialised, appearing seconds later in Thrix’s offices in Soho.

  “I did not see any profit in fighting him,” she said to Thrix. “Unless you wished to fight him? I could take us back?”

  The Enchantress shook her head. “No. Dominil wasn’t there. She escaped, apparently. From the smell of blood in the basement I’d say she was in bad shape.”

  Malveria nodded. “He has attacked her. Most probably he made a statement of passion and she rejected him. Passion and violence will often be found together.”

  “It’s probably as well I’m not dating anyone right now,” said Thrix.

  133

  Kalix was feeling disturbed. She was very bad at interpreting other people’s emotions and the slightest criticism could wound her deeply. The few sharp words spoken to her by Daniel had convinced her that Daniel hated her. Probably he had only valued her as an oddity. Now that Daniel had a new freakish companion - the young elemental Vex - he didn’t need a werewolf around any more.

  She picked up her bag and her journal from the empty house in Kennington and left, intending never to return. Winter was setting in, the night was damp and Kalix shivered. She felt like changing into her werewolf shape, partly to warm her and partly so she could disassociate herself from all humans. She looked for a park where she could transform without being observed.

  She walked a long way north, sometimes passing small groups of people waiting for night buses. Once or twice cars drew up beside her, mini cabs, the drivers said, looking for fares. Kalix scowled at them and sent them away without speaking. She made an interesting figure, striding quickly and silently along, her long coat hanging from her thin frame, her extraordinarily long hair wet with the rain, a few strands falling over her sunglasses. Her large nose ring reflected light from the street lamps. Outside the Houses of Parliament policemen watched her pass, imagining her to be a student returning from a late-night club. Or maybe a young prostitute, looking for drug money, desperate as the night became older and customers fewer.

  She carried on north, scenting an expanse of open land in front of her. Hyde Park, where there were trees, long stretches of grass and dark clumps of bushes. Kalix knew that Sarapen had a house nearby but she was feeling reckless. She vaulted the perimeter fence and took on her werewolf shape. A welcome strength flowed through her veins, energy from the moon that warmed and comforted her. Feeling herself free from all human interference, she even considered howling, something she very rarely did. Suddenly she halted, her nose twitching. She could smell blood. Dominil’s blood. Curious, she snuffled around for a second or two, picking up the direction of the scent, then set off. She didn’t have far to go. Dominil was slumped under a tree only fifty yards or so inside the park. As Kalix drew near Dominil pulled herself along a few inches more.

  “Dominil,” said Kalix.

  Dominil looked up.

  “Kalix?” she whispered. There was blood coming out of her nose and blood all over her white fur. She dragged one leg behind her as if it was broken.

  “What happened?”

  “Sarapen,” muttered Dominil. “Have to get out of here.”

  Dominil clearly was not going to make it out of the park. Kalix sniffed the air. There were other werewolves about. Upwind of them, fortunately, which meant that they might not yet have caught Dominil’s scent. Soon they would. Kalix didn’t know what to do. At first it didn’t register with her that she should do anything. Not till Dominil muttered help me did it strike Kalix that perhaps she should.

  Unfortunately Kalix still didn’t know what to do. If Sarapen had arrived that moment, Kalix would have stood up to him without a second thought. But faced with the injured Dominil, far from home, she felt bewildered. It was baffling to have responsibility for another creature and Kalix felt some anxiety creeping up on her. Should she pull Dominil out of the park? Was that a good idea? Dominil had so many wounds Kalix wasn’t sure. Suddenly Dominil half rose and clutched at Kalix’s leg.

  “You have laudanum,” she said, taking Kalix by surprise.

  “So?” said Kalix, defensively, thinking that Dominil was about to lecture her.

  “I need it,” said Dominil.

  Kalix was startled.

  “You take laudanum?”

  Dominil nodded, then sagged back to the ground. Kalix rebelled against handing her precious laudanum over to anyone. But it was something helpful to do, and Kalix was by this time feeling very anxious about not knowing what to do. So she took out her bottle and gave it to Dominil. Dominil drank from the bottle. She shuddered, then sipped a little more. She muttered a thank you and handed the bottle back. There was a moment’s silence.

  “What should I do?” asked Kalix.

  “Get me away from Sarapen,” replied Dominil. She sagged again. The laudanum was taking away the pain of her wounds but in her weakened state it quickly made her drowsy. Kalix looked up sharply. The
scent of werewolves was coming closer. Kalix picked up Dominil and made towards the fence. In her werewolf form, Dominil was a burden, too heavy for her to make fast progress. Now Kalix could hear sounds of pursuit. By the time they reached the fence she knew they weren’t going to make it over, not without a fight. She laid Dominil on the grass and spun round. Three werewolves were running towards her. They halted just yards away.

  “Step away from Dominil,” said the largest of the werewolves, who was large indeed, towering over Kalix. His coat was dark and shaggy and his teeth were very long and sharp.

  “No,” said Kalix.

  “We work for Sarapen MacRinnalch,” growled the werewolf, in a manner which suggested that this should end all argument.

  “So what?” said Kalix. “Sarapen’s a dog.”

  The werewolves looked as surprised and offended as it was possible to look in werewolf shape.

  “You dare call Sarapen MacRinnalch a dog? Who are you?”

  “I am Kalix MacRinnalch,” declared Kalix, imperiously.

  The large werewolf grinned.

  “Kalix? Sarapen will be grateful when we drag you in front of him.”

  The three werewolves fanned out and advanced. Each of them was larger than Kalix, trusted guards from Sarapen’s household. Any one of them on his own would have felt no qualms about attacking the rather small werewolf who now confronted them.

  “I’ll kill you all,” said Kalix, not raising her voice. The werewolves laughed. It was the last thing the attacker on the right ever did because as he leapt for Kalix she put her taloned claw to his neck and tore his throat open. The other two werewolves pounced on her and then learned, too late, that Kalix’s battle-madness was not just the stuff of idle tales. Kalix, born as a werewolf on the night of the full moon, simply tore them apart, moving so quickly and with such strength that the fight lasted only seconds.

  When it was over Kalix stared at the three bodies in front of her. She watched as their dead werewolf forms reverted to human. She bent down towards Dominil.

  “I’ll take you away,” said Kalix, now thinking more clearly. “Change into human.”

  Dominil did so. Kalix picked her up and hauled her over the fence, dropping heavily to the pavement outside. She still wasn’t sure what to do for the best. The only person Kalix could think of that might help was the Fire Queen. Or maybe Thrix. But they were out hunting for Dominil. Could Moonglow help? Kalix again felt confused. She had to do something. Soon more werewolves would come. Kalix decided to take Dominil to Daniel’s house. Surely there would be someone there to help.

  “I need money for a taxi,” she muttered.

  Dominil was by now almost unconscious. Kalix felt in the pockets of her coat and found a wallet, then set about the difficult business of looking for a cab to take them to South London in the early hours of the morning.

  134

  Daniel was extremely agitated when he arrived home. Vex was still accompanying him. She had been no help at all and Daniel was now aggravated by her presence. The young elemental started rummaging through Daniel’s music collection while he made phone call after phone call, still trying to find Moonglow. Finally he decided to call the police.

  At that moment Moonglow walked into the room. She’d opened the front door very quietly and crept up the stairs, as if coming home without disturbing anyone might remove the necessity of explaining where she’d been. Daniel bounded across the room and hugged her.

  “I was so worried! Where have you been?”

  Moonglow had had almost two days to think of an explanation but she hadn’t come up with anything very convincing.

  “I had some things to do.”

  Daniel looked at her eagerly, waiting to hear.

  “I really need a cup of tea,” said Moonglow.

  Daniel wrinkled his brow, very slightly. He shrugged.

  “I’ll make you tea.”

  No doubt Moonglow would tell him soon enough. Vex’s presence might be putting her off, if it was some personal affair.

  “I must get changed,” said Moonglow, and hurried up to her room. Behind her Daniel looked puzzled.

  “Things to do? What sort of things?”

  “Probably something to do with the werewolf she’s been with,” said Vex. “Look, this Led Zeppelin CD says it came out in 1969. Was there music then?”

  “What werewolf?” asked Daniel.

  “I just don’t see the point in old music,” continued Vex. “I mean, who was born in 1969?”

  “What werewolf?” screamed Daniel.

  Vex looked confused.

  “What werewolf what?”

  “You said Moonglow had been with a werewolf.”

  “Of course she has,” said Vex. “Can’t you sense the aura - no wait don’t tell me - my tutor once taught me something - humans can’t really sense auras, right? Can’t tell if a person has been with a werewolf, for instance. Is that right?”

  Vex beamed, pleased to have remembered something from her lessons.

  “That’s right. So tell me all about it.”

  “Hey, I’m not psychic. But Moonglow has definitely been with a werewolf recently. I can see traces of its aura.”

  “You mean Kalix? Or Thrix?”

  “No. Some werewolf I’ve never met.”

  Daniel was very perturbed. Moonglow, missing for two days, returns home, acts mysteriously, and now Vex was claiming she’d been with a werewolf.

  “When you say been with,” he said, awkwardly. “Do you mean been with as in having a cup of tea in a cafe, or been with in a biblical sense?”

  Vex had no idea what Daniel meant.

  “You know - intimate,” he explained.

  “Oh.”

  Moonglow appeared in the room, having changed her clothes. Vex looked at her, then at Daniel.

  “The biblical sense,” she said, cheerfully.

  Daniel glared at Moonglow, open-mouthed.

  “What’s up?” said Moonglow.

  “What’s up? Have you been sleeping with a werewolf?”

  “Of course not!” replied Moonglow. “What makes you say that?”

  “Vex can sense it.”

  Moonglow rounded on Vex. “Can’t you mind your own business?”

  “Sorry. Was it a secret?”

  Daniel had never felt so irate.

  “I’ve been chasing all over town looking for you! I thought you were dead! And it turns out you’ve been sleeping with a werewolf! What werewolf? How did it happen?”

  Moonglow backed away. This had quickly turned worse than she’d anticipated. She cursed the young elemental.

  “Don’t blame me,” protested Vex. “I didn’t ask you to go around trailing your I’ve had sex with a werewolf aura all over the place.”

  “Whatever you are being blamed for you are no doubt guilty,” declared Malveria, materialising in the room. “Have you remained here all day? Against my express instructions that you were to attend your classes?”

  Vex searched frantically for an excuse.

  “We had to rescue Moonglow,” she said, cunningly. “She was being ravished by a werewolf.”

  “I was not ravished!” protested Moonglow.

  “What is going on?” asked Malveria, and looked puzzled, till she glanced at Moonglow. Malveria could interpret auras far more accurately than Agrivex, and she laughed.

  “Well well! This is unexpected. An intimate encounter with Markus? How very bold!”

  Daniel was appalled.

  “You had an intimate encounter with Markus? Markus? The psycho werewolf? Are you crazy?”

  “He’s not a psycho,” retorted Moonglow heatedly, upset at hearing her private actions bandied around the room. Moonglow had realised she might have some explaining to do but she hadn’t been expecting to encounter Hiyastas who could apparently read her every action.

  “What are you doing here, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  “Returning from an unsuccessful hunt for Dominil,” replied the Fire Queen. “I
teleported ahead while Thrix parked the car. I always find the process of parking very tedious. Thrix is not skilled in this area.”

  “Did you find Dominil?”

  “No. We fear for her life.”

  “Yes it’s a worry,” said Daniel. “Now getting back to Markus, what’s it all about?”

  Moonglow fell silent. The doorbell rang.

  “I’ll get it,” said Vex and rushed downstairs.

  Malveria was hardly less curious than Daniel about Moonglow’s dalliance with Markus. She looked pointedly at the girl. So did Daniel.

  “I refuse to discuss it,” said Moonglow.

  Vex bounded back into the room, followed by Thrix. The instant Thrix entered she halted, looked at Moonglow, and sniffed the air.

  “You slept with Markus? How did that happen?”

  “Will you all stop smelling me?” protested Moonglow, who was now feeling quite frantic. “I have washed, you know.”

  “I did not smell you,” said Malveria, rather offended. “The Hiyasta Queen does not smell people. Rather, I studied your aura.”

  “Well I smelled you,” said Thrix. “It would take more than a shower to hide the mating scent of Markus from me.”

  Unlike Malveria, Thrix was not at all jovial.

  “This is not good. How did it happen?”

  “It’s none of your business.”

  The Enchantress’s deep blue eyes bored into Moonglow.

  “None of my business? You sleep with my brother while my family is in the middle of a murderous feud? I’d say it is my business.”

  “Just leave me alone!” yelled Moonglow, and stormed out the room.

  Malveria turned her coldest stare on Vex.

  “You are in substantial amounts of trouble for missing your lessons, foul niece.”

  Vex was outraged.

  “Weren’t you listening? We had to save Moonglow from being ravished.”

  “Pah!” replied Malveria. “Begone!”

  She snapped her fingers and sent Vex back to her own dimension.

  “I despair of the girl. I have been too soft with her. Really I should throw her into the volcano.”

  “No, don’t do that,” protested Daniel.

  Malveria smiled, and crossed over to Daniel, placing her face close to his which immediately made him uncomfortable.