Lonely Werewolf Girl

by Martin Millar

  “You are being kind,” said Malveria, and stroked Daniel’s cheek. “You are always very kind.”

  Daniel blushed a brilliant shade of red. He was spared further embarrassment by Thrix’s angry interruption.

  “Malveria, please stop tormenting him. We’re still meant to be looking for Dominil.”

  Moonglow strode back into the room.

  “Kalix has gone,” she announced. “She’s taken her stuff and left.”

  “Again?”

  “The MacRinnalchs,” sighed Malveria. “They are such trouble.”

  Really, she didn’t sound too displeased. Troublesome werewolves were very entertaining, in their way.

  135

  There was more trouble among the MacRinnalchs than Malveria realised. The MacAllisters had encroached on their lands and refused to withdraw. The Mistress of the Werewolves sent a message to the new Baron MacAllister instructing him to remove himself from MacRinnalch territory. The Baron had sent back a message which, in the politest of terms, pointed out that the MacAllisters were engaged in hunting on their own territory and had every right to be there.

  Verasa was furious. It was true, as clan secretary Rainal pointed out, that there was a strip of land between Baron MacAllister’s lands and the MacRinnalch estates the ownership of which had long been disputed. The dispute belonged to a bygone age, but as the land in question contained the eastern fringes of Colburn Wood it was still a matter which could raise strong emotions.

  “We own all of Colburn Wood,” declared the Mistress of the Werewolves.

  Rainal felt obliged to disagree.

  “The matter has never been satisfactorily settled. Thane Pictus MacRinnalch granted the land beyond the wood to the MacAllisters more than twelve hundred years ago but the original deeds have been lost. The new Baron MacAllister is not the first to claim that the original grant included the eastern side of Colburn Wood. In recent times the matter has never been seen as important, but now…”

  Rainal let the sentence hang unfinished. Now, obviously, the MacAllisters wanted to show some defiance towards the Mistress of the Werewolves.

  “Which they would not be doing without encouragement from Sarapen. Damn that wolf. Does my son intend to plunge us into civil war?”

  Verasa poured herself a glass of wine and lit a cigarette.

  “I will not be threatened. If the Baron refuses to withdraw I’ll make him. Instruct Eskandor to assemble my MacRinnalch Guard.”

  Rainal was hesitant. He could see events running quickly out of control.

  “Would further negotiation not be preferable? If we send a force to encounter the MacAllisters, things may get out of hand. Werewolves are not good at restraint while facing an enemy.”

  “We are not,” agreed Verasa. “But I refuse to be intimidated by some upstart Baron who’s hardly finished burying the father he helped to assassinate. Call Eskandor.”

  136

  Andris MacAndris wondered if he might be executed. It had been foolish to approach Dominil in the cell, laying himself open to her attack,

  “MacAndris. You have let me down. Have you anything to say?”

  The MacAndris wolf held his head up high, not wishing to leave this life in a shameful manner.

  “No, Lord Sarapen. I have no excuse.”

  Sarapen was furious with Andris for allowing Dominil to escape. However he was pleased that he didn’t offer an excuse, or plead for his life.

  “I’m disappointed in your conduct,” said Sarapen.

  He dealt the MacAndris a tremendous blow. The werewolf fell to the floor.

  “Get up,” said Sarapen.

  Andris hauled himself to his feet.

  “Will you ever let me down again?”

  “No, Lord Sarapen.”

  “Very well,” said Sarapen. “Now go, and find out how the hunt for Dominil progresses.”

  MacAndris bowed, then hurried out of Sarapen’s presence. From force of habit Sarapen stood in front of the fireplace, as he would do at his own keep. Here in London however, there was no blazing fire. Bylaws prevented it and the mansion was centrally heated. It was comfortable enough but not suitable for a werewolf. Not in Sarapen’s opinion anyway.

  Dominil had escaped. Worse, his mansion had again been invaded, this time by Thrix and the cursed Hiyasta Queen. Sarapen bridled to think that these creatures could simply appear in his own house by use of their unclean sorcery. Had they not teleported out again, Sarapen would have torn them apart.

  “But that,” he muttered, “is just the point. They did teleport out again. While Thrix and the Fire Queen are ranged against me I’m at the mercy of their sorcerous powers. I need some protection.”

  Sarapen was averse to sorcery. However, he was also pragmatic. It was no use ignoring the problem. He instructed his secretary to contact Decembrius, who was now making a good recovery at his mother Lucia’s lodge on the castle Grounds. When the call was connected Sarapen inquired briefly as to his advisor’s health and was satisfied to learn that Decembrius would be rejoining him soon.

  “I need some way of preventing the Enchantress and her ally from entering my house, or spying on me. For all I know they could be watching my every move. Do you have any suggestions?”

  “Are you considering using sorcery yourself?” asked Decembrius.

  “If necessary.”

  Decembrius thought for a while.

  “Thrix has been troubled by a rival designer with sorcerous powers,” he said. “I saw the power of her rival knock her senseless and throw her across the street.”

  Sarapen was interested. Anyone who could send the Enchantress flying across the street should be worth talking to.

  Andris returned to report that the three werewolves who had left Sarapen’s house to pursue Dominil had not come back.

  “Very well,” said Sarapen. “Assemble my bodyguard. We’ll hunt for her ourselves.”

  137

  Kalix was worried that Dominil was going to die. She couldn’t find a taxi to take them to Kennington. There were few cabs around and those that were refused to go south of the river. Kalix picked up Dominil and started to walk. She had to put more distance between them and Sarapen’s mansion. She struggled on through the rain, walking down a dark street she didn’t recognise, pausing frequently to rest. She knew she couldn’t make it far with Dominil. The white werewolf was taller than her; even her human form was too heavy for Kalix to carry for long.

  Kalix felt panic welling up, threatening to overwhelm her. She made an effort to control it, breathing deeply and sipping from her laudanum. The situation was new to her. She’d taken on responsibility for someone else and now she had to save Dominil and she didn’t know how to do it. The panic became stronger, urging Kalix to leave Dominil where she was and flee. She tried to fight off the fear but only succeeded in plunging into anxious depression. Depression because she was too stupid to know what to do. Her brothers would have known what to do. So would Thrix. But Kalix couldn’t think clearly. She hung her head and stared at the pavement, now running with water from the heavy rain.

  Dominil moaned. Kalix clenched her fists and started to feel angry. Why had she got involved in this? It was none of her business. She should just run away and leave Dominil here. She’d done enough already, saving her from the werewolves in the park. It wasn’t as if Dominil had ever been friendly towards her. On their last encounter she’d all but ignored her, even though Kalix had helped her fight off the hunters. Kalix became quite irate thinking about this. Dominil was not a nice werewolf.

  She remembered how Dominil had asked her for laudanum. That was so unexpected. Kalix felt more kindly towards her. She realised she didn’t want to leave her dying in the street, in the rain, cold and bleeding. She had to forget her anxiety, stop being stupid, and think of something to do. She had to get Dominil back to Daniel’s house.

  Unfortunately this reminded Kalix of how annoyed she’d been with Daniel. So annoyed that she’d picked up her bag and left. Now Dani
el and Moonglow would hate her. Kalix sighed. Why was it everyone always ended up disliking her?

  “It’s because I’m no use for anything,” she muttered, quite seriously. “I’ll just take Dominil there and leave before they can say anything.”

  How could she get there? She noticed a phone box on the corner. Kalix remembered that Moonglow had written her telephone number in the back of her journal, saying she might need it sometime. Kalix fetched her journal from her bag, found the number and went to the phone. She dialled very hesitantly. By now her feelings of alienation were so strong that she expected whoever answered to simply hang up on her.

  Daniel answered the phone very quickly.

  “Hello?”

  There was a long pause.

  “Hello?”

  “It’s Kalix.”

  “Kalix! Where are you?”

  “I’m with Dominil. She’s hurt. I don’t know what to do.”

  As she spoke Kalix felt a tear forming in her eye. She blinked, annoyed that this should happen.

  “I’ll get Thrix,” said Daniel.

  The Enchantress took the phone.

  “What happened?”

  “I rescued Dominil. Sarapen attacked her. I think she’s dying.”

  “Where are you?”

  “Near Hyde Park.”

  “Where exactly?”

  Kalix didn’t know. The Enchantress recognised the rising panic in her young sister’s voice and spoke to her quite calmly.

  “Look at the sign in the phone box. There should be a notice giving the address. If you tell me that we’ll come and pick you up right away.”

  Kalix looked for the sign but this was not so easy. There were many cards in the phone box, adverts left by prostitutes, and Kalix, with her poor reading skills, wasn’t sure what she should be looking for.

  “There are lots of cards,” she said. “I don’t know where the address is. And - ”

  Kalix broke off, sniffing the air.

  “ - there are werewolves coming.”

  The Enchantress remained calm.

  “The notice telling you the address of the phone box will be right next to the phone. It’s white with black letters, with a red border.”

  “I see it.”

  “What is it?”

  There was a long silence.

  “What’s the address?” urged Thrix.

  “I can’t read it,” admitted Kalix, miserably. Dominil was going to die because Kalix couldn’t read the address.

  “Can you spell it out?”

  Kalix made an effort, though the small sign wasn’t all that legible in the poor light.

  “L-Y-A-L-L-S-T-R-E-”

  “Lyall Street. South of the park. I know it. Don’t move, I’m coming with Malveria right now.”

  Thrix rang off. On the pavement beside the phone box Dominil moaned again. The blood on her limbs and body had now congealed in dark red clumps but it still flowed from her nose, a very bad sign. Dominil was damaged inside, like Kalix had been.

  “The Fire Queen saved me when I was hurt,” said Kalix, in an effort to be re-assuring. “And she’s coming here now.”

  The scent of werewolves was stronger. They were getting nearer. Dominil’s eyes were now shut. Kalix had the notion that she should talk to Dominil, to keep her alive, to prevent her from journeying to the forests of the werewolf dead.

  “Wake up,” she urged, but Dominil didn’t respond. Kalix was sure she was going to die before Thrix arrived. The young werewolf struggled to think of something else to say, but her mind was blank. In the silence, she could sense Dominil’s life slipping away.

  “I saved Puffy the Puffin,” said Kalix, suddenly.

  Dominil’s eyes opened a fraction.

  “What?”

  “I saved Puffy the Puffin. On Moonglow’s computer. It’s a game. I saved Puffy the Puffin.”

  Dominil stared at Kalix through her half-closed eyes. Then, for the first time that Kalix could remember, she smiled.

  “Well done,” whispered Dominil.

  Kalix smiled back, hesitantly.

  “It was good,” said Kalix. “I like Puffy. I saved him.”

  “Then I’m sure you can save me too,” whispered Dominil.

  The scent of werewolves was now very strong. Kalix scanned the street anxiously.

  “Thrix will be here soon. And Malveria. They’ll heal you. Do you want more laudanum?”

  Dominil nodded. Kalix let her have a sip.

  “Take care of my bottle,” said Kalix. “There are werewolves coming along the street and I have to fight them now.”

  Sarapen was striding towards them; huge, dark and menacing. Andris MacAndris was at his side. In his werewolf form he was almost as large as Sarapen. Behind them marched five others, all in werewolf shape, though it was not a night of the full moon. Too heavy odds, even for Kalix. Kalix walked a few paces up the road to meet them. Now that the enemy was here, she felt quite calm. Her battle-madness often began with a feeling of tranquillity. She transformed into her werewolf form.

  “Keep back,” she said.

  Sarapen looked huge, a vast dark shape under the streetlights.

  “Was it you who killed my wolves in the park?” he asked, his voice low and full of menace.

  Kalix growled at him.

  “Kill her and take Dominil,” said Sarapen.

  The werewolves charged. Kalix opened her jaws wide and raised her claws as her madness took over. Suddenly her attackers flew backwards, landing heavily. The Fire Queen stood on one side of Kalix and the Enchantress on the other. Kalix was confused. In her werewolf battle state she wasn’t ready for unexpected assistance, and didn’t immediately realise that she’d been rescued. She continued to growl.

  The Enchantress gave a small smile.

  “We should go.”

  Kalix growled again, indicating that she’d rather stay and fight.

  “Yes, you’re a fierce little werewolf, no doubt about that,” said Thrix, rather kindly. “But we’d be better just leaving. Dominil needs attention.”

  With that, Malveria waved her hand and wafted them all back to Daniel and Moonglow’s house in a haze of jasmine. They materialised in the front room where Daniel and Moonglow were waiting anxiously.

  “I am quite exhausted,” exclaimed Malveria. “My teleporting powers are not endless, I must confess. Taking others around is not so easy. Daniel dear, please bring me one of your pop-tarts and perhaps a glass of wine?”

  “Later,” said Thrix. “Dominil isn’t far from the forests of the werewolf dead.”

  Malveria made a face.

  “Really, I do not wish to visit that place again. Its guardians are most inhospitable towards the Hiyasta. But very well, let us see what has to be done. Please bring me some refreshments anyway. Soon I will be so worn-out I will be as wrinkled as the disgusting Empress Asaratanti. And who will care then that I am so fabulously dressed?”

  Malveria bent over the prone figure of Dominil, and pursed her lips.

  “Bad,” she muttered, shaking her head.

  “How bad?” asked Thrix. A few spots of rain had dampened her golden hair. Not many though. It had been a very swift rescue.

  “In human terms, several fatal wounds and dead some time ago. In werewolf terms, not quite so bad. She is not yet so near to the forests though if blood keeps pouring out at this alarming rate she soon will be. Look, it has stained my blouse and it is my favourite.”

  “It’s not your favourite at all,” said Thrix.

  “Very well it is not my absolute favourite but it remains high on my list of favourites.”

  “I’ll make you a new one.”

  “Thank you,” said Malveria.

  After being plucked from battle and teleported through space as a werewolf, Kalix felt confused. Disorientated, she looked around her suspiciously, still half-expecting to be called on to fight. When she finally realised that she’d saved Dominil she felt pleased. Then she felt hungry. She was still in her werewolf sha
pe and the wolf needed feeding. Kalix headed for the kitchen.

  As Daniel and Moonglow looked on, Malveria once more knelt over the figure of a damaged werewolf, placing her hands and then her lips on the face of her patient. It seemed to Moonglow that Dominil couldn’t be as badly hurt as Kalix had been, because the air in the room did not grow so cold and Malveria didn’t seem to have to expend so much effort as she had before. Even so, it was some time before the Fire Queen withdrew her lips from Dominil’s, and when she did she again looked drained.

  “She will be well,” said Malveria. “Now I must go.”

  “Please don’t,” said Moonglow, stepping forward quickly.

  “I need time to recover. It is an effort, this medicinal assistance for werewolves. In replacing their fire, I diminish my own.”

  “Recover here,” suggested Moonglow, who felt that they owed the Fire Queen. “You can have my bed.”

  Malveria was touched. Again, looking at Moonglow’s long black hair, long black skirt and heavy make-up, she felt that this must be one of her devotees, but apparently she was not. It made the offer of hospitality all the more gratifying.

  “Very well,” said Malveria. “I will stay.”

  With that, she lay on the couch, and closed her eyes.

  “Where’s Kalix?” asked Daniel. “Has she left again?”

  “I think she’s in the kitchen,” said Moonglow.

  Daniel, Thrix and Moonglow all trooped through to the kitchen where they found the young werewolf with her nose in the bin, eating the remains of a pizza. Moonglow and Daniel burst out laughing. Kalix looked up, and changed back into her human form.

  “What’s funny?” she demanded.

  “There’s more food in the fridge,” said Moonglow, but Kalix looked offended because they’d laughed at her, and said she wasn’t hungry.

  “You’re a hero,” said Moonglow.

  “What?”

  “You are,” said Daniel, enthusiastically. “You rescued Dominil. It was heroic.”

  Kalix looked uncomfortable.

  “It was very well done, sister,” added Thrix.