155
“Isn’t Thrix just fabulously beautiful?” said Vex to Daniel. “Her hair is so golden. And it’s natural. You know how much bleach I have to use?”
Vex’s natural colouring was dark but her hair was glittering, metallic, yellow gold, the result of a determined campaign of bleaching that had been going on for some years. It stood up around her head, each spiky strand around eight inches long, not so much set in place as welded into position by a combination of Malveria’s expensive hair products and handfuls of gel from Moonglow’s bathroom.
“She looks all right,” conceded Daniel, grudgingly. Thrix and Malveria were in the attic, storing dresses, and while Daniel liked the Fire Queen, he hadn’t yet warmed to the Enchantress.
Daniel, Vex and Kalix were sitting on the couch, immersed in the new cable TV. They had some wine, bought after much scrambling around in pockets and under the couch, looking for loose change. The shopkeeper had not been hugely impressed by several pounds worth of pennies.
“Isn’t Thrix fabulously beautiful?” repeated Vex, turning to Kalix.
Kalix grunted. Daniel looked at her.
“What’s wrong? It’s the big TV inauguration night. You should be cheerful.”
Kalix wasn’t cheerful, and not just because she didn’t know what inauguration meant. Outside, for a second, she’d thought she sensed Gawain. Then it was gone and she knew she’d imagined it. It was enough to depress her.
“She’s thinking about Gawain,” said Vex, who never realised that there were some topics best left alone. “Haven’t you noticed how every time she thinks about Gawain she goes weird?”
Daniel didn’t reply, knowing that Kalix wouldn’t want to discuss it.
“Of course,” added Vex. “Kalix goes weird for plenty other reasons as well.”
“Be quiet you stupid Hiyasta,” said Kalix.
“It’s okay, you can’t help being weird,” continued Vex, brightly. “You should see some of the people where I come from. Three eyes, extra limbs, flames belching everywhere, you name it. Compared to them you’re normal. Well, maybe you’re more depressed. So what’s on next?”
Vex grabbed the TV guide from Daniel, part of an ongoing struggle.
“Who’s paying for this cable?” demanded Daniel, fighting to regain the guide.
“Moonglow’s mother,” said Vex, securing victory and opening it up. “So, more Voyager? Or cartoons or the late night sex show?”
Vex turned to Kalix.
“Any preferences?”
Kalix shook her head. Vex was dissatisfied.
“When I got you this cable TV with my superb cunning plan I wasn’t expecting you to sit here being gloomy about it. Lighten up. So your boyfriend got banished and you’ll never see him again. At least you can watch Sabrina every day.”
Kalix abruptly burst into tears and ran out of the room. The young Hiyasta was mystified.
“What? I didn’t say anything.”
“What has my appalling niece been doing now?” demanded Malveria, appearing in the room with Thrix.
“Upsetting Kalix.”
“It’s not true,” said Vex, defensively. “She’s just being weird about Gawain again. She thought she sensed him outside.”
“Did she?” said Thrix, sharply. “That’s impossible.”
“That’s what I tried to tell her but you know Kalix, always lost in some fantasy. Hey, could we get a space ship like Star Trek Enterprise?”
Malveria was interested in the new cable service.
“Is there more fashion?”
“Who needs fashion?” said Daniel, dismissively.
“Ah,” said Malveria, sliding onto the couch beside him. “I’m sensing Daniel is not truly in a good mood, despite the excellent new TV. What is the matter?”
Malveria pressed herself against Daniel, making him uncomfortable.
“Is it sadness over Moonglow?”
“Malveria will you please stop tormenting him,” said Thrix. “Your interest in all this is very unhealthy.”
Thrix suddenly looked concerned.
“Where’s Moonglow? She hasn’t gone to see Markus has she? Doesn’t she realise how dangerous it is?”
“She can’t keep away,” said Daniel, bitterly.
Moonglow hadn’t told Daniel that she was going to meet Markus but Daniel knew she had.
“What does she see in him?” he cried, exploding suddenly. “I just don’t understand it.”
“You don’t?” said Vex. “It’s obvious.”
“Why is it obvious?”
“Well he looks all romantic, and he’s pretty and sensitive and vulnerable. All very attractive, naturally. But he’s also a werewolf, so he’s really tough as well. He could protect Moonglow from anything. I mean, pretty and sensitive and tough as well? He’s the ideal boyfriend. You can’t compete with that.”
“Thank you,” said Daniel, and felt crushed.
“You shouldn’t be depressed,” said Vex. “It’s not your fault Moonglow is insanely happy now she’s with Markus.”
“Is Moonglow with Markus?”
Kalix had arrived in the room and heard the end of the conversation. She was astonished.
“Didn’t you know that?” said Vex.
“Moonglow’s with Markus?”
Kalix was distressed. The last time she’d seen Markus he was throwing her around an alleyway. She quickly left the room again.
“A word in private, niece,” said Malveria, and dragged Vex into the kitchen.
“Am I in trouble? It’s not my fault if Kalix keeps breaking down in tears. I got her cable TV, what more does she want?”
“That is not my immediate concern,” replied Malveria. “Why are you attempting to destroy Daniel’s confidence? I wish Daniel to be attractive, not some crushed and broken spirit whom no one could love.”
“Well I’m confused,” said Vex. “I don’t know what you want me to do with him.”
“Make him into a happy confident person Moonglow might be attracted to.”
Vex shrugged.
“I’ll do my best.”
156
Gregor was hunting for Kalix. As soon as he emerged from the tube station at Kennington he sensed that werewolves had been here recently. This unfashionable part of town was quickly becoming a popular haunt for his kind. After prowling the streets for less than thirty minutes, he scented another werewolf nearby. Knowing that Sarapen’s wolves were hunting in the same area, he advanced carefully. Far more carefully than Gawain, who appeared round a corner and almost crashed into him. They drew back, each recognising the other.
“Gawain MacRinnalch.”
“Gregor MacRinnalch,” responded Gawain suspiciously, knowing Gregor to be Markus’s lieutenant.
Gawain was holding his arm and appeared to be in distress.
“Hunters?” asked Gregor.
Gawain nodded. Gregor was puzzled. Gawain had the slightest of scratches on his arm yet he seemed to be in great pain.
“What’s wrong?”
“Begravar knife,” said Gawain, surprising Gregor. But he’d heard that Sarapen had stolen the knife from the castle. He looked round anxiously in case Sarapen was approaching. Gawain leaned against the wall. His arm was numb to the shoulder. Gregor was about to lead him to safety when a car pulled up alongside them.
“It’s a popular place for werewolves these days,” said a familiar voice. “Soon we’ll be a tourist attraction.”
It was Thrix, making her way home from Kalix’s house.
The three werewolves, all in human form, only occupants of the dark street, regarded each other.
“Gregor MacRinnalch,” said Thrix. “Doing Markus’s work, no doubt.”
She turned her head towards Gawain, and was immediately concerned because she could sense that his wound came from a Begravar knife. She told Gawain to get in the car.
“I need to speak a spell over that wound. If I don’t it will kill you.”
Gawain didn’t protest.
Already the numbness was spreading into his chest. Thrix asked Gregor if he wanted to be taken from the area. Gregor shook his head. There was much here that he could learn, and report to Markus or Verasa. He watched as Thrix and Gawain drove away. Gregor guessed that Thrix might have come from wherever Kalix lived so he started walking in that direction. He hadn’t gone far when a slight breeze brought a scent to his nostrils that sent him diving into a garden for cover. Sarapen. Thrix was right, Kennington was becoming a popular destination for werewolves. Gregor wondered what the slumbering inhabitants of the terraces and tenements might say if they knew that Scottish werewolves were carrying on their feud in the night-time streets outside.
Gregor took out his phone and quickly composed a text message. Kennington. Met Gawain and Thrix. Sarapen near. He sent the message to Markus. Though Markus probably wouldn’t read it till the next day it was as well to let him know what had happened in case he didn’t return. He retreated, creeping through a garden, and climbing the wall. On the other side of the wall Sarapen was waiting. The instant Gregor caught sight of him he transformed into his werewolf shape. Sarapen remained as human, six inches taller and far broader than Gregor.
“Gregor MacRinnalch. What brings you here, I wonder?”
Gregor remained silent and tried not to show he was nervous.
“Looking for Kalix, no doubt.”
Suddenly Sarapen transformed and as he did so he reached out a great claw, grasping Gregor by the throat. The smaller werewolf couldn’t break free. Sarapen drew him close, and stared into his eyes.
“You don’t know where she is, do you? You haven’t found her.”
Gregor shook his head. Sarapen drew him closer so that their snouts almost touched.
“But you know where Markus is, don’t you?”
Gregor remained silent. Though he was facing death he wasn’t about to betray Markus. Sarapen opened his jaws as if about to bite, then closed them just as quickly. Abruptly he let Gregor go.
“You know your master is skulking, hiding from me? Does that make you proud to serve him?”
“Markus MacRinnalch does not hide from anyone,” declared Gregor, loyally.
Sarapen almost smiled.
“Well give him a message. Tell him I remain in my mansion. I’m not hiding. If he wishes to confront me he knows what to do.”
“I’ll take your message,” replied Gregor.
“I admire a loyal wolf,” said Sarapen. “When I’m Thane and Markus is dead, you can work for me.”
With that Sarapen turned and walked away. Frustrated by the failures of the Douglas-MacPhees, he had come to conduct the search, and had no more time to waste on his brother’s underlings. Gregor went swiftly in the opposite direction, hurrying through the side streets. A few flakes of snow drifted down from the dark grey sky. Suddenly he felt confused. He seemed to have lost his bearings. Was this the street he’d been in before? Puzzled, Gregor turned the corner. A man stood facing him. Gregor wondered why he hadn’t sensed him. He was still wondering when the man plunged a knife into his chest. Gregor collapsed to the ground.
Mikulanec looked down at Gregor. He counted it is as reasonably successful night. The first werewolf had been unusually resourceful, making an escape even though Mikulanec had touched him with the Begravar knife. He’d probably die from the wound anyway. And this werewolf wasn’t about to escape. Mikulanec watched as Gregor transformed back into his human form, as werewolves did at the moment of death. He left Gregor dead on the pavement, blood still seeping from the fatal wound.
157
Moonglow and Markus had a perfect date. Though Markus’s views on the art in the Tate Modern were harsh, uncompromising, and hostile, it hadn’t prevented them from having a blissful day.
Whenever they approached an exhibit, be it a collection of tangled metal, a looping piece of video, or an unmade bed, Moonglow would look at it, refer to her catalogue, muse briefly, and then say either “interesting,” or “I like this.” Markus would invariably reply “I hate it, it’s not art.” The ninth or tenth time Markus told her he hated something and it wasn’t art, Moonglow burst out laughing.
“You hate everything!”
Finding himself laughed at by a young human girl, Markus was about to reply harshly when he realised that he wasn’t really offended at all. He could see that it was funny, in a way.
“I don’t hate everything. I just hate everything in this building.”
“Even the unmade bed?”
“Especially the unmade bed.”
“I liked it,” said Moonglow.
Markus had the good grace to smile.
“I’m sorry, I’ve been involved in mother’s collection of Titians and El Grecos for too long. I don’t really understand any of this.”
Moonglow took his hand. Thinking she might have inflicted enough galleries on her companion she led him towards the restaurant.
“So werewolves in general aren’t enthusiastic about contemporary art?”
“Not as a rule. But I don’t know if the humans who live around the MacRinnalch estates would be very impressed either. I mean, nothing here looks like anything.”
“Well let’s leave it till we’ve had some tea,” said Moonglow. “After that I’ll bring you up to date with the last century of art.”
Markus smiled.
“You know you should never lecture your date about art?”
Moonglow felt her heart pounding with excitement. He’d said they were on a date. Not just a visit to an art gallery.
‘I’m dating a werewolf prince,’ she thought, happily. ‘That’s even better than Lord Byron.’
They drank tea in the cafe, and ate cake. Markus paid for it and carried the tray, gallantly. As they sat at the table Moonglow knew that the eyes of every women in the cafe were fixed on her companion. With his striking looks, his glorious hair, his long black coat and feminine blouse, he was so attractive. Moonglow had an odd giddy feeling that she had never experienced with Jay, or anyone else.
Markus seemed happy. Something about Moonglow made him forget his recent traumas, almost. Though not as striking as the MacRinnalch women, she was pretty, she was intelligent, and she was - what was she? Markus couldn’t exactly put his finger on it. The phrase fun to be with came to mind. It was a good description though somehow he’d have been embarrassed to utter something so trite. Trite or not, it was true. Moonglow was fun to be with. He asked her if she’d like to come home with him and Moonglow said she would. She said this quite calmly, though really she felt like climbing over the table, flinging her arms round Markus and dragging him onto the floor to commence love-making immediately, and never mind the onlookers.
158
By four a.m. Vex had fallen asleep on the couch. Daniel and Kalix sat on either side of her, watching a repeat of Buffy. Neither spoke for a long time. Finally Daniel picked up a bottle, drained the dregs, and sighed.
“Well it’s hard to believe, but cable TV doesn’t bring happiness in all circumstances.”
Daniel had developed a deep, maudlin gloom about Moonglow. He stared at the carpet, contemplating the unfairness of life.
“The girl I love is a werewolf groupie.”
Kalix was just as unhappy as Daniel. The news that Moonglow was seeing Markus had come as a terrible shock. She hated Markus. Markus hated her. He wanted to take Kalix back to Castle MacRinnalch to face punishment. And now Moonglow was dating him. Kalix could hardly believe it.
“Moonglow will make me go back to the castle,” she said.
Daniel shook his head.
“No, that won’t happen.”
“It will. Markus wants me to go there. If Moonglow is his girlfriend she’ll want the same.”
Daniel shook his head again. He knew Moonglow would want nothing of the sort but he was too wrapped up in his own gloom to spend much time comforting Kalix. Kalix felt herself becoming anxious. She hurried to her room for laudanum. The opiate calmed Kalix a little but it didn’t help her confused state o
f mind. She imagined Markus and Moonglow bursting in and trying to take her away to Scotland. She thought of fighting them. She’d kill Markus, and Moonglow as well if she tried to help him. Moonglow was bad. Look how much she’d upset Daniel. Kalix liked Daniel and didn’t like to see him upset. She put her hands to her head. She was full of wine and laudanum and she couldn’t think straight. Her anxiety was threatening to burst through the protective shield of intoxicants. She hunted round for something to do to take her mind of her problems.
Kalix suddenly remembered how she’d felt good after helping Dominil. Maybe if she helped someone right now she might feel better. So she decided to help Daniel. She’d heard him trudge past her door on his way to his bedroom and Kalix knew that he was depressed and lonely now that Moonglow was more out of reach than ever. It struck Kalix quite forcefully that sleeping with Daniel would be a very good thing to do. He’d stop feeling lonely. Kalix herself might not be so lonely. She might forget about everything long enough for her anxiety to pass.
Kalix had a knife in her hand, ready to cut her own arm. Now, pleased with her plan, she laid it down unused. Already this was making her feel better. She hurried into the corridor and along to Daniel’s door. She halted, realising that she wasn’t certain how best to bring this about. Should she just creep into Daniel’s bed? Should she ask first? That felt awkward. Kalix didn’t know what to do. She became discouraged and returned to her room.
A new anxiety descended on Kalix, one she hadn’t encountered for a while. The fear of being unattractive. How could she expect Daniel to want to sleep with her? Kalix looked in the mirror and shuddered. She was sure she’d put on weight. Kalix realised she’d been eating far too much and resolved to put a stop to it right away.
She still wanted to sleep with Daniel. It would take away her loneliness. Kalix took a substantial drink of laudanum and set off again, determined to carry it through. This time she didn’t hesitate. She marched into Daniel’s room.
“Daniel - ” she began, before grinding to a halt. Daniel’s room was lit by a single candle, plenty of light for a sharp-eyed werewolf to make out everything. Daniel and Vex were in bed together. They halted, turning their heads to look at the intruder.
Lonely Werewolf Girl Page 44
