by Alison Smith
Donning a Chinese silk robe, she brushed her long dark hair until it shone. The rhythmic strokes of the brush slowly relaxed her. She put down the hairbrush and started to go downstairs. Standing on the landing she could hear Diana and Chris’s voices in the kitchen, laughing. A momentary, vague picture of the tall man from her nightmare appeared in her mind. Almost as if he were calling to her. Was he an actor from a movie? He did seem a tiny bit familiar. And who was the woman? What did it all represent? She shook her head and walked downstairs to a semblance of normality and, hopefully, a cup of tea.
She really needed to get out more. Far too much time was being spent either working in the casino or in Diana’s alternative world. And don’t forget the ironing, a small voice inside reminded her. A launderette had contacted her only yesterday to offer her all of their ironing work. The first box full of shirts had arrived almost as soon as she had agreed. Jewel sighed. She definitely needed a life and even, if possible, a man.
Anton wearily put onto his desk the two sheets of paper that he had been reading and attempted to stretch away the tension that had crept along his shoulders. A few tendrils of dawn light began to edge into his study. The dark, heavy curtains couldn’t conceal the daybreak. He looked over to where Sable was sitting, patiently, waiting to be told of the contents of the letters.
‘The Prime Legend has intercepted a letter from Elijah and sent it to us together with an interpretation of part of it,’ he said.
‘It’s about time. The Legend of Vampires is so much stronger en-masse than Monique and yet we seem to have so little information,’ she said and he watched as she tried to stifle a yawn.
They had both been ready to retire to their beds when the messenger from the Prime Legend had arrived. He’d interrupted their late night practice of drinking hot chocolate, but they both knew that the letters probably held crucial implications. The man was now gratefully asleep in one of the guest rooms and Sable had made herbal tea for herself and Anton. They’d needed the stimulus to stay awake.
Anton stood up from his chair and walked around the oak desk towards her. She raised her hand and he gently placed it in his own. Sable had been his loyal companion for decades. They had both given each other so much more than just company. There was a loyalty and trust between them. How would Jewel’s arrival affect Sable? How would it affect him? How would it change their world?
Sable gripped his hand. ‘Whatever will be, is meant to be, Anton. The years turn and events pass more slowly for us but we have always known that it was not to be me by your side for this fight. I’ve been your companion but I am not your destiny.’
Anton felt a small twinge of sadness but acknowledged that the words she spoke were true.
‘It really is time now, Sable. The Prime Legend has written that it is clear from Elijah’s letter that Monique has made a connection within Jewel’s group of friends. She’ll be able to move, to be close to Jewel, very soon. Probably within nights and certainly before the full moon.’ He looked around the room. Dark wood shelves lined the walls, crowded with books. Did Jewel enjoy reading as he did?
‘Can we trust the letter?’ Sable asked, breaking into his thoughts.
Anton considered her question carefully. ‘Yes, the Prime Legend himself has verified it. It’s genuine. It is Elijah’s writing and it confirms arrangements to meet with a named person. The details are protected by a strong magic. It will take a while to break it and learn who the contact is.’
Sable frowned, deep in thought before speaking, ‘I think it’s unwise to do anything tonight. Saturday night for humans seems to be their most active. Too many people will be around and I doubt Jewel will be alone. She will probably be working at Tu’s casino.’ She rose, dropped his hand and moved, unerringly, to the desk and the letter. As always, her ability to cope with blindness impressed him but he needed to keep focussed.
‘Jewel is not working tonight but is attending a party and so you are right about her being surrounded by people. I shall send the dogs to watch over her for one last night.’ He paused. ‘And then we bring her here tomorrow night. She will be here. Where she belongs.’
Sable hovered her hands over the letter and was quiet. Anton watched as she carefully used her palms to scan every part of the page without touching it. Then she turned towards him. ‘The words are covered. I sense myrrh and narcissus. Something else but I’ll need more time. It was sent to a male though, a human. The poor man will not have stood a chance. This magic is designed to blur, to confuse the mind. I think a powerful oil has been added to mesmerise him.’
‘Have you time to remove the spell? It would give us an idea of Monique’s plans, of where she intends to abduct Jewel, maybe even when.’
‘I’ll do the best I can tonight. It’s a waxing moon, which will be good for the collection of the necessary herbs. Lilac and wisteria to start, perhaps rue. But the source of the magic that is being used is powerful, much stronger than my own. I am sure the essence is one of Monique’s and Elijah has probably made it. He is so powerful when he wishes to be. You will need to help me.’ She moved towards the door but stopped with her hand on the door. ‘Anton, all will be different. This is much sooner than I thought, or maybe wished for. Jewel is your destiny or, at the very least, a part of it. We cannot continue as we have.’ Her voice broke and Anton realised that the changes had already begun.
‘Anton, would you visit my bed one last time? Please? Then I shall start to seek a companion of my own. Don’t worry I’ll be careful in my choice, someone who believes as we do …’ her voice trailed and she silently left the room.
Anton carefully locked the letter away and turned out the oil lamps. That Sable would so easily relinquish her own needs brought a sense of the finality of what was about to happen.
Walking out of the study and towards the stairs he knew, with a certainty, that the next two nights would be a crucial time in this most ancient of battles.
This is Saturday night, party night, Jewel told herself. Chris had given himself the role of designated driver so that she and Diana could drink if they wished. Both had spent hours on hair and makeup. As they walked along the short path to the front door she skimmed her hands over the dress. Diana had been right to insist on the red velvet, she acknowledged, it fitted her well and she felt good.
As they walked into the small terraced house in which she’d grown up there was a sensation of chill in her spine. A thought, fleeting, that this was the last time. Shaking her head she told herself it was because of the lack of sleep over the last two nights and even her bones felt tired. Added to which she’d spent a frenzied morning completely rearranging her bedroom. But that was an inner tiredness. She really wanted tonight to go well and so her outer appearance needed to be one of sparkle.
‘Sis,’ William immediately walked over to her and they hugged.
Jewel was pleased to see him. ‘Wow, don’t you look smart,’ she smiled ‘shiny hair and you’re even wearing a tie!’
‘Thought I’d do my best for the parents,’ he leaned towards her conspiratorially, ‘and I was in court yesterday for the last protest I was on, the one in the crop field.’
‘Not again,’ Jewel smiled. William’s activities were often better left out of conversations with their parents and she knew this was one of those times. ‘Do you need help with paying the fine?’
‘That’s an odd thing Sis, all the charges were dropped. Nothing. One minute I was being told there was loads of evidence against me. Then suddenly it’s like … Due to insufficient evidence you can leave. No further action. So I came straight here to spend time with the family.’
Before they could discuss the subject any more Jewel was separated from him and went over to offer her congratulations to a radiant Katryn.
She hugged the small blonde girl and then turned to Bradley standing proudly to one side. He leant towards her and Jewel quickly gave a kiss on his cheek. She immediately wished that she hadn’t swept her hair up, it made her taller than him an
d he hated that.
‘Congratulations to you both and welcome to the family, Katryn,’ she said warmly.
Bradley cleared his throat, ‘Of course it’s not really your family, Jewel.’
She smiled. She had developed the art of ignoring his constant reminders of her adoption. She moved away from the happy couple and went in search of her mother. As far as she was concerned Elsie Tapper had been her mother since she was two years old and had always surrounded her with love.
As she expected, Elsie was in the kitchen making sure the food flowed whilst her father was doing the same with wine.
‘Some wine, Jewel?’ Her father beamed at her and she smiled back. They were always the same, her parents. Just so pleased to see her.
‘Just a small glass of red, Dad. I have to toast the happy couple. You look great Mum.’ Jewel walked over to her mother and gave her a swift hug.
The rest of the evening passed in a blur as she moved from room to room and ended with a tangle of hugs goodbyes and a promise from William that he would try to call in sometime next week. Although a quiet aside from him led her to doubt that. ‘We’ve heard about plans for a new bypass and the trees need saving, sis, I’m travelling there tomorrow,’ he’d whispered to her.
Monique rose gracefully out of her scented bath water. She carefully dried herself and then, dressed in a black silk negligee, walked from her boudoir and into the marble floored main room. No daylight was allowed in this room, ever. Even when she wasn’t in residence, her red velvet furniture was far too precious to be introduced to sunlight. It was the early hours of Sunday morning. A quiet day for humans and a day that she would sleep through, building her energy. She needed to be fully prepared for the night to come. The night when Jewel, her Jewel, would be by her side. And, if she refused, Monique had already given Elijah orders to do whatever was necessary.
Her silver stiletto heels tapped over the floor and echoed as she impatiently called for Elijah. He immediately appeared at her side.
‘Did you obtain Jewel’s plans for today?’
He beamed at her and she knew he’d succeeded.
‘My Lady, Jewel will be attending what humans call nowadays ‘a ramble’ during the afternoon. My …’ his voice trailed at her frown and then he continued ‘your informant tells me it is to be followed by an evening meal within the forest itself.’ He stopped, wanting to build the drama for his last morsel of news. A piece of information that he knew would please her.
‘They are installing boxes in the trees. Homes for bats and they want to observe them.’
Monique threw back her head in a roar of laughter. What superb news. She made an immediate pledge to reward the source of such delightful information at some point. She glided out of the room towards her boudoir.
‘Just the cool box to collect now,’ Jewel said to Diana as she rested shopping bags of food onto the ground. Her friend looked up from where she was sorting plates, cutlery and various cooking implements.
‘You’ve done so much running backwards and forwards to the car park, shall I go this time?’
‘No,’ Jewel answered, ‘you’re better than I am at organising the food and it looks as if Chris has the campfire ready. It’s good for you and him to do the cooking together. I’ll only be a few minutes.’ With that she turned and started to walk out of the small forest clearing. She realised, striding along the well-worn path that, for the first time in days, she felt relaxed and peaceful. They had all slept until nearly lunchtime and then, after a quick brunch, the three of them had made their way to the forest. The afternoon’s ramble and then positioning the bat boxes had cleared her head. Other people had joined the group during the afternoon, all of them regulars at the monthly rambles that Chris arranged, and there’d been happy voices and laughter for hours.
She arrived back at the car and, unlocking the boot, took out the large cool box. The beers and lemonade would be very welcome to the group. As she placed it on the ground to lock up, another vehicle drew in at the edge of the car park. She looked around, expecting it to be some more of Chris’s friends but didn’t recognise the sleek, black car. It looked expensive and as she watched, two men got out. They were large, strongly built men and were dressed more as if they expected to stand outside a nightclub on a busy Friday night than go for a ramble.
She angled her body to continue to lock the boot but at the same time watch the men. Apart from Chris’s bat group the only other people who tended to come to this part of the forest were families out for picnics. And these two men fell into neither category. She stood up straight and picked up the cool box just keeping the men in her vision. As she walked past them and towards the path her mouth nearly dropped open in amazement. Both men put dark glasses on. Dark glasses? They were in a forest and it was almost evening. How bizarre. Jewel walked quickly to the path. She couldn’t wait to tell Diana about the men.
The shadows were lengthening as she made her way back. The scent of pine trees mingled with the smell of smoke from the campfire and she could hear voices in the distance. Everyone was occupied with making the small clearing comfortable and whilst busily chatting, they’d also be impatiently waiting for the drinks she carried. Several had brought guitars and already sounds of music drifted towards her. She hurried, looking forward to the evening ahead.
As she walked the voices and music from the forest clearing seemed to become quieter, not louder. She stopped and glanced around. It was a path she knew well. They always came to this part of the forest after a ramble. She couldn’t have taken a wrong turning. But the friendly sounds were definitely more distant. She turned and looked back. That path widened and led back to the car park. Jewel knew that. Turning again she walked towards the clearing. The voices grew dim. There were no other sounds. Nothing. She shivered and wished for a jacket to put on over her jumper.
A prickle of unease quivered within her and she called ‘Diana?’ Her path seemed narrower and the trees started to crowd in. A branch caught her elbow and she stopped. There were no hints of any voices. There was no sound from anywhere around her. Just a darkness cascading down as if night had fallen suddenly. Impossible at this time of the year, she told herself. It’s only darker because you’re in a forest. An owl hooted in the distance and made her jump.
A sound of fluttering made her glance up. A bat was circling above her head and the prickle of tension turned into a shiver of dread. It’s just a cool night, she reassured herself. A tremor started to climb along her spine. A tremble at her neck. Was that a wolf howling in the distance?
This is ridiculous, Jewel, your imagination is just working overtime. We are here to help the bats and enjoy being outside. This is just the forest and I am an adult woman. Straightening her shoulders, she turned to go back to the car and start the walk all over again. She would be able to get her bearings from the car park. This time, though, the path didn’t widen as expected. Instead it, also, seemed constricted. With a growing sense of dread, one of her worst nightmares started to unfold. She really was lost. Surely the others couldn’t be far away?
More fluttering from above and she looked up. Another bat and then another and Jewel started to panic. She felt as if she were being watched. The trees were darkly mysterious. Dark greenery blocked her path and she couldn’t see where to put her feet. She stumbled as fir cones beneath her feet felt like sharp stones cutting into her soles.
Dropping the cool box, her terror expanded. Where were the others?
‘Diana. Chris.’ She called out but there were no replies. ‘Anyone?’ The forest was completely silent, watchful, as bats circled above her. She tried to run but stumbled. She felt snags as thorns grabbed her. There was no sign of the route she’d taken, no sign of the cool box. Her hair became entangled and she pulled it free, not caring that it hurt.
‘Jewel.’
Thank goodness, she heard her name being called and lurched towards it. It was a male voice and sounded familiar. It must be one of Chris’s friends. The trees circled her a
nd she barely registered the scratches to her arms and her legs. Even through the denim of her jeans she could feel thorns attaching themselves. Her movements were, by now, inch-by-inch as she found obstructions barred her way. Finally she stopped.
‘Jewel.’
But she could go no further. She couldn’t move.
She sank down to the ground and put her face in her hands. Where was she? Where was the voice? Her friends? Some sense told her she was t alone and, glancing up, saw a man she recognised. It was him. The man from that dream. She stood, shakily.
‘Anton.’
As if in a trance she stepped forward. Into his arms. Safe. Protected. Home. His strong arms encircled her in an embrace. She had no wish to move. And then another hand gently covered her mouth and nose. A strong sweet scent invaded every sense. Oblivion.
Chapter 3
Anton gazed down at the sleeping woman.
‘I hope you understand, dear Jewel. I left you in the human world as long as I dared.’
She was here, at last. In her rightful place. The place where she belonged and was needed. Destiny was unfolding. Monique had been close but, thank the goddess, they had found Jewel in time. Minutes later, seconds even, and she would have been drawn into that world of darkness.
Sable had tended Jewel’s raven hair to perfection and it rippled around her face, beautifully displayed on the pillows. He grew lost in a complexion as clear as a mountain spring. Nature had granted Jewel a pureness, an appearance that was almost ethereal. Yes. Ethereal was the word he searched for. Holding her in the forest he had been aware of her height and that luscious curves belied strong muscles.
‘When will she awaken?’ he asked Sable and watched as she took Jewel’s pulse with the professionalism of a trained nurse. ‘It has been more than twenty four hours since we gave her the sleeping draught.’
