Jewel - Daughter of Destiny

by Alison Smith

  ‘However, I have two questions. I need to know where you were at the time. And secondly, whether you have had any contact at all with your other brother, Bradley.’ He leant towards her and spoke quietly, ‘this is just a formality, Jewel.’

  She seemed to be in thought. His gaze travelled through her aura again and he realised that she wasn’t attempting to hide anything from him. Just that she was trying to find words from deep inside of her.

  ‘I don’t know where Bradley is,’ her voice was quietly melodic. ‘But I do know he would never be violent. He doesn’t have it in him. Sarcastic, yes. Even a little pompous at times. But violent, no.’

  He considered her words. They rang with truthfulness. ‘His finger prints were all over the kitchen knives, Jewel. Have you been told of the manner of the deaths? We have established that the Tappers were, are, a close family. I need to have a clear mind. Can we eliminate Bradley as we have you and William?’

  Her face contorted into a fleeting expression of pain and she drew a deep breath.

  ‘Diana found the bodies, Detective Drake. Yes I know the manner of their deaths. I know as much as Di does.’

  At least he wouldn’t have to show her the crime scene photos and he hoped she would never have to see them. ‘What about Bradley’s finger prints?’ He said as gently as he could.

  ‘Diana found the bodies on Tuesday morning. Do you know when they were killed? You said earlier that you had news footage of William that cleared him. So you must have a time? A day?’

  ‘It was Monday evening. That is why we also need to know your whereabouts. Your friend had reported you missing.’ He knew that she was not involved but he had to follow some procedures. He briefly closed his eyes. Please Jewel. Give me a plausible explanation of where you were.

  ‘The fingerprints are more easily explained. Katryn and Bradley had Sunday lunch with our parents. They were going to discuss the wedding,’ her voice held a trace of a sob, ‘Bradley would have carved the joint of meat. He always did, when he was home. I thought Katryn would have told you.’

  ‘Katryn’s statement was vague but she was rather upset. I was going to return to interview her again, later. No need now. But your own whereabouts?’ Be succinct and careful, he sent the thought and, by her startled look, knew that the words had reached the target.

  ‘I was staying with friends. Diana had forgotten.’

  He quickly interjected, before she could say anything else. ‘That’s fine then Jewel, perhaps you could leave the names and address for us to check?’

  He pushed a piece of paper towards her and watched as she wrote an address in Kent and the names of two people whom, he knew, hadn’t seen Jewel for several years. They would back her story, though and it would be an easy matter for him to ensure - although he expected that either Jewel or Diana had already arranged it. He placed the paper in the file and closed it, tucking it under his arm whilst picking up his cane.

  He stood up. ‘The interview is over, Jewel. Go home with Diana and let her take care of you.’ He watched her leap up as if she wanted to bolt from the room but he still had a few things to say, off the record. He waved the other officer away as they moved out of the room and walked along the short corridor to where Diana was waiting. For once he was glad that the use of the walking stick effectively slowed their progress.

  ‘Please tell me, and only me, when Bradley returns. Diana has my direct line number. And Jewel.’ She looked at him. ‘You will begin to wonder about the house and about your parent’s bodies. The house is still a crime scene but I will arrange for it to be cleaned before you go there. And you can start the funeral arrangements. I expect us to be able to release their bodies soon. Once again, my condolences.’

  Nik watched as Diana hugged her and then the two girls walked out of the police station hand in hand. He knew that it would not be the last time they would speak.

  It was lunchtime and Jewel looked at the steaming plate of pasta that her friend had placed in front of her. The sunlight poured through the kitchen window and Jewel rubbed her eyes. Her head ached and her eyes hurt. Diana drew the kitchen blind and the room became kinder.

  ‘I really don’t think I can eat, Di.’

  ‘Try to have something,’ Diana’s answer as she sat opposite Jewel with a similar plateful.

  ‘The house is quiet,’ Jewel reflected.

  ‘Katryn left a note to say that she’s gone to speak to Bradley’s friends again. I hope you don’t mind but I’ve asked Chris to move in here with us, at least for a while.’

  ‘That’s fine. He’s a strong presence and so calming. But is there enough room?’

  ‘He’s not into possessions so doesn’t have much to bring. He’s packing up as we speak and will bring everything over this evening.’

  ‘I still can’t believe what’s happened, Di,’ Jewel said brokenly. There was silence as Diana ate and then Jewel picked up her fork. Maybe she would try some food. She felt better after managing half of her plateful and put down the fork. Diana had eaten all of hers and seemed transfixed in thought.

  ‘You haven’t said much about Anton and … Sable? And what was the envelope you were carrying when you walked in?’ Diana looked at her intently.

  ‘I didn’t want to talk about Anton when Katryn was so upset. I suppose I forgot about everything else when you told me about … well, you know what.’

  ‘And?’

  Where should she start? Jewel wondered. ‘Sable is my half sister, Di, isn’t that amazing? I have proper family. Anton left the envelope in the car for me to find. I was so safe with him, Di, so protected …’ her voice trailed.

  Diana took a long moment to study her. ‘Did anything happen between the two of you?’

  ‘I think so. No. Actually, Diana, I know we connected. Deeply. But also I know that there are other more important things to take place before we can be together.’

  Jewel stood up to retrieve the envelope from the sitting room and Diana followed her. They both sat on the settee and looked at the unopened envelope.

  ‘I feel nervous about this,’ Jewel said.

  Diana cleared her throat. ‘Oddly, so do I.’

  Jewel carefully opened it and a single piece of paper fell into her hand. Both girls looked at it.

  Jewel was startled. ‘It’s my birth certificate. But it just has my first name, no surname.’

  Diana peered closely at it. ‘Surely you’ve seen it before?’

  ‘I applied for a copy when I wanted my passport but it had Paul and Elsie listed as my parents. I thought it peculiar at the time as they adopted me when I was two years old but the passport office accepted it. This one’s different.’ She drew a breath as she read the other names listed, ‘Mother is Monique, again no surname. Father is David Webster.’

  Diana’s intake of breath was audible. ‘That was my Dad’s name, remember!’

  Jewel looked at her friend. Surely she couldn’t possibly … ‘The same father?’

  Diana was silent for a while and then. ‘It would make sense,’ she said quietly.

  Jewel knew her friend struggled to talk about her family and put a hand out to take Diana’s in her own.

  After a long moment Diana continued, ‘Mum always said he’d come back. I was four years old, brilliantly happy, when Dad went out to the shops and just never returned. Mum lost it a few months after that. Turned to drink and you know the rest.’

  Jewel clutched Diana’s hand tightly as she knew Diana couldn’t use the word suicide.

  ‘Do you think we could possibly be sisters?’ she said again.

  ‘It would make so much sense,’ Diana repeated, ‘You and I share such a similar magic and Dad was an extremely high magician.’

  ‘You’ve never told me that before,’ Jewel was astonished.

  ‘Mum told me. She told me such tales of his magic that I never knew whether to believe her. I do believe them now though. He was able to wave his hand over an empty glass and it would be filled with vodka. I always thought
that was why she turned to drink. It was a connection.’ Diana gulped and Jewel realised this was the most she had ever heard her friend talk about her father.

  ‘The odd thing is I’ve felt his presence so strongly over the past week. He came to me during last Thursday’s ritual and, well, he’s here almost all of the time now. He used to be around every time I was moved from foster home to foster home.’

  Jewel saw tears in Diana’s eyes and knew they were reflected in her own. With the horrors of what had happened to Paul and Elsie, could she really have found two half-sisters? And Anton?

  Anton woke from his sleep feeling no less refreshed than before he had gone to bed. He walked into the study as Sable was pulling the drapes open signifying that the twilight hour had arrived. From the lines on her face, he knew she had slept poorly too. She glided towards him and placed her hand on his arm.

  ‘I think we should drink tonight, Anton,’ she said quietly.

  ‘It’s only a quarter moon, Sable, we don’t usually …’ his voice trailed at the determined expression that appeared on her face.

  ‘The Groupies will be at the Leather & Burgundy club tonight, Anton. It’s Thursday. Cocktails and Sushi night. They’ll be thrilled to see you, they always are. We’ll drink some wine with them, eat the raw fish and then they’ll offer their necks.’

  ‘They know we only ever take a few drops and they do seem to enjoy the rush it gives them. But, what has led you to this suggestion?’ Anton thought he knew but needed Sable to convert it to words.

  ‘Monique is becoming more powerful with every drink she takes. We need to keep our strength. You know how drained we become gradually over the weeks between full moons. We may have to move quickly again if Monique decides to manipulate Jewel before she is strong enough to resist. Or if our fears about the Prime Legend are realised.’

  He recognised the wisdom of Sable’s words and thought for a moment.

  ‘I have written to warn the Legend of Vampires of events as they seem to be occurring and to remind them of Jewel’s birthday. If there was ever a time for Monique to draw on Jewel’s powers, it is now.’ He turned his gaze from Sable and glanced towards the desk. Maybe he should write again.

  Sable moved to the door and then turned and he looked at her.

  ‘Write to Henry, Anton. Warn him strongly of our fears. If we are wrong, well so-be-it. We only stand to perhaps lose our reputations. But if we are right...’ Sable’s voice trailed.

  Anton nodded. ‘Henry still enjoys a glass of strawberry liqueur before he retires. Do you have a potion? Something to strengthen even a Prime Legend?’ Anton knew that Sable’s research over the years had given her access to ancient recipes. Maybe? He breathed a sigh of relief as she nodded and glided out of the room.

  He sat at his desk and penned a letter addressed to the Prime. Afterwards, and as he waited for Sable to return, he allowed himself the luxury of remembering dancing with Jewel. Her lightness of step. The softness of her lips on his own. So many reasons to keep her safe. It was necessary. He would do as much as he could.

  Chapter 7

  Jewel woke feeling better than she had expected to. Both she and Diana had spent the previous evening alternately weeping over Paul and Elsie’s deaths and talking in wonder at the dramatic turn their own family life had taken. Chris had provided food, drinks and hugs at just the right moments and Katryn had joined them after taking a long bath. A sense of calmness had descended within the house when they eventually retired to their respective beds.

  Knowing that the others had had little sleep over the past few nights, Jewel crept quietly down the stairs and bypassed the sitting room where Katryn was asleep on the settee. She walked into the kitchen and filled the kettle with water intending to make a pot of tea and then list the phone calls she needed to make. She took the kettle over to the gas hob and, as she placed it down, reached for the ignition button. A spark flew from her finger and the button turned of its own accord. With amazement she saw the gas ignite. Her mouth dropped open. She hadn’t flicked her fingers. It had just happened … by her thoughts? She sat down at the kitchen table and gazed at her hand.

  Minutes later and she sat ponderingly sipping a cup of tea. Her phone rang and she picked it up.

  ‘Good morning Miss Tapper, Detective Drake.’

  ‘Is there any news?’

  ‘Not much. We are still unable to release the bodies of your parents. We may be able to early next week. I just wanted to let you know that the house is cleaned up and is no longer of interest to us. You may go there if you wish.’

  Jewel was silent for a moment; she didn’t think she could go there, not yet.

  He audibly cleared his throat, ‘Miss Tapper, Jewel. Please do not visit the house alone. The murderer or murderers are still at large. Please take care.’

  With that the phone connection was terminated and Jewel was left wondering. Anton had kept her safe whilst the atrocity was happening and now Detective Drake was concerned that she could still be in danger. Anton had said the problem was with her real mother. Surely the woman who had given birth to her couldn’t possibly be connected to the dreadful murders? Was Anton? No. In the deepest part of her heart she knew, with certainty that he wasn’t.

  She took her cup out to the small back yard and sat amongst the herbs. It was a connection with Sable, although she knew that her sister would be asleep at this hour. Her mind drifted around the plants, the lavender was perfect for harvest and she put her cup down and started to pick long stems. She would fill the house with lavender for the protection and relaxation it would bring.

  By the time her wicker basket was full she could hear voices in the kitchen. Everyone was up and about and Jewel walked into a buzz of lunch preparations.

  ‘Any news from my Bradley?’

  Jewel put down the basket and went over to Katryn to hug her. Both she and Diana had known this girl for so many years and Jewel could feel her pain.

  ‘No, I’m sorry,’ Jewel said as she turned towards the others ‘but Detective Drake called and said I can return to the house … if I wish to that is.’

  Diana looked at Chris and Jewel knew they had already discussed this.

  ‘Chris will go and check it over,’ Diana said, ‘I don’t think you should go there, Jewel, not yet.’

  ‘Detective Drake said I shouldn’t go alone in any case.’

  Katryn blew her nose loudly and, Jewel could see, was struggling with her composure.

  ‘I can’t just sit around any longer,’ she said. ‘My Bradley’s out there and I just know he’s either not well or that something has happened to him. He phones me at the hair salon every hour when I’m working. He takes me to work and picks me up after and always comes with me if my friends ask me out. He just wouldn’t go all of these hours without calling. I know he wouldn’t.’ She blew her nose again and then straightened her shoulders. ‘Last Saturday we were celebrating our engagement at that house. Now my future in-laws are dead and the police are looking for my Bradley.’

  Her voice trailed and then she seemed to make her mind up. ‘After lunch I’m going home to pack. I shall go on a pilgrimage to all of our favourite places. I will find him. I must.’

  Anton looked across the dining table at Sable. They had eaten their evening meal in silence but he recognised that her increased vitality was reflected within himself. She had been right to suggest that they visit the club last night. The Groupies had been generous with their blood and he felt energy streaming through his body.

  ‘I received a decree from the Legend of Vampires this evening.’ He told her and watched as she carefully placed her wine glass down onto the table before continuing. ‘The Prime Legend has called for a meeting of all of The Legend after next Thursday’s full moon.’

  Sable’s face took on a look of astonishment. ‘The Prime? The eleven jurors? And you? The entire Legend? All thirteen?’ Disbelief echoed through her words.

  They both knew that the entire Legend of Vampires only ever came
together at solar festivals, four times a year. They met underground to settle whatever business had arisen worldwide and Anton had a heavy heart as he considered the implications of this latest development.

  Sable picked up her glass of wine and sipped, as deep in thought as he. Then she placed her glass down. ‘Well, it could be that the Prime wants the extra strength for his meeting with Monique on Friday.’

  ‘He’s called us together for Saturday night, so I do not think it is that. It could be to do with the subject we return to at every session.’

  ‘The media have been reporting the deaths as ritualistic,’ Sable said, ‘and they have linked the deaths of those poor bell ringers with that of the Tappers’. She was quiet for a moment. ‘But I have not heard the name vampire used. Just the word ritual.’

  Anton drew a breath. ‘Do you remember, Sable, when you asked what would happen when humans became aware, truly aware, that we exist amongst them? Your concern that they would become scared and hunt us down?’

  Sable’s face became haunted, ‘I have always believed that there would be fear. And Monique’s deeds certainly will not have been helpful.’

  ‘The Legend has been divided, always. Some believe we would be accepted but others believe as you do.’

  ‘And you, Anton, what do you believe?’

  ‘That the time is not yet ready.’

  ‘Monique is already altering the balance of light and dark, Anton. That cannot be acceptable within the universe. Perhaps it is that wider issue; just how far off the equilibrium this planet can be allowed to veer. Maybe that will be the subject of discussion.’

  Anton picked up his glass of wine and took a long drink. Tonight would definitely be a brandy night, he thought, ‘I shall travel on Friday night. At least we are able to have our own full moon ritual.’

  ‘Will Jewel be here or with her own coven?’ Sable, for once during the whole conversation, had a spark of hopefulness.