Jewel - Daughter of Destiny

by Alison Smith

‘We should invite her. We always hoped she would be here, with us. Jewel’s powers are gaining energy, a momentum. She should be allowed to decide for herself.’

  Sable drew a quick intake of breath. ‘Do the Legend want to speak to you about Jewel? We’ve waited for her for so long.’

  Anton had no answer for her. There were some within the Legend who would not welcome another strong and powerful woman as a full vampire. He knew that.

  Jewel sat at the kitchen table popping peas from their pods as Diana and Chris were preparing lunch. How could so much change since last Saturday? Just one week. Seven days. Her mind drifted back to the only real worries of a week ago. That Saturday her only worries had been about having the odd nightmare, trying to make sense of Diana’s reading and of tidying her room.

  Suddenly she noticed the table wobble and, instinctively put out her hand to steady it. It raised up off the floor and clattered down, ‘Di, the table’s moving.’ Diana was instantly opposite her and sat, whilst linking her hands with Jewels.

  ‘What do you see,’ she said.

  ‘This is strange, Di,’ Jewel narrowed her eyes, ‘I feel as though I’m in trance but completely awake and conscious.’

  ‘Go with it,’ Diana continued, ‘you’re safe here.’

  It was all that Jewel needed to hear and she relaxed. ‘Beware of the bats circling.’ That was it; the extent of the message and Diana raised her eyebrows in astonishment.

  ‘Beware of the bats!’ Chris’ voice broke into the silence. ‘We look after bats. They’re tiny creatures. Why on earth should we be wary of them.’ He sounded hurt and Jewel looked at her sister. They both knew how hard he worked for ‘Save the Bats’, raising money at every opportunity and spending hours installing bat boxes.

  ‘Perhaps it’s a reminder of what happened at last week’s ramble, Jewel, and that you should stay away this week?’ Diana’s gentle words calmed the atmosphere and Jewel breathed a sigh of relief.

  ‘Yes, that’s it. I had been worried about upsetting you both by not going tomorrow.’

  Monique’s heels tapped over the marble floor. She could still taste the pure blood of the young girl bell ringer.

  ‘Elijah!’

  ‘My Lady?’

  ‘Shall we drink tonight do you think.’ It was said as a statement. She wanted more blood.

  Elijah appeared to pause and she looked at him, surprised that he hadn’t immediately applauded her intention.

  ‘May I advise, My Lady?’

  He rarely advised and she waved her hand for him to continue.

  ‘The bell ringers situation has caused considerable attention.’ Monique smiled. Attention. Excellent.

  He cleared his throat; ‘I think that you would create quite the air of mystery if there was to be nothing else for a while.’ Her mood darkened as he hurriedly continued. ‘Well, at least for a few days. It would be a shame if all of this media interest reached the ears of the Prime legend. Before you know whether he would approve.’

  Monique was thunderous. ‘How could he possibly not approve. We are just being vampires. What we are supposed to be …’ Her voice trailed and then she added, ‘perhaps the words you speak are wise. I shall, of course, consider them carefully. I have to prepare myself for the meeting with him after all and also for the Cleary full moon ritual. Do you have a sacrifice chosen?’

  ‘Yes, My Lady. He is bound in the cellar as we speak.’

  Monique rubbed her hands in glee. A short abstinence and then blood on Thursday night.

  ‘There’s another thing, My Lady.’ His expression was that of a cat with cream she thought, and waited for him to continue. ‘We have received Jewel’s address and she is at home. We’ve been told it so the cloaking magic no longer applies!’

  She was pleased, thrilled. At last that dreadful man could no longer keep her apart from her daughter. She needed to handle this carefully though. Who knew just what lies her poor daughter had been told.

  ‘Perhaps I should extend an invitation to her to visit with me? For early evening tea maybe?’

  ‘What a truly excellent idea, My Lady, quite the proper way to reunite a mother and daughter.’

  ‘Where is the magic ash from the last new moon? I shall convert it to beautiful golden ink and write the invitation myself. And then you shall deliver it.’

  It was late when Chris returned. He’d been to the Tappers’ house and thoroughly checked it over. He reassured Jewel that everything was fine and she left both he and Diana in the kitchen making coffee. She thought that they needed time alone together. Chris was looking tired.

  Jewel sat down in the sitting room and picked up the television guide. Surely there would be an action movie or romance or something else that she could escape into. Before she could decide however the front door bell rang and she went to answer it.

  ‘Hello Jewel.’ Pleased, Jewel ushered Sable into the house just as Diana ran through from the kitchen, Chris behind her. After the introductions were made, Chris went back into the kitchen.

  The girls sat down and there was a silence as if no one knew what to say next.

  ‘How’s Anton?’ Jewel had to ask and Sable smiled.

  ‘He’s well but concerned about … certain events.’

  Diana broke in, ‘You mean all the deaths?’

  ‘Yes, and some other things. That needn’t worry you just now except I do ask that you still be on guard. Please know,’ and she looked directly at Jewel, ‘that Anton’s line, The Genevieve, are good. They’re lightness and have nothing to do with the awfulness of these deaths.’

  ‘I knew that you and Anton couldn’t possibly be connected to them.’ Jewel said.

  ‘Are you vampires too?’ This was from Diana. Jewel looked at her in shock, that hadn’t even crossed her mind. But Diana had read more occult books than she had.

  ‘I thought Anton had told you, dear Jewel?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Our line doesn’t believe in killing, that’s not the way forward. Please know, dear Jewel, that this is the truth. We would never harm any person.’

  Jewel did believe her but still found herself putting out her hand to Diana who gripped it tightly. Sable’s face dropped. She was sad, Jewel knew, and instinctively took Sable’s hand with her other, just as Diana did the same.

  A pale green orb appeared within the centre of the three of them and it expanded to fill the room with a dignified calm as Sable continued, ‘We wish to invite you, dear Jewel, and of course Diana too, to our Full Moon celebration on Thursday. That is why I have come. But we know it’s also your birthday and that you may wish to spend it with the sisters of your own coven. There is no need to reply yet.’

  With that Sable dropped her hands and the others did the same. Jewel hugged her, unsure what to say and was pleased when Diana did the same. The green light had disappeared but the sense of peacefulness remained. Sable bid them good-bye and left as swiftly as she had arrived.

  Elijah had bided his time. He watched Sable’s arrival and then her subsequent departure from Jewel’s house. There had been a moment when he had thought she detected him; she had paused outside the door and, visibly, shivered. But she had picked up her robe and glided away, back to the black car waiting for her.

  He carefully posted the invitation through Jewel’s letterbox. It was well cloaked and only Jewel should be able to find it. But he hadn’t wanted to take the risk of Sable, who may have been able to sense its presence, exposing it. So he had waited and was sure that Monique would be pleased with him. He hoped so.

  After Sable left, Diana had gone through to the kitchen to talk to Chris. Jewel decided to take a long bath and as she leant back, surrounded by bubbles, she thought about the startling revelation that Anton and Sable were vampires. She and Diana had discussed ages ago that psychic vampires existed; they even knew a couple, but actual vampires? Diana had always been convinced that the myths were based on fact. Jewel had never been so sure. But, she had to admit, she was sure now. Then she sat u
p in the bath so sharply that water and bubbles cascaded over the edge of the bath. That made her, Jewel, a vampire. Or at least half a vampire. Was that a vamp? Or a pire?

  After her bath Jewel dressed in a long green caftan. She needed to feel comfortable and decided on a hot chocolate before bed. She put out her hand to open the bedroom door and felt a familiar pull of her senses. It was the beginning of trance, or of her latest experience of not quite trance. She sat on the edge of the bed and narrowed her eyes. She felt strong enough to do this without any help.

  It unfolded in front of her eyes as a film. Sable stood, held in a strong grip by a man whose features Jewel couldn’t quite make out. Another woman strode in front of Sable. They were in a forest. The woman seemed familiar. Jewel was oddly detached as she watched this woman put out her hand and closed Sable’s eyes firmly. She heard Sable scream and the woman laugh. And then the vision changed and Anton carried Sable away. Anton had saved Sable when she had been left, blind, amongst the trees. The vision ended and with it her sense of detachment.

  How had poor Sable been able to cope with that? Tears streamed down Jewel’s face and she grabbed a tissue. But Sable had survived and, obviously had a good life now. Jewel remembered the sense of pride with which Sable had spoken of her garden and her warmth and love.

  She heard Diana’s voice calling her and went down stairs. Diana was in the sitting room and had her crystal ball on the small coffee table.

  ‘Jewel, does Anton have long dark hair? Is he tall and with broad shoulders?’ Diana’s voice was excited and Jewel sat down next to her on the settee.

  ‘You’ve seen him.’ It was all she needed to say and her sister turned back to the ball.

  ‘There’s a mass of shadows but I’ve seen him.’ Diana peered intently and then continued. ‘He’s there. In a garden. It’s twilight and you’re there too.’

  ‘Are you seeing the past?’ Jewel asked.

  ‘You’re both standing, hand in hand, by a stone sundial. It’s the same place that I saw you when you were missing. A garden of herbs.’

  ‘That was the time I sent you the message that I was well.’ Jewel sat in thought for a moment, ‘Anton and I were never in that garden together. In fact he was only outside with me once, when I tried to escape. But that was the front lawn, nowhere near the herb garden.’

  ‘Then it’s the future, Jewel’ Diana said, ‘I’m being told that you are an Attrahere.’ Her voice trailed then and Jewel knew that the connection was being broken.

  ‘What’s an Attra …?’ she asked.

  ‘Attrahere. I’ve never heard of it,’ her sister answered, ‘but I’m sure we’ll have a book on it. I’ve books about nearly everything occult. And information on vampires.’ She looked at Jewel as if wondering whether to continue. Jewel wanted to know though and nodded to her.

  ‘I thought earlier in the week that there was more to all of these deaths than could be explained humanly. Monique is obviously a vampire and now we know that Anton is too. You’re not related to Anton?’ Almost a change of subject, Jewel thought, and shook her head. At least she didn’t think so. But had she been told everything?

  ‘I don’t think I can be, Di, we kissed.’

  ‘That doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not related.’ There was a wry note in her voice.

  Jewel slumped down into the settee. So many questions. Diana patted her hand.

  ‘Chris has gone to bed as he’s still going on the ramble tomorrow but I’m not. Let’s open a bottle of wine, get out some books and do some research. We need to discover just what your heritage might be. It seems that not only are you my half sister but half vampire too.’ Jewel gulped, how could Diana be so matter of fact about it all?

  ‘I think I’d prefer just a large glass of wine,’ Jewel said but, at the same time, she realised her sister now had a mission and was sitting down in front of the tall bookcase.

  ‘Hmm,’ Diana muttered, ‘and also, if I can find it, what being an Attrahere means.’

  Chapter 8

  ‘Sir.’ Nik stood upright as he faced his superior. They were under a railway bridge by the side of the old canal. The air was chilled and musty, a direct contrast to the hot noon sun beating down outside. Nik’s eyes had taken just a moment to adjust to the gloominess. A gloominess necessary for this most private of meetings.

  ‘I have files dating back to the nineteen fifties.’ His superior said and gestured to a brown cardboard box on the ground. ‘All unsolved cases. All deaths with body parts removed and, mostly, never found. Also a few missing people.’

  Nik smiled. More clues. Possibly.

  ‘Are they all thought to be vampire related?’

  ‘Either vampire or non-human ritual. I was fascinated by your report regarding Jewel Tapper.’ There seemed to be a question lingering in the air between them and Nik wondered what it was. He had included everything in his notes.

  ‘She has an unusual parentage.’ His superior continued. ‘We have established that her mother is vampire.’ He stopped as Nik drew in a startled breath. How had he, Nik, missed that in his observation of Jewel’s aura?

  ‘So who was her father?’ Nik asked. That could be the only possible reason that Jewel’s vampirism was so well hidden. Did she even know?

  ‘You knew her father.’ His superior said heavily. ‘Her father was David Webster.’

  Nik allowed himself to lean against the crumbling stone of the wall. He needed to feel something solid.

  ‘Sir, I know the details of that case by heart; I looked at it so often. He was a friend, a good man who loved this life and his family beyond anything. It was truly shocking. How could a magician of his power have vanished? A seventh son of a seventh son and we had traced his lineage to Merlin. He was so close to infiltrating a vampire line. I had scheduled a meeting with him that I know nothing would have kept him from. He just completely disappeared leaving his wife and daughter all alone in the world.’

  ‘You realise, of course, that the other daughter is Diana.’

  ‘Yes. She’s grown into a beautiful young woman. I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet her. Unhappy, though, at the shock she had been through.’

  ‘It’s no coincidence that the two girls, half sisters, are together. Make sure you schedule regular meetings with them. Keep watching, Nik. They may well hold much more for us than just clues about the Tappers’ deaths.’

  With that the two men parted company and Nik picked up the box of files. Walking back into the sunshine, he took a moment to allow his eyes to adjust and for his shoulders to droop. The box tucked under one arm and using the cane, he slowly made his way towards the police station and the small office that he had been assigned. It suited him that it was a box room and normally only used for storage. Underground and lockable, he doubted whether many people even knew the room existed.

  Jewel walked into the kitchen to find Diana already there. They’d both slept well into the afternoon having read through dozens of books in the early hours of the morning.

  ‘Chris phoned,’ Diana said. ‘He’ll be home later this evening.’

  ‘How’s the ramble going?’ Jewel asked. She shivered at the fleeting memory of running through trees and of being chased.

  ‘Nearly everyone came, which was good. Chris was worried that your abduction might have put people off. That was why he wanted to go today. How did you sleep?’

  Jewel sat down and gratefully accepted a steaming mug of coffee.

  ‘I had a dream. A dream of Bradley in a stone circle.’

  ‘You need to …’ Diana’s voice trailed. ‘Actually WE need to start trusting your dreams. How did he seem?’

  ‘He was asleep, next to a tall rectangular standing stone. There was a strong light from the moon. And then I saw Katryn running towards him.’

  The toaster popped and Jewel realised she was hungry. Diana buttered the toast and put another two slices of bread into the toaster. She turned and placed the plate in front of Jewel.

  ‘Ka
tryn’s mobile is out of range but, as soon as she calls, we should tell her of your dream. Perhaps there’s a special stone circle they’ve visited.’

  The toaster popped again and Diana sat down at the table with a plate and the butter dish.

  As Jewel sipped her coffee a thought occurred to her.

  ‘Diana, the dictionary defined Attrahere as the Latin root of the word attract. So we know it’s about a drawing towards but what if it’s easier than that. Like magnetism or gravity.’

  Diana looked directly at her and Jewel could see the light of understanding in her gaze.

  ‘That’s like energies or objects coming together that were opposed to being separated in the first place.’ She said.

  ‘Exactly,’ Jewel was pleased, ‘maybe I only have to intend to influence.’ She took a sip of her tea whilst watching Diana who appeared deep in thought.

  Moments later and Diana smiled. ‘I’ve never been able to manifest objects and it’s not from a lack of trying.’ Her voice grew excited. ‘Try, Jewel; but choose something small to start.’

  Jewel remained seated. She hadn’t told Diana everything that had happened when she had been with Anton but now she knew, with deep certainty, that when her intention had been expressed as an order … magic had happened.

  ‘I need a feather to appear on this table right now!’ She called it and both girls looked on in amazement at the large peacock feather that suddenly appeared on the table. She called for a glass filled with salt, a small bowl of water and finally, a lit candle in a holder. Everything materialised on the table and Diana quickly scooped their plates away.

  ‘So you have the four elements in place, what now?’ she smiled.

  ‘I need Bradley’s location as a vision,’ Jewel called loudly and assuredly. The doorbell rang and both girls jumped, looking at each other in astonishment. ‘It can’t be,’ Jewel said and Diana immediately went to the hall. Jewel heard William’s voice though and felt a momentary deflation. She had so hoped that it would have been Bradley. Obviously she still had some practice to do.

  Diana ushered William into the kitchen and Jewel immediately stood to go to him. So much had happened over the last few days and she knew he would be grieving for their parents.