by Sam Stone
I hurried back towards the door, weaving in and out of the rows to avoid contact with the searching monsters. Time was running out. The fuse was lit and this whole place was due to go up any second.
As I reached the door, the first explosion went off at the back of the warehouse. The building shook and the two skinners blocking my exit looked around surprised.
‘Pepper, open the door!’ I yelled as I barrelled out from behind the crates and ran full pelt towards the creatures. I aimed the laser and pulled the trigger, a burst of light poured from the gun, striking at the eyes of one of the skinners. He fell aside, blinded and screaming. The other threw himself sideways away from the door as I rushed forward.
I lit the final bomb as I ran. Its fuse was so short I knew I would just have time to drop it and run but so far Pepper hadn’t opened the door. I glanced over my shoulder. More than six of the skinners were making their way back towards me. I ran full pelt, dropped the bomb and tugged the door just as Pepper opened it.
I fell out, tumbling to my knees on the floor. Pepper slammed the door shut, grabbed my arm and lifted me up. Though winded, I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, and was astounded as Pepper half-hobbled, half-ran, refusing to let his bad leg hold us up. We reached the stack of empty crates where I had hidden the baby and I scooped him up, ducking down as the warehouse went up in a series of explosions.
Pepper, ever the gentleman, threw himself over the baby and I, shielding us from a spray of glass that rained down from the roof windows.
I heard the yawn and groan as the timber beams gave in and the old building stumbled and fell as the support collapsed in on itself.
Pepper jumped up with more agility than he should have, and rushed back to the building to ensure that none of the skinners had escaped.
I looked down at the little baby in my arms and I could have sworn he was smiling in his sleep.
3
New Orleans: A Few Months Later
The train rattled along the tracks. Steam and smoke blew past the window of our first class carriage. Mother had been pleased that we were able to afford one, and not have to mix with the ‘rabble’ outside. We were on the final leg of the journey after travelling for three days, with two overnight stops.
‘How much longer?’ my kid sister Sally whined. She was thirteen and had become even more difficult recently.
‘We’re almost there,’ Mother said. ‘Have a lemon drop …’
Mother had been feeding her candy for the last hour and Pepper had been trying his best to entertain her by performing a few card tricks he had learnt in his army days. I was impressed with him because it was obvious that the journey was taking its toll, and his old war wound was causing him discomfort.
‘Why don’t we stretch our legs a little?’ I suggested.
‘That’s a great idea,’ Pepper said. He winced as he stood, but he followed me, reticule and all, out into the train corridor.
‘I propose we walk down to the dining car and back …’ I said. ‘That should help relieve some of the fatigue.’
It had been a trying journey for us all, especially as Mother wasn’t too impressed that George Pepper had insisted on coming with us, and I had done little to discourage him.
‘Don’t be long, dear,’ Mother said as Pepper turned to close the door behind us.
Mother didn’t quite understand how Pepper and I could spend so much time together yet have no romantic interest in each other. Mother, of course, hadn’t seen the things that we had seen. She saw that Pepper was an attractive man, with his pale blond hair and bright blue eyes. His soldier’s physique and sharp wit would probably appeal to most women. But he and Martin were my trusted friends and colleagues in a way that Mother couldn’t relate to and thought was inappropriate.
I didn’t want her to know the full facts of how I now earned my living even though I think she knew on a subconscious level. She quite literally turned a blind eye when I left the house dressed as a man. Breeches where so much more practical than a wide skirt when you were chasing down a banshee, or scaring off a demon dressed as a little boy. And she never questioned the frequent visits I made to the police station. Nor the odd telegraphs I received from Inspector Stark asking me for urgent assistance. On those occasions, I would rush upstairs, change, arm up, and then call next door for Pepper. The two of us would hail a cab and disappear for hours, often returning dirty, bedraggled and with a pouch full of money.
Even so, being funded by the police to rid the city of these pests would only remain lucrative while the demons were around. Although I sometimes wished that we had seen the last of them, and I could take a ‘normal’ job to support Mother and Sally, I knew that I would miss the action and adrenaline that had become so important to my survival. Somehow I doubted that I would be able to work and live in a way that would be deemed ‘normal’ now.
Pepper and I moved along the narrow corridor towards the buffet car. As we walked his limp became less pronounced and he stopped wincing and I realised that stretching out was helping him a great deal. His injury had improved a lot over the last few years, and although he would never walk completely without a hobble, he had certainly improved his ability to run.
We opened the door and stepped out onto the short bridge between the cars. The rush of air from the moving train felt wonderful. The closer we got to New Orleans, the more the temperature rose. It was late October and so the continued heat was something of a surprise to me. I held onto the railing and looked out over the land either side of the track, breathing in the warm air, feeling the rush of the wind, while Pepper stared out of the other side.
‘Almost there,’ I said, a feeling of anticipation fuelling the strange enthusiasm I felt for the trip.
‘This will be a well earned rest for us all,’ Pepper said.
‘Yes,’ I nodded. ‘I know.’
The door to the buffet car opened and a striking young man came out. I leaned back against the rail as he went to pass me. Then his eyes met mine and I gasped. They were a bright amber in colour and I had only ever seen eyes like this once before: he was nephilim.
‘Excuse me, Miss’ he said politely.
I was too surprised to react, and it was too public a place to despatch the creature without drawing attention to ourselves.
He frowned a little as he noticed my scrutiny. He was dressed as any Southern gentleman might be. Smart breeches in grey, a pristine white shirt under a long black jacket, and a wide-brimmed hat to shade his face from the sun.
‘Are you alright?’ he drawled, running his finger over his handle-bar moustache as though he felt that this might be the cause of my shocked expression.
I wasn’t all right. I felt strange. A previous neph that I had encountered had told me things about the underworld in an attempt to save his life. He had also told me that not all nephs knew what they were. That didn’t mean they weren’t evil though. I wondered if this neph knew his identity, or whether he truly believed he was the Southern gentleman he appeared to be.
‘Kat?’ said Pepper behind the neph.
The man turned. ‘Good day, Sir,’ he said. ‘Your lady seems to be feeling a little …’
Pepper drew in a breath as he caught sight of the man’s eyes.
‘Let me introduce myself. I’m Orlando Pollitt.’ The neph held out his hand to Pepper. ‘And believe me I’m used to that reaction to my eyes, so no need to be embarrassed.’
Pepper shook Pollitt’s hand warily while I regained my senses. I had been momentarily lost in the beauty of his eyes, especially the kindness that seemed to be in them. I was intrigued and my natural instinct to maim and kill anything remotely linked to the Darkness was completely numbed.
‘Pollitt …?’ I stammered. ‘Are you any relation to Margaret Pollitt?’
‘Why yes … that’s my sister,’ Orlando said.
Pepper and I exchanged glances.
‘I’m Katherine Lightfoot,’ I said, quickly regaining my composure. ‘And this is my collea
gue, Mr George Pepper. Your sister married my brother, Henry, and we are travelling to visit and take part in the festivities.’
Maybe Orlando had no clue that he was a cross-breed. He had been brought up, I hoped, in a normal family environment. Although I wouldn’t know that until I reached the plantation and took stock of the Pollitts. You see nephilims aren’t just demons. They are the result of an unholy coupling, of a demon male with a human female, which meant that Orlando’s mother had been seduced by one. She may not even know that her child was different. But all of this raised the question of the wife my brother had chosen. Could it be that my brother Henry had married the offspring of a demon?
‘Why, that’s wonderful!’ Orlando said. ‘I didn’t realise that Henry Lightfoot had such a darling lady for a sister. This is going to be so much more fun that I had ever imagined it would be. Welcome to New Orleans, Miss Lightfoot, Mr Pepper. It’s great to have you folks here.’
I was tired from the journey and Mother and Sally’s impatience, but it wasn’t like me to be so confused by a demon. Demon blood meant ‘evil’ as far as I was concerned, but I wasn’t getting Darkness vibes from Orlando. My reaction to him was quite the reverse and I was sure that Pepper was feeling the same. And he really was rather lovely to look at. He looked angelic, not demonic. But then I recalled the urchin in the warehouse. Perhaps Orlando was using some form of glamour? I blinked several times, but my vision didn’t alter, in fact the more I looked at him, the more attractive he appeared to be. Even so, I could see no evidence at all of magic.
‘You must come and meet my mother and sister,’ I found myself saying.
I ignored the frown that appeared on Pepper’s brow as I led Orlando back to our car. But I knew he didn’t know how to react to Orlando either. Plus, what else was I going to do? I couldn’t just kill the brother of Henry’s new wife, in public, for no apparent reason. Particularly when he seemed so normal.
A few minutes later, soon after the introductions were made, the train pulled into the station.
As we climbed from the carriage, Orlando was greeted by a tall black man.
‘Why, Mister Orlando! You back. We weren’t expecting you for a day or two.’
‘I suspect you’re here to collect these good folks then, Isaac?’ said Orlando.
‘Mrs Lightfoot?’ Isaac said nodding. ‘Oh yes, Sir. Big Daddy and Big Momma is looking forward to meeting them …’
‘This is incredible,’ said Mother as Orlando sent Isaac to organise two carriages. I could see that all of her concerns about the trip were being laid to rest by the charm Orlando exuded. Both she and Sally were calmer than they had been since the start of the journey, or indeed since we received the letter telling us of Henry’s elopement.
We climbed into an open top carriage that Isaac brought to take us all to the Pollitt Plantation, while our luggage was loaded onto a hired cart.
‘Let me take that bag for you, Miss Katherine,’ said Orlando.
‘That’s fine, I prefer to carry this one myself,’ I said.
Orlando looked confused, but allowed me to hold onto my carpet bag without further comment. Demons were good at pretending to be people, and although Orlando appeared to be genuinely unaware of his heritage, I wasn’t going to take any chances with Mother and Sally’s lives.
‘Kat!’ said Sally rudely as she climbed up into the carriage. ‘What’s with his eyes?’
The carriage afforded us a cool breeze, and Orlando was charming Mother almost as much as Sally, who had become uncharacteristically shy around him.
Orlando had seated me in the back, facing our journey and had placed Mother and Sally opposite. Then he sat down beside me, leaving Pepper no choice but to sit next to Mother. He was nearest the carriage down on my right and so directly opposite me. I had placed the carpet bag down at my feet between us for ease of access.
‘What a charming family you have,’ Orlando said to Mother. ‘And two lovely daughters …’ at which Sally blushed redder than I had ever seen her. ‘But I don’t understand who …?’
‘Oh, Pepper? He is my friend,’ I said.
Orlando’s eyes scrutinised us both as Mother looked away embarrassed. She would of course find Pepper very difficult to explain this week. Unlike if we were betrothed. But I’d had too many arguments with her, trying to explain that this was unlikely to ever happen.
‘So you two are …?’ Orlando said.
‘Good heavens no!’ I said. ‘We are just friends. Pepper is practically family though …’
‘Why, that’s mighty interesting to hear …’ Orlando said and his smile implied that he was very pleased indeed.
It was now my turn to blush. I looked away, straight into the eyes of Pepper. He appeared pale compared to the darker, sun-seared skin of Orlando. His blue eyes were confused, hurt. It made me feel strange inside. There was a dull ache in my stomach at the thought that I had somehow upset him. Pepper was my dearest friend. He had saved my life on more occasions than I could recall. I mulled over what had been said, and couldn’t figure out what might have upset him. Maybe it was just this close proximity to the nephilim? It certainly confused and disturbed me.
At that moment the carriage went over a bump and I was jostled, and almost thrown off my seat. Orlando caught me around the waist and held me way longer than was appropriate. I pulled away and sat back more securely in the seat. When I was resettled I looked across at Mother and noticed she was smiling very broadly at Orlando. There was an interesting expression on her face that I couldn’t read. She liked him. He was charming. And I could feel a strange tingling warmth around my waist where his hands had been.
‘Miss Katherine,’ Orlando said. ‘If you just look over this way you can see my family’s plantation. It’s a few miles away yet, but we are now on Pollitt land.’
He leaned closer, pointing towards a huge white building on the horizon. I could smell his masculine cologne.
‘Stunning!’ I said.
‘Yes,’ Orlando breathed, and I felt that same blush blooming once more on my cheeks as I glanced back and found he was looking at me, and not the house on the horizon. Orlando made me feel peculiar. His interest both flattered and embarrassed me. It made me feel somewhat like an ordinary girl, and not the demon-slayer that I knew I was.
A short way up we came across a row of huts, each fronted by a short porch. There were several black men busily working around the huts. One was up a ladder and was hammering a wooden facia back in place, while another man was painting the front walls with a dark wood stain.
‘What’s this?’ asked Mother.
‘These are the workers’ homes,’ said Orlando. ‘Big Daddy has given them leave to make some improvements.’
‘They aren’t slaves are they?’ blurted Sally.
‘Miss Sally,’ said Orlando. ‘Everyone on Pollitt land is a free man or woman. We were already making changes here, long before the war. Isn’t that right Isaac?’
Isaac was sat in the front of the carriage, next to the driver and he turned in his seat to look back at us.
‘Yes Sir, Mister Orlando. That’s why there’s so many people still here working. Pollitt Plantation has housed freed-slaves for many years. We work here for a living, like white folks do.’
‘That’s really admirable …’ Pepper said, breaking the silence he had maintained so far.
‘Why thank you Mr Pepper,’ said Orlando. ‘Fortunately our radical thinking made things easier for us on Pollitt Plantation than most folks in these parts. Which is why my Momma and Daddy are so happy to welcome y’all and to have such a kind man marry into the family.’
‘Henry is kind,’ I said. ‘I’m looking forward to seeing him. We haven’t seen him now for several years, even though he has always maintained contact by letter.’
The carriage continued on, but inside I was wondering what this visit might bring.
4
The main house was indeed impressive. An imposing mansion with whitewashed walls that gleamed in
the sunshine. Two grand staircases extended upwards to the entrance at either side of the large front door. Orlando led us up the steps on the left and the door opened as though by some will of its own. A row of servants lined the entrance hall of a magnificent hallway. A cream coloured marble floor gave way to an even more striking central staircase that led upwards to a first landing, then split in two to cover either side of a balcony that traversed the entire hallway. Doors and rooms led off the balcony, as did, I soon learnt, corridors that serviced wings stretching out right and left of the house.
Either side of the hallway were two sets of doors, and two further corridors that led away to other rooms, cloning the landings above.
‘My!’ said Mother as she stepped over the threshold.
She didn’t have to say more than that. I understood completely what she was feeling. None of us had ever seen such an impressive house before. It was so big that I was certain we could get lost inside in it if we weren’t careful to mark our direction.
‘This is a large house,’ Orlando said, reading our minds. ‘Probably not such a good idea to wander off alone until you know your way around.’
He looked at Sally while he spoke, but I felt that the warning was addressed to us all. It made me feel slightly uncomfortable. As though this meant that the many corridors and rooms held secrets which we were not going to be made privy to. Of course this was understandable in the circumstances. We were strangers, even if Henry had married into the family. We were also Northerners. And I was certain there would be some prejudices hidden behind the welcoming smiles. It was only to be expected.
‘The Lightfoots, I presume!’ said a voice from above.
I looked up to see an attractive woman of similar age to Mother, but wealth and privilege made her appear much younger. She was wearing the most daring dress I had ever seen. The pale green skirt was wide, something you might wear to a ball, rather than every day. Her shoulders were bare, and she wore a large, bulky necklace made up of red and green jewels. It could have been paste jewellery – it was so ostentatious – but I was certain that the jewels were genuine rubies and emeralds set in solid gold.
