"I was at school with Daniel Montague," Jules said. "But, unlike Theo here, I was the same age as Daniel and knew him pretty well - including some details that are not quite public. Lily, he was your mother's younger half-brother. It's not common knowledge, but I assumed that you knew, or I would have said something."
"Daniel is my uncle?" I asked, staring at Jules. "But that's impossible! He would never keep a secret like that!"
Jules shrugged.
"As far as I know, it's the truth," he said.
Daniel, my uncle? Daniel, the vicious werewolf who killed my mother?
It felt as if everything I'd ever known collapsed in on itself and slipped like dust from my hands.
Confrontation
I hammered on Daniel's door, beating until my fists hurt, shouting his name until my throat was raw and the words came out in a harsh croak. But for all I banged and screamed, nothing seemed to change within the house. No one came to the door, not even a servant. No curtain twitched, no shape drifted past the glass of a window. Nothing.
I could not cope with this much longer. I felt sick and twisted inside, wrapped in tension so tight that I struggled to breathe. The need to talk to Daniel was growing into an intense desperation that seemed to have gripped every nerve in my body. I must talk to him. I needed to understand.
When it became evident that I would have no progress here at the front door, I decided that the situation required stronger tactics. I let myself in through the gate at the side of the house, into the neat little courtyard that stood beyond. I scanned the windows again, but I still sensed no sign of life. Was the house truly deserted? Perhaps I would have better luck looking for Daniel elsewhere, but I would not leave this place until I had at least confirmed that Daniel was not present.
Picking up a loose cobble from the corner of the courtyard, I hefted in my hand for a second, then threw with all my might. It smashed straight through a ground-floor window, leaving a broad hole. I reached in, careful not to cut myself on the glass, and unfastened the window. It was then easy enough to climb in. I had done this a number of times before, although I had never imagined my childhood escapades assisting me in such a way.
I tiptoed through the small rear parlour and made my way into the corridor beyond. Moving as slowly and quietly as I could, I tested each door. The rooms all seemed deserted. This had been a waste of time.
Then I heard a low growl.
The sound touched at the deepest, darkest parts of my brain. It caught on all my memories of blood and chaos and fear. Shivers rippled up my spine, and I bit down so hard on my scream that I tasted blood - but no sound emerged. I looked about wildly for somewhere to hide. At least I knew Daniel's house as well as my own. I crammed myself behind the small sofa, where a niche in the wall was almost invisible from the outside, but provided enough space for someone of my size to hide. Keeping my breath as shallow as possible, I waited.
The pad of heavy paws. The soft sound of a huge beast breathing. It came closer and closer. I saw nothing except the darkness of the space behind the sofa, but I heard everything. The footsteps grew louder - and then softer again, as the creature passed. I exhaled in relief, but I could not yet relax. The dust from this near-abandoned corner tickled my throat, building pressure. I fought against it, but I was battling the inevitable. I sneezed.
It pounced. The sofa flew away from me, thrown high into the air. I scrambled to my feet, getting out of the way just in time. The wolf slammed against the wall where I had sat only a heartbeat ago. I rushed for the door, but in the darkness I could not see the floor. I slipped on the rug and fell hard, sliding along the floor to slam into the closed door. The wolf did not hesitate.
"I know the truth!" I shouted as the beast leapt for me. "Please, Daniel, I just want to talk to you."
The wolf landed on top of me, heavy paws pinning my shoulders and chest to the ground. But this time, he hesitated.
"Please," I said again, the pressure on my neck stifling the words.
The air rippled, and Daniel's human skin slid back across his form. But his eyes were still yellow and wild in his familiar features, and his hands still pinned me to the floor by my throat. I fought to swallow as I gazed up at the face I knew as well as my own.
"Please, just explain everything," I said, forcing the words out past the pressure of his hands. "I know that you must have had a reason for everything you've done. Please talk to me."
He growled in my face, the sound uncannily inhuman.
My body recoiled in fear, but I held my mind firm. I was stronger than that. This was Daniel. I would not give up so easily.
"I'm on your side, Daniel," I said, tears burning the corners of my eyes. "Please, let me help."
"Don't move," he growled, his voice closer to the sound of a wolf than to the cultured tones I was so familiar with. He moved across the room in a flash, grabbing things from the table against the wall. I only had time to prop myself up on my hands before he slammed into me again, knocking me to the floor. I bit back a scream, trying to stay calm. He fumbled behind me, his hands rough against mine, and I realised he was tying my wrists together. I stayed as still as possible, breathing heavily, fighting the tears threatening to pour from my eyes. My arms were twisted painfully beneath me, and the rope was rough on my wrists, but I resolved not to show my discomfort.
But when a knife appeared in Daniel's other hand and he pressed it against my throat, it was too much for me. I sobbed, my chest heaving as I fought to keep my throat away from the wicked blade. My body wanted to thrash and fight, but my fear kept me paralysed except for the frantic rise and fall of my lungs. Daniel crouched above me, his eyes vividly yellow in the dark room. And then I saw a flash of blue in them and my breathing slowed. I had not yet lost the final part of him.
"Tell me," I said, the words croaking out through my frozen throat, the threat of the knife still half-controlling my body.
For a moment, he only stared at me. Something wet landed on my face and I realised with a start that Daniel was crying.
"It was me all along," he said, his voice rough. "I was the wolf. I killed all those people. It was me."
"I know," I said, my voice shaking. "Why, Daniel?"
Another moment of silence and stillness. It stretched out for too long, the tension excruciating. Then Daniel threw the knife across the room. It clattered against the wooden floor, then all I could hear was the rush of my breath as my terrified lungs fought to recover from the strain.
"Lily, I never meant to hurt you," Daniel said, his own voice now shaking as much as my own. "But you should have stopped hunting. Some mysteries are best left uncovered."
"I know you would never want to hurt me," I said gently. "But what about Alexandra, Daniel? And what about... what about my mother?"
Daniel threw back his head and howled with all the wild ferocity of his wolf-form, and for a moment, I thought I had lost him again. But when he looked down at me again, a faint glint of light caught his eyes, and I saw that they were blue and full of tears.
"Your mother," he said softly. "There will never be any words to express how much I regret what I did to her. I meant what I said, Lily. I loved your mother more than life itself."
"But you killed her," I said.
He nodded.
"I ripped her throat out," he said, and while his eyes dripped tears, there was a hint of childlike pride in his voice that made my stomach turn.
"Why, Daniel?" I asked, hoping my revulsion did not show on my face or in my voice. The knife might be gone, but he still sat astride me, and rope still bound my wrists.
"She had everything I've ever wanted," Daniel said. "All the power, all the talent. Everything. And she was willing to throw it all away for him. For you. I couldn't let her do that. I couldn't stand and watch her become less than she was supposed to be. We could have ruled the world, Lily. But I lost my temper, and it went too far."
More hot tears splashed onto my face. I was fighting back tears of my own now.
"I've tried so hard to make it right," Daniel said hoarsely. "I've tried everything to get her back. All the magic I could find, all the scientists and magicians. Every single one of them failed me."
"Monsieur Lavelle," I breathed. "So that's why you were so interested in his ideas."
"He grew too bold with you," Daniel said fiercely. "He was brilliant, but he deserved to die. I had to protect you."
My lungs felt even tighter than before. Daniel had killed Lavelle? He had never wanted to bring him back at all? It was not only the light in my life that had been a lie; it was the darkness as well. Had I seen the truth in any part of my world?
"Are you still trying to bring her back?" I asked as calmly as possible. Goodness, I was discussing the resurrection of my long-dead mother with her half-brother and murderer. No penny novelist could have dreamt up such a convoluted plot.
"Of course," Daniel said, his eyes wide and bright. "There's a book, Lily. I found it in the Hartfords' library. This time it will work, I'm certain. I planned to ask for your help, but then you started investigating me, and I wasn't sure if I could trust you any more. You've been keeping bad company."
So, Theo and I had been right about the book. It was hard to feel any sense of satisfaction.
"But why all the deaths, Daniel?" I asked. I still tried to keep my voice level. He must not feel as if I judged him.
"There's no life without death," Daniel said, and now I caught the tinge of the madness in his voice. "If I want to bring back someone I love, I have to lose someone I love. I'm sorry, Alexandra, but she will always come first."
He was rambling now.
"Tell me what you plan to do now," I said, aiming for a balance between firm calmness and gentle supportiveness. He sniffed back tears.
"I'm ready to do it," he said. "I'm ready to resurrect my sister and make right my mistakes. Will you help me?"
Wolfsbane
I scanned the shelves desperately, searching for something to help me escape. Daniel had locked me in his workroom (the room equivalent to my own rather more advanced laboratory) while he went to pack. He was full of excitement at the idea that we might finally work together but, clearly, he did not quite trust me. I had failed to hide my horror at the thought of travelling to my mother's grave and exhuming her body.
Daniel's workroom was familiar, but my mind would not focus enough to narrow down on which items might benefit me. Everything seemed a blur of light and dark, a swirl of colours that failed to resolve into recognizable forms. And no matter how much I encouraged my body to relax, I still did not fully believe everything I had seen and heard. Worst of all, grief clutched at my heart, reminding me with every heartbeat that all my love for Daniel had been a lie.
I needed to get out of here. I needed a way to stop this and end the madness. More than anything, I wanted things to return to how they had been before, but I knew that was impossible. The only way was forward - if only I chose which path to take.
Suddenly, I heard a voice in the street outside, faint but distinct. Theo! He had found me. My heart raced back up to full speed. Daniel might have spared me, but he would not hesitate to kill Theo if he saw him as a threat. And what if Theo killed Daniel? Even after all he had done, could I bear to watch him die?
I considered banging on the window shutters. But if Daniel heard me - as, no doubt, his sharp wolf-ears would - I might only make things worse. Instead, I turned back towards the locked door.
"Daniel!" I shouted. "Daniel, come quickly!"
He burst into the workroom, his eyes wild and a roar already pouring from his lips.
"You betrayed me!" he shouted. "You brought him here."
I only had a second to think. But in that second, the swirl of colours and emotions narrowed to a tight focus.
"I would never betray you," I said fiercely. "But you have to get out of here before he finds you. Run out through the back, and I'll slow Theo down. Return and find me when he's gone."
Daniel's expression wavered. Would he take a chance and trust me?
"Dirty witch," he snarled. "You'll pay for this."
The wolf form rippled across his body. For a second, I hoped he might fight it off. But as he collapsed onto all four paws, already bracing for the lunge towards me, I knew my time had run out. Guardian or not, uncle or not, my life was now at risk. I did not much enjoy that feeling.
I slipped the tiny knife from the pocket of my dress. As the wolf lunged, I was ready for it. I whirled to the side, slashing with the narrow blade - carefully coated in wolfsbane. Poisonous to werewolves. The wolf howled and pulled back, throwing its head up to the sky in a scream uncannily close to a human cry. At that precise moment, Theo shouted my name from downstairs.
The wolfsbane would not slow the beast for long. I took a chance and ran, pushing past the wolf and into the hallway.
"Run, Theo!" I shouted, as I stumbled down the stairs and crashed straight into him. He grabbed me by the waist and spun me around, and together we raced out into the street.
A glossy hansom cab was waiting for us, almost invisible in the fog-filtered light. Theo yanked the door opened and handed me in - and not a moment too soon; he was still on the steps when the wolf came skidding out into the road. Inside the cab, Jules took my elbow and lowered me to my seat.
"Move!" Theo shouted. The hansom shot off, the horses screaming and kicking in fear. I grabbed Theo's hands and pulled him into the coach. As I leant to reach him, I had just a second to recognise our daredevil driver as Delilah. Then the door slammed shut and Theo sank onto the seat beside me.
We bounced over cobbles and whirled around street corners, the journey so rough that I gave up sitting and braced myself in a half-crouch.
"We've lost it!" Delilah shouted, her voice faint from outside the box. I yanked the door open and stuck my head out, ignoring the way my teeth rattled as I saw the wolf, far behind us, slink away into an alleyway. I shut the door again, satisfied that we were safe for now. As I sat down, though, it seemed that my teeth would not stop rattling, even as our transport slowed and the journey smoothed.
"I can't believe you let it get away," Jules shouted at Theo. "This was the perfect chance!"
"Do you think I don't know that as well as you?" Theo shouted back. "But Lily's safety was the main priority, and I will not apologise for getting her out of there alive!"
"And what do you expect us to do now?" Jules asked. Even in the darkness of the cab, I could see his chest rising and falling in anger. "We might not get another opportunity like this. It might be anywhere by now."
"It doesn't matter," I said, the calmness of my voice coming as something of a surprise.
Both men turned to look at me. I held up the blood-tainted knife and opened my other hand to show them the hank of hair I had clutched since I ran past the wolf.
"I can cast some powerful magic," I told them. A narrow, red smile carved its way across my face. "And I have everything I need."
Visions of Fire
The anger barely stayed contained beneath my skin as I jumped out of the cab - a hired cab, this time - and marched down the now-familiar dark alley. I had the power to defeat the wolf - but no one would support me. Even Delilah, who I had expected would understand, had said she would not encourage that kind of magic. So I stormed out of the witch hunters' den and hailed a cab. I would find Liliana and Gwyneth, and they would help me. I could not explain how I knew this to be the correct path; something about it simply felt right, deep in my bones.
At the first sight of the inn, however, my heart sank. No candlelight slipped out from beneath the door, and no figures moved behind the dark panes of glass. The place did not look open. In fact, as I scanned the broken shutters and cobweb-littered doorframe, I noticed that it looked as if it had not been open for years. It had always been a little dirty, yes, but had it always appeared so abandoned? What had happened?
I banged hard on the door, reflecting ironically on this pattern I seemed to have stumbled into.
Gone were the days of butlers taking my card and ushering me to a parlour, it seemed. I kept very different company now. There was certainly no butler here. No matter how hard I hammered, no one came to the door.
Turning, I scanned the street. An old woman watched me from a window, her wrinkled face red and raw. I stepped over to her.
"Do you know where the keepers of this inn are?" I called up to her.
She laughed at me and shook her head.
"You're in the wrong place, girl. There's never been an inn here. Get back to where you belong."
She slammed the shutters, disappearing from sight.
I turned back to the inn door, panic tickling at my stomach. Had I come to the wrong place? No, this was the correct alleyway, the same little square as before. I recognised every part of the building, even if it looked more run-down than I remembered. So what had happened? I gazed up at the empty windows and fought back a rush of tears. I was alone, with only the faintest idea of what I should do. My boasts of power and certainty sounded rather hollow now.
A gust of air whirled along the alleyway, dancing around me and snatching the clump of fur from my grip. I snatched for it, but I was too slow. All that remained was a few strands, stuck to my sweaty palm. I stared down at my hand as the panic threatened to overwhelm me. Victory had seemed within my grasp, but it was literally blowing away in the wind.
Soft footsteps echoed behind me. Oddly enough, they seemed to soothe my panic. I knew who it was. The time for thinking was almost over. And then another footstep sounded and my panic rushed back in full force. I hammered on the door, screaming for help. But no one came to my aid.
Out of time.
I turned, keeping my back against the door. Daniel loomed over me, his eyes totally yellow, and his features so twisted that I barely recognised him. He was filthy, coated in dirt and streaks of blood, and he wore nothing but a tattered blanket tied around his waist.
"If you won't help me, you're only in my way," he snarled. "No one else matters."
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