by TJ Green
“Really? What?”
Reuben grinned triumphantly. “This has nothing to do with our magic.”
***
Genevieve lived in an elegant Georgian house on a quiet side street in Falmouth, and it suited her perfectly. And surprisingly, it was full of toys. Avery could see toys on the floor of the hall, and a box full of them in the room to the right of the front door.
Genevieve must have noticed Avery’s puzzled expression. “I have three kids,” she explained. “They’re in there, watching TV.”
“I had no idea,” Avery said, feeling terrible that she didn’t know this detail about her life.
“That’s because I never mentioned it,” she explained, without adding any other information about them. Avery presumed she wanted to keep her private life private, and that somewhere around the house was the children’s father, or she couldn’t have left them alone.
Genevieve shrugged apologetically as she took their coats. “I’m sorry this meeting was called on such short notice, but it’s important. And, I’ve only invited a few of the coven. I decided to keep numbers down, which may potentially annoy a few of our members, but it’s tough. Head upstairs and take the first right. We’re meeting in my spell room.”
“Hey, you’re the boss,” Reuben said. “Sorry if I gate-crashed, but we were together all afternoon anyway.”
“That’s fine,” she said, brushing off his apologies. “I’ll grab snacks, and meet you up there.”
Genevieve looked rattled, which was unusual. Avery was used to her being abrupt and rude, but this was a side she hadn’t seen before. She watched her head down the hall, and then followed Reuben upstairs.
Genevieve’s spell room turned out to be a long room at the rear of the house, lit with corner lamps, candles, and filled with the scent of vanilla. It was carpeted with soft coir matting on top of which were colourful rugs. The whole of the long interior wall opposite the windows was lined with shelves filled with magical paraphernalia and books, and just inside the door was a large worktable crowded with documents. At the other end of the room, next to the fireplace, were a chaise longue and a table filled with a selection of drinks, but there was no other furniture at all except for lots of large floor cushions and low, round tables. Avery felt it was like a scene from the Arabian Nights.
Rasmus and Eve were already there. Rasmus stood with his back to the fire, his hands nursing a small glass of what looked like sherry. He was again wearing one of his dark velvet smoking jackets and straight black trousers, and his shock of white hair stood up on his head. He looked grumpy, lost within his thoughts, barely acknowledging their arrival.
Eve was browsing Genevieve’s bookshelves and she smiled when they arrived, clearly pleased to see them, but once they’d exchanged greetings, her smile dropped.
“I hoped Genevieve had invited you. These deaths are horrible.”
Avery agreed. “The worst. We’re looking forward to seeing what everyone thinks about the cause.”
“I have no idea,” Eve confessed. “All I know is what I’ve seen on the news, and they’re not saying much. And neither did Genevieve.”
“Newton told us what little we know,” Avery said, taking a glass of gin and tonic from Reuben after he’d mixed drinks from the stand in the corner. “The victims appear to have been partially drained of blood, which suggests something supernatural. I presume Genevieve must know that, too.”
“Any ideas, Rasmus?” Eve asked, catching his eye.
“None that I want to share right now,” he grunted. His face creased with lines of worry.
Avery was about to ask him more when Oswald, Caspian, and Jasper arrived, carrying in a waft of bitter cold air.
“I wish I’d known you were coming,” Oswald said to Avery and Reuben. “I’d have grabbed a lift.” He looked chilled and tired, dark circles beneath his eyes, and he immediately headed to the fire to stand next to Rasmus.
“Sorry,” Reuben said. “We haven’t been in White Haven all afternoon. Drink?”
“Whiskey, and make it large.”
Reuben suppressed a grin as he fixed his drink, but then Oswald immediately fell into a hushed discussion with Rasmus, and Caspian and Jasper raised quizzical eyebrows at the others. They joined Eve and Avery, while Reuben played barman.
“It seems we must again meet while under stress,” Jasper said in his low voice.
“At least we’re not facing the Wild Hunt,” Caspian said, accepting a whiskey.
“How’s the young witch who was injured?” Avery asked Jasper.
“Mina has made a good recovery, thank you, but I will leave her out of whatever’s going on here. She’s not ready.” He shook his head regretfully. “I think the events of Samhain have troubled many members of the coven, and that’s why Genevieve has left some out of tonight’s meeting.”
“Very true,” Genevieve said as she swept into the room, followed by Claudia, who, to Avery’s eyes at least, looked like a mad bohemian in her long, flowing dress with a bold print. She caught Eve’s wide-eyed expression and turned away, trying to not to giggle. Genevieve carried on, regardless. “This series of murders is not for the faint-hearted. I need witches I can rely on.”
“I’m glad we meet your expectations,” Caspian drawled.
“You might not be when I tell you what I think we’re facing.” She looked grim as she and Rasmus stared at each other for a long moment. “Sit, all of you.”
They arranged themselves in a rough circle, each finding a comfortable cushion to sit on, and Avery slipped her boots off and crossed her legs as she settled herself in. This felt like things may go on for some time.
Genevieve placed a tray of biscuits and cheese on the floor within easy reach of everyone, and then also sat cross-legged on a large cushion. “I’ll let Claudia explain.”
Claudia began without preamble. “We have seen this before.”
“What? The murders?” Eve asked, confused.
“Yes, three girls to start with, and then there’ll be more—men, too.”
They glanced at each other, alarmed.
“Who’s we?” Avery asked.
“Myself, Rasmus, and Oswald. We’re the only ones old enough.” She closed her eyes briefly, as if to suppress a memory. “We didn’t know what we were hunting then—at first—and we didn’t even know if the deaths were linked. They were spread all over Cornwall, in small communities. News wasn’t as instant as it is now. We were slow to act then, but now…” Her words hung on the air.
“I’m not sure I have the energy for it,” Rasmus said, his gravelly voice full of sorrow. “Hunting takes energy I haven’t got.”
Genevieve’s tone was strident. “There’s nothing wrong with your magic, Rasmus. It’s better than most.”
He made a gesture with his hand as if to brush her off, and a wave of magic washed around the room, carrying a note of regret that hung sorrowfully on the air. “It’s not my magic I doubt.”
“Can you get to the point?” Caspian said, narrowing his eyes. “It’s a little late in the day for games.”
“I hate to say the word,” Rasmus said, distaste written all over his face.
Oswald huffed impatiently. “It’s a bloody vampire. I hate the damn things. They bring death wherever they go.”
Avery’s breath caught in her chest. It was one thing to speculate about vampires, but another to have it confirmed.
“Are you sure?” Reuben asked, leaning forward, his hand gripping his glass.
“The last time this happened, ten people were killed before we could stop it, and all ten rose from the dead.”
“Rose from the dead?” Eve was incredulous. “But how do you know? What did you do with all of them?
Claudia answered, her tone flat. “We had to kill every single one of them.”
“How?”
“A mixture of beheadings and stakes through the heart.” Her voice was so matter of fact that Avery couldn’t quite comprehend it.
“And I burn
t one,” Oswald added, looking only into his drink. It was as if he couldn’t bear to look them in the eye. “Don’t forget that. I can’t.”
The room was silent for a moment, the younger witches all wide-eyed in shock.
Genevieve took a hefty slug of her drink. “Now you know why I only need witches I can rely on.”
Caspian frowned. “Was my father involved?”
“Yes,” Rasmus said. “He was one of our most effective hunters. He killed four of them.”
Caspian nodded vacantly, and Avery realised he was having as much difficulty absorbing this as the rest of them.
“But not mine, I presume,” Reuben asked. “We were ex-communicado.”
“No one from White Haven,” Claudia confirmed. “There were other witches involved, of course, across Cornwall, but they have since died, or moved from here. And a couple of our members were killed in the fight. It was a horrible time.”
Reuben looked alarmed. “Witches died?”
“Oh, yes. Make no mistake,” Rasmus said. “Vampires are a deadly enemy. This is not Twilight. They do not take humans as lovers. They have no emotion. They are killers, monsters, bloodsuckers, evil parasites—” His voice broke and he sobbed, bringing a hand to his face.
“Old friend,” Oswald said, patting his shoulder and looking very tearful himself. “We should have left you out of this.”
“No.” Rasmus’s head shot up, his expression fierce. “I will not back away.” He looked at the other witches defiantly. “You should know that my wife was killed by one of these things. We had been married for only a few years. We were trying to have children.” His voice broke again. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have said.”
Shock rippled around the room, along with the murmur of condolences, and Eve said, “I’m so sorry, Rasmus. I had no idea.”
“I don’t speak of it,” Rasmus confessed. “It’s far too painful, even now.”
“Our biggest regret, and there were many, trust me,” Claudia said, finally lifting her gaze from Rasmus. “Another, of course, was that we never found the vampire who’d turned them all.”
“Ah,” Reuben said, comprehension dawning. “And now he’s back.”
“It seems so.”
Reuben’s pale blue eyes, normally so teasing, had darkened like a stormy sea. “Apart from a stake through the heart, beheading, and fire, are there any other ways to kill a vampire?”
“Holy water will slow it down,” Claudia said. “Stabbing, maiming, and shooting it will also slow it, but to my knowledge, only those three things guarantee death. I also burnt them after staking, anyway. I like to be sure.”
This is a nightmare. Avery tried to imagine Claudia doing such things, but it was impossible to envisage this exotic older lady, and the very dapper Oswald and Rasmus, as being vampire killers. I’m going to wake up and laugh about this. But then Avery met Reuben’s troubled gaze, and knew it was very real.
“How do we find it?” Caspian asked. “And why did it stop the last time?”
“Unfortunately,” Oswald said, rising to his feet slowly and heading to the table to top up his drink, “we have no answer to either question.”
If the mood was grim before, it now felt worse. A wind whipped up outside and rattled the window, causing every single one of them to jump.
“And the victims? Once they’ve been bitten and killed, is there a way to prevent them from turning?” Caspian asked.
“Not that we know of, but for us it was too late, anyway,” Claudia said.
Genevieve spoke for the first time in a while. She had been listening, and Avery could see her calculating possibilities and strategies. “How long until the dead walk again?”
Claudia thought for a moment. “I think it was about four days. That’s when they disappeared from the morgue.”
“In theory, then, the first girl will disappear tonight?”
“Yes.”
She exhaled and seemed to shrink, cowed by the news. “By the holy Goddess. This is a disaster.”
“But we know what we’re fighting now,” Oswald pointed out, “unlike before. We can start the hunt sooner, and hopefully prevent more deaths.”
“Right,” Jasper said decisively. “We need a plan. Potentially, we should split up tasks to make our attack more efficient. I will do whatever you need me to. Genevieve?”
“Thank you, Jasper. I have been giving this some thought. We need to do several things, the most important being to find its lair. It cannot walk in the day, therefore it must be somewhere dark and secure.”
“We are sure it can’t walk in the day?” Eve asked. “It couldn’t be disguised as something human?”
“I’m pretty sure not,” Jasper said. “I have researched vampire lore, and there is nothing that suggests they can overcome their inability to walk in the sun. It will kill them instantly.”
Oswald agreed. “Yes, that’s what we believe, too, and nothing suggested otherwise all those years ago.”
Eve looked relieved. “Good. That’s something, at least.”
Genevieve continued, “So, we will of course have the advantage if we can find it in the day and kill it where it sleeps. But that potentially means we have to track its movements, and that’s very dangerous. At night it is strong, fast, and deadly. But, the deaths are all in Harecombe at present, on the college grounds. This suggests it’s close by. The deaths must be opportunistic.”
Avery put in, “We have a theory as to where it may be—or at least where it’s linked to.” She updated them on the house that Ben and the others were investigating. “It has a strange past, and a few recent odd occurrences there seem too coincidental not to be connected.”
A palpable air of excitement lifted the room. “That’s very interesting news,” Genevieve said, “and definitely worth investigating.”
“Unfortunately, I’ve never heard of the place,” Oswald confessed, his brow furrowing.
Claudia shook her head, puzzled. “Me, neither.”
“We’re already working with Ben, so we can continue to help,” Avery suggested.
Genevieve looked pleased. “Agreed. But Jasper, can you look into the background of the house, too? See if there is any chance it could be connected to those events years ago.”
“Of course. Can you give me a date?” he asked.
“1979,” Claudia said, immediately. “At just this time of year. Forty years ago, exactly. I will never forget it.”
“Any chance you can introduce me to the ghost-hunters?” Jasper asked Avery and Reuben.
“No problem,” Reuben answered. “I’m sure they’ll be glad of the help. I’ll call Ben tomorrow and set it up.”
“Before we go on,” Claudia said, “just who else in our own covens will get involved? Genevieve, you are on your own here, of course, and Jasper has already ruled out Mina, understandably.”
“I will keep my other witch, Bran, out of this, too,” Jasper said. “I would like to keep him free to keep an eye on Mina—and Penzance, in general. I will of course keep them both updated.”
Avery leaned forward, hating to be involved but knowing there was no way anyone from White Haven would want to be left out. “All of our coven will help.”
Genevieve looked relieved. “Good, I thought you would. Caspian?”
“My sister will, and possibly my cousins. I’ll check.” He looked grim. “If we need them, I will make them help.”
“Eve?” Genevieve asked.
“Nate will help, of course. We’ll do anything you need.”
Genevieve’s face softened momentarily. “Good, thank you. And Claudia?”
“I have two other witches in Perranporth, but I’ll leave Lark out of it. She too is young, and like Mina, was overwhelmed at Samhain. But Cornell will help, if needed. He’s fast and strong and to be honest, I’ll have trouble keeping him out of it.”
Avery had a vague recollection of Lark and Cornell. Lark was in her late teens, and certainly skilled, but yes, she was still unsure of her strengths. C
ornell, however, was several years older and almost overconfident, if Avery remembered correctly.
Oswald had stood and was pacing up and down, listening, and he added, “Count Ulysses in, of course.”
Rasmus looked thoughtful. “My daughter, Isolde—from my second marriage, just in case you’re wondering—will want to help, although I’m not sure I want her to. But, well,” he glanced at Genevieve. “You know Isolde! And Drexel will, too, although he’s barely twenty. My coven is very headstrong,” he muttered.
Avery smiled. She’d forgotten Isolde was his daughter. She’d met her and Drexel at Samhain, but the whole coven was there, and it was difficult to keep track of who was who. Rasmus seemed to have cheered up as everyone confirmed their involvement, and despite the risks, Avery was also starting to feel positive about the battle ahead.
Genevieve turned to Avery and Reuben. “You have good links to Newton. Perhaps you can find out more about the deaths? Access the bodies?”
Caspian grunted. “We could all do that. A simple spell will get us into the morgue.”
Genevieve looked at him, annoyed. “I know that. But I want to know what the police know!”
Caspian gave a barely perceptible nod to her.
“What do you want us to do with the corpses?” Reuben asked. “I mean, if we behead them now, will it stop them rising from the dead?”
Avery’s mouth fell open. “Reuben!”
He shrugged. “One less vampire is a good thing, right?”
Oswald was once again warming his hands by the fire. “It may work. But there’s only one way to find out.”
Reuben rose to his feet. “If the first victim will rise tonight, that means we need to go to the morgue now, and kill it before it does. I’ll call Alex, El, and Briar. They can meet us there. I presume it’s in Truro.”
“I’ll join you,” Caspian said. “It’s on my way home, and we’ll need the numbers. We have no idea what may happen.”
Reuben looked at Caspian, his expression almost unreadable. “Thanks. That would be good.”
It seemed the meeting was at an end as everyone now rose to their feet, stretching out their limbs.
“Would you like me to come, too?” Eve asked.
