Lonely Werewolf Girl Page 12

  “She will live. I must go now.”

  The Fire Queen flickered out of the living room, fading slowly, as if too tired to even teleport at her normal speed. Daniel and Moonglow gazed down at Kalix. Daniel put his hand on Kalix’s wrist.

  “She’s warming up,” he said.

  Kalix had not quite made it to the forests of the werewolf dead. Colour was returning to her face. Though the werewolf did not open her eyes, she no longer seemed to be slipping away. Moonglow carefully hung the new pendant Malveria had given them around Kalix’s neck. Now she was safe. Later Moonglow melted a little sugar in some warm water and dripped some of the solution into Kalix’s mouth to give her strength. She wrapped Kalix in the quilt and stayed beside her for the rest of the day and all of the night.

  43

  Castle MacRinnalch simmered with fury. As the werewolves came to terms with the inconclusive vote, there was dissatisfaction on all sides, and, in some places, utter rage.

  “How dare my mother vote against me!” roared Sarapen. Still in his werewolf form, he paced the great stone chambers of the north tower. His advisor Mirasen stood silently by the window, listening to the tirade, with Decembrius beside him.

  “She planned this,” continued Sarapen. “She put that bitch Dominil up to it. Damn her! And damn that brother of mine. I ought to go down there and rip his heart out!”

  Mirasen was a prudent werewolf. Ever since the meeting he’d been trying to calm Sarapen. It would be far better for the clan if the matter could be decided peaceably.

  “The meeting will resume tomorrow,” Mirasen pointed out. “We’ll muster sufficient votes.”

  Sarapen was not placated. The Thaneship was his by right and he hated having to scrabble around for votes like a politician.

  “You get me the votes then, Mirasen. But afterwards I will have my revenge.”

  Mirasen studied his list of all the votes cast. There were no surprises in those who had voted for Sarapen. Kurian, youngest brother of the Thane, had never been a strong werewolf but he had always been a traditionalist so would naturally support the Thane’s eldest son. As would his offspring, Kertal and Marwanis. The Barons’ support was also to be expected. They were more traditional than anyone.

  Though Sarapen professed to be horrified by his mother’s support for Markus, Mirasen was not really surprised. It was plain the Mistress of the Werewolves had long preferred her younger son. As for the other three who had voted for Markus - Tupan, Dominil, and Lucia - well, none of them were so strange, when you looked at it. Tupan had pretensions to the Thaneship himself. Better for Tupan’s own ambitions to have a weaker Thane. Dominil might be expected to go along with her father, and anyway, her dislike of Sarapen was well known. As for Lucia, she was Verasa’s younger sister, and Verasa would undoubtedly have offered her a substantial bribe.

  That left the two abstentions, Thrix and Dulupina. Mirasen had no idea why the venerable Dulupina had abstained but he’d learn the reason soon enough. Thrix had been absent from the castle for a long time and it was possible she had no strong preference for either brother. Mirasen would make enquiries, and learn if her vote could be secured.

  “How are matters between you and Thrix?”

  “Not good,” admitted Sarapen, and related the tale of his last encounter with her.

  Mirasen considered this.

  “A regrettable argument, but surely not irreparable. I’ll talk to her.”

  The full moon was tomorrow. Tonight was the first of the wolf nights. Everyone in the castle would change into their werewolf form. The MacRinnalch werewolf during the three wolf nights was not quite the same as the MacRinnalch werewolf on other nights. More passionate, and less rational. Sarapen almost felt that he didn’t care about another vote. Killing his opponents would suit him nearly as well.

  44

  Sitting in the lecture theatre, Daniel wasn’t convinced he’d got the best of the deal. Moonglow was at home taking care of Kalix while he was at university taking notes on Timon of Athens. And not just the few scrawled lines that usually passed for Daniel’s notes. Extensive notes. Moonglow had insisted.

  “Don’t come back without a complete record of the lecture,” she’d instructed him. “And see if you can have a few insights of your own.” This last part may have been a joke by Moonglow.

  Daniel was finding it tough. His hand hurt from writing and it was difficult to concentrate. Given the events of the past few days this was understandable. Werewolves, elementals, teleportation and a really expensive parking ticket, the result of leaving the car in a no parking zone while rescuing Kalix. Moonglow shared the cost of the ticket but she had more money than Daniel. He could ill afford the expense.

  He’d suggested to Moonglow that maybe he should stay home with her to watch over Kalix but Moonglow wouldn’t hear of it. One of them had to go in and take notes and as Moonglow wasn’t about to leave Kalix that meant him. Daniel, of course, could not be the one to stay home looking after a sick werewolf. As Moonglow pointed out, he wasn’t responsible enough. There was no denying it, he wasn’t. Daniel shook his head and tried to concentrate. He wondered if Jay would visit today. Moonglow’s boyfriend was back from Stonehenge.

  ‘Probably he’ll have to call round and spend some time being handsome and interesting,’ thought Daniel, with some bitterness. ‘And tell Moonglow some stupid dull story about how his father was British ambassador to Brazil and he spent his early years growing up right next to the rain forest. The guy is such a phoney.’

  Moonglow’s friend Alicia was sitting only a few seats away. She was an attractive girl. Not as attractive to Daniel as Moonglow, but if he had to accept a substitute, she’d be his first choice. Daniel wondered about making a brave bid to talk to her when the lecture ended, but dismissed the idea. It wouldn’t go well. He’d end either boring her or saying something stupid. Probably both.

  Moonglow was currently trying to feed soup to Kalix. Kalix was resisting. She’d woken up, declared herself unhappy to be alive, and lain back down in front of the fire in a hopeless, bleak depression. She refused everything except water, and sipped some laudanum when Moonglow was out of the room.

  “You should have some soup,” said Moonglow, encouragingly. It was no use. Kalix did not want soup, or anything. She just lay miserably in front of the fire, curled up in her quilt. Moonglow was distressed.

  “You’re safe,” Moonglow told her. “The Fire Queen brought you a new pendant.”

  Kalix showed no signs of pleasure or gratitude that she had a new pendant. Whatever she was thinking she kept to herself.

  Moonglow had checked her astrological chart. The full moon was due soon. What would happen when Kalix turned into a werewolf? Would she want to eat? To hunt perhaps? Moonglow wondered if she should buy some steaks. Did werewolves eat steaks? Maybe they needed their meat raw and fresh. She shuddered at the thought. But Kalix might not want to stay at all. As soon as the young werewolf regained her strength she might just leave again and then surely she would die. Moonglow couldn’t bear the thought. She was determined that Kalix would live.

  45

  Verasa and Markus had withdrawn to the west wing of the vast castle, which was Verasa’s domain, staffed with her servants and advisors.

  “Well?” she said.

  “I’m satisfied,” replied Markus.

  The Mistress of the Werewolves was pleased. She had secretly feared that her younger son might have been intimidated. But Markus had stood up to Sarapen. His mother had always admired him for that.

  Since the meeting ended Verasa had been busy. She knew that she had been fortunate in the voting. She’d expected Great Mother Dulupina to vote for Sarapen. As she had abstained, there was obviously room for negotiation. Verasa scanned her list. Nine votes were required and she only had five. How to find four more votes, that was the question. Quite a challenge, with the whole MacRinnalch Clan assembling on the estates for the funeral of the old Thane, and Verasa having all the duties of her position to
perform.

  Verasa felt that the five votes for Markus were all secure. Tupan and Dominil would not support Sarapen. As for Lucia, Verasa had promised her sister that if she voted for Markus then Lucia’s son, Decembrius, could have the next vacant place on the Great Council. This place was Verasa’s to give by right. It was a powerful bribe, and Lucia was well pleased at the prospect.

  Another great fire burned in Verasa’s room. She had reverted to her human shape though Markus remained as a werewolf. He sat on one of the old oak chairs that were a feature of the castle’s decor.

  “We need four more votes,” declared Verasa. “I have some hopes of the Barons.”

  Markus was doubtful. “They’ll always support the eldest son.”

  “I haven’t been idle you know. I’ve been working on them. Had your father’s death not come so inconveniently quickly, I may even have won them over before the vote. Two of them anyway. Baron MacPhee was such a friend of your father he’ll probably support Sarapen in any circumstances. No doubt he thinks of Sarapen as very like the old Thane. But MacAllister is a modern sort of werewolf. Besides, he’s sorely in debt and I’ve been dangling a very favourable loan in front of his eyes. I may well have his vote by tomorrow. Which would make six for us and six for Sarapen.”

  Verasa pursed her lips.

  “It is rather a shame that you’re not on better terms with your sister Thrix.” The Mistress of the Werewolves eyed Markus. “What did happen between you and her?”

  Markus would not say. It was one of the very few things concerning the family that Verasa didn’t know. It irked her.

  “Is it so terrible that you cannot tell your mother?”

  Markus remained silent.

  “Whatever it was, you must try to make things up with her. We need her vote.”

  Verasa moved away from the heat of the fire. She had a glass of wine in one hand and her list in the other. She put down her wine to light a cigarette. She smoked occasionally, at times of stress.

  “What will happen if neither of us get nine votes?” asked Markus.

  “I’ll officiate at the funeral and carry on as acting head of the clan. The Council will reassemble in a month’s time. Much may be accomplished in a month. Remember, not all the council members were in attendance. Butix, Delix and Kalix are all entitled to vote.”

  Markus was surprised.

  “Mother, none of these three are going to come to Scotland. Kalix can’t, she’s under sentence of arrest.”

  “True. But as for Butix and Delix, who knows? I understand that Decembrius went to visit them on Sarapen’s behalf. But Sarapen wouldn’t know what to offer the twins.”

  Verasa stubbed out her cigarette.

  “Whatever Butix and Delix are up to in London, there’s no doubt something they need. Perhaps I can provide it. Do you know anything about their music band?”

  Markus did not.

  “Well you must learn. Look it up on the internet. Find out whatever you can about them while I visit Dulupina. And be ready to be charming to Thrix.”

  46

  Of all the various werewolf hunters that existed around the world, The Avenaris Guild were by far the most proficient. They had hunted werewolves for more than a thousand years. To them it was a holy mission. The leaders of the Avenaris Guild were keenly aware of the importance of Castle MacRinnalch. For now, it remained too strong to attack, but they kept an attentive eye on everything that went on around the estates. Informants across the world had already notified them of a general movement of MacRinnalch werewolves back towards Scotland and that could only mean one thing.

  “The Thane is dead,” said Albert Carmichael, chairman of the Guild. “And now the werewolves are going home to bury him.”

  Guild members were even now undergoing the dangerous work of trying to intercept werewolves on their way to the castle. It was always a risk confronting a werewolf. Their strength and savagery were so great that no man could defeat one in combat. Not in wolf form, certainly. During the day, when the werewolf could not transform, it was a different matter. However the Guild hesitated to attack a werewolf in human form. One had to be very sure of one’s target. If the victim turned out to be not wolf but human, the hunter had no excuse in court. Thinking that a person was a werewolf was no defence against a charge of murder. So it was more customary to attack the werewolf at night, though this meant dealing with the wolf’s dreadful power. Firing a silver bullet through the werewolf’s heart was the only sure way of killing it but this was not easy. Missing the heart by even a fraction was likely to be the last mistake a hunter ever made. The bullet would injure the werewolf but not kill it and the enraged beast would then tear its attacker to pieces.

  Werewolves had great powers of recovery. There were many of them around the world who had felt the bite of a silver bullet but survived to tell the tale.

  At their headquarters in London, Albert Carmichael sat with the six other members of the board of directors of the Avenaris Guild.

  “The MacRinnalch Princess?” asked Carmichael, referring to Kalix by a title that was not really accurate.

  “The trail has gone cold.”

  “Cold? How?”

  The reason was unknown. Hunters from the Guild had come close to apprehending her but now they’d let her slip out of their grasp. She had somehow managed to hide herself again.

  “Instruct our men to keep looking,” said Carmichael. “We have a unique opportunity to kill a member of the royal family and I don’t intend to let it slip.”

  Another member of the board reported that a werewolf had been killed after landing on a flight from Toronto. This was excellent news. On the negative side, one of their hunters had been killed in an abortive attack on a family of werewolves who’d flown in from Australia the previous day. It was to be expected. At a time like this, there would be more casualties to come, on both sides.

  “Perhaps,” suggested another member of the board. “In the matter of the werewolf princess, it might be time to call on the services of Mr Mikulanec?”

  Mr Carmichael thought for a few moments.

  “Perhaps. Mr Mikulanec has travelled a long way to be with us. “

  Mikulanec was a native of Croatia. It was a region of central Europe where werewolves had once been very common. Mikulanec had grown up hunting werewolves. His father had done so, and his father before him. The Guild, though aware of his reputation, had nonetheless been hesitant about working with him. They preferred to use their own men. However, it seemed a shame to waste the Croatian’s obvious talents, particularly at a time like this.

  “I’ll mention it to him,” said Mr Carmichael.

  47

  Kalix didn’t like being in a house of humans but she couldn’t muster enough energy to leave. She could hardly move. The young werewolf had been so close to death that she had no right to be alive. The Fire Queen had intervened at the very last second, wrenching her back from the forests of the werewolf dead even as the inhabitants of the forest came to greet her. Now she lay in front of the warm gas fire, staring into space and trying to ignore Moonglow’s offers of soup. Kalix seemed to have no enthusiasm for life. Moonglow was concerned.

  “Isn’t it great you’re still alive?” she said, by way of opening a conversation. Kalix didn’t reply.

  “And you have a new pendant,” added Moonglow, brightly. “The Fire Queen brought it. We met her at your sister’s fashion house. Now you’re safe here with a new pendant I’m sure you’ll be back to full strength in no time.”

  Even the disturbing news that Moonglow had been to visit Thrix was not enough to rouse Kalix. She turned her face to the fire and tried to block out Moonglow’s voice. Moonglow, undeterred, kept at her task.

  “I can see you fitting in really well here. You won’t have to do anything. I mean, it’s not like me and Daniel are bothered about keeping the place tidy. If you want to spread a few werewolf items around the living room it’s fine with us. Did you bring your journal with you? Have you be
en writing in it much?”

  Kalix rose on one elbow.

  “Be quiet!” she growled.

  Moonglow thought this was progress. Better to be angry than just to lie there hopelessly and die.

  “You know it’s the full moon tomorrow?”

  “So?”

  “So you’ll turn into a werewolf.”

  Kalix would also turn into a werewolf tonight but she could not be bothered to explain this to the irritating Moonglow.

  “Is there anything special we should get you? Meat, for instance? We can always phone for a pizza but I sort of thought you might want to eat steaks. I’m a vegetarian, I don’t know much about meat. Should I go to the butcher’s?”

  “Be quiet,” said Kalix, who was starting to feel desperate.

  Moonglow smiled.

  “I’ll get you a joint of beef. Isn’t it good to have friends?”

  “No,” replied Kalix.

  “Of course it is. Everybody needs friends. I’m sure werewolves are no different. Everyone thought I was weird at primary school but later when I started going to Goth clubs I made a lot of friends. Have you ever been to a Goth club? No? I thought you might have, being a werewolf. I’m sure you’d be popular.”

  Kalix looked despairingly at Moonglow.

  “Why won’t you be quiet?”

  “Because I want you to live.”

  “I don’t want to live,” said Kalix.

  “That’s what you think now,” countered Moonglow. “But who knows what you’ll think in a few days time? Would you like some soup?”

  “No,” said Kalix, and turned her face back to the fire.

  “I expect Daniel will be home soon,” continued Moonglow. “He went to a lecture. We’re doing the same course. You’ll like Daniel.”

  “No I won’t.”

  “You will, really. Everyone likes Daniel, he’s a really good friend. I think I’ll ask him to go to the butcher’s shop, he probably knows more about meat than me. He eats burgers sometimes.”