“Talk!” I ordered.
“I could be wrong,” he protested. “Those women might just have been their dinner.”
“If you’re wrong, then you’re wrong, but at least tell me what you might be wrong about, in case you’re right, because right doesn’t sound like it’s a good thing.”
“You’re not going to like it.”
“I don’t like not knowing what’s going on, either. Stop making excuses and tell me who you think it is.”
Severn tried to gain time by sipping his coffee slowly. I held mine but I didn’t drink it. Instead, I glared at him until he gave in, put his coffee down and breathed heavily.
“The girls. Meredith and Olivia. I think it’s the girls. I think they’re here.”
“That’s impossible! Isn’t it? Aren’t they in France? With Finn? He wouldn’t let them leave, surely?”
“That’s what I keep telling myself, too, but who else could it be?”
“Millions of other people,” I laughed. “Let’s be sensible here. You’ve only seen the flash a couple of times. I’ve seen it a few times. But we haven’t really seen anything. Neither of us has actually seen an identifiable person. It might have been a trick of the light, or your average east-side burglar going about his nightly breaking and entering. There’s no reason to assume it’s Meredith and Olivia, is there?”
“If it was just the whatever-it-is that’s following us, I would agree with you, but there’s Julia. Another body on a Brighton beach. That’s what’s got me worried. And I’ll bet that’s what Aiden and the Rev are panicking about too, because, if it is them, we’ve got a real problem. With no-one to keep them in check, those girls are dangerous and there will be more dead bodies before we catch them.”
“But it sounds like Aiden and the Rev have caught them. If that bouncer is correct, they’re all together right now, doing the rounds of the night clubs, snacking on the locals.”
“I don’t know if that’s good or bad,” Severn said, “because it kind of suggests they knew the girls were here.”
“Unless they guessed before you did. No, think about it, if the girls had left France, then someone at the monastery would have sent a message to the Rev – he is the boss after all. He must know.”
“And he will have told Aiden as soon as he heard,” Severn agreed.
“What do we do now? We can’t keep walking the streets all night in the vain hope we run into them. Well, you can but I can’t. I’m getting cold and I need to get some sleep because the show starts again tomorrow. I know, back in the gardens, finding them seemed like a good idea but right now, I’m a bit over it. Can we go home?”
“Is that an invitation?”
“No, it’s a request to drop me safely at my front door, which will then leave you free to go back on the hunt, and you can do that faster without me to slow you down. Plus, if you change into your fancy suit, you can get into the clubs if you need to, because you can’t do that with me here either.”
With a nod of his head to show he agreed, we finished our coffee and set off to find a homeward bus.
Chapter 13
Mum and Grant were home but, although Grant was sitting in the lounge, I could hear Mum in their bedroom so I was able to avoid any conversation about my clothing. I slipped out of my blacks and into my pyjamas before I risked facing Mum’s inevitable questions. On the theory that attack was the best form of defence, I got in first.
“How was your dinner party?” I asked, trying to sound as if it really interested me.
“Lovely,” Mum answered. “Apart from the food. The food was terrible. Much as I enjoy their company, and she is one of my oldest friends, Janet cannot cook to save herself.”
“We stopped for takeaways on the way home,” Grant added. “Do you want a chip? They’re still vaguely warm.”
“Um, no thanks.” Cold chips. Yum.
“But the conversation was good,” Mum said. “Everyone was talking about that drone.”
“What drone?” I asked.
“The one on the news,” Grant said. “Haven’t you seen it? It’s amazing. It’s huge, life-size. It looks like a demon. It’s all over social media. Get on your computer and check it out.”
“I will be interested to hear what you think it is,” Mum said in a tone that made me instantly suspicious. Something flying, because that’s what drones do, life-size and looking like a demon. That could be a disaster.
You guys are in big trouble. Pic Aiden flying going viral
Because that’s who it was. Spreading all over social media. Thousand of hits. A fortunately grainy and unsteady video of a figure flying above the estuary. A human-shaped body held aloft by huge wings, leathery like a bats. It was too dark to see its face but I could tell it was Aiden. I hit send on my text to Severn, skimmed the comments on the post, and went back to join Mum and Grant who looked up expectantly as I walked through the door.
“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Grant said, his face lit up with excitement. “Whoever made that is ridiculously talented. I’ve seen videos of drones before that are done up to look like those demon characters from movies, but that thing actually flaps its wings. How did they do that?”
“Or it’s not a drone, it’s a demon,” Mum said. “That’s what they were saying at dinner, anyway.” She looked at me. “Grant was extolling the virtues of the drone maker and Phillip was arguing all the reasons it couldn’t be a machine. He was adamant it had to be a real demon. Then it got into a religious discussion about whether demons were real or not, and went downhill from there.”
“I saw that argument when I skipped through the comments on the post,” I said. “It looks like the discussion is going three ways – it’s either a drone, a demon or an angel.”
“Surely, if it was an angel it would be all pure white, with feathery wings. Wouldn’t it?” Grant said.
“Who says?” Mum replied. “Just because some medieval painters drew them all cutesy, doesn’t mean to say they really are. In the bible, whenever one appears, they always start by saying ‘fear not’, which suggests they might look pretty scary.”
“How do we know it isn’t a fake?” I asked. “It could be just some good blue-screen video editing. It wouldn’t be that hard to do if you had the equipment and the software.”
“Don’t spoil it.” Grant pouted like a petulant child. “I want to believe it’s a fabulous drone.”
“Then you go on believing that,” Mum said, patting his arm soothingly. “I think I will join the angel camp – until proven otherwise. Now let’s get to bed, we’ve all got a show tomorrow.”
I was happy to escape to my room where I sat on the edge of my bed waiting for the inevitable tap on the window. I didn’t have to wait long.
Severn went straight to my computer and watched the video several times. He read through the comments before speaking.
“You’re right. We’ve got big trouble. That’s definitely Aiden.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. I’ve got to find them first. All we can do at the moment is be grateful that it’s such a lousy video and you can’t see his face. It looks like the idiot was playing in the thermals, so he’s flying fairly high up. Which is good. But we have to make sure he doesn’t do it again because, sooner or later, someone’s going to get a decent shot and then all hell will break loose.”
“I would think that’s going to happen as soon as the Rev sees this,” I said.
“Hell, yes.”
“Did you read the comments? Most people are like Grant and think he’s a drone but the religious lot are divided. Are you angels or demons?”
“At least no-one has suggested vampires yet. I suppose we can be grateful for that.”
“Should I add that? Just to stir the pot?”
“Don’t you dare!” Severn sat back, took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “There are days when I wish I could walk away from all this. Aiden is an idiot and the girls, if they are in town, are a law unto
themselves. If the three of them are together, I don’t think the Rev is going to be able to control them. I’ll go out and have another look for them, but if I can’t find the Rev by tomorrow, I’ll have no option. I’ll have to call the monastery and get some help. I’m going to need Brother Martin the fix-it man.”
“The Rev will be back. They both will. We’ve got a show tomorrow. They won’t miss that – the Rev’s too professional not to turn up, even if Aiden doesn’t.”
“You’re right. There’s no point in me traipsing all over town trying to find them. I’ve got a better idea. I’ll bring the Rev to me.”
Severn fiddled with my computer, pulled his phone out of his pocket and smiled when it pinged.
“That’ll do it.” He grinned at me. “I’ve emailed a copy of that video to him and to me, with a message to him that I will be at the motel waiting for his explanation. As I know he won’t have an explanation, just a lot of angry questions, that should bring him running. I’ll let you know what happens.”
“And in the meantime, I’ll let Mum know it isn’t a demon or an angel, it’s one of her friendly, resident vampires.”
“Like that will surprise her. Not.”
“Let’s just hope that nobody starts linking the flying creature to the body on the beach and deciding that’s why there were no footprints nearby,” I said.
“Demon blamed for body drop. If that headline turns up in the morning paper, that’s my cue to leave – but I bet Aiden would love it. I just hope the publicity doesn’t encourage him to fly again but, knowing him, it probably will. He’s probably going to work out where the video was taken from then fly over there on purpose.”
“What happens to you guys if you break the rules about flying? Is there an official punishment? Do the elders clip your wings. Like budgies?”
Severn laughed at me. “Not a bad idea. No. There are no official rules except using common sense. It’s all about survival – of the whole guild as well as each of us individually. We know we can’t afford to be seen, that we have to be careful, and there is punishment for anyone who becomes a threat to the guild’s survival. But it’s a lot worse than having your wings clipped. Not that clipping our wings would be possible anyway – you can clip a bird’s flight feathers but we haven’t got feathers so that wouldn’t work. I suppose you could cut big holes in them though, that would stop us getting airborne. I might suggest that to the Rev for Aiden.”
“Or just take him back to France.”
“If he’s lucky.”
I could tell by his narrowed eyes and the quiet snarl in his voice that the next meeting between him and Aiden could get nasty and I had no intention of fuelling his anger any higher, so I faked a yawn, wrapped my arms around him and gave him a kiss on his cheek.
“Go,” I said with another kiss, “The Rev will have seen your email by now. He’s probably back at the motel already. Go, meet him. Sort this mess out. Or, at least dump it on him so it isn’t your problem. I’ll see you tomorrow for the big reveal to Mum.”
“Oh hell, I don’t know what’s worse.”
But he kissed me goodnight anyway.
Chapter 14
I woke to Aiden flying on breakfast television. Mum waved her hand in the direction of the kitchen, which I translated as telling me to pour my own coffee, then patted the couch beside her, all without turning her head away from the sight on the screen. As I joined her, the programme had moved back to the panel of presenters who were arguing the three options of drone, demon or angel. To add fuel to the suggestions, they cut back and forth between the presenters and reporters in different locations, all interviewing a different expert. We listened to a competitive drone pilot, a film-maker who specialised in animation and CGI who proclaimed the video was an elaborate and beautifully-made hoax, and the local archbishop who quoted ancient books describing angels and demons but ended up agreeing that it was probably a clever fake. Mum said nothing.
Once the programme had moved on to talk about rugby, I wandered off to the kitchen to make myself some toast and Mum, still not making any comments about the flying demon, went the other way, towards her bedroom. A few minutes later I heard the shower running, so I figured Mum wasn’t in any hurry to get my course application started. Neither was I.
I took my time, munching toast and sipping coffee, until Mum reappeared, then had my own shower and dressed. Blue jeans, purple hoodie, and striped socks to keep my feet warm. Mum looked like an advertisement for summer in peach-coloured capris and matching top. Even her tiny, strapped sandals matched.
“You look very flash,” I said. “Are you going somewhere?”
“No,” Mum replied. “I just had a feeling it might be a good day to be prepared for anything.”
“That sounds like one of your creepy witchy vibes,” I said, not liking where this could be going.
“No, yes, maybe it is. Who knows. But, bring it on. Like I said, I am prepared for whatever comes my way.”
“Like demons flying over Christchurch?” I teased.
“Them, too. Bring them on. But first, let’s get this application of yours done.”
Mum ushered me through to my bedroom where we turned on my computer and clicked onto the MAINZ website.
“I’ve spoken to Grant about this and he thinks it’s a great idea,” Mum said. “It’s something you are obviously good at, and he’s been around theatres long enough to know how sought-after good sound technicians are. We are right behind you, supporting this all the way.”
“Thanks. Mum. That’s really good to know. Oh look, we don’t even have to print out the form – we can do it all online.”
On the whole, the process was simple and logical and we worked our way through the questions methodically, until we reached the final click-to-submit button. I looked at Mum, she looked at me, we both smiled, nodded our heads and I clicked. Application submitted. We deserved a coffee, and maybe a chocolate biscuit. Severn must have smelled the coffee as he arrived just as we were pouring it.
“Good timing.” Mum smiled as he entered. “Riley, grab another cup.”
“I can do that,” Severn said, reaching over my head to fetch a mug from the cupboard behind me, then giving me a quick kiss as he stepped back again.
“Did you find Aiden and the Rev?” I asked.
“Did you lose them?” Mum asked in her innocently stirring voice.
“Yes to both,” Severn answered, giving Mum one of his sweetest smiles. Inwardly, I cringed. If they were both going to spend the morning in a smiley-face stand-off, Grant could find us all smothered to death by sarcasm when he got home from work. We were heading towards the cliff edge of this game of ‘I know you know’ that Mum had been playing with us and it was time to jump off the edge into the abyss. The only question was who was going to jump first, or would Mum push us over.
“The Rev arrived just after I got back to the motel,” Severn continued. “Aiden came back quite a bit later.”
I could tell by his tone of voice that there was a much larger story in that, but it would have to wait. There was no way I was going to ask for details in front of Mum and I could see by his tightened lips that there was no way Severn was offering any.
“Did you find out where they had been?” was the only question I dared to ask.
“Yeah, some club called the Heads of Cerberus. It’s in a cellar down a back alley, not on the main Strip, which is why I didn’t find it earlier.”
“I’m surprised the Reverend gets past the bouncers to get into a club,” Mum said.
“Me too,” Severn agreed. “Money talks.”
“I’ve done my application,” I said, changing the subject to something safer.
“Nice,” Severn said. “I will remind the Rev to send them a reference for you. He knows the tutors so his word should be worth something.”
“As long as it doesn’t say Riley panics when faced with a challenge, bottles out and calls her boyfriend,” I said.
“Never. It’s more like to s
ay Riley faces challenges head on and has gained a lot of experience in difficult live performance situations.”
“Oh shucks.” I faked a bad southern American accent.
Then Mum, who had been suspiciously quiet, hit us with the low blow.
“Have you seen the flying demon video, Severn? Have you got any ideas about what it could possibly be?”
Severn could have done several things. He could have pretended he hadn’t seen it, feigned complete ignorance and asked what she was talking about. He could have agreed he had seen it and claimed it was definitely a fake. He could even have got into a discussion about demons. But, like a true vampire, he went straight for the jugular.
“No possibly about it. I know exactly what it is. It’s worst case scenario trouble.” He paused, drew breath and looked straight at Mum. “It’s Aiden.”
“Nice reply. Good joke,” Mum said. “Although I suppose, if it was Aiden, it would solve the argument about demon or angel – I don’t see Aiden wearing white or playing a harp.”
“I wasn’t joking. I mean it. It’s Aiden.”
He said it with such quiet determination that Mum stopped in the middle of forming her next comment, her mouth hanging open as she took in Severn’s words.
“What are you telling me?” she finally gasped.
“Look, I think we should all sit down,” Severn said. “Let’s go into the lounge.”
I guided Mum to her favourite armchair and joined Severn on the couch.
“We, Riley and I, talked about this yesterday,” he said, his voice low and quiet. “We’ve both noticed the vibe lately and we thought today might be the ideal time to call your bluff, to come clean. But it wasn’t supposed to be quite like this. Aiden has thrown a real spanner in the works. So,” he paused and drew a long breath, giving Mum a gap to jump in.
“Call my bluff?” she asked. “About what?”
“Lost Boys,” I said. “All the damn vampires.”
Out for Blood Page 7