by Helen Harper
The bedsheets were heavily stained with Lukas’s blood. Between the scorch marks from my resurrection in the first room and the bloodstains in this room, I doubted whether the Bird and Bush would ever welcome me back as a guest.
I gazed out of the window, watching the sun climb. Everything about this trip was a clusterfuck. Everything.
‘I’m sorry.’
I glanced round at Lukas. He was pale but conscious. It was just as well he possessed supernatural healing powers because without them he’d be strapped to a hospital gurney. Or worse. He didn’t seem to have any internal damage, and I’d bound his chest up as best as I could with the materials I had to hand. He was a lucky boy. Things could have been far worse.
‘I didn’t think it through properly. I was so focused on getting my work done quickly and getting to you so I could help that I underestimated how you’d react if I surprised you.’
I had the feeling that Lukas didn’t apologise very often. If ever. That didn’t mean he shouldn’t be grovelling at my feet right now. ‘I don’t like surprises,’ I told him.
‘I get that.’
‘You should have known how I would react.’
‘Yes.’
‘If I’d killed you…’
‘It would have been my own fault.’ He splayed out his hands in a gesture of humility. ‘I won’t do anything like this again. Next time you’re murdered, I’ll keep out of the way.’
‘You’d better.’ I paused. ‘I’m glad you’re here, Lukas, even if I do wish you’d waited a few hours and arrived in daylight.’
The corners of his mouth lifted up slightly. ‘Would this be a good time to ask you to kiss me better?’
I looked at his handsome face, with his inky-black hair falling across his forehead in loose curls and his glittering black eyes, and I knew that, despite the nature of his arrival, I truly was glad that he was here.
‘Later,’ I promised. ‘I’ve got a lot to do this morning and,’ I checked my watch, ‘I have to head to London before two.’ I wagged a finger at him. ‘Another reason why you should have contacted me beforehand.’
Lukas’s brow furrowed. ‘Why do you have to go to London? Are you finished here?’
I let out a mild snort. ‘Not by a long shot. There’s still a killer loose in Barchapel and, if you count me, he’s murdered three people in a week. That’s horrific by any standards. He’s not the only thing I’m dealing with, though. I have to get to HMP Galloway and speak to Samuel Beswick again.’
Lukas stilled. ‘Why do you have to speak to that bastard? Hasn’t he already done enough?’
‘Actually,’ I told him, ‘it turns out he’s not done anything at all.’ I outlined what I’d discovered.
Lukas stared at me. ‘You’re sure?’
I nodded. ‘Pretty much.’
He ran a hand through his hair. ‘Bloody hell,’ he whispered. ‘He’s been in prison for how long?’
‘Twenty-five years. And whoever really did kill my parents is running free.’
‘They didn’t just kill your parents, Emma. They killed you too. The only difference is that you’re the phoenix.’
I met his eyes. ‘I might be getting somewhere with that.’ I told him about Miranda.
Lukas pushed himself up. ‘What are we waiting for? Let’s go speak to her and find out what she has to say.’
‘You’re in no fit state to go anywhere.’
‘I’m fine,’ he dismissed.
‘You look half dead.’
‘I’m a vampire.’
‘That’s no excuse. You need to rest.’
He glared at me. ‘We need to hear what she knows – and what she’s done.’ He waved his hands, as much to indicate that he felt fine as to emphasise his point. ‘This woman knows about you and she knows about your parents. We’re going to talk to her now. We need to hear this.’
‘We?’ I asked softly.
Lukas’s expression was serious. ‘We’re in this together. You’re not alone any more, Emma. Your fight is mine.’
I watched him for a moment or two. ‘Okay,’ I said finally. ‘Let’s go.’
We took Lukas’s car to Miranda James’s house. I reckoned that Albion would have already left for school, but I was still slightly nervous that he would be home. Given his reaction to me, it was definitely for the best if I avoided him. When the front door opened and Miranda peered out, her face smiling, I relaxed slightly.
‘I was expecting you earlier,’ she told me. Then her gaze drifted to Lukas. She jerked. ‘You’re a vampire.’
In his blood-red ruffled shirt and tight black trousers Lukas looked about as out of place in a village like Barchapel as it was possible to be. He bowed towards Miranda, although his expression remained cool. ‘Lord Lukas Horvath,’ he said.
She blinked at him. ‘Are you alright? You don’t seem particularly well.’
‘I am very well, thank you.’
Her brow furrowed but she apparently decided not to push it. That was probably wise. I sneaked a look at Lukas. He was still far too pale and he was holding himself stiffly; he was in more pain than he was letting on.
‘I hope you don’t mind having Lukas here as well,’ I said, watching Miranda carefully. ‘I want him with me. He can be trusted.’
Miranda gazed at him. ‘I’ve heard of this man. I don’t care who he is or what title he holds, what I have to say I only say to you.’
Lukas took a step forward. I tensed, concerned that he would try his vampiric calming technique on Miranda. I doubted that would go down well. Instead, he met her gaze head on and spoke softly. It was like a steel hand cloaked in velvet. ‘What Emma says is true. Under normal circumstances, you would be wise not to trust me. I am a vampire and I look out for the interests of me and my own kind. But things are different where Emma is concerned. I will wait out here, if that is truly what you wish, but I assure you that anything you say concerning Emma’s past or her heritage will not pass my lips. Her life is mine.’
I blinked. Her life is mine? What did that even mean?
Miranda reached across and her fingers lightly touched the back of Lukas’s hand. She closed her eyes briefly and inhaled, then she opened her eyes again.
‘I see,’ she said quietly. She looked at me again. ‘You are fortunate indeed.’ She dropped her hand. ‘If he is going to hear this, I expect a vow of silence from both of you. To be honest, Emma, if you were anyone else I wouldn’t tell this story. But I think you need to hear it. It’s time it was told.’
I was confused about what had passed between her and Lukas, but now wasn’t the time to question it. Instead, I gazed at her clear expression. It went beyond all my morals as a detective to keep information to myself but this was about me, not my job. ‘I won’t say anything to anyone,’ I agreed.
‘You have my word also,’ Lukas murmured. ‘I will keep your secrets.’
‘They’re not my secrets.’ Miranda pointed at me. ‘They are hers.’
A shiver ran through me. I didn’t make any attempt to suppress it. This was what I’d come to Barchapel for. I was finally – hopefully – going to get the answers I craved.
‘If you feel more comfortable,’ Lukas suggested, ‘we can talk somewhere more neutral. I understand if vampires make you nervous.’
Miranda laughed briefly. ‘I’m not nervous and I’m not afraid of you. I’m perfectly comfortable.’ She stepped back and gestured inside. ‘I have no problems with a vampire inside my home.’
‘You might not have,’ I said, remaining where I was, ‘but your son might. He came to see me last night.’
‘Albion did?’ She grimaced. ‘He must have sneaked out. I’m sure I wasn’t this much trouble when I was a teenager.’
‘There’s a killer loose in Barchapel. He really shouldn’t be out on his own, especially at night.’
‘Yes.’ Miranda dropped her eyes. ‘I heard about Julie Mackintosh. For the life of me, I can’t imagine why someone would want to kill her.’
‘Something about this v
illage seems to invite horrific murders,’ Lukas said.
Miranda looked sad. ‘Yes. I suppose it does.’
We walked inside, passing underneath Boris the spider and his elaborate web, and sat in the kitchen. There was no sign of the crow, which oddly disappointed me. Rather than remark on the bird’s absence, I drew out my phone and made a show of starting to record before placing it on the table between us.
Miranda only smiled. ‘Nettle tea?’ she enquired.
‘No, thank you.’
‘Blood?’
Lukas raised an eyebrow. Miranda shrugged. ‘I’ve often wondered what it would feel like to be supped on. And you look as if you could do with some sustenance.’
‘Maybe we should get to the interview,’ I said hastily. ‘I want to pick up where we left off yesterday.’
‘Fine by me.’ She leaned back in her chair. ‘Go ahead.’
‘Why doesn’t Albion want me to talk to you?’
I could tell it wasn’t the question she’d been expecting, and I was glad that I’d thrown her slightly off balance. ‘He likes to think he’s protecting me,’ she said quietly. ‘But that boy worries too much.’
‘He mentioned an illness.’
Miranda scowled. ‘My health is not what it used to be, but I’m perfectly fine.’
‘Miranda—’
She sighed. ‘Alright already. You asked yesterday if I was a supe.’ She raised her eyebrows at Lukas. ‘I’m sure he can confirm that I am not.’
I didn’t need to look at Lukas to know she was speaking the truth.
‘However,’ Miranda continued, ‘I am not without some power.’
Indeed. I bet this power had a whole lot more to it than tarot cards and crystals and dancing in a forest in the moonlight. ‘Go on.’
She lifted up her chin. ‘I am a druid.’
I started. ‘As in flowing capes and dancing round Stonehenge at the solstice?’
‘Hardly. As in venerating nature and appreciating Mother Earth for what she has done for us all.’
Lukas leaned in, his shoulder brushing against mine. ‘Are you talking about magic?’
‘Magic doesn’t exist,’ I said without thinking.
Miranda snorted. ‘Of course it exists. If you can’t see the magic inherent in this world, then you’re a fool. You’re more steeped in it than most, so you have more reason to believe in it than most.’ She nodded at Lukas. ‘So does he. Where do vampires come from if not from magic? You might not use that specific word but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.’
Okay, perhaps she had a point. ‘And the phoenix?’ I asked. ‘Is that magic? Am I?’
She met my eyes. ‘You know you are.’ She drew in a breath. ‘Everything in this world is connected. Our ties to Mother Nature and her magic are far stronger than most people realise. But that doesn’t mean such magic doesn’t have a cost. Vampires gain strength and greater longevity, but the pay-off is that they have to drink blood to survive. And,’ she added with a knowing glint in her eyes, ‘they are feared and despised more than they are admired and respected.
‘Wielding strong magic as a druid brings on bouts of sickness. I dabbled too much when I invoked the power that helped you. As a result, I have to suffer the consequences. I pay homage to nature to stave off the worst of the effects.’ Her expression grew stony. ‘Do not misunderstand me. It was a bargain I made freely and would make again, given the chance.’
‘If druids exist,’ Lukas asked, ‘why don’t we know more about them?’
‘You’d be surprised at what’s out there that you’re unaware of,’ she said enigmatically. Then she gave herself a tiny shake as if she’d already said too much. ‘As druids, we rarely speak of our powers. Our kind will not be trapped in a city like yours has been.’ She shuddered at the thought. ‘There are not many of us, and we protect ourselves by appearing to be harmless and eccentric. If some people wish to call us crazy, that is up to them. There are far worse things than whispers and name-calling.’ She smiled faintly. ‘It helps that the magic we invoke tends to be small scale.’ She looked at me. ‘But not always.’
‘Tell me,’ I said. ‘Tell me what happened.’
Miranda didn’t insult me by pretending she didn’t know what I meant. ‘Sammy was in London visiting friends. Your parents invited me round for a drink. Patrick came with me to their house because he was supposed to be fixing something in the kitchen for your dad. Instead of Bloody Marys in the garden, however, all we found was blood. Real blood.’ She paused. ‘And three dead bodies.’
Lukas jerked but I was perfectly still. ‘When?’ I asked. ‘What time? And what day?’
‘Just before eight o’clock on the evening of August 23rd, 1995. You were still warm.’ Her voice took on a distant note. ‘It must have only just happened. If we’d been slightly earlier…’ She shook her head.
‘Why didn’t you call the police?’
‘Because you would have stayed dead,’ she answered. She pushed back her chair and the legs scraped along the floor. She stood up and walked to the window. ‘You have to understand that I was young. I didn’t fully appreciate that magic is all about give and take.’ She gave a quiet, musical laugh. ‘I knew there were consequences, but I didn’t understand what they could be. I was young and ambitious and thought I could change the world. And,’ she whispered, ‘there was so much blood. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I was egotistical enough to think I could help you all.’
Underneath the table, Lukas entwined his fingers with mine.
‘What did you do?’ I asked. My voice trembled.
She turned to me. ‘I persuaded Patrick to delay calling the police and help me collect the herbs I needed. I think the poor man was in shock, but he went along with me. We got fresh sage for mental clarity, protection and immortality, mugwort to ward off evil, and witch hazel for cleansing. The sage and witch hazel were easy to get hold of but the mugwort was more complicated. There was only one place I knew of where it grew, and Patrick would never have found it on his own. We left the cottage together to gather it from a clearing in the woods to the west.
‘By the time we were on our way back to the cottage, Sammy had got off the bus from London and seen us. Back then, he listened to more village gossip than he should have done and he probably thought that Patrick and I were up to no good. He should have trusted me and gone home, but instead he followed us almost all the way to your parents’ cottage before I realised he was there. When I noticed him, I told him to go. I knew he wouldn’t cope with seeing what had happened to you and your family – he was too sensitive. So I hugged him and I told him to leave.’ She sighed. ‘That hug was his undoing.’
‘The blood,’ I said suddenly. ‘You had my parents’ blood on your clothes.’
Miranda nodded. ‘Not a lot, and it was so dark that Sammy didn’t notice the stains but, yes, there was blood on me. And on Patrick. We burned our clothes afterwards and I thought that would be enough. It didn’t occur to me that the blood would transfer from me to Sammy. The police took his clothing and examined it.’ She shrugged helplessly. ‘They found what they thought they needed to prove his guilt.’ She allowed a beat of silence before murmuring, ‘I wasn’t the only one who paid the price for the magic I invoked that night.’
I squeezed Lukas’s hand. His skin felt even hotter than normal, but I was so glad of his touch. It grounded me. I wasn’t alone.
‘What then?’ I asked. ‘What happened when you got back to the cottage?’
‘I bound all three herbs together and asked Mother Earth for help,’ Miranda said. ‘I drew her power from the ground and filled the air with her kindness. I thought perhaps I could reverse time somehow, or heal old wounds. It was only when the herbs burned that I knew. I could choose only one of you. Your parents would have chosen you, so I did the same. I drew on all my power and all the magic the earth could offer me and I sent it towards your body.’
My mouth was dry. ‘And then?’
She smiled sl
ightly. ‘And then nothing. I expected explosions, light. Something. I’d felt the power go through me, but it seemed it had gone nowhere. I didn’t know that I’d called the phoenix upon you. That came much, much later.’
She lifted her shoulders resignedly. ‘When it seemed that my attempt had failed, Patrick wanted to call the police but I stopped him. I was worried what would happen if people found out what I’d been doing. I told him we had to leave and let someone else find the bodies. We argued about it, but eventually he agreed.’
‘He went back the next morning on his own, though,’ I said. ‘Didn’t he?’
Miranda nodded. ‘He couldn’t leave it alone. He thought he would pretend he’d gone round to do the work in the kitchen that day and then run to the police about what he’d seen. But what he saw was you, alive and well and screaming your head off. And the rest is a matter of record,’ she said simply.
‘You could have still gone to the police. You could have told them you were there the night before and—’
‘I did,’ Miranda said tiredly. ‘I spoke to them until I was blue in the face. But I was Sammy’s girlfriend and they didn’t believe me. They thought I was trying to protect him. They were never going to believe that I’d performed a magic spell and brought you back to life. And Patrick was so afraid of what we’d done and of the power we’d invoked, he couldn’t say anything.’ She looked at me. ‘It destroyed him in the end, you know, though I doubt he could have said anything that would have changed the police’s minds. They were sure that Sammy was guilty and they thought they had all the evidence they needed.’
Miranda sat down on the chair. She was far paler than before and sweat was beading her brow. Her hand shook as she reached for a glass, and she changed her mind. ‘The power and energy it took to do what I did meant that I became very ill afterwards. Even now, just talking about it brings some of the illness back. It is not an easy thing to play with life and death.’
She jerked forward, her gaze suddenly burning into mine like coal fire. ‘You’re not a child now. You have a terrible gift that a lot of people have paid for. Do not waste what you have. Do not waste what you are.’ She paused. ‘And please, do not tell anyone what I have told you. Druids don’t need to be hunted down for what little magic we possess like the –‘ She halted in mid-sentence and amended her words. ‘We don’t need to be hunted down. Life is hard enough as it is.’