by Vance Huxley
“From the way Claris is eying Jenny and Zephyr, I vote we leave it to think scary thoughts for a bit. In any case I’m hungry and we don’t know how long this will take. We can bring back some drinks as well.” Kelis turned to Claris. “Do you need proper food, or water to drink?”
“Blood.” Kelis waited. “The host needs water as well. Bring that and blood.”
“The first thing you’d better learn is manners because from the look of you when I came in you’ll be asking, not demanding. No blood yet, it will encourage you.” Kelis turned on her heel, calling out to the Goblins. “A small piece of cake and a packet of fish fingers if you keep the Leech in here today.” The only bit the goblins wanted to negotiate was if they could eat the stinky if it tried to escape.
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On the way to Kelis’ house she wanted to know why the Leech looked frightened. “Ferryl used to be a hunter of sorts, before she went in the hole. The Leech boss, the Firstseed, passed on a memory of Ferryl.”
“You must have been mucho scary, to be remembered for two hundred years.” Kelis eyed Ferryl/Jenny. “We heard you shout, tell her we needed it alive.”
“It knew I would kill it, but had to learn that Abel can save it. Leeches pass from host to host so some live a long time, longer than I stayed in that hole. They pass some memory to their seeds, a way of warning their young of the dangers out there. When I hunted Leeches, I would move on before the church heard too many rumours. A hundred years could pass before I returned to an area, so some prey learned not to forget me.” Ferryl/Jenny seemed to relish that last part.
“You are the Leech-kiddy bogey-man, or woman?” Rob hunched and raised his arms with his fingers clawed, trying to produce a Disney witch’s cackling voice. “Beware, children. Drink up your chicken or the dreaded Ferryl will get you.” Though even if Rob found it funny, Abel could see that Kelis still had questions. He’d best be ready when Ferryl/Jenny went home.
Kelis insisted on eating her sandwiches at home in case the Leech in Claris said or did something gross, so they went through what they wanted. No more pain or bad memories for Claris, no more growing, and it had to leave her as healthy as possible when came out. Ferryl also wanted the key to Castle House, if only to stop anyone else getting in. Then came the practicalities, because Abel for one now felt sure the Leech would run at the first chance.
An internet search for handcuffs had them all scandalised, then laughing. There were plenty for sale, or chains and manacles, but a good percentage were covered in velvet or had bits of fur, leather or bows on them. They’d have to talk to an older Taverner such as Eric, one who wouldn’t be embarrassed buying restraints. After flicking through the prices, their fund looked smaller and smaller.
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From the first negotiations with the Leech it became clear the Tavern fund might not be enough. The Leech agreed to grow very slowly, and to keep out of most major organs, but it needed a daily supply of blood. It couldn’t repair all the intrusions and release Claris’ heart, but could allow her to eat enough normal food to keep her stomach functioning. Toilet facilities went onto the list, along with clothes and a sleeping bag.
One big demand turned out to be impossible. The Leech couldn’t keep Claris asleep like Ferryl did with Jenny. It couldn’t operate a human body, so the Leech needed the host awake to control her through compulsion. In the end the Leech allowed Claris to speak, so she could understand what was happening. With Ferryl/Jenny poised and Zephyr hovering, it promised to keep very, very still so it caused no pain while they talked.
The Leech kept its word. After her first yelling for release Claris calmed down and listened. She’d seen and heard everything but in a sort of nightmare, so didn’t really understand though she seemed wary of Ferryl/Jenny. Claris just wanted it out of her, any way necessary, as soon as possible. Gradually she accepted the thing had to stay in her for now, but it wouldn’t hurt her as much and would leave her in a few weeks.
Abel hesitated before explaining the rest. In the interim Claris still had to drink glasses of blood to stay alive, but she’d get some real food as well. Whatever had happened before must have been awful. Claris readily agreed to drinking blood from a glass as long as she could live in this room and didn’t have to kill anything else. Promising she could be in charge for a while every day to talk to Kelis, Rob, Abel or Jenny, seemed to help. Claris might not have fully understood everything because she kept flipping back into sheer terror.
Unfortunately, the Leech hadn’t agreed to all that before freeing Claris to speak. Once back in control it used the demands to negotiate hard for more than just keeping its life. It wanted a new host, a young, healthy one, once it left. Otherwise it swore it might as well stay in Claris, in a host they cared for. If the hunter tried to force it out every last tendril would hang on, physical and magical, damaging the host’s brain as well as body. It insisted it must grow a little, get stronger, and refused to spend the time laid on the floor bound like this. Lastly the information about the key would only be revealed once it had the new body, because the Firstseed insisted the Leech must lead Abel to the meeting. Abel agreed but privately gave up on the key; he wasn’t letting this thing lead him anywhere.
More potential problems came up. Claris had been phoning her mother every few days to stop her mounting a search. After getting back in touch with her mother a Leech-controlled Claris had promised to go for counselling, and treatment for her alleged drug problem. She hadn’t. Ferryl/Jenny took Abel’s hand. “If her mother comes the Leech might influence her, to go to the police. You will not be able to stop the police if they insist on seeing her alone.”
Zephyr hovered over Abel’s shoulder when he turned to Claris. “If Claris’ mother insists on seeing you, don’t use that as a way to ask for the police. I will turn both hunters loose. One will already be in the room, invisible to the woman or any police, and neither will care about laws.” The flash of fear before it agreed showed the Leech understood. Now all Claris had to do was keep her mother from getting too worried.
Even when that had all been sort of settled, Stan had to agree. Kelis and Rob went to get him and today’s blood, while Ferryl/Jenny explained the rules to the Leech. “A man will come, the one from last night. He knows very little of magic, so don’t mention it. You are a schoolgirl who has something small and nasty living inside. You understand it will be removed, but it takes time and you must drink blood until then.”
Abel took over. “You are frightened but grateful. The thing might take over and try to run off, so you have agreed to be chained so you are safe. The man has no ward but you will not use compulsion, except to persuade him to accept the situation.” Abel didn’t want even that but he didn’t think Stan would stand for it otherwise. He directed a thought at Zephyr so she flew over to hover above Claris. “The man will not see her. At the first sign you are trying to escape or get inside him, the hunter will attack.”
“Tell it. I will force it from Claris’ mind first so it cannot control her, then the damage will be less when I kill it.” Abel passed that on.
Ferryl/Jenny smiled. “The huntress learns. With Claris’ mind free, I need not be gentle. Do you understand?” Claris nodded nervously.
Abel felt nervous as well; he hadn’t realised Zephyr was that strong. “Can you do that?”
“Not yet but I think I can drive the Leech from her mind and hold out until Ferryl Shayde arrives. I am not strong enough to kill it, not while it is in a body.”
There was a big problem in that. “Warn it if it starts to stray. Dive close as a reminder, because Ferryl won’t be in Brinsford all the time. Even if she is, she might harm Jenny by leaving suddenly.”
“I will keep it frightened.” Abel accepted that. He also felt reassured after Ferryl/Jenny added her sixpennorth. She made it clear that if Stan didn’t accept the situation, she could see no point in letting the Leech live any longer. Claris’ infestation seemed very keen after that.
Abel didn’t think St
an would have gone along with them, even with Claris’ superb act, without the compulsion. The old poacher might have second thoughts later, but for now seemed convinced. He even offered a length of chain and two padlocks so she could move about. A confused but agreeable Stan finally left with the two Tavern hexes Kelis gave him to put near his food for now.
Rob nipped off for the chain while Abel escorted Kelis home for her to get some clean clothes for Claris. They wouldn’t fit, but neither would they be torn or spattered with old blood and mud. After padding Claris’ leg, they padlocked the chain around it while the other end went around the desk where it couldn’t slide free. The tape stayed on her wrists for now, and a Goblin sat in the room. Finally, the Leech gave up control while Claris talked to her mum. Claris kept her word not to say where she was or mention the Leech, but sobbed her socks off during the call. That might be why her mother started pushing for a meeting, probably not reassured by Claris telling her she needed a couple of weeks to get herself right. At least the brief freedom from control allowed Claris to confirm the Leech wasn’t hurting as much. The day dragged on like that, ups and downs, but by mid-afternoon Claris slept peacefully and the four teenagers could leave her.
Abel kissed Ferryl/Jenny goodbye and waved her off, then turned to meet two glum faces. “What happened to all the fun? New glyphs, dancing leaves, and making hexes. Chasing Hoplins and tweaking dryads?” Kelis hooked an arm though Abel’s, careful to do so very loosely. Abel thought he felt a little something, but since Kelis didn’t it wasn’t a magical link. “I’m too young to grow old, and a wizard’s beard just won’t suit you.”
Rob hooked his arm through Kelis’ free one. “I can actually use the last glyph properly, the growth one. It seems easier than the basic ones.” Rob smirked as he spoke. “I’ve been making every third tomato plant grow faster than the rest. Samantha is supposed to feed them so mum’s giving her grief about not doing it properly. It’s driving her crackers.”
“I’ve been boosting mum’s flower border and the fruit bushes, just a bit. The gooseberries will have a bumper crop this year.” A little smile lit Abel’s face. “How about hiding one of Samantha’s tomato plants, then revealing it the next day? If Kelis gets her last jar of honey, we’ll ask dryad Chestnut to sell us the veil glyph.” Anyone looking out of their window in Brinsford would have been puzzled by the sight of three teenagers, laughing and more or less dancing down the street, calling to each other before howling with laughter again. Even if someone heard “Melanie’s Teddy Bears,” “mum’s handbag,” “the phone while it’s ringing,” or “every third tomato” they wouldn’t understand.
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Nobody in Brinsford saw the glyph lesson because dryad Chestnut set a veil once Abel checked that nobody was looking straight at them. When it drew the shape in the dust the glyph seemed easy, a circle of dashes with a dot in the middle. “That’s it?”
“For me, yes. Mine is cast through my tree, so naturally reaches as far as the branches or roots and remains as long as necessary.” They all looked up at the leaves overhead in sudden comprehension. “Remember it must rotate, spin. I am sure such good students will soon learn how to control the size? Maybe the speed of spin will make a difference, or the direction?” Creaky dryad laughter sounded at the apprehensive looks on three student faces.
“How do we shut it off? Does it move with us?” Rob frowned at the glyph in the dirt.
“If it moves with us we can’t break it by walking through the edge, the usual way.” Abel stopped fretting and smiled at the dryad. “Our thanks, dryad Chestnut. It looks as if it will still be hard work, but we expect that. Ferryl Shayde will be startled.”
“I will stay alert in case she doesn’t laugh afterwards.” That really tickled dryad going by the creaking, or maybe the honey had made him a bit squiffy again. “Farewell, polite and sometimes generous apprentices. Ask again if your lessons are too hard.”
On the way home they all agreed they would practice control until they found out all the answers, then surprise Ferryl. She knew Abel had negotiated, but not when he would get the glyph. The idea of getting a magical one-up on the sorceress cheered them all, for now at least.
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Claris’ jailers were very keen, and very hungry. At first most of the Goblin bribe consisted of packets of out-of-date food, then anything from home that none of them liked. Once those were gone Jenny shopped on the way to Brinsford, buying the cheapest offers in the supermarkets. Goblins loved junk food like cheap pizzas, sausages and burgers.
When Rob, Kelis and Abel had a proper look around inside the church the prison facilities improved. They discovered a toilet with a sink on the other side of the building, kept reasonably clean by the pixies and brownies. Kelis would escort Claris with two goblins as backup, or Ferryl/Jenny could oversee toilet visits if she was visiting. Stan produced two big staples and Rob found a second chain in the garage at home, heavily rusted but still sound. The tape came off Claris’ hands for the last time, replaced by a well-padded chain round her neck to supplement the one on her ankle. Meanwhile the Leech used compulsion every time Stan visited to keep him from changing his mind.
The old poacher definitely seemed happy about Abel, Rob and Kelis spending one Saturday morning creature-proofing his house, garage, the chicken hut and their mesh run. Bugsy followed Abel around, watching, though Stan stayed well clear. He really didn’t want to look too closely at what anyone did, though he’d see the actual plaques and drawings. Towards the end of the hex-drawing, Zephyr flew very slowly out of Abel’s tattoo and hovered in front of Bugsy.
Abel opened his mouth to ask why, then shut up as a spooky-phone extended very, very slowly. Bugsy growled, a few hairs on his back went up, and Abel tensed ready to leg it. The old Jack Russel could be a bit sharp even on a good day. The ephemeral line touched, and Bugsy froze. After a few moments he relaxed a little and his hairs flattened. Abel tried to whisper in his head. “Zephyr, what are you doing?”
“Greeting another hunter. Hunter and guard, just as I am. He knows you are different, because of me, and worries about what you are doing. I am explaining.”
“You speak dog?” Abel remembered Ferryl purring to cats, but Zephyr never made a noise.
“No. We understand enough, but not like words. He knows I am your hunter and guard, and we mean no harm. I am letting him know that what we do will protect the Stan.” As the spooky-phone retracted, Bugsy actually twitched his tail and gave a tiny whine. “I will ask Ferryl if she can gift him something to help.”
“Maybe better sight? She does that for cats so they can be guardians and see creatures better.” She’d also enrolled them to help watch the village. “Will she make Bugsy a guardian?”
“She cannot. He has his own god, the Stan.” Abel went back to work. That needed way too much explanation, or very little but he might not like the answers. Remembering Ferryl Shayde had denied being a goddess came as a big relief.
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Abel didn’t mind losing his cake when, on the sixth day of being allowed to talk, Claris actually smiled. She still started off looking terrified, but couldn’t help it. Claris could feel the Leech controlling her all the time and knew she couldn’t do anything about it, so she spent most of the time wondering what it would make her do next. Claris reported that the pains inside had died back, so the Leech had stopped growing into her organs. Better yet, the Leech had stopped doing gross things when it came here. Claris wouldn’t define gross. Since she didn’t seem too upset about drinking blood or having a Goblin in the room all the time, nobody pushed for details.
Even though it would have made her feel better, they daren’t tell Claris her daily blood came from a shop in case the Leech objected. Whoever handed Claris the glass warmed it and added the magic out of sight, so the Leech wouldn’t find out. For now Ferryl/Jenny bought more every three days and put it in a cool box in the church. Abel, Rob and Kelis took turns to re-freeze the cool box packs at home.
Nin
e magically aware Taverner players made the trip to Brinsford to meet Claris, to speak to her when the Leech didn’t have total control. They came in ones and twos, reporting back to the rest. To Abel’s great relief nobody asked for their donations back, though some made it clear that once the Leech left her Claris had to earn her own keep. Several sent out-of-date food for the Goblins, or old clothes for Claris. Most of the clothes hung on her, because she still wasn’t putting on much weight.
Between dealing with Claris, exercising, practicing glyphs and patrolling Brinsford to top up the boundary, Abel had plenty on his plate. He still had to cram them in around school, though at least the homework had stopped after the exams. The evening boundary patrol wasn’t too bad, a time to just walk and let himself relax a little.
“Food for Claris! May I, please?”
“Yes, go on Zephyr. As long as it isn’t a mouse again.” Zephyr left on “Yes.” She’d been crestfallen to find that the mouse she caught two days ago wasn’t suitable. The Leech might have eaten it, but Claris didn’t need that memory.
“Yes!” Triumph rang through the connection. “Please come, Abel. I cannot lift it.”
That definitely intrigued Abel. He followed the spooky-line into the tall grass and nettles until he saw a plump rabbit laid on its side with Zephyr shimmering right above it. “You killed that?”
“The flying fist of doom strikes! Not killed. I thought the blood is better alive?”
Abel smiled, Zephyr loved Kelis’ nickname for her. Then he didn’t feel anything like as happy because now he had to kill the rabbit. “Will it stay unconscious until I can get it to Stan, so he can kill it? I don’t fancy it.” Abel could kill a Blood Leech or something attacking him, but not an unconscious bunny.
“I took care to hit hard enough so it would not escape, but without killing.” The shimmering tightened around the rabbit’s head. It barely quivered, its chest heaved a couple of times, and then it stilled. Zephyr took off again. “Is that better?”