The Four Realms

by Adrian Faulkner

  The living room was just as inviting. The red wallpaper added to the heating to make the room seem warm and exciting. A bookcase along the wall that adjoined Maureen's house reached from the floor to the ceiling. But Maureen thought the single file books were there for show rather than reading, co-ordinated not by genre or author but by colour of their spines.

  Sally indicated for Maureen to sit on the sofa whilst she made them some tea. Maureen seemed to sink into it, a big white leather thing that she was sure she'd never get out of. It was comfortable though, even if the level of heat in the room made Maureen feel drowsy. She doubted it was actually that warm, but compared to her own house it was like an oven.

  "So how come you came back so early?" Sally asked as she set a tray of tea and biscuits on the glass coffee table and sat down beside Maureen.

  "Well, it appears I am being evicted." Maureen said it without emotion, more for fear that if she was anything more than matter-of-fact she might start crying again.

  "Oh dear lord," Sally said, nearly spilling the tea she was pouring. "I thought you owned the house."

  "No. Not really. It's all a bit complicated."

  "Well, your landlord should be making sure that house is habitable, and frankly Maureen, it isn't. I mean the heating..."

  Maureen could feel herself tensing up as the anxiety took hold once again.

  "Yes, I know," she said, trying to stop Sally so the anxiety would ease. "But not that it matters now."

  "Have they served you with an eviction notice?" Sally asked, taking a sip from her tea.

  Maureen struggled against the will of the sofa to sit upright and retrieve her cup from the tray. "Well, they've told me, but I don't think they've given me anything in writing, if that's what you mean."

  "Oh they sound like right so and so's," Sally fumed. "There are legal obligations on landlords. They can't just do anything, you know."

  "That was where I was wondering if you could help me. Maybe take me to the citizen's advice bureau in town. I really don't know my rights."

  "Not a problem Maureen. My, you've had a rough time of it lately, haven't you?"

  Maureen could only nod and stare into her tea, fearing eye contact.

  "You'll need to find out all your contracts and documentation. They'll want to see that sort of thing."

  "I'm not sure where it all is," Maureen lied. She'd never signed a contract in her life. Not for rent of the house, nor employment, nor anything.

  "Well," Sally said, sounding her best at being reassuring. "How about I send Simon round tonight? He's very good at all that legal stuff. He'll know what to look out for."

  "He does?" Maybe if Simon knew the law, she'd be able to find a way to stop them from evicting her.

  "Oh yes. Gets called on by his firm all the time to do legal things."

  Somehow this put Maureen more at ease. She could pretend that she'd accidentally thrown out the contracts, and mine him for information she could throw back at Rofen. She doubted he was well versed in letting laws, and if nothing else it might buy her some time.

  Of course, no conversation with Sally was complete without the usual interrogation. She asked all about the friend Maureen had gone to stay with. She asked about the friend's grandson, what he did, what car he drove, whether he had a girlfriend or not. At each question, Maureen constructed a new lie, hoping desperately that she wouldn't be caught out by a referring question. But Sally didn't like to go back over old ground, instead just ploughing forward with further questions.

  Any other time, Maureen would have minded the woman's relentless questioning, but today it took her mind off everything, reducing her anxiety as she talked at length about things that had never happened, people who didn't exist.

  There was part of her that wished she could tell Sally the truth, and if she could have opened that second door into Venefasia and shown her, she might have. Somehow, over the last couple of days, Sally had become the closest thing to a friend Maureen had. In this world, at least. For all her nosiness, she'd been a godsend to Maureen these past few days. She'd never have got by without her.

  By the time Maureen returned home, she was so exhausted that she seriously considered going back to bed. If Simon had not been coming round she might have, but instead she grabbed a rubbish sack and a blanket, sat down by the bookcase next to the door and started sorting through things. The majority of this bookcase was comprised of books, books she'd not read in years, but in between were shopping lists, receipts, various bits of correspondence that no longer held relevance. These she shoved in the rubbish sack. For a moment she considered throwing some of the tattier books away as well, but there seemed something criminal in that, so instead she made a pile that she would give to the local hospice.

  She worked through the day, stopping for regular tea breaks as she made her way shelf by shelf, the first of several bookcases. Wherever she went, she'd likely have less space, and a clean out seemed the perfect antidote to her day of stress and anxiety. With every bag of rubbish she filled - she was amazed just how much there was - her mood lightened to the extent that by late afternoon, her worries seemed a world away and she was humming to herself.

  She looked around her at the state of her hall, comparing it to Sally and Simon's. How nice this place could be, if only she spent a little more time de-cluttering. She wondered how her bookcases would look in Sally's house, and even looked to see which books would be grouped together in order to colour coordinate the spines.

  But for all her admiration, there was something wrong with their hall that Maureen couldn't put her finger on. Maybe it was the decor, which was a little gaudy for Maureen's tastes.

  She pulled an A4 envelope out the bookcase. It looked relatively new and had her name written on the front. She vaguely remembered stuffing it into the bookcase a couple of nights ago, but didn't have any knowledge of it before then. She tore it open and pulled out the paper inside. It was a letter addressed to her. Maureen's eyes glanced to the bottom of the page where it had been signed, and gasped.

  Dear Maureen,

  I know what you're thinking: why's that darned fool sending me a letter. In truth, it's not been easy to write this. I'm not sure if I'm cracking up but you're the only person I feel I can trust. So forgive an old man if it's just a case of him going prematurely senile.

  I'm so paranoid right now. I KNOW people have been in my office and my house. I've noticed things. Stupid little things like finding the corners of some of my papers under mugs. You know how obsessive I am about ring stains from cups on papers. I just don't do it!!

  Over the last few weeks I've noticed more and more of these little things. Individually I'd just put them down as a coincidence but together... well, I don't know what to think.

  I thought about going to Rofen but there's something I just don't trust about him. I mean, he's always been a bit of a twit but lately he's been different.

  We've had a lot of sick wizards lately, and they're keen to keep it hushed up. But you know the Friary, you couldn't keep a secret there if you tried! Reeves says he knows someone in the archives who got sick and lost not only his magical abilities, but apparently, a lot of his mind as well. He started off acting a little paranoid at first as well! Eek!

  I don't know what to think. I know you think me an old fool at times, and Lord knows you've often been right. But I'm so worried they've somehow bugged your place. Hence the letter rather than speaking to you in person. It's your fault for making me watch all those crime shows on your television! They just feed my imagination.

  Do me a favour, as stupid as this might sound. When I come back tonight, please make no mention of this letter. I know you'll think I'm just being stupid, but humour me, please! At least until I get to the bottom of this. I've got a contact in Venefasia who I'm meeting up with once I get back. She says she knows things.

  If something does happen, God forbid, if I start acting odd or disappear, you just pretend you know none of this.

  But I know you
. You'll go and get involved no matter what I say. I'm going to say it anyway. Just don't get involved, especially with the Friary! I'm not worth it, seriously. I'd be happier knowing you were safe and away from it all.

  I've never told you how I feel about you. I've always been too scared or assumed you sort of knew. It's stupid really, now I think about it. I guess I always worried you'd say no. These past few weeks have made me realise that you have to seize opportunities or they'll pass you by. Otherwise before you know it, it's too late.

  I'm not sure how you feel about me. If you don't see me in that way, it's OK. We're adults and can be honest with each other without losing our friendship. But if you'd like to be more than friends, I'd very much like that.

  Perhaps we can have a talk about it when I get back from London?

  Yours

  Ernest

  Maureen finished reading it and held it to her chest. She closed her eyes and sighed. How long had this been here? He must have left it in the hall when he went up to London, and Maureen had scooped it up thinking it had fallen from the bookcase.

  "Too late," she said.

  She considered it for a moment, trying to let the words sink in, without succumbing to tears. She'd save those for her bed tonight.

  There were two things that were bothering her. The first was Ernest's insistence at not trusting his own Friary. Surely that was crazy? Crazy enough that he predicted his own murder, she thought to herself.

  The second thing was equally as bemusing and referred to earlier in the day. Since when did Sally and Simon have a cellar?

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE - Fight On The M25

  If there was one positive to D'Toeni's tall stories, it was that it helped re-enforce the urgency of getting to Venefasia. They'd been busy in Darwin's absence, sourcing blankets, scraps of clothing, anything to cover them up. .

  Looking down on the cargo bay from the safety of the one of the upstairs conference rooms, Honest Tom slapped Darwin on the back. "You were right, Darwin. Rescuing D'Toeni was a good move."

  Darwin bit his lip. He desperately wanted to tell Honest Tom the truth but if it came down to it, who would they believe: him or the fellow vampire.

  "Still," Honest Tom laughed, "I'm not sure who rescued who."

  He walked off, leaving Darwin alone.

  Darwin would just have to put up with the jibes. Surely they would die down after a time, maybe when they were safely in the other realm. He sighed, disappointed that things weren't turning out the way he imagined.

  He thought he'd better go and help Cassidy, so turned to make his way down to the Cargo Bay. He encountered Brian and Jules talking to D'Toeni at the top of the stairs.

  "It's so good to finally have a real vampire here," Jules was saying. "I tell you this place has been like a nursery with all the fucking Die Neuen running the show. Do you know Honest Tom wouldn't let us out to feed? I've not had blood for nearly a week now."

  D'Toeni took Jules' hand and kissed the back of it. "My dear, I feel for you."

  Brian watched his partner's hand carefully. "It's just ridiculous. Who put them in charge?"

  Darwin pushed past, ignored by the others.

  "I mean," Brian continued. "You've got Monk who openly admits his allegiances are with the werewolves, Honest Tom is a Negro, and then there's..."

  "Don't you worry," D'Toeni said, raising his voice as if to make certain Darwin heard. "Once we get to Venefasia, we'll sure we reinstate a more... traditional hierarchy."

  Darwin could only roll his eyes. He guessed old prejudices died hard when you were several hundred years old like Brian or D'Toeni. Jules had no excuse though. And technically, wasn't she Die Neuen also?

  Still he had enough on his mind to worry about. They had to get to Venefasia first.

  Cassidy had finished loading the blankets by the time Darwin arrived.

  "Nice of you to come and chip in," she jested.

  Darwin looked up to the skylights and the grey sky beyond. "Do you think it'll work?"

  "They'll have to stay covered up the entire journey. We couldn't paint out the windscreen."

  Darwin nodded. It would have to do.

  "How you doing?" he said as an afterthought.

  Cassidy shrugged. "Well... You know..."

  At least she's talking now, he thought to himself. That was an improvement.

  She looked over his shoulder to Metzger's ornamental sword he had strapped to his back. It was so large that even at an angle the tip of the sheath was down by his ankles.

  "Still got your sword, then?"

  "I thought it made me look cool."

  Cassidy considered it for a second. "Possibly a bit overstated," she concluded.

  A smile broke out between them, a joke shared and for a second it felt like old times again.

  #

  Darwin opened his eyes and realised he must have dosed off. He'd not slept for several days. Bleary eyed, he looked toward Cassidy.

  "Aren't you tired?"

  "Very. Can you hold onto the wheel for ten minutes, while I get in a quick nap?"

  Darwin blinked, trying to bring the world back into focus. They were on the motorway, Cassidy driving, Darwin beside her and the vampires hidden beneath the blankets in the back. He cast her a worried look. She smirked back and he let out a sigh of relief.

  "Thought you were serious for a moment."

  "You snore."

  "Do not!"

  Cassidy raised an eyebrow at him. "Whatever you say, bozo."

  "How touching," came a voice from behind. Darwin automatically recognised it as D'Toeni's. "You two were just made for each other."

  He was sitting with his back against the front seats. Darwin looked over and saw he wasn't covered.

  "You might want to watch the light. I hear you can get an awful tan this time of year."

  D'Toeni huffed. "My dear boy, I’ve been burned by the sun so many times, I'm almost as resistant as you are."

  "Want to put that to the test?"

  "My. Someone is very bitter today."

  "I wonder why?"

  D'Toeni laughed. "Well yes. You were made to look a bit foolish today."

  "Foolish? I saved your life." Darwin refused to let himself get riled by the vampire but the way D'Toeni had seemed to ruin everything ate away at him.

  "What do you want? Gratitude?"

  "I should have left you down that tunnel. They all think you are a hero when I know you're not."

  D'Toeni waved the comment off as if he was swatting a fly. "Say what you like. They're all asleep and can't hear you. Not that they would believe you even if they were."

  "Leave him Darwin," Cassidy commented. "He's just trying to wind you up."

  "Yes, Darwin. Listen to your little girlfriend. She's all yours now her beau Ryan is offal."

  Cassidy tutted. "You'll have to do better than that if you want to try and get at me."

  "You're such a strange one, Cassidy. You're not scared when you really, really should be. I haven't worked out if that is down to stupidity or bravery."

  There was silence whilst D'Toeni seemed to be waiting for an answer, but Cassidy did not grace him with one. Instead she offered Darwin a little wink and focused on her driving.

  After a while, realising that Cassidy wasn't succumbing to his little taunts, D'Toeni let out a massive sigh. "I'm so bored. Why aren't we there yet?" he said loudly. "Are you deliberately driving slowly?"

  "Can you keep it down," a voice mumbled from under a blanket. "Some of us are trying to sleep."

  The voice was unmistakably female and so had to belong to Jules.

  "I'm sorry, my dear," D'Toeni said, brightening up at the prospect of a new playmate to spar with. "But the conversation here has been so droll without another vampire to talk with."

  "Are we there yet? Is it night yet?"

  "No, on both counts I'm afraid. If our driver was any slower, it would be faster to get out and walk."

  Cassidy looked over to Darwin and raised her eyebr
ows. Darwin didn't share her amusement. Were it any vampire other than D'Toeni, Darwin might have been tempted to sort this out the old fashioned way.

  Jules let out the type of laugh people do when they are looking to impress, an over-enthusiastic guffaw.

  "You do realise how stupid you look sat there with a towel over your head, don't you Jules?" Darwin sniped. Cassidy flashed him a glare but it was too late. Darwin shrugged back at her.

  Jules pulled away her blanket. They were travelling so that the sunlight was shining against the side of the vehicle and hence blocked by the painted windows. But even so, Jules must have been pretty annoyed to risk the light. "Fuck you, Darwin," she called back. This brought a smile to Darwin's face.

  It was D'Toeni's turn to turn the other cheek. "Ignore him, Jules. We don't have to put up for his kind for very much longer."

  "Can't come soon enough, D'Toeni. Those two make my skin crawl."

  "Well rest assured that as soon as we cross into Venefasia. I'm going to make a meal of our driver."

  Jules guffawed again. D'Toeni did not seem to share the joke.

  "What's so funny?"

  "You're going to feed on Cassidy?"

  D'Toeni nodded. "What's funny about that?"

  "Can't you smell her?" Jules' tone was slightly condescending and Darwin saw D'Toeni visibly stiffen. See how you like it, Darwin thought.

  "I lost my sense of smell back in the Napoleonic Wars. Long story."