After a few minutes, Rose came back with the tray. They all sat and drank their drinks quietly and thoughtfully.
After the tea and more cake, they felt more equipped to tackle the journey back in the snow. Rose had asked them to walk her back to her house and Jennifer stayed behind in her own home.
‘You are welcome to stay with our crazy gang, you know.’ Brenda offered.
‘I will stay here tonight, thank you. Now I have got over the initial shock of it, I am okay. I will see what tonight brings but I am quite safe in here. Tomorrow, who knows, I might get a bag packed and bed down with you at some point though, Brenda.’
‘Well I hope you have a good night Jennifer, God Bless,’ said Wee Renee.
Putting a chain across the gate, as they made their farewells, she said she would watch the cameras all night for activity and report back tomorrow.
Rose only lived two streets away from Jennifer on that side of the village. She walked in front of them and as she got near to her house. She turned to them.
‘I’m fine now, you can go.’ She said flatly.
‘Thank you, my lady,’ Pat replied and saluted her. She ignored her, making her way through the snow. The others watched her go.
‘She’s a piece of work, that one.’ Pat said.
‘Sshh Pat. Blood’s thicker than water,’ Wee Renee said quietly. She nudged Pat and indicated Brenda standing beside them.
‘I fully agree,’ said Brenda. ‘Why shouldn’t I admit it. The whole family have been putting up with her nonsense for years. Freddie can’t stand her. Didn’t you notice I only invited Jennifer to stay with us? Freddie would end up doing time if Rose moved in!’
As they walked through the village this time, they saw the odd person walking around shopping. It was now a quarter to three in the afternoon, and in an hour it would be dark again.
The four ladies went into the grocery shop each of them picking up a basket. Between them putting in the ingredients for an All Day Breakfast that Gary was making. One of his famous fry-ups he said, as a treat. None of them had heard of his fry-up’s, so they couldn’t be that famous. But with so many people in the house, Brenda was happy not to be on kitchen duty for a night. Although she had agreed to be his wingman. They picked up bacon, eggs, sausage, black pudding, beans, hash browns and some loaves of bread. Wee Renee also found quite a lot of cloves of garlic, which she happily picked up. She put in two tins of corned beef.
‘Has Gary asked for that?’ Pat said.
‘No, but I thought I could make corned beef hash, if his fry up is more infamous than famous, if you know what I mean. Our Doris has got a sack of lovely potatoes in the garage.’
‘Well thought out, Rene. It’s a good standby anyway for another day, if the snow starts again and we don’t want to go out. Who knows, Gary might be a budding Gordon Ramsay!’
‘Ooh Pat, wouldn’t that be special. But alas, I have a feeling in my water, that he could be more Fanny Craddock.’
‘Not to worry, I’ll be in there as well,’ Brenda added. Wee Renee went through the list to check she had everything. Her lips moved as she read from top to bottom.
‘Tampons! Who has asked for them?’
‘Well, it wasn’t me. I’m guessing Gary doesn’t use them in his fry up either. It must be Laura or Liz.’
‘Oh Pat, imagine it. All this, and God’s wee curse on top of that. Poor love, whoever she is.’
‘They’re for me actually,’ Sue said wandering up. ‘Mystery solved.’
‘Bad luck!’ Pat said and sniffed.
Wee Renee’s carried on with the list. Her final two items were unplanned, but she felt, necessary. A Yorkie Bar and as a last minute thought, a punnet of grapes for Our Doris.
When they got back the others were very interested to see if they had observed anything at all on the cameras. After they told them about what they had seen - the wolves, the three vampires and Anne passing the house seven times, they were in shock. Sue told them with dread, about the dead animals they carried and was naturally upset about the dead cats, promising vengeance.
Brenda told them about Anne shouting at the camera and challenging any occupants inside. Which horrified them.
‘Was her face dreadful and scary.’ Liz asked.
Pat could see where this was going and wanted to nip it in the bud.
‘I thought she just looked a silly bitch.’ Pat said shrugging and Liz laughed. The tension eased a little.
‘I thought it was amazing to behold. There was a wee gathering of evil brethren. A circle of unnatural souls, hunting their prey. Very rare to see. I felt privileged in a way. How many people have witnessed that,’ Wee Renee said in a quivering voice.
‘Great,’ said Bob.
‘Weird,’ said Andy.
‘Exciting!’ Our Doris concluded.
11 – September
Excerpts from Anne’s Diary.
3rd September
I have decided to hold a thank you party for The Councillors and their top employees this month. Our wine will be flowing that night. The trouble is that losing a lot of blood, to add to the wine, is a big drain on my own body’s resources. I am lucky I have a full cellar at moment to help me replenish but I may have to lose more of my tenants soon to keep the stock up.
15th September
Well, the party was a roaring success. Everything was planned down to the last tiny detail, even to the extent that I paid for taxis! This meant that no one had an excuse not to drink. And how they did. I have noticed that free wine goes down very well here. Aren’t I just the lucky one!
There will be a few sore heads after that night. Not least from me, poking about in their deepest thoughts. There was one worrying thing however, Norman seemed to have got wind of my party and turned up unannounced. It seemed that this visit was all about a Melden villager that he had spied and wanted. He is keeping her here for a while until she is ready for travelling. Norman is making her into one of his special ones. The ones that seduce men. I don’t make them. Pointless.
28th Sept
A crate of wine is being delivered today as part of a raffle to help the needy being run by the Council drivers. I am such a generous soul. I couldn't resist and I need to step up the pace. I want EVERYONE to drink my blood. I need to hunt for humans tonight. They are still walking on the moors in the autumn rains and winds. The other day it was thundering and lightening. Still the fools are out. Supposedly feeling nature on their faces. Now they feel my teeth on their throats, my syringe in their arms. How things have changed for them. I am all for enhancing their experiences.
What the Triangle does not provide, the tenants will make up. After all, I use it to feed, and for my beauty regime.
I have told my two brothers for years (centuries actually), that this fortifies me. And what is good for me, will be good for them. But do you know what, instead of thanking me, they look at me as if I am disgusting! Me! Norman has told me off. He says I am a threat to him and Len. He said I am dangerous. More than the authorities, a stake or a silver bullet! What? I know what I am doing. Him and Len are there, infecting one or two at a time! Where is that getting them? Not very far. Amateurs. I know. Anne knows. It is up to them if they don’t want to take over this Island! We could do it. Especially if we worked together. But they won’t. I want us to sit on three thrones with everyone bowing and scraping to us. Great farms of humans, for our delectation. But if they don’t want in – so be it. I will be Queen alone. Me. Anne. The best. They don’t need as much blood as me. They don’t think of me. A lady needs to bathe in blood. That takes a couple of fresh humans. This bad attitude is all Len. I know. He can say he is the eldest as much as he likes but he is SHIT and I don’t care!
12 – Metal Mickey
With a little help from Brenda, Gary did indeed cook a fine All Day Breakfast. There was absolutely mountains of food and they all enjoyed it greatly. Bob had copious amounts of tomato ketchup on his, which made his mother feel ill, especially after seeing the va
mpires with all those poor dead animals. Luckily for her, most of the people had brown sauce on their meal. After all the dishes were loaded in the dishwasher, and their pots and pans had been washed and put away they heard their first wolf call of the night. The reality hit home again. Anne was now a constant threat. A threat they knew they would probably have to deal with.
At the exact time they heard the howl, Norman was talking about the same thing in Friarmere. He had voiced his concerns as to the whereabouts of the missing bandsmen to Kate, Christine and Michael. He needed to pick their brains, bounce his ideas off them. Maybe these three, could work it all out.
‘I am wondering if they had got over the hill, and are in Melden. What are the chances of that?’
‘It’s certainly a possibility because there is no sign of them here. I have walked it with Stephen in the summer. It’s doable. Even in the winter I suppose.’
‘Ah, then, if you say a human could do it, then that is where I think they are. Fine.’
‘They could also be in Moorston, although that is a bit further. The hills are a little steeper. I would say it could take them nearly twice as long to get to Moorston,’ Michael said.
‘We’ll try Melden first then.’
‘They could be gathering an army there.’ Michael said. ‘Very dangerous.’
‘They could be bringing a lot of burly policemen over here too. Chrissy could help you with them.’ Christine said. They ignored her.
‘What do you think Kate?’ Kate smiled serenely.
‘Bad luck them, if they have,’ she replied.
‘Why?’ Michael asked. He didn’t like Kate and Norman having little secrets away from him.
‘They are in for a massive shock. Haha. My sister Anne, has a quirky sense of what she should be doing and has released her children into the wilds, for the most part. Encouraging them to eat animals before humans, which keeps their animalistic nature strong. They roam the village freely. Melden is theirs. It would be better for the missing humans, if they had made the trek to Moorston. For their sakes.’
After their evening meal, a few of them settled down to watch a film. Wee Renee asked Bob to sit next to her and when he did she put the quilt over their laps and gave him the Yorkie Bar, that she had bought earlier on. Wee Renee asked Bob what the film was called, and he told her. She had no idea what that was about and hadn’t heard of it before.
‘Well it’s about robots that turn into something else. Good ones and bad ones.’
‘Ooohh!’ Wee Renee shrieked. ‘Robots give me the willies,’ she shivered. ‘I didn't like that Metal Mickey from the eighties. Did you ever see him?’
‘No.’
‘He was dreadful. Really ghastly and they used to put him on at Saturday teatime as well. A Saturday teatime. It was still light. No warnings on at the beginning or anything it was really horrible. I couldn’t have it on. I had to get out. Then once, I happened to be walking past Rediffusion, and he was on about ten screens in their window, as large as life. And the shop was shut! What do you think about that? He was following me.’
‘Mint. Well, I don't know what he was like. He sounds good, I will have to Google him.’
‘I ran, you know Bob. And at that time, shops didn’t open late at night, so I had to go the Outdoor Hatch in a Working Man’s Club. I bought two milk stouts and I ran over to Pat’s house, which was close. Luckily though, I managed to evade him or else I wouldn’t be here to tell you this tale.’
‘Bloody Nora.’ Pat said, coming back in from the toilet. ‘Has some fool brought up Metal Mickey?’
‘I didn't mind that dusty bin though, he was alright, Bob.’
Freddie looked over the cover of an Atlas he was reading. Intrigued by the two with the quilt over their laps, now sharing a Yorkie Bar. A strange conversation from a strange pair. The mind boggles. He looked back down at his atlas.
‘Anyone for Horlicks?’ Brenda asked.
The film finished and everyone started making preparations for bed. There were some upstairs and some half way up to the stairs when they heard the howl. It was very loud and very close. They could feel it vibrating through their body. Sue felt her bowels turn to jelly and went weak. She was halfway up the stairs, so grabbed on to the bannister. Liz felt her temples begin to throb and Our Doris’s muscles where taut like steel wire. Haggis bared his teeth. Our Doris stroked him and he licked her hand. Freddie was near the front door and grabbed his special stick. They turned the light off in the living room and every one of them made their way upstairs.
Our Doris had a window that looked out over the front but she had yet to turn the lights on. The curtains were shut. Behind the curtains, she had vertical blinds.
‘Don't turn the light on,’ she whispered. Walking over to the curtains, they split themselves into three groups. One looked through the middle gap, where the curtains met and two at either side of the window. They had to slightly open the vertical blind, with their fingers, so they could see out. They were in pitch darkness so no one could see them. Right outside, halfway up the cul-de-sac stood the group, with their wolves.
They looked like they were out on patrol and were looking at each house as they moved up. Sue could see that apart from one extra person, it was the same group that they had witnessed last night. There were five wolves flanking the vampires. The wolves were loose. They did not stray further than ten feet away from Anne. Again the people seemed to walk in weird jerky movements, almost the same as their lupine friends with them. Wee Renee noticed that as Anne’s head moved to the left, the wolves’ head’s would move to the left and then as it moved to the right or centre it would follow again. The wolves seemed to have a pack intelligence and Anne seemed to be able to control them as a collective force. Every eye of the monsters looked at wherever Anne looked. Checking out a house, for a new brother, or maybe a tasty snack. This pack of vampires and animals were very, very dangerous indeed.
They were all shocked to see this and Our Doris, still poorly, was being supported by Brenda and Freddie. She was terrified for them to see her, feeling that they would physically force her to join the group. Our Doris backed away from the curtain, not being able to see anymore made her feel better for the moment. She sat on her bed in the darkness, feeling lost and vulnerable. Pat walked over to her and so did Bob.
‘It’s not a just a chance that they were checking homes in this cul-de-sac,’ Our Doris began to cry. They put their arms round her.
‘We won't let them get you.’ Said Bob gently.
‘I think they were after me. They can smell me can’t they.’
‘They weren't,’ said Pat, ‘they are just patrolling, just the same as at the back of Jennifer's house the other day. And they were looking through her camera and she hasn't been infected, has she? They are just after people all the time, to join their gang.’
The rest of the group continued to watch the wolves and Anne walk around the cul-de-sac. As they got close to the bottom Anne turned round and looked straight at them in the window and smiled. She gave a brief cheerio wave and was gone. Andy gulped.
‘Promise me that they weren’t after me.’ Said Our Doris from the bed. ‘I couldn't bear it if I knew I was just a magnet for them and I was putting you all in danger being here. I can't cope with it.’
All the others remaining at the window realised that she was probably right, but it was going to do no good telling her that. So they came away from the window and told the three on the bed that they had gone now.
‘They are just after more mates or food. Don't think about it one second more Our Doris.’ Pat said standing up and putting her hand’s on her hips. ‘I don't know about you Our Doris, but I could really do with one of your brandy’s after that.’
‘Yes, you’re right. That’s just the thing for this. Well, have away with a little whisky everyone, or whatever is your fancy. Help yourself, I think we all need something to calm us down after that. Will someone bring me a whisky please? I won’t make it down and up again. And
please, don’t leave me on my own, while you get it.’
‘Right,’ Gary said, ‘me and the lads will bring up the glasses and the booze. Who wants what?’ Everyone told them. Even Bob was allowed a small nip tonight and he chose dark rum.
Whilst they were drinking their nightcaps, Wee Renee was mulling everything over. She stared absent-mindedly at Our Doris, who was applying cold cream to her face. Bob was telling her a joke. She sipped her whisky and thought about the wolves. They were a lot bigger in real life than through camera, and a lot scarier. Larger teeth and heads, sulky looks and doleful eyes.
The fact that they were working as one system was quite terrifying. She could not tell what their fur was like on the black and white footage, but they were a brownie grey. Wee Renee took another sip. Wondering what kind of wolf they were.
Something at the back of her mind wanted to come forward but wasn’t quite there yet. At the moment she did not seem to have all the facts. At the back of her mind, she somehow knew what this was all about, and what Anne was. It would come to her. Then when she knew the beast, she would be able to kill it.
Excerpt from Anne’s Diary
Saturday, 10 December
This evening I walked and patrolled the village, whilst my wolves howled. I love to hear their voices calling out to me. We were patrolling a small street when I recognised a smell. I discovered by chance that there was one of my becoming there. One of my future children, a partial turn, was in that street. I suppose you could call them a foetus.
When I was patrolling the street, I could see people watching me from an upstairs window (night vision is so handy). I realised that this was the house where my unclaimed child was and I really needed to get to her, but I could smell that there were too many people in the house. Many mixed human smells. Also, the cheesy smell seems to be coming from there. I would be outnumbered. I gave them a quick wave as I walked away, just so they knew I had seen them. I hate my brother Len. I wish we were back in Switzerland. Bad news. The mix of the rabbit and cat did not work and this morning I found the fat man I had injected dead. He will not go to waste as my wolves and children will enjoy him. Nothing goes to waste here. So now there is an empty sad, stained mattress and a bucket, with no owner. I will rectify that tomorrow. I have a waiting list for my sheltered housing, so I will create a vacancy. Oh, what a good idea it was for me to put lonely and needy people in those houses that could easily disappear. I still am receiving rent for most of them. Ha! That is the funniest bit! Or is it when I come at them with my syringe. I do wish they would not cry so much downstairs. Sometimes they scream so loud down there that I fear that other people may hear in the village. That is why I love my wolves. Their sweet voices cover so much. I am ‘running’ a bath now. I have had to use two humans for this but it really is the Fountain of Youth and I am so worth it!
Silver Banned: Book 2 of the Saddleworth Vampire Series Page 7