“I don’t know if Kalix will keep going or not.”
“Can you make her?”
“No one can make Kalix do anything.”
“I really think she might leave,” said Vex, and she looked gloomy again, “but I’ve got a plan to cheer her up.” She fumbled around in her large Hello Kitty bag and produced an aged-looking comic. “Look! Curse of the Wolf Girl!”
Malveria regarded the garish comic with some distaste.
“What is this shabby item?”
“It’s Kalix’s favorite comic!”
“Really?”
“She loves it. If you give me some money, I’ll buy more copies for her. Then she’ll cheer up and won’t leave college.”
Vex looked at them expectantly. Malveria, always suspicious of ulterior motives when her niece asked for money, regarded her coolly.
Thrix seemed surprised that Kalix would enjoy reading a werewolf comic. But who knew what Kalix might like?
“The adoption ceremony awaits,” said Malveria.
“I’ll come if you give me money to buy comics for Kalix and also new boots.”
“How did boots make an appearance? There will be no new boots. You may have the money for comics, if you actually believe it will encourage Kalix’s education. Now depart, wretched girl, to the palace, and prepare yourself for the ceremony.”
The Fire Queen snapped her fingers, sending Vex back to her own dimension. “The girl will be the death of me,” she sighed. “I may not make it through the pre-adoption ceremony.”
“Are you actually making her your heir?”
“Not quite, though she will be close. It will pacify my council for a while.”
“At least she’s showing some enthusiasm about college,” said Ann.
“True. Apparently she has received many gold stars, which she assures me is a good sign. Is it a good sign, Enchantress?”
“Eh…yes, I’m sure it is.”
“Excellent. Perhaps my niece will surprise us all and actually learn something.”
Chapter 45
Alone in her frugal apartment, Dominil tucked her long white hair into the black woolly hat she’d bought for the occasion, put on an anonymous brown jacket, and placed a pair of glasses with clear lenses on her face. She studied herself in the mirror. It wasn’t an impenetrable disguise, but it was good enough for her purposes. At least with her distinctive white hair covered, she wouldn’t be instantly recognizable.
She paused at the door, wondering if she should take a book with her. She wasn’t likely to find herself in a situation where she needed something to read, but long habit made her feel uncomfortable leaving the house without a book. She tucked a copy of Xenophon’s Expedition to Persia in her pocket before setting off.
Dominil was now ready to kill the hunters who pursued her. The first of them, anyway, a Mr. Krakow. From her last glimpses of the guild’s files, Dominil had learned that Krakow had not only seen her in Camden, he’d seen the twins too. He’d now been assigned to hunt them down.
Dominil drove smoothly from the parking lot beneath her block of flats into the streets, which were becoming quieter after midnight. She headed north, towards King’s Cross, where the guild had housed Krakow. Traveling through the city at night was far quicker than during the day, and she arrived sooner than she expected. The white-haired werewolf parked in the darkest side street she could find then slipped silently out of the car. She walked swiftly and very quietly to the main road, back along another side street till she found the small, semi-detached house she was looking for.
Checking to see that no one observed her, she walked over the tiny front garden to the passage at the side of the house, which led to another small garden at the back, blocked by a tall gate. Dominil vaulted the gate with ease, again making not the slightest sound. She peered in the back window. There, watching TV, was Krakow. A large man, Dominil judged, though he was sitting down.
Dominil tried the back door. It wasn’t locked. Apparently the werewolf hunter was not very security conscious while at home. Perhaps he had no reason to be. Until now, werewolves had never hunted them. Dominil crept inside. Then, in the kitchen, she transformed into her werewolf shape so that she was covered in her perfect white coat, with long hair covering her whole body and longer strands of hair hanging down from her head and shoulders. Slightly hunched, she crept through the kitchen, the small hall, and up to the living room. The hunter was still watching television. Dominil could leap on him now and kill him before he knew what had happened. Break his neck from behind. It would be easy.
Dominil couldn’t quite do it. She’d killed hunters before and never regretted it for a second. But there was something about just killing this man from behind that didn’t quite feel right. She mused for a second or two then spoke in her harsh werewolf voice. “Mr. Krakow?”
The hunter leapt from the couch and spun around, startled, but not afraid. He reached inside his jacket for a weapon, and Dominil saw the glint of a revolver. The werewolf leapt into the living room. She was too fast for Krakow, fastening her jaws around his neck before he could reach the trigger. She killed him in an instant and let his body drop to the floor. She looked at the corpse.
“You won’t be hunting me anymore,” she muttered and returned calmly to the kitchen, where she changed back into her human shape and left the house as swiftly and silently as she’d arrived.
When she arrived home, she found three messages from Pete on the phone, asking if she’d like to join him for a late-night drink, and another message from the twins, demanding to know what was wrong with their guitarist, who was still refusing to rehearse.
Dominil shook her head in disgust at all of them and went to change her clothes then sat on the couch in silence, reading Xenophon’s Expedition to Persia.
Chapter 46
Decembrius knew he was unlikely to receive a warm welcome. He shrugged and pressed the doorbell. If he wanted to see Kalix, there was no point wasting time. He’d been fortunate to run into Moonglow, enabling him to follow her home. He probably wouldn’t get the chance again.
Decembrius noted that the small shop below the flat was boarded up, and the paving stones beneath his feet were cracked and worn. The street had an air of decay about it. He wasn’t surprised when the door opened on a similarly shabby hallway. He’d have been more surprised to find Kalix living anywhere comfortable. Decembrius himself now lived in modest surroundings, though in his youth, at the castle, he’d been used to a degree of comfort. “Few werewolves left the clan to move up in the world,” he thought. If you abandoned the castle, it was generally a sign that your fortunes were on the wane.
He found himself confronted by a young man he didn’t remember meeting before, wearing a T-shirt with some unfamiliar band’s name on it, with long hair that fell over his eyes.
“I’ve come to see Kalix.”
The young man looked at him suspiciously. “She doesn’t like visitors.”
“I’ve brought her some good news from home. From the castle.” Decembrius improvised as best he could, wishing he’d prepared a better story. The young man pondered for a moment or two then invited him inside. Decembrius followed him up a dark stairway with bare plaster on the wall, cracked and flaking.
The small flat at the top of the stairs was as cheap as its surroundings, but Decembrius noticed immediately the warm atmosphere. There were posters on the walls, a few small artifacts strewn around, a warm gas fire, and a rug. None of it was expensive, but it seemed welcoming.
“Kalix!” yelled Daniel. “Someone’s here to see you.”
A door opened upstairs, and Moonglow emerged. “Who is it?”
“Someone with good news from the castle.”
Moonglow’s eyes widened in alarm. “From the werewolf castle? And you just let them in? Are you crazy?”
“He said he had good news,” said Daniel, defensively.
Moonglow hurried downstairs, cast an angry glance at Daniel, then confronted Decembrius. “Who a
re you and what’s the good news?” she demanded.
“I’m Decembrius MacRinnalch. I’m afraid I don’t really have any good news.”
“Hey!” cried Daniel. “He tricked me.”
“I take it you’re a werewolf?”
“I am.”
“Werewolves looking for Kalix are always bad news,” said the girl, “so you’d better leave.”
Decembrius was surprised. He hadn’t expected the friendliest of receptions, but even so, the girl seemed unusually hostile. And also quite familiar with werewolves, to the extent of not showing the slightest fear or distress at meeting another one.
“I came to see how Kalix was,” he said, a little lamely. He scanned Moonglow’s expression, hoping it might soften a little. It didn’t.
“Decembrius,” she muttered. “I remember that name. Weren’t you one of Sarapen’s supporters?”
“I see you’re familiar with the clan.”
“Of course I’m familiar with them. We’ve been trying to protect Kalix from all of you. You have to leave.”
Decembrius felt a twinge of anger. He didn’t enjoy being ordered about by anyone, particularly a human girl he’d never met before. He had an urge to simply brush her out of the way and march upstairs to see Kalix. He was picking up the aroma of laudanum. She obviously hadn’t changed her ways. But he couldn’t start any trouble. Kalix would just hate him more than she probably already did.
“How did you get here anyway?” demanded Moonglow. “We’re supposed to be hidden.”
“I followed you,” replied Decembrius. “I’m good at that. I really want to see Kalix. Perhaps you could tell her I’m here?”
“No,” said Moonglow. “Go away.”
Daniel stood at her side, facing Decembrius, and attempted to look resolute.
Decembrius found himself at a loss. Though he had a reputation as quite a cunning werewolf, he couldn’t think of anything to say to make these people less suspicious of him. There was a faint noise from the top of the stairs and a few soft footsteps. It was Kalix, wrapped in an old blue dressing gown. Her face contorted with anger.
“What are you doing here?” she growled.
“I came to see how you were.”
“I’m fine, and I don’t want to see you,” said Kalix, still growling. She took a few steps down the stairs then abruptly lost consciousness. She fell and bumped her way quite slowly down the stairs. There was a brief, surprised pause, while the three looked at her, then Moonglow rushed to her side.
“Does she do that often?” asked Decembrius.
“Quite often,” admitted Daniel.
“I take it she’s not very well?”
“Not in the best of health, no.”
Moonglow attempted to help Kalix towards the couch. Decembrius went to lend assistance but was crowded out by Daniel.
“What is this?” asked Decembrius. “Too much laudanum?”
Moonglow looked uncomfortable. “Partly. But she won’t eat. She hasn’t eaten since—”
“Since Gawain died?” guessed Decembrius.
Moonglow nodded and looked glum. Anxiety over Kalix made her forget for a moment how much she wanted Decembrius to leave. “I think she’s trying to starve herself to death again.”
“A werewolf can’t starve herself to death,” stated Decembrius.
“You’d be surprised,” replied Moonglow.
“Haven’t any of the family tried to help?” asked Decembrius. “Her sister?”
“They don’t get on. You should leave. We’ll look after her.”
“You don’t seem to be doing that well.”
“We’ve been doing fine,” said Daniel, supporting Moonglow. “Or we would be if there weren’t so many crazy werewolves trying to kill Kalix all the time. Didn’t Moonglow say you should leave?”
Decembrius stared at them both. He didn’t like either of these two hostile young humans but knew, if he wanted to talk to Kalix, he couldn’t afford to offend them.
“I think I can help,” he said. “I’ll be back in a little while.”
Without another word, the red-haired werewolf left the room, leaving Daniel and Moonglow puzzled as to why he’d arrived and how.
“I thought we were hidden from other werewolves? Doesn’t Kalix’s pendant keep them away?”
“He said he followed me home.”
“Doesn’t it stop that from happening?” Daniel asked.
Neither of them knew.
“I hope we don’t get flooded out with werewolves.” Daniel looked concerned then perked up. “Do you think I could get some sort of exemption from exams?”
The appearance of a potential hostile werewolf had made Daniel and Moonglow temporarily forget their strained relationship.
“Poor Kalix,” continued Daniel. “She gets her life in order, then Gawain goes and gets killed. No wonder she’s upset. Of course, you never know when something like that’s going to happen. What if I got killed in a road accident?”
“Then I’d miss you,” said Moonglow.
“How much?” demanded Daniel. “Really badly or just a little?”
Moonglow was spared from answering by the doorbell. Decembrius had returned, bearing a carrier bag from the small shop on the far corner.
“Their selection of meat isn’t that good,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter,” said Daniel. “She won’t eat it anyway.”
Decembrius dumped the bag on the floor then went to the couch and prodded Kalix. At first she didn’t respond, but as he prodded her again, she stirred, and her nose twitched. Abruptly she opened her eyes, and the moment she saw Decembrius standing over her, she became alert and sat up.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded.
Decembrius grinned. “I’ve come for you,” he said, and then, to the surprise of everyone, he changed into his werewolf shape and growled.
Kalix leapt to her feet and started growling back, ready to defend herself. Her tiredness and intoxication slipped away as her wolf nature took over. Decembrius snarled at her fiercely. Kalix snarled back, even more fiercely. For a period, there was snuffling and snarling in the room as the two werewolves faced each other, eyes blazing. Just as it seemed Kalix was about to attack, Decembrius withdrew. Still as a werewolf, he picked up his carrier bag, emptied the raw meat on the floor, and began to eat. Moonglow and Daniel looked on dumbfounded as Decembrius buried his snout in a great pile of supermarket cuts of chops, sausages, and burgers.
“Well, really,” said Moonglow. “Couldn’t you use the table?”
There was a sudden blur of movement as Kalix flew across the room. As she reached Decembrius, she crouched down and buried her own nose in the pile of raw meat. There was a moment of snarling as they fought over a lamb chop, then each busied themselves in eating.
“Well…” said Daniel to Moonglow. “I suppose that wasn’t a bad idea.”
“I suppose not.”
More snarling broke out as the pile of food grew smaller. Decembrius withdrew, letting Kalix finish it off. He changed back to human. Kalix remained as she was, still snuffling around on the carpet, looking for scraps.
“Can’t starve yourself when you’re a werewolf.” Decembrius looked pleased with himself. Moonglow was impressed, though Daniel still resented the way Decembrius had tricked his way into the house.
“You should go now,” said Moonglow.
“I thought I might stay a while…”
Kalix looked up from the floor. “Go away.”
Confronted by two students and a young werewolf, none of whom seemed as friendly as they ought to be, Decembrius decided against arguing. He rose quite gracefully.
“I’ll call back and see if you’re feeling better,” he said, and he nodded to them all as he left.
Chapter 47
Queen Malveria balanced comfortably on a large mushroom and sipped from a buttercup full of whisky. Far above a bitter wind shook the treetops, but the queen was protected from the weather by the soft golden gl
ow surrounding the woman sitting on the next mushroom. Malveria felt unusually relaxed. It was always a pleasant excursion, visiting the Fairy Queen of Colburn Woods. Since entering into a business relationship, Queen Dithean and Queen Malveria had become friends. Only recently Dithean had been Malveria’s guest at a chariot race, agreed by all to be a thrilling event.
Malveria took care to nurture her friendship. Queen Dithean Wallace Cloud-of-Heather NicRinnalch had control over a very important resource. The water that flowed through the wood was exceptionally pure. Malveria declared it the purest to be found in the known realms and used it in her potions of rejuvenation. The Fire Queen believed it did wonders for her skin. For her part, Dithean NicRinnalch was pleased with the thimblefuls of gold that were proffered in exchange for the water. It was a satisfactory arrangement all around.
Though Queen Malveria now spent most of her time flitting between her luxurious palace and the fashion showrooms of Europe, the outdoor environment was not as alien to her as might have been supposed. Malveria had spent many long years in her youth as a fugitive, hiding in the harsh wastelands of the Hiyasta nation, sleeping in caves, tramping over fields of molten lava, and living off the land. The guerrilla campaign that took her from renegade princess to absolute ruler had been long and harsh. The Fire Queen could do without luxury if she needed to. Not that the mushroom was uncomfortable, given her present small size. Queen Dithean could change the stature of visitors to her realm, and Malveria had politely agreed to be shrunk down so that they could converse more easily.
“The pre-adoption ceremony was not as dreadful as I feared. Agrivex mumbled her way through without too much complaint.”
A badger passed by. The Fairy Queen waved, and it nodded its striped head in salute before disappearing into the undergrowth.
“But with the adoption ceremony and my Council of Ministers afterwards and then a small soiree with the Duchess Gargamond, I’ve had little time to attend to my own affairs,” continued Malveria. “And little time to put on makeup. I really despair, the way the color fades from my lips.” Malveria looked hopefully at the Fairy Queen, but she didn’t take the hint. “One longs for a lip coloring that would never fade, in any circumstances.”
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