Curse of the Wolf Girl

by Martin Millar

  The twins were dissatisfied.

  “Have a heart Dominil.”

  “If you have one…”

  “Presumably some sort of pumping mechanism for circulating the blood…”

  “Why not give him a chance?” Beauty was suddenly worried. “You weren’t thinking of killing Pete were you?”

  Dominil didn’t reply.

  “You can’t kill him just because he’s found out we’re werewolves. He’s our guitarist.”

  “Then he’d better be discreet,” muttered Dominil.

  Chapter 187

  Vex was taken to her bed in her old room at the palace where she lay underneath her enormous pink quilt with her fluffy dragon and continued to recover. Outside in the Hiyasta nation, there was a whirlwind of military and political activity as the Fire Queen reasserted her control, but inside Vex’s bedroom there was peace, by order of Malveria. The room had been tidied since Vex left, and while this did not quite suit Vex’s temperament, the queen no longer shuddered at the mess as she entered.

  “Aunt Malvie, when I was Queen, I passed a decree.”

  “Stop babbling, idiot niece. You did not pass any decrees.”

  “I did so,” insisted Vex.

  “You were engaged in brutal warfare in a spirited if incompetent fashion. And you were never Queen.”

  “I was so. I was in charge of the Great Volcano.”

  “You may have been Queen for a moment, technically. But you did not pass any decrees.”

  “I did. When I arrived at the volcano, there was a sort of pause. Everyone was surprised to see me there. Especially when I announced I was now your official niece and temporary ruler. And while I was plugging myself into the volcano, I passed a new decree. I had a right to do it.”

  Malveria was displeased and didn’t hide it. “I didn’t send you back as my adopted niece so you could pass foolish decrees. If you’ve awarded yourself a gigantic clothes allowance, I will have it nullified immediately.”

  “I lifted the curse.”

  “What curse?”

  “The curse on Daniel and Moonglow. I made a decree saying you had to remove it. It’s only fair.”

  Malveria appeared to struggle for breath as she digested the audacity of her niece’s actions. “You dared issue a decree nullifying an imperial curse? A curse put in place by the Queen of the Hiyasta?”

  Vex brought her fluffy dragon closer for protection but still managed to look her aunt defiantly in the eye. “I did. And it was legal. I was Queen at the time.”

  “You were not Queen!”

  “I was so!”

  “In a technical sense, possibly. That did not give you the right to issue decrees!”

  “Yes, it did,” insisted Vex, stubbornly. She groaned. “Ooohhh, my foot hurts. It’s so painful. Ever since it was blown off when I was defending the kingdom. While you couldn’t return. Ooohhh, it’s so painful.”

  The queen rolled her eyes. “It is not that painful, most dismal of nieces. I can tell from your aura.”

  “It’s really painful. I think I’m going to faint with pain.”

  Malveria tapped her fingers on the duvet. “Very well, I will allow your decree. The curse is lifted. Possibly I should be grateful you did not sell the palace furniture to buy boots and T-shirts. But be warned. No amount of moaning and pretending to be in pain will gain you any more of your ridiculous wishes. Are you clear on that?”

  “Yes, Aunt Malvie.”

  “And will you stop calling me Aunt Malvie? It’s an affront to my dignity. Now lie there quietly while your foot heals.”

  * * *

  Later the Fire Queen spoke to her First Minister, telling him of Vex’s decree.

  “Perhaps we can work it to our advantage,” she told him. “Let it be known that while performing heroically on the Great Volcano, Agrivex also lent assistance to two friends on Earth. If we are to persuade the population that my imbecilic niece is actually fit to be a member of the royal family, it will do no harm to let them know she’s loyal to her friends.”

  First Minister Xakthan nodded and inquired about Agrivex’s health.

  “She’s recovering. She will be well but needs to rest. Even a Fire Elemental does not grow a new foot easily.”

  An attendant hurried into the throne room. “Mighty Queen, Agrivex has been spotted leaving her room.”

  “What!” Malveria snapped her fingers, transporting herself to the corridor outside Vex’s room. There she found her niece limping along on crutches. “Where are you going, abominable niece?”

  “Kitchens. I thought I’d pick up a sandwich before doing my exam.”

  “What?”

  “My exam. It’s today.”

  Malveria strode in front of her niece to stop her progress. “Return to bed immediately. You are not in any condition to do an exam.”

  “But I have to.”

  “No, you don’t.”

  “I’ll fail at college.”

  Malveria prepared to yell at her niece, then, remembering she was still grateful to Vex, softened her tone. “You can do the exam another time. We will explain about your injuries, and I’m certain it can be rearranged.”

  “I want to do it now.”

  “You can’t.”

  “I can.”

  The queen’s temper began to fray. “Why are you suddenly insistent about doing an exam? It is the last thing you would normally be eager to do.”

  “Kalix might not go if I don’t.”

  “What?”

  “Kalix. She’s not as keen on college as I am. If I’m not there to encourage her, she might not do the exam. Then she’ll get thrown out, and she’ll be in trouble with her family and everything. I have to make sure she does it.”

  Malveria was temporarily stuck for a reply. She wasn’t expecting altruism on this scale from Vex. “It’s not really your responsibility to look after Kalix,” she began. “Stop setting your face in a determined manner. I don’t like it.”

  “I’m going.”

  “No, you are not.”

  “I am.”

  “I absolutely forbid it.”

  “I’d like a sandwich first.”

  “You are going straight back to bed.”

  “Very well,” said Vex with dignity. “I’ll go without the sandwich.”

  And with that, she snapped her fingers, dematerializing with an efficiency the queen would have once admired but now deplored.

  Chapter 188

  Vex materialized in the living room of Moonglow and Daniel’s flat, took one step, groaned, and lay down on the floor.

  “Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea,” she thought, screwing up her face. “Who’d have thought having your foot blown off and then stuck back on again would be so painful?”

  She heard the downstairs door open and soft footsteps coming up the stairs.

  Kalix entered stealthily. She looked at Vex in surprise. “Why are you lying on the floor? What’s that on your leg?”

  “A Hiyasta fire-sorcery leg-healing device. I had my foot blown off. Aunt Malvie fixed it. It’s really sore.”

  Kalix looked baffled. “You had your foot blown off? When?”

  “Yesterday, on the volcano. But it got healed.”

  “Shouldn’t you be resting?”

  “I wanted to make sure you did the exam.”

  “You idiot,” said Kalix. “I only came back to make sure you did it.”

  Kalix lay down on the couch and moaned.

  “You look terrible,” said Vex.

  “I feel terrible. I’ve been fighting and getting into trouble, and everything’s a disaster.”

  They lay in the darkness in silence.

  “I got money to pay Daniel and Moonglow back,” said Kalix.

  “Good.”

  “But I expect they’ll throw me out of the house now for stealing.”

  “Maybe. Me too, I expect.”

  The pair drifted off into uncomfortable slumber in the living room. Early next morning, Kal
ix called a taxi, as neither of them felt able to face public transport, and they slipped quietly out of the house.

  Vex groaned as she tried to put weight on her injured leg. “College isn’t as much fun as I thought it would be.”

  “It’s exactly as much fun as I thought it would be. You know I’m going to fail this exam?”

  “So am I. Why are we doing it?”

  Neither of them could say for sure. But they got into the taxi and headed for the old stone building just south of the river, each clutching a bag with their notebooks inside.

  Chapter 189

  Dominil found the enchantress in a poor state. After answering the intercom and buzzing her cousin in, Thrix had staggered back to the couch where she lay with her eyes closed. The TV was on, there were papers strewn around the floor, and two empty bottles of wine rested on the small table.

  “What are you doing?” asked Dominil.

  “Drinking to forget I’m a werewolf. You’re not helping.”

  “Why would you want to forget you’re a werewolf?”

  “You fall in love, and then your lover turns out to be a werewolf hunter. Then he gets his throat ripped out. It’s not pleasant for anyone.”

  Dominil nodded in her serious way. “I’m sorry the affair ended in an unsatisfactory manner.”

  “Unsatisfactory? That’s not the word I’d use.” Thrix hauled herself upright and groped for a half-full glass of wine.

  “Perhaps coffee might be more appropriate?”

  Thrix laughed a slurred, unhappy laugh. “I’ve reached the last refuge of the MacRinnalchs. When there’s nothing else to do, drink yourself into oblivion.”

  “I don’t think that’s the best way of dealing with things.”

  “Why not? It works for the rest of the family.”

  “Life will carry on, Thrix. The MacRinnalchs are fortunate to have a very long lifespan. There will be other men.”

  “Other werewolf hunters you mean. For Kalix to kill.” Thrix’s eyes narrowed. “I hate Kalix.”

  “She acted according to the principles of the clan.”

  “I know. I still hate her.” Thrix looked up. “So how do you feel about her after she tried to kill you?”

  “We came to an understanding. And I was reasonably grateful to her for killing Albermarle, though I’d rather have done it myself. Perhaps, Enchantress, if the notion of romance is too troubling, you could immerse yourself in your work?”

  Thrix drank some wine then scooped up some papers. “I don’t have any work. I’m going bankrupt. Take a look at my bank statements.”

  Dominil glanced at the papers. The enchantress did seem to owe a lot of money. But by this time, Dominil’s sympathy was running out. She never had much to spare, and she hadn’t come here to discuss Thrix’s problems. “I have news. I’ve located Susi Surmata. I finally tracked down the computer she’s been using.”

  This got her cousin’s attention. A small light appeared in Thrix’s previously dull eyes. “Where is she?”

  “Epping. A little way north of London. The last stop on the Central line.”

  “That’s very suspicious,” said Thrix. “No genuine fashion blogger would live there. There are no decent shops for miles.” She hauled herself upright again. “Are you coming with me?”

  “I still advise caution,” said Dominil. “She’s been trying to lure you to her. Simply ignoring her would be safest.”

  “But are you coming with me?”

  “Yes. I get paid for killing werewolf hunters.”

  “Really? Who by?”

  “Markus.”

  Thrix looked at her reflection in the wall mirror and shuddered. “I’ll just fix myself up first.” She hurried off to the bathroom to wash and attend to her hair.

  Dominil herself had not had time to take care of her hair as she would have liked and wore a fine woollen hat, borrowed from Delicious. Along with her leather coat, it gave her something of the appearance of a commando. While waiting for Thrix, she took the empty bottles of wine to the kitchen. It was messy and looked as if Thrix had attempted to prepare food, given up, and turned to alcohol instead.

  Thrix arrived back having put her golden hair in order in a surprisingly short time. She wore a jacket that, while resembling something military, was obviously an expensive fashion item.

  “It’s the best I can do in terms of hunting apparel.”

  “I’ve made you a flask of coffee for the journey,” said Dominil.

  “I’m not that drunk.”

  “Yes, you are.”

  They set off in Dominil’s car.

  “Kabachetka’s moon-eclipse spell was powerful and unexpected.”

  “It was.” Thrix frowned. “I was completely debilitated.”

  “We all were. Apart from Kalix. It’s strange the way she remains unaffected by events that affect other werewolves. Something to do with her unusual birth at the full moon, perhaps.”

  “And being crazy?”

  “So the family would believe.”

  “I hate Kalix.”

  They drove on for a long way in silence.

  “What outcome are you hoping for with Susi Surmata?” asked Dominil as they reached the outskirts of London. “Reluctant fashion blogger or secret werewolf hunter?”

  “Good question.” Thrix sipped from the flask. “If she’s really a fashion writer, I might still be able to persuade her to write about me. It could save my career. On the other hand, I would like to kill someone.”

  Chapter 190

  There was a startled buzz from the assembled students as Kalix and Vex hobbled into the exam room. Kalix was so disfigured with cuts, bruises, and abrasions that she might have walked straight out of a car crash. Vex had signs of recent burns all over her neck, and parts of her hair had been singed off. Her leg was held rigidly by some sort of otherworldly looking cast.

  “Are you—?” began the tutor who was overseeing the exam.

  “We’re fine,” muttered Kalix. “Bring on the exam.” Kalix helped Vex into her seat then eased herself painfully into her own. Her ribs ached where Marwanis had kicked her.

  “You could apply for an extension,” the tutor suggested.

  “We’re fine,” insisted Kalix. “Let’s just get this over with.”

  The tutor looked at the pair very dubiously, perhaps wondering if they might expire while doing the exam, which could reflect badly on the college. “Well, if you’re sure…”

  “I have new color markers,” called Vex, and managed to grin, though weakly.

  Papers were laid on every desk, face down, and the students logged into their computers.

  “Turn over your papers now, and begin the exam.”

  Kalix turned over the paper. “One good thing about the violence and fighting,” she thought, picking up her pencil. “It seems to have gotten rid of my anxiety.”

  Kalix could hardly feel any emotions at all. The events of the last few days had left her numb. However, that was an improvement on the way she’d felt last time in class, so she got down to work, just wanting the exam to be over so she could fail and never have to come here again. Even the disgrace she’d feel in front of her clan didn’t seem to matter much anymore. Let them mock her. She didn’t care about them or anything else.

  Chapter 191

  Princess Kabachetka was in a state of terror and despair as she made the long, cold journey back to her own realm. Her plans had failed. Everything had gone wrong. “I’m finished,” thought the princess, miserably. “Curse that Minerva MacRinnalch. My mother will have learned of my failure to defeat Thrix and Malveria and my attempt to usurp Esarax. She will now throw me in the volcano, unless Esarax beats her to it.”

  Shivering, she materialized in the corridor outside her private chambers to find herself confronted by a battalion of grim-faced palace dignitaries and hard-eyed soldiers. The princess quailed but gathered herself, intending to meet her end as bravely as she could. Councilor Tarentia, one of the empress’s senior advisors, st
epped forward and spoke gravely, “Princess Kabachetka. We have been awaiting your return.”

  “I was led astray by others—” began the princess.

  “I have bad news about the empress.”

  “I demand a personal hearing! Close perusal of events will establish my innocence.”

  “She is dead.”

  The princess blinked. “Pardon?”

  “Great Empress Asaratanti is dead.”

  The princess was bewildered. What was Councilor Tarentia talking about? “The empress is not dead. I saw her only this morning.”

  “I am afraid she expired during her afternoon sleep.”

  “How?”

  “From natural causes, Princess. The empress was, of course, very old.”

  The princess considered this. It was true, of course. Though the empress had concealed her age by means of cunning sorcery and some cosmetic surgical enhancement, she was almost two thousand years old. That was a considerable age, even for the most powerful of the Hainusta. It just hadn’t occurred to the princess, or to anyone else, that she might die today.

  Princess Kabachetka had a brief second of joy, realizing that her mother was not about to throw her in the Eternal Volcano, but her spirit sank as she surveyed the soldiers who cluttered up her corridor. Now that the empress was gone, there was only one possible outcome. Esarax would be the new ruler. Undoubtedly he had already seized power and was now about to rid himself of his much-disliked sister. “What a dreadful mistake to choose this moment to try and strand him on Earth,” thought the princess. “My plans have gone tragically wrong, and now I must suffer for it.”

  “Where is Esarax?” she asked. “I expected him to at least do the deed in person, not send his troops.”

  “He is dead,” said Councilor Tarentia.

  “What do you mean he’s dead? You said the empress was dead.”

  “The prince has gone too,” said Tarentia, in his gravest voice. “He was apparently killed in the process of transporting himself through the dimensions. The prince, I believe, was not skilled in this area. It’s a dreadful blow for our nation. The population is in such a state of turmoil that we hardly know what to do. We have been awaiting your return most eagerly, Princess.”