by Lee Monroe
‘Ashley!’ I called, my voice echoing. ‘Ashley!’
A sound made me turn to look back down the corridor, but there appeared to be nothing. Nobody. I took a step backwards.
‘Is anyone here?’ I waited, my hands curled up in my pockets. I wanted to get out of here, but I couldn’t leave until I’d found Ashley at least. Something was wrong.
And then, as if in slow motion, a silhouette began to appear around the corner. Not human. Bigger than a dog, but elegant, with a sharply pointed head and a gazelle-like body.
I blinked. I couldn’t be seeing this. An animal inside the college.
I couldn’t make out any features; the creature, whatever it was, was still a silhouette against the moonlit window at the far end of the corridor. I swallowed.
‘What … ?’
The animal’s finely pointed ears pricked up and I glimpsed its imperious snout and, then, against the dim light, the almost amber colour of its coat.
The animal seemed to be changing before my eyes, the body shrinking and altering its position. I peered, in spite of my fear, and saw it stand upright.
It was not an animal. It was a human. I felt as though I was going to black out.
‘Who is it?’ My voice was reedy, scared.
‘Don’t be frightened,’ a familiar, almost mocking voice told me. ‘I’m glad you came.’
‘Where’s Ashley?’ I said more forcefully. ‘What have you done?’
He laughed. ‘Ashley,’ he repeated. ‘I had almost forgotten about her.’
‘I don’t know who you really are –’ I tried to stop the shaking come through into my voice ‘– but I’ll just forget about everything … if you tell me where she is.’
‘It’s not that simple, Jane.’ He took a step closer to me.
‘What do you want from me?’ I crossed my arms protectively over my chest. ‘It’s like you’ve singled me out.’
‘Perceptive.’ He moved even closer and I saw the vivid contrast of his hair against his flawless skin. ‘But it isn’t exactly you we want …’
‘Then who?’ I played innocent; I knew exactly who he wanted.
‘He’s big enough to take care of himself,’ he said. ‘And he has known this time would come.’
And then he was standing right next to me, so close I could feel his breath on my face. His eyes, glinting and sharp, made my skin tingle. It wasn’t the first time this boy had had this effect on me. He reached out then and touched my hair, so softly, tenderly, that I relaxed my arms a little.
‘I don’t want your help.’ He took a strand of my hair, twisting it gently in his fingers. ‘I’ve only ever wanted one thing from you.’
‘What?’ I breathed.
Didn’t I already know what he was going to say? Hadn’t I known all along the price I had to pay?
Positioning himself so that he was looking right into my eyes, he waited a few seconds so that I could take in his full mouth, the cool blue of his stare.
‘You, Jane,’ he said. ‘I want you.’
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
There was a distinct silence at the table. Dalya, her nose deep in another book, was going to great efforts not to notice the atmosphere.
Henora placed a platter of bread on the table then sat, her lips pursed a little.
‘You’re back for good, then?’ Ulfred grabbed a roll and immediately tore off a piece with his teeth. He smiled at Luca, more than a hint of sympathy there. ‘Perhaps it is for the best.’
‘Perhaps.’ Luca could think of no reason, right then, why it was for the best. ‘But it isn’t for good. Just until Jane finishes her studies and the trouble has died down.’
Henora’s eyes narrowed. ‘Trouble?’
Luca exchanged a look with his father.
Ulfred cleared his throat, clearly uncertain as to whether to speak the truth in front of Dalya. ‘There is an unwelcome … presence on Mortal Earth,’ he told Henora. ‘Luca was not entirely safe there.’
Dalya lifted her eyes from her book. ‘I know all about it, Father,’ she said crisply. ‘There is no need to be cryptic.’
Henora raised an eyebrow at her daughter before turning to Ulfred. ‘Please enlighten me,’ she said. ‘It appears I am the only one in the dark about this.’
‘The Vulpecula.’ Ulfred spoke tensely. ‘They have returned, it seems. Unfinished business.’
Henora visibly paled. ‘Heavens.’ She stared at Luca. ‘They came after you?’
‘They’re trying …’ Luca told her. ‘They’re clever. Jane and I have been caught up in some kind of telekinetic warfare.’
Henora looked confused.
‘The Vulpecula use their minds to catch their prey,’ Ulfred said. ‘They will also use physical force. But they are squeamish creatures. They prefer not to get their hands dirty. They’ll try as hard as possible to succeed without bloodshed.’
Luca thought of Olivia, of the necklace. If the Vulpecula were responsible for her ordeal then she must have tried to resist their mind games. He decided not to mention Olivia; he wanted to figure out that mystery by himself.
‘You must never go back,’ Henora said, anxiously. ‘The Vulpecula have an old grudge against the Hunters. You are in grave danger if you return.’
‘Jane is in danger too,’ Luca couldn’t help himself from saying. ‘Perhaps not in the same way, but through her connection to me she is vulnerable.’
‘Well.’ Henora clasped her hands together. ‘Jane must take care of herself. She is a mortal and they are not interested in her.’ She lifted her chin. ‘And nor should we be. Not any more.’
‘Mother?’ Dalya’s eyes widened. ‘That is cruel.’
‘It is survival,’ Henora told her. ‘And the girl is in greater danger if Luca stays.’
Dalya shook her head. ‘But—’
‘Enough!’ Henora ordered. ‘This is Luca’s home – where we, his family, can protect him. We must unite at times like this, not get caught up in sentiment.’
Luca knew that arguing with his mother was pointless. Better to keep quiet and work out his own plan of action. Nevertheless he signalled gratitude to his sister with a look.
‘How close is Jane to this brother and sister?’ Ulfred asked thoughtfully.
‘She’s not,’ Luca said. ‘Not really. But they keep trying to get close to her. They are very persuasive when they want to be.’ The image of Polly flashed into his head, dancing behind him closely, her hands running over his chest. Sitting here, with her safely on another world, he felt nothing, but he remembered how he had felt at the time. Torn. Tempted. Was Ade working a similar routine on Jane? Was he with her right now, telling her she was better off without her boyfriend? Luca didn’t believe Jane would talk to Ade about him, or that she would reveal where he was. But Ade, like Polly, had a habit of stripping away your conscience.
Ulfred nodded. ‘Well, they won’t hurt her. If you trust that she will not betray you then they will realize in time that intimidating her is futile.’
‘I hope so.’ Luca knew that if there was any possibility of Jane being hurt, if she was in danger, then he could not stay here. ‘But there is a risk,’ he added. ‘There is always a risk.’
‘If only there was some way we could get rid of the Vulpecula for good,’ said Dalya. ‘Then Luca and Jane wouldn’t need to be apart.’
As she spoke, Luca noticed a strange look pass between his parents and he frowned.
‘Is there a way?’ he asked boldly. ‘Because if there is, I must know.’
Ulfred shook his head a little too quickly. ‘No. There is nothing you can do, except stay here, keep as far away from them as possible.’
Luca stared at him. There was something Ulfred wasn’t saying, he was sure of that. But Ulfred was stubborn once he had made a decision. Luca would just have to live with it.
Or find out the truth for himself.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
‘Did you cut the power?’ I said to Ade’s shadowy figure. He was leaning up again
st the lockers, a streak of moonlight from the window illuminating half of his face.
‘This is an old place,’ Ade said softly, ‘with ancient wiring. Too much excitement on a night like this and the whole lot dies.’ He breathed in, almost contentedly. ‘A metaphor for life, don’t you think?’
‘No.’ I glanced at the doors to my left. Through the glass panels there was still no sign of life. ‘Where is everybody?’
‘They’re still here.’ He smiled. ‘They’re just being a little quiet right now.’
My head snapped back to him. ‘What have you done to them?’
Ade frowned. ‘You’re so suspicious of me – why is that?’
I couldn’t give away what I knew, but it was so tempting. I glared at him in the darkness. ‘Because you’re a jerk,’ I said childishly.
Ade sighed. ‘Always so defensive.’
‘So,’ I said, ignoring that, ‘you never did tell me where Ashley is. What have you done, locked her up in the college basement?’ Once the words were out of my mouth, I couldn’t take them back. I just had to hope that Ade didn’t make the connection.
‘Now, why would you say a nasty thing like that?’ he replied, as though he was hurt.
I shrugged. ‘Listen, Ade. It doesn’t matter how much you pester me, I’m not interested in you. Not now, not ever.’
‘Of course, you have a boyfriend,’ he said, moving away from the locker and taking a step towards me. ‘I forgot.’ He looked around him. ‘But where is Luca? Is he unwell?’
‘Uh-huh.’ I bit my lip.
‘You’re lying.’ Suddenly Ade was right in front of me and, close up, I noticed a fine reddish-gold down on his face. I swallowed, trying to stop my revulsion turning into something else. Because for the life of me, I wanted to touch him. I blinked and stepped backwards to lean against the wall.
‘Luca has left you. Polly told me. Did you think she wouldn’t?’
I said nothing, concentrating on keeping my wits about me. Ade’s eyes were piercing me, their colour vivid even in the dim light.
‘But we find that a little hard to believe …’ Ade cocked his head to the side and his voice was slow, as though he was talking to an idiot. ‘Because Luca worships the ground you walk on, doesn’t he? How could he just leave you?’
‘It’s none of your business.’ I spoke at last. ‘And he hasn’t left me. He’s just gone away for a bit.’
‘That’s right. He’s gone travelling,’ Ade said sceptically. ‘Poll did mention that.’
‘So why are you asking?’ I snapped.
‘Jane, don’t be testy.’ Ade sighed. ‘I’m just worried about you, that’s all.’
‘You don’t give a damn about me,’ I whispered. ‘I know what you’re doing. I know who you are. And I know what you’ve done.’ I stopped. I had said too much. Ade’s eyes narrowed to dark slits, and his breathing was suddenly heavier. I waited, my heart in my mouth, for him to do or say something vicious. But he just stared at me and, though I tried not to engage with him, I felt as though my head was locked.
Suddenly the overhead lights flickered into life and I flinched.
‘Looks like the electrics have been sorted out,’ Ade said conversationally, as if what had just happened had never happened. He yawned and we heard the music starting up again, coming from the auditorium.
‘Excuse me.’ I pushed past Ade, heading for the doors. ‘I’m going to find my friend.’
As the doors swung shut behind me, leaving Ade behind them, my body caught up with the shock, my legs trembling and my heart thumping. But I kept walking, down the corridor and through the next set of doors, heading for the auditorium. What had passed between me and Ade was enough for him to know that I was on to him. And that I was almost certainly lying about Luca’s whereabouts. I needed to grab Ashley and leave – as quickly as possible.
Walking back into the auditorium, it looked pretty much exactly how I’d left it, ten minutes before. A few more students were on the dance floor and couples seated at the tables against the wall were chatting, just as though the power cut had never happened. I even saw Ashley, talking to some boy, her back to me; she was throwing her arms out, animated, happy. I frowned, but marched towards her, still intent on taking her home.
‘Ashley,’ I said. ‘Are you OK? What happened with the lights?’
Ashley looked at me, confused, her smile fading just a little. ‘What?’
‘The power cut?’ I prompted, as her companion, giving me an odd look, moved off. ‘It happened while I was in the Ladies. Pretty scary, huh?’
Ashley wrinkled her nose, grabbing my arm. ‘I didn’t notice any power cut,’ she said. ‘Was there a power cut?’
‘I …’ I stared at her, but she looked perfectly genuine. ‘I thought …’
‘There you are,’ came a voice behind me, and I saw Ashley’s face light up. ‘I’ve been looking for you everywhere.’ Ade moved past me and put his arms around her. ‘Would you care to dance?’ he asked her, nuzzling her neck in front of me. Ashley let out a pleased giggle.
I swallowed. I had no rational explanation for what had just occurred. But I had the sickening feeling that Ade had somehow conjured that whole situation up to freak me out. And he had succeeded.
Ade pulled Ash away to the centre of the dance floor and, as he turned her around, his eyes met mine, a glint of humour there, along with a flinty sharpness.
I had given myself away.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Things were coming back. Olivia huddled down underneath the thin quilt and stared up at the overhead light. The hostel didn’t provide much in the way of home comforts; a single bulb swayed a little from the ceiling.
Olivia rolled over on to her side, a black, bleak feeling coming again. She closed her eyes and a flash of a red dress, a pretty made-up face, someone stroking her, passed through her head.
She knew it was the early hours of the morning. Tomorrow she would go back. Back to the house and ask Lydia Ellis again if she recognized her. She’d seen the fearful look in Lydia’s face, a look of recognition perhaps, but mostly denial. Olivia had little to go on but an instinct. No one had come forward for her. Not even after the national news bulletin. She was alone in the world.
Except, she was convinced, for Lydia Ellis.
There was something in that house, something that reeked of badness. Lack of love. The girl, with her old-fashioned coiling red hair – she had looked at Olivia as though she was dirt on the floor. More than that, she had seemed spiteful, resentful. Her body twitching in the doorway as Olivia had sat talking to Lydia.
And the boy. He hadn’t been exactly friendly either. The two of them had seemed anxious around her, concealing it badly with arrogance. Olivia didn’t know much, but she had a rare perceptiveness when it came to character, to behaviour. On the streets, she had seen enough weirdos to know.
Olivia gasped. She had lived on the streets. She remembered that.
Excited at this sudden unveiling of something about her past, Olivia reached for the pen and the paper that the policeman had given her. So that she could write things down, things she remembered. She scribbled the words ‘London’ and ‘streets’.
Olivia had no money. She had one more night in this place and then she was back. On the streets.
Olivia dressed in the dark. She needed to get out. She sprinted down the scruffy stairwell, passing the two young guys manning the desk, who barely saw her she was through the main door so quick.
Outside, it was chilly, but she barely felt it. She had to get to the house, where she knew Lydia was sleeping.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
‘Go for a drive?’ Ashley echoed, frowning. ‘But why? Aren’t you having a good time?’
Ade stroked her cheek with his finger and I looked away. Standing at the makeshift bar, he had been all over her. It was difficult not to look. Partly in revulsion, partly in a kind of hostile jealousy, I turned my back on them both. I wasn’t going to play this game.
&nbs
p; ‘I just thought it would be nice to be alone together,’ I heard him say, just loudly enough. ‘But if you’d rather stay here, that’s fine.’
Ashley made one of her kitten noises, a cross between a mewl and a whimper. ‘No. It’s not that. I just, well …’ I glanced over to see her gesturing at me with her eyes.
‘Don’t worry about me,’ I said. ‘I was thinking of heading off anyway.’
My watch said ten-thirty. I wanted to go home. I should have called a cab a long time ago. What had stopped me?
‘I’ll take you.’ Ade put his arm around Ashley. ‘We’ll all leave together.’
I was about to refuse – the last thing I needed was close proximity to Ade Ellis. I’d had enough of that for one evening. But seeing Ashley’s innocent expression jolted the obvious chain of thoughts in my head.
I couldn’t leave her alone with him.
And Ade was looking at me challengingly, daring me to say no. Did he know I would have to say yes?
‘Thanks, that would be good,’ I said lightly. ‘But Ashley’s house is nearer.’
Ade gave a twitch of a smile, but squeezed her shoulder. ‘Looks like we’re not going to get that alone time after all,’ he said. ‘But I suppose that can wait.’
Ashley looked almost relieved. ‘Sure.’ She smiled at me, then at him. ‘It can wait.’
No light on country roads often makes for cosy companionship. Not so tonight after Ashley had been dropped off home. Still sitting in the back of his car, I was glad of the distance from Ade, deliberately avoiding looking up in case I saw his eyes in the rear-view mirror.
He’d hardly pulled away before he was turning back to me. ‘Alone at last,’ he said in what seemed like a jovial tone. ‘I was beginning to think it would never happen.’
‘Eyes on the road,’ I said flatly. ‘And please don’t start that again.’
‘You’re afraid of me,’ he stated in answer, ‘without your boyfriend to protect you.’