Oxford Blood (The Cavaliers: Book One)

by Georgiana Derwent

The darkness and quietness of the Union garden disconcerted Harriet. She heard distant sounds emanating from the bar, but none of the usual buzz of conversation that filled the garden during the day or early evening when people spilled out into it from debates and parties.

  “So, are you pleased with the results?” George asked, appearing out of the shadows.

  Harriet almost screamed. “I’m pleased for myself and I’m glad Edward made it,” she said, her heart pounding, from the shock and from George’s proximity. “I feel sorry for Harry, but I can’t help but feel that the best person won.”

  “That echoes my thoughts more or less exactly. Poor arrogant Harry. He’s not going to be inducted into the Cavaliers after that sort of failure.”

  So Harry would never become a vampire. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but missing out would add insult to injury for the crushed and defeated boy.

  “Is that where you all went? To chase after Harry and tell him ‘sorry you lost the election, by the way, forget joining the Cavaliers’? That seems rather harsh.”

  “We are rather harsh Harriet. Perhaps more than you realise. In essence, that’s indeed where they’ve gone. It technically requires the full committee to be there, hence why I summoned Tom. But Rupert and I are for once agreed on this and I’ve given my vote to him.”

  He walked towards the gate, beckoning Harriet to follow. She walked towards him despite the little voice in her head that screamed at her to turn away.

  “I may have all the time in the world, but I still don’t want to waste any of it in dealing with a failed hack. I have much better things to do. Getting you back to college for a start.”

  “That’s really not such a great idea,” Harriet said, starting to walk down the street. “You know where I stand, and I think it’s best we don’t confuse that by spending time alone.”

  “Don’t think you’ll be able to resist me, is that it?” George asked, mockingly.

  “Not if you decide to mesmerise me then no, I don’t.”

  George laughed, his blonde hair shining under the streetlights. She noticed some female students across the road staring at him with looks of hunger and awe. It would be wonderful not to fight him, but she focussed on Tom and a rush of shame hit her at the thought of giving in.

  “Is that what you’re worried about? I heard about Her Majesty’s stunt with your necklace. Very generous of her, you must pass on my thanks. I’m not going to stoop so low though – that’d be far too easy.”

  Almost against her will, Harriet fell into step with him. They walked down Broad Street, going in the right direction for her college but not his. She considered attempting once more to get rid of him, but her victory made her long for company. Besides, she needed answers.

  “Really? I’m supposed to rely on your honour or something, am I? Forgive me if that doesn’t massively fill me with confidence.” Harriet faltered as she remembered something that had been confusing her all term. “Although I have to admit you’ve had plenty of chances to use your mind tricks at all the Union events and seem to have resisted the temptation.”

  “Exactly. I meant what I said. It would be far too easy. Mind tricks are very useful to get a girl in a hurry and to ensure she’s compliant when I want to drink from her. But even in those situations I think you’ll find I’m attractive and charming enough not to need any magic until the actual bloodletting.”

  Harriet rolled her eyes. “Yes, yes, you’re God’s gift to women, blah blah blah. We’ve gone over this before. What’s your point?”

  “The point is that I’ve never really needed magic and mind control to get what I want, it’s just a useful extra. I don’t really enjoy using it for one night stands, I wouldn’t dream of it when I’m trying to seduce someone who could be my soul mate, someone who I could turn.”

  Harriet couldn’t help the little thrill that ran through her at his words. If she couldn’t summon the willpower to send him away then at the very least she needed to change the subject.

  “Anyway, did you hear Julia’s outburst? Is it true what she said about Edward killing his sister? I couldn’t imagine it of him, but he is one of you, and I still don’t entirely understand what you’re all capable of.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, of course Edward didn’t kill his sister. He and Alice were twins, as close as anything. She was a lovely girl; I’ve tasted her blood once or twice myself.”

  Harriet tried to ignore the last point. “So where did Julia get that idea from?”

  “Oh, Charles killed her after his turning. We told everyone she’d been in a crash, and everyone seemed to have bought the story. Our people sorted out the post-mortem results, and we spread a few false memories. Julia and Alice went to school together though and were very good friends. She must have looked into her death a little more deeply than most and jumped to slightly the wrong conclusion.”

  They walked on in silence, stepping past the Sheldonian with its imposing stone busts and turning onto Holywell Street. The cast iron street lamps spilling pools of light onto the old stone buildings gave the street a creepy air at the best of times, and at 5am on a Thursday night, it was entirely deserted. The talk of killings brought home the fact that she was alone with a powerful vampire whom she’d recently gone out of her way to reject and offend. She longed to run back to the safety of her room. Instead, she crossed her fingers and made conversation.

  “Charles is the vamp that we found drained at Harry’s party wasn’t he? Surely, if he killed his beloved sister, Edward would be the obvious suspect.”

  George gave a sinister laugh. “Don’t think you’re the first to have come up with that theory. We haven’t entirely ruled it out, but it doesn’t seem very likely on closer examination. First of all, Crispin insists that Edward stayed with him all night, and although he’s a scheming bastard, his story rings true. More than that though, it just wouldn’t make any sense. Edward and Charles generally got on well. Edward is completely integrated into the Cavaliers. During the election, he’s been surrounded by us constantly and never once has he seemed suspicious.”

  “He strikes me as someone who’d be a good actor though,” Harriet said thoughtfully. “Plus, this was his sister we’re talking about. I don’t have any real siblings, but if someone hurt one of my cousins, I think I’d be capable of doing anything to them. My cousin Stephanie died last year, and I’m convinced it’s because someone spiked her drink. If I could find whoever did it, I’d happily drain their blood.”

  George gave her a look that she didn’t quite understand. “Well, that’s useful to know. I hope her death didn’t hit you too hard. Back to Edward though, whilst he loved his twin sister, this was before the change. Afterwards, especially for the first few years, human emotions tend to fade and family ties break. I’m sure he’d rather Alice was still alive, but once he was turned, Charles was more a member of his family than her, and he realised this.”

  They’d reached the college by this time. When Harriet opened the late gate, George followed her through it.

  “Damn it, I never should have invited you in,” she said, half teasing him, half concerned.

  “I’ve been invited into your staircase as well, remember, but never into your room more’s the pity. I doubt that’s going to change tonight, but let me at least escort you to your door.”

  Harriet grudgingly agreed. She’d woken up during the walk back, but safe within college walls, the tiredness returned. She resolved to stay on her guard and be ready for any tricks that George might try. He seemed perfectly civil as he opened the big wooden door to her staircase and helped her up the steep stone stairs. She noticed with relief that the lights were still off in Tom’s room. She didn’t want him to see her walking in with George, however innocently.

  Outside the door to her room, George gave her a gentle kiss on her cheek. “I don’t suppose you would consider letting me in?” he asked.

  “Absolutely not. Don’t you dare try to mesmerise me into doing that.”

/>   “Interestingly, that’s one thing we can’t ever do with mind control. Our gifts are our weapons; humans’ ability to refuse us entry is their shield. It wouldn’t do for the one to entirely cancel out the other.”

  He kissed her other cheek, slightly harder this time, and she hurried through her door before things got out of control.

  “Well, if that’s how you want to play it, I’ll wish you good night. God, you’re wasted on Tom though.”

  He walked away, but as he descended the stairs, he turned and shouted back to her. “One more thing. You saw tonight how much the Cavaliers dislike failure. If you don’t want Ben to be treated in the same way as Harry, I suggest you urge him to make sure his boat ends up Head of the River.”