by Alison Smith
Perhaps he had done as well as he could.
‘Instead of a reward we shall hunt tonight. I feel the need to take form as a bat again. You shall accompany me. Blood, Elijah. We shall take blood.’
Monique watched Elijah’s face. That he had expected coffee was apparent but then he licked his lips and she knew he would comply with her.
‘Yes My Lady. I have a small group of humans in mind. But it will take your most ingenious magic.’
Monique smiled. Her Elijah had a source of nectar for her already picked out. How deliciously wonderful he was. A reward was due, she decided. And she poured two cups of the priceless coffee.
Chris walked into the small kitchen just as Diana was sitting, as she had so often during the past few days, staring into her crystal ball.
‘You need to watch the evening news, Di,’ he said.
‘Chris, she’s safe.’ At last Diana had made a connection with Jewel. She had the image of a garden bursting to the seams with herbs and a stone sundial. It was like no other garden she had ever seen and knew it was real. Smiling she turned to Chris. ‘It was fleeting but I know she’s safe and well and … happy. That’s the only way I know of describing the vision.’ Diana’s throat began to constrict as she realised he was looking drawn and worried.
‘What’s happened?’
‘Just come and watch the news programme, Di.’ He said before turning to walk back into the living room.
She followed and stared at the television screen. Photographs of Paul and Elsie Tapper were displayed and she heard the presenter use the words ‘ritual killing.’
‘They’re describing the murders as ritual? I wondered myself and mentioned it to the police but, at the same time, I didn’t want to … The Tappers were such good and honest people. I almost hoped it was a burglary that had gone wrong. Not some type of evil ritual. And I painted their garden gate blue like ours is. Nothing bad should have been able to get into that house...’ Her voice trailed as she looked at Chris who sat slumped in the chair. ‘Is there something else?’
‘In a way.’ Chris said whilst still watching the television. ‘The police still want to speak to both Jewel and Bradley.’
‘I just don’t understand why they’ve released such details when neither Jewel nor Bradley have been told. And we have no idea whether William knows either. Oh this is just too awful for words.’ Diana sat down heavily onto the settee and turned the volume up.
As they continued to watch, a ticker of breaking news appeared at the bottom of the screen. Diana was riveted.
‘The bodies of four bell ringers have been found in a church tower. Sources link this tragedy to that of the murder of Paul and Elsie Tapper.’
The doorbell rang. Chris went to answer it as Diana continued to watch and listen. The police wanted to eliminate Jewel and Bradley from their enquiries. She looked up as Chris ushered Katryn into the small room.
‘Isn’t this so awful?’ Katryn’s voice trembled and Diana immediately went over to hug her.
‘Neither Jewel nor Bradley had anything to do with this, Katryn, we all know that.’
Katryn took a step back and pulled a crumpled tissue from her pocket. ‘Then where is he?’ She paused to wipe her eyes. ‘And where’s Jewel?’ Her voice broke on another sob.
‘I know Jewel’s safe, Katryn and she would never hurt a fly let alone her parents.’
‘But Bradley’s always saying that they’re not really Jewel’s family. What if there’s some dark secret?’
‘Katryn! There is absolutely no way Jewel has anything to do with any of this.’ Said more sharply than she intended, Diana suddenly registered Katryn’s words.
‘What do you mean, where is Bradley? Surely he’s not missing too?’
Just then Chris walked in with a bottle of brandy and three glasses. ‘Thought this might be appropriate,’ he said, ‘Bradley’s missing too?’
Katryn sat down on the settee as if her legs would no longer hold her upright. ‘He went to find William, to tell him about their parents, and I haven’t heard anything since. That was yesterday.’
Diana breathed a sigh of relief. If William was involved then it was no great mystery.
‘Katryn, think sensibly. We all know William is often out of phone signal range. And he is on another tree protest. The details were really vague and Bradley’s probably still trying to find him. I really don’t think we should worry yet. A detective came here last night to talk about my statement. Although I couldn’t add anything he did say that William was definitely not involved. And that they only want to speak to Bradley and Jewel. Have a drink with us and stay the night. Everything will be much clearer in the morning. I just know it.’
Nik carefully walked up the dark stone staircase that led to the church tower. This was bad energy. more murders and there was nothing, except for the manner, to link them with the Tappers. There must be more than one individual at work here. As soon as he was out of sight of the officers standing below he straightened and started to dowse. With so many bodies he hoped that some part of the magic used would have been overlooked. The vicar had found the bodies. He had possibly even interrupted the murderers before they could properly clean up. Perhaps the perpetuators could have made a mistake and left something behind to identify them.
He reached the top of the staircase and looked around the small room. Splatters of blood remained on the bell ropes. This should have been a place of sanctity. He allowed a moment of anger that such a place had been so desecrated. The bell-ringers had ranged in age from a man in his seventies to a girl of eighteen. However, he had work to do and continued to dowse thoroughly over every inch of the room.
High magic had been used once again. And it was feminine, he acknowledged, a small but significant breakthrough. His nose twitched at a remnant of something else as he stood by one of the ropes. It belonged to a lighter bell. Looking at the papers in his hand he realised that this was where the young girl’s body had been found. Very gently he opened his senses and sniffed. With dread. His earlier suspicions were correct. Blood had been spilled and drunk in here.
Taking out his phone from his pocket and the number he dialled was answered immediately.
‘Vampire, Sir. The bodies were left. Blood was definitely taken.’
‘Do what’s necessary. Dissipate the magic. Make sure that you speak to Jewel and her brothers when they reappear. If my suspicions are correct then Jewel holds many answers for us. And try to keep any references to the paranormal from the media.’ The connection was terminated and Nik swiftly altered the energy in the room.
The grandfather clock struck eleven o’clock in the evening as Anton, Jewel and Sable finished their meal. Jewel sighed in pleasure. The meal had been excellent and she’d enjoyed their conversations. Earlier in the garden she had successfully transmuted a stone into an amethyst crystal and she took delight in telling the other two. Both Anton and Sable had held her engrossed with stories of how they had developed their own magical powers. As she had the previous night, Sable bid them both good night and left the room.
Jewel, her hair dressed with combs, felt amazing in a rich green velvet dress that hugged her figure. More than once she had noticed Anton looking at her curves and hoped that they would dance again.
‘You look very beautiful,’ he said.
‘Thank you,’ she didn’t know what else to say and suddenly felt a nervous tension in her stomach.
‘You will leave us tomorrow.’
Whatever she had expected him to say it hadn’t been that. She was going home? Tomorrow? As quickly as that.
‘Is it safe?’ she questioned.
‘Diana will be able to take care of you. The Twins have been observing her and the protection around your house has already been strengthened ten fold. Your own powers are expanding so as to recognise danger and deal with it. And Sable and I will always be here for you.’
Like a wash of cold water his words sent her newly blossoming hopes to despair.
&n
bsp; ‘You mean that our time together is over?’ she asked, hesitatingly.
He looked at her for a long moment. ‘No. Our time together is just beginning but, for now, you need to go home. Events have occurred …’ his voice trailed.
What was he trying to tell her? She silently waited for him to finish his sentence.
‘You will find some sadness when you reach home. Sable is of the opinion that it will be better for you to be with your good friends. Diana will be able to help you. Please know that neither Sable nor I had anything to do with it.’
Sadness? Jewel shook her head, instantly dismissing his last words. She would have known if anything really sad had happened.
‘Would you care to dance?’ He asked and she stood as the sound of stringed instruments filled the air around them.
They moved together and she was in his arms. There was no need for words as they glided around the room. She wondered whether they would ever dance again. Then she felt his finger lightly touch her lips.
‘Of course we will dance again, dear Jewel.’
Jewel allowed herself to sink into a timeless bubble of pure enjoyment as they danced. He suddenly stopped the dance but continued to hold her in his arms. She looked deep into his eyes. This man would never hurt her, she knew that. He lowered his mouth and gently stroked her lips with his own.
Jewel had never been so aware of her own body and moved slightly nearer to him. The kiss deepened.
With a groan Anton broke the kiss and gently pushed her away to arm’s length.
‘We cannot do this just yet, Jewel. I need you to be here of your own volition when you give yourself to me. The Twins will drive you home in the early hours of the morning. Please be careful and sensible what you say and to whom.’ With that, he bowed and left the room. Exactly the same as last night, Jewel thought. But at least she knew now why he was so wary of taking things to their natural conclusion. Could she, dare she return here of her own accord?
Chapter 6
It was a misty dawn and promised a hot day ahead. Jewel paused by her front door and hesitated.
The last week had already turned her world upside down. She acknowledged a sense of foreboding as to what may be waiting here. The Twins had quickly driven her home and, as it was still so early, she quietly entered and pushed the door closed behind her. She had found an envelope addressed to her on the back seat of the car but hadn’t opened it. She wanted to sit at her own kitchen table with a mug of strong coffee and, preferably, Diana’s calm presence before she did so.
Suddenly she was surrounded. Diana dashed from the kitchen as Katryn emerged from their sitting room and Chris rushed down the stairs.
‘Jewel. I’m so relieved you’re home,’ Diana hugged her tightly.
‘Is Bradley with you?’ Katryn spoke as she was peering behind Jewel.
‘Are you OK?’ Chris stood a little way from the girls.
Jewel felt overwhelmed. It must have shown in her face as Chris continued, ‘I’ll make a pot of coffee,’ and headed towards the kitchen.
Diana gently led her into the sitting room and raised her hand as if to stop Katryn from saying any more.
What was Katryn doing here? Jewel thought, and then her words filtered through her mind.
‘What do you mean about Bradley? Isn’t he with you?’
Diana sat down, still holding Jewel’s hand, her look of happiness swiftly replaced by something much more serious. Jewel sat next to her.
‘Are you crying Di?’
‘We have such sad news, Jewel,’ an echo of words used by Anton last night.
‘Is it about Bradley …’ her voice trailed at the tears glistening in her friend’s eyes.
‘No. At least not ... Oh Jewel. How do I tell you.’ Diana seemed to be steeling herself and Jewel willed her to continue, ‘it’s your parents. they’re not here any more. I am so very sorry. They’re both gone. Not alive here any more.’
‘What?’
‘They were both murdered Jewel. At home. It’s truly awful and I hate having to tell you and I hate even more the shock that you must be feeling right now. And the police seem to think a ritual was involved. It’s just dreadful.’
Jewel felt a shard of pain pierce through her heart. She opened her mouth but no words would come. She felt cold, frozen. And then a pink glow wrapped around her and she knew that she was being sent healing and help.
‘The police want to speak to you, probably about where you have been over the last few days, and to Bradley. They’ve already eliminated William from their enquiries, we don’t know how yet.’ Diana finished in a rush of words and then just sat, holding Jewel’s hand tightly.
Jewel was vaguely aware of Katryn moving around the room and, as she looked at her, saw that she was clasping and unclasping her hands.
‘I couldn’t bear to be at home, Jewel,’ Katryn said and there was a broken note in her voice. She was visibly trembling, ‘I shared my home with Bradley and without him there I was scared. It’s all too awful.’
‘Why didn’t Anton say something?’ Jewel had found her voice but realised that he had tried to warn her.
Diana’s mouth fell open, ‘Anton? From your nightmare?’
‘He kept me safe. I know it.’
Katryn suddenly knelt down in front of Jewel, tears streamed down her face. ‘If Anton kept you safe, where’s my Bradley?’ her voice breaking at the last few words.
Bradley missing? Jewel tried desperately to think but nothing was making any sense.
‘We think he’s gone to find William,’ Diana stood up and walked over to draw back the curtains. As she opened the window, a blast of cool morning air transformed the energy and Jewel shook herself. She had to clear her mind. She needed to take this one step at a time. Chris walked back into the room with a tray of mugs. He carefully placed it on the small table and she gratefully accepted the coffee from him. He sat in one of the chairs prepared to listen. A man of few words, she knew he would say little.
Diana returned to the settee and patted Katryn’s shoulder as she sat, once again, next to Jewel.
‘This is painful, Jewel,’ she said, ‘but I think we need to start with your disappearance and then you and I should go to the police station. I am so sorry about your parents, it’s all truly awful.’
Jewel felt numb as she started to recount the events of the last few days.
Anton walked into the room that would always be Jewel’s in his mind. He knew that this would be where Sable was and, although the room was dark, he saw her sitting in the same chair in which she had spent so many hours just a few days before.
‘Are you alright?’ he asked.
‘She’s walked back into such grief, Anton, it’s so overwhelming.’ Sable was holding her head and, he knew, was in pain.
‘Can you help her?’
She took a moment and then answered, ‘I only allowed myself a fleeting glance into her mind. It’s not something I do very often. I always feel that it’s invading privacy. And Diana has surrounded her with such a healing energy that I didn’t want to be detected or accidentally alter the good being worked.’
‘So it was true?’ he said with a heavy heart. He had hoped that Jewel wouldn’t have the pain and grief of losing both of these people who had loved her. Added to which he hadn’t wanted her to suspect just how destructive Monique could be. Not yet. If it were Monique behind the murders, then Jewel would need to be told.
‘It appears so, Anton. And the other deaths too, good people. Such a wave of black evil stretching across dimensions.’
Poor Sable, he thought, she was more affected by Monique’s deeds than anyone. He sat on the edge of the bed, close enough to hold her if needed. ‘The Prime Legend has granted Monique an appointment next week.’
Sable looked startled, ‘an audience with the Prime himself? Not just with the Legend of Vampires? Surely Henry realises just how much trouble she can cause? Was it he or Monique who killed the Prime who changed her, made her a vampire. The same
Prime who had made you, all those decades before.’
‘We always thought that the Legend of Vampires voted for my Prime to be killed. That they had held the view that Monique had been completely unsuitable to be made Vampire. Henry has always maintained that he had killed on their orders, but he was raised to be Prime Legend very quickly after that. I’m just not sure now whether the truth has been told.’
‘I believed it was on their orders, Anton.’
‘It all happened before your birth and before I was made Speaker. I wonder whether there’s more to his relationship with Monique.’
‘It’s even more worrying if that is so, Anton.’
Nik entered the small interview room and closed the door behind him. The two occupants looked at him, one in uniform and one not. He knew that the dark haired girl was Jewel Tapper and she sat with a weary posture. A female police officer sat a few feet away from Jewel.
He sat down at the small table opposite Jewel and, as he leant his cane on the table, took a moment to study her. Long dark hair cascaded over her shoulders. Her deep green eyes were red rimmed. This poor young girl had obviously wept rivers of tears and he wondered whether she could cope with the interview. Then he allowed his stare to deepen and recognised strength, intelligence and more, a purity of nature. With a start he knew that she was one of their own. Why hadn’t his superior told him? Did he even know? At least he knew the language to use now.
He opened his file.
‘Firstly may I say how sorry I am for your loss.’ At his words Jewel appeared to straighten her shoulders and he continued. ‘We have newsreel footage that shows William camped in a tree at the time of the murders. That effectively eliminates him from any involvement. We haven’t been able to contact him since but we do have a police officer trying to establish his location in order to inform him of the deaths.’ Jewel sat in front of him as if she was made of stone and he could only guess at the strength it was taking her.