‘He’s dead.’
‘Oh yes.’ Mather had genuinely forgotten. ‘He is, isn’t he? Why did I do that?’ He looked at the dagger lying on the bed, then back at the tank. ‘Why did I do that?’ His voice was louder now. The mosquito started making the whining noise again. His eyebrows were raised. ‘They’ll come now. What then? First Soames, now Derringher. Why did you let me do it? Do you want things to fall apart – is that it?’ He started walking up and down the room, scratching his head. It was as though, for the first time, he was facing the ramifications of his actions.
‘I’m surprised the Lady isn’t upset with you for what you’ve done, I said.’
‘What?’
I couldn’t help but find comedy in Mather’s expression. He looked confused and irritated. He also seemed to be developing a nervous twitch.
‘Luring all those people to the island and murdering them was a pretty risky business. But now that you’ve killed Derringher you’ve really dropped yourself in it. People will notice his disappearance. It’s only a matter of time before they come looking for him. And how will she get her blood once you’ve been locked away? You’re her only supplier.’
Mather looked at the cage. The Ganges Red was quiet now, but I felt she could hear and understand everything being said.
‘She wanted me to do it. I’m sure she did! This doesn’t make sense. Why? Why didn’t you stop me?’ If the mosquito gave him an answer, I didn’t hear it. ‘It won’t matter. She’ll get her blood. She knows that. I’ll solve the Derringher problem. Everything will be as it was.’
‘No it won’t. People will come here soon. Lots of people. And when they do it’ll all be over.’
Mather picked up the shining dagger and gazed at the blade. ‘Not before I’ve performed one last experiment.’ He moved his gaze slowly towards me. ‘Any suggestions, Mr Reeves?’
I tried to remain calm and assertive, but it was a terrific effort. I must have been shaking all over. ‘No. None that spring to mind.’
‘You should hope no one ever finds you, Mr Reeves – because I’ll kill them if they come. Every last one of them.’ He leaped at me, blind insanity in his eyes, a focused expression of the terrible. ‘I’ll kill everyone and everything on this island if I have to, but I won’t let them take her!’
I closed my eyes and braced myself for the inevitable.
After some seconds had passed I opened my eyes and looked up to see Mather standing over me, the dagger raised above his head in both hands, wavering. His teeth were gritted; sweat had formed on his brow from the effort he was expending. He was trying very hard to kill me, but once again some force was intervening, thwarting him. He groaned, glared at the insect in her tank, then turned and stormed out. I heard the key in the lock.
My stomach reminded me that I hadn’t eaten since breakfast, but asking Mather for food was likely to be a waste of breath. The horror of it all was immense, yet I felt lucky to be alive. I forced myself to stay alert, to listen, to prepare for whatever might transpire. There was little that could be done in my bound state. My legs weren’t tied together, but it didn’t really matter. I lacked the strength to even stand up. If my wits were all I had, I’d have to keep them sharp.
A few minutes passed, the struggle to stay conscious becoming harder every second, until I heard the sound of running water from the bathroom. Mather was taking a shower. I could hear him muttering to himself. Once or twice he called out some unfamiliar name. He’d murdered Soames and Derringher within an hour of each other, then he’d tried to kill me. He was cracking up. His world was falling apart around him. Something had driven him to despair. Perhaps it had been the dragonfly. He hadn’t mentioned the insect since attacking me in the forest, but it had to be on his mind.
My concentration wavered. The mosquito had started flying around the tank, clearly upset by something. Then I heard it: Nhan Diep was invading my thoughts once more. But this time the confidence and serenity were missing from the words.
Why? It sounded almost afraid.
‘Why what?’
Why are you thinking about dragonflies?
‘None of your business.’
Tell me!
‘No. You’re a figment of my imagination. And I’m tired of having conversations with myself.’
See me.
‘No!’
See me. Now.
‘I don’t want to.’
Look up.
I looked up.
Now to the left.
My eyes moved once more to the tank, and the Ganges Red. It flicked its wings once, then twice, then: Now do you see me?
There was no point in denying it any longer. ‘OK,’ I said, almost laughing. ‘I see you.’
Now see me. Truly see me.
I continued to stare at the insect, transfixed now by its appearance. Although it was over in the tank, it seemed to fill my vision. Around it was what looked like television static. Tiny particles of colour fizzing around the tank, obscuring anything that might distract my attention.
The Ganges Red, despite my desperate hope that the voice had been imagined, was definitely looking at me. I could feel its gaze. It was unmistakable. And then, as if to remove the doubt in my mind once and for all, the voice came again, this time louder, more insistent, its tone commanding.
I am no figment of your imagination, Ashley Reeves. You know that. I am Nhan Diep!
I could say nothing and could think little more. My body and mind were subdued, controlled somehow. The creature’s words were completely implausible, and yet, even in the madness of that moment, I sensed the truth in them.
She continued, Now, tell me why a dragonfly is on your mind.
‘I don’t know,’ I replied, grinning like a mischievous child. I could feel her attitude change from concern to anger, and in that instant the sound of running water from the bathroom ceased.
XIII: MANIPULATION
Despite the depth of the mess he was in, Mather started whistling. The sound began in the bathroom, then came closer and closer, until I heard the key turn in the lock. The Ganges Red was quiet now and had once more disappeared from view.
The door opened slowly. Mather crept into the room with visible caution. As he closed the door behind him, I noticed that the dagger was now tucked into the belt of his towelling robe. He turned and stood there looking down at me, unsure what to do or say. There was a mixture of emotions in his eyes, which I failed to completely fathom. I could see the fear, however. It was unmistakable. He now viewed me as a threat, an unplanned element of danger. He’d intended to destroy me, and had been denied the kill for reasons he wasn’t totally aware of. He still wanted to destroy me – that was obvious – but I think he was afraid of what would happen if he tried again. He was stuck with me now. And he had no idea of how to proceed.
‘You really want me dead, don’t you?’ The words sprang from my mouth almost of their own accord. I’d only meant to think them.
Mather didn’t answer; instead he walked over to the recess and drew the panel across. He did it slowly, never once taking his eyes off me, worried, as unlikely as it was, that I would somehow be able to attack him.
‘You’d prefer it if I just died right now and made things easier for you. I tell you what,’ I said, feeling for perhaps the first time that I had some control. ‘Why don’t you untie me, give me the dagger, and I’ll do the job myself.’
His expression remained unchanged. I started laughing softly. Mather was unimpressed. His hand wavered over the hilt of the dagger.
‘You would do well to watch yourself right now, my friend.’ He began moving away from the panel. ‘I shall be back presently.’ He left, returning a few minutes later dressed in clean clothes. The dagger was now hidden somewhere, no doubt still within reach.
‘Up,’ he said. I was unsure I’d heard correctly, as I hadn’t seen his lips move. Then, unmistakably this time: ‘Up! On your feet!’ He moved a couple of steps towards me.
‘I can’t.’ This wa
s true. My body was nothing but an unresponsive sack of flesh and bone. My energy was spent. ‘I can hardly talk, let alone move.’
Once again the dagger was produced and pointed at me. ‘No time for games.’
‘No time for games? There was plenty of time before! Isn’t that what you like to do? Play games with people?’
Mather walked forward another step. ‘Get up now!’
‘You’ll have to help me.’ I watched him fidget nervously, still uncomfortable with the situation. He didn’t want to help me up. I don’t think he even wanted to touch me. ‘Believe me, I don’t have the strength to put up a fight.’
‘Yes, well, you’ll forgive me if I don’t give you the benefit of the doubt.’
‘I’ll just have to stay here then, won’t I?’
‘You will go to the spare room! I need to be alone to decide what to do.’
I thought about it and realized I’d probably be better off in the other room. I’d be away from him, away from that creature, and I’d be somewhere I could get my head clear. With some effort, using the wall and window ledge behind me for support, I was able to struggle to my feet.
I leaned against the window for some time, summoning the strength to move. Mather continued to point the knife at me, keeping me at bay. My head began throbbing again, bringing tears to my eyes. I still had no idea of the damage Mather had done to my skull. For all I knew the wound could prove to be fatal. Mather sneered, as though I were putting on some pathetic act for him. This made me shake my head.
‘You only had to hit me a little harder, and you could have finished me there in the forest.’
‘I didn’t hit you that hard. It’s nothing.’
‘Oh, it’s more than nothing,’ I spat, ‘believe me.’
‘Just move, will you?’
‘I’m moving.’ I pushed myself away from the window and staggered across to the door. Mather kept his distance, but stayed alert in case I made a foolhardy dash for freedom. I assumed Derringher had come to the island by boat, but I didn’t have time to waste looking for where he’d moored it. If I had the chance I had to go for the tunnel in the forest. But I couldn’t get there without incapacitating Mather first, which would prove extremely difficult with my hands tied.
I nudged the door open with my right shoulder and was about to enter the corridor when Mather grabbed my arm, halting me.
‘Wait.’
‘What is it?’
‘Shh!’ He was still looking at me, but his attention was diverted. He seemed to be listening. After a few seconds I could hear something above the endless pounding in my head. It was the sound of a motor. And it was getting louder.
Mather pulled me back into the room and pushed me against the window. I caught sight of my reflection. It was a shock: the face staring back at me was almost unrecognizable. The hair was wild and matted. It stuck to my forehead in clumps, glued there with drying mud. Dirt, leaves and other forest debris covered my clothes. He must have dragged rather than carried me to the clearing. I looked terrible. Mather walked over to the panel, pulled it back across and stood in front of the glass tank, muttering some words I was unable to catch. He then did something completely unthinkable. He lifted the lid.
Placing the heavy brass panel on the floor, he turned to me and smiled at the look of sheer horror on my face.
‘I shall be leaving you in the Lady’s care while I go and see to our unexpected guest. Naturally if you try to scream or do anything similarly foolish, she will have to take action.’
‘You can’t leave me alone with her!’ Panic once more consumed me.
‘I’m afraid I have to. Now, if you’ll excuse me.’ Mather turned and left; he pulled the door behind him but it failed to close properly. I was unable to take my eyes from the tank, and, as I watched, the insect rose slowly from the confines of the glass box and hovered towards me.
Please . . . sit.
I sat on the edge of the bed as instructed. The mosquito floated over to the desk and landed. Her wings rose and fell hypnotically, as I’d seen them do before. The rest of her body was still, and appeared almost brown now.
Do you remember what we spoke of earlier?
‘Something about the end coming. About you not letting him harm me.’
That’s right. I will protect you.
‘He tried to kill me earlier.’
Yes, and I told you – he tried while you were asleep last night, and after he had attacked you in the forest. I could have stopped him from hurting you at all, but I couldn’t allow you to get away.
It was deeply sobering to think that I could so easily have been dead already; that Mather would have slaughtered me quite happily without the mosquito to stop him.
‘So why didn’t you let him kill me?’
You are important to me. You have something I’ve been looking for.
‘I’m more important to you than Mather?’
Mather only lives because he has been useful.
‘How was he useful?’
Blood.
‘But why do you need it? You can’t reproduce, can you?’
No . . .
I could detect no element of sadness in her voice. It seemed that reproduction was no concern of hers.
‘So why do you need it?’
There was a slight pause, then: I have an unquenchable thirst for it.
‘And Mather has been able to provide you with enough?’
He has provided me with plenty. When I found him, I knew immediately that he would be a willing servant. That night in London I was searching, as I had for so many nights before, for new blood. In the city I couldn’t do the killing myself, as I could sometimes leave a mess. It was hard to control my thirst, and I didn’t want to risk leaving a trail that might lead to my capture. The thought of incarceration is intolerable. I have to be free, or with a companion who knows my requirements and is willing to help me. Mather proved to be such an accomplice. I could smell the many-layered blood of his experiments from far off. When I entered the house, the scent was maddening. I threw myself against the door of the chamber until they let me in.
Once inside the room I knew I had found someone I could use. It didn’t take long to gain control of Mather’s mind. He was an easy puppet. I convinced him, with little effort, to increase the frequency of his experiments, to keep the blood supply at a satisfactory level. As each experiment passed, his fascination for the macabre grew. The darkness inside him was eating away at his soul, destroying his sense of right and wrong. Soon he was experimenting every night – not just to please me, but to satisfy his own lust for mutilation.
‘What about Soames? Did he ever try to stop you?’
I quickly asserted my influence over him, but with intimidation rather than control. I gave him plenty of examples of what would happen if he were ever to cross me, or interfere with Mather’s work. When we finally moved here, I thought things would be perfect. Mather’s enthusiasm for the experiments increased, and the blood flowed in abundance.
‘It’s all about to end though.’
Yes. Nothing can stop it now. And it’s all because of you.
‘Me?’
Your coming here was the beginning of the end.
‘For everyone?’
No. Not everyone.
She sounded surprised, as if I’d said something ridiculous. I remembered what she’d said before about not letting Mather harm me. I couldn’t think why she was so determined to keep me alive. I assumed I’d be no more than food to her.
‘Why are you so concerned about my well-being?’
I was human once, and I betrayed the one I loved. Because of that betrayal I was cursed.
‘Ngoc Tam.’
Yes. He was my husband. He – he couldn’t bear to live without me. His blood brought me back from the grave, and in return I deserted him for a richer man and a life of luxury. For so long now I have travelled the world, searching for his blood, so that I might be human once more.
I could guess w
hat was coming, as implausible as it was.
‘But surely your husband’s blood was unique. Surely no blood but his could restore you.’
His family were travellers. They must have spread all over the world. His descendants are likely to exist in vast numbers today. I knew I would come across one of them eventually. And now I have. When I first smelled your blood, I knew it was his. So unique and potent. I was excited beyond measure. My prayers have finally been answered. When the time is right, when we are completely alone, I shall drink . . . and I shall be yours.
I started shivering, and not because it was cold in the room.
When I had all but relinquished hope, I found what my heart craved. In your veins flows the blood of my old love, Ngoc Tam.
‘No, that’s not—’
Your bloodline goes back—
‘But—’
Generations apart, but still strong. With Tam’s blood the curse will be lifted, and I will no longer be contained in this loathsome form, a slave to the bloodlust. Please believe that I have no desire to harm you. All I need is a few drops of blood.
‘So the legend is true. No wonder you were worried about the dragonfly.’
The dragonfly? You were thinking about it because you have read one of Mather’s books. Ha! I was worried for nothing.
‘No.’ I smiled. ‘I was thinking about it because it’s here on the island. The genie is here. He’s come for you.’
Shh . . . Don’t lie – it is pointless.
‘It’s true! Mather knows as well. The genie has found you and I think he intends to stop you becoming a woman again.’
Even if he really is here, he won’t stop me. Nothing can stop me now. I won’t allow it!
Just then I heard voices. With a great effort I managed to get back on my feet. Looking through the window, in the moonlight I saw them walking to the right of the house, heading for the path that led into the woods. I couldn’t quite see who Mather was with at first, but he seemed to be leading someone towards the research centre. I could just make out what he was saying:
‘. . . hard at work taking pictures. I know it’s late but he wanted to get as many as he could before he left tomorrow.’
The Hand of the Devil Page 16