by Eloisa Clark
“Scott!” Juliet said, astounded.
“What?” he said, turning his eyes away in mock innocence.
They all laughed, and Niko threw a wrapping-paper-ball at Scott, initiating a paper fight that lasted until they all collapsed from exhaustion, their sides hurting from laughing so much.
“Play for us.” Fiona asked, when Juliet had finally started breathing normally again.
Niko and Scott both smiled eagerly.
She sighed and picked up her case before making herself comfortable on the floor by the tree.
She went through her mental list of Christmas carols, choosing the ones that were easiest to play sitting down. She was surprised when Fiona started singing along to silent night, and she nearly missed a chord when the boys began to harmonise with her. They made a remarkable quartet.
“WHEN’S THE CHRISTMAS Dinner happening?” Scott asked after Juliet’s arms had gotten tired and she’d played her last carol.
“Seven, I think.” Niko answered, looking at his watch. From her perch on the arm of his chair she saw that it was already four and she frowned.
“Do we have to go?” She asked, Niko looked up at her and squeezed her knee.
“Don’t you want to?”
She looked at the others, not wanting to ask them to stay if they didn’t want to.
“I’d like to stay here with you guys.” Fiona said, smiling at Juliet and looking at Scott.
He smiled and leaned his head against the back of the window frame.
“Yeah, this isn’t bad. But after I have a nap, we’re playing cricket.”
“So, we’re agreed. We’re staying.” Niko said, pulling Juliet into his lap.
She happily curled up in his arms. It might not be the same, in fact, it was the most unique and extraordinary Christmas she had ever experienced, but it was just as good as the ones from her childhood.
She must have nodded off, because when she awoke the sun had gone down and Scott was setting down a feast of their own, food he’d traded with Adrienne for a bottle of Clair de Lune, he explained.
After they had all eaten their fill, Niko leaned back from the table and winked at Scott.
“What? What are you guys up to?” She asked, suspicious.
“We might have one more surprise left. But it involves breaking some rules.”
Juliet looked at Fiona and raised her eyebrows, but she shrugged.
“Don’t look at me, I ‘aven’t the foggiest.”
Niko grabbed a duffel bag from the behind the tree and headed to the door.
“Coming?” He asked, his crooked smile not giving anything away.
AS THEY APPROACHED the clearing between the castle and the forest, Juliet hesitated.
“I’m not sure about this. Doctor Livingstone was pretty clear that he doesn’t want anyone in the forest.”
“That’s just a safety precaution. As long as we all stick together, we’ll be fine.” Scott said.
She exchanged a look with Fiona and felt comforted that she also seemed apprehensive. But Scott had a point, they should be safe together.
Niko took her hand and she continued on, staying close to him as they entered the forest and made their way towards the lake. Scott held out his phone as a torch, but Juliet remembered the way from her few visits with William back in the summer, so she was prepared for the tree roots that snuck up on them and was able to warn Fiona so that she didn’t trip.
Arriving at the lake, Juliet still hadn’t worked out what they were doing there. Scott made his way past them and crouched down on the edge of the water, lowering his hand into its inky blackness. Within seconds Juliet felt the air around them chill her face and the warmth of her breath billowed smoke from her nose. A scratching sound drew her attention to the water surrounding Scott’s hand as the air continued to cool.
She watched in fascination as the still water transformed in front of her eyes, changing from water to ice.
“Jesus Christ, dat’s crafty.” Fiona said, sounding as astonished as Juliet felt.
Within minutes the entire lake surface was frozen, its glacial whiteness shining like billions of tiny diamonds.
“Have you worked it out yet?” Niko asked, unzipping his duffel bag.
Juliet shook her head, but realisation dawned as Niko pulled out a bladed pair of boots from his mystery bag. Juliet laughed, her breath misting as she clapped her hands in front of her open mouth.
NIKO AND JULIET kept skating long after Fiona and Scott had given up for the night. Scott had been surprisingly uncoordinated on the ice and Fiona seemed uneasy about letting him separate from the group, so she kept him company on the rocky shore.
“Thank you.” Juliet said, twirling in a circle around Niko. He smiled and lifted her hand to his lips to plant a kiss on her knuckles.
“It’s my pleasure.” He said softly.
She was about to lean towards him to kiss when a yell from the shore broke the silence, nearly causing her to lose balance from the shock of the sudden sound. Niko caught and steadied her as they turned their attention to where Scott and Fiona were now standing and waving at them to come in.
“What is it?” Niko asked. Fiona was holding some kind of whistle that seemed to be screeching of its own accord.
“Not again.” Fiona was saying over and over as she rubbed the whistle that hung on a chain around her neck.
Juliet didn’t know what the hell was going on, but the look on Fiona’s face was enough to tell her it wasn’t good.
“Back to castle.” Niko said, “Now.” he ordered, picking up the same feeling of dread.
He helped Juliet to change out of her skates before getting his own boots back on. All three of them nervously keeping an eye on Fiona as she paced back and forth. They hurried back, sticking close to one another.
Juliet breathed a sigh of relief when they made it to the clearing.
“Have you tried broadcasting?” She asked Niko.
Hoping that he might be able to get through to someone mentally so that they could get help, but he shook his head.
“Everyone’s been blocking lately.” He said, she’d also noticed that, but had hoped maybe someone might be listening out like some kind of mental sentry.
She sent out her own plea for help, silently yelling to whoever might be listening that they needed help. She nearly screamed out loud when a dark figured appeared suddenly in front of her.
“Odette?” Niko said, squinting at the figure who was silhouetted by the light of the castle.
“Heard this one.” She said, nodding at Juliet.
“What’s happened?”
“We’re not sure exactly. Fiona, can you explain what that thing does?” Niko said.
Fiona looked down at her whistle before looking up at Odette. She opened her mouth to speak when the whistle began to squeal at a deafening pitch before Fiona quickly squeezed her fist shut around it, muffling the noise. Her eyes went large and her mouth dropped open.
Juliet looked up at Niko, but his attention was focussed on something behind her. His hand tightened around hers as he turned to look back in the direction they’d come from, pulling Juliet behind him.
Odette came around the group and crouched slightly, Juliet heard her snarl at the dark figure that was walking slowly in their direction.
She could make out the shape of a man who seemed to be dragging something along the ground. As he drew closer, she heard Niko curse and begin to back away.
“Get back to the castle.” Odette instructed.
Before they could even turn to leave, the figure flashed forward with a snarl. Juliet was frozen in fear and from the feel of Niko’s tense muscles, he was too.
Eric’s face was distorted by a snarl, his mouth and jaw were covered in blood that was black against his dark, moonlit skin. He took a bite out of something in his hand before throwing it at Odette’s feet and spitting out the chewed morsel.
Juliet nearly heaved when she realised that the small lump at Odette’s feet
was some kind of bloody organ. She looked back at Eric and the burden he carried, her stomach churning as her mind began to make sense of the sight of Clarissa’s misshapen body. Her usually pale skin used to glow at night, now appeared a dull, tombstone grey. Her face which still held some beauty, was of little interest compared to her chest, which was torn apart; her shattered ribs hung open like an empty birdcage.
Eric released his hold of her hair and wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand. He snarled something in an unfamiliar language and looked straight into Juliet’s eyes, making her shiver in fear and revulsion.
“Go!” Odette commanded, “Now!” She lunged at Eric to attack him, but he was too fast, dodging her and disappearing in a blur.
Odette flinched forward a fraction as if to chase him, but then stopped, turning back to the group. She looked down at Clarissa’s corpse and slumped her head before turning to face them.
“Why am I not surprised that you two are involved?” She asked.
Juliet looked up at Niko who exhaled and ran his hand through his hair. She wondered the same thing.
“I DON’T UNDERSTAND. I should have heard something.” Odette was pinching her nose as she sat on the edge of Doctor Livingstone’s desk. Niko was standing behind Juliet, she could still feel the tension rolling off him through their connection.
“I used to be able to hear the villager’s whispers, now I can’t hear anything beyond the castle walls.”
“That’s because of the Bridled Ambit.” Fiona said.
Odette focussed her attention on her, as three other faces also waited for a further explanation.
She had recovered somewhat since returning to the castle, the safety of its walls offering protection as well as warmth. And now that the immediate threat was over, she was relatively calm.
“It’s the defensive perimeter the Witches erected after Sean died.” She explained to the group.
“I didn’t notice any magical perimeter, and nothing stopped us from coming and going.” Juliet said, her brow creasing in confusion.
“Well, you wouldn’t, would you? It’s invisible and it’s only designed to stop outsiders from comin’ in.” She said.
“It was only a precaution, y’know, just in case the killer was an outsider after all.”
“It still doesn’t make sense to me. Livingstone interrogated everyone here. How did Eric get past him?” Niko asked.
“I’ve told you before, there are different ways to get around a mental interrogation. He could have been using camouflage or projecting thoughts of innocence. It’s no different to a polygraph test that humans use, they’re not one hundred percent accurate either.” Odette explained, still rubbing her forehead.
“What was it that he said, right before he disappeared?” Juliet asked.
“I couldn’t make it out exactly, I only heard ‘nahal’ something ‘nashama’. I have no idea what those words mean. If they’re even words.” Niko said.
“It’s Hebrew, or at least an older version of Hebrew.” Doctor Livingstone said quietly, having walked into the room without their notice. Juliet jumped and Niko placed his hands on her shoulders to put her at ease. They said nothing as he made his way to his desk and sat, adjusting his tie, and stretching his neck.
“I suppose the four of you want some kind of pat on the back for being the ones to discover our culprit?”
They looked at each other furtively. Juliet knew they were going to get a verbal lashing and braced for the sting.
“Do you think I make up rules just for the fun of it? That I don’t have better things to be doing than enforcing curfews and restrictions? When the initiation ceremony took place, did you not see me shed my own blood first? I am dedicating my eternal God-forsaken life to protecting everyone who takes that oath, even the ones who seem hell bent on ending theirs early!”
His voice raised to a veritable roar by the end of his accusation.
Juliet flinched but knew it was deserved. She should have trusted her instincts and insisted that they stay in the castle. Niko attempted to say something, but Doctor Livingstone cut him off.
“Don’t say a word Mr Dmitriyev. Do you know how arduous this all is to me?” He asked, shaking his head.
“No, I don’t expect you do. You all sit here in the infancy of your lives and think you are invincible. You will outlive your human counterparts by hundreds of years, yet still you will be babies when your time comes. While I go on, serving, protecting, guiding. For what? What good does any of it do?”
He had lowered his voice to an almost whisper as his shoulders slumped and his eyes turned to the piece of marble on his desk. After a moment's silence, Niko took his chance to speak again.
“I’m sorry Doctor Livingstone. Going to the lake was entirely my idea. I wanted to impress Juliet and dragged them into this. If anyone should be to blame, it’s me and I will accept whatever punishment you decide.”
The doctor remained silent before he slowly began to nod, as he tapped the desk with his fingers.
“The four of you are going to do something for me.” He said, leaning back and looking them all in the eyes one at a time.
“You are going to spread the word that Eric has been identified as the killer. You are going to take every available opportunity to talk to whoever will listen about how we are all going to rest easier knowing that he has fled and will not return. You are going to throw party after party until everyone within these walls feels entirely safe and sound and free to go about their business, full of cheer and high spirits.”
Juliet stared at the doctor, not understanding his intention. She nodded slowly, her mouth turning to one side, even Odette was looking at him with a puzzled look on her face.
“You want to know why I want you to do this, don’t you?” He said with a thin smile.
They all nodded.
“We have two main objectives from now on, based on two possibilities. Possibility one is that Eric was acting alone and may return to continue his reign of terror. Possibility two is that he had one or more accomplices and they will continue to inflict suffering in his absence.” The doctor continued to tap on his desk as he spoke.
“We are yet to understand Eric’s motives and until he is captured and believe me, he will be captured, we can only make assumptions based on his pattern of behaviour.” The doctor’s tapping finally stopped, and he crossed his arms.
“I have reason to believe that there is a link between the attacks and moments of heightened emotions. By generating further opportunities within the castle for celebration and cheer, I hope to draw him back, or to incite his allies to strike out.”
“But.” Juliet said, “If you’re right, you’ll be putting everyone at risk.”
“Yes, I will be.” He smiled, making Juliet uneasy.
“I’ll also be putting additional precautions and security measures in place. As we speak the Witches are performing a series of spells which will create a trap for either Eric or anyone else who attempts to do harm within the castle or grounds. The Vampires are sending some of their most powerful soldiers to act as sentries while others will continue to scour the continent, should he come out of hiding.”
Juliet looked at Niko, his worried expression matching the feeling of dread that was sitting like a stone in her gut.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Another sharp explosion reverberated through the ground, causing Niko’s skin to vibrate as its boom was followed by a crackling echo.
Juliet’s hands tightened on the arms he’d wrapped around her waist, holding her close to him as they watched the fireworks display from the vantage point of the meadow’s edge.
“I don’t like this.” She said silently, her voice cutting through the roar of the crowd as they cheered with each burst of colour above the illuminated castle turrets. Enormous speakers had been set up, playing music in time with the visual display. The doctor had pulled out all the stops.
“I don’t like it either. But if you look closely you can
see the sentries.”
The doctor’s plan was so far going a little too well. Scott’s popularity and contagious optimism had succeeding in bringing about a sense of relief and jubilation among the Shifters and the Demons. The Vampires were a more cynical lot. Odette had been tasked with the same challenge as the others, but her aloofness and the Vampires’ solitary natures resulted in a lukewarm reception. It didn’t help that the other factions had turned against the Vampires; either suspecting they had covered up for Eric or labelling them as guilty by association.
The Witches were an even harder nut to crack. Fiona had done her best to convince those she was close to that the threat was over, but Niko suspected that they could tell her heart wasn’t in it. They seemed to collectively isolate themselves, becoming even more reclusive than usual. When he’d asked her about it, Fiona had said that the rumour had begun amongst them that they saw a pattern emerge, that there was old magic that required a sacrifice from each of the factions and so far three out of the five had been killed, leading to the prediction that either a Witch or a Demon would be next. They had all seemed to agree that they were in favour of it being a Demon. Fiona had apologised profusely on their behalf and expressed disappointment that she was associated with such a spineless klatch.
He looked over at her as the fireworks continued. Fiona and Odette were doing shots with Scott and as the last of the blasts finally signalled the end of the show. Scott noticed Niko and saluted before he and the girls came closer.
“Happy New Year!” He yelled over the thrum of the still cheering crowd.
“Happy New Year.” Niko and Juliet both replied.
“What’s that you’re drinking?” Juliet asked Odette.
Niko was also curious since he’d never known a Vampire to drink. Little point as they were unable to get drunk by traditional means.
“Just a little O-Neg chaser.” She said with a wink as she tapped the flask in her hand.
“This shit Scott makes is fucking potent.” She said before doing another shot.
“Fuckin’ ay it is.” Scott said, tapping his glass to Odette’s.