‘Oo yesh… straight for the bed.’ Cheryl pouted. ‘Are you readin’ my mind?’
‘Yes, b-Cheryl, what you’re thinking is printed on your forehead.’ Turning her boss around, she deposited her onto the bed. Despite her inebriation, Cheryl managed to hang on and Ceri fell on top of her.
‘Shee,’ Cheryl giggled, ‘that’sh what I’m talking about!’
Ceri struggled free and stood over Cheryl looking down. ‘You are making it really hard to be responsible.’
‘It’sh a conf’rence, everyone hash shexsh… um… What was I shaying?’
‘You are so going to regret this in the morning,’ Ceri said. She got a snore in response. ‘But not right now.’ Leaving the key on the bedside table, she headed out, turning out the light and letting the automatic closer shut the door behind her, and fished her own room key out of her bag.
The overhead light did not work when she flicked the switch. ‘Widder-damnit,’ she muttered and started across the floor to the bedside table. The room plunged into darkness as the door shut and then she heard the growl. Her head turned toward the sound. ‘Well I’m sorry if I kept you waiting, but what are you doing in my room.’
There was enough light coming in through the window for her to see the werewolf leaping at her. She managed to block the arm sweeping at her from the left, but a sharp pain burst across her chest as claws ripped through her light top and bit into the skin beneath. She stumbled back, falling; fighting on four-inch high heels was not in any of her lessons. She managed to get her knee up and was rewarded by the howl as the wolf’s stomach slammed into it. The pain in her chest and back, and the alcohol, was making it hard to think straight. Claws bit into her left bicep and she screamed. Her hand slammed into the wolf’s chest on nothing but instinct and a bolt of thaumic energy ripped through, slamming into the ceiling.
The dead weight of the werewolf landed on top of her. Her wounds stung. Her back ached where it had hit the floor. And the damn werewolf was bleeding all over her shirt! Someone had apparently heard the noise; she could hear feet running along the corridor outside. Then there was the sound of a key rattling in the lock; apparently security had a fast response time.
The door opened suddenly and a voice said, ‘What’s going on in here?’
Oh, that was just taking the piss. ‘Get this fucking corpse off me!’ Ceri screamed. The man in the pseudo-police uniform hurried forward to pull the werewolf off her, grimacing at all the blood covering her upper body. ‘Not all of it is mine,’ she said.
‘Shit,’ the rentacop said, ‘we need to get you to a hospital, get some of them drugs in you…’
Ceri pulled herself to her feet using her right arm. She suspected her left bicep was badly lacerated. ‘That’s lycanthropes,’ she said, ‘he’s a werewolf.’
‘Th-there’s a difference?’ Rentacop was looking at the blood on his hands like it was toxic waste.
‘Yeah, big difference, trust me.’ Her phone was ringing and she knew exactly who it was. Lily’s anxiety was flooding over their bond. ‘I need to answer my phone,’ she said. ‘There are a couple of idiots in suits hanging around somewhere. Find them and get them up here.’ He nodded and started for the door. Ceri picked her bag up with a wince to find her phone. ‘And tell the management here I’ll need a new room!’ she yelled after him.
‘Oh my God what happened?’ Lily’s voice was a weird combination of alarm and relieved happiness.
‘A werewolf,’ Ceri said. ‘I’m guessing he was a Fenlander.’
‘I thought all the werewolves thought you were fantastic?’
‘Apparently not all of them.’ Ceri winced as she balanced the phone on her left shoulder and tried to check the wounds on her arm.
‘You’re hurt?’
‘Nothing I can’t fix, and you should see the other guy.’ Ceri looked up as the MI5 agents currently on her detail appeared in the doorway. ‘I have to go, Lil. I’m okay. I’ll talk to you later.’
‘Okay, and you’d better.’
Ceri disconnected the call and looked up at the two men. ‘So where were you idiots when a werewolf was sneaking into my room?’
July 7th
‘I can’t believe I slept through the whole thing,’ Cheryl said as she downed two painkillers.
Ceri giggled though she felt tired; she had woken up from a dream of werewolves in military uniforms taking turns at her. ‘I can, you were dead to the world. Mind you, if I’d’ve done what you were hinting at the dumb werewolf would’ve been waiting until morning.’
Cheryl cringed. ‘I have some, uh, vague memories,’ she said.
‘Vague memories, right. Well, no harm done.’
‘No, there’s not a mark on you. You should’ve been in hospital.’
Ceri giggled again. ‘Not what I meant. They gave me one of the postgrad rooms. Double bed, en-suite bathroom. Some magic and a shower and I was fine. And the bed’s more comfortable too.’
‘So do you know why you were attacked?’
Ceri shook her head. ‘Lily was still at the Dragon. She told Alec, he’s going to make some enquiries. The cops say the Fenlanders have been almost silent for months, and my wonderful spook friends were just useless.’
‘Not exactly their job, but if they’re going to spy on you you’d think they’d watch your room. Which lecture are you going to?’
‘Uh… the one on magical channelling technologies. I’m hoping it may solve the power transfer problem from the Rift.’
‘Okay then, have fun,’ Cheryl grinned and patted her on the shoulder. ‘And try not to run into anymore werewolves.’
‘I’ll try. Oh, if you want to come up to my room this evening, you can change there. The shower’s better than those horrible ones downstairs too.’
~~~
Ed’s jaw actually fell open as Ceri and Cheryl walked toward him. Cheryl was in one of the dresses Carter had bought her, which meant that, while she had selected the most decent one of the lot, it was still very sexy; white and halter-necked, with a deep back. Ceri was in the gown she had got for the dinner with Malcolm Charles. Mind you, Ceri was almost as surprised to see Ed in a jacket which did not have patched elbows.
‘Close your mouth, Edward,’ Cheryl said, ‘before something flies in.’
‘My pardon,’ he said, ‘but I must have done something exceptional in a past life to be escorting such beautiful women into the hall.’
‘Have you been taking lessons from Carter?’ Ceri asked.
Ed gave his best disarming smile and turned, presenting his arms for them to take. He normally stooped a little, but he pulled himself up straight and positively beamed as they walked through into Merlin College’s Grand Hall.
It was not that grand, but it did have wood beams along its sides supporting the high ceiling and light oak panelling around the walls. It was also full of conference delegates intent on eating and drinking too much. Ed and Cheryl had met at a previous conference dinner when they had been sat together because they were two of the small number of people from outside Cambridge. As they took their seats, Ceri realised that the same situation was more or less true, except that the number of non-Cambridge attendees was higher. Down the table was the small delegation from China, there were Americans closer to the high table, and sat across from Ceri, Cheryl, and Ed were the Australians. Ceri had just determined that the suntanned young man sitting opposite was apparently called Gazza when the sound of a spoon ringing on a wine glass brought silence across the hall.
‘Right,’ Alfred Barnes’ voice rang out, ‘I’m going to keep this short because you don’t want to listen to an old man who’s only up here because he’s paying for the booze, you want to be drinking the booze.’ Ceri could tell why he was successful; he was a bright man with good business sense, and he definitely knew how to play to an audience. ‘Well, this last year has been a bit of a mixed bag for me, but for thaumatology and several other magical sciences it’s seen some great advances. I’m glad to see more of our friends
and colleagues from distant lands here to share in all the creativity. As some of you may have heard, next year we plan to expand this venerable old meeting of minds to include other disciplines, possibly in a new venue. This could be the last time we all get drunk, pretend we can dance, and do inappropriate things in this hallowed hall. So, you’d better make the most of it, hadn’t you? Go on, if you’re drunk enough when the food arrives it’ll go down better.’ There was a lot of laughing and clinking of glasses as the delegates began to follow his suggestion.
Ceri leaned toward Ed. ‘There’s dancing?’
‘Oh yes,’ the professor replied. ‘Don’t think you’re getting away without having me tread on your toes.’
Ceri grimaced appropriately, but actually that could work out. She needed to talk to Ed alone, and she was not going to get much chance to do that without her minders seeing, or someone overhearing. On a dance floor, however… That could work? She looked across the table at “Gazza.” ‘Seriously? Your parents named you Gazza?’
‘Oh no, Garry, but everyone calls me Gazza. We like our nicknames.’ Ceri had never heard an Australian accent before, except on TV. ‘I know who you are, of course,’ he went on, ‘I was ordered to attend your presentation and take a lot of notes. Our crypto, Kylie, was real bust up that she couldn’t come over here herself.’
‘Did you come over by airship?’ Ceri asked.
‘Oh Hell no,’ Gazza said, without the slightest rancour. ‘I wish we could afford to fly over here. No, ship all the way, which is not as much fun as you’d think.’
Ceri grimaced. ‘Uh, I’m willing to bet it was actually more fun than I’d think. I have… anxiety issues, when I travel.’ She went for changing the subject quickly. ‘There are no Aborigine members of your group?’
‘Oh no, there’s none of them in the thaumatology department.’ Ceri was about to wonder at the racist-sounding statement when he went on. ‘Don’t get me wrong, they’re allowed in. The tribal leaders even encourage their kids to come out to our schools once they’ve done their time in the tribal ones. But they don’t do thaumatology, or any of the other magical sciences. Their magic, y’see, it’s all about their culture and beliefs. Y’don’t go doing science to religion, good way to get your head lopped off.’
Ceri nodded. ‘Yeah, I guess you’re right. We got into some hot water with the Druids over an experiment at Stonehenge. Of course, they’re possibly a little more protective of their religion since they made most of it up.’
‘All of it,’ Ed commented almost absently. ‘The general concept is, I suppose, right, but I can’t get behind the idea of claiming ancient lineage just so that you can grandstand at a national monument at Midsummer.’
‘Well, you can say a lot of things about the tribes back home,’ Gazza said, ‘but they’ve been doing what they do for thousands of years. Hundreds of thousands of years. Of course, when the Shattering happened and it all started producing real results, things changed a bit. Things were a bit nasty for a while, but we worked it out. We’ve even been able to persuade some of the tribes to exchange information. Their magic is pretty specific though. Anyone trying to learn from them has to really submerge themselves in the culture. It’s fascinating really.’
Ceri could feel her enthusiasm trying to overcome the sheer terror of travelling half way around the world. ‘It does sound… really interesting,’ she said, ‘but I’d be a gibbering wreck before I got half way there.’
‘You’re really that bad at travelling? If you came over in your winter, it’d be summer in Aus. We’ve got the best beaches in the world.’
Ceri grinned at him. ‘My friend Lily would just love the idea of two summers in a row, but I’ll have to pass. At least until I can overcome my fear of travel. You should have seen me after a couple of hours on a train.’
‘We sedate her for long car journeys,’ Cheryl put in.
Ceri felt her cheeks redden. ‘Do you have werewolves in Australia?’ she asked to change the subject. Again.
‘No,’ Gazza said, ‘none living anyway. We’ve got foxes though. Aborigines say they’ve been in Aus since before red foxes were introduced from Europe. Kylie was working with the Meta-genetics department to try to trace their mitochondrial DNA back, but she wasn’t having much luck.’
‘Do you have an email address for her? I’ve been talking to the Meta-genetics people at LCU. Lily’s interested in the subject, but she’s not got the education to deal with it. To be honest, neither have I, but I pick things up a little faster.’
Gazza frowned. ‘So why’s this Lily so interested?’
Ceri grinned. ‘She’s a half-succubus, she’s got something of a personal interest.’
‘You know a half-demon!’ Gazza’s eyes went wide in surprise.
‘Intimately,’ Cheryl said.
‘I don’t,’ Ed said mournfully.
~~~
The music shifted into a waltz and Ceri grabbed Ed’s arm. ‘You owe me a dance, Professor.’
He rose to his feet with a grin. ‘Are you sure your toes can stand up to it?’
‘I’ve been becoming far more nimble on my feet recently.’
He was, actually, quite a good dancer. Ceri had had about two lessons with her father once, but she was good enough to avoid making a fool of herself. That really did not matter; she had got him out onto the floor between the tables to talk, not dance.
‘So,’ she said after a few seconds, ‘I take it you’re Athro? Mei already admitted she’s a dragon. It must be dragons I’m feeling. I can feel it now, and you’re the only common factor.’
‘We all have our inclinations,’ he replied. ‘Mei Long keeps watch, observes, rarely reveals herself unless the situation warrants it. I teach, so I’m the Teacher.’
‘Then you know what I am? You’ve always known.’
Ed nodded. ‘All of us can sense your kind, just as you can sense us. Your exposure to Brenin’s skull probably triggered your awareness, or perhaps you’re just growing.’
‘Why?’ Ceri said. ‘Why can we sense each other?’
‘Because, my dear child, humans gained the ability to use sorcery from dragons. Somewhere in your ancestry is our blood.’ His grip tightened on her as he felt her falter. ‘The strength of it varies with the individual, and the dragon in your bloodline. You’re strong. I believe you’re more powerful than I am, but you’ve a lot to learn. You work by instinct mostly? Or by seeing a spell and replicating the patterns used to create it? You can do more. A sorceress of your power could be a tremendous force for good.’
‘Or evil,’ she breathed.
‘We need to get you educated,’ he said, acting as though he had not heard her. ‘There are things you have to know.’
‘You mean before Brenhines comes looking for me?’
‘She doesn’t leave her stronghold.’
‘Anglesey,’ Ceri stated flatly. Ed nodded slightly. ‘My parents died heading near there. Did she kill them?’
‘Possibly. I don’t know. I don’t know why she would.’
‘I need to sit down.’ She needed Lily. Lily was miles away in London. It had never seemed so far away before.
‘Of course.’ He guided her back to her seat and she dropped into it like a sack of stones.
Cheryl was all concern. ‘You’re paler than usual, dear. Are you all right?’
‘It’s nothing,’ Ed said, sparing Ceri from answering, ‘just a little head rush. Too much of this fine wine, perhaps. Just let her rest a minute.’ He steered Cheryl away by engaging her in some conversation about containment field resonance leaving Ceri to herself.
Lily was not expecting the “call” and her mind put up a little resistance before Ceri broke through. Still, her demon pet knew everything as soon as their minds joined, and so did Ceri. Lily was at the Jade Dragon. Lily missed Ceri. Alec had found nothing about the werewolf attack yet. Lily’s meeting with Mei had been short, but the ambassador had simply admitted to what she was as soon as Lily had explained Ceri’s sus
picion. ‘You’re part dragon?’ Lily thought.
‘Alexandra told me I wasn’t human,’ Ceri replied. ‘I thought she meant I was… more like a werewolf, or better than most humans or… Not that I was actually not entirely human.’
‘We have more in common than we thought.’ There was a happy edge to the thought; trust Lily to find the bright side of everything. ‘Come on, this is awesome! You’ve got the kind of lineage royalty would be proud of.’
‘I… hadn’t thought of it like that.’
‘Of course you didn’t.’ A flicker of annoyance passed over the link. ‘You’re always telling me that being part demon doesn’t matter. That I’m the most human person you know. That you love me no matter what. Are you telling me it does matter because it suddenly applies to you?’
‘Well no, I…’
‘Too damn right, girly! You’re exactly the same person you were ten minutes ago. Now stop acting like this is some horror story. I’ve told you before, you’re the best Mistress a demon could ever have. Now I’m doubly right. I’m bound to a woman with dragon’s blood in her veins! How widder-fucking cool is that!’ Ceri could not help it, she giggled. Ed and Cheryl looked at her, wondering what had suddenly got into her.
‘Thanks, love,’ Ceri thought. ‘I knew I needed to talk to you.’
‘Always here for you, Mistress. I need to get back to work.’
‘Of course. I’ll talk to you later.’ Ceri opened her eyes as the link broke.
‘You’re looking better,’ Ed commented.
‘I’m feeling much better,’ she replied, smiling. ‘Ready to take on anything.’
‘Excellent,’ Ed said, ‘but perhaps you should take on this glass of water first.’
July 8th
Ceri stumbled into her room, followed by Cheryl. ‘I’m just going to pick up my bag,’ Cheryl said, ‘and then I’ll be out of your hair.’
‘You’re not in my hair,’ Ceri replied, giggling. They were both mildly drunk, though neither was as bad as Cheryl had been the night before.
Thaumatology 04 - Dragon's Blood Page 14