by Holly Lujah
“You’re right” she replied. “You’ll have to.”
Letting out a second call, Biffy’s familiar took flight again, aiming for the centre of the academy. For a moment Biffy watched her go, but soon she was also hurrying off, hoping she remembered the way to Mother Superior’s rooms as well as she thought she did.
With no way to know how many vampires had made it inside, Biffy kept her crossbow raised and ready to fire, but she equally had no way of knowing how quickly her presence might be needed. Jogging was the only answer, her body keeping her weapon arm as still as possible while also covering the ground swiftly.
Many passages and rooms appeared before her, all of them equally empty, the academy mostly asleep and the sisters in their chambers. It truly was the perfect time to attack. No one knew anything was even happening.
As Biffy came closer to Mother Superior’s room, she slowed, not sure of the way. Many of the corridors and hallways looked unfamiliar to her now, and she didn’t want to get the options wrong. She didn’t have time to get lost.
Stepping through another door, she heard voices up ahead. It took her another fifty metres to realise that someone was talking inside Mother Superior’s main office.
“I won’t ask again,” a deep male voice said. “Where will I-”
“You’re wasting your breath,” Mother Superior interrupted, her voice stern. “I won’t tell you anything you don’t already know. I can’t.”
“I think you’ll find you can.” There was a rustle as if paper had been sent flying and a pained cry.
Not waiting to hear any more, Biffy lunged around the open door.
Mother Superior stood beside a stack of documents that had half-slid off the desk, a vampire appearing to be wearing some. The nun had a cross of polished silver held out in front of her, but the vampire stepped closer.
Mother Superior set her jaw and opened her mouth to speak. Before she could, Biffy had plunged a stake into the undead’s back and turned it into dust.
“Oh, Biffy. That’s fortuitous timing. Have you been here long?”
“Not at all, Mother,” Biffy replied, helping to pick up the papers that had fallen to the floor along with the vampire ashes.
“I thought you were meant to be out on watch.”
“I was, until Breanna and I realised the academy was under attack. We rushed back to lend aid.”
“Well, I’m more than grateful. We need to alert the others.” Mother Superior hastily dumped the files on the table, making the room somehow look even less neat.
“It’s all right,” Biffy replied. “Breanna has gone to ring the warning bell.”
“She has?”
Biffy nodded, beginning to feel like something wasn’t quite right but not knowing what.
“She has. She thought it best.
“Oh, God bless her. She has a sensible heart, that one. But come, let us make our house and academy secure from vandals and would-be attackers.”
Mother Superior took the lead, holding her cross out and picking the corridors to travel down. It gave Biffy very little to do but follow on and wonder how this had all happened. They’d not got very far when the bells began to chime. Breanna had reached the east tower.
Chapter 17
Up ahead, more sounds of battle came to Biffy’s ears. She’d had enough of running around the academy, trying to vanquish the undead that had overrun the area. Somehow they’d known just where to hit for maximum chaos—where the nuns would have to scramble to stop them—and they’d worked alongside a werewolf pack or two.
Here and there, nuns fought in the corridors, or they came across wreckage where a pack had destroyed something. It was all over the academy. And Biffy had run out of crossbow bolts, the weapon itself now broken, used as a cudgel when a particularly quick werewolf had rushed her.
It all made things very clear. Their priority was making as much noise as possible. Frowning, Biffy realised something else must have been going on. But what?
As Mother Superior led a small group of nuns including herself down to the next level, growls and snarls announced the presence of a werewolf or several. Instantly, the three Marys appeared, all three sporting silver weaponry. For a moment Biffy watched, mouth open, as the three seemed to dance with the giant creatures.
The shaggy werewolves towered over the nuns, but not one of them looked frightened or backed down from the fight. A particularly large grey werewolf charged Mary Sue, but she dodged the headlong run and rolled herself underneath the wolf, swiping a blade at its underside as she dodged the claws.
There was a chorus of aaahhhs, shaking Biffy from her mini-trance. Already there was a small audience of nuns as the Marys fought, no one else daring to interfere or even offer assistance. It was clear they were pressed but still doing well.
Biffy was just about to ask Mother Superior if she ought to move on and check the next level down when something flashed across her vision.
Frowning, Biffy stopped and tucked herself in an alcove by the stairs. A second later it happened again, this time the vision lingering for longer before it faded. It was enough to know she was seeing something someone else could see.
When it flashed across her vision for the third time, Biffy could work out what it must be. Hairwig was sat overlooking the entrance to the under-croft. But the barrier was gone, and a vampire she didn’t recognised was now heading down the stairs.
Shaking her head to clear her eyes, Biffy focused on the danger nearby. The Marys still had the werewolves in some kind of elaborate dance, giving her time to process what she’d just seen. It looked like someone was just about to free Spoke. Was that what the vampire had meant in Mother Superior’s office?
There was no way to know anyone’s motivations for sure, but she didn’t like the idea of Spoke getting free, especially now that he’d almost tricked her into freeing him. He needed to be guarded and she would need to be wary.
After hurtling down the stairs to the right level, Biffy sprinted along the corridors and down hallways to the centre of the academy. She knew of only one entrance into the under-croft. And she’d just seen another vampire go down there.
When she grew close enough, she called Hairwig as softly as she dared. Almost immediately the owl flew from her perch on a post and came to her, landing on her shoulder.
“Hoot,” she said.
“I know,” Biffy replied. “We’ll figure out how to do it again another time. For now it can be our little secret.”
Acting far more confident than she felt, Biffy strode to the top of the under-croft stairs and started to work her way downwards. She took the steps as quietly as she could, aware that at least four vampires were down there.
She could hear voices as she descended, but Spoke’s voice was distinctively deep and British-sounding. She knew it the second he talked.
“No, over there, by the small tin thing. Yeah, there. You got it.”
“They kept the key where you could see it?” the newcomer said, evidently here to help him escape.
“Yeah. One of the Marys decided it would be torture. Stupid penguin. Just makes it easier for you to get me out of here.”
The other vampire laughed, an annoying shrill sound. Biffy used the noise to mask any sounds as she hurried down several more steps. It wasn’t careful enough, however, and Spoke looked up just in time to meet her eyes.
“Well, well, well. Looks like we’ve got company, Seph. This little half-penguin here is Biffy.
The other vampire whirled around and bared his fangs. Spoke’s face broke into the most smug of grins.
Knowing she would struggle against two vampires alone, Biffy did the thing she could think of best. Raising what was left of her crossbow, she hurled it at the smaller vampire.
She heard him swear as she hurried down the last few steps, pulled her cross out and her stake. The vampire snarled at her again, dancing to one side as he eyed her weapons.
“At least give me the key first,” Spoke yelled, his frustrati
on evident as Biffy stepped forward again, holding the cross out. It threw Seph off balance and he fell over.
Biffy tried to come in for the kill, but Seph rolled and quickly got back on his feet.
The glint of a metal chain, the other end of the prisoner keys, could be seen in Seph’s hand, but there was little Biffy could do as he lifted his hand and threw the object to Spoke.
Caught in a dangerous game of piggy in the middle, Biffy leapt up to try and intercept the exchange, but she was too slow, and Hairwig merely hooted.
“Finally,” Spoke said, drawing her attention and Seph’s. A lock clicked as he got one hand free, but Biffy didn’t want to give him a chance to outnumber her. Instead, she lunged again at the distracted newcomer, touching his skin with the cross. He yelped and tried to get away, but she managed to catch a limb, spun him and released just so he’d get the maximum momentum into one of the bare pillars.
His face hit the solid object first, and before he could recoil with any level of success, Biffy slammed a stake into his back. He quickly became a pile of ash on the floor. Turning around, she heard the jangling clank of metal chains hitting the ground.
Spoke stood only a few metres away, no longer restrained, chucking the keys up in the air and catching them again. He did this repeatedly, studying her, a half-grin on his face, his eyes lit up.
“I can’t let you leave,” Biffy said, not entirely sure what she could do to stop him if he really wanted to. She was almost entirely weaponless, and Spoke didn’t strike her as the sort of vampire who would fight fair.
“You’re not going to be able to stop me this time, pet. But I’m not above returning a favour. Get out of my way now and I’ll let you walk away unharmed. Even if I am more than a little hungry. And I bet a cute thing like you has one heck of a taste.”
Biffy tried not to react as he sized her up. Somehow she had to beat him, but he was a very confident vampire. Could she beat him? Not knowing the answer, she sidestepped to put herself between him and the stairs.
“It’s my duty to stop you,” she replied. She didn’t mention the conscience that wouldn’t have let her do anything else.
For a moment Spoke appeared to look genuinely sad, and then the veneer was hidden again. He ran at her but she spun around, using the cross as a sort of shield. The momentum of her spinning helped keep her from harm, but also kept him disorientated as he spun with her.
He kept attacking and she kept dodging and repelling until both of them were panting, exhausted and more than ready for the battle to be over.
“Come on, pet. You’re exhausted. No one will be any the wiser. Just let me past.”
“No. I can’t do it. You’re staying here.”
“To hell, I am. I didn’t organise this entire thing to hide down here.”
“Organise this?” she questioned.
“Yeah. I knew you’d be made an initiate soon. Always a good time to strike, but the Marys also mentioned several times that you were having your first watch soon. It was simple after that, pet. The academy is so arrogant. The Marys especially. Always believing that they are invincible and all vampires must die. But not this one. Not today.”
Biffy tried to brace herself to make an attack, but instead the vampire hurled himself in her direction, half-growling and half-snarling at her. He knocked her over the bottom step, sending her crashing into it. Before her head could hit the step, it found the palm of his hand instead, his body now leaning over hers as she rested against the steps.
He’d caught her.
For a moment the pair gazed into each other’s eyes, one of them smug, the other still in shock. He inhaled, bringing his fangs a little closer to her throat. Instinctively, she tensed, but he didn’t bite, merely getting familiar with her scent.
“I told you I wouldn’t forget you saying I had a heart. Consider this your thank you. I won’t kill you, pet,” he whispered in her ear. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t give you a quick taste.”
Biffy tried to struggle, but his body was completely on top of hers, and at the angle he had her, she couldn’t get any leverage. She was entirely at his mercy. If he wanted to, he could do anything to her and she wouldn’t be able to stop him.
Extending his fangs, he opened his mouth, ready to descend onto the side of her neck and feast. She found herself whimpering, more than a little frightened. No doubt he’d feel as well as hear her heart as it raced in her chest.
“Get back, scum!” Sister Gelina’s voice yelled from above and behind her somewhere. Immediately she heard the soft thud of something as it came flying down the stairs, the smell of garlic following it. Spoke let her go, growling and snarling as he was forced back by the attack.
“You can’t have her.”
Spoke laughed as he stood here, a deep rumbling sound. A moment later Sister Gelina was by Biffy’s side, helping her to her feet.
“I guess I’ve outstayed my welcome,” Spoke said. “Pity. We were just beginning to get to know each other. But thank you, Initiate, for providing the perfect distraction for me to free myself.”
As Spoke bounded past them both, Gelina checked Biffy was unharmed.
“I’m sorry,” Biffy said. “I couldn’t stop him getting away.”
“Don’t be too hard on yourself,” Sister Gelina said. “Spoke is a formidable vampire and you have been up all night. He has many advantages right now.”
Biffy surveyed the wreckage around her, no clue where to begin. The under-croft was a mess, a vacant mess. Were the Marys going to be cross with her?
“Come, let us see if the others are safe,” Gelina encouraged her out of her thoughts.
Giving the elder nun a small smile, Biffy made sure she had her cross and a stake again.
As Gelina and Biffy climbed the stairs to get to the top, the first light of dawn began to brighten the horizon. Morning was coming, and with it victory would be theirs.
No sooner had Biffy thought this when cheering went up around the various balconies, open windows and ramparts of the academy.
The bells began to toll once more, this time a happy sound that heralded their safety and rolled into the dawn chimes. Biffy felt herself relax, the toll of being awake all night suddenly making her limbs feel heavy.
As she stepped into the courtyard, birds singing, Hairwig with them, Biffy found Breanna. She had a small group of nuns with her, all of them carrying stakes.
“Spoke got away,” Biffy said, not hiding the sadness as she told Breanna.
“He was behind everything,” Sister Gelina added, giving Biffy’s shoulder a squeeze. “We have him to blame for all this.”
“We were lucky. Everyone is alive and safe,” Breanna replied. “Boo and I made sure of it.”
“Hoot,” said Hairwig.
“You played an important role too.” Biffy couldn’t help but smile at the owl’s indignance. She wouldn’t have known to rush to Spoke if it hadn’t been for her familiar.
“I think a hot drink and a moment for us all to gather would be wise,” Mother Superior said as she stepped out of a gloomy doorway, making it clear she’d heard enough of the conversation. “I wish to hear all the details. Biffy, Breanna and Gelina, it sounds as if the three of you would be best to fill in the gaps in my understanding. We must examine the circumstances that led to this and ensure there is never a repeat performance. Come.”
Feeling like a naughty school child ordered to the head teacher’s office, Biffy tried to calm her breathing and heart rate as she fell in beside Breanna and followed.
As Hairwig fluttered down onto her shoulder and Boo scurried up onto Breanna’s, she noticed the glance the two familiars gave each other. If Biffy hadn’t passed her task and secured her position as a trainee fighting nun, it wasn’t going to be just her heart that got broken.
Chapter 18
“I think I have heard everything I need to,” Mother Superior replied, nodding to the three nuns before her. Exhausted, Biffy wondered if this meant she could sit down now. It had t
aken the best part of an hour, but Sister Gelina, Breanna and she had talked of everything that had happened in the run up to the night’s events. All three of them stood near the main courtyard, the sun warming their backs and slowly evaporating the dew that covered the nearby grass.
“Go and join the others now. You must all be in need of a drink and breakfast.” Mother Superior walked to the nearest window and looked out. When Biffy took a step in her direction, Breanna reached out a hand and pulled her back.
“Not now, Biffy. We all need time to think now and then.”
“I just wanted...”
“I know. But you’ll be fine. Boo knows you don’t even need his vote.” Breanna smiled and steered her away.
After heading to the dining hall, they found some spare seats by one of the tables and a nun handed them both a big bowl of porridge. It wasn’t Biffy’s idea of a great breakfast, but after the night she’d had she tucked into it happily enough.
All around the room the nuns swapped tales of what had happened, how many vampires and werewolves they’d personally fought, and how grateful they were that Sister Serena would live.
Biffy considered talking about the events she’d been a part of, but she noticed Breanna was uncharacteristically quiet. Instead of her usual chatter, she listened and offered Boo small bites from her spoon.
The rodent ate happily, reminding Biffy to see to Hairwig. She needn’t have bothered. Somewhere, her familiar had found a sausage and now sat on the back of a chair, holding the meat with one talon.
A sudden hush rippled across the room, making Biffy instantly nervous, but Mother Superior had merely stepped back from the window again and closer to the rest of the room. She paused in a small space and looked around the room, waiting for complete silence.
“Sisters, you have had a long and difficult night so I will keep this brief.” She paused and politely coughed. “Although we faced a great peril last night, you all once again did me proud, and I know, if our founder was here, St Maggie, she would not have hesitated to tell you the same.”
There was a smattering of polite applause, one whoop from Breanna, and then Mother Superior carried on talking.