‘Now we’ve all re-entered civilisation, there’s something we need to discuss.’
‘Raphael?’ Lorenzo sat up straight, fingers curled around the armrests of his seat. Ava looked at him, searching for the vulnerability his voice just betrayed. Nothing from those fox-like features but smouldering intensity.
‘No, I meant we need to watch out for Theo.’
Menelaus extracted a pen from a pot on his desk, twirling it around his fingers. God, his hands were so…hewn. Ava glanced away. ‘Actually, I need to find Raphael too,’ he said. ‘Some information has come to light. Seems like our boy has a long history with the Clemensens. I can’t be sure but it’s possible his presence might be dangerous for Theo.’
Lorenzo scoffed. ‘That kid couldn’t hurt a fly. Worst he can do is turn into the wind.’
‘Unless he decides that Hellingstead could do with a tornado.’
‘Point taken.’
Ava interjected. ‘And the item I asked you to get, Menelaus, did you find it?’ She nodded at the pile of disordered books piled up behind him.
He clicked his pen seven times and cleared his throat before answering. ‘Dead end, I’m afraid. Talk about it later.’ So the Cyranides wasn’t hiding between Sartre and Shakespeare then.
‘What are you two up to?’ asked Lorenzo.
‘Remember what I said about not justifying myself?’
Lorenzo shrugged. ‘Whatever, it’s not my problem. So…’ he said, flicking his grey stare to Menelaus, an eerie habit that gave no sense of transition, ‘…you want Raphael. Give me something he’s touched and I’ll find him.’
‘And feed on him?’ Ava assumed it was his only motive.
‘Don’t worry, Ava,’ said Menelaus, ‘Raphael has a way of escaping situations he’s not comfortable with.’ He stood up – seated, it was easy to forget the sheer length of his legs, if not the breadth of his upper body – and walked over to the uprooted bamboo plant, prodding at it like it was a dead body. ‘That was a gift.’
‘You’re the one who smashed it,’ Lorenzo snorted. ‘It’s just a plant.’
‘Patience, little ward.’ He smiled, almost friendly, at Lorenzo, who touched that silver pendant, causing the bow and arrow to vanish from sight. Ava stepped back; magic wasn’t something you could just instantly accept. ‘Raphael came to my office the other day. He hid behind this. I’m sure he touched the leaves.’
Lorenzo fell into a crouch and released his fangs, dainty points really, no more than an inch long. His face slackened and his eyes widened, a bloody sunrise dawning in his grey eyes. Menelaus retreated, slow and calm as if he were dealing with a feral animal. Lorenzo snarled as the professor joined Ava, now in the corner. She felt suddenly glad that the window was unlocked, not that she wanted to jump. ‘Don’t come near me until I’m done,’ he rasped.
Ava nodded and slid her arm behind Menelaus. Despite the ceiling fan, he radiated heat. He kept his attention locked on Lorenzo, focusing just behind him as he combed through the slender leaves, sniffing each one. Don’t go for his bow, don’t go for his bow. To Ava, Lorenzo was more wolf-like than supernatural, and just as liable to react instinctively to a threat. She hesitated, then hooked her little finger with Menelaus’s, hoping to anchor him to the spot.
It worked – made him shiver, but stopped him trying something stupid. Touching him, she could feel the waves of thoughts rolling off him, though she could only get the gist. He hates not being in control. He hates knowing Lorenzo could kill him at any moment.
Couldn’t blame him there. He likes me touching him. It felt like eternity, waiting for Lorenzo to finish dissecting the bamboo carcass, praying that Theo wouldn’t arrive in a puff of smoke and catch her – how did it happen? – holding Menelaus’s hand. He must have closed his fingers round her palm while she’d been thinking. She pulled her hand away, and felt a sharp rectangular object pinching the skin. He’s slipped me a note, why? She hid it in her waist-length denim jacket as her dress had no pockets.
A series of snaps. Lorenzo had broken several twigs from a bamboo cane and brushed them over his lips. ‘Ahhhh…there you are, lush little bird.’ He clamped his mouth shut. His fangs were bigger than she’d initially realised, short but tusk-like with a slight curve that made his upper lip seem bumpy. She avoided looking at Lorenzo as he stalked past them and opened the window, catching the tail end of a breeze.
He lifted his head. The wind brushed over his hair and he flared his long nose, a sly grin replaced by a purr. He threw a glance at Ava. His eyes were deep red now. ‘Got you, wind-dancer. Tell Theo I’ll be back late.’
Menelaus surged forward but it was too late; Lorenzo had gone.
‘Gone with the wind. Guess that’s appropriate for a literature student?’
‘It’s not funny, Ava. I need him to bring Raphael back.’
She smiled. ‘Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.’
He folded his arms, those forearms bulging. She cleared her throat. ‘What? I like a tragic romance as much as the next masochist. What’s in the note?’
Menelaus grimaced. ‘In case Lorenzo didn’t leave. Guess it’s redundant now.’
‘What’s going on; where’s the Cyranides?’
‘You recall telling me about your…intuitions? That sometimes things just seem wrong? My gut is flashing red warning beams right now.’ Menelaus kicked at the plant and muttered, clicking that bloody pen again. Ava moseyed over and plucked it out of his hand. Seeing the office like this reminded her of their first argument here. Were rows at work so commonplace for him?
‘So, you won’t even try.’
‘It’s not that simple.’
Ava started for the door. ‘Forget it. I’ll find it on my own.’
He blocked her path, pushing her back to his desk. She wrenched her arms free, glaring at him. ‘Don’t you dare—’
‘I tried to get it, Ava. Now someone has gone missing.’
‘Really?’
‘Maybe not technically, but something stinks about this. I shouldn’t even be telling you.’
Ava studied him; his hair looked damp, greasy even, as if he hadn’t showered. His tie was skewed to one side, and his usually neat beard was looking rough too. Maybe Menelaus was paranoid or exaggerating but that wasn’t equivalent to being wrong. Who was she to doubt intuition? ‘Fine. What can you tell me?’
‘His name is Guillaume Roy. He works in the Praetoriani’s archives. He did me a favour and ordered the book in his name. Then he got summoned to Head Office. I’ve rung him a million times. Nada. He has a wife and two kids.’
‘Can you phone her? Maybe he’s gone home.’
Menelaus paled. ‘That’s the thing, Ava. I tried this morning. Their phone line has been disconnected. I drove past on the way here. All the curtains were drawn. And…’ His voice dropped into a whisper, ‘There was a For Sale sign outside. In two days. Two days! They have twins!’
‘Perhaps he was offered a job?’ Ava had no faith in her words. ‘Not likely, is it?’
Menelaus shook his head. ‘I’m afraid if I ask anyone up high what happened, they’ll remove me too. I need your help.’
‘What can I do? I’m not even meant to know the Praetoriani exists.’
‘Come with me to Guillaume’s house. Help me figure out what’s happened to them.’ As an afterthought he added, ‘I can’t guarantee your safety.’
‘Wonderful.’
‘But I don’t think you’re a delicate little flower either, despite the dresses you wear.’
‘Tell that to Theo.’
Menelaus straightened. ‘Theo’s still a kid. He has no experience. He thinks you’re a girl. I know you’re a woman. So I’m asking, are you serious about finding the amulet?’
‘Yes.’
‘Good. Because if I’m right, there’s powerful people who don’t want you to find it.’
7
House Hunting
‘If we’re buying a house together,’ said Ava, ‘I prefer the Hamst
one cottages in the old town.’
Menelaus steered his 4x4 into a free space near the opening of the cul-de-sac, pointing the car out onto the intersecting road in case they required a quick getaway. ‘I recall you already live in one. I didn’t fit.’ He slipped out, striding round to the passenger door. She’d already clicked it shut behind her.
‘You’re a gentleman, I get it. But there’s no point mollycoddling me now.’ She looked around the street, with its quasi-modern houses that tried to hint at Hellingstead’s medieval past with their sandy-coloured brick façades. ‘Which one is it?’
‘Number fifteen.’ He pointed to the For Sale sign halfway down the pavement and glanced at his watch. ‘The agent should be there already.’
Ava nodded and crossed her arms. ‘Let’s get this over with.’ She walked fast enough to rival his long stride but hung back when they reached the gate. ‘We should probably act like a couple.’ She stuck out her elbow and stared ahead at the front door, face resolute.
Menelaus took it. She’s scared, he thought. I’m not feeling great about this either. During the drive from the university, he’d scoured his mirrors in case they were being followed – by anyone. Theo’s ability to appear at irritating moments worried him, and he felt stupid for visiting Guillaume’s home, for the third time now. What if he’d been spotted? God, I hope I’m wrong. I hope he’s sitting on a sandy beach in Hawaii, drinking cocktails with his wife. He led Ava up the path and knocked on the door.
The estate agent immediately answered, a brunette dressed in a pink power-suit. ‘Mark and Alice?’
Ava beamed. ‘That’s us!’ Menelaus started at her enthusiasm. Any sign of nerves had dissipated behind the face of a performer – she was used to the stage, after all.
‘Fantastic, come in. This property ticks all of your boxes. The owners are super-keen to sell so it’s a great price for the area.’
Menelaus opened his mouth but Ava had anticipated him. ‘Oh? Why are they so keen to sell? Is there something wrong with it? Bad neighbours?’
‘No, nothing like that. I haven’t spoken to them directly but I’m told they have to relocate quickly for a job opportunity abroad.’ They followed the agent around, not listening to a word she said. Menelaus scanned the lounge, trying to remember what it had been like on his last visit, at Guillaume and Sarah’s wedding reception. He sniffed the air. Fresh paint. And he didn’t recognise the sofa, or any of the faces in the few picture frames. He started asking random questions to distract the estate agent while Ava walked around, pausing to touch the few items of furniture that had been left, or maybe replaced.
‘And the local schools? What are they like? We’re keen to have kids.’
Ava raised her eyebrows at him from behind the sofa. It was half true. After being adopted, the idea of a family biologically related to him had its appeal.
‘There are two primary schools in the catchment area, one walking distance away…’ What was Ava doing? She was crouched down by the fireplace. It hadn’t been cleaned out by the looks of it.
He peered over the agent’s head, pretending to examine the ceiling. ‘Is that a damp patch?’
‘No,’ she said, turning her back on Ava, ‘I think that’s just been repainted. Might be a little wet still.’ She swivelled back to Menelaus just as Ava pulled something from the grate. ‘Do you want to see upstairs?’
‘Definitely.’
The bedrooms were just as stark. No sign that forty-eight hours ago twin girls inhabited this house. No sign that anyone had ever lived here. Just a blank canvas.
‘…asking price is very good for the area. £150,000…’
Ava slumped against the wall. Menelaus grabbed hold of her arm. ‘Alice? Do you need to sit down?’
‘I’m fine,’ Ava said. ‘I think I’m not over that bug after all, Mark. Maybe we should go.’
Mark. He’d wondered if this was an act or if she’d really sensed something. ‘I better take my fiancé home. We’ll call you if we decide to proceed.’ Ava sunk into his chest as he walked her downstairs and out of the front door, the agent on their tail.
‘Okay, but I have other viewings. I don’t think a gem like this will stay on the market for long.’
Menelaus whipped out his keys and unlocked his car from down the street. ‘Thanks. We’ll take our chances.’ He didn’t look back as he herded Ava to the passenger side. This time she let him open the door for her, if only for appearance’s sake.
‘Are you really okay?’ He ran the engine the second he slid into his seat.
‘I think I found something.’ She handed him a charred triangle of paper. ‘It’s pretty burnt up but I think it’s a photograph.’
Menelaus examined it over the steering wheel while waiting to turn out of the road. He gave it back to her. ‘Can’t make out much but that’s a colonnade in the corner, see?’
‘I guess.’
‘And there’s some faces below it.’
‘Do you recognise it?’
Menelaus swallowed. ‘It looks like one of our official staff photos.’ He drove south towards Oakley Park but traffic lights hindered their progress as a dark cloud pushed in from the coast. ‘Sapiens – regular humans – they think the Praetoriani HQ is a government department. It has a fake website and everything. Every now and then our superiors herd us lackeys outside for a quick snap. Something to show our sapien friends, allay suspicions, that sort of thing.’
‘So why burn it?’
As they started moving, Menelaus tapped on his wipers. ‘That’s a good question.’ If Guillaume just received his dream promotion, he’d be singing the Praetoriani’s praises, right? ‘Where does this rain come from?’ He slowed the car to a crawl, navigating the smaller roads that circled Oakley Park.
Ava sighed. ‘Would be nice to have a decent summer. Look, I’ll keep the photo. Maybe I’ll strike lucky and vibe something.’
‘And you’ll contact me right away if anything happens? Promise?’
Ava’s thumb rested on her seat-belt clip as Menelaus pulled up near her cottage. Her mum’s car was on the drive. He wouldn’t be invited in, then. Would be so much simpler if we really were Mark and Alice.
‘Look, Menelaus…’
That wasn’t a good start to a promise.
‘…I will call if I must, but I think it’s best we don’t see each other.’
‘Right, Theo. We can be friends though, can’t we?’
‘I hardly know you.’
Ouch.
‘And what, you’ve known Theo for—’
‘Years. I just didn’t remember. It’s a long story.’
‘There’s more than one story to tell.’
Ava sighed and unclipped her belt. ‘And none of them end with Isobel surviving that fall.’ She slammed the door before he could reply, and walked away, rainbow hair dulled by the rain.
Of course, it always came down to consequences. His life had paused the moment Isobel’s had ended. A decade later he still had no serious relationship, no promotion with the Praetoriani, and no powers. He’d thought Ava might restart things but he’d blown that even before they’d met. And recently, the idea of more responsibility seemed ridiculous when he was still hungover with Clemensen drama. That leaves my powers, he thought. If I want things to change I need my invisibility back. Then I can keep an eye on Theo and Lorenzo without being detected. He stared at Ava’s bright pink cottage. Let’s hope Alice can handle Wonderland.
8
First Time
At last. Ava had called me back. I rushed around the attic, rearranging the few items of furniture I’d pinched from around the vicarage. I didn’t ask anyone’s permission – perks of being a coven leader.
That, and the candles. I picked out the reds, purples, and yellows to match Ava’s rainbow hair and set the candles up on stands throughout the room, lighting them with a single sharp flick of my hand. I’d even found an old record deck and an amp in the dilapidated shed in the garden, and I’d sent Arabella out to a m
usic shop in the old town to pick up a vinyl or two – including Ava’s album. Waiting to hear from Ava had at least given me the opportunity to plan a romantic evening together.
If she was interested.
I waited outside the vicarage and met her walking up the sweeping drive. Penny had left after dinner with Malachi and Michele – to do Jörð knows what – and I’d warned everyone else to stay out of sight. ‘Hi,’ I called.
‘Hi.’ She stopped a foot away from me, arms folded. I couldn’t tell if she was still angry, or worried about something else. I stood aside to let her in.
‘Are we alone?’
‘Pretty much,’ I said. ‘My room is in the attic.’
‘Where you married Penny?’
‘It’s not like that. Just come upstairs and have a drink with me.’
Retractable stairs provided access to the attic from the first floor where Lorenzo and Malachi had their bedrooms. Michele had ousted quiet Maria from the room next to Penny, and the remaining two rooms, one originally a study, were divided between another six coven members. The others slept in the basement. ‘Ladies first,’ I said.
Ava climbed up, and with my attention fixed to the ruffled edge of her summer dress, I followed behind.
Her fingers danced against her hip as if she was counting up the changes I’d made to the attic since that night. ‘I hope you like red,’ I said, trying to distract her from those memories, ‘but I can summon anything you like.’
‘What about…’ She faced me. ‘Yes, a rum and coconut cocktail fresh from a Caribbean island?’
I closed my eyes, mentally swatting away a vision of Ava in a bikini and a sunhat. A rumble built in my chest and a clang like cymbals crashing exploded in the air. Tropical scents jarred against the cold tang of the attic, evaporating with the cloud of smoke that had just appeared.
‘I was joking!’
I stared at the long glass in my hand, sugar around the rim, tiny umbrella skewed on the side. ‘Your wish is my command.’
The Descendants of Thor Trilogy Boxset: Forged in Blood and Lightning; Norns of Fate; Wrath of Aten Page 37