by Helen Harper
Julian rolled his eyes. ‘He wants to be our saviour.’
‘Yeah. He’s got something of a hero complex.’ I glanced at Monroe. ‘But then so do I.’
‘What’s with the stupid white suits?’
I grinned. ‘They’re protecting themselves from our dangerous atmosphere.’
Monroe didn’t appear impressed. ‘Will that work?’
I shrugged. ‘Who knows?’ I paused. ‘There are five bodyguards,’ I said more quietly. ‘The lead one is called Boyce and he’s not exactly friendly. They’re all carrying guns inside their backpacks. I don’t know what else they have with them, or whether it’s for protection or for attack.’
Monroe didn’t look happy. ‘Noted,’ he growled. ‘We heard the gunfire from miles away. Did they try and hurt you?’ His blue eyes had turned a stormy colour and I didn’t need to know him inside out to tell that he was barely holding his fury in check at the idea that any of them had pulled a gun on me.
‘They tried to shoot Lucy when they first saw her. She’s not hurt. Neither am I,’ I added. ‘And I’ve withheld information about the bogles and the Travotel. Let’s keep them contained for now.’
He nodded tightly. ‘Good plan.’ He folded his arms across his chest and I knew he was considering all eventualities. ‘Why did you take them through Cuddles’ territory?’ he finally asked. ‘We normally leave him in peace.’
‘Stress test,’ I answered. ‘I wanted to see how they would react.’
Julian smiled approvingly. ‘And?’
‘The goons will listen to Barrett for now. I suspect that won’t always be the case. They were scared of Cuddles and they’re nervous about what else they might meet in the streets. We can work with that. Fabian Barrett is less apprehensive than the others and he’s also obviously a smart man. If we’re going to get what we need out of this relationship, namely supplies, we need to tread carefully. He has to feel that he’s getting something back too.’ I smiled. ‘He wants to be the hero so let’s allow him some of that. Not too much though, or his supposed bodyguards will take over.’
‘You’ve done well, Charley,’ Julian said.
Monroe frowned, worry still dancing across his expression. ‘Are you sure you’re alright?’
‘I told you.’ I dismissed his concern with a smile. ‘I’m fine.’ I glanced back. ‘I’d better go and retrieve them and bring them round. Oh, he likes to be called Fab.’
‘Fab?’ Monroe’s tone made it clear what he thought of the billionaire’s nickname.
I smirked. ‘Says it all really, doesn’t it?’ I swept a glance over the assembled crowd. ‘Let’s get ready to rock, roll and squeeze every damn thing we can out of Fabian Barrett.’
As I’d anticipated, Fab and his entourage had already started moving again, walking slowly towards our enclave with undisguised tension. He didn’t strike me as the kind of person who would hang around and follow orders from others, even when entering an apocalyptic zone filled with unknown terrors. Neither did his miniature army.
I suppose I should have been pleased that they weren’t merrily skipping towards us without a care in the world. I dreaded to think what might happen if something untoward happened to Britain’s most famous tech billionaire while he was in our city.
A few uneasy thoughts slid through my mind about what the outside world might have been planning for Manchester’s future up until now. Had we been naïve to assume we were going to be left alone? It was impossible to think that anyone would want the entire city bombed into oblivion because of the non-existent threat we posed. It had come up in conversation a couple of times but it had always been dismissed as even a vague theory and I’d never seriously entertained the idea. Then again, I’d never thought that our magic would be described as ‘the Plague’. Perhaps we needed Fabian Barrett’s help more than we realised.
‘Well,’ Julian muttered behind me, ‘at least we know they won’t be running off without us any time soon. In those suits their top speed must be about a mile an hour.’
‘How do you think they pee?’ Cath asked.
Good question. They didn’t seem in any hurry to return beyond the walls to empty their bladders and I knew they didn’t want to roam around at night. Dusk was already closing in and it would be another ten hours before the sun rose. But I didn’t think they’d want to take off their hazmat suits any time soon either.
I squinted at them as they drew closer. I was certain Fab had something up his sleeve. I was intrigued to find out what.
I beamed at the little group. ‘Everyone’s thrilled to meet you,’ I said. ‘There’s already quite a welcoming party.’
Boyce and the others didn’t look as happy as Fab at this information. ‘We only want to talk to the leader,’ Boyce sneered. ‘I assume that’s not you.’
He was right; it wasn’t me. That was through choice, though, and Boyce didn’t need to know that.
I gave him my prettiest, most innocent, butter-wouldn’t-melt, girly smile. ‘I’ll just get him for you,’ I said. I turned round and jerked my chin at Julian. He would do for now. Fortunately, he understood immediately and strode forward.
‘You can leave us now,’ Boyce snapped.
I curtsied and twirled away. I wasn’t sensitive enough to take umbrage at his patronising demeanour. In fact, I far preferred it when I was underestimated. It was easier to win that way.
‘What’s going on?’ Monroe asked, when I returned to his side.
‘They want to talk to our esteemed leader,’ I said with a wink. ‘I thought that offering Julian up would be the best bet.’
‘Do they know he’s a werewolf?’
My grin widened. ‘Probably not.’ I reached up and pressed my lips against his. There was a vaguely unpleasant odour clinging to his skin. ‘What’s that smell?’ I asked, pulling back.
A muscle ticked in his jaw. ‘Guess.’
I wrinkled my forehead. Then I realised. ‘Oh.’ I stepped away. ‘You ought to get yourself cleaned up.’ I clamped my hand over my mouth and tried hard not to laugh.
‘I would have done,’ he said through gritted teeth, ‘if you hadn’t taken it upon yourself to travel to the door on your own and almost get yourself killed in the process.’
‘I wasn’t even close to getting killed.’ I sniffed. ‘But judging by your smell, you were.’
He glared at me. ‘The hell hound had diarrhoea.’
I bit my lip. ‘Did you get hold of the message cylinder?’ I asked, still ridiculously entertained.
Monroe crossed his arms. ‘No. It will probably be days before it shits the damn thing out.’
‘Well,’ I said, tears springing to my eyes with the effort of keeping in my giggles, ‘it’s just as well I went to the door on my own instead of waiting for you.’
He muttered something uncomplimentary under his breath. I coiled my arms round his neck. ‘Don’t worry,’ I whispered. ‘I still love you, no matter how smelly you are.’
Something glinted in his eyes. ‘Just as well,’ he told me. ‘Because you’re smelling distinctly fishy yourself.’
‘Nimue,’ I explained. ‘It’s all her fault.’ The reek of mermaid was preferable to hell-hound excrement. ‘We’ll have to take a shower together later so that we’re both smelling of roses.’
Monroe reached for my waist and pulled me closer. ‘Count on it,’ he breathed.
I leaned into him, enjoying the moment, then I tilted my head to the left, watching Julian as he spoke with Boyce. Fab wasn’t taking part in the conversation; he was watching me instead.
Monroe followed my gaze and I felt his body stiffen. I smiled lightly at Fab and gave Monroe another kiss. ‘For now, I’m going to get Lucy some milk and grab a drink for myself,’ I said.
‘Okay.’ He didn’t let me go.
‘I really am alright, Monroe. I was never in any danger.’
He held me tighter for a brief moment before releasing me. ‘Don’t do it again. Don’t go out there again on your own. I know you�
��re as powerful as any of us, if not more. But…’
I cupped his face. ‘I won’t go out alone,’ I said. ‘I promise.’ I gave him a meaningful look. ‘And go easy on the billionaire. We need him.’
Monroe’s mouth crooked up. ‘Not as much as I need you.’
My heart skipped a beat. Time to get a move on, I decided, before I threw Monroe to the ground and had my wicked way with him right there in front of everyone. I licked my lips. How very tempting.
Chapter Twelve
There were only two people present in the Blood and Bones when I entered: Carter, the ever-present vampire barman, and Julie. The latter, naturally, was sipping on a gin and tonic. The cocktail parasol she’d nabbed from the Travotel was in her glass and you’d have been forgiven for thinking it was her first drink of the day. However, she looked more tired than she had this morning. I wondered when she’d last slept. At least it was late enough that she no longer had to be covered from head to foot with an umbrella on her head. She was wearing a pretty dress but unfortunately she seemed uncomfortable in it and plucked at the fabric as if it were making her itchy.
‘Just how much have you had to drink today?’ I asked, as I hopped onto a barstool next to her.
‘Oh darling, please.’ Julie rolled her eyes. ‘You sound like my old agent. Besides, I’m a vampire. I don’t get affected by alcohol in the same way that you do.’
Considering that she was slurring her words, I reckoned she was very much affected. ‘I’m not going to bite my tongue and pretend I don’t care about you,’ I told her. ‘You’re drinking too much. You didn’t sleep today because you were out with us. Yes, you’re a vampire and the magic makes you more powerful than you were before but you’re overdoing things. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.’
‘That’s exactly what I’ve been telling her,’ Carter said. ‘Not that she’ll listen.’
Julie stifled a yawn. ‘I had some fabulously young blood the other day. I’m still on a high from that. I’ll get some sleep tomorrow.’ She patted my arm. ‘Don’t you worry about me.’
But I did worry. I worried a lot.
‘What would you like to drink, Charley?’ Carter asked.
‘Milk, please.’
He stared at me.
‘For Lucy.’ I took the backpack off my shoulders and gently lifted her out, placing her on the bar. For the first time today, she looked fully awake. I smiled.
With the excitement of Fabian Barrett’s arrival, I reckoned that Lucy’s presence would go unnoticed for a few days beyond my Friday deadline. I’d enjoyed feeling the warmth of her body snug against my back today. I wasn’t in any particular hurry to get rid of her.
Carter stretched out one hand and poked her gently. ‘She’s very soft,’ he said. ‘And pretty cute.’
Lucy burbled happily at him then toddled along the bar until she was next to Julie. She dropped onto the vampire’s lap and immediately started purring.
‘We don’t have any milk though,’ Carter said.
‘I’m sure Bailey’s will do, darling.’
‘We’ve run out.’
Even Julie seemed surprised at that. ‘There’s no more Bailey’s? What? Anywhere?’
He pursed his lips. ‘I’m sure a few people have their own stashes but I don’t have any left here.’ At my look, he gestured helplessly outside. ‘I can’t help it if there are a lot of werewolves out there with strange tastes.’ He leaned in. ‘Wait until they find out we’re out of crème de menthe too.’
I shuddered. Yuck. ‘I’ll wait till I get home and I’ll sort Lucy out then. Got any home-brewed beer for me?’
He smiled. ‘Coming right up.’ He grabbed a clean glass and began to pour.
‘So I guess,’ Julie said, still patting Lucy, ‘that it’s so quiet in here because everyone is out there gawking at Fabian Barrett.’
‘I guess so.’
She took a sip of her drink, narrowly avoiding being poked in the eye by the parasol. ‘I heard you were the one who met him at the door.’ She gave me a sideways glance. ‘What are your first impressions?’
‘He likes the sound of his own voice,’ I admitted, ‘and he clearly enjoys being in charge and giving orders. He seemed honest about his intentions. It’s difficult to get a read on him when he’s hiding behind a hazmat suit but I think he’s an alright guy. I’m not about to make him my new best friend just yet, but I don’t have any reason to dislike him.’
Carter put my beer down in front of me. ‘When was the last time you disliked anyone, Charley?’
‘Last week,’ I shot back. ‘I went into the Blood and Bones for a drink and the barman there rubbed me up the wrong way.’
Carter laughed then reached out and used the base of his palm to rub my arm. ‘Like that?’ he asked.
‘Careful,’ Julie said. ‘If Monroe catches you touching his Charlotte, you’ll be one dead vampire.’
‘As if,’ Carter snorted. He did, however, remove his hand.
I turned to Julie. ‘You said before that you’d met Fabian Barrett at a party. You were going to say something about him then you changed your mind. What was it?’ I asked. ‘What were you about to say?’
She scratched at the fabric of her dress a little more furiously. ‘Oh, that darling. That was nothing. Forget I even mentioned it.’
‘Actually,’ I said, ‘I don’t think I will. You can trust me, Julie. After all we’ve been through, you must know by now that I’m on your side.’
‘There are no sides,’ she told me. ‘And there’s nothing to tell.’
I took a long gulp of my beer, swilling it round my mouth before swallowing. ‘I could ask him.’
Julie’s fingers tightened. ‘Don’t. Fabian Barrett won’t remember me in the slightest and you’ll only embarrass us all by bringing up our meeting. I’m thrilled that he’s here to save us all. Honestly.’
There was no doubt that she was lying through her teeth. That was unusual for Julie; despite her errors in the past, I’d never actually known her to lie. Or to hide from the truth. It didn’t seem wise to push the issue so I’d shelve it for now but I wouldn’t forget it.
‘Very well,’ I murmured.
Carter watched us both from behind the bar, clearly interested in our exchange, but he was good at his job and knew better than to get involved. Instead, he flicked a look at Lucy in Julie’s lap and raised a questioning eyebrow. ‘You’re not planning to keep that thing, are you? She won’t stay cute forever.’
‘I’ll work something out,’ I said with more ease than I felt. ‘Monroe and I made her an orphan. The least we can do is make sure she doesn’t starve to death before she’s able to look after herself.’
‘Mmm.’ Carter rubbed his chin. ‘Yes. Far better to let her grow into the size of a house so she can viciously attack all of us instead.’ He looked at me. ‘Fabian Barrett isn’t the only person around here with a saviour complex.’
I’d have loved to argue with him. Unfortunately, I knew when I was on a losing streak. ‘No-one knows what the future holds,’ I said enigmatically.
‘As long as it involves gin, darling, then who cares?’ Julie tossed back her drink and got to her feet, gently depositing Lucy in my arms. ‘Laters.’ She stumbled over to the door and wandered out.
‘Your friend is in self-destruct mode,’ Carter told me with a sniff.
‘You could ban her,’ I suggested.
‘She’s my best customer. And she’s alright. Not quite the bitch I once thought she was.’
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. ‘Didn’t I see you at one of her Pilates lessons last week?’
‘It’s good to keep the joints moving,’ he said with a smile. ‘I have nothing against flexibility.’
I held Lucy up, gazing into her blinking black eyes. ‘Flexibility is the secret to survival.’
Carter frowned. ‘Are we still talking about yoga?’
The door to the bar opened once more. ‘Are you hiding, Charley?’ Anna asked.
&nb
sp; ‘Just taking a break.’ I grinned. ‘It appears my Manchester-wide city tour services are no longer required. Thank you for getting back here so quickly and letting everyone know what was happening.’
‘Any time.’ She stayed where she was. ‘I wanted to talk to you before I left,’ she said.
‘What is it?’
Anna’s words came out in a rush. ‘Does he seem like a good guy? I trust your judgment. If you think Fabian Barrett is alright, I can tell Mike to relax.’
Carter looked puzzled. ‘Who’s Mike?’
‘Timmons,’ I said.
His jaw dropped open and he stared at Anna. ‘Are you and the faery…?’
‘Yes, we are.’ She straightened her back. ‘Tell me the truth, Charley. Is Fabian Barrett going to help us or distract us?’
Anna Jones, our one and only police officer, didn’t often get flustered but from the high points of colour on her cheeks I knew she was flustered right now. It was a grim testament to how much we were suddenly pinning on Fab’s appearance. Anna didn’t want him to know about the existence of the Travotel because we didn’t know if he could be trusted. However, she also desperately wanted to know if he could help us. Every cupboard in Manchester was starting to look bare.
‘I don’t know yet,’ I answered honestly. ‘He’s used to getting his own way, so we’ll have to manipulate matters to make sure we get our way as well. I’ve got word out that the Travotel isn’t to be mentioned. I think you’re right that we should hold something back, just in case. It’s probably being over-cautious but that never hurt anyone.’ I picked up a beer mat and began to twiddle. ‘I wouldn’t call Fab Barrett the answer to all our prayers – not yet – but if I were a gambling woman…’
Anna’s eyes glinted. ‘Go on.’
I smiled. ‘I’d give us excellent odds on getting what we need. And he’ll go away happy too.’
‘I’m pleased to hear that,’ she said. ‘Because he’s certainly doing some weird shit outside. Or rather his team is.’
Two vampires entered. ‘We’ve got a million empty houses,’ one of them was saying. ‘Why’s he staying in a fucking tent?’