Girl In The Red Coat

by Gemma Owen-Kendall

  ‘Oh yes. I know exactly the one you’re on about. Your Grandad and myself have had some lovely sausage rolls and a coffee or two there a few times. They are a lovely family who run that place.’

  ‘Yes, it was Natalie’s cousin Jenny serving and she wouldn’t let me pay for my lunch.’

  I was thinking about how delicious my lunch was. And, with all the dancing I had done that afternoon, I’d worked up a good appetite to go out for tea. I then became preoccupied with thinking about this date. What to wear? Where was it? I figured that if I wore a nice dress it would suit the occasion and then, hopefully, the place. But what about my hair and makeup! Argh! I never knew going out for dinner would be so complicated! I was keen to get back to Grandma’s and rummage through the clothes I had there. It occurred to me that I could cut out all this stress by just not going. I hadn’t officially said yes to the invitation. And if I did, would Daniel – so possessive, so controlling, according to Natalie – take no for an answer? I began to wish that it was Ben who I was seeing tonight instead. Especially after that kiss... With his soft, warm lips… I so wanted it to happen again, just to feel those lips of his on mine once more.

  ‘Why’ve you got such a big smile on your face? And you’re blushing!’ Grandma’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. She gave me a grin and a wink when I looked at her and I blushed deeper. I felt a motherly warmth from her, one that had really grown in my recent time with her. In the past, she’d asked me about boys but as I didn’t really have any friends and no boyfriend to speak of, I’d just dismissed her questions.

  I wasn’t ready to talk to her about the two guys I was interested in, or about the date just yet. So, instead, I told her about how great the dancing had been and how amazing Natalie was, that I was happy to have made such a great, new friend. I then found myself saying that I was going to meet up with Natalie that night to grab something to eat and hang out. I justified this fib by telling myself that she might be worried if I told her that it was really Daniel I was seeing. I just wasn’t comfortable talking to her about boys... Especially as I was so confused about the whole thing! I certainly couldn’t tell her that I wondered if Daniel – the boy I was going on a date with in such a short amount of time – might have turned into a wolf and attacked this great, new friend. As she spoke about how happy she was for me that I was building this new life for myself at college, I tuned into what the car radio was playing. It was Solo Dance by Martin Jenson, one of my favourites, and one that really gets you in the mood for a Saturday night.

  Autumn was fast approaching, the nights drawing in, and feeling chillier as each day went by. It was already dark by the time I was ready to go and meet Daniel. To calm my nerves, I thought about how I was looking forward to Halloween, my favourite time of the year followed closely by Christmas. I had missed a chunk of September and was determined not to miss any of October. My Grandma loved Halloween too, maybe even more than me! She was known for her very fancy jack-o-lantern creations. My parents had never been fussed about pumpkins and anything scary looking. They were pretty boring, never even getting any treats in for the trick or treaters.

  On the walk to the restaurant I decided to take the pathway again. Even though I’d not been down there since I’d last passed out – or whatever had happened to me – I had fussed about so much, I was afraid of running late and it was a short cut. As soon as I stepped foot on the concrete, a vision of turquoise-blue lights flashed before me, then faded away towards the direction I was heading. I didn’t feel faint or ill at all. For the first time walking along here, I felt safe. I was not afraid of what might happen.

  Even when I began to hear footsteps behind me and could see no one there, I felt ok. Maybe it was just the echo of the heels I was wearing as the steps were in time with my own. I had really gone to town for this meal tonight. I hadn’t worn heels in a while and my flowing, flower-print dress swirled through the air. Before I knew it, I’d reached the end of the path – for the first time! I looked behind me: no one was following me. Breathing a huge sigh of relief, I strutted towards the town centre, along Monks Road. However, my sense of ease was soon disrupted by the flickering of the streetlights; it was not just one of them, it was the whole street. I tried to shake the feeling off and gain back the positive one that I’d had just a moment before.

  Walking past the college, I gazed up the stairway that led to the reception doors and I could have sworn I saw a light glowing. Surely this place was not open on a Saturday evening? Curiosity got the better of me and I felt the need to investigate. I stumbled up the steps, struggling in my heels, and as I reached for the door, the handle moved of its own accord and the door swung open. Against any better judgement, for some reason, I went in. There was a flicker of light towards the main hallway. It appeared to be moving so I followed it.

  ‘Hello? Hello?’ I called out, my voice resounding down the empty hallway.

  The mysterious glowing light led me to the empty gymnasium, where it just vanished. I looked around the room for it when, suddenly, I heard the main door slam shut. Suddenly panicked and angry at myself that I’d been so foolish, I ran and tried to open it. But it would not budge. I sprinted to the next exit, but it was locked. I then sprinted to the female changing room to see if I could escape through there but I could not open the door. There was one last door in the gym, but that too wouldn’t open

  ‘Let me out!’ I screamed at the top of my lungs.

  Backing away to the centre of the room, I slowly turned hoping that if someone crept up on me, I’d see them. Even though I’d not seen anyone so far, it was all I could think to do. I pulled my phone from my bag and glanced down at it. It was dead.

  ‘Shit!’ I cursed to myself.

  I flopped down onto the ground, feeling defeated. My mind span with everything Natalie had told me earlier, about Daniel and Dominic, then I touched my lips as I recalled biting it bloody, then Ben appearing out of nowhere. How it seemed he’d healed me with his kiss. What was it with Ben and Daniel appearing out of nowhere all the time? I had feelings for both of them, even though I didn’t really know or understand either of them. They were just so… mysterious.

  I was jolted out of this thought by an eery, deep laugh coming from a corner of the gymnasium. Maybe it was too dark to see that someone had been there all along?

  ‘Who is it?’ I yelled, trying to sound confident.

  A shadowy silhouette slowly crept out from the dark corner. I couldn’t make out who it was. The laughing continued.

  ‘Who are you?’ I demanded.

  Again, there was no answer from the mysterious character, but whoever it was they were getting closer.

  ‘Please whoever you are, just stop laughing at me!’ I pleaded.

  ‘Oh Grace, don’t you recognise me?’

  That voice. Could it be him? I struggled to respond but the words wouldn’t come. He clicked his fingers and that strange, light sparked up again, revealing who my tormentor was. It was Daniel. The look on his face was not the usual welcoming charm he threw my way. His eyes were dark, almost black, as though he had no soul. His hair colour matched them, silky and thick. He wore a leather jacket, leather trousers and combat boots. This was not the Daniel I had seen earlier today; he was evil looking.

  ‘What do you want from me?’ I managed to murmur; I was really scared.

  ‘For you to become the spellcaster that you are destined to be.’ He whispered, but somehow it was as if his voice was all around me.

  I had seen that word before. ‘Spellcaster’. It had been in my ancestor’s journal. The story of Florence, how she believed she was a ‘spellcaster’. There was no way that werewolves and spellcasters existed. It was just not possible. Was it?

  I found it hard to even look at Daniel and so I turned away. It was all too much. Then, I felt a painful grip of my right arm as I was dragged onto my feet.

  ‘Look at me, Spellcaster.’ His voice was now loud, echoing, and his words seemed to burn through my skin. His grip ti
ghtened on every second that I did not acknowledge him.

  ‘I need you to be mine,’ He barked at me.

  With that I felt drawn to him, unable to control my actions. I placed my hands on his mouth, touching his lips, longing to feel them against mine. All thoughts of Ben were washed out from me as I gazed further into Daniel’s darkened eyes.

  ‘That’s it, Grace, come to me. I can make you feel loved.’ His words were soft and soothing, compared to how he’d just been talking to me. I couldn’t move anymore, as though my body was frozen. It was just like how I’d felt in my dream on the side of the snowy mountains. Daniel tore off my red coat and threw it to the floor. I felt as though I should want to cry or scream, but the tears would not pour out. I was locked into this trance.

  Chapter 11.

  A n earth-shattering boom ruptured this hypnotic reverie; the doorway to the gym had blasted open and in stepped Natalie and Dominic.

  As Daniel’s focus skipped from me to them, I was released from the trance.

  They were dressed in camouflage and equipped with weapons. Natalie had come loaded with a bow and arrow; Dominic had twin blades strapped on either side of his legs. I hadn’t noticed before how muscular his legs were.

  ‘Grace, are you ok?’ Natalie yelled over to me, I gave her a weak wave. She lined up her arrow, ready to fire it at Daniel. Dominic released one of his long knife blades from its strap in preparation.

  ‘Get away from her, wolf.’ Dominic commanded. He held up his blade, the handle in both hands. ‘You screwed over Natalie, I will not let you do the same to Grace.’

  ‘You traitors!’ Daniel’s fingernails exploded into claws, he leapt over to Dominic, but he dodged out of his way. His claws slashed at him, but was blocked by the blade. The fight continued; they were so equally matched.

  Natalie ran to me as I gathered what was left of my red coat and tears fell down my face.

  ‘Did he hurt you?’ she asked, tenderly.

  I shook my head. I was in shock. Daniel was a werewolf. Florence’s journal was all true. But, why did he call me a spellcaster? I knew nothing about using magic.

  ‘How did you know where to find me?’

  ‘We followed you. When you said he’d asked you to meet him, I had a feeling it was a trap.’

  ‘Who are you guys?’

  ‘We are wolf hunters, sworn to protect spellcasters and the humans from these beasts.’

  ‘But I am not a spellcaster. I’ve never cast a spell!’

  ‘Your time will come, Grace. But, right now I need to get you away from Daniel before he causes you any more harm. He’s been hurting you since the day you met.’

  Those words struck me like a lightning bolt. All those times I’d suddenly fallen ill…

  ‘I know it’s confusing,’ she soothed, ‘and that it’s hard to wrap your head around at first. Some werewolves have their own magical abilities. Daniel has the power to make you feel drawn to him, but he can also drain your life force. Worst of all, his kiss can kill you, if he wanted it to.’

  Before she could say anymore, Dominic flew into us. Daniel had used him as a weapon to stop us getting away! I landed hard on the floor and banged the back of my head. I could see that Dominic had taken a real beating. Natalie flipped herself up and shot an arrow straight into Daniel’s left shoulder. He let out a loud roar, grabbed the arrow and pulled it straight out of his shoulder. Blood splattered across the floor.

  ‘You bitch, that hurt.’ Daniel cursed at Natalie.

  ‘What do you expect? I have laced it with silver,’ she grinned at him.

  I tried to lift my head up off the ground. But when I did, a shooting pain hit the area where I’d landed. I reached my left hand to the back of my head and felt a warm sticky substance: blood, my blood. I had cracked the back of my head open.

  Daniel had dodged more arrows and was charging at Natalie. In defence, she threw punches and kicks, but he managed to grab her and slung her across the gymnasium. Dominic was tossed right after her.

  Daniel knelt beside me and stroked my cheek.

  ‘Just lay still, Grace. I will try not to be so rough with you.’ He pinned me down. My head was pounding too much for me to move. Suddenly, there was a shattering of glass and the shards rained over us.

  Another grim figure had jumped through a window.

  ‘Get your ugly self off of her.’

  Daniel let out another roar and ran at the intruder.

  It was Ben.

  His hair and eyes had turned a bright white and he lit up the room. Fists clenched at the ready, he waited for Daniel to approach him. Natalie and Dominic got to their feet and stood back up, watching the fight. Dominic had both of his blades ready and Natalie had another arrow lined up. Ben had managed to get Daniel onto the ground and placed his knee on Daniel’s throat.

  ‘Stay away from Grace, or next time, I will have to kill you,’ Ben hissed at Daniel.

  To Grace’s surprise, Daniel appeared to admit defeat.

  As he turned to look at me, his expression switched from glare to caring and he ran to me.

  ‘Grace, I am so sorry I didn’t get here in time. Hold still for a moment.’

  He placed his hand over my wound and healed me. Natalie ran over to us and smiled then looked at Ben.

  ‘I should kill you for being late to the action,’ Natalie grinned at Ben, ‘but you have helped my friend, so all is forgiven.’

  ‘I am sorry Natalie, but I’m here now, and I will not let any more harm come to Grace.’

  As I stood, I gazed at Ben. He looked beautiful with his white hair. This thought was shattered by the sight of Daniel, back on his feet and charging towards us. Dominic leapt and took the brunt of the force. He dropped his blades, Daniel grabbed hold of one and stuck it straight through Dominic’s chest. Blood splattered everywhere; poor Dominic coughed up a load of blood and collapsed to the ground. Natalie screamed and ran over to him; Ben charged at Daniel.

  I was horrified at witnessing Daniel harm someone like this. I clenched my fists tightly and something happened to me; it was like a power surge took hold of my body. My fists lit up and I charged at Daniel shooting some kind of fireball at him. I looked down at my hands not understanding what had just come over me. Ben stepped back, looking surprised. Daniel staggered away and left the building, leaving behind traces of his blood from his own injuries. I ran over to Natalie, she was trying to hold pressure onto Dominic’s chest as well as screaming and crying out to Ben, ‘Heal him!’

  Ben tried, placing his hand over Dominic, but it wouldn’t work. He had used up too much of his energy healing me first.

  Ben collapsed.

  I tried to see if I could use my powers again, but nothing would work. I looked over at Natalie, let the tears fall and mouthed ‘I’m so sorry.’

  She cradled his lifeless body.

  ‘I love you,’ she whispered and kissed him. ‘Thank you for everything you have done for me.’

  In the distance the sound of sirens could be heard, the college did have CCTV so the police must have been alerted about a potential break in. I helped Ben get on his feet.

  ‘Go!’ said Natalie. ‘I’m staying. I won’t leave him. I’ll make up something to tell the police, just go.’ Ben grabbed my hand and we ran.

  Chapter 12.

  T he events from the night had exhausted me. I had escaped with Ben to his place and cried on his bed for hours. Not just for what happened to Dominic, but also what Daniel had done to me. I could have been enslaved by him if Natalie hadn’t got to me in time. Ben took off his t-shirt. He was suffering from his injuries but through my tears I glanced at his toned torso. I had never seen a guy up close like this before. He handed me a tissue so I could dry my eyes.

  ‘Thank you for helping me tonight,’ I spoke to him softly.

  ‘I was never not going to help you,’ he smiled, softly. Then the smile was gone. ‘I wish I could’ve saved Dominic too.’

  He clenched his fists. I reached my hand out to hi
m.

  ‘You tried, the main thing is that you tried.’

  He took my hand as he sat next to me on the bed.

  ‘Grace, I probably should let you know this…’

  ‘Shush.’ I placed my fingers to his lips; they were so soft and warm. I leaned towards him. What started as just a peck turned into a passionate kiss. No one had ever kissed me like this before, it was so nice. He laid me down on the bed and climbed on top of me, still kissing me passionately. As much as I was loving this moment, I wasn’t ready to go further yet. I gently broke up the kiss.

  ‘Sorry Ben, I am just not ready...’

  He smiled at me and stroked my hair, then he scooped me up in his arms and we laid like that for a while.

  As much as I didn’t want to move, I had to get back to my Grandma’s before it got too late. She knew I’d gone out with friends, but she would not appreciate me being late back. Ben ensured he would walk me there, so that no harm would come to me. I too was worried Daniel would probably be waiting for me. Whatever feelings I had for him were now gone. I could not forgive him for what he did to me tonight. I could never forgive him for killing Dominic.

  ‘So, now you know,’ Ben looked at me out the corner of his eye as we walked home. ‘I’m a werewolf.’ Then he looked squarely at me. ‘But you have to know I’m not like Daniel. I’m a protector. My life is dedicated to you and your safety. I was the one who healed you each time you got sick.’

  ‘I’ve read about werewolves and spellcasters in my ancestor’s journal but I thought it was a story she’d made up.’

  ‘You should talk to your Gran about the journal. She’s probably been expecting you to ask her about it.’