Martin Millar - Lonely Werewolf Girl (57 page)

"She looks all right," conceded Daniel, grudgingly. Thrix and
Malveria were in the attic, storing dresses, and while Daniel liked the
Fire Queen, he hadn't yet warmed to the Enchantress.

Daniel, Vex and Kalix were sitting on the couch, immersed in
the new cable TV. They had some wine, bought after much scrambling
around in pockets and under the couch, looking for loose change. The
shopkeeper had not been hugely impressed by several pounds worth of
pennies.

"Isn't Thrix fabulously beautiful?" repeated Vex, turning to
Kalix.

Kalix grunted. Daniel looked at her.

"What's wrong? It's the big TV inauguration night. You should
be cheerful."

Kalix wasn't cheerful, and not just because she didn't know
what inauguration meant. Outside, for a second, she'd thought she
sensed Gawain. Then it was gone and she knew she'd imagined it. It was
enough to depress her.

"She's thinking about Gawain," said Vex, who never realised
that there were some topics best left alone. "Haven't you noticed how
every time she thinks about Gawain she goes weird?"

Daniel didn't reply, knowing that Kalix wouldn't want to
discuss it.

"Of course," added Vex. "Kalix goes weird for plenty other
reasons as well."

"Be quiet you stupid Hiyasta," said Kalix.

"It's okay, you can't help being weird," continued Vex,
brightly. "You should see some of the people where I come from. Three
eyes, extra limbs, flames belching everywhere, you name it. Compared to
them you're normal. Well, maybe you're more depressed. So what's on
next?"

Vex grabbed the TV guide from Daniel, part of an ongoing
struggle.

"Who's paying for this cable?" demanded Daniel, fighting to
regain the guide.

"Moonglow's mother," said Vex, securing victory and opening it
up. "So, more Voyager? Or cartoons or the late night sex show?"

Vex turned to Kalix.

"Any preferences?"

Kalix shook her head. Vex was dissatisfied.

"When I got you this cable TV with my superb cunning plan I
wasn't expecting you to sit here being gloomy about it. Lighten up. So
your boyfriend got banished and you'll never see him again. At least
you can watch Sabrina every day."

Kalix abruptly burst into tears and ran out of the room. The
young Hiyasta was mystified.

"What? I didn't say anything."

"What has my appalling niece been doing now?" demanded
Malve-ria, appearing in the room with Thrix.

"Upsetting Kalix."

"It's not true," said Vex, defensively. "She's just being
weird about Gawain again. She thought she sensed him outside."

"Did she?" said Thrix, sharply. "That's impossible."

"That's what I tried to tell her but you know Kalix, always
lost in some fantasy. Hey, could we get a space ship like Star Trek
Enterprise?"

Malveria was interested in the new cable service.

"Is there more fashion?"

"Who needs fashion?" said Daniel, dismissively.

"Ah," said Malveria, sliding onto the couch beside him. "I'm
sensing Daniel is not truly in a good mood, despite the excellent new
TV. What is the matter?"

Malveria pressed herself against Daniel, making him
uncomfortable.

"Is it sadness over Moonglow?"

"Malveria will you please stop tormenting him," said Thrix.
"Your interest in all this is very unhealthy."

Thrix suddenly looked concerned.

"Where's Moonglow? She hasn't gone to see Markus has she?
Doesn't she realise how dangerous it is?"

"She can't keep away," said Daniel, bitterly.

Moonglow hadn't told Daniel that she was going to meet Markus
but Daniel knew she had.

"What does she see in him?" he cried, exploding suddenly. "I
just don't understand it."

"You don't?" said Vex. "It's obvious."

"Why is it obvious?"

"Well he looks all romantic, and he's pretty and sensitive and
vulnerable. All very attractive, naturally. But he's also a werewolf,
so he's really tough as well. He could protect Moonglow from anything.
I mean, pretty and sensitive and tough as well? He's the ideal
boyfriend. You can't compete with that."

"Thank you," said Daniel, and felt crushed.

"You shouldn't be depressed," said Vex. "It's not your fault
Moonglow is insanely happy now she's with Markus."

"Is Moonglow with Markus?"

Kalix had arrived in the room and heard the end of the
conversation. She was astonished.

"Didn't you know that?" said Vex.

"Moonglow's with Markus?"

Kalix was distressed. The last time she'd seen Markus he was
throwing her around an alleyway. She quickly left the room again.

"A word in private, niece," said Malveria, and dragged Vex
into the kitchen.

"Am I in trouble? It's not my fault if Kalix keeps breaking
down in tears. I got her cable TV, what more does she want?"

"That is not my immediate concern," replied Malveria. "Why are
you attempting to destroy Daniel's confidence? I wish Daniel to be
attractive, not some crushed and broken spirit whom no one could love."

"Well I'm confused," said Vex. "I don't know what you want me
to do with him."

"Make him into a happy confident person Moonglow might be
attracted to."

Vex shrugged.

"I'll do my best."

156

Gregor was hunting for Kalix. As soon as he emerged from the
tube station at Kennington he sensed that werewolves had been here
recently. This unfashionable part of town was quickly becoming a
popular haunt for his kind. After prowling the streets for less than
thirty minutes, he scented another werewolf nearby. Knowing that
Sarapen's wolves were hunting in the same area, he advanced carefully.
Far more carefully than Gawain, who appeared round a corner and almost
crashed into him. They drew back, each recognising the other.

"Gawain MacRinnalch."

"Gregor MacRinnalch," responded Gawain suspiciously, knowing
Gregor to be Markus's lieutenant.

Gawain was holding his arm and appeared to be in distress.

"Hunters?" asked Gregor.

Gawain nodded. Gregor was puzzled. Gawain had the slightest of
scratches on his arm yet he seemed to be in great pain.

"What's wrong?"

"Begravar knife," said Gawain, surprising Gregor. But he'd
heard that Sarapen had stolen the knife from the castle. He looked
round anxiously in case Sarapen was approaching. Gawain leaned against
the wall. His arm was numb to the shoulder. Gregor was about to lead
him to safety when a car pulled up alongside them.

"It's a popular place for werewolves these days," said a
familiar voice. "Soon we'll be a tourist attraction."

It was Thrix, making her way home from Kalix's house.

The three werewolves, all in human form, only occupants of the
dark street, regarded each other.

"Gregor MacRinnalch," said Thrix. "Doing Markus's work, no
doubt."

She turned her head towards Gawain, and was immediately
concerned because she could sense that his wound came from a Begravar
knife. She told Gawain to get in the car.

"I need to speak a spell over that wound. If I don't it will
kill you."

Gawain didn't protest. Already the numbness was spreading into
his chest. Thrix asked Gregor if he wanted to be taken from the area.
Gregor shook his head. There was much here that he could learn, and
report to Markus or Verasa. He watched as Thrix and Gawain drove away.
Gregor guessed that Thrix might have come from wherever Kalix lived so
he started walking in that direction. He hadn't gone far when a slight
breeze brought a scent to his nostrils that sent him diving into a
garden for cover. Sarapen. Thrix was right, Kennington was becoming a
popular destination for werewolves. Gregor wondered what the slumbering
inhabitants of the terraces and tenements might say if they knew that
Scottish werewolves were carrying on their feud in the night-time
streets outside.

Gregor took out his phone and quickly composed a text message.
Kennington. Met Gawain and Thrix. Sarapen near
. He
sent the message to Markus. Though Markus probably wouldn't read it
till the next day it was as well to let him know what had happened in
case he didn't return. He retreated, creeping through a garden, and
climbing the wall. On the other side of the wall Sarapen was waiting.
The instant Gregor caught sight of him he transformed into his werewolf
shape. Sarapen remained as human, six inches taller and far broader
than Gregor.

"Gregor MacRinnalch. What brings you here, I wonder?"

Gregor remained silent and tried not to show he was nervous.

"Looking for Kalix, no doubt."

Suddenly Sarapen transformed and as he did so he reached out a
great claw, grasping Gregor by the throat. The smaller werewolf
couldn't break free. Sarapen drew him close, and stared into his eyes.

"You don't know where she is, do you? You haven't found her."

Gregor shook his head. Sarapen drew him closer so that their
snouts almost touched.

"But you know where Markus is, don't you?"

Gregor remained silent. Though he was facing death he wasn't
about to betray Markus. Sarapen opened his jaws as if about to bite,
then closed them just as quickly. Abruptly he let Gregor go.

"You know your master is skulking, hiding from me? Does that
make you proud to serve him?"

"Markus MacRinnalch does not hide from anyone," declared
Gregor, loyally.

Sarapen almost smiled.

"Well give him a message. Tell him I remain in my mansion. I'm
not hiding. If he wishes to confront me he knows what to do."

"I'll take your message," replied Gregor.

"I admire a loyal wolf," said Sarapen. "When I'm Thane and
Markus is dead, you can work for me."

With that Sarapen turned and walked away. Frustrated by the
failures of the Douglas-MacPhees, he had come to conduct the search,
and had no more time to waste on his brother's underlings. Gregor went
swiftly in the opposite direction, hurrying through the side streets. A
few flakes of snow drifted down from the dark grey sky. Suddenly he
felt confused. He seemed to have lost his bearings. Was this the street
he'd been in before? Puzzled, Gregor turned the corner. A man stood
facing him. Gregor wondered why he hadn't sensed him. He was still
wondering when the man plunged a knife into his chest. Gregor collapsed
to the ground.

Mikulanec looked down at Gregor. He counted it is as
reasonably successful night. The first werewolf had been unusually
resourceful, making an escape even though Mikulanec had touched him
with the Begravar knife. He'd probably die from the wound anyway. And
this werewolf wasn't about to escape. Mikulanec watched as Gregor
transformed back into his human form, as werewolves did at the moment
of death. He left Gregor dead on the pavement, blood still seeping from
the fatal wound.

157

Moonglow and Markus had a perfect date. Though
Markus's views on the art in the Tate Modern were harsh, uncompromising, and
hostile, it hadn't prevented them from having a blissful day.

Whenever they approached an exhibit, be it a collection of
tangled metal, a looping piece of video, or an unmade bed, Moonglow
would look at it, refer to her catalogue, muse briefly, and then say
either "interesting," or "I like this." Markus would invariably reply
"I hate it, it's not art." The ninth or tenth time Markus told her he
hated something and it wasn't art, Moonglow burst out laughing.

"You hate everything!"

Finding himself laughed at by a young human girl, Markus was
about to reply harshly when he realised that he wasn't really offended
at all. He could see that it was funny, in a way.

"I don't hate everything. I just hate everything in this
building."

"Even the unmade bed?"

"Especially the unmade bed."

"I liked it," said Moonglow.

Markus had the good grace to smile.

"I'm sorry, I've been involved in mother's collection of
Titians and El Grecos for too long. I don't really understand any of
this."

Moonglow took his hand. Thinking she might have inflicted
enough galleries on her companion she led him towards the restaurant.

"So werewolves in general aren't enthusiastic about
contemporary art?"

"Not as a rule. But I don't know if the humans who live around
the MacRinnalch estates would be very impressed either. I mean, nothing
here looks like anything."

"Well let's leave it till we've had some tea," said Moonglow.
"After that I'll bring you up to date with the last century of art."

Markus smiled.

"You know you should never lecture your date about art?"

Moonglow felt her heart pounding with excitement. He'd said
they were on a date. Not just a visit to an art gallery.

'I'm dating a werewolf prince,' she thought, happily. 'That's
even better than Lord Byron.'

They drank tea in the cafe, and ate cake. Markus paid for it
and carried the tray, gallantly. As they sat at the table Moonglow knew
that the eyes of every women in the cafe were fixed on her companion.
With his striking looks, his glorious hair, his long black coat and
feminine blouse, he was so attractive. Moonglow had an odd giddy
feeling that she had never experienced with Jay, or anyone else.

Markus seemed happy. Something about Moonglow made him forget
his recent traumas, almost. Though not as striking as the MacRin-nalch
women, she was pretty, she was intelligent, and she was - what was she?
Markus couldn't exactly put his finger on it. The phrase
fun
to be with
came to mind. It was a good description though
somehow he'd have been embarrassed to utter something so trite. Trite
or not, it was true. Moonglow was fun to be with. He asked her if she'd
like to come home with him and Moonglow said she would. She said this
quite calmly, though really she felt like climbing over the table,
flinging her arms round Markus and dragging him onto the floor to
commence love-making immediately, and never mind the onlookers.