Martin Millar - Lonely Werewolf Girl (65 page)

"Perhaps the young werewolf's eaten them," suggested Thrix.

"Where are the new shoes?"

"Right here," said the Enchantress, opening a box, while
Malveria looked on eagerly.

"They're gone!" exclaimed Thrix.

Immediately their darkest suspicions were aroused. No wonder
there was such an aura of doom in the house. Princess Kabachetka had
discovered their hiding place and stolen the clothes, probably
murdering Daniel and Moonglow in the process.

"Their blood-soaked bodies are no doubt strewn around
downstairs at this moment!" cried Malveria. "If we hurry we may save
the shoes!"

The Fire Queen rushed downstairs and burst into the living
room, ready to fight off the Princess. The Princess wasn't there.
Neither were Daniel or Moonglow, or Kalix. Sitting in front of the TV
with a can of beer in one hand and a bag of crisps in the other was
Vex. She was engrossed in
3rd Rock from the Sun
.
She wore a ragged brown flying suit that was so tattered it looked as
if its original owner might have died in a plane crash. On her feet
were the new high heeled sandals, a delicate shade of pink with a
dainty ankle strap.

"Aarrgghh!" roared the Fire Queen. "You have stolen my new
shoes! Did I not warn you of the dire consequences? Thrix, bring me a
knife! I am going to sacrifice this girl right now!"

Vex looked round.

"Hi Aunt Mai vie," she said brightly. "Eh… is something wrong?"

"You villainous thief of shoes, I will kill you where you sit,
you detestable, vile, obnoxious, odious - " Malveria broke off. "What
is that disgusting brown thing you're wearing?" she demanded.

"A flying suit."

"Why are you wearing such an appalling garment?"

Vex shrugged.

"I like it."

Daniel arrived in the room, alarmed by the outcry.

"What's happening?"

"I am about to sacrifice Agrivex for stealing my shoes. Bring
me a knife immediately."

"This is way too harsh," protested Vex. "I didn't do anything."

"What do you mean you didn't do anything, you imbecilic girl?
You are wearing the shoes!"

Vex looked down at her feet.

"I like my boots better," she said.

Malveria roared in frustration, again threatening her niece
with instant death.

"It's Kalix's fault," said Vex. "She made me do it."

"Don't lie to me, dismal niece. The werewolf did no such
thing."

Moonglow hurried into the room, wondering what was going on.

"My never-to-be-adopted niece is about to die!" cried
Malveria. As she did so something fell from Vex's pocket. The Fire
Queen snatched it up and then reeled in shock.

"An earring? You stole my new earrings?"

"See, this is the mistake you always make, Aunt Malvie. The
first suspicious sign and you just jump to the wrong conclusion. I
never stole your earrings. I just borrowed them."

"Why?"

"To see how they looked with the shoes. After all, you're
always saying you can't really judge an accessory by itself."

Thrix laughed. She couldn't help herself. She had rarely seen
a fashion combination as inappropriate as Vex's tattered flying suit
and the pink high heels.

"Anyway, it's not my fault," continued Vex. "Everyone here is
lying around being miserable. I was bored. So I just thought I'd check
a few of your new things. You know, see if they were suitable. Also,
Kalix made me do it."

"Will no one bring me a knife?" cried Malveria. "Daniel, fetch
me your finest sacrificial implements immediately."

Moonglow, rather fearing that Malveria was
serious, hurried to divert her anger.

"Could I see them on?"

"What?"

"The shoes. They're so delicate. They're lovely."

"I do not wear shoes that have been besmirched by my idiot
niece!" said Malveria, still very cross.

"Well they just look ridiculous on her," said Moonglow,
wisely. "I really want to see them at their best advantage. Please try
them on."

"I want to see too," added Daniel, who had no real interest in
women's shoes, but dreaded having to clear up the mess after Malveria
sacrificed Agrivex on their living room carpet.

Malveria sniffed, pointing her nose in the air and refusing to
cooperate. The Enchantress took the shoes from Vex and laid them beside
Malveria. Then, to Moonglow and Daniel's surprise, she muttered a spell
which caused a mirror to appear in front of the Fire Queen, and altered
the lighting in the room to show her off to her best advantage.

"I refuse to try them on," said Malveria. "They have been
befouled."

"You should," said Moonglow. "They'll really suit you."

Malveria was unable to resist any longer. She stepped into the
pink shoes. She spoke a word which caused the straps to fasten round
her ankles, then looked in the mirror. A great sigh of pleasure came
from her lips. Of all the delicate, exquisite high heeled sandals in
this world and the next, these were the best. Malveria forgot her
annoyance. Tears of happiness formed in her eyes. She hugged the
Enchantress.

"I love these shoes," she said.

Daniel and Moonglow were relieved.

"Now that's all sorted out how about some wine?" suggested Vex.

177

Dominil was puzzled. When she'd arrived in London, Beauty and
Delicious had been a useless pair of intoxicated losers who never got
anything done. By strength of character she'd dragged them back on
course. Throughout this period, the twins had never been exactly
mod-erate in their behaviour but they had at least made an effort.
They'd drunk less, attended rehearsals, and worked on their songs.
Everything seemed to be going well. Neither the violent incident at the
rehearsal studio nor the intimidating visit by the Douglas-MacPhees had
dimmed their enthusiasm for their music. So Dominil couldn't understand
why, now that she had finally got them the gig they so desperately
wanted, everything had gone wrong again.

Their behaviour was now worse than ever. They were rarely in a
fit state to pick up their guitars. Dominil just couldn't account for
it. No matter how she railed against them, they refused to make an
effort.

"We're musicians," was all Beauty would say. "We don't have to
practice. It'll be fine on the night."

Dominil dismissed this. At this rate it wouldn't be fine on
the night. It would be a disaster. Dominil had her pride and she
abhorred the thought of anything to which she had contributed being a
disaster. Frustrated, the white-haired werewolf strode out into the
falling snow and hurried through Camden. Pete the guitarist was
surprised to find her at his door, though not as concerned as he once
might have been. No one actually liked Dominil but the band had come to
trust her. He invited her in. His front room, Dominil noted, was
extremely untidy.

"Was it not the case that a week ago things were looking
promising for the band?"

"Eh… yes," replied Pete.

"Then why are Beauty and Delicious now acting in so
destructive a manner? They refuse to do anything except drink and make
fools of themselves. I cannot see any possible explanation for this."

Pete had an idea of what the problem might be but hesitated to
make a suggestion. He felt intimidated by Dominil.

"Well maybe…" he began, then paused.

"Speak up," demanded Dominil. "If you are about to criticise
me you may do so freely. After living with the twins I am used to it."

"I wasn't going to criticise you. You've been great. Really. I
think it's just that they get nervous. You know, they're quite shy
really."

Dominil stared at him in disbelief.

"Nervous? Shy? Beauty and Delicious? Everything they do is
designed to call attention to themselves."

Pete shrank back a little.

"Well yes. But you know… they're probably just
overcompensat-ing. They wouldn't be the only people to do that. They
were always like this before gigs. They're scared in case they get
onstage and no one likes them."

"You mean they have stage fright?"

"Yes."

Dominil considered this. Was it possible the guitarist was
right? If so, it was something that Dominil had completely failed to
take into consideration. It hadn't occurred to her for a moment that
the sisters might suffer from nervousness.

"They have no reason to be anxious. The band is sounding good
and there is every reason to be optimistic."

Pete shrugged.

"I don't think that makes any difference really. You know how
some people just worry anyway."

"No."

"You don't?"

"It is not something with which I can easily empathise."

"I can believe that," said Pete.

Something in his tone caught Dominil's attention.

"You think I am lacking in empathy?"

"If you go around saying things like
it is not
something with which I can easily empathise
then it's
probably a sign that you can't. And you always talk, you know, sort of
formal."

Dominil felt irritated.

"I did not come here to discuss my diction. What is to be done
to bring the twins back to normality?"

Pete didn't know. He'd seen this before, and as far as he
remembered the twins kept on behaving badly till it was time to step
onstage.

"And then they were all right?"

"Not really. The gigs were always a shambles."

Dominil thanked Pete for his help. She had noticed before that
for a young guitarist, Pete was fairly attractive. She could even have
classed him as desirable, if she wanted. Not while she had work to do,
however. She walked slowly back to the twins' house, wondering what to
do about their emotional fragility. There were less than three weeks
left to the gig and Dominil was quite determined that it was going to
be a success.

The Avenaris Guild was quite determined that it was going to
fail. The Guild had managed to track down Dominil. One of their
operatives who'd survived the fight at the rehearsal studio had
happened to see her in Camden, handing out fliers, and taken one. It
was on Mr Carmichael's desk at this moment, and the small slip of paper
had generated a great deal of activity. Plans were now being made for
an attack on the gig.

It was reported that the white-haired werewolf had been
accompanied by a girl who matched the description of Kalix. The
presence of the werewolf princess made it a very important operation
for the Guild. Despite this, nothing about it was entered on their
computers. The Guild's information officers believed that their system
was now safe but Mr Carmichael's intuition told him otherwise. Someone
had hacked into their files recently. It might happen again. He gave
instructions that all arrangements were to be made by word of mouth. A
messenger was sent to Mr Mikulanec, informing him that his services
would be required on the night. Yum Yum Sugary Snacks and all
werewolves associated with them were going to be eliminated.

178

Kalix still lay on her bed with the quilt covering her head,
refusing to engage in conversation with either Daniel or Moonglow. Even
the relentlessly cheerful Vex failed to get through. They all wanted to
talk about her problems but Kalix had had enough of talking.

Moonglow knocked on her door.

"Go away," mumbled Kalix.

"Visitor," shouted Moonglow.

"Go away," repeated Kalix.

The door swung open and Dominil marched into
the room.

"I need your help," she said.

"Go away," said Kalix.

"No," said Dominil, calmly. Without asking Kalix, she opened
the window.

"I do not like foul air," she said, which Kalix found quite
insulting.

"Is the air foul?"

"Yes. It stinks of laudanum and an unhappy werewolf."

"I've been very unhappy," admitted Kalix, and sighed. "I was
in the park and - "

"Yes, very well," said Dominil, interrupting her. "Perhaps you
can tell me about it some other time. At this moment I need your help."

"What for?"

"The twins are suffering from a serious case of pre-gig
anxiety."

Dominil looked penetratingly at Kalix.

"I have no experience of anxiety. You are prone to it. I
thought you might be able to suggest something."

Kalix felt rather pleased at this. It was as if someone had
come to her for help on her specialist subject.

"Why are they nervous?"

"Fear of failure, I believe. I've told them there is no point
feeling anxious. Feeling anxious about an event won't change the event.
However, they do not agree. In fact they will not admit to being
nervous at all, but I know they are. Perhaps if they'd just acknowledge
it, it might help them to overcome it. Are you ready to leave?"

"Leave?"

"Of course. I need you in Camden."

Kalix was perplexed. She had been determined to lie in bed
being miserable until she died. Now Dominil wanted her to go to Camden.
She was quite surprised to find herself on her feet, putting on her
coat.

"I really don't know how to help the twins," she said.

"Perhaps you will think of something. After all, you outwitted
Sara-pen when you rescued me, did you not?"

Kalix smiled. That was a good memory. They drove slowly north
through the dense London traffic. The streets were damp and there were
traces of snow on the pavements.

"Do you like the snow?" asked Kalix, suddenly.

"Yes. I do. When I was very young in Scotland I used to lie in
it."

"Were you hiding?" asked Kalix. "Because you're so white you
could hide in it?"

"Yes."

Kalix thought about the young werewolf Dominil playing in the
snow. She couldn't quite envisage Dominil ever playing. Kalix found it
easier to talk to Dominil than most people. She didn't know why.

"I hated the castle."

"I know."

"Everyone gave me a bad time when I was there." Kalix looked
at Dominil. "Did that happen to you?"