Martin Millar - Lonely Werewolf Girl (68 page)

'Why is this troubling me?' wondered Malveria. 'I do not care
if the ridiculous girl spends her worthless life in tears.'

Somehow, she wasn't satisfied. Malveria decided she would
rather like to see the Enchantress. She left the palace, materialising
immediately outside Thrix's apartment, and knocking on the door. It was
after midnight and Thrix was surprised to find the Fire Queen on her
doorstep. Malveria smiled brightly, and stepped briskly into the flat.
Thrix greeted her with caution, assuming that Malveria was checking up
on her. However the Fire Queen showed no sign of harassing the
Enchantress about her work. Instead, she settled herself on the couch,
accepted a glass of wine, and expressed an interest in watching some
fashion programmes. The Enchantress, knowing Malveria so well, soon
realised that there was something on her mind.

"What's wrong, Malveria?"

"Nothing," replied the Fire Queen. "I'm just making a friendly
visit. It is some time since we watched the Japanese fashion programme."

Malveria noticed that Thrix didn't look convinced.

"My goodness, dearest Thrix, why are you staring me like that?
This is a most frightening inquisition. Surely you can allow a close
friend to relax on your couch without this merciless interrogation?"

Thrix raised her eyebrows a fraction.

"Very well," said Malveria. "Since you give me no peace, I
will admit that there is a small matter about which I wished to talk to
you."

Having finally got to the point, Malveria quickly described
the day's events. Hearing her tale, Thrix was surprised at the
denouement.

"Vex ran away in tears?"

"Absolutely," replied Malveria. "It was most strange. Normally
I would expect my niece to argue back relentlessly. Of course, Agrivex
will sometimes cry over foolish things and is not above using hysterics
to have her own way in matters of new boots and so forth, but this
seemed different."

"She's suffering an unhappy love affair," Thrix pointed out.
"I suppose that's a new experience for her."

Malveria was not satisfied.

"True, perhaps. But I'm not convinced. I am an expert at
interpreting the auras of unhappy lovers. I believe my niece's
ridiculous notion of despair concerning Daniel is a symptom of some
deeper unhappiness. However I do not know what that might be."

The Fire Queen levitated the bottle of wine, refilling their
glasses.

"I find myself upset. Why, I can't say. Agrivex is such an
airhead -to use your most suitable term - that it can only do her good
to be reminded of her foolishness. But for some reason I cannot fathom,
I wish I hadn't made her cry."

Malveria stared into her glass. Thrix was surprised to see the
Fire Queen actually looking depressed. An unusual emotion for her,
unless clothes were involved.

"Well," said Thrix. "I think the problem might be you like Vex
more than you admit. A question of family feelings, I suppose. Which
makes me unfit to offer any advice, because all feelings in my family
are destructive, harmful and probably fatal, and I've been trying to
avoid them for years."

"Well of course," agreed Malveria. "It is the wise thing to
do."

They sat in silence for a few moments, watching as a pretty
Japanese model strode forcefully down the catwalk wrapped in a tight
red dress that neither of them really cared for.

"Perhaps this is indeed the problem," said Malveria,
thoughtfully. "It is most remiss of me. I can hardly believe I've
allowed myself to like my ridiculous niece to the extent that I am now
upset over making her cry. Did I mention that she alleged I was too old
to understand her problems? An unparalleled insult for which I would
have been justified in executing her."

The Fire Queen looked at Thrix.

"Do you think I treat her harshly?"

Thrix found it hard to reply. She didn't really know how young
relatives were normally treated in the realm of the Hiyasta.

"Perhaps a little."

"But I transformed her existence. One day I may even formally
adopt her. All she was born to was the life of either a temple
prostitute or a sacrificial victim, and now she lives in my luxurious
palace."

"I suppose luxury isn't everything," replied Thrix. "I've
never heard you address her as anything other than idiot niece, or
dismal niece, or something similar."

"But she is an idiot. No one can dispute this."

Thrix laughed.

"I think Vex has her good points. And so do you, or you
wouldn't have looked after her for so long."

"This may be possible."

They finished the bottle of wine and started on Thrix's whisky.

"Maybe the strangeness of Vex's aura had something to do with
being criticised by someone she holds in high regard?" suggested Thrix.

Malveria was startled at the thought.

"If Agrivex holds me in high regard she has certainly
disguised it well up till now. Please Thrix, you are making me feel
guilty, and that is a most unwelcome emotion for the Queen of the
Hiyasta."

Malveria pondered Thrix's words while watching the fashion
programme.

"What should I do about this?"

"You could take her shopping. She'd like that."

"She would indeed. I constrain her spending, to make her
realise that in life one does not always obtain everything that one
desires. Were I to actually take her shopping, she would be happy."
Malveria looked troubled. "But if I do that, will there ever be an end
to it? Take Agrivex shopping once and she will be forever plaguing me
to do it again. My life will become unbearable."

Thrix laughed.

"That's possible. But it would make her happy. Really, should
you be asking me for advice anyway? I come from the most dysfunctional
werewolf family in history."

184

Verasa was disturbed to hear that Marwanis had gone to Baron
Mac-Gregor's keep. Markus didn't understand why she was worried.

"Marwanis holds no sway over Baron MacGregor."

"But she holds great sway over his son Wallace."

"Wallace is a fool," snorted Markus.

"Indeed he is," agreed the Mistress of the Werewolves. "But
his father is fond of him and will listen to his opinion."

Markus wore his cloak, trimmed with fur. Every day he walked
the battlements, scanning the horizon for the enemy. The MacRinnalchs
in the castle thought much better of Markus these days. Verasa hoped
they would continue to do so if it came to a fight. She didn't doubt
her favourite son's bravery, but she was unsure of his qualities of
leadership under pressure.

"Even if Marwanis persuades Wallace to support the rebellion,
Lachlan is still against it," pointed out Rainal.

"He is," agreed Verasa. "Unfortunately Lachlan is also under
Marwanis's influence."

"It seems odd that a clan should go to war merely because its
leaders are besotted by one female werewolf," said Rainal.

It wasn't so odd, really. Rainal knew that it wasn't. The
Scottish werewolves were a passionate breed. You didn't have to look
too far into their history to find bloody disputes which had been
started by lover's quarrels, or lover's ambitions.

"I've been working on Lachlan," said Verasa. "Given time I'd
have brought him round to supporting our point of view."

Verasa's voice trailed off. She looked through the great
windows of her chambers out onto the lands beyond.

"But now?" said clan secretary Rainal.

"Now I rather expect that Lachlan and Wallace will lead the
Mac-Gregors into the fray," admitted Verasa.

"Let them come," declared Markus. "They'll regret it."

"So will we," said Verasa. "Not as much as them, I trust."

Verasa knew that the Barons would not begin their attack until
the wolf nights. Only then would their superior numbers be effective,
when all of their followers could transform into werewolves. Verasa
also knew that the twins were due to play in London the night before
the next wolf night. Did Sarapen intend to attack the gig before
return-ing to Scotland? It was a worrying possibility. Verasa had sent
werewolves to London to help guard all the vulnerable members of the
Great Council, but since the castle came under threat she'd been
obliged to recall many of them.

By her reckoning, there was still enough protection for those
in England. Sarapen might even find himself defeated in London, and
unable to lead his werewolves against the castle. Markus hoped that
wasn't the case. He looked forward to the encounter. Markus believed
that he could best his brother. Verasa was not so sure. Werewolves from
her personal guard were under instructions to ensure that if battle
came, Markus was never left unguarded.

185

Dominil drove Kalix home after the young werewolf's encounter
with the twins. The sky over London was grey. Cold rain had been
falling for most of the day, mixed with some light snow. Dominil hoped
for a dry night for the gig. She was concerned that the event might be
poorly attended. Several bands were playing but none of them were well
known, and the gig was on a Wednesday, not the best night for
attracting an audience.

"I need to give out more fliers," she said.

"I'll help," said Kalix.

"Good. I appreciate your assistance."

Kalix was pleased. She felt important. As they inched through
the congested streets in the centre of town, heading towards Lambeth
Bridge, she noticed that Dominil was examining her.

"You are thinner," said Dominil.

"I don't think so," replied Kalix.

"You are. I can tell."

"I really don't think I'm any thinner," protested Kalix, who
had in fact been feeling fat, due to eating half a pizza yesterday.

"I have a photographic memory," said Dominil. "You are
thinner."

"All right," said Kalix, and felt uncomfortable.

"I want you to eat," said Dominil.

Kalix squirmed at the unexpected assault. She didn't reply.

"If you are to help me it's necessary for you to be healthy,"
continued Dominil. "So you'll have to eat."

"Okay FU eat," said Kalix, keen to bring the subject to a
close.

Dominil turned towards her.

"I agree that you may be better off dead," she said.

"What?" said Kalix, startled.

"You may be better off dead. Which I presume is your ultimate
aim in starving and cutting yourself. As you are so determinedly
unhappy all the time, you may be right. There is little point hanging
around just to be miserable."

Kalix was offended and bewildered. One minute Dominil was
telling her to eat, the next she was saying that she would be better
off dead.

"Make your mind up," she snarled. "Do you want me to be dead
or healthy?"

"I want you to be healthy till the gig is over," said Dominil,
calmly. "Can you manage that?"

"I expect so," muttered Kalix, scowling.

"Good. After that you can do whatever you please."

They drove over Lambeth Bridge into the narrower South London
streets that led to Kennington. The road was busy, as it generally was,
and the car crawled along.

"There's another reason why you should be healthy for the
gig," said Dominil. "I suspect that Sarapen may attend."

This got Kalix's full attention.

"It would be an ideal opportunity for him to attack. There
will be four members of the Great Council there, five if Thrix comes."

"Does Sarapen even know they're playing?" asked Kalix.

"Decembrius is with him, and Decembrius usually learns things
his master wants to know."

Dominil advised Kalix not to mention her suspicions to anyone.
There was no point in worrying Moonglow or Daniel unnecessarily, or the
twins. They drove in silence for a while. Kalix watched the rain
streaming down the windshield, and was amused when they splashed some
pedestrians.

"Do you really think I might be better off dead?" she said,
finally.

"I don't care," replied Dominil. "As long as it's not till
after the gig-"

Kalix scanned Dominil's face for some trace of humour, or
irony.

There didn't seem to be any.

When they reached their destination Dominil strode into the
flat. There she managed to further appal Kalix by informing Moonglow
that she had made an agreement with the young werewolf.

"Kalix agrees to eat regularly to preserve her health until
the gig."

Kalix thought that this was stretching things. Moonglow was
surprised at the news, but pleased.

"I'll feed her well," she said, and smiled at Kalix. Kalix
scowled. She was heartily sick of all this talk about food.

"Have you heard anything about Markus?" asked Moonglow,
unexpectedly.

"He is back at the castle," replied Dominil.

"Oh," said Moonglow, and looked sad. Dominil regarded her
without emotion.

"Make sure Kalix eats," she said, and strode briskly from the
house, ready for the next part of her campaign.

Moonglow's misery over Markus had not diminished. As Dominil
left she began to cry. She turned to Kalix for support but Kalix was
gone. Kalix couldn't understand why Moonglow had fallen in love with
her hated brother Markus, and felt very little sympathy for her. In her
room Kalix sipped laudanum, and took out her journal. She painstakingly
wrote an account of the day's events at the twins' house. After
recording her efforts to help them, Kalix wrote
I like
Dominil
. The she wrote
Dominil doesn't care if I
die
.

She studied that for a while, but didn't know what to think
about it. She drew another thick line and made another entry in her
poor, ill-formed handwriting.
Moonglow is sad about Markus.
Daniel is sad about Moonglow. Kalix is sad about Gawain
.

Kalix put the journal away and crawled under her quilt, then
stared at the ceiling till the laudanum made her drowsy enough to go to
sleep.