Burn Mark (21 page)

The bag didn’t contain much, since Harry was supposed to have left home in a hurry. Nate was thorough; squeezing out some toothpaste and uncapping the deodorant. Lucas held his breath. However, Nate soon moved on to more interesting objects – like the MP3 player that Earl had found.

‘The latest model. Sweet,’ Nate said, transferring it to his own pocket. Then he took out a switchblade and slit the bag’s lining. It didn’t take him long to pull out the grubby bundle of banknotes that had been hidden there.

‘It’s all I have,’ Lucas said, trying to sound both indignant and dismayed.

‘There’s over three hundred quid here . . . You made this from dealing our pills, I’ll bet.’

‘I’ve sent business your way too, remember.’

‘Well, bed ’n’ board here don’t come cheap. We’ll take this as down-payment.’ Nate set the wad of cash to one side. Harry’s keyring was also confiscated, and passed to Angeline. ‘A little something for your scrying-bowl, Auntie.’

‘You’re going to
spy
on me?’

‘Auntie’ll want to see how you’re settling in . . . and what you get up to when we’re not around.’ Nate pointed the blade of his knife at his chest, only half jokingly. ‘So mind you stay on the straight and narrow.’

‘All right,’ said Angeline, rapping her knuckles on the beaten-up coffee table. ‘Let’s get to the issue at hand. Everyone here knows who Harry is by now, and what he’s about –’

‘I’d still like to hear it from the horse’s mouth,’ Glory interrupted. She looked at Lucas unpleasantly. ‘Go on. Tell us why you’re here.’

‘Because I’m witchkind, I’m unregistered, and I want to keep it that way.’ Pause. ‘And if I’m going to escape the prickers, I’ll need help.’

‘So you, what, just upped and left home without a word?’

‘There was a note. I said I was going travelling. My sister’ll be relieved to get rid of me. She’s an uptight bitch and her husband’s worse – they had to take me in after Dad joined his new family in the States. Mum ran off years back. I’ve been causing them hassle ever since.’

Did it sound too rehearsed? He assumed the coven would have already done the basic background checks. WICA hadn’t taken any chances: there was even an agent posing as Harry’s sister at an address in Fulham.

‘I don’ like it,’ mumbled a voice from the corner. It was Joe Junior, the so-called boss. He belched. ‘Another bloody kid who doesn’t know his bootsh from his backshide.’

‘Don’t you worry, Dad.’ Nate shot a sly look at Glory. ‘
This
one can pay his way.’

Angeline leaned forward. ‘Harry me boy, it’s time the others saw what you’ve got. Go on – show ’em what you showed me.’

Lucas drew out from his pocket some blades of grass and a twig that had gone unnoticed during Earl’s rummaging. Licking the grass, he twined it round the twig, and rubbed the twig between his hands so it twisted back and forth. He began to whistle tunelessly, funnelling his fae out with his breath. First it stirred the loose ends of grass, then sent the faintest breeze drifting across the room. The longer he whistled, the stronger the breeze, until both grass and twig were bending like a tree in the gale. Suddenly, a miniature whirlwind whipped through the room, catching up cigarette ash and bottle tops, and blowing Glory’s bright hair around her head. It was a watered-down version of the storm that had wreaked such havoc on the MP’s office.

His audience was enthralled. Patch laughed delightedly. Nate looked as smug as if he’d done it himself. The only people who didn’t seem impressed were Joe, drinking in the corner, and Glory. She smoothed down her hair with a grimace of annoyance. Once Lucas had got his breath back, everyone looked to Angeline. Regally, she rose to address the room.

‘Harry’s come to us ’cause he’s got nowhere else to go. He won’t be the first nor the last. A witch is honour bound to help their kind because fae runs thicker than blood, quicker’n water. That’s the rule my sisters and I lived by.

‘He needs our help, yes, but that don’t mean we’re going to get nothing in return. I’m old and I’m tired, and the sooner I start training up a successor, the better for all of us. It’s witchwork what raises Cooper Street up, and sets us apart. And though these are hard times, it’s witchwork what’ll pull us through.’

She turned to Lucas. ‘I’ll teach you what I can, but it’s not just me you’ll be learning from. There’s a lot of experience in this room, not to say talent. You stay here, you abide by our rules and our way of doing things, and we’ll see you right.’

It was quite a performance. When it came to his own response, however, Lucas didn’t think Harry was the eloquent type. ‘I’ll, er, do my best,’ he mumbled. ‘Thanks very much.’

‘Harpies,’ slurred Joe. ‘You’re all the shame. Think you’re better’n rest of ush . . . more trouble’n you’re worth . . .’

Nobody paid him any attention. Their eyes were fixed on Angeline, who’d taken a cut-out paper doll and a needle out of her handbag. Solemnly, she passed them to Nate, who jabbed the needle into his thumb and smeared the blood on the doll. Everyone did so – even Joe eventually.

Lucas was last. Angeline placed the bloodstained paper doll on his palm and told him his lines.

‘I swear loyalty to this coven and everyone in it . . .’

As he spoke, Angeline rubbed a witchworked-twist of paper between her thumbs. It was a similar technique to the one Lucas had used in his witchkind assessment, but left the old lady huffing and puffing with effort.

‘. . . their blood is my blood, their bond is mine . . .’

The doll caught alight. Lucas winced, but managed to hold his hand steady.

‘So may my flesh burn if I fail to keep my oath –
ah
–’

The little doll flared briefly and crumbled away. His palm was tingling but unscorched.

The men grinned and slapped each other on the back. Except for Joe, who merely belched.
Dumb hoods
, thought Lucas, as he dusted off his hands.

Then he met Glory’s sardonic gaze. Superstition tugged at him. For a moment, it felt as if he really had summoned a curse.

Once Angeline left, the music was turned up again, more beer fetched from the fridge, and the older men began to play cards. Jacko went out for food. He came back with chips and a trio of slutty-looking girls, who proceeded to drape themselves over him, Nate and Chunk. ‘Meet Prince Harry,’ said Nate. ‘He’ll be helping us out for a while.’

The girls screeched with laughter. ‘I’ll sit on his throne any day,’ cackled the fattest one.

Lucas smiled politely. It was a relief when Angeline reappeared. ‘Our new recruit’s dead on his feet,’ she announced, before dropping an armful of sheets on Glory’s lap. ‘Time to show him to the penthouse. Go on – off you trot.’

Glory got up with a flounce. Lucas picked up his bag and followed her into the hall.

‘So what’s your role in this set-up?’ he asked, trying to lighten the mood. ‘Housekeeping?’

She thrust the bedding into his chest. ‘Pest control.’

They climbed the narrow stairs up to the top of the house. What Lucas could see of the rest of the building was dark and ramshackle, and the attic was no different. It was furnished with a mattress, a sink and a stack of broken chairs. From somewhere outside, a dog howled.

‘This’ll be yours for as long as you’re here,’ Glory told him. ‘The toilet and shower are back on the ground floor. Or you can always piss in the sink.’

Lucas managed not to shudder.

‘I’m on the other side of that.’ She pointed to the wall. ‘So I’ll give it a thump when it’s time to rise and shine. Auntie Angel wants me to give you the grand tour in the morning.’

‘OK. Um . . . thanks.’

‘All part of the service.’ Her eyes flicked over him. ‘That were a fine trick with the wind and the whistling. Seems like you’ve got this coven eating outta the palm of your hand.’

‘I’m just doing my job.’

Her lip curled. ‘Well, don’t get too cocky. Making pals with the Morgans will be a different matter.’

‘Believe me, I don’t underestimate the challenge.’

‘Don’t underestimate the people here, either.’

In the light of a bare bulb, her face was all bones and shadows. They were as different as it was possible for two people to be, yet he knew they had one thing in common. Her mother had also been taken from her at an early age – not by witchcrime, admittedly, but as a result of its legacy. Angeline had told the Witchcrime Directorate that Glory wanted justice for her mother, and the chance of a normal life. Looking at her now, Lucas wasn’t so sure. Coven blood feuds were about the pursuit of vengeance, not the righting of wrongs.

After she left, Lucas stood absolutely still for a minute, letting the emptiness wash over him. Then he squirted shower gel all over the sink and turned on the tap. The sound of running water was calming. A compact mirror had been stuck above the sink with Blu-tack; this time, however, he avoided Harry’s face. He wished he had something, anything, of his own. A book, a postcard . . . even his old watch.

Music was still pumping away downstairs. Lucas lay down on the sagging mattress and closed his eyes. He tried not to think about the last time he saw his father, their embrace made clumsy by the weight of things unsaid. From there, his thoughts moved to his mother. He wondered what kind of difference his fae would have made to her. He wondered what she would think if she could see him now. It was several hours before he fell asleep.

Chapter 18

On the other side of the wall, Glory also lay wide-eyed and wakeful. She imagined the Inquisition’s witch prowling around next door, plotting his next move. He was a strong witch, that was for sure. As soon as he’d begun his witchwork, her own Seventh Sense had felt the fae leap and crackle in the air between them. She wasn’t afraid of him – at least, not in the way she was afraid of Charlie Morgan. But he made her nervous.

As a result of her restless night, Glory slept through her alarm and didn’t get up until mid-morning. Still, the extra sleep had done her good. She felt hopeful and alert. First, she decided, she’d sort out the mess with Patch and the accounting. Then she’d show Harry around. He might be more forthcoming once she got him on his own, away from the coven.

There was a secure line to Charlie Morgan’s office in the basement meeting room. It was furnished with a telephone, computer and a battered conference table and chairs. She half hoped she could leave a message, but her call was answered with an irritable ‘What?’

‘Morning, Uncle C.’

Monster
.
Murderer. I’m gonna take you down . . .

Coolly, she explained the situation with Patch’s brother and the gambling debt, and confirmed the money would be repaid at the end of the month.

There was heavy breathing from the other end of the line. ‘So what next?’

‘How d’you mean? I did what you wanted and I got you your cash. Patch never meant no harm. As for Dad . . . well, he’s a soft touch. But he knew Patch would do right by him.’

Charlie made a scoffing sound. ‘Your dad’s head is so far in the clouds it’s practically on Pluto. This is what happens when a coven loses its way – without discipline, people take advantage.’

‘Maybe so. In which case, getting us back on track – and restoring discipline – is my problem. And Cooper Street’s business.’

She sucked in her breath, trying to visualise the man on the other end of the line. The shrewd cruel eyes, the well-fed face. Had she gone too far? There was a long wait before he answered.

‘If you’re not careful, there won’t be much of a business left. I need to see results, Glory. I’m depending on you.’

He hung up. Murderer, she mouthed at the phone. Bastard. Murderous treacherous bastard scum.

She had just got up to leave when Jacko and Earl pushed through the door. They were talking about Harry.

‘. . . I only met him the one time,’ Jacko was saying. ‘’S’funny, though. He seems younger than I remembered.’

Earl chuckled. ‘All the better for us. He’s used to living soft too. Anyone can see.’

‘Ain’t you the early birds,’ Glory remarked, before they could ask what she was doing there. ‘What’s up?’

‘Gotta check on the online perfume sales,’ said Jacko. ‘The computer upstairs keeps crashing.’ He turned on the PC. ‘Chinese Dave phoned – said there’s a problem with the latest DVD order. Nate’s gone to talk to him, and taken Harry along.’

‘You serious? I thought Harry was supposed to be lying low. Not being paraded about like a prize poodle. At this rate, we’ll have the Inquisition sniffing round our doorstep before the week’s out.’

In fact, Nate’s recklessness made her own job easier. The Wednesday Coven would be on to Harry even more quickly. She couldn’t believe no one else had considered the risks though.

Earl looked uncomfortable. ‘I did tell ’em to be careful. And Nate swore not to say a word –’

But Glory was already hurrying up the stairs to Number Seven’s attic. If Nate and Harry were with Chinese Dave, they’d be gone for at least an hour. It was the perfect chance to investigate Harry’s glamour.

If Glory had wanted to publicly expose him, she would need to destroy the amulet he was using. She only wanted to see through his glamour without him knowing. This meant reversing the witchwork involved.