Martin Millar - Lonely Werewolf Girl (51 page)

She remembered how Dominil had asked her for laudanum. That
was so unexpected. Kalix felt more kindly towards her. She realised she
didn't want to leave her dying in the street, in the rain, cold and
bleeding. She had to forget her anxiety, stop being stupid, and think
of something to do. She had to get Dominil back to Daniel's house.

Unfortunately this reminded Kalix of how annoyed she'd been
with Daniel. So annoyed that she'd picked up her bag and left. Now
Daniel and Moonglow would hate her. Kalix sighed. Why was it everyone
always ended up disliking her?

"It's because I'm no use for anything," she muttered, quite
seriously. "I'll just take Dominil there and leave before they can say
anything."

How could she get there? She noticed a phone box on the
corner. Kalix remembered that Moonglow had written her telephone number
in the back of her journal, saying she might need it sometime. Kalix
fetched her journal from her bag, found the number and went to the
phone. She dialled very hesitantly. By now her feelings of alienation
were so strong that she expected whoever answered to simply hang up on
her.

Daniel answered the phone very quickly.

"Hello?"

There was a long pause.

"Hello?"

"It's Kalix."

"Kalix! Where are you?"

"I'm with Dominil. She's hurt. I don't know what to do."

As she spoke Kalix felt a tear forming in her eye. She
blinked,
annoyed that this should happen.

"I'll get Thrix," said Daniel.

The Enchantress took the phone.

"What happened?"

"I rescued Dominil. Sarapen attacked her. I
think she's dying."

"Where are you?"

"Near Hyde Park."

"Where exactly?"

Kalix didn't know. The Enchantress recognised the rising panic
in her young sister's voice and spoke to her quite calmly.

"Look at the sign in the phone box. There should be a notice
giving the address. If you tell me that we'll come and pick you up
right away."

Kalix looked for the sign but this was not so easy. There were
many cards in the phone box, adverts left by prostitutes, and Kalix,
with her poor reading skills, wasn't sure what she should be looking
for.

"There are lots of cards," she said. "I don't
know where the address is. And-"

Kalix broke off, sniffing the air.

" - there are werewolves coming."

The Enchantress remained calm.

"The notice telling you the address of the phone box will be
right next to the phone. It's white with black letters, with a red
border."

"I see it."

"What is it?"

There was a long silence.

"What's the address?" urged Thrix.

"I can't read it," admitted Kalix, miserably. Dominil was
going to die because Kalix couldn't read the address.

"Can you spell it out?"

Kalix made an effort, though the small sign wasn't all that
legible in the poor light.

"L-Y-A-L-L-S-T-R-E-"

"Lyall Street. South of the park. I know it. Don't move, I'm
coming with Malveria right now."

Thrix rang off. On the pavement beside the phone box Dominil
moaned again. The blood on her limbs and body had now congealed in dark
red clumps but it still flowed from her nose, a very bad sign. Dominil
was damaged inside, like Kalix had been.

"The Fire Queen saved me when I was hurt," said Kalix, in an
effort to be re-assuring. "And she's coming here now."

The scent of werewolves was stronger. They were getting
nearer. Dominil's eyes were now shut. Kalix had the notion that she
should talk to Dominil, to keep her alive, to prevent her from
journeying to the forests of the werewolf dead.

"Wake up," she urged, but Dominil didn't respond. Kalix was
sure she was going to die before Thrix arrived. The young werewolf
struggled to think of something else to say, but her mind was blank. In
the silence, she could sense Dominil's life slipping away.

"I saved Puffy the Puffin," said Kalix, suddenly.

Dominil's eyes opened a fraction.

"What?"

"I saved Puffy the Puffin. On Moonglow's computer. It's a
game. I saved Puffy the Puffin."

Dominil stared at Kalix through her half-closed eyes. Then,
for the first time that Kalix could remember, she smiled.

"Well done," whispered Dominil.

Kalix smiled back, hesitantly.

"It was good," said Kalix. "I like Puffy. I saved him."

"Then I'm sure you can save me too," whispered Dominil.

The scent of werewolves was now very strong. Kalix scanned the
street anxiously.

"Thrix will be here soon. And Malveria. They'll heal you. Do
you want more laudanum?"

Dominil nodded. Kalix let her have a sip.

"Take care of my bottle," said Kalix. "There are werewolves
coming along the street and I have to fight them now."

Sarapen was striding towards them; huge, dark and menacing.
Andris MacAndris was at his side. In his werewolf form he was almost as
large as Sarapen. Behind them marched five others, all in werewolf
shape, though it was not a night of the full moon. Too heavy odds, even
for Kalix. Kalix walked a few paces up the road to meet them. Now that
the enemy was here, she felt quite calm. Her battle-madness often began
with a feeling of tranquillity. She transformed into her werewolf form.

"Keep back," she said.

Sarapen looked huge, a vast dark shape under the streetlights.

"Was it you who killed my wolves in the park?" he asked, his
voice low and full of menace.

Kalix growled at him.

"Kill her and take Dominil," said Sarapen.

The werewolves charged. Kalix opened her jaws wide and raised
her claws as her madness took over. Suddenly her attackers flew
backwards, landing heavily. The Fire Queen stood on one side of Kalix
and the Enchantress on the other. Kalix was confused. In her werewolf
battle state she wasn't ready for unexpected assistance, and didn't
immediately realise that she'd been rescued. She continued to growl.

The Enchantress gave a small smile.

"We should go."

Kalix growled again, indicating that she'd rather stay and
fight.

"Yes, you're a fierce little werewolf, no doubt about that,"
said Thrix, rather kindly. "But we'd be better just leaving. Dominil
needs attention."

With that, Malveria waved her hand and wafted them all back to Daniel and Moonglow's house in a haze of jasmine. They
materialised in the front room where Daniel and Moonglow were waiting
anxiously.

"I am quite exhausted," exclaimed Malveria. "My teleporting
powers are not endless, I must confess. Taking others around is not so
easy. Daniel dear, please bring me one of your pop-tarts and perhaps a
glass of wine?"

"Later," said Thrix. "Dominil isn't far from the forests of
the werewolf dead."

Malveria made a face.

"Really, I do not wish to visit that place again. Its
guardians are most inhospitable towards the Hiyasta. But very well, let
us see what has to be done. Please bring me some refreshments anyway.
Soon I will be so worn-out I will be as wrinkled as the disgusting
Empress Asaratanti. And who will care then that I am so fabulously
dressed?"

Malveria bent over the prone figure of Dominil, and pursed her
lips.

"Bad," she muttered, shaking her head.

"How bad?" asked Thrix. A few spots of rain had dampened her
golden hair. Not many though. It had been a very swift rescue.

"In human terms, several fatal wounds and dead some time ago.
In werewolf terms, not quite so bad. She is not yet so near to the
forests though if blood keeps pouring out at this alarming rate she
soon will be. Look, it has stained my blouse and it is my favourite."

"It's not your favourite at all," said Thrix.

"Very well it is not my absolute favourite but it remains high
on my list of favourites."

"I'll make you a new one."

"Thank you," said Malveria.

After being plucked from battle and teleported through space
as a werewolf, Kalix felt confused. Disorientated, she looked around
her suspiciously, still half-expecting to be called on to fight. When
she finally realised that she'd saved Dominil she felt pleased. Then
she felt hungry. She was still in her werewolf shape and the wolf
needed feeding. Kalix headed for the kitchen.

As Daniel and Moonglow looked on, Malveria once more knelt
over the figure of a damaged werewolf, placing her hands and then her
lips on the face of her patient. It seemed to Moonglow that Dominil
couldn't be as badly hurt as Kalix had been, because the air in the
room did not grow so cold and Malveria didn't seem to have to expend so
much effort as she had before. Even so, it was some time before the
Fire Queen withdrew her lips from Dominil's, and when she did she again
looked drained.

"She will be well," said Malveria. "Now I must go."

"Please don't," said Moonglow, stepping forward quickly.

"I need time to recover. It is an effort, this medicinal
assistance for werewolves. In replacing their fire, I diminish my own."

"Recover here," suggested Moonglow, who felt that they owed
the Fire Queen. "You can have my bed."

Malveria was touched. Again, looking at Moonglow's long black
hair, long black skirt and heavy make-up, she felt that this must be
one of her devotees, but apparently she was not. It made the offer of
hospitality all the more gratifying.

"Very well," said Malveria. "I will stay."

With that, she lay on the couch, and closed her eyes.

"Where's Kalix?" asked Daniel. "Has she left again?"

"I think she's in the kitchen," said Moonglow.

Daniel, Thrix and Moonglow all trooped through to the kitchen
where they found the young werewolf with her nose in the bin, eating
the remains of a pizza. Moonglow and Daniel burst out laughing. Kalix
looked up, and changed back into her human form.

"What's funny?" she demanded.

"There's more food in the fridge," said Moonglow, but Kalix
looked offended because they'd laughed at her, and said she wasn't
hungry.

"You're a hero," said Moonglow.

"What?"

"You are," said Daniel, enthusiastically. "You rescued
Dominil. It was heroic."

Kalix looked uncomfortable.

"It was very well done, sister," added Thrix.

Daniel put his arms round Kalix. Kalix still looked
uncomfortable but there was nowhere to retreat in the crowded kitchen.
She came close to smiling.

"Thanks," she mumbled.

"Tea," said Moonglow. "We need tea for Malveria. That woman is
a great healer, don't you think?"

"She is," agreed the Enchantress. "Though it's fortunate that
Dominil was not so near to death."

"Why?"

"Because if Dominil had been closer to the forests of the
werewolf dead Malveria would have had to expend much more effort in
bringing her back. A fire elemental won't do that without demanding
some sort of payment in return. Even from a friend the price could be
severe. I might have had to enter into some bargain I'd have regretted."

Moonglow was filling the kettle. She paused.

"Do you think you would have regretted it?"

"Certainly," said Thrix. "You must never strike a bargain with
the Queen of the Hiyasta."

"But you make clothes for her. Isn't that some sort of
bargain?"

Thrix shook her head.

"That's a clearly defined commercial transaction, which is
fine. But a bargain concerning any matter where the outcome is unclear
must be avoided. Malveria will always get the better of you, and you'll
regret it."

"She brought me back," said Kalix. "I didn't make any bargain."

"She did that as a favour to me," said Thrix.

Moonglow knew this wasn't true, and worried a little about her
bargain with the Fire Queen.

138

Sarapen was keen to see the man whose sorcery had repelled the
Enchantress. He went to visit Zatek. Zatek was not willing to give
details of his power to a stranger, but did go so far as to refer
Sarapen to Merchant MacDoig.

"Your sorcery comes from MacDoig?"

"In a way. He might be able to help you."

Zatek showed no nervousness during their meeting, though the
designer could tell he was a werewolf. Zatek obviously had confidence
in his protection spells. Too much confidence, perhaps. In his full
rage Sarapen was difficult to repel, even by sorcery. As Sarapen walked
back to his car he was thoughtful. Early this morning Madrigal had
brought news. He had been tailing Gawain around London. So far this
hadn't led him to Kalix, which was surprising. Gawain should surely
have found her by now. But if he had, he wasn't visiting her. How-ever
he was visiting Thrix.

Madrigal thought that Gawain was sleeping with Thrix. Sarapen
found this almost impossible to accept. He had little regard for his
sister but he could hardly believe that any member of the MacRinnalch
ruling family would stoop so low as to form a relationship with a
banished werewolf. Could it possibly be true? Even Sarapen, the very
last person to show an interest in scandal, realised how potentially
explosive the situation was. Gawain, the great love of Kalix, now in
bed with the brat's older sister? What would Kalix make of that, he
wondered?

Sarapen scowled as he drove slowly through London towards the
Merchant's. His sisters were almost as degenerate as the twins. At
least the twins wouldn't be poking their noses into the dispute over
the Thaneship. The Douglas-MacPhees had scared them off.

The hunt for Markus continued. Though Markus's disappearance
was annoying it was not necessarily of desperate importance, as
Decembrius had pointed out. After all, it hardly reflected well on
Markus MacRinnalch to be in hiding, afraid to face his brother. It
would not impress his followers. Sarapen found himself concentrating
more coolly now that there was action in Scotland. Following his
instructions the new Baron MacAllister had planted himself in Col-burn
Wood and was defying the Mistress of the Werewolves' orders to
withdraw. Let his mother deal with that if she could.