Martin Millar - Lonely Werewolf Girl (75 page)

Markus MacRinnalch rose later than most other inhabitants of
the castle. The look-outs the walls had changed and the werewolf
defenders were at their posts long before the captain of the castle
guard made his appearance. Markus was feeling satisfied. His only worry
was that his mother might find out about his challenge to Wallace
MacGregor and try to prevent it. If she did attempt to stop the fight,
he'd be disgraced.

In his London mansion, Sarapen MacRinnalch was up very early,
and felt vigorous and alive from the moment he opened his eyes. He was
looking forward to this evening's events.

205

Gawain lay in bed with Kalix, and didn't want to leave. He
only wanted to tell her he loved her, which he did, many times, and
listen to Kalix say she loved him, which she also did, many times. But
late in the afternoon he reminded her that she'd promised to go to the
cousin's house to help Dominil.

"I don't want to go," said Kalix.

"I don't want you to go," said Gawain. "But you should."

Gawain felt that it would somehow be unlucky for them to
celebrate their re-union with a broken promise. Kalix was still
reluctant. Gawain encouraged her. Already he'd formed the impression
that the responsibility of helping Dominil had been good for Kalix.
She'd talked enthusiastically of how she was going to help carry the
band's equipment.

"Dominil's designed T-shirts," said Kalix, and sounded
enthusiastic again, before her voice fell. She held on tightly to
Gawain.

"I don't want to leave you."

"We'll only be apart for a few hours," pointed out Gawain.
"I'll come to the gig."

"And then we be together?" said Kalix.

"Yes," said Gawain. "We'll always be together."

Kalix felt intensely happy as she dressed, and for once her
happiness didn't lurch into anxiety. She put on her new trousers which
hung round her narrow hips, held in place by the new belt, then brushed
her hair. Gawain had never seen her hair in such fine condition, so
long and thick that she could wrap it around her like a cloak.

Gawain slipped quietly out of the house and made his way back
to his small room in Camberwell. It was snowing and a cold wind blew
through the streets but Gawain barely noticed. In the space of one
night, he'd shed three years of misery. He was serious when he told
Kalix they'd never be apart again. Though he'd been concerned to find
that Kalix was indeed taking laudanum, he hadn't mentioned it. Perhaps,
now that they were back together, she would no longer feel the need to
use it.

Moonglow was surprised to arrive home and find a happy looking
Kalix eating a bowl of cereal, without appearing to grimace or threaten
to vomit.

"Gawain rescued me!" Kalix said, and told her all about it. It
was a dramatic tale.

"I dreamed we met," said Kalix. "And then he rescued me."

Kalix danced around the room. It was so unusual to see Kalix
so cheerful that Moonglow managed to forget he own misery for a while.
She laughed as Kalix danced. The young werewolf looked at the clock,
and realised she was going to be late.

"See you later!" she cried, and hurried from the house.
Tonight she'd remembered to put on her pendant. Now that Gawain had
come back, Kalix wasn't so uncaring about her own safety.

Moonglow planned to catch up on her studies before going to
the gig this evening. She was hoping that seeing the infamous
MacRin-nalch twins onstage would distract her from her worries though
it struck her, rather depressingly, that she didn't have anyone to go
with. Daniel, her once reliable companion, would probably be going with
Alicia, her once reliable friend. Moonglow didn't much feel like being
the extra person at their side.

Later in the day she heard voices in the living room. Daniel
and a girl. Alicia no doubt. Moonglow hesitated. She didn't enjoy
seeing them together. She shrugged, and went downstairs. Daniel was in
the living room, but not with Alicia. Vex was sitting on his lap,
staring into his eyes.

"Eh hello…" said Moonglow.

Daniel looked around, awkwardly.

"She's practising reading auras," explained Daniel, and looked
embarrassed. Vex turned her head towards Moonglow.

"Hi Moonglow! I'm really making progress with reading auras. I
was just telling Daniel about his secret thoughts and feelings."

"With you sitting on his lap I can probably tell what he's
feeling," said Moonglow.

"Aunt Malvie can't stop me going to the gig now. Are you
coming? Me and Daniel are going together."

"You are?"

They were. Daniel was apparently putting Alicia on hold for
the evening to go out with Vex.

'Probably Alicia's at home dreaming about him right now,'
thought Moonglow, and felt irritated. She went to the kitchen to make
tea, and was sufficiently annoyed not to offer a cup to Daniel or Vex.

206

Dominil had a late breakfast in a cafe then picked up the van
she'd hired for tonight. She called in at a print shop in Camden High
Street to collect the small batch of Yum Yum Sugary Snacks T-shirts
she'd had made on a whim, doing the design in a moment of boredom.
Tonight she planned to either give them away, or sell them if anyone
expressed enough interest to hand over money. T-shirts were good
publicity.

Dominil had drawn a stylised version of the twins, mostly
colourful hair, put the band's name underneath, and their set list
beneath that, made up of some of the twins' more notable song titles,
such as
Yum Yum Cute Boys
and
Stupid
Werewolf Bitch
. Dominil knew that
Stupid Werewolf
Bitch
had been written about her, as had
Evil
White-Haired Slut
. It didn't annoy her. Nor did it amuse
her. She didn't care.

It was snowing again. Bad for tonight, unfortunately. The cold
might keep people in their homes. Beauty and Delicious had better be
prepared for a low turnout.

'They'd better be prepared for anything,' thought Dominil. She
entered the house expecting to find a chaotic scene as the twins made
themselves ready. Instead she found the house completely silent.
Dominil hurried through to Beauty's room.

"What are you doing?"

"Staying in bed."

Dominil frowned.

"Are you ready for the gig?"

"We're not playing."

At that moment the doorbell rang. Dominil was scowling as she
answered the door to Kalix.

"What's wrong?"

"Beauty and Delicious have lost their nerve. They refuse to
leave their beds."

"Oh," said Kalix.

Dominil paced the room.

"Gawain stayed with me last night," said Kalix.

Dominil cast a frozen stare at her.

"Am I meant to care about that? I have to get the twins
onstage."

Dominil headed for the door.

"Are you going to shout at them?" asked Kalix.

"Damn right I'm going to shout at them," replied Dominil.

"I don't think that's a good idea," said Kalix. The glare
which Dominil now turned on her was so fierce that Kalix took a step
back.

"Do you have a better suggestion?"

"Well… you could…" Kalix found it hard to get her words out.

"Get to the point," growled Dominil.

Kalix wished she hadn't started the conversation, but
struggled on.

"Maybe you should encourage them. You know… sort of try being
nice. If you shout at them they'll just get more nervous and refuse to
play."

"Do I strike you as the sort or werewolf who can be
encouraging? Or nice?" said Dominil, in a tone of voice which suggested
an icy gale blowing down from the frozen north.

"Well, sometimes," said Kalix.

Dominil seemed about to give vent to another furious retort,
but paused, and looked surprised.

"I think you can be quite encouraging," said Kalix.

Dominil laughed. Kalix had never heard her laugh before. It
was a harsh sound.

"Nice. Encouraging," she muttered, as if she'd never heard the
words before. "Possibly it is worth trying. Come with me."

Beauty was still hiding under the covers. Seeing that Dominil
was unsure of how to begin, Kalix made a start.

"You should get up and get ready for the gig. Because you've
made all this progress. All the hard work rehearsing. It would be a
shame to throw it away."

There was no reply from Beauty.

"Kalix is right," said Dominil. "I have been impressed with
your efforts. It would be foolish to let it be for nothing."

Beauty stuck her head out from under the covers. There was a
bottle of whisky beside her on the pillow.

"You just want us to go to the castle and vote," she said to
Dominil, and looked at her accusingly.

Dominil considered this for a few moments.

"That is not entirely true," she said eventually. "It was my
main motivation, I admit. But since I've been here I've been impressed
by your talent. You and your sister can be successful."

Beauty didn't look entirely convinced.

"You deserve to be successful," continued Dominil, with a
final effort.

Beauty still hesitated.

"I have run out of encouragement," said Dominil. "If you don't
get up of your own accord, I really will pick you up and throw you in
the van."

The next half hour was utter chaos as Beauty and Delicious
made themselves ready. They had to cram five hours worth of
hairstyling, make-up and dressing into under thirty minutes. Dominil
and Kalix were forced to withdraw to the kitchen to avoid being
trampled in the melee. Kalix rather hoped that after her reasonably
kind words to the twins, Dominil might have something positive to say
about her momentous news concerning Gawain, but Dominil didn't mention
it. She glanced at her watch.

"Almost time to go. Help me load the van."

"Gawain came and rescued me," said Kalix.

"You told me that already," replied Dominil.

207

The Fire Queen appeared in Thrix's apartment in a triumphant
mood.

"The Queen of the Hiyasta will tonight crush and obliterate
all who spoke harshly of her fashion achievements. Princess Kabachetka
will acknowledge that Malveria is supreme."

She took the Enchantress in her arms and kissed her.

"Thank you for the wonderful clothes."

The Enchantress had been expecting Malveria to send a minion
for the missing handbag but the Fire Queen explained that she had
journeyed here herself in order to thank Thrix once again.

"Soon it will be time to mount the imperial carriage and
dazzle the assembled hordes. But my preparations are now complete, and
as in time of war, there is now nothing to do but wail till the
appointed moment, and then attack. "

Malveria looked thoughtful.

"And I have been struck by another thought. Tonight you will
confront Sarapen, yes?"

"It seems likely," said Thrix.

"For which reason I forgive you the rather utilitarian T-shirt
you are wearing. It would not do to be fighting in over elaborate
clothing."

"I'm hoping there's no fighting involved," said Thrix. "I'm
planning to blanket the area with protection spells and keep him out."

"Yes, this is wise. And it leads me to my other thought.
Sarapen is a mighty werewolf. He will have other werewolves with him. I
do not wish to insult your skills in any way, but are you certain you
can keep them all out? If you have the slightest doubt, I will attempt
to add some power of my own to yours."

"I'm sure I can manage," replied the Enchantress.

"The white-haired werewolf has her doubts. When I last
encountered her she asked if I could lend extra protection."

Thrix was moderately displeased to learn this.

"I told Dominil I could manage."

Malveria looked squarely at Thrix. As happened on those
occasions when the Fire Queen turned her attention fully to the art of
war, she was serious and to the point.

"You are not completely certain if you can manage. You don't
know what forces Sarapen may being with him. If you block every door
you may find he has a company of wolves on the roof. Take note of my
words, dearest Enchantress."

Thrix didn't like any suggestion that she might be lacking in
power. Had it been anyone else warning her, she'd have thrown them out.

"I'll be fine. Dominil is strong, and there will be four or
five other MacRinnalchs in the audience. That should be enough to take
care of any werewolf who breaches my spells. Not that any werewolf will
breach my spells."

"Very well, stubborn Enchantress. But will you be insulted if
I make a brief visit during the evening?"

"To check I'm all right?"

"Yes. I worry about you. And, I confess, about my idiotic
niece, who will also be there, plaguing the audience."

"I won't be insulted," said Thrix. "Though I doubt you'll have
time to visit, you'll be on your way to Livia's."

"Indeed I will. The population is even now gathering to see me
ride off in my most splendid carriage. But I will visit if I can spare
a moment."

Malveria thanked Thrix effusively for her new clothes once
more.

"It is a victory for your skill, genius, artistry and
unparalleled work ethic."

She de-materialised, leaving Thrix slightly annoyed at the
thought of Dominil doubting her powers.

208

Clan secretary Rainal had rarely seen Verasa so livid.

"Markus challenged Wallace to single combat? Without
consulting me?"

Verasa slammed her fist on a table. The table was a hefty old
piece of wood, but no match for a werewolf's temper, and it split apart.

"Is my son losing his mind? Does he want to die?"

"He wants to prove himself," said Rainal.

Verasa growled, and kicked out at a small chair. It too
disintegrated. The sound of it smashing jerked Verasa back to her
senses. She looked at the pieces of wood.

"That chair," she said calmly, "has been in the family for
five hun-dred years, and is quite irreplaceable. You see, Rainal, what
a fury this has driven me to? I'm sure I never before broke two pieces
of furniture in such a short space of time."