The Disappearance of Katie Wren (28 page)

Chapter Thirty-Eight

The Meal

“It's said that after the great leaders received word that the library had been destroyed,” Harry explains later, as we sit at the long table in the grand dining table, “they rejoiced for three days and three nights, secure in the knowledge that our work would fade from the annals of history.”

“But then a select group was chosen to keep the cult alive,” Katie adds, her eyes bright with enthusiasm as she picks up the story. She turns to me, and I can tell that she's enjoying this re-telling immensely. “A single family was entrusted with the fate of the cult for two thousand years! Can you imagine that? Something like forty generations of one family, and they all had to keep the flame burning and ensure that the holy texts remained hidden.”

“Yay for
them
,” Annabelle mutters darkly.

“That's very good, Katie,” Harry says with a smile. “I can't believe how quickly you've learned all our scripture.”

“It's easy when you know it's true,” she replies. “I don't know, I can't explain it, but somehow every word makes perfect sense to me.”

Annabelle puts two fingers in her mouth and mimes vomiting.

“You're not hungry?” Harry asks her.

She pauses, before pushing the plate of meat away. “I just can't quite figure out why you lied all those years ago. Why you pretended you gave a damn about what's good and true.”

“I did care,” he tells her. “I just got tired one day of being right, and I wanted to seek comfort instead. I was drawn into the Cult of Hiirux, and I let the truth wash over me. Pushing back against the world is a young man's game. Power is a perfectly natural phenomena, and it should be celebrated.”

She shakes her head, clearly disgusted.

“You'll come to understand, Annabelle,” he continues, with the air of someone who's talking to a recalcitrant child. “The ancient prophets determined the date for Hiirux's return, and they knew that most religions are crushed over time. They decided it would be better for our people to stay hidden, to preserve the knowledge among only a select few, until the moment was right for us to emerge once more into the light. It was only in the year 1955 that the descendants of the original cult began to rebuild our society. Several years after that, Knott's Court was purchased from its previous owners, and now we stand on the verge of Hiirux's great return.”

“We must praise him,” Katie says, closing her eyes and bowing her head. “Hiirux's return will be the greatest day that mankind has ever known.”

“Katie has learned well,” Harry continues with a proud smile. “She's an intelligent girl, and she understands the responsibilities that have been placed on her shoulders. Just the other day, she -”

“I can't listen to this!” I say firmly, getting to my feet. “Not one word of it is true! You've just resurrected some old set of nonsense that should have been consigned to history!”

“Soon there will be proof for all the non-believers,” Katie says, opening her eyes and turning to me. “The last day of this month will bring Hiirux's mighty return. None shall be able to deny him then.”

“You really believe this, don't you?” I reply.

Her smile broadens. “I know it's true, Mum. This is my destiny.”

“Why her?” I ask, turning back to Harry. “Of all the girls in this country, of all the girls in the world, why did you choose my daughter?”

“The runes of Hiirux led us to her.”

“The runes of Hiirux?”

“A set of stones,” he continues, “that guide us and -”

“Oh, forget it,” I say with a sigh. “The last thing I want is to hear more of your rubbish.”

“But it's true,” Katie says eagerly. “The stones told them my name, and my qualities, and where to find me. The stones promised that I'd embrace my destiny, and they were right. Dad was supposed to help guide me, but he couldn't understand.”

“Your father?” I reply cautiously. “What does he have to do with all of this?”

“He was told,” she continues, “and he accepted for a while, but finally he changed his mind. He wanted to hide me away from my destiny, so he had to be taken care of.”

“Taken...”

My voice trails off as I realize what she means. I feel a thudding sensation in my chest, as if somebody has punched me in the heart.

“There's no need to worry,” she adds with a smile. “He was expendable.”

I stare at her, and I swear I feel completely numb. There's simply no way that my kind, caring, loving daughter could be so heartless.

“There have been many sacrifices for the cause,” Harry continues. “Some willing, some not. All were necessary.”

“You murdered my husband?” I stammer, getting to my feet.

“Sit down,” Annabelle whispers, grabbing my wrist. “You can't afford to fall apart right now.”

“You
murdered
my husband?” I continue, shuddering with shock as I stare at Harry. “You staged a car crash? You took him away from me when my little girl was just six months old?”

“Not me personally,” he replies, “but I was aware of that particular operation. I heard that the chosen child had been located, and that one of her parents had refused to accept her role.”

“Don't you see?” Katie continues with a grin. “This is my destiny! From before I was born, this is what I was supposed to do! Really, you should be pleased for me!”

“I don't think I even know you,” I whisper. “My girl, my Katie, could never be so cruel.”

“Sit down!” Annabelle hisses again, tugging on my arm. “If you lose it now, we're screwed! Hold yourself together, yeah? There'll be time to scream later.”

I hesitate for a moment, before sitting again. I still feel numb, and I'm still not sure I know my daughter anymore, but Annabelle is right. I have to keep the faith and trust that the real Katie will come back.

“As soon as I arrived in London for that first visit a few weeks ago,” Katie continues, “I felt as if I was home. I wondered why, and now I know. Fate moves in strange ways, Mum, and we can't always see its purpose until we reach our destination. We can feel it, though. It tugs on our breast, calling us forward, and it whispers in our ear to give us strength. You always told me I was a strong girl, and now I know why. I was strong because the great Hiirux demanded it.”

“Loony,” Annabelle mumbles under her breath. “Friggin' space cadet.”

“Tonight we shall give Katie another chance to call out into the void,” Harry explains. “Hiirux edges closer each time, and eventually he will pour himself into her.”

“Yes!” Katie says with a grin. “That's exactly what he'll do!”

“And then he will walk among us again.”

“He will!”

“And we shall know his purpose.”

“We shall know it,” she continues. “All of us. Even you, Mum. You'll see that I'm right.”

“And the world shall change forever,” Harry adds. “We do not know precisely
what
Hiirux will do to this world once he is here, but his plans must be glorious. He has waited so long.”

“Do you think tonight will be the night?” Katie asks, turning to him. “He seemed so close before, and he reached out to me with such strength! Do you think there's a chance that this will be the night when he finally enters me?”

“It's possible, but you mustn't be impatient. Whether it's tonight, or tomorrow, or the day after that, he will arrive when he is ready. The prophecies merely state that it will be before the last day of this month. The black birds have been forced away and defeated, and now nothing stands in our way.”

“I can't wait,” she continues, shuddering with pleasure. “This is my role in the world. Even if he tears me in two, I'll die knowing that I served my -”

“Stop it!” I shout, getting to my feet and taking a step back. “Stop talking like that! You're my little girl and I won't let these people use you like this!”

“Wait 'til you see him,” she replies with a grin. “Then you'll understand.”

“Katie,” I continue, “I want you to walk out of here with me. I want you to get your things and come with me right now.” I wait for an answer, but she simply shakes her head. After a moment, I turn to Harry. “You can't keep her here!”

“We're
not
keeping her here,” he replies calmly. “She's always been free to leave whenever she wishes. She has known that from the start.”

“Why would I leave when I'm so close?” she asks. “Poor Mummy, you really
are
struggling with all of this, aren't you? You're going to feel so foolish when you witness his return. I wish you could just be proud of me.”

As she finishes speaking, a door opens at the far end of the room and I see Dominic Stewart entering.

“It's time,” he announces, causing Katie and Harry to immediately rise from their chairs. “The great Hiirux must be guided once again. Perhaps this time, he will finally see fit to return to the mortal coil.”

“Soon you'll understand,” Katie says, turning to me with a broader grin than ever. “And then you'll be proud of me, Mum. I promise!”

***

Letting out a faint gasp, Katie slumps naked and bloodied into my arms. I barely manage to hold her up, but one of the maids takes her arm and supports her as we drag her across the room. Katie's still moaning slightly, as if she's in great pain, but her eyes remain closed and she's making no effort to support herself.

“I'll send someone to wash her,” the maid tells me as we set my poor girl down on the bed.

“I'll do it,” I tell her.

“But -”

“I was allowed last time, wasn't I?” I point out. “Please, it's the only thing I
can
do for her right now. Just bring me some water, a sponge, and some towels. If you're in doubt, ask Dominic Stewart. He'll tell you it's okay to let me be the one who washes her.”

She hesitates for a moment, before nodding and hurrying out of the room.

“Everything's going to be okay,” I tell Katie, as I brush mattered, blood-soaked hair from across her face. Her whole body has been ravaged by her latest session in the main chamber, and there are bigger cuts than ever on her chest, belly and thighs. Even her neck has been damaged this time, and thick blood is caked around a large wound that looks to have almost pulled the left side of her jaw away. At least now, when she's quiet, it's easier to remind myself that my sweet girl is still trapped somewhere in this body. I'll get her back, and in the process I'll banish that heartless monster that spoke to me at dinner.

A moment later, I hear the maid returning with the bowl, which she sets on the table next to the bed.

“Now leave us,” I tell her. “Let me be alone with my daughter.”

“But -”

“Leave us!” I hiss. “Harry said it would be fine! It looks like there was a lot of cleaning up to do in the chamber. Shouldn't you be helping the others?”

She hesitates again, and then she heads back to the door.

“And tell the others to leave us alone,” I add. “At least for a little while. Give Katie some dignity while she's recovering.”

I wait for her to go.

“Move!” I shout finally, and she stumbles to the door. I watch as she heads out, and then I look down at Katie's bloodied and battered body. “I'm getting you out of here,” I continue. “Can you hear me? Katie, are you conscious?”

When she fails to reply, I tap the side of her face, but still she fails to stir.

“Okay,” Annabelle mutters, hurrying into the room, “the coast's clear but it won't be for long. We're getting out of here through the kitchen. It's the back entrance, but it's our only shot.”

She grabs a sheet and wraps Katie gently, before lifting her up into her arms.

“Do you remember the way?” she asks.

Nodding, I head to the door and peer out into the corridor. There's no sign of anyone, which I suppose means they're still dealing with the mess in the main chamber. Once I've checked that Katie and Annabelle are right behind me, I hurry along the corridor until I reach the next junction, where once again there's no-one around. I can already see the door that leads into the kitchen, and I can hear voices in the next room.

“How are we going to get through there?” I whisper as Annabelle carries Katie to join me.

“There's a pantry area,” she explains, “that should allow us to bypass the main part of the kitchen. At the far end, there's a door that opens out into the kitchen just a few feet from the main rear door. Then we'll be in the yard, and we have to try to get to one of the vans. Either that, or we can just go to the exit and make a run for it. We're gonna have to be quick, though, and there won't be a lot of time to hang around discussing things.”

“But what if -”

“This way!”

She heads along the next corridor and then pushes open one of the doors, quickly disappearing inside. I hurry after her and find that she's already halfway across the dark pantry, although she stops as soon as she reaches the next door.

“I can hear people on the other side,” she whispers, turning back to me. “Three or four voices. It sounds like people working in the kitchen, but I can't be sure. Hopefully they're not the most attentive people in the whole building. I think maybe we need to cause a distraction.”