Why Are All the Good Guys Total Monsters? (5 page)

‘Absolutely.’

‘Is that it?’ I said.

‘Pretty much,’ he said. ‘They weren’t happy with you though
I can tell you.’

‘You’re kidding?’

‘No, they had it in for you. They’d have pulled your hair
and given you a severe beating.’

I interrupted him. ‘Hold on there. Is this a joke? I don’t
believe in faeries.’

‘Hmm, well that solves everything then, doesn’t it? Just
pretend you never saw them.’

I glared at him.

He sighed. ‘Look, I don’t want to ruin your good mood.’

‘Who said I was in a good mood?’

‘You looked like you’d found out some wonderful news when I
arrived. Had you?’

Was I imagining the wicked amusement in his eyes?

‘No,’ I lied. ‘No special news at all.’

He lowered his head and then looked back up at me, his eyes
scorching, alluring. ‘No word from abroad then?’

‘Not a peep.’

Breath poured from his luscious lips as he sighed while
still smiling at me. His eyes searched mine for any hint of guile.

I’m generally a very poor liar. I’d rather tell it like it
is or saying nothing, but I felt the need to defend myself. I didn’t want
anyone to know I was here alone.

‘Now that I’ve been totally honest, and answered all your
questions truthfully, will you answer two for me?’ he said.

Two? My heart started pounding guiltily. Was he hinting he
knew I’d lied? ‘Sure.’

‘Will you have dinner with me tomorrow night, if you’re not
busy?’

An invitation to dinner was not what I thought he’d ask.

‘I know this wonderful restaurant not far from here,’ he
said. ‘Great food, spellbinding atmosphere, quite magical actually.’ His smile
seemed genuine.

I nodded. I could chicken out tomorrow when in the cold
light of day my common sense was back. Or I could put on my favourite dress and
have dinner with one of the most handsome guys in the city.

‘I promise to have you home before the witching hour.’

I wished he hadn’t said that. Witches, broomsticks and dark
magic aren’t my thing.

‘I was going to say before midnight,’ he said, as if reading
my mind, ‘but I thought that would invariably bring us back to the cat, and I’d
rather not talk about him again tonight.’

I was staring at him, fascinated by his looks, wondering if
he knew how he made me feel.

‘And no,’ he said, smiling, ‘I can’t read your mind if
that’s what you’re thinking.’ He smiled again, as if this amused him.

Lightning tore across the sky, illuminating the garden.
Sabastien didn’t flinch, not one gorgeous muscle. ‘Just one more thing,’ he
said. ‘Do you enjoy flying?’

I couldn’t imagine why he wanted to know but I told him
anyway. ‘I love flying, always have.’ This was true. The flight from London to Edinburgh had been fun.

‘Great,’ he said. ‘I’ll pick you up at seven.’

The morning was bright, and
everything was washed fresh from the rainstorm. Even the cobblestones were
shining in the sunlight.

Dreams of faeries, lightning and rain had filled my sleep,
but more than anything, I’d been dreaming about Daire. I couldn’t shake off the
intense way he’d looked at me, or the fascination I had for him. So I was glad
to be out and about in the city next morning to clear away the cobwebs of my
tangled thoughts.

I still hadn’t made up my mind about my dinner date with
Sabastien. I had already emailed Lauren, telling her the edited version of
events — no mention of guys trespassing in the garden or faeries. I blurred the
facts and said I’d met Daire and Sabastien by chance, which was sort of true.
She told me I should have dinner with Sabastien. What harm would it do to have
some fun? This was not good. Lauren was always wrong about these things —
completely wrong, which in the oddest way made her totally accurate. If Lauren
said I should go, I really shouldn’t.

She’d also mentioned how great it was that my mum and
Orlaith had been given wonderful opportunities, but thought it was very unlike
them, especially my mum, to be fine about leaving me on my own in Edinburgh. This had bugged me too, a little, but I figured maybe they knew I was capable of
looking after myself.

I breathed in the warm, fresh air, and headed towards the
shops in Princes Street. It was already quite busy with shoppers. For a few
seconds I enjoyed the potential of a brand new day — and then everything
changed.

To my left was a fortune teller, a man, well dressed, right
down to the foppish cuffs of his green silk shirt that hung below the sleeves
of his black jacket. I’d seen him before, sitting there, and he was quite
popular with tourists and locals. But as I walked past he caught my attention,
and our eyes locked. He was shaking his head at me, as if telling me not to do
something. I kept on walking, but cast a look back and then stopped. I had to
know what he meant. Had he sensed something about me?

I’d always wanted to have my fortune told, but had chickened
out last summer even when Orlaith had encouraged me.

I decided to turn back, go over and see what he had to say.
I didn’t know what I was going to say to him. I needn’t have worried.

‘I don’t mean to upset you,’ he said in a deep, caring
voice. ‘But I have a strange feeling about you.’

I gulped. ‘What is it?’

‘There’s something you’re going to do — and you should not.’

Dinner with Sabastien was the first thing that came to my
mind.

‘Has it anything to do with a young man, or two?’ I said.

He took a moment to consider his reply. ‘No.’

‘You don’t seem sure about that.’

His dark eyes held my gaze. ‘It’s the only answer I can give
you.’

‘Has it anything to do with my mum or my friends?’

‘No,’ he said emphatically. ‘This is about you.’

‘What is it that I shouldn’t do?’

‘I don’t know, but . . . you’ll do it anyway.’

He was studying me, searching deep. It was quite nerve
racking.

‘Is there any advice you can give me?’ I said finally.

‘Go home to London, before it’s too late.’

The air turned cold and I instinctively wrapped my arms
across my chest.

‘Edinburgh is fraught with dangers for you.’

‘Someone else told me I was in danger from . . .’ I bit my
tongue. I couldn’t bring myself to mention about the faeries. He’d think I was
crazy.

‘But you won’t go home, will you?’ He sounded sad.

I shook my head.

He nodded. ‘Good luck to you then. I felt I had to say
something. Maybe it’ll make a difference.’

I reached for my purse. ‘How much do I owe you?’

‘No charge.’

‘That’s very kind of you,’ I said.

Suddenly a handful of silver coins were thrown down into the
fortune teller’s money box. ‘This should be payment in full.’

I turned around. Daire was standing behind me, a cold
expression on his face.

The fortune teller looked warily at the cool, blond,
statuesque figure of Daire.

‘Come on,’ Daire said to me, sweeping me away from the man.

I glanced back one last time at the fortune teller before
Daire and I disappeared into the crowd. He was still watching me, his eyes
urging me to heed his warning.

Daire tugged at my arm, pulling me away.

‘What do you think you’re doing?’ I said.

‘You have to be careful who you tell your business to.’

‘How ironic coming from someone who has repeatedly walked
into my life uninvited,’ I said. ‘And are you following me?’

‘I . . . I was hoping to see you.’

‘So you were following me?’

He avoided my gaze, and ran his hands through the silky
texture of his hair. ‘I wanted to apologize for my attitude last night. I’d
like to make it up to you. You asked me things and I didn’t answer but —’

I interrupted him. ‘Sabastien told me a few things I needed
to know.’

His features hardened like sculpted ice. ‘When?’

‘Last night. He came back looking for a ring he’d lost.’

Daire sneered and laughed. ‘And you believed him?’

‘Maybe.’

He looked distraught. ‘What do I have to do to get through
to you?’

‘He answered everything I asked him. And he’s invited me to
dinner.’

He pulled back from me in disbelief. ‘You told him no, I
trust?’

I was silent.

As the truth sunk in, I saw a storm rise up within the
beauty of his pale grey eyes.

‘You must be mad. You don’t know anything about him. Do you
even know his full name?’

He had me pinned to the ropes on that one.

‘No. I didn’t think so,’ he said.

‘I don’t even know your surname.’

‘Grey.’ He looked at me and then said, ‘Don’t have dinner
with Sabastien tonight. He has no honour, no chivalry.’

The way Daire spoke, the things he said and how he phrased
them was so old fashioned and yet he seemed totally modern. If I could’ve taken
him back with me to London, he’d have been the coolest guy at my school.

‘I wish you’d stop being so pushy and let me do what I
want,’ I said.

His face was beautiful but haunted. ‘Be careful what you
wish for, especially tonight when you’re with Sabastien L’Fae.’ He walked away,
anger burning in his wake.

My blood was boiling and my nerves were rattled. I stood
there in the street, my stomach churning, not knowing what I wanted.

It was then that I noticed the window display of the large
department store beside me. The display had changed from yesterday. Now it was
filled with fantasy woodland faeries with purple, blue and green hair, wings
entwined with leaves, and shimmering dresses advertised as being part of a
summer sale. I’d always loved browsing in this store, so hoping this would calm
my senses, I wandered in with no intention of buying anything, especially not a
fairytale dress, no matter how temping a bargain it was.

A short time later I couldn’t work out what was wrong with
me. I’d succumbed to the sale rail of gorgeous dresses. I liked the misty
purple and blue ones, and then I saw one I’d never have imagined I’d choose.

It was cocktail length, not too short, not too long, a
flattering style made from silver and grey material.

The shop assistant encouraged me to try it on, especially as
grey was so flattering to someone with blonde hair. This was true, and although
I still had no intention of buying a dress, I found myself in the changing room
trying it on. I looked at myself in the mirror. Wow! This dress was perfect. It
flattered me in all the right places, but more than that, it made me feel
fantastic.

I was tempted to buy it, especially as it was a real
bargain, to take back with me to London. No one there would have anything like
this. It was totally unique. When the shop assistant said she could reduce the
cost even further, I couldn’t resist. And so, convincing myself that I was
definitely not buying it to wear for a dinner date with Sabastien, I paid for
it and left the store.

Sunshine was heating up the day and so I decided to take the
longer route back to Orlaith’s house. I walked up towards a medieval cathedral,
avoiding a cobbled alley which had always given me the creeps even in broad
daylight. Then I headed back along the busy shopping area with its modern, bright
and colourful shops. It was only a twenty minute walk but by the time I got to
the house I was feeling a lot better about things. I’d made up my mind not to
have dinner with Sabastien. Taking into account Lauren, the fortune teller, my
own common sense and yes, grudgingly, Daire’s warning, I wouldn’t go.

I’d only just got back to the house when there was a knock
at the front door. A delivery man was there with a floral corsage for me. I
signed for it and took it inside to read the small card that was with it. I
recognized the purple ink. It was from Sabastien.
Looking forward to seeing
you tonight, Vesper
.

I was flattered, surprised and excited all at once. No one
had ever sent me flowers before, and these were lovely cream, pink and red
roses and deep green foliage. They smelled out of this world.

Even though I’d made up my mind not to have dinner with
Sabastien, I wanted to try on my new dress just to see what it looked like with
the silvery, high heeled shoes I’d brought with me.

Hmm, not bad, I thought. I ran a brush through my hair, had
fun with a little makeup, and wore the flower corsage on my wrist.

I hardly noticed that the sky had darkened again, and it was
only when I heard the patio doors blow wide open that I realised the change in
the weather. The net curtains on either side of the doors were billowing in the
wind, and as I hurried to close them, I saw Sabastien in the garden, walking
towards me.

Sabastien L’Fae . . . now that I knew his full name I mulled
it over in my mind. His long, dark, thorn edged coat, unbuttoned to reveal a
black silk shirt, caught the wind. He looked like a creature of the night,
hauntingly handsome.