The second date, as promised, is to the pub up the road which had paintings for sale. It comes a little too soon for my tastes, but when you work the hours we do you learn to grab opportunities when they come. Holly has really made an effort, with a peacock blue trouser suit that makes his rear view look amazing. Apparently he doesn't do casual. He's managed to find nail varnish that matches exactly. The man must spend half his life shopping for nail polish!
I feel a little underdressed beside him, although I know my dark green shawl top complements my skin. I've gone for matching wedge hightops instead of more formal shoes. I've left my hair loose as well and it is bouncing in a glossy, crinkly cloud around my head. Holly stares. Maybe he's never seen me without my hair up.
He gallantly holds the door open for me, which could start t
I realise within moments that I have taken on too much. This is no fledgling. He's brutal, merciless and well trained. We're both moving faster than a human eye could follow as we trade attacks. In only a few seconds he's knocked me flat among the garbage littering the alley, leaping forwards after me, lunging for my neck with his fangs. As his weight knocks the breath from me, he recoils.There really was a lot of garlic in those kebabs.It gives me a fraction of a chance to get away and in desperation I roll away from him. My scrabbling hands find a broken wooden chair. My first swing misses, and more attacks from my foe have me reeling until I finally connect. The chair smashes. I know exactly what to do with the broken leg that I am left clutching in my claws, and the vamp
I'm home, the rest of the journey having passed in a blur. The flat looks perfectly normal, although I switch on all the lights to help dispel my mental shadows. There's no Bellmouth, which comes as a comfort because it means the danger really is over.The phone calls begin as soon as I remember to switch my mobile back on, because everyone in the family hears Bellmouth when he bays a warning. Rupert too, and even a few of his bodyguard, the ones who have been there since Blackmarsh decided that Rupert was One Of Us and have seen and accepted all the associated weirdness.
Paul and I take only a few steps before Mark stops us and sends one of his companions to get a car. I am embarrassed at how pathetically grateful I am not to having to walk. It's only a short trip, no more than a couple of minutes. Goldhawk territory looks no different to the streets we have been driving through. That has to be intentional. It's sensible to blend in. Mark points out the pack tags spray-painted onto walls along with other random graffiti, marking the territory boundaries, which is helpful. Rather than being shown straight to the Alpha, I'm given the chance to shower and patch up my injuries. Mark has someone find me a change of clothes. Goldhawk hospitality is getting a five star rati
It is both reassuring and disconcerting to return to the normality of rehearsal and performance. I even find David's casual
There's dead silence in the wake of my question. After a long moment, Russel clears his throat in surprise, but it's Christy who finds her voice first. “Perhaps you should give us a better idea of what you have in mind?” I marshal my thoughts. My request had been an impulse, but it does make sense. “Back… where
I find the best way for me to cope with stress is to do what I can, rather than dwelling on what I cannot. In my case, what I can do is to find out more about Mr Cavendish. I have rather an unfair advantage when it comes to investigating people. Your average member of the public, when they want to learn more about the CEO of a little-known company, is limited in their sources to the company website, Companies House and maybe Wikipedia, if the company has a high enough profile. I have MI5 on speed dial.I don’t call the emergency number. MI5 is there to protect the country, the Queen, and by extension the future King. It is not there to act as my personal assistant. However I have been assigned a dedicated contact within the organisation. After forcing myself to go to bed and at least attempt to sleep, I wait until she will be in the office and call her.The reputation of Blackmarsh is such that, in a few select but important places, you don&r
I stand motionless as I try to persuade myself of what I just heard. A vampire, a senior vampire, a very senior vampire, owes me a favour. For having got lucky when jumping into a fight that hadn’t been mine. Not only that but, from the sounds of it, I have immunity from his… family? Faction? His people, until I claim that favour. Perhaps I should never cash in. That sort of immunity sounds useful.The nondescript woman is waiting, holding out her hand with a chunky signet ring nestled in her palm. “He sends you this token, to present at the Club as your identification.”I draw on my training and give a polite dip of my head. “Please convey my acknowledgement to Aloysius Cavendish and inform him that I appreciate his honourable conduct. You may place the token here.” I point to the cleanest-looking patch of ground I can see, and step back. The woman- the vampire, I suppose- crouches to place the ring where I indicated, and
How I get through that evening’s performance, and the next day, I don’t know. I’m playing on autopilot. I can say without boasting that I’m good enough that only another good musician would notice, but I’m failing myself and everyone else who has helped me to get to where I am by giving less than my best. Roberto has decided I have a mild bug of some sort, and is letting it slide, but I’ll have to pull myself together soon or that excuse won’t cover it any more. What I need is more information, something to help explain what I experienced. I still haven’t heard back from my contact at MI5, and my own research has uncovered nothing new. To cap it all, it’s the polo match. The excitement of plotting to make David look bad has completely lost its shine. If it wouldn’t feel as if I’d be letting Holly and Francesca down, and Rupert, I’d probably not go through with it. My enthusiasm is somewhat reawakened by David’s behaviour on the coach. There is more than one coach, it