Darkness Falls (35 page)

‘It’s all an act, you know,’ said Davina quietly.

‘What is?’

‘The selfish cow thing,’ she said. She pulled a cleanser pad from a packet and began to swipe it across April’s skin in a soothing circular motion. ‘Shock news: I’m just like everyone else, April. But because my dad’s rich and I live in this nice house and have nice things, everyone assumes I’m sort of a bitch. After a while you get sick of all their “well it’s all right for you” comments and start playing the part.’

‘But you could be nice, like this.’

‘Believe me, I’ve tried. But people don’t allow you to show weakness. I mean, we’ve got pots of cash, how could we have any problems, right?’

‘What problems?’

‘Oh, don’t worry about it.’

‘No, tell me.’

‘Well I suppose everyone has a father who’s never there and when he is flies into vicious rages or whose mother is like a zombie on prescription drugs and is only interested in her tennis pro. I suppose having a big lovely house is perfect, unless you’d rather have a small cosy one like yours.’

April would have laughed if Davina’s face hadn’t been so sad.

Remember she’s an evil vampire
, she said to herself.
Remember she’s an evil vampire
. But then couldn’t vampires have problems? It was hard enough being a teenager at the best of times, but imagine being trapped there, living with your mum and dad for ever with no prospect of getting out. Being a vicious killer must get wearing after a while.

April let out a giggle.

‘What?’ said Davina, stiffening. ‘What are you laughing at?’ April could hear the hurt in her voice. She stood up and strode back into the bedroom.

‘No, sorry Davina,’ said April running after her. ‘I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s just …’

‘What?’ Davina turned around, her hands defiantly on her hips, but there were tears in her eyes, just like when she had talked about Layla. Maybe Gabriel really had been wrong. Maybe vampires could feel pain.

‘It’s just I was thinking about my Dad’s funeral. You know, when you came to my house? I was cringing, worrying about what you thought of our tiny little terrace, when in real life you would rather live there.’

Davina grabbed a tissue and wiped her eyes.

‘Oh, it’s okay living here I suppose and I know I shouldn’t grumble, but it’s so … so dark and cold sometimes. I know it sounds mad, but after a while you get sick of hiding out, cowering, scared of being found out.’

‘Found out?’

‘That you’re not what everyone thinks you are. That you’re a fraud.’

She blew her nose.

‘I see you, April. You never pretend to be anything you’re not and your family, your house, seemed so warm and cosy and full of life. And I know your mum’s a bit unusual …’

‘You can say that again.’

‘But that’s great! She gets drunk and goes out to clubs and does her own thing. I wish my parents would dare to deviate from the posh person’s handbook once in a while.’

‘Your dad seems to like bad disco tunes.’

Davina laughed sadly.

‘Yes, but that’s so embarrassing. It’s as if he’s developed this one thing he’ll do in public that makes him seem human. “Hey look! I dance badly to Duran Duran, I can’t be all bad.” I just wish I had a relationship like yours with your mum and dad.’

April could feel the tears start in her eyes now.

‘Oh God, now I’ve got you started,’ said Davina, plucking another tissue from the box and handing it to April.

‘Don’t worry, it’s just it’s not so long since he died. Somehow it seems to get harder, not easier. I miss him. And I suppose my mum’s okay, I just wish she could open up. Since Dad died she’s been so wrapped up in her own grief, it’s as if I’m an embarrassment or that I remind her of him or something.’

‘Maybe you should give her more of a chance.’

‘Look who’s talking.’

‘Ah, well I’ve tried again and again with my mum. I don’t think she’s ever going to be an apple-pie-and-knitting sort of mum.’

‘Mine either.’ April blew her nose and laughed. ‘See? I told you this was better than therapy.’

‘Yeah, but it was supposed to be for you, wasn’t it?’

After April had dried her hair, she sat patiently with her eyes closed while Davina did her make-up for her, more subtle and natural than she would have done it herself. Then she pushed her into a wrap dress which accentuated her curves and added some insanely high heels.

‘Wow!’ she said looking at herself in the mirror. ‘Is that really me?’

‘It’s all you, honey,’ said Davina.

It was a transformation. She looked more grown up and mature. The colour Davina had given her had darkened her hair and made it twice as shiny.
Maybe vampires aren’t supernaturally beautiful
, thought April,
maybe they just have good beauticians
.

‘Well, I think you’re too good to waste,’ said Davina, reaching for her phone. April gave her a questioning look, but Davina only smiled and held up a finger. ‘Hi Miggy, are you free?’ she said into the phone. ‘Excellent. Can you be out front in fifteen? We’re going to the Dorch. Could you ring ahead for me? You’re a star.’

She hung up and grinned at April. ‘Come on, if you’re going to ditch lessons, then we’re going to make the most of it. I’m taking you for tea.’

‘No really, I can’t, I’ve got to …’

‘You’ve got to what? Do homework? Not dressed like that you haven’t. Come on, Mummy doesn’t need Miguel at the spa so he’s only going to waste. Plus he’s gorgeous. And since you’ve got to eat at some point, you might as well do it in style.’

April was about to raise another objection, but Davina held up a hand.

‘No time,’ she said, pulling her cashmere sweater over her head and heading for the dressing room. ‘I’ve only got fifteen minutes to make myself as gorgeous as you. I need all the help I can get.’

Despite the fact that she was sitting across the table from a vampire who might have killed someone she knew, April was having a pretty good time. Away from all the other Faces, Davina was actually quite funny and self-deprecating. There was none of her usual showing off and one-upmanship, even when it became obvious that the tea room at the Dorchester was somewhere she visited often. April hadn’t even known it existed.

‘Hello again, Jamie,’ said Davina as a gorgeous waiter approached their table. He had chiselled features and even under the crisp white shirt it was obvious Jamie was no stranger to the gym. The waiter smiled in recognition.

‘Hello, Miss Osbourne.’

‘How many times must I tell you to call me Davina?’

He shrugged those powerful shoulders.

‘Sorry, Miss Osbourne,’ he said. ‘Hotel policy. Thanks for the in with Guido, by the way.’

‘Not a problem,’ she said, touching his hand. ‘Just bring us two more of these, okay?’

She raised her glass. Davina had insisted on them both having a glass of champagne when they had arrived. ‘We’re celebrating, remember? The real April Dunne has finally emerged.’

When he had gone, Davina leant over the table. ‘I put him
in touch with an agent at W2 Models. He’s too pretty to be waiting tables for ever.’

‘See what I mean about you being nicer than your reputation?’

Davina waved the compliment away. ‘Maybe I’ve got other plans for Jamie,’ she smiled.

April wondered. Was she just referring to dating the gorgeous waiter, or was she planning on feeding from him? Or had she plans to turn him into the male Kate Moss
and
use him for the vampire cause? Maybe it was the booze bubbling through her veins, but April couldn’t see Davina as a one-dimensional blood-sucker any more. She was vulnerable and funny and real. Plus she was at home in places like this. She looked around at the pillars and the gilt and velvet. It was all a bit old-fashioned and silly but at the same time it was glamorous and brilliant. She bit into a tiny pastry and sat back.

‘I could get used to this.’

Davina pointed at her.

‘I knew you’d like it. Underneath that reserved British shell, there’s a diva fighting to get out.’

April giggled and sipped her champagne.

Davina glanced at her watch. ‘Now, do you want to go back to computer club or whatever it is you normally do after school, or shall we go and get our nails done?’

‘Oh, I think the nails.’

Davina smiled her approval.

‘I’ll call Miguel. By the end of the day you will be more fabulous than me and that’s saying something.’

April was feeling pleasantly fuzzy and happy. She was enjoying the feeling of being naughty and decadent. There was certainly no way she wanted to go home to the disapproval of her mother and the inevitable shouting that would follow. April was sure that Mr Sheldon would have gleefully rung Silvia about April’s disappearance under the guise of ‘concern for her well-being’. Really he was just creeping around her, trying to get in with her mother to avoid a lawsuit. She pulled a face.

‘What’s up?’

‘Just thought of Hawk and my mum.’

‘What about them?’ asked Davina, clearly sensing some intrigue.

‘Oh, he’s been nosing about, turning up at the house at weird times, having little chats with my mum. I think he’s after her.’

‘Eww! That’s horrible. And what’s your mum thinking of? Your dad’s funeral was only a few weeks ago.’

‘Tell me about it. He gives me the creeps.’

‘Oh, Hawk’s harmless. He’d like you to think he’s in charge at Ravenwood, but he’s just a lackey.’

Now it was April’s turn to be interested.

‘Really? Who is in charge then?’

Davina looked evasive.

‘Oh, some fat cat billionaires. The way my dad talks about them, they’re pretty powerful. I certainly wouldn’t want to be in Hawk’s shoes right now anyway.’

‘What’s he done?’

‘More what he hasn’t done, I think. The school’s not producing as many geniuses as it’s supposed to or something. Daddy’s upset with him, anyway. And the governors are definitely not going to be happy about all the scandals in the papers, with both Marcus and Layla. So I wouldn’t worry, he’s probably going to be fired long before he can get anywhere with your mum.’

Davina obviously knew a lot more than she was saying. Which was another reason for April to stick with her. Maybe she could squeeze out some more information. Caro would be pleased. Not that she was doing anything for her, she reminded herself. She’d had enough of Caro Jackson and her holier-than-thou attitude. No, April had been through enough for that stupid conspiracy cause and it was about time she had a bit of fun. Paying the bill with Davina’s shiny black credit card (‘Well, technically it’s Mummy’s, but if she will leave her PIN lying around …’), they click-clacked through the lobby and out to the car where they fell back into the white leather seats. Davina picked up her phone and started tapping away.

‘Who are you texting?’

Davina tapped the side of her nose. ‘All in the name of fun, don’t you worry.’

She leant over to Miguel and said, ‘Slight detour, Miggy darling. Zip up to Selfridge’s, would you?’

Waiting for them on the kerb were Chessy and Ling. April’s heart sank. She’d been enjoying her day of liberation with her new-found friend Davina. She’d been warm and open and surprisingly sensitive, but she knew how she got when she was around the rest of the Faces: like some sort of fashion-conscious ringmaster, cracking the whip to get everyone to jump her way.

‘Don’t look so worried,’ said Davina as she opened the car door for the girls. ‘It will be fun, I promise you.’

‘Hi April!’ trilled Ling and Chessy together as they squished into the back seat, Ling sitting on Chessy’s knee. ‘This is such a stroke of luck, isn’t it?’ gushed Chessy. ‘We were just shopping for a watch for Ling.’ The other girl proudly held up a gem-encrusted disc of gold on her wrist. ‘Is it too much?’ she pouted.

‘Just a little,’ smiled Davina. ‘But then you can pull it off, honey.’

They drew up at a nail bar in Mayfair, piling out and going inside, chattering and laughing. Ling immediately latched onto Davina, chattering about her new watch, so April sat down next to Chessy. She’d rarely spoken to the girl, but she was always there at the edge of the Faces group, a smart-arse smile on her face. If she was honest, April was a little intimidated by Chessy. She seemed so aloof and otherworldly. Plus she was the prettiest of all the Faces, which didn’t help.

‘So how are you feeling after all the drama?’ said Chessy as the technicians, inscrutable behind their face-masks, began to buff their nails.

‘Oh, not as bad as you’d think. After all the knocks, it’s almost as if I’m getting used to it, you know?’

‘You’re very brave,’ said Chessy. ‘I mean, I’d have gone to pieces. I wish I had your strength.’

April looked at the girl, searching her expression for hints of sarcasm, but there was none. Chessy seemed to be saying what she meant. April was taken aback.

‘Oh, well I wouldn’t say I was strong …’ she muttered.

‘Don’t be so modest,’ said Chessy. ‘Look at all you’ve been through: moving to a new school which, let’s be honest, is full of weirdoes.’ She leant forward and hushed her voice. ‘And I do include present company. It can’t have been easy fitting in at Ravenwood.’