The Anxiety of Kalix the Werewolf (48 page)

“Have you met him before?” asked Kalix.

“No. But I've seen him at some events. Let's go.”

“Wait,” Kalix said urgently. “We don't have a plan yet!”

“Is there any chance of us thinking of a good plan?” asked Vex.

“No.”

“Then let's go.”

“I feel conspicuous,” said Kalix. She was abruptly conscious of her clothes. Her tiny shorts left her legs bare. Her arms were uncovered too, and though she'd stopped the bleeding by putting a plaster over her latest cut, she was keenly aware that it must look conspicuous.

“Everyone else is in ball gowns and we're wearing shorts and tie-dyed vests.”

“Well, that's good,” said Vex. “We look like models. Everyone likes models.”

“Do they?”

“Of course, if they're young and pretty like us.”

Kalix suddenly felt ashamed that she was hanging back while Vex was urging them on. She should be doing her best, even if she was quite certain they wouldn't succeed.

“OK,” she said. “Let's go.”

They hurried across the room, dodging waiters and trying not to interfere with the clothes auction. Without waiting to be invited, Vex sat down next to the adviser.

“Hi,” she said. “You look a bit miserable. We've come to cheer you up.”

“I know you. I've seen you before. You're a Hiyasta.”

“That's right,” said Vex. “Is there anything you want to talk about?”

“I don't think I should be talking to you,” said Bakmer. “The Empress wouldn't like it.”

Vex grinned at him. “She wouldn't mind. Just pretend we're ambassadors at court. Ambassadors are always telling each other stuff, right?”

Bakmer eyed Vex suspiciously. “Are you spying on me?”

“Absolutely not. We're not looking for any sort of information. Unless there's something you really want to tell us.”

Vex pressed herself close to Bakmer. Kalix cringed. The ball hadn't even started yet and already they were the worst spies in history.

CHAPTER 91

William retrieved his mother's handbag as swiftly as he could. He was quite certain that she'd sent him to fetch it merely as a way of interviewing his date in private. He was worried she might already have scared Moonglow away, but arrived back to find them talking quite happily together.

“Here's your bag.”

“Thanks, William. It was so careless of me to forget it. I've been having an interesting chat with Moonglow. You didn't tell me she was such a good student.”

“Right . . . I didn't think you'd be interested.”

“Of course I'm interested. You never talk about your degree course.” William's mother rose gracefully. “I'll leave you alone. The ball will start any minute and I have to make sure the Princess is in position. William,
you must invite Moonglow for lunch. I insist you bring her over to meet the family.”

William's mother departed. William looked at Moonglow.

“How did you do that?”

“What?”

“Make her like you so quickly? She's never insisted I invite anyone for lunch before.”

“I talked about exams and studying,” said Moonglow. “I told her about the good marks I'd been getting.”

William looked puzzled. “And she was impressed by that?”

“Of course. Mothers always like anyone who's studying hard and working for a good degree. Didn't you know that?”

“No.”

“What did you think she was worried about? Family connections?”

“Yes.”

Moonglow put her hand over William's. “She just wants you to end up with someone with some ambition.”

“That might explain why she never liked any of my other dates,” said William. He was cheered by Moonglow's success with his mother, and ordered a bottle of champagne from a waiter.

“Are you sure I can't buy you any clothes? The auction's almost finished. Look, these are great shoes.”

“They are nice,” agreed Moonglow. “But no, you can't buy me them. Why are you suddenly looking sad? I can manage without new shoes.”

“It's not that,” said William. “I just realized that my mother liking you doesn't really get me any further forward. With her not knowing I'm gay, I mean.”

“Yes, that's still a problem.”

The waiter appeared with their bottle of champagne. After depositing it on the table, he leaned over to speak discreetly in Moonglow's ear.

“A lady with white hair asked me to give you this.”

Moonglow accepted a folded napkin. She glanced inside. It contained an electronic room pass and a note from Dominil. “Distikka's room—438. Search it while I keep her busy.”

“I have to leave for a few minutes. I'll be right back.” Moonglow left swiftly and was almost out the room before she considered what she was doing.
I'm about to break into a hotel room. Is that illegal? Am I going to be arrested?
Well, thought Moonglow, she had insisted on coming and joining in with the espionage mission. She wasn't going to back out of
it now. Excited and slightly fearful, Moonglow headed for the corridor, where she asked an employee for directions before taking the lift to the fourth floor.

The Fire Queen approached Thrix at the end of the clothes auction. “Enchantress, it has gone splendidly so far, yes? I saw your clothes sell for great amounts. Once more, your designs have triumphed.” Malveria studied her features in one of the mirrors that had not yet been cleared from the backstage area. “I am looking fabulous in every way, am I not?”

It was true. The Fire Queen was looking fabulous. Her pale blue evening gown set off her bare shoulders quite perfectly. Her long hair displayed subtle hints of a warm dark red, an effect the Fire Queen had been practicing for a long time, in which she allowed the merest hint of her internal fire to flow into her tresses.

“One expects to turn heads, of course. But tonight I have the advantage of this supreme gown, my extra-high heels and lip coloring that cannot be faulted.”

The Fire Queen frowned. Thrix seemed to be lacking in enthusiasm. “Despite the success of your clothes, and my fabulous appearance, you seem dissatisfied. Why is this?”

“I'm frustrated because I'm not doing anything.”

Thrix pointed discreetly to the far side of the room, where Dominil still sat with Distikka. “Dominil's already matching intellects with Distikka. Daniel's gone off looking for Lady Gezinka. Even Vex and Kalix are . . . uh . . .”

They looked over to another table where Vex was wiping champagne off Adviser Bakmer after spilling it on his shirt, while Kalix attempted to mop the table with a napkin.

“Well, I'm sure they're doing their best.”

“I also am busy,” declared the Fire Queen. “Even now I am monitoring Kabachetka, and have prevented her from likewise monitoring our progress. Our sorcery is struggling for supremacy, and I will not falter.”

“I don't seem to be doing anything,” said Thrix.

“And that is just what I have come to talk to you about. Your target, the werewolf hunter Mr. Eggers, will shortly be arriving. I overheard Kabachetka mention it.”

Thrix's eyes flashed. “Now I'm feeling better. Mr. Eggers? He's a senior member of the Guild.”

“The timing is splendid. The ball is about to start. You may dance with Mr. Eggers, and learn his secrets.”

“I was thinking more of just killing him.”

“Dearest Thrix, you know that will not do,” said the Fire Queen sternly. “You need information from this man. And you are golden and splendid. How can he resist?”

Thrix checked her own appearance in the mirror. “I'm not all that confident about these hair extensions.”

The Fire Queen assured her they looked natural, and also splendid. “As they should, given the amount of sorcery we worked over them.”

“Yes,” said Thrix. “Don't mention that to Dominil. She'll accuse me of being frivolous. Again.”

They turned toward the crowd in the room, many of whom were now rising from their tables.

“Moonglow is searching Distikka's room,” said the Fire Queen. “Dominil sent her, which I enabled her to do by briefly distracting Distikka. The espionage is all underway, Enchantress.”

They walked elegantly toward the marble pillars at the door.

“Nothing will distract me from this mission,” said the Fire Queen. “The foul Empress Kabachetka will not succeed in seducing the handsome Mr. Dewar.”

“Pardon?”

“Mr. Dewar. Did I not mention him? He is the features editor at
Vogue
, and part of the Empress's party. Kabachetka has her eye on him, but I fancy he would do better with me.”

“I thought you were focused on our mission?”

“My task is mainly to distract the attention of the Empress, is it not? Rescuing Mr. Dewar from her dreaded clutches will certainly divert her attention. Really, Enchantress, I can see this night being a memorable one, for many reasons.”

CHAPTER 92

Daniel changed into evening dress, which he'd hired. Dominil had provided him with the money. He examined himself in the mirror, mentally checking off everything—black jacket, black trousers, black silk bow tie,
black waistcoat, white dress shirt, black socks and black patent leather shoes.

“I look strange.” He wished that Moonglow were there to encourage him, but she was busy elsewhere. Daniel felt a familiar chill at the thought of Moonglow on a date. He hoped it was going badly.

Daniel had been given the task of approaching Lady Gezinka, Kabachetka's secretary. He had a sense of impending doom, which had not been helped by Vex informing him that Gezinka was regarded as stern and unfriendly.

How am I meant to seduce a stern, unfriendly Fire Elemental? Dominil has a lot more confidence in my initiative than me
.

Through the huge marble door he could see that the ballroom was filling up. All the men wore evening dress. At least he wouldn't stand out.

Except they're all used to it, he thought. Probably I look like someone wearing it for the first time.

Kalix emerged from the ballroom, head down and moving rapidly. Daniel intercepted her. “Kalix, do I look all right?”

“Can't stop.”

“Have you seen this Gezinka woman?”

“She just sat down with Vex and Bakmer. I have to go.”

“Where?”

“Gardens,” said Kalix. “Nervous. Feeling sick.”

With that, Kalix departed quickly. Daniel walked past several liveried attendants as confidently as he could and entered the ballroom. He was struck by the size of the room and the magnificence of the decor. It was brighter than he'd expected, with pale blue walls and white marble columns, a light gray floor and tables round the walls with white covers and white candles in silver candelabras. Everything seemed to be gilded, from the edges of the chairs to the frieze high up on the walls, illuminated by series of golden chandeliers.

No one was dancing yet, but there were clusters of people everywhere and it took Daniel a while to spot his target. Vex was sitting with two people who he presumed were Bakmer and Gezinka. He advanced hesitantly.

Now this feels even weirder. There are three Fire Elementals at the table. What if they're all talking about Fire Elemental stuff? I'll be left out
.

Although, as Daniel studied his target, it didn't seem as if Lady Gezinka was talking about anything. She was indeed stern-faced. She looked around thirty years old, though Daniel knew that looks were no real indication of an elemental's age. When Daniel first met the Fire
Queen, he'd thought she was in her twenties, but she was hundreds of years old, possibly thousands.

I don't like the way she's sitting rigidly in that chair, thought Daniel. Nothing good ever comes from sitting as rigidly as that.

Gezinka was not unattractive, though she had neither the youthful beauty of Agrivex nor the overwhelming glamour of the Fire Queen. There was nothing otherworldly about her. Here in the ballroom she appeared to be simply a thirty-year-old woman, Indian perhaps, or North African, who'd dressed properly for a formal dance but was rather bored with the proceedings.

Daniel realized he'd come to a halt. He reprimanded himself.
It's time to stop dithering. I have a mission
.

He took a step forward.
I'm not very good at talking to women I don't know. And this is even worse. What am I meant to say?

His nerve deserted him. He turned and walked rapidly in the opposite direction.

“Is there a bar near here?” he asked one of the liveried attendants.

“Waiters will come to your table, sir.”

“I know. But is there a bar near anyway?”

The attendant directed Daniel toward the nearest bar, of which there were several in the hotel. Close to the entrance, he almost bumped into Moonglow. He was relieved to see she wasn't with her date.