The Curse of the Wolf Girl (41 page)

“I
am
over it.”

“Really? I notice you’ve put on about twenty pounds in the last two weeks.”

Albermarle glanced at his bowl of cereal.

“Who are you to talk?” he demanded, feeling he’d had enough criticism from his cousin. “If there’s anyone wasting time, it’s you. You’re going to fashion shows with this blond werewolf, taking her to dinner and who knows what else. Not much sign of werewolf-hunting going on there, is there? Maybe you should just marry her instead.”

Easterly bristled. “All my actions have been fully approved by the guild.”

“Only because you’ve spun them some story about Thrix being a sorceress. I think you like dating her.”

“She
is
a sorceress, you moron,” said Easterly. “You can’t just shoot a werewolf like Thrix. A silver bullet won’t harm her.”

“There’s never been a werewolf a silver bullet won’t harm,” sneered his large cousin.

“She’s too well protected. Thrix is the most dangerous werewolf in London.”

“I’d say Dominil is more dangerous than that phony sorceress. Dominil’s a psychopathic killer.”

“Just because someone wouldn’t date you doesn’t make them a psychopathic killer. She’s a werewolf. Next time, just shoot her.”

“You should take your own advice,” retorted Albermarle. “Nice suit you’re wearing, by the way. Did Thrix like it? Will she give you another date?”

Easterly glared at Albermarle then abruptly abandoned the argument. He strode down the stairs towards his front door.

“Maybe she’ll invite you to the castle!” yelled Albermarle at his retreating figure. “You can marry into the clan! Have werewolf babies! I know you love her!”

When Easterly had disappeared, Albermarle gazed down at his empty cereal bowl. It looked very small in his hands. Still hungry, he tramped heavily upstairs to examine the contents of his fridge.

It wasn’t far from Kentish Town to Camden, but the journey was an uncomfortable one for Dominil. Having thrown the twins and their equipment into the van, she hoped she might be able to bring the evening to an end without further humiliation. Beauty and Delicious were barely conscious. Unfortunately for Dominil, as they pulled away from the warehouse, they woke up.

“Beauty, did I suffer some bizarre hallucination, or did Pete just tell the whole world he was in love with Dominil?”

“I believe he did. But she discarded him.”

“It’s heartless really.”

“Cruel.”

“Dominil’s like that. Just takes them off for a night of passion, breaks their hearts, then forgets them.”

Dominil drove on.

“At least the mystery is solved,” continued Delicious. “Pete isn’t miserable about any barmaids. He’s miserable about Dominil.”

“I’m not surprised. Dominil’s a hot werewolf. She could pose for the Hot Werewolves calendar. Dominil, do you have a bikini?”

“But seriously,” said Beauty, crawling forward in the van to place her face close behind Dominil. “Is this wise? You know we’re meant to be discreet. What’s the point of me and Delicious being careful if you’re going around seducing everyone? First you break that hunter’s heart at Oxford, and now he’s trying to kill us all. And then you break Pete’s heart, and it practically ruins the band—”

“And don’t forget Sarapen,” interjected Delicious, emerging from the mass of pink hair that covered her face. “She drove him crazy too. That almost destroyed the clan.”

“It’s like nothing’s safe when she’s around.”

Dominil drove on, refusing to respond to the sisters’ mockery, though her face twitched slightly when they were held up by the traffic light at Camden tube station.

“So what was it like with Pete? Did you let yourself go?” Delicious asked mischievously.

“Did you do anything wolf-like?”

There was a brief diversion while the twins discussed various lovers they’d had in the past and occasions where they’d almost let their werewolf identities be discovered through bouts of passion.

“Because you know, when you get that excited, you can be tempted just to let the werewolf emerge.”

“Of course. Any girl would.”

“Dominil more than most, probably. The way she pretends to be reserved then just lets the passion burst out.”

The van pulled up in the side street outside the twins’ house. Dominil emerged from the van, opened the back door, and lifted up an amplifier. “Are you going to help?”

The twins shrugged.

“Have you slept with any more of the band we don’t know about?” Beauty asked.

Dominil proceeded to unload the equipment herself, carrying it swiftly indoors and dumping it in the hallway. If any of the neighbors were watching through their curtains, they might have been surprised at the ease with which the tall, white-haired woman carried such heavy items. They wouldn’t have been surprised at the way Beauty and Delicious stumbled about, doing nothing to help.

“I think I’ve lost a hair extension,” said Delicious, and she sat down in the front garden. “Still, the gig went well.”

“No, it didn’t,” hissed Dominil, marching past with a guitar in each hand. “It was a terrible performance.”

“Be fair,” protested Delicious. “Who can play a gig when half the band is pining for you? We never had a chance.”

Beauty and Delicious each felt themselves yanked to their feet by their collars.

“The equipment is inside,” said Dominil, leading them into the house. “I’m leaving now.”

Dominil returned to the van, closed the door quietly, and drove off. She was irritated beyond measure. As soon as she arrived home, she took one of her carefully measured sips of laudanum. She looked at her bottle. Though she regulated her addiction carefully, her intake had risen very slightly. The stress caused by looking after the twins while simultaneously fighting the Avenaris Guild was considerable, even for her.

She knew that she could end the stress by moving back to the castle in Scotland. The Mistress of the Werewolves, the Great Council, and her father would all welcome her back. But Dominil refused to admit defeat. She wasn’t going back until events in London had run their course.

Princess Kabachetka threw the ancient book on the ground, picked it up, examined it with disgust, then threw it on the ground again. She considered stamping on it, but refrained for fear of damaging her elegant heels. “This ridiculous spell cannot be done,” she yelled, though there was no one in her private cavern to hear her. “And I’m sick of practicing magic in this cave when I should be in my comfortable chambers making ready for tonight’s festivities.” The princess had spent all day trying to perfect a spell that would recreate the effects of the lunar eclipse on Earth. “It’s all very well for Distikka to talk glibly about removing the enchantress’s powers,” she cried. “She’s not the one who has to devise the spell. I’m no good at devising spells!”

The princess was being too critical of herself; she was a powerful user of magic and had made spells in the past. Not as powerful as those concocted by the empress, but effective nonetheless. But for now, she was getting nowhere. The Earth’s moon was a tremendous natural force. Replicating its effects was a task that would have challenged even the most powerful Fire Elemental.

“No doubt the empress could do it,” thought the princess, angrily, “using the power of the Eternal Volcano. Power that she steadfastly refuses to hand over to me. A plague on her. And the enchantress.”

* * *

The princess was not the only one having problems with books that night. In a small Victorian backstreet in Kennington, in the little flat above the empty shop, Kalix was suffering too.

“Did I just hear a werewolf howl?” asked Moonglow in alarm.

Daniel nodded. He was lying on the couch, still sick. Moonglow had brought him a bowl of soup and a cup of tea.

“It sounds serious.”

“Relax,” said Daniel. “She’s just doing a book report.”

Another howl sounded through the house. Moonglow was troubled. She didn’t like to hear Kalix howl in anguish. “I suppose it’s good that she’s working,” she said dubiously.

“It’s progress. But she’ll probably end up eating the book.”

“You have to stop accusing Kalix of eating everything. You know it upsets her.”

“She tried to take a bite out of your computer.”

“She was upset at the time,” reasoned Moonglow.

“She tried to eat the television.”

“Well, she was very disappointed when
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
came to an end. Anyway, I’m sure she won’t eat the book.”

The bedroom door upstairs slammed very loudly. Kalix tramped down the stairs and stormed into the living room.

“Where’s your book?” asked Daniel.

“I ate it.”

“Kalix! You didn’t really?”

“I chewed it a bit. I don’t even like the stupid book! Why do I have to write a report?”

“That’s what you do when you’re learning,” said Moonglow, irritating the werewolf even more.

“It’s stupid. I’m not doing it.”

“You have to,” said Daniel, “or Moonglow will report you to your mom. Then you’ll be in trouble.”

Kalix immediately became agitated. “Would you really report me?”

“Well…” began Moonglow, but she struggled to make a satisfactory reply. “Perhaps we could help you with the book report?” she said to lighten the tension.

“I don’t want to do it. I hate it.”

“I’m sure it’s not really so bad. Vex is doing the same report, and she seemed quite happy.”

Kalix clenched her fists. “That’s because she just makes everything up! She puts her own gold stars on her papers and tells everyone she’s doing well! She’s not doing well at all!”

“I’m sure Vex is doing her best.” Moonglow was pleased to have at least one person in the house who didn’t complain all the time about education. There was the distant sound of the attic door opening followed by heavy boots descending a ladder.

Vex appeared a few seconds later, her expression very cheerful. “I like this book!” she said. “Look, I already got a gold star!” She opened the book to reveal a gold star that seemed to have been recently painted on the title page with nail polish. “Now I’m going to get started on my assignment. It’s going to be great. Kalix, are you ready to start your assignment?”

Kalix growled in frustration and headed back upstairs.

Daniel groaned. “All this talk about book reports. It’s given me a relapse.”

Moonglow mopped his brow and worried desperately. Was Daniel about to die? Should she take him to a hospital? Or would it be better to contact the Fire Queen? Perhaps Thrix might be able to help?

* * *

In her office in Soho, Thrix was looking through a very large book, a compendium of fashion contacts around the world.

“I’ll find out who’s getting these Abukenti shoes if it’s the last thing I do,” she muttered, and she applied herself to the task very diligently.

Thrix and Captain Easterly’s relationship had reached the stage where a minor upset in their plans no longer felt like a disaster. When he called to tell her he was running late due to a computer problem at his office, the enchantress took it in stride. “Just pick me up when you’re ready.”

“I shouldn’t be too long. But I probably won’t have time to go to the warehouse.”

Thrix smiled. Easterly had a large collection of fine wines, much of which was stored in a warehouse in East London. When he couldn’t find anything he wanted in his own cellar, he’d visit the warehouse and pick up one of his bottles. “Never mind. I have wine at home.”

“Fine,” he said. “That’ll do just as well.”

“You’re being gallant,” Thrix told him, still smiling. “I know you despise all my wine.”

Easterly laughed and said he’d see her as soon as he could. Thrix allowed herself a brief pause to marvel at having a successful relationship then reapplied herself to the list on her computer screen, a directory of Abukenti’s most important clients.

“Just tell me where you’re sending the shoes,” muttered Thrix, “and I’ll summon them right out of the box and into my office.”

So intent on her task was the enchantress that she failed to notice the aroma of jasmine that suddenly pervaded her office and was startled by the sudden appearance of the Fire Queen.

“Enchantress! I simply cannot concentrate on anything! I am so worried about the shoes! Are you making any progress?”

“I’ve got a list of Abukenti’s most important clients. Easterly found it for me.”

“Splendid! What a fine man Captain Easterly is! I trust your relationship is moving along well?”

“We’re taking it slowly,” said Thrix.

Malveria raised an eyebrow, not liking the sound of this. “Then you must speed things up. Grab hold of him, even if it means trampling over your opponents without mercy.”

“I don’t think there are any opponents.”

“At the fashion show last week, did not that makeup artist from
Cosmopolitan
magazine grapple lustfully with him?”

“I think she was just trying to get to her seat.”

“You are too trusting, Enchantress. And too hesitant. It’s time to advance strongly.”

“We’re thinking of going to the movies for our next date. Is that strong enough?”

“It may be. But when he takes you home, I shall be disappointed if you once again dismiss him from your doorstep, claiming you need to rise early for work.”

Thrix glared at her friend. “Were you spying on me?”

“A scandalous accusation, Enchantress! One is hurt and wounded. Though if I had been spying, I may have suggested that rather than send him away, you should have invited him upstairs for a night of passion.”

Thrix shook her head. “Malveria, the relationship is fine. I’m just taking it slowly.”

The door opened, and Thrix’s assistant Ann appeared and smiled. “I thought I heard company. Coffee?”

“Yes, please, most valued assistant. I am in need of fortifying. Thrix’s chaste refusal to sleep with Captain Easterly is leading us into chaos. We will not obtain the new Abukenti shoes for my visit to the fundraising event, and my life will be utterly ruined.”