The Curse of the Wolf Girl (51 page)

There was silence, broken only by the dull hissing of the old gas fire.

“Did you answer many questions before fleeing?”

“I didn’t even write my name.”

“It sounds like a quick exit.”

“It might be a new record,” muttered Kalix. “I’ll have to check later.” She dropped her bag of books on the floor and slumped onto the couch, looking so small and pathetic that Moonglow was almost moved to tears.

“It started well. Vex was being bullied.”

“What?”

Kalix told them about the two girls who’d harassed Vex. When she described how she’d battered them to the ground, Moonglow looked shocked. Knocking people down wasn’t Moonglow’s idea of the right thing to do. Daniel, however, was enthusiastic. Knocking down bullies was exactly the right thing to do in his eyes.

“I wish you’d been around at my school,” he said. “There’s a few people I’d like to have seen beaten senseless.”

“Well, that was a bad start to the day,” said Moonglow.

“No, it wasn’t. It was a good start for me. Fighting usually makes me feel better. I felt fine right till I opened up the test. Then I panicked. The room started spinning and I couldn’t breathe and I just ran out.” She slumped even lower on the couch. “Now I’ll have to leave college, and everything’s ruined.”

Moonglow wasn’t about to let this level of negativity pass unchecked. “Nonsense. Everything will be fine. Daniel, make tea while I talk to Kalix.”

Daniel departed to make tea.

“It was just a test to get you ready for your exam. You can still pass that. If you’re having such problems with anxiety, the college will understand. We’ll talk to them. Maybe they’ll let you retake the test.”

Kalix was resolute in her misery and wouldn’t be comforted. A few minutes later, as she sipped the tea supplied by Daniel, she admitted that it wasn’t just her failure at the exam that was making her unhappy. “I feel bad about Vex too, being bullied. She said it happened before. It must have been going on, and I didn’t even notice it.”

“But you helped her today.”

“I should have helped her before. You know what Vex is like. She can’t protect herself.” The young werewolf sighed. “I shouldn’t have let her be bullied.” At this, Kalix seemed to shrivel into a small ball of misery and self-loathing, leaving even the determinedly positive Moonglow lost for words. “I thought I could find out who killed Gawain, and I’ve no idea how to do it. I ask questions, and everyone just ignores me. I thought I could go to college like a normal person, and I can’t do that either. I can’t pass a simple test, and I couldn’t even look after Vex against two stupid bullies.”

Kalix rose to her feet and walked slowly towards her bedroom, leaving Daniel and Moonglow baffled about what they might say or do to make things better. Even the certain knowledge that Kalix would now be taking laudanum couldn’t induce Moonglow into action, because she really didn’t know what to say.

Despite the deficiencies of her partner, the Fire Queen fared moderately well at the card table for most of the evening, but it all went wrong when she was finally matched against Princess Kabachetka. Distikka had done an excellent job of keeping them apart, engaging Kabachetka in a lengthy conversation for most of the evening, but finally the blow struck. After the standard rotation at the tables, Malveria found herself sitting opposite the hated princess. They smiled at each other politely.

“I so enjoyed your Fire Festival,” said the princess.

“You are my most honored guest.”

“My mother deeply regrets she was unable to attend.”

“Her presence has been sorely missed.”

The Fire Queen and the princess gazed at each other with loathing, each taking care not to let it show in either their expression or their aura. The princess’s partner, a Lady Tecton, was unknown to the Fire Queen. Malveria regarded her with suspicion. It was unusual for Kabachetka to appear with an unknown partner. Usually she would associate with only the most fashionable Hainusta.

“I do admire your cocktail dress,” said Kabachetka to Malveria, “though we are mostly wearing them with belts this season. You were perhaps wise to resist the change. The current fashion would not necessarily suit you.”

Malveria bridled but said nothing. Play began with the Duchess Gargamond immediately plunging her team into trouble by an overambitious attempt to win a trick. Kabachetka’s partner, Lady Tecton, scooped up the hand.

“I am very much looking forward to the operatic event at Andamair House,” said Princess Kabachetka.

“As am I,” responded Malveria.

“I’m delighted that you eventually managed to secure an invitation. When I myself was invited in the first rank of guests, I was quite worried that you had not been thought of. Is that another round to us? Well played, Lady Tecton.”

Malveria tapped her foot in irritation as the points mounted up to their opponents. Gargamond was playing worse than ever, and Malveria was put off her game by the dreadful error she’d made in wearing a beltless cocktail dress. Kabachetka had out-styled her, and it was her own fault for rejecting Thrix’s advice. She pulled herself together and concentrated on her cards.

“Your Abukenti bag has proved a great hit this season,” said the princess as her partner dealt.

“Really,” said the queen, nonchalantly.

“It was a great coup for you to secure such a fabulous item so early.”

“Thank you.”

“I suppose Abukenti’s anniversary shoes will be the next item to really attract attention.”

Malveria felt herself going cold, not liking the way the conversation was going. Why had Kabachetka mentioned the Abukenti shoes?’

“It will be a while before they’re attainable,” Malveria said cautiously.

“To some people, no doubt,” said the princess, smiling at the queen. “But for others, they may arrive early.”

Malveria gritted her teeth. “Really?”

“So I understand. Is that another hand to us? My goodness, Lady Tecton, you are playing well. We seem to be well ahead on points.”

Malveria’s playing went steadily downhill, beset as she was with worries over her dress and the dreadful prospect of Princess Kabachetka securing a pair of Abukenti shoes before she did. The princess had clearly been hinting at just that, and it completely put Malveria off her game. With the Duchess Gargamond making her customary series of errors and Lady Tecton apparently being the finest card player ever to emerge from the Hainusta nation, the outcome was inevitable. Malveria plummeted to a heavy defeat, losing by a margin rarely seen. The queen was sure that people at neighboring tables had stopped their own games to watch hers, and she felt the room go silent as the game ended. She rose to her feet and smiled at the princess. “Such an entertaining match, Princess Kabachetka and Lady Tecton. You quite had the better of us.”

“We do appear to have won,” agreed the princess. “No doubt you’ll have better fortune next time. I look forward to seeing you at the operatic event.”

“I look forward to seeing you too. Duchess Gargamond, shall we take a walk in the garden for a little air?”

Is it possible we’re not as smart as we think we are?”

The enchantress’s question caught Dominil by surprise. Dominil was not prone to announcing her intelligence to the world, but nor was she about to admit to any lack of it. “Why do you ask that?”

“Well, let’s see,” said Thrix. “Using my sorcery and your computer skills, we’ve spent the entire day searching for Albermarle, the guild, Susi Surmata, and a pair of exclusive shoes. And what have we discovered? Nothing. Not a trace. Hunters and bloggers are nowhere to be found.”

Thrix passed her hand across her forehead and for a moment looked seriously concerned. She’d taken Dominil into her confidence regarding the poor state of her financial affairs and the importance of finding Susi Surmata. Dominil had found it difficult to accept that a single review from a fashion writer, no matter how popular, would make such a difference, but Thrix assured her it would. Consequently, she was attempting to help Thrix locate the mysterious Susi. In return, Thrix was trying to find Albermarle.

“The guild’s much better hidden than it used to be. Electronically speaking I mean,” explained Dominil. “Albermarle’s work, I presume.”

“They’ve got some sorcerous way of hiding their location too. Unless it’s just my powers have waned. Which is possible.” Thrix closed the book she was holding, an elderly tome, printed in a very old typeface, hardly legible in places. “Maybe I can find something useful at the castle. Minerva donated some of her work to the library there. I haven’t looked at it for a long time.” Thrix looked troubled. “Maybe I’ve neglected my sorcery in pursuit of fashion.”

“This is no time for maudlin introspection,” said Dominil, sternly. “Everywhere werewolves go in London, Albermarle seems to know about it. I need to know how he’s doing it.”

“Beauty and Delicious talking out of turn, perhaps? Or Kalix? None of them are exactly security-conscious.”

“Albermarle has found out things they couldn’t know. My latest phone number, for instance, which I took care to obtain under a false name. I gave it to no one but you and the Mistress of the Werewolves. Within twelve hours, Albermarle was sending me messages.”

Thrix’s spacious living room was a little messier than usual, with Dominil’s two laptop computers on the table and a batch of papers strewn around them. Here at least, under the sorcerously protected roof of the enchantress, they were safe from prying eyes.

“I wish I could find who’s getting these Abukenti shoes,” sighed Thrix. “A pair of those would really cheer me up.”

“I hardly think they’re of the same importance as our other concerns.”

“Don’t you ever go weak at the thought of a great pair of heels, Dominil? Sorry, foolish question. Okay, let’s get back to the serious stuff.”

The Fire Queen exploded into existence in the middle of the room. “Enchantress! My cocktail dress is very inferior!”

Thrix pursed her lips. “The serious stuff may have to wait…”

Malveria’s dramatic appearance flooded the room with yellow light and the powerful aroma of jasmine. She confronted the enchantress, standing inches away from her with her hands on her hips. Tiny flames shot from her fingertips. “Your poor fashion advice has caused me to lose concentration at the card table leading to shame and mortification at the hands of the appalling Kabachetka!”

“Malveria, what are you talking about?”

“Did I not explain it all most clearly? The beltless cocktail dress you supplied me with has brought me to the brink of ruin!”

“I told you belts were fashionable with cocktail dresses this season.”

“That is not how I recall the matter,” sniffed Malveria, and she folded her arms. “I believe you’ve been so busy with Easterly you’ve been neglecting me.”

“That’s not true.”

“It is. Dominil! How pleasant to see you. Would you pass that wine in my direction? All the most fashionable ladies were wearing belted cocktail dresses.”

“I told you you needed a belt. You rejected it.”

“A proper fashion advisor would not have let me reject it.” Malveria sat down heavily in an armchair. “The whole thing quite befuddled my mind, leading to disastrous play at the card table, made worse by the dreadful Duchess Gargamond. Kabachetka utterly vanquished us.” She shuddered at the memory. “Afterwards I was so enraged I spoke very harshly to the duchess. As a result, she has withdrawn from the season at the palace and gone home to her castle to sulk, taking her regiment with her.”

“Her regiment? Isn’t that the Imperial Volcano Guard?”

“Pah! I would not trust the duchess’s regiment to guard a small fire. The volcano will be fine till I appoint a replacement. But Enchantress, I have not even told you the worst of the news. Kabachetka hinted strongly that she may be about to procure the Abukenti shoes!”

“What? That’s impossible.”

“You underestimate the loathsome cunning of the woman. There’s every danger that we’ll walk into the operatic charity event and find ourselves completely out-shoed.”

Thrix screwed up her face. “Mother’s managed to persuade a lot of fashion magazine people to attend. If Kabachetka turns up wearing the only Abukenti shoes in the place…”

Malveria wailed. “We shall be eclipsed. Really Enchantress, if Kabachetka is photographed for the Fashionable Party People page, I shall simply
die
.” She took a large gulp from her wine glass. “There is no end to the woman’s crimes. She maliciously recruited a card partner whose play put ours to shame. Already it will be the talk of the palace. Even now, Beau DeMortalis is probably regaling all and sundry with humorous anecdotes about my discomfort.”

“In case everyone has forgotten,” interrupted Dominil, “we were looking for information about the guild. We’ve just had an extremely serious incident. Ruraich MacAndris was shot, and Kalix killed three hunters.”

“Kalix is always killing hunters,” said Malveria. “It keeps her happy. Incidentally, did you know she kissed Decembrius?”

Dominil’s face muscles twitched at the total irrelevance of this.

Thrix, however, was interested. “Are you sure?”

“So I am reliably informed. One is not wholly surprised. They were last seen fighting, but such strife may often lead to passion. I have experienced such a thing myself. Enchantress, do you think there is any chance of Kalix and Decembrius forming some sort of happy relationship?”

“I’ve no idea. Why?”

“Idle curiosity,” replied Malveria. “Do
you
have a boyfriend, Dominil?”

“I have a stalker. Does that count?”

“Might he become a boyfriend?”

“It’s not very likely.”

“I understood a young guitarist had expressed an interest?”

Dominil looked pained to learn that the Fire Queen somehow knew about that. “His interest is unwelcome.”

Malveria looked disappointed. “Well Thrix, I trust at least that your affair with Easterly is progressing well?”

“Quite well.” Thrix was puzzled. “Why are you suddenly interested in the love lives of the MacRinnalch werewolves?”