[Fosswell 01.0] A Brush With the Moon Page 18

  Was I the only one to find the scene slightly unsavoury?

  Time flew by with the aid of much alcoholic lubricant.

  Beth continued to pester me about her surprise, but I wasn’t biting, and she shut up quickly when Jimmy made his entrance halfway through the evening.

  “Where’s my baby bro? I know he’s here. I can smell him,” Jimmy said, striding confidently through the double doors. “Ah, there you are, you old dog,” he continued, enveloping Sebastian in his arms and almost squeezing the air out of him before saluting the rest of the family. “Dad, Uncle Seth, Aunt Marissa, looking gorgeous as usual…and Connor. Don’t tell me that’s an actual girl you’re with? Quite a pretty one too. Amazing.” He didn’t pause for a reaction, but turned back to Sebastian. “So, bro. I hear you’ve been busy in my absence. Gone and found yourself a mate, huh?” He winked suggestively at me.

  “Yeah. Some of us prefer to stick to one at a time, so you can keep your roving eyes firmly looking in the opposite direction if you want to keep your paws intact.”

  “Course, course. I understand. Let her settle in first. I get it. Say, it’s nice to see the old place dressed up.” He glanced around at the decorations. “It’s certainly been a while, and Grandma, Tamar, nice to see you two up and about.” He sauntered over and bent to give his grandmother a welcome hug.

  “Oh my God. Is he my surprise? Ooo, Soph, you know how to please a girl.” Beth watched Jimmy greet his grandmother and Tamar before she bounced up, smoothed the wrinkles from her black satin trousers, and coyly presented herself on a plate. “Hi, Jim. Remember me?”

  “Baby! Do I ever?” His arm hooked around her waist. “That’s the totty sorted. Now, where’s the booze?”

  ***

  The moon rose high in the sky, casting beams of silver-blue light through the end windows and over the jovial crowd.

  Sebastian’s prediction was, not surprisingly, accurate. His grandmother’s head had bowed onto her chest, and faint whistling snores filtered through the chilly air.

  Tamar had removed herself from the partygoers and was sitting in a secluded armchair with her nose firmly buried in a red leather-bound book.

  Talk turned to Lunar Hex’s new album, Goodnight Sister Hairy. It had taken the Eastern Europeans by storm, and the album’s debut single, Chaos at Twilight, had gone straight to number one in three countries.

  A huge grin had plastered itself firmly on Beth’s face, and it stayed there for the next few hours, which was enough to let me know that she was more than content with her early Christmas present. Content, that was, until Jimmy started howling and bouncing around on all fours.

  “That’s not funny, James. Cut it out,” Sebastian said.

  I didn’t think it was funny, either. There was something strange about his sudden behaviour.

  I tried to guide Beth towards the door. “Um, maybe it’s time for bed. I’ll show you to your room.”

  She resisted, shaking my hand away and walking back towards Jimmy. “I thought we were having a good time,” she bawled in his face.

  Jimmy cocked his head to one side, and a feral noise escaped from his lips.

  “What was that? Am I supposed to find this amusing?”

  He growled at her, more menacingly this time, and began moving in what I could only describe as a caveman stance.

  Beth was far from impressed. “Why did you have to spoil things, you freak?” she screamed.

  “It’s probably just the drink talking. I know—maybe he’s practising a new act for the band,” I said, trying to appease her anger and failing miserably. “I’m sure he’ll be fine in the morning.” I grabbed her shoulders and again attempted to guide her towards the exit.

  “Yeah? So, how come they seem to think differently?” She pointed her chin over my shoulder.

  Sebastian and Connor had jumped up to catch Jimmy, and they were now trying in vain to constrain him. He broke free, bounding around the walls like a Wall of Death motorcyclist before speeding past us up to the landing, where he crouched and howled loudly up at the circular window.

  Beth surveyed the scene with disbelief. “Okay. Now, that is not normal.”

  Jimmy leapt at us again, and I pushed Beth out of his path. I glanced back at Sebastian, and he gave a nod of submission before leaving the other men to deal with Jimmy and steering a dumbfounded Lara into the study, where I guessed he was about to enlighten her about her own heritage.

  I held my hand out to Beth and helped her up. “Sorry about that. Beth…things are not always as they seem. Come with me. And be prepared to open your mind.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  “JIMMY’S A WEREWOLF? Yeah, sure,” Beth said ten minutes later in the library. “It’s Christmas Eve, not April Fool’s. You’re shitting me, right?”

  “Nope. Afraid not. Legends are sometimes true, you know. I’ve wanted to confide in you for ages, but I knew you wouldn’t believe me, and it’s taken a while for me to adjust to it all myself.”

  “And how long would ‘ages’ be, exactly, huh? Just how long have you been keeping this secret from me?”

  “Don’t be mad at me, Beth. I don’t know, really. I think I knew of Sebastian’s existence before I’d even met him, but it was after Simone’s funeral that he revealed his true self…so to speak.”

  “What, he just came out and said, ‘I’m a werewolf’?”

  “Not quite that blatant, but near enough.”

  “And the whole family are?”

  “Not all, but most of them, yes.”

  I knew she didn’t really believe me. Her face looked exactly like Mum’s always did when I tried to spin some tale about actually having a social life.

  “So, I guess they change on the night of the full moon and go off on murderous rampages, do they?” She laughed nervously.

  “Um…yes. And eeww, no.” I hoped it wasn’t a lie, but I hadn’t really known the Lovells long enough to know whether what Sebastian had told me was true.

  Beth studied my face, and comprehension dawned that I was serious. “But in the movies, werewolves are killers, slaughtering innocent victims and spreading their disease on to others.” She leaned away from me. “He hasn’t bitten you, has he?”

  “What? No. They’re the good guys, and they’re everywhere, living amongst us.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “I did say you wouldn’t, remember? But I’m telling the truth. They hide their true identities.”

  Beth thought for a moment. “It’s not a full moon tonight, Soph.”

  “I know that, but it doesn’t always matter.”

  “Have any of the others ever acted the way Jimmy’s acting now, before?”

  “Never. At least not while I’ve known them. That’s why it doesn’t feel right. I think he may have the disease.”

  “Disease? Okay, I’ll rise. What disease?”

  I gave Beth a quick rundown of the situation, and once I’d started, I found I couldn’t stop. I wanted to tell her everything: the Reith family, other fantastical creatures, our trips to the other realms. I needed to unload some of the burden of secrets that had been weighing me down those past months. It felt great to be finally able to confide in an impartial party, but I could see that she was struggling with the information.

  “Okay, stop. I can’t handle this. I can’t take it all in. It doesn’t fit in my brain.” Beth screwed up her mouth and shook her head.

  “Pity, because I don’t think you could fit anything else in those tight trousers—although I’d like to watch you try.” The voice came from behind Beth, making her jump, and it was quickly followed by a translucent head appearing over her shoulder, blatantly eying her bottom.

  “Grandpa Jo, behave,” I scolded as he flew around to face us.

  “Me behave? Have you seen the rumpus in the hallway? Parties were so much more civilised in my day, you know.”

  Beth’s face was a picture. Her eyes flew open, and her mouth seemed to be stuck in a permanent gape as she sta
red at the apparition.

  “Um, I think you’ve got a bit of drool dripping down your chin there, Beth.” I pointed out.

  “G-g-ghosts too,” she stuttered.

  “Just the one, as far as I know, and he’s pretty harmless as long as you don’t sit in his chair.”

  “Ugh.” Beth held her hands up in defeat and strode back out to the hall, where Hemming, Seth, and Connor were joined in a fruitless attempt to corner the energetic Jimmy, now leaping the stairs and jumping from balcony to balcony.

  It happened in a flash. Jimmy flew into Beth’s path. She saw him too late, and he knocked her flying into the air. I stared in horror as my friend hurtled towards the wall, arms and legs flailing involuntarily.

  Connor was quick to respond. He sprang down from the first floor landing, but he was too late. The wall absorbed Beth’s body, and she disappeared.

  Where was she?

  “Beth? Beth? Speak to me! Where are you? Are you okay?” I called. No answer came. “What’s behind that wall, Connor?”

  “Study,” he answered.

  I walked around to the door, opened it, and turned on the light. Beth was sitting on the floor hugging her knees.

  “I’m dreaming, that’s it. This is all a dream, and I’ll wake up soon b-back at the flat,” she stammered, rocking on her haunches. “There’s no other explanation for it.”

  “You’re not dreaming, Beth. This is real,” I said gently.

  “Oh, yes, of course. Silly me. And just how would I suddenly be able to pass through solid walls, may I ask?”

  “Too much chocolate, I’m guessing,” I mumbled.

  “Pardon?”

  “Look, Beth, come with me.” I helped her to her feet. “There’s something else you need to know.”

  Back in the lounge, I gifted Beth her latest bombshell.

  “So, let me get this right: psychotic demoness Nula, ex-girlfriend of demon Vincent, feeds me poisoned chocolates, the only antidote to which is magical, and that has resulted in my being given an ability?”

  “I think so, yes.”

  “Wow. I knew the guy was a creep, but a demon? And you went to Paris with him? On a date? When you knew what he was?”

  “Vincent’s pretty harmless, and it wasn’t a date. It was a fact-finding mission. Is Vincent really what you’re thinking about after what just happened?”

  She shrugged her shoulders, and I caught her surreptitiously studying Tamar with new eyes.

  “She won’t bite you,” I reassured her.

  Beth pretended to wipe some wine from her lips and whispered, “Maybe not, but the old hag might. She hasn’t liked me from the moment I arrived.”

  “She isn’t a werewolf.”

  “I’m not sure that matters.”

  At that moment, the men entered. Hemming and Seth resumed their places by the tree as if the past half-hour had never happened, and Connor plonked himself down on our sofa.

  “We got him,” Connor said. “Shackled him to the cave wall, and he fell asleep—or passed out from the booze, couldn’t tell which. Anyway, he should be safe until we figure out what to do with him in the morning. Seb not done yet?”

  “Apparently not.”

  “Where is he?” asked Beth, staring a little too hard at Connor.

  “Explaining things to Lara,” I said.

  “Oh? What’s with all the privacy?” Beth scowled. “I mean, I know she’s a bit of an airhead, but it’s not as if anyone could have missed the action.”

  There was no point keeping any more secrets. “It’s not just about what happened tonight. He’s telling her that she’s a demon too.”

  “Humph. You’re telling me. Although, I could probably think of better words to insult her: cowface, bitch features, whore hag from hell, that kind of thing.”

  “No, Beth. A real demon, as in superpowered, non-human type demon.”

  Understanding dawned. “Really? Her too?”

  “Yes, and wait for it: she’s the last of her kind. The princess, no less.”

  “Oh, well, that’s just great. We’ll never hear the end of that one. As if she needed another excuse to lord it over the rest of us. Can’t he just neglect to tell her that last bit?” She paused. “Ooo, but can she walk through walls?”

  “Shh. I think they’re coming.”

  If our expectations of Lara had been that she’d breeze in all high and mighty, assuming her throne as the cocky queen bee that we knew her to be, but now sporting a larger crown, we were disappointed. Her demeanour was contemplative. She entered head-down and was guided silently back to her place on the sofa, where she stayed, staring at the flickering flames in the grate and chewing on her fingernails.

  “I think she’s taken it quite well, considering. In fact, I think she was more upset to find out that she was adopted,” Sebastian said, resuming his position at my side. “She just needs a little time to mull things over.”

  “Did you tell her about me?”

  “Baby steps, darling, baby steps.”

  ***

  Christmas Day arrived peacefully after the excitement of the previous night. Following breakfast, gifts were exchanged. Sebastian loved his new basketball boots. He gave me a pretty filigree bracelet designed by the guy we’d met at the gallery. It was made from the family gold and adorned with three coloured stones. I sat admiring it while Sebastian went to the cave to check on Jimmy. Connor had returned to his bed, sporting a bad mood and a matching hangover.

  “Hey, Lara,” I goaded, dangling the bracelet in her face, “don’t you wish you had a boyfriend who buys you fabulous gifts, hmm? Remind me again what Connor got for you. Oh, yeah, that’s right: nothing. Not that that excuses your little outburst. No wonder he prefers his own company.”

  She stared at me through narrowed eyes. “I can’t be bought with tacky trinkets.”

  “No, you give it away for free,” I said, placing the bracelet carefully back into its cushioned box.

  Beth laughed. “I love this. Sophie used to be so quiet. I thought it would be my job to bring her out of her shell, but you’ve awoken a rarely seen side to her, Lara. It’s as if I’ve acquired a new wicked friend. I like it.”

  “Mock all you like, but I’m the one who’ll be leaving this hellhole and flying out to the Reiths’ ski lodge tomorrow for the New Year.”

  Unbelievable. “Do you think it’s wise to continue to date Vincent after your recent news?”

  “Seb’s tall stories are none of my concern. I’m not about to change my life to fit into some fantasy role he’s concocted for me.”

  “Um, I think—”

  I didn’t get to finish my sentence.

  “He’s gone!” The door burst open and Sebastian strode in. “The shackles were broken, snapped clean off. There’s no sign of him. His scent trail leads to the tunnels.”

  “What does that mean?” I stared at Sebastian, looking for answers.

  “Not sure, but it can’t be good. We need to find him and fast, before he feeds.”

  I panicked, worried for Sebastian’s safety. “But you can’t go after him. If he’s changed and not in his right mind, surely it would be dangerous for you?”

  His reply never came.

  “Glad tidings to all!” boomed a jolly voice above our heads.

  “Oh. Hi, Grandpa.” Sebastian sighed impatiently. “Listen, it’s really not a good time right now. I need to talk to Dad.”

  “What about?” Hemming asked, entering the lounge with his face buried in the morning newspaper.

  “How did he manage to get hold of a newspaper on Christmas Day?” Beth whispered into my shoulder.

  “Tripped over to the alley behind Mr Saliq’s. You know he’s never closed.” Hemming stared up at us through his eyelashes, patted a fingertip to his ear, and winked. “Good hearing, remember? What’s up, son?”

  Sebastian informed his father of Jimmy’s disappearance, but I wasn’t listening. I was too busy staring at the front page article.

  HOLIDAY HEARTACH
E

  A real life Christmas conundrum occurred last night when seven-year-old Maisie Marshall tried to sneak out of the house to search the skies for Father Christmas, and vanished into thin air.

  “I heard her call ‘Santa,’ then the latch on the front door clicked. I wasn’t quick enough to stop her,” her distraught mother told our reporter.

  They found her bloodstained rag doll near the front gate.

  A police spokesman has said that they are still hopeful of finding little Maisie safe and sound.

  Jimmy? Surely not!

  Hemming sat down in a nearby chair and calmly folded the paper, then placed it on the adjoining table. His elbows rested gently on the chair arms, and he held his hands clasped tightly together in front of his mouth.

  “Dad, how can you be so composed about this? He’s your son,” Sebastian said.

  “Yes, he is. However, he’s now been exposed to the degradation of the tunnels. He’s smelled the blood and the death, and maybe even tasted them too. He may already be addicted.”

  Sebastian sighed. “You’re right. What do you suggest we do?”

  “We do what has to be done,” Hemming said resolutely, then stood up and vanished.

  “Dad?” Sebastian gave a throaty growl. “I wish he wouldn’t trip mid-conversation.” Then he disappeared himself.

  Beth shook her head. “What just happened?”

  “One of their more annoying traits,” I said.

  “Where’d they go?”

  “Who knows? Let’s see if there’s a decent film on TV.”

  Harry was just about to be introduced to the delights of Quidditch when Marissa entered the room carrying an overly large glass of wine.