Chapter 3
Sally's afternoon passed without much excitement. She had investigated Dima, catalogued a new collection of pottery in the castle museum, had a very nice dinner and almost an entire bottle of red wine. Now it was three in the morning and everything had gone wrong. She hammered on Billi's door in full panic. There was no answer. What had happened? After Billi's call that afternoon, Sally had investigated what records she could. The council kept a list of every cat for breeding purposes. It was vile but came in handy. Dima was dangerous. Any cat not within the walls of the council was dangerous, well, maybe not her and Billi, but any others were a threat to them and the Cait Sith. She's been reading when she received Billi's message. It was late, and she knew the danger she faced running through the city at night, but what choice did she have? All Billi's message had said was, 999. What use was that? Had the white tiger attacked? Was Billi hurt or in danger? She didn't know where Billi was and she hadn't answered her calls, but the location Sally had installed on Billi's phone put her at home. A scent that had been bothering Sally since she entered the building became more acute, and she looked at the door handle. There was a red smear on it and another on the door. Sally stopped banging and rummaged desperately in her bag with one hand, searching for keys she knew to be there somewhere, while the other rubbed off as much blood as she could. As soon as she opened the door, the scent of blood and vampire hit her in the gut. She swore. Billi's usually immaculate apartment lay before her, and dusty boot prints led the way to the bathroom. More worrying, though, was the blood smeared on the walls. Shit, shit, shit, she thought as she called out for her friend. There was no response, so she followed the blood and the sound of the shower. She burst through the bathroom door, and her hand flew to her mouth. Billi lay slumped under the shower, water running red around her. Still fully dressed, Billi's clothes clung so tightly to her chest that Sally could almost see her ribs. It felt like she could see Billi's heart beating.
'Shit, what happened? Where are you hurt? Come on, kiddo, talk to me.'
Sally noticed the copper glint from the large wound in Billi's shoulder.
'Bastards!' she said, and throwing off her bag, jacket and shoes, she stepped into the shower but recoiled as the water hit her skin. 'Jesus Christ! It's freezing!'
Quickly she turned up the heat, then climbed under the water with Billi. The heat seemed to help. Billi stirred for the first time. Sally rested her forehead on Billi's, gripped a shoulder with one hand, and the remains of the vile blade with the other, said, 'This is gonna hurt sweetie.' and pulled.
Billi cried out. Sally pulled her into an embrace and soothed her. Cheek to cheek, Sally purred. Stroking a hand down Billi's soaking hair. Billi's breathing calmed and deepened, and Sally sat on the floor of the shower until Billi felt warm. Eventually, steam rose around them. Gently, Sally took Billi's hand and guided her out from under the water. She found a white towel and threw it around Billi's shoulders. Then she began to remove Billi's clothes, gently peeling them away from her wet skin. Once she had Billi warmly wrapped in a towel, she dried herself and looked for a first aid kit. She knew Billi had one somewhere. Billi still had not said a word. She had let Sally tend to her like a mother tends to a wounded child, only there was a shame to Billi, Sally could feel it. Billi was ashamed. Sally sat silently beside her, knowing she would talk when she was ready. She rested Billi's head on her shoulder and stroked her hair.
'I killed him.' Billi whispered. 'I had no choice. I killed him.'
Billi's voice was distant, as though speaking to Sally from another century. Sally kissed Billi's head.
'Shh. Shh. It's ok. You're safe now. Who did you kill, sweetie?'
Finally, Billi looked into Sally's eyes and Sally felt tears well in hers. Someone had devastated her friend. She had killed again. Sally was beyond furious. Billi looked small, and for the first time in her life, Sally thought Billi looked scared.
'Dima.' She said, 'I killed the white tiger.'
Eldred spent the afternoon reading and thinking about George. He needed to do something about that wolf. He was becoming too curious, an affliction his vampires happily lacked. Eldred was not as incredulous as George believed and was fully aware that George was protecting the cat he hired him to catch. He had always known. While George was good at following a scent, he was a terrible liar and feigned dumbness whenever the cat had broken in and stolen that which Eldred valued. Eldred knew who it was, knew what she was, but not where she lived, and that was all he needed. And this was the only way he could think to draw her out. When George first arrived, Eldred had wanted to use him to stalk his prey. That had ended the first time she had stolen a manuscript and Eldred showed George the crime scene, it was evident then that the man had no idea she was a shifter too. And for all of his bravado, Eldred had pitied him. He knew what it meant to be separated from the woman he loved by not only distance, but also species. And so, George became a problem that needed solving.
Eldred lived comfortably in an array of large and well-appointed caves carved out of the soft sandstone of the city. The floor, deeply polished to a warm red and covered in aged oriental rugs, reflected the light of the vast number of candles sitting in brackets in the wall. The little furniture he had in this room, old well cared for armchairs, mainly green and brown leather, faced inwards and surrounded a low circular table upon which sat an ornamental glass case. Paper rustled. Eldred lounged in a deep leather armchair. The words he read were not new to him. This was a much-loved book. She had written it. Her memories of their all too brief time together. If he ever became unsure, or needed a reason to go on, he would read her words. In reality, she had never left him. She had been taken. She was not gone. Of this, he was certain. Not because he felt her presence, but because of an extraordinary jade idol he kept locked safely in the glass cabinet on the table. It moved. Never when observed, but he often found it in a new position. Sometimes it was snarling, other times it was curled up, sleeping peacefully. Eldred sipped his tea and was interrupted by a knock at the door. Eldred looked up, placed the book's ribbon onto the page he was reading, gently closed the book and placed it on the arm of the chair.
'Come.' Eldred said.
Joseph entered and waited. He was smart, deferential, did any task Eldred asked him to perform with no fuss, and did it well. Eldred would have liked eight more, just like him.
'Well?' He said.
'You were correct, sire,' Joseph said. 'He went after the tiger.'
Eldred nodded.
'How could he resist? She is possibly the greatest threat to their idiotic council for centuries.' Eldred smiled to himself. Anything that hurt the council of cats, that clowder of self-serving fools, was worth celebrating. 'Did she kill him?'
'She brought him down, but the... Our people.' Joseph stumbled over his words. Eldred raised a hand.
'They could not help themselves.' Eldred said. Joseph nodded meekly. 'It is only to be expected. They are animals, after all.'
'I sent the dog to retrieve the body.' Joseph said.
Eldred smiled again.
'Good. Have him locked in a cell. I'm sure he'll wake up in a terrible mood.'
Joseph bowed his head and left the room. Eldred picked up his book and read once again.
'Soon my dear,' he said to the Jade jaguar, 'we shall have our revenge.'
George stared in disbelief, one hand covering his mouth and nose. The stench of blood was all-encompassing. He had to fight not to be sick and fight the wolf who raged inside him for blood of its own. Hearing the door open behind him, he dropped his hand from his mouth. He would not let them see him weak. Slowly, he paced among the dust that coated the floor and clung to the sticky blood pooled in the centre. Who else knew about the tiger being here? No one. Yet someone had dragged Jack's body away. Blood trailed from the centre of the room to the door. There had been blood outside too, and George knew a car had pulled up. All the scents crisscrossed in the cool night air. He heard the heavy footfalls of Sophia make their way into the centre of the room. Somehow, she had escaped this carnage. Billi must have let her go. George wondered about Billi. He had heard about her from Sally. When he had been able to talk to her, before everything changed. But now he knew what they were, it made their friendship even more unlikely. A tiger and a cat? At least he knew Sally would be safe. He wondered, not for the first time, what Sally was doing in the caves. What could she be looking for in old books? Why was Eldred so terrified of losing them? It made little sense to him, but it didn't need to. All that mattered was that Sally was ok. She was all he cared about anymore. Ensuring she stayed safe had given him something to focus on for these past months, and he had needed that.
'Um?' He said, snapping back to the room. Sophia stood, arms folded, glaring at him.
'I said, where's the damn tiger?'
'You tell me,' George said, showing far more confidence than he felt.
'It was here.'
'Well, it's not now.'
'There's still a cat smell. Maybe the other tiger took him.'
'Come on.' George said, 'Use that nose properly. This was a male cat, old, domestic, not a female tiger.'
'How many cats live in this damn city?' Sophia erupted.
'Aww. Scared of a few cats, are we? And almost all of them live in this city. I thought you knew that. It's just most of them hide away even more than you do.' He was pushing his luck now. He knew it. Sophia glared and walked over to him. She prodded a finger into his chest. He maintained eye contact.
'You need to tell him it's gone.' She hissed.
George raised his eyebrows.
'Scared of him too?' He had gone too far this time. With lightning speed, Sophia's hand gripped George's throat and squeezed. George coughed in her face. Sophia recoiled and let go. She coughed and spluttered, glaring at George. 'Sorry,' he said, 'forgot to mention I brushed my teeth with garlic this evening.' Her reaction impressed him. Maybe I'll start a garlic only diet, he thought. And once I know Sally is safe, I'll go out for lunch and never come back.
Sophia stormed out of the room, leaving George alone again. Finally able to relax, he slumped into a chair and rubbed his neck. That hurt, but he was used to that now. He took in the room again. The dark blood on the tablecloths and staining the floor. There was so much. How could anyone survive that? But he'd heard rumours. Apparently, there was something to be said about cats having nine lives. Well, wherever he is now, George hoped never to see him again. This other cat, though, that worried him. Who would want to steal a body? Maybe it was some council stooge taking him home. Whoever they were, George thanked them silently.
Sophia hit the floor hard, her blood staining the rug. Eldred fumed. Could no one do anything around here? Sophie had reported the lost body, and in his rage, he almost killed her. Had the council been in on this all along? Had they discovered he was still alive? He was sure they could not have. But if not the council, then who? He reached down and dragged Sophia to the wall so she could sit up. Her wounds were already healing. As much as his anger raged, this had not been her fault. Whose fault, was it? He knew Jack would hunt Billi. How could he resist? And Eldred believed one would kill or attempt to kill the other. He imagined Billi would come out on top. Jack was too confident. Billi acted out of fear and self-preservation, and a desire to protect that which she loved most of all. And that made her dangerous and unpredictable in a fight. He needed to know where she was, to warn her, to talk to her. During the wars Eldred had hidden much of his knowledge in secret caves, hoping to keep it out of the hands of other vampires and certainly to keep it far away from the council who would most definitely destroy it all. He stored the things he cherished most close by. What was worrying him now was this; no one had known Jack would be here, so who had taken him? He wanted answers.
The door opened, and Joseph escorted George into the room. Eldred watched George's eyes linger on Sophia, saw the man's shock at his brutality, and felt his fingers clutch the silver in his pocket.
George stood on the polished floor in Eldred's cave, unable to tear his gaze from Sophia, who sat bloodied and weak, leaning against the wall. She met his eyes and spat blood onto the floor.
'Well?' Eldred demanded.
'Looks like they put him in the boot of a car.' He said.
'You lost him?'
'I never had him. I told you he'd mess this up.'
'He did exactly as expected.'
'What?' George said.
A knock on the door interrupted the silence in the room. A man entered, a man George did not know. He was a man, too, human. Not a vampire.
'She's not alone. Someone else is with her. Another woman,' he said.
He was tall and thin and put George in mind of a kid that had spent most of his time at school being bullied and was now a bastard at every given opportunity just because he had some power. He smelled like enjoyed being here, with the dangerous people. Now he could be dangerous too, if only by association. George instantly disliked him. Eldred smiled and nodded.
'Find out who's there. I want to know everything.'
He looked at George and put his head on one side.
'Did you think you were my only help? DC Pratt here has been incredibly helpful. Because of him, we know where the tiger lives, we know her name, we know where she works.' he said. 'It's difficult to believe that Billi is not aware of the other cat living in the city. I believe them to be close, friends, lovers maybe.' George was astonished. 'An attack such as this will warrant one to visit the other. You will follow this cat and bring her to me, or, failing that, tell me where she lives.'
'Come with me. I'll show you where Billi lives.' Pratt said.
George looked from him to Eldred.
'You want me to track a cat through a city?' he said, inventing desperately. Sally was in real danger now. ''I'll lose the trail. Cats smell the same.'
'Bull shit.' Everyone looked around. Sophia was pulling herself up the wall. She glared, pointing at him. 'In the bar, he told me the sex and age of the cat who'd taken the body. He's lying.' She smirked triumphantly at George.
Eldred smiled wanly at her.
'Joseph, get Sophia cleaned up.'
He turned his gaze to George, who growled. Eldred stood still, watching him. George did not dare look away. This is it, he thought. It's time to run. But before George could move, Eldred pulled something silver from his pocket and twirled it in his fingers. George watched, mesmerized. Then, as his thoughts finally got through to his feet and told them now would be a good time to run, something snapped around his neck with a suddenness that surprised him, but not as much as the pain did. Silver, he thought. The metal seared his skin, and he collapsed to the floor in agony.
Sally worried about Billi. She had seen less and less of her since she left the big house. She hunted almost every night now and came back to this empty, cold apartment. Sally knew Billi was lost. She had spent her entire life fighting to survive. But now she did not need to, she did not seem to know who she was meant to be. It was not that way for Sally; she had a mission. Billi was alone and floundering. Even the vampires did not seem to mind she was here, or at least, Sally reflected, they didn't act as though they minded. Not until last night, anyway. What has caused that? She pushed a black coffee across the kitchen counter to Billi, who stared despondently into its warm depths. I used to know what to say to make her feel better; she thought. Now I feel like I'm losing her. Sally placed a hand on Billi's, but Billi gently pulled away. Sally felt tears well in her eyes and turned abruptly, busying herself by making breakfast. All her life Billi had protected Sally, had taken beatings, killed for her. Now she was hurting and there was nothing Sally could do to fix it. She knew if she irritated Billi just enough, she would snap, and everything she needed to say would fall out of her. Sally hated rubbing Billi the wrong way, but it was all that worked.
Billi ached. She was stiff and sore and utterly furious. It had been a mean little fight, and she had lost more blood than she had realised. Copper made healing hard work, she was not used to recovering from wounds like that. A broken nose was one thing, this was something else. It was sharp and still somehow dull. She stretched her neck and watched Sally bustle around the kitchen, obviously worried. As she worked, she talked, but Billi had no words. Not yet. She stared at the coffee Sally had given her, unable to process her cataclysm of emotions. And found herself incapable of expressing her gratitude to the one person she truly loved. What's wrong with me? She thought. Why does it always end in death?
She looked up at Sally's shaking shoulders as she opened cupboard after cupboard, looking for something, hiding her tears. Billi wanted to help, but at this moment, she felt utterly unfit to comfort her. So, she sat in the uncomfortable silence, watching her friend make yet more tea.
'I think you should come to the house for a few days. I don't want you to be alone.' Sally said as she opened the fridge. Trying for chipper and almost succeeding. 'What shall we have for breakfast?'
Billi watched as Sally moved the more questionable items into the bin.
'Toast, banana, cereal? You've got to eat something, kiddo. Bacon? I make an excellent bacon sandwich.'
Billi watched her friend fuss about her and felt the walls holding back her emotions collapse.
'I killed someone.' Billi yelled, 'And you want me to eat?' Billi saw a small smile creep over Sally's face and realised Sally still knew all the ways to open her up. 'Why can't they just leave me alone?' Billi murmured before standing abruptly and walking over to the windows, wiping tears from her cheeks with the back of a hand.
'The vamps?' Sally asked.
'No. Us. Cats. Every-time I face another cat, they die. Is that all I can do? Kill. Is that all I am?'
'You kill vampires all the time.' Sally said.
Billi shook her head, staring out over the city.
'That's different.'
'It's still killing.'
'It's different.' Billi repeated. 'When we got out, I thought I'd have a normal life, well, not normal - normal. But I'm not normal, am I? I'm The Cat. A rage fuelled killing machine.' Billi thumped the glass of the window hard and swore loudly, once again fighting the beast within. 'They've ruined me.' Billi rested her head on the cool glass, staring into the reflection of her own exhausted gold eyes. 'I took a name given to me as an insult and turned it into a weapon. Now they fear me.' Billi turned to Sally; eyes red with tears. 'But if I carry on down this path, if I keep having to take life.' She sighed, shrugged. 'I'm scared I'll become like Jack. Just another killer for hire.'
Sally stared at Billi. Then slowly closed the fridge and walked over to her. Without a word, she wrapped Billi in a tight hug, pressed her cheek into Billi's and purred gently. Billi felt her entire body relax. Sally looked into Billi's eyes, wiping a tear from her cheek.
'That's not who you are, Bill, you know that. You don't kill for sport, or money, or to prove you're strong. You kill to save people. It's as simple as that.'
'But it's not simple, is it? Vampires were people once, with lives and families. I must remember that.'
'Then death is kindness.' Sally said, 'No one wants to be the monster.'
'I know.'
'Oh sweetie. You're not a monster.' Sally said, wrapping her arms around her once more. 'You will never be just some killer. Because it won't ever be the right thing to do.' She said, holding Billi's gaze. Sally honestly believed Billi was good, and if Sally believed it, maybe Billi could, too, or maybe she didn't need to. Maybe it was enough that Sally believed in her. 'You always do what's right, not what's easy. You're stronger than you know, kiddo.' Sally said, sighed and tilted her head, looking thoughtful, 'Come on, let's go for a swim. That always clears your head.'
Billi smiled and took a deep breath to prevent yet more tears. She nodded weakly and swept the hair out of Sally's face.
'I don't know what I'd do without you.' She said, resting her forehead onto Sally's and gently kissing her cheek.
A few moments later, Billi and Sally shivered under their towels on their way to the basement pool. As the lift bounced to a halt on the ground floor, Billi sniffed at the air. It was habit, and until that idiot vampire yesterday morning, nothing was ever out of place. But something in the air today made every hair on her body stand on end. Beside her, Sally bristled.
'Hide now!' Billi hissed in an urgent whisper.
Sally's towel collapsed to the ground, and a large, long-haired black cat with a white chest sauntered out of the folds. Billi bent down and scooped her up in the discarded towel. As she stood, the lift doors slid open, and she came face to face with a rat like man wearing a greasy suit, a police ID, and cologne so strong Billi's eyes watered. In her arms, Sally growled.
'Morning, cunt-stable.' Billi spat.
Fear and aftershave mingled with a horribly familiar scent. DC Pratt faltered on the threshold, terror in his eyes. Billi realised he was as surprised to find them as she was to see him. Pratt managed a weak nod. He pulled out his phone and stood as far from Billi as the cramped space in the lift would allow.
'That's Detective Pratt.'
'Oh, well, that's much better.'
Billi stared at him. She enjoyed doing that. It made people uncomfortable, and she wanted this man to be profoundly uncomfortable. He reeked of sandstone and vampires. She turned to face him properly. He remained glued to his phone. Billi wrinkled her nose.
'I'm curious.' She said, taking a step closer, backing the detective into a corner. 'Did they tell you I wouldn't be able to smell them if you covered yourself in cheap aftershave? Or was this a personal choice this morning?'
Pratt shifted, finally meeting Billi's gaze.
'You need to back off, or I will arrest you.'
Billi laughed.
'Sure, you will,' she said, still staring at him. 'You can explain to your friends back in the station why you're so terrified of a small woman in a towel.' She grinned at his expression of defeat. 'Why'd the vamps send you?'
'I'm not here for them.'
'Bull shit.' Billi hissed. 'I get attacked by thirty vampires and a fucking tiger last night, and a cop reeking of vampire just happens to be in my building the next morning.'
Sally spat again. DC Pratt stared at the cat in Billi's arms. His phone pointing at it. With unpractised nonchalance, he glanced at the screen. There was the sound of a photo being taken, the sound surprised even Pratt. Panic gripped his face. Billi's hand shot out and grabbed the phone, crushing his hand. Pratt cried out, but Billi's grip was immovable.
'What the hell was that?' She squeezed harder. DC Pratt whimpered. 'What do you want?' She demanded.
'The cat,' he murmured. Billi stared at him.
'What?'
She released his hand. Blood oozed between his fingers. His phone dropped to the floor; Billi stamped on what remained of it. The door to the lift opened again and Billi pushed DC Pratt out and hit the close button. She stared at Sally.
'Why are they looking for you?'
George blinked the blood from his eyes. His head throbbed. The silver collar burned his skin. He'd been in fights before. But never like this. He was pretty sure he ought to be dead. The guards who had so recently delighted in beating him now stood before him. He could feel their cold smirks. He spat blood at their feet. They moved and George braced for another torrent of silver knuckle dusted fists. It did not come. Instead, the door opened, and a familiar scent strolled in. Eldred dragged a chair behind him and placed it in front of the prone and bloody George. He sat down, delicately brushing some non-existent dirt from his lap.
'Look at me,' he said. George did not move. A powerful hand gripped his jaw and forced his face upwards. George squinted into Eldred's cold green eyes. 'It didn't have to be this way, you know?' He said. 'If you had told me what I needed to know, you could have saved yourself all this pain,'
George screamed in agony as Eldred pressed the flat of a silver blade to his cheek. His breathing fast and shallow. He panted as he spoke.
'I'll never tell you where she is,' he said. 'She's not a threat. The tiger's the one killing you.'
He shook his head out of Eldred's grip and slumped back against the wall.
'She's certainly angry.' Eldred said. 'But a threat? No. She kills the weak and the careless. In a way, she protects us. There's little knowledge of our existence in the city, thanks to her.' Eldred smirked. 'She would hate to know that.' He watched George. 'The other one, though, the one you insist on protecting. She is digging around in matters she cannot possibly understand. She is putting everything at risk.'
'She is putting you at risk, you mean?' George spat.
Eldred moved with such speed that George had to stop himself from jumping for fear of losing is sight, as the silver blade hovered millimetres from his eye.
'You will tell me what I need to know.'
'Bite me,' George growled.
Eldred sighed.
'Why sacrifice yourself for this girl?' Eldred said, taking in George and his defiant expression. 'Oh. I see. That's why.' He said. 'Well then, in that case, I think I'll keep you alive, so when we find her, and we will find her, you can watch as we consume her.'
George leapt, his chains holding him back. His guards laughed. One of them punched him back to the floor as they left with Eldred. The door shut with a thud. George screamed and collapsed to the ground, crying hot, angry tears.
'Crying won't help her.'
George span around. Sat in a corner of the fetid cell was a dishevelled man wrapping a disgusting blanket around himself.
Billi paced, listening to the excited ramblings of Sally as she explained what she had been doing.
'Books?' she said finally. 'They attacked me because of books?'
'No. No. It's not just books,' Sally insisted. 'It's the truth.'
'Jesus Christ, Sally, I killed a tiger!' She shouted.
Sally had the grace to look ashamed.
'He would have killed you, Sal!' Billi went on.
Sally stared at her feet, tears raining on to her toes. Billi shook her head. She could have killed me; she could have killed herself. She never thinks things through where knowledge is concerned. It was quite a contradictory flaw, Billi thought. If Sally believes she has a good reason to do something, she'll do it. Even if it puts her in harm's way. And I always have to save her.
'I'm sorry, Billi,' Sally said in a quiet voice. 'I'm sorry you had to kill for me. Again.' She turned her tear reddened face to Billi. Billi sighed, rubbed her hands over her face, up into her hair and collapsed onto the sofa next to Sally, who immediately threw her arms around her and cried.
'What are you looking for?' Billi said softly.
Sally pulled herself together, dragging a sleeve over her eyes. She sniffed, and Billi handed her a cup of tea. Sally sipped at it.
'Well.' Sally said, a touch of enthusiasm returning to her voice. 'I'm looking into how the war started. I know mum told us stories. But that's all they were. Stories. She was never too clear on details. She never said where, only vaguely showed when. All I could ever be sure about was who.'
'The council and the vampires.' Billi said.
'Right, yes. The council,' Sally said and squeezed Billi's hand. 'You know what they lack in kindness they make up for in pig-headed arrogance.'
Billi laughed a little and nodded in agreement.
'That's putting it mildly.'
'Exactly. And that got me thinking. If something important had happened. Something the council needed to destroy or maybe even protect. Well, would they move, or would they stay?' Sally looked expectantly at Billi.
'You've lost me.' Billi said, utterly confused. 'What do you mean?'
'What actually caused the war with the vampires?'
'Oh, that?' Billi said. She stood and walked to the window. Rain once again washed the city, deepening the reds of the sandstone buildings. She then spoke as if reading a story to a class of eight-year-olds. 'The vampires attacked and killed a brave werecat queen. Braking a sacred truce. A truce put in place to help the fight against Yfel, who sentenced the world to suffer the Black Death. They attacked women and children, knowing our numbers were few. And condemned the females of our kind to centuries of "protection" at the hands of the clowder council.' she turned back to Sally, 'It's one of the many reasons I can't stand the bloodthirsty bastards.' She said.
'OK. But who taught us that?' Sally asked. Billi shrugged.
'Well, the council.' Billi hesitated. 'And your mum.'
'Yes. But she was never clear about it and always talked about the Cait Sith being betrayed.' Sally went on at high speed. 'But I'm still trying to figure out where he fits in.'
Billi looked at her friend again.
'I've never been comfortable with that.' Billi said. 'The Cait Sith. I mean, who even is that?'
'He was the king, you know that. The king of my people.' Sally looked unsure. She knew Billi's views on royalty. 'He brokered the deal with the big cats. He got them to fight Yfel, to protect his people. The big five got the vampires to agree to a truce.'
Billi sighed. That story never made sense to her, but if she ever questioned it, they shut her down. It was the story. But try as she might, Billi could not see how any of this had anything to do with Sally, books, and vampire attacks.
'So?' Billi said, exasperated.
'I think it started here, in Nottingham.' She looked expectantly at Billi. What am I supposed to say? Billi thought. I mean, who cares? So what? What difference will knowing make? She looked at Sally and once more could only shrug. Now it was Sally's turn to look disappointed.
'Don't you see?' she asked. Billi did not. 'The council stayed close to the city because there's something here they need.' A grin spread across her face. 'And I think I know what it is. Look.' Sally lifted her bag on to the coffee table. It looked heavy. Billi sat back down next to her as Sally retrieved a large, heavy leather book from her bag. Billi marvelled at her.
'You raced across the city in the middle of the night to save your friend.' She said, looking at Sally, who grinned sheepishly. 'And you brought a book?'
It was huge. She could have used it as a weapon. It looked capable of knocking someone unconscious. Sally poured through the ancient dry pages. Finally, finding what she was looking for, she allowed the book to fall open, and pointed at the image on the page.
'Eldred', she said.
'Right, a dead vampire…'
Billi wondered what the hell Sally was trying to tell her. Sally raised her eyebrows and pointed to the figure Eldred was embracing.
'That's the Lady Xoc. Does that look like the body language of the man about to kill her?'
Billi stared at the couple. No, she thought, it certainly does not.
'What am I supposed to do with this, Sal?'
'Don't get mad,' Sally said.
'Don't give me reason to.'
'I went into the drawing.' Billi didn't need to ask what Sally meant, she knew, but she did not know Sally could do it. 'It's a memory. Like mum used to show us. I figured out how to do it.' Sally said as a way of explanation. 'Look.' She said. 'It's easier to show you.'
Before Billi had time to react, Sally took her hand. Everything went black. Billi's feet hit stone. Sally's grip was all she was aware of.
'Sally?'
A sudden implosion of blue-white light filled Billi's vision. She raised a hand to shade her eyes. As her sight returned, she looked up. She was standing in a large sandstone pit, Sally beside her holding her hand. In front of them, Billi saw Eldred watching a naked woman pull herself upright. He was smiling. Relief filled his entire being. He moved a hand to stroke the woman's face. But a cracking of energy jolted him, and the woman vanished. In the place she had stood, a jade jaguar lay on the floor. Billi watched Eldred's face drop. He fell to his knees, crying bitter tears. Sally pointed to a grey sword lying beside the figurine.
'I saw that burst into flames when she held it. She killed Yfel.'
Billi tore her eyes from the devastated Eldred. Fighting had broken out all around her. Cats were killing vampires, and she saw, with some horror, other cats. She turned to Sally.
'I know where this is.' She said.
Billi rearranged the large bag resting awkwardly across her body. It meowed. She decided Sally would be safer at home. The vamps obviously had no clue where she lived. They knew where Billi lived, but that did not bother her. So, what was worrying her? She pulled her scarf up over her hair, hiding her face in its deep shadow. It was daytime; the vamps were underground, and she doubted Pratt would risk following her again today. She had even shunned bright clothing. Opting instead for all black and wrapping herself in a large tiger print scarf. So why did she feel so exposed? Her head was buzzing. If the vampires were looking for Sally, why had Jack attacked her? How had Sally figured out how to enter memories? Why had she shown her a sword? What did it all mean? She shook her head. Once again, she had more questions than answers. It had been that way ever since she was a child. No one ever gave her an answer that made sense. She moved up a side street and past the castle gates, the only remnants of the once impressive fort. Her bag meowed again.
'Shut up. I know where I'm going.' Billi whispered.
There was a doubtful meow from the depths of the bag. Billi rolled her eyes. OK, it had been a while since she had last been here, but she didn't need any help to find the place. She had lived there long enough, besides Sally's scent wound through the streets like a ribbon. Billi stopped at the entrance to Nottingham's most sought after gated community, The Park. The houses here were all grand Victorian mansions, complete with expensive cars parked in the streets, and on drives. Too much money shared between too few, Billi thought. Sally had one of these to herself. Her mother told them about it before they escaped. A secret safe house owned by those still loyal to the Cait Sith. The Cait Sith. Not for the first time, Billi wondered about him. She still didn't know how she felt about it, a king of cats. Well, she corrected herself, a king of the cats of Briton, anyway. Not her cats, but Sally's cats. Maybe that was why she didn't feel comfortable in the big house. It was not meant for a cat like her. She followed the ribbon of Sally's sent to the black door of a three-story ivy-covered, red brick house.
'I don't suppose you have a key on you?' Billi asked the cat with a grin.
The black and white cat leapt from the bag, and a few moments later, adjusting the dress she had just pulled on, Sally opened the door.
'Who needs a key when there's a perfectly acceptable cat flap?' Sally said, opening the door wider and beckoning Billi in. 'Welcome back.' Sally beamed.
Billi entered, still uncomfortable in the Victorian grandeur of the house. She had often wondered if her discomfort was ancestral somehow, like they had passed it down in the shape of her body. The Victorians had not treated her native home well, and while none of her ancestors since the 17th century had ever stepped a foot out of Nottingham, never mind the UK, she thought maybe it was just possible that it seeped in somehow. She shuddered and tried to push it all away. In here, on these black-and-white tiles, it seemed odd that their footsteps made no sound. They should have filled this airy space with noise, not silence. Billi wondered how Sally could live here. It was creepy. Then Billi's eyes fell across the sideboards that lined one wall of the hallway, and she couldn't help but laugh. There, filling all available space, were hundreds of cat-related artefacts. Some of which Billi was sure ought to be in a museum.
'How many of these did you actually buy?' She asked Sally with a smile. Sally laughed.
'Whatever are you suggesting?' She said with a sly grin. 'Cat burglary?'
Billi continued past the sideboards, picking up the less delicate looking objects as she passed. Sally had covered the final sideboard in photos. Billi saw pictures of her, and many of the friends Sally had made while working in the museum. One photo stood out to Billi. It was Sally, being embraced by a tall and annoyingly handsome man, and Sally was giggling. Billi picked it up. Beside her, she felt Sally tense slightly.
'Who's this?' Billi asked, hoping she did not sound as jealous as she felt. Sally blushed. She actually blushed. Billi raised her eyebrows. 'You like him?' She asked.
'He's just a friend, Bill.' Sally said, taking the photo from Billi and placing it gently on the sideboard. 'Well, he was.' She said in a sadder tone. Billi felt her blood run hot.
'What did he do?' She asked. If he's hurt her, she thought. Sally shook her head.
'No. No.' Sally said. 'Nothing, he is my friend.' She seemed hesitant.
'What aren't you telling me, Sal?' Billi insisted. Sally took a deep breath.
'We worked together. But he got-' she looked around, trying to find the right word. 'Sick.' She finished lamely. She looked at Billi, smiled strangely, and sighed. 'He's a werewolf.'
Billi stared at her.
'He's a what-now?' She said.
'I thought you knew there was one in town?' Sally asked, looking at Billi with an expression Billi could not quite make out. She nodded.
'Well sure, but I didn't realize he was your bestie.' What was Sally thinking, friends with a wolf? Stealing books from vampires. Was she actively trying to get herself killed? 'He's been careful.' Billi admitted. 'Keeps himself away from people, mostly.' She said.
Sally nodded.
'I only ever catch his scent in the caves.' She said.
Billi looked at his photo again. That was odd. Vampires and wolfs were not usually friendly. Sally must have caught her expression.
'I know it's strange.'
'And what, he's working with the vampires?'
'I doubt it. But he must be with them.'
She looked at Billi. Billi crossed her arms.
'Does he know where you live?' Billi asked.
She did not need to wait for the response. Sally's face told her all she needed to know.
'Jesus Sal, he could lead them right to you.'
George stared at the strange old man fussing with the filthy blanket.
'There's not much time.' The stranger said.
'Who are you?' George asked, 'Where did you come from?'
'I'm a friend, George.' The man said. 'My name's James.'
'I can't smell you.'
James nodded and raised his hands placatingly.
'It's my training.' He whispered. 'I can control my pheromone levels. It helps me move around unnoticed.'
'What?' George said, struggling. Was he seeing things? He had taken a few knocks to the head. This might not be happening.
'I'm with the Cait Sith.' James said.
'Is that supposed to help?' George hissed. James smiled and reached out a hand. George automatically pulled away.
'I won't hurt you.' He said. 'Look.' Slowly, he reached up to the silver collar and released the clasp. The collar dropped to the floor with barely a sound. Relief flooded George's body. He stared at James. This was real. He was being rescued.
'What's a Cait Sith?' He asked. He had so many questions, but this one got out first.
'All I can tell you is we are friends of Sally.' James said as he removed the chains holding George to the wall.
'What? Sally sent you?'
'No. She doesn't know about us.' James had moved to the door. George was more confused than ever.
'What's happening?' He demanded in a desperate whisper. James was picking the lock on the door now.
'There's no time.' He insisted. 'We want you to keep protecting Sally.' James was nodding. George found himself nodding along. Then he shook his head.
'I can't. I'm too weak.' George said.
James closed his eyes and sighed. He turned to George.
'You're stronger than you realize.' He said kindly. 'All you know of your kind is what Eldred has told you. And he is using you. You can raise the wolf if you need to, even without the moon.' He put a hand on George's chest. 'Close your eyes. Bring your energy to your heart.' George peered at this strange, semi naked man. What have I got to lose? He asked himself. He closed his eyes and concentrated. 'Good. Now think of your power,' James continued. 'Bring the moon to your vision,' George tried. He felt better, stronger. Was this working? 'That's it. Good.' James said, taking his hand from George's chest and turning back to the door. 'Now, when I say, run, run.'
Billi stared at the books. They were everywhere. It had been a while since she had been down in Sally's cave of an office. It had certainly grown.
'Well, you have been busy.' She managed. No wonder the vamps are pissed off, she thought.
'These aren't all from the caves.' Sally said dismissively. 'Some of these are six or seven hundred years old Billi, they're incredible.'
I bet they are, Billi thought, picking up a random book and putting it back as she realised it was in a language she didn't understand.
'And what, you thought this would go unnoticed?' She said, as she lounged against the bare brick wall. Sally shrugged.
'Not especially, but come on, who's reading it?' Sally said.
Billi raised her eyebrows. How is it, she thought, that someone so clever can be so naïve? She sighed and walked over to Sally.
'Well. And I'm just guessing here, but maybe the person who tried to have you killed?' Billi suggested. 'What are you looking for, anyway?' Billi asked. Sally's shoulders dipped.
'Hope.' she whispered, turning away from Billi. 'I want to get her out. If I can find something, anything, that can help me...' She turned tear-filled eyes to Billi. 'If I can find out how the council began, perhaps I can learn how to end them.' She wiped a tear from her cheek. Billi gave Sally a gentle smile and wrapped her arms around her.
'We'll get her back sweetie, I promise,' she kissed Sally's head, 'we'll make them pay.'
George stumbled through the tunnel. It was dark and cold. He ached, but he could not afford to stop. They would kill him this time. He moved as quietly as he could, scenting out the route ahead. The last thing he needed now was to run into another vampire. So far, his breakout had gone unnoticed, but he knew that would not last. He turned another corner. More darkness, but now he could see a pinprick of light. The air felt fresher here too, and George smiled as he caught a scent that would help him escape. Behind him, someone screamed. They knew. Throwing caution to the wind, George ran towards the light.
Billi followed Sally up the brick stairs back into the kitchen. It came as little surprise to Billi that the first thing Sally did was fill the kettle.
'You really think Eldred was in love with a cat?' She asked. Sally shrugged.
'You saw them. What else was that? It broke him.'
Billi nodded. Sally was right. What ever happened to Xoc had shattered Eldred. It made no sense, but she couldn't argue with her own eyes.
'Why were they fighting?' Billi asked. 'It was a massacre down there. Everyone was fighting, well, everyone. Cat on cat, cat on vampire. I don't understand.'
'That's what I'm trying to figure out.' Sally said. 'Maybe that was when they broke the truce?' She shrugged. 'I'm not sure what it would mean if it was, though. And what's with the flaming sword?'
A frantic banging at the door made them both jump. Billi sniffed the air. There was a familiar tang. A look of horror spread over Sally's face.
'Blood.' Billi said.
'George!' Sally exclaimed.
George watched with relief as Sally opened the door slowly and peered through the gap. Her hand flew to her mouth, he must have looked a mess, he knew he was filthy, not to mention bruised and still bleeding. Sally gasped.
'I wasn't followed.' George managed.
Sally nodded, offering George a hand and pulling him to his feet.
'I know.' She said, pushing the door to the house open further.
George went to enter and froze.
'Shit.' He murmured.
Sitting not ten feet in front of him was an enormous Bengal tiger. Staring at him through cold amber eyes. Its tail flicked. George raised both hands and took a step forwards. Sally smiled.
'Billi?' He asked.
'Not many people would get that close to a tiger.' Sally said.
George smiled. The tiger gave a low, bowel cleansing growl. George swallowed, fighting his instinct to run. He turned back to Sally.
'Well, not many people have tigers living in their house.' He said.
Sally grinned.
'I don't live here.'
He turned, startled to see a naked Billi sauntering away from them.
'Come on, let's get you cleaned up.' Sally said, leading George gently to the kitchen.
Billi returned to the kitchen still sorting out her clothes. She glared at George. Who is this man? She thought. He smelled interesting, though. Fear, dampness, blood. Is that arousal? She wondered? George glanced over at Billi. She scowled back. Sally handed Billi a cup of tea, then busied herself tending to the worst of George's wounds.
'Some of these are bad,' Sally said. 'What happened?'
Billi crossed her arms.
'Yeah wolfy. What happened?'
When George looked at Billi, something in his eyes caught her by surprise. He is trying to protect her, Billi thought.
'I wouldn't tell him where you were,' he said.
Sally beamed at him. Billi rolled her eyes. Save me from hopeless romantics.
'So, they beat you this badly and somehow you escaped?' Billi asked. 'How do you know they didn't follow you?'
'They didn't,' he said. 'The caves are complex. Vampires aren't. They chased for a while.' He shrugged lamely. Billi sat up a little.
'You don't know, do you? Did. They. Follow. You?' she demanded, walking towards him.
'They needed me because they don't know the difference between Sally's scent and an actual cat.' He said, 'Or mine scent and a dog. So, I came out on Peveril Drive. It's a bit of a homeless hangout, there are usually dogs. If they followed me, they'll have lost me there.'
'What?' Billi said. Sally closed her eyes. Her shoulders fell.
'Oh no,' Sally said.
'You did what?' Billi hissed.
'I-' stuttered George.
'They'll kill them all!' Billi roared. She stormed from the house filled with anger, terrified of what she might find. George stood so fast he banged his knee on the table. He tried to follow Billi. Sally put a hand on his shoulder.
'Don't.' She said, but George brushed her away and ran after Billi.
Billi ran to Peveril drive. It was only a few streets away. She was already crying. I'll kill him, she screamed to herself, her feet unable to get her there fast enough.
George stopped at the entrance to the cave, the silence overwhelmed him, and he could smell death in the air. His heart dropped. He moved further in. Billi was kneeling on the ground, shaking with tears and anger, her hand on the head of a woman. A dog lay beside her, whining. Two other bodies lay discarded around her. Billi didn't turn to face him but slowly bent down and kissed the dead woman's forehead. The dog whined and, nuzzled into Billi's arms. Billi patted the terrified animal gently. Then she stood and turned to face George.
'You did this,' Billi growled. The quiet hatred in her voice more terrifying to George than if she had yelled. 'You didn't think about them.' she cried. 'It was never safe here. God knows I've told her often enough. But you.' she rolled her head on her shoulders, fighting the tiger. 'You pissed them off and led them here. What did you think would happen?' Anger streamed from every pore. She was barely keeping it together. George took a step backwards. 'You did this!' She roared, and it really was a roar, George thought as parts of his body told him to stay still and run away all at the same time. Sally ran into the cave behind George and came to a shuddering halt. Her hands flew to her mouth with a gasp.
'Alison.' She moaned as tears welled in her eyes.
Billi stared at Sally. Of course she came, she thought, of course she wouldn't stay somewhere safe. Furious, Billi strode to her, shouldering George out of the way. He was still staring at the bodies.
'Go home.' Billi demanded. 'Go now. They could still be close.'
'I… I didn't think.' George stuttered.
Billi turned on him.
'No. You didn't', she spat. Tears rolling down his cheeks.
'They tortured me.' He said, burying his face in his hands, 'I just wanted to get out. I'm sorry.'
'Sorry?' Billi shouted. 'You're sorry?' She shoved George hard. He collapsed to his knees.
'Billi, no!' Sally said. Billi whipped around, eyes wide and red with tears.
'Don't you dare!' she hissed. 'Don't you dare side with him!'
Tears rained down Sally's cheeks. She crept over to Billi, placed her hand on her arm, and squeezed her gently.
'Please, just wait.' She pleaded. Still crying, she turned to George. He looked defeated. Billi knew his remorse was genuine. She knew if she killed him now, he would understand, but Sally wouldn't.
'There are things I need to know,' Sally said. 'How did you end up with them?' She asked.
'I… The first time I changed, I was in Scotland. Alone in a bothy. It terrified me. I came home, changed again, I almost destroyed my house. I didn't want to hurt anyone.' He broke down again, shoulders convulsing. Sally crouched down and placed a hand on his shoulder. Billi growled. George caught his breath. 'After that, I thought the caves would be a safe place to, you know...' he said. Sally looked up at Billi in confusion. Billi rolled her eyes.
'He means he'd come here on a full moon.' She explained, 'After all, he'd only be putting homeless people at risk.' She said and kicked at him.
'Billi!' Sally shouted, standing and pulling her back. George cowered, shaking his head.
'No, no, she's right. She's right,' he said. 'I was scared.' He looked at Billi, anger in his eyes. 'I was changing into a fucking wolf! This sort of thing is not supposed to be real!' He wailed, then slumped back in tears once more. 'How is this real?' He asked weakly. 'I woke up one day, and I was surrounded by them. They grabbed me and took me to him.'
'You should have fought.' Billi said. Sally looked at her in surprise 'I would have.' She said.
'Not everyone's as strong as you.' Sally hissed. The venom in her statement visceral. Sally turned back to George; her tone friendly once more. 'Took you to who?'
'To Eldred.' He said. Sally gasped.
'What?' Billi said.
'That's not possible.' Sally whispered.
Eldred slammed the cricket bat into the lifeless body with a dull thud, as his vampires looked on in horrified and fascinated silence. He had not so much decapitated the man as crushed his head. The body gave a final snap and collapsed to dust.
Eldred threw the cricket bat to the ground. He was not only angry; he was also scared. Worried George might lead Billi here sooner than expected. He needed to talk to the little one first; he was sure of that. He could not risk Billi coming in, guns blazing and ruining his plans. Not now. He was closer than ever to ending the council once and for all. The second guard knelt beside the remains of his friend. His eyes fixed on the floor. Eldred knew vampires feared death. He did. At least he did not want to die before he got his revenge. Then he would happily die. While living hundreds of years in this form had been a torture he had barely survived, being separated from her had been far worse. He paced along a table covered in more implements of torture and death than one person should rightfully own and listened to the frantic breathing of the remaining guard.
'How did this happen?'
The man at his feet shifted, but did not look up.
'His collar was on the floor. He must have picked the lock.' The guard said.
Eldred kicked him hard. Then continued to kick him with each sentence.
'I have no prisoner.'
Kick.
'No body.'
Kick
'I have no way of finding the cat,'
Kick
'And if I have read the tiger correctly, she is going to want to know what happened.'
Eldred grabbed a machete from the table.
'And that will lead her here!'
With a single swing, he decapitated the guard. Vampires fled the room, all except Joseph. He approached his master cautiously.
Jack lay wrapped in something warm and felt a strange pull at his skin as the world re-formed around him. He had never died before, and the sensation of life reigniting within him made him nauseous. Every cell in his body screamed in agony as his brain struggled to realise, he was not breathing and gulped in a huge lungful of air. He panted as the fiery breath shocked his lungs into action. Now almost fully conscious, his fingers drifted to his neck. He knew she had cut him. He could remember the blood and the pain. She had defeated him with a knife. What kind of tiger does that? He rolled his neck, his muscles stiff and burning hot.
Breathing hard, he tried to pull himself free of the blankets someone had wrapped around him. Where was he? It smelled damp. Was he in a cave? He tried to stretch his legs but found the walls closer than expected. Finally, he opened his eyes. It was dark. Wait, no, it wasn't. There was light above him. More candles. He frowned. A face silhouetted through the candlelight peered down at him as a familiar scent washed over him. And he screamed.