The Grigori: Stalking Tender Prey Part 40

Ray brushed his hair out of his eyes in a self-conscious manner, and sat down.

I've been explaining a few things to Ray,' Emma said, lighting up. She pushed her cigarette packet towards Perks across the table, and he fumbled to help himself from it. You don't have to worry, Owen. Ray knows all about you now. Don't you, Ray?'

Yeah.' Perks eyes moved furtively from side to side.

Owen stared at him coldly. He dared not guess how much Emma had told him. Seems we have no privacy, any more.'

Emma laughed sweetly. Well, sometimes it helps if more than just a few people know your business. Look on it as insurance against unwelcome possibilities.'

How comforting,' said Lily, pouring some milk into two mugs.

I take it our friend Mr Othman hasn't called yet?' Emma said.

Lily shook her head. No.'

Emma exhaled smoke. Hmm. I couldn't locate him last night. I've a feeling he might have been at Low Mede. He's healed' the Cranton fellow. That means Cranton will have developed a dependency.'

Owen and Lily exchanged a shocked glance. Daniel doesn't know about that,' Owen said.

Perhaps not,' Emma replied. He will soon, though. The evidence will be apparent to all. Anyway, let's leave Pev to his dalliances for now. Our main priority is still for you two to gain access to Long Eden.'

We need the key,' Lily said.

Yes, I've been thinking about that,' Emma said. Obviously it's not an ordinary key. Perhaps it's a sequence of words or thoughts. That seems most likely to me.'

Lily leaned against the cooking range. And how do we guess them?'

You can't. It would take for ever. No, you'll have to try and learn them through psychic means.' She smiled at Ray Perks. I've already discussed the matter with Ray. He put it quite nicely: you need the services of a psychic hacker', and if what you say about Daniel Cranton is true, perhaps you've already found one.'

Except Daniel isn't around,' Owen said.

He'll probably be back tonight,' Lily said.

Well, that should be soon enough,' Emma beamed. Now, Ray and I have business in Cresterfield today, but as from tomorrow, I want him to stay close to you both. Now, now! Don't pull those faces. Trust me when I say you need the protection.'

Emma and Ray Perks stayed for only half an hour. He seemed to have fallen under Ms Manden's spell. When she told him to drink up his tea, he did so. As she left the house, she called to him and he followed her out like a puppy.

There goes our bodyguard,' Owen said, once the door had shut. Who now probably thinks I'm a f.u.c.king queer.'

Well, aren't you?' Lily enquired archly.

Owen glared at her. Thanks, Lil.'

She laughed and went to hug him. That was a joke. Do I have to p.u.s.s.y-foot round you now?'

He reached up to hold her arm, sighing. No.' There was a silence, while Lily swayed behind Owen's chair, still holding his shoulders, her cheek resting on his head. Then he said, Lil?'

What?'

I'm worried about Daniel. If what Emma suspects is true, and Othman was at Low Mede last night...'

Daniel wasn't there. There's nothing to worry about.'

If Louis was telling the truth. You know Othman was interested in talking to Daniel.'

Owen, you're paranoid!' Lily said. What are you afraid of? That Pev has seduced your beloved? Daniel's staying with a friend. Stop worrying about nothing. Why don't you go and meet him from school today?'

Yeah, I will.' He took one of Lily's hands and kissed it. I'll just go and look the car over.'

After Owen had gone outside, Lily took some food and water up to the invalid cat, who was still secreted in the bottom of the wardrobe in Helen's old room. He had pulled some of the faded dresses down off their hangers to make a nest, and greeted Lily with a musical meow as she opened the wardrobe door. And how are you today?' Lily stroked his broad head. The cat got to his feet and lumbered stiffly out onto the carpet. He seemed a lot better, even though he was limping. Lily watched in satisfaction as he devoured the food, then daintily lapped the water. She thought she should bathe his leg again, and was just standing up to fetch some salt water, when she heard the kitchen door open. Owen! she thought, and wheeled around to put the cat back in the wardrobe, but the cat backed away, his mouth wide and red in a violent snarl. He was looking at the door, with his ears flat against his head. In the wardrobe,' Lily whispered hoa.r.s.ely. The cat seemed to understand her and leapt back in so quickly, it must have hurt his injured leg badly. Lily pushed the wardrobe door to, then went downstairs. Her heart nearly stopped when she saw Peverel Othman standing in the kitchen.

Pev!'

He smiled at her widely. Lily, I've been neglecting you. I'm sorry.'

He looked terrible, his face drawn and grey, his hair lank. He leaned against the table for support.

Lily went up to him, touched his face with a nervous hand. Are you all right? You look ill.' She pushed back his hair and saw the livid scratch marks. My G.o.d, your face! What happened?' She wondered whether Barbara had done this to him.

Othman's hand flew up to his cheek. A cat scratch.'

Some cat!' Lily said, then something clicked into place in her mind. Verity's cat had done this, and Othman had retaliated. Why? No wonder the cat had hissed when he'd sensed Othman come into the cottage. Pev, what is wrong with you?'

He sat down at the table, ran his hands through his hair. Too many late nights.'

With Barbara Eager, with Emma Manden?' Lily couldn't help the accusation. Perhaps even with Louis and Daniel Cranton? How about Verity? I doubt you've left her out.'

Othman's face had a.s.sumed a guarded expression. A smile hovered uncertainly around his mouth. That sounds like jealousy, Lily. I hope it isn't.'

Then it's true?'

Some of it. Please don't upset yourself about it. Now, how about a drink. Something strong.'

Lily folded her arms. Not before I get an explanation, Pev. What do you really want with us?'

Othman rubbed his face, yawned. OK, if that's the way you want it. You know about me, and I know about you. Me Grigori, you half-breed. I want the flame, Lily, I need its power. Look at me. Something's happening. I wasn't drawn here by coincidence.' He held out his hands to her in a gesture of appeal. Help me, Lily. Please.'

She wanted to remain cold and aloof, but her heart wouldn't allow it. Her feet carried her to him, even as her mind debated how to react to his plea. Pev.' She pulled his head against her breast, bent to kiss his hair. What can I do?'

We woke the flame,' he murmured. We need to stoke it, call it forth. It is Grigori power, taken from the earth. Lily, something is happening to me, to my mind. I feel weak and afraid. We are kin, you and Owen and I. You must not turn away from me.'

Even as Lily held him, murmured rea.s.surance, some icy part of her wondered whether Othman was simply acting, manipulating her feelings. Still, he looked dreadful, and his words seemed sincere enough. Have you seen Owen? He's outside, working on the car.'

I noticed. I slipped past him. Wanted to talk to you first.' Othman pulled away from her a little and looked up at her face. Owen doesn't trust me, Lily. I don't think you do either, not completely, but I feel I can trust you.'

Owen is probably wiser than me,' Lily said. So, tell me what will happen if I help you, if we both help you.'

Give me a drink,' Othman answered. Then we'll talk.'

Lily fetched a bottle of wine from the pantry, which she opened and set before Othman, along with a tumbler. The wine was a bit cloudy, but Othman didn't seem to notice, or didn't care. Lily sat down opposite him, folded her arms on the table, and watched him pour a full gla.s.s, drain it in one swallow, then pour another. He gasped and sighed, throwing back his head, blinking at the ceiling.

Well?' said Lily.

I gather that Emma's told you about the special relations.h.i.+p people here in the village had with the Murkasters?'

Yes. She wants us to reclaim our birthright, for obvious reasons.' Lily paused. When did she tell you this? We understood she didn't want you to know how much she'd revealed to us.'

Othman laughed uncertainly, took another drink. Emma doesn't have to tell me things, Lily. I can read her like a comic strip.'

Lily wasn't sure she believed that entirely. So, do you agree with her? Do you think we should find a way to make Long Eden ours?'

He nodded slowly, watching her carefully. Yes. Why not?'

But the Murkasters were driven out. The same thing could happen to us.'

Othman shrugged. Long Eden is a forgotten place, Lily. I don't think you have anything to worry about. Not if you're careful.'

Will you stay with us?'

He paused, his eyes flicking away from Lily's stare. For a while.'

What are you hiding from?'

He glanced back at her. Nothing.'

Lily realised that this feeling of control she had over him proved to her more than his physical appearance how weak he must be at the moment. Have you ever killed anyone, Pev?'

His face seemed to bleach before her eyes. He looked like bone, a skull. Why do you ask? Is it important?'

She shrugged. Perhaps. Perhaps if you told me some truthful things, I might trust you more, no matter what you've done.' She leaned back in her chair. So, tell me...'

He rubbed one hand over his eyes. Lily, you must understand that being Grigori is not like being human. You have been brought up as human, with human values. Whatever I say to you will be judged by human morals.' He looked at her directly, as if summoning a few shreds of strength from some inner place. Yes, I have killed. How could I not? I am quite old, and age brings experience. If you live long enough, you will kill too, because you will undergo every possible experience.'

That's an easy answer. What is it like to be Grigori, Pev? If I am this thing, then tell me about it.'

He sighed. How can I? It's too big to describe. If you look deep inside yourself, you will find the answer. It lies there, believe me.'

That's not enough. Tell me!'

His eyes widened as she raised her voice. He glanced towards the window, as if afraid Owen would hear her and come into the cottage. All right. Look upon yourself as one small part of something unimaginably huge. Grigori: one family. We are all linked, every one of us in the world. You are estranged, but you could change that if you wanted to. I don't recommend it, because, as you rightly pointed out, you might not only lose the chance to attain Long Eden, but would also suffer the penalty meted out to your father. Grigori are powerful, but they are paranoid too. They want to remain a secret, even though they permeate human society like parasites. All true magic lies in their hands, Lily. They understand the old ways, they keep the knowledge that humans were given, but have lost: the original sciences, what we call magic, the science of free energy, before the narrow perception of humanity took over. Some Grigori, like your father, want to expand upon that knowledge, and they are punished for it.' He shook his head, smiling sadly. We never learn our lessons. Never. We repeat the same mistakes and tread the same evolutionary cycles.'

Then you agree that Kashday Murkaster should have been stopped.'

No. I mean the same mistakes the Anannage, our ancestors, made, of having an unbalanced view, of fearing chaos and the more unstable spheres of the Cabbala. I believe what the original Grigori did was right, but conservatives within our society espouse a more fundamentalist creed. They seek to regain what they see as respectability, perhaps to earn the approval of the Anannage once more. They believe that is the way to the ultimate understanding, the way to regain Paradise. Others, such as Kashday, take the view of the Fallen Ones, that we should find enlightenment through our own experience and experimentation.'

Do the Anannage still exist?'

Othman shrugged. Who knows? If they do, they are more efficient at keeping themselves hidden than we are! I like to think that they don't and the conservatives are wasting their time.' He leaned forward across the table. Lily, you can have power and I can help you get it. But first, you have to acknowledge and accept what you are, cast off the outdated, constricting values you've inherited from your mother.'

You mean I have to become the sort of person who could kill someone?'

He stared at her for a few moments, as if deciding how to answer, then said simply, Yes.'

Lily stood up, went to the window. I don't want to,' she said. I'd rather just forget what I am, go back to the life I had.'

Othman came up behind her, put his hands upon her shoulders. And never age? One day, you would be forced to accept your inhuman condition. Neither will the villagers here let you shun your destiny. You think Emma Manden would allow it? She is strong, Lily, stronger than you. You would be wise to let me become your teacher, not her, because Emma, for all her longevity, is only human. You and I are of the same race. Let go, Lily. Come to me.'

But I am half human,' she whispered.

Grigori blood is stronger.'

Lily bowed her head. She could feel tears trying to escape her dry eyes. They wouldn't come. Some inner part of her had already accepted what Othman had said to her. It was like standing on the edge of a precipice and being told she could fly. Someone was now telling her to jump, to trust the information and jump. She was afraid, even though she could already feel the experience of flying.

Othman parted her hair and kissed the back of her neck. I need Owen, Lily. You must help me. It would be inconvenient if he opposed me, us. We must have him with us.'

Lily sighed. It was a struggle to speak. You are right. He doesn't trust you. I can't see how you, or I, can change that. Not immediately, anyway.'

Othman rested his chin on the top of her bowed head. Then we must believe a way will present itself shortly. Belief is magic, Lily. Add your will to mine.'

All right,' said Lily.

I will stay here now,' Othman said. Later, I'll fetch my things from The White House.'

Barbara won't like that!' Lily managed a weak laugh.

Othman ignored the remark, turned her round to face him. It's Owen we have to concern ourselves with, not Barbara. She is nothing.'

Go to my room,' Lily said. He mustn't see you yet. He's worried about his boyfriend. Let him go to collect Daniel this afternoon, then he'll be happy, and in a better frame of mind to accept things.'

Othman's face became hard. Lily realised she had said something he didn't want to hear. Then he smiled. All right. Come to me when he's gone.'

I will.'

Later, as she lay naked in Othman's arms, surrendering herself to his gentle love-making, Lily sensed the black shadow of the cat leaving her mother's bedroom. She moaned a little to distract Othman's attention, worried he'd sense the presence of the cat himself. She wanted to believe in Othman, wanted to become part of his world, yet a portion of her inner being made her keep silent about the cat. She would not give herself to this man completely. He had a lot more to prove to her before she'd do that.

Owen waited outside the school gates, chain-smoking in the car, but Daniel did not come out of the building. He waited until the caretaker came to close the gates, even though he sensed that Daniel had not been to the school that day. Anxiety mounted within him. Was there a rational explanation? Was Daniel hiding somewhere, unsure of what to do with his life? Owen had a dreadful premonition he would never see Daniel again. Something had happened. He knew it.

By the time he reached home, Owen was almost demented with worry. He stopped the car at Low Mede, went to hammer on the door, ring the bell. Barbara Eager opened the door. She did not seem surprised to see Owen. h.e.l.lo, dear,' she said. What is it?'

Owen was taken aback at finding her there, opening the door to the house as if she owned it. He tried to peer round her. Is Daniel in?'

Barbara's face crumpled into an expression of apology. I'm afraid not.'

I want to speak to his father,' Owen said. Or Verity.'

Barbara's face changed; it became hard. That's not possible. Daniel's not here, neither is Verity.'

Who is it?' Louis' voice came from inside the house. Owen saw a male shape come into the hall behind Barbara, shadowy. It did not sound like Louis, neither did the outline look like him. But as he came towards the door, Owen realised this was Daniel's father, but changed almost beyond recognition. Othman had done this. He glanced at Barbara. Both of them were Othman's now.