Page 50 of Skulk of Foxes
‘We are annoying little arsebadgers, aren’t we?’ I agreed.
‘Yes,’ he said flatly. ‘You are. Bring me the sphere and I will take care of it. Stop your magic from destroying my city then our business will be concluded.’
We’d only just met and he already wanted to forget us. We’d got exactly what we’d come for, however, and far more easily than any of us had expected. It was probably best not to push our luck. Shame though. I really did think Liung was a man after my own heart.
Chapter Fourteen
It was hard to bank down the temptation to run and find Charlotte Page and nab back the sphere again but after the day we’d had, we were all running on empty. And goodness only knew what unfortunate delights the dawn would bring. By unspoken agreement, we all got back onto the Mobikes and cycled to Julie’s house for a few hours’ kip before the next round of madness began.
Unfortunately, when we rounded the corner onto her street, it was clear what that madness would entail. The screaming was audible even to Jodie’s human ears.
‘I need more!’
Morgan glanced at me. ‘Is that…?’
I nodded. ‘It’s Julie.’
‘Give me bloooooooood!’
I winced. There was no doubt that the magic build-up was bringing her well-buried vampire traits to the fore. Maybe she could explain it away later by telling her neighbours she was preparing for a new acting role.
I wasted no time in getting to her front door and entering. I found her in the kitchen, standing against a white-faced Finn. The heavy, metallic taint of blood hung in the air. Judging by the puncture wounds at his throat, Julie had decided that her hospital-donated blood bags were no longer enough. The idea that the small woman could overpower someone as large and hulking as Finn was worrying, to say the least.
As soon as I stepped inside, Julie sprang at me. ‘Give me yours,’ she begged. ‘Give me your blood!’
‘I rather like it where it is, thank you very much,’ I said primly, arching an eyebrow over her shoulder at Finn.
‘It’s my fault,’ the Redcap muttered. ‘I offered her my veins. I thought it might help. Instead, she’s gone a bit loopy.’
A bit loopy? I gazed at her flailing hands and the desperate entreaty in her crazed eyes. This usually sane woman was tipping over the edge. Fortunately, I knew a little something about madness. Not much, but enough.
Reaching out, I took her hands in mine, snagging them before her manicured nails raked the skin on my cheeks. Then I stepped her backwards while murmuring her name, until her legs pressed against a kitchen chair. She sank onto it while I waved urgently at Morgan, who’d come in behind me. The others were sensibly keeping their distance.
‘Gin,’ I told him. ‘And lots of it.’
‘I’m not sure that alcohol is a good idea,’ he began.
‘It is for this lady.’
‘I don’t want it! I want blood!’ Julie screeched.
‘Shhhh.’ I knelt down in front of her, wrapped my arms round her waist and hugged her. She could probably have overpowered me if she’d wanted to and my jugular was there for the taking.
I was taking a calculated risk. Finn and Morgan would yank her off me if she attempted to drain me dry, Morgan because he didn’t want me to get hurt and Finn because he wanted to help Julie. Giving her the suggestion of access to my blood without my permission enabled me to judge just how far gone she was. None of this was her fault. The magic in the air was simply worming its way into her every time she breathed.
It took several moments but eventually I felt the tension in her subside and she started to relax. She didn’t try and bite me either, so that was a bonus.
Her ragged breathing was starting to come under control when Morgan thrust a gin and tonic between us. I grabbed the glass and took a few chugs then offered it to Julie.
She shook her head weakly. ‘Actually,’ she whispered, ‘I think your boyfriend is right. Gin isn’t a good idea. Could I have a cup of tea?’
I gazed at her suspiciously. She’d tried this trick on me before. ‘Are we talking PG Tips or Long Island?’
She smiled. It wasn’t a face-splitting grin but it was more like the Julie I knew. ‘PG Tips,’ she said. ‘With lots of sugar.’
‘I’ll put the kettle on,’ Finn said. He turned away but Julie reached out and took his hand.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘I don’t know what came over me.’
