Page 77 of Tattered Huntress
There was a scream from behind and I knew instantly that it had come from Hester. I snatched my hand away from Hugo, turned and drew Gladys. The dark cloud was right there and there was no sign of the little brownie – she’d been swallowed up.
I raised the sword and sliced ineptly at the cloud. Gladys hummed and her hilt grew hot in my hand. From somewhere to my left Otis cried out, ‘Hester! Hester!’
Hugo muttered something then I felt a blast of magic as he threw a bolt of air at the cloud. It pulled back, ejecting Hester with a guttural gargle as if vomiting her up.
I grabbed her in my bandaged left hand, crying out in pain as I forced my fingers to hold her. The black cloud stretched out, circling me and Hugo, but still I slashed at it with Gladys in my right hand.
Hugo attacked it again with air magic. I combined my magicwith his to do the same but it wasn’t enough. Our united efforts could slow the approach of the dark mass but we couldn’t stop it.
My movements became more frantic. I desperately waved Gladys, jabbing and slashing, sending out bolt after bolt of magic, but then the cloud enveloped me. I felt Hugo reach for me for a final time, his arm wrapping around me as if to protect me. It was too late; nothing would protect any of us now.
I coughed and spluttered, clawing at my throat and desperately trying to throw more magic at the thing. A moment later, my knees buckled. I heard a dim groan from Hugo, and then my body slammed into the ground and I lost consciousness.
I noticed the pain first.Every part of me hurt. My poor hand was the worst, throbbing in agony, and I moaned softly. Fuck. I was still alive. Butfuck.
‘You only have yourself to blame for this, Daisy.’
Humphrey. I opened one eye and squinted at him. It was still dark so I’d not been unconscious for that long.
He looked even more menacing than before. The bulges beneath his skin remained but the strange twisting shapes had merged across every visible part of his body. He blazed scarlet from head to toe. ‘What are you?’ I whispered.
It was Hugo, slumped next to me, who answered. ‘He’s human,’ he said dully. ‘But he’s using blood magic.’
Blood magic? I struggled to understand. I’d never heard of such a thing. That was what happened when you were self-taught; there were vast gaps in your knowledge that sometimes seemed impossible to fill.
‘Good old Hugs is right,’ Humphrey said cheerfully. ‘Those spells cost me a lot of money on the black market, and theyweren’t easy to track down or to master. But I think you’ll agree that the effort was worth it.’ He pointed and I realised that Hugo and I were still encircled by the ring of black smoke. ‘You two are going nowhere.’
I stiffened as alarm flooded through me. Humphrey clapped a hand to his mouth. ‘Oh! Pardon me. I meant the four of you.’ He pointed to the ground by my feet. Lying there, breathing but otherwise unmoving, were Otis and Hester.
‘You cumbubbling bastard,’ I breathed.
Humphrey tutted. ‘I told you already, you only have yourself to blame. Their deaths will be your fault, Daisy, as will be your own. If you hadn’t come here, you would never have been involved.’ He glanced at Hugo. ‘You were right. You can’t trust anyone who’s addicted to spider’s silk.’
I stared at him. ‘I don’t think I’m the untrustworthy one around here.’
He barked a surprised laugh. ‘Ha! Good point, good point.’ He grinned. ‘I liked you, Daisy, and I really wish you hadn’t come here. Although after Eleanor told me that you were at Greenwood’s place, I suppose there are no more loose ends for me to worry about. I can blame Hugo’s death on you and everyone will believe me.
‘I’ve already moved the treasure. The two of you will be eaten by the selkies and no-one will be any the wiser. It’s handy that those old Jacobites hid the gold here because it makes my life so much easier. I can maintain that the gold was lost with you and, instead of a paltry fifty-grand reward, I’ll get the money I deserve for all this hard work. The British Museum doesn’t need the gold but I do. Ten million pounds will do me nicely. And nobody will believe that poor old useless Humphrey was involved in your deaths.’
He smiled then his expression became earnest. ‘It’s not personal, so don’t feel hard done by. In fact, it’s rather nicethat you’ll die together – you clearly have a thing for each other.’
I growled, ‘We do not.’
Humphrey chuckled. ‘Stubborn to the last, Daisy Carter. Well done.’ He raised his head and looked away. ‘Well, the tide is returning so it is time for me to leave. I hope for your sake that your endings are swift.’
He bent down and reached for Gladys with his fingertips. As soon as he touched her hilt, he hissed in pain and drew back. He glanced at me. ‘Good grief. Is that a magic sword? Bound to you? Of all people?’
‘Fuck off, Humphrey,’ I muttered.
He tapped his mouth thoughtfully. ‘You know, I think that’s exactly what I will do.’ He kicked Gladys further away. ‘Toodle-pip. I’ll be sure to say some nice words about you at your funerals.’
‘You don’t really believe you’ll get away with this?’ Hugo asked.
Humphrey smiled sadly. ‘I already have, dear chap. I already have.’ And then he turned on his heel and walked away.
I reached for Hester and Otis and scooped them up carefully in my uninjured hand so I could examine them. They were unconscious but I couldn’t see any obvious injuries. ‘Are they okay?’ Hugo asked gruffly.
‘I don’t know. I think so, but they’re both out for the count.’
