Paul leaned back and took a mouthful of tea. Looking around Theo’s sparse kitchen, he could evidence of Liz in the gleaming stove top and worn but relentlessly scrubbed floor. “Do you still want to be a vampire?” Paul asked Theo.
Theo stared unseeing into his own mug of tea. “I thought I would, but that werewolf that attacked – that was crazy.”
“I’m sure that you don’t get werewolf attacks all the time,” Paul said. “Obviously there’s the whole feeding thing, but apart from that, it should be quiet enough.”
Theo finally raised his eyes from his mug and stared at Paul. “I felt that spell, you know. I felt it. It was pure evil. I could feel it rolling off Richard in waves as he fought. I thought I was going to choke on it.”
“But you didn’t,” Paul said. “You kept pushing back and you watched over that werewolf when I helped Richard with the magic.”
“You kept that quiet,” Theo said. “I was hunting for a vampire on the moors, but you said nothing about being able to do magic.”
“Are you surprised?” Paul asked. “It’s not something that comes up in conversation. ‘Nice weather we’re having for the time of year and by the way I found a new way of conjuring protection from evil’? You would have thought that I was insane.”
Theo shook his head. “I suppose so.” He sighed and looked back at his untouched tea. “That thing will be back for me. I know it.”
“What do you mean?” Paul asked.
“I don’t think you were paying attention,” Theo said. “I don’t blame you. It sounds like everyone has a lot going on.” He took a breath. “Remember, I told you that I had found a book in the cottage. I tried to sort out a loose floorboard and I found the notebook underneath.”
Paul sat a little straighter. “I remember Briget Ddu was asking for something. Was that what she meant?”
Theo nodded. “There are notes in there about all sorts of things. There’s all the entrances to Fairyland that are local to here, and some ideas about the lair of that thing. I mean, we couldn’t find it when we were on the moor, but perhaps you were kidding me – leading me astray.”
Paul shook his head. “I was as lost as you, though I would have probably tried to keep you out of danger,” he said. He sighed and took a deep breath. “Okay, how much do you actually know?”
“You’re a wizard,” Theo said. “Richard Dark is a vampire. Mike Dixon is a werewolf. There are monsters out there.” He shrugged. “What else do I need to know?”
“I’m what’s known as the paladin,” Paul said. “It’s my job to protect those who can’t protect themselves when it comes to non-normals, like werewolves or vampires. Richard and Mike are okay. Liz is a brownie, and you need to be nice to her. She’s had a tough time recently.” Paul gave him a hard look. “The last thing she needs is you getting edgy with her.”
“Liz is adorable,” Theo said. “I wouldn’t want to hurt her.” He paused. “No-one’s going to try and hurt her, are they?”
“I don’t know,” Paul said. “The thing that attacked Richard, that cast the spells, that’s another vampire, called Bridget Ddu. She’s been dormant for a while, but now she’s trying to take over. If she manages it, we are all at risk. Not just us that know, but the farmers and families around here. She’s bad news.”
“Even Liz?” Theo asked.
Paul nodded. “And as she knows where you are, it might be a good idea for you to move in with me and Liz for a while. That cottage has protections built into it, so it’s a little safer, and between Richard, Mike, and me, we can keep someone watching there all the time.” He caught Theo’s doubtful expression. “It would help me out, knowing that there would be someone like you around Liz and Carol at night.”
Theo hesitated and then nodded. “I’d like to think I could look out for Liz. And I can come back to my workshop during the day. That should be safe, right?”
Paul frowned. “Bridget attacked during the day before, but it didn’t end well for her. I’m not sure,” he said. “I think that the best thing we can do is to put an end to her.” He looked carefully at Theo. “How do you feel about taking that book to Richard. It may help him find that bitch.”
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Theo stared out of the window for a moment, then looked back at Paul. “Richard’s always been fair enough with me, and Liz said that he’s been looking out for her. But why Richard?”
“He’s in charge of the non-normals round here, like Liz and Mike,” Paul said. “Or he will be after Halloween. I’m not exactly sure what’s happening, but he’s the one leading the fight against Bridget. He’s the one who will deal with her.”
Theo thought about it for a long moment, then nodded. “Let’s go now,” he said. “There’s no time like the present.”
Carol let them in at the manor. “I’m so glad to see you,” she said. “Things are getting weird.”
Paul looked at her. “You mean, weirder than weird guys begging you for fudge?” he asked.
“This one isn’t begging anyone for anything,” Carol said, glancing over her shoulder. “You had better come in. Richard said to bring people through to the living room.”
“I know that it’s not official,” a husky voice rang out from the living room. “But I thought that I’d get ahead of the crowd.”
“You go in,” Carol whispered. “I’ll bring some tea.”
Paul and Theo exchanged glances and walked into the living room. Already there was a hint of a court. The room was huge, with a brisk fire in the fireplace at one end and filled with glorious autumn fires. It had been built in the days when the lord of the manor would bring in all his friends, family, farmworkers, and acquaintances to share in celebrations and could easily accommodate a few dozen. Normally the few guests that visited Richard clustered together at one end, but now it was starting to fill up. Elfen lounged around the room and Mike’s wife, Lottie, was in quiet conversation with strangers in a far corner. Richard looked up as they entered. “Allow me to introduce Paul Kidson, who is the paladin here, and his companion, Theo McGuire, who fought most valiantly against a werewolf sent by Bridget Ddu.”
His guest turned around to look them over. She appeared tall and slim, with shining blonde hair caught back in a ponytail. Paul was no expert, but the slim fitting trouser suit and probably silk shirt looked designer. Her elegant heels looked lethal but expensive. She smiled at Paul, flashing even white teeth. “I’m so pleased to meet you. It’s a relief that we finally have a paladin. I’ve been calling myself Mildred for a while, but I believe that name is somewhat dated. I thought I would change it to Knightsbridge. What do you think?”
Paul looked into the gleaming blue eyes and couldn’t see any trace of a joke there. “There aren’t many people called Knightsbridge,” he said.
“I know,” Knightsbridge said with some satisfaction. “I had heard that many people were using the name ‘Chelsea’ but I always thought that Knightsbridge was a far classier area of London.”
“It is?” Paul asked, feeling more out of his depth than ever. Beside him, Theo was staring in near terror.
Knightsbridge waved a dismissive hand. “Names are important. Look at Cowslip here. That name suited him when he was a young girl, but now, well, he looks like a Thor, or a James, or even a Simon.”
Paul looked at Cowslip. He looked tall, dark, and muscled. Elfen could change their appearance, Paul remembered. He wondered briefly what he was like under that illusion but brought his attention back to the present. “Knightsbridge is a good name,” he said. “I don’t want to be rude, but I need to speak with Richard privately.”
“You’re still getting the hang of him being the Prince,” Knightsbridge said indulgently. “You’ll have to ask him for an audience.” She turned back to Richard and looked him up and down, a predatory smile lurking on her lips. “But I’m almost finished here – for now. I’m one of a group of us by Todmorden. Lord Henry threw us out of the domain years ago for complaining about his farms.” She shrugged. “His loss. But I heard that things were changing and I decided to come and check you out.”
“There are a lot of groups around the area that have lost touch with the Prince,” Richard said. “I’m sure that I’ll be meeting them all soon.”
Carol entered with the tea. Knightsbridge turned slowly around and gave her a long, appraising look before turning back to Richard. “You have a normal as a housekeeper? That can’t last.”
“It’s been fine for the last few years,” Richard said. He narrowed his eyes. “And just because I am taking over an established domain without war doesn’t mean I’m going to keep things the same.”
Knightsbridge shrugged and then leaned forward. “I’m sure that we are going to get to know each other very well,” she purred. “And as a vampire, you’re going to need all the help you can get in that domain. You may need someone a little more…” She looked Carol up and down. “Perhaps I can put you in touch with some brownies.” She turned back to Richard. “I have to go now, but I look forward to all the fun that we’re going to have.” She vanished.
There was a stunned silence. Cowslip was the first to speak. “I think I’ll change my name to Matthew,” he said. “Or Matt, for short. It’s a good name.”
Paul nodded. “It suits you,” he said, grasping desperately for sanity. He turned back to Richard. “Are you okay?”
Richard looked at him blankly for a moment. “What the hell has Lord Henry signed me up for?” he asked. “No matter, it looks like you have something serious there.”
Paul nudged his friend forward. Theo cleared his throat. “When Liz and I were attacked, she was looking for something. A notebook. I found it under the floorboards in the cottage.” Theo looked around nervously. “It may help find her.”
Matthew stepped forward and stared as Theo pulled out the battered notebook from his pocket. “That’s the notebook of Isadore Walker,” he whispered.
I thought that was lost,” Richard said. “That alters things. If I may, Theo, I’d like to have a long look at it.”
Theo handed it over. “I’m glad I’m not holding it any longer,” he said. “But let me know how I can help.”
Richard couldn’t take his eyes from the worn book in his hands. “You have already done a great deed,” he said. “Now we have a better chance of taking the fight to Bridget Ddu herself.”