Chapter 4

Chapter

Four

I t took several moments for my vision to readjust. Even though my senses told me that Athair had gone, I knew I was still vulnerable. I waved my arms around blindly until first a few lights and then a few dim shapes appeared from the blackness. Only when I was certain that my fucking father wasn’t still beside me on the rooftop did some of my tension ease.

Hearing a groan, I spun around and spotted Sir Nigel and O’Hagan lying flat on their backs a few metres away. I knelt beside them. ‘Are you alright?’ I asked desperately.

Sir Nigel coughed. ‘Slightly winded, but I’ll live to fight another day.’ He strained to sit up while O’Hagan blinked at me.

‘You were right,’ she said shakily. ‘I should have run.’ She shook her head. ‘I’ve dealt with a lot of supernatural creatures since I joined the force but I’ve never felt anything like the cold power that came from that man.’

Although there was no trace of censure in her gaze, I felt guilty. That was my birth father she was talking about, and he’d only come here because of me. Rationally I knew none of this was my fault but emotionally it felt like it was all my responsibility.

As the detective ran a hand through her hair, she glanced over my shoulder and stiffened. A frisson of fear rippled through me until I heard the brownies’ voices and realised who had appeared.

‘Daisy! Are you okay? Did he hurt you?’ Otis cried.

I managed a smile. ‘No.’

Hester flung herself at me and I felt her tiny body trembling against my skin. ‘I was so worried! What happened?’

‘You vanquished him, right?’ Otis’s eyes were wide. ‘You attacked him with Gladys and killed him. That light was when his soul left his body.’

Hester snapped at her brother, ‘He’s a fiend, you nincompoop! He doesn’t have a soul!’ But all the same she pulled back and gave me an anxious, questioning glance.

I sighed heavily. ‘He left of his own accord when I agreed to have dinner with him tomorrow night.’

Otis’s expression changed in an instant. ‘You did what ?’ he shrieked.

Hester started to nod vigorously. ‘Clever. Now you can take him down when he’s least expecting it.’

‘I can’t take him down.’ I stalked across the roof to pick up Gladys. ‘I’m not strong enough to come close to hurting him.’ And I was beginning to think I never would be.

There was a dull thud from the other side of the roof. I stiffened and spun round, prepared to launch another attack if I had to. Instead a small hatch flipped open and a familiar tawny-haired head appeared. I stared. ‘Was that hatch there the whole time?’

Hugo pulled himself onto the roof. ‘Of course. Maintenance have to get onto the roof from time to time. They can’t clamber around with a death wish like you seem to possess.’

‘Believe me,’ I muttered, ‘if I’d known there was an easier route up here, I’d have taken it.’ I stalked towards Hugo, paused in front of him then flung myself into his arms. ‘Boonder?’ I mumbled the question into his shoulder, terrified of the answer.

‘He’s on his way to hospital but I think he’ll be fine. There are several others with minor burns and cuts. I don’t know about the witches who confronted Athair and tried to banish him. They’ve not regained consciousness.’

I prayed silently that they would be alright, then I burrowed myself deeper against Hugo’s body. That was the only moment of the entire night that hadn’t sucked complete arse.

It was very late by the time we got back into the Jeep. Miriam, Rizwan and Becky decided against returning to Pemberville Castle until the next day. Despite my new ownership of a damned castle up north, I still held the lease on my small Edinburgh flat so Hugo and I elected to head there to get some much-needed sleep.

There were still a lot of people on the streets. Naturally the events at Charlotte Square had drawn a number of foolish onlookers who should have known better and who could easily have ended up as charred corpses if Athair had chosen a different path. And they weren’t the only people around: a few pubs and restaurants with late licences remained open and there were vehicles on the road and pedestrians on the pavement.

Hugo turned away from Edinburgh Castle and drove up Market Street. A group of university students were clustered on the corner, leaning into each other and grinning with the joyous expressions of the very drunk and the very innocent. I felt a tug of wistful envy, then they were in our rear-view mirror.

I yanked my gaze away and stiffened as we passed the entrance to Fleshmarket Close and the steep, dark steps that led upwards. No doubt Arbuthnot the bogle would be up there somewhere, peddling his illegal wares. I wondered how much spider’s silk he had to hand and what the going rate was this month for a dozen pills .

I cleared my throat awkwardly. ‘Stop the car, Hugo.’

‘Here?’

I nodded. ‘Don’t wait for me. I’ll grab a taxi back afterwards.’

‘Don’t be stupid,’ he muttered. He indicated and pulled into the side of the road. ‘The brownies and I will be right here for you when you’re done.’

I quashed the guilt and embarrassment and kissed his cheek. Then I got out of the car.

The adrenaline from the encounter with Athair had already faded and there was a strange, empty feeling inside me. The night air felt colder now, although it was probably no different; the only change was the absence of dangerous magical fires flaring up out of nowhere.

I shoved my hands in my pockets and crossed the road, marching up the High Street until I reached the other side of Fleshmarket Close. From its depths, I could hear the faint murmur of voices but they were too low to make out any distinct words.

I didn’t hesitate but scurried past, heading for the lights of the small church instead. The rush of warmth as I walked through the doors helped, and I kept my head high as I strolled into the meeting room and took a seat.

Several heads turned towards me, some in recognition. Meetings like this were available at all hours. They had to be.

‘Hi,’ I said. ‘My name is Daisy Carter and I’m a drug addict.’

I knew I ought to get out of bed; given the events of the previous night – and what was to come later today – there was a lot to think about and even more to do. I’d slept soundly enough and it was clear from the chink of light shining through the gap in the curtains that the sun was already high in the sky, but I couldn’t bring myself to move. I was too comfortable where I was, with the duvet wrapped around my legs and Hugo’s body pressed against my back, his breath tickling my nape.

‘ Busy old fool, unruly sun ,’ Hugo whispered into my ear. ‘ Why dost thou thus, Through windows, and through curtains call on us? ’

I squinted. ‘Huh?’

‘John Donne. Something about being here with you makes me want to quote poetry.’ He laughed softly. ‘My old English teacher would be shocked.’

‘I could return the favour and recite “Ode to the Penis” to you,’ I suggested slyly. I’d come across the poem during our last big treasure hunt when we’d tracked down a golden chess set – and Athair had revealed himself to me.

‘Rather than recite,’ he said, ‘you could show my heavenly penis your appreciation instead. Or,’ he nibbled my earlobe, ‘you could fetch a bowl of chocolate ice cream and feed it to me for breakfast then show your appreciation.’

I snorted. ‘You’re very demanding for someone who’s supposedly in thrall to me.’

‘There’s no “supposedly” about it.’ He dipped his head and planted very small, albeit very tingly kisses along my jawline.

I moaned slightly. ‘Chocolate ice cream is not a healthy breakfast.’

Hugo’s left hand snaked downwards and cupped my breast while the base of his thumb brushed against my nipple. His right hand caressed my hip. ‘In that case,’ he murmured, ‘I’ll forego the ice cream and have you for breakfast instead.’

‘Except I’m not very healthy to be around at the moment either.’ I turned over to face him. ‘Do you think I did the right thing?’

Hugo’s hands halted in their roving quest and his expression grew serious. ‘With Athair?’ I nodded. ‘What else could you have done? He left you with little choice.’

‘If I trained harder, maybe I’d be more equipped to beat him in a fight.’

Hugo stiffened. ‘And you’d give him even more reason to stop trying to turn you into a fiend like him and strike you dead. You can’t let that happen. I can’t let that happen. I can’t do this without you.’

‘This?’

His voice was gruff. ‘Life.’ He took my hand and placed it flat against his chest; I could feel his heartbeat beneath my fingertips. ‘You’re a part of me now, Daisy. You occupy me, body and soul. And nobody, not even Athair, will take you away from me or change that.’ There was a loud clang from the other room followed by a furious yell from Hester. ‘Not even those damned brownies,’ he muttered.

I smiled slightly. ‘I love you.’

Hugo didn’t smile back. ‘I love you too. You don’t know what it does to me when you keep putting yourself in harm’s way.’

‘You’re in greater danger than I am.’ We both knew that Athair would happily hurt anyone I loved if he thought it would advance his cause.

‘You’re the one he wants.’

‘You’re the one he’ll kill when he doesn’t get what he wants.’

Hugo was silent for a second, then he said, ‘You’re right. So really, when it comes down to it, I’m still a bigger hero than you are.’

I rolled my eyes in exasperation but I also grinned. ‘Piss off.’

Hugo smirked and planted a kiss on my mouth. ‘That’s more like it.’ He kissed me again. ‘I’m going to prove that I’m more of a hero than you tonight. While you’re off being wined and dined, I’m going to take advantage of the situation.’

I stared at him. ‘And do what?’

‘Snoop around Culcreuch Castle. Tonight is the one time when we know Athair won’t be there. It’s the perfect opportunity to sneak into his lair and learn everything we can about him.’

My breath caught. ‘That’s incredibly risky, Hugo.’

He grinned. ‘I know. That’s why I’m the bigger hero.’

This time I didn’t respond with a teasing remark. ‘I mean it. If something happens to you…’ My voice trailed off and I couldn’t finish the sentence.

‘It’ll break you. It’ll shatter you into a million pieces.’

I nodded mutely.

‘Now you know how I feel every time you put yourself in danger,’ he said. ‘We’ll just have to be very careful.’ He pulled me closer. ‘We’re a team,’ he said in my ear. ‘Always.’