Part 44 (2/2)

The day was warm, a kind day, which was full of summer ghosts, yet alive with the scent of the turning season, spiced by a suggestion of chill in the air. How wonderful life is, Aninka thought. How beautiful this world. She wished she didn't keep having these aching thoughts of a final kind, because it did not bode well for the future. Trust Lahash, she told herself. Buck up, Aninka. This is war, not a funeral.

The large black car came sliding up the road, and purred to a halt before Aninka and Taziel. Lahash wound down the window and smiled at them. Aninka felt a pang of remorse. She had thought him severe, unattractive. Now, he seemed beautiful. Get in,' he said.

Aninka got in the front beside him, while Taziel got into the back seat, where he curled up to go to sleep.

Where are we going?' Aninka asked.

A small village near here,' Lahash answered. I have already despatched the Kerubim, who are in position. Othman is there; his activities are so overt, even I can pick up the residue. It hangs above the place like a red cloud.'

Aninka s.h.i.+vered. So, what's the plan? We go right in and confront him?'

Lahash shook his head. That wouldn't be a good idea. No, we'll keep our distance for today, and let Taz do his stuff. Something's building up. Tonight, we move in.' He let go of the steering wheel to grip Aninka's hands briefly, which were clasped tightly in her lap. Don't worry. We'll be fine.'

Friday October 30th: Little Moor What can I do, thought Lily, but try to continue life as normal? She was hanging was.h.i.+ng out at the time, her mouth stuffed with wooden pegs. The oppressive heat raised summer-colts from the dried lawn around her, and above, the sky was almost purple, as if bruised. Looking at the garden, Lily thought that it was like peering through coloured sungla.s.ses, purple or dark pink. Her heart continued to pound much faster than usual. Not even sharing a bottle of wine with Emma could do anything to dampen her feverish excitement. Something is coming, something is happening. This was the inaudible chant that charged her blood. Lily picked up the wash basket and began to stroll back towards the cottage.

Owen still lay immobile in his room. He hadn't drunk or eaten anything, but neither had he soiled the bed. It was as if he was held in suspended animation; it frightened her. She went to look in on him often, worried in case he woke up alone and afraid. He looked like a dead saint, lying there on the bed. Was it the Grigori beauty coming through in him now, this translucence, this sense of inner fire, which shone through his fine boned face, or had Daniel coaxed this new beauty from him? Lily sponged his limbs with cool water, leaned down to kiss his genitals. My brother.' He did not stir.

A loud, demanding meow made Lily turn round. She expected to see one of her feline troupe bounding towards her, asking her to wait for them, but it was the enormous black cat from Low Mede. He came out from the rhododendrons, his tail aloft like a banner. h.e.l.lo!' Lily said. Are you better now?' She was in the habit of talking to cats as if they themselves could speak. The cat meowed again, leaned heavily against her legs, twining his tail between them. She could feel the muscle of it; it was almost prehensile, like a monkey's. He looked up at her, his mouth open in a silent meow, then he ran ahead a few feet, before pausing, gazing at her enquiringly, one forefoot held up. Lily moved towards him, murmuring soft words, but he ran off again, only to pause and look back at her once more. Lily put down the was.h.i.+ng basket. She understood.

Go on, then,' she said, and the cat ran to the garden gate, slipped under it. Lily followed and opened the gate, went out into the lane. The cat was already trotting off ahead of her. After looking back at the cottage just once, she went after it. Emma was drowsing in the parlour and Ray Perks was absent on some errand or another: no-one would notice Lily was missing.

Long Eden seemed to be surrounded by a s.h.i.+mmering aura, which was clearly visible against the aching purple sky. The colours of the garden, of the house itself seemed unnatural, as if bathed in a brilliant sunset. It was ten o'clock in the morning. Lily walked slowly up the drive. Perspective had s.h.i.+fted; nothing around her looked real, but slightly warped, tilted, leaning, squeezed out of shape. At the edge of her vision, she caught flickers of movement as if others walked beside her, a crowd of spirits who would not make their presence completely known.

A figure stood before her on the drive, indistinct in the haze. It appeared to be a long distance away, s.h.i.+elding its eyes with one hand, staring down at her. Then it raised its hand in a cheerful wave before swinging round and walking towards the house. Lily knew the figure instantly. It was her mother.

Lily felt no fear. She ran forward, shouting, Mum!' but the woman did not turn round again and disappeared beneath the shadow of the house. When Lily hurtled up to the great front doors, Raven was sitting at the threshold, licking one of his front paws. He looked up at Lily as if to say, You took your time!' Then he stretched out his long body, before rearing up to scratch at the door, as if demanding entrance. Beneath his great paws, the door swung open onto darkness. Lily drew in her breath sharply, and took a step backwards. She felt a wave of cold come out of the house and wrap its chilling arms around her. Raven looked up at her, meowed peremptorily.

Are you asking me in?' Lily said. Raven, then, was the key. They had stumbled across him, fleeing the guardian of the house, not even realising he was there for them to use. Now, she would have to deal with it alone. Owen was unconscious, Daniel was missing, only she could enter the dark of Long Eden. Still, she hesitated.

Enter,' said Raven.

Lily looked down at him. Had he really spoken? She blinked.

There was no cat on the doorstep, but a man stood before her, some monster of myth made flesh. He stood at least seven feet tall and had the head of a great cat. His skin pelted with black fur, over which he wore a deep green robe, fringed with gold. When he spoke, his voice seemed hardly more than a whisper, yet as loud as the wind. Enter.' With a clawed hand, he gestured for Lily to pa.s.s him and go into the house.

Lily was transfixed. What are you?' Was this what the Grigori really looked like? Was Peverel Othman a monster beneath his flesh as well? What did that mean for herself and Owen, if they attempted to reclaim their heritage?

I am the physical guardian of this house,' Raven replied. Have no fear. I am the key, as you have guessed. The spiritual guardian will not harm you in my company. It is time now, Lily Murkaster, for you to come home.'

Lahash parked the car on the edge of some woodland, and then he and Aninka half carried Taziel along a narrow lane, between high hedges. Lahash had slung a binoculars case over his shoulder. Where are we going?' Aninka asked. Lahash seemed to know.

He smiled at her, gestured with one hand towards a hilltop, visible on the left side of the road. Look! Look hard!'

The sky s.h.i.+mmered in a strange way, its colour a most unnatural shade of dark blue, as if it contained some red hue within it. The atmosphere was unreal; it vibrated with power, with imminence. Aninka stared at the hill top, narrowed her eyes. A nebulous outline s.h.i.+mmered there, like the memory of a monstrous statue which might once have stood upon the hill. Aninka had never seen Kerubim before.

It is beautiful, and terrifying,' she said, and then glanced at Lahash. And you can control such a creature?'

He shrugged. If its obeys its instructions. I hope so. There are six of them.'

Aninka said, Look, Taz. Can you see it?' The suggestion of the vast shape, more than anything Enniel could tell her, brought home to Aninka exactly what she was, what her people were. So easy to forget in the humdrum world, but this?

Taziel shook his head from side to side. I need pain killers,' he moaned. Give me something. I hurt.'

No,' Lahash answered affably. We don't want your mind fogged, do we?'

f.u.c.k you!' Taziel leaned weakly against Aninka. I don't want this!'

Aninka appealed to Lahash. Is there nothing we can do?'

It will not be for long,' Lahash said, hardly a satisfying answer.

They followed the lane until they reached a five-barred gate on the right side, which gave access to sloping fields that rolled towards the sky. Lahash led the way up the hills, Aninka supporting Taziel as best she could. At the top, they looked down upon a village. Play-houses,' said Aninka. So tiny.'

Lahash took out his binoculars and scanned the landscape. Then he turned to the others. Sit down, Taz. Rest a while.'

The air is full of him,' Taziel answered. He collapsed onto the ground, where he lay clutching his head.

Aninka squatted down beside him, stroked his back. She could feel him shuddering.

Try and sleep,' Lahash said. I'll wake you in an hour or two.'

Aninka sat down and placed Taziel's head in her lap. She ma.s.saged his scalp, pressed her fingers against his closed eyes, hoping to instil some comfort. Lahash was a tall black shape beside them. He stood with folded arms, gazing down at the village.

Where is your old home?' Aninka asked, more to make conversation and ease the tension than out of curiosity.

Lahash pointed. There. It hasn't changed.' His voice was hard, but Aninka felt he was trying to contain his emotions.

She looked in the direction he indicated. The house was surrounded by tall trees; in the grounds, water gleamed beneath the feverish sun. It's ma.s.sive.'

Lahash nodded. I grew up there.'

Are you very old?'

He turned to her and smiled. No, not very.'

What happened?' Aninka asked him. Can you tell me about it?'

Lahash hunkered down in front of her. I don't suppose it will do any harm.' He sat down on the p.r.i.c.kly gra.s.s.

Well?'

We lost everything because of a woman,' he began. He gave Aninka a rueful smile. My uncle, Kashday, was lord of our house. He fell in love with a human woman.'

<script>