The Anxiety of Kalix the Werewolf (92 page)

“We might not even pass our exams this year.”

“Of course we will. Dominil's going to teach us.”

“Dominil's going to teach
you
,” said Kalix.

“I've included you as well,” said Vex. “I left her a message saying you wanted help.”

“Thanks for that.”

“It's not so bad. It'll be fun, just you, me and Dominil and a few books.”

Kalix thought that sounded anything but fun, but let it pass. Vex made a small spout of flame spurt from her hand. She watched it for a few seconds, then let it vanish. “I never thought I'd be able to do that. Let's go to the café.”

“OK.”

Kalix changed back to her human shape as they made their way from the bushes into the park.

“The flat was empty when I got back,” said Vex. “Is this the big night?”

“Yes.”

Vex laughed, and Kalix smiled. They both knew that Daniel and Moonglow had arranged a date, after encouragement from the Fire Queen.

“It was super-brilliant of me to arrange that,” said Vex. “I knew I'd get Daniel to ask Aunt Malvie for help if I kept talking to him about dating.”

They left the park. It was late evening but the lights were still on in the small café on the corner.

“I love the all-day breakfasts,” said Vex. “I'm going to buy two.” Vex looked happy. “You'd have to say our self-improvement's been a big success.”

“What? I was a complete failure, and you weren't doing any self-improvement anyway.”

“Of course I was. And look what I can do now. I can make fire and I can heal people. Well, I'm better with plants really, but it's a start. And you went running and got fit, you managed not to be so bad-tempered with your flatmates all the time, and you won a big fight, and now we're going back to college and then we're going to art school. Even your mother called you and she never does that. How can you say you haven't improved? We should get medals for self-improvement, we're practically world champions.”

Kalix laughed. “Well, maybe.”

“And I brought you some new Hello Kitty running shoes! I got them specially because you liked the other pair so much.”

“Thanks,” said Kalix. “I can't wait to see them.”

CHAPTER 186

In the middle of the night there was a small flash of yellow light on the roof of Somerset House, above the Courtauld Gallery. Distikka emerged from the shadows, frowning.

I didn't mean to land on the roof. My powers of navigation are far from perfect in this world
.

She looked up at the gray sky. There was a light drizzle, which she found annoying, though she'd visited London often enough to know that the rain wouldn't kill her.

Though it does weaken my powers. I doubt I could produce much fire here
.

Distikka had fled her own dimension. After initiating a rebellion in the realm of the Fire Queen, and fleeing from a death sentence at the hands of the Empress, it seemed the prudent thing to do. There were other nations in the realms of the elementals, but most of them were allied with at least one of her enemies. Were she to seek asylum, it was quite probable that she would be returned to Malveria or Kabachetka, and promptly executed.

Distikka walked to the edge of the roof and looked down at the great courtyard below. It was deserted. She stepped off the roof, and floated to the ground.

I sill have some power here. Enough to maintain my presence for a while, anyway
.

Distikka was thoughtful as she walked toward the courtyard gates. Fleeing to Earth was a no more than a temporary solution. Only the most powerful elementals could spend long periods here. Distikka was strong, but her strength was not at the same level as the Fire Queen or the Empress. Eventually her fire would dwindle, and she would die.

Distikka nimbly vaulted the tall gates, and walked into the dark street outside. Humans survive here, she thought. But I have no wish to become human. They're so weak, and they have such a short lifespan. Anyway, there's no known way of becoming human. Distikka walked down the Strand.
It's unfortunate that I'm an enemy of Thrix MacRinnalch. She might have had some suggestions. I suppose I could ask Merchant MacDoig's advice. They say he's extended his own lifespan
. She would have set off to visit see him right away, but realized, depressingly, that she didn't know how to get there. She knew the address, but couldn't navigate her way through London.

I'll need to wait until morning, and buy a map
.

Distikka reached Trafalgar Square. Though it was the middle of the night, there were still people at the bus stops. She sat on a bench, to wait until morning.

My plan should have worked. I lured the MacRinnalchs into a trap. If they escaped, it was down to deficiencies in the werewolf hunters. The Empress should have realized that. Unfortunately, the Empress is a fool
. Distikka hoped that Dominil had survived the battle. She thought about Dominil for a while, and then about werewolves in general. They were a strange breed. She'd read a lot about them during her service to the Empress. It struck her that, in comparison with the rest of Earth's population, werewolves were very strong, and very long-lived.

And while there's no known way of becoming human, there is a way of becoming a werewolf. A bite, a blood transferal and a brief ceremony. So it's said, anyway. That's an interesting thought
.

Distikka sat on the bench, a small, dark, a fugitive, alone in the world, without any realistic prospects of success, or even survival. Most elementals in her position would have given in to despair, but Distikka was too resilient to despair. She was confident she'd find some means of surviving, and prospering.

Teinn the fairy hopped onto a chair, and looked around the room. Paintings were torn from the walls and there was blood on the floor. The front door was broken, forced open by the police who'd responded to the emergency call following Manny's screams.

They took him away in an ambulance
. Teinn laughed. She liked ambulances. Her mischief had been the cause of many an emergency call-out in Scotland.

She sniffed the air. How funny, she thought. That silly Queen of the Fire Elementals has tried to cover it all up.

Teinn laughed again. The Fire Queen's covering spells might have fooled another elemental, or a werewolf, but not her. No one could hide mischief or misdeeds from Teinn. Flying over London, she'd been attracted to the scene, sensing the recent presence of a werewolf and a powerful Fire Elemental. Now she was here, she could picture the events quite clearly.

I wonder why Thrix tried to kill the boy? I should find out more about him
.

The fairy hopped onto the windowsill, pleased with her discovery. It held promise for some entertaining mischief in the future. Teinn launched herself into the air, soaring high above London.

How horrible this big city is, she thought. But as she looked down at the vast sprawl of buildings, it did occur to her that there was an almost infinite capacity for mischief here. She had become constrained in the small world of Colburn Woods, and the werewolf estates. Who knew what she might be able to achieve, given such a huge canvas?