"You really screwed him up, didn't you?"

"Apparently," said Dominil. She wasn't the sort of werewolf to snarl wolfishly while in human form, something both Thrix and Kalix had been known to do, but her lips parted slightly, giving a glimpse of her very white teeth. "I'll do worse to him next time we meet."

The enchantress had had enough of Dominil's talk of revenge and violence. Though Thrix and Dominil were not close, they'd been getting on better in recent weeks. But now Thrix resented Dominil's refusal to congratulate her on her love affair or even acknowledge it, and she felt that she really didn't care much for her white-haired cousin.

The twins trooped back into the living room, looking sheepish.

"Dominil, you know that new digital recorder we bought that Musician magazine described as the best portable recording device on the market?"

"What about it?"

"We spilled beer over it."

Delicious brought out a shiny silver box from behind her back. Dark liquid dripped from every surface. It was a surprise to see that a metallic device could look so soggy. "Do you think you could get it fixed for us before the gig tomorrow?"

Beauty and Delicious took in the look on Dominil's face and hurried out of the room before she could explode.

"I may have to kill them as well," she muttered. "It's not like anyone would miss them."

CHAPTER 144.

Decembrius was bored with being depressed but that didn't stop him from being depressed. He wished it would go away but knew from experience it wouldn't. His depression had settled down to stay and would take some time to depart. Decembrius made some effort to just accept it, but that was never all that successful. He sat on his couch drinking whisky, felt dissatisfied with that, and slid down to sit on the floor with his back to the couch. He didn't feel any more comfortable there.

The doorbell rang. He decided not to answer it. It rang again and kept ringing. Then the door started shaking as someone threatened to break it down.

"The Douglas-MacPhees," thought Decembrius, morosely. "Fine. I'll fight them. I've nothing better to do."

He transformed into his werewolf shape and opened the door. It wasn't the Douglas-MacPhees; it was Kalix.

"You're looking worse than usual," said Decembrius.

It was true. Kalix's eyes managed to be both sunken from stress and puffy from tears. Her cheeks were hollow, and her hair was a tangled mess. She barged in without being invited.

Decembrius didn't feel that pleased to see her. He was still full of desire for Kalix but thought now that it would never go well.

"Did Dominil kill Gawain?"

Decembrius was surprised. "I don't know. Why do you think that?"

"A hunter just told me." Kalix gave Decembrius a brief description of her encounter with Albermarle. "I've been to see Dominil, but she's not there. Neither are the twins."

"They've gone to Edinburgh. They have a gig."

"Oh." Kalix had forgotten about that, even though Vex had been going on about it for weeks. "I called her, but her phone's dead."

"She keeps changing the number," explained Decembrius. "She's having problems with hunters too."

"Did Dominil kill Gawain?"

"How would I know?"

"You have powers of seeing," said Kalix, intensely. "Use them. I want to know."

"I told you already my powers don't work anymore."

"Then make them start working again," said Kalix, flaring up.

"I can't just switch it on and off."

"Try it."

Decembrius felt himself becoming angry. "It's okay for you to demand I try it. It doesn't feel good when it doesn't work. I'm depressed already. If I try using my powers and it fails again, it will be enough to send me over the edge. I'll be depressed for months, and I might never come out of it." Decembrius was resolute. He feared the effect it would have if he tried and failed.

Kalix let the matter drop. She poured a small amount of Decembrius's whisky into her glass and a larger amount into his, and they talked for a while about the castle in Scotland and about places they liked in London.

"I like your T-shirt," said Kalix.

Decembrius looked pleased. It was an unusual T-shirt, with a face on it. He'd bought it only the day before.

"Who is it?"

"Soo Catwoman."

"Who's that?"

"One of the earliest punks in London. A lot of people copied her style. I bought it from her website."

Kalix leaned closer as if to study the T-shirt. Then she took hold of Decembrius and kissed him. He kissed her back. After a few minutes, Kalix suggested they go into the bedroom.

Decembrius's bedroom was tiny, hardly larger than the bed. It smelled quite pleasantly of incense. Kalix half undressed and lay next to him on the bed. Decembrius wanted Kalix very much and kissed her quite passionately and his breath deepened.

Kalix felt his fingers digging into her back. Abruptly, she sat up. "I want to know who killed Gawain," she said. "Use your powers or I'm leaving."

Decembrius, a little muddled from a combination of whisky and passion, looked puzzled. "What?"

"Use your powers or I'm leaving."

"Did you just half-seduce me so as you could get information?"

"Yes."

"I ought to kick you out."

"Then you'll be sorry, won't you? So what's it going to be? You using your powers and me staying or not using them and me leaving?"

Decembrius glared at Kalix. "This isn't cunning, you know. Cold and calculating, maybe."

"I'm getting fed up waiting," said Kalix.

Decembrius grunted in annoyance and sat up on the bed. "Try and keep quiet. I'll do my best."

They sat in silence for a long time, Decembrius completely still, Kalix occasionally sipping from the glass she'd brought into the bedroom.

Abruptly Decembrius opened his eyes and, after a brief moment of disorientation, nodded his head. "I think she did it."

"You think?"

"It wasn't all that clear. But I saw something. I think Dominil stabbed him."

Kalix growled. "I'll kill her."

CHAPTER 145.

The day of Verasa MacRinnalch's charitable function brought less anxiety than she'd anticipated. It had been a complicated operation, bringing Felicori and an orchestra to Andamair House, meanwhile pulling in every wealthy donor and anyone else who could help, but the Mistress of the Werewolves and Markus has worked hard in the preceding months. As the day arrived, there seemed to be nothing in the way of success.

"I was expecting a last minute hitch," Verasa told Markus, "but it all seems to be going smoothly."

Markus agreed. Everything had been taken care of. Catering was readied, cameras were in place, the stage was satisfactory; every detail appeared to be in order, right down to Felicori's favorite brand of mineral water. In around twelve hours' time, Andamair House should be full, and Felicori would step on stage in front of a packed audience of guests who'd paid extremely handsomely for the privilege. Verasa would be well on the way to hosting one of the most prestigious fundraising events ever seen in Scotland.

"Thank you for working so hard, Markus," she said, and put her arms round him in an affectionate embrace.

There was one cloud on the horizon for Markus. Beatrice hadn't been due to attend, not being a senior enough member of the clan to be automatically invited. She'd told Markus that she'd be away on the night, visiting her family, who lived in a small village east of the castle. Unexpectedly, on learning of this, Verasa had chided Markus, telling him that he really should take Beatrice to Andamair House. Verasa liked Beatrice and regarded her as a suitable companion for Markus on the night. Markus had duly invited her, and Beatrice was thrilled.

Unfortunately, reflected Markus, things might become complicated. Heather MacAllister would be there too. As the set designer, she was one of the small crew of working werewolves who'd be on site all night. That could be awkward. Markus had been juggling his relationships. Neither Beatrice nor Heather knew about each other. They weren't going to be very pleased to find out. Nor would his mother. Nor would Baron MacAllister, if he chose to attend.

Markus chafed and thought to himself that the Thane of the MacRinnalchs really shouldn't have to worry about offending the family because of a minor complication like having two girlfriends at the same event. It seemed, however, that he did.

Markus wasn't even sure which of them he liked best. Heather MacAllister was definitely a more suitable companion intellectually: a brighter sort of werewolf. But Beatrice was pleasant as well, in her own way. And, on the plus side, she was now quite enthusiastic about Markus's liking for female clothes, something of which Heather was not yet aware.

Markus didn't know what to do and decided he'd just hope for the best. It was possible that Heather would be so busy and Beatrice so distracted by the power of Felicori's voice that they wouldn't encounter each other. He'd survived such tricky situations before, once or twice, by dint of luck and by his charm, and perhaps that would carry him through again.

CHAPTER 146.

Kalix woke up in the middle of the night with a dull headache. She hadn't meant to fall asleep, but her increased intake of laudanum had rendered her drowsy. The room was dark, but Kalix's wolf-like eyes could see perfectly. Decembrius was asleep beside her. She looked at him for a few seconds without expression. She rose silently and, without making the slightest sound, dressed quickly, then slipped from the bedroom into the only other room in the small flat. Decembrius's wallet was on the table. Kalix emptied it, taking the few pounds and shoving them deep into the pocket of her old jeans. She checked that her keys, bus pass, and her laudanum were in her coat pockets then left in silence. Kalix had no feelings about sleeping with Decembrius; her thoughts were directed solely towards the treacherous Dominil.

Kalix found a night bus stop and waited, eager to get home, though anxious lest she was at the wrong stop. Kalix could make out bus numbers but still struggled to read the destinations on the bus stops. She sometimes worried about taking the wrong bus on an unfamiliar route or boarding the bus on the wrong side of the road and traveling in the opposite direction. A bus arrived before long, and she stepped on. Even on the night bus, where people's gazes were directed mainly to the floor, her unkempt appearance drew some attention. Kalix didn't notice. She stared at her boots, her eyes narrowed in rage. A small twitch made the corner of her mouth vibrate.

It was three in the morning when Kalix arrived home.

Vex was sitting on the couch watching cartoons. "Hi Kalix! Been having a good time?"

"I need to get to Edinburgh right away. Can you take me there?"

"How?"

"You can teleport."

"Afraid not," said Vex. "I can hardly take myself anywhere, and I can't carry anyone else."

Kalix was disappointed. She knew Vex wasn't powerful like Queen Malveria but had been hoping her powers might have increased. "I'll have to get a train. Do you have any money?"

Vex shook her head. Every penny she had had gone towards the emergency house fund for paying bills, as had everyone else's.

"Why are you going to Edinburgh? Are you going to see Yum Yum Sugary Snacks? If you're going, I'm going too."

"I'm not going to the gig."

"Are you going to the opera?"

Kalix made a rude remark about the opera. "I'm going to see Dominil. She killed Gawain."

"Dominil? Are you sure?"

"Sure enough. I need money. Where's Moonglow?"

Vex shrugged. "She went out with Daniel and some friends to the pictures. They didn't come back. Do you think they might be-"

"I don't care what they're doing. Where did Moonglow put the money for the bills?"

"Upstairs in her room. But you can't take that. Moonglow will go crazy."

Kalix shrugged. "I need it."