The Initiate Page 4

  “Well, are you going to introduce yourself, or just burn a guy you’ve never met?” he said a moment later, his voice deep, gravelly, with a British accent.

  “Introduce myself?” she replied, not sure whether this was really happening.

  “Yeah. I’m Spoke. Pleased to meet you.” He shuffled forward, holding his other hand out, revealing pale skin on thin arms. The chains clanked and she pulled away. Frowning, he sighed and backed up.

  “Biffy,” she said eventually, although she didn’t lower the cross or stake.

  “New initiate?”

  She nodded.

  “Fantastic. Been a while since I’ve met one of the new ones. How many tests have you passed?” He grinned, looking genuinely delighted. It was Biffy’s turn to frown. Why was this vampire interested, and why wasn’t he trying to kill her?

  “How long have you been down here?” she asked.

  He tilted his head to the side. “Not sure anymore. I lost track after the first few months.”

  “Months?”

  “Yes, at least.”

  She opened her mouth but no question came out. Surely he would have starved to death by now. But he looked healthy, strong. Not starving. She watched him warily, trying to decide if she ought to kill him. As if he sensed the train of her thoughts, he backed up, setting his jaw and focusing his eyes on her face.

  Despite lifting her stake and considering how she might attack, he remained calm, watching, waiting. As if he knew, no matter what she’d try, that he’d win.

  “Why are you here?” she asked a moment later. “Why has no one killed you already?”

  It was his turn to look confused. He raised a single eyebrow.

  “You not heard of me, pet?”

  She shook her head.

  “And no one mentioned I was here?” Once again she let him know they hadn’t. “Interesting.”

  “You didn’t answer my question. Why aren’t you dead?”

  He chuckled, his eyes lighting up, although he didn’t smile. There was something cruel yet confident about him as he stared at her. She found herself shuddering under his gaze.

  “Not many willing to go up against me,” he said. “But, for why I’m here… They want to study me. Work out how I’ve done what I have.”

  Biffy wondered if she wanted to ask the obvious question, or if she might not like the answer, but he took another small step forward, more than eager to keep talking.

  “They call me Spoke because of what I do to helpless humans when I find them.” Another step forward. Biffy took another back.

  “What?” she asked, almost breathless.

  “I torture them. With bike wheel spokes. I make them beg me for a quick death... For mercy.”

  She gulped as they both inched further, he forward and she back.

  “Well, at least I used to.” He suddenly grinned, the menacing air vanishing in seconds as he rattled the chain on his neck.

  “Spoke,” she said, his name coming out of her mouth as her mind fought internally over imagining what he suggested and not wanting to at all. He nodded.

  “You shouldn’t be here, pet. Not alone.”

  As he took another step forward, he reached the end of the chain, the links clanking taut. For a moment she wondered if it would truly stop him, but he didn’t come any further. Her feet continued until she hit a pillar.

  He grinned, making her shudder once more before he looked away and walked back into the shadows.

  Unsettled more than scared, Biffy retreated, going back through the silencing barrier to the floor above. She hurried towards the dining room, whistling for Hairwig as she did. Something about that vampire hadn’t been right.

  It was only as her owl settled on her shoulder that she realised she was still holding her cross and stake in full view. Exhaling to calm herself, she tucked them both back up her sleeves and continued on.

  Hairwig hooted in Biffy’s ear, buffeting her hair with a wing.

  “I know, I know. I shouldn’t have gone down there.”

  It was met with another noise of agreement. At least there was that.

  As soon as she was in the dining room, Breanna came over again.

  “Oh my, Biffy. You’re doing so well. And your familiar is so fantastic I just know you’ll pass this next test. I brought you a little something to celebrate. Hope you don’t think it’s too early of me. It was Boo’s idea.”

  She put a plate down in front of Biffy. Sat squarely in the middle was a lump of something that could only be described as sponge. Wobbly sponge. Orange, wobbly sponge. Biffy raised her eyebrows as she sat, glad there was something to focus on while also worried she wouldn’t be able to appear enthusiastic enough.

  Breanna had her own plate of the strange substance and two spoons. Just as she held one out, Boo came scurrying across the table and dived head-first into the second pudding, splattering some in almost every direction possible.

  If Hairwig had acted like this, Biffy would have been annoyed, but Breanna let out a loud chuckle that seemed to shake her whole body from her boots upwards. Boo continued eating, giving Biffy some confidence to try the food.

  The spoon sliced through it like it was butter, revealing a soft, slightly paler interior. Biffy brought it to her lips and tasted the edge with her tongue. A sweet yet citrusy taste exploded into her mouth, a combination she immediately liked.

  Almost as quickly as Boo and Breanna ate, she scoffed down the plateful in front of her. Only when it was almost gone and her stomach gurgled at the sudden fullness did she wonder if it had been a good idea. The last time she’d let Breanna give her some food, Biffy had lost it to the toilet a few hours later.

  Before she could dwell on it, Sister Gelina appeared, her eyes roving over the two now-empty plates.

  “Interesting choice of lunch,” the calmer sister said, giving Breanna more of her attention for a moment. Breanna smiled and gave her a small shrug. This seemed to release her from Gelina’s gaze. Biffy was her next victim.

  “It’s time. Please ensure your familiar is with you for this test,” she said. Gulping, Biffy got to her feet. Hairwig nuzzled into her neck, letting out the softest of hoots.

  “It’s okay, Hairwig. We can do this. We’ll work together, whatever it is.” Her words held more confidence than she did internally, but it was the best she could do. Until they arrived wherever Sister Gelina was leading, she had no idea what to expect. They could be testing any aspect of the familiar relationship or anything else, for that matter. But Biffy hadn’t come this far to fail so soon.

  Sister Gelina took her to a small room near the top of the building, off to one side of the courtyard she’d ran the assault course on the previous day.

  “Please instruct your familiar—Hairwig, is it?”

  Biffy nodded.

  “Please instruct Hairwig to remain here until called,” Sister Gelina said. Biffy nodded, repeating the words even though she didn’t really need to. Hairwig could understand everyone and would know she wished the same of her.

  As soon as Sister Gelina was satisfied Hairwig would stay, she motioned for Biffy to follow her onwards. They moved around the side of the building until Biffy noticed they were on the opposite edge of the same courtyard. She stood in an identical small room, knowing Hairwig was sat opposite her even if they couldn’t see each other.

  “When the familiar bond forms, it runs deeper than any other bond. Both the human and the animal become attuned to each other. That attunement can be crucial in pivotal moments. If you are to join our academy, you will need to communicate well with your familiar and, in turn, she with you.”

  Biffy nodded, aware that the idea was sensible, but this was something she’d not tested before. Hairwig was a friend, a companion and many other things, but they’d never tested the bond. Biffy had simply accepted the owl’s presence in her life.

  While she thought about this, Sister Gelina drew her attention to a set of buckets on the floor beneath the window. The middle contained
a set of jumbled balls, and the outer two were both empty.

  “There’s an identical set of buckets in both rooms,” Sister Gelina said, beginning to smile. “Please, can you get Hairwig to sort hers while you do the same this end?”

  Biffy opened her mouth to protest. It was far too far away for Hairwig to hear her command something like this of her. Closing her eyes, Biffy focused on the connection she had with Hairwig, in so far over her head that she couldn’t think what else to try.

  Then, opening her eyes, she reached for the nearest ball, a bright red, fluffy tennis ball.

  “How do you want your balls sorted? she asked, noting there were balls for many different uses, as well as sizes. Sister Gelina shrugged.

  “However you believe is best. Your familiar merely needs to match your result.”

  Biffy nodded, quickly deciding to put all the tennis balls in one bucket, squash balls in another, and ping-pong balls in the final bucket. Then, the few footballs that she had, she tucked between them. Finally, she placed the single rugby ball on the table in front.

  After taking a good look at her result she closed her eyes and felt for Hairwig again. For a moment nothing happened, and then Sister Gelina opened the door.

  “Come on. Let us see if your familiar bond is strong enough to communicate when you cannot see each other.” Trying to look as enthusiastic as possible, Biffy nodded. She didn’t expect Hairwig to have done anything. She’d never tried anything like this.

  Each step took her closer to her fate and the embarrassment that was inevitable. She could only hope that they allowed her some time to practice and try again when she failed.

  Holding her breath, Biffy could only watch as Sister Gelina reached for the door handle and entered the room. Hairwig sat on the windowsill, preening her feathers.

  As Biffy came in, Hairwig hooted. The young initiate’s mouth fell open. There, in front of Hairwig, was the same exact set up as she’d just created, almost perfectly identical in every way. Sister Gelina moved closer to the three buckets, peering inside.

  “Interesting,” she said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a bond like this. The sorting is an exact photographic copy. As if she can see what you do.”

  “Is that good?” Biffy asked, feeling a lot more relieved than she’d expected at finding the balls in place.

  “It’s rare. And it is definitely useful.” Sister Gelina turned and looked at her, staring so intently Biffy wondered if she was looking deep into her soul.

  For a moment neither of them said anything. Biffy tried to think of some kind of witty reply, or something at least vaguely intelligent-sounding, but she drew a blank. Hairwig had never done this sort of thing before. Biffy had never even thought to ask her to.

  “Congratulations, Initiate. You have passed this familiar test. Normally this takes several attempts, but it was perfect first time. I see no point putting your bond through a test like that again. I suggest you enjoy the rest of the day. Your training will begin tomorrow. After breakfast. In the courtyard.”

  As Hairwig flew to her shoulder, Biffy watched Sister Gelina walk out and leave her there.

  “I think we just did something amazing,” Biffy said to the owl. Hairwig looked at her and blinked once, slowly, lazily. “Well, I thought it was amazing.”

  “Hoot,” said Hairwig.

  Chapter 6

  The sun was setting as Biffy leaned against the windowsill of her tower. Outside, the academy was both getting ready for sleep and coming alive to face the night and all the evil it brought with it. Lights popped up, showing where people roamed, as other windows and doors were shuttered. Now and then the smell of garlic drifted up, no doubt the substance used to help guard cracked windows and the building’s thresholds.

  Somewhere down in the courtyard, just out of sight, she could hear several of the nuns preparing for first watch. Bits of conversation floated up on the evening breeze, and occasionally Breanna’s loud chuckle or creative curses at Boo broke through the general bustle.

  For a long time Biffy had wanted nothing more than to be one of the women now getting ready. First watch was always the most interesting, the most thrilling. You never knew what you were going to face and where. Or what plan the vampires were about to try. What you needed to stop. There was always a chance they’d wait until the night was less young, of course, but vampires weren’t known for their patience.

  As the last sliver of light slipped below the horizon, Biffy considered shutting the window and fastening the shutters, but today she hesitated. Still sensible enough to take a precaution, she laid out a string of garlic flowers across the sill and gripped her cross in one hand. Tonight she wanted to see the Marys in action.

  Within seconds she spotted them, heading out of the front gate together. Each had their head held high, familiars at their sides. There were no other nuns with them, the three enough to guard the city for the early part. The vampires often challenged themselves against the Marys. The foolish ones anyway. The rest hid, keeping out of their way.

  Biffy leaned a little further forward to see them as they rounded the end of the building. For a moment they were out of sight, but she could hear Mary Barry’s chicken clucking still. When they appeared in view again, they were preparing to head down a large open avenue, one that was normally teeming with people during the day, the street lined with shops and market stalls.

  Now it was quiet, empty, and all of the windows were shuttered for the night. Once, there had been a time when vampires didn’t roam and people could go about their business long after sunset. When windows could be left open in the heat of summer, and people slept easily in their beds. It was long before Biffy had been born, however, and she could barely believe the stories of the olden days. Life was so different now.

  The Marys grew smaller as they patrolled further away, making Biffy wonder if she’d miss the opportunity to see them in action, but no sooner had she started to consider shutting her window and retiring for the night than a gang of vampires appeared at the opposite end of the avenue. There were five in the group, carrying various weapons, swaggering up like they owned the street.

  All of them wore the clothes of punk rockers. One even had an electric guitar around his neck. No doubt they’d been turned while doing a gig, probably an illegal one after dark. Now they would be newborns, thinking they were invincible.

  Biffy kept her eyes locked on them as the Marys kept their line and their speed.

  She heard yelling, the vampires taunting the nuns with words too distant for Biffy to make out. The Marys didn’t react. Instead they carried on forward, Mary Sue’s pony setting the pace.

  Suddenly the vampire punks rushed forward, one swinging his guitar at Mary Barry’s head. She ducked as her chicken leapt from the ground, pecking like crazy. Within another second the vampire was a pile of dust, far less rock. At the same time the other Marys dusted two more, but one, perhaps some kind of leader, held back, swinging something on the end of a chain.

  As Mary Beth came forward to strike, he managed to deflect all the sword thrusts, catching the blade in the chain links. The end of the chain spun around it, tightening before he yanked and it flew out of the nun’s grasp.

  Biffy held her breath, wondering what she’d do to defend herself now, but her fear was short-lived. The rest of the group were soon together again and the leader was soon overcome, a pile of ash just like the other four.

  Her eyes went wide as she watched the nuns gather their weapons and regroup. She’d never seen anyone fight so well. The three Marys more than lived up to their reputation. Even if Biffy failed now, she knew she’d be grateful for getting to witness such mastery.

  As they moved out of sight, Biffy finally closed her window and replaced the garlic around the edges so she would be undisturbed. Hairwig settled at the end of the bed, tucking her head under a wing as she usually did.

  She let out a faint hoot as Biffy pulled up the covers.

  “Night. Don’t let the bed
bugs bite,” she said. Hairwig lifted a foot and clacked her talons together. Grinning, Biffy closed her eyes. Of course Hairwig would deal with any issues that way. She might be a familiar, but she wasn’t tame. Not by a long way.

  The following day dawned bright and clear, waking Biffy up before she needed to be. It was a good thing. Biffy had only just wriggled into her newest habit when Breanna appeared, Boo jumping onto her bed and burrowing under the covers.

  “Oh, horse feathers, Boo. You cannot sleep in someone else’s bed.”

  A squeak sounded from underneath the blanket but he didn’t appear. Biffy froze, stuck between offering to leave him be and helping get him out. Breanna seemed to know what she was doing, however, and grabbed the edge of the bed. Lifting it like it was a piece of toast, she gave it a shake. Immediately Boo darted out, onto the floor and away down the stairs.

  It was all Biffy could do to keep herself from laughing as Hairwig flapped onto her shoulder and she followed both rodent and nun down to the bottom floor.

  She went down the final step to find Breanna, panting and puffing, coming back. Boo sat on her shoulder, chattering and squeaking in a way that sounded very much like laughter.

  “Sister Gelina asked me to take you to the training rooms this morning,” Breanna said once she’d got her breath back. “Said she was worried you’d get lost. The academy can be a big place, and there’s...” Breanna stopped, biting down on her lip. “There’s...”

  Biffy almost expected her to say that there was a vampire in the under-croft, but she didn’t, instead changing the subject entirely.

  “Sister Gelina seemed very impressed with your familiar bond. Said you could do something truly remarkable.”

  Biffy nodded, too distracted to even consider being modest. If Breanna knew there was a vampire in the under-croft, that meant he was there for a reason, and not forgotten about. But what was the reason? Before she could decide whether to ask or not, they arrived at the training rooms.

  Despite having been on first watch, the three Marys stood to one side of a large room. Racks of different weapons lined the wall next to them, and painted on the floor were several different boxes. It looked like various arenas and all the weapons that could be used against a vampire or werewolf with any great effect.