The Sweet Scent of Blood

Chapter Thirty-Six

Iopened the door to my flat, freezing at the metallic crash that came from my kitchen area. Heart thumping, I peered through the doorway. There was a quiet cough, followed by a popping noise. Agatha the brownie a appeared on the countera next to my sink.

‘Afternoon, Lady.’ Her wrinkled face lifted in a tentative smile. ‘I hope I’m nae disturbing thee.’

Taking a soft breath, I let the air slide back into my lungs. ‘Afternoon, Agatha. Nice of you to drop in.’ After all, I added to myself, everyone else does, so why should a brownie be any different?

‘Och well, the wean tried to call, only thee were nae answering yon telephonic machine.’

Oh yeah, my mobile was still somewhere in the Blue Heart.

‘Never mind, you’re here now.’ I gave her an enquiring look. ‘Is Holly in trouble again?’

Agatha stepped diffidently along the countertop. ‘Nae, Lady, she just telt me to bring thee a message.’

Through the window I could see the sun dipping lower in the sky. I needed to be safe in the police station by the time night came—the vampires could challenge each other all they wanted, but there was no way I planned on being there to see it. I tried to swallow back my impatience as I asked, ‘What’s the message, Aggie?’

Her brown eyes filled with worry. ‘Thee’s no angry with maself?’

‘Why would I be angry with you, Aggie?’

‘The spells.’ Her fingers twisted in her floral smock. ‘I dinna ken they were so many, not until thee took them.’

Narrowing my eyes, I took a step towards her. ‘What spells?’ She flinched back and I stilled, not wanting to frighten her. Then I remembered Finn’s little test. ‘Aggie, you’re not worried about all that extra magic that Finn added, are you? He was just being tricksy with me; it wasn’t your fault.’ I stuck my hands in the back pockets of my jeans. ‘Is that why you were unhappy afterwards?’

‘Maself is awfy sorry.’ Her sand-coloured face creased up even more. ‘I’ve bin worrid stoopid, thee might think I’d tried to deceive thee, Lady.’

‘I’m not angry, okay?’ I smiled, lips tight together. ‘Now what is Holly’s message?’

‘The wean telt me to bring thee to her.’ Her small nose wrinkled up. ‘Her friend be wanting to ask thee something, Lady.’

I shook my head. ‘Aggie, I’m sorry, but I just don’t have the time right now. I know it’s Sunday, but it would take nearly an hour to get to the restaurant and another to get back, even today.’

‘Twill only take a wee minute or two.’ She held out her small hand to me. ‘We’ll go Between—only thee will need to be quiet, mind.’ She shook her hand eagerly at me, a slyness creeping into her expression. ‘The Lady Meriel would be pleased if thee would come.’

Meriel of Lake Serpentine—the Lady of the local naiads, a group of water fae—and supposedly not someone to be messed with, not that I’d ever personally met her.

‘Why would Lady Meriel be pleased?’

Aggie gave me a smug smile. ‘The Lady be Holly’s ma, o’course.’

Holly was Meriel’s daughter? Well that explained why Holly had Aggie looking after her—and why it was probably a good idea to go and see what Holly wanted. No way could I afford to alienate any of the local fae, not while I still had a chance.

‘Hold on two secs, Aggie.’ I walked over to my computer, scribbled a note to Hugh and stuck it on the screen. When I turned back round, Aggie was peering into a cupboard. She swung round, smock billowing, a disapproving scowl on her face. ‘Thee has nae food, Lady, nothin’ but a jar o’ sweeties and some salt.’ Tufts of her hair stuck up. ‘Tis nae way to be runnin’ a kitchen.’

‘Maybe you can help me then,’ I said, an idea popping into my head. ‘I’ve still got all those spells I took from your kitchen, Agatha, but I can’t seem to make them do anything.’

‘Och well,’ her scowl faded, ‘I telt thee, a brownie’s touch goes to them that needs it. The magic will nae be leaving you until you’ve nae more need of it’—she patted her chest—‘for the sadness in here, Lady.’

Well, that sort of explained it ... ‘Thank you, Agatha,’ I inclined my head, ‘it was kind of you to tell me.’

‘Humph.’ She closed the cupboard door with a firm snap. ‘Are thee ready then?’ she asked, offering me her small hand.

Hesitating only slightly, I placed my hand in Aggie’s. ‘I still need to get back as soon as,’ I warned.

‘Och, I’ll see you wherever, nae worries. Hold tight an’ quiet, Lady.’ She took a breath, lifted her foot—

A loud popping sound reverberated in my ears. Aggie’s fingers squeezed mine painfully hard. My flat took on a misty hue. Pressure buffeted me as winds blew from every point. A ghostly image of a different kitchen flashed past. Then another, where the ethereal figure of a young boy sat, head bent over his colouring book. Two more unoccupied rooms and then the indistinct sight of an old man, socked feet propped on a stool, holding a china teacup to his mouth. The pressure increased, making it hard to breathe. A semi-derelict room with a broken butler’s sink. A steel band clamped round my chest. A hazy, red-faced woman wiped a floury stain across her forehead with the back of her wrist. The force on my body was almost nbearable as the stronger outlines of the next kitchen took form around us: stainless steel tops, commercial ovens, stacks of white china ...

... Aggie put her foot down, released her grip on my hand. ‘Here we be, safe and sound.’

I stumbled, head spinning, stomach churning like a food mixer.

She grabbed my hand again, patted it. ‘There ye go.’ A sudden warmth cleared my mind. ‘The brownies’ trail is a wee bitty fast for some, mebbe.’

I took a look around. We were in Aggie’s kitchen at the restaurant. ‘Well,’ I gave her an impressed look, ‘that’s certainly one quick way to get across London.’

‘Och, away with ye.’ Her wrinkled face pulled up in a smile. ‘Now go an’ see ma wean and her friend.’ She gave me a shove on the backside with her small hand. ‘They’re in there.’

The interior of the restaurant was dark, the blinds drawn. I stood for a moment letting my eyes get accustomed to the dimness.

Holly waved at me from the darkest corner of the room.

I took half-a-dozen steps, then my feet faltered. Her ‘friend’ was Louis, the French Psycho vamp from the police station.