Shadows on the Border

Chapter 2: Home Visit

Chapter 2: Home Visit

Will

Will’s rooms were always peaceful after the hurly-burly of a day at the Wapping police station and he relished the silence when he could get back to Great Portland Street and hole up at night. He took a long, luxurious bath to wash off the sweat of the day and put on his pajamas and dressing gown.

He was in the small galley kitchen of the flat breaking eggs for an omelet, when he heard a sharp tap on the door. He turned off the gas, put the pan to one side, and went to answer it.

A tall blonde girl stood on the step, in some sort of loose-fitting trouser-outfit.

No. Not a girl.

He remembered the day’s events in a sudden cascade and with reflex reaction went to slam the door. But the Creature was too swift for him and held it open with that surprising solidity, shoving in a foot and an elbow. It was very quick.

He opened his mouth to yell and it pressed a hand over his mouth, stepping forward right into his space and wrapping its arms around him.

“Do not shout, Will Grant,” it spoke, very quietly. “I only wish to talk.”

At the same time, it stepped right into his hallway and shoved the door shut behind it with a foot. How on earth had it got past the concierge?

“Muhmph,” he said, pushing at it. It let him go and he retreated to the other side of the hall, staring. “Did you make me forget seeing you?” he blurted.

It blushed, of all things. A definite red flush over its high cheekbones. “I tried to smooth your memories out a little, to give me a chance to hide. I did not know if it would work. Did it?”

“Yes. Until just now. I think. I think I remember now.” He passed a hand over his face and glared at it. “What do you want? Why are you here? Not just here…but here? This side of the Border?”

That puzzled head-tilt again. “The Shimmer? You call the Shimmer, the Border? Yes?”

Will nodded.

“Let us sit? You need to sit? Because you are sick?” It phrased everything as a question, watching him curiously.

“I’m not sick,” he denied, quickly. “But yes, we can sit.” He gestured to the sitting room doorway. “Through there.” He wasn’t going to let it get behind him, especially with what he remembered about the knife on its back.

It walked slowly, clearly looking around with interest at the furnishings. In the sitting room, it walked to the low, dark walnut coffee table and folded itself down upon his late grandmother’s second-best Aubusson carpet with impossible grace. He stood, just looking at it. He wondered, if he was quick enough, if he could get to the telephone and get a message out. But by the time he’d gone through the operator and made her understand, it would all be over.

“What do you want?” He circled it carefully, keeping the heavy settee between them.

“Sit.” It looked at him, that second eyelid flicking across and back spookily. The eye looked a little milky with it closed, as if it was suffering from cataract. It was starting to sound slightly irritated. He didn’t want to irritate it.

He sat in one of the large leather club armchairs on the other side of the little table.

“I’m sat. What do you want?”

It seemed to take ages to parse conversation and spoke slowly.

“You said you are an Officer of the Law?” He could hear the capitalization.

“Yes. I’m a police detective.”

Another pause.

“I, too, am an Officer of the Law.” It blinked. “I seek one who has done a Wrong Thing.”

Will’s jaw dropped a little bit.

“Who…? What sort of wrong thing?”

“They came through the Shimmer, unsanctioned. They kill. Kill your kind, humans,” it clarified. “Most especially those that use kias.” Will was struck speechless. The Creature watched him calmly, looking around carefully from its seat on the carpet. “Do you live here alone, Will Grant?” it asked.

He flinched.

“There is no need to fear me,” it reiterated. “I seek one who has killed beyond the Shimmer and fled away through it. I need your help as an Officer of Law. I will not harm you.”

“What are you looking for?” Will asked. His voice wasn’t quite steady. “A monster?” and “How do you know my name?”

“We exchanged names earlier today. Perhaps you forgot that also? I am Fenn.” Again, that strange pause, as if it was translating in its head. “It is called a—” it paused, “…I cannot find the right word. You call it a Creature? Yes?” It looked politely inquiring.

“Are you reading my mind?” Will snapped.

It blushed. “Er. A little. Yes. To find the words. Only on the surface. I do not look underneath. It is a convenience. So we can talk to one another.” Will pushed his hands up through his still-damp hair and found himself pulling his knees up in front of him in a childish defensive pose. He wrapped his arms around his legs and continued to stare. The Creature—Fenn—continued to speak. “Please, Will Grant. I need help. I came through the Shimmer a week ago and I have been searching for the Creature I was…” that seeking pause “…tracking. It escaped from us in the Outlands and one had to come in pursuit. I was tasked to come after it.” Fenn passed his hands over his face and then looked straight at him again. “I am lost, and I am alone, and I cannot find the evil thing I was seeking, and I need your help.” He paused again and sniffed, delicately. “And, I am hungry.”

Will put his feet back on the carpet and put his elbows on his knees. “Hungry?”

“You were preparing food when I arrived. I can smell it.”

That, he could deal with. “I was making food. An omelet. Eggs. Do you want some?” He still eyed it warily.

“I am hungry.”

“Food, then. In the kitchen. It’s small. You can stay here.” He could maybe telephone from the hall while he was out of sight. Fenn got to his feet as gracefully as he’d sat and stood looking at him.

“You wish to call for help?” He squinted at him.

“I thought you weren’t reading my mind?”

“I couldn’t help it.” Again, that blush. “Your thought was very loud. Who do you wish to call?”

There was no point not saying it out loud if the stranger could read his thoughts. “A superior. Colleagues. They know about kias. Some of them work it.”

“They will want to hurt me?”

“Maybe. I’m not sure I don’t want to, yet.” Will wasn’t going to pull his punches. “One of our jobs is to deal with Creatures from the Outlands. That come from beyond the Border.”

Fenn looked at him again with that strange tilt of his head and this time he felt a sensation like someone tickling behind his ear, but inside his skull. “Call them, then. I can protect myself if needs be. And it will make you feel better. Call, then and we can eat your eggs while they come here.”