The Raven Saga Box Set

Chapter 49

"I'm going to run this through our facial recognition system to see if anything comes up. In the meantime, take this to Carmelo. Thank you, girls. You have been incredibly helpful," she said with a broad smile.

"No, thank you," said Lilly, "I still can't quite believe you created such a perfect image of him."

"We're witches, my dear. We can do almost anything!" replied Margot with a glint in her eye and a cheeky smile as she returned to sit behind her computer.

Just as they stepped out of the vehicle, they noticed Ursula and Wyatt returning from the police department.

They followed them inside, listening to what they told everyone who had gathered in the kitchen.

"You were right, Carmelo. There was another attack. It was just outside the school... one of the teachers."

Lilly's eyes widened in shock, "Which one?" she asked, afraid of what she would hear.

"It was Mrs Ormond, the biology professor."

Lilly had never liked Mrs Ormond, she had always seemed a little too inquisitive for her liking, but she couldn't believe she was dead. Ripped apart, by a vampire. She hadn't known Frank Jensen or Mrs Murray, but she had known Mrs Ormond, and the thought made her feel sick to the stomach.

Tabitha gently took the sketch out of her hand before Lilly managed to screw it up in her fingers.

"Here's the sketch. This is pretty much an exact image of the vampire we saw in town," she said, handing it to Carmelo, but before he could get hold of it, Ursula snatched it from his fingers with a loud gasp.

"My God," she said. "It's Olivier Duran."

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Just as Moira had predicted, December's first day at high school had gone much more smoothly than she could have ever hoped for. Her fellow students were more excited about her British accent than anything else. They welcomed her with open arms, and not a single person made fun of her, her name or her red hair. She was delighted.

But on the other hand, although she befriended many girls and boys on that first day, she missed Lilly more than she had ever missed her before. She even felt a little guilty, like she shouldn't be having fun without her own best friend. But, after a couple of days, the feeling of guilt gradually dwindled, and she began to feel like she belonged there. She still longed to talk to Lilly, but she knew they would... soon.

They had both been too busy to chat online, so they had made do with a couple of brief emails just to let the other know each one was okay, making vague promises of visiting each other soon although both knew that under current circumstances, a visit would be virtually impossible. They both had far too much to hide from each other.

Moira had got stuck into a few interior decorating jobs, Monty had been busy dropping December to and from school as well as gardening and Moira's dead mother Ruby had been busy, just... well, being Ruby. Only two weeks had passed since they'd arrived and all was working out better than anyone could have imagined until Moira received an urgent letter from a friend in the north.

December returned from school to find her grandmother looking awfully sombre.

"December... oh, darling girl. We've received some chilling news. Your mother is beside herself with worry..." she said as she paced up and down the hallway.

Dropping her school bag at the foot of the stairs, she rushed into the kitchen to find her mother frantically cleaning the already spotless work surfaces.

"Mom... what's happened? Ruby said you've had some bad news. What is it?"

Finally turning to face her daughter, she hugged her before finally sitting herself down on a stool at the breakfast bar.

"I vowed to myself the other night that I would not keep any more secrets from you. But please don't be frightened, my angel. I've just received word that a particularly dangerous vampire is terrorising a local town..." she said.

"It's Duran, isn't it?" asked December, but she already knew the answer.

Her mother nodded, and they hugged again. Ruby tried to hug them too but just went straight through them, creating a chill.

"It's times like these when I need a hug, myself," she cried, "Oh, what are we to do?"

"My friend has asked if we will join them. She said the more of our kind there are there, the better. She also mentioned that they've already gathered a little group together but could do with both of us. That means you, Mother. I know you're dead, but your input might finally help us to put a stop to this monster."

"Both of you... but what about me? If you go, I'm going too. You're not leaving me here. I have a right to go as well," said December as she crossed her arms.

"She is so your daughter, isn't she?" sighed Ruby.

"I don't like it. I don't like it one bit, but I do understand, and I guess I can't leave you here, December. Monty can stay and look after the house and the cats, and we'll drive up in the other car."

"But where is Duran, Mom? Where are we going?"

"Oh, didn't I say? We're going to Powell River."

CHAPTER NINETEEN

"Duran's savage attacks have been going on throughout the centuries. Ursula helped put a stop to one of his carnages in World War One, but there had been plenty of others before that and probably plenty more since. We know that he first started in France, but his attacks have taken him across the globe," said Carmelo angrily to everybody gathered in the living room. "He must be stopped... and for good this time."

Ursula sat stone-faced in the corner of the room. She hadn't said a word since seeing the sketch of her arch enemy.

"Ursula?" asked Lilly, "Are you all right?"

The vampire stood abruptly and nodded much slower than she usually did. A sad smile briefly crossed her lips as she looked back at the young girl. Lilly thought she looked tired and even a little scared.

"I vill be all right. I had zought. No, I had hoped zat zis monster vas dead, but no. Now ze killing starts again. It all brings back bad memories, zat is all. I really zought he vas finished, dead, in Europe. But no, I vas wrong," she said, shaking her head, adding, "I am fine, Lilly... zank you."

It was the first time Ursula had shown any kind of emotion, and it frightened Lilly somewhat. Ursula was one of the strongest vampires she knew, and for her to appear a little fearful, concerned Lilly no end. Duran was clearly a force to be reckoned with. He was pure evil and thought nothing of killing innocent victims and creating havoc in a small community where people talked. He was putting the entire supernatural society under threat.

A slight commotion outside caused everyone to turn towards the door as it was pushed open.

"Gabriel!" shouted Lilly as she jumped up from the armchair and rushed to her grandfather, hugging him tightly and nearly knocking him to the ground in the process.

Chuckling, he gently patted her on the back as she released her grip and looked up at him, "What are you doing here?"

"This is my community, my dear. You don't think I could just sit up there in those caves and do nothing, do you? I am here to offer any help that I can. Now, do let me sit down for a moment to get my strength back," he said as he used an old fashioned walking stick to help him walk over to his old trusty brown armchair, where he sat with a long sigh.

After everybody had made a fuss of him, bringing tea and biscuits and a blanket, Gabriel turned to Carmelo, "Now, tell me. What's the latest news?"

Gabriel, who had joined the Elders several months earlier, had taken a few days to travel down the mountains with the help of a small group of friends. They had gone at night and hidden in some secret caves during the day. Once Gabriel had reached the water, he had insisted on travelling by boat alone to reach his family as quickly as possible. It was the middle of the day, and so the others had no choice but to stay put, at least until darkness fell.

With all that had been going on, Lilly felt like she needed time to herself, so she headed to the privacy and quiet of her bedroom. She gently closed the door behind her and sat on the bed. Leaning back, she watched the rainbow effect flash across the walls from the crystals that hung at either side of her window. She thought back to her fourteenth birthday when Oliver had given them to her. Sighing, she turned and opened her laptop where Oliver's face smiled back at her. She reached out and stroked the picture on the computer screen. She missed him.

I wish all of this weren't happening, and I wish you had never found out the truth, Oliver. I just wish you were here, where you're meant to be.

Seconds later, the computer let out a buzz and up popped a messenger window.

DECEMBER MOON: You there, Lill?

Smiling, Lilly leaned over and picked up the laptop and placed it on her knees.

LILLY TULUGAQ: I'm here! How're things?

DECEMBER MOON: Good, I guess! How about you? Is everything ok with you up there in Powell River?

LILLY TULUGAQ: Yeah, everything's fine here.

Lilly knew she couldn't say anything more to her best friend, even though she was dying to tell her the truth, to finally tell her everything. She ached, knowing she wasn't able to. She was even tempted to say that she was coming to Powell River... but her reasons for going prevented her. She had to keep the secret.

DECEMBER MOON: That's good. So, you're all safe and well, then?

LILLY TULUGAQ: Of course! Why? What gives you the idea that it's not?

DECEMBER MOON: Nothing... just checking, making sure.

There was a knock on Lilly's door, and a second later, Jo walked in.

"Hey, Lilly. Can we talk?"

"Sure."

LILLY TULUGAQ: Sorry December but I have to go. Catch up with you soon, ok? XX

DECEMBER MOON: ok hun. You keep SAFE. XX

"What's up?" she asked her beautiful cousin as she closed the laptop and returned it to her bedside table.

"Huh? You mean what's not up... it's crazy, all this killing and this mad vamp doing the rounds. I mean, I'm a vamp myself, I know it's hard work keeping the bloodlust in check and everything, but you don't see me running around killing innocent people... poor Mrs Ormond!"

"You never really liked Mrs Ormond, Jo. Hardly anyone did!"

"But that's not the point, is it? I never wanted her dead... well, occasionally maybe it crossed my mind... but no, seriously. This is getting crazy."

Shaking her head with a sad smile, Lilly rolled on to her stomach and looked up at Jo, "What's up, Jo? It's not just Duran the crazed vamp bothering you, is it? Is there something else on your mind?"

"I'm just worried about you guys. I can defend myself. I'm a vampire, for goodness sake, I'm pretty strong. I can fend for myself, but you guys..." she choked.

Lilly rolled over and almost fell off the bed in a rush to stand up. She turned to Jo and hugged her.

"Don't worry about us, Jo. Didn't you notice the multitude of witches, vampires, werewolves and other weird folks out there? They're all here to help us catch this guy. Duran has got no chance! And besides, aren't you forgetting that I'm actually a bit of a beast myself?!" she said with a smile and a wink.

Nodding, Jo pulled away and smiled back, revealing a set of perfectly white teeth, "yeah, you're right. I know you're right. We'll get him."

Later that night while Lilly was drifting off to sleep, she thought about December. The fact that she had seemed intent on knowing if all was well in Powell River. Did she know something? Was there something she wasn't letting on? Lilly remembered the strange occurrence that had happened to December before she had moved to Seattle, and it worried her a little. She hoped her best friend was all right.