Bill blushed and smiled coyly.“Well... it’s okay.”
“I thought that horrible dog had eatenyou!”
“No, still here. In one piece.”
Ophelia patted the ground beside her.“Come and sit down.”
Bill smiled as he sat down beside her.He could feel her arm pressed against his and could smell her perfume. But henoticed her face was clouded with worry and she seemed very agitated.
Arthur appeared in front of them. Helooked like he was building himself up to say something important. “Now lookhere Ophelia, what you did was wrong.”
“I know and I’m sorry.”
“And as for that nut case Lilithstabbing my friend here, I’ve a good mind to call the police.”
Ophelia looked at Arthur, then Bill.Suddenly, she burst into a flood of tears.
“I don’t know what to do! We thoughtwe knew what we were doing but... it’s all gone wrong.”
She reached out and grabbed Bill’shand.
Arthur sat down awkwardly. “Come on,there’s no need for blubbing. I know I said I’d call the police, and I musthave looked pretty darn mad in minute ago, but here...” He pulled a crumpledhandkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Ophelia.
“It’s okay. The wound healed up nextday, must have only been a scratch,” said Bill.
Ophelia sniffed as she dabbed her eyeswith the handkerchief. “That horrid Claude thing found us in the woods. He wentback to Lilith’s rooms. It’s got some sort of hold over her. She was actingvery weird, even for Lilith.”
“Who’s Claude?”
“A great big weird looking dog.”
“The dog that attacked us!” saidArthur.
“I think so,” said Ophelia with asniff. “I heard her go out in the middle of the night with the dog. She wasgone for ages. When she came back I got up and asked her what was going on. Shelooked upset, very odd looking and her feet were bleeding. She had hernightdress on but it was torn and dirty. She said she’d seen Lord Percy. He’d turnedher Arddhu! She started muttering something strange and then she tried to biteme! I locked myself in my room and she scratched on my door for a while thenwent away. I was so scared.”
Arthur looked confused. “So who’s LordPercy?”
“That’s what we were doing with you inthe church. We used Bill’s blood to resurrect an Arddhu. Lord Percy Valentine.”
“But that thing was a monster!” saidBill.
“Why the hell did you do that?” saidArthur. “We can’t have creatures running around the place, biting people willy-nilly.It’s so illegal. You could go to jail for a very long time.”
Ophelia looked like she was about tostart crying again. “I came out of my room this morning but was terrified she’dgrab me. I opened her door and peered into her room. She was fast asleep andthe dog was gone. I had to get away so I came down here to think. Oh, whatshall I do?”
“It’ll be okay. We can help,” saidBill, giving Arthur a sly look to tell him to shut up.
“I have the journal,” said Ophelia. “Iwas hoping it’d tell me something about Lord Percy and how to stop the cursespreading.”
Ophelia opened Rowena’s journal and,not knowing what else they could do, the three of them read...
Sat 16 Nov 1872. I amstaying at Brimstone Manor for a rest cure. My parents know I am very ill andare thankful to Percy for helping me. He has promised to make me well beforeour wedding day. Mother is here most days but it grieves me to see her frettingso! I mutter curses, hear an angry voice and take blood from Beauty each nightbut am filled with a mysterious frustration and hunger! Oh how I long to turnback the clock and be the girl I once was!
Tue 26 Nov 1872. Percyhas been up to Middenmere to see a very learned doctor. His name is WilliamWhitebeam and is a great authority on my illness. Percy says this great manwill cure me. The doctor has supplied us with a medicine of his own concoctioncalled Vita Dantis. This is no cure but takes away the terrible voice, the lustfor blood and the burning of skin in sunlight. Today the bellows, tubes andneedle were worked most assiduously and the medicine now flows in my veins. Ithas made me feel almost human again and given us hope for a future together.The wedding day now looks brighter!
Sat 5 Apr 1873 I am afraid, dearjournal, that I have neglected you of late in the whirl of courtship! VitaDantis has allowed back my life. Percy and I have chatted most amiably duringour long country walks, I am now a regular rider at the hunt and how I havedanced at the local balls! Mother and I have been very busy of late preparingfor the wedding. I have the most beautiful white dress, my friends will makethe most delightful bridesmaids, and you have never seen so many flowers! I goto bed nervous, anticipating my wedding day tomorrow! How happy I am!
Sun 6 Apr 1873. Mywedding has been disastrous. I am the foulest creature that ever walked theearth! How I wish I could find punishment worthy of my heinous crime! Thewedding day was all I could have asked for, with Saint Bede’s draped in flowersand the bells peeling. Mother couldn’t stop crying. But on our wedding night wediscovered a fatal flaw with the good doctor’s medicine. Despite having plentyof it flowing in my veins, when the heat of passion rose in our wedding bed Iam afraid the voice came back, laughing at my folly. Vita Dantis has no powerduring moments of passion! I cursed and fought it but bit my dearest Percy onthe neck! He now suffers the curse as I do! I am such an unworthy creature! HowI wish this wretched life was over!
Sun 20 Apr 1873. Percyis the noblest man alive. He has forgiven me for what I have done and is moredetermined than ever to find a cure. At Percy’s request, the good doctor hasnow moved into Brimstone Manor and is working day and night in his laboratoryin the west wing. He studies most assiduously and records his
