LITMIR.BIZ

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be. Minerva had seemed very knowledgeable about the local area, and Dominil wondered again if the people here knew about her unusual nature.

      Kalix was tired after the flight. “What time are we meant to meet Minerva?”

      “At dawn,” said Dominil. “We’ll have to set off early.”

      Kalix yawned. “I’m not used to these early mornings.”

      “Students never are.”

      Kalix was surprised to hear herself described as a student. She supposed she was. She’d be going back to college soon. But her college was a remedial establishment, helping people with poor learning skills. Dominil had two first-class degrees from Oxford. Kalix didn’t feel like a student in her company.

      “Did you like the Runaways film?”

      “It was interesting,” said Dominil noncommittally. “I wondered if it might give me any hints on how to manage a band. At least it gave me some idea how not to.”

      Kalix asked her cousin what she planned to do next for Yum Yum Sugary Snacks.

      “I’m thinking about trying to get them a place on a tour, supporting some band with a reasonable fan base. That would do them good. We’ve played three gigs in London since that debacle in Edinburgh, and they’ve gone much better. I think they could cope with a support slot. I’m told that if I could persuade a well-known producer to work on their demo, that would help too. Though I’m not sure any producer would work with the twins, given their bad reputation.”

      Kalix went off early to her room, leaving Dominil sitting next to her window with her laptop computer open in front of her. As night fell and the moon appeared, Dominil took on her werewolf shape quite smoothly and remained at her computer. It was an accepted fact of life among the MacRinnalchs that as a werewolf, you couldn’t work a keyboard, but Dominil, through determined practice, had almost mastered the art. It meant picking out one key at a time, slowly, with her werewolf claws, but she could do it.

      Dominil sat in front of her computer for a long time. She didn’t feel like sleeping. She felt uneasy about tomorrow. During the great werewolf feud, Dominil had faced death quite calmly, but the prospect of giving up laudanum troubled her. She knew it would be difficult. She was aware of the changes the opiate would already have made to her brain and body. She was both physically and psychologically dependent on the drug. Dominil had researched the matter quite thoroughly. Unless, as Kalix hoped, Minerva had some magic solution, which was highly unlikely, they were in for an uncomfortable time.

      Dominil took her bottle of laudanum from her bag and measured out what would be her last dose, as instructed by Minerva. She drank it swiftly and replaced the top on the bottle. Then she undressed, lay on the bed, calmly cleared her mind of all negative thoughts and went to sleep.

CHAPTER 18

      Daniel emerged from the bathroom feeling very unwell. He was not a great drinker and had indulged far too freely at Kalix’s party. His head ached and he still felt nauseous. Making matters worse, a great depression had settled in. His plan had completely failed. Moonglow had rejected him. He was now faced with the prospect of living in the same house as a girl with whom he was in love, but didn’t want him. Daniel despaired. It was bad enough being a rejected lover without bumping into the person you were in love with every day. He had vague thoughts of somehow avoiding Moonglow, but that, he immediately realized, wasn’t practical. He’d already met her in the kitchen, which would have been dreadfully embarrassing had he not been too ill to notice his emotions.

      I can’t be ill all the time, he reasoned. Sooner or later I have to meet her healthy.

      He wondered if he should move. That would create difficulties. He’d only just got his finances in order after the recent crisis. Moving would be expensive. He’d need a deposit for another flat, and he didn’t have the money. Perhaps he could take a room in someone else’s apartment? Daniel felt even gloomier. He didn’t want to move. He didn’t really want to not see Moonglow again either. Suddenly he was gripped by another wave of nausea and hurried back into the bathroom.

      This is an all time low, thought Daniel. Nothing could be worse.

      Vex burst into the bathroom. “Hi, Daniel! I’ve got a boyfriend!”

      “I was wrong,” muttered Daniel. “It can get worse.”

      “Will you be sick for long?”

      Daniel shook his head, indicating that he wasn’t really in control of the matter.

      “OK,” said Vex, cheerfully. “When you get better I want to have a house meeting.”

      “What?”

      “A house meeting. I can call one, right?”

      Daniel shrugged. Moonglow was the only person who ever convened house meetings, but he supposed anyone was free to call one. By the time he made it to his feet, Vex was gone, running noisily downstairs. Daniel heard some protests from Beauty and Delicious, who were not pleased to be roused from their sleep.

      I’m never having a party again in any house where Vex is present, thought Daniel, slowly making his way back to his room. Or Moonglow. Also, I’m never drinking alcohol again.

      Downstairs, Moonglow, while not at her brightest, was suffering less. She had a greater tolerance to alcohol than Daniel and had not indulged so freely. With so many werewolves in the house, Moonglow had felt a nagging sense of responsibility, fearing that things might get out of hand. She’d restrained her own celebrations just in case.

      “Moonglow,” called Delicious from the living room floor. “Please bring us tea and also get rid of this noisy Fire Elemental.”

      Moonglow put the kettle on again to make tea for the twins. Vex reappeared in the kitchen.

      “I want to have a house meeting,” she said.

      “A meeting? Why, what’s wrong?”

      “Nothing. But I need help. I’ll tell you when Daniel’s stopped being sick. Is he being sick because you broke his heart?”

      Moonglow was trying not to think about Daniel and didn’t reply.

      “It’s bound to be upsetting, really,” said Vex. “What with him being in love with you and you rejecting him. Wouldn’t surprise me if he just jumped out the window or something. You know, in despair.”

      Vex peered out of the kitchen window, in case Daniel might be flying past at that moment.

      “Stop being ridiculous,” said Moonglow. “Daniel is not going to jump out of the window.”

      Moonglow refused to discuss it any further. To distract Vex, she asked about Pete. Vex happily returned to the subject of her new boyfriend, carrying on a one-sided conversation while Moonglow made tea and took it on a tray to the twins. By this time they had roused themselves and were sitting on the couch, yawning.

      “What’s this about Pete?” asked Beauty, whose pink hair was strewn across her forehead. She shoved it back with her fingers, creating a sort of hair mountain on top of her head.

      Vex related her story again. The twins were interested to hear that their guitarist had spent the night with Vex. Moonglow noticed them exchanging glances at Vex’s description of Pete as her new boyfriend. Obviously, they shared Moonglow’s doubts.

      It was early in the afternoon before the twins left. They thanked Moonglow for her hospitality and even helped clear the living room. Moonglow was surprised, having not expected them to be so well mannered. She realized she’d never before encountered Beauty and Delicious when they were sober. They departed in a cab. It was an expensive journey, all the way north to Camden, but the twins had plenty of money and never minded paying for a taxi.

      “Can we have our house meeting now?” Vex asked Moonglow.

      “I’m not sure that Daniel will be ready for

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