‘Thank you, Michael,’ I stuttered and got into Nathaniel’s car. I could see that Nathaniel exchanged a few more words with the shape-shifter before he got into the car with me. The engine started and I sunk back on my seat, grateful to be alive.
‘We need to get you to the hospital,’ he said.
‘Just take me home. I’m fine, just a bit bruised.’
He didn’t respond, still breathing hard and fast. After an hour driving in complete silence, he parked the car in front of my apartment.
‘I’m sorry, Julia. I never should have agreed to this. My source mentioned that there was supposed to be only two giants in the bar. I planned this badly. They nearly killed us.’ He turned to look at me. At that point I didn’t really care. I was happy that we got out of there alive. I just wanted him to hug me, but he was sitting there looking furious.
‘It’s a shame that we didn’t get anything out of them,’ I said, flexing my fingers.
‘Actually, we did. That giant that approached me gave me the information that I was looking for,’ said Nathaniel. ‘If anyone could start snatching fairies and elves, I figured it would have been Gordon, but we just found out that he isn’t behind this.’
‘So? I still don’t know who is behind my cousin’s kidnapping.’
‘The most ruthless gang isn’t, so it’s probably one individual, which means that your cousin is still alive. We have half of our job cut out, but from now on if I’m going to help you, I’ll be working alone.’
‘But—’
‘Don’t you even dare to protest. I risked your life today, and that won’t happen again. Now go home and get to sleep and don’t mention anything to your father. I’ll call you when I know more.’
He was unbelievable. He was expecting me to just sit at home and do nothing. Why were all men so stupidly stubborn? Yeah, maybe I was nearly killed today, but I wanted to help.
‘See you soon, Nathaniel,’ I said and got out of the car, feeling deflated.
As I was walking back to my apartment I heard him say, ‘You still owe me a date, Julia.’
He didn’t give me a chance to reply because he rolled up his damaged window and drove off.
Chapter seventeen
Don’t be a wimp. You walked home all the time a few weeks ago. Get a grip.
I hadn’t heard from Nathaniel La Caz since we said good-bye to each other in his trashed car. When I got home that night I used my grandmother’s potion to heal my face. I was so rubbish with spells that I couldn’t even heal my own body. I was glad that I didn’t have to go to work until late the next day. People wouldn’t stop asking questions, and if my Dad saw me I’d be dead already. Nathaniel believed that he got vital information, but I still wasn’t that convinced. Claudia was still missing and I nearly got myself killed again. That was just a great start of the week.
Two weeks passed and Nathaniel hadn’t contacted me. He risked a lot for me and I had refused to go out on a date with him. But now I would be happy for him to take me out, just so I could thank him. His seductive voice, his touch, and the way he’d looked at me left a permanent mark on me, and I didn’t know how to get rid of it. When I told Nicky how torn I was, she laughed and told me I should have sex with him. I kept the events from that terrible night to myself, just to make sure that she wouldn’t say anything to Dad.
‘Are you crazy? You said it yourself—stay away from vampires,’ I told her over the phone during my lunch break.
‘Well, technically, you should, but you said he was hot and he wanted to sleep with you.’
‘Nicky, what about my blood?’
‘Forget about blood. If I were you, I would just use him for sex and then cast a charm so he would forget about you. Problem solved.’
That’s easier said than done. ‘I don’t have to worry about it. He hasn’t contacted me since then, so I guess he changed his mind.’
I couldn’t get him out of my head. Eventually I had to stop thinking about him. Aside from worrying about Claudia, I was too busy at work to even catch my breath. Rufus employed another girl to help us deal with the demand for temporary workers after the incident with the chain saw, although I was glad that I met Michael. If it weren’t for him I would have been dead already.
The phones were ringing off the hook and we were slowly running out of spaces for new candidates. I worked more day shifts and a couple of weekends. We employed a lot of vampires, werewolves, witches, and hags. For some reason, many fairies and elves were sticking with call centre and admin work.
Surprisingly, my tooth fairy that I put forward for a job had been offered a position. I was staggered that the feedback from her interview was positive and after several weeks, she was still employed. Kate kept my secret about my meeting with La Caz in the office. I was glad she didn’t say anything to Jennifer. It wasn’t easy to forget about him, because I’d been dealing with his company nearly every day.
‘Marcus, this is my fifth phone call and I’m fed up chasing you. If you still want to have a job by tomorrow, you better call me as soon as possible. Oh, by the way, I’m not taking any lame story about your father being kidnapped by vampires.’
I put the phone down, shaking my head. Marcus didn’t show up for his shift and Lucinda was fuming. A few other workers had called off sick and they were short. I had a hell of a day. The evening was manic; I had to deal with the order for twenty new assembly workers by tomorrow. Then a troll came in, demanding to speak with someone higher than me, because he didn’t get paid. By the time I went back to work, it was one o’clock in the morning and he didn’t even let me sort out his issue. Jennifer had to run to the local Spar to get air freshener after the fuming troll left the building. I never in my life imagined the smell of cabbage and dog urine would make me gag so much.
At three o’clock in the morning, I was exhausted. My brain hadn’t stopped working and I was loath to ask Rufus for a couple of days off
‘Not long to go, Julia. Thank God I’m off tomorrow,’ Jennifer said, yawning.
‘Lucky you,’ I muttered, putting the files in order.
‘Marcus didn’t pick up his phone again?’ she asked, stretching.
‘No. He is going to get fired. I’ve had enough of incompetent giants. Have you managed to get ahold of these last two vampires that emailed CVs to us?’
Somehow we managed to pull out twenty-two magical creatures to start work the next day. I didn’t know how I was going to make it to work again tomorrow, but then I reminded myself about the upcoming Christmas break. One week to go… only one more week.
‘Someone is tense today,’ teased my colleague. ‘Have you heard from Mr. Gorgeous vampire yet?’
I smiled, but my neck muscles tightened. ‘No, I haven’t, and I don’t expect to hear anything back from him.’ I chuckled. ‘Besides, why do we always have to talk about me?’
‘Because your life seems so much more interesting.’
‘Jennifer, don’t tell me there’s nothing going on with your life. What about those trips to the wildlife, swimming in the lakes with gorgeous men?’
‘I think you’ve been watching too much Disney, darling. We don’t swim with men. Most of them don’t like water. Besides, every guy I meet ends up being a twat.’
‘Welcome to my world,’ I said.
When I was closing the office, I remembered Jennifer didn’t bring her car today because her friend was picking her up. They were going in a different direction, so I didn’t want to bother them with asking for a lift. I was always the last one to leave and when I stepped out into the dark street, I realised I had to get back home on my own. For a split second, I thought about Dad’s warning. I knew he wasn’t working today.
It was a cold December night. The Christmas decorations were shimmering in the high street. I looked around, but I didn’t spot anyone. As usual, the streets were empty at that time of the night. The sky was scattered with stars and the freezing breeze ruffled my hair.
Don’t be a wimp. You walked home all
the time a few weeks ago. Get a grip.
The voice in my head was right; I had to pull myself together. I was protected by my father’s magic and I had nothing to worry about. Normally hectic, Croydon high street was immersed in silence. This part of London was peaceful and I told myself I wasn’t afraid. I just had to get to Clapham Station, and in fifteen minutes I should be home. As I started walking away, I heard steps behind me. I was scared shitless to turn around to see whether I was going to be killed tonight or not.
‘Excuse me, Miss Taylor!’ shouted an unknown voice.
God, this was too cliché. Is he really going to pretend he wants to talk to me right now? The fear began to paralyze me. My limbs got heavy and my mind was screaming at me to start running. No one would hear me at this hour, and if the person behind me was magical, then I didn’t stand a chance.
‘Miss Taylor, please, I just want to talk.’
I stopped and turned around to face my opponent. It was so dark that I couldn’t see who was after me, and for the first time in my life I was petrified. But surprisingly my magic was under control. The stranger was short, broad, and hairy.
‘Who are you? I don’t have any money on me,’ I squeaked in a high-pitched tone.
‘I was sent by Mr. La Caz to give you a lift home,’ said a rough and steady voice I didn’t recognise. I looked around again, but we were alone. If he wanted to attack me, he could have done it already.
‘La Caz? What do you mean? Did he ask you to watch me?’ I asked, feeling my patience finally run out. He was obviously still feeling guilty about what happened to me the other night, and now he wanted to make sure I was safe.
The stranger stepped forward and I saw him more clearly. He was a troll: short and overweight with gleaming watery eyes. He looked out of place. I knew that he didn’t want to answer because his jaw tensed and he looked uncomfortable.
‘Well, Mr. La Caz only told me, miss, that I had to make sure you wouldn’t be walking home alone. I know you normally get a lift, but I would lose my job if I let you walk in the middle of the night,’ he explained.
La Caz. I should have known. God, what do I have to do to find a normal guy in London?
We both stood there waiting as I hesitated. I didn’t want this poor guy to get fired. Plus, my father had warned me that London was getting dangerous these days and I wasn’t planning to end up like my cousin.
‘Fine. Where is your car?’ I asked.
‘This way, Miss Taylor,’ he said, looking relieved. We had to walk for more than five minutes before I saw the black limousine parked at the corner. We didn’t say anything else to each other. I sat in the back, wondering why La Caz was doing this if he wasn’t interested in me anymore.
‘What’s your name?’ I asked him, thinking that I had a great opportunity to question him about Nathaniel. After all, I still had no idea who he really was. As we were driving through town, in the dim light I could see the driver’s short, dark hair. He was built like a troll and he smelled of cinnamon and cat food. I couldn’t care less because I was indulging myself with the smell of Nathaniel La Caz that was everywhere. His scent ignited my magic and awakened the butterflies in my stomach.
‘My name is Roberto, Miss Taylor,’ replied the chauffeur.
‘So how long has Mr. La Caz been paying you to keep an eye on me?’
‘Miss Taylor, I might be in troub—’
‘Roberto, c’mon, I’m not going to say anything to him. I don’t think that I’m ever going to see him again, so you can tell me. Seriously,’ I said, staring at his reflection in the front mirror.
‘In the beginning of November.’
So it was straight after dinner. Hmm, so maybe that’s why he acted so weird when he gave me a lift home? ‘And how long have you been working for him, Roberto?’
‘Two years.’
‘And where is Mr. La Caz right now?’ I pressed, hoping that he wasn’t waiting for me in my apartment. That would be too much. Roberto seemed to know where he was going.
‘I’m not sure, Miss Taylor; I think he is at his apartment on Canary Wharf.’
I think I should shut up now.
Chapter eighteen
Tell me about it!
He dropped me home and I thanked him. I also made a mental note to make sure that from now on I always had a lift home. I still couldn’t believe that Nathaniel hadn’t made any contact with me since that terrible evening in the bar but he asked Roberto to follow me. Was he even going to tell me about this?
At home, I logged into my laptop and checked my emails, but there was nothing from La Caz. He didn’t have my number, but he could have called the office to inform me if he knew more about that individual who kept kidnapping fairies and elves.
Next day, when I got up at four o’clock in the afternoon, I was still tired. I had night shifts all week, and then I was off until January. I had been working hard the past few months, so I needed a break—some quality time with family and friends.
This week was dragging, only because I was waiting for it to end. The demand for temporary workers was easing off, but as far as I knew, La Caz Corporation was still producing the shot that allowed vampires to stay away from humans’ blood, and I was itching to call him. Adele, one of the vampires that worked as a consultant, told me more about this odd new medication, since she’d tried it. She said she didn’t have to drink any blood and her thirst wasn’t as noticeable as usual. Magic Shot was available in certain pharmacies and a one-month course cost more than a hundred pounds. Adele was satisfied and she said her life transformed for the better. I still believed that someone was using the blood of the fairies and elves being kidnapped, but I wasn’t sure what for.
Since the night Roberto had given me a lift home, I had been thinking about Nathaniel more and more, not only because I wanted information but also because I kind of missed him. He was still a mystery to me and I had no idea what he was planning next. I kept an eye on my emails every day, but still there was nothing from him. On Friday night before my annual leave, I wanted to talk to him and ask him if he had any more information about those kidnappings.
I picked up the phone and dialed his number. Well, I didn’t have his private number so I dialed the switchboard. I did that as soon as I got to work. It was seven o’clock and I assumed he would still be there. After all, he was working with vampires, and the production was mainly going in the night.
‘Hello, La Caz Corporation. How may I direct your call?’
Shit, that’s the same vampire Emily who didn’t want to let me in to his office. ‘Eee, yes...can I speak to Mr. La Caz?’ I asked.
Kate lifted her head and looked at me, raising her eyebrow
The vampire on the phone said, ‘Mr. La Caz is in a meeting so I can’t disturb him right now. May I ask who is calling?’
‘Right, okay, not to worry,’ I said and hung up. I exhaled, still staring at the phone.
‘I sense a tension in you,’ Kate said, eyeing me. She was a witch so she would have sensed even if I was on my period. I hadn’t told anyone about our private dinner at the restaurant.
‘I just wanted to know why he wanted to keep an eye on me, and that’s all,’ I explained, playing with my pens.
Kate narrowed her eyes. ‘Keep an eye on you?’
‘When I was leaving work the other night, I didn’t have a lift and he sent this troll to make sure I wasn’t walking home alone in the middle of the night.’
Kate tossed her glossy purple hair behind her and smiled. ‘He still wants you, Julia; that’s the only explanation.
‘He can want me as much as he wants, but I don’t want to get involved. I just wanted to ask him to stay away from me. I don’t need a babysitter.’
‘I have those odd pulsations when desire vibrates between people that I know.’ She chuckled. ‘So maybe you are going to see him soon.’
‘Let’s just leave it like that. He hasn’t contacted me for more than two weeks now, so he is obviously no longer interested.’ I
shrugged, trying to dismiss Kate’s lusty vibrations, but I knew that it was a lie. I was interested.
Kate didn’t say anything else and I decided I wasn’t going to dwell on La Caz until I needed to.
Around two o’clock, I had an email from Flying Coaches, asking me whether I had any werewolves who could drive buses during Christmas. Flying Coaches was an old employer that I used to help out a lot. They didn’t have that much work right now but they were normally busy during bank holidays, Christmas, and Easter.
‘Does the driver specifically need to be a werewolf?’ I asked Dave, who was the HR consultant at Flying Coaches.
Dave sighed. ‘The boss said he will only accept a werewolf. Of course, we can’t discriminate against anyone, but this is between you and me. He is not even going to interview anyone else.’
‘All right. When do you want CVs by?’
‘Tonight, if possible. I know that it’s short notice, but a fairy who is running a ballet school needs a transport for eighty children.’
‘Not to worry. I’ll get you a few CVs tonight. I’m off tomorrow, so if your boss wants to interview anyone, then Kate will take over.’
‘That’s great, Julia. I knew that we could count on you,’ said Dave. When I hung up, I started to sort through CVs I had on the system, hoping to find the right person. I had a good relationship with Dave. We knew each other from school. He was a giant and he had worked for Flying Coaches for more than two years.
‘We need a bus driver, a werewolf. Unofficially, he said they won’t interview any other creature,’ I told Kate.
By four o’clock in the morning, I managed to contact a werewolf, and I was lucky because he was still looking for work. It took me half an hour to gain any sense out of him; finally he said he was interested and he used to drive buses in Glasgow.
Before I left, I had to brief Kate on the situation with La Caz Corporation. I was the one who mainly dealt with them, so I had to make sure that I wasn’t going to leave them in a mess. This weekend only Monica was on call and no one else was working because tomorrow we were all having a Christmas party. We brought a lot of money to the business and Rufus decided to splash some cash. All the girls had been talking about it in the past few weeks. I felt guilty going to a party when my cousin was still out there somewhere scared and alone, but I had to keep going.