Wraith(10)

It wasn’t just the clutter in her house that was impressive; Sally was larger than life in more ways than one. In these days of strict rationing, it wasn’t common to come across people of her wide stature. Becky goggled at her but thankfully had the sense not to comment.

‘So you’ll be needing my help then,’ Sally said, settling in a chair. It groaned loudly as it took her weight but we all pretended not to hear.

There was no point beating around the bush. I pointed at Becky. ‘She needs a place to stay for a few days.’

‘Why? What has she done?’

Becky bristled, her cheeks colouring. ‘I’ve not done anything!’

‘Honey,’ Sally said, not unkindly, ‘people only come here for two reasons. You’re skinny and you need feeding up – but I’m guessing it’s not my supplies that you’re after. If it is, then you’re braver than most others.’

I gave her a long look. ‘Have you been having trouble?’

Sally waved a hand in the air, her bangles jangling against her wrist. ‘When do I not have trouble? Every so often some likely lad thinks that he can better me. He’s always wrong.’

As if to add credence to her words, there was a hesitant knock on her living-room door. A moment later a young, nervous face peered round. He couldn’t have been more than sixteen but he possessed none of the swagger you’d expect in a teenage boy. He simply looked terrified.

‘Tea,’ Sally snapped. ‘Use the good china.’

Becky’s mouth hung open.

‘Stay like that, dearie,’ Sally said, ‘and you’ll catch flies. Martin is one of the many who thought he could get the better of me. Now he’s paying me back for disturbing my peace.’

I dreaded to think what kind of hold Sally had over the kid that she could keep him here against his will and make him do her bidding. Then it occurred to me that it probably wouldn’t take much. She forced to him stay around to serve her in retaliation for attempting to rob her blind; in return, he probably received three square meals a day. It was more than a lot of kids his age would get. By punishing him, she was saving him – and from the gleam in her eye as she watched me, she knew that I’d worked out her game.

‘It’s a hard life,’ I murmured.

A smile played around her plump lips. ‘It certainly is.’

‘I don’t think…’ Becky began. She fell silent when Sally frowned at her and her head drooped. ‘It would be very kind of you to let me stay. I can find my own food. You won’t even know I’m here.’

‘She’s smart,’ Sally said to me. ‘I like this one.’

‘The Filits have her mother,’ I said. If Sally was going to give Becky the sanctuary she desperately needed, she should know what was going on. ‘They want Becky as well.’

‘They want to use her against her mother?’

I nodded. ‘That’s what I believe.’

‘Interesting.’ Sally reached into her pocket, drew out a lacy handkerchief and dabbed at her forehead. ‘What are you, girl? Six? Seven?’

Becky glared. ‘I’m nine.’

‘Even better. Nine year olds are excellent gardeners. Weed my plants and keep them alive and I’ll feed you.’

‘If I’m not back by this time next week,’ I said, ‘then—’

‘Don’t worry,’ Sally interrupted. ‘You’ll be back.’ She glanced at Becky. ‘Go to the kitchen and make sure that Martin isn’t destroying anything. That boy is as clumsy as a drunken one-night stand.’

For a brief moment Becky stared at her before springing up and almost running out of the room.

‘Now, Saiya,’ Sally said, leaning forward and knitting her fingers under her chin, ‘are you quite sure about this? There’s no guarantee that the girl’s mother is still alive. By going up against the Filits, even by asking awkward questions, you’re placing yourself in the mouth of the proverbial dragon. I’d hate for you to get burned.’ Her eyes grew sharp. ‘There aren’t any others like you left in Stirling. We might need your skills.’

I stiffened. No one knew I was a wraith but if anyone was going to guess at the truth – and guess accurately – it would be Sally. Rather than confront her and deal with the consequences, I slid past her comment and focused on her concern. ‘She needs my help.’

‘Her mother isn’t the only one who’s disappeared recently,’ Sally cautioned. ‘There have been others.’

I grimaced; I’d heard as much. You couldn’t spend as much time as I did in the shadows listening to secrets and not know that the Filit goblins were taking a more proactive interest in their citizens than usual. ‘Just because we’re at war doesn’t mean we shouldn’t stand up for ourselves.’

‘We’re not at war.’

I didn’t react. There wasn’t any point.

Sally sighed. ‘Very well. Watch the corners though, Saiya. Dangerous things are afoot.’

I tried to smile. Yeah. But one of those dangerous things might also be me.





Chapter Three


After downing Sally’s overly sweet tea, and trying not to wonder where she’d managed to procure sugar, I took my leave. Dawn wasn’t far off and there was a man I had to find before he sloped off to sleep away the daylight hours.