Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97229 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97229 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
“You’re really going, aren’t you?” I asked him.
“Yes,” he said. “Now I’ve said my piece, it’s time. I’m sick of this place, to be honest. I’ll be waiting for your grandma on the other side. She’ll be getting an earful, believe me, but no doubt I’ll be getting one in return.”
I didn’t want to broach the obvious, but he did it for me.
“And as for you, sweetpea, I have no idea when I’ll be seeing you next. Not now you’re giving yourself to a vampire.”
It felt shit, but I nodded.
“Hopefully quite a long time.” I managed to smile. “I don’t want to be burnt to cinders anytime soon.”
He looked up at the breaking sun when we reached the bottom of the tower.
“Enjoy this dawn. You won’t get to see many more of them.”
Or any at all.
He was right. I was going to savour every second.
“Bye bye, then, my little kiddo,” Grandad said, with another joyous bit of simplicity. I saw his full outfit in the light. His loose farmer trousers and the old green shirt he had on. He was in welly boots, and looked like he was off to work for the morning.
“Goodbye, Grandad,” I said, and gave him a hug. “It was amazing to see you.”
“You too, sweetpea. You too.”
I was rooted to the spot as he walked away. His outline faded with every step, but he looked back at me just in time to raise his hand in a wave.
“Say hello to your mother and grandmother for me, And tell them both that I love them. I miss Rhona’s cooking, even now. Though her omelettes always tasted of rotten eggs.”
I laughed along with him.
“Don’t worry, Grandad. I will.”
I was still smiling as he disappeared from view, a tear running down my cheek as he stepped into the light.
I didn’t realise I was crying until I looked up at the sun to take in the beautiful sunrise, savouring the pinks and reds of the heavens.
Then I thought of Hans. He couldn’t come out here for me. I’d have to go back up the tower and into the tunnel. I turned to leave when his voice came into my mind…
No need for that, little one. The car is already at the gate for you, he told me, and I looked up. Sure enough, there was a car waiting.
I walked on over with my arms tight around myself, in a distant state between dreaming and waking, midway between pleasure and pain.
Love and loss, grief, and anger, and hate. And forgiveness, and joy and hope.
Too many feelings to balance all at once, so I didn’t even attempt it.
I got into the car with a hello to the driver, and then I sank into the back seat, preparing for the ride. We were on the way when I got the urge to change direction.
I leant forward between the seats.
“Not back to the manor yet, please. I need to go home… to my mum’s house.”
Chapter Thirty-one
I’ll be back soon, my thoughts whispered to Hans. I just have business to take care of first.
His reply came straight into my head.
I’ll be right here waiting. Just be careful to mind your grandma. She’s not going to be a happy witch. And if you need me to help you–
I shook my head in my mind. Thanks, but no. This was something I needed to do for myself.
It felt like I’d been gone years not months when the car arrived at Orcop. We crossed Garren brook and before I knew it I was in Lyston Lane, pulling up outside Mum’s place as the sun rose over the hill.
"Could you wait for me here, please?” I asked the driver.
“Of course, ma’am. I’ll wait as long as you need.”
The little red brick house seemed different. I could see the cloud of desperation for holy swirling inside like a heavy dark mist as I walked up the garden path.
I could feel it, too – a weight on the shoulders.
Mum’s car was in the driveway, and I saw the curtains twitch upstairs. I knew it was Grandma peering out with suspicious eyes. I knew they were both in there. I felt it.
It seemed Mum didn’t know it was me appearing on the doorstep, though. She jumped back in shock when she opened the door to find me there on the porch. Her eyes widened.
“Katherine! What are you doing back home?”
She looked smaller than I remembered, in her thick white dressing gown with her hair tied up on her head. I hadn’t realised before just how much white my mother wore. Trying to dress like an angel to please my grandmother.
Grandma appeared behind her, wrapping her old grey dressing gown around herself as she came down the stairs, and Hans was right. She was a lot more attuned to her skills than Mum was. I could see it in her eyes as she glared at me.