Disclaimer: All characters from the TV series obviously belong to Toby Whithouse and the BBC
Author's note: Thanks for all the reviews and feedback. It's really helpful to any your thoughts and ideas and I always love to read them so please keep them coming!
As always reviews and comments are very welcome and always appreciated. Apologies for any mistakes!
This was originally the first part of a very long chapter that I had to split, so the next one should be up in the next few days. Enjoy!
In the recent days the saying be careful what you wish for had been at the forefront of Hal's mind. Too much work and too little play. It was all very well being in office, but he was increasingly finding that the time he had previously spent hunting was now being spent sorting out other people's messes. What was the point in having power if there was no chance to enjoy it? The occasional girl off the street wasn't enough, not even close.
He missed the days of travelling through eastern Europe in the decades after he had been turned, tearing through villages and country houses leaving a trail of horror and carnage without a care for who would have to clean it all up and cover up the true nature of the attacks. Now it was his job to ensure such transgressions were covered up and it wasn't nearly so much fun. Tonight, as usual, would be strictly business. At least it wasn't more paperwork. He hated paperwork, he found the boredom it caused left him open to thoughts, things, feelings that he wished beyond anything would leave him well alone.
Tomorrow evening, now that would be much more fun.
He wouldn't be able to kill the magistrate's wife, not yet anyway. That would completely miss the point of the whole endeavour. He could have fun with her though, teach her husband that it didn't pay to fuck with him. He hadn't seen the darling Susan since before he had killed Joseph. His relationship with her had been part of a backup plan that he hadn't needed to use, it had been fun but not stimulating enough for him to pursue once he had no other use for her.
Hal found the door unlocked and didn't bother to knock. 'Mr Harris!' He called as he pushed open the door. 'We need to have a talk!'
A servant, the butler Hal presumed, tried to protest at the uninvited guests but Hal thrust his knife into the man's chest and let him fall to the floor as he withdrew the weapon. He gestured for his men to follow him through the door.
Martin Harris had rushed downstairs from his study at the sound of the interruption. 'You...' the magistrate seemed to be at a loss for words. 'You can't come in without an invitation...'
Hal's lips twisted into a malicious smile. 'Yes, you really should talk to your wife about that one. She's always been very welcoming.'
'You're lying, she wouldn't do that, you're a monster!'
'It must be hard for you to hear that your wife is a whore, but I'm afraid it's the truth.'
Harris suddenly seemed to notice the body on the floor. 'Dear God!' His voice rose in a panic
'He got in my way.' Hal stepped over the body. 'and if I killed him for just blocking the door to me, just think what I would do to you.' He folded his arms. 'You've not been following my instructions Martin.'
'I can't do it, I won't cover up the murders of innocent people.' He reminded the vampire of a frightened animal.
Hal walked up to the quivering man and took hold of his lapels pulling him so close that their faces were almost touching. 'Tell me, what matters more to you? The life of a stranger or the lives of your wife and children? Because that's the choice you have to make.' He loosened his grip slightly. 'I'll tell you what's going to happen. From now on you will do what I say no matter what we do in this city, you will do your best to cover it up or your family will suffer.'
Harris mumbled something inaudible.
'I'm going to be taking your lovely wife with me. If you don't do exactly as I ask of you, I will hurt her. And each time you disobey me, I will hurt her more. You also have two children don't you? Grace and William? Once I've finished with your wife I'll move on to them.'
He smiled as he watched the man before him crumble and then turned back to his men. 'Her room's on the second floor, the first one on the right. Bring her down and take her to our cells.'
Harris lunged for him but he wasn't fast enough. Hal caught his arm mid-punch, twisted it behind his back and wrenched it upwards. There was a satisfying pop as the shoulder dislocated and Harris hollered in agony. Hal kept hold of the dislocated arm as his men went up the stairs. He pulled Harris up so that most of his weight was being supported by the ruined joint and whispered in his ear. 'You brought this on yourself, remember that.'
Both men's eyes followed the terrified woman as she was dragged down the stairs dressed only in her nightgown. Her sleepy eyes widened as they set upon Hal. 'Harry?'
Hal rolled his eyes, he would deal with her later, when he had some privacy and enough time to properly enjoy himself. 'Shut her up will you?'
His guards obliged, silencing her with a blow to the head. Harris cried out again as Hal snapped his wrist and let him fall the floor. He looked down at the broken man, 'I trust that you will hold to our agreement this time.' He made his way to the door closely followed by his men supporting the unconscious form of Susan Harris.
'I'll be seeing you Martin.'
'Miss Hart. I wondered if you could spare a moment?' A Scottish voice growled from behind her.
Emilia turned her head to see her guest, she hadn't realised that she had company. 'Mr Fraser.' She stood up from her garden seat and curtsied, 'to what do I owe the pleasure?'
Without her invitation he took a seat across the table from her, 'Lord Wyndham has requested that I do some...digging...into your friend Mr Yorke. See what he's made of.'
'I doubt there's anything I could tell you that you don't already know.' She demurred.
Time to change tack, he decided. He studied her for a moment, the way her fingers had gently brushed across the string of bruises decorating her collar bone when he had mentioned Yorke's name. 'I've seen the way you look at him.' He glanced up to see that her face had hardened. 'I've also seen the way he looks at you,' he continued, 'like you're some kind of possession.'
Emilia was sure that Fraser intended the smile he had given her to be one of reassurance but instead it made her skin crawl. 'You don't like him much do you Mr Fraser.' She could see what he was trying to do and she didn't want to get drawn in by him.
'Not really. I think he's a jumped up little shit.'
She nodded sagely. 'Tell me Mr Fraser, have you ever been a leader in your own right, or have you always ridden on Lord Wyndham's coat tails? Either way, you're an impressive man. But I find myself curious non-the-less.'
'You think I'm jealous of Yorke?'
'Are you?'
Fraser snickered, 'God no. But he's not someone I would feel comfortable allying myself with. The only thing he cares about is his own survival. You of all people must know that my lady. I believe leadership should be earned not stolen, Yorke's actions are not those of an honourable man.'
'Honour?' she sniggered derisively. 'You do realise that we are vampires Mr Fraser? But still, the rate at which you are pursuing him suggests greater emotions that mere distrust. You never answered my question Mr Fraser, have I hit a sore point?'
'For a lady you're very strong minded aren't you?'
'It's true. My father used to despair of me, he said I'd never get myself a husband. But I find it a useful trait in my current situation.'
'Yet you still cling to Yorke's side like a limpet.' He frowned. 'I am not ashamed of my past my Lady. It is true that my path up to now has been one of service rather than leadership, but that suits me just fine. I do not envy your master, I merely seek to protect the interests of mine.' He cleared his throat, 'Mr Yorke was absent for a few years was he not?'
'He was.' She held her glass to her lips to hide the tightness in her mouth that might alert her companion to her discomfort at the subject.
'I would be greatly interested to know what he was doing during that time.'
'Hal is a private man Mr Fraser.' She kept her tone light, hoping it wouldn't betray her. 'Perhaps he merely wanted a rest, I hardly see how this is relevant to your investigations.'
'Then you have less intelligence than I had given you credit for.' His voice hardened, the polite veneer cast aside. 'If he has secrets, I will find them. I'm sure I can find many men that would happily aid his downfall'
'I don't doubt that you will try Mr Fraser. But I wonder if it's really your master's interests you have at heart? Given your close relationship with Lord Wyndham perhaps you see yourself as Hal's logical successor if he were found to be not fit for purpose…but if it's your master's interests that you truly serve, then surely you should be conducting a more neutral investigation so that he can decide who is truly suited for the role. Though I suppose you're aware that no-one would ever pick a man like you over Hal to lead this city.'
'For fucks sake woman, you're making a marvellous argument for why your sex should be seen and not heard! Yorke's going down, I'll see to that. Whether you follow him is up to you. Do you forever want to be known as his whore?'
'I think you have outstayed your welcome Mr Fraser.' She stood up and gestured that he should do the same. 'If you go back to the house my maid will show you to the door.'
'Think about what I said my Lady.'
'Goodbye Mr Fraser.'
The Next day
Hal looked around the room. The scene was finally set for the formal welcoming party held in honour of Lord Wyndham, better late than never. The great and the good of London's vampire society had travelled to a country house in Surrey, much to the horror of its residents who were now tied up in the wine cellar. He had ordered that the healthiest looking servants be trussed up ready to be drained as the demands of the guests required. He had other plans for the family.
He had briefly met the man of the house, Lord Newman, at a society engagement he had attended a few weeks before. The man had boasted of his impressive estate and spoken so proudly of his six daughters and beautiful wife. The daughters hadn't disappointed, though as of yet they remained untouched.
He hadn't thought about Newman for a while, but he and his six daughters had popped back into Hal's mind whilst he was trying and failing to find a suitable venue for the planned festivities closer to home. He was fairly sure he would have Harris under his control after previous evening's events but even so, a gathering of this nature would raise some difficult questions with the neighbours if it were held in the centre of London.
Hal wasn't in the best frame of mind for the evening. Lewis had made his excuses at the last minute and was apparently unable to attend. He had also had a troubling talk with Emilia earlier, it seemed that his unease at Angus Fraser's presence was not paranoia after all. He had seen to it that Mr Fraser had been seated well away from the main table with some guests who were there solely as window dressing, rather than for any political clout they might wield.
He bristled with irritation as the trembling musician playing the pianoforte let his fear get the better of him and ruined the last few chords of an otherwise lovely piece of music. The man looked up fearfully as he realised he his captor's eyes were resting upon him.
'Luckily for you this is just a rehearsal.' Hal told him, 'you do that later, and….' He mimed slitting his throat.
'Sir,' one of his aides interrupted.
Hal nodded for him to continue.
'Lord Wyndham's carriage has just arrived on the drive if you wish to greet him there? The guests are all ready to greet you both in the ballroom when you're ready.'
'Thank you Lucas. Will you see to it that Mr Fraser is kept occupied away from Wyndham and any other influential guests this evening?'
Lucas bowed. 'Of course Sir.'
'Don't let him out of your sight.'
Hal hadn't taken the news of Lewis's decision not to attend the evening's entertainments well. He rubbed the sore patch on his scalp where the paperweight had hit and winced. His friend had always had a dreadful temper. He had taken his wig off, it had sat too heavily on the bruise. He felt naked without it, naked and ginger. Hal might have despised the current aristocratic fashions, but Lewis had always been sensitive about his natural hair colour and relished the opportunity to conceal it under fashionable opulent wigs. So here he was, bruised, underdressed and missing what would probably be the party of the century. All for a bloody dog.
Both he and Emilia had agreed that it wasn't safe to leave the bitch at his home alone so it had been decided that he would babysit, partially because he didn't trust leaving Emilia alone with the dog. He had been getting the impression recently that the kid was very close to breaking point, better she stay under Hal's watchful eye than be left alone with the thing that could very well turn out to be his undoing.
He took a deep breath and opened the door to check on the wolf. He glanced down at the bowl of food in his hand, hopefully she wouldn't throw it at him this time. She seemed to share the temperament of their mutual friend.
'What's got you so het up then?'
He didn't register that the girl had spoken at first. He cocked an eyebrow, 'of all the things you could say to your captor, that's what you're asking?'
She looked awful, his housekeeper had told him that she hadn't eaten since she had arrived here last week and it was showing. Her eyes peered searchingly at him from their dark hollows. 'The second you saw me properly in that cellar there was something bugging you.'
'Was there now?' She was clever, he'd give her that. Insightful. But then, Hal wouldn't waste eight years with an idiot even if he had been sober at the time.
'You hid it well, but it was there. A good mask is still just a mask, and I've had to wear 'em enough times to know when I see one.'
Might as well indulge her curiosity. There was nothing else for him to do this evening, everyone he knew was busy painting the walls red in Surrey. It might be good to have a conversation with someone that wasn't either Machiavellian or mentally unstable for once. 'Things are highly pressured here at the moment, I don't like things that could mess up the balance.'
'And I could mess up the balance?' that had piqued her interest.
'You've met our kind before.'
It was a statement rather than a question she noticed. 'Just one.'
The vampire nodded to himself.
'That's the answer you were expecting?'
'Like I said before, female werewolves are rare in this country. A good friend of mine knew a wolf, if that was you then I would be put in a very difficult situation.'
'I guess that this is one of those situations where the less I know, the higher my chance of getting out of here alive are?'
'Smart girl. Because that bitch would be the last thing my friend needs right now.' The warning was clear.
'Because of this Yorke fellow, the one you work for? I mean he's why I was bought here wasn't he? For his entertainment. I don't blame you for being scared of him from the things I've heard.' She bit her lip. 'I'm bloody terrified.'
'I'm not scared of him. You should be.' He stood up leaving the bowl of food on the table beside her bed. 'I'll leave you to your nightmares.'
