Chapter 10
The Shards
Virginia burst through the apartment door, staring wide eyed into the room. All the way back in the back of the cab she had entertained various explanations for what had happened. She had almost convinced herself that it was all a bad dream. But her darling Wolf had always comforted her when she had nightmares, and now he was nowhere to be found. She ran through the rooms one by one, searching for some sign or clue.
Everything seemed to be in it's proper place, except in their bedroom. It was clear to her that a struggle of some kind had taken place. Their room and bed often looked like a tidal wave had been through it, due to their very active love life, but now the bedside lamp was overturned and broken, the bottom sheet was ripped, and the top sheet was missing altogether. There were several dark stains on the carpet that might have been blood, but she wasn't sure.
Virginia felt her knees go weak and she buckled to the floor, head in her hands as she fought the growing wave of despair and fear that grew in her heart and mind. Wolf was gone, likely taken by force. Maybe he had been hurt, or worse. Obviously he was still captured or he would have returned to her. She felt the beginnings of a headache as the possibilites reeled in her mind. She desperately wished she could remember something, anything that might give her a clue as to who had done this thing.
Weakly she rose from the floor and entered the kitchen. Opening the fridge she saw it was still well stocked with meat. Another sign that he had been gone at least since the previous night. The sight of the food, and especially the little packets of bacon on the shelf brought sudden tears to her eyes. She cried at the kitchen table until she felt she had shed a years worth. Finally, she calmed slightly enough to force herslf to eat something. No point in denying Cub what he needed, he needed her to protect his vulnerable little self.
Eventually she stretched out on the couch, willing herself back in time, prompting her memory to reveal those lost hours. Nothing. She almost screamed in the frustration. She went silently through her options. Call the Police, report him missing. How to give a description, though? He wasn't even a legal citizen, despite his much loved library card. Go back through the mirror to the Fourth Kingdom? No, Tony and Wendell only opened the connection for a bare hour every fortnight and the next time was more than a week away. The trail would be too cold then. She fervently wished the connection could stay open indefinately, but it had proved too risky. The spot seemed to attract all manner of folk to it, especially those with sensitive abilities and those on the verge of madness.
She got up and wandered absently over to the largish wall mirror hanging in the lounge. Her mother had bought the thing years ago, in happier times. She stared into it halfheartedly wishing it would transform itself into a magical thing, to show her what she needed to know.
Though Virginia was unaware of it, the mirror stared right back at her. This mirror had been watching the girl for many years, from small confused child, to gawky teenager, to reserved young woman. As was the way of all mirrors, it not only reflected, but absorbed everything. It knew this girl very well, enough to form a bond which every now and then made concious though possible. The mirror liked these times of self-awareness. It observed the girl now, seeing the waves of despair ebbing off her, almost as if hearing her thoughts. Show me, show me, the girl prayed, without hope. So, even though it knew it would be it's last act, it did just that.
Virginia stared at her reflection. She looked a mess, eyes red and puffy, nose running, hair stuck up at all angles. Her vision blurred with new tears and just as she was about to turn away she saw a strange image in the very far corner of the mirror. It became dark and she could just make out shadowy figures carrying a large object, struggling under the weight of it. They came towards her and passed out of the view of the mirror, but just as the last figure disappeared, it turned it's head slightly and she got a good look at his face.
Shock coursed through her as she recognized the man. It was the red haired priest from the park! She was sure of it. She would spot that bright red hair and pale skin anywhere. The mirrors' view had faded completely. Stunned, she stood for many more minutes, going over everything what she had seen, when she heard an unusual sound and jumped backwards as the mirror began to bulge and strange silvery tears ran down it's surface. It was weeping, still, when with an almost appologetic sigh, it shattered into a thousand tiny shards which fell tinkling to the floor. Virginia knelt down, heedless of the sharp cuts, to gather the remains of the mirror reverentially into her hands. She had no idea of what had just happened, but now, with a missing piece of information, other memories surfaced randomly. Virginia recalled men bending over her as she lay on the floor, then turning their backs and binding Wolf, carrying him stealthly out of the bedroom. She half smiled as she remembered Wolf turning on the men as they struggled to subdue him. She felt oddly gratified that he hadn't gone easily. But gone he still was and she had a clue now as to where to start looking.
Virginia placed the mirror shard in a small bowl and showered quickly, changing into fresh clothes. She bolted out the door, ignoring the inevitable cluster of Murrays gathered on the landing. She blinked as she headed across the street in the midday sunlight, towards the only church that shared a boundary with the Park. After a few minutes of hard walking she approached the imposing building, standing on the lower steps and wondering how to go about getting the information she wanted. He might not even belong to this parish, but it seemed as good a place as any to start looking.
Fate dealt her a kind card then, for as she stood thinking a large car drew up to the streetside and her target priest stepped out. He didn't see her as he leapt the stairs two at a time towards the church doors. He was carrying a large satchel and a black briefcase. Biting down on her rising anger, Virginia followed him.
She saw he was halfway down the main aisle, talking in hushed tones to another priest with a heavily bandaged arm. She waited impatiently in the shadows, wishing she could hear what they were saying, but even the most innocent of conversations in a church take place in whispers. Presently the other priest left and she saw her red haired Man of God make the sign of the cross in the direction of the giant crucifix above the nave. Steeling herself, she approached him quickly, tapping him lightly on the shoulder.
He turned with a rather bland expression on his face, no doubt his "working" face, she thought, but within seconds his face contorted in shock as he obviously remembered her. His eyes darted from side to side as he determined she was alone and a curtain came down over his features as he regathered himself.
"My child. It is surely a blessing that has led you to our house this day" he said with effort.
Virginia decided to dispense with pleasantries.
"You remember me, don't you, Father? You came creeping into my home the night before last. Did you think I wasn't aware? I saw you and what you did!" she shot back at him, voice rising louder.
"Where is he?" she almost shouted as he tried to speak. "Where? What have you done?"
"Child, please listen" he was almost begging her. "You are enslaved, under a spell of Satan. Surely you must know that your consort is a demon, a spawn of filth from Hell. He has contaminated you, a child of God, but you can be healed! We can help you, cleanse you of his foul touch!"
Virginia was staggered by his response, and horrified. Surely they couldn't think he was a demon, but then what else would they think? And when had this church ever shown compassion or mercy for those it deemed evil? She was numb with fear for him.
"What will you do to him?" she asked dully
"We will question this creature. Determine it's motives. Decide if it has a salvageable soul" he replied. He looked exalted at the thought, she realised. They were looking forward to breaking Wolf. She shuddered. The young priest, mistaking her reaction, moved closer as if to comfort her. Virginia felt an uncontrollable anger come rising out of her. She lunged at the priest, grabbing his clerics' lapels and shaking him in much they same way that Wolf had a few weeks earlier.
"You fools!" she shouted. "You have no idea what it is you've done! You know nothing about him, nothing! How could you do this!" she screamed in his face and she had the satisfaction of seeing him flinch under her barrage. But she felt strong arms grabbing her from behind, pulling her away, down the aisle. A security guard, of all things!. She was helpless as she was dragged away and as wild as a she-wolf protecting her mate.
"You hurt him, I will slaughter you!" she raved at the cowering priest. Then she was out the doors and they were locked against her, the guard threatening her with gruff words that she didn't hear. She kicked and beat at the doors futilely, drawing stares from the passers-by. Finally, she stumbled down the steps and collapsed heavily, exhausted.