The Musician's Betrayal

Chapter One

Phoenix was like one of those tiny stones you get in your shoe that you can’t seem to rid yourself of, painful and annoying. Yet, there was a certain charisma about him. If you allowed, he latched on and drew the life from you like a parasite, feeding on your energy until you were physically unable to give any more. Now, the rare breed was a modern day cast away. Alone in the real world, his solitude became a normal occurrence, and as he sat in the roadside café not ordering anything, he ignored the whispers of the staff, as they talked about him in their insignificant group.

Streaming in through the grimy windows, the sun lit up the roadside establishment warming the air. Tables were occupied with travellers sipping hot drinks and enjoying the greasy deep-fried food. They chatted to each other creating a constant hum of muddled voices. The odour of salty fat, mixed with the tangy fragrance of ketchup, filled the air, and hung above the diners like an oily cloud. Welcoming and cheerful, the staff went from table to table informing the patrons of the day’s specials and explaining what the more favourable dishes consisted of. Some even expressed a preference to a certain dish on the menu, and gave recommendations, always with a smile.

Are you going to order anything? the waitress asked him. Standing with a notepad and pen in her hands, Evie had lost her patience with the stranger. What she really wanted to say was, "get the hell out of here and stop taking up space," but she valued the weekly pittance that appeared in her bank account every Thursday morning, and job prospects in the area were scarce. It was the café’s policy to make a reasonable effort to be polite to every customer, even though she didn’t want to and would much rather be anywhere else.

He stared up at her. Brassy blonde hair frayed at the ends, framed her face, and her red nail polish was chipped. A blue plastic name badge she wore on her white blouse had something splashed on it that hadn’t been wiped away, and she reeked of baked goods and cooking oil. But the smell mingled with the delicious scent of her blood and that made her all the more enticing. What are they building across the road? Phoenix asked. Ignoring her question he gestured toward the construction taking place on the opposite side of the motorway.

Evie glanced out of the window at the work that was going on. How would she know? She was just a waitress after all. I’m not quite sure, she told him, starting to feel infuriated by his behaviour. He had been sitting in the café for an hour already and he still hadn’t ordered anything. Now what would you like to eat?

Coffee, he told her, black.

Black coffee it is, she said taking the laminated menu from him.

He watched as she walked away. The black skirt she wore was barely long enough to cover her underwear and a stretch of white skin peeked through a lengthy narrow ladder of her black nylon tights. Phoenix wondered if she knew. Returning with the mug of coffee she placed it on the table. Steam rose from the white china cup and tiny beads of condensation gathered just under the inside of the rim. Thanks, Evie, he said smiling. There was something about her that he liked, and he had watched her discretely for a while. Now it was time to get a little more up close, and perhaps even personal.

Smiling back, she turned and went behind the counter to help with the menial tasks that contributed to the running of the establishment. When he spoke, he spoke with a magnetism she hadn’t noticed before. His almost black, shoulder length hair, was scruffy, but sexy all the same. She wondered where he was from and where he was going. All sorts of travellers called into the roadside café for a pick-me-up on the way to somewhere better. Evie was envious. She craved some adventure in her life, but working in the café only provided her with the basic necessities, there was barely anything left over for the luxuries that were considerably out of her reach. So she lived week to week just scraping through. Trying not to look at him, Evie wiped down the counter, changed the till roll, stocked the sugar sachets, and toasted a sandwich for another customer. She felt his eyes on her the whole time but successfully managed to ignore him.

Sipping the hot coffee, he knew his stomach would reject it later. It wasn’t the type of sustenance he was made for, but Phoenix could keep up appearances for the sake of blending in. The bitter hot liquid left a disgusting taste on his sensitive pallet and although it repulsed him, he resisted spitting it back into the mug. On the odd occasion he had upturned his cup onto the floor making it look like an accident, but he wanted to sit in the café a little longer, and the already grubby black and white linoleum tiles didn’t need any more dirt. Taking a discarded newspaper from a nearby empty table, he opened it and started reading. The pages covered the red flecked, formica table top and shielded him slightly from the terrible stench of the coffee which was hidden by one of the corners of the large sheets. Perhaps he could forget it was there and let it go cold, but he knew she was watching him. Phoenix had a sixth sense when it came to surveillance.

Noise from the nearby jukebox mingled with the chatter that filled the air. A song he had never heard before played and Phoenix wondered what had happened to the music he had listened to as a child. Sounds of delicate stringed instruments were no longer prominent. Nasty beats and electric guitars dominated the airwaves. Fashion was now an abomination and an insult to the sophisticated eye. Laziness had driven mankind to work harder to make everything easier. A lot had changed since his school days.

He took another sip of the vile drink and read through the boring rubbish classed as news. An article about a house fire made Phoenix sit up and pay a little more attention. Winchester Manor, it rang a bell. He remembered the spoilt rich girl. They had turned her at the request of one he himself had created. Even in the world of the immortal, news travelled fast and although their community was sparse, the stories spread like soft butter.

Is your coffee alright? Evie asked as she cleared a nearby table, noticing he had barely touched the hot drink.

He shifted his attention from the paper to the nearby waitress. Her eyes were as blue as the ocean, and her skin smooth and pale. Evie would make a stunning vampire. It’s fine, thank you, he said turning back to the article. Phoenix was curious about the outcome of the transformation and what had happened to the Winchester girl. He wondered where she was and whether or not Daniel, his own immortal child, had managed to worm his way into her opulent world of abundance. As Evie passed by again, he tried to ignore her, but he was hungry and finding it extremely difficult.

Folding the paper and placing it neatly on the table, he forced the coffee down and headed for the men’s restroom. Locking the door behind him and leaning over the toilet the vampire evicted the nasty brown liquid from his body. Shaking from the muscle spasms of his delicate stomach, he washed his face and wiped it with a paper towel. Leaning against the wall, taking a moment to recover, Phoenix unlocked the bathroom door. Returning to the table, he picked up his leather jacket and helmet. After paying for the coffee and stepping out into the greying day he straddled the motorbike. There would be plenty of time to return to the café to get to know Evie more intimately, but right now, he needed something more substantial than the menu the roadside café offered.

She heard the motorcycle start and looking out of the window, watched as the stranger rode away. Removing the empty cup from the table, she wiped the surface over and returned to the kitchen to get the next order out. Although the routine was repetitive, she was hopeful. One day she would leave the café behind and as she worked through the afternoon, the waitress dreamed of a better life.

Chapter Two

Shaw’s bed and breakfast, a modest boarding house in a well populated village in the exquisite English countryside, was listed in the travel guide as the most comfortable in the district. That’s where they were headed. After days of staying in the abandoned houses of Daniel’s victims, like criminals hiding from the law, they were looking for somewhere a little more permanent. There was no need to hide out, they weren’t on the run, but being seen too close to the family home might not be a good idea for Mary Winchester. Believed dead, it was best for her not to go wandering around the village shops. Getting right away was the only option.

Using the prestigious Bentley that belonged to Mary’s brother, the ghostly pale couple drove through the narrow winding streets of Kerrigan’s Seat. Conspicuous, they drew attention which was something neither wanted. Resting her head against the door, Mary looked through the window at the grey blur that went by. Their home was gone, set alight by someone they had put their trust in, and she no longer had her beloved piano, a gift received from her dearly departed parents. It was pointless stewing about the situation, but it annoyed her. Leaving the tiny hamlet of Crippling Bump had become absolute when the house caught fire. They hadn’t seen Lilia Cooper light the flames, but there was no doubt in Mary’s mind it had been the plan all along. That’s why she had been at those crime scenes, she was clearly hunting vampires.

In the driver’s seat, Daniel tapped his fingers on the steering wheel to the song that played on the radio. They would have to ditch the car, just in case it had been reported stolen and the police had begun a search. As soon as they were settled in at the bed and breakfast, he would take the vehicle somewhere closer to Winchester Manor and leave it for the authorities to find. They could return it to its rightful owner, and nobody would be the wiser. Pulling up in front of the building that was going to be their home for the next week or so, Daniel looked through the car window at the house. Nothing about the façade had changed since the last time he had stayed there, perhaps the window frames had been painted to avoid weathering but that was probably the extent of it. Parking a little further along the road, he turned off the motor. It would have been just as easy to travel without the car, but they had already packed it full of luggage and driven it from the property. The fire had been unfortunate, but perhaps a blessing in disguise. Let’s go, he said smiling at Mary as he squeezed her hand for reassurance. Everything’s going to be alright now, I promise.

I wish I had your optimism, she said feeling unenthused. A certain bleakness overcame any type of positive feeling leaving her defeated.

Exiting the car he took her bags from the boot. Smile, he said encouragingly. Things could be a lot worse you know.

Mary managed a feeble smile, her green eyes slightly watery from the emotion welling. He was right, the fire could have been their demise. But they had survived. Everything would be alright now they were together. It was just a shame it happened under such awful circumstances. At least her brother had escaped from the burning building, and the manor could be rebuilt. She hoped Aiden would restore it and not just sell the land with the house the way it was. He could finally replace all of the outdated appliances and the old, broken boiler. Life would be a lot better for him. He might actually find someone to share it with now he had the place to himself.

The boarding house stood before them. It was a fraction of the size of the home Mary had grown up in, but Daniel had said this was the best thing for them to do. Find somewhere cheap to stay for a few weeks so they could get a plan together and she had to trust he was right, there was no other option. This was all so new to her and as worried as she was, Mary did her best to force any doubt from her mind and put on a brave face.

A low stone fence separated the humble property from the street. A flaking wrought iron gate, that had definitely seen better days, blocked the entrance to the small yard. As Daniel opened it, the bottom became unstable due to a broken hinge. Putting it back in place, he closed the knee-high gate behind them and picked up the cases. Flagstones that were chipped from general wear and tear made for a slightly uneven path and the three concrete steps which led up to the house were cracked and needed mending, perhaps even replacing. Mary wondered why somebody would let their home get into the disarray that stood before her but remembering the broken boiler and the tired appliances of Winchester Manor, she dismissed the thought. Light streamed through the stained-glass panels in the front door from the inside of the building providing a welcoming cheerfulness that beckoned them in. Following Daniel inside, she let him do the talking.

Good evening, you must be Mr and Mrs Gryffon. I’m Sharon, we spoke on the phone. Her aroma filled the entrance hall, enticing and mouth-watering. She was much shorter than both of them and possibly the most cheerful person they had come across in a while. It was a pleasant greeting and made Mary feel instantly at home. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad here after all.

Daniel had met Sharon Shaw a long time ago and wondered if she remembered the encounter. He had stayed there before with his wife when they were on their honeymoon. Now here he was doing it again, but under different circumstances. I’m Daniel and this is my wife Mary. We’ll be paying cash if that’s alright. Taking the money from his wallet he handed the agreed amount to the woman.

That’s just lovely. Now, here’s your key. The room is number three. It’s upstairs on the first landing. There’s a kettle in the room with tea and coffee, and some milk and cold water in a small fridge for you. Breakfast is served between seven and nine and I bake a few cakes for afternoon tea. It’s usually ready around two. You’ll find a television in the sitting room and there are some books and board games if you’re looking for something fun to occupy your evenings with. This is the Wi-Fi code, she explained handing him a piece of paper. Do you need any help with your suitcases?

Thanks, but I can manage. he said taking the key and a small card with a password printed on it and handing them both to Mary. Number three you said.

Sharon nodded smiling at them. They seemed like a lovely pair and it was always nice to have newlyweds in the house. Although, the girl seemed quite young and a little sickly looking. Perhaps it was the car ride though, travel didn’t always agree with everybody. She would check with them later to make sure they were both comfortable and see if there was anything she could do to help.

After the barrage of information, leaving Sharon at the desk just inside the front door, the couple made their way up the carpeted stairs to their room. The double on the first floor would be their home for the next few weeks. A bed with a dresser and built in wardrobe furnished the room which was decorated with aging wallpaper. By the window there was a round table with a chair either side and in the middle, sat a green glass bowl filled with sweets. It was a nice touch. In the corner, a small fridge hummed quietly reminding them it was there. The room was modest and all they needed for now.

It reeks of human in here, Daniel remarked looking around at the meagre furnishings. I have to get rid of the car Mary. The sooner, the better, just in case Aiden has reported it missing. I’ll drive it back towards Crippling Bump and leave it on the roadside. We also need mobile phones and a laptop. But we can get them tomorrow. The car has to go today though.

Slightly distressed by the events of the past few days, she stared out of the window at the approaching night not really worried whether she had a mobile phone or not, and she had never used a laptop, so that didn’t bother her either. I need to let my brother know I’m alright Daniel. Should we put a note in the car somewhere for him to find?

It’s best not to. Someone else might find it and know we took the car. How would your brother explain a note from his sister after all of these years? We can write to him if you like though. But no return addresses or any names on the envelope. If you really want Aiden to know where we are, put the address inside, but if we move on you’ll have to write to him continuously. Other than that, there’s no way to reach him discretely. Perhaps that delicious smelling woman can help you with some stationery, he suggested. You also need to feed. You’re looking really weak. But I’ll be back soon. We can work a few things out then.

Emptiness became her confidant once again, as he left the room closing the door behind him. Silence, solitude and sadness rolled into one big ball of lonely. Mary opened the suitcase and started to hang the clothes in the wardrobe on the wire hangers provided. She wondered if Sharon had any wooden ones for her nice new outfits. As luck would have it, the immortal couple had sorted out their plan before the house caught fire. Both Daniel and Mary had voiced their concerns about Lilia, but instead of talking about it, they should have acted. There was no doubt in Mary’s mind the annoying woman was the one responsible for the loss of her piano and she would pay for her actions. Eternity was on the side of the vampire and she would hunt her out and finish her, regardless of how long it took to do it. She pictured Lilia as an eighty-year-old in a nursing home and the look of bewilderment on her face when Mary finally showed up to end her days. Smiling to herself, she finished the unpacking and pushed the empty cases under the bed.

An information pack with details of the house and the surrounding area caught her eye. Leafing through the pamphlets, and the bed and breakfast advice, she decided the best thing to do was to explore the house herself. Perhaps Sharon had a pet she could snack on.

The building was of a similar era to the one Mary had left behind. Dark wainscoting lined the bottom half of the room and extended into the hallway. From mid-height up, the walls were covered with hideous floral wallpaper, supposedly to brighten up the place. The paper was a stark divergence to the dark wood panelling, but outdated and unappealing. Blue and green tartan carpet, unlike anything Mary had ever seen, covered the upstairs landing and flowed downstairs right to the ground floor clashing with everything in its woven path. The entire building was an interior designer’s nightmare. Running her hand along the smooth, highly polished wooden railing, she walked down the creaking stairs, and it stirred up memories of moments in her past that were quickly brushed aside to avoid becoming too emotional.

In the main sitting room, the walls were papered with a similar floral design. A keen eye could see it was beginning to come away from the walls up in the corners. Sadly, the curtains were almost the same print as the wallpaper. Bookcases, containing novels of all different genres from the classics to modern day romances, and an assortment of board games, stood at one end of the room. A strong smell of furniture polish mingled with the fragrance of sandalwood from a burning candle and saturated the air with the strange combination. At the other end of the shared area by the front window, stood an old upright piano. The one shining light in the whole place and instantly she smiled to herself. Approaching it, Mary tiptoed her fingers over the yellowing keys pressing them delicately. The instrument needed tuning. Clearly it wasn’t just the outside of the house that had been neglected. At least it was clean and free of dust, unlike the downstairs rooms of the stale manor she had left behind. Taking a seat on the padded piano stool, she started to play. Not the song that had haunted her brother for the past ten years, but something a little more cheerful to embrace their new beginning. Engrossed in the music, Mary was still aware another had entered the room by the fragrance, but she continued to play trying to ignore the presence of the person.

You play beautifully, Sharon said as she sat down on the nearby floral sofa. Do you mind if I listen? I’ve always loved the piano, but never had time to learn. My mother played when she was a girl. This was her piano. She left it to me with the house and the rest of her belongings.

Not at all, please stay, Mary replied not even giving the woman a glance. The scent of her host wafted her way teasing her, and concentrating on the music was the best way to distract herself. Perhaps the neighbours had a dog that would serve as her supper. She wondered vaguely what time Daniel would be home. Is there a music shop in town at all? Mary asked stopping suddenly and turning to face the woman.

Sharon thought for a moment, Yes, there’s a small store just off the high street that sells sheet music, if that’s what you’re after. The shop will be closed for the day now though. But I’m sure there’s some in a box up in the attic space. We can go up there and hunt around if you like.

Examining the facial features of her audience, Mary felt a little more relaxed. The warmness of Sharon’s kind brown eyes made her feel a connection with the woman. It’s alright, I’ll go out to the shops tomorrow and get some. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m very tired. It’s been quite a long day, the vampire explained, and quickly vacated the room to avoid any more conversation. It was difficult being in a confined space with a mortal. She had lived with her brother for ten years, but there had been a definite distance between the two. At least now though, she could leave the premises and wander the streets without being spotted by anybody who knew her. The thought revitalised her and pulled her out of the mood she was in. Perhaps she would head out for a while now, just to grab some supper. Scribbling a note for her lover, she left via the bedroom window to avoid Sharon. Night enveloped her as she began to hunt for her evening meal.

Kerrigan’s Seat, to Mary it felt as though she were just shifting from one oddly named village to another. But hopefully that would change, and they could stay put for a few years at least. This place felt inviting, there was nothing intimidating about the close-knit community. People smiled as she passed them in the streets, and it was refreshing to be out and about. No more would Mary feel the need to hide behind a locked bedroom door spending hour after lonely hour with nothing but her piano and some bad memories to keep her company. There was plenty of fresh food wandering the streets. It looked as though the place was a cat community. Not wanting to upset anybody in the immediate neighbourhood, she headed towards the opposite side of the village to hunt. If there was one thing Mary had learned, it was not to draw any unwanted attention, so distraction was a necessity. Especially after the recent experience at the manor.

Three or four cats later, Mary felt a lot better. Licking her lips, the energy from her feast spread through her immortal body. Satisfied for the moment, she strolled quietly through the unfamiliar twisting streets of the old market town. The narrow lanes lined with Tudor style homes hooked and turned in no particular direction creating a confusing maze. Continuously heading left, she passed many of the repetitive low narrow doorways knowing it would be quicker to leap onto the roof of a house and travel above the streets to her home, but freedom carried a new sense of adventure. She wanted to know everything about the village. From the river to the woods and all the ways in between, the hidden secrets whispered to her offering up a run-down. A chance to get to know the area and its inhabitants. Finally reaching the familiar street the bed and breakfast was on, Mary looked both ways along it. Immediately her supernatural eyes rested on the house with the rusty gate and the cracked steps and she wondered if Daniel would be waiting patiently for her within the humble walls.

Chapter Three

Daniel drove the car as fast as he could without exceeding the speed limit. His plan was to take the Bentley and leave it in the vicinity of the Winchester estate, hopefully to be found and returned to its rightful owner. Parking it on the property would be the best thing to do, but he couldn’t risk someone seeing him and calling the police. All sorts of questions would be asked, and it might cause problems for the landowner as well. Daniel could run faster than he could drive, and he would return to the bed and breakfast in no time. Mary wouldn’t be alone for too long. Although, he was slightly concerned about leaving her at all. What if she lost control and attacked that nice Sharon lady, or worse still, one of the other guests? No, Mary wouldn’t do that, she preferred the blood of critters.

It was strange to think they were going to be together forever. If he had known all he had to do was set fire to her family home, he might have started the blaze himself when they first met. Fortunately, they had made plans to leave anyway. After thinking the situation through, Daniel was sure he knew who had lit the inferno that forced them from the manor. Her face was stuck in his mind. It was so familiar, but where he had seen it before eluded him. Hours had been spent searching his memory for a name that would go with the image of the woman and he was still no closer.

Nearing the outskirts of Crippling Bump and sick of sitting behind the wheel, he pulled over on the side of the road, leaving the keys in the ignition. There was no need to wipe away his finger prints, they weren’t on file anywhere. Checking the interior for anything they might have left behind, he abandoned the car and fled the scene.

Running back towards his temporary home, Daniel avoided the roads and headed across country. He could have transformed into any type of creature to make the trek quicker but running in his natural form exhilarated him. There was no muscle pain or breathlessness, he never grew tired and the journey was as simple as falling off a horse. Leaping streams and stone walls that divided the land, and dodging trees clumped together on the terrain, the vampire travelled quickly by foot. Some areas were crowded with natural flora and more difficult to get through, but whether it was uphill or down, his pace never wavered. He had driven for a good three hours, but