Friday the 13th

[kathminchin.livejournal.com]

Friday the 13th is a day of omens and portents if you’re superstitious. My aunt had left me a voice mail message, entreating me to be careful and to pray for my father; whose death had happened on a 13th. She did this every anniversary of his death, so I didn’t take that much notice of it. Instead I sent her a reassuring text as I dusted myself off having spent the day in someone’s back garden under their rose bush; and trotted up their path to politely knock on their back door.

My host was a considerate if garrulous old school gentleman; full of stories about days long gone by. As the days he was talking about were when Bloody Mary was on the throne; his stories were somewhat full of blood and fire. What was more engaging about his tale telling was that he spoke as though he’d witnessed the pyres first hand.

Which of course he had – and he could remember every scream as though it had happened yesterday. Idly I wondered what would happen if a vampire supped from his blood. Personally I wasn’t about to try it and find out; as I figured that at the very least it was impolite; but still it was a curiosity – and such things caused an itch in my mind.

Maybe one day I’d find out. Right now however I needed to check on the progress of Project “Bring Northfield into the 21st Century.” Waving away an offer of a cup of tea (told you he was an old school gentleman) I quickly washed my hands and face and then headed out into the night to locate Leo.

I’d spent a week with Leo checking over the maps provided by the residents of the village; carefully establishing the best locations for cameras and other security devices. For a bunch of folks with such long memories; some of them had been remarkably enthusiastic at my suggestion of helping them detect unannounced guests. Leo and a band of willing if slightly unskilled helpers had spent the daylight hours running cables; burying cables and soldering them together. Now Leo was in the location that had been designated as the hub; and I found him on his back plugging cables into a server; as a very severely dressed lady watched the monitor screens. They’d obviously hooked up a lot of the live feeds; and there was a smile on her lips as she watched a badger trundling about its business through a lowlight camera, the ghostly green image wouldn’t have been out of place on a wildlife documentary.

Ok, not quite what we were looking for but why not? Spring Watch eat your heart out. I thought as I banged the server. There was a thud as I made Leo jump; followed by voluble cursing. He moved so he could look out and his expression changed from resentment to recognition, and a smile.

As always I pretended not to notice the smile. Blood bonds were awkward things; and I didn’t want to hurt his feelings; or indeed lead him on. Instead I listened to his progress report and nodded in satisfaction.

Aside from the pile of equipment potentially destined for the Per-aa, everything was in place and now Leo was busy pulling it all together. No news from Southwark so far; but then it was only just dark. Idly I checked my e-mails and the news feeds; and then started to help Leo figure out which red and black cable led to which feed.

As the night wound on the badger was replaced by various other wild animals, which attracted more wildlife fans; Leo moved on from Kenco instant to Brazillian espresso and I jumped every time my phone bleeped with an incoming e-mail. Still no actual news though. I went around the entire village and made sure that Leo’s tracking software was working properly (it was) and was just grinning to myself at a job well done when someone materlialised in the hub room.

That was a bit of a shock; especially as I’d not had any contact from Southwark. The woman turned out to be a bookstore owner; who’d suddenly acquired the book of Zhar – and then a petrol bomb through her frontage. I was just managing to calm her down; even if I couldn’t make her less confused; when Michael Pafford came bundling into the room with a wild look in his eyes.

“Erm, Dolly? I’ve got a message for you...” He stopped as he realised a complete stranger was sobbing slightly in a chair, and I was rather awkwardly holding out a very grubby tissue I’d found in the bottom of my bag. He looked awkwardly at the woman who’d just told me her name was Karen. “It’s a bit ... weird.”

I sighed; but somehow a weight lifted. Now that the weird was happening I was no longer on tenterhooks waiting for something to happen. Instead I just grinned at Michael; figuring we’d find someone with Dominate to deal with this later.

“Michael, this is Karen. She was in her bookstore in Southwark until about two minutes ago; and suddenly she arrived here and we’re not too sure how. Although it beats being where someone’s thrown a petrol bomb into her downstairs shop. We’re all with the weird here.”

Michael stared slightly at Karen, and then nodded at me. Karen was too busy blowing her nose to really notice him as he explained that he’d been out in the woods looking around when he was told by the shadows that there was a parcel at the post office for me.

I blinked slightly; and then handed the rest of the very crumpled pack of tissues to Michael.

“Awesome. Look after Karen then. Get her a cup of tea or something. I think the lady upstairs made some biscuits for her visitors; there may even be some left.” I sped out of the room, leaving Michael looking slightly awkwardly at Karen.

Shadows? You couldn’t stand in the shadows with obfuscate and talk to someone; that doesn’t work. Unless they’re using telepathy? Or Dominate to make Michael think that’s what happened? But why? Why go to all that trouble just to tell me there’s a parcel waiting for me?

My thoughts raced as I ran to the post office. For some reason it was open late; and I was regarded with slight disdain by the man behind the counter. However he readily handed over the foot long parcel to me and made me sign for it.

I lifted it cautiously. It was far too light to contain a huge explosive device. Something rolled within, but nothing else happened. Curiosity got the better of me and I tore into the box, rather like a kid at Christmas.

Inside was a length of plastic, with buttons on it inviting me to reach out and press them. A small folded piece of paper sat on the top.

W. T. F? I stared at the contents before carefully touching the toy sonic screwdriver. A flash, a man with black hair slicked back and brilliant, piercing, bright blue eyes grinned back at me. I unfolded the piece of paper and read a hauntingly familiar phrase.

"Just go forward in all your beliefs and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine.”

I racked my brains and then remembered a grainy black and white episode of Dr Who I’d seen on Gold years ago.

William Hartnell’s words to Carole Ann Ford as the Doctor bid farewell to his granddaughter Susan.

I picked up the sonic screwdriver and pressed a button. The light at the end glowed green and it emitted an unmistakeable buzz. Another button and it expanded with a click.

My phone rang, breaking into my confusion. Finally a call from Leviticus. Someone had managed to have a feeding accident and then there was going to be a brainstorming session about how to sort out the ritual to get rid of the Devourer. I sighed, confirmed attendance and sent a text to Leo as I ran to where the van was parked.

I found later I’d automatically put the sonic screwdriver in my jacket pocket along with the note.

I’ll worry about being stalked by some guy with a yen for Dr Who and a habit of trying to get someone to diablerised Thaddeus Clarke later.