Winter's Bite

Chapter 10 Owen

I saw Cait safe through her gate. I ran through the woods, shaking with agitation. I dodged trees looming like dark sentinels and twisted through their obstacle course. With the moon guiding me, I ran about a mile, until clouds obscured its light. I leapt into the sky and flew. The frigid air above the clouds did little to cool my mood.

The dogs whined below, but didn't bark, as I landed on the balcony outside my window. I often made such impromptu arrivals. I stepped inside and sought Nathaniel.

I found him reading in his bedroom, casually attired in silk pjs and a smoking jacket. Nathaniel's armchair sat beside the embers of a dying fire. Our kind can endure higher extremes than humans. But we still crave humanity's trappings. A fire on a winter's night is about much more than heating a room.

'Another boy is dead.'

'Killed by one of us?' Nathaniel looked up, grey eyes brimming with concern.

'Yes.'

I told him what had happened at the pond.

'And you were with Cait the whole time?'

I heard his suspicion.

'I didn't kill that boy, Nathaniel. I didn't kill the others either, then or now.'

I hit a bedpost at the foot of his bed, frustrated. Why did no-one believe me?

'Alright, Owen. I have to ask,' Nathaniel said.

I took a deep breath. 'I know. It's just...'

I let the words hang. Nathaniel only did his job as Elder. I needed the real killer found so I could prove my innocence.

A short time later I heard the others arrive home. Jacob shouted Nathaniel's name as they removed their outer wear. Six pairs of eyes stared at me as I exited the kitchen. Nathaniel started down the stairs, drawing their attention.

'There's been another murder,' Jacob said.

I met his eyes.

'Yes,' Nathaniel replied 'Owen told me. He was there when it happened.'

They stared at me.

'Everyone talked about the murder at the club.'

Estelle glanced at me. Nathaniel led the way into the drawing-room.

'How come you were there?' Darren asked, as we followed Nathaniel.

I shrugged. 'We went for a walk.'

'Is Cait alright?' Estelle asked.

'As alright as a young girl can be after witnessing a murdered body,' I said.

'Did you see who did it?' she asked.

Releif flooded through me. At least Estelle didn't believe me guilty. At the same time I felt chagrin. I hadn't spotted anyone.

'No.'

'Did you kill the boy?' Jacob asked, blunt as ever.

'Jacob.'

Therese put a restraining hand on his arm. Bless Therese who never thought bad of anyone.

'Of course it wasn't Owen.' Estelle my best friend and champion rounded on Jacob.

'I'm sorry,' Jacob protested. 'But who else could it be? The rest of us were all together at the club.'

'Maybe a stranger?' Estelle faced me again. 'Another vampire in the area?'

I shook my head. 'I didn't smell anyone strange.'

I might have missed a familiar scent that no longer registered as a threat. But I'd have smelt a strange vampire.