Hidden

He sat back down with his mates and she left them to their speculation and gossip.

  Her mind whirled. What the hell had just happened? Those men had knives. Were they on something or what? Poor Alex. He must think her world was a terrible place.

  ‘Are you okay?’ she asked, once they were outside.

  ‘I am fine,’ he replied.

  ‘Those men. They were mental. I think there was something wrong with them. That’s not normal behaviour,’ she gabbled, trying to make sense of what had happened.

  ‘I will find you a taxi and then I must leave you for a while,’ he said without emotion.

  ‘Alex, no! Please don’t go looking for them. Please. It’s so not worth it. They’re scum. Just let them go. The bouncers will sort them out anyway. They had knives. They’ll have been arrested or something. Please. Don’t leave me.’

  Her last words did the trick and he softened slightly.

  ‘They were not good men,’ he said. ‘But they were weak.’

  ‘You were amazing. So calm. You just stood there and defended yourself. You didn’t even get angry.’

  ‘I was angry that those men spoke to you in such a manner and I was furious that they dared to lay their vile hands on you.’

  ‘Well, thank you for defending my honour, Sir,’ she said in her poshest voice.

  ‘You are most welcome, Mademoiselle.’

  ‘You do know we’ll be barred from that club for life?’

  ‘Good.’ He put his arm around her and they walked for a while until they came to a taxi rank.

  She spent the night downstairs with him and fell asleep curled up against his cool hard body as he stroked her hair and brooded on the night’s events.

  ‘Did you get any?’ the shorter one asked his colleague.

  ‘Yeah, I got some.’ The taller one opened up his hand to reveal a couple of dark brown hairs he had pulled from Alexandre’s head.

  Chapter Twenty Six

  *

  Over the next few days Alexandre and Madison stayed close to home, trying to put the ugly nightclub incident from their minds, content just to talk and be together. Madison gave Esther and Morris a couple of weeks off, so she and Alex could really relax and be themselves.

  Maddy reversed her sleeping habits so she could spend as much time with him as possible and they fell into an easy routine. They kept the shutters to the house permanently closed during the day, and at night they ventured out under starry moonlit skies. They wandered among the deer, paddled in the river and mountain-biked across the fields and through the woods. Constantly kissing, always touching, unable to stay apart.

  Madison taught Alexandre how to drive and he loved it, picking it up instantly, reading the manual and fiddling under the bonnet, trying to figure out how the engine worked. He also taught himself how to ride Ben’s little trail bike and Maddy laughed at the huge vampire tearing up chunks of lawn on the little vehicle. She promised to get him a full sized motorbike that would suit him a bit better. Alexandre told Madison to get some horses to go in the stables and he would teach her to ride.

  ‘I will turn you into an excellent horsewoman.’

  ‘That’s something I’ve always wanted to do, but I never got the chance. And when I got the money, I was too scared to actually do it. I mean, I haven’t got a clue about horses. I wouldn’t know where to start. But I’ve got this image of me on a horse, galloping for miles across fields and streams. Stupid, I know.’

  ‘Not stupid at all. We will turn that image into reality. It will be my pleasure and privilege to help you.’

  They talked of all their dreams and passions, of their favourite things, their phobias; all the little things that made them who they were. They stepped out of reality and created a self-contained world, running on their own timetable with their own rules.

  Ben went to school during the day, but Maddy made sure she was there for him in the mornings and when he got home. Sometimes Alexandre would join them and sometimes he would retire downstairs and leave them to it. It was as near perfect as it could be.

  Alexandre had not needed to consider his relationship with Madison any further. She was his life and there was no turning away from her. All thoughts of honour, respect and propriety were silenced with kisses. But kissing was as far as they had taken things and they were happy with this for now. Just touching each other’s skin was enough, sending currents of desire pulsing through their bodies.

  They were in awe of each other; every inch was fascinating and beautiful. From eyelash to shoulder, from cheekbone to hip, earlobe to pale thigh, it was all compelling and irresistible.

  Esther had not been at the house for ten days now and Madison was brought back to earth with boring practical issues. She desperately needed to get some shopping.

  ‘We’ve got no milk for Ben’s cereal tomorrow,’ Maddy observed, peering into the empty fridge. ‘In fact we haven’t got a lot of anything. I might head into Tetbury and get some bits to keep us going till Esther gets back. Oh, I wish she didn’t have to come back. But even though I hate to say it, me and Ben really need the old bag.’

  ‘She is not as bad as you suggest, Madison. She is always very courteous towards me.’

  ‘Yeah well that’s ‘cos you’re a hot looking vampire.’

  ‘This is true.’

  ‘I actually think she hates me.’

  ‘Do not be ridiculous. Why should she hate you? You are her employer, but you do not treat her as such. She just goes her own merry way around the place. I should think she likes you very much.’

  ‘Well anyway, whether she loves me or hates me, she won’t be back for three more days, so I don’t have to think about her. Is there anything you want from the supermarket?’

  ‘Wait until sundown and I will come with you,’ he said, putting his arms around her and pulling her close with a lazy smile.

  ‘The one in Tetbury closes in half-an-hour,’ she replied, kissing the side of his jaw. ‘But if we go to the big Tesco, we can go for a drink after. Well, I can have a drink and you can just pretend.’

  ‘There is a quaint public house in the valley not too far from here,’ Alexandre replied, his thumb stroking the soft skin on her back, underneath her top. ‘The New Inn, I believe it is called. We can go there.’

  ‘It’s a date.’

  They decided to go to the pub first. The New Inn lay nestled at the base of a steep-sided valley and Madison had to negotiate her way down The Devil’s Elbow, a particularly narrow country lane with blind-cornered hairpin bends and steep gradients.

  Eventually they reached a picture-book Cotswold stone building with a swinging sign proclaiming it to be The New Inn, and Maddy eventually found a space in the car park. The cosy bar was surprisingly busy considering the difficulty it took to reach this out-of-the-way spot. The sharp tang of warm beer hit her nostrils and Maddy instantly craved a packet of salt and vinegar crisps.

  ‘And can I have a lime and water too?’ she asked, sitting at a corner table that had just been vacated. Unsurprisingly, the barmaid served Alexandre within two seconds of spotting him at the bar. He headed back to Maddy with the drinks and crisps, putting them onto the table. A rotund woman walked up behind him, picked their drinks up and placed them back down with a loud bang onto a couple of coasters.

  ‘That’s what those are for!’ she said and went on her way, scowling at the customers who all laughed at her ill humour.

  ‘Don’t mind Polly,’ a middle-aged man said to Maddy and Alex, smiling at their surprised faces. ‘She’s the landlady and this is her on a good day.’

  ‘Shall we sit outside?’ Maddy asked Alexandre, who was taken aback by the woman’s rudeness. He nodded and they went out into the garden.

  The hills stretched upwards on all sides, topped by fuzzy green woods and an indigo sky. In the long narrow garden, tables were dotted amongst trees and flowers. Lanterns and fairy lights hung prettily from branches and tantalizing garlicky smells emanated from the kitchen. A low buzz of chatter merged wit
h the occasional swish of the wind through the leaves and an owl hooted in the distance.

  Madison and Alexandre sat down, their fingers wet from their glasses, entwined across the faded table.

  ‘Isobel and Jacques will adore you,’ Alexandre said.

  ‘How d’you know? They might not like me at all. I might not be good enough for their big brother.’

  ‘Believe me, they will think you are wonderful. Isobel will be picking your brains about all the current fashions and Jacques will be awed by your modern beauty.’

  Madison laughed. ‘Awed by my beauty? I like that.’

  ‘I wonder what to do about them. I miss them so much, but I am too scared to experiment with their lives. To expose them to daylight is a terrifying thought.’

  ‘I can’t imagine what you must be going through. If it was Ben, I’d be going insane.’

  They would like this Inn. They are very sociable and always love to be where around people. But we would never have frequented this type of establishment in France, in my time.’

  ‘I love it here too,’ Madison said, looking around at the dark green scenery. ‘Even with the scariest landlady in the world. How did you even know about this place?’

  ‘I know all the places around here, every nook and cranny within, maybe a fifty mile radius. It does not take me long to travel.’

  ‘Well that’s handy for us. You can scout out all the best places to take a girl. But we’d better not stay too long. I don’t like leaving Ben all alone at night. Maybe just half-an-hour or so here, and then we’ll do a quick shop, if that’s okay?’

  Alexandre nodded and kissed the inside of her wrist.

  One hour later Madison was stuffing groceries into a trolley under the uniform glare of the supermarket lights. Alexandre marvelled at the convenience of everything.

  ‘Alas, it is no good to me now,’ he said.

  ‘What would actually happen if you did eat something? I mean, a bit of bread or cheese couldn’t hurt you could it?’

  ‘It would be like me asking you to eat a piece of cotton or chew on a sheet of paper. Not so appealing, no?’

  ‘Might be alright with a bit of jam.’

  Alexandre suddenly felt edgy.

  ‘You okay?’ Madison asked.

  ‘You carry on here. I will return in a moment.’

  All evening, Alexandre had felt something was not quite right. He had dismissed his fears, telling himself it was because he had not left the grounds of Marchwood since the nightclub episode. But he could no longer ignore the feeling that they were being followed by somebody at a distance, maybe two people. Here in the supermarket, he felt a closer presence. Someone was definitely aware of him.

  He stood outside the large building and scanned the near-empty car park. A man walked slowly towards him. Alexandre approached him at a normal walking pace and the man smiled nervously as Alexandre stopped in front of him. He looked to be in his twenties, scruffy and unshaven. Alexandre could tell he felt uneasy, despite the fact he was grinning inanely.

  ‘I know what you are,’ the man said to Alexandre. He looked around as if he thought someone might be watching him and Alexandre followed his line of sight, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

  ‘Who are you?’ Alex asked.

  ‘Umm, I know what you are,’ the man repeated. ‘You’re a …’ He looked around again and then back at Alexandre. ‘You’re a vampire.’ The man smiled again and laughed nervously as if he had said something ridiculous.

  Alexandre grabbed the man by the throat and flew forwards, slamming him into a recycling bin on the far side of the car park. The man was badly winded and gasped for breath, shocked.

  ‘Who are you?’ Alexandre asked again, increasing pressure on the man’s throat.

  ‘I’m no one,’ the man gasped. ‘I don’t know who you are, I swear!’

  ‘Why did you say what you said?’ Alexandre sounded calm, but inside his mind was speeding.’

  ‘Some guy ...’ the man whispered. ‘Can you …’ He pointed to his throat. Alexandre eased the pressure off slightly. ‘Some bloke gave me a hundred quid to say those things to you. I don’t know what the …’

  ‘What bloke?’

  ‘I don’t know, just some random ...’

  ‘What. Bloke?’ Alexandre narrowed his eyes and put his face up close to the terrified man.

  ‘I swear I don’t know,’ the man spoke quickly. ‘Just some random guy came up to me when I was on my way back to the car. Posh bloke in a suit. Offered me the money to ask you the question. On my life, man. On my life! Please don’t hurt me. I didn’t do nothing, I swear, I swear.’ He was almost in tears. ‘Here, look.’ He took a wad of crumpled notes out of his pocket and thrust it towards Alexandre. ‘The hundred he gave me. You can count it. You can take it!’

  Alexandre thought quickly. If what he said was true, then someone might be watching him right now and he would have seen him behaving in a very un-human fashion. Damn it to hell! He released the man, ignoring the money he was trying to give him. He believed his story.

  The man sank down on to the floor in front of the recycling bin. Alexandre left him there, choking and gasping for breath. He walked back towards the supermarket, worrying for Madison’s safety. If someone was watching him, they might also be watching her. He couldn’t sense anyone else, but didn’t want to take any chances. He broke into a run, careful not to move abnormally fast. The security guard on the door stopped him on the way in.

  ‘Slow down, mate. Don’t want any accidents.’

  Alexandre nodded and walked quickly, straight to Madison who had just finished paying for the shopping. He picked up the carrier bags and propelled her out of the store.

  ‘What’s up?’ she asked. ‘What are you doing, Alex? Is something wrong?’

  ‘Let us get out here and I will tell you.’

  Madison almost crashed the car when Alexandre explained what had just occurred.

  ‘Who was he? You sure he was telling the truth?’ She pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road.

  ‘I am certain of it. He was too scared to lie.’

  ‘But this is too freaky. Do you think someone’s watching us? Is someone following us now?’

  ‘There are no vehicles behind us and I do not sense anybody in the vicinity.’

  ‘You know,’ Madison said. ‘It could’ve just been a stupid prank. His mates might’ve got him to ask you for a dare or something.’

  ‘No. It was more than that. Much as I would like you to be right. It was something else. He was being truthful. But I will find out who is behind this.’

  When they reached home Alexandre was on heightened alert and they both found it hard to relax. They felt invaded and uncomfortable and there seemed to be nothing they could do to find out who was behind it. Madison still wasn’t entirely convinced there was anything sinister at all behind it.

  ‘How could anybody know anything about what you are?’ she asked. They sat at the kitchen table, the shopping still unpacked. Alexandre’s expression was grim. ‘I mean, I haven’t told anyone about you, neither has Ben. The only other people who know you’re here are Esther and Morris, and they don’t know what you are. I wouldn’t think anything like that would even cross their minds.’ She thought for a minute.

  ‘Quite a few people in The Glasshouse saw you that night. Maybe that’s it. Maybe it was someone from the club and they thought you were too strong to be normal. But the bloke in the supermarket asked if you were a vampire. How would he have known … Oh, I don’t know.’

  ‘All we are doing is guessing,’ Alex said. ‘We are at a disadvantage. We do not know anything. I will go out every night. I will scour the area and keep my senses sharp. I will find out who is so interested in me. I only hope they do not know of the others.’

  Madison felt mild panic. Whoever was behind this (if anyone at all), they were taking Alexandre’s attention from her, spoiling their time together. She had just enjoyed the best days of her life and tonight
he was so preoccupied he couldn’t concentrate on anything else, let alone her. Please let all this crap die down. She hoped it was just a stupid dare that meant nothing; that in time it would be forgotten and they could just go back to living their lives in peace.

  The following evening, Alexandre kissed Madison briefly. ‘I will see you tomorrow,’ he said.

  ‘But where are you ...’

  He disappeared into the dark night.

  ‘... going?’

  *

  Alexandre was angry with himself for being so shaken up by the encounter in the car park. He knew he could take care of himself and was not scared by any threat to his safety, he was just livid someone had tried to do something so underhand. He did not understand such cowardly behaviour. He abhorred it.

  Just as those two men in the nightclub had not mattered one jot to him, conversely, this supermarket episode had crawled under his skin. He circled the house and satisfied himself there was nobody watching or lurking around the grounds. He visited the local villages and towns and listened to chatter in the bars, alehouses and streets. He walked along the busiest routes and lingered on park benches. He returned to the supermarket. He sensed nothing. All was silence. But still he could not rest.

  Madison watched some television with Ben, she chewed her nails, she sat out in the garden and then she came back inside. She made herself a snack, but didn’t eat it. She snapped at Ben and then she finally went upstairs to bed, but she didn’t sleep properly.

  Some time in the early hours of the morning, Maddy dreamed she was flying. It felt wonderful, she was free and unfettered and then suddenly she fell, plummeting down to earth. The wind rushed past her and she knew she wouldn’t make it. She tried to scream but no noise came out. She fell backwards, looking up at the black starless sky and then, as she was about to hit the ground, she woke up.

  Maddy lay there staring up at the ceiling, uneasy. She worried about Alexandre. He had been badly affected by the man in the supermarket, much worse than the nightclub incident. She padded down the stairs to check on him. He lay on his bed, hands behind his head.