The Considine Curse by Gareth P. Jones

Author:Gareth P. Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2011-06-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Young Love and Old Friends

I lie wide awake for the rest of the night, watching the door, listening out for Elspeth’s return and trying to understand everything that has happened. My cousins are werewolves. My grandma was the pack leader, deceiving her own children and teaching her grandchildren how to hunt and kill. What kind of woman would do that? Grandmas are supposed to be kind. They are supposed to like knitting and cups of tea. They aren’t supposed to turn their grandchildren into vicious killing animals.

I wonder what other confessions her diary contains. I try to force myself out of the room but fear binds me to the bed. The night passes slowly. I try to imagine how my other cousins look as wolves. Amelia is the hardest to picture; she is so pretty and stylish, it is difficult to imagine her covered in hair with a long dog-like nose and sharp white teeth.

Only as daylight is creeping around the side of the blind do I finally fall asleep. When I wake up, the clock on Elspeth’s wall says it’s midday. I get out of bed and go into the living room.

Aunt Dee is sitting on the sofa, a laptop on her knee, surrounded by pieces of paper and open books. She is sitting on the cushion that hides Grandma’s diary.

‘Afternoon. You slept well.’ She laughs.

It has been the worst night of my life but I nod and ask where everyone else is.

‘Sewell and your mum have gone to the farmers’ market. The girls were driving me mad with their bickering so I sent them too. Honestly, you would think they’d be able to share for two nights without being at each other’s throats.’ The words conjure up a different image to the one she intends. ‘You don’t mind getting your own breakfast, do you? I think I’m on the final furlong and there’s light at the end of the tunnel. That’s a mixed metaphor but you know what I mean.’

I make myself cereal, then take a shower. I wish there was some noise in the house, a TV on or some music playing, anything to distract me from the terrible flashes of memory from last night. Every time I close my eyes I see Oberon’s hungry wolf face in front of me. In the shower I peel off the bandage on my hand. It still feels tender but the wound is barely visible now. I am brushing my teeth when the doorbell rings.

‘Mariel, would you mind getting that?’ shouts Aunt Dee. ‘If it’s anyone for me, I’m not in.’

I quickly pull on my jeans and T-shirt and go to the door. Father Gowlett is standing on the doorstep. He adjusts his glasses and says. ‘Oh, hello again. I was actually hoping to have a word with Dee.’

‘She’s not in,’ I lie.

He smiles and says in a loud voice, ‘Or she’s in there working on her book but doesn’t want to be disturbed.’

From the living room, Aunt Dee shouts, ‘You know me too well, Ben.

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