THE WOLF OF THORNFIELD HALL: Chapter 10 - Missing

Fairfax’s mind roiled as he made his way through the Hall to his office. His determination to end his line was stronger than ever. If nothing else, Selene was right about one thing, even without the Teuts on his heels, it wouldn’t be long before he’d be drawn into some other territorial war. The human in him was sick of it. Sick of the killing, sick of the pain. Now he was expected to take someone under his wing who wasn’t much more than a child. It was a nonsense for anyone to believe he could protect her.

And yet ... If the lore about Primes was right, having Jane onside may tip the balance in his favour. Caster and his wife were old dogs, way past their best and Christina no use in a fight. In fact, she wouldn’t fight. It had taken her decades to attune her mental energies to restrain the wolf. He wouldn’t—couldn’t—ask it of her. If Jane truly was a Prime, she could pull the weight of three wolves—more—and make an enormous difference.

But at what cost to her? Such a battle, and her first, to boot! She’d need to train and train hard, and all while she came to terms with her being.

There was another issue, of course, one he didn’t really want to think about. Alphas had powerful pheromones. It could explain why he already felt some base attraction to her, though he’d tried his damnedest to ignore it. He’d felt the pull almost as soon as he saw her and was absolutely sure she felt the same from him.

It was inevitable.

It would only get worse.

And at all costs, it had to be resisted.

Once in his study, he picked up the landline. It would be the quickest way of getting hold of Caster since he’d no doubt be catching up with some sleep, particularly if he’d had to wait at the station with Jane. He just hoped he hadn’t actually been there all night!

It was Marie who answered. Caster’s wife.

“I’m sorry, Mister Fairfax. He’s not home yet. I expected him to be late, he hadn’t got back by the time I woke. He isn’t one to use his mobile but he usually picks up when I ring him. I’ve been trying for the last half hour.”

“Damn,” said Fairfax. “The trains must have been cancelled last night, after all. I’m sorry, Marie. We had a situation here. My assistant insisted on leaving with him or leave alone. I had little choice but to instruct him to stay with her until he could see her onto a train.” He glanced at the clock. Frowned. “It’s nearly eight. He should have got back by now or at least contacted you.” He made a decision. “Right. I’ll leave now and go find him. See what’s kept him. Thanks, Marie.”

“Will you ring me, as soon as you have any news? Can’t deny I’m worried.”

“Of course.”

He rang off and ran upstairs to throw some water on his face and change. Ten minutes later he returned to the kitchen to find the two women in close conversation round the table.

“Good. You’re back,” said Christina. “I’m about to make breakfast.”

“None for me,” he replied. “Caster isn’t back yet. I told Marie I’d find out where he’d got to. He’s not answering his mobile.”

“That’s odd. He always does when he’s out and about.”

“I know.”

Selene got up. “Since you’ll be going to the station, may I hitch a lift? Someone from the agency kindly drove me down here on his way to another appointment. Truth be told, I had expected a longer stay, helping Jane to come to terms with my news. I should get back as soon as possible. If she’s managed to find her way back to Edinburgh, she’ll need lodgings. I can help with that. And with succour. From what you told me, I think she’ll need that also.”

“This isn’t over yet, Selene,” Fairfax said. “Now I’ve had time to consider it, it’s possible you made the right call. It would have been criminal to place her with a Scottish pack. I haven’t known her long, obviously, but what I did see, I liked. I’ve personal issues, for sure, but those needn’t and shouldn’t get in the way of her safety.”

Relief flooded over Selene’s face. “So you’ll have her back?”

Edward nodded. “I’ve hardly got much of a choice, have I? That is of course, If she’ll come back.”

Christina remained silent, watching him as Selene gathered her things for the journey. “I know what you’re thinking,” she said.

“I’m sure you do. I haven’t come across a mind yet that isn’t open to you.”

“You think Jane will help, don’t you? You want her here for the fight to come.”

His turn to be silent. What was the point of answering her?

“I took you for a lot of things, Edward, but never a bastard. Just think about what you’d be asking the girl. She’d be in the thick of things during her very first transition.”

Fairfax was unapologetic. “Don’t you find it odd, Christina, that at the very moment we need the most help, along comes a Prime to make all the difference in the world. I think Jane’s coming has a purpose to it I intend to fulfil. If we can find her, of course.”

Christina got up and strode up to him. Grabbed him by the arm. “You must find her. You must. I have a very bad feeling about this. If she transitions before we get to her, things will get very bad for all our kind and very quickly. She won’t be able to be contained.”

“I know, Christina. I know.”

The rain was still driving down as Fairfax brought the his Landrover round. Selene wouldn’t hear of borrowing a coat, her gaberdine, having spent some time in front of the Aga was good to go—dry enough on the inside anyway. She insisted she would return the rest of the clothes Christina kindly lent her, as soon as she got home.

“No rush,” said the Varencourt. “Just … find Jane. Then we can talk again.”

Ice-cold spears of rain hurtled down, beating a tattoo on the roof of the Landie as they drove away. The wipers could barely cope as Fairfax sped down the Hall’s drive and onto the six-mile road that took them over the moors and to the station.

He didn’t really know what to expect when he got there. Assuming Jane missed the last train yesterday—or the weather had made it impossible for it to run—he knew Caster would be with her as instructed, both of them probably trying to nod off on the fixed iron benches in station’s freezing damp waiting room.

But when they finally arrived, it was locked.

As it happened, Joseph Manville, the only publican in Haye and part-time station master when the mood took him, was approaching, a set of keys dangling on a ring from his finger.

“Mornin’ Mr Fairfax. Early train is it?”

“As it happens, no. I’m trying to find Sam Caster. He dropped off my … assistant last night for the nine o’clock.”

“Dint run. What with weather an’ all.”

Fairfax frowned. “Did they come to the pub, then? Maybe ask for a room?”

Manville shook his head. “Don’t have no call for lettin’ rooms no more, and I’ve no ‘art in it now wife’s gone. Pub were quiet. Only a few in on account o’ bloody weather. Caster dint come in, nor anyone else from th’ Hall.” He unlocked the waiting room. “Will that be all, Mr. Fairfax?”

“Yes. Thank you Joseph.”

He returned to the Landie where Selene sat sheltering, waiting for news.

“Well?” she asked.

“Caster wasn’t there. Nor was Jane. I spoke to someone who runs the local pub—it’s the only other place they could have gone to, at least until closing time. Nothing.”

“So… what are you saying? They never arrived? They’re … missing?

Fairfax was starting the motor. “We need to go back. The only possible thing I can think of is they came off the road somewhere. I’m assuming you want to join me? We can put you up in the Hall, if needs be.”

“Well, let’s hope there won’t be any need. And, yes, absolutely I’m coming.”

Fairfax took it much slower on the way back. Both he and Selene peered through their windows—beaded with rain—for any trace of Caster’s Landrover. They had just neared the end of the plateau on Darkmoor Hill when Fairfax hit the brakes, making the car veer slightly just before it came to a dead stop.

“What?” Selena exclaimed, gripping the seatbelt with both hands. “What have you seen?”

“Skidmarks,” he said, grimly. “Fresh skidmarks.”

Leaving the car to idle, Fairfax clambered out with Selena following. Both ran to where the skidmarks ended, their trajectory pointing somewhere out towards the bleak moorland.

“Anything?” Selena shouted above the wails of the wind, holding onto the hood of her gaberdine as if her life depended.

Fairfax didn’t answer at first, his eyes strafing the landscape for anything, any clue about what caused the marks.

Suddenly … “Yes!” He was almost screaming. “There! Can you see? At the bottom of the hill? Oh, Christ. It looks bad!”

Selena left his side and rushed to take the incline. Fairfax caught her arm just in time.

“No. It’s too steep and wet. The moor’s saturated. You won’t stay upright for a second. I’ve a better way.”

He led her back to the car and after crashing it into gear, careered down the road, the wheels whining as he skidded into a hard left to take a concealed and impossibly narrow trail.

“This was an old drover’s route, used before the road was built. It navigates the hill. With a bit of luck—Yes! See! There … It’s Caster’s landrover!”

“Oh, God. It’s turned over.”

He squealed to a halt about fifty yards from the landie. “We’ll have to get out. I daren’t take us any nearer. We’ll get bogged down.”

Which is what both of them became as they tried to make their way, soon ankle—and occasionally knee-deep—in moss and mud, forced to suck their feet out of the moor with every step forward. Slow going, but they made it.

The car was in terrible shape. It must have rolled down the hill, sustaining multiple impacts on the way. Bodywork bashed and dented, tyres gashed and wheels twisted, it had landed upside down, The passenger door lay wide open, half off its hinges, creaking in a wind that couldn’t quite slam it shut again.

“Jane? Jane..?” Selena screamed as she reached it. Fairfax had made for the driver.

“Caster!” The airbag had deployed and his agent, hanging upside down by his seatbelt, seemed almost to be hugging it, its volume preventing his arms from hanging fully down. A rivulet of dried blood trailed from the corner of his mouth down to his forehead, the source of a small, dark pool that had gathered on the nylon fabric. Very gently, Fairfax put a finger on Caster’s neck, searching for a pulse. It was there, but it offered only the faintest sign of life. He bit his lip as he whipped out his phone and dialled triple nine.

As he called in the accident, his eyes strayed to Selene who, having executed a desperate examination of the inside of landie, was now scanning the vicinity, her eyes searching the landscape in ever widening circles.

Then she yelled, the wind whipping her words away before they were hardly spoken. “Fairfax! She’s nowhere to be seen!”