I feel mum tense beside me and we drive around to the front of the building on an overgrown gravel drive way. There used to be large double doors but now it’s a burnt out hollow. Above it there's a big black graffiti mark of a three-headed dog with red eyes. Mum stops the car but doesn't switch off the engine. Her eyes are staring up at the mark above the doorway.
“That's the mark of Hades. The Cerberus. He must have wiped out the pack. By the looks of things, they've been gone for years.” Her voice catches and she rests her head on the steering wheel.
I look back up at the house and aside from being broken into and in disrepair it doesn't look like a ruin. No one has been here for ages and it’s probably forgotten about so it can't hurt to have a nose around. See what they left behind because I'm seriously hungry.
I open the door but mum grabs my arm. “Where are you going?”
“I'm just having a look around. You wanna come with?”
She sighs and after a short pause gets out the car. I follow her into the house.
The large open entrance hall is weather beaten from the gaping hole where the front door used to be. Snow has blown in and leaves and twigs are scattered all over the floor. There are several rooms coming off this one and I look in the first one. It's the kitchen. It doesn't look too bad actually. All thewindows are closed so its stayed relatively dry. Aside from dust and cobwebs it looks alright. I start opening cupboards and find loads of tinned food and other stuff. On the off chance, I try the tap but unsurprisingly no water comes out. I spot a kettle and try my luck. Nothing. Electricity was a long shot anyway. I go back to the entrance hall and see a stair case going up the left side. It's dark up there and the entire place is damp from being so long without heating. Although, strangely, I don't feel cold. Must be another nymph perk. I start up the stairs. By the sounds of things my mum is already up there.
Walking along the landing I see mum sitting on a bed in one of the bedrooms. It's all pink inside with blue flowers on the walls. She has tears in her eyes.
“Mum? You OK?” I sit on the bed beside her. She looks exhausted.
“This room belonged to a young girl called Sapphire. She'd be a bit older than you now. Her mum was a Nymph called Callista. Her father, Andreas was the alpha of the pack. She was just a baby when your father and I stayed here. I just hope she got away.” Her voice catches and a tear rolls down her cheek as she clutches a small pink bunny teddy in her hand. Her eyes are hollow and exhausted.
“Do you wanna look around the house to see if we can find them? You could get some closure?” My stomach tenses at the thought of finding their bodies.
“No, they won't be here. We have to keep supernatural existence a secret. Even Hades follows that rule. They would have taken any bodies and burned them.” She wipes her eyes and composes herself. “There's a small village a couple of hours down the mountain. There might be a B&B there. That's our best shot for now I think.”
I recognise that as a deliberate change of subject and go along with it. “Right let’s go then. The sooner we get there, the sooner you can sleep.”
We walk back to the hallway and I spot a dark smeared hand print half way up the wall. Then another on the banister. There's no mistaking it. Blood. Looking down I see my shoes have kicked up the dust revealing dark bloodstains on the floor as well. The more I look the more I see the details of the horrific attack that happened here.
Unbidden I imagine the panic of the family that lived here as they fought for their lives. Claw marks are everywhere showing the struggle they faced. As we turn to go downstairs, I see another door has been kicked in but the room is too dark to make anything out inside. Thankfully. I can't bear to see any more of this house. My mum seems to feel the same and we swiftly get back outside to the car.
As I open the car door I get the feeling of being watched.
I look around me then back at the house, seeing nothing. I just wanna get as far away from that hell house of death as possible. Must be the horror scene in there giving me the heebie geebies.
Mum starts driving back the way we came and we make our way down the mountain. I can tell my mum is rattled. She's putting on a strong front but I can see she's scared. She's just found out her friends could be dead. Murdered by the same people chasing us now. Hades and Alistair. The more I learn the more I hate him. It's astonishing how much feelings can change in such a short amount of time. I feel like I'm living a different life now. I am though. How did my life go from college to running for my life from Greek Gods?
We drive in silence until a few houses can be seen between the trees. They get more and more frequent until we reach a small village. Mum pulls into a petrol station and startsto fill up the car. Looking around I see a charity shop, post office, pharmacy and a large stone church in the centre. All the buildings seem to be built mostly from stone. Once mums finished and back in the car we drive a little way down the road until we see a sign saying B&B and mum pulls up outside. She pulls up the handbrake then turns to me.
“Take my coat. You can't be walking in there covered in blood.” Her tone is all business but I can see the strain in her face.
I follow her instructions without question. We go into the B&B. It's got exposed beams on the inside. The ceilings are low and there's a welcoming fire crackling away in the fire place. Mum rings a bell and after a moment a man in his 50s comes down stairs. He greets us and says his name is Hamish. He has a kind face and is wearing a tweed suit.
Mum responds. “Hi we would like a room with two beds if you have one?”
“That'll be £40 fer the night.” His Scottish accent is thick but understandable. “Are you jus' passin' through or sight seein'?”
“Just passing through thank you.” Her voice shuts down all chances of making small talk.
Hamish looks affronted for a moment but quickly composes himself. “Very well. Follow me.”
We are shown to our room. It's just as rustic as the rest of the building with two beds and an en-suite bathroom.
“Breakfast is at 8am and checkout at 10am. Enjoy your stay.” He gives us one last quizzical look before closing the door behind him.
I poke my head into the bathroom and the shower is calling to me. I'm also dying for a pee. Mum seems to read my mind.
“Sweetheart, have a shower I'm going to nip to the charity shop across the road and get you some fresh clothes. I'll be back as quickly as I can.” She kisses the top of my head and leaves.
I strip and noticeHisblood has soaked through my clothes and stained my skin. I throw my ruined clothes in the bin and get in the shower. The feeling of the warm water on my skin is heavenly. I look down and see the water running red around my feet and down the drain. I see a loofa and body wash. I scrub my body but the stains are stubborn. I scrub harder. My arms, stomach, chest. My skin is red raw from the effort. Even once the stains are gone I still feel dirty. Memories of kissing Alistair flash though my mind and I hate it. I hate what I did. He tricked me so easily. I try and rid myself of those thoughts by washing my hair.
