Vampire's Key
Chapter Seven
Lilly hit the stop button, winced as she eased her bag over her shoulder and edged her way forward. Between a hood and heavy make-up, she’d been able to cover most of the bruises. A scarf and thick coat hid the remainder.
The driver slowed, ploughing the bus through a large puddle that splashed water halfway across the pavement.
“Thank you,” Lilly said, stepping aroundthe flooded footpath.
Carl’s words haunted her: “I’ll be watching.”
She glanced back, worried that someone might be following her. The indoor market wasn’t far away and, despite her injuries, she moved quickly, weaving through the ocean of people, stepping into the gutter to bypass a group of tourists. *Am I doing the right thing,*she wondered? Another bus passed, homeward bound, drawing her thoughts with it. She could get the next one; it would take her straight home. Home. He’d feel so bad now, he always did. After all, he’d been attacked. Nearly killed. It wasn’t his fault. She should have been there for him. She should have waited. Things would get better. They always did.
Lilly hesitated, almost stopping. *I should go home*, she thought, glancing to the bus shelter opposite. A man almost bumped into her, his shoulder just catching hers. Lilly winced. Her shoulders ached because of Carl. Her legs ached because of Carl. Her vagina ached because of Carl. He’d told her to stay put. Assured her that if she tried to leave he would track her down and drag her back home. But, she *had*left. Left as soon as she could. Somewhere inside herself she had planned her escape while the medic took her blood, while she lay there naked, bruised and beaten, drifting in and out of consciousness.
And now, here she was, phoneless and friendless with barely any money. Hopefully, Sophie could help.
Dodging the medley of busy Londoners and idling tourists, she glimpsed the sign for the indoor market ahead. Her pace increased. *He wouldn’t really spy on her, would he?*Lilly glanced over her shoulder. A man’s eyes flashed with interest. She looked away, apologising to a young lady who slowed to allow her to pass. Lilly veered to the right. She could slow down by the shops, distract herself with window-shopping and the man would pass as a stranger.
The first shop had closed down, its empty windows smeared white. Lilly sidestepped, pretending to be checking something while ignoring the screaming pain from her body. The man passed, quickly lost in the sea of people. Lilly sighed and continued. Reaching the entrance to the alleyway, she stopped abruptly. Sophie was talking on her phone at the far side of the passageway. She waved at Lilly, beckoning her to come over. Lilly’s heart lifted a little at the sight of the dreadlocked punk. She took a breath and headed towards her.
Long, artificial eyelashes accentuated Sophie’s dark eyeliner. Her green eyes flashed warmly and she held up a forefinger, smiled and mouthed through purple lips, ‘One minute’.
Lilly’s black-eye throbbed and she dropped her head, raising her hand to gently cover the bruise.
“Okay, okay,” Sophie said, running a hand across the shaved part of her head. “Yes. Later. Bye.” Sophie’s eyes remained on her phone “Sorry babe, just a minute. You alright?” she asked, quickly typing a message.
Lilly bit her lip and mumbled, “Yes, thanks.”
“You sure?” Sophie asked, finally looking up. Sophie frowned. “What’s up?” she asked, clicking send. Replacing her phone in her back pocket, she stared at Lilly. “Oh my god! What happened?”
Lilly shook her head.
“Come here,” Sophie said, trying to pull down Lilly’s hood. Lilly brushed her hands away. “What happened to you?”
Lilly’s body began to shake. Tears tumbled down her cheeks. She shook her head and pushed Sophie away, covering her face with her hands.
“God, what happened?” Sophie asked again, wrapping an arm around Lilly.
Lilly winced in pain and shook her head wildly.
“Let’s get you inside,” Sophie soothed. Taking her hand, the punk led Lilly into The Grimoire, heading straight through to the staff room at the back of the shop. “Here,” she said, offering Lilly a rather worn armchair. “It’s your boyfriend, isn’t it?” she asked, filling the kettle and turning it on. “What’s he done?"
Lilly nodded. The tears suddenly stopped and she clutched her chest. “He raped me.” The words were like a barbed knife that reached in and ripped out her soul.
“Oh my god, Lilly!” Sophie exclaimed, rushing over to her. She dropped down, taking Lilly’s hands into hers.
“I feel dirty,” Lilly confessed.
“You have to tell the police,” Sophie advised.
Lilly shook her head. “I can’t.”
“You must!”
“No!” Lilly snapped. “I’m not going to the police. They never helped my mum.”
“Okay, okay,” Sophie conceded. “Look, you can stay with me. As soon as Mike gets here I’ll take you home. Okay? You can stay with me as long as you want.”
In between sobs, Lilly managed to say, “I don’t want to see him.”
“No, of course not.”
“Mike, I mean Mike,” Lilly spluttered. “I don’t want to see Mike.”
“Oh, okay,” Sophie said. “He’s not here at the moment, anyway. Come on, I’ll take you now then.”
The off-key jingle of the door rang and Lilly sat up nervously.
“Hold on,” Sophie advised, heading out to the counter. She pulled the door to, behind her.
Lilly sat rigidly, listening to their conversation through the closed door.
“Hi Mike,” Sophie began. Her voice sounded tight and restrained by uncertainty.
“I got the books,” Mike declared.
Lilly jumped at the sound of a heavy object being dumped on the counter.
“All of them?”
“All three Black Books. And a first edition Naos.”
“I thought he wasn’t selling that?”
“He wasn’t. I said I could get a really good price that I would split with him.”
Sophie went quiet.
Mike’s tone softened. “What’s going on?”
“Can you give me a minute,” Lilly heard Sophie reply. “I need to take Lilly home.”
“Lilly? Who’s Lilly?”
“The girl from the other day. She bought the vampire books.”
“What? Why are you taking her home? Why can’t she go by herself?”
Sophie’s voice dropped to a whisper causing Lilly to lean closer to the door. “She’s been hurt and she needs my help. That’s why.”
“Sophie, I’m paying you to work. Tell her to get a bus.”
“For fuck sakes Mike,” Sophie retorted. “I’m only asking for a few minutes. You piss off all the time!”
“I’m the boss, and I said *no.*”
Lilly heard him approach. The door knob turned. She slumped back into her chair, took a shallow breath and drew her arms across her chest, in preparation for his entrance.
“Mike, please,” Sophie pleaded.
The handle froze, along with Lilly.
“She’s really hurt. I’ll be straight back. I promise. Please.”
Tears replaced the tension as the door knob returned to neutral. Lilly inhaled sharply through her nostrils, forcing herself to calm and wiping away the tears, angry at herself for not being stronger. The boiling kettle clicked off.
“Okay, but be quick,” Mike grumbled.
“Thanks Mike.”
“I told you she was trouble.”
“She’s been hurt, that’s all. Can you do me one more favour?”
Mike’s sigh was loud and irritable. “Now what?”
“Make yourself scarce so she’s doesn’t see you.”
“What? If you hadn’t noticed, this is my shop.”
“I know,” Sophie agreed, “but she’s not very well, and, well, you know, it would just make it easier.”
“Fine,” he said, his voice fading as he wandered off. “Be quick.”
Sophie pushed the door open. She stopped abruptly at the sight of the sobbing Lilly. “Oh Lilly,” she sighed, dropping down to give Lilly a hug. “Come here.”
Lilly fell into her arms. Her body racked as the emotions flooded out.
“It’s going to be okay,” Sophie soothed, gently stroking Lilly’s head. She held her there, holding her close, comforting the broken girl like a mother tending to her injured daughter.
Lilly took a long deep breath, calming herself once more. Her face was stained with dried tears. “I’m sorry,” she said, looking back at Sophie. “I really am.”
“Don’t be silly,” Sophie dismissed. She stood up and took Lilly’s bag from her. “Let’s go.”
Lilly took a deep breath, got up and followed Sophie back out through the shop.
“Okay?” Sophie asked, taking her hand. Lilly gripped her tightly and Sophie squeezed back. “You can have a nice hot bath when we get there, and I’ll make a call.”
“A call? To who?” Lilly said, stopping.
Sophie dropped her voice, “You’ve been raped. We have to.”
Lilly shook her head. “No.”
“Lilly, you must.”
“No.”
Sophie studied her for a moment, then said. “Okay, fine. If you don’t want the police involved I won’t ring them. But I am going to message a friend.”
Vampire’s Key
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