City of Magic: The Complete Series by Helen Harper (book club recommendations TXT) 📕

I’d never had a proper discussion with any of the northern dwellers, not even with Monroe, about who could take supplies from where, I was unimpressed to hear that they’d been targeting one of my spots. I suppose that I shouldn’t have been surprised; the faster food ran out, the more these things would occur. Monroe had always been adamant that this new world was about survival of the fittest instead of looking after everyone.

Maggie’s hands twisted together in her lap before she raised them to scratch at her forearms. ‘Mia and I went into an Indian restaurant to check their shelves. There wasn’t much there but we grabbed a few old tins and some sauces. She started to carry them out. I was on my way to join her but…’ Her voice trailed off.

‘Go on,’ Monroe prompted, in a surprisingly gentle fashion.

She swallowed. ‘I heard a noise. It was somewhere towards the back of the shop. I went to investigate it. It was dark and I couldn’t see much. Then,’ she shrugged awkwardly, ‘I think something hit me on the back of the head. I don’t really remember anything else until you were there and there was a dead vampire and I could taste blood in my mouth…’

Theo snorted in disbelief. ‘You’ve lost your memory? Well, isn’t that convenient?’

‘I remember flashes,’ she said hesitantly. She scratched her arms again. She was leaving long red welts on her skin without realising it. Maggie seemed uncomfortable talking about her own state of mind. I had the distinct impression that, although most of her words rang true, she was definitely lying about something – or at the very least omitting some information. I was certain of it. I didn’t think she was lying about Philip’s death per se, but there was something going on with her.

‘Feelings. Not much else. I remember seeing a vampire and thinking that he was evil and that I had to kill him or we’d all suffer. I think he attacked me.’ Her eyes filled with tears. ‘I’m not sure, though. I don’t know.’ Her head dropped further. ‘I know I wanted to hurt him because if I didn’t the others in my pack would get hurt. I had to protect my pack from that vampire. I didn’t intend to kill him. I’d never have wanted to kill him. I wanted to keep my family safe. He was going to hurt my pack ‘

‘But,’ Monroe said softly, ‘you’d been separated from your pack. You didn’t know where they were.’

Maggie’s whole body sagged. ‘I can’t explain that,’ she whispered. ‘I can’t explain where the feeling came from. All I knew was it was me or him. It was survival at all costs.’

Survival at all costs. That sounded dreadfully familiar. I avoided sending Monroe a pointed look. ‘Can you remember anything the vampire might have said? Anything he did? Just the smallest detail might help.’

Maggie’s mouth moved but I couldn’t hear what she said. The others did; I felt Monroe stiffen beside me and Theo grew stonier faced.

‘Pardon?’ I asked. ‘What was that?’

‘He said he was sorry,’ she said in another whisper. ‘That’s all I remember. He said he was so very, very sorry.’

We questioned Maggie for what seemed like hours but her story didn’t change and she had very little other useful information. When we emerged into the cool night air, all I could do was grind my teeth in frustration.

‘We have more questions than answers,’ I said. ‘It’s like one step forward and twenty miles back. We’re no closer to an explanation for what Philip did, or even real proof that he did it. And unless Maggie starts to remember properly, she can’t explain her actions. Most of what she’s saying seems true but I’m sure there’s more to her story than she’s letting on.’ I shook my head. ‘Her and Philip. They’re both connected and through more than his death – but I can’t see how. All I keep thinking is that there’s far more to this than any of us realises.’

‘Maggie has to answer for what she did,’ Theo said, although there was little conviction in his words

Monroe ran a hand through his dark-red curls. ‘There’s nothing more we can do tonight,’ he said. ‘We should sleep on it and re-group in the morning.’

Theo raised an eyebrow. ‘Sleep? The night is getting started. This is hardly the time for sleep.’

‘We’ll sleep. You can…’ Monroe waved a hand around ‘…do whatever you want.’

Julian glanced at me. ‘There’s room at my place. Both you and that teen girl you’re with can stay with me. It’s too dangerous to return to your home in the south right now.’

Monroe bristled and drew himself up. ‘Charlotte will not stay with you,’ he said icily. ‘My quarters are perfectly adequate.’

‘You live on the outskirts,’ Julian replied mildly. ‘She’ll be more assured of her safety with me.’

‘Safety?’ Monroe growled. ‘What exactly are you trying to insinuate? That I’m incapable of keeping her safe?’

‘There’s only one of you. There are dozens in my pack.’

Monroe’s hands balled into fists. ‘And I don’t have my own pack because I let them all be killed. Just like I’d let Charlotte be killed. That’s what you’re saying, isn’t it?’

‘I’m not saying anything of the sort,’ Julian responded.

Theo looked at me. ‘I think what both of them are saying is that with the big bad vampires out on the streets all night long, it’s not safe for a vulnerable little woman like you anywhere here. Don’t forget,’ he sniped sarcastically, ‘we’re evil monsters.’

‘Neither of us said that, vampire,’ Julian hissed.

Theo sniffed. ‘I have a name, you know, wolfie.’

Unbelievable. I threw up my hands and glared at all three of them. ‘Don’t you see that this bickering is what got us here in the first place? If we worked together more effectively, there wouldn’t be loners like Philip out on the fringes. There wouldn’t be accusations flying around which are close to causing World War fucking Three! Survival