Chapter 16

Chapter Sixteen

Sitting crossed legged on the floor of the laughable sized main bedroom David spoke earnestly to both to the tear streaked Penny and her mate.  They continued to cuddled up together providing mutual comfort and support.  The baby carried on sleeping soundly in a second hand pink cot.
"If you let me take my van down to your new place I can fit you a burglar alarm, it's free, honest" David promised.
Penny was tempted but was dubious, glancing at her mate for any words of wisdom, none came forth.  Rubbing her red eyes she aired her worries. "Mistress B will never let you go".  David slipped into Salesman mode, just mentioning alarms had set him off, old habits and skills resurfaced.  "OK don't tell her, it's only for a couple of nights, I can be back before Mistress Amphere comes to collect me.  No one needs to know, please let me do this for you, for you all". He pleaded.
Penny thought long and hard; only the noise of the baby breathing disturbed the silence.  Her mate spoke in a horse whisper "It can't hurt, no one need to know, we need this for our Daughter".  Wrinkling up her nose Penny demand what she should say if David did a runner.  David had been anticipating this countered with the fact that he knew wherever he went Mistress Blackstock would find him and his death would be even more horrific, plus he'd loose his two weeks parole.  Penny could see the logic in this and agreed he could go, she did however refuse to take his collar off.  "Will keep you honest" was her firm assurance.  It was decided that David could borrow a roll neck jumper for the drive down to hide the collar from prying eyes.  "Once you in our home you will be safe, no one will bother you, they will just think your a workman". Stated Penny.  It was agreed, David would leave in the morning and return the day before they were due to move.

Following a sleepless night; where lists kept forming in his mind David left the house at eight. Ten pounds was secreted in his pocket; given to him so he could ride the tube to collect his van.  A set of keys nestled in another pocket, the new house had been handed over to Penny two weeks before, only the appendix had delayed the move.

David found it strange walking in the warming sunlight on his own, he was now use to being accompanied wherever he went.  No Mistress to instruct or lead; it was in someways almost scary to him now.  Cars and vans rushed by; their lives all urgency and more important than anyone else's.  The tube station was still busy, surrounded by so many people, normal people, all frantic to complete their daily travels, it unnerved David.  The clamouring noise and changes in air pressure made him feel giddy and unsure.  Taking a deep breath David stepped onto the train, doors closed with a hiss and the rattling journey commenced.
It took David two hours to reach his flat, using the hidden spare key he entered; then managed to ignored the stench from the bin for all of two minutes before he threw the bin bag out.  Looking round at the two bedroom pit; he found its sad tired decor with Rose feature wall; soulless and false.  Since his mother had died David hadn't lifted the smallest paint brush.  Old memories flooded back, the men, the drinks, the drugs.  Not a happy time, just an existence time, a marking time time.  Pulling himself together he picked up his spare credit card, the one he didn't use day to day and the garage key; walked out; down the harsh concrete stairs to the row of garages lined up below.  His white Vauxhall diesel van started first time, he drove it out and left it ticking over while he checked the tyres before sorting out equipment and kit to take.  He used the garage as an overflow from the portacabin in the yard.  Everything he wanted was present and it was only some ten or fifteen minutes later after returning both keys to their homes he was on his way the satnav giving instructions.

The journey down was unremarkable apart from when David stopped at a service station near Bristol first for fuel and supplies, finally he went to the toilet to have a pee and  freshen up.  As he washed his face the top of the jumper moved just enough to reveal part of his collar.  A thin middle-aged man with a pointed chin glared at him through round metal specs, David suddenly frightened ran.  There was no chase or shouts of 'Stop that Man, but David was scared, the eyes of the man and his facial expression told David he had seen the collar and its markings and knew what they meant.  Once back on the road David relaxed, the radio blared and he sang along.

In the service station the man was using a pay phone, urgently he spoke for less than two minutes before hanging up and hurrying to find his two young teenage children who were wondering around the foyer looking for him.  The Daughter firmly holding her Brothers hand was clearly pulling him along, taking charge.   Both smiled with relief as they caught sight of their Father.  "I wish Mum was here" exclaimed the girl. "So many Vanillas, to many scummy males, no respect, no manners!"
Smiling back that reassuring smile that parents have long since developed the Father muttered "So do I, not safe anywhere, never a warrior when you need one!"  The children looked worried, seeing this the Father did what any Father does at these sort of times offered ice-cream.

Mistress Blackstock was just enjoying an earlyish luncheon at her desk when the phone rang.  There followed a series of yeses then an indignant really before the call ended.  Tapping her fingers on the desk in annoyance she sat for a good five minutes rigidly, deep in thought.  Finally she picked up the phone and dialled a familiar number, on it being answered she asked curtly "Where's David?"

Arriving at the newly built smart three bedroom home David opened the front door and had a gander.  The rooms were surprisingly well portioned for a new build, David grinned with delight when he saw the alarm cables hanging out of the corner of the rooms, the house had been prewired for an alarm system, this made the job as simple as it could get.  Three hours later the alarm was in, up and working.  David pulled his small microwave out of the van, it went everywhere in the van, the travel kettle and couple of microwaveable containers with utensils nestled in the microwave.  A tinned tasty meal was pinged, cracking open a now warm lager David guzzled the Amber Nector revelling in the taste and naughtiness of forbidden fruits.  The van yielded up his camping air bed and sleeping bag, both almost unused since his one and only camping trip to Brighton.  Once the bed was inflated he settled down and listened to his old transistor radio which always traveled in the van.  Sounds of the eighties and nineties played, so drunk and free he danced alone briefly living a normal life.

The lack of curtains woke him early, after sorting himself out with a coffee and cornflakes he washed and wondered what to do next.  He decided to check the house out, did everything work, could he add anything, he was determined to do what he could for Penny's family.  He found the landing lights did not work, the back door lock sticking and there was a whole heap of other minor problems, he listed the faults and got to work. As he completed each task he put a line through the job on the list. Lunch was a coke and crisp affair, followed by lots of chocolate.  He'd just finished lunch and bagged up his rubbish when he heard the unmistakable sound of a refuse lorry.  Taking full advantage of the chance he ditched the rubbish bags on top of a pile outside on the next properties drive, tins of guilt now hidden; the black plastic bag concealing his crimes.  He worked for a couple more hours and was just clearing up when the Front Door opened and a woman walked in, early sixties, tall, very slim and refined.  Flowery dress, neat grey hair and large seventies glasses.

David froze and looked at her, she starred backed, did a double take and called out "Get in here; quick". Two large late teen boys charged in, looked confused and both looked towards the woman who cried out "Don't just stand there you half wits, protect me from that thug!"  David had just enough time to realise he was the thug before he was rugby tackled as both youths threw themselves upon him.  Hitting the floor with a thud his head smacked on the carpetless surface and he saw stars.

Finally regaining his full senses he found himself lying face down; handcuffs securing his hands behind his back.  Turning his head and groaning with the pain he saw the woman and a female warrior standing to his left.  Both regarding him with scorn and disgust. Seeing that he had recovered the warrior walked over and tapped his face with a bare foot.  Not hard, more of a warning, a statement of intent.  Pulling out a dagger she squatted, pulled his head upwards by the hair and positioned the blade under his throat.  Looking at the woman she asked one simple question. "Shall I slit its throat?"  David pissed himself in fear, shaking in terror he managed to mangle a few words out. "No, please, I'm here, meant to be here, doing a job, ugh gaaar"
The hair got pulled harder, the head moved higher; straining the neck muscles.
The older woman pursed her lips, considered her options before finally saying "No, not yet let's see what this animal has to say".  David was ruffly pulled up and commanded, shoved, into two.  This exposed his accident, he felt shame and humiliation, his checks glowed red.
Under careful questioning David revealed all.  Finally the older woman, Mistress Bevan; who it turned out was the local coven leader exclaimed. "So let's get this right, your under a sentence of death to Mistress Blackstock, who has suspended your sentence and loaned you out to a Mistress Amphere who in turn has lent you out to a Mistress Penny, who has bought this house and sent you here on your own to fit an alarm, is that right?.  David agreed as polity as he could, which is hard to when a blade is still being held to your throat.  "You couldn't make it up" mused Mistress Bevan. "OK let him go".  It was with some evident regret the warrior uncuffed David.  "This Penny must be a bit thick to trust you boy" said the warrior.  David knew he shouldn't but couldn't help himself and snapped back. "Mistress Penny's great, in fact they all are, he couldn't help his appendix going tits up and the baby's sound, their good people just trying to get a better life"
There was a shocked silence, the warrior stunned by the outburst, Mistress Bevan amused and impressed.  The face darkened the Warriors lips curled up in a snarl, she grabbed David's hair again; but was halted by a simple "No" from Mistress Bevan who regarded him, folded her arms and said "Well your full of surprises, defending a Mistresses honour ay, who would of thought.  So what else have you been doing here?"      
"Yes" came another awfully familiar voice "What have you been up to David?"  Asked Mistress Blackstock stepping into the room.  David's mouth dropped in amazement.