I leaned against the window for some time, summoning the strength to move. Mather continued to point the knife at me, keeping me at bay. My head began throbbing again, bringing tears to my eyes. I still had no idea of the damage Mather had done to my skull. For all I knew the wound could prove to be fatal. Mather sneered, as though I were putting on some pathetic act for him. This made me shake my head.
‘You only had to hit me a little harder, and you could have finished me there in the forest.’
‘I didn’t hit you that hard. It’s nothing.’
‘Oh, it’s more than nothing,’ I spat, ‘believe me.’
‘Just move, will you?’
‘I’m moving.’ I pushed myself away from the window and staggered across to the door. Mather kept his distance, but stayed alert in case I made a foolhardy dash for freedom. I assumed Derringher had come to the island by boat, but I didn’t have time to waste looking for where he’d moored it. If I had the chance I had to go for the tunnel in the forest. But I couldn’t get there without incapacitating Mather first, which would prove extremely difficult with my hands tied.
I nudged the door open with my right shoulder and was about to enter the corridor when Mather grabbed my arm, halting me.
‘Wait.’
‘What is it?’
‘Shh!’ He was still looking at me, but his attention was diverted. He seemed to be listening. After a few seconds I could hear something above the endless pounding in my head. It was the sound of a motor. And it was getting louder.
Mather pulled me back into the room and pushed me against the window. I caught sight of my reflection. It was a shock: the face staring back at me was almost unrecognizable. The hair was wild and matted. It stuck to my forehead in clumps, glued there with drying mud. Dirt, leaves and other forest debris covered my clothes. He must have dragged rather than carried me to the clearing. I looked terrible. Mather walked over to the panel, pulled it back across and stood in front of the glass tank, muttering some words I was unable to catch. He then did something completely unthinkable. He lifted the lid.
Placing the heavy brass panel on the floor, he turned to me and smiled at the look of sheer horror on my face.
‘I shall be leaving you in the Lady’s care while I go and see to our unexpected guest. Naturally if you try to scream or do anything similarly foolish, she will have to take action.’
‘You can’t leave me alone with her!’ Panic once more consumed me.
‘I’m afraid I have to. Now, if you’ll excuse me.’ Mather turned and left; he pulled the door behind him but it failed to close properly. I was unable to take my eyes from the tank, and, as I watched, the insect rose slowly from the confines of the glass box and hovered towards me.
Please . . . sit
.
I sat on the edge of the bed as instructed. The mosquito floated over to the desk and landed. Her wings rose and fell hypnotically, as I’d seen them do before. The rest of her body was still, and appeared almost brown now.
Do you remember what we spoke of earlier?
‘Something about the end coming. About you not letting him harm me.’
That’s right. I will protect you
.
‘He tried to kill me earlier.’
Yes, and I told you – he tried while you were asleep last night, and after he had attacked you in the forest. I could have stopped him from hurting you at all, but I couldn’t allow you to get away
.
It was deeply sobering to think that I could so easily have been dead already; that Mather would have slaughtered me quite happily without the mosquito to stop him.
‘So why didn’t you let him kill me?’
You are important to me. You have something I’ve been looking for
.
‘I’m more important to you than Mather?’
Mather only lives because he has been useful
.
‘How was he useful?’
Blood
.
‘But why do you need it? You can’t reproduce, can you?’
No . .
.
I could detect no element of sadness in her voice. It seemed that reproduction was no concern of hers.
‘So why do you need it?’
There was a slight pause, then:
I have an unquenchable thirst for it
.
‘And Mather has been able to provide you with enough?’
He has provided me with plenty. When I found him, I knew immediately that he would be a willing servant. That night in London I was searching, as I had for so many nights before, for new blood. In the city I couldn’t do the killing myself, as I could sometimes leave a mess. It was hard to control my thirst, and I didn’t want to risk leaving a trail that might lead to my capture. The thought of incarceration is intolerable. I have to be free, or with a companion who knows my requirements and is willing to help me. Mather proved to be such an accomplice. I could smell the many-layered blood of his experiments from far off. When I entered the house, the scent was maddening. I threw myself against the door of the chamber until they let me in
.
Once inside the room I knew I had found someone I could use. It didn’t take long to gain control of Mather’s mind. He was an easy puppet. I convinced him, with little effort, to increase the frequency of his experiments, to keep the blood supply at a satisfactory level. As each experiment passed, his fascination for the macabre grew. The darkness inside him was eating away at his soul, destroying his sense of right and wrong. Soon he was experimenting every night – not just to please me, but to satisfy his own lust for mutilation
.
‘What about Soames? Did he ever try to stop you?’
I quickly asserted my influence over him, but with intimidation rather than control. I gave him plenty of examples of what would happen if he were ever to cross me, or interfere with Mather’s work. When we finally moved here, I thought things would be perfect. Mather’s enthusiasm for the experiments increased, and the blood flowed in abundance
.
‘It’s all about to end though.’
Yes. Nothing can stop it now. And it’s all because of you
.
‘Me?’
Your coming here was the beginning of the end
.
‘For everyone?’
No. Not everyone
.
She sounded surprised, as if I’d said something ridiculous. I remembered what she’d said before about not letting Mather harm me. I couldn’t think why she was so determined to keep me alive. I assumed I’d be no more than food to her.
‘Why are you so concerned about my well-being?’
I was human once, and I betrayed the one I loved. Because of that betrayal I was cursed
.
‘Ngoc Tam.’
Yes. He was my husband. He – he couldn’t bear to live without me. His blood brought me back from the grave, and in return I deserted him for a richer man and a life of luxury. For so long now I have travelled the world, searching for his blood, so that I might be human once more
.
I could guess what was coming, as implausible as it was.
‘But surely your husband’s blood was unique. Surely no blood but his could restore you.’
His family were travellers. They must have spread all over the world. His descendants are likely to exist in vast numbers today. I knew I would come across one of them eventually. And now I have. When I first smelled your blood, I knew it was his. So unique and potent. I was excited beyond measure. My prayers have finally been answered. When the time is right, when we are completely alone, I shall drink . . . and I shall be yours
.
I started shivering, and not because it was cold in the room.
When I had all but relinquished hope, I found what my heart craved. In your veins flows the blood of my old love, Ngoc Tam
.
‘No, that’s not—’
Your bloodline goes back—
‘But—’
Generations apart, but still strong. With Tam’s blood the curse will be lifted, and I will no longer be contained in this loathsome form, a slave to the bloodlust. Please believe that I have no desire to harm you. All I need is a few drops of blood
.
‘So the legend is true. No wonder you were worried about the dragonfly.’
The dragonfly? You were thinking about it because you have read one of Mather’s books. Ha! I was worried for nothing
.
‘No.’ I smiled. ‘I was thinking about it because it’s here on the island. The genie is here. He’s come for you.’
Shh . . . Don’t lie – it is pointless
.
‘It’s true! Mather knows as well. The genie has found you and I think he intends to stop you becoming a woman again.’
Even if he really is here, he won’t stop me. Nothing can stop me now. I won’t allow it!
Just then I heard voices. With a great effort I managed to get back on my feet. Looking through the window, in the moonlight I saw them walking to the right of the house, heading for the path that led into the woods. I couldn’t quite see who Mather was with at first, but he seemed to be leading someone towards the research centre. I could just make out what he was saying:
‘. . . hard at work taking pictures. I know it’s late but he wanted to get as many as he could before he left tomorrow.’
Then I heard her voice. Beautiful, yet so terrifying because it was so out of place here in this dark theatre of horror.
‘Oh right . . . I had to just take a boat from the harbour back at the town. I hope it’s OK, I couldn’t find anyone—’
‘Not to worry. I know the harbour master well. I’m sure he won’t mind.’
‘Ash called me earlier and we got cut off. It sounded like he was having trouble . . .’ And then her voice faded away.
‘Gina! Oh God, no! Please,’ I implored. ‘You have to stop him. You have to—’
It’s pointless
.
‘No!’ I struggled with the rope binding my wrists, but the effort was futile. Mather had done too good a job. ‘I’ve got to . . . He’ll kill her.’
It was the most distressing agony. I had to get out of that room and protect her. The thought of her alone with him was more than I could bear.
‘I have to stop him.’
Shh, my love. In a while she will be gone. Then there will be nothing to cause you pain. Your suffering can only exist while she is alive
.
‘You could do something. You have control over him.’
Yes, I do
.
‘Then use it!’
No. Her life is of no interest to me. She merely provides a necessary distraction
.
‘What?’
While he is preoccupied with her, I will take what I need from you. I think Mather has grown too accustomed to me, but now is the time for me to leave. It is better for him to be elsewhere when I transform. I don’t want him trying to interfere
.
‘No. Don’t do this, please.’
I understand that you are scared. But it will not hurt
.
‘Please!’
You are weak. You should rest now
.
‘So you can drink me dry? I don’t think so.’
I have no wish to be so cruel
.
‘All right – look, you can have my blood, but please save Gina first. She doesn’t deserve this, she doesn’t deserve to be anywhere near him. Promise me . . . promise me you’ll—’
I don’t want all your blood, just a drop or two
.
‘If you become a woman again, you’ll still need protection against the genie. If you help Gina I promise to take care of you.’
I could sense her thinking the matter over. She was unsure, nervous. I think she believed I was serious about the presence of the genie, but I didn’t know if she accepted that he was capable of stopping her from taking what she wanted.
I must have your blood. I have waited for too long to be denied it now. Both the girl and the genie are irrelevant!
The mosquito hovered in the air almost silently, then settled back on the desk. I really had no idea what she might do. Just as I thought the tension was about to break, I heard the sound of something moving outside. The Ganges Red turned towards the window and tensed herself. I sensed for the first time a great fear within her. At that moment she was no longer a monster, but a frail creature facing the very real prospect of her own demise.
XIV: SALVATION
If something had been outside, it failed to show itself. After a couple of minutes of muted apprehension we were able to turn and face each other once more. Nhan Diep said nothing to begin with. She may have been mulling things over, but I had the distinct feeling there was something else. Her wings began moving faster; then before I knew it they were vibrating and lifting her into the air once more. She moved across the room to the window and hovered just underneath the sash, looking out into the night. She was no longer broadcasting her thoughts, unwilling, it seemed, to let me hear what she was thinking. She turned slightly, then, before I could react, flew straight at my exposed neck.