Read Online Shot Through The Heart (Supernature Book 1) by Edwin James - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Edwin James
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afternoon, too. A load of management consultants from London were up on some team-bonding thing." He bellowed with laugher. "I've no idea what they thought, but they're away back to Inverness with three brace of pheasants for their troubles."
Mark smiled politely. "I bumped into another group of students today," he said.
John frowned. "Eh?" he asked. "Where?"
"At the tea room in the village," said Mark. "Seven of them. Asked if I wanted spiritual enlightenment."
John sighed and slowly nodded. "That'll be the devil worshippers," he said.
Mark screwed his face up. "Devil worshippers," he said, his voice level.
John grinned. "I'm not joking," he said. "They've got a place near here on the way to Loch Naver."
"And they're devil worshippers?" asked Mark, still sceptical.
"Aye," said John. "Long history of it in the Highlands, you know? Haven't you heard of Aleister Crowley?"
Mark nodded. "I'm aware of his work," he said. " Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law and summoning the devil." Mark knew his Led Zeppelin and some comics that Buffy had forced on him as a student. "Crowley lived in Boleskine House which is a hundred and fifty miles south of here."
"The lad was a latecomer, put it that way," said John. "Took inspiration from the locals."
"I don't believe you," said Mark.
John shrugged. "Suit yourself," he said.
Mark took a long drink of his beer. "I was over at Ruthven Castle this afternoon," he said, nodding towards the students.
"Oh aye?" asked John, a curious look on his face. "What did the good lady have to say for herself?"
"Oh, not much," said Mark. "A few bits and bobs about the Clearances, nothing particularly useful, though."
"She's a strange one and no mistaking," said John.
"What makes you say that?" asked Mark,
"Just something about the place," said John. "I drop a live sheep off at the castle every other week."
"You're joking?" asked Mark.
John shook his head. "God's honest truth," he said. "It's been a standing order since the 1800s, I think. They've got their own butchery in there, one of her sons-in-law is a butcher by trade."
Mark frowned. "Seems a bit odd," he said. "There's a lot of meat on a sheep."
"There's eight of them in there, though," said John. "There's enough variety between the various cuts on a sheep plus the fish they'll get out of the loch, especially this time of year."
Mark shook his head. "Unbelievable," he said. He pulled up Kay's photo on his phone. "I never quite got round to asking last night, but do you recognise her?" He held the phone up.
"Aye," said John. "Young Kay. She was a game lass and no mistake. I saw her getting stuck into the students a couple of times. The girls weren't too happy."
"What do you mean by getting stuck into?" asked Mark. "I thought they were married?"
John laughed. "Who knows what they get up to on that bloody island," he said. "Could be anything."
Mark nodded. "I'll maybe speak to Lady Ruthven next time I see her," he said.
"Och, not you as well," said John. "I'd keep away from her if I were you."
"Thanks for the advice," said Mark, wondering if he should take it or not.
The students got up and left, looking warily at John.
John threw the rest of his whisky down his neck. "Right," he said. "Can't linger around tonight. Just that game of dominoes with the boys and that's it for me. Early start tomorrow." He got up and left Mark to the rest of his pint and his thoughts.
He really needed to ask Elizabeth about Kay again.
sixteen
"Mark, I'm sorry," said Sarah, "I'm just really tired and I need to go to bed. Beth's finally gone down and she's been an absolute nightmare."
"Okay," said Mark. "Did you take her to the doctor?"
"Thanks for remembering," she said. He could almost hear her smile. "I took her today. She's got an allergy."
"One in the plus column for Dr Google," said Mark.
"He's told me to cut down the amount of dairy I eat," said Sarah. "I'm going to miss my milk but it's only for another few months till I
Mark smiled politely. "I bumped into another group of students today," he said.
John frowned. "Eh?" he asked. "Where?"
"At the tea room in the village," said Mark. "Seven of them. Asked if I wanted spiritual enlightenment."
John sighed and slowly nodded. "That'll be the devil worshippers," he said.
Mark screwed his face up. "Devil worshippers," he said, his voice level.
John grinned. "I'm not joking," he said. "They've got a place near here on the way to Loch Naver."
"And they're devil worshippers?" asked Mark, still sceptical.
"Aye," said John. "Long history of it in the Highlands, you know? Haven't you heard of Aleister Crowley?"
Mark nodded. "I'm aware of his work," he said. " Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law and summoning the devil." Mark knew his Led Zeppelin and some comics that Buffy had forced on him as a student. "Crowley lived in Boleskine House which is a hundred and fifty miles south of here."
"The lad was a latecomer, put it that way," said John. "Took inspiration from the locals."
"I don't believe you," said Mark.
John shrugged. "Suit yourself," he said.
Mark took a long drink of his beer. "I was over at Ruthven Castle this afternoon," he said, nodding towards the students.
"Oh aye?" asked John, a curious look on his face. "What did the good lady have to say for herself?"
"Oh, not much," said Mark. "A few bits and bobs about the Clearances, nothing particularly useful, though."
"She's a strange one and no mistaking," said John.
"What makes you say that?" asked Mark,
"Just something about the place," said John. "I drop a live sheep off at the castle every other week."
"You're joking?" asked Mark.
John shook his head. "God's honest truth," he said. "It's been a standing order since the 1800s, I think. They've got their own butchery in there, one of her sons-in-law is a butcher by trade."
Mark frowned. "Seems a bit odd," he said. "There's a lot of meat on a sheep."
"There's eight of them in there, though," said John. "There's enough variety between the various cuts on a sheep plus the fish they'll get out of the loch, especially this time of year."
Mark shook his head. "Unbelievable," he said. He pulled up Kay's photo on his phone. "I never quite got round to asking last night, but do you recognise her?" He held the phone up.
"Aye," said John. "Young Kay. She was a game lass and no mistake. I saw her getting stuck into the students a couple of times. The girls weren't too happy."
"What do you mean by getting stuck into?" asked Mark. "I thought they were married?"
John laughed. "Who knows what they get up to on that bloody island," he said. "Could be anything."
Mark nodded. "I'll maybe speak to Lady Ruthven next time I see her," he said.
"Och, not you as well," said John. "I'd keep away from her if I were you."
"Thanks for the advice," said Mark, wondering if he should take it or not.
The students got up and left, looking warily at John.
John threw the rest of his whisky down his neck. "Right," he said. "Can't linger around tonight. Just that game of dominoes with the boys and that's it for me. Early start tomorrow." He got up and left Mark to the rest of his pint and his thoughts.
He really needed to ask Elizabeth about Kay again.
sixteen
"Mark, I'm sorry," said Sarah, "I'm just really tired and I need to go to bed. Beth's finally gone down and she's been an absolute nightmare."
"Okay," said Mark. "Did you take her to the doctor?"
"Thanks for remembering," she said. He could almost hear her smile. "I took her today. She's got an allergy."
"One in the plus column for Dr Google," said Mark.
"He's told me to cut down the amount of dairy I eat," said Sarah. "I'm going to miss my milk but it's only for another few months till I
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