by Adam Johnson
“You’re right. But I owe Jerry my life. I have to do this for him and it will be less dangerous if I can have the help of your ghosts.”
“Okay,” I breathed, taking a step closer to the giant man. It was like I was being pulled by a magnet. There was something happening between us yet I had no idea how it was possible. He was a stranger. And a vampire. Both bad news.
“And I would love to take you on a date.”
“What?” I nearly choked on my spit when I interpreted his words.
Gallus smiled at me and brushed his fingers down the side of my cheek. I almost melted right there. “I like you,” he said. “And I don’t like a lot of people.”
“Why not?” It was a stupid question, but one that slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it.
He shrugged and continued to caress my face. “They bore me,” he stated.
“Good reason.”
With a grin, Gallus stepped away. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Ms. Elise.”
“It’s just Elise.”
“Okay,” he said before quickly walking out of the living room and through the front door. I stood still, in the middle of the floor, wondering what had just happened. Did I just agree to commit robbery with a vampire? Yep, I think I did. Yet, I also couldn’t help smile when I thought about how exciting tomorrow was going to be and how I’d be going on my first date in a year.
This Christmas season was turning out better than I expected.
December 24th
I adjusted my boobs for the hundredth time, wondering how women six hundred years ago could stand wearing so many layers.
“You look amazing,” Caroline gushed. She’d helped guide me on the hair and talked me through how I needed to put on each piece of clothing. I’d been surprised that she knew so much, but then again, I loved giving her a chance to feel helpful. I always thought that was one of the reasons she’d taken her own life—she’d been ignored, as a female and as part of her family. So, if I could give her a few moments of happiness in her afterlife, I would.
“I can barely breathe,” I groaned. Sitting in the limousine didn’t help. The corset was constricting and the weight of the fabric added at least a hundred pounds to my tiny frame. Gallus hadn’t picked me up. Instead, the driver said he’d meet me at the mansion. A part of me worried that he wouldn’t show up, but a bigger part of me couldn’t wait to see him again.
“Wow, look at this place,” Caroline gushed as we pulled in front of one of the oldest, and largest mansions in old Baltimore. “It reminds me of home,” she whispered.
I didn’t know all of her backstory, but I knew that Caroline had grown up on a plantation in the south and had to participate in a lot of balls and parties due to her father’s position. I worried an event like this might make her sad, but instead she smiled wider than I’d ever seen before—happier than she’d been in a long time.
The car pulled to a stop and I waited for the driver to come around to my door. Not because of the chivalry aspect, but because I really didn’t think I could stand on my own. My ribs, for sure, were broken. I knew it.
“Don’t forget your mask!” Caroline pointed to the black cat-shaped masquerade mask sitting across the seat from me.
Gallus had done an excellent job picking out my costume for tonight. Decorated in only red and black, the colors matched my blonde hair well, and the dark lace accents made me feel like a queen. I was curious as to why he’d chosen the cat mask, and I vowed to ask him when I could.
The driver guided me out of the car, oblivious to the teenage ghost bouncing along beside me. Once we finally got my oversized skirt straightened out and I could breathe again, he gave me a curt bow and told me that I would meet my date inside.
My date.
I liked the sound of that.
The cold air was a welcomed break to the constraining fabric suffocating my body. Despite it being December, we hadn’t had a good snow storm yet, and the little girl in me wished for a white Christmas. The holiday just didn’t feel right without snow. I looked up at the sky, clouds rolling in and a chill in the air. Maybe I’d get my wish after all.
“Come on, let’s go!” Caroline squealed. She’d already rushed up the grand stairs leading from the driveway to the house and back to me again.
“You know there might be others here who can see you,” I whispered, being careful not to draw attention to myself.
“I know, but I’m just so excited. I finally get to leave your house!”
I whipped my head to the side to catch her gaze. “Can’t you leave my house any time you want?”
She smiled, a sad smiled. “Not really.”
I’d have to remember to ask her about that later. Where did she go if she wasn’t in my house? But those questions would have to wait because I’d just spotted the most handsome man in the world standing in the doorway.
“Holy shit,” Caroline giggled.
“Yeah,” I breathed. Gallus, in a full suit that made him look like he was in the court of Henry XIII, stood at the front entrance to the house wearing a black mask that covered all of his face except for his lips. Those luscious lips.
As I approached, he held out his hand and smiled. “You made it,” he said quietly.
I looked up at the mask, trying to figure out the shape. “Are you a tiger?” Embarrassed at the way that sounded, I quickly cleared my throat. “I mean, the mask. Is that some kind of big cat face?”
He grinned again, my heart turning to mush instantly. “It is. Just like your kitten.”
Kitten? Oh, I get it. He was the tiger and I was the kitten. I’ll take that.
“Shall we?” he asked once I grabbed his hand. Then, tuning to Caroline he added, “George is already inside. He asked you to meet him in the kitchen.”
“Okay,” Caroline squeaked again, before disappearing.
“Why the kitchen?” I asked as Gallus escorted us inside.
“It’s where the entrance to the tunnels start. George and I think Ivar is hiding the contracts somewhere under the house.”
“Oh,” I said. This was really happening.
Gallus held me close as we navigated the crowd. I didn’t miss all of the women staring at him as we passed by. “George will find us once they have any information.” He stopped and turned to face me. Holding both of my hands, he bent forward like he was going to kiss me. “Thank you for helping with this.”
Just one more inch… But, unfortunately, he stood tall again and wrapped his hand across my lower back. Disappointment flooded my bones. I’d just met Gallus but already I wanted him to kiss me. And if I was being honest, I wanted him to do way more than just kiss me, although I did my best to keep those naughty thoughts to myself.
“So, who is this Ivar?” Changing the subject was the only way I could get my hormones back under control.
Gallus cleared his throat and scanned the crowd. How nice it would be to see over the top of everyone’s head. “He’s a very old vampire who’s been back in Baltimore for the last twenty years.”
“Back?”
“He floats between a handful of cities every few decades. It’s the only way he can stay unnoticed.”
“Do you have to do that too?”
“I do.”
If I wasn’t mistaken, I heard a hint of sadness in his voice. I had so many questions about his life. Gallus was the first vampire I’d ever talked to, at least as far as I knew. “Does Ivar know about you?”
“He does.”
“And is that going to be a problem?”
Gallus glanced down at me and smiled. “Why would it be?”
“I don’t know. Because you’re in his territory?”
With a laugh, Gallus started to pull me onto the dance floor. It was the original grand ballroom of the house that had been cleared for dancing. The string quartet played a mix of classical and traditional holiday songs. I loved the music but was terrified of trying to dance in this giant costume of
mine.
“Oh, no. I don’t think so.” I tried to pull on Gallus’ hand, but it was futile.
“Don’t be scared. Just follow my lead.”
“Why do we have to dance?” I whined.
“Because we need to blend in.” Gallus lifted my right hand and wrapped his own around my lower back. “Relax,” he teased. “And let me lead.”
“Fine,” I grumbled.
We drifted around the dance floor in unison with everyone else, yet stuck in our own world. Gallus was a dancer. He knew every move, even when the crowd separated and started a court dance that would never be performed in our century. He whispered into my ear which way to move next and I quickly picked it up, smiling the whole time.
After three more songs, he pulled me close to him when Moonlight Sonata started to play. I rested my head against his chest, listening for the heartbeat that wasn’t there—a stark reminder that we were two different types of people. Literally. Were we even the same species?
Gallus rubbed his hand against my back. “What are you thinking about?”
“Huh?”
He chuckled. “Your body got really tense all of a sudden.”
Weird. “Oh, um. Just worried about George and Caroline,” I lied.
“Gallus. What a pleasure seeing you here.” A deep, gravelly voice interrupted our dance. Gallus froze and pulled me closer. His muscles tightened and he stopped moving all together.
“Ivar.”
I couldn’t see anything because of the way Gallus held me against his chest. So I started to wiggle, signifying that I wanted to see the person talking to us. Gallus eased his grip ever so slightly, just enough that I could turn around. I looked up, and up at another ridiculously tall vampire. He’d tied his long blond hair back into a ponytail and wore one of those masks with the exaggerated beaks on it. But from his bright blue eyes and the perfectly formed lips peeking out underneath, I had no doubt Ivar was also a handsome man.
“And who is this?” he held out his hand toward me.
“She’s mine,” Gallus growled.
Ivar’s laugh had my blood running cold. “Relax, gladiator. I’m simply asking her name.”
Gladiator? Like, for real? I shook my head and took Ivar’s outstretched hand. “I’m Elise.”
He bent forward, watching Gallus closely, and kissed the inside of my wrist. It was such an intimate gesture, I knew I was blushing hard core underneath my mask.
“How lovely,” he whispered to me. “Are you enjoying the ball?”
“I am, thank you.”
“And Gallus, I wasn’t expecting you here tonight.” Ivar sized up my date and I speculated who would win the battle should it come to that. Gallus was wider, but Ivar had this aura about him that oozed death and destruction. I wondered how old he really was.
“My boss couldn’t use his ticket.”
“I see,” Ivar said, giving me the impression he’d heard the lie. “Well, if you’re done dancing with your date—”
“No!” Gallus practically shouted.
Ivar smiled a crooked grin and cast his eyes to the side. “No need to get testy, young friend.” The word friend slid off his tongue like a poison. “If she is yours, I am no threat.”
“She is,” Gallus growled.
Ivar tilted his head forward and grinned at me. “Maybe another time,” he whispered. “Enjoy your evening.”
As Ivar made his rounds to the other guests, Gallus continued to hold me tight. He wouldn’t take his gaze off Ivar and I didn’t enjoy the way he seemed like he was about to snap. Getting in a fight would not be the ideal way to celebrate out first date, even if the real reason we were here was to commit robbery.
“Gallus?” I asked him. He ignored me, eyes glaring daggers at Ivar’s back. “Gallus!” Nothing. “Gallus, look at me!”
He slowly turned his head and I grabbed his cheeks. Then, before I could change my mind, I jumped up on my toes, pulled his face closer to mine, and pressed my lips against his. He didn’t move at first, but as I continued to force my kiss on him, he relaxed in my arms. He deepened the kiss and pushed his tongue inside my mouth. I felt his fangs with my own and almost jumped away. But Gallus had his hands pressed firmly into my back, preventing me from going anywhere.
His soft lips caressed mine with a delicacy I wouldn’t have thought possible. I brushed my hands into his hair, wondering if I could pull his mask off so we could get closer together. A small rumbled erupted from his chest and I melted against his body. Holy hell, could he kiss. And holy hell, I wanted more from this man.
“Elise,” a voice whispered as a breeze passed over my shoulder. It sounded like George, but I didn’t sense him by my side. So, I kept my eyes closed and focused on Gallus and his experienced lips.
“Elise!”
“What?” I whisper-shouted, pulling away from the vampire who was quickly steeling my heart. Looking over my shoulders, I still didn’t see George. Where was the little bastard?
“There,” Gallus said, jerking his chin discretely toward the chandelier in the middle of the ballroom.
And sure enough, when I looked up, George was sitting on the wrought iron monstrosity, glaring at me and flipping off Gallus. I lifted my hands, silently asking him what the hell he wanted.
George jumped down and ran past me again. “We found it,” he said as he breezed by.
“Why is he acting like that?” I asked, pulling on Gallus so we could follow George.
“Probably because this place is full of vampires who might be able to see him.”
Dammit. He was right. I guess I couldn’t be too mad at George. “So, what just happened…” I started.
“I needed the distraction,” Gallus said with a rough timber.
Um. No. That’s not at all what I was getting at. But George now stood in the hallway leading to the kitchen, waving his arms around like a lunatic. I said nothing else, as we followed George past the caterers and through a door on the far side of the kitchen. I hoped everyone in there was too busy to notice our odd choice of exit, and when no one followed us down into the basement tunnels, I suspected we were okay.
“George? Where is Caroline?” I asked, still holding Gallus’ hand as I pulled him through the labyrinth of tunnels George had discovered.
“She’s waiting for us.”
“Why?” Gallus asked. I thought that was a stupid question at first, but when I spotted Caroline standing outside of a wide, metal door carved into the stone wall, I knew he was on to something.
“Because it’s blocked,” she said with a huff. Her arms were crossed over her chest and she tapped her foot in annoyance. “We can’t get through.”
“The wall?” I asked.
“Or the door,” George added. “It’s protected somehow.”
I turned the extra-large doorknob back and forth a few times, much to Gallus’ amusement. “What? I thought I’d at least try,” I said.
“Fair enough,” he said before focusing on the two ghosts. “What’s it feel like?”
“Like a fucking wall,” Caroline muttered. I wanted to remind her about the language, but I stayed silent.
“It’s definitely a ward,” George said, now willing to talk to the vampire like an equal. “But I haven’t felt that kind of magic before.”
“Is it earthy?” Gallus asked.
With a shrug, George huffed. “Sure? I mean it’s kind of like the protection I’ve felt in a witch store before.”
“A witch store?” I asked, but George ignored me and stared at Gallus.
“You know what it is?”
Gallus nodded. “Knowing Ivar’s history, yes, I think I do.”
All three of us stared at the vampire but he was busy searching for something in the pocket of his jacket. “Would you care to elaborate?” I asked.
Gallus smiled down at me and I instantly dropped my annoyance with him. “Trolls.”
“Trolls?” the three of us said together.<
br />
“Yep. Old Norse trolls,” Gallus mused.
“And just how are we supposed to get through troll magic?” Caroline made a face when those words came out of her mouth. I agreed. Who would have ever thought that the phrase “troll magic” would cross our lips?
Gallus flipped a coin he now held in his hand. Then he closed his eyes, sucked in a deep breath, and blew on the small piece of gold. It immediately disappeared from his hand in a waft of smoke as a deep silence filled the tunnel.
“What did you just do?” I whispered.
“Just wait,” Gallus said, grabbing my hand and pulling me against his chest again.
“Wait for what?” George demanded.
The air popped and a sharp scent of moss and dampness filled the small space. Scuffling on the other side of George and Caroline had us all turning around at the same time to see our new arrival.
“We’re waiting for him,” Gallus beamed.
The person we were waiting for stood maybe four feet tall at the most. His dark brown beard covered his neck and his clothes looked like they’d been fashioned out of nature. Small spectacles covered his squinty eyes and the sash he had slung over his shoulder seemed to weigh him down.
“What is that?” Caroline asked.
The tiny man glared at her. “I’m a troll. What are you?” His thick accent hinted that English was not his first language, although we could understand him just fine.
“Trolls are real?” she gushed. Then, turning to me, she asked, “Can we keep him?”
The troll grunted, George rolled his eyes, and I covered my mouth in shame. “No, Caroline. We can’t keep him!”
Gallus laughed behind me before pushing past all three of us and kneeling to the ground in front of the troll. “I have called in my favor,” he said.
The troll’s dark eyes met each of ours before focusing back on Gallus. “Fine. But I have one condition.”
“What?”
He pointed to Caroline. “I want to take her.”
“What! No!” she said.
“Gallus,” I pleaded. “That can’t happen.” The thought of Caroline going away…somewhere with the troll had my maternal instincts blazing at the surface. No, no no. Not going to happen.