What bothered me, you know, other than having a giant of a strange man with long, straight, white hair and equally white skin bedecked in black armor in my bedroom, was his eyes… They glowed a monstrous red the color of blood rubies, and I’m not talking just the iris’, the were wall to wall bright glowing red, whites, iris’, pupils all swallowed in rich, red, drowning, fiery blood.
What the hell was my subconscious trying to tell me?
He stepped free of the pool of darkness on my floor and set his helmet on my dresser, watching me with those terrifying eyes as tears tracked down my face, he unfastened the large buckle at his chest that held his sword to his back, carefully laying the giant blade lovingly on the carpet along the length of my antique dresser. He leaned his round black shield beside it, against my dresser drawers.
He straightened and pulled gauntlets from his hands, deliberately laying them beside his helmet. I sat up when he started pulling at the straps and buckles holding his pauldrons in place. As he deliberately worked his armor off in an ever growing pile his gaze never wavered from me. I felt panic swell in my breast and I began to silently will myself to wake up.
This wasn’t real, this couldn’t be real, but with every creak of leather, click of buckle and rattle of scale I was growing increasingly concerned that my sanity had fled and that I perhaps wasn’t asleep, but awake and hallucinating.
He worked off his greaves one leg at a time, and shucked out of his scale mail with a loud rattle. I pushed myself back into the corner where my bed met the wall and hugged my knees.
“This isn’t real, this can’t be real, wake up Gracelyn, wake up!” I had abandoned all pretense that I was asleep and dreaming and was pretty certain I had just lost my mind completely.
The man put a hand out and approached me, his bare feet a whiter shade of pale against my cream carpet. He wore black leather pants and a billowing black linen shirt. I squeezed my eyes shut forcing pent up tears to slide down my cheeks and forced my eyes to open, fully expecting him to be gone, but nope, he was just that much closer.
“Shhhh…” he soothed and gripped with terror I tried to push my way back through the wall. The bed dipped where he placed his knee on the edge and allowed it to take his weight.
“Who are you? What’s happening to me?” I wailed and put my hands over my face. The bed moved beneath me and strong arms pulled me against a granite chest. I sobbed. Oh my God he was going to rape me, only in New York City could you be attacked in your apartment by a Lord of the Rings fanboi decked out in full armor.
“Shhhhh Gracelyn, shhhh, you’re safe now.” I jerked in his hold.
Safe? Safe!? How did this classify as safe!? How did he know my name?
“Who are you?” I demanded, remaining stiff within his embrace.
“I am Alrekr Hakon Frithjof and I am here to protect you from yourself and the beings who wish you harm,” he murmured, against my hair. I sucked in a breath, the tang of burning metal came off of him, an acrid smell, sharp but not unpleasant.
“I, I don’t understand.” I stammered and his chest rose and fell in a sigh beneath my temple and cheek. I slowly lowered my hands which shook from my face and he took one of them in his large hand and pressed it flat to his chest beside his face.
“Sleep Gracelyn.” He commanded and the rumble of his voice beneath my ear made me gasp.
“I don’t understand…” I repeated, “Who are you?”
He sighed and gave a slightly exasperated growl, I flinched and his hold tightened on me.
“I told you, I am Alrekr Hakon Frithjof, and you will understand in time… right now, rest. I will stay here as long as you need me to.” It should have creeped me out with a creep factor twelve on a scale of one to ten but I can’t explain why it didn’t. I lay stiff in his arms and struggled to pronounce his name, he chuckled and I startled.
“Your modern pronunciation would be Alaric, use that if you prefer.”
“Alaric.” I whispered, and I swear the sigh that emanated from the giant in my bed was of contentment.
Chapter 9
My alarm shattered the peaceful sleep I had been under with its incessant screeching. I slapped at it from beneath my warm nest of covers and successfully silenced it. I lay still for a moment before the scene from last night played across my mind’s eye in high definition weirdness. I sat up sharply and clicked on the bedside lamp. Empty. My bedroom was just as it should be, no weapons no armor, no demonic warrior.
It was officially one very realistic dream. I lay there and felt my heart crack, pieces falling away… What had happened with Roxy hadn’t been a dream. I got up and padded across my bedroom to check my phone… no messages. I returned to my room and sat down on the edge of my bed. I debated on deleting Roxy’s number but no, it was too soon. She would call wouldn’t she? Apologize, let me apologize for being a crappy friend? I hoped so.
I got up and walked the few short steps to my dresser.
“Owe!” I raised my foot and looked down with a frown, checking the bottom. I wasn’t cut but there was an angry red line on the ball of my foot from whatever I had stepped on. I looked down and nestled in my carpet was something black and shiny. I reached down and plucked it from the fibers, holding it between fingers gone suddenly numb with disbelief. I dropped it into the palm of my hand and stared.
It was metal, wider at the top, tapering down into a rounded point at the bottom. Six holes were aligned across the top edge and a frayed thread hung from some of them, the thread was thick and coarse and black like the metal scale I held in my hand. I flashed back to the night before and the dream that was apparently not a dream. I clutched the scale from Alaric’s armor in the palm of my hand until the semi sharp edges bit into my palm.
It wasn’t a dream, he was real.
I let that sink in and shook my head, this was too weird. I dug in my jewelry box and pulled out a length of silver rope chain and filtered through a myriad of charms until I found one with a suitable sized jump ring. Using my fingernails I pried it apart until I could get the charm off and then set to work fitting the ring through one of the center holes on the scale. It took several attempts and finally the use of my teeth to close the jump ring. I threaded the chain through the ring and clasped it at the nape of my neck under my hair. The black metal scale rested at the hollow of my throat, warm against my skin and the ivy constricting my chest eased slightly.
I didn’t have any idea who Alaric was but he’d said he had been here to protect me. That meant that I at least had one person in my corner right? I clung to that feeble hope and got into the shower to deal with the snarl that was my hair. I shoved all thoughts of Roxy to the back of my head, dressed and went to work. Work was a solid, a consistent go to, the history I uncovered had waited too long to be revealed. I walked briskly to work and settled at my bench pulling my lab coat over my lavender satin blouse and dress slacks. I had chosen a pair of black ballet flats for comfort today.
I threw my braid over my shoulder and let it hang down my back as I fitted magnifying goggles, much like jewelers wear to my face and began the painstaking process of uncovering the runes I’d discovered on Friday.
Hours later I let out an explosive breath and came up for air. I pulled the magnification apparatus off my head and rubbed the red marks I knew it left behind on my forehead.
“Gracelyn!” Jared called and I turned. He was leading another man wearing a suit towards my station. I stood, setting down my tools and stripping off my gloves as they threaded their way through the other workstations to mine.
“Yes Jared?” I asked and put on a smile. I had no feeling backing it up and I hoped it wouldn’t show.
“Gracelyn I’d like you to meet Gunnar Volund.” The man beside Jared held out his hand for me to take. I looked up at him, he was very tall, over six foot five, with a wide breadth of shoulders, wheat blonde hair in a business like yet fashionable crew cut. His eyes were the color of the sky over a storm chopped sea, steely and calculating.
“Mr. Volund, how do you do?” I asked politely. He shook my hand and his grip was firm but not painful. He smiled enigmatically and nodded to Jared.
“Mr. Volund wished to meet one of the conservationists on our little project, as a potential investor I thought your current project would impress him the most.” Jared smiled and I couldn’t help the genuine smile that curved my lips as I turned to the corroded hunk of iron and bronze on my bench. I turned on my saleswoman charm.
“Ah yes, she’s a beauty isn’t she?” I asked, turning so that Mr. Volund could take a closer look. He leaned past me, gaze lovingly caressing over the ancient weapon. He muttered something in a language I didn’t know but could have possibly been Swedish. I looked to Jared who gave a little shrug behind Volund’s back… Not Swedish, not something Jared recognized either. Interesting.
“So tell me, Mr. Volund.” He straightened and looked down on me.
“Yes?” one word, imperious and heavily accented.
“How did you hear about our little discovery?” I watched him, and he smirked.
“Around.” Was his one word reply. I darted a look over to Jared, he shrugged and rubbed his index and middle fingers together with his thumb. Apparently Mr. Volund had money, it was highly irregular for Jared to bring investors or philanthropists by without giving me some warning first. Huge quantities of potential money was the usual reason.
“I see.” My voice was low, barely above a whisper.
“Have dinner with me.” The imperious man said, and I didn’t hear a question mark.
“I’m certain something could be arranged. Can’t it Gracelyn?” he asked and I scowled at him. Volund must be loaded.
“I don’t know…” I began, suddenly reluctant. This man gave me the chills, internal warning beacons began flashing their little red lights.
“Tonight is bad.” I said, thoughts turning toward the mysterious dream that wasn’t a dream from the night before… Specifically to the giant of a man that would rival Volund here in height. I wasn’t sure what was hidden under the suit but I’d felt the rock hard muscle beneath the linen homespun shirt on Alaric last night.
“Tonight is no good for me,” Volund gave a dismissive wave of his hand. “I will have my driver pick you up on Wednesday night, the day after tomorrow yeah?” I stared at him wide eyed and he nodded, answering for me. “Yeah.” He turned to Jared and began speaking to him, turning to go. Jared flashed a winning smile over his shoulder at me and I gave him my award winning glare. I mouthed “you owe me” to him and he waved me down and followed alongside Volund.
I made an exasperated noise and turned back to the sword with a sigh. It was going to be a while before I got the runes uncovered. I tugged my purse off of my coat tree and went in search of some lunch.
Chapter 10
When I finally shut my apartment door I was bone tired. I had been a simmering pot of anger ever since I’d returned from lunch. Jared had stopped by to inform me that Volund’s driver would be picking me up at 8:00pm sharp on Wednesday outside of my apartment building… My apartment!
When I brought up to Jared just how wrong I thought it was that he had just given out my address to a man I didn’t know he’d waved me off as if it weren’t important. I’d gaped at him, at a loss for words when he’d told me he’d given Volund my number as well. My jaw had worked up and down as I had struggled to find the words. He had simply told me not to be late that this dinner could be worth hundreds of thousands if not a million or more and walked off. Dollar signs apparently worth more than my wellbeing.
Maybe I was over reacting. It’s not like Volund had done anything untoward, he’d just been an arrogant ass like so many other rich folk I’d dealt with in the past. Maybe it was just his size that I found to be intimidating.
I sighed, my mind a mess of confusion and gripped the metal scale at my throat. I wondered suddenly if I would ever see Alaric again. I was kind of amazed that I wanted to see him again. I fixed myself a simple dinner of soup and salad and ate. I changed for bed and brushed out my hair in front of my bureau mirror, taking a little longer to braid my hair than usual. I crawled into bed and lay there watching the spot where he had appeared the night before. An hour went by, then two.
I turned to the wall and heaved out a sigh. What if he never came back? I punched the pillow into submission and lay on my side. I was surprised to find how much the thought of never seeing him again stung. My thoughts drifted to Roxy and the scaffolding I had carefully erected around my heart to begin to repair it suddenly started coming apart. I sniffed as the first tear slid over my nose to join the others heading for my pillow.
The bed dipped and I gasped. I turned toward the subtle red glow over my shoulder emanating from his eyes as he settled in behind me, his warmth radiating through my back. My breath caught when I realized he was shirtless. He slid a massively muscled arm beneath the curve of my neck and across the flat of my chest above my breasts. The other snaked across my middle and he pulled himself right up against my back, spooning me.
“You came back.” I whispered.
“How could I not when I hear you cry?” he asked.
“You can hear me?” I ask.
“You are my charge. I can hear you when you are distressed… When you hurt.” His warm breath stirred the hairs at the nape of my neck, caressing that sweet spot on the side of my neck below my ear and I shivered. He cuddled me back closer into the heat of his body.
“Where do you come from?” I asked softly.
“Shhhh, sleep now Gracelyn.” He urged gently.
I settled into the circle of his arms and tried again…
“Where do you come from Alaric?” I asked again.
“Once, long ago, I came from the North.” He answered softly, his tone was gentle but I could tell I would be getting nothing else from him.
“Will you be here when I wake up this time?” I asked.
“No.”
“Why not?” I asked.
“I have duties elsewhere.” Was his solemn reply.
“Will I see you again?” I asked.
“I will try.” He murmured.
“I’d like that.” I murmured and he squeezed me a little.
“I promise nothing.” He said but I could hear the lie in his words. He would be here if he could. I just knew he would by the way his hold on me tightened infinitesimally.
I lay with my strange new friend for a long time, listening to his quiet breaths before he asked quietly…
“You are not afraid?”
“Only thing I am afraid of is that I’m crazy.” I answered honestly.
“You are not mad Gracelyn, that I can promise you.” he murmured this softly against my shoulder and I forgot to breathe, I don’t think it was intentional on his part but suddenly and embarrassingly I was aroused. I swallowed hard and closed my eyes, his words sinking in… I wasn’t crazy. Oh how I wanted to believe him…
“Then what am I?” I asked.
“You are the strongest woman I have ever seen, now sleep.”
“I was.” I said in an effort to keep him talking.
“You were what?” his speech was accented and oddly formal.
“Afraid… I thought you were going to…” I shuddered, not wanting to give voice to the word.
“Rape you?” he surmised.
“Yeah.” I whispered.
He placed his lips beside my ear and whispered gently, “Were I in my youth, I would have.”
I stiffened in his arms and his hold loosened. I tried to process what he’d said, finally relaxing slowly when I realized he was as still as a stone behind me, waiting on me to see what I would do.
“You’re not very old.” I murmured at last.
“I am older than you can imagine. Now please, sleep. I will not be here when you wake but I am here and will stay… You are safe with me, that too I can promise.” I closed my eyes and sank into the warmth and safety he was offering, a million questions flitting through my mind, each elud
ing me one after the other as I drifted into the depths of sleep.
Chapter 11
The next day I thought nonstop about Alaric, he was really real, not a figment of my imagination. As I worked on the remnants of the Viking sword on my bench my thoughts drifted back to the night before last, the first night… Something was bothering me and it took several hours for my historian’s brain to process what it was.
His sword and shield were clearly Viking, his helmet was Viking, but his armor… the scales… it didn’t match, did it? I was about to put down my brushes and go off to my good friend the internet to look but Jared stopped me as I was getting up from my stool.
“Don’t forget, tomorrow night at eight.” He tapped his watch face by way of emphasis and I scowled at him.
“Wear something nice.” He ordered and I know he did it just to irritate me. I was his employee, not his girlfriend, not his property… I looked down at the sword and resumed my work. My earlier goal of comparing time periods for armor and weaponry forgotten. It would be a while before I freed enough runes from the centuries of corrosion, if I could retrieve enough of them to even make sense of what they may or may not mean.
I set back to work and tried to ignore Jared, and the fact that the clock was crawling around the dial at a snail’s pace. I just wanted to go home. I wanted to see Alaric, speak with him some more. I fought down a bubble of panic that he may not show tonight.
For months I felt as if my world were tilted on its axis… Depression and anxiety both eating me alive from the inside out until none of my friends wanted to be around me, and who could blame them? I set down my tools and pinched the bridge of my nose. I did not need to think about this. I didn’t want to think about this. The fog of sorrow was creeping its way back into my heart. I gripped the scale from Alaric’s armor in the palm of my hand and felt marginally better.
Heaven, Hell & the Love In Between Page 4