The Series that Just Plain Sucks: The Complete Trilogy

by Charissa Dufour

  Like most of Paris, this was an old neighborhood that had seen renovation and remodeling throughout the last century, with bits of historic stone and brick peeking through the modern plaster and dry wall. The age of the city was also seen in the narrow streets and the forest of chimneys dotting the skyline.

  We climbed out of the car and began to cross the street. It wasn’t until we were on the other side, looking for the little door that would lead up to the second story, before I realized Emma had stopped in the middle of the street. I went back to her, noting the wild-eyed stare masking her face.

  “Emma?”

  “It’s just a coincidence,” she whispered, more to herself than to me.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Finally, she glanced down at me before her eyes flickered up to the loft again. “It’s just a coincidence,” she repeated.

  “What is a coincidence?”

  “This place.”

  “You’ve been here before?”

  By this time Josh and Nik had joined us in the middle of the road.

  “We’re too visible,” Nik growled.

  “Emma, when were you here?” I demanded

  “When… when I left Nik. This is where Thomas lived.”

  Chapter Seven

  “Thomas?” asked Nik, staring at Emma’s bewildered face.

  “The human who helped me escape, when… when we parted. This is where he lived.”

  “But he’s dead now,” said Josh.

  “No. I turned him. That was the bargain. He helped me escape and I turned him.”

  “Surely he’s not still here. That was a long time ago,” I said.

  Emma forced a smile to her face. “True. I’m sure he’s moved on. It’s just a coincidence.”

  In my opinion, Emma sounded as though she was trying to convince herself.

  “I don’t really believe in coincidences. But in the end, it doesn’t matter. We have to go in and get whoever lives in this apartment,” Nik said, waving the note given to him by Faunus. “Just keep your eyes peeled.”

  We followed Nik to the door and trotted up a narrow set of stairs into a hallway that had yet to see the modern touch of remodeling. The walls were old, decaying stone and mortar, and the wood around the doorways looked warn with age and grubby from little hands. If I didn’t know the age of the building, I wouldn’t have been surprised if the wooden supports had once been a part of an old sailing boat and used to make the place look “rustic.”

  Nik led us to the end of the hallway and stopped outside a door. Emma stifled a gasp. I looked at her and she nodded slowly.

  With Josh’s help, Nik slammed the door open, and the two men charged in. Emma was a second behind them, scouring the tiny, one bedroom apartment. I stayed beside the door, just in case he slipped by them and tried to make a run for it. As it turned out, that is exactly what he did.

  A moment after they had left the narrow hallway and divided into the different rooms, a door next to the exit burst open and a man charged right into me. His momentum took us both to the ground and I purposefully tangled my limbs with his, making it more difficult for him to climb to his feet. By the time he had untangled himself, getting one good punch into my gut, Nik and Emma had returned.

  They dragged the man off me and pulled him back down the hallway, further into the apartment. I scrambled to my feet and pushed the door shut, worried that a neighbor might have heard our little scuffle. Nik and Emma pushed the man into a chair just as I reached the living room.

  The room was decorated as though the last ten decades had been thrown into a blender and left on high for an hour. The bright yellow couch was from the seventies. Right next to the yellow monstrosity was a feinting couch with claw-foot legs, delicately carved wood trim, and what looked to be the original upholstery. I could imagine a woman in a bustle and corset collapsing on it after a man had dared to kiss her hand. In between the two couches sat a little table covered in a delicate doily. On top of the doily sat a bust of Benedict Cumberbatch.

  The man collapsed into a lazy-boy that had been purchased in the last ten or fifteen years—and ugly afghan covering the back, its edges frayed and unwinding. I stopped looking around, afraid of what I might find next. The man himself was rather thin, with high cheek bones and eyes that looked tired and slightly wrinkled, as though he had spent his human life squinting up into the sun. His dark brown hair was cropped short, just shy of a buzz and his lips were pursed tightly. He wore a v-necked, lavender sweater which had been intended for a woman, the riding pants of a cavalry officer—including the extra girth on the outside of his thighs—and a pair of run-down house slippers.

  “Thomas?” asked Emma, too stunned to say more.

  The man’s eyes drifted to her and slowly focused on her face. “Emma?” he asked, sounding as though he had awoken from a dream. “Is that really you?”

  Emma knelt next to him. “Thomas, why are you still here?”

  “I waited for you. I knew you would come back to me. I waited for you.”

  Emma glanced up at me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. I wanted to help her, but I didn’t know what to say. I was unprepared for such a situation. Clearly, this Thomas had lost his mind.

  “Thomas, I told you I was moving away. I told you I was going to the Colonies.”

  “I thought you would come back. I knew you would come back. And you did,” he added, a smile forming on his lips and lighting his eyes with a fire that made him bright with life; he almost looked attractive.

  “Have you stayed here the whole time? Don’t you go out?”

  “Oh, I go out, but I always come back here, in case you had come home. And today you came.”

  Emma turned to look at me again. In all her centuries of life, she had clearly never experienced such devotion, misplaced as it was.

  “We don’t have time for this,” grumbled Nik unfeelingly.

  I was about to smack him when Emma turned back to Thomas.

  “Thomas, would come with me, if I asked you to?”

  “Of course, Emma. I would go anywhere with you.”

  Emma took his limp hand and gave it a squeeze. “Thank you, Thomas. Let’s get you changed, and pack some clothing for you.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “I’m going to take you to America with me,” she said, her voice sounding tight with emotion. “Josh, would you help Thomas?”

  Josh nodded mutely, his eyes showing that he understood Emma’s pain and confusion.

  “Thomas, this is Josh. Please go with Josh… for me. I’ll join you in just a moment.”

  Thomas nodded mutely before following Josh into the one bedroom off the living room, his eyes never leaving Emma’s face until Josh shut the door, giving us some privacy. Emma went to an antique record player in the corner, wound it up, and gently placed the needle on the record. “Rhapsody in Blue” filled the room, drowning out the noise in the next room.

  “What has happened to him?” whispered Emma as she rejoined us.

  “It’s nothing,” said Nik, glancing around the strange room.

  “It’s not nothing,” I snapped, angry with Nik’s aloofness. “You know what’s making Thomas act like this, now spill the beans.”

  Nik sighed. “He’s just lost it since Emma left. That’s all.”

  “Why would he do that?” I asked, interceding for Emma; Nik could be angry at me without consequences right now. I wasn’t so sure Emma could handle him being angry at her.

  “It happens sometimes.”

  “Nikolai, what are you not telling us?”

  He sighed again. “When a vampire turns another vampire, it is their instinct to stay with them and protect them until they can protect themselves.”

  I glanced at Emma, who nodded slowly.

  “In reverse, the new vampire depends on their sire. Sometimes, when it is time for the two to part ways, the new vampire doesn’t handle it so well. It can result in psychosis such as this.” Nik shrugged as though he had just tol
d us a bad joke. “In Thomas’ case, he has had a hundred and fifty years to perfect his brand of crazy.”

  “What can be done to fix hi-this?” I asked, changing my wording at the last second.

  “Nothing. Does it matter? We’re handing him over to Faunus the second we’re back in Olympia. We’ll just have to put up with his crazy for a day or two. Now go get him packed,” Nik ordered, just as his cell phone rang.

  I took Emma by the arm and guided her away. Now was not the time to fight with Nik. Either way, we needed to take Thomas back to the seethe. We would decide later if we would actually hand him over to Faunus. If Emma wanted me to, I would fight Nik on the subject to the bitter end.

  Once we had entered the bedroom, I whispered in Emma’s ear, “Just go along with it for now. We’ll decide how to deal with this when we get to the seethe.”

  She nodded.

  During our conversation, Josh had gotten Thomas dressed in modern jeans, a button-up dress shirt, and leather loafers. He was pulling at his clothing as though they were made of natural wool and glaring at Josh.

  “Thomas, you look so nice,” I said, cueing Emma, who quickly agreed.

  Josh ignored Thomas’ glare and scurried around the room, stuffing clothing into an old carpet bag, much like what Anne Shirley might have used. The two handles were worn and on the verge of breaking off, and the seams were pulled at the corners.

  “Why don’t I go to the bathroom and get his toothbrush,” I suggested before leaving the room.

  When I returned, Emma was sitting on the edge of the bed with Thomas, listening to him tell a story about cheese, her favorite kind of cheese. I helped Josh finish the packing, then we escorted Thomas out of his reclusive home.

  “What was the call about?” I asked Nik as we traipsed down the narrow staircase and exited the building.

  “Drake called. He found the dagger in Rome, but says it’s about to be auctioned off. We’re going there next.”

  “What about Thomas?” asked Emma.

  Nik let out a gusty sigh before saying, “Guess he’ll have to tag along. I don’t see him running away,” he added, nodding to Thomas’ death-hold on Emma’s arm.

  Insert another day trapped in an airport restaurant.

  I would say the day was dull, but Thomas kept things entreating. He gazed on Emma as though she were the Virgin Mary. Emma tried to stay calm about it, but I could tell his continued admiration was starting to wear on her. I tried to direct some of his attention on me, but for the first time since Sedgrave had risen from the dead, I couldn’t use his charisma to my advantage. Thomas wanted nothing to do with me, unless I asked him to tell me a story about the five years Emma had spent with him in Paris.

  “Emma was the most beautiful woman at Mrs. Charmond’s party. Every woman was envious of her dress, and every man wanted to remove it… if you know what I mean,” said Thomas.

  I glanced at Emma, surprised to see her blushing prettily. Nik, on the other hand, glared at Thomas over the top of his magazine.

  “Do you remember what she wore?” I prompted.

  “Of course,” Thomas replied as though I had asked if he remember his address. “It was a gown of pink silk, the hem trimmed in the finest white lace, which tucked up a few times around the skirt, the top of the lace hidden behind silk pink roses. More lace trimmed her neckline, and draped over her chest. I remember it was off her shoulders. Her skin was so white and delicate. Of course, the women then didn’t understand how any woman could be that white. They used butter milk and any other remedy to hide their freckles. But Emma. Well, she couldn’t exactly go out into the sun. The result has always been breathtaking,” he added, glancing over at her.

  When the topic was Emma, Thomas spoke with the eloquence of a lover, all his madness gone.

  “She wore that dress often enough when we were together,” grumbled Nik.

  I stared at him, a smile pulling on my lips. Is Nik jealous? I certainly hoped so.

  Thomas glanced at Nik, oblivious to Nik’s taciturn manner. “Oh I’m sure,” he said. “Though I’m sure you’ll agree our dear Emma looks lovely in whatever she may wear. Even in these modern clothing she looks beautiful. I must admit, though, I do miss the dresses of the past. Women don’t look like women anymore, except for yourself, my dear.”

  Emma smiled, but the expression didn’t reach her sad eyes. I could only guess the pain she was feeling. This man had been her responsibility. She must have felt as though she had failed him, as though his psychosis was her fault. At that moment, the pianist at the high-end restaurant began to play a pretty, swaying tune.

  “Miss Tanner,” said Thomas in a formal tone. “Would you give me the honor of a dance?”

  Emma tried to smile as she placed her hand in his and let him lead her to the tiny space between our table and the empty one beside us. He pulled her close and guided her through an intimate dance, too informal to be from a time when he was human, or even lucid. Yet, at the same time, they moved with a practiced ease that was uncommon in this age of twerking and grinding.

  The few patrons in the restaurant turned to look at them. I tried to view their dance from the perspective of the strangers. Dressed in normal clothing, with his short hair styled and his face clean, Thomas was a very handsome man, and of course Emma could turn heads in her pajamas. Together, they were a work of art as they glided through the mess of half-filled tables. Thomas had only eyes for his partner, and yet somehow he never missed a step nor bumped into an obstacle. It was a romantic image, and it made me want to ask Josh to dance, but. considering the circumstances, I knew he would take it the wrong way. I contented myself with watching.

  When they returned—to loud applause—I could see that Emma was flustered. No doubt she was feeling a mix of old sentiment and deep regret. I didn’t know much about Emma’s past, but I suspected that she had accepted Thomas’ proposal to change him in exchange for her freedom in part because she cared for him, because she liked him. Her admiration may have been nothing compared to her feelings for Nikolai, but they had been enough to lure her away.

  Whatever had happened, Emma was being punished for it tenfold, and Nik was offering her no grace.

  “You dance beautifully,” I said, smiling warmly at Thomas. Maybe, just maybe, we could rehabilitate him.

  “Ha. You call that dancing?” asked Nik from behind his magazine. I had thought he had been reading during their dance, but evidently one eye had remained on Emma.

  My smile broadened. Nik was very jealous indeed.

  Chapter Eight

  As we boarded the plane, after another long wait, Nik received a phone call.

  “Hello, this is Nikolai Krasniy.”

  Being a vampire, I could hear both ends of the conversation.

  “Mr. Krasniy, this is Alberto Rossi,” said a man with a thick Italian accent. “I received your number from Drake Smith. I understand you are interested in a dagger I am putting up for auction the day after tomorrow.”

  “Yes, I am very interested. I was wondering if you would be willing to meet me tonight to discuss a private sale.”

  “Sale? It’s going to auction.”

  “I understand,” said Nikolai. “But I can guarantee I can make it worth your while. I will pay far more than any of those at the auction.”

  “Why not just come to the auction?” asked Alberto.

  “I am afraid I am needed back in the States as soon as possible. I am flying into Rome tonight. Boarding the plane as we speak, in fact, but I would like to leave again as soon as possible. It would be best to fly out again tomorrow morning, if I can complete my business tonight.”

  “I see. Well, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to meet with you, but I can’t promise anything. When would you like to meet?”

  “I apologize for the late hour, but would you be willing to meet at 10:30? I will come directly to you from the airport.”

  “Yes, I can do that. Let’s meet at the Oppoi Caffe. I’ll text you the address.”

 
; “Thank you,” said Nikolai as he bucked up his seatbelt. “And would you be willing to bring the dagger with you, in case we reach an agreement. I have cash with me and can pay you directly. As I said before, I would like to leave in the morning.”

  There was a long pause on the other end of the line. “I suppose I can do that. I’ll see you at 10:30, Mr. Krasniy. I’ll be in a blue suite, and I have a brown mustache.”

  “See you then and thank you for your help, Mr. Rossi.”

  “We really just going to buy it from him?” I asked when he had hung up the phone and put it back in his pocket.

  “Lot easier than stealing it.”

  “True.”

  “Where are we going?” asked Thomas in an absent-minded voice.

  “We’re going to Rome,” Emma said, patting him on the arm. “I have a few errands to run with my friends, then we’ll go back to the States. I think you’ll like it there.”

  “I’ll like any place that you are in,” Thomas said matter-of-factly.

  A few hours later we landed in Rome. I made sure to get a window seat in our rented car so that I could see the historic city as we drove through it. To my astonishment, we drove to the Colosseum. I rolled down my window and stuck my head out to look up at the monolithic structure.

  Nik turned down a side road and parked the rental before turning in his seat to look at us.

  “I don’t want us all traipsing in there together. It will make him suspicious.” Nik glanced at the clock; we were twenty minutes early. “Emma, can you spruce Ashley up a bit? Josh, go in and order yourself a drink. I’ll go in with Ashley in a few. Fifteen minutes after he arrives, Emma and Thomas will go in and get a table. Everyone keep your eyes peeled. I don’t intend for this to turn into an issue, but, if necessary, we may need to clear the restaurant. Everyone understand?”

  We all nodded. Emma went to her luggage and pulled out a slinky top that was open in the back and a pair of leather boots. I changed into them, thankfully being allowed to wear my own stretchy jeans, which tucked into the boots. Emma then touched up my makeup, adding a few layers of eye shadow. She took my rumpled hair and, with the aid of many bobby pins, pulled it up into a messy disarray that came off as chic.