by Lisa Olsen
I let that number swim around in my head for a minute. Three thousand years… it was almost too long to really comprehend. “What made you do it? Take that drink? It’s sort of a weird transition, I’m thinking, right? I mean, you’re living your life, all powerful and mighty and one day you think… boy, you know what would go good with this smoked herring… a frothy pint of blood?”
A smile flitted across his lips, too fast to linger. “My brother offered it to me and I took it without question.”
I remembered Bishop mentioning something about Jakob’s brother before. “Your younger brother, he’s an Ellri too?”
“No, he is among the fallen in Valhalla.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said softly, biting back another question for a few seconds until I couldn’t stand it any longer. “What happened to him?”
“I judged him for his… excesses.”
“Oh,” I murmured, and then I got what that really meant. “Oh, so when you said the Ellri had to kill their brethren, you really meant you had to kill your…”
“Brethren,” he nodded grimly.
We walked along in silence, each lost to our own thoughts. I decided to change the subject to pull him out of his dark memories. “You know, I always thought vampires came from the Carpathian mountains or something.”
“At first there were just the Ellri and we were worshipped among our people. But in time we went out into the world and new cultures incorporated us into their legends. We created the draugen to serve us.”
“Draugen?”
“Simply put, vampires as you recognize them today. We created them to serve as slaves and they expanded into the world, quickly growing out of control and spreading to other continents once they were away from our sphere of influence. Left unchecked, their numbers grew and we were content to let them spread the vampire legends that held little resemblance to us and the Norse culture.”
“Didn’t that worry you?” With how secretive vamps were now, it seemed strange they’d let them roam so freely out of their control.
“Indeed it did. Around the time of Stoker’s Dracula, my brethren decided the world had become far too comfortable with the notion of vampires and we needed to take steps.”
“What kind of steps?” Something told me it wasn’t a gentle warning, given their bloodthirsty reputation.
“We created the Order from an elite force of assassins, hand picked of special bloodlines. They decimated the vampire population, bringing to a halt the wide scale spread of modern vampire lore. After that, the legend of Dracula became more myth than man, and we could move more freely again. Strict laws were put into place to keep the population under control and the Order became feared and obeyed. The remaining Houses were brought under our rule, as they should be, and balance was restored.”
He had an interesting notion of balance. The history lesson was fascinating, but I couldn’t help but wonder; which was worse, the race of vampires that spread like the plague across the world, or the race that unleashed them in the first place without batting an eye?
“But you don’t have any restrictions, right? You created the Order that created the laws, but you’re exempt from all of them? That hardly seems fair.”
“The creation should not have governance over the creators, it isn’t their place.”
“So, whose place is it? If one of you Ellri runs amok again and whose job is it to police you if not the Order?”
“They could hardly stop us if they tried,” he snorted.
“I’m not so sure about that. I’ve met a few of them, they look pretty dangerous to me. You can still be killed, right? If someone cut off your head they couldn’t keep it alive in a jar, you’re not that immortal, right?”
“You wish to see my head kept in a jar?” Jakob replied, obviously perplexed by the way my mind worked and I shook my head.
“No, I’m just saying, it’s probably hard to do, but if your head comes off, or your heart is torn out, that’s got to be hard to recover from. Or if you got burnt to a crisp, that would probably do it too.”
The corner of his mouth turned up in amusement. “Are you enjoying plotting my demise? I assure you, the only way my heart can be torn out is if you continue to reject me, petal.”
I ignored the urge to roll my eyes over that one, instead they dipped to my list again. “Why do you hate Bishop so much? I mean Ulrik?”
“I never begrudged Carys her playthings, but I never cared for Ulrik, I found him too soft,” his nose wrinkled in distaste.
“Soft? Are we talking about the same man?” There wasn’t a single soft thing about Bishop that I could think of, except for maybe his brains when it came to me.
“Indeed. Ulrik was the type of man who shied away from confrontation, surrounding himself with the arts and beauty. He was completely unworthy of Carys, he had no hope of protecting her. Completely untried in battle, his skills were nonexistent.”
“He must have had some skills to catch her eye,” I murmured, trying to picture what Bishop had been like when he was alive. “Maybe she didn’t need him to protect her, she must have been pretty powerful by then.”
“All women need protection,” he waved my suggestion away. “Ulrik followed her around like a pup. Carys often had that effect on men, it’s true, but he acted more like a servant than a man.”
“Well, let me tell you, he’s changed alright. Boy howdy has he changed. I can’t imagine him dancing attendance to any woman.” Or maybe that was just because he wasn’t willing to treat me that way? Not that I expected him to drop everything to protect and serve me. “Whatever he used to be, years of working for the Order have changed him. I’ve never seen anyone so cold and deadly.”
Jakob fell silent for a few moments, I guess I touched on a nerve for him because he changed the subject. “I don’t wish to dwell on Ulrik, he’s not your concern any longer.”
That sounded dangerously close to an order but I let it go, it wasn’t like Bishop even talked to me anymore anyway. Game to ask him another question, I glanced at my list again. “What do you do all day? I mean, to keep busy? You seem to have plenty of money to travel and enjoy life, but doesn’t it get old after a while?”
“I have many business pursuits that keep me busy. In a way you’re right though, it does grow old after a while. But I look forward to seeing the world through new eyes with you by my side.”
Again presupposing I wanted to share the world with him. “Why didn’t you approach me before you turned me? Or did you and I don’t remember it?”
“I didn’t think it important. I knew we would have eternity to spend together, it didn’t seem necessary to brief you before the process.”
Something about his response irked me, but I left it alone to ask my next question.
“Why didn’t you step forward and claim me when you turned me? Do you know what that was like for me to wake up in the morgue all alone, not having a clue in the world what was going on? How could you let me go through the transition alone? Bishop says if I hadn’t happened to feed on human blood I might really have died for good. You claim to love me or whatever, but I keep coming back to these questions.”
“Shhh, hush now, älskling. You’re getting yourself all worked up over nothing.”
“It wasn’t nothing to me,” I sniffed, pushing away his attempt to gather me into his embrace.
“I’ve told you, I have many concerns. I never meant to leave you that night, it was entirely beyond my control.”
“That’s it? That’s all you’re going to say?”
“My reasons are my own, but I assure you, I did have very good reasons.”
Why clam up now for Pete’s sake? “Reasons important enough to let me die because I didn’t know I had to drink blood to complete the transition?” I already knew he didn’t care at all that I might have killed Bridget in the process.
“I trusted your instincts to lead you in the right direction, and I was right. You survived fine.”
“Only because
Bishop was there to take care of me.” I thought back to the hatred I’d felt for Bishop when he trussed me up like a Christmas goose to keep me from hurting myself or others and the tender way he’d held me in the cooling water when my body felt like it would consume itself from within. How could the man standing before me claim to have any feelings for me at all and so casually leave me to suffer something like that scared and alone?
“In that I suppose I owe him a debt of gratitude,” Jakob admitted grudgingly. “At least he’s served some purpose.”
“Bishop’s been there for me, even when he didn’t want anything to do with me,” I murmured, more to myself than him. We might not be able to be in the same room anymore, but I knew he’d come if I really needed him. Could I say the same of Jakob who came and went as he pleased?
Jakob’s touch at my chin drew my attention as he turned my face to his. “If you come away with me I’ll be able to devote my full attention to you. Give me the opportunity to make it up to you. I guarantee it will not disappoint.”
The offer hung in the air between us his eyes smoldering with promise. If I went with him I had no doubt I’d be treated like a princess, at least for a while. It was clear he had other things to worry about, and that was fine, the last thing I wanted was a guy whose entire world revolved around me. Jakob had answered each of my questions patiently and so far hadn’t pressured me beyond the invitations to leave with him voluntarily, even though I knew he could force me to do anything he liked. I’d find a patient teacher with multiple lifetimes’ worth of knowledge to share, but I’d never be his equal. Not if I lived to be a thousand years or more.
“I’m sorry, like I said before, I’m not ready to leave everything behind. Maybe someday I will, but…” I hated to give him false hope, but I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to take what he offered. Besides, if I was being honest with myself, my heart still belonged to a certain grouchy vampire cop whether he wanted it or not.
“I’m a patient man,” Jakob nodded in acceptance. If it bothered him overmuch he didn’t let on. “I admit, I don’t understand it, but I’m confident you will yield in time.”
“Forever is a long time,” I nodded, thinking back to my exchange with Bishop. Forever was a long time, there wasn’t a need to rush into anything.
Chapter Twenty
“Do you think this is too slutty?” Bridget posed in the bathroom doorway, the pirate wench costume she wore sexy, but not overtly vulgar.
“No, I don’t think so, all your goodies are covered pretty well.”
“Oh,” her face fell and she tugged her cleavage higher in the bodice. “How about now?”
“Now you’re definitely straining the boundaries of good taste,” I replied. Bridget definitely wasn’t shy about displaying her bits and pieces.
“Good,” she grinned, “‘Cause Rob’s gonna be here any minute and I want his eyes to fall out of his head.”
“That’ll do it,” I murmured, plopping down on the couch.
“Tell me again what you are?”
“I’m Starbuck from Battlestar Galactica. The new one obviously, since I’m not a guy.” I’d wanted to do something more elaborate, but with things being so hectic, I went with an older costume left over from a sci-fi convention two years before.
“Obviously,” she deadpanned, clearly having no idea who I meant in either case. “How come you didn’t go as Vampirella or something?”
“Because Halloween is about going as something you’re not for a change. Starbuck is a strong, confident woman with… a few hiccups in her personal life, but overall, someone you can count on to have your back.”
“So…she’s basically you in baggy pants and set of tank tops?”
“I’m nothing like her, I’m afraid of everything,” I scoffed. “I could never do some of the things she does on the show.”
“Maybe so, but I know you’ve got my back no matter what comes at me,” Bridget replied and I gave her a heartfelt smile in return.
“You’re right there.” I might freak out about it, but I’d do anything to protect my friends and family, and I held Bridget as my closest friend.
“Oh, Rob’s here,” Bridget recovered from her show of support to teeter to the front door in her ridiculously high heels. “Hey,” she grinned, posing with a hand on her hip, chest pushed out invitingly. “You’re not wearing a costume,” her lips pouted in disappointment.
“Sure I am,” he dropped a quick kiss to her cheek and stepped inside.
“What are you supposed to be?”
“I’m a serial killer, they look the same as everybody else,” he chuckled, stopping to take in my costume. I didn’t expect him to get it, Rob didn’t much look like a science fiction fan. Whether or not he recognized who I was supposed to be, he favored me with one of his rare smiles. “You look like you’re ready for a little rough and tumble,” he said approvingly.
I put up my hands like I knew what boxing felt like. “Fancy going a few rounds? Or are you afraid of having your arse handed to you by a girl?” I quipped, mangling an attempt at his accent and Rob laughed out loud.
“I reckon you could at that.”
“Don’t you like my costume?” Bridget waited by the door, the moue of a pout still on her lips.
“‘Course I do, luv,” Rob replied dutifully. “Won’t anybody be looking at me, all eyes’ll be on you all night.”
Bridget’s smile returned. “We should go, the party’s already started.”
“Have fun you guys,” I waved, sitting back on the couch again.
“You’re not coming with?” Rob replied with what might’ve been a touch of dismay. “Are you sure you’ll be alright?”
“She’ll be fine, Anja’s not much for the party scene anyway. Come on, let’s go,” Bridget turned the doorknob impatiently.
“You’re staying in all night?” Rob lingered, and I had to wonder what he was so worried about.
“That’s the plan.” I didn’t expect to have to run out for more candy, we didn’t get many trick or treaters up on the third floor. “Go on, have fun. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re sure?”
I got up and steered his shoulders towards the door with a push. “Yes, the big bad vampire will be just fine locked up in her own house. You two go out and have some fun,” I insisted, trading looks with Bridget. “I won’t let any one strange in, I’ll be perfectly safe, I promise.”
“Right, well, we won’t be out too late, see you later then.”
“The hell we won’t,” Bridget snorted. “Do you know how hard it is to get Halloween night off at the hospital? I’m definitely making the most of it. I have three different parties to go to, we’ll be lucky if we get back by dawn.”
For some reason Rob didn’t look too happy to hear that, but he nodded, giving me a last look as they disappeared down the hallway stairs. I suppose I could have gone with them, but I didn’t think Bridget wanted to share Rob with another girl. Besides, I think my outfit wasn’t right for her crowd anyway. I considered giving Kyle and Lei and those guys a call to see what they were up to, but in the end decided it was safer everyone if I stayed home until we caught whoever still had it in for me.
Almost an hour later (and halfway through the first movie of my Nightmare on Elm Street marathon), I got my first trick or treaters, an adorable princess and her Transformer brother, neighbors from next door. After that, I had the movie on pause as the small circle of neighborhood kids made the rounds, braving the stairs in search of candy. It only lasted about forty-five minutes and then things settled down and I got back to Johnny Depp being sucked into the ceiling.
The end credits on that one started rolling when I got the next knock, and I picked up the candy bowl, surprised to find Evan standing out in the hallway. Dressed in regular street clothes, he flashed me a lopsided smile, eyes lighting up when I opened the door.
“Trick or treat.”
“I don’t give out candy to kids who don’t wear costumes,” I replied after I’d gott
en over my surprise, balancing the bowl of candy on my hip.
“What if I brought you a treat instead?”
“That’s okay, I’m good on treats,” I shook the bowl. “What are you doing here?”
Evan shifted his weight from one foot to the other nervously. “I can never seem to catch you at school. I wanted to talk to you. Do you want to come out for a while? With me?”
“I’m sorry, I’m on candy duty and I take it pretty seriously. I can’t possibly leave and disappoint all those kids.” The lie came surprisingly easy, what wasn’t easy was his look of disappointment.
“Could I come in for a bit then? I won’t stay long…”
As much as I hated to do it to him, I knew I couldn’t invite him in to shoot the breeze, I had to get him as far away from me as possible for his own safety. “I’m sorry, Evan, I don’t think it’s a good idea.” I bit back the offer to do it some other time, knowing it would be giving him false encouragement.
“I see,” he nodded, his smile dampening. “Sorry to have disturbed you then, I’ll let you get back to it,” Evan nodded again, backing way from the door.
“I’m sorry,” I called after him, shutting the door before my guilt got the better of me and I found myself breaking the resolution I’d only just made. Letting out a long sigh, I plopped down on the couch again, picking up the remote to pull up the next movie in the series, when strains of violin music drifted into the room. I knew from experience there were no classical music buffs in the building, but it sounded close, very close. Hauntingly beautiful, I went to the window half expecting to see Evan on the street below with a boombox over his head, but there wasn’t anyone out there except for older kids out cruising for candy.
Extending my senses, I could tell the music came from inside the building, and I opened the door, going to the top of the railing to look down below. Evan stood at the base of the stairwell, playing his violin just for me. The music wove a spell over me, achingly exquisite but somehow sad, making me want to weep from the beauty of it. Seeing me there, Evan began to ascend the stairs, serenading me from below until he reached the third floor and I greeted him with tears in my eyes.