Real Vampires and the Viking

by Gerry Bartlett

  “Thank God they are both out of here.” Ian groaned and stretched. “I couldn’t stand being crammed between those two for another minute. I’m shifting back to the hotel. I think I can manage to find my way.” He crawled out of the car. “See you later. Text me with any plans.” And with that he changed into a black bird and flew off into the night.

  “I’m climbing into the front with Jerry now.” I opened the back door. “That will give Gretchen some space.”

  “She needs it. Can you believe she is angry with me? When I try to hold her she acts like I am her enemy.” Gunnar had his arms crossed over his chest, clearly sulking. “She should be glad I ended the life of that jäkel. If this were in my time, I would have his head in a sack right now, on my way to take it to my king. We would place it on a pike in front of the castle to show everyone what happens to men who betray their own kind.” His chin stuck out as if he would still like to do it if he had a clue who ruled Sweden now.

  “You did a good thing, Viking. When Gretchen gets over her shock she will be grateful, I’m sure.” Flo patted him on one of his beefy biceps. “You were very brave, a hero. Molto forte.”

  “Thank you.” Gunnar smiled at her. “You are a little thing but you were brave too. Where are you from?”

  I left them talking to each other and slammed the car door to walk over to Jerry. I slid my arms around his waist and leaned against him while he listened to both sides of Gretchen’s telephone conversation with his vampire hearing. I could hear it too but the Swedish meant nothing to me. Finally, Gretchen broke down sobbing and held out the phone to Jerry. I went to her, patting her back and murmuring words of comfort.

  “You must think I’m crazy to have even a bit of sadness about this, Glory. But when I saw him die . . .” Gretchen dug a tissue out of her coat pocket and blew her nose.

  “It was shocking. And no matter how bad he was at the end, you must have loved him once.” Even I had noticed how handsome he was.

  “Yes! You see how I might remember, just for a moment, those days when we were happy.” She turned her back on the warehouse. The sea breeze blew the scent of blood toward us and it was impossible to ignore. “But now I need to think about how he was in recent times.” Her hand convulsed on that tissue. “I should be glad he’s dead because of how he abused me. When I let something slip once to Fredrick’s brother about his wooden bullets, he locked me in the dungeon for a week.”

  “No!” I looked over my shoulder at that warehouse. I had the urge to run inside and make sure that her husband was good and dead. No, there could be no doubt about that. Not even a genius like Fredrick could recover from a severed head. “You should have left him as soon as he released you.”

  “I couldn’t. He threatened to kill my family if I did. Or told anyone about his business or how he treated me.” Gretchen sighed. “Now it’s hard to remember why I once loved him.”

  “I guess he changed. People do. But, God, Gretchen.” I was at a loss for words.

  “Fredrick became a monster. I know it.” Gretchen wiped her cheeks with her hands. “I think I’m weeping from relief too. And Stefan is being so kind. My brother will bring men to dispose of the,” she took a shuddery breath, “Bodies.”

  “Good. Then we should be able to leave now. You need a hot bath and a change of clothes.” I’d noticed she was still in the ones she’d worn to Birka. She’d spent her death sleep in them and now they were even splashed with blood. Flo had been right about the need for a shopping trip.

  “Yes! I would like that.” She hugged me. “You’ve been wonderful about being dragged into my mess. I hope you will be able to enjoy your honeymoon now.” She looked up at the sky. “Stefan should arrive soon. He lives not very far from here. But he wanted to get some men together that he could trust to be discreet.” Her eyes filled with tears again as she glanced at the car.

  “Gunnar. I don’t know what to think about him. Did you see how ruthless he was during the fight? He was primitive, barbaric. And the way he killed Fredrick . . .” She shuddered and picked at a stain on her coat, probably blood, before finally looking up at me.

  “Wasn’t he what you needed? Wanted? A man who could do what was necessary without hesitation?” I wanted to shake her but stepped back instead. This woman needed a reality check. “He was protecting you, Gretchen. You have to know that there was no other way for that fight to end. We had to be sure that Fredrick wouldn’t come after you again.” I couldn’t help myself. I gripped her arm. “He’s a Viking warrior, sure. But Jerry, Richard or Ian, given a sword, would have killed Fredrick just like that and been glad to do it. Don’t you realize that?”

  She closed her eyes and pressed her hands over them. I just waited while she sorted this out in her mind. Finally she nodded, opened her eyes and straightened her shoulders.

  “You’re right. Of course he had to do it and I’m glad he did.” She sniffed. With the tinted windows it was impossible to see if Gunnar was watching us or not. “He is a fine man, Glory. He would have died for me in that place if it had come to that.” Fresh tears but this time I knew they were for the right reason.

  “Yes, he would have.” I nodded. “Show him you admire him for what he did and he’ll follow you wherever you go.”

  Gretchen managed a strangled laugh. “He’s not a puppy, Glory.”

  “No, he’s not. Gunnar is from a time when his sword was his right arm. He did his duty and would like a little praise for that. We know men and their egos, don’t we?” I started walking back to the car, Gretchen beside me.

  “They want them stroked.” She flushed. “Along with a few other things.”

  I laughed and patted her shoulder. “Now you’ve got it. He loves you, Gretchen. He’s hurt that you aren’t acting grateful for his good deed. At least tell him thank you for saving you from a man who hurt you.”

  “Yes, I can do that.” Gretchen lost her smile. “I hope he will understand if I need time to get this straight in my mind. And he needs time too. This is a new century. A new life for him. I don’t want to tie him down when he has no idea what’s available to him now.”

  “That’s very kind of you. But don’t be in such a hurry to give him away, cousin.” I nodded toward Jerry who was talking to Richard next to the car. “I’ve learned that keepers aren’t that easy to find.” I leaned closer. “How would you feel if you gave him time and another woman swooped in to take your place? Anyone could show Gunnar how the twenty-first century works, including the sexual freedom it allows.”

  Suddenly her fangs were down. “Another woman in his bed? No, I wouldn’t like that.” She gripped my hand on her arm. “You see how confused I am, Glory? I hope I don’t ruin things with Gunnar. But time will tell.” Gretchen walked up to Jerry. “Stefan is on his way?”

  “Yes, he said to leave before he gets here. He doesn’t want anyone else to see you near the murder scene. It will cut down on gossip. He’s going to blame Fredrick’s death on a deal with vampire hunters gone wrong.” Jerry handed Gretchen her phone and looked in the car. “Where’s MacDonald?”

  “He didn’t like sitting so close to you so he shifted back.” I opened the passenger door. “So now I can sit next to you.”

  “Good. If we’re lucky, he’ll get lost on the way to the hotel and we won’t have to see him again tonight.” Jerry dragged me into his lap once we were in the car.

  “This isn’t legal, Jer. We need seatbelts.” I laughed and gave him a kiss.

  “So I’ll mesmerize the police if we’re stopped.” He wrapped his arms around me. “Drive, Richard.” He looked back to make sure Gretchen had settled into the back seat. “Cousin, are you all right?”

  “Yes, let’s get out of here. Glory mentioned a bath and a change of clothes. Now that’s all I can think about.” Gretchen smiled at Gunnar. “My hero here could use the same.”

  “Ah, now I’m feeling better. Tacka, Gretchen, for calling me that. But I was just doing what needed to be done.” Gunnar held out his hand. “Are
you sorry I did it?”

  “No, now that I’m getting over the shock, I know it was the right thing to do. And that you were very brave tonight.” She gripped his hand and placed it over her heart. “I’m safe now, thanks to you, älskling.”

  Gunnar beamed and kissed her cheek. “And I’m still welcome in your bed?”

  She flushed and looked around the car. “Of course. Perhaps just to hold me tonight though. This has all has been very upsetting to me.”

  “Of course. I am not an animal.” Gunnar caught my eye and winked. “I can be comforting. I would like to take care of you, Gretchen, and hope one of these men will trade some of their modern money for one of my gold coins. Then I can start paying my own way at the hotel. It would make me feel better about taking you to this Ice Palace and buying clothes.”

  “Of course.” Richard spoke up quickly. “Let me take a look at a coin or two when we get to the hotel. I’ll look them up on the Internet and will give you a fair price for them.”

  “Richard loves old things. You should see what he has collected. He has a special room in our house filled with religious relics.” Flo began to chatter about her husband’s obsession with antiques. “Bones of saints. Now that is one collection I don’t understand at all. Is pazzo.”

  Gunnar laughed. “There was big business in that even in my time. Be careful, Richard, to check if they are real. I knew a man who dug up old graves and then claimed the bones were from whatever saint the buyer wanted. Made a tidy sum from that business until he was caught one night robbing from his own grandsire’s grave.”

  The conversation went on until Gunnar suddenly shouted. “Helvete! Stop the car!”

  Richard stomped on the brakes. “What is it?”

  “Look! There is the name of my enemy, the one who put me in the ice, on the sign in front of that building. Fiender! So bold.” Gunnar was desperately trying to get out of the car but the doors were locked and he didn’t have a clue how to unlock them.

  We all stared at the four story building across the street. Yes, there was a name in giant gold letters over the glass doors. It was a fancy department store and the name was familiar to me. I tried to remember where I’d seen it before.

  “Calm down, Gunnar.” Gretchen held onto his arm when he tried to break the car window with his hands.

  “You don’t understand, Gretchen. I have to make them pay. They stole everything from me. More than a thousand years of my life, my family, my position with the king.” Gunnar’s eyes were wild and, if he’d had room, I had a feeling he would have pulled his sword. “Helvete, Richard, unlock the car door! I know you control it.” He hit the back of Richard’s seat with his fist.

  “Wait a damned minute, Gunnar. I’m not going to let you out to make a run at that building. Can’t you see the store is closed?” Richard was the voice of reason but that just got Gunnar even more upset.

  “I don’t care! I have to see, go closer, to know if it’s the same name. Gretchen, tell them!” He pressed his face to the glass.

  “What’s your enemy’s name, Gunnar?” Richard asked while Jerry and I exchanged a look. We remembered him mentioning the name when we’d first found him and there it was. The large department store was closed because it was after midnight and it was now Christmas Day, officially at least.

  “Brodin. See it there?” Gunnar banged both fists on the door. “Why won’t you let me out of this förbannad car?”

  “Gunnar, that’s Brodin’s Department Store. There is a chain of them. There won’t be a member of the family there, even if it was open which it’s not.” Gretchen tapped Richard on the shoulder. “Let him out. I’ll go with him to show him the truth of it.”

  “Tack, Gretchen. I need to see . . .” The locks clicked and Gunnar wrenched the door open. He was off in a run before Gretchen even got her seatbelt unfastened.

  “Let’s all go. He could do anything in the state he’s in.” Jerry opened our door and I scooted out. We all ran across the deserted road, catching up to Gunnar as he stared at a Christmas display in a plate glass window. It featured a beautiful tree that looked like it had been freshly cut from a forest. It was covered with hundreds of colorful lights and had every kind of glittering ornament you could imagine.

  Another window had a homey setting that looked like a family just sitting down for a meal. The abundance on the table was breathtaking. Apparently a Swedish Christmas was all about the food and this store must have a famous deli if the array on the table was anything to go by. Mannequins, including lifelike children, sat around the table. The scene looked like it could come alive at any minute with the father at the head of the table saying “Pass the potatoes.”

  Gunnar leaned against the glass. His voice shook when he started talking. “Look at this. So perfect. So beautiful. Brodins made this. Herregud!” He shuddered and took a moment to gather himself before he faced us.

  “Can’t you see how they took everything from me? And now they have it all. I lost my family, my favor with the king. These Brodins betrayed me and look how they have prospered.” Gunnar grabbed Gretchen’s hand. “They are rich. This store clearly serves only people with much money. Who else can afford to buy such wonderful things?”

  “You’re right. It is a luxury department store. And this is only one of dozens in Scandinavia.” Gretchen pushed her other arm under his coat to hug him. “I’m sorry. But surely the family that owns this store is merely descended from the one who was so cruel to you. Should they pay for the sins of an ancestor?”

  “Why not?” He looked around at all of us. We’d stayed silent. We couldn’t imagine his pain and really had nothing to say that would comfort him. “They are certainly enjoying the effects of his betrayal.”

  “That is obviously true. If it is the same family.” Gretchen suddenly sagged against him. “It’s Christmas, Gunnar. The store is closed for the holiday and there will no one to confront, even if we could get inside.” She brushed her hand over his cheek. “Can we please talk about this tomorrow night? If you’re determined to have revenge, surely you need time to think and plan.”

  “She’s right, Viking. Take a little time to deliberate. This betrayal took place over a thousand years ago. How can you hold these people now accountable for what happened back then?” Richard seemed determined to try to calm Gunnar down. “You did manage to save your treasure. And one more night will not change anything.”

  “A Brodin put me in the ice, Richard. Would you forget that?” Gunnar was getting worked up again and gestured at the glittering gold sign above our heads. “That name! It makes me crazy. I would like to burn this building down to the ground.” He looked around like maybe he’d find a flaming torch handy. His fists worked and he stomped a foot. “Yes! It would make me feel better. A start anyway.”

  “No! Stop it!” Gretchen dropped his hands and hit him with her fists. “I can’t take any more violence tonight. You are never burning down a building if you plan to stay with me, Gunnar. I hope you know that.”

  Gunnar stiffened, his face harsh in the lights from the Christmas tree. “You would have me forget these wrongs done to me? Woman, you are asking too much.”

  “And you are asking too much of me if you expect me to lie with you with Fredrick’s blood fresh on your hands.” Gretchen was shaking as she turned to Flo. “When we get back in the car, trade places with me. I can’t stand to sit close to him when he is raving like this.”

  “Whatever you need.” Flo stepped next to Gretchen, obviously determined to ease an awkward moment. “Relax. Gunnar, I know you’re not going to burn down anything. Am I right?” She patted his arm. “Tell her.”

  “No, I won’t make promises I may not keep. The Brodins burned my village. I saw it. I had to hide in the hills but I knew they were looking for me. Björn Brodin was jealous of my favor in court. He told lies about me to our king and I know he was the one who put me in the ice while I lie in my death sleep.”

  Gretchen stiffened and I could tell Gunnar had said so
mething that upset her even more than she already was. “I’m sorry you were put in the ice. I’m sorry your village was burned, Gunnar. But I can’t be around you when you keep acting like a crazed Viking. This is a new century. Things have changed!”

  “I know. Everywhere I look there is something I don’t understand. If I am, as you say, crazed, it is because I am lost here. I killed your husband to keep you safe. I do not apologize for his blood on my hands. So we go from here. Together, I hope.” Gunnar tried to get closer to her but she held out a hand to stop him. “Gretchen, älksling, you said you would help me in this new time, didn’t you?”

  “I am tired, Gunnar. I need to go to the hotel and I need blood. Can you stop pushing me?” She walked on ahead, kicking up snow as she went.

  “I’m sorry. You are upset. I just saw the name and, how you say it, Jeremiah?” Gunnar looked at my husband for help.

  “Lost your shit, man. That’s what happened.” Jerry held out his hand and I gripped it as we all started walking toward the car. Thank goodness Gunnar came along quietly.

  Jerry walked next to his cousin. “Gretchen, please cut the guy a break. He’s just as upset as you are. And he’s going to see the name everywhere on buildings now that he’s looking for it. Hell, even the boutique in our hotel is run by Brodin’s Department Store.”

  “Oh, gosh, it is.” I gave Gunnar a sympathetic look but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going straight there with Gretchen to help her find a change of clothes as soon as we got to the Ice Palace. The boutique was part of the chain of luxury stores that had just the kind of clothing and accessories my friends and I liked. We got into the car, though Gunnar sent one more hate-filled look back at the store before he slammed the car door. Flo was stuck between the Viking and Gretchen. Jerry’s cousin looked as if this ride couldn’t end soon enough for her.

  “You want me to leave these Brodins alone?” Gunnar reached across Flo, trying to grasp Gretchen’s hand. She wasn’t having it. “Please, I will wait for this revenge. Perhaps Jeremiah and Richard will help me find out more about the family. How they have prospered since they put me in the ice. Our friends can use their magic box for it.”