Real Vampires and the Viking

by Gerry Bartlett

  “He has dozens of such coins! Good.” Gretchen moved closer to him. “Don’t speak of charity again, Gunnar. You did me a service when you killed Fredrick. Taking care of a few expenses for you is the least I can do.”

  “I am not a mercenary you hired to defend you, Gretchen.” Gunnar glared at her. “What I did was out of love. I wish you would believe that.”

  Gretchen looked away, her eyes full. “It is too soon to speak of love but I am grateful. I’m sorry if I hurt your pride.” She faced him again. “At least now you can pay your own way.”

  “I may have more if these Brodins are the same as the ones who wronged me. Richard says I might be able to claim restitution for the damage done to me.” Gunnar looked around the room. “Isn’t that what you called it, Richard?”

  “If we can prove this family is the same and that their Bjorn Brodin is the one who left you to die all those years ago, I think you might have a case.” Richard tapped on his laptop’s keyboard. “I’ve been working on a timeline for the Brodin family tree and their rise in the world.”

  “They rose from the ashes of my village and gained success by trampling the bodies of my family. What of Bjorn Brodin? Tell me of him and how he went on after I disappeared.” Gunnar walked over to stand behind Richard. He studied the laptop screen but clearly the text there meant nothing to him. “What is this you are showing me?”

  “Gunnar, be patient.” I tried to steer him to a seat. “We all want to hear what Richard has to say.” I glanced at Gretchen. She needed to come clean. “Gretchen knows the family. She might be able to add something to this.”

  “You kept this from me!” So much for Gunnar sitting. He jumped up and approached Gretchen. “You know them? How? Are they vampyr? Tell me!”

  “Not while you are screaming at me.” Gretchen pulled up a chair and sat down herself. “Calm down. I mean it.”

  “Calm? You’re mad! If they are vampyr then that means the man who put me in the ice could still be alive. Is he, Gretchen?” Gunnar’s sword was still locked in the car trunk but he was obviously wishing for it now. Thank God he didn’t pull out Jerry’s knife. “Helvete! I must know if there is a Bjorn Brodin at the head of this family now and if he is the same man I knew.”

  Richard looked grim. “According to my research, there is. But it seems unlikely that this is the same Bjorn Brodin, Gunnar. It’s probably a family name, passed down from generation to generation.”

  “Exactly.” Gretchen couldn’t stay seated either and followed Gunnar as he paced the room. “I’ve met Bjorn Brodin, Gunnar. He’s handsome, in his thirties. He is sophisticated and charming and has many friends. He has a beautiful wife and entertains lavishly in a home that makes Fredrick’s castle look like a hovel. Does that describe the monster who put you in the ice? Does it, Gunnar?” Gretchen grabbed his arm and forced him to look at her. “Please stop and answer me.”

  “Handsome? How would I know that? He was a man. Big, tall like me, with the kind of wild beard and hair we all had at the time. He had no friends, everyone feared him.” Gunnar glanced at me. “Tell her what I looked like when I came out of the cave, Glory. You were scared of me, ja?”

  “It’s true. You wouldn’t have known him, Gretchen.” I studied the Gunnar we all saw now. He was handsome but the wild man who’d rolled in the snow naked had been so unkempt with his tangled hair and beard that I would never have called him good-looking.

  “How many Bjorn Brodins are on your list, Mainwaring?” Ian peered over his shoulder.

  “I count at least half a dozen. But we know it’s possible they are all the same man. With vampires we tend to disappear and reappear years later, pretending to be our own son or grandson.” Richard was typing again. “He could have changed of course. You say he has a beautiful wife.” Richard smiled at Flo. “We know that can make a man change his ways.”

  “I want to see this man. Look him in the eye.” Gunnar practically growled it. “Can you take us there, Gretchen?”

  “I’ve got an address here, Gretchen, if you’re reluctant to take us there.” Richard looked sympathetic.

  Gunnar stalked to the door. “We go now.”

  “Wait a minute.” Jerry was suddenly beside him. “What if it is your old enemy? You can’t just show up unprepared. He would kill you on the spot to cover his crime centuries ago.”

  “He would try anyway. I am not in my death sleep now, am I?” Gunnar puffed out his chest. “He used the coward’s way before. This time I face him, man to man.”

  “He’ll have guards if he’s smart.” Ian frowned at the information Richard was pulling up on his screen. “He’s very successful. A man like that won’t let just anyone, a stranger, into his house either. Vampires always have to be careful.”

  “Yes, the family is security minded. We all are. Bjorn would let me in though. I told you I know the family.” Gretchen stayed next to Gunnar.

  “You would take us there? You would do that for me?” Gunnar relaxed his fists enough to reach for Gretchen and pull her to him.

  She touched his cheek. “I pray this Bjorn is not the same man who hurt you. But you killed Fredrick for me, Gunnar. The least I can do is help you see if your enemy is still alive. So you can get the revenge you deserve.”

  “This could be dangerous. If he is Bjorn, he will attack as soon as he recognizes me.” He scanned the room. “I’ll need more men with me. Can I count on you, Jeremiah?”

  “I’m in. Richard? MacDonald?” Jerry frowned. “And Gloriana won’t be left behind I’m afraid.”

  I’d sent him a mental message and he didn’t dare pretend he hadn’t received it or risk ruining his honeymoon.

  “Wouldn’t miss it.” Ian straightened. “Can we use the Eliminator, Glory?”

  “No!” I was keeping the little piece that made it work safe for now. “You have guns and wooden bullets, I saw you pick them up. That should be advantage enough.”

  “True.” Richard slammed the laptop closed. “Florence is making my ears ring with her silent demands so I guess we’re all going. Gretchen, do you need to call to make an appointment with Bjorn?”

  “I’ll call Elsa, his wife. We are fairly close. I’ll tell her I have friends and my cousin here from America. I want her to meet you. That the men would like to meet her husband as well. It is not unusual for vampires from other countries to want to network and make alliances when they travel.” Gretchen pulled out her burner phone.

  “That’s true.” Ian smiled at her. “I do it all the time. Seek out successful vampire businessmen in other countries and make a connection. You never know when it will come in handy. Like for a source for synthetic blood.” He turned to Jerry. “Not all of us just pull a mortal into an alley when we thirst.”

  “Ian, he’s doing better.” I could see Jerry’s temper rising and I slipped my arm around his waist.

  “Don’t make excuses for me, Gloriana. I smelled fresh blood on Ian last night. I’m not the only one who likes the taste of a mortal now and then.” Jerry was tense where I touched him.

  “No one had stocked my room with synthetic.” Ian shrugged. “What was I to do?”

  “We’ll send you some later tonight.” I knew he was trying to goad Jerry and I sent Ian a mental warning to back off.

  Gretchen pursed her lips. “I hate this cheap phone. I am lost without my own cell. Richard, do you have a phone number in the computer for the Brodins? I hope we can arrange something for later tonight. I’ll tell her I’m leaving for America with all of you soon because I need to get away. That Fredrick’s death has left me upset and in need of a change.” Gretchen punched in numbers as Richard read them to her. “I might as well use sympathy for something good.”

  We all waited while she made the call. Someone answered and she had an extended conversation in Swedish. Jerry whispered that she was being offered condolences of course. Gretchen pretended to be broken up for a few minutes then you could see on her face that she had changed the subject. It took a little time but soo
n she was smiling and saying “Tack.” before hanging up.

  “It’s all set. Elsa was very gracious. She and Bjorn will be there tonight at midnight and have offered to have us for tea.” Gretchen ignored Gunnar’s growl. “Vampires in Sweden enjoy entertaining. They import delicacies, things we seem to have no trouble eating. And there will be fine synthetic blood, of course. Elsa is a wonderful hostess.”

  “I’m sure she is. Look at how beautiful the things were in that store window and in the boutique.” Flo was obviously looking forward to it. “Now, Gunnar, you need to calm down and make a plan. How can you prove that it was Bjorn who put you in the ice? Were there any witnesses?”

  “Of course there were. His men had to have been with him. There is no way he could have handled it alone. But surely they are all dead. And would not dare have told anyone the truth of that night and risked losing their heads for it.” Gunnar collapsed in a chair. “It is to be my word against, how many Brodins, Richard?”

  “Looks like the family has grown very large over the years, Gunnar. There are branches in all the major cities where they have stores. I’d say there must be at least one hundred Brodins now. They must do like the Campbells and MacDonalds and have children before they are turned vampire.” Richard got up and opened a box he pulled out of a closet. “We should probably arm ourselves in case this comes to a battle. I went back and took these out of the car last night. Valet parking. Never did trust that. Not with weapons anyway.” He handed out machine guns, those he must have taken from Fredrick’s men, to Jerry and Ian. He also took one for himself. He stared at Gunnar then obviously decided he couldn’t give him one without teaching him how to use it. He did pull out the sword which Gunnar took gratefully.

  “Now I feel ready to do battle properly.” The Viking examined the blade then grabbed a towel and wiped it down.

  “Where’s mine, Ricardo?” Flo held out her hand. “I think I proved I know how to handle one.”

  “Darling, you scared the life out of me with your ‘handling’ of the machine gun.” Richard smiled but reluctantly gave her one. “Do you even know where the safety is on this?”

  “Why should I need to know that? A machine gun does not need to be safe.” She examined it. “Is it loaded?”

  “Yes, unfortunately.” He handed each of them extra clips. “I don’t know how we will explain carrying arms into a tea party.”

  “We’ll put them into bags. Say we’re bringing gifts from America.” I glanced at Flo. “We saw those canvas duffle bags in the boutique that would work perfectly. The men can carry them in. If this meeting goes south, we can pull them out and go from there.”

  “I don’t like it. We might not have time to pull out anything if this meeting goes--what you say?--South? I guess you mean if the Brodins try to kill me again.” Gunnar studied a pistol and decided it would suit him. He stuck it under his shirt at his waist the way he saw Jerry do his. “I guess you expect me to put my sword in there too. No man would allow me past his door if I showed up with that strapped to my back.”

  “You’re right, Gunnar. Storming in there, guns drawn, isn’t the smart play. What if these people are innocent? We’d have dead bodies before we gave anyone a chance to explain. That’s not going to happen. I don’t care what wrong was done to you a thousand years ago.” I wanted this clear to everyone in the room. I wasn’t carrying a weapon. I didn’t need one. I could freeze anyone who tried to hurt my guys and gals and was counting on being able to do that before the first shot was fired. Unless…

  “Gretchen, did any of the Brodins buy anti-vampire stuff from Fredrick?” I was thinking about those glasses that kept people from being mesmerized. Hated those things.

  “I never heard him mention it. Can’t imagine why they would. They haven’t made enemies that I know of.” Gretchen stalked over to pick out a gun. “I’m a good shot. I’ll put one of these in my purse. The bag I bought last night is big enough to hold this.” She frowned. “Wooden bullets. I hate these things. Whatever we do, we can’t let another vampire get hold of our guns and turn them against us.”

  “Good point, Gretchen.” I glanced at the clock. “I suppose we’d better take the car to the Brodins’ place since we’ve got all this fire power. Flo and I will go buy a couple of those duffle bags then meet you where we did the last time we headed out. Leave the machine guns and sword here and we’ll load them in the bags and bring them out with us. Okay?”

  “Sounds like a plan.” Jerry kissed my cheek then he and the guys took off to get the car. Gretchen stayed behind with us.

  “Buying bags for machine guns from the Brodins’ own boutique seems wrong somehow.” She followed Flo and me down the hallway.

  “If all goes well then they’ll make the profit on the bags and nobody will get hurt.” I pushed open the glass door. “I’d say the likelihood that this is the same Bjorn Brodin is slim and none. The problem is going to be getting Gunnar to accept that he probably won’t get a dime from any of them. Why should he?”

  “I tell you, Glory.” Flo was distracted by a purse display before she finally grabbed the correct bags. “If someone came to me years later and said I owed them for what some ancestor did a thousand years ago, I’d say get lost.”

  “Exactly.” I stepped aside when Gretchen insisted on paying for the bags. She said Gunnar had asked her to do it. That he would pay her back. His problem, his expense. We didn’t argue.

  “So we’re all humoring him. Is that it?” Gretchen let her worry show for once.

  “Afraid so.” I unzipped the bags when we got to Flo’s room. I was sorely tempted to throw something else heavy into them and leave the machine guns there. But I didn’t dare. If we got a bad reception and the men needed to protect themselves, I’d never forgive myself if I’d left them defenseless. Besides, Flo was really looking forward to being a bad ass with the machine gun again.

  “I pray these will stay in the bags,” Gretchen said as she hefted one and started for the car.

  “You and me both.” I had one and Flo the other. Richard popped the trunk and Gunnar got out to load the bags inside.

  “These are heavy. You should have called for help.” He patted Gretchen’s shoulder. “Thank you all for doing this. I know you did not need to get involved.”

  “No, we didn’t. So promise you won’t go crazy when we get there.” I took his arm and escorted him to the car. “Stay calm and let’s see where this goes.”

  “I will try, Glory.” Gunnar stepped aside so Gretchen could slide in. “Gretchen is doing the talking at first. They are her friends. But talk will stop if I see this Bjorn and recognize him. If he is the one . . .” Gunnar swallowed. “You will need to stand back, that’s all I’m saying.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  The Brodin home was a palace. Not an ice palace this time but one made of stone and surrounded by a forest. The gate had an electronic entry and a guard house. Gretchen gave the man there our names and he checked it against a list. We waited while the beautiful wrought iron creaked open before we sped up a winding road. A butler stood waiting in front of double doors on top of the stone steps. He looked a little surprised when Richard popped the trunk and three of the men each grabbed a duffle bag to carry inside.

  Gretchen made light of it. “Hostess gifts. Don’t be alarmed, Dalmar, we’re not planning to stay the night.” She laughed and led us into the massive entryway.

  “Welcome, Madame. May I extend my condolences on your loss.” Dalmar bowed to her. “The master and mistress are waiting in the blue salon. If you will follow me.” He started up the wide staircase, the doors behind us were closed by one of a pair of men in black.

  “Bodyguards.” Jerry whispered. “I wonder why.”

  “I’m wondering what other colors of salons they have.” I held onto him as we walked up the black marble steps. The place was beautiful but a little cold. There were ancient tapestries on the walls but no rugs on the floors. The butler turned left at the landing but we could have take
n even more stairs. Clearly there were at least three or four stories to this place.

  “Salons? A yellow and a red one.” Gretchen turned to Jerry. “If I weren’t with you, I’m sure our bags would have been searched.” She smiled at the butler. “As you can see, the Brodins are very wealthy and guard their home carefully. It is wise of them to do so, isn’t it, Dalmar?”

  “Yes, indeed, Madame.” The butler stopped at double doors painted with gold leaf trim and carefully opened them. “Mrs. Marken and her guests are here.” He bowed and pointed us to a setting worthy of a painting.

  Blue salon indeed. Here there was a rug, deep blue with a red pattern in it. The walls were wall papered in a shiny fabric that featured blue birds flying across pale blue skies. The silk sofas were done in the pale blue and the chairs were covered in a various shades of blue from navy velvet to a pale blue brocade. A fireplace kept the room warm with its roaring fire. The marble mantle was white with blue veins running through it. Overwhelming but somehow gorgeous. My antique loving soul shouted “Expensive!”

  “Gretchen! Jag är ledsen om Fredrick!” A beautiful blond woman dressed in an obviously expensive black dress rushed forward and pulled Gretchen into a hug.

  “Please, only a few of my guests speak Swedish. Could we use English please?” Gretchen wiped away a tear. “She said she was sorry about Fredrick.” Then she glanced over her shoulder at Gunnar who had stopped near the door.

  We all held our breaths waiting for a sign from the Viking. What now? Should we grab our guns? Sit quietly and pretend to drink blood like civilized vampires? Try to figure out how to bring up happenings from a thousand years ago? Gunnar didn’t say or do anything as the man walked forward from in front of the fireplace and kissed Gretchen on both cheeks.

  “Of course. English. Sorry if Elsa was rude just now. We were shocked to hear of Fredrick’s death.” He held out his hand. “Bjorn Brodin. Gretchen, would you introduce your guests?”