Gunnar dragged him to his feet to face him. “Prepare to die, Bjorn Brodin. Do you feel the fires of Helvete waiting for you?”
Bjorn said something in Swedish and made a last grab for the sword Edvard was holding. Gunnar roared, the Viking war cry that sent goosebumps racing up and down my arms, and knocked Bjorn aside. Then he wrenched his sword from his son’s grasp and faced Bjorn.
“Your greed brought you to this Brodin.” Gunnar held his sword aloft.
Bjorn raised his chin, then with all the arrogance in the world, turned to look at Ursula. “Did you tell him, kär, that you begged me to raid your village and come for you that night so long ago?” His smile was pure mockery.
“Liar!” Gunnar swung his sword and Bjorn’s head flew across the cave, his body falling to the floor.
I couldn’t stand it and looked away. Ursula’s crow of triumph rang through the cavern. Jerry’s arms came around me and I pressed my face to his hard chest. Such a horrible, primitive way to die. And to see it twice in as many days . . .
“It’s Viking justice, Gloriana. Do you deny he deserved it?” Jerry whispered in my ear.
I shook my head and kept my arms around him, grateful that, as far as I knew, all of Jerry’s ancient enemies were long gone from this earth. I felt a presence near me and realized Gretchen was on Jerry’s other side.
“Are you all right, Gretchen?” Jerry held out a hand to her. “You want to go back to the car while we take care of the body?”
“No, I need to speak to Gunnar.” She stared at the Viking. He had Ursula by the arm but she was talking fast to him and to Edvard. From the looks of it she was denying Bjorn’s last words. Gunnar finally shrugged and turned his back to her to deal with his sword, cleaning off his blade with a cloth.
“I have told you all how he treated me.” Ursula glared at Gunnar’s back. “He was a soulless bastard. We should toss his body out in the snow and let the wolves have it.”
Ian and Richard nodded and began discussing “disposal”.
I shuddered when I heard that word. But no one else seemed bothered by it as Ursula led the men outside to the SUV where she had a tarp they could use for transporting the remains. Jerry went with them, ready to discuss the gruesome details of the final battle with his friends.
Gretchen finally approached Gunnar. “You did well tonight.” She wasn’t smiling but she did reach out to him.
I knew I should give them privacy but there wasn’t a good choice of places to go. There were Bjorn’s remains nearby which creeped me out. And a blowing, freezing snowstorm outside. I stayed near the heaters and waited for Jerry to come back with the men. It wasn’t hard to hear everything Gunnar and Gretchen had to say.
“Thank you, älskling.” Gunnar handed the sword to Edvard and motioned him away. “I hope you understand that I must give some of my treasure to Ursula. Bjorn’s words disturb me but I am not sure I should believe the claims of such a man.”
“He was making trouble to the end.” Gretchen moved closer as he clasped her hand. “You must do with your treasure as you see fit. It is not my business.”
“But it is. This means I won’t be as rich as I hoped when I offer myself to you. So we can be together.” Gunnar looked very serious.
She flushed and looked down at their clasped hands. “It is too soon to talk of offering, Gunnar. I must decide how to go on now that I am alone, without a man in my life.”
“But you don’t need to be alone.” Gunnar pulled her hand to his lips. “That is what I am offering. To take care of you. To be your protector.”
“You don’t understand this century. Ursula tried to tell you. Women now don’t need protecting.” She slipped her hand from his. “I don’t need protecting.” But she looked uncertain. “I’m going to see how I feel being by myself and going it alone.”
“Will you at least allow me to be your lover?” Gunnar moved closer. “We fit well together I think. Some things are no different than they were a thousand years ago. Our bed sport brings both of us great pleasure. Or am I wrong?”
“You are not wrong.” She flushed and looked at the cave entrance where Ursula had come back with the men. “I am thinking of going to America. It is where Ian lives as well. He says he may be your kinsman. Perhaps you would think of coming with me? As my lover?”
“Ah, Gretchen.” Gunnar watched the men approach the body and talk to Edvard about what they planned to do. “You wish for me to leave my son after I just found him again?”
“You’re right. It is too much. But I hate it here now!” She stepped back. “Everyone will know the truth about Fredrick. Gossip spreads so fast among the vampires here and I am the fool in the center of it.”
“If you could wait just a little while.” Gunnar reached for her but she scurried back to my side. “Gretchen, please.”
“No. My cousin has said I might come stay with him and Glory in Texas. I wish to go as soon as their honeymoon ends. If you feel so strongly for me, you will come too, Gunnar.” She turned to us. “I’ll be in the car. Florence is out there, in one of them with the motor running. I am tired of this violence.” She ran out of the cave.
“I will never understand women.” Gunnar exchanged a long-suffering look with Jerry who’d come back to my side. Then he turned back to the disposal crew who were lugging Bjorn’s body out of the cave. “Let me help. We must make sure it is in an open spot. It is well if the wolves do feast on him tonight.” He looked grimly satisfied. “For once Ursula and I agree.”
“God, Jerry. I’m with Gretchen. Let’s go to the car. But first we need to talk.” I tugged on his coat when he seemed inclined to join the men in their trek outside.
He tore his gaze from the ghoulish procession and seemed to snap to the fact that I wasn’t happy. “I meant to tell you that Gretchen talked to me about Austin while you were still getting ready this evening.”
“You meant to.” I knew he’d put it off because he’d been pretty sure I wasn’t going to be happy about it. I like Gretchen but three’s a crowd when you’re newly married, I don’t care how many centuries you’ve known each other. “Just where would she stay, Jer?”
“I haven’t had time to work that out. If Gunnar came that would be different. I couldn’t possibly expect you to take on another couple in our home.” Jerry pulled me close.
I knew what he was up to. He realized we were alone in the cave now. Ursula had gone after the men or back to the car--who cared where she went?--at least she’d quit yelling at everyone. It was quiet and the heaters had made it warm inside. But the men would be back any minute to load the equipment into the car. In the meantime, Jer slid his hands inside my coat and was doing his best to distract me with clever touches. I wasn’t falling for it.
“Stop it, Jerry. Let’s figure out a place for Gretchen to stay besides our spare bedroom.” I grabbed his hands and pushed them away. “I mean it. We can send her back early, on Ian’s plane with Flo and Richard. Maybe we can get Flo to call Damian. He’s got a big house and lives all alone. Excellent security too.”
“You’d throw my cousin to that wolf?” Jerry backed up a step. “Be reasonable.”
“Damian is head of the Vampire Council, practically a welcoming committee. And Gretchen can say no to him if she doesn’t want to strike up a relationship with him.”
“Gloriana, he’s not called Casanova for nothing.” Jerry frowned. “Gretchen is vulnerable now. You saw how quickly she latched on to Gunnar.”
“So you warn her. I’ll give her pointers too.” I felt like throwing a full-on hissy fit. “Damn it, Jer. I don’t think it’s unreasonable for us to want a little privacy when we’ve been married a little over a week!” I pulled my fur coat together and tramped out of the cave. The icy wind hit me in the face and I shoved my own fur hat down over my ears.
I was sick of sharing what should have been a romantic trip with everyone I knew. I almost ran into the parade of men coming down the hill and the trail of blood they’d left on the way up
there. It was a grim reminder that this honeymoon had been full of nothing but trouble since the ice quake that had made Gunnar land in the middle of it.
“Give us a few minutes and we’ll be ready to go.” Edvard was in high spirits and slapped his father on the back. “My father was a hero tonight. I feel totally free for the first time in a thousand years.”
“Thank you, Edvard, but you should take credit too. You kept the bastard on ice for me.” Gunnar’s voice boomed across the snow. “I look forward to meeting your children. Where did Elsa go? Perhaps when we are in the car she can tell me about them. And the grandchildren.”
“If you think to just insert yourself into their family, Gunnar, you are very much mistaken.” Ursula came up behind her son. “I have made sure the children know exactly what you were like before you disappeared and left us to suffer.”
“Elsa will receive you and help smooth things over. Mamma, stop troublemaking.” Edvard frowned at her. “Please get in the car. We will be there soon.” He nodded when she stomped off through the snow. “You have no idea, Pappa, how much I have had to put up with since I got rid of Bjorn. Mamma is not an easy woman to live with, always wanting more attention, more money, more of everything! Elsa wanted me to give my mother her own place, but you know vampires are vulnerable. I didn’t feel it was safe to leave her alone.”
“From vampire hunters you mean?” Gunnar shook his head. “I am still trying to understand how this century works.”
“Yes, there is the danger of that. And it is complicated to set up a vampire household. Special servants . . . No matter.” Edvard stopped and looked very serious. “I have been thinking about what Bjorn said. Could it be true? That she asked him to burn our village? Yes, he made us slaves, but, when I was a small boy, he treated her well. She had fine clothes and was his favored lady. I don’t believe her when she says he forced her. She did not act reluctant to share his bed that I saw. It was only when she gave him nothing but daughters that they became cold to each other.”
Gunnar stabbed his sword into the snow and looked toward the cars. “It would be the worst kind of betrayal, son. What she did to me, I can understand. But to sell her own children into slavery? Unforgivable.”
“Was it because of your fortune, do you think? Bjorn always talked of it. Mamma probably promised it to him, then it was never found.” Edvard gripped his father’s shoulder. “I pray she did not do it. I have just got my father back. I do not want to lose my mother. But if she did this, she is dead to me.”
“We may never know the truth now, son.” Gunnar picked up his sword again. “Ursula is a difficult woman and impossible to understand. I married her for her beauty but later regretted it. Why do you think I always asked to serve my king in foreign lands?” Gunnar stared at the cars then jerked as if startled. “What in Thor’s name is she doing? Can she drive a car?”
“Of course.” Edvard cursed and ran toward the moving SUV. “I’ll be damned. She’s driving away and leaving us!”
It was true. Ursula had flounced right into the driver’s seat and taken off with Flo, Gretchen and Elsa in the car. I realized that left me, Jerry, Ian, Richard, Edvard and Gunnar to cram into the remaining car. That bitch! I just hoped she didn’t pull over somewhere and force Gretchen out of the car. Of course she’d have to deal with my buddy Flo if she tried it.
I ran to the other car, the one we’d come up in. No sign of the machine gun in the front passenger seat. I only prayed it was Flo who’d thought to grab it.
“We’ll have to leave the equipment here.” Edvard looked up at the sky. “The weather is worsening. It will be hard to see the road as it is. Best we start back immediately.”
“I’m going after them.” I couldn’t believe I’d said it but my intuition told me it was the right thing to do. My best friend was trapped in the car with a woman I didn’t trust.
“No, you’re not.” Jerry grabbed my arm. “Stay with me, Gloriana. I insist.”
“You aren’t trying to order me around, are you?” I gave him a hard look. “I need to do this. I can shift and catch up in minutes. They’ll stop for me. If a man tried it, Ursula would run him down.”
“She’s right about that.” Gunnar took my other arm. “You would do that? I’m worried about Ursula with Gretchen. She claims not to care about me, but my wife was always jealous, even when there was no cause.” He nodded at Jerry. “Please. Let her go. Glory is a strong woman, with powers. Ja?”
“Yes, I am.” I looked down to where Jerry held my arm. “Time is ticking away, Jer.”
“Go, but be careful.” He pulled me close and kissed me. “We’ll be right behind you.” He released me. “Take no chances.”
“Now what would be the fun in that?” I changed into a strong bird with the heft to fight the strengthening winds and raced after the car. It didn’t take long to catch up with it. I knew I was taking a chance, but I changed so that I ended up in the road in front of it, allowing for braking on an icy patch. Ursula almost hit me anyway.
“What the hell are you doing out there?” She barely cracked her window and didn’t unlock the doors.
“Can I have a ride? I am sick of those men, ordering me around like I have no sense. Would you believe they wanted me to fetch the blood out of the car after you left? Walk into this blizzard while they stayed near the heaters?” I gestured at the almost whiteout conditions. I figured appealing to Ursula’s feminist agenda would get me into the car and I wasn’t wrong.
“Fine. Get in the back seat.” She unlocked the doors. “We will be stopping shortly. I have something I need to do.”
I was afraid I knew what that something was. I’d seen Flo’s machine gun tucked neatly next to Ursula’s hip beside the driver’s door.
“We should hurry down the mountain. It’s not safe to linger. This weather is getting really bad. I don’t know how you can see the road as it is.” I jumped in next to Flo who gave me a wide-eyed look. I had a feeling she’d been forced to give up that gun. In fact there was a rip in the sleeve of her fabulous fox coat. She stroked it and muttered Italian curses then nodded toward Ursula.
“Four against one,” she whispered. “We watch for our chance, sí?”
I shook my head. Crazy moves could get everyone hurt. I sent her the mental message that Ursula had her beloved machine gun very close. That made Flo swallow and cross herself.
“Listen to her, Ursula. We shouldn’t stop.” Elsa was in the front seat and she wasn’t happy either.
“I’ve been driving in these mountains since the automobile was invented, Elsa. Quit telling me what to do. Soon I will have Gunnar’s fortune, all of it.” Ursula glanced in the rearview mirror. “What? Did you really think to have him and his money too, Gretchen? Tell me where he has his gold and I might let you live. Might.” She fought the steering wheel as the car slid on the ice. “Helvete! These roads.”
“Gunnar will never let you have his gold. He’s counting on it to give him a new start in this century.” Gretchen gripped the armrest on the other side of Flo. “I’m not telling you a damned thing.”
“Gunnar has lived too long.” Ursula laughed. “I’d like to see him survive a heart full of wooden bullets. Tack, Florence, for telling me about those.” She reached down with her left hand and lifted the machine gun so we could all see it. Gretchen gasped. Elsa didn’t seem surprised but I guess she would have seen it as soon as she got in the car.
“I was playing. They aren’t really wooden. Ricardo wouldn’t trust me with a real weapon. You know how men are.” Flo kicked the front seat with her boot.
“Quit trying to fool me. You think I didn’t check for myself?” Ursula glanced into the back seat. “Make me lose concentration on my driving and we could all end up stuck in this blizzard. Is that what you want?”
“No. Keep your eyes on the road!” I patted Flo’s knee, trying to calm her down. “Give Gunnar a break. He just spent all those years in the ice.”
“What do I care what he went through? I
went through worse. He slept for a thousand years. I suffered. This little bitch made sure I never had a free moment, even after Bjorn was gone. I was her unpaid servant until the stores finally made enough money to hire others.” Ursula reached over and yanked a handful of hair from Elsa’s head.
“Ow! Stop it!” Elsa scratched Ursula’s hand and the car lurched off the track and bounced wildly until it ground to a halt with a loud screech.
“Now look what you made me do.” Ursula slapped Elsa across the face. “Shut up and sit still or I swear I’ll put you out in the ice right now.”
“No!” Elsa put her hand to her red cheek. “I’ll be still.”
Ursula nodded then fiddled with controls, probably putting the car into four-wheel drive and reverse. The car rocked, the motor raced but there was no movement.
“The rest of you, get out and push.” She turned in her seat, pointing the gun at us. “Now! Stand in front of the car. I’ll have the thing in reverse and you must push when I honk the horn.”
“It’s a blizzard out there. We’ll freeze.” Gretchen was trembling.
“As if I care. All of you. Out!” Ursula spit the words.
“Come on. The sooner we get out, the sooner we get back in.” I heard the doors unlock again and opened mine. Oh, the misery of that icy wind in my face. I pulled my gloves on before I climbed out and immediately sank thigh deep into a snowdrift. “This doesn’t look good, Ursula.”
“I don’t care how it looks. Get out and put some shoulders to it. All of you!” She motioned with the machine gun and Flo scrambled out after me. Gretchen had climbed out the other side of the car.
“It’s cold and wet. I can barely see my hand in front of my face!” She yelled across the top of the car. “I wonder how far we are from town?”
“Too far to make a run for it.” Ursula screamed. “Shut the jävla doors and get ready to push.”
“My coat and hat are getting ruined.” Flo bumped the car door closed with her hip. “I will get that woman for this. Gunnar is not giving her one single piece of gold. That’s a promise.”
Real Vampires and the Viking Page 24