Ten, p.40
Ten, page 40
of roses stretched between the balconies. Every once in a while, a flutter of white, pink, and red would drift from the gargoyles showering the delighted guests with scented confetti.
“Yes, even Mina can do something tasteful,” Steve said as he led her to the stairs. “This place was originally excavated and reinforced in the sixth century. Talk about craftsmanship that was ahead of its time.”
“Is it safe?” Georgia asked as she eyed the walls.
“It’s lasted for centuries, including a bunch of wars, so it’s highly unlikely that it’s going to choose tonight to collapse. But if you start getting worried and thinking that the world is going to end, I’ll happily console you in any desperate, raunchy way that you desire,” Steve said with his hand on his heart. “It’s a promise, Sweetheart.”
“This is what I expected. Come on, I see a toga down there, and I’m dying to know who’s in it,” she said as she dragged him down the second set of stairs. She stopped to gawk at once more a room filled with vampires.
Most of the crowd seemed stuck as a set piece from either a Jane Austen drama or a Masterpiece Theater nineteenth century classic. Unlike the last ball, no convenient announcers let Georgia know just who had arrived yet. She scanned the mix of somber outfits and pasty faces until she finally saw a flash of brilliant gold and tanned leather.
“The Jaegers are here,” Steve muttered as he saw the amazon, Lady Asrun, strutting around the place in a suit of armor and fur boots. Georgia craned her neck to see what the other Jaegers were wearing. Steve finally guided her in the direction of a tiny redhead with a mask of freckles. Georgia raised a brow as the normally scantily clad Lady Claudia wore a simple sheath of blue linen that only bared her shoulders and the tiniest hints of her freckled boobs.
“They were the Dark Ages of fashion too,” Steve noted.
Georgia giggled. A waiter made a beeline to her with a tray holding two glasses of champagne. As soon as she took hers, the servant whisked the other in the general direction of the ballroom stage.
“I’m guessing that was for the other human guest,” she said. “It’s sad that there’s no marrowfat fondue this year.”
Steve flagged a servant with a red ribbon around his neck. He whispered something into his ear, but Georgia only heard “—in a glass please.” A few minutes later, the servant returned with a scarlet-filled snifter and a bandage on his wrist.
Georgia turned slightly green as Steve took a sip. “Really?” she asked.
“It’s all live food tonight, Sweetheart. I’m being good and having it in a cup rather than on tap just for you. Come on, do you want to follow that human trail, or—”
“Or?” Georgia prodded as Steve remained dumbstruck.
“Or say good evening to this young man’s father,” an incredibly proper German voice said. This stranger wore a leather breastplate and short skirt with sandals. Georgia found herself face to face with the head of a wolf pelt that made up the top of the stranger’s cloak.
“Dad, you came in uniform,” Steve said as he surveyed the man in a Roman legionnaire’s outfit with clipped sandy blond hair and bright blue eyes. “Did you want the full introduction, or is Klaus OK to start?”
The elder vampire gave his son a polite nod. “You know I’ve never been one for formality. I’ve tried to leave the pretense of my old life behind, but the Lady Jaeger insisted that I dress as was appropriate to my position at the time. I would, however, like to be introduced to your date this evening. My Jiangshi companion has already ditched me for a meal.”
“Dad, this is Georgia; Georgia, this is my dad, Klaus.”
“Charmed,” Klaus replied. “It’s nice to see that you found an escort who was actually younger than you, my boy. Tell me, did you agree to have a human date because you are finally coming around to my way of seeing things?”
“Not quite ready for all the meditation, Pops, but I’m glad that you seem happy,” Steve sighed. “I hope that mom isn’t being too hard on you.”
“Despite what you may think, I can handle Lady Jaeger. Claudia has been strangely civil on our journey,” Klaus said.
“Yeah, and that scares me, Pops. Mom is only nice when she wants something,” Steve said. “And speaking of scary, Georgia, look to our left.”
Georgia turned to see a terrifying figure cutting a swath through the ballroom. Steve wrapped his arm protectively around her and pulled her away from the tall, thin form in a black cloak and a black leather doublet.
“Did I say to watch out for togas?” Steve asked. “I meant watch out for Amish Darth Vader.”
Georgia stifled her giggle just in time. Brynjulf Jagäre turned to the trio and stopped his procession. At this distance, Georgia took note that buttons indeed hadn’t been invented in the decade of his birth. Unlike last time, the Jaeger’s hair was worn in a mix of braids and long locks. His scar seemed deeper than ever, and his eyes bored right through Georgia.
Steve and Klaus took a protective step forwards, but the Jaeger waved his hand and both lowered their heads and took an immediate step back. Only Georgia remained in place with a cup of champagne and an awkward smile on her face. The elder vampire gave a little smile, and a nod, and then went on his merry way.
“How do you do that?” Steve asked.
“I’ve never met anyone who can resist the Jaeger’s commands,”
Klaus said. “Are you some sort of sorceress?”
“I’m going to scratch off another question that I never expected to be asked unironically to me,” she muttered. “He’s just like every one of you. In fact, I’m not even queasy tonight. I think the combination of scented candles which normally make me woozy, and vampires, which also make me woozy, somehow cancel each other out.”
“You, young lady, are amazing,” Klaus said. “Tell me, have you ever given serious thought to enlightenment—”
Steve jumped between them. “Oh look, the Pendragons are making their way in, and Georgia, dear, hasn’t even met the happy couple, so sorry, Dad,” Steve said as he dragged Georgia away.
“Nice to meet you!” Georgia called as they darted off towards the stairs again. She waved furiously as she saw a familiar redhead in head-to-toe camel and gold. Mr. Lambley returned the wave. Both
Steve and Georgia stifled their laughter as Geoffrey stepped aside to show off his date for the evening.
“I never thought I’d see that,” Georgia said as none other than Minerva Fenstermacher von Jaeger in a full-length yellow gown covered in embroidered flowers. Minerva sighed through her tiny painted-on lips and flicked one of her ice-white wig curls over her shoulder.
“Told ya,” Steve said as he waved to his big sis. “Oh, my god, Geoffrey’s little bro is in a Mountie uniform, and his date is in go-go boots.”
Georgia whirled around and saw the Mountie-Flower Child super couple. She then started counting the different uniforms until she ran into a very distinctive red coat on the back of a man with reddish-blond hair. Steve pointed over her shoulder.
“And that, Sweetheart, is the happy young English Azarola that is getting married to his completely Honduran Pendragon fiancée tomorrow. The families did an exchange in the early nineteenth century. He also happens to be biologically—”
“Mr. Lambley’s dad,” Georgia said as she took in the red coat’s familiar bulldog-like features. “He does not look like he smiles all that much.”
“Nope. We also might want to steer clear of him,” Steve said as he leaned in to whisper in Georgia’s ear. “He thinks all Americans are ungrateful traitors to the crown.”
“Well, Mr. Lambley and I got a journal that supposedly belonged to Benedict Arnold as a wedding present, so I think he’ll be over the moon,” Georgia explained. “Oh, wow, I can see Mina all the way across the room.”
They gawked at a beautiful red, white, and gold sari wrapped around the exquisite body of Lady Pendragon. Her date beamed proudly from under his little conical hat. In his red and black military uniform, he looked like the spitting image of all the old engravings of Vlad the Impaler.
“She’s just flaunting it,” Steve said. “I mean she looks amazing, and Vlad is pretty tall and impressive. I don’t think that Lord Poo-Face is going to—”
“Oh, he’ll get over it,” a cold British voice said from behind them.
“Good evening, Young Master DeMarco.”
Georgia’s jaw dropped as she turned around. Lord Pendragon bowed.
“I thought kilts were Scottish,” Georgia blurted out as she saw his dark green plaid skirt and tight-fitting top.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that, Miss Sutherland,” Lorcan said. “It’s good to see you again, and I can’t thank you enough for the care you have given my son. I hope you’ve found the castle’s hospitality to your liking.”
“Everything has been wonderful,” Georgia said. “But it’s nice to finally see someone else in shoulder pads and huge hair.”
“Yes, I suppose it’s time for you to meet. Georgia, this is my guest, Miss Paige DeMarco,” Lorcan said.
Georgia looked back and forth between her date and the tiny girl with big brown hair and a mountain of fluffy curls. “DeMarco?”
Georgia asked.
“Funny story involving a girl, some scotch, and a son I didn’t know about for a few decades, but the um, end result is my great-granddaughter, Paige, who now works as a—”
“Personal assistant,” Paige finished. “And Lorcan told me that you are the assistant to his son, so I guess we have a lot in common besides eighties fashion.”
“You really have a great-granddaughter,” Georgia said.
Steve cringed and started toying with his hair. He did give a one-armed hug to Paige. Her puffy, sequined dress crinkled as much as Georgia’s did.
“Indeed, I do,” Steve sighed. “Human families can be quite awkward, especially when they end up working for a rival family. Hey, Pipsqueak, is that a violet ribbon I see around your wrist?”
Lorcan and Georgia both turned to indeed see a purple ribbon with a moon charm. Lorcan’s face hardened even more than normal.
“Did you find some entertainment, Miss Paige?” Lorcan asked.
“Will I approve?” Steve asked.
“Um, he’s right over there—” Paige said as she pointed to one of the tallest and best looking of the entertainers milling by a column.
“Oh, it’s awkward Morgan!” Georgia said. “Great taste. If I hadn’t passed out in the hot tub, then—”
“Whoa!” Paige interrupted. “He’s mine for now. I don’t think he’s your type anyway.”
“Well, I don’t think you know me that well,” Georgia said sweetly.
“But hey, if there’s anything left when you’re done, send him my way.
Since I don’t know of any way to make conversation between my date, my boss’s dad, and my date’s great-granddaughter any less awkward, I’m going to spend the evening vampire watching. You guys have fun!”
She didn’t give them time to respond as she took off into the thick of vampires of all generations. She kept a lookout for togas and other signs of vampires that might be a bit dangerous. Finally, she ended up hiding in a corner with the other humans.
“Well, this is boring,” a familiar voice said. Georgia picked up the faint aroma of coffee in the air. She glanced over and saw a young man in a dark blue robe. He handed her a cappuccino.
“You stood me up, Bob,” Georgia muttered as she took the glass.
“Business, urgent business, Florida,” Bam-Yin replied. “But I was hoping I could make it up to you.”
“Are you even supposed to be here?” Georgia asked.
“Nope, but it’s a sanctuary, so even if they do find me, no one can do a damn thing. I kind of like the danger, don’t you? I mean it’s not like you’re a human surrounded by vampires, vampires who are probably about to get all drunk and crazy at a wedding.”
“Yeah, I would hate to be that,” Georgia sighed before taking a sip of her coffee. “Want to go all invisible and sneak off to the gardens? I hear there’s some magic place where all the Uptown Chapel folks have their dramatic scenes.”
Bam-Yin eyed the dancing corpses that filled the room. The air around him started to shimmer. “See you outside, my friend.”
Paige sniffed the air and rolled her eyes as she could only pick up scented candles and a faint aroma of coffee. She darted back to her little pack in the corner where Steve, Morgan, and Lorcan all stared awkwardly at each other.
“I can’t find her,” Paige said. “Morgan?”
“Seriously, this is Georgia,” Steve interjected. “She is the queen of running off and getting into trouble, but she always lands on her feet. Maybe if you weren’t being so scary—”
“Just split up and look for her,” Lorcan said. “It’s only the first night, and I really want to know how you got past my wife’s supposedly iron-clad vetting process, Morgan. Now I have to check every member of the staff and the entertainment personally.”
“Lorcan—” Paige started.
The vampire remained frightfully calm. “Paige, you knew he was here, and you didn’t think to tell me,” he whispered in her ear. “We will have words later.”
Steve stepped between them. “It’s a party, and there is sanctuary tonight. She’s surrounded by an army of law-abiding vampires. What is the worst that could possibly happen?” he asked. “Also, you need to back off, Lord P. She may be working for you, but this is still my blood you’re talking to—”
“Oh, both of you just shut up,” Paige snapped. “Morgan and I will find her.”
She grabbed Morgan’s hand and made sly looks at anyone who bothered to notice them. She ended up dragging him to the entertainment buffet and shoving him against the wall. The second a bloodsucker looked over, she planted a kiss on his lips. The couple next to them groaned — a confederate soldier sinking his teeth into a rather-bored looking redhead.
“Hey,” Morgan said as he came up for air.
“I smell coffee more over here,” Paige said.
“And the entertainers aren’t allowed to eat or drink on the dance floor,” Morgan added.
“Ergo—”
Morgan pointed to a glass on the floor. “She was over here,” he said. His smile faded as he took a sniff of the wall by the beverage.
“Oh, no—”
“Morgan—”
“That’s the same smell from the fertilizer plant,” Morgan said. “I’d recognize it anywhere.”
Paige sniffed again. “Seriously, I don’t smell anything,” she said.
“Really? It reeks,” Morgan said as he started pacing frantically.
Paige grabbed his hand before anyone could notice the claws slipping out.
“I’m telling you, there is nothing here,” Paige insisted. Morgan shook his head violently.
“He’s here,” Morgan said over and over. “Believe me, there is something terrible here, and it’s with my sister. I can feel it.”
“Now, this is more like it,” Georgia said as she kicked off her heels and let the grass tickle her through her stockings. She eased onto a carved, stone bench and laughed as her poufy skirt formed a ring around her waist. She leaned back her head and looked at the climbing roses that wrapped over her head and the gorgeous sky full of stars. A moment later, the air in front of her shimmered and Bam-Bam the Hundred Pacer stepped out of the shadows.
“May I?” he asked as he pointed to the tiny free spot left on the bench.
“You may,” she said as she continued to watch the sky. Both breathed deep of the warm summer air.
The vampire brushed his long bangs to the side. His eyes bleached to nearly white as he stared at the moon.
“How do you do that?” Georgia asked.
“You know about squid, cuttlefish, octopus?” he asked. Georgia nodded. “Same principle,” he said as he pushed up his sleeve.
Georgia watched in awe as the back of his hand slowly turned a dark greenish hue as he held it over the grass. He then took a deep breath and moved his hand over a nearby rose. After a few seconds, his fingertips shifted to a pale pink.
“That’s amazing. Does your hair—?”
“No, the hair is long dead when it leaves the root. I just use a lot of Manic Panic,” he said. “But, every once in a while, I get a faint tint right at the scalp.”
“Is that a Lung thing?” she asked.
“No, I am uniquely blessed. The closest to me is my half-brother and possibly your Jaeger boyfriend—”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” Georgia said a little too quickly.
Bam-Yin grinned and leaned a little closer. “Now, that is certainly good to hear,” he said. They both stopped to look at a streak of light shooting across the sky.
“A shooting star,” Georgia said.
“You should make a wish,” the vampire said as he inched closer.
“That’s ridiculous,” Georgia muttered.
“My dear, you are sitting on a bench over a vampire castle with an enemy wedding crasher at your side. Ridiculousness is relative.”
“Fair point,” she sighed. “But I don’t dare wish for what I want.”
Bam-Yin cupped her chin with his hand. She held her breath. He leaned forward but stopped a few inches from her lips.
“My wish is to find out what happened to my mother and to my sister and to get justice against the monsters that murdered them,”
he said. “I have been lied to, betrayed, and treated like a fool by those creatures who claim to be the peak of civilization. However, you, a girl who serves my enemy, have been faithful and true.”
“I’ve been terrified, actually,” Georgia confessed. “Afraid that either you will kill me for being able to see you or that everyone will just think I’m crazy.”
“And you are honest, so be honest with me now. What do you really wish for?”
She gnawed a little on her lip and tried to avoid his freakish stare.
