Great Hexpectations, A Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy

by H. P. Mallory

  “Then we do not have a deal.”

  I grunted and said something unintelligible as I faced the fact that I was going to have to get naked in front of Bram. “Fine. I’ll give you that one. The third one, that I allow you to touch me whenever you want to? What the hell does that mean?”

  “I believe you are an intelligent woman, Dulcie. Figure it out.”

  “Okay, I’m adding to that one that you can only touch me above my clothing and not in inappropriate places.”

  He sighed. “Very well. Unless, of course, you invite me to touch your ‘inappropriate places’.”

  It would be a cold day in Hades before that happened. “Sure, I’ll give you that one, too.”

  “Are you finished, Dulcie sweet?”

  I glanced at the rest of it. Five dinner dates seemed like overkill but I guessed I could handle them. Especially since the book I was working on (well, technically, I hadn’t started it yet) was about Bram. I could use those dinners to my advantage… for research. And the final one about a kiss a day? Yeah, I could probably handle that too, despite my aversion to it.

  Yes, it did occur to me that Knight might not approve of any of this but, at this point, I cared more about his safety than anything else. So, yes, Bram could have a few cheap thrills at my expense if it meant I could save Knight from whatever punishment was looming.

  “Yes, I’m finished.”

  “Good. Simply sign the letter and return it and we shall leave… tomorrow evening?”

  I took a deep breath. There was that little problem of a passport. “Um, I need some time to get a passport and identification.”

  “I will take care of it.”

  “I have someone from the ANC handling…”

  “It will take too much time, sweet. Allow me to use my connections.”

  Of course, those connections weren’t legal ones. But, in this case, I had to turn a blind eye because Bram was right, it would take too much time on Dia’s part. She most definitely would have to field a long list of questions regarding my interest in going to the Netherworld and that was something for which I definitely didn’t have the time. Furthermore, I didn’t want to put Dia in that position…

  “Okay, Bram, do what you have to do.”

  “Very well. I shall pick you up at nightfall tomorrow.”

  I took a deep breath. I was really going to do this—travel to the Netherworld where Hades only knew what awaited me. Although I felt good about doing my part in sparing Knight the wrongful accusations, what did that mean for me?

  Seven

  The following evening, ten minutes after the sun set, there was a knock on my door. I pulled it open and found Bram leaning against the wall of my building with his hands in his pockets and a killer smile aimed solely at me. He looked every inch the bad boy, and once again up to no good. And, okay, I’ll admit it…he looked hot.

  “Good evening, my dear.”

  “Hi, Bram. Are you ready?” I, myself, was as ready as I was going to be. I’d asked Sam to dog sit for me for the next few days, telling her I was going to visit some family members I’d basically made up. Sam wouldn’t have reacted well to the news that I was headed to the Netherworld. So, besides Sam and my dog, I didn’t have any other responsibilities.

  “I am,” he said and after giving me the once-over to which he shook his head—probably at seeing me dressed in sweats and an oversized t-shirt. He glanced behind me and saw my red suitcase. “May I?”

  “I’ve got it,” I interrupted, grabbing the handle of my bag. I started down my front walkway, toward Bram’s black Porsche Carrera. Then, remembering my manners, I turned back to face him. “Thanks, for offering though.”

  He didn’t reply but smiled in that endearing, boyish sort of way and instantly appeared in front of me, courtesy of his vampire speed. He opened my door, every inch the perfect gentleman or at least trying to play one. He grasped my bag to place it in the trunk. I just nodded in thanks and took my seat, fastening my seatbelt as he walked to the other side of the car.

  “Thanks for picking me up,” I said, once he was seated and buckled into his seatbelt.

  “It is my pleasure, Dulcie sweet.” He grinned as he turned the engine on, put it in gear, and gunned it, narrowly missing old Miss Gingerly in her 1970 puke green AMC Gremlin. She screamed something at him and held up a wrinkled, furrowed hand, flipping him off.

  “I need to move,” I said, sighing.

  Bram glanced over at me with a raised brow, insinuating “you’re just now reaching that conclusion?”

  “Moving on,” I muttered. “Where are we going?”

  He smiled and put his hand halfway up my thigh. I removed it. I thought I was somewhat prepared for this drive and Bram’s roving hands, which is why I wore my sweats and bulky sweatshirt. For the time being, sexy and I weren’t acquainted. He surreptitiously placed his hand on my thigh again.

  “We aren’t in the Netherworld yet so we don’t have to abide by your list of demands,” I said with a scowl as I forced his hand back onto his lap.

  He chuckled softly. “I could not help myself, sweet, your body just screams for my touch.”

  This was going to be a long ass trip. Ignoring his comment, I reached over and turned the volume on the radio up. More classical music poured out, however, this song was far less furious than the last.

  “Jeez, is this all you listen to?” I asked, even as I found myself absorbing the melody and, dare I admit it? liking it.

  “I find it soothes my ever agitated nerves,” he answered with a quick smile.

  “Who’s on now?” It was nice to focus on something other than the butterflies which were agitating my stomach and flying headlong into one another until I felt somewhat sick. I was nervous—I couldn’t deny it. I hadn’t slept all night, plagued with thoughts of Knight and wondering what was happening to him, if he was alright or not... As if those thoughts weren’t enough to ruin my evening, there was always the dread of what I was up against if I were found guilty. Would I end up rotting in a Netherworld cell for the rest of my godforsaken life? Or would an even worse punishment await me?

  “Beethoven,” Bram answered, holding his hand up and swaying in time with the music, as if he thought he were a conductor or something. “Moonlight Sonata.”

  Well, good on Beethoven and his Moonlight Sonata because somehow the music soothed my frazzled mind. The haunting melody gave me something to focus on, steering me away from the frenzy that was beginning to develop in my gut.

  I focused on the lines in the road as they blurred before me, realizing we were coming ever closer to the destiny I’d arranged for myself, the Netherworld. I’m not sure how long I zoned out on the dotted yellow lines, or got lost in the fury of my thoughts but, before I knew it, we had driven clean out of Splendor city limits. I didn’t remember turning off the main road but soon we were traveling on a back road, heading for the nearby town of Estuary. This wasn’t the main road to Estuary and it was so poorly maintained and rife with potholes and overgrown weeds; few people traveled this way.

  “Portals are pretty far out of the way, huh?” I asked, casting a glance at my vampire driver.

  “Yes, quite so.”

  I took a deep breath, trying to still the beating of my heart. “Bram, are you frightened at all?”

  He glanced at me and wore his confusion. “Frightened?” He said the word as if he didn’t know its meaning.

  “Well, it’s been over one hundred years since you’ve been to the Netherworld, right?”

  He nodded. “Yes, it has been; but, no, I am not frightened.”

  Did I believe him? I wasn’t sure. “Why not?”

  He considered the question for a few seconds. “I imagine not much has changed in my absence. The Netherworld is not as progressive as we are, sweet.”

  I nodded. I guess that made sense. “Then why does everyone say the Netherworld is so dangerous?”

  Bram didn’t respond right away and appeared to be listening to the music, his h
and swaying to the tempo as he’d done before. After another few seconds, he apparently remembered my question. “Because it is dangerous. Oh yes… Very much so.”

  The road veered around a gnarled oak tree and Bram turned sharply, merging onto a fire road that was completely overgrown with tall weeds that whipped the front of the Porsche as we proceeded. Knowing how much Bram loved his car, I had to imagine this was a huge bummer for him. However, I didn’t want to mention it—I already felt bad that I’d roped him into escorting me, ridiculous conditions or not.

  “Are we almost there?” I asked, not intending to sound all of four years old.

  “Yes, nearly.”

  As the moon broke through the clouds overhead, its milky rays highlighted another craggy oak tree off to our right and Bram put the car in park, turning the engine off. I didn’t say anything but watched him close his eyes as he listened to the music.

  “Beautiful,” he whispered while he ran his long fingers along the steering wheel, as if he were playing the very notes we were hearing.

  I thought about telling him to pay attention to the task at hand but I suddenly realized this was Bram’s way of accepting the fact that he was about to embark on a voyage that maybe did frighten him. I mean, it had been over one hundred years since he’d been to the Netherworld and who knew why he’d left. Had he been trying to escape something? Someone? The ANC? It’s not as though it would have surprised me to find that Bram’s past had been shady—like I’ve said before, his present wasn’t exactly vanilla. I hadn’t ever considered whether or not Bram returning to the Netherworld would upset him, not to mention be dangerous for him. Who knew if he had enemies there? I was suddenly disappointed with myself. I’d been so consumed with thoughts of Knight and myself, I hadn’t considered Bram’s situation. Course, I also had to imagine that if Bram perceived himself to be in danger by returning, he never would have agreed to it. Still, watching him now, I could tell he was nervous. At the very least, he wasn’t his usual garrulous and confident self.

  The last note sounded from the stereo and Bram opened his eyes, turning to face me. He took a deep breath. “Very well.”

  Then he opened his door and stood up. I didn’t wait for him to come around and let me out. Instead, I opened my own door which was a bit difficult considering all the tall weeds that pressed against the car door.

  “Where do we go?” I asked as I stood up and realized we were completely alone, aside from a steady buzz of the insects, the shadows of a few straggly trees and the briskness of the wind.

  “Straight ahead,” Bram answered as he opened the trunk and pulled our two suitcases out.

  I glanced around me again, trying to decipher what a portal might look like. “If this is one of the portal locations, why is it so overgrown? It looks like no one has been out here in decades.”

  “This portal was a gift to me, sweet.”

  I felt my eyes widen. “You mean, this is your very own entrance to the Netherworld?”

  “Yes, quite so.”

  “But…”

  “Of course, once we enter the other side, I must subject myself to the same treatment as other travelers. I didn’t know what to think so I said nothing but had to admit I was impressed that Bram had been presented with his very own Netherworld entrance. Judging by the dilapidated environs of the portal location, it didn’t surprise me that it had been over one hundred years since he’d last used it.

  I watched Bram shut the trunk and lock the Porsche with his key remote. Then he picked up our luggage and started forward, looking like he'd completely lost his mind given the fact that he was out in the middle of BFE but dressed to the nines in a black suit.

  He stopped walking once he was parallel with the nearest craggy oak tree and set both of our bags down. He walked to the right until he was completely in line with the tree, then glanced down at his feet and stepped to the side for a count of four. Pivoting on his toes, he turned ninety degrees and took a step forward. It seemed like he was doing the box step or something.

  He held his hand out before him and seemed to run it through the air, as if he were practicing synchronized swimming. He repeated the bizarre gesture three more times before I realized he was looking for some difference in the air, probably in temperature, I guessed.

  “What are you doing?” I asked, coming up behind him.

  He turned to face me and held his hand out to stop my approach. “Do not stand too close, sweet. You could accidentally be pulled in.”

  Even though I didn’t know what that meant, it didn’t sound good so I stepped to the side where I didn’t imagine I’d be pulled into any invisible portals.

  “I am checking for the portal entrance, sweet.”

  I nodded. I’d gotten that much. “How will you know it?”

  “The air feels heavier, denser, less airy. Similar to a gel.”

  Interesting. He continued to move his hand around, looking like a mime trying to get out of a box. Then a great smile spread over his mouth and he pushed his hand forward, being careful to keep his feet firmly rooted.

  “Voila,” he said, glancing over at me with a triumphant smile. I took a step nearer him but he held his hand out to stop me again. “There are three items to consider before we step over, sweet.”

  I stopped in my tracks. “Okay.”

  He held up his long index finger. “First, do not forget the sky.”

  I was about to insist he explain that one but before I could, he was onto point two, middle finger already having joined index finger. “Second, creatures in the Netherworld will not appear the same as they do on Earth. And third, fairies are a special breed in the Netherworld. Creatures will respond to you differently.”

  I started to insist he explain that to me but he shook his head. “I’ve located the portal entrance, sweet, and activated it. Therefore, we do not have much time remaining. I will walk through and once I vanish entirely, you must follow within three seconds. You simply step through, allowing your legs to enter before the rest of your body. Once you feel the gel of the portal, close your eyes and hold your breath. Oh and remove your sweatshirt.”

  “What?” I started but before I could finish, Bram had our luggage in each hand and with one step, he disappeared right in front of me. Remembering his three second rule, I tore off my sweatshirt and leapt forward and threw one leg into the air where he’d just gone. He was right, it did feel like gel. It wasn’t cold, nor was it hot, it was just a bizarre texture. Suddenly, afraid I might lose my leg if the portal inadvertently closed, I lifted my other leg and, inhaling deeply with my eyes shut, propelled myself forward.

  It was like being in a wind tunnel for all of one second. I kept my eyes clamped shut as I felt myself dropping even though I wanted nothing more than to scream. Then I remembered Bram telling me to hold my breath.

  My feet landed on what felt like pavement and I could feel strong arms around me, holding me upright. Feeling like I might pass out, I inhaled and opened my eyes.

  When I focused on the scenery around me, I didn’t know what to think. I blinked a few times almost to make sure I really was seeing what I thought I was and not just some figment of my seriously confused imagination.

  But, any way I looked at it, I was outside, on what appeared to be a tarmac, in a line, with a host of people standing single file in front of me. Beyond me were rolling green hills that looked like they were completely untouched by civilization. The green of the hills met the azure of the sky and, feeling like I just walked into the Teletubbies set, a horrible thought suddenly struck me. The sun was out, glaringly obvious in its yellow haven up in the sky, so where was Bram?

  That was when I remembered the feeling of arms around me. I glanced up and felt the breath catch in my throat…

  Bram was not only standing in the garish sunlight without exploding into dust but he was also stunningly… beautiful. His dark hair was blacker than I could remember it, almost blue in its glossiness and his usual blue eyes had taken on a lavender hue. But
it was his skin that had me completely arrested—the color of bronze. He looked like a Greek or Roman God and he was so much…taller than I remembered.

  “Bram?” I started. “The sun won’t destroy you?”

  “I am free to walk in the daylight in the Netherworld, sweet.” He smiled down at me, completely aware that I was mesmerized by him.

  “Why do you look so different?”

  He shrugged. “Remember? Creatures in the Netherworld plane are not what you expect them to be.”

  I swallowed hard and just nodded dumbly, still unable to stop ogling him. This was beginning to get embarrassing. “Is this your natural state?”

  He chuckled, apparently amused by my awe. “Yes, this is a true representation of the vampire.”

  “Why can’t I stop staring at you?” I asked, finally okay with admitting the obvious because the truth of it was, I was getting worried.

  Bram chuckled again and ran his finger down my cheek. His touch was warm… strangely so, considering he was a vampire. “My powers of persuasion are stronger here, sweet. I shall reduce them for you.” He glanced away from me and when he returned his gaze, his eyes were no longer purple, but back to their usual blue.

  Wanting to test my ability to break away from his hypnotic eyes, I glanced down and sighed in relief. “Thank you.”

  He chuckled again and before I could respond, I felt something… strange and curious. It sounded like a sheet flapping and I could feel the slightest tickling in my upper, no middle back… It was like an itch I couldn’t scratch. Before I knew it, I felt lighter, as if I were floating on air. Bram’s grip on my shoulder tightened and when I looked at him in complete confusion, he motioned for me to look down. I glanced at my feet and realized I was hovering a foot or two off the ground.

  “What the hell?” I started as the shuffling sound began to accelerate and thrum incessantly, sounding like the beating of… wings?

  With a great sense of foreboding, I turned my head to peer behind me and what I saw almost made me gag. Green gossamer wings that reflected the light in an array of glittery patterns met my delirious eyes as they fluttered madly, attempting to keep me airborn…