by Ken Brosky
“Because I’m a good fighter. And I’m smart. Also? This isn’t the 1980’s. Being a girl doesn’t really mean I’m useless.”
“Got smart folk. And smart fighters, too. Don’t need no one else.”
I crossed my arms. “I bet you do.”
He leaned back in his chair. The wood creaked something fierce. “Why do ya say that?”
“Because you’re missing one of your crew.”
His pink, dry lips parted. He took a sip of his drink, then wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his jacket. “You’re mistaken.”
“He went into a cavern,” I said. “And he hasn’t come back, has he?”
On the jukebox, a Rolling Stones song started playing. The crunching guitars bled through the cheap speakers hanging in the corner. The man stared at me a moment longer, then used his foot to push out the chair opposite him. I sat down.
“You can call me Harper,” he said.
“Fine. Nice to meet you, Harper.” I extended my hand. He looked at it for a moment, then shook it. His fingers were dry and rough, like sandpaper. His grip? Not too tough to match.
“That’s quite a grip,” he said, reading my mind.
“You’re underestimating me,” I told him in a cold voice. “Don’t do it. I’m here to help.”
“Are ya now. In exchange for what.”
“A share of the treasure.” I waited for him to respond. When he didn’t, I added, “Your friend needs help. I can lead you to him.”
He nodded quickly. “Old Jack. Told him not to go in alone. Told him a dozen times. But he’s always been so stubborn. Don’t suppose you’d care to explain how ya knew about my friend’s misfortune?”
I tapped my head. “I dreamt it.”
We sat staring at each other. I’d expected him to laugh at me. Instead, he flagged the bartender for another drink. “And an ice water for my friend,” he added.
When the bartender returned, Harper toasted my glass, then took a sip, licking his lips. “So. Mind elaborating?”
“I saw him cross a lake,” I answered. “Underground. I saw …” Careful, Alice. Watch your words now. “I saw him go into an old structure, like a castle. He’s in danger.”
If Harper was surprised, he didn’t show it. Even if I’d told him about the strange, invisible women, I bet he wouldn’t have batted an eyelash. I couldn’t help but get the feeling if Chase and Seth were here, they’d both be in awe of this guy’s coolness. But there was a crack in his exterior. The moment I’d said “danger,” it was as if his façade had broken just a bit.
“If you see this lake again, are ya sure you can lead us to where my friend is?” he asked. I nodded. “And did you see anything else? Think, now. Was this man in your dreams carrying anything?”
I thought back. “Yes … he had a satchel with him. It snagged on a tree branch.”
“What was in it?” Harper leaned forward. “Gold? Diamonds?”
“I didn’t see.”
His fist pounded the table. He stared at the jukebox. “That infernal machine. It’s been playing Rolling Stones songs for three straight days. I hate the Rolling Stones.”
“Wait … you know,” I said, suddenly realizing. The moment he’d said “gold” and “diamonds,” it had come back to me: the Grimms’ fairy tale. Twelve Dancing Princesses. It all made sense now. In the fairy tale, the princesses travel underground, making their way across a lake and through forests full of diamonds and gold. That was the treasure.
That was what Sam Grayle wanted.
And it was what Harper wanted, too.
“I know what you’re thinking, and you’re wrong,” he said, sipping his beer. “You think I care about the treasure.”
“Uh … no, I totally wasn’t thinking that …”
He smiled, leaning back in the creaky chair. “It’s Old Jack who cares about the treasure. Me? I just try to keep my best friend alive.”
“What changed? Are you rich or something?”
“I was in Egypt twenty years ago. Just a young pup, exploring a forgotten tomb with a horde of archaeologists and treasure hunters. We were deep in the earth, following a tunnel so old that I swear ya could hear the stone walls groaning under the weight of the earth above. Some of the treasure hunters were there for the treasure. They wanted riches and fame. I wanted the thrill of it. The excitement of setting foot inside a piece of history that had been lost to the world.”
I sipped my ice water, watching his fingers fumble with his glass.
“When we entered the tomb, it was pitch black. I struck the first match… and then all heck broke loose. Only two of us escaped with our lives: me and Old Jack, the guy you saw in your dream. He’s been my best friend ever since.”
“What happened to the others?”
Harper looked down at his half-empty glass of beer. He turned to the jukebox. “Another Rolling Stones song.” He shook his head and looked at me. “You want in on this? You got it. Be here tomorrow at ten a.m. sharp. But once you’re in, you’re in. I run the show. Period.”
“Perfect,” I said.
Chapter 6
“I’m telling you, he knows more than he’s putting on.”
I was lying on Chase’s bed beside Chase, our bare toes intermingled above the covers. Between us was a silver tray of cheese and crackers—the kitchen chefs’ idea of a “late-night snack.” Briar reached over and grabbed a piece of white cheese and two crackers, then resumed pacing beside the bed, nibbling thoughtfully.
“But what could this Harper fellow know?” he asked. “Lordy, I hate riddles. It can never be easy, can it? We are doomed to hardship, I fear.”
“So there’s a bunch of dancing princesses hiding in a castle underground,” Chase said.
“Yup.”
“And they’re kind of invisible …”
“Sometimes.”
“Sometimes. Except they have a reflection. And there’s trees down there too, with glowing blue fruit.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t like any of it.” Chase sighed. “But then again, I’m not a hero.”
“Awwwww.” I smooched his cheek. “You’re my hero.”
He rolled his eyes.
“At this point, I’m accustomed to your modus operandi of going into these situations without a fully formed plan,” Briar said, paws behind his back. Still pacing. Wearing down the wooden floorboards with his pacing. “But I don’t like the fact that these human beings have inserted themselves into the affairs of the Corrupted. It would be nice if no harm came to them.”
“Right,” I said. “That would be nice. It would be even nicer if I could find this secret castle before them so I can do my thing and eliminate the danger.”
“You could slip in and out without ever even putting yourself in danger,” Chase said excitedly. He sat up in the bed. “You said that in the fairy tale, there’s a forest full of diamonds, right? So just pack up a backpack full of diamonds and then get out of there. Throw a stick of dynamite at the entrance so no one else can get in. Then give the diamonds to Grayle. End of story.”
“It’s tempting,” Briar said. “I certainly wouldn’t mind the change of pace. Not that I don’t love the danger and all …”
“No.” I grabbed a slice of cheese, staring at its smooth edges. If this was a piece of gold … would a person be content? Or would he/she go back to the plate for more? “Harper and his team won’t stop just because of a cave-in. They’ll just dig their way through. I have to get down there and destroy the princesses. Or more people are going to die.”
Chase grunted, running a finger across the rubber guards of the forearm crutches resting beside the bed.
“Chase … eh, what are those?” Briar asked, pointing with a paw.
“Crutches,” he answered. “The prince bought them for me while he was showing us around this city this afternoon. He bought everybody stuff. Jasmine and Margaret both got a pair of earrings.”
“Dang!” I snapped my fingers. “I’d kill for a new pair of
flats.”
“He’s smooth,” Chase said. “Smooth and weird.”
“Like a vampire,” Briar added ominously, eyes wide.
“No, it’s something else. He started getting weird after a couple hours, like he was sick. Said he had to get back to the castle, so the drivers just drove us around town for another hour.”
There was a knock at the door. Briar and I froze.
“Who is it?” Chase called out.
“Seth.”
We exhaled. Briar hopped over to the door, opening it. Seth stepped inside. “Oh. Hey guys. Uh … what’s up?”
We looked at each other, shrugging.
“Just planning out another Corrupted adventure,” Chase said with a hint of sarcasm.
“Oh. Cool.” Seth snapped his fingers, looking around the room. He was wearing a new shirt, no doubt picked out by Mrs. Satrapi. It was blue, button-down, short-sleeved. It looked OK. Not Seth’s style, but stylish. “Gotta love those Corrupted.”
Briar narrowed his eyes. “Say, why are you acting so strange?” He gasped. “Are you possessed by an evil force?”
“No, no. Uh …” He scratched his head. “I was kinda hoping maybe Chase would … um, teach me how to shave.”
I looked a Briar. His whiskers twitched. We both burst into laughter.
“I’m serious!”
“Dude,” Chase said, “you don’t have any whiskers. You’re a baby-face.”
“I’ve got some.” He rubbed his chin. “Normally, I just sorta borrow a friend’s electric razor once a week, but …”
“But what?” I asked.
He sighed. “I’m meeting up with Sanda tonight. She wants to take a walk around the castle.”
“A date?” Briar asked, ears perking up. “How exciting!”
Seth looked down at the floor. “Yeah, I guess so. Don’t know what she sees in little old me, though.”
“She sees an awesome dude,” Chase said. He rolled over in the bed, pulling the new crutches toward him. I had to admit, they looked pretty expensive. The prince was definitely doing his best to play the role of Good Host. “Come on. Let’s get you looking smooth.”
“Oh thank god I thought you were going to say no and I almost panicked,” Seth said in one long exhale. He rushed to the bathroom while Chase fit his hands through the protective rubber cuffs of the crutches. He stood awkwardly, groaning and taking a few shaky steps.
I walked beside him, making sure my anxious hands didn’t protectively reach out. He wanted to do this on his own. And he was doing it. It took a few steps, but he was walking again, and I didn’t need to study the determined, strained look on his face to know this meant something to him.
He stopped in the doorway, glancing at me. We exchanged a smile.
“Now, I know we need hot water,” Seth said, running the faucet. “After that, I’m pretty lost.”
“Shaving cream helps,” Briar said, hopping up to the doorway. I stood with him, leaning on his shoulder and watching Chase maneuver behind Seth.
“OK, use the shaving cream. You just need a dab …”
Seth filled his palm with the foamy white stuff.
“OK,” Chase said calmly. “That’s enough to shave a giant. Just take a little and dab it on your cheeks and chin. Good. Now get your neck.”
“Not sure why you’d want to remove your fur,” Briar murmured. “Seems quite suspicious, if you ask me.”
“Because some ladies like their man smooooooth,” Chase said in a sassy voice. He watched Seth pick up the blue razor with some trepidation. “How have you gone so long without knowing this?”
“My dad never taught me,” Seth said. “He goes to work around the time I go to sleep. He gets home and sleeps when I’m in school.”
“How did you learn?” I asked Chase.
He grunted. “In the locker room, I guess. Freshman year of high school. I sprouted a beard pretty early, so one of the older students showed me how to do it after baseball practice was done. My dad has always been busy with work, too.”
I smiled, watching them give each other a knowing nod in the steamy mirror. “Awwwww,” I said, wrapping an arm around Briar’s neck. “This is totally a bromance!”
Seth brought the razor to the top of his right cheek, pausing. “You sure I’m not going to cut myself open and spill buckets of blood all over the place?”
Briar made an “Urp!” noise, holding one paw to his mouth.
“I’m positive,” Chase said. “Just bring it down slow. Good. Rinse the blade. Good. Now do it again. See? Top to bottom. You don’t have coarse hairs, so you don’t have to go against the grain.”
“I’m still a man, though.”
Chase laughed. “Yup. Definitely, buddy.”
Seth rinsed the blade, finishing the last few little spots on his neck. He looked at himself in the mirror, satisfied. He looked pretty much the same as when he started, minus a few little hairs.
“Now for the hard part,” Chase said. “Grab that little green bottle. Good. Now, use just a dab on your palms. Now slap your face.”
Seth did so, patting his face a few times. “Feels cool …” His face reddened. The muscles in his neck tightened. He screamed, clutching the sink.
“Seth!” Briar exclaimed, reaching out. I grabbed his paw, holding him back.
“It’s just aftershave,” Chase assured the frightened rabbit.
“It feels like death!” Seth shouted. After a moment, his breathing slowed and he pulled his fingers from the sink.
“Now you’re a man,” Chase said. “Congratulations. And good luck on the date.”
Seth grabbed one of the monogrammed “Castle Vontescue” towels from the towel rack, wiping the little wisps of shaving cream off the edges of his face. He tossed the towel on the floor. “Thanks, buddy! I owe you one. OK. I’m off. Don’t wait up!”
“We won’t,” I called out.
The door shut. Chase looked at me, then down at the “Castle Vontescue” monogrammed towel.
“Allow me,” Briar said, reaching down and putting the towel on the rack. “I do say, my boy, that was positively nice of you. The poor furless fool will need all the help he can get, I fear.”
“Exactly.” I pointed a finger at him. “And you’re providing it.”
“Yes, I … wait. Say what now?”
“Tail him,” I ordered. “Make sure he’s OK, then do some more of your world-famous snooping.”
“Anything else, your majesty?” he asked, ears pulled back as I herded him toward the door.
“Yes … keep an eye out for monsters.” I shut the door before he could respond, turning and smiling at Chase. “I love doing that to him.”
“Oh I’m sure he loves it, too.” Chase took a few steps on the crutches, then stopped. His face was red and sweaty. He looked at me, pleading. I hurried beside him, lifting some of the burden off his legs so he could get to the bed. “Thanks,” he whispered.
“It’s going to take time to get used to.” I hopped beside him on the bed. “That was really nice of you, helping Seth.”
He shrugged, resting the crutches against the wall. “I guess. He’s a good guy.”
“So are you.” I poked his belly. “Aren’t you?”
“Gah,” he said, shifting to avoid my pointer finger. A smile cracked on his lips. “Watch it.”
“Mmmmm no.” I poked him again. “Tell me you’re a good boy.”
“Ah!” He shifted again but now I had both pointer fingers stabbing at various parts of his belly muscles. “If you were this precise with your saber, you’d be winning more.”
I poked him harder, eliciting laughter. “Take it back! Take it back and tell me you’re a good little boy!”
“Arg I’m sorry!” he said, laughing hard and trying to grab my hands. “I’m a good little boy … now stop before I pee my pants!”
“Bark like a doggie!” I said, fiercely stabbing his ribs.
“Arf! Arf arf arf!” he shouted, cackling in laughter. His hand caught m
ine. He turned, letting his weight fall onto me. He kissed me deeply and for a moment, I forgot all about tickling him. I felt his hand reach down my leg …
Then squeeze the muscle. I burst into laughter, trying to wriggle away. He held me tight, carefully avoiding my sore ribs. “I’m going to let go,” he said, squeezing again and forcing me to laugh so hard there wasn’t an ounce of breath left in my lungs. “But I’m only letting go for a truce.”
“Agreed,” I squealed.
He looked me in the eyes, his face flushed and sweaty. “If you break this truce … I’ll put spiders in your hair while you’re sleeping.”
“OK, OK! I swear it! Now,” I choked on my own laughter, snorting fiercely, “let go of my leg!”
He let go. We lay on the bed, breathless. I stared up at the ceiling, my hand searching for his. When I found it, I gave it a squeeze. “I need to do something tomorrow. I can’t practice. I’ll have to pretend I’m sick.”
Chase put an arm over my stomach. “Alice. I understand.”
I closed my eyes, wishing it was always like this, just the two of us laying here together, the smell of his aftershave infusing the air, his coarse arm hairs tickling my bare stomach.
A lifetime of this.
Chapter 7: Briar
Well, it’s good to know someone was having fun! I wish I could say I enjoyed myself sneaking around and doing some of my “world-famous snooping,” but Castle Vontescue spooked me out. In fact, I’d have happily stayed in Alice’s room the entire trip.
If only …
If only Prince Leo Vontescue wasn’t obviously hiding something. Was he a Corrupted who’d somehow disguised himself with magic? Was he a vampire? A werewolf-turned-vampire? Something even worse?
I could only speculate. For you see, those blasted double-doors at the top of the grand staircase always were locked. And quite impregnable. So I’d been spending my free time carefully snooping around the rest of the castle. Here’s what I found, in no particular order:
First, there was an expansive underground passageway that could only be accessed via a very narrow staircase on the other end of the keep, near the dining room. The passageway reminded me of a subway, minus the train, of course. And without any modern inconveniences you might find in a subway, like vending machines … or light bulbs. The tunnel’s walls were built of large bricks that had no doubt been recycled from the old castle wall. This is quite common, you know. After Rome fell, many of its marble structures were torn down and reused to build the new Christian cathedrals. There. Now you know something new.
