Urban Mythic: Thirteen Novels of Adventure and Romance, featuring Norse and Greek Gods, Demons and Djinn, Angels, Fairies, Vampires, and Werewolves in the Modern World

by C. Gockel

  “Won’t people see us?” she asked.

  “We can make ourselves invisible.” He disappeared.

  “Jeno?” Her heart skipped a beat. Had he left there alone?

  “Right here.” She felt his hand on her shoulder. “You can do this, too. Just take a deep breath, and imagine pulling all of your outer energy into your core.”

  She took a deep breath. “Like this?”

  He laughed. “No, no. You’re pushing your energy outward. But you look cute standing there with wide eyes, imaging yourself invisible.”

  She punched his arm.

  “Watch it,” he said, laughing.

  “How do I do it, then? How do I pull it all in?”

  “Invisibility is a defense mechanism. Imagine you’re being attacked, and you’re withdrawing into a shell, like a turtle.”

  She did as he said. She tried this a few times, punching him as he laughed.

  At last, she could no longer see herself, but her clothes were still visible.

  “There you go,” he said. “Good.”

  “We can’t even see our own bodies? I would think…”

  “No, you can’t, because it has to do with the reflective power of your cells. You can’t reflect light. You have to push the energy outward again to hit the light and be visible, even to your own eyes.”

  She pushed her energy out, and her body appeared again. Then she withdrew, like a turtle in its shell, and she vanished.

  “Incredible!” she cried. “But why can I still see my clothes?”

  “You can’t change the reflective cells in clothing.”

  “Then why can’t I see yours?”

  “Because I’m not wearing clothes. I created an illusion.”

  “So you go around nude all the time?”

  “Pretty much.”

  “Is that true of all vampires?”

  “Probably, but I don’t know.”

  Gertie blushed at the thought of being with Jeno, while he wore no clothes. It was difficult to get past that idea.

  “So I have to remove mine?” she asked.

  “If you don’t want to be noticed.”

  She supposed her clothes provided no protection from his x-ray vision anyway. She took off her clothes and piled them in a heap on the rooftop.

  Jeno chuckled, felt for her hand, and said, “Ready to building-hop?”

  “Absolutely!”

  “Hold on!”

  They both lifted up into the air and hopped onto the roof of a neighboring skyscraper. She screamed with delight as her stomach lurched into her chest and her head spun. It was like riding a roller coaster. A bit different from flying, hopping was the use of their leg muscles to fling themselves to the next building. Without being able to see her own feet, the landings were a bit awkward until she got used to them.

  They hopped from rooftop to rooftop for a good half hour, laughing like children. Then Jeno stopped and became visible again.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked. “Too tired to go on?”

  He grinned. “I just wanted to see you again.” He handed over her clothes. “Here, if these make you feel better.”

  She climbed into them because, yes, they did make her feel better. When she turned her energy outward, her body reappeared.

  “Fascinating,” she said.

  “Yes, you are.”

  The waning moon shone down on them, and the wind lifted their hair around their faces. He took her in his arms for another sweet kiss. She loved the feeling of being enveloped in his arms. She looked up at his adorable face as he gazed down at her with his dark, round eyes. His thick, curly hair blew into her face. His thick lips spread into a smile that melted her heart. She lifted her face up to his for another kiss, unable to believe that, of all the girls Jeno could choose to spend his time with, he’d chosen her.

  When he wrapped his arms around her and held her in a tight embrace, she rested her cheek on his broad shoulder and sighed. The city below came into sharp view. The sight of a vampire was amazing. She couldn’t stop looking at things far away, just because she could see them. She caught a glance of Hector’s subdivision in the distance, and her thoughts were suddenly of him and the evening they had spent together. She tried to get him out of her mind, not wanting to hurt Jeno; but, as she pictured Hector in his house, his thoughts came rushing to her mind.

  And Hector’s thoughts were of her:

  I can’t stop thinking about that night and the way she touched me. Father, please help me to find a way to either forget that night or to win her love.

  Jeno took in a sharp breath.

  When she gazed up at him, he wore the saddest expression she’d ever seen.

  “He’s in love with you,” he said.

  “But I’m not in love with him,” she insisted.

  “You’re lying to yourself,” he said, lifting up from the rooftop.

  “Where are you going? Please, don’t leave me.”

  “I only go where I’m wanted.”

  She flew after him, over the lights of the city. “It’s you I want. I swear.” She hadn’t known either boy long enough to be in love, but she didn’t want Jeno to leave. She was falling for him—hard. She supposed she had feelings for Hector, too.

  “You forget I can read your mind.”

  She caught up to him. “Why can’t I read yours?” She was getting nothing, as though a wall had been put up around him.

  “I’ve blocked you. Now go.”

  “Why are you doing this?” She grabbed his arm. “I was having such a good time with you.”

  “I’ve been burned too many times—more times than I would wish for anyone.”

  He pulled her close, pressed his lips to hers, and then broke away from her grip and flew off before she could blink.

  She was left alone hovering in the night sky above Athens.

  16

  Tramp Stamp

  Mamá’s voice called through the bedroom door and stirred Gertie from her sleep. She opened her eyes to see Nikita sit up and stretch her arms.

  “I wonder if this is going to be another good day for Phoebe,” Nikita said.

  “I hope so.”

  A massive headache pounded in her head as Gertie pulled back her covers and swung her feet onto the floor. Memories of the previous night flooded her—being with Jeno, using his powers, and then being left behind. Not knowing what else to do, she’d flown home and laid in bed, listening to people’s dreams. Like her, Hector hadn’t been sleeping. All night long, he had thought of her and how sad he was that she was unwilling to risk her relationship with Nikita to give him a chance.

  “How did your feet get so dirty?” Nikita asked.

  “What?” Gertie glanced down and noticed the dirt crusted around her toes. She crossed one leg over the other to inspect the bottom of one foot, only to find it horrendously black. “Maybe I walked in my sleep?”

  “Oh my God!” Nikita cried, gawking at Gertie.

  “What’s the matter? Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “Tramp stamp,” Nikita muttered, pointing at Gertie’s neck. “You were bitten by a tramp!”

  Gertie’s hand flew to the bite mark on her neck as blood rushed to her cheeks. “Don’t tell anyone. Please?”

  “How could you do it? After all I told you?”

  “I had to try it once.” Gertie stood from the bed. “Don’t tell me you’ve never tried it, just to see what it’s like.”

  Nikita shook her head. “No way.”

  “But, Nikita, it was incredible!” Gertie’s head pounded as she moved around, but she ignored it as best as she could. “I flew all over Greece, hopped on buildings, went invisible, saw the smallest and furthest things, read minds—it was amazing!”

  “Read minds? Did you read my mind?”

  “You were asleep, so no, but I did get a peek at your dream.”

  Nikita stood up and crossed the room. “Don’t do that ever again.”

  “I don’t plan to,” Gertie insisted.
“I just wanted to see what it was like.”

  “That’s what everyone thinks, and before you know it, they can’t get enough.”

  “It won’t happen to me.”

  Nikita left the room and went down the hall to the bathroom. Mamá’s voice called to them to come for breakfast. Gertie dressed as quickly as possible, tired from her lack of sleep and from the pounding in her head.

  When Nikita returned to their room, she pulled a scarf from one of her drawers and gave it to Gertie. “Wear this. Don’t let anyone see your stamp—especially Mamá and Babá. It would break their hearts.”

  Gertie wrapped the silk floral scarf around her neck. “Thanks.”

  “Not everyone knows the truth about the tramps,” Nikita added. “Even many Greeks are ignorant. Most of those who know live in the inner city, like us. And those who know of them will despise you if they see your stamp.”

  “Why?”

  “They will think of you as a traitor to the human race. Most people hope the tramps will die off.”

  But according to Jeno, the vampires didn’t die; they went into a kind of coma. Gertie wondered if Nikita knew that.

  Although the day started off poorly for Gertie—including the somewhat awkward silence in the car ride to school—the day picked up when she discovered that her academic level was above most of the other students at the school. She scored high grades on her assignments and received a compliment from her English teacher after answering a question in class about the purpose of literature.

  Gertie had said, “It helps us to live beyond the limitations of our own experiences.”

  “Quite insightful, Gertie,” the teacher had said. “Excellent answer.”

  In journalism, Dimos and his friends were also chummy with her, and they were seniors. These people knew nothing of her family’s money, so the fact that they were nice to her was a boost to Gertie’s ego. By the end of the day, she felt much better than she had that morning.

  Adding to her good spirits was the discovery that Phoebe had made a friend. A little girl stood beside Phoebe in front of the elementary school, where they had met for their ride home with Hector. The other little girl was teaching Phoebe signs, and Phoebe was trying them. She learned “yes,” “no,” “thank you,” “you’re welcome,” and “goodbye.” All four teens were so excited for Phoebe, that the car was once again full of laughter and song during the drive home. Even Gertie sang along when she could figure out the words.

  When Hector pulled up in front of their apartment building, Nikita begged him to come up and visit before going home. Klaus talked him into doing homework together. So Hector parked and they all went up. Nikita was beaming.

  Mamá was waiting for them in the kitchen with homemade pastries and fresh fruit, so they gathered around the table and told her about their day. Phoebe showed her the sign language she’d learned from her new friend. Mamá broke down in tears and showered Phoebe with wet kisses.

  Once they had finished Mamá’s pastries, they took out their books and started their homework. Gertie worked through her math quickly, and then took her time reading her history assignment. She recalled her conversation with Jeno and wondered how much of the information in her book was wrong, but thinking of him soon made her sad. She really hoped he would come to her again tonight, even though she was so sleepy. She would no doubt be going to bed right after dinner, if not before.

  When Babá walked in from work, the semi-silent room got boisterous as everyone relayed the events of their day to him. Phoebe demonstrated the signs she had learned, and like Mamá, Babá was quickly teary-eyed. He rushed around the room, kissing the tops of everyone’s heads, including Hector’s. Then he announced he would bake another special cake to celebrate the second day of school.

  “Is Hector invited to stay?” Nikita asked.

  “Of course, koreetsi mou!” Babá replied. “Now let me tell you about my day! A funny, old woman came into the café, and this is what she said.”

  Just as Gertie was wondering how they managed to stay thin with all the food Mamá and Babá continually put in front of them, Babá pulled the scarf from Gertie’s neck and wrapped it around his head, speaking in an old lady’s voice. Before he had finished his story, Mamá gasped and gawked at Gertie.

  Gertie couldn’t believe she had already forgotten about the mark. Her hand rushed to her neck; but, it was too late. Everyone had already seen it.

  She was glad she no longer had the ability to read minds, because the looks on the faces of everyone around the table told her more than she wanted to know. Everyone there was shocked, fearful, and disgusted.

  “Perhaps Hector should go,” Mamá said.

  “But he can help her,” Nikita insisted.

  Hector stood up. “No, I think your mother is right. I better go.”

  Gertie closed her eyes and swallowed hard as Hector left the apartment. She doubted he would ever speak to her again.

  Babá handed Gertie the scarf. “Put this back on, please. The mark is offensive.”

  Gertie noticed Mamá’s hands rush to her own throat, as if she feared the bite was contagious.

  Mamá touched her husband’s shoulder. “I’ll have a talk with her, no? Come on, Gertie.”

  Gertie put the scarf back on and followed Mamá down the stairs and out of the apartment building. They sat side by side on the outside steps. Rush hour traffic jammed the street, and lines of people passed along the sidewalk. The noise of the traffic was loud enough to prevent the passersby from overhearing what Mamá had to say.

  “Tell me why you did this, Gertoula.”

  “Curiosity.”

  “Don’t the Americans have a saying about curiosity?”

  Gertie nodded. “It killed the cat.”

  “If you do this terrible thing again, it could kill you.” Mamá took Gertie’s hands. “Humans die all the time from the misuse of the power they receive from the bite. And the tramps don’t always stop like they are supposed to. You could die—or worse, you could become one of those leeches yourself. Don’t you see? It’s too dangerous to have dealings with them. It’s best to avoid them.”

  “I won’t do it again, Mamá. I promise.”

  “Thank you, Gertie.” Mamá kissed her cheek. “You are a good girl. Your parents would never forgive me if anything happened to you while you’re in my care.”

  “I doubt that,” Gertie muttered.

  Mamá jolted her head back. “Gertrude! How can you say such a thing?”

  Gertie shrugged. “They are very different from you and Babá.”

  “Nonsense. I know your mother. She would kill me if anything happened to her little girl.”

  It was Gertie’s turn to throw her head back in surprise. “How do you know my mother?”

  “Dhen katalaveno, I mean, I don’t understand why she wouldn’t have told you.” Mamá pulled her knees in close and hugged them. “We were friends, the year she came to Greece.”

  Gertie didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t even picture it. She’d never met two women more different. “My mother and I don’t talk very often.”

  Mamá met Gertie’s gaze. “I’m sorry to hear that. I hope you know you can talk to me any time.”

  “Thank you.” Gertie gave her a half smile.

  “Will you promise me another thing?”

  Gertie nodded.

  “Stay away from Jeno.”

  Gertie’s mouth dropped open. “But he’s my friend.”

  “That’s not possible.”

  “He only bit me because I begged him to. He didn’t want to do it.”

  Mamá shook her head. “No, koureetsi mou. He only told you those things.”

  “We really are friends. We have a lot in common.”

  “I’m not saying Jeno isn’t a kind person, or that he is incapable of love.” Mamá cupped Gertie’s face. “But he cannot be a friend to anyone. No matter how nice he seems, it is in his nature to use people. His need for blood will always be more important to him
than your friendship.”

  Gertie bit her lip. Mamá did not know what Jeno had said to Gertie—about wanting to be seen as something other than a vampire. She didn’t see firsthand how hesitant Jeno was to bite her, and how he had only done it because she had pleaded with him. Maybe Mamá had bitter feelings toward Jeno because of something that happened between them in the past.

  “How do you know Jeno?” Gertie asked.

  Mamá dropped her hands and bowed her head, as though she were studying the ants on the concrete steps. “It was a long time ago.”

  “Did my mother know him, too?” A sudden chill crept up Gertie’s back.

  “No. Well, she knew of him. Her boyfriend didn’t approve of her making his acquaintance.”

  “Boyfriend?” Gertie’s back straightened. “You mean my father?”

  “No. I never met your father. Your mother was in love with a boy here in Athens. But that was so long ago.”

  Gertie linked her hands together, as though she were about to pray. “Please tell me all about it!”

  Mamá grinned. “That is your mother’s story to tell, not mine. You should ask her, no?”

  Gertie wondered if her mother had any photographs. She would definitely ask when she returned home.

  “Listen to me. This is important. And you must keep this a secret for me.”

  “I promise.” Gertie studied Mamá’s face. Even up close she seemed young and beautiful.

  “I was once in love with Jeno, when I was your age.”

  Gertie sucked in air and stared back blankly.

  “I’m telling you the truth,” Mamá added.

  “So you knew him well.”

  “Yes. Very well.”

  “Did you let him bite you?”

  “Not for many months. It was like you said—he didn’t want to. He couldn’t help that he was a vampire, and he didn’t want to be that way with me. He tried to keep the two lives separate, but it was impossible.”

  “Why?”

  “Vampires use tactics to lure humans into offering their blood. Seduction is one such tactic. Too many times, I saw him use sweet words and affectionate phrases with other girls, who were his prey.”

  Gertie shuddered.

  “He was such a good liar. It made it difficult for me to believe him when he told me he loved me.”