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

  When I woke, I felt better – stronger. I still wished things had worked out differently with Ull, but I was done hoping for a call that wasn’t going to come from a guy I barely even knew, who may or may not even be human. I’d come all this way for an adventure. Was I really going to waste my time mooning over some tacky guy who couldn’t be bothered to pick up the phone? I didn’t think so.

  The next week dragged by. Ull never came back to class. Well, fine. Who needed a tortured Viking anyway? Without Ull around, I was able to relax, smiling through conversations with my new friends and even going for tea again with Henry after Mythology. He only asked me about Emma three times. I made a note to put in a good word for him.

  When Friday rolled around, Victoria and Emma came home bubbling with big disco plans. A group of their friends was getting together at a local club, and the girls were determined to drag me along.

  “Oh, I don’t know,” I demurred. “I really wanted to watch that marathon of Sports Wives tonight.” I gestured to the pizza box in front of me, flanked by two packs of those caramel-chocolate McVities “biscuits” Emma had gotten me hooked on.

  “No can do, missy. We know you were down about Ull, though you’ve been doing a fab job of keeping calm and carrying on, as we say.” Victoria winked at me.

  “I’m not upset about Ull. Seriously,” I added when Victoria frowned. “That’s last week’s news. I really, really want to watch Sports Wives and eat these ridiculously good cookies.”

  “Sorry, K. Emma promised James that you’d come out with us tonight, and he is determined to make a go of it with you.”

  “Who?”

  “James. From across the courtyard. Kristia, we talked about him.” Emma tapped her foot.

  “Oh, right. Where did you say you’re going?” I eyed my cookies with longing.

  “Dancing.”

  “Uh, no.” I shook my head. “Not the best activity for me.” I lifted my fuzzy slippers. “Two left feet. See?”

  “Forget it, Kristia. You’re going.” Emma was firm. Victoria squared her shoulders.

  “Oh, fine. But only if I can wear something of yours.”

  Victoria’s eyes lit up. “I was hoping you’d say that!” She ran off, her eyes glossy as she dove straight into her armoire.

  I regretted my words as we walked the short distance from the parking garage to the club. Victoria had outfitted me in a teensy dress and stiletto boots. What was she thinking putting me in three-inch heels to dance? Even so, it was nice to be out with the girls.

  They were making me laugh with racy stories about their early years at Cardiff, and I was actually excited to meet the guy they were so insistent on setting me up with. But when we walked up to the very same nightclub I’d been to with Ull, my stomach dropped. My pining may have been over, but it didn’t mean the rejection didn’t still sting.

  I told myself I only had to smile for a few hours, and then I could crawl into bed. Those biscuits would even still be waiting for me. Head held high and mindful of my step, I followed my giggling girlfriends into the club.

  Chapter 7

  Before I took two wobbly steps into the nightclub, I knew I’d made a mistake. Coming here with Ull had been amazing – dancing in his arms, breathing in that smell that seemed too good to be real. The only things I smelled now were stale beer and sweaty frat-boys.

  An over-eager James was waiting inside the club. He wasn’t bad looking, if you were into the whole Clark Kent thing. He was tall and dark, with retro glasses that were either extremely dorky or hipster cool – Victoria could have said for sure.

  “Come on, love.” He tugged at me the minute I’d taken off my coat. “Let’s dance!”

  I tried; honestly I did. But my mind was on my last dance partner, the way he’d easily led me around the floor as if from another era. Dancing with James wasn’t nearly so nice. The caramel McVities waiting for me at home were the only company I wanted.

  “Sorry,” I mumbled as I backed away. “My shoes, um… hurt.” That wasn’t exactly a lie. At the bar, I ordered a tonic water and slumped on the stool. I had a headache from the flashing lights, and runny eyes from a nearby cigarette. My flatmates were at the far end of the room, dancing their hearts out. They wouldn’t miss me if I slipped out for a while. I put my drink down and turned to leave.

  I hadn’t made it far when a belligerent frat-boy type moved into my path. He sloshed his drink, narrowly avoiding my boots. I tried to step around him, but he slid an unwanted arm around my waist. His grip was too tight – he was stronger than he looked.

  “Hey baby. Wanna dance?” It was a command, and the group behind him shouted their encouragement. I immediately regretted not checking in with my friends. If I had, maybe someone would have offered to walk me home.

  “No thanks.” I tried to twist out of the guy’s hold, but he grabbed my arm.

  “You’re not going anywhere.” The group closed in around me, pushing me towards the back exit. I looked frantically for Emma and Victoria. Why didn’t anybody notice this was happening? Of course, with the flashing lights, we probably seemed like a group of friends dancing. I thought about kicking the one holding me – drunk as he was, I could confuse him, at best. But even if I knocked him down, I’d never get through the whole gang. It didn’t matter; I had to do something. I squared my hips, preparing to fight.

  “Leave me alone,” I yelled, hoping that someone would hear me over the din. The boys laughed harder. As I psyched myself up to kick the one leeched on my arm, a large figure stepped from the shadows. His brow was furrowed and his eyes burned with fury. He towered over the crowd as he squared his shoulders. A lock of blond hair fell over one livid eye, and the growl that came from his throat sent a wave of alarm through the circle. I felt immediate relief. Nobody was going to mess with Ull.

  “Is there a problem?” The words were a threat, and some of the fringe members stepped back involuntarily, blending into the crowd.

  “Yes!” I cried, just as the boy holding my arm slurred, “Naw, man. We were just going outside.” He slung a drunken arm over my shoulder, defying me to disagree.

  My towering savior shook his head. “I heard the lady tell you to leave her alone.” He took one menacing step into the center of the group, sending all but my attacker scattering. The boy was drunk, but not drunk enough to pick a fight with my enraged hero, and he backed away, waving his hands in surrender.

  “Hey man, I didn’t mean anything by it.” He whipped his head back and forth looking for a way out. Ull grabbed him by the collar and lifted him off the ground with one arm. I’d never seen anyone do that in real life. The boy dangled helplessly mid-air. He winced, anticipating the blow.

  Ull leaned down to hiss into his ear. “I know exactly what you meant.”

  “C’mon man, she wanted it.” Wrong thing to say. Ull’s eyes blazed and his arm started to shake. “Can’t. Breathe.” The boy choked on the words. Ull’s mouth twisted into a half smile and suddenly he and the boy were gone. They literally vanished into thin air. One minute they’d been standing two feet from me, and the next – poof. They were nowhere to be seen.

  “Ull?” I pivoted a full circle. He wasn’t there.

  “Did you see that?” I turned to the couple next to me but they shook their heads. Had I imagined the whole thing? Was I even crazier than usual?

  “Kristia,” I heard Ull’s voice before I saw him. He was coming through the back door. He crossed to me and pulled me into a hug. “Thank goodness you are all right. That cretin will not bother you again.”

  Okay, what was going on?

  “Where did you go?” My question was muffled by Ull’s chest. He was holding me really tight.

  “I took the jerk outside, gave him a stern talking to.”

  “Right,” I tried to pull away, but Ull was too strong. “Let go, Ull.” He did, reluctantly. “I mean where did you go? You just disappeared like some magic trick.”

  “I walked outside, Kristia.” Ull shook his head.
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  “No you didn’t. You had that guy by the neck, and then he said I wanted it and you just –” I twirled my finger. “Poof. Gone.”

  “It has been a long night. Wait here,” Ull commanded, and while I didn’t appreciate taking orders, I didn’t think to disobey. He had a brief talk with the barman, no doubt making sure the perps couldn’t cause any more harm, and came back with our coats on his arm. I didn’t ask how he had known which jacket was mine.

  “Come Kristia, I am taking you home.” He strode across the dance floor, still shaking, as I hastily told my roommates I would meet them at our flat. Outside, it was so cold the trout must have been tap dancing, and Ull’s long legs took strides so big, I had to run to keep up. He stopped under a streetlight and his breath came out in small puffs. His body was tense, but his eyes were so soft, the grey-blue of the sky after a storm. I both adored and hated him all at once.

  “Are you all right, Kristia?” He seemed genuinely concerned.

  “I’m fine, thanks. How did you …” My sentence trailed off.

  He drew another ragged breath. “Right place, right time, I guess,” he said halfheartedly. He obviously wasn’t telling the whole truth. I scanned his face and he shrugged.

  “That’s not what I mean. Are you going to tell me about that whole disappearing act in the club?” Or explain how he and his stepdad had the same names as the gods I’d taken a quiz on this week?

  “Not tonight.”

  “Then goodnight, Ull.”

  “Wait.” He seemed at a loss. “I suppose we should talk.”

  “I don’t know if I want to talk to you. You didn’t call me, remember?” I sounded a lot more bitter than I meant to.

  “Right. That. You deserve an explanation.” Ull had the grace to look ashamed, but it only fueled my anger.

  “For what? Making out with me in the middle of a castle – no, two castles – and just leaving me hanging? For lying to me about having ‘the most enjoyable evening you have ever had’ and then not bothering to call when you said you would?” My exaggeration of his soft accent was terrible.

  But I was building steam. “It’s been two weeks and I’ve heard nothing from you. Nothing! I actually believed you when you said Nice Ull was the real you. Was that some kind of a joke? Because clearly, you’re the same jerk who spent a week giving me nasty looks for absolutely no reason.”

  “I would hardly say I am a jerk, Kristia.”

  “Really? Then what would you call making out with someone all night and then dropping off the face of the earth? You made me feel this big.” I pinched my fingers together and held them just under his nose. “And where do you get off acting like that? What kind of scumbag just drops the cow once he gets a taste of the milk? Huh?”

  “Would you be the cow in that scenario?”

  “Don’t mess with me right now, buddy,” I threatened. “I called you. Because that’s what nice people do when the person they like goes missing. They pick up the phone and call. I thought something awful had happened to you. I was so stupid! Was this whole thing just some ploy to see how far you could get with me?” The corner of Ull’s mouth turned up in a smirk. It was infuriating. “Oh, so this is funny to you?” I winced at the shrillness in my voice. It wasn’t dignified, but he had it coming.

  “Nobody here has ever spoken to me like this.” Now the smirk was a full-fledged smile.

  “Well somebody needs to. You think because you’re so superior, you can just parade around and do whatever you want? Do the rest of us even matter to you?” I was shaking, my hands balled into tight fists.

  “Are you finished?”

  “Hardly,” I muttered, glaring into Ull’s endless blue, traitor eyes.

  “I did just save you,” Ull reminded me.

  “I had things under control.” My voice was testy.

  “Oh, did you?”

  “I was getting there.”

  “Right. Well, while you were getting there, I took care of the problem. The least you can do is let me explain.” I thought about what I’d have been doing right now if Ull hadn’t come along in the nightclub. Guilt stepped lightly on Anger’s toes.

  “You know what Ull?” I sighed, too exhausted to fight anymore. “I’ve had a long night. I just want to go home.”

  “Do you want to hear my explanation?”

  “Do you think it’ll make any difference?”

  “Maybe.”

  I shook my head. “Maybe’s not good enough.” I turned and walked toward campus.

  “Where do you think you are going?”

  “I told you. Home.” Heavy footsteps followed me.

  “This conversation is not over.” Ull sounded strained.

  “Yes, it is. I get it. You weren’t that into me. You’re lousy at dumping girls. Case closed.”

  “Kristia,” Ull grabbed my hand, forcing me to stop. “Please. It is not what you think.”

  I pulled my hand back and folded my arms. “It doesn’t matter, Ull. I just want to go home.” As I started my brisk walk, Ull matched my pace.

  “Fine. You may go home.”

  “Gee, thanks.” Could he be any more arrogant?

  “But this conversation is not over,” He marched confidently beside me.

  “Where exactly do you think you’re going?”

  “With you.”

  “You are not coming home with me.” I didn’t care how good he looked in that coat; I was a woman of substance.

  “I am making sure you get home safely, whether you like it or not. We can talk tomorrow.” The smugness in his voice got under my skin.

  “I seriously doubt that,” I muttered, picking up my pace in an effort to get away from him. At that moment, Ull was the last person I wanted to be around.

  “Uh, Kristia.” Emma’s voice trilled through my bedroom door at an ungodly hour for a Sunday morning. “You have to get out here.”

  Reluctantly, I grabbed my favorite slippers and tied my ballet sweater around the thin camisole I’d worn to bed. Shuffling towards the hall, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. “This better be good, Em.”

  “Oh, it is,” Victoria grinned from the couch where she sipped at a cup of coffee. She gestured to an enormous bouquet on the table. White roses filled the room with their heady scent, and hydrangeas and foxgloves filled out the arrangement. “They’re for you,” Victoria finished.

  “Who…” But my insides fluttered when I opened the card. ‘I am sorry. Call me. Ull. ’ I crumpled the card and chucked it into the trash bin. Letting out a word that would have earned Mormor’s disapproval, I stomped back to my room. If Ull thought some stupid flowers would make me fall all over him, he had another thing coming.

  “Wait! Who are they from?” Emma pleaded.

  “Who do you think?” I could almost hear Victoria roll her eyes as I slammed my door. Ull was getting on my last nerve.

  By the time my next Mythology class rolled around, I’d successfully avoided five of Ull’s calls and one personal appearance at my flat, no thanks to the lousy acting skills of sweet Emma, who was highly unconvincing in declaring I wasn’t home. I slipped into class at the last possible minute, but Ull was still waiting inside the door.

  “Kristia,” he greeted me with his impossibly arrogant grin.

  “Ull,” I acknowledged before making a beeline for the front row. He wouldn’t be able to bother me under the professor’s nose.

  “Kristia,” Ull sighed. “We can do this all year. I have nothing but time.” He took the seat next to me as I focused on setting up my computer. “But trust me, you want to hear what I have to say.”

  “I highly doubt that,” I muttered with all the civility I could manage. Use me once, shame on you. I wasn’t interested in going down that road again. Thankfully, Professor Carnicke chose that moment to launch into her lecture, and for ninety blissful minutes, decorum required Ull’s silence. As soon as she closed her book, I jumped up, stuffing my laptop into my bag and tripping over my feet in my rush to leave the room.
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br />   “Careful, Miss Tostenson,” of course Ull was right there to catch me. I snatched my arm away.

  “Listen,” I countered angrily. “You aren’t into me. I get it. Stop following me around! Just let me be.”

  “You do not mean that.”

  “I really do! It’s embarrassing enough to have to see you every day, the last thing I want to do is listen to why you don’t want to go out with me again. You don’t owe me anything. Honest. Please, just leave me alone.”

  “Kristia, it really is not like that.”

  “I don’t care what it’s like. I have to go.” I raced out of the classroom and didn’t stop until I reached the Student Houses. I threw myself onto the couch and dropped my head into my hands. No wonder I’d always stayed away from guys. My life suddenly felt way too complicated.

  “Uh, Kristia?” Victoria knocked on my door the next evening.

  “Come in.” I raised my head from the literature text I was studying. Molière was always good for a laugh, and right now I really needed one. “What’s going on?”

  “Well, I don’t mean to bother you, but I just tried to leave the flat, and I was stopped by these.” She held up a handful of white orchids. “And there are heaps more where they came from.” Her glee was poorly disguised.

  “You think this is funny, don’t you?”

  “You have to admit, most girls would be over the moon if Ull Myhr was sending them flowers.”

  “Stalking them, more like it.”

  “Whatever.” Victoria shrugged. “I brought the rest into the living room. I’m not one to tell you what to do–” I snorted at her blatant lie. “In matters of the heart,” Victoria continued indignantly. “But if the lad is that determined to talk to you, I’d wager he has something pretty important to say.”