by Robert Ross
Glenn spun around, alarmed at Kellan’s yell and Juliet didn’t have time to untangle her legs. She fell backwards across the desk, and would have slid into the chair headfirst had she not clamped on more tightly with her crossed ankles.
Glenn seemed to have completely forgotten about her as he faced Kellan who couldn’t suppress the chuckle at both the boy’s panicked expression and Juliet’s struggles to regain her seated position.
“M-Mister Thorne,” the boy stammered, “Hi, Mister Thorne. I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Glenn. Glenn Yeung.” He extended his hand and tried to step forward, but Juliet was still using him as leverage to sit up.
“Hi Glenn. You seem like you might be caught on something there.” Silently, Juliet’s ankles parted slightly, releasing him and the two men grasped hands. Kellan smiled. “Mister Thorne, huh? Did my dad walk in the room when I wasn’t looking. Please, I don’t even let toddlers call me Mister Thorne. It’s Kellan.”
Glenn brightened as he continued to pump his hand, “Kellan. Great. Yeah. Kellan.”
“Yup. That’s me. And, that’s my hand, which, I’ll be wanting back,” Kellan said as he glanced past Glenn to a now upright Juliet who slowly shook her head completely unaware that she’d covered her face and was peering through fingers at them both.
“Right. Right,” said Glenn releasing Kellan and absently rubbing his hands on his jeans.
The two men stood silently, staring at each other, as Juliet scrambled off the desk to stand next to Glenn, her hand intwining in his.
“Why do you have that stupid grin on your face, Kel,” she asked.
“Huh? I do?”
“You do.”
“Well, you two are adorable. That must be it. She seems pretty happy with you, Glenn.”
“I hope she is,” he answered nervously.
“Of course I am,” she said tugging on his hand and going on toes to place a kiss on his cheek. “Silly boy.”
Before another awkward silence could develop, a loud pounding could be heard coming from the front of the shop. Kellan looked down at his watch: 10:00 am. He looked up with a sigh and he and Juliet said in unison, “Hamish!!”
Juliet breezed past Kellan and out the office door as Glenn called after her.
“Hey Jules, I really need to get to class. If I don’t leave now I’m gonna be late. I’ll come by after.”
Her voice drifted back mixed with the tinkling of bells as Juliet opened the front door. “Ok, babe, I’ll see you then.”
Glenn started toward the office door. “It was really nice to meet you, Kel. I’m just going to slip out the side since my car’s parked out back.”
Kellan extended his hand again as the young man moved past him. Glenn accepted it and Kellan held it tight pulling him close. “It’s Kellan, not Kel, and just a tiny bit of advice for ya, Glenn. Juliet is one of my four most favorite people in the whole world. Like I said, she seems very happy with you and that’s good because if she were to become very unhappy with you, that would be bad—for you.” Kellan released Glenn’s hand and the young man stared up at him with a mix of shock and discomfort as Kellan wiped non-existent dust from Glenn’s shoulder then gripped him there, smiling warmly. “Remember that, OK? Now get going, dude, you don’t want to be late.”
“Uh, yeah. Sure. Thanks. And I’ll remember. I will”
“Oh, I know you will, Glenn. Juliet only likes smart boys.”
With that the young man quickly turned the corner and Kellan heard the side door slam a moment later.
“Operation ‘Scare the shit out of boyfriend,” complete,” Kellan said to the air as he slid around the desk and plopped into the chair. He looked up as Juliet whirled in.
“What did you do?”
“What?”
“What did you do, Kel?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t try to look innocent.”
“I’m not.”
“I know your innocent look and that’s it, which means you did something.”
“I didn’t do anything, Juliet. I just suggested that your boyfriend be good to you.”
Juliet groaned. “You are worse than Dad. I already had Glenn run the Thomas gauntlet, you know and Dad was perfectly nice.”
“No he wasn’t. He threatened him worse that I did.”
Juliet froze. “Wait? What? You knew about Glenn?”
“Of course.”
“What do you mean, ‘of course,’?”
“I mean that I knew. Your dad told me weeks ago and I promised him I would threaten the kid the same way he did. Well, not exactly the same way. I love the way Thomas throws in the shovel and lye thing. It’s a classic.”
“I’m going to die alone,” said Juliet groaning again.
“Nah, he seems like a stalwart lad. He made it through both of us and if he comes back tonight, I think he’ll hang around.”
“If?”
“Well, I kinda threw a tiny lightning bolt at him, by accident.”
“Kellan! Oh my God. You did not go all green eyes on him. Tell me you didn’t do that. Oh no. Oh no.” Tears started flowing as Juliet whirled around and ran into the bathroom, slamming the door.
Kellan got up and went to the door, knocking softly. “Juliet, hey, I was just kidding. I didn’t do anything. I didn’t shock him or even singe him. I just told him he better treat you right.”
Through the door he heard more sobs, “I really like him, Kellan, and I don’t need you interfering. I am not a child. I’m an adult and I know my own mind. I also know how to protect myself without some man with delusions of chivalry protecting me.”
“I know, Juliet. I know you don’t. I’m really sorry. Look. I promise I will never interfere again. You are right. Your life is your own and you can certainly take care of yourself.”
There was a long pause and then through the door, “Promise again.”
“I promise,” he said and the door flew open revealing a smiling Juliet and no tears to be found.
“Excellent! Now, don’t we have some quickbooks to do?” she asked, breezing past him and back into the office.
“Holy shit, Juliet, you totally faked me out. You weren’t upset at all.”
She settled into the desk chair and looked at Kellan. “Oh, I was upset alright. I was super pissed at both you and Dad for being such idiots. But what’s the best way to make two overprotective testosterone laden idiots realize they are idiots?” She paused meaningfully, raising her eyebrows at Kellan.
“Um…by pretending to cry and making us feel horrible?”
“For—“
“For treating you like a fragile girl in need of saving?”
Juliet slammed both hands palm down on the table making Kellan jump, “Yes!”
Kellan slumped into the side chair and looked over to her. “You did this to your dad too?”
“Oh, I did worse to him. I anticipated his reaction and also got Mom into the act. She had him convinced I would elope with Glenn, have six kids and never let him see them. Mom’s awesome!”
“Bastard didn’t even warn me,” Kellan mumbled almost to himself.
“What was that?”
“Nothing,” he said sullenly, but she had heard him just fine.
“Don’t blame Dad. He was threatened with horrible things if he breathed a word of this to you. Now don’t look so crestfallen. You know you can always protect me from skin walkers, demons, and such.”
“And zombies?” asked Kellan brightening?
Juliet sighed, “And Zombies. I see where this is headed. Go ahead, get it out of your system. Mom and Dad had to, so I knew you would too.”
“Juliet, you are totally dating a Korean boy named Glenn. Did you guys meet at Walker Stalker or something?”
She stared back at him with a flat expression. “Done?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“That joke wasn’t as satisfying as it was in your head, huh?”
“No, not even close,” said Kellan sullenly.
&nb
sp; Juliet gave him a consoling pat on the arm, “Don’t feel too bad Kel, yours was better than Dad’s Neegan reference.” Kellan winced and Juliet nodded as she continued, “Yeah, too dark Dad, just too dark.”
Kellan glanced up meeting the young woman’s eyes and gave her his best serious look, “But listen, Juliet, there is just one thing I have to ask you about him. I mean there’s one thing I think he really has to change.”
Juliet arched an eyebrow, “And that is?”
“Jules? He called you ‘Jules.’ That shit just has to stop.”
She burst out laughing, “I know, right. Maybe you could just zap him a tiny bit anytime you hear him say it? You know, like a mild but corrective shock.”
“Really? Can I?” asked Kellan looking hopeful.
“No, now show me the Quickbooks.”
Chapter 4
The Gift
“So, that would be classified as Cost of Goods sold and not office expense, right? Because it is part of the refurbishment process?”
“Yep,” answered Kellan with a grin. “By George, I think she’s got it. We should go get lunch. And by ‘we,’ I mean you should go get us sammiches from Roswell Provisions while I keep an eye on things.”
Juliet looked up from the glowing MacBook Pro where the they’d spent the last two hours working though how to use Quickbooks to keep track of the bookshop’s finances. “Sandwich? I need a beer.”
“It’s not even 1pm,” replied Kellan, shaking his head.
“Scotch?” she asked with a grin.
Kellan pointed at her. “Nice Mr. Mom reference.”
“Especially since I wasn’t even born when that one came out.”
Kellan frowned, “Well, neither was I.”
Juliet narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips the way she did when suspecting Kellan of lying to her.
“Don’t give me that face. Mr. Mom came out July 22, 1983. Kellan Thorne came out December 5th, 1983.” He gave her a self-satisfied look.
She waved it away, “Whatever. Fine, I’ll go get us sandwiches, but you are paying.”
“Pfft, have you learned nothing, young padawan,” said Kellan tapping the lid of the computer.
“What?” He tapped again, this time pointing to a specific location on the Quickbooks screen. “Ahh,” she said, smiling with recognition. “Business lunch, classified as ‘meals and entertainment,’” Then slid out of her chair and out the office door.
Kellan called after her. “Don’t go crazy, remember it is still real money and now you are spending half of your own.” There was no response, but Kellan hadn’t heard the front door’s bell jingle to indicate Juliet had left that way nor the tell tale slam of the side door. “Juliet? I know you are there. I’m serious don’t come back with a $50 lunch tab.”
Still nothing.
Grumbling, Kellan heaved himself out of the side office chair and headed to the front of the shop. As he approached the front desk, Kellan saw Juliet standing there, unmoving and he felt the hair on his neck start to stand up. Beyond her, stood a tall, lean, man only a few paces inside the front doorway. He held a large, leather bound, book under one arm and shifted his gaze warily from Juliet to Kellan. As he did so, Juliet took half a step as if her forward momentum had been restored.
“What?” she began, confused. “What just happened?” Looking back to the man, she added, “Who are you and how the heck did you get in here without jingling the bell?”
The man turned back to Juliet and she felt her face flush. She felt her whole body tingle, and suddenly thought it didn’t much matter who this man was or how he had entered so silently. She took a step toward him, looking up as he was nearly a foot taller than she. He wore an impeccably tailored blue suit that seemed to almost shimmer as it moved against his athletic frame. He had dark brown hair that cascaded down nearly touching his shoulders. As the light hit it, she could see endless blonde highlights throughout. His skin was the color of heavily creamed coffee and appeared completely flawless. Sharp brows framed almond shaped eyes that were so pale blue as to almost appear white. He had full lips that were parted slightly in a half smile of greeting as he allowed the large book to slide down his arm to rest momentarily in his outstretched hand before deftly setting it on the counter in a motion so fluid as to appear magical.
“Miss Herrick, I presume,” the man said reaching out a thinly gloved hand.
“Stop!” growled Kellan as he tried to fill the one word with as much menace as possible. The man paused, lowered his hand and, again, turned to regard Kellan. It his peripheral vision he saw Juliet’s posture loosen again as she shook her head, appearing to try and clear of an unwelcome thought. The man cocked his head slightly and smiled more broadly at Kellan.
“And you must be Kellan Thorne. It is my distinct honor to meet you.” He clicked his heels slightly and affected a small bow, as Kellan suddenly felt a warmth flow throw him and then twist about like butterflies in his stomach. He started to feel himself leaning forward a smile forming, unbidden, on his face. A distant voice within him nudged, gently at first, and then more urgently demanding his attention. Kellan reached into the emerald river that raged within and called to it. Instantly, it flowed, coursing through him eyes coming alight, glowing their fierce green and the man’s image shattered like a mirrored reflection struck with a stone.
The man’s entire frame began to pulse with a glowing red aura. His hair lost its sheen. His skin became grey and lifeless and his lips paled from red to the lightest pink with two sharp teeth visible in the slightly parted mouth. Only his eyes remained as they were. Bright and clear and beautiful, appearing almost like small portals into this creature’s soul.
“Vampire!” yelled Kellan.
“Oh, shit,” cried Juliet, stepping back from the counter as her words misted in the air. The room became cold as Kellan drew the ambient heat from himself and his surrounding forming a blazing sphere that rotated in his right hand.
The man took a step back in alarm, bumping into the front door and causing the bell to chime. “Peace, Sentinel of Order. Peace! I mean you no harm.”
“Bullshit!” responded Kellan as he drew back to throw the flaming sphere.
“No!” the vampire yelled. “No! Lamia sent me.”
“Bullshit!” yelled Kellan again, but he did not throw.
“I have proof. I have proof. Allow me but a moment to show you. Please. I have risked everything to speak with you. They told me I was foolish to do so. Micah would have attacked me on the spot, but Lamia said you were different and these are perilous times.”
“What proof?” asked Kellan warily.
“A gift from Lamia. From Amy and her children. I will put in here on the counter.”
“Slowly. You are right, vampire, I was well trained to snuff your kind on sight.”
“I know, but you were also trained to kill demons and yet, Lamia lives.” The vampire reached into the suit’s breast pocket and slowly withdrew what looked like a pale piece of folded cloth. He gestured and it lifted from his hand to float over the counter where it gently came to rest.
Juliet picked it up and Kellen heard her quick intake of breath. “What is it Juliet?”
“Proof.” She said holding it up for Kellan to see. The young Sentinel felt an immediate wave of emotions crash over him as his eyes misted. Delicate stitching covered the cloth with fine threads of many colors used to depict a scene where three children and two adults were gathered about a large tree with violet leaves shaped like pentagrams. Such was the artistry that Kellan immediately recognized Lamia and her three children as well as himself. He dismissed the fire with a sigh but retained a trickle of power to avoid the glamor which he could see coming off the vampire in waves.
“Perhaps it would have been wiser to call ahead. And how do you move things with your mind?” Kellan asked, then thought glumly, I’ve never been able to make any form of telekinesis work.
The vampire lifted his hands in both acquiescence and confusion, “It retrospe
ct, you are correct, it would have undoubtedly been wiser to give you notice. A mistake I shall not make again, I assure you. Forgive me. This is my first encounter with a Sentinel of Order. My name is Ah’Anon and I bear tidings of grave import.” He gestured to the book and caught Juliet’s eye.
“I’m sure you and Ah’Anon will sort it all out,” began Juliet in an almost lilting tone.
“Huh?” asked Kellan as he turned to find Juliet gazing, again, at the vampire, entranced.
“Hey, Amenhotep, knock off the glamor!”
“Ah’Anon,” the vampire corrected, “And I’m sorry, it is not within my control. I’m one of the eldest of my kind, Sentinel of Order, and our abilities grow stronger as we grow longer.”
Kellan gestured to Juliet and willed a tiny strand of green energy to extend outward. As it intwined itself around her wrist, Juliet gasped slightly and grimaced, then looked chagrined.
Ah’Anon nodded to her and smiled, “Do not be embarrassed, Lady Juliet, my true appearance is a far cry from that which is perceived by mortals.”
“Oh, it’s not that different,” she answered weakly.
“Are you kidding me, Juliet?” exclaimed Kellan. “I mean he was super hot before as in, ‘I’m gonna change teams,’ kinda hot. Now look at him.”
“I know, Kellan,” growled Juliet, “I’m very aware of how, hot, he was and am trying to be polite. Something you are obviously incapable of being.”
“Oh pish posh, Antium here is old as dirt and I’m sure is quite aware of what he really looks like. How old are you?”
“My name is Ah’Anon,” said the vampire, annoyance creeping into his voice.
“He know’s that, Ah’Anon. This is just one of Kellan’s things when he’s mildly pissed off. It is pretty juvenile, but is also mostly harmless. Once you point out that he’s doing it on purpose, he usually stops because it’s not fun anymore.”
Kellan frowned. “You know I hate it when you refer to me in the—“
“—Third person,” Juliet completed, “Yes, I know. But just because someone is a vampire doesn’t mean you need to be a dick.”
