Tales from Shady Grove: Stories from the Trailerverse, Volume One

by Kimbra Swain

  “Ah, yes. I’ve heard of the bard. You are very right. His powers would supersede my trinkets. I assure you and your bard that I have nothing but honorable intentions,” he grinned in a very dishonorable way.

  “Are you the contact?” I asked skipping the formalities.

  “I am,” he smiled. “However, after seeing you, I must admit that wiping you from existence is a grave mistake. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a woman more seductive and beautiful in my entire life. Not even when I sailed the seas.”

  “Sailed the seas?” I asked.

  “Yes. I am a captain. Well, I was a captain of a wonderous ship that explored the oceans from the new world to the old. I took what I wanted and left the rest in ruin. Those days are long gone,” he reminisced.

  “You were a pirate?” I asked.

  “I prefer entrepreneur,” he replied.

  “Fitting for a bloodsucker,” I commented.

  “You wound me with that sharp tongue. Your bard is a lucky man,” he grinned. “I’d give anything to have a woman like you cut me on a regular basis.”

  “He is lucky,” I grinned, knowing Levi could hear us.

  “Not lucky enough,” he groaned.

  “Seamus, who is trying to kill me?” I asked.

  “The better question is who isn’t trying to kill you, Love. I would like to add myself to that list.”

  “Yet, here you are,” I pointed out.

  “I’m just a middleman. It’s tough for a pirate to find an honest job these days,” he replied.

  “I can only imagine.”

  “Speaking of imagination, I can imagine a lot of things.” He lifted a dangerous eyebrow as he tested the waters.

  “Seamus, really? You are here to pay out a bounty for my death,” I reminded him.

  “Actually, I don’t have any money. Money is moved digitally these days. I’m here to kill the person that killed you so that the bounty doesn’t have to be paid, but considering you are here, and I am very glad that you are, I don’t have to kill anyone today.” He dared to lift that eyebrow again.

  He might actually be handsome if he weren’t so vampire.

  “You could collect the bounty yourself,” I suggested.

  He laughed. “Then they would send someone to kill me. Plus, I’m pretty sure killing you would be a death sentence. I’d prefer to live a little while longer. Besides, I’d never rob this world of such a beauty.”

  “That’s quite enough of that,” Levi said behind me.

  “Ah! The bard appears,” Seamus commented.

  “Ah! He does. Unless you have information about who is trying to put out the hit, we will be moving on,” Levi said.

  “Does he order you around?” Seamus asked. A common tactic by many shameful flirts was to drive a wedge between a couple. Too bad he underestimated Levi and me.

  “When I want him to,” I replied.

  “It never does any good,” Levi added.

  Seamus laughed. “I think I like him. Bard, you cannot blame a man for trying.”

  “I cannot,” Levi admitted.

  “Better get used to it too,” Seamus said, lifting my hand again to his lips. “My Queen. It has been a pleasure.” His kissed my knuckles lightly, then swept out of the bar quickly.

  “I’ll never get used to it,” Levi grumbled.

  “Come on, Mr. Jealousy. We have a contact to meet.”

  52

  “I would have liked to talk to Seamus. I haven’t seen him in many years,” Tennyson remarked.

  “You know him?” I asked.

  “I know everyone that matters,” Tennyson replied. “He’s the perfect middleman. He has no morals except for his own code which pretty much consists of staying profitable and alive. It’s not much different from the way I’ve lived my life.”

  “I didn’t like him,” Levi replied. “He was smarmy.”

  “What the fuck does that mean?” I asked while laughing.

  “Slick. You found him attractive, right?” he asked.

  “Yes,” I replied honestly.

  “Bastard,” Levi grunted.

  “He is a bastard, but if you need an unbiased middleman, he’s it,” Tennyson added.

  The limo rolled through some of the back roads adjacent to the Strip behind the main hotels and casinos.

  “What’s next?” Levi asked.

  “We need to meet our contact so we can get into a private conference with the info man,” Tennyson said. “Our contact is inside the Venetian. You and Levi will go in and visit one of the blackjack tables. The contact will find you. Grace, as much as I know you are going to hate it, you are going to be his arm candy.”

  “Hell no,” I said.

  Levi laughed. “Hell yes.”

  “Grace, the contact will know who you are. You aren’t pretending for him. You’ll be doing it for all the regulars in the room. Do not draw attention to yourself, any more than you already will in that dress,” Tennyson said.

  “Where will you be?” I asked.

  “Around,” he replied.

  “You are so full of shit,” I huffed.

  “That I am,” he smiled.

  The limo pulled up to the entrance of the casino, and Stone opened the door for us like a proper chauffeur. Levi got out first, offering his hand to me. I growled but took it. As we walked into the doors, he tucked my hand into the crook of his arm. I liked it there, but I refused to admit it.

  “Good evening, Sir,” one of the bellhops said to Levi. “Will you be staying with us this evening?”

  “No, Good man. Just point us toward the blackjack tables,” Levi responded. I held in the laughter that dared to bubble up with Levi’s faux rich-man voice.

  “Right this way, Sir,” the young man said, then turned toward the noisy casino. We followed him through a menagerie of slot machines including old pull lever machines as well as the newer digital machines. We also passed video poker and other games.

  We took a right into the poker room, then followed him through to the blackjack tables. The casino decor was lavish and renaissance based. It truly felt like we were in an Italian city. Elaborate frescos filled the ceilings with cherubs and clouds. I couldn’t believe a fake world existed like this, but Vegas had more than one fake world. I hadn’t had time to focus on the decor at Ceasar’s Palace, but I assumed it was just as extravagant.

  “Here you are, Sir. The buy-in amounts vary from table to table. Enjoy your time here at the Venetian. My name is Roy if you need anything just let me know,” Roy explained.

  Levi removed a one-hundred dollar bill from his pocket and handed it to Roy. “Thank you, Roy. You have been a big help.”

  “Yes, Sir. Yes, Sir. Thank you,” Roy said excitedly holding the bill.

  “What do you think, My Dear? Should we start at the $100 minimum table?” Levi asked.

  “Depends on how many of those bills you have in your pocket,” I replied.

  “I have plenty,” he grinned.

  “Tennyson funding this outing?” I asked. Levi nodded in response.

  We sat down at a table with two other men who wore designer suits. Levi nodded to each of them, then offered a golden credit card to the dealer.

  “Thank you, Mr. Rearden,” the dealer said, then counted out chips for Levi. I stood by his side but watched around the room nervously.

  The hand began, and Levi lost the first round. And the second. He managed to win the third and fourth. I continued to watch around the room.

  “Grace, it’s okay,” he said, wrapping an arm around my waist. “Kiss me for luck.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I said. The man across the table smirked at my tone.

  “No, I’m not. I just had to fold that round, and I need some luck,” he replied looking at me with big, pleading eyes.

  “Whatever,” I said, then leaned down to kiss him on the cheek.

  “That’s it,” he said.

  He won.

  “Kiss me again, baby!” he exclaimed.

 
“Levi,” I scolded.

  “Don’t make me lose all this money!” he laughed.

  When I went to kiss him again on the cheek, he pulled the oldest trick in the book. He turned his head at the last moment and our lips met. His hand reached up to my neck holding me to him making it last longer than the peck I had intended. I’d already given into the kiss because I had found since our first real kiss that it was impossible to go small with him. It was too good. Too right.

  “Hmm,” I said when he released my lips.

  “I just forgot what I was doing,” he grinned.

  “Playing Blackjack,” I reminded him.

  “Hmm,” he repeated my hum, then turned to the dealer who laid out his cards. Looking at the two cards he grinned. He proceeded to go on a streak like a casino probably had never seen before Levi and I walked in.

  With a tall stack of chips, the dealer set out two more cards.

  His equaled twenty, and the dealer showed a one.

  “This one is it,” he said, pointing at the cards.

  “Levi,” I gasped, but he winked at me. The others at the table folded. The house held a 19. Levi’s cards were a queen of diamonds on top of a king of hearts.

  “The gentleman wins,” the dealer announced calmly. Those at the table clapped for us.

  “How did you know she didn’t have a ten?” I asked.

  “Because from now on, as long as it’s you and me, we win,” Levi said, pointing at the king and queen. Darn fool. Love talking son of a gun. I almost melted.

  “Mighty fine win there, Son,” an older man said.

  “Thank you, Sir. It’s my good luck charm here,” Levi said, gesturing to me.

  “Indeed. It’s not every man who gets to wear a Queen on his arm,” he said.

  I switched to my sight and he glowed a deep blue. A winter fairy.

  “Who are you?” I asked.

  “An interested party. Why don’t you grab your winnings, and I’ll show you where to cash them in?” he offered.

  Levi grabbed his chips which the dealer had graciously traded for a few larger value chips. He stuffed them in his pocket, then laced his hand with mine.

  “Right this way,” he said, leading us out of the blackjack area through the poker tables.

  “Do you know him?” Levi asked.

  “No. Not at all,” I replied.

  “Stay close,” Levi instructed.

  “I plan on it, and you get us the hell out of here at any sign of trouble,” I said.

  53

  The man, dressed in a pin-striped suit with a black shirt and red tie, sauntered through the casino as if he owned it. Patrons greeted him as he passed. We walked up to a counter with a woman who wore a casino uniform.

  “These good folks just won a nice chunk of change at blackjack. Sandra, if you would please, cash them out,” he said.

  “Yes, sir, Mr. Mallory,” she replied.

  Levi produced his chips. She counted and verified their legitimacy. “Mr. Rearden, how would you like your payout? Cash or electronic deposit?” she asked.

  “Cash, please,” he replied.

  “How much cash is it?” I asked.

  “A lot,” he grinned. “Tennyson told me to cash out. No deposits.”

  “He knew you would win?” I asked.

  “I’m pretty lucky,” Levi replied.

  His response puzzled me as though he had more to say, but wouldn’t. Not even in my head. The cashier counted out twenty thousand and thirty dollars.

  “Thank you for playing with us today, Mr. Rearden,” she said.

  “My pleasure,” he replied.

  “Now, Mr. Rearden, if you and Miss Bryant would please follow me?” Mallory asked.

  “Lead on, Sir,” Levi replied after stuffing the cash inside his lapel.

  Mallory guided us to a golden elevator. The doors opened as he approached. Inside there was no control panel or buttons. To my surprise, instead of going up, the lift went down.

  “My boss is eager to meet you, Miss Bryant,” Mallory said.

  “Oh, really?” I replied. “I suppose it would be mutual if I knew who your boss was.”

  He chuckled. “I suppose it would,” he replied, then didn’t explain further. Bastard.

  The door opened with a ding, and we stepped out into a dark lounge area with an obsidian colored bar. Patrons walked around the room mingling in conversations. A few looked up to see us enter. Through my sight, the entire room glowed with supernatural auras. Levi squeezed my hand. I knew he was seeing it too.

  To our left, a table full of men sat drinking beers. Behind it, two men occupied a smaller table. Tennyson and Stone. I felt more comfortable knowing they were here.

  “Enjoy a drink while I inform my boss that you are here,” Mallory said.

  “Thank you, Mallory,” Levi said as we took a spot at the bar.

  “What will it be?” the bartender asked.

  “After you, my dear,” Levi said.

  “Thank you. I think I’ll have a Crown on the rocks, please,” I said.

  “And for you, Sir?”

  “Same,” Levi replied.

  “Coming right up,” the bartender replied.

  Light jazz tones filled the air with a murmur of conversations. The mixture of beings blew me away. It was more varied than the orgy in Summer. None of them seemed to be too impressed with me or Levi. The elevator doors opened again behind us and Seamus Daragh stepped into the room. He folded his long wool coat over itself dipping his head to me. Stone approached him immediately, and he followed the bodyguard back to the table with Tennyson.

  “Your handsome pirate,” Levi smirked.

  “He’s not my anything,” I replied.

  “I’m not jealous,” Levi grinned.

  “Oh, really?”

  “Really.” He wasn’t, and I didn’t know why. Other than he finally believed what I’d told him when we discussed this whole relationship thing the last time around. I told him that it would be he and I or nobody. I didn’t have time to train another man. He laughed, but I supposed he caught the sentiment behind my joke.

  Mallory approached us. I hadn’t seen where he went or where he had reappeared.

  “I hope the drinks are to your liking,” he said.

  “They are,” I replied.

  “The boss will see you now,” he said.

  Levi stood, offering his arm. I cut my eyes to Tennyson who didn’t dare to look our way. Seamus did with a wince, then quickly looked away. We followed Mallory through a set of double swinging doors into a darker bar area with men playing a serious game of poker. They looked like ruffians. From what I could tell at least two of them were bogans. Unlike the fairies in the main bar, they stared at Levi and I as we passed through the room. Another set of swinging doors and we walked down a small incline to a room lower than the rest of the complex. The musty smell of earth lingered in the room as if we had stepped into some part of the Otherworld.

  Mallory walked to the center of the dimly lit room. His feet clopped on the hard floor, and I realized that he had hooves instead of feet. Around the room, tall two-top tables were filled with unglamoured fairies. They were the baddest of the bad. My kind of people. To our left, a summer nymph twirled around a pole naked as a jaybird. Her skin, pale and flawless, glistened in the dark lighting with sweat. She danced to no music, but her movements were as though the room were filled with song.

  On a large platform in front of us, a hulking man sat eating fried chicken. His enormous body hung over the edges of the platform and his bulbous eyes flicked back and forth from us to the dancing nymph.

  “My lord, I present to you Gloriana, daughter of Oberon and her consort, Levi Rearden,” Mallory announced.

  “Consort,” I snorted as Levi elbowed me in the side.

  “Walk into the light so that I might see you,” the large man croaked.

  He actually croaked. Like a frog. Then it hit me. He was a frog. I hoped his name wasn’t Jeremiah, because the last one I knew with
that name didn’t fare very well.

  Levi moved us forward into the spotlight, as Mallory faded to the side.

  “Ah, yes, you are very beautiful. Would you like to dance for me?” he asked.

  “No, thank you,” I replied trying to hold back a smart remark.

  “That is a shame. Kahliste has been dancing for me for so long. She is a vision,” he said admiring her movements. She never stopped or acknowledged him. Opening my sight, I saw the dark pulsing collar of servitude around her neck. In fact, she wasn’t the only one in the room wearing the collar. Mallory had one on as well. “Ah! You see my servants.”

  “I do,” I replied.

  “Do you wonder how they came into my service?” he asked.

  “It is not my business,” I replied.

  “You are smarter than they said,” he laughed.

  “They?” I asked.

  “Rumors are that you are headstrong, stubborn, irreverent, and dangerous,” he said.

  “Sounds about right,” I replied. He began to rasp, and I realized it was a laugh.

  “I like you,” he said. “And your bard? Perhaps he would like to play for Kahliste. She has been without song since I killed the last musician here.”

  “No, thank you, Sir,” Levi said. “I go where she goes.”

  “Noble. Loyal. Foolish. She will be the death of you,” the frog warned.

  “I hope so,” Levi replied.

  He rasped again until he coughed up a bubble. “I take it that you do not know me,” he said.

  “Forgive me, but no,” I bravely replied.

  “This is good. For if the Queen of the Unseelie doesn’t know me, then I am safe indeed.”

  “I wouldn’t say that. I’ve been out of touch for a while,” I informed him.

  “This is true, but you are the Queen nonetheless.”

  “I am,” I replied with confidence.

  “Yet you come to me for information,” he pointed out.

  I began to tire of his game. I may not have known him when I walked into this place, but he would know me by the time I walked out.

  “Yes, and I am pressed for time,” I replied. Someone behind me gasped.

  “Time seems relative to you. How long have you waited to take back the Otherworld from your Uncle? What have you been doing? Oh, that’s right. Too busy finding ways to kill a Phoenix and raising kids that aren’t your own. If I didn’t know better, I would think you were more human than fairy,” he accused.