Malevolence - Legacy Series Book Two (The Legacy Series) (6 page)

           
“I have been a drag lately.
 
I’ll tell you what; the rest of the day will be filled with fun and games.
 
I won’t even do any research on the rogue wolves in the area.
 
I am curious about something though.
 
You know this is vampire territory?”
 
I jumped in front of him so I could look into his face.
 
“I think tomorrow I want to see if we can track down any information about Arien.
 
I know I’m focused on my dad, but Abel’s sister is running around doing
gawd
-knows-what and I need to figure out where she is.”
 
I smiled innocently at him.

           
All six feet plus of Gus was laughing, his
Bieberish
hair hanging in front of his chocolate brown eyes.
 
“You’re always looking for trouble Pru.
 
I’ll help you, but I
ain’t
gonna
say I like it.
 
Those vamps make me want to break things.”
 
He made a fist and punched his other hand, joking around for the first time since he joined us.

           
“You’re alright Gus, they make me want to break things too…..mainly their face.”
 
We laughed and took in the enchanting sights of the park.

Chapter 6.
 
Chilly

“They left the cave, but how Hans did open his eyes when he came out of the darkness into the daylight, and saw the green forest, and the flowers, and the birds, and the morning sun in the sky.” Strong Hans ~ Grimm’s Household Tales

           
“Bye mom!
 
Breakfast was delicious!
 
That French chef seemed to inspire the chef de patisserie in you.”
 
I leaned over doing my best not to knock over her coffee as I kissed her on the cheek.
 

           
“Pru?
 
Stay out of trouble, I don’t want any attention brought to us,” mom said.
 
She slid a buttery croissant across the breakfast bar to me.

           
“I can’t possibly eat another bite.
 
I’ll do my best to avoid attention.”
 
I wrapped my scarf around my neck and pulled my
Northface
knitted hat down over my ears.
 
Grabbing the croissant and holding it with my teeth I shoved my hands into my mittens.
 
“See you later, ciao.”

           
Gus and I stepped out into the frigid morning.
 
“Don’t freak out, but we’re going to take the Metro to the Vampire Museum.”
 
I put my hands up, waving them back and forth.
 
“I know, I know.
 
I don’t even know if it is a play on the whole vampire scene that is popular or if it is legit.
 
They have some books though that I’d like to take a look at.”
 
I pulled a map out of my jacket pocket.
 
“Look, I did some research last night and then mapped out our day.
 
Our biggest obstacle is actually running into a vampire.
  
Don’t give me that look; there is a treaty in place that prohibits them from attacking us without just cause.
 
It is only good within the Paris city limits; we will stay within those boundaries.
 
We,” I pointed back and forth between us “will be a notch in a belt for a vampire if we break the treaty.
 
Let’s try not to be a notch today.”

           
He buttoned the top button on his tailored black pea coat as he shook his head back and forth “you don’t think going to a vamp museum will wave a red flag that we’re in town?
 
What is the book that may get us killed?”
 
We practically broke out into a run as we walked as fast as possible to the warmth of the Metro.
 
“Damn girl, are we racing?”

           
“Ha, Ha.
 
Come on, I’ll fill you in on our way.”
 

Chapter 7. Museum

“Presently the guest came, and knocked politely and courteously at the house-door.”
 
Clever Gretel ~ Grimm’s Household Tales

           
The enormous wooden door chimed as Gus pulled it open, announcing our entrance.
 
The well worn table, doubling as a desk, did little to hide the petite girl sitting behind it. She was bundled up in a wool cardigan and scarf.
 
Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail that didn’t disguise the fact her hair was either not combed or so curly and wild it was impossible to tame, even pulled back.
 
“Could you pull that door closed, you’re letting out all the heat,” she said haughtily; even in her French accent she sounded perturbed.

           
Gus pulled the door closed and removed his leather gloves placing them in the pockets of his pea-coat.
 
“This is the Vampire Museum, right?”
 
He asked.
  

           
She rolled her eyes and said “Americans, always wanting a rendezvous with a vampire.
 
Sorry to disappoint you, but we are all out of vampires today.” She rocked her head back and forth as she annunciated each word.

           
I put both of my hands on the table trying my best to keep my tempter in check.
 
“Awesome, you speak English.
 
Obviously you woke up on the wrong side of the bed today, we however didn’t.
 
I understand you have some rare books on vampires that you allow the public to view.
 
I’d like to view them.”
 
I mentally took a deep breath to calm myself down.

           
“Do you have an appointment?”
 
The lady asked as she pulled out a well worn leather appointment book.
 
Her wire glasses slipped down her nose as she turned the pages to the current date.
 
Shaking her head back and forth she said “oh look right here.”
 
She points to the blank page.
 
“No, it doesn’t look like you have one.”

           
Another imaginary breath before saying, “no, we don’t have an appointment.
 
We aren’t here romanticizing vampires; we’re here because we are giving a lecture in America about vampires at the supernatural convention next month.
 
We want to be as well informed as possible.”
 
I lie and smile as sweetly as possible.

           
“It looks like we can fit you in at one this afternoon.”
 
She says cocking her head to the side pursing her lips sarcastically.

           
“Really?”
 
I looked around and could tell we were the only people in the building.
 
I listened for heartbeats, picking up nothing.
 
“It doesn’t look like you’re busy right now.”

           
“Rules are rules.
 
I know you Americans like to break rules, but we don’t.
 
What you consider not busy is irrelevant.”
 
She held up a steaming mug with both hands.
 
“I’m enjoying
 
my café au
lait
.
 
If one doesn’t work for you, I can squeeze you in next week.”
 
She says as she flips the blank pages to the following week.

           
“One is fine, merci.”
 
Gus says as he pulled on my arm and opened the door to leave.

           
“I thought I was going to hurt her.”
 
I leaned against the stone wall outside the building for balance as I fiddled with a stone in my shoe.
 
“I guess we’ll go to the
Père
Lachaise Cemetery.”
 
Gus put his arm around me and I instinctively pulled away.
 
Feeling a little awkward I pulled out the metro schedule.

           
“You’re seriously dragging me to a cemetery when its five hundred degrees below zero?”
 
Gus laughed that deep laugh of his.
 
“It isn’t getting any warmer out here; let’s get on with the Pru filled tour.”

           
“It is said that the family of that famous vampire Pascale
Norwid
is buried there and he often has fresh flowers delivered to his wife’s grave.
 
I want to find out what florist he uses, it would at least give us a lead.”
 
We jumped on the Metro right before the doors closed with a loud swoosh.

           
Gus and I were on guard every time we took any public transportation, the train was full and only had poles with hand straps to stand at.
 
Gus’ girth alone allowed room for only the two of us at our pole.
 
The smell of sweat lingered in the air giving me the willies to think what it must smell like in the heat of the summer months.
 
“
Psst
, check out your two o’clock do you get a weird vibe from her?”
 
Opting to use our telepathic pack wolf ability for communication.

           
Gus tilted his head backwards and side to side like he was stretching out a kink in his neck.
 
“
Smells witchy to me.
 
It looks like she has an amulet around her neck.”

           
“Yeah, I get that too.
 
She looks to be about my age, give or take a year, but not older than twenty for sure.
 
I don’t think she is an issue.
 
She however is nuts wearing that full broomstick skirt in January.
 
A little odd she doesn’t have her coat zipped up, probably has a ways to go and doesn’t want to acclimate to the weather.”
 
 

           
The doors opened with an electronic strength and speed.
 
Gus and I walked past the witch girl making eye contact with her; her eyes grew wide and changed back in an instant.
 
She gave me a passive smile as she touched the amulet around her neck.
 
Odd.

           
The capacious gate to the cemetery was like no other I’ve ever seen.
 
The ornate columns that flanked each side of the entrance caused me to catch my breath just a little.

           
‘And all with pearl and ruby glowing

           
Was the fair palace door,

           
Through which came flowing, flowing, flowing

           
And sparkling evermore,

           
A troop of Echoes, whose sweet duty

           
Was but to sing,

           
In voices of surpassing beauty,

           
The wit and wisdom of their king.’

           
The poem ran through my head like a memory with a secret message.
 
It was as though I’d been to this place before.
 
I was sure I’d written in my journal about this entrance.

           
“Just then, what were you quoting?
 
It was eerily beautiful.”
 
Gus asked as we passed across the threshold into the cemetery.