To Love a Shifter: A Paranormal Romance Boxed Set (135 page)

“That’s getting old.” It wasn’t, but a girl could hope. If all Draugar turned out to be as good-looking as Varthan, I was going to be a laughingstock.

“You will meet Elsine there.”

“Who is she?”

“She is priestess to the Goddess. Immortal, but not a Draugar. She can tell you more about what is happening.”

Silence followed, which made me uneasy. It gave my mind too much freedom to think about how my life would change if I was indeed a kidnap target for goblins. I seized the first question that came to me, not wanting to worry about my future for now. “Are there many like you?”

“There were close to two hundred of us the last time I had been awake.”

Two hundred.
Since the idea of a single zombie was already mind-boggling, knowing that there were two hundred of his kind made my mind whirl. “Assuming that there are a lot of Draugar like you still alive---”

“There certainly are,” he stated matter-of-factly.

“---why did you get chosen to…
protect
me?” I still had trouble acknowledging his so-called bodyguard role.

“You are better off asking Elsine as I have no answer to that. Perhaps I had been the only one who would reach you in time.”

There went my idea about fate bringing us together. Varthan didn’t seem inclined to say anything more than that so I asked another random question. “The myth about zombies, did your kind start it?”

That got a smile out of him. “Yes. It had been Elsine’s idea. You have probably heard about how courageous Vikings were.”

“Yes.” He sounded so proud I hadn’t had the heart to tell him I also heard about how bloodthirsty they could be.

          “There was little they feared. This, however, spelled trouble for us – Draugar - because there were times when their stubbornness and curiosity would get them embroiled in wars between my kind and goblins, wars that would easily cost them their mortal lives. Finally, Elsine decided on a disguise that would dissuade them.”

          “But a
zombie
? Why not vampires or ogres---”

          “We were limited by our nature. A Draugar’s ability to change form is not infinite. We can only change up to the extent of our original human form.”

          “I know I’m smart, but I’m afraid you’ve lost me at the word ‘limited’.”

          “Maybe I can show you instead.” And Varthan illustrated the point perfectly by transforming into an adorable five-year-old with twinkling lilac eyes.

          “
Oh. My. God
.”

          “This is how I looked when I was young.”

          And in a nanosecond, his form shifted into something else. A 60-year-old something else, with balding hair, sagging skin, and a potbelly. “This is how I shall look like if I have been smoking and drinking my whole life.” He emphasized his point with a yellow-toothed grin.

          “And finally…”

          “Oh God, it’s that smell again,” I blurted out, making him laugh.

          “This,” the ten-foot monster boomed, blood and drool clinging to the side of his lips, “is what Elsine has discovered we could be if we contracted a rare disease she had learned about in her travels.”

          Varthan in godly form took my breath away, but Varthan in zombie form literally stopped me from breathing. Looking at him now, I almost wished I didn’t have my contacts on. Now, I was able to fully appreciate what had been just a huge blur to me last night, a privilege I’d happily do without.

          He leaned forward and I leaned back, holding my breath because he truly smelled awful. “To Viking eyes, we mirror their worst fears, what they imagine the dead rising from their graves would look like. While my people would certainly spit at the idea of surrendering even if we were outnumbered a hundred to one, we would run like babes if an evil spirit was haunting us.”

          He lumbered out of the lounge and came back as his old gorgeous self with a new set of clothing, more casual this time, a gray dress shirt and black silk trousers.

          “Why did you---” A flashback of his nudity entered my mind and I closed my mouth. My blush spoke for itself.

          He chuckled as he reclaimed his seat. “And that, my little
skat
, shall be your bedtime story for tonight.”

          “Some bedtime story. It’s more likely to give me a nightmare.” But I was still marveling at his display of powers. “Your Elsine’s one smart woman.
Anyone
would be scared stiff when you look like that.”

          “Are you sure of that?” His fingers tapped the windows. “Your world is a different place now. Some people would not stop at being scared. Others would think of shooting. They would think of capturing me and making me a part of their experiments.”

          “I guess so,” I admitted it because it
was
true. I wondered what that made us. Courageous? Psychotic? Science-mad?

          The rest of the flight was spent in the kind of silence I couldn’t break.

“Welcome to Draugar Isle.” Elsine smiled warmly at me. She was tiny, maybe just an inch above five feet, with long blond hair, baby blue eyes, and spectacular curves. Mariah, eat your heart out.

          The small reception committee the priestess headed had been waiting to greet us by the time we got off the jet. Varthan had made the introductions while I smiled, nodded, and said nothing.

Everything was also as beautiful as its priestess. The entire island, with its lush landscape, fairytale castle, and pristine beach was breathtaking. If only George Romero knew the real truth about zombies, Night of the Living Dead would have been a rom-com instead.

          “Are you tired, Dazzle?” she asked as we walked side by side. Varthan followed behind, speaking with the three other men that had accompanied Elsine – Draugar like him – in Danish.

          I shook my head. “It was a short flight. Relaxing. Nice jet, by the way,” I added belatedly.

           “Feel free to borrow it anytime.” She glanced at her watch, a diamond-studded Rolex and a perfect match for the ice blue, knee-length sheath she was wearing. “It’s just about dinner time. Perhaps I could tempt you with a meal?”

          I nodded, unable to speak because I became aware of how more and more people were gawking…at Varthan.

I looked back. He seemed oblivious – or was pretending to be. Here in Zombie Island – I meant, Draugar Isle – the gulf between us just felt like it was getting bigger and bigger. I was definitely better off pinning my hopes on Quinn. He might be out of my league, but at least we belonged to the same flawed species.

The castle was a stunning blend of charming, medieval architecture and modern technology. The entire barbican was made of steel, its drawbridge remote controlled. Men in black and silver uniforms routinely patrolled the parapet walks above. Within its protective walls were narrow, tulip-lined lanes zigzagging around pretty boutiques and enchanting little diners. They even had their own Starbucks in the corner.

People smiled at Elsine as we passed them by, greeting her deferentially before gawking at Varthan.

We crossed another bridge, wooden this time, and I was startled to see my reflection staring back at me from the crystal-clear waters of the moat. An enormous, strange-looking fish with razor-sharp teeth jumped out and caused a tiny splash as it dove back smoothly. It reminded me of a creature I had read about, but I couldn’t quite place it yet.

The curtain walls were made of concrete but were about fifty-feet thick. It had four towers, one in each corner. To my left was a gatehouse with its own see-through elevator. The gardens of Versailles didn’t even hold a candle to the beauty that I beheld in the lower courtyard. There were no stables but a little far off, I spied what seemed like a well-kept menagerie. The upper bailey had a majestic fountain at its center, shooting jets of waters twenty feet in the air.

“How do you like it so far?” Elsine asked.

“It’s magical.” There was no other word for it.

She began describing the various buildings within the castle. “Everything basically functions the same. The keep is where everyone sleeps, Draugar and humans alike. The Great Hall is where we entertain guests – we’ll be dining there shortly – while we work in the main building. The medical center is also in the main building while the chapel is at the second floor of the east tower.”

          Did Elsine actually say they had a chapel? I wondered what the Holy Father would say if he knew zombies were Roman Catholics as well. I sneaked another look at Varthan for no reason and met his indecipherable gaze.

          I hastily looked away, embarrassed at being caught. Then I saw Elsine smiling at me knowingly and my face reddened even more.

****

“Thanks for the great meal,” I murmured self-consciously half an hour later, wishing that Varthan had let me know earlier on that Draugar didn’t eat. As it was, everyone had merely chatted while I quietly chewed my way through dinner.

          “Thank you as well. Obviously, my kitchen staff seldom gets an opportunity to have their skills appreciated.”

          Remembering the delicious filet mignon with its goat cheese filling and black pepper crust, I said honestly, “You can tell them I’m always free to appreciate their skills anytime.”

          Elsine laughed. “I definitely will.” She rose and all of us took that as a sign to leave the table. “May I invite you to join me in the library, Dazzle?”

          “Oh, sure.” I was a bit sleepy, but not enough to turn down the lady boss of zombies.

          Varthan’s eyes narrowed, having caught me almost yawning. “Can this not wait, Elsine?”

          “I’m still good for a few hours,” I insisted.

          “I understand your concern, Varthan, but this is also for Dazzle’s sake.” She nodded a dismissal to the other Draugar and they departed after bowing. We left the Great Hall in the opposite direction, following Elsine’s lead once more as we climbed several flights of a spiral staircase.

          She stopped on the fifth landing and turned right. The hallway was dimly lit with incandescent light and our footsteps fell silent on the thick Persian rugs. Mirrors and paintings alternately decorated the paneled walls. Elsine turned the knob of the last door on her left and gestured for us to follow her inside. “You do want to know why your life has changed so drastically, don’t you?”

          That got my attention. “Absolutely.”

          The library was as lavishly appointed as the rest of the castle, with a medium-sized chandelier, an electric fireplace, panoramic windows, and a three-piece couch set made with toffee-colored leather. The triangular center table was another work of art, made of glass and steel, and on it was a glass plate bearing an assortment of expensive sweets.

          Elsine took a seat on one of the armchairs. “Please take a seat.”

          I went to the couch across from her, a bit surprised but relieved when Varthan sat beside me.

          “What do you know of Draugar, Dazzle?”

          The question made me nervous for some reason, but my voice was steady as I told her everything I knew, including the few tidbits I Googled, causing Varthan to raise an eyebrow.

          Elsine inclined her head. “Most of what you’ve said is true.” She sniffed disdainfully. “Except for the part where they say Draugar create garnet from their pee. That one is a complete fabrication. Draugar do create garnets and they use it to bind themselves to the
skat
they are defending, but they definitely don’t use---” She rolled her eyes. “---
urine
for it.”

          “I didn’t get a garnet.” I looked suspiciously at Varthan.

          He shrugged. “There has been no time to create one. I mean to give yours tomorrow.”

          “As for you being a
skat
,” Elsine said, recapturing my attention.

          I leaned forward. “About that.” I bit my lip worriedly. “Are you sure there hasn’t been a mistake?”

          She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Dazzle. You
are
a
skat.
” She waved her hand and she was suddenly holding several sheets of paper. “Would you mind reading these, Dazzle?”

          “No problem,” I answered without missing a beat, pretending that a woman conjuring things out of thin air was perfectly ordinary.

          The first two pages were about a newspaper article published in the early 20
^th
century. It spoke of an ancient curse on a mummy princess, which had caused the deaths of those who had dared disturb her repose - including the sinking of the Titanic.

          The next pages were part of an investigative report and relayed how a young woman named Susan Arlington performed an act of kindness towards the princess, thus earning her gratitude. She was consequently blessed due to her actions.

          I laid the papers on the table. “Ummm…I’m done reading it,” I finally said, not knowing what else to say. Great story? Why wasn’t there a mummy with Jack and Rose?

          “It’s also true.”

          I waited, but Elsine only stared at me with a slightly arched brow. My mind went back to what I’d read but I still couldn’t find a connection.

          “What’s your mother’s middle name, Dazzle?”

          “Arling---” My jaw dropped.

          “You are a
skat
because the princess of Amen-Re has blessed your family line. The night before the Titanic sank, William Stead boasted to the other passengers about the mummy he had hidden in a Renault. He also told them about the curse, but like him, none of them believed in it. William offered them a private viewing, and all but one agreed. Susan Arlington was the only one who refused. On that same night, she sneaked back into the cargo hold and covered the mummy case with a blanket, hoping it was enough to give the princess privacy.”

          “But Susan died when the Titanic sank.” I was bewildered. “If the princess was grateful, why didn’t she save Susan’s life as well?”

          “It was too late. Curses are dangerous that way. She had already cursed the Titanic to sink and once a curse has been made, it cannot be undone. So she looked for a way to atone for Susan’s death and thus, your family line was blessed.”

          “Blessed,” I repeated, just to be sure. “Not cursed.”

          Elsine stared straight into my eyes. “
Blessed
. Every woman directly descended from Susan Arlington shall be protected from those who wish to take her life. They shall suffer what they fear most till the end of their days.”

          “It’s very eloquent, but could you tell me what that means exactly?”

          “Anyone who wishes to kill you will die the worst death they can imagine.”

          My mouth went a little dry. “She’s…quite protective.”

          Elsine raised her hand. “We are not yet done. There is still the matter of goblins.”

          Oh yeah. Those goblins. I frowned. “Wait a minute. If I can’t be killed---”

          “You
can
be killed. Curses and blessings are literal and straightforward in nature. No one who wishes to kill you will be able to do so. But any other threat is not covered by the blessing.”

          “So if the goblins only wanted to take me as a prisoner---”

          “They can do that.”

          “Or if they wanted to brainwash me---”

          “Doable.”

          “And if I got cancer---”

          “Then you’ll need chemotherapy.”

          “Well, that sucks.” Then I remembered how many deaths the princess of Amen-Re had caused. “But I’m not complaining, of course.”