Chapter 18: Chimera

Seeking feedback on my work-in-process cozy fantasy novel, Jack and the Beanstalk Cafe.

Start from the beginning: Chapter 1

Previous Chapter: Chapter 17

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Gillian

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“What? No greeting for your—”

“What are you doing here?” Gillian interrupted her father, as she and Alban subtly shifted their bodies in front of Jack.

Count von Karnstein chuckled, and glided into the cafe. Gillian silently cursed the vampiric threshold limitations that didn’t apply to public establishments.

“Andrei had some very interesting things to say after his trip to Bath,” he said, raising an eyebrow. “It seems this prison,” he paused and glanced around the cafe before continuing. “Isn’t as secure as I was led to believe.”

Philomena stepped forward and crossed her arms. Gillian saw she had strategically angled herself away from Jack, attempting to draw the Count’s attention.

“This cafe is exactly what I promised it would be,” Philomena said.

The Count glanced at her dismissively before turning his attention back to Gillian.

“Now, tell me, dear. What were you doing with a vampire hunting witch? Or should we talk about how Andrei said you looked rather cozy with that human you’re trying to hide behind you?” He gave her a smirk that chilled her to the bone.

Gillian opened her mouth to reply, but was interrupted by Jack before she could even take a breath.

“What she does is not any of your business,” he said, stepping out to face her father.

Gillian groaned internally. Brave? Sure. Stupid? Absolutely. He was going to get them all killed.

“Well, well, well,” the Count said slowly, as a grin split across his face. “It’s a pleasure to meet you at last, Mr. Kyteler.”

He lifted his arms as if expecting Jack to step into his embrace. Jack’s fists clenched at his sides, but he didn’t move.

“And, wait. What is that?” The vampire cocked his head and inhaled deeply before turning to Gillian. “My, dear. You didn’t?”

From the corner of her eye, she could see Philomena and Jack look toward her in confusion.

Her father laughed again, sharp teeth gleaming behind his pale lips. “What an interesting turn of events. Tell me, Mr. Kyteler, did you enjoy that?”

“Sorry?”

The Count’s smile dropped and his voice turned low and menacing as he approached Jack. “Did you enjoy the taste of my daughter’s blood on your lips?”

Jack stiffened and his eyes darted toward Gillian again.

“I— I’m not sure—”

“Ha! He doesn’t know! Really, Gillian? I raised you better than this.” He gave her a mock frown. “What was it? A failed attempt to make him immortal? Or, don’t tell me. You did it to save his life, didn’t you?” The last part came out with a sneer, his lips curled in disgust.

Jack turned to look at her, eyes wide. Gillian couldn’t meet his gaze— she didn’t want to see what would be reflected back at her.

“Come now. Grab your little human. We’re going home,” her father said, turning away from them with a flourish of his robes.

Gillian didn’t move. Her heart was pounding double time in her chest. That was it. There was nothing any of them could do against the most powerful vampire in existence. All of their efforts to find the runes and destroy the Vampire King were wasted.

The Count paused, and looked back where Gillian stood. “I said come,” he snarled.

“No one is going anywhere with you,” Philomena spoke up calmly.

Whirling on her, the Count’s eyes flared. “Where is your master? Someone needs to put you on a leash.”

Alban’s eyes narrowed and he moved toward the vampire. But before he had taken more than a step, Philomena clapped her hands and the Count slid back several feet, as if a gust of gale force winds had pushed him.

“I have no master and there will be no leashing in my cafe,” Philomena snarled back, stalking toward the Count.

“Your cafe? I’d love to see what your master would do to you if he heard that,” scoffed the vampire.

Philomena just smirked and crossed her arms. “You really are an idiot, aren’t you?”

Gillian sucked in a breath. She supposed they were going down fighting, after all.

Her father’s eyes turned even colder and he took a step toward the gnome, but was pushed back by an invisible force again.

“You didn’t even think to meet the owner of the Beanstalk Cafe in person before agreeing to send Gillian here for her prison sentence,” Philomena said with a cackle. “A few well placed rumors and the world thinks a chimera runs the cafe? What a joke. As if one of those bumbling idiots could handle all this.”

Gillian’s eyes widened. Philomena had to be bluffing. Everyone knew a chimera owned the cafe. The threat of him showing up was the only thing that kept all the different type of folk from fighting within its walls.

She could tell her father didn’t believe Philomena, either. He gave the gnome a withering look and launched himself toward her.

This time, the magical wind blew him back so far, he slammed into the wall behind him. Philomena kept talking as if nothing had happened

“Everyone always assumes the wards of this place are just to keep the pesky humans out. But this is my cafe,” she seethed as she stomped forward. “And you know what I hate? Bullies. So, when my wards detect a useless excuse of a beating heart like you,” she was inches away from the vampire and punctuated her words with a finger pointed up at his chest. “They banish him!”

She clapped her hands again and the vampire was lifted off his feet and pushed out the door before it slammed shut behind him. Philomena turned back to her friends, dusting her hands off.

“What?” She said innocently as Gillian and Jack gaped and Alban simply smirked.

***

It turned out that everything Philomena had said to the Count was true. She’d been the founder of the cafe all along. Gillian still couldn’t believe it. She felt numb after the rush of adrenaline from seeing her father. But Gillian knew that once she’d had time to process it, it would hurt to know her friend had chosen to lie to her for 239 years.

“So, what are we going to do?” Gillian asked the group. “That was spectacular to watch, don’t get me wrong. But he’s going to be furious. He does not like to be embarrassed.”

Alban turned from where he and Jack were repairing the front door’s lock. Jack had initially asked where the tool kit was kept, which was met with amusement. He was now attempting to perform a basic fixing spell under the elf’s tutelage.

“You’re right, Gillian. A weak man in a corner is more dangerous than a strong one. And he’s both.”

“We just work faster,” Philomena offered with a shrug. “We’ll get Jack’s magic ready and track that vile man down before he can do anything to Alice.”

The words sounded convincing but Gillian knew any hope of saving the witch was slipping through their fingers every minute.

“We need to figure out how to activate the runes quickly,” she said.

Philomena shot her a look she couldn’t read. “Activating the runes was never part of the plan,” she said slowly. “We want to disable the runes so the curse can never be broken, right?”

“Well, sure. That would be good, too. But don’t we want to take down my– the Vampire King so he isn’t a danger to anyone ever again?”

“Is that really what you want?”

“Why wouldn’t that be what we want?” Jack interjected from where he was still crouched by the door. “I know I’m new to this, but the whole point is to rid the world of monsters, right?”

“Exactly.” Gillian gave Philomena a smug look.

Philomena crossed her arms and glared right back.

Alban sighed loudly. “This will all be a moot point if Jack is too tired to learn magic.” He waved his hands over the door and completed the fix on the lock, leaving Jack looking dismayed at his interrupted progress.

“You’re right. You both look dead on your feet,” Philomena said as Gillian yawned. “There’s nothing more that can be done tonight. Go on up to bed.”

Gillian wanted to argue but knew she’d need to be rested and clear headed to work on a plan.

“Alright,” she said. “Jack, are you ready?” She gave him a weak smile and started to turn away when the expression on Jack’s face stopped her.

There was a flash of– was it fear? That couldn’t be it. Was he uncomfortable after she’d thrown herself at him with that kiss in the crypt? They hadn’t had a chance to talk about that yet.

“I, uh,” Jack said, rubbing the back of his neck. “That’s alright. I’ll stay down here and practice my magic.” He wasn’t making eye contact with any of them.

She stared at him, unsure what to say.

But Alban seemed to understand Jack’s hesitation and gave him a reassuring smile. “No problem, son. Philly and I will stay up to keep watch in case one of the vampires tries to come back. You can sleep in Phil’s flat when you get tired of practicing.”

The relief on Jack’s face was palpable and Gillian’s heart lurched in her chest.

“Ok, well, goodnight, then,” she said but only Alban and Philomena returned her farewell.

“Goodnight, Jack,” she tried again, looking at him expectantly.

“Uh, yeah,” he said, still not quite meeting her eyes. “Night, Gillian.”

Next Chapter: Chapter 19