Heather Graham - The Night Is Alive

Then

Abby didnt know why she awoke; she might have heard a sound in the night. Whatever it was, shed gone from being curled up, enjoying a dream about the great tenth birthday party she was going to have at her grandparents tavern, the Dragonslayer, to being pulled out of her dream, as if she needed to be awake. And aware.

There was someone in her room, she thought. Someone with a kind, handsome face staring down at her, eyes filled with great concern.

Then the face was gone and she was instantly wide-awake.

And scared.

She slipped from her bed and out of the room in the apartment above the Dragonslayer, running to the door in the little hallway that led to her grandparents suite. Neither of them was in bed.

That scared her more. Her grandparents werent in their bed.

She instantly knew she should be quiet. The fear she felt was instinctive, and she tiptoed in bare feet down the curving metal stairs to the ground floor.

Halfway there, she stopped. Her heart seemed to squeeze and her whole body froze.

She wasnt afraid of the tavern, she never had been. It was filled with old ships wheels, countless figureheads, paintings, etchings, maps and more. The elegant beauties, dragons and mythical creatures that gazed down at her from the walls were part of her heritage.

No, she wasnt afraid of anything in the Dragonslayer, but...

Someone was there, someone who shouldnt be. He was standing at the entry, looking through the cut-glass window on the front door, and it wasnt her grandpa Gus.

He was tall, and beneath his tricorn hat, his rich black hair fell down his back in curls. He had a neatly manicured beard and mustache. His black boots were tight on his calves over tan breeches. He wore a crimson overcoat with elegant buttons that matched those on his vest, and a white shirt with lace at the throat and sleeves. He seemed improbably imposing as he stood thereas if nothing could pass by him. She couldnt see his eyes in the darkness, but she knew their color.

Just as she knew him.

He was the man whod been standing by the bed, watching over her.

Shed seen images of him dozens of times. Hed been lovedand hated. Hed sailed the seas on a constant quest for adventure, some said. For his own riches, according to others. Hed never killed a man, although hed made good on many threats regarding severe thrashings. Hed kidnapped a wealthy mans daughter and held her for a fortune, but when she was rescued, the girl had wanted to go back to her captor. He never broke his word.

Of course, despite his sense of honor, hed been hunted. He had been the pirate, Blue Anderson. He was her umpteen-great-great-uncle.

Had been.

He was dead. He had been dead for more than two hundred and fifty years.

But there he wasstanding in the darkness, watching whatever was happening outside the door. Watching with intense interest.

He looked up at her suddenly, as if he realized she was there.

He studied her for a moment and then he smiled, inclining his head curiously and nodding.

He could tell that she saw him.

If shed been able to move, she would have. She would have screamed and gone running back to her room to hide under the bed.

But she couldnt move. She could hardly breathe, much less scream.

He smiled again, tipped his tricorn hat, glanced outside one more time and then slowly disappeared.

As he did, she heard the door open. Her eyes darted to it with fear.

It was her grandparents coming back into the building. But it had to be about four in the morning, and they didnt go out at 4:00 a.m. From the stairway windowshe hadnt managed to move yetshe realized there were flashing lights in the parking lot.

Flashing lights. The kind police cars had.

Not to worry. They got him, Brenda, my love, Gus told her grandmother.

Yes, but... Oh, Gus! That horrible man might have gotten in. Her grandmother sounded worried. She was such a wonderful grandmotherdifferent from most, perhaps; she wasnt much of a cookie baker. But she came to all of Abbys school events. She loved to dress up, she read stories and acted out all the characters. She was slim and energetic, too; she loved a long bike ride.

Hey, so what? He wouldve stolen what little cash we have in the register. But he didnt get in. We woke up, we called the police, all is good, Gus said. He looked up thenjust as Blue had done, but of course, she couldnt really have seen Blue. That wouldve been seeing a...

A ghost.

Hey, munchkin, what are you doing up? Gus called to her.

She willed her frozen lungs to function. I woke up, she said. Her voice sounded funny, and she forced herself to move. II just woke up. And I couldnt find you.

Its okay, now, Abby. Everythings okay. You can go back to sleep, Gus told her.

What happened? she asked.

Her grandmother turned to her grandfather, and Gus answered. A thief trying to break in, baby. But the police got him. Were fine.

Back to bed, child! her grandmother said. She smiled to lighten the sternness of her words. Its late. Or early. Whichever. Time for younguns to be asleep! What would your parents say about the way we keep you up?

Mom and Dad wouldnt mind. Mom always says youre the best. She said that if you and Gus werent so wonderful, shed never be able to travel with Dad as much as she does. Not many kids are so lucky. I get to stay with you. Her father worked for a major tech company and traveled frequently. She had a room at the tavern with almost as much stuff in it as her room in the house on Chippewa Square.

Be that as it may! her grandmother began. I want you back in your bed. Its a school night.

Abby gave her grandfather a wide-eyed look. He was an easier mark than her grandmother. She couldnt possibly go back to bedalone. Not yet.

Come on down. Well have a cup of tea, and then well go back to bed. Hows that?

She managed to nod. And to come running the rest of the way down the stairs.

Abigail Anderson! Brenda said sternly. I told you not to run around barefoot! Glasses do break, my darling, and even when we clean up, you cant be sure we get all the little slivers.

Leave her be right now, Brenda, Gus suggested.

Brenda wagged a finger at her. Tonight. Just tonight. You follow the tavern rulesmy rules, young ladyor you dont stay here anymore!

Yes, maam, Abby said.

Brenda spun on Gus. And you! Dont go putting a shot of whiskey in her tea to calm her down, do you hear me? Shes barely ten.

Oh, Brenda, its what our parents did for us

And nowadays, its considered child abuse. You two behave. Im going back up.

She caught Abbys chin and gave her a kiss on the cheek before she went up the winding staircase.

Gus winked at Abby. Come into the kitchen, he said. Well brew some tea.

In the taverns large, modernized kitchen, she sat on a stool and watched Gus place the kettle on a burner and bring out the makings for tea. There was a bottle of whiskey on one of the top shelves. He hesitated, and then shrugged. One little nip. Cured me of colds, stubbed toes and a broken heart, and I had a wonderful mother, God bless her! He crossed himself and looked upward. Now, think youll be able to sleep after this?

She nodded enthusiastically. A few minutes later, hed made teawith a nip of whiskey in it for the two of them. He brought the cups out front and they sat together beneath the figureheads and other artifacts. She cherished these occasions with him; there werent many.