A Beauty Among Beasts Read online

  The kitchen was looking dreary, and it was about time David got around to cleaning it. He just hadn't had the time, or perhaps it was that he’d convinced himself he didn’t have the time—this was much more likely.

  He finished making up breakfast and plopped it down on the table. The girls raced in like a pack of wild animals, with little Effie in the lead. She was a fast one, even with her teddy bear in tow. A girl after his own heart, or in that case, after bacon.

  He put the pan in the sink, once again pushing off the cleaning until later. He told himself it was fine. The girls were sitting, and the food would get cold if he took too long. He wasn't sure how Margaret had done it all.

  "Morning, girls," David chimed, greeting them and switching the mood that was beginning to settle in his mind. Thoughts of Margaret always hit him like a storm.

  "Hi, Daddy." Effie's voice was muffled through a mouthful of eggs and the other two echoed in the background. "Bear says hi, too." She waved the stuffed bear's little hand before attacking her plate.

  "So," David began, and they all looked at him, "I have good news! I am meeting with a new client today, just outside of town."

  "That's amazing, Dad!"

  "Is it the one who sent the letter?" Anna asked.

  "Yes, it's the one who sent the letter yesterday. I know it's short notice, but he wanted me to come by today. And he promised some upfront payment. So, on my way back, I want to get all you girls a little something."

  His client’s house was just about an hour's walk outside of town. It would be Christmas in two months, and the client had promised great payment in his letters. It was the opportunity they’d been waiting for.

  Gwen cleared her throat. "You know that store Evonne's? They had a beautiful blue dress in the window…" Her eyes sparkled.

  David knew well enough it was her favorite store and she had a flair for fashion. Unlike her sister Anna, she needed to be the center of attention. He was sure whatever dress it was, or any dress for that matter, would fit the bill. She had her mother's beauty, after all.

  "Of course, my dear. What about you, Effie?" David smiled encouragingly.

  She looked up from her plate, which was almost clear, though half of its contents were spread over the table and herself. "Umm…" she began and shrugged.

  "Whatever you want!"

  She smiled and hugged her dirty bear." I want ... a stuffed dog," she decided.

  David patted her on the head with his good arm and promised he would find one.

  "That's it?" Gwen asked. "How about a pretty tiara?"

  They’d once had money, and David believed there was nothing wrong with having a piece of what they’d once had, especially for the smallest of the three, who never experienced it. Since it was now a possibility again, he encouraged them.

  "Hmm ... ok! No, a dog with a tiara!" Effie giggled, and it infected the rest of them. She had a habit of doing that.

  Finally, David turned to Anna across the table. She had been quiet, which was not unusual. She was a girl of many thoughts and not so many words, but when she did speak, her words carried both weight and charm, something he admired about her. He knew her well enough; she didn't want him to fret over presents.

  "Dad, I don't need gifts," Anna said, as he expected. She stared longingly at the letters she kept picking up. She carried them around often, rereading them and memorizing her brother's words. He’d noticed, and felt the same about the letters, but he wasn't going to say anything.

  He nodded solemnly. "I know, but please, for your old man. Let me bring you something. Etwas."

  "All right then," she paused, considering her options. She looked up to him after a moment. " A rose. I haven't seen one since Mom passed." She crossed her legs and leaned back in her chair.

  Gwen rolled her eyes. "Why can't you ask for something normal? You do realize it's practically winter, right?" She had no patience for her sister's impracticality, but David was happy he got an answer. If he couldn't find one, he would find something with a rose on it.

  Satisfied that all the girls had put in their requests, David stood up from the table and made his way around to hug each of them and gathered his things for the trip. He traveled lightly, with only a small suitcase for the day, but it was packed with his business documents, so he could answer any questions and provide proof. He had been caught without information one too many times before.

  "I will be back late tonight, and I expect we'll have a lot to talk about. Gwen, please look after your siblings." He made his way to the door and gave them one final smile.

  "Of course, Dad," she replied, placing another kiss on his cheek. He hated to leave them alone, but Gwen smiled encouragingly and closed the door behind him as he walked out.

  David set off atop his horse, his favorite way to travel, while the girls left for school. They were growing up so fast, even Effie was off to school now, which scared him a bit, if he was being honest with himself. He could remember when Gwen and Anna were that small, a fraction of the size they were now. When their smiles curled as much as their hair while they danced to the sound of the music their mother played on the piano.

  Margaret’s music was as beautiful as her soul, but now only the tune resonated in David's mind. She remained a memory, and the piano a mystery. It had been sold too many years ago for him to count.

  Their family suffered many losses over the past decade—a steady income was only one of them. David patted Sommer on the side of her mane, and she huffed in response. They trudged along the path together in silent contemplation. Her on the delicious temptations along the side of the road, and David on the terrible hand he was dealt.

  Snow began to fall quietly, and it slowly blanketed their path. There had been a lot of flurries lately and it was becoming increasingly hard to see the fertile soil beneath the white powder; though, the trees that covered the path hardly seemed to let much through.

  Sommer appeared to have no problem clearing the meat off the trees to fill her belly. David never used to let her graze, but at one point it was the only way he could ensure she had a meal. She learned the path by heart and knew which trees had the best to offer. He felt terrible about it, though she seemed to enjoy the freedom.

  Help finally came in the form of the Reich in the 30s. Their rise had promises, and slowly but surely book sales boosted. David was even able to take the family on a small vacation, something he never thought they would do. He also built Sommer a new stable, which he felt she appreciated. It was a sort of apology for the lack of care he’d provided. Horses were smart, and he could only hope she understood.

  Sommer was a family member, and even in their most unfortunate times, David couldn't bring himself to part with her. In good times there were reasons to get rid of her, too—like the Volkswagen, which was on every poster and in every magazine. He admitted that he’d toyed with the idea briefly but getting the car would mean no practical use for Sommer, and he preferred the bond he shared with such an incredible beast.

  Even with all the newfound progress for his family and many others at the time, he couldn't help but notice some of the neighbors began sinking as he was rising. Many of them, he noticed but had not realized the implications at the time, were Jewish.

  The war and Margaret's passing softened David, the once invincible man who fought in World War I. He gave generously to his neighbors, leaving the bare minimum for himself and the kids to live comfortably. Hence, no Volkswagen, just Sommer.

  It was that same softening that helped him accept little Effie into the family. When her mother left her on their doorstep as she fled relocation to one of the first Nazi camps, the family luck began. Even more than that, she helped to piece back together some of the fragments of his heart that had been shattered when Margaret passed.

  David's mind often lingered on thoughts of his life, a quality he believed he passed on to Anna, though her daydreams looked to be more pleasant. His story was always turning another page, only briefly interrupted by the circum
stances around him. It was the waning success of the bookstore that brought him to this moment. The Reich built them up but was now bringing them down with all the regulations. It was a constant rollercoaster.

  David suddenly reached a gate that he had never noticed on all his previous expeditions. It was the home of his new client, but it looked more like a castle than a house. How had he not seen this before? He had been down this road too many times to count. Sommer knew each rock and pebble to step over and the best trees for nibbling; yet, even she stomped her hooves and shifted her weight uncomfortably.

  The structure towered over the trees of the forest, a magnificent castle, black as night. It was old; the client must be descended from one of the early families of the area—and wealthy to boot. Riches that a small bookshop owner could never even dream of.

  He hopped off the horse and peeked through the black iron fence. He supposed the iron poles blended in a bit with the surrounding trees and that was perhaps why he’d never seen the offshoot of the path leading up to the castle. He motioned to push open the gate, but hesitated. Hesitating. That never used to happen to him. He’d always been confident.

  He began to question himself. What if he messed something up? He couldn't afford to do that. He sighed heavily; his breath moving smoothly between the iron posts before disappearing. He didn't even know what the man wanted. He had offered more than anything he thought possible—an incredibly generous payment for a library. What could he be looking for with all that?

  Did he have what the client wanted? Sure, he had some historical documents and had spent time collecting treasures, but what could a family like that not already have? He waited for what felt like hours, and in those few moments, the daylight started to fade from cloud cover once more, and snow began to build on the ground.

  He finally pushed open the gate. It was the dead of winter, and the snow was falling heavily, but the landscape was alive and blossoming beneath the white blanket. It looked silly, colorful dots peeking out from beneath, while trees that should have had no leaves were full and thriving. It seemed that not a single flower or leaf suffered from the cold, counter to how he felt at the moment. But, then again, a suffering heart never seemed to be relieved in any season.

  Sommer trotted happily along the half-mile dirt path, but by the time they reached the castle steps which should have been as black as the castle, they were a crisp white. The castle was dark and imposing though, which contrasted the gardens around it—each flower tilting upward begging for the love of the sun that wouldn't come. Again, David wondered, how had he not noticed such a magnificent building before.

  He noticed a small stable off to the right-hand side and guided Sommer over. It was empty, but there was an open stall with plenty of food for her to enjoy while he went inside. She neighed with discontent until he offered her a carrot and only then she conceded. He took off her saddle and bridle to make her more comfortable and walked back to the front steps.

  By the time he reached the large double doors, he was winded—there were twenty-five steps up to the entrance. The furnishings are probably plated in gold, he thought, as he wondered if he was in for a treat or a nightmare. He couldn't help but question what kind of associations this man might have. Surely someone that wealthy was a prime member of the Nazi Party and the last thing David wanted was to get entangled too deeply with them.

  He pushed his thoughts aside, stood up straight and lifted his hand to knock, but found the doors were already slightly ajar. That’s strange, he thought. He could've sworn they were closed. Besides, who would leave the doors open with snow billowing about?

  He peeked his head inside to see if his welcomer was behind the doors, but there was no one there. Instead, he found a great room with a large staircase in the center that split off at the top. There were ornate stained-glass windows on each towering wall and even the ceiling was layered with carved moldings of beautiful shapes and winding vines that weaved and raced across the ceiling and cascaded down the walls. They eventually faded into the structure.

  He decided to sit on an oversized couch lining the wall beside one of the two large fireplaces. Surely, if he waited in the central area, his client would find him. The fire warmed his reddened hands, and they started to regain some feeling.

  After a while, David began to doze off. The warmth of the fire and the promise of good fortune filled his dreams with splendor, and he regrettably jolted awake. There was a beautiful oak table in front of him, complete with a plentiful meal set on fine silver and horn of ale. He was starving and hadn't eaten anything recently. He didn't even know what time it was.

  The meal was delicious and seemed to be endless. Every time he ate something, it looked as if it reappeared on his plate. Before long, he found himself with a full belly which caused him to grow tired once more. Though he had his fill of food—and it stopped reappearing—the ale was still continuously replenishing itself. The drink was giving him a lightheaded buzz and he realized he’d probably had much more than his fill. At that, he decided it had been too long, and it was time to search for the client who had yet to show.

  David’s knees cracked loudly in objection as he stood up shakily from the couch. He looked around to gather his bearings but found he could not decipher where anything would be. The room he stood in was vast with many halls to investigate. He believed he would just have to guess where to go. One particular hallway caught his eye as he scanned the room. He decided to start with that small corridor to the left of the large staircase.

  He explored the castle, wandering into different rooms to find the master of the house, full of confidence from the ale. He found no living beings, only more beautiful rooms with detailed high-end decor and a few other odd things that he could only attribute to hallucinations.

  First, there was the painting in the corridor that seemed to watch him as he passed. Then, one of the rooms seemed to call to him and as he approached, the door opened all on its own. He found nothing strange in the room, in fact it was incredibly normal—the kitchen. Lastly, was the dog in the hallway. He could’ve sworn he saw it and followed it all the way down the hall and into a bedroom, where his furry leader disappeared.

  The bedroom was enticing, and he couldn’t resist the urge to collapse on the bed. The room spun, but he was aware enough to know it was late and certainly an appropriate time for bed. Undoubtedly, the master of the house wouldn't mind. He looked out the single large window and watched the snow, which was still falling steadily, but perhaps more slowly than when he arrived. I'll be good to go by morning, he thought, before nodding off to sleep for the night.

  Chapter 3

  David

  David awoke early the next morning with a peculiar ache in his neck. He went over to the elaborate mirror across the room and examined himself, but all he saw was a small cut, almost like a razor nick, that he attributed to a tree branch on his travels the day before. He looked outside to find that the snow had stopped; in fact, there wasn't even a trace anywhere on the ground.

  It was a perfect traveling day, and the master of the house had yet to show his face, despite feeding and housing a guest. David decided it was time to leave, though he promised himself that he would return to meet with this mysterious client—and that he would bring his daughters to see the splendor of the castle. Surely the client wouldn't mind a few guests, he thought, it was a massive place after all. Besides, they hadn't had the chance to sit down and talk. Perhaps he had gotten the date wrong? He would check the letters when he arrived home.

  David meandered through the castle trying to find the front door. He was in no rush, which was good because it took much longer than he thought to find the exit. It was as if the castle had rearranged itself, but he attributed the confusion to his state of mind the night before. It was entirely possible that he simply didn’t remember correctly.

  He finally found his way to the main staircase and realized he had somehow managed to find himself on the second floor. He had no memory of climbing
the stairs, but he did recall the dog he followed to the room. He was distracted from his thoughts by a large shape in front of the doors. It looked to be a suitcase, but his eyes had begun to fail him the past few years when it came to distance, and his hallucinations from the night before made him skeptical. He couldn’t, however, beat his curiosity, and picked up his pace.

  David walked up to the main doors, where he could clearly see the enormous suitcase, which he determined was not a hallucination. It was large, blue, and bulging. There was a note on top of it. Scrawled in script, it simply read:

  Thank you for your services, Mr. Klein.

  It was beyond David’s belief that the entire suitcase was for him, for services he didn’t even perform yet. In fact, he hadn’t even found the man’s library.

  He reached over to open the clasps to take a peek inside, for it was high enough that he did not need to reach down. Just an inch was enough to show the gold and jewels it contained inside. David looked around before laying the suitcase flat on its side and opening it as much as he could. His heart leaped at the contents. Beyond the gold and jewels was more money than he expected, and the perfect gifts for his daughters. It was enough that he might not even need another client for quite some time.

  David could not get past how unusual it was that the client did not show his face nor have any conversations regarding their contract, yet he provided such a lavish payment that David didn’t feel he truly deserved. Normally, these private clients were very adamant about their needs up front and did not provide a dime until the goods procured were deemed more than satisfactory. After all, building a private library was a costly business. Despite the change of pace, he wouldn’t deny his family the comfort the upfront payment supplied.

  “You are one interesting man,” David said aloud and closed the suitcase. He couldn’t imagine what the client would want for that payment, but he was willing to do any nitty-gritty work and secure any obscure books the client requested. David was still fairly new to the private sector, but this was his chance to prove himself. He would write a follow-up letter, based on this encounter; the client seemed to respond better to writing than in person. If their relationship meant that David would deliver, and the client would pass in the night, it was fine with him.