A Beauty Among Beasts Read online

  It was empty.

  “Looking for this?” said a voice from the doorway.

  “What the hell, Joseph Aaron Brodbeck?” Anna spun to glare at him.

  Joe smirked and waved the book at her, lying lazily against the doorframe. “Using my whole name, huh?”

  “Well, yeah. You scared the crap out of me!”

  “I was just trying to do you a favor. You looked so sad when she took your book, and knowing you, I doubted it was anything appropriate.” He opened the book and scanned through the pages before turning back to Anna. “And I was right.” He gave her a wide grin.

  Anna walked to him with her arms crossed. She noted that he had gotten a lot taller over the years, but his hair was still that same sandy brown mess, and his eyes still ocean blue. But, like the ocean, there was something there in the depths that troubled her. It was no secret he’d been through a lot, but the glimpses she saw in his eyes worried her.

  “Look, we’ve got to get that book out of here. Mrs. Jager will be back any minute. She was only going to the bathroom.” Anna reached for the book, but Joe pulled it away.

  “Only if you agree to walk home from school with me today. I haven’t seen you, out of a classroom anyway, in forever.” His smile was genuine, though the gesture caught her off guard.

  “All right. Deal. I’ll meet you by the doors in a few minutes. Mrs. Jager will think it’s weird if I just disappear.”

  Joe tucked the book inside his jacket and turned to walk out of the classroom. As he left, Mrs. Jager returned and Anna quickly dismissed herself.

  Anna and Joe walked back through the chilly air and into the woods. It felt nice to take that path, it was one Anna never took alone, and it was all too often that she found herself walking home alone.

  “So, what’s new?” Joe asked.

  “Not much … except for my impending move to some stranger’s house.”

  “What?”

  “My father’s store has been hurting, so he took on some new clients. This one wants extra help at his home—for a nice amount of money—and I’m the one who has to go.”

  “Why doesn’t Gwen do something for a change?” Joe raised his voice.

  “Well, he requested me, I guess. So you can’t get mad at her. Besides, look who’s talking! You do everything.”

  Joe rolled his eyes and laughed. “Yeah. That’s because I don’t have parents and my sisters weigh less than a bag of flour.”

  They walked in silence for a bit and separated when they approached the bakery.

  “Oh, here’s your book back, bookworm.” Joe smiled. Anna took it greedily and stuffed it under her jacket. “Keep that thing hidden. I can’t protect you from Nazis, you know, only monsters under the bed.”

  Anna smiled, he was forever the older brother type.

  Anna spent that evening with her family. Her move was only a day away and even at the end she was trying to imagine a scenario where she wouldn’t have to go.

  Effie was reluctant to go to sleep that night. She kept saying that she did not want Anna to leave, and they all assured her that they would still see her. But Anna wasn’t so sure.

  "Anna, I'm going to miss you." The little girl climbed out of the covers and onto Anna's lap. Effie wrapped her arms around her neck, and Anna could feel the wet cheeks against her chest. “Do you have to go tomorrow?”

  She consoled her and placed her back down on her pillow. She tucked Effie in and tickled her belly, getting a few giggles out. She didn't want to go either. But, of course, it wasn't up for discussion. What rich people want, rich people get.

  "How about a story?" Anna asked, and naturally, Effie couldn't refuse since Anna always delivered fascinating stories of magic and adventure.

  She told her the stories in confidence, and Effie understood. She was young, but she was good like that, beyond her years when it came to certain things. The current state of Germany wasn't open to such fantastical tales.

  "Tonight, would you like a mermaid story or one about the old gods? There are nine worlds in mythology, so a lot to choose from! I even have some new stories from a new book!" She paused for effect and held it up to Effie's delight. "Everything we are told is fake, is real! Mermaids, monsters, all of it! We are just tiny specs in the snow globe of a universe we live in."

  She picked up the small snow globe Effie had on her bedside table and shook it. The little specks of white swirled around, eventually landing slowly on the deer that stood in the middle.

  She turned back to Effie. "We are tiny people in a big world, remember that. Like when you look up at the stars? Those are other snow specks. We are even tinier than a snow speck, though I can't tell you what the ones in that globe are made of."

  Effie giggled. "I thought I was the only tiny one. I want to hear about the mermaids." Her face lit up, but then fell suddenly, brow furrowed. "Why did they believe different?" Her tiny face scrunched in confusion. She was a little girl with huge questions.

  "I'd like to think that when it comes down to it, we all believe the same thing, we just have different versions of the same story." Anna kissed Effie on the head and tucked her in tight beneath the covers. She read her the story of the little mermaid, the one who fell in love with a human prince. Luckily, she didn't have to worry about the sad part where the poor mermaid turned into seafoam since Effie had fallen asleep.

  Anna placed the book on the table next to Effie's bed. As much as she didn't want to let it go, she knew it would give Effie comfort. She would see Gwen during the day at school, but she wouldn't see Effie, and couldn't read her stories at night. At least if she left the book, maybe someone else could.

  Though in truth, she didn't give Gwen enough credit. She had taken over the cooking and everything the past few years, but she did things to complement their father's work, as opposed to helping with it. They couldn't all do that. Anna got up from the bed and turned out the light, closing the door slowly behind her.

  She said goodnight to her father and sister who were sitting on the couch in the living room and retreated to her bedroom. Her bed felt like a blessing. It had been such a long day, and it would be the last time she slept in it for a while.

  She turned to her side and pulled the covers up over her neck, a silly habit she started as a kid. She was always afraid of things that went bump in the night, and her six-year-old brain had convinced her that if she covered her neck, at least the vampires would not get her.

  Chapter 6

  Anna

  "Did he say why I need to stay overnight? I don't see why I can't come back home in the evenings." Anna's breath came out in puffs of smoke that evaporated towards the sky, but her eyes hovered over her feet.

  "When you see the castle, you will understand. It could use some cleaning, and I am sure the library could use your touch. It really is a lot of upkeep; it'll keep you plenty busy," her father tried to sound encouraging.

  It was a beautiful Saturday, the air was brisk and alive, pushing them forward despite the draw to home. The few weeks between her father's return and Anna's departure had been way too short.

  All four of them walked together, five including Sommer, through the village and onto the dirt path that trekked through the woods. It was a road familiar to her father and Sommer, but for Anna it was ominous. Where the main road ended was where they had been forbidden to go past as kids.

  Effie was the only kid around as they walked through the streets. She sat atop the horse—the only reason she agreed to come—with a huge grin spread across her face. Sommer was pleased since Effie was the lightest of all of them and much more likely to let her graze among the trees.

  "Do you remember when you couldn't go past here?" her father asked. They nodded. "Fewer kids are running amuck now than there were during the depression."

  Anna and Gwen were born in 1928, when families were poor, but smiles were abundant, and little feet frequently paraded through the streets. At the end of 1944, it seemed that things had changed, as their father often remi
nded them.

  They walked a little deeper into the woods where they could no longer see the street and the trail began twisting this way and that, until they stumbled upon a dead end with a sturdy black gate.

  As her father had described to them, they didn't see the castle until they stood right in front of the gate. At that point, it seemed impossible to believe that they had ever missed it. From the look of it, they should have been able to see it from their home.

  "So, this is it?" Gwen turned to her father; her eyes wide in amazement.

  "Yes…" he said. "Though it does look a bit different then I remember…"

  Just beyond the gate, Anna saw the expansive gardens blooming and thriving in the dead of winter. Sommer neighed in anticipation of the colorful buffet. As incredible as the gardens were, Anna couldn't help but be enamored by the castle. She had never seen such a structure before, other than perhaps in her dreams or fairytale books. The regime was certainly well-known for its grandeur, but the building in front of them had a much different quality to it. It wasn't trying to be imposing or impressive, it was beautiful, and it drew them in like forbidden fruit.

  They walked through the gardens and up to the front steps where her father pulled Effie and Sommer off to the side toward the stable. Effie was reluctant to dismount, but pleased to offer the horse one of the many carrots laying around.

  They stood in awe at the bottom of the steps. Effie finally made the first move and began bounding up towards the door, practically running into the walls. They followed her up to find the main doors ajar, without a host in sight. Anna pushed one gently, and the door swung open to let them all in at once.

  "The fire is burning strong … just like last time," her father said, more to himself than to them. The warmth was inviting, and it beckoned them to congregate beside it. They settled in on the giant couches and noticed a note in the center of the table with Anna's name written on it.

  "See what it says," Gwen prodded.

  Anna carefully opened the folded piece of paper.

  Thank you for taking the time to consider and accept our offer. Please find a meal arranged for your family in the dining room. I will be with you shortly.

  It was odd that the writer, clearly the client, did not sign his name. What is his name? It dawned on her that she’d never asked.

  "That’s nice of them. How on earth will we find the dining room in this place, though?" Anna folded up the note and placed it in her coat pocket. She started off to the right of the twin staircases in search of the dining room, and the rest of the family followed behind, leaving their belongings by the front doors.

  Anna was pleased to find the dining room was only one room over, but she was even more delighted to see how fantastic it was. The ceilings were not quite as high as the foyer, but they still loomed high above with delicate details on every inch of the wood trim to create a garden of roses on the deep red walls. The rug beneath the large table in the center mirrored the designs, only it brought more color and life into the images.

  "Anna, this is so pretty! I can't believe you live here!" Effie ran a lap around the table for twelve before deciding on a seat at one of the ends. Naturally, she chose the largest chair, making her look even tinier than she was and barely able to sit appropriately. "Can I stay here with you?"

  Anna laughed and took a seat next to her, in a slightly less ornate chair. The furniture appeared to be entirely custom made, as even the design in the back of each chair perfectly matched the room. "You know I would love that, but then we would need to find a job for you! Are you sure you are ready to work?" she teased with a cheeky smile.

  Effie scrunched her nose and shook her head, her curls bouncing around her little face. "All right, I'll stay with Papa and Gwennie."

  They turned their attention to the meal in front of them. The table had an assortment of meats including chicken, steak, and veal down the center. Surrounding the meat, were fruit platters filled to the max—vegetables, pasta, and some things Anna couldn't even name. There were candles strategically set and every place setting was out, as if they were expecting much more company than the family of four. They each took as much as they could fit on their plates, but it proved their eyes were much bigger than their stomachs. Somehow, they hadn't even made a dent in the table display. Anna had never eaten so much rich food in all her life.

  They were just about done with their plates when a presence emerged from the shadows of the doorway. They turned, but Anna could only see the silhouette of a man beneath the door frame. His dark clothes blended in with the shadows of the halls.

  "Good evening, Kleins. I hope you enjoyed your meal." His voice was deep and melodic but there was something disturbing beneath it. He moved slightly further into the room, but Anna still could not see his face. She shifted uncomfortably in her chair and became keenly aware of her chewing and swallowing. Forks clinked as they settled back on the plates.

  Her father spoke first, "Thank you. This is delicious. I have brought all my daughters with me today. They wished to see your home. Is your father around for a tour? I told them how beautiful it is, and they wouldn't take no for an answer."

  The man did not reply in the way one would expect; he merely grunted and moved around the edges of the room, like a dog herding sheep. A rude dog, Anna thought. She couldn't help but wonder what his father was like. The young man was unlike anyone she’d met before. Perhaps it was the old money demeanor that put a sour taste in her mouth.

  Finally, he spoke. "My father is away today.”

  Gwen sighed heavily. Her eyes were drawn down, almost ignoring the man's presence. Anna understood, she was also beginning to feel like a sheep in the presence of a wolf. There was an unsettling feeling seeping into her bones. Her gut told her to leave immediately, and she could see that her feelings were not hers alone. Gwen’s sullen face told a tale of fear and relief that she was not the one chosen to live with him.

  Effie got up from her seat and climbed on Anna's lap, looking warily at the stranger as she did. The little girl tucked herself into a ball as tightly as she could, hiding in Anna's arms as she continued to chew on her last piece of bread.

  Anna, however, tried not show her concern. She was careful not to indicate the aching in her soul that begged her to leave. Her fair facial features had always served her well in feigning countenance when none was truly there.

  "It's nice to meet you. I'm Anna," she said cheerily and shifted Effie on her lap to try and get a better view of her new employer. She waited, as did the rest of them in tense silence, but he did not respond. "I have never seen you around town before, or at school actually, have you always lived here?”

  "Yes, but we get all of our needs met through deliveries, and I have always been homeschooled."

  "Really? I didn't know the Reich would allow that."

  "Money has its perks, I suppose." He shrugged. "You come here willingly, yes?"

  "Yes, I would be happy to make your home clean and sort your library; we brought some books you may like, too. My father says you two live alone and require some help as well as companionship." She continued, "I could even help you with your studies!"

  She wished to see his face more clearly, but the lights were dim, and he still did not budge. She was trying her best to connect with him despite her misgivings, but it wasn't working as she hoped.

  The rest of the family watched the odd conversation, looking relieved that she had taken the lead. She was the one who was staying after all. The rest of them didn't have to get along with him.

  The man finally turned towards her father, who recoiled at the sight of his red-ringed eyes when they finally hit the light.

  "Lovely. David Klein, please say your goodbyes and leave us. I have prepared two more trunks for you to bring home with you for your daughter's gracious gesture to stay and work for me. I hope you enjoy them and there will be more in the future delivered straight to your home." The shadow bowed and gestured to two trunks that appeared in the doorway, th
ough they hadn't been there just moments before.

  Gwen spoke for the first time, looking up with a spark in her eyes and the smallest hint of guilt. "Thank you so much."

  The man bowed his head to Gwen and switched his attention to Anna. "Anna is the one you should thank. I will be back in a little for you, Anna, to show you to your room." With that, he bowed and left them alone once more, seemingly unaware of his strange aura, or perhaps he just didn't care.

  Anna was suddenly aware of how tense she had been as her body relaxed at the man's exit. How could one person have such an eerie effect?

  The family gathered together at the main doorway, giving Anna hugs in turns. Effie held on the longest with watery eyes. When asked, she denied it and said they were most definitely not watery, just sparkling.

  Anna helped them get the horse and the trunks together before sending them on their way.

  "Looks like your eyes are sparkling, too," Anna pointed out, and Gwen smiled genuinely—a rare sight. She gave Anna a final kiss goodbye and started towards the gate with their father and Effie.

  It was hard for Anna to watch them go, but she was happy to know they would be okay because of her sacrifice. Not that it was much of a sacrifice, it was a job, just a little more than she was prepared for. Perhaps, she hoped, her and the mysterious man could become friends.

  Anna returned to the main foyer and watched the fire’s light dance around the massive room. It was always so calming, though she couldn't put her finger on why. Fire provides heat and light, among other things. It could also cause massive destruction. Beauty in chaos, light in the darkness, always went hand in hand.

  There's no way around that, it's life.

  She waited for about an hour before the son returned. She hadn't even noticed his arrival. She merely felt a sense of dread, and it provoked her to turn around. The room was dark, but she saw movement in the shadowy hallway.