Jenny Plague-Bringer(90)

“I am not so good at dancing.”

“You’ll have to learn fast. I invited Roza and Vilja to come with us.”

“You did?” Willem jumped to his feet. He was enamored of the pale, wispy Vilja, the quiet Swedish girl who claimed to see ghosts and demons. Though Willem had never spoken about his feelings, they were obvious to Niklaus, whose job included paying close attention to the male supernormals living here. Willem was often seen trying to work up the nerve to speak to Vilja, but he was awkward and hesitant when he managed to talk to her.

“The girls wanted to get out, too. We’ve all been cooped inside too long,” Niklaus said. “They’re ready for a good time. You don’t mind that I invited them?”

“No, no. Alise doesn’t mind if we take the girls out?”

“Are you scared of my cousin?” Niklaus snickered.

“I’m not afraid of a woman! When do we go?”

“Now,” Niklaus said. “The girls are already waiting for us with a bottle of wine for the drive. You may want to put on a fresh shirt...something with buttons. And a tie. You want to look smart.”

Willem ran back to his room to get ready. Niklaus loaned him some cologne, laughing inwardly as he watched Willem splash it all over his neck and face.

“Keep quiet as we leave,” Niklaus whispered as they walked down the hall. “We don’t want anyone getting mad at us for not inviting them, but the car only seats four.”

Willem nodded and winked. He meant it to be sly and conspiratorial, but it was so exaggerated that Niklaus laughed at him. Niklaus led the way out into the main corridor and up the very long flight of steep concrete stairs to the exit. He had a key that allowed him to unlock the door from the inside.

They passed through the concrete bunker housing the door, where Niklaus exchanged quiet nods with the S.S. officer on guard duty at the desk. Niklaus had already spoken with him earlier to ensure he and Willem were not added to the official record of entries and exits.

They left through the west gate, the supply gate that opened onto a loading dock, which was dark under its high tin roof. Niklaus jumped down to the newly paved road, and Willem only a hesitated a moment before jumping down after him. They walked along the road.

“Where is your car?” Willem asked, looking from the high brick wall to the forest across from it.

“Just ahead. What will you say when you see her?”

“Vilja?” Willem cleared his throat. “I will tell her she looks beautiful...in the, in the...moonlight.”

Niklaus snorted laughter. “Here.” He stepped off the road into a grassy fire break carved through the trees.

“It is parked in the woods?” Willem stopped, looking worried.

“Of course. You will see why, I promise.”

They walked into the dark woods, lit only by occasional patches of moonlight. Niklaus smirked each time he heard Willem stumble over a branch or stone behind him, and laughed when Willem tripped and fell on his face.

“It’s like watching a clown perform,” Niklaus said, as Willem pushed himself back to his feet and wiped dirt from his mouth.

“How much farther? Why is it so far away?” Willem asked.

“It’s by the creek. Can you hear it?” Niklaus led him down a narrow trail to an overgrown creek bank. At this altitude, the creek was only a thin sheet of icy water, spread over a bed of sharp rocks.

“I still do not see a car,” Willem said, fidgeting hard now, shifting back and forth on his feet. “Where are the girls?”

“They’re just across the creek.” Niklaus pointed to the deep woods. “I told them you would signal them by starting one of your magic fires with your mind.”

“What? No, I can’t just do that right now. I must prepare...”

“You can’t do it at all, can you, Willem?” Niklaus asked. “You tricked the German scientists who came to study you.”

“Niklaus, what are you saying?” Willem shivered hard now. “Why would you say such things?”

“Don’t lie to me, Willem. You tricked them. You aren’t going to lie to me again, are you?”

“Please, Niklaus!”

“Why would you do that?”

“I didn’t...I only...it was a trick, I performed it in the street for money,” Willem said. “I learned the right materials for a very slow fuse, and how to time it just right, so it appeared that, it appeared that...” He swallowed hard. “I could create the fire with my mind. I tried to make a stage act of it.”

“But why trick the scientists, Willem?”

“I was hoping they would take me to a university to study me, and I could take classes...Please, Niklaus, you must tell no one!”