Summer Days

 

Arrival

Gravel crunched under the tires as the car turned onto a mountain road. A worn iron gate, wide open, lay in front of the travelers. Zeke looked at the sign. “Welcome to the Ghul capital city, Nekrovia.” The moon hung in the sky, casting a glow on the austere architecture. Zeke drove through the gate and stopped at the first building on the right. A wooden sign in the brown grass in front read “Bones Brothers Barbecue” in neat black lettering.

“You have a restaurant here?” Charles asked.

Jason nodded. “This is our home base.” Zeke parked the car in front of the restaurant and opened the door. Charles and the other two brothers got out and followed him. A wooden staircase leading to a small group of apartments above the restaurant lay against the wall closest to the van. The four walked to the staircase. Charles stepped on the first stair. Wood creaked under his feet as he walked upward. The three brothers followed him.

The door leading to the apartments creaked open, as if someone had expected their arrival. Charles entered a short hallway and came face to face with a small, dark-haired man clad in a worn brown coat and brown pants. Zeke entered the building. “You’re home already, Abner?”

The dark-haired man nodded. “Victor let me off work early. He said I needed to rest up. He’s coming here tomorrow.”

Zeke gasped. “His Grace is coming here?”

Abner crossed his arms. “Didn’t you say you brought his son here?” He glanced at Charles. “I guess this young man is of Victor’s bloodline.” Abner’s yellow eyes examined every inch of his new neighbor. “Mmm, not too bad-looking. Is he still a virgin?”

Charles gritted his teeth. “Yes, but I’m saving that for someone special. So if you want me in your bed, no backdoor action.” He groaned. “Besides, I don’t plan to jump into bed with anyone on my first night.”

Abner sighed. “All right.” He walked to his apartment and went inside.

Zeke turned to Charles. “You’ll be sleeping in the apartment beside Abner’s, the one on the far end of the hall.”

Charles took his bags and walked to where Zeke indicated. He twisted the gray doorknob and entered the apartment. Four rooms, each painted the same off-white color, lay before his eyes. He walked toward what was going to be his bedroom. He set the suitcase on the bed. An oak dresser lay against a wall beside a square window decorated with black lacy curtains. Pale blue flannel sheets covered the bed, topped with a handmade quilt. Charles walked over to the dresser and opened it. To his surprise, the first couple drawers were already full. Neatly-folded dresses of various colors and lengths occupied the first, while the second held silk stockings and lacy panties. Charles picked up one of the dresses: a white ankle-length night gown.

He smiled. “It wouldn’t hurt to try this on. No one’s watching me.” He took off his black T-shirt, blue jeans, socks and shoes and slowly slipped into the dress. He shivered in pleasure, admiring the feel of lace and cotton against his bare skin. His gaze flickered to the clock on the wall. He took the suitcase off the bed, letting it fall to the wooden floor, and climbed in between the sheets.