Page 5 of Hallowed & Haunted

They get out of the car and crunch across the gravel drive. The October air is sharp with salt and the promise of winter, and Niillas can hear the fjord lapping against the rocks below. Above them, the first stars are beginning to appear in the clear sky.

“Nice place,” he says as they approach the front door.

“Jonas’ parents are quite wealthy,” Sander says as if he weren’t from an equally wealthy background.

The front door opens before they can knock, revealing Henrik dressed as a vampire, complete with plastic fangs and a gaudy cape. Unlike Sander, he looks ridiculous in his getup.

“Sander! You made it!” Henrik’s gaze shifts to Niillas, and his grin widens. “And you brought the mountain man. Excellent.”

“Mountain man?”

Niillas feels anger bubbling up in his chest.

“It’s the hair,” Henrik explains, gesturing vaguely. “And the brooding. Very Viking-esque.”

“I’m Sámi, not Norwegian.”

“Same difference.”

Niillas feels his jaw clench, but Sander steps smoothly between them.

“Where’s Jonas? We want to say hello and thank him for hosting.”

Niillas allows Sander to pull him inside before he can do anything stupid. Like rearranging Henrik’s silly vampire teeth with a punch to his smug face. They push through the crowded hallway, past pirates and witches and what appears to be three different versions of Spider-Man. The music is loud enough to make conversation difficult, which suits Niillas fine. He’s not much for small talk at the best of times.

Jonas appears from the kitchen carrying a beer, dressed as what Niillas assumes is supposed to be a gladiator, but looks more like a very confused Roman soldier.

“Sander! Nice costume.” Jonas’ gaze flicks to Niillas. “And Vars actually showed up. I wasn’t sure you would.”

“Team-building,” Niillas says dryly.

“Right. Well, beer’s in the kitchen, stronger stuff’s on the terrace. Pool’s heated if anyone wants to swim, though it’s getting pretty cold.”

Cold? Niillas rolls his eyes. It’s above freezing, and Niillas still swims in the fjord every other morning. Spoiled rich boys.

But instead of calling Jonas out, Niillas decides to follow Sander to the kitchen. He has a queasy feeling that he can’t quite shake off, and it’s more manageable when he’s near Sander. So, Niillas grabs a beer and leans against the counter, content to observe, while Sander immediately gets pulled into conversation with some of the other team members.

It’s interesting watching Sander work his charm. There’s something about him that draws people in, makes them laugh, makes them want to be around him. But Niillas can see the calculation behind it, the way Sander adjusts his personality slightly for each person he talks to. He can’t say it’s fake exactly, but it’s deliberate.

“He’s good at this,” someone says beside him. “Also cute.”

Niillas turns to find a girl he doesn’t recognize, but who vaguely resembles Jonas, dressed as a fairy with glittering wings.

“Excuse me?”

“Oh, hi, I’m Emma.”

She offers her hand to shake.

“Jonas’ sister,” Niillas takes a guess.

“Twin, actually.”

She grins at him.

“I had a spectacular crush on Sander when I was younger. He’s just easy to like, making everyone feel like they’re the most important person in the room. It’s a gift.”

“Also a little shallow, no?”