A Grim Opera

By Suzanne Fisher

In the fifth story of the Grim series, James and Sebastian are tasked by the Vatican to investigate the Paris Operahouse, which is being menaced by a terrible poltergeist. But the investigation only uncovers darker secrets in the wings. In this adaptation of the classic tale of the Phantom of the Opera, Sebastian uses his shape-shifting ability to make himself bait for the ghost, only for him to see through the ruse. In the end, the Opera Ghost is revealed as a vampire, and one who has contracted a terrible illness. Though James desperately strives to save his young lover, it is Sebastian's good heart that ultimately reveals the truth and may have saved a soul.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Noda Publishing
• Release date: Dec 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9780993967016

Suzanne Fisher

Suzanne Fisher writes erotic short fiction, with an LGBT focus. She has an extensive fanfiction pedigree, but has enjoyed moving into the realm of writing about characters she made up herself.Her wife of many years is a seamstress and costume designer, and they have three feline children who help out with both novelling and fabric choices. Mostly by covering everything with black fur.

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A Grim Opera

A Grim Hunter Story #5

By Suzanne Fisher

Published by Noda Publishing at Smashwords

Copyright 2014 by Suzanne Fisher

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The Stories of Grim Hunter

A Grim Disguise

Grim Haunting

A Grim Christmas Carol

Grim Hunt

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Grim Hunter Collection #1

A Grim Opera

The knock came while James’s fingers were knuckle-deep in his young lover’s body, and Sebastian’s cries of pleasure nearly drowned it out. The boy had been growing more and more vocal as his strength increased with better feeding and less blood-letting and now James often wondered if the only reason they didn’t get kicked out of every inn they stayed in was merely because the proprietors were terrified of them.

This proprietor had to have a death wish, or something, since after a few moments, the knock came again.

And then again.

By this time, even Sebastian had noticed, and the stormy grey eyes - fogged as they were by ecstasy - looked a question at James.

Damn it all, James muttered, and drew away, eliciting a groan of disappointment. Stay right where you are. he added, pointing a long finger at the boy, who grinned impishly and drew the blankets up to his chin.

James wrapped a robe around his nakedness and grabbed one of his silver-plated pistols, just in case, as he went to answer the door.

The man outside in the hall looked harassed and still had a speckling of snow in his hair. He was also wearing a cassock, and the large gold cross hung around his neck made James recoil slightly, narrowing his eyes as if from bright sunlight. That was definitely not the innkeeper.

What the hell do you want? James asked, struggling not to bare his fangs at the priest as he spoke. He wasn’t worried about being rude - he just didn’t want the priest to know he was a vampire. The interruption was annoying enough without adding a pitched battle with a man of the cloth into the mix. That’d really be a mood killer.

He might not have bothered trying to hide his vampiric nature. The priest looked up at James with a sneer that told him he knew very well what James was, and extended an envelope with a large seal on it, in gold wax. I am Father Joseph Bouquet, Monsieur Grim. Your orders.

Great. Well, there was no need to avoid being rude now. My orders. I don’t take orders. James took the envelope from the priest’s fingers and broke the seal. He noticed that they trembled slightly.

The priest's eyes narrowed, and he clutched at his cross as if James had just indicated an intention to go for his throat. Unholy monster! You continue to exist at the sufferance of the Pope’s mercy, so long as you remain useful. Now you’re needed, and the Holy See--

Shut up, James said, pulling out the sheet of parchment inside the envelope.

Father Joseph purpled, and opened his mouth to continue the diatribe, but James simply shut the door in his face. The cross was no more than irritating - compared to Sebastian’s heartfelt belief, there was so little true faith behind