Chapter 22

Sly opened his apartment door after a loud knock. It was such a relief not to worry about Malvant being on the other side.

“Merry! How nice to see you. Come in. How’s the baby. How are all of you?”

She smiled. “We’re all fine. I have to talk to you about something though. May I sit down?”

“Of course.” Sly led her to his sofa in front of the fireplace.

“Would you like some heat? I can build a fire.”

She chuckled. “That isn’t necessary, unless you want one for yourself and Morgaine. Is she here?”

“No, she’s upstairs in her own apartment. She needed a…” He shrugged, “rest.”

Merry smiled. “I’ll bet.”

If Sly could have blushed he would have. Instead, he changed the subject. “So, what’s on your mind?”

“Well, we’re not certain about this, so keep it under your hat…”

“Of course. What is it?”

“We think maybe Jules lied on his resume. We’re not sure he’s qualified to do building maintenance.”

“Seriously? What a weasel.” He raised one eyebrow. “Shall I go have a talk with him?”

“No. I’ll do that in a few minutes. I just wanted to ask, if it turns out we have to fire him, would you like the job? I was thinking, with your background as an electro-mechanical engineer, I imagine you’re pretty handy…”

A job? Right here in the building? Something I can do and help out my daughter at the same time?

“I’d be delighted to do it. And as far as building maintenance, I maintained the home your mother and I lived in for five years. Plus, I’m ridiculously strong. I could lift the dryers to clean out the dust bunnies behind them.”

Merry laughed. “No need to go crazy. I just thought I’d ask you first. You’d really be helping us out.”

“And I wouldn’t feel like such a freeloader. I actually came up with a part time gig—well, Gwyneth and Nathan thought of it—but I can do it from here. I distributed some flyers around the college campuses offering my services as a tutor.”

Her expression lit up. “That’s great! Since the super’s job comes with a free apartment, you’ll have free rent and spending money too.”

“Sounds good to me. When can I start?”

“Well, I have to talk to Jules first and I imagine he’ll need a little time to find another place. We won’t just kick him out with nowhere to go. Meanwhile, I’ll tell him about your wine cellar and ask him to leave it alone.”

“You know about the wine?”

“Yes, Gwyneth told me everything. Sly, if you can make a cure that’s great, but if you can’t…” She shifted uncomfortably. “Well, just know that Jason is ready to pay for the stuff from New York.”

“No.” He held up one hand, as if saying, ‘halt right there.’ “I appreciate the offer, but it’s more than I can accept. Besides, Morgaine is fairly certain this new batch will do the trick. It’s almost ready. I’ll test it tomorrow, just before sunrise.”

“Terrific. Would it be okay if I visit during your test? I’ll be up with Max anyway.”

“Why not? Let’s invite the whole gang.”

“I really hope it works.”

“You and me both.”

Merry found Jules, not in his own apartment, but in Lily’s. The door was wide open. He wielded a handheld belt sander and appeared to be trying to scuff the hell out of the hardwood floor.

“Jules? What are you doing?”

He whipped around and stared at her, wide eyed and open mouthed. “Uh, um, Mrs. Falco. I didn’t see you there.”

“I was about to look for you at your place but spotted you here. What happened to the floor?

He set down the belt sander and rose. “Oh, nothing. Just giving the floors a little freshening up.”

“I may not know a whole lot about building maintenance, but even I know you’re not supposed to use a hand sander on floors. How could you keep them even? Ever hear of ‘the right tool for the right job?’”

He waved away her comment. “Ah, it’s nothing. I’ve done it about a hundred times. Once you’re that good at something you don’t need the right tools anymore.”

Merry stepped into his space and he backed away. She slid the toe of her shoe over the place he had sanded and felt quite a dip.

“Jules, I don’t think you know what you’re doing. You’ve gouged this floor. And since when did it need freshening up? It was perfect when Lily moved in.”

He shifted his feet nervously. “Yeah, well Lily had a little accident.”

“An accident? Is she okay?”

Just then a moan came from the direction of the bedroom. “Oh, dear! She’s hurt.” As Merry dashed to the bedroom door and yanked it open, she started to ask Jules, “Why didn’t you tell—”

She stopped short. Lily and some guy were kneeling on the bed, naked. If Merry wasn’t mistaken, he was giving it to her doggy-style.

Their gazes met over his shoulder for a moment, then the guy continued his rhythm.

Nope, I wasn’t mistaken. Her cheeks heated as she closed the door quietly.

She returned to the living room only to find Jules cleaning up and putting away the sander.

“Did you know they were in there?”

“Yeah. How else could she make the money to pay you with no job?

Merry shook her head hard, trying to clear it. “Are you telling me that what I just saw was...is... Lily’s a prostitute?”

Jules nodded slowly. “Why? Is that bad? I thought it was the oldest profession.”

She crossed her arms. “It’s not only illegal but also unhealthy. We can’t let her knowingly break the law in our building.”

“But the third-floor tenants sell phone sex. Why is this so much worse?”

“Because that isn’t illegal, and it doesn’t spread STD’s.” Merry sighed. Obviously, this guy hasn’t the faintest idea where to draw the line and how to maintain a legal residence.

“Jules?”

“Yes.”

“You’re fired. And when you see Lily, tell her she can expect an eviction notice too. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be upstairs writing your final check.”

“Huh?” Jules tipped his head, looking genuinely puzzled.

“Did you understand what I just said?”

“You said I’m fired, but it’s Lily who’s setting fires.”

Merry stepped back and rested her palm on her hip. “Are you kidding me?” She pointed to the scuffed spots on the floor. “This is fire damage?”

Jules grimaced. “Uh, yeah. I thought you knew.”

“Obviously not. Why...” Merry paused, then remembered they lived in freak central. “I mean, how did this happen? What is she?”

Jules shrugged one shoulder. “She’s a call girl—and a dragon. Sometimes she sneezes fire.”

Merry’s breath lodged in her throat. “Don’t move.” She ran for the door, but stopped when she reached it and pivoted. “Unless it’s to pack your things and get out.”

Sly stopped reading, laid the book face down to hold his place, and strolled over to answer the knock at his door.

“Merry, you’re back. Did Jules have anything to say for himself?”

Merry sagged against the door jam. “Oh, Sly. I hate to put you on the spot so soon, but do you think you could go upstairs and keep an eye on the second-floor apartments, just for a few minutes.”

“Sure. Why? Was he a jackass about it? Are you afraid he’ll vandalize the place?”

“No. Well, not on purpose and no more than he already has.”

Sly zoomed around Merry and up the stairs faster than she could say, ‘please’.

Morgaine was just descending the stairs and they met in the middle. “Is everything okay?” she asked. “I sensed some very unsettled energy.”

“Stick around. I may need you.” He pounded on the door to 2B, Jules’s apartment. There was no answer. He must be at Lily’s. That’s why Merry said to keep an eye on both places.

Sly strode across the hall and banged on 2A.

Lily opened the door a crack and peered through it.

“Step back,” Sly said authoritatively.

Lily took a giant step backward and waited for Sly to come in. He couldn’t enter without being invited, but did she know that?

“Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

“No,” she answered meekly and pulled her robe tighter.

Morgaine strolled over to Sly and placed a calming hand on his arm.

He relaxed for a moment and heard the sound of the elevator and figured Merry must be heading back up to her apartment. Probably for some necessary paperwork. What had she told them? He should have waited for her to finish her sentence.

“Is Jules here?”

“Not anymore.”

Sly glanced around Lily and spotted the ugly floors. It looked as if the finish had been partially sanded off in some places, and the wood was taken down to the nails in others.

He gestured to the floor. “What happened here?”

“Jules was sanding it.”

“Damnation, where is he?”

Jules opened his door and Sly whirled to face him. He pointed to Lily’s damaged floor. “What were you trying to do here, Jules? Were you looking for carpet under the hardwood?”

Jules stared at his feet. He had a duffle bag slung over one shoulder. “I don’t want any trouble. Mrs. Falco asked me to leave, and I will. I just wanted to stop here first and ask Lily to come with me.”

Lily rushed to the door and gaped at Jules. “But the bird and the fish...where will they live?”

“You leave that to me,” he said.

Sly narrowed his eyes. “I knew there was something off about you. You’re a fish?”

“Sort of. I’m a merman.”

“That makes sense,” Morgaine said. “But why did you choose to live here? Why not in the ocean like the rest of your kind?”

“I was kicked out of my pod, so I won’t be going back to the ocean. Safety in numbers and all that. It’s especially true for Mermen and women.” He smiled at Lily. “But as a human, I can manage just fine. What do you say, beautiful? Want to come with me?”

Sly frowned. “Wait just a minute. What about the damage?”

“I can take care of that,” Morgaine said. She waved her hand in the direction of Lily’s floor and sawdust swirled. The spiral split into separate clouds and gathered in the crevices. The next thing Sly saw was a completely smooth hardwood floor, gleaming as if brand new.

He gazed at Morgaine. “You never cease to amaze me.” They shared a meaningful smile.

Lily seemed more nervous than grateful. “I need to pack my things.”

Jules focused on Lily. “Great. I’ll call you as soon as I have a place for us.”

Sly didn’t hate the pair, but he would rest easier without them living in his daughter’s building. “Want some help packing, Lily? I’ll have you loaded into your moving van in no time.”

“But I don’t have a moving van.”

Sly glanced at Jules. “I’m sure your man-fish can find one for you.” He aimed an intense stare into Jules’s eyes.

“I will.” Then he turned toward Lily. “I’ll be back tomorrow. If I don’t have a place yet, I can take care of your, um, needs and then go out looking again.”

Sly extended his hand to Jules. “Thanks for taking it so well.”

Jules glanced down at Sly’s hand but didn’t shake it. “Taking what well?”

“Being fired.”

“I wasn’t fired. I quit.”

Sly shook his head. Sure, you did, buddy. “I wish you both Godspeed relocating.” He narrowed his gaze to look intimidating. “If you need any help, I’ll be right downstairs.”

Sly poured the first glass of his homemade wine and said a silent prayer that it would work. He had purposely gone without feeding or having any of the Vampire Vintage so he could test the effectiveness of his concoction.

Morgaine answered the knock at the door and welcomed Gwyneth, Jason, Merry and baby Max, sleeping in Merry’s arms.

Gwyneth stretched and yawned. “What time is sunrise today?”

“It’s in a few minutes. Why don’t you all have a seat? Can I get anyone coffee or tea?”

“Not for me,” Merry said as she settled herself in the rocking chair. “I don’t suppose you have any milk?”

Morgaine sighed. “Not until there’s electricity for the refrigerator.”

Merry slapped her head. “That’s right. What’s wrong with me? I’ll call the electric company today and get them to turn it on.”

“I don’t really need it,” Sly said and winked so Merry could see him, but Morgaine couldn’t.

Morgaine gasped. “Why would you turn down electricity? It’s a basic necessity, and you’re earning it now since you’re the building super, and—”

Sly laughed. “Don’t worry. I wasn’t about to say no.”

“Whew.” Gwyneth wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. “It may not be important to y’all, but it is for my cousin since she has nicto…nicta…Oh, hell, fear of the dark.”

Merry’s eyebrows rose. “You have nyctophobia? I didn’t know that.”

Morgaine smiled weakly. “Yeah, but it’s getting better. I’m fine if I’m asleep and all cuddled up with Sly.”

He strolled over and slipped his arm around her. “All the more reason not to hook up the electricity.”

“Cut it out. I know you’re only joking, but sometimes you make me crazy.”

He laughed. “All right, I’ll stop. But you’re so fun to tease.” He kissed her temple.

“Then if your wine doesn’t work and you pass out on the floor, you won’t mind if I laugh my ass off.”

“Ouch.” He made a face, but underneath he was still smiling.

“Speakin’ of which,” Gwyneth pointed to the glass of wine in his hand. “Ain’t it time to glug down a glass or two?”

He chuckled. “Yes, it is.” His hunger gnawed at him. If it abated quickly, he’d know the wine was working.

“Here’s to all of us,” he said, then he took the first long sip.

Nothing happened immediately. Oh no. He took another sip and sweet relief flooded him. His blood lust abated, then disappeared completely.

“I think it worked,” he pronounced.

Everyone started to cheer, but not wanting to celebrate yet he held up one hand.“There’s one more test.”

Sly crossed to the big bay window. The sky had changed from black to indigo blue. The sun would be coming up any second. He stood in the open, sipped the rest of his wine and waited. Morgaine came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

“Are you here to catch me?” he teased.

“Only if you need catching.”

He glanced back at the twilight. “I think I’ll be okay.”

She nipped his earlobe. The sky lightened steadily and added the pink and orange colors of a beautiful sunrise heralding a crisp, clear day.

He drained the glass and let out a deep breath. “It’s official. The wine works.”

“Thank the Goddess,” shouted Morgaine and Gwyneth.

Jason clapped and Merry rose, handing the baby to Jason. Morgaine let go long enough for Merry to give Sly a big hug.

“What are you going to call your miracle cure, Sly?” Jason asked.

“I hadn’t thought about it.”

“How about Sly wine?” Gwyneth suggested.

“I like it.” Jason stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I asked because some of the guys on the team have a commercial wine made and named after them. I was asked if I’d like one too. They want to call it Jason Falco’s Lefty Merlot. Does your cure affect non-vampires?”

“I don’t know.”

Gwyneth raised her hand. “I volunteer to try a glass, if y’all want to find out.”

Morgaine and Sly stared at each other. At last Morgaine said, “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Mikhail wouldn’t let me have any. I don’t know if that’s because it wasn’t good for the living or if it was too precious to waste on us.”

“That’s fine,” Jason said. “I just thought I’d mention it in case it could be mass produced, then you wouldn’t have to make it yourself.”

“I don’t mind making it,” Sly said. “I don’t know how you’d explain having to add a few ounces of old wine to each bottle of new stuff before it ferments.”

“Besides,” Morgaine said, “to make a commercial wine takes months. The recipe we got off the internet is quick and easy.”

Jason shrugged. “Oh well, it was just a thought.”

“Thanks for thinking of it.”

Merry rubbed her hands together. “You’ll need wine racks for the cellar.”

“And a big ol’ wooden vat,” Gwyneth said. “Morgaine and I can stomp grapes and make it from scratch when the summer comes. Maybe we can even plant a few grape vines on that little patch you call a lawn.”

Sly laughed. “As much fun as that would be to watch, I think using frozen grape juice works just fine.”

Gwyneth looked disappointed. “Dang.”

Merry studied her. “What’s the matter, Gwyneth?”

“It’s nothin’. I was just hopin’ for some extra income is all. I thought if we could make more than Sly could use, we might sell a few bottles to local vampires.”

Jason snapped to attention. “You mean there are more?”

“Oh, I don’t know about that, y’all. I just figured there might be.”

Morgaine crossed her arms. “Gwyneth, don’t go upsetting a young family with ideas of local vampires unless you know they exist.” Then she focused on Merry and Jason. “If you like, we can find out for you.”

Jason’s eyebrows rose. “You can? How?”

“Well, we won’t know their names or addresses, but we can scry with a greater Boston area map and see if anything comes up.”

“Do it,” Merry said. “No offense, Sly, but from what I hear, they’re not generally as kind and trustworthy as you are.”

“No offense taken,” he said.

Morgaine cleared her throat. “I’d like to know too. If my step-grandson is going to grow up here, I want to know he’s safe.”

Merry’s eyes rounded. “Step-grandson… Are you two engaged?”

Morgaine giggled. “Oops, I let the cat out of the bag.”

Sly tugged her to his side and kissed her cheek. “That’s all right, love. I’m glad you told them.”

“Yahoo!” Gwyneth yelled. “I feel another party coming on!”

Jason extended his hand to Sly. “Congratulations. Have you set a date?”

“Not yet.” Sly shook his hand and winked at Merry.

Merry hugged Morgaine. “Do you know where you’ll have it yet?”

“Well, we’ve ruled out a church wedding.”

Gwyneth laughed. “Y’all got that right.”

“Jason?” Merry nudged him with her hip.

At first, he seemed confused, until she whispered “the penthouse” in his ear.

“Great idea.” He bent down and gave her a peck on the lips. “Sly, Morgaine, how about having your ceremony at our place?”

Morgaine grinned. “I’d love that.”

Sly stroked her arm. “Then it’s decided.”

Later that afternoon, Sly flicked the light switch in his apartment.

The lights came on and Morgaine cheered. “At last! Heat, hot water and electricity!”

He chuckled. “What a diva. Who knew you’d demand all these luxuries?”

Morgaine rested a fist on her hip and smirked. “Do you want to get through the winter without frozen pipes or not?”

“I suppose for the sake of the other residents I can deal with having utilities. But…” He strolled over to her and patted her ass. “My needs are simple. A loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and thou.”

She tipped her head. “What are you going to do with the bread?”

“Feed you, of course. I may not eat, but you’ll need to.”

His thoughtfulness always impressed her. She could never picture him losing his humanity.

He continued to mosey to the kitchen where he retrieved a glass for his special wine cure. They had taken to calling it Sly Wine.”

Morgaine looked down and shuffled her feet. “I need to discuss something with you.”

“Sounds important.”

“It is.”

“You haven’t changed your mind about marrying me, have you?”

“Goddess, no! That’s not it at all.”

Sly smiled. “Good. Come here, love.” He set down the glass, took her hand, and led her to the sofa.

Morgaine perched on the edge so she could face him and took both of his hands in hers. “We only scratched the surface of this conversation before, but I need to finish what I wanted to say.”

Sly nodded. “Of course. Go ahead.”

“It’s about my getting old and dying and you going on alone for who knows how long.”

He hung his head. “Oh, yeah. That.”

Morgaine threaded her fingers through his hair. “I love you, Sly. I’d do anything for you. I think you know that, right?”

He smiled and gazed at her. “Yes, I know.”

A golden shimmer appeared in his eyes. She didn’t think he was trying to mesmerize her. They had already established that he couldn’t, and his eyes weren’t changing from brown to blue and purple. The brown irises simply glowed with amber light.

“I… I want you to turn me.”

His jaw dropped and he reeled back, as if slapped.

She placed her finger against his lips to silence him. “Please don’t say, no.”

“In that case, I’ll say absolutely not.” His eyes narrowed and the rich brown faded to cold black. “How could you even suggest it? You know what I’ve had to do to survive. You know how much I hate my condition. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.”

“But I’m not your enemy. I’m your beloved. And from what I understand, I may be the only one you get. I want to do this, Sly. I want to be with you, forever.”

Sly stood and paced, his lips clamped shut in a tight line. Morgaine waited. She was about to ask if he was okay when he finally spoke.

“My answer is still no. I can’t ask you to do that for me.”

“You’re not asking. I am. If necessary, I’ll beg.”

He stopped pacing and held his head in his hands.

She couldn’t see his eyes. He was silent so long it scared her. “Sly?”

He dropped his hands to his sides. “Morgaine, I love that you want to be with me, but I really need to think about this.”

“Why? Maybe you’d rather be single and free to date whoever you want after a while.”

He stared at her open-mouthed.

Oops.That might not have been the right thing to say. It sure wasn’t the smart thing to say considering how long Sly went without anyone.

“I’m sorry, Sly. I didn’t mean that.”

He shook his head. “I’m not ready to discuss this any further right now. Maybe you can give me a little space.”

“Oh-oh. ‘Space’ can be a euphemism for I don’t want to be with you anymore.”

He gave her an intense look. “You have to get over this insecurity, Morgaine. I don’t want to be talking with you right now. It doesn’t mean I want you to go away forever.”

She nodded, sadly. “I understand.” She rose and strode to the door.

He was beside her in a split second. “I love you,” he said and kissed her.

When he released her lips, he escorted her to the stairs. As she ascended, she heard him lock his apartment door and go outside.