The Vampire Next Door (33 page)

He relaxed for a moment, 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 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 duffel 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 merwomen.” 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 he 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, who was 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.

“Thanks. 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, and 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 dark 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 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 grapevines 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 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 glass 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 openmouthed.

Oops.
That might not have been the right thing to say.
It sure wasn’t the smart thing to say, considering how long Sly had gone 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 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.