Chapter 25
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FIVE
Home wasn’t exactly an option since Mr. Heiss remained the king of assholes and had removed Sariel’s access to his house, but it turned out that getting a place in Somerstown was pretty easy being a millionaire.
The typical delays of probate court were hardly an issue when the lawyer involved happened to be a magical robot man who could infiltrate the system and fill a bank account with a thought.
The money made it effortless to start their new lives together, including the replacement of Sariel’s lost books.
Sariel had been so devastated, and Seymour had done everything he could to find the exact print and editions.
In fact, Seymour took the time to find a plush condo that had a study with multiple built-in bookshelves, and though Sariel’s collection was small now, Seymour was determined to make sure he’d have a full library soon enough.
Day got her own bedroom with a big window seat so she could look outside whenever she wanted and never feel trapped again. She got to pick out her own furniture, decorations, and plenty of floral linens and pillows.
Plus a machine that made Frosties for the kitchen, of course.
Seymour was happy to let Sariel play decorator too, and most of the home ended up with a bright star and galaxy theme.
Constellations were painted on the ceiling, the linens were all patterned with zodiac creatures, and Seymour got the best telescope he could find so Sariel could go up on their rooftop patio and look at the real thing whenever he wanted.
Granted, he could do that anyway because, well, wings, but still.
Their first night there was spent on that patio, checking out the stars and cuddling on overstuffed furniture. Seymour and Day dozed off, and Sariel had to carry them back inside to put them in bed.
Seymour had always heard that money didn’t buy happiness, but it sure did help.
In only a few weeks, they were settled into their new home, and Seymour was enjoying the spectacular thrill of sitting on his butt.
No more lab, no more twelve-hour shifts—just him, his angel, and their kitty girl.
They shared meals together at the table, cuddled on the couch to watch movies for hours, and Sariel regularly baked all kinds of treats and filled the house with delicious smells.
Fern Gully quickly became a family favorite along with Sariel’s snickerdoodle cookies.
When Seymour had yet another nightmare about the troll he’d killed, Sariel was right there beside him to talk him through it and hold him and tell him everything would be all right.
And it was.
Better than all right—it was perfect.
Well…
Maybe like ninety-nine percent.
Sariel’s new job with Lou’s family meant weird hours, disappearing at random times of the night, and lots and lots of worrying on Seymour’s and Day’s part.
He’d thought that gaining Sariel’s freedom would be the most difficult part of their future journey together, but the long and sleepless nights were their own monster.
Ha.
Monster.
Day wanted to accompany Sariel to work to help protect him, though Sariel had politely declined. This led to a plan. It wasn’t a very good plan, but Seymour had trouble saying no to Day, and he was equally concerned for Sariel’s welfare since he was still a member of a dangerous mob.
The idea was that Seymour would simply slip the Inro into Sariel’s coat the next time he got a late-night call from Lou.
He’d already been a temporary owner of the Inro before, so it wasn’t as if it would be anything new.
By having Sariel in physical possession of it, Day would be able to stay close and keep an eye on things.
But just in case, to be super safe and make sure Day could access her full potential and turn into a magical sword, they needed to go shopping for some magical catnip.
And there was only one place in Somerstown that might have it.
Uranian Flora, of course.
After running a few quick errands—namely, grabbing laundry detergent, popcorn, and swinging by Wendy’s for a few trays of Frosties—they headed on over to the flower shop.
Seymour was still driving his old truck, though he had paid to repair the damage Lou had left on the tailgate.
The rest he’d left untouched, happy to drive it until the wheels fell off, millionaire or not.
He parked along the sidewalk and patiently waited for Day’s ice cream headache to pass before scooping her up so they could go inside.
Day sat on Seymour’s shoulder, whining. “Never again.”
“Never gonna eat twelve Frosties again?”
“Well.” Day blinked. “Never going to eat them in ten minutes again.”
“Ah, fair.”
Seymour smiled as the door of the shop opened as they approached, and he strolled in, calling out, “Knock, knock!”
“Hey, Seymour! Day!” Neil waved from behind the counter, where he sat with Buffy curled up in his lap.
The menu over Neil’s head rattled noisily.
YOU DID NOT KNoCK
I OPENED THE dooR
DooR
DOOR
“Still gettin’ all that faerie outta your system, huh?” Seymour smirked. “Doin’ all right?”
I AM FINe
SHUSH YOU
BUT THANK YOU FOR CARING
“How’s it going?” Neil asked.
“Good! Sariel’s workin’, so we did some shoppin’, and this lil’ lady has a request.” Seymour approached the counter so Day could hop down. “Very important.”
Day beamed. “Matatabi!”
WASABI
“That is not what she said,” Seymour griped. “It’s this kinda Japanese catnip. Pretty potent stuff, but store bought stuff just doesn’t seem to be cutting it.”
“Oh, you need the one grown in Kunisaki,” Shiloh’s voice called out from the greenhouse. “That’s the real deal.”
“Hey, Shiloh!” Seymour waved. “Didn’t see you there.”
“Was just checkin’ on some things.” Shiloh walked over to greet them—well, Seymour anyway. He shook his hand, asking, “Is your lil’ friend with you?”
“Yup. Right here.”
Day waved. “Ask him if he’s feeling better!”
“Hey, she wants to know if you’re feelin’ better,” Seymour said.
“Great! Sweet of her to ask.” Shiloh glanced over the general area where Day was standing on the counter, though of course he couldn’t see her. “I’m up and rearin’ to go, ready for the next big damn adventure! Speakin’ of which, how do you feel about a trip to a haunted forest in China?”
Seymour stared flatly. “No, that sounds awful.”
“That’s what I told him,” Neil drawled.
“C’mon!” Shiloh nudged him. “You sayin’ you don’t wanna go back to Faerie either?”
Seymour scoffed. “You’re sayin’ you do?”
“Of course!” Shiloh laughed. “Could be fun.”
“Didn’t you almost die?”
“Maybe hit up that tea party, huh? I only kinda remember it.”
“Okay, so, you’re still crazy. Good to know.” Seymour flashed a smile. “But hey, can you really get Day’s magical catnip?”
“Of course. Might take a few weeks, but I can get some live plants, as a matter of fact, and you can just grow your own.”
Day’s pupils dilated, and she purred loudly.
“Awesome. We’ll take ’em.” Seymour shook Shiloh’s hand.
DRUGS ARE bAD
“It’s not drugs, Izzy.” Shiloh chuckled. “I guess, well, maybe a tiny bit.”
“Hey! Wait a second.” Seymour eyed Day. “Are they drugs?”
“No!” Day pouted. “It is a special plant that relaxes me and allows me to tap into my true potential.”
“That totally sounds like a drug.”
“Is not!”
Neil seemed to be waiting to speak, saying cautiously, “Sorry to interrupt, but hey, Sariel is really doing okay? Lou hasn’t said much about it. He doesn’t really talk about work stuff, you know, all their mafia super secret shit.”
“Oh. I reckon so.” Seymour arched his brow. “He told me they’re checkin’ out the Crossroads more often now that they know those mostri guys were hangin’ out there. Hadn’t found nothin’ yet.”
“And the twins are helping?” Neil considered for a moment. “Helping ish?”
Seymour laughed. “Hey, I can’t speak too poorly of ’em. They did help free Sariel. Though I know I owe ’em for a million thank-yous or whatever else dumb shit I said.”
“Do you really have to take King Zolrya out to fast food restaurants whenever he wants?” Shiloh grinned. “I’ve been dyin’ to ask.”
“Yup.” Seymour patted his back pocket. “And I still got those Jerry-flowers in my wallet. Kinda curious how and when we can get him back to have a little chat.”
Neil’s brow creased with sympathy. “About your dad?”
“Yup. Kinda want some answers. Was he killed for the music sheets? Somethin’ else? I…” Seymour shrugged. “Yeah. Just got a lot of questions for that damn squink, squack—”
“Squonk.”
“Whatever. I’ve been wonderin’ ’bout that chick from the magic shop too.”
“Oh, you mean Marsha?”
“Yeah. Kinda funny she just so happens to tell my future and then gives us exactly what I need to, you know, not die.” Seymour paused. “Though technically it was Zolrya who saved me by turnin’ back time and not Day becomin’ a sword—”
“Hey, that’s not true,” Day argued. “I totally saved you!”
YEAH WHAT SHE SAID
MEOW
“Okay, fine.” Seymour laughed. “You helped me not die horribly until Zolrya could arrive. Happy?”
Day hopped back in his arms with a soft purr. “Yes.”
“You ever go back to talk to her?” Neil asked.
“Yup.” Seymour nodded. “Went by there once or twice, but we never did see her. It was always somebody else. And oh, I think we met that Mr. Plastic fucker, and wow, is he—”
Turn around.
The urge came from out of nowhere, but something pink caught Seymour’s eye. He looked out the front windows of the shop and gasped.
No way.
It was Marsha.
She was carrying a black lace parasol, dolled up in another ruffly gothic dress, but she paused as if somehow sensing Seymour staring at her. She looked right through the glass and smiled.
“One sec!” Seymour hurried to the door and rushed outside.
But…
She was gone.
“The fuck?” Seymour looked all around.
“Where did she go?” Day yowled. “She was right here!”
“Fuck… I dunno.” Seymour huffed softly. “But you know, I got the weirdest damn feelin’ that we ain’t seen the last of her.”
“You really think so?”
“Yup.”
Day frowned. “Is that a good or a bad thing?”