Chapter 31
After leaving Heath and taking Gordon and the detective downstairs to bid them farewell, Maxim stopped at Bryan’s desk.
“Bryan,” he said. It smelled faintly of tangerines, and unless Maxim was mistaken, there’d been a good deal more of them in the bowl earlier.
The Lar looked up. “Yes? Anything you need me to change downstairs?”
“No.” Maxim couldn’t keep his voice from going icy, didn’t care that it did. “I just wanted to chat. We haven’t chatted in a long while, have we?”
Bryan cocked his head. “We chat all the time, although you’re one of those people who never talks to himself.” Bryan blushed. “When residents talk to themselves, I accidentally listen. Sometimes. It’s hard to know whether they’re talking to me or not, you know? At least for the first few minutes.”
“That’s not anything to worry over. Everyone knows what good care you take of our house and hearth, and everyone loves you for it.”
“Hmm.” Bryan’s face got a faraway look. Maxim was not as oblivious as other people he could name and was related to, and he was quite sure he knew what Bryan was thinking about, or rather, who.
Yet, as much as he wanted to help, being too direct would likely hinder any further development. The thought of said further development was enough to take his mind off the case and his captives in the basement, at least a little.
“Say, are you making sure Heath gets enough rest? His office, that entire floor, seems as if it were made to suck the energy out of people. It worries me.”
Bryan took one of the tangerines from the bowl and began to peel it, further saturating the air with the scent of citrus.
“This thing with you capturing Highgate and bringing him here has been keeping him up. And compiling a list of therapists. Ever since Detective Adler called you in on that ripper case, he’s been more restless than usual.
” Bryan pushed a piece of the tangerine into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully before looking up.
“Although the movie night was fun. Doing more things like that could be good.”
Maxim nodded. It hadn’t been about fun, of course, but he was glad it had had that effect, at least for someone. Perhaps…
“If Raven feels up to it, we should do that again.”
Bryan straightened, the remainder of the tangerine forgotten.
“We should!” He frowned. “He went out with the dog and with Jason, and he’s resting now.”
Maxim glanced at the window wall. A fledge who went outside in this light would be exhausted.
“I see. I’ll talk to him about it. Maybe it is something that we can do on the morrow? Or later.”
Bryan nodded. “I have a list. Not a very long list, but…if no one else wants to watch anything specific, you know.” He forced his expression to be more blank than it normally was. “Maybe Clement can watch the door for me.”
Maxim smiled. “Dear Bryan, I believe there are other things he’d rather watch. I’ll head upstairs, see how Raven is feeling.”
Bryan nodded, eating the last of his tangerine while picking out another one.
The elevator took Maxim to the penthouse.
It was quiet but for Ume’s breathing. Maxim found the Shiba and Raven on the couch, Raven asleep on his side while Ume had curled up behind his knees.
The dog looked up with marked disinterest, though considerable watchfulness, then let his eyes fall closed again when he saw that it was just Maxim.
Despite his senses having sharpened, Raven hadn’t noticed Maxim. That was likely due to exhaustion from the walk as much as to trauma. Maxim stood there, watching over Raven, an uneasy feeling settling within him.
Was I like this back then? Did Brea stand by my bedside when I slept and watch me to make sure no bad dreams were haunting me?
Maxim didn’t even know whether that was what he was doing.
He did know it was creepy, just standing here and watching someone like this without their permission.
It wasn’t right. He sped upstairs to fetch a soft blanket from the closet, the one he would get out whenever Heath came here during winter days that didn’t keep him too busy, to read and talk and complain about the cold.
Back downstairs, he unfolded it and draped it over Raven and the dog, who could move if he was bothered but didn’t. Raven didn’t stir either.
If there are no dreams, at least he’s safe in sleep. It’s good. Rest will help him.
Still uncertain but wanting to do more than nothing, Maxim decided that if he was to stay here, he had to do something that wasn’t just watch his fledge. He raced up the stairs again and pulled a book off its shelf in the reading corner without even thinking about it.
Downstairs, he took in the title. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Heath, Maxim knew, had read the book first, and presumably enjoyed it, but not that much.
Yet, he’d gotten another copy and wrapped it prettily, then presented Maxim with it on Christmas Day of 1900.
It said so in faded ink in the front of the book.
Because you don’t have that one yet, his son had said.
Then: It’s an odd book, and you’ll like it. Like to like.
And Maxim had enjoyed it, whether it was considered a children’s tale or not. Baum, as far as he knew, had had no supernaturals close to him, yet parts of the tale made Maxim feel seen. Seen and yet unseen.
He opened the book to the first page and started reading.
When Maxim was a little less than halfway through the book, and the light was thinning into dusk, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out quickly so as not to wake the still-sleeping fledge. Heath had sent him a message.
You and your swords are needed at the Red Clover.
Owner called here. My office.
Don’t know how he has the number. Ask him.
Says some new vampire is making ppl uncomfortable and to come sooner rather than later.
Maxim glanced at Raven, feeling something in his chest twang with a sensation close to anguish at having to leave him alone.
I’m on my way.
Maxim hesitated, then sent another text.
Raven is asleep on the couch. In case he needs anything.
While Maxim rushed upstairs at blurring vampire speed, keeping an eye on the screen, Heath was typing, pausing, typing.
Does he want to talk to someone? I can call the therapists. If it’s about anything I said, I didn’t mean to upset him. I was just being hyperbolic, really.
Maxim felt his brow furrowing. There it is, my darling giving himself away. He is plotting after all. He wants my treasure.
Nothing like that. He went out, and it exhausted him. He’s been asleep since I got here, with Ume watching over him.
That dog.
Okay.
But, you know. I can call the doctors whenever. Maybe we should remind him again?
Soon. Not now.
Fine. If you say so.
Maxim fired off what he hoped was a cryptic enough string of emojis to keep Heath’s mind occupied for a while and closed the last few buttons on his hunter’s blacks.
He added all the blades he wore as a standard, then sped out, pausing only for the briefest moment to make sure Raven hadn’t woken.
The only thing he saw was Umeboshi moving under the blanket, but the dog didn’t so much as poke his nose out.
The elevator came and went quietly, taking Maxim directly to the garage. He got into his BMW and drove to the Red Clover as fast as was practical, his thoughts drifting oddly while he sought calm.
Even if this was just a disturbance that could be handled with words, it was important to keep calm, first and foremost. A hunter, Brea had always said, is only helpful if they can keep their calm in the greatest chaos. If they don’t, they are no better than what they hunt.
The disturbance became obvious when Maxim slowed his car, the neon lights of the club marking his spot. He stopped in the no parking zone in front of the club and got out of the car, the noise of the music from inside washing over him.
The Red Clover did cater to supernaturals, so it wasn’t painfully loud, but with the doors open, it was still impossible to miss the beat and the chatter from inside.
A line had formed in front of the club, many of those hoping to get inside human.
For some, it was perhaps a dare to go where they might encounter vampires or fae.
For others it was a hidden desire, the wish to know what it was like to have a vampire take their blood.
Still others were just here to enjoy a night out.
The vampire gesticulating at the bouncer was certainly one tall dampener to such enjoyment.
“What’s the issue? C’mon, man, I got my drink in there.”
He said drink with an almost sneer creeping over his lips, and Maxim had to wonder whether he was mistaking a person for a commodity. The bouncer, a fae under a glamour, didn’t care and pointed at Maxim.
“Tell him.”
The vampire only now spotted Maxim. “Huh?”
The vampire was indeed young in the blood. Going by the uneven pallor of his skin, Maxim would’ve bet he’d been turned not two years prior, and not by one of the older makers.
In some cases, though not all, that meant they weren’t clear about the rules society expected them to follow. Though, it’s not age alone. Highgate has broken the rules for a long time, and he’s lived centuries.
Maxim made himself smile. “Good evening. Did I miss some excitement?”
He looked from the vampire to the fae bouncer. The vampire spoke first.
“That asshole dragged me outside. Allegedly I’m bothering people.”
Maxim put a hand on his hip—not a good ready stance, but a risk he was willing to take.
“Bothering people? Oh, my. Do tell what action of yours was so misunderstood.”
The vampire turned smug, though why, Maxim couldn’t say. “Well, your employee here seems to have forgotten this is a place to feed. I was just asking for a few necks, is all.”
Maxim blinked. “I’m not the owner of this club. My name is Maxim Vallois. You may have heard of me.” The vampire’s face fell like rotten fruit off a tree branch. “Good. You have heard of me.” He looked at the bouncer. “Does anyone inside wish to bring charges?”
The fae shrugged. “I’ll ask. Wait here.”
Maxim went still, though he kept his gaze focused on the other vampire, who had retained enough human mannerisms to fidget. Or he has indulged in drink or drugs? He smells of nicotine, for one.
The people in line were craning their necks, looking interested. At least the humans were. Some had their phones out, and were either taking photos already or waiting for something really interesting to happen. The supernaturals who recognized Maxim tried their hardest to look anywhere but at him.
“Look, I’ll just go, okay? No harm,” the vampire said.
Maxim did not react for a handful of seconds, then said, “I’d rather you wait right here until we can clear up this issue fully.”
The vampire flinched. “I wasn’t really going to bite anyone or anything. I just said that, you know? I was trying to impress the ladies.”
Maxim smiled, slow and steady. “It is not objectionable to bite another person. With explicit consent, of course, and when you can ensure your donor will be properly cared for after.”
The vampire’s pallor shifted to just a shade paler, a change most wouldn’t have registered.
It told Maxim enough to make him wonder whether he was going to send this vampire to Gordon’s morgue, or whether there would be a fine, probation, and a set of courses at the Forum to remind this delinquent of the laws that ruled them all.
At last, the fae came out of the club, another fae in tow. This one was tall and wearing heels on top of that, her glamour making her look like a human model.
She narrowed her eyes, looked at Maxim, and handed him a phone with a video already open.
“He thought I was human,” she said.
“Hmm.” Maxim hit play on the video. It didn’t show her face and had only captured him in part. “…come on, I’ll bite you, nice and easy. You look like you want that.” The exchange went on for a bit, though it didn’t get better, made it so Maxim had to fight for calm.
“Look, that’s totally out of context. We had chemistry!” the vampire said.
The fae looked at him, her eyes cold. “Oh, piss off.”
“That’s the minimum of courtesy, I should think,” Maxim said. “Madam, if I could take your details for the reparation payments before I remove him?”
The vampire gasped, and because he was an idiot, he ran.
Maxim wrapped up the case in less than an hour, including all the driving to the Forum for overnight holding of the misbehaving vampire and the extra five minutes of chase he’d given, only to catch him by ramming his face into the side of a building, hard.
The fae bouncer gave Maxim his thanks before going back to his door-minding duties, handling the situation with the kind of stoicism Maxim was increasingly wishing for himself.
On the drive home, he related the particulars to Heath so he could write up a report. Maxim hated reports. Not to mention the clickity clack of the keyboard. Like little insects making your words into sentences.
It took until he was in the elevator, riding back up to the penthouse, for him to identify the creeping feeling in his chest as unrest. When the elevator opened and he smelled the newly familiar scent of a dog living here, of Raven, the sensation eased.
It is because I gave him my blood. Because I saved him when I shouldn’t have.
He reminded himself to seek calmness again.
When he turned the corner, Raven stirred under his blanket and sat up, rubbed his eyes, and looked at him in the darkness.
“S-sorry. I think I fell asleep.”
Maxim forced a slow exhale. “That’s fine. It was a long day.”