Chapter 35
Maxim, after finding himself restless in the lonely penthouse, had made it downstairs to the foyer, Ume at his side.
The foyer, of course, was anything but interesting, nor was it any more bustling than the penthouse.
But Bryan was there, at least, and Maxim knew that if anyone would be open to vaguely commiserating, it would be Bryan.
Tonight, it was not just Bryan, but also Clement, who was sitting well within sight of Bryan’s desk in the waiting area with the plush furniture. Bryan had pulled his fruit bowl close, although only two tangerines remained inside, and he was absently playing with a ballpoint pen.
“Bryan,” Maxim said. “And Clement! What a surprise to meet you here.”
“Is it?” Clement asked, looking bored.
Bryan hissed. “You are, if anything, the bar Lar. Go back to the bar, why don’t you, instead of eyeing my offerings!”
Clement gave him a bored look. “Offerings? What offerings? You don’t mean those wrinkled lemons, do you?”
“They’re tangerines!”
Maxim sighed and pulled out his phone. “There. I just placed another order for premium tangerines for you, Bryan, and a small fruit basket for you, Clement. Will that buy me some quiet? Ume was upset with Raven gone, and I thought he’d enjoy waiting down here.”
If Ume had had the decency to look upset instead of calmly lying down at Maxim’s feet—and no wonder after those three treats—it would have lent the statement more credence. As it was, Maxim was hoping the fruit offerings would buy him ignorance of the small prevarication.
“Premium tangerines?” Bryan asked with wide, hopeful eyes.
“Of course. Everyone knows you like them.”
Bryan smiled, and his shoulders relaxed.
“I put bottles of water in the car. The human isn’t smart enough to think of it himself. I’ll be surprised if he remembers to drink any, but at least I provided the option.” Clement was examining his nails and trying to look aloof. Maxim couldn’t fault him for the attempt.
Bryan bared his teeth and clicked the pen a few times. “You’re not supposed to mess with the cars. You’re supposed to be the bar Lar. I’m taking care of the cars.”
Clement looked up from his cuticles. “But you didn't put any water in the car, did you?”
Maxim heaved a sigh and leaned on Bryan’s desk.
“There now, children, let’s all calm down and wait for the fruit delivery, yes?
They should be here within the hour. Don’t go arguing before then, hmm?
I’ll wait with you. Since Ume is missing Raven already.
” Ume, little traitor that he was, had stretched out on his side, his eyes falling closed.
Bryan frowned up at Maxim. “Why did you let them go in the first place? I can keep Raven safe here. Heath too, not that he needs it. Everyone’s safer inside.”
Clement clicked his tongue. “But you have no issue letting Jason go home to his mold-infested dorm room each night, have you? Have you ever heard of double standards, little Lar?”
“Call me little one more time and—”
“Baby Lar, then.”
Bryan hissed again, and if it hadn’t been for Maxim’s hand on his arm, he might have vaulted his desk to claw at Clement’s eyes. Clement didn’t look as if he cared.
“You two,” Maxim said, “need to calm down. I’ll tell you what, we’ll play a game together.
Monopoly. We still have the old board. I’ll be the banker and make sure no one cheats, and it can be a nice way to pass the time between the three of us.
And Ume. Say, Bryan, would you be a dear and fetch the game? ”
It took Bryan a minute to calm down and nod. “I’ll buy all the hotels.” He sneered, then headed upstairs to the penthouse where the small collection of board games Heath could be coaxed into lived.
“Monopoly?” Clement asked.
Maxim joined him in the waiting area and sat. “It’s about buying property and building houses, then hotels. Quite a popular game. I think you’ll enjoy it.”
Clement shrugged. “Games are for the young. When one is serious, one shouldn’t play games. But I suppose I could teach your little Lar a thing or three.”
Maxim wasn’t sure how wise his ruse would turn out to be, but it was worth a try, if only to pass the time. He checked his phone again to make sure he’d hear it if Raven called, but since the Red Clover’s owner had confirmed they’d arrived safely, there had been no news whatsoever.
“You’re cheating!” Bryan said, near seething.
Somewhere in the house, Maxim heard doors slam. Bryan usually made sure that didn’t happen, so this was his Lar powers at work, likely subconsciously expressing his mood. Not something a regular person would easily pick up on, but his hearing was acute, even for a vampire.
They’d pulled the cushions off the couches in the waiting area and set up the game on the low table, and now they were sitting on the floor around it. Maxim was guarding the bank, and he’d made very certain there was no cheating happening. Clement leaned back against the couch.
“I don’t need to cheat.” He picked a strawberry out of the small fruit basket, which had ended up being about the same size as Bryan’s—not something Maxim had intended.
Clement examined the strawberry from all angles.
“I don’t need to cheat to beat you.” He dropped the fruit into his mouth and chewed while Bryan bared his teeth.
Maxim put a hand on Byran’s shoulder. “Come now, it’s just Park Lane. And Mayfair.”
Clement picked out another strawberry. “And Whitechapel. This game isn’t so bad. Maybe I’ll take it up to the bar with me.”
“You cannot play Monopoly with people who drink at the bar,” Bryan said, pulling his own tangerines closer. “No responsible person would do that.”
Clement shrugged. “I don’t see why not. Come on, move your iron and pay me for room and board.”
Bryan turned to Maxim. “I don’t like this. I don’t think you should’ve let them go to that club. What if they’re playing drinking games?”
“Humans are dumb enough to play all manner of games once they’re drunk,” Clement said while putting his second strawberry back into the basket.
Maxim looked back and forth between the two of them. “Are you in agreement on this? Hmm, that is new.”
Clement cocked a brow. “Humans being dumb is a fact; it’s not a question of agreeing with someone.”
Bryan hesitated, then nodded once. “Yes. Heath is half-human.”
In that moment, Umeboshi, who’d spread out on the floor next to Maxim, turned his head to rest it on Maxim’s leg.
All of them were, however subtly, blaming him for the others venturing out for entertainment.
It struck Maxim as unfair, given that he’d not really been consulted about the matter at any stage, but he could accept that he was, at least in his official capacity, the head of the household and thus to be held accountable.
“Heath is very responsible.”
“He wasn’t wearing a tie,” Clement said.
Bryan glared. “You were watching them? You shouldn’t be watching people. It’s creepy.”
Clement chuckled. “Sweet babe, you are a Lar, same as I, and when a hearth is ours, we guard it and those who seek its warmth with a thousand watchful eyes. Spare me.”
“But this isn’t your hearth!” Bryan turned. “Tell him, Maxim.”
Maxim petted Bryan’s shoulder yet again. “Peace. We agreed. Clement is staying with us because he has no home. We’ve taken him in, like a wolf pack would take in a wolf cub who’s all alone.”
“Except I’m the older and you’re the cub.” Clement pointedly looked at the board. “You haven’t moved your iron forward yet. There’s a bed in my hotel with your name on it. If you can pay the price.”
After giving Clement a withering look, Bryan turned to Maxim, his expression pleading.
“What if they’re in a bad situation? What if they’re facing extortion like this?
I know Heath is responsible, but Raven would be safer at home, and if Clement is even slightly right about the dormitory and the black mold—”
Maxim stood. “For the love of—sweet Lares. My darling Lares, the two of you so skilled in different ways. It is important to let young people have experiences of their own. We cannot dictate what they should and shouldn’t do. Besides, I asked the club’s owner to keep an eye on them, as a courtesy.”
Bryan blinked. “You did?”
Clement nodded. “Smart. Like drinking water. That’s because you’re not even a little bit human.”
“Clement, I’m not sure that is quite the compliment you think it to be.”
Bryan nodded. “All vampires were once human.”
Clement snickered. “Try to teach me that the sun rises in the east if it makes you feel any better. It doesn’t change the fact that you rolled a six, and you are going to have to stop at my house. I will take all your riches, little Lar.”
Bryan pulled his tangerine basket as close as he could without actually putting it on his lap. “You’re mean. Who’d want to live in a house you guard?”
Then he moved his iron piece to Park Lane. Clement wasn’t as gleeful about it as he had been. Maxim could guess he had been stung by the words. Being a Lar without a home of his own and without anyone to take him into theirs had to smart, but he was safer here.
Maxim folded himself back into his cross-legged position to watch Bryan hand over his money. If the three rascals didn’t come back home soon, they’d have to play another round, and he wasn’t sure that would end well. For anyone.