Chapter 5 #2
“Well, this is probably going to be one of the biggest problems we face. I mean, how much trouble can we really get involved in over here?” The door jangled as a customer entered the shop. I rose to greet them as Delilah headed back upstairs to her office.
The afternoon went by surprisingly fast, and by the time Delilah and I locked up the building and headed to the Wayfarer, it was dark and still raining.
While I knew that — logistically — Seattle didn’t get as much rain as a lot of people thought, the city did live beneath a constant gloom and drizzle for nine months of the year.
But I had developed a love for the climate, and winter was perfect for Menolly, with the longer nights and shorter days.
I didn’t like snow very much, although I knew Seattle usually had at least one snowfall a year, but at least here—with few exceptions—we wouldn’t be housebound for days on end because of deep snow.
On the other hand, I had the feeling I would miss that pure, crystalline glow that the world took on when it was covered in snow and ice back in Y’Elestrial.
The Wayfarer wasn’t far from our building, and by the time we got there, it was around six-thirty. At this time of year the sun set around six, so Menolly would arrive shortly.
We pushed through the doors to face the soft undercurrent of voices from the patrons of the bar.
Several people were playing pool, and the smell of hamburgers and fries filled the air as regulars lined up at the bar.
The Wayfarer was a pretty place with a comfortable ambience, although it could use a good overhaul.
Menolly liked it, and that’s what mattered.
Several seats were open at the end of the bar, and Delilah and I grabbed two at the very end.
Jocko glanced over at us and waved. He was a giant, although he suffered the fate of all those who were different from their peers.
He had been chased out of his homeland because he was shorter than almost any other giant around.
Oh, he was close to seven feet tall but, among giants, he was considered stunted.
Truth was, he resembled any number of the professional wrestlers that we saw on TV, so at least he fit in here without a problem.
And he had a friendly persona, something that most giants tended to lack.
“What will it be, girls? Wine?” he asked, heading our way.
I shook my head. “We’ll be driving, and it’s wet on the roads. Just bring me a cola.”
“I’ll take a root beer,” Delilah said. “We're waiting for Menolly to get here before we order dinner.”
“You’ve got it,” Jocko said, setting a bowl of mixed nuts on the counter for us before heading off to get our drinks.
I glanced around the bar. It was mostly populated by Supes: a lot of shifters, some Fae, and I wasn’t sure who else.
Vampires had started coming in since Menolly started working here.
For one thing, the bar offered bottled blood, and since a vamp was now one of the bartenders, they felt more comfortable.
Delilah and I were discussing what we wanted to do with the gardens come spring when the door opened and Menolly entered the room.
She glanced around, then saw us and headed our way.
As she hopped up on the bar stool next to Delilah, I told her what had happened with Chase and what we had found out.
“Lovely,” Menolly said. “That’s just what we need—a friend who’s a demon magnet. I wonder what kind of demons that entails? After all, vampires are sometimes considered minor demons.”
“True enough, but I’m not sure of the parameters of the curse. At least I’ve got a place to start, however. The important thing is that we keep him alive in the meantime. By the way, did he leave any messages today?” I asked.
Menolly shook her head. “I just got up. There were no messages on the phone, and Iris didn’t say whether he called. By the way, Iris wants you to clean your litter box more often,” she said to Delilah, poking her in the arm. “You’ve been slacking off.”
Delilah had a habit of leaving her chores for everyone else. I hated to call her a slob, but she did have tendencies that way. And she often forgot to clean her litter box after she used it when she was in tabby form.
“You’d better start paying attention to what Iris wants,” I said.
“I don’t want to lose her because you’re too lazy to do what she asks.
I took care of most of the housework back in Otherworld, but things are different here.
Also, would you stop leaving Cheeto dust all over everything?
Wipe your hands after you finish eating. ”
Delilah glanced at me sheepishly. “Yes, Mom. I promise. I’ll apologize to Iris as well.”
At home in Otherworld we had had servants to help, although when I was young my father made me do a good share of the work to teach me discipline.
Why he had never held Delilah and Menolly up to the same standard, I didn’t know.
Being the oldest, I had been shouldered with a lot of the burdens after my mother died, and I seldom heard a word of thanks from my father.
The housekeeper had done her best to comfort me, quietly helping me when Sephreh was off on his missions.
I had clung to her skirts more than once, crying after Father had chastised me for being lazy or for making a mistake.
He didn’t accept anything but perfection and success, and more than once he reminded me that I was the daughter of a soldier, and that I needed to act like one.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I don’t mean to sound harsh.” The last thing I wanted to do was to sound like my father.
“No, you’re right. I shouldn’t slough off my duties onto Iris’s shoulders. It’s not fair.” Delilah shrugged. “I’ll do better.”
We moved to a booth, where Delilah and I ordered burgers and fries, and Menolly ordered a bottle of blood. We were just starting to eat when the door opened and Chase came scurrying through. He looked around frantically, then narrowed his gaze on us and rushed over to our table.
“Help,” he said, trying to keep his voice low. “There’s something following me and it’s not human. It’s right outside.”
With a groan, I pushed my plate back as we slid out of the booth, and the three of us headed to the door. If it were another demon, we couldn’t let it into the Wayfarer.