When we hit street level, I turned right. It was the direction Sylvia and I always went, at least, in the short time since I’d arrived in Greenwich Village, so I continued on autopilot. It took us to the best restaurants, the closest subway, and the coolest events. For some reason, Isabella went confidently left, and I halted, thinking she would realize I had gone the other way and would follow my lead. She did turn, but she held her ground and waited for me on the sidewalk.
“Um, do you mind if we go this way? There’s a place I saw on the way in, and I wanted to try it.” Isabella crooked a finger over her shoulder.
“Oh?” I wondered what had tickled her, but I thought, what the hey. Maybe she’d found someplace cool? I was game to try new things. “Okay. What was it?”
“Just a quaint little deli place. It smelled delicious as I walked past, and I thought we could check it out.”
I nodded. “Sure.”
“I’m hoping my brother might still be there. He popped in as we were passing and said he’d get something while I took care of things. He may have gone back to his rooms, but it hasn’t been that long.”
“Your brother?”
“Yes. Sorry, didn’t I mention him? John’s studying here with your Jimmy, and he met me at the station this morning. He wanted to make sure I found the apartment okay. I said he should come right up with me, but he didn’t want to intrude.”
“No, I don’t think you did.” I removed a strand of hair from my face and tucked it behind my ear, though it was a losing battle against the brisk wind. I didn’t know what to feel about this new development. I felt wrong-footed and apprehensive. If she had merely wanted to meet with her brother, she could have done that without dragging me along. But maybe she had just forgotten to mention him, and I really wanted us to be friends. “It doesn’t matter though. What’s he like?”
“John? He’s the best brother in the world. I’m sure you’re going to like him. If he’s not there, you’ll hook up with him sooner or later, I’m sure.”
I remembered Sylvia had mentioned he was one of Jimmy’s college friends. “What subject? What’s his major?”
“You know, I don’t think he’s quite sure. He went there to be a doctor, but I don’t think he likes it as much as he thought he would. I suppose he’s figuring out what he wants to do.” Her smile returned, brighter than ever. “He’ll get there. He always lands on his feet, does my brother.”
Alakazam and Ham was a small deli, set back in the street in a smallish alcove. There were a couple of bistro tables set outside, though they were presently unoccupied, probably because of the bite to the air. It had a weathered shiplap frontage, and a foldable A-frame signboard listed the specials as Mama G’s famous pastrami on rye, Nevermore Cannolis, and All-You-Can-Chug Lattes. The windows were filled with all sorts of dried mushrooms, many of which I recognized, though some I did not, waxed cheeses, and dried meats. Isabella had been right—the aroma wafting out from the store would be enough to stop any traveler in their tracks, myself included.
As I took a moment to admire the outside, several satisfied customers left the deli and a few more brushed past me on their way in. The place was packed with customers, and Isabella held the door and ushered me inside.
It was a small shop, with seating toward the back, a counter chock-full of goodies, and two servers taking orders. The menu was listed in full on a chalkboard behind the counter, and I examined it carefully as I decided what to have for breakfast.
“Looks like we missed him.” Isabella half shrugged and joined me examining the board. “Oh well. It was just an idea.”
I was half glad. I’d only just met Isabella and wanted to know all about her, not that her brother would have stopped me from doing that, but it might have slowed things down a bit.
The customer ahead of us accepted a brown paper package and a steaming cup of something hot, and we took our place at the front of the counter. A rather tall satyr stood behind it. I knew what he was by his aura—his horns were hidden under a cap, and he wore a net over his goatee beard. His eyes lit up as we stepped forward, and he ran his tongue over his lips. This was another first meeting for me, and I was instantly on my guard as I’d heard satyrs could be tricky when roused or excited. This one looked to be both. His name tag read Gavin.
“Well, well, two young beauties in my store, I wonder what they’re hoping for?”
Gavin winked as he spoke, and Isabella and I exchanged glances. Rhyming satyrs were said to be the worst.
“I’d like a medium hot latte and an egg bagel please.” I returned his suggestive leer with a polite smile and rummaged in my bag for a few bucks.
Isabella laid her hand on mine. “Put that away. This is my treat.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yup, no problem. This one’s on me.”
Gavin turned his attention to Isabella.
“There’s nothing like a handsome fae to stir the loins and make my day.”
“I’ll definitely stir your loins if you’re not careful, you hotbed of naughtiness,” Isabella said. “In a steaming cauldron with sharp copper tongs.” Gavin winced, and Isabella looked over his head at the menu. “I’ll take a bacon on rye with lettuce and tomato and a hot apple cider. Oh, and one of these.” She picked out a blueberry muffin from a basket on the counter and tossed it playfully in the air. I admired her sass and wished I was half as confident.
Unperturbed, Gavin grinned and set about fixing our order. He turned around to prepare my bagel, and his shirt had Lickable emblazoned on the back. I watched his companion behind the counter, a second satyr whose name tag read Earl. His shirt read Tart. The two servers had similar coloring, and it occurred to me they might be brothers. They shared a suggestive glance and wink, and I cringed a bit on the inside. Isabella, however, seemed to take all this in stride.
We collected and paid for our orders and wandered over to a spare table at the back of the store. Even with my back turned, I sensed Gavin and Earl check us out and wondered how bad it would get if we gave them an inch and flirted back.
Isabella took a seat with her back to the deli, so I sat across from her, facing the shop front. The food on our trays smelled heavenly. One thing was for sure, these satyr boys knew how to cook.
“I’m sorry we missed your brother.”
Isabella smiled as she arranged her plate the way she wanted it and discarded her tray to the left of us. “Oh, it doesn’t matter. It’s not like I won’t see him again soon. Anyway, enough about him, I want to hear all about yours.”
“Jimmy?” Surprised, I covered my mouth and swallowed my first bite of bagel. It sure lived up to expectations, and the eggs were so creamy and light. Isabella had picked a winner, and I wondered if Sylvia had eaten here before. Most likely, since it was so close to her apartment. “I thought you knew him? Didn’t he tell Sylvia about you?”
Isabella blew on her hot cider and sighed. “No, not really. John knew he knew Sylvia and asked him to put in a good word for me. I never actually met him.”
“So your brother and mine share some classes?”
“I think so. Or at least they did. Who knows what John’s up to nowadays? He’s such a social butterfly. More likely they met at some party on campus. That’s more his style. Do you think it would be all right if I take my coat off in here? My wings are feeling a bit cramped.”
I glanced over Isabella’s shoulder at the table behind us. A pair of succubi had just sat down, and their leathery wings, though folded down, were out in plain view. “I think it’s okay. No one’s said anything about them, and nobody seems to mind what anyone does around here.”
Isabella followed my gaze and saw the succubi wings on full display. “Good point.” She slipped out of her coat and stretched her silvery wings as far as they would go. “Much better. It’s a new coat, and the wing pockets are a little tight.”
I was here to learn more about my necromancy powers, and I wondered what Isabella’s special skill was. Did she even have one? I was considering whether it would be polite to ask when the little bell over the door jingled and a new customer walked in. He was incredibly handsome, and every female head in the house turned as he walked through the door. I recognized him at once as the man from The Laughing Dragon last night.
I must have been staring, and Isabella shifted to see what I was looking at. “Ah, it’s John. He came back for us.”
“That’s your brother?”
Isabella nodded and waved him over to our table. She shuffled over to the wall so he could sit with us.
John wore a very expensive-looking leather jacket, which I noticed he kept on. I wondered if his wings were anything near as glorious as his sister’s and how large they would be, since his shoulders were like an ox’s.
“I was hoping I’d catch you.” John helped himself to a swig of his sister’s cider. I noticed she didn’t object, and I got the feeling he was used to getting his own way. He looked at me with the kind of confidence that commanded admiration. He sure was hot, but he knew it, and in a way that protected me from his charms.
“Not using chopsticks today, then?”
“No, thank Gaia.” I laughed, oddly pleased he’d remembered me. “I’m afraid I’ll always be more comfortable with a knife and fork.”
“I wish I’d known who you were yesterday. I would have introduced myself, then.”
Isabella stepped in. “Oh, this is Catherine, Jimmy’s sister.”
“Yes, I think I’ve figured that out.” He smiled, and I felt his eyes all over me, weighing me up. He clearly knew his powers, and it was also apparent he liked using them to unsettle people. Or maybe just women. Who knew?
I looked over his attire. He was exceptionally well-dressed for a student. All I ever saw Jimmy in were jeans and sweaters. I wondered if he always took such care over his appearance, or whether he’d made a special effort for his sister.
“So what plans do you ladies have for today?” John’s eyes twinkled as he smiled at me. “Are you getting up to anything fun?”
I shook my head. “We haven’t really had a chance to make any plans.”
“Well then, since you’re both new to the Magic Apple, how about we play tourist and go on one of those magical bus tours? My treat! How does that sound?”
Isabella clapped her hands. “That would be great. Yes, I would love that. I’ve always wanted to see the Secret Merlin monument in Times Square.”
“Is that on the tour?” I asked. It was like a Mecca for all witches and wizards. As a kid, I’d been bottle-fed on stories connected to the ancient stone, and how if you put your hand on it, Merlin himself would speak to you. I bit my lip. I really wanted to see this.
“What do you say, Catherine?” John’s mischievous gaze was piercing, and I half wondered if he could read my mind. “Are you up for it?”
“Please, call me Cat.” I looked at my phone. Sylvia had said Henry would come for me at five, and we’d gotten off to a late start. Still, there were a few hours between now and then, and I did want to see the sights—the monument especially. And I didn’t want to come across as a party pooper on my first day with them.
“How long do they take? The tours? I need to be back at the apartment by five at the latest.”
“Hot date?” Isabella winked at me. John smirked.
“Henry is picking me up for dinner. Oh, and I was supposed to call him to tell him you were here.”
“Come on.” Isabella put all her trash on the tray and stood up, ready to leave. “You can text him on the bus, can’t you?”
“Yes, I suppose so.” I did the same with my cup and plate and made my way to the trash can. I wouldn’t want to miss Henry but was sure I had plenty of time.
As soon as Isabella had her coat on, John ushered us both back through the store. Gavin and Earl were busy serving customers, but Gavin looked over the dwarf in front of him and waved us good-bye.
“You’re going now is such a rot, but come back soon for something hot.”
I chuckled and shook my head. I really would have to return here sometime. The satyrs were a hoot. Maybe with Sylvia. And a bucket of saltpeter.