I strolled past the very dignified doorman, arm in arm with Ms. Bunny. I still didn’t know what the story was, but I would find out. The fact all the grappling and groping had taken place on the balcony of an empty apartment made it fairly obvious the vamp didn’t live in the building. Beyond that, I was still putting things together, but nothing about the way they’d behaved in the elevator made me think there was any relationship there. Her little threat…that could well have been a couple thing, but Earhart’s comment about her not liking the unit made the entire situation pretty clear.
Once outside on the sidewalk, I tightened my grip and spun her to face me. “Thank you for your visit to our building. As Earhart mentioned, it’s regretful you won’t be renting here. But just to clarify, if I ever see you again, I cannot be responsible for what might happen.”
Her face lost a lot of its prettiness when it twisted into a snarl. “Your boss will—”
“Will never hear from you again. Consider your application for tenancy declined due to newly discovered facts.”
“I was already accepted. In writing.” Hadn’t she said she didn’t want to move in anyway? Stupid cow just wanted to argue. No offense to cows. I’d known many, and none of either the shifter or regular animal variety behaved the way she had.
“We reserve the right to change our mind at any point.” Made up on the spot, but if we didn’t reserve the right, we should. I dug my nails into her skin. Not too deep, just enough to make my point, so to speak. “Or…I might have to fly by and discuss it with you.”
“Why you, you little…” She struggled to free herself, but while I was shorter and lighter than her, I’d grown up working on a dairy farm. I could lift a bale of hay. She probably would have trouble lifting an extra-large latte. Like the ones I’d handed off upstairs. Dang. I really wanted that coffee. Bitch denied it to me. One more mark against her. Wouldn’t it be a shame if big ugly hairs sprouted out of her chin? Thick ones, like cord or small ropes.
I watched in hope, but perhaps my magic wasn’t yet ready to obey me. No big surprise. I released her arm and gave her a little shove, enjoying her wobble as she tried to regain her balance. My gaze was drawn to her shoes. “Give me those.”
Not that I wanted to wear them or anything. Ewww. No, I had recognized the tiny merfolk she held hostage in there. I thrust out a hand and waited while she balanced on the valet parking sign, taking the platform stilettos off. Ms. Bunny lifted one as if to throw it at me, but I stared hard, letting her know it was a bad idea.
What if it hurt one of those little folks? Colossal bitch! I took the shoes carefully, trying not to put her hostages through any more trauma.
“I paid a fortune for those!” she growled. “They are one of a kind. Or two. A pair, anyway.”
“And thank the goddess for there being no more!” Holding the shoes by the straps, I gave her a little push. “Get away from my building. And never cause harm again, not to little people, not to innocent bear demons, not to anyone. I will know if you do!”
She parted her lips to say something, but I’d never know what because just then my unpredictable gift sent those thick hairs sprouting out of her ears! She shook her head, as if she knew something was off, but not what.
An older couple passing by stopped to gape. “Dear, you really should at least trim those. They could poke someone’s eye out,” the woman told her before the pair hurried on, talking in loud whispers about how people had no hygiene anymore.
I sniffed the air and managed not to giggle. Not only were the hairs thick and black and pointy, they were coated with ear wax, the smelly kind you only found in ogre poop. Don’t ask how I knew that. My request for chin hairs had not held nearly the deviousness my magic chose to produce. Ms. Whatever-her-first-name-was Bunny clasped her palms to her ears and shrieked then raced away down the street, barefoot and sobbing. Everyone she passed either grabbed their nose or gagged, and I stuck around until she disappeared in the distance.
Then, with a sigh of satisfaction, I faced the building to find the doorman clutching his sides, every bit of liveried dignity gone for the moment. I marched up to him and stuck out my hand. “We haven’t met formally. I’m Safire, the new super.”
He straightened in less than a fraction of a second, donning his doorman persona. “Welcome, Ms. Safire. I am Michael, and please let me know if I can do anything for you anytime. We need someone like you around here. Earhart does his best but…”
He didn’t finish, but I got it. Earhart looked amazing in his business clothes. Not that he wasn’t hot in jeans, but he clearly was much more comfortable in the button down and tailored slacks. Considering I’d spent my life to date around people to whom business casual meant letting one strap of your overalls hang loose, I’d had little experience around the dressed-up folks. I released Michael’s hand and lifted my other one. “These shoes? I’m new in town, and I have no idea where merfolk live. To be honest, I didn’t realize they could be tiny like this.”
“Usually, they aren’t,” he agreed. “If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say they were under a spell.” He studied the tiny faces, hands pressed to the plastic sides. “Imagine treating people that way.”
I should have realized they had to be ensorcelled. If my magic was coming into play, I’d need to study up. “Do you know anyone who can help them? Break the spell…take them where they would prefer to live? Like the ocean or someplace?”
He bent close. “I believe these are lake people. There is a shimmer of them living in Lake Crisis about twenty miles north. I would be glad to arrange for their freedom and return to their families.” He took the straps from me. “Someone was either very brave or very stupid. Merfolk never forget a wrong. And their revenge can be quite graphic and gory.”
I shivered. “Thank you for taking care of it.” I gave him a wave and started inside.
“Ms. Safire?” he called after me. I turned to see him cradling the shoes carefully to his red-and-gold uniform. “They also never forget someone who does them a kindness.”
“Then I’m glad I’m not Ms. Bunny.” For so many reasons.
“Me, too,” Michael said softly. “We sure don’t need anyone like that bitch around here.”
I grinned at him. “Michael! Is that how doormen talk?”
He shrugged. “I try to be honest. Have a good day, Ms. Safire.”
“You, too, Michael. I’m very glad to work with you.”