by I. T. Lucas
11
Syssi
“Welcome to my humble abode.” Merlin made an exaggerated bow, waving Syssi and Kian inside.
As usual, he was dressed in a ridiculously colorful outfit. Red skinny pants that made his slim legs look even scrawnier, and a blue sweater with little white stars that was at least three sizes too big for him. Somehow, though, it all worked for Merlin. It was his signature look.
“I still don’t understand why we couldn’t meet at the clinic,” Kian grumbled.
Syssi smiled and gave Merlin a quick hug. “Thank you for inviting us.”
It was hard to believe that the house had been brand new when Merlin moved in. Aside from the clutter, which was just staggering, the place looked like it hadn't been cleaned even once. No wonder Merlin didn’t want roommates. No one would’ve tolerated living like that.
“Please, take a seat. I cleaned up the couch.” Merlin winked. “Nothing is going to jump at you from between the cushions.”
Kian wasn’t amused. His lips pressed tightly together, he sat on the sofa and glared at the doctor. “This is not a social call, Merlin. I don’t have time for that.”
“Right.”
Merlin removed a stack of books from a dining room chair, dusted it with his hand, and brought it over to face the couch. Crossing one long leg over the other, he smoothed his hand over his nearly white beard.
Syssi wondered how he could work with that thing on his face. It looked clean, but it was long and messy and, in general, beards weren't sanitary, which should have been a concern for a doctor. And since it seemed that Merlin was brewing potions in his house, that beard was also dangerous.
It could catch fire.
“You’re probably wondering why I invited both of you here.”
“Indeed.” Kian crossed his arms over his chest.
Syssi was waiting for an explanation as well. Kian’s presence wasn’t really necessary, and she could’ve come alone.
He had promised to be there for her throughout the fertility treatments, except, knowing her husband, in addition to wanting to be supportive he wanted to make sure that she wasn’t submitting herself to anything dangerous.
Kian had admitted as much, saying that she was desperate for a baby and not thinking clearly, and that Merlin was loony.
“As you can see,” Merlin waved his hand around the room, “I’ve been doing a lot of research. My approach to the problem of immortals’ infertility is somewhat unorthodox.” He chuckled. “Or maybe I should rephrase that since my sources are ancient. But anyway, I believe in holistic medicine. Which means taking into consideration both the physical and mental states of my patients.”
Kian groaned. “I don’t have the patience for this New Age crap.”
“Oh, but it’s not New Age. If anything, it’s old age.” Merlin scratched his head. “Since you’ve interrupted my well-prepared speech, I have to start at the beginning.”
The low growl vibrating in Kian’s throat would’ve scared anyone except for Merlin, who either pretended not to hear or was too distracted to notice.
“As I was saying, my approach is holistic.” He made an air circle with his hand. “That’s why both of you should start treatment at the same time. Our low fertility is not only a female issue, immortal males are not fruitful either.”
Kian shrugged. “Fine with me. What do I need to do?”
Merlin smirked. “First of all, you need to relax. You’re a stress ball, and in turn, you’re stressing out your lovely mate. Excess stress hormones create an environment that is far from optimal for conception.”
Syssi’s heart sank. If in order for her to get pregnant Kian needed to relax, they would never have a child.
“And how do you suggest that I do that?” Kian asked. “Do you have a relaxing potion?” he scoffed.
“Indeed, I do, but because you need a clear head for what you do, you can’t take it. I’m talking about daily meditation sessions and romantic vacations.”
“I don’t have the time or the patience for those either.”
“Type A personalities are the most difficult to deal with.” Merlin sighed. “Very well. I can put you on a bio-feedback program. You can teach yourself how to calm down.”
“How long does it take?”
“At least an hour a day. You may still wish to consider meditation, which in my experience is more effective.”
Kian shook his head. “I tried it once. It’s a catch-22. Meditation is supposed to be conducive to relaxation, but in order to meditate, I need to calm down first. I don’t see how it can work.”
“Bio-feedback it is, then,” Merlin said and pushed to his feet. “The other part of the treatment is the natural fertility enhancers I’ve prepared.”
He walked over to the dining table and lifted two small decanters. One had a blue ribbon tied around its neck and the other pink.
“So you don’t get confused.” He handed the pink one to Syssi and the other one to Kian. “Drink one ounce twice a day. When these are finished, come to me for more.”
Lifting the decanter, Kian pulled out the stopper. “Phew, this stinks.” He turned his face away from the fumes. “And you expect us to drink it?”
Bracing for hers to smell just as bad, Syssi unplugged the pink-bowed decanter. The smell was different but just as repulsive.
“It’s a good idea to have a piece of chocolate at the ready,” Merlin suggested.
Braving another sniff, Kian asked, “What’s in it?”
Merlin waved a hand. “A little bit of this, and a little bit of that, with a touch of magic.” He winked at Syssi. “I want to start with this and see if it works before we attempt the human-made commercial medicines.”
“Are there any side effects?” Kian asked.
“Enhanced libido is one.” Merlin smirked. “I know that you don’t need any enhancers in that department, but it was unavoidable. I’m afraid that throughout the treatment the two of you will be frolicking like bunnies.”
Syssi felt her face turn red.
“You’re embarrassing my wife.” Kian wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders.
Merlin dipped his head. “My apologies. I meant no disrespect, but as a doctor, I have to be direct.” He cast Syssi an apologetic glance. “In this line of treatment, I expect many more embarrassing moments. You should prepare yourself for it.”
She had. But if the potion worked, there would be no need for the more invasive methods she’d read about.
Syssi crossed her fingers.
Lifting the decanter to the light, Kian gave it a little shake, stirring the sediment. “Do you have other test subjects, or are Syssi and I the only ones?” He glared at Merlin. “I want others to try it, so my intense personality won’t be blamed for your potions’ failure.”
“Naturally,” Merlin said. “Right now, other than the two of you I have Hildegard and Gertrude on board. Bridget wants to try it too, but she needs to sweet-talk her mate into it first.”
Kian chuckled. “Good luck with that. You’ll have to offer him the same advice you offered to me. Turner is not exactly a chill kind of guy either.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, Merlin nodded. “I have a feeling Magnus and Vivian would want to join the program too. But first, Vivian needs to transition.”
“It’s going to be easier for her to conceive as a human,” Syssi pointed out.
“Yes, this is true. But then she will have to wait for the transition until after her baby is born, and she’s not getting any younger.”
Syssi nodded. “I still remember how difficult it was for Nathalie and Andrew. He was going insane because he couldn’t bite her. Bridget was afraid that it would trigger Nathalie’s transition, which might have endangered the baby.”
“I don’t think she would’ve gone into transition while pregnant.” Merlin smoothed his hand over his beard. “But I would hesitate to test that hypothesis.”
12
Julian
In the bath
room, Julian brushed his teeth and his hair, checked his shoes for scuffs, and then adjusted the collar of his button-down. It was blue with thin stripes, not overly dressy but well made. Together with a pair of dark blue jeans and trendy shoes that were a cross between sporty and fancy, the look was precisely what he’d been going for. Casual and yet elegant enough for a Friday night dinner.
For the past two weeks, people had been inviting him over nearly every evening, and since he was too polite to decline, he’d accepted and had to suffer through hours of pitying looks and forced smiles.
Julian had cracked jokes and tried to look as cheerful as can be, but no one was buying it. Regrettably, he wasn’t a good actor, and the truth was written all over his face.
This time, though, he was invited to Ella’s house for a Friday night family dinner. Not as Ella’s anything, just as a family friend. Magnus had mumbled something about Parker having no friends in the village and looking for a partner to play computer games with.
Magnus’s intentions, although good, were quite transparent, and the excuse he’d used for the invitation was lame. The guy probably didn’t know that those games were played online, and that there was no need for gamers to be in the same room.
Nevertheless, Julian was grateful. It was an opportunity to spend time with Ella without putting any pressure on her. At this stage of the game, even the friend zone seemed appealing. It was better than being on the outside without the ability of even looking in.
Besides, perhaps the friend zone was exactly where he should be.
Ella needed time. This wasn’t just another hookup he was going to charm the pants off. She was the real deal, and Julian was in unfamiliar territory.
He knew very little about the intricacies of the wooing and dating game. He’d seen it in movies and had read about it in books, but even though he’d spent a long time among young humans, he hadn’t seen much dating or romancing on campus.
It was all about hookups and booty calls, which had suited him perfectly. Romance hadn’t been on his horizon, and he’d felt no need to prepare for it.
Perhaps some old romantic films would help him get the gist of it. Going to see a girl in her parents’ house was like a trip into a fifties movie. But unlike in the old movies, Julian was on much friendlier terms with the parents than with the girl.
Magnus wasn’t officially Ella’s father yet, but he was mated to her mother, and he seemed to care about Ella as if she was already his daughter.
Was that how Turner felt about him?
They weren’t close, but then Turner had dropped everything to rescue Ella only because Julian was infatuated with her picture.
He doubted a real parent would’ve done that for him, so there was that.
As he reached Ella’s house, the shutters were just coming down for the night, but he managed to catch a glimpse of her helping her mother set the table.
Ella was so lovely that she was almost painful to behold.
Parker opened the door before Julian had a chance to knock. “Hey, Julian. Long time no see.” He offered him his hand. “Do you want to see my fangs?”
“Sure. But maybe I should come in first. The light is spilling out through the open door.”
“Oh, yeah. I keep forgetting about the blackout rules.” Parker opened the door even wider to let him in.
“Good evening, Vivian, Ella,” he said as he walked toward them. “Thank you for inviting me to dinner.”
“I’ll tell Magnus you’re here,” Parker said. “He’s in the backyard with Scarlet.”
“Hello, Julian.” Vivian pulled him into her arms. “I’m so glad you could make it.”
“Hi.” Ella forced a little smile and looked away.
“Come, sit at the table.” Vivian turned to her daughter. “Ella, can you get the wine? It’s in the cabinet over the fridge.”
“I can’t reach it. I’m too short.”
“You can climb on a chair.”
Julian jumped to his feet. “I’ll get it.”
As he followed Ella into the kitchen, he wondered whether Vivian had done it on purpose so he and her daughter would have to do something together.
Ella let him in front of her and leaned against the counter as he opened the cabinet’s doors.
“Which one does your mom want, do you know?”
“Mom, is there a specific wine you prefer?”
“Could you get one red and one white? I don’t care which brand.”
“Okay.” He pulled out two bottles and handed them to Ella. “Anything else I can get for you?”
For a moment, she just looked into his eyes as if seeing him for the first time, then shook her head. “Thank you, but that will be all.”
Strange girl. What thoughts had crossed her mind during that long moment when their eyes had been locked together?
Typically, his nose could supply the missing clues, but not with the strong cooking smells masking the more subtle ones.
“I didn’t know what you liked to eat, so I made several dishes to choose from,” Vivian said. “There is baked salmon, grilled chicken, and a vegetable curry dish in case you don’t eat meat. I know that your mother is a vegetarian.”
“I’m an omnivore.” Julian spread the napkin over his knees. “And I’m very easy to please. Food wise, at least.”
Ella cast him another one of her penetrating gazes. “What are you picky about?”
“Movies, books, music.”
“What’s your favorite movie?” Parker asked.
“Of all times, or recent?”
“Recent.”
“Avengers: Infinity War.”
Parker put his fork down. “No way! That’s my favorite too!”
Ella rolled her eyes. “Why am I not surprised.” She lifted the glass of wine to her lips, but then put it down without drinking any of it.
Julian arched a brow. “You don’t like it?”
“It was a horrible movie. Everyone died.”
He’d meant the wine, but discussing the movie would keep the conversation going.
“I guess you’re right. I’m just expecting a trip back in time or something like that to fix everything. It’s a Marvel movie. The good guys have to win.”
“I hope so. I love the characters, and Thor is just to die for, but I didn’t like how dark that one was.”
Thor was to die for?
Was it the muscles?
Julian was going to hit the gym starting tomorrow.
He took a long sip from his wine. “What’s your favorite music?”
She shrugged. “I don’t have a favorite band or anything like that. I just like what I like. It has to be catchy, though, something I would like to sing along with. What’s your favorite?”
“A couple of months ago, I would’ve said progressive and psychedelic rock, mainly Pink Floyd, but since I moved in with my new roommate, it’s classical music. He’s a pianist and a very talented one. Listening to him play just soothes my soul. Except for when he plays Debussy.”
“Why? What’s wrong with the French dude?” Parker asked.
“Nothing. I’m sure many people love him. It certainly takes skill to play his stuff. But I just happen to prefer more melodic, romantic music.”
13
Ella
Julian was a romantic.
Figures.
Just one more thing to make a perfect guy even more perfect. If only she’d met him before Romeo had burst her naïve little bubble and ruined her life.
Sitting next to Julian, Ella fought the irrational urge to go to the bathroom and scrub herself clean. Only, no amount of soap could do that. The taint was on the inside, and she had no business indulging in what-ifs about a pure soul like Julian.
If only he were a little wicked, she could’ve felt more comfortable with him. Couldn’t he be a compulsive shoplifter, or a gambler, or a pothead?
As ridiculous as the thought was, Ella would’ve loved for Julian to have a vice or two. But she had a feeling that he had
never stolen anything, and that he wouldn't know what a joint was even if it hit him in the face.
“I’ve heard talk about Kian assigning you to the halfway house project,” Magnus said.
“You did? I'd only talked to him about it yesterday. But yeah.” Julian raked his fingers through his chin-length hair. “He expects me to organize everything, but I don’t know where to start. I’m a doctor, not a businessman.”
“Who wants coffee?” Her mother came back from the kitchen with a full carafe in hand.
“I would love some. Thank you.” Julian lifted his cup.
He had such good manners. Too good. According to her mother he was twenty-six, but he acted much older.
Magnus took the carafe from Vivian and poured coffee into the rest of the cups. “Every big project seems overwhelming until you break it down into a step-by-step action plan. What’s the first thing you need to do?”
“Find a suitable place. Not only that, though. Kian expects me to arrange financing for it as well. Turner offered to provide the down payment and suggested we take out a mortgage for the rest. I guess I’ll need his help to do that as well because I don’t have a clue how to go about it.”
“Isn’t the clan rich?” Ella asked. “How come he can’t just buy the building?”
Julian put his cup down. “I think it’s a cash flow problem. Kian tries to keep all the balls in the air. Building this village cost a shitload of money, which severely depleted the clan’s cash reserves. Then we’ve undertaken the huge humanitarian project of fighting trafficking, and with all this going on, Kian still invests in promising technologies whenever the opportunity presents itself.”
“What about my ring? That should cover the cost of several halfway houses.”
“It hasn’t been sold yet, but once it is, we will pay Turner back for the down payment and close the mortgage.”
Ella didn’t know much about buying real estate and getting loans, but what she did know was that the bank would want to see where the mortgage payments would come from.
