Just then, he caught a lucky break. Someone was unlocking the outer door and wheeling in a bicycle. Vorigan grabbed the door and opened it wide to help the young man in.
“Thanks,” was all he said. He wheeled his bike to the apartment across the hall. It must be the N. Nourie whose name was on the buzzer.
“Excuse me, I was wondering if I have the right apartment. I’m looking for a friend of mine who lives across the hall.”
“Who, Sly?”
At last—a name.A weird name, but it was more than he had. “Yes. It looks like he’s home, but he’s not answering the door. Do you know him well?”
The stranger shrugged. “I know him well enough to know he can hear you. So, if he’s not answering, he probably doesn’t want to be disturbed. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”
Vorigan grabbed the young man’s arm. He tried to make eye contact, but the blasé Mr. Nourie simply looked at his arm and said, “Take your hand off me.”
Vorigan squeezed the arm, hoping he’d look up. He didn’t.
“I said, get your friggin’ hand off me or I’ll be forced to attack.”
Vorigan laughed. “I’d like to see you try.”
The young man heaved a bored sigh. “You asked for it.”
Before Vorigan realized what was happening, the arm shrunk as did the man. A black bird easily slipped his grasp and flew out of the limp shirt he was left holding. His eye received a hard poke.
“Ow! A fuckin’ shapeshifter?” He swatted at the brazen bird but missed. When he opened the uninjured eye, he saw the damn thing flying up the stairwell.
He could easily follow. A giant leap and he’d make it to the first landing. But would it be worth it? He hadn’t wanted to alert the other residents to his presence. If he left now, he could return without being recognized by the majority of them. Perhaps he could even try to rent that vacant apartment. It was a sensible plan.
So, holding the offended eye, which was already healing, he threw open the heavy oak door and trotted down the steps into the night.
Sly waited for his maker to leave. As soon as he saw him disappear down the block, he tore upstairs to Morgaine’s apartment and knocked, frantically.
She opened the door with a concerned look on her face. “Sly, what’s wrong?”
“May I come in?”
“Of course,” Morgaine stepped aside and closed the door behind him. “I’ve never seen you like this? What happened?”
“My maker just showed up at my door. Myapartmentdoor, which means someone invited him inside.”
“I wasn’t me…Someone buzzed, but he didn’t have an appointment and I sensed he was up to no good, so I cut him off. Dear Lord and Lady! What did he want?”
“I didn’t listen long enough to find out. No matter what he wants, I want nothing to do with him. He’s a liar and a killer. He manipulated me and my wife all those years ago. He’s responsible for her death, and for Merryalmostnot making it into the world.” He began to pace.
“Oh, Sly. I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do?”
He halted and faced her. “Is there any way to uninvite a vampire once he’s been let in?”
Morgaine bit her lower lip and looked at the floor. Eventually, she shook her head. “I don’t know of anything that would work for sure, but I might know someone who can help. First we have to figure out who let him in.”
“I guess the logical place to begin looking is with the residents. Probably someone who’s here now. So, process of elimination…”
“I saw Merry and Jason go out earlier.”
“Nathan just came in as he was leaving. If I’m not mistaken, he drove him out. I overheard a brief conversation—about me, heard a scuffle and then the asshole yelped in pain. A moment later he shouted, ‘Damn shapeshifter,’ and ran down the front steps.”
“Good for Nathan. You’re right. It sounds like he’s in the clear. That leaves Jules and Gwyneth.”
Sly raked his fingers through his hair. “I doubt the Super let a random visitor in since he’s so concerned about excess foot traffic…”
