Whispering Suits

It's raining slightly and I'm really starting to wish I'd grabbed an umbrella, but with the fierce winds it probably wouldn't have done me much good anyway. The air is icy cold, and I half expect the rain to turn into snow or maybe hail. I'm a little surprised that winter is already so harsh, and I can't help but wonder if the Faerie courts have anything to do with it. I can definitely see more Faeries out than usual, and I could swear that more than a couple of them stop to stare at me and I rush through downtown. I stop periodically to check my phone's GPS, I don't make it a habit to come to this part of town. It's mostly just made up of fancy apartment buildings and rundown old businesses, but the back streets here are rough. It's a known hot-bed for organised crime, which makes sense knowing it's where a powerful Faerie lives. I wouldn't be surprised if he helped run the gangs in his spare time, no better way to control mortals than through drugs and money. I turn onto The Quay, and walk until I spot the Lune Apartments complex. It looks very swanky, there's resident only parking spots and I can see through the front door that there's a fancy little lobby and everything. There's an intercom by the front door and I find number 13. I cross my fingers and hope that's a lucky omen before pressing the ‘call’ button. After a few moments, the intercom buzzes to life. “Hello?” A voice calls, and I recognise it immediately as Cyrus. Though, he sounds tired. It occurs to me he might have been on the nightshift, and maybe I should have checked what time he expected me. “Erm…Hey. It's me” is all I can think to say. The intercom keeps making this awful static sound, and I feel like I've been standing here for ages. Finally, the intercom crackles again. “Come on up”. Then there's a buzz and I push the door open. The lobby smells kind of like lavender, which is strange. There's one wall lined with post boxes, and that's it. I don't really know what I was expecting, I thought maybe there might be security or something, but maybe Cyrus doesn't need anyone to protect him. That, or maybe he's living here outside the court. Jonathan's journal had said that the areas owned by the courts gave off this energy, the grouping of so many Faeries does something to the area that makes it more like the Realm of Faerie. This place feels just like a normal building of flats. I get into the lift and select the floor, looks like he lives at the very top. The rich prick. The lift is silent, but the movement makes me feel a bit sick. After this meeting I'm going to have to get some rest, Gran was definitely right I should have stayed in bed. When the lift stops, I briefly wonder if I'll need to check the other flat numbers, but the lift opens right in front of number 13. I glance up and down the corridor, yup just as I expected, this is the only apartment on this floor. I raise my hand to knock on the door, but it opens suddenly and I end up almost knocking on Cyrus’s chest. I pull my hand back quickly, but I could feel the warmth radiating off him just from that closeness. He rubs an eye wearily. “Have you not heard that it's bad luck to wake a Faerie from his beauty rest?” He grumbles, rubbing sleep from his eye. The scene would be adorable if I wasn't on guard. “You didn't tell me what time to come, sorry. I'd offer to go home but frankly I feel crap so can we just get this over with. You're not the only one who'd like to get back to bed”. I say flippantly, resting one hand on my hip. He leans on the doorframe slightly and grins. “If I didn't know better, I might think that was an invitation to take you to bed”. He says, his voice now deep and sultry. I feel the warmth rush to my cheeks, damn it. I'd promised myself I'd be more in control this time. I take a deep breath and remind myself, I don't like him. He is a Faerie. These feelings, they're just his way of messing with me. It's not real, it's all just a Faerie trick. I take a deep breath. “Well, I'm glad you know better. Now, I believe it would be polite if you invited me in. Or do you plan or making this deal in your corridor? It's all the same to me”. My voice cracks slightly as I talk, but I know it's this damn cold and not nerves. He has no power over me unless I give in to him. Cyrus nods and walks into his flat, leaving the door open behind him. I suppose that's the best invitation I'll get. I follow him, there are several rooms branching off the initial narrow passageway, but Cyrus leads me past these and into a large social area. Calling it a ‘living room’ feels wrong. It's a little too…posh. There's a whole high tech gaming set up in the far right corner, with two leather gaming chairs and every console imaginable. Although, I do have to chuckle when I spot the old Atari console is also on the shelf. Guess Cyrus is a sucker for the classics. On the left side of the room, there is a fireplace with a fire lit and roaring with life and warmth. There are two very nice white sofas next to the fireplace, with an old oak coffee table in the middle. Cyrus sits on one sofa, and I take my seat on the other. I'm glad for the fireplace, I've been trying not to let it show but the cold and wet outside really took it out of me. I extend my hands towards the flames, and can't help but smile as the warmth tingles up my fingertips. For a moment, I forget who I'm with, until Cyrus clears his throat. I straighten up in my seat and cross my leg one over the other trying my best to look serious. “Well, Indigo, I must admit. I wasn't sure you'd come today. I'm glad to see Maya didn't scare you off, I'm…I'm sorry about the” he begins to say, his soft voice pulling me in. I raise a hand to stop him, making him stumble mid sentence. “It's fine” I say “if it's all the same. That's not what we're here to talk about” I quip back. Cyrus pulls a bit of a face at that, like he's confused or conflicted. That's good, it seems interrupting him has put him on the back foot. I take my chance and carry on. “Look, we both know that if I wanted, I could settle up my debt with you today and be on my merry way. I don't need you, I'm sure I could find another Faerie willing to help me with what I need to know”. I pause for a moment, crossing my arms to re-enforce my point. I am in control here. Cyrus tilts his head to the side and raises one eyebrow questioningly, he leans forward resting his elbows on top of his knees. “I see, then if all you wished was to settle your debt, why have you come here?” He says, his voice steady. But I can see it in his eyes, a flicker of doubt. He wants this deal, needs it. Cyrus tilts his head to the side and raises one eyebrow questioningly, he leans forward resting his elbows on top of his knees. “I see, then if all you wished was to settle your debt, why have you come here?” He says, his voice steady. But I can see it in his eyes, a flicker of doubt. He wants this deal, needs it. I try not to grin, I'd thought his would be harder than it is. But, maybe it's because this time I'm not caught up in his little game, but sitting here across from Cyrus next to this fire, I feel truly like all the cards are in my hand. “Because, you are going to give me a good bargain. I know you want something, but I suppose that would be true of any of your kind. So, give me a better offer than any other Faerie can, and we'll make a deal”.