“Posh, man, ye handle all that comes and goes through here like it be nothin’ at all, at all.Of course ye’d be good at it.And it’d be a blessin’ to the clan, aye, that it would.There’s some work to be done that’s easier if it’s a human handlin’ it.”
People kept saying that but never elaborated.Ross pushed for answers.“Why is that?”
“Well, there’s a few reasons.Himself is a bit of an odd duck,” Dunham confided, leaning in on the counter.“Take me, for instance.Usually, ye canna find a werewolf in with a vampire’s clan.”
“Yes, I was initially surprised by that.Feliks hates vampires.”
“Ye know Feliks?Ah, of course ye do, he runs through this area often.But ye ken my point, then.First time I met Himself, I felt the same.But he’d come to talk peace, and he gave me a good turn.I was in a fine pickle at the time, ye ken.I was in Ireland at the time, passing through, and the famine gripped the land strongly then.He fed me, lone wolf I was, and gave me shelter.I gave him help in return and we grew to be friends.Himself is a charmin’ one.I’ve accused him of kissin’ the blarney stone, he has so much charm.He makes friends of all sorts, and the ones who need help and protection, he offers it.A good one, that one, and it’s why when he asked if I’d join him, I did no’ hesitate at all, at all.”
“And it works?There’s no conflicts inside the clan?”
Dunham snorted in amusement.“Have ye ever met a family that never argued?”
“Good point.How many are in your clan?”
“I do believe it’s over a hundred now.”Dunham cocked his head.“It’d take me a moment to add it up, but a hundred and twenty-something sounds about right.”
No wonder Glenn wanted help.Ross had met these supernats, knew how many struggled to do even basic errands in society.The functioning members of the clan couldn’t compensate for everyone else without being overwhelmed by the demand.Just one person who could operate in daylight hours would be enough to off-set the burden.
Speaking of the devil, Glenn waltzed through the door and gave Dunham a slight smile in greeting.“Doing your windowsill presents?”
“Aye, that I be,” Dunham said peaceably.“I thank ye for the help, Ross.G’night.”
“Good night.”Ross stared at the massive were’s retreating back.“Does he really leave it on the windowsill?”
“Says it’s tradition.”
“Wouldn’t the doorway work better?”
“Feel free to argue the point.I haven’t made any headway on it.”
Ross decided he’d let that one go.“And what can I do for you tonight, sir?”
“If I answer that, I feel like I’ll unleash another bad pickup line.”
“Then please don’t answer,” Ross deadpanned.
Glenn settled into a resting position, a sort of semi-parade rest, although his hands were relaxed at his side.For a moment, he looked military.Then Ross blinked, and the impression faded.Ross had no idea how old Glenn was, but he guessed one or two hundred years at least.The clan had dropped pieces of info here and there that gave him that impression.It stood to reason during that stretch of years, Glenn would’ve been many things.
When he’d approached Ross before, it was always with a charming smile and a rather laissez-faire attitude.This time, he studied Ross seriously.“This is not the job you want.You mentioned before that you are a college student, taking a break.What are you studying?”
“I aim to be a forensic accountant.”
“An accountant?I can see how that would suit you.Why that career?”
“I’m one of those strange people who likes math and paperwork.And it’s a steady career choice.”
“Do you feel that by accepting my offer, that path will close for you?”
Ross opened his mouth, then slowly closed it.“That’s part of the reason, I think.”
“Ross, I would encourage you to go.Return to school, finish your degree.”Glenn’s smile lifted his eyes into a hint of crow’s feet.“I prefer my people educated.Your degree especially will come in handy.I’d not bar your way, but hold open the door for you.”
That was not the answer he was expecting at all.And yet, it somehow fit with what little of Glenn he knew.Didn’t Dunham say Glenn gave those less fortunate a safe environment?Educating his people made sense in that vein.
He took a mental step back and evaluated just what made him hesitate.Was it that he felt by taking the job, he’d lose track of the goals he’d set for himself?Or was it something else?Was it a matter of stepping completely out of his comfort zone that made him pause and reconsider?There were days Ross didn’t know if he liked the supernatural world or not, to be honest.Some days it was a lot of trouble.Other days, it was magical and cool and he wanted to learn all about it.It was hard marrying those two emotions together.
“When I took this job, my world view changed with it.I was suddenly in an entirely different world—one familiar, but also strange.If I take your offer, I’ll be further stepping into a world I know very little about.”
