“Do you like pancakes?” The question took Merritt by surprise, and he frowned at Bloodworth like he’d just asked him if he enjoyed eating vampire stew.

“Uh, yeah.” Merritt placed the bloodied handkerchief on his desk, folding his hands in his lap.  “Why?”

“I’ll treat you to dinner, if you’re not too tired. The sun will be up before long, so I understand if you’d rather head home.” Bloodworth dragged his tongue along one of his sharp fangs. “You did great work today, and I’d like to show my appreciation.”

That reminded Merritt of the note he’d found at his desk.  A fleeting, ridiculous thought crossed his mind because surely Bloodworth hadn’t written it down as a reminder to offer him dinner, right?  

Before Merritt could respond, his stomach gurgled in response. He noticed Bloodworth’s ears perked up as he stared at him, awaiting an answer. 

Warmth crept up his neck as he awkwardly rubbed his protective collar. “Dinner sounds nice.  Where are we going?”

“Dragon Dough’s diner.” Bloodworth snapped his fingers to summon his black overcoat, slipping it over his broad shoulders.  “They’re familiar-friendly, so that can come along.” He gestured to Bandit, now comfortably curled up at his feet since the ghost vanished.  “Not sure about you, but I’d like to get the hell out of here.”

Honestly, Merritt could not argue with that.  

That ghost could reappear at any moment, whenever she pleased after being released into his office.  He knew it would be considered working off the clock, but he seriously needed to invest in some ghost repellent charms for his desk.  Just until he could figure out how to send her back to the underworld, where she belonged.

⚖️

Those waterproof charms certainly came in handy tonight.  

Merritt soared up into the sky on his broom, gentle magic paving a clear path ahead as raindrops poured relentlessly all around them.  Even the blustering gale itself slowed to a crawl, courtesy of Bloodworth’s own wind manipulation.

He flew ahead in his bat form, long leathery black wings fluttering away.  To imagine something so small and adorable could shift back into such a bloodthirsty beast had always seemed so unimaginable to Merritt.  

Though in all fairness, Bloodworth himself was nothing like he’d imagined when he took the job.  He’d heard the stories of previous interns quitting their first night.  After his own horrendous experience, one could hardly blame him if he’d gone home that morning and never returned.  But Merritt had a far stronger resolve than that.

This job was his last chance at protection.  He’d endured far worse than demons before at the cruel hands of those bloodsuckers, and he couldn’t let himself forget that Bloodworth was just as reprehensible as the rest of him.  The only reason, he suspected, the vampire lawyer treated him so well was because he admired his powers.

Golden lanterns illuminated the path and led them deeper into the witchy side of town, overflowing with eateries and potion shops.  Merritt came to a stop beneath a green pastel awning that stretched over the small building. Large windows spanned the front of the diner with painted dragons soaring across the glass, each surrounded by a myriad of tulips, roses, and cherry blossoms.

Flowerpots overflowed onto the sidewalk with bright blooms. Merritt paused for a moment, inhaling the sweet earthy scent that lingered in the air. Above the door, a hand-carved wooden sign swayed in the wind, where the diner’s name was etched into it in elegant cursive flowery letters.

While admiring the festive spring display, Bloodworth shifted back into his vampire form.  Merritt dispelled his broomstick after hopping off, and Bandit stayed close on his heels as he walked ahead to pull the door open.  

A delightful blend of cinnamon and baked goods drifted out into the rainy night air as he kept it held open for Bloodworth.  Merritt had visited the diner before, back during his law school days when he needed to refuel on coffee and donuts to pull an all morning. 

He remembered how he used to drag poor Killian along with him, promising free donuts, because he dreaded the thought of eating all alone.  Sometimes, he’d even bring his law books in to study, and he’d even let his friend quiz him when he had important tests come up.  And when the weather was too treacherous, they’d even grab food to go and take it back to Killian’s place, since his house was basically a second home to him.

With it being so early in the morning, only few were perched in their pastel pink and green booths.  One of them held a group of graduate students, all still clad in their forest green caps and gowns.  Their laughter echoed in Merritt’s ears, and a pang of jealousy stuck him in the heart like a thorn. His own cap and gown was still stashed away in his childhood bedroom's closet at his folks home, never worn and probably gathering dust. 

After what had happened… he couldn’t bring himself to even attend his own graduation.  He couldn’t be alone in a room full of so many bloodsuckers.  He couldn’t even bring himself to leave his own bedroom.  It was only because he’d impressed his professors so much with his prior grades that he even got to graduate and finish the remainder of his schoolwork at home. 

Since it was springtime, Merritt knew they must’ve been medical school graduates.  Those who took a path in law or any type of law enforcement, graduated during winter.  Much like he had.  

“Are you quite all right?” Bloodworth’s voice yanked him from his thoughts.

“Yes, of course.” Merritt forced a half smile, hoping it was convincing enough as he glanced at the celebrating graduates with a faraway look in his eyes as he adjusted his glasses.  It never really occurred to him just how much was taken from him that year.  

“You look as though you’ve seen a ghost.” Bloodworth followed his gaze over to the table of graduates with furrowed brows.  “Is there one in here?”

“No.” Much to Merritt’s relief, a waitress came over to take their order and spared him from drowning in past sorrows.  He ordered a platter of pancakes and a cup of coffee while Bloodworth ordered off the specialized vampire blood menu.

Merritt had heard vampires had preferences for certain blood types.  Some held a particular favored flavor, some sweeter and richer than others. He wasn’t quite sure why his face flushed at the sound of him ordering B positive, which was Merritt’s own blood type. 

It was coincidental, of course. Perhaps his blood type was fancied by all vampires. He cringed to consider that as the waitress brought their drinks out shortly, balancing Bloodworth’s black mug with a coaxing of magic from her fingertips, along with a carafe and white mug for Merritt.

“I have someone meeting us here.” Bloodworth took a slow, steady sip of his blood. Dark crimson stained his lips.  “She’s an expert on cursed and possessed objects.”

“Oh?” Merritt raised an inquisitive brow.  “Did you bring your crystal balls with you?”

“As a matter of fact, I did.” Bloodworth propped his bag up on the table, giving it a pat. “Both the one in my office and your broken one.”

“How do you think the ghost did that?” Merritt asked. “Either one or both of those crystal balls must’ve been tampered with.”

“Yes, I know.” Bloodworth pushed his bag aside with a soft groan. “I suspect that Sylvester is responsible. He’d stopped by my office when I first got assigned the case to go over spirit summoning forms. Before I hired you.”

“Did you have another intern at my desk then? Or an assistant?” Merritt asked. 

“I did.” Bloodworth nodded. “Very shy and skittish young woman. She only lasted a day and never returned. I had planned to have you both work together, but if I’m to be frank, your skillset is far beyond anything she was capable of.”

“I see.” Merritt rubbed his chin. “You kept all her information on file though, right?”

“Of course.” Bloodworth took a sip of his blood as the server made her way over with Merritt’s plate of pancakes. 

“Just let me know if you guys need anything else, okay?” She offered them a polite smile before checking on the table of graduates. 

Merritt stuffed a forkful of fluffy pancake in his mouth, swallowed it and then said, “It’s very possible someone paid her to swap your crystal balls. That could also explain her skittish behavior. I’m not saying it is her, but she’s someone who was around that crystal ball in question alone, right?”

“You’re brilliant, you know that, Merritt?” Bloodworth actually smiled into his cup as he took another drink of his blood. “I’ll look into her background.”

The praise sent an unexpected burst of warmth through Merritt and he mumbled, “Thank you, sir.” 

Honestly, the vampire’s words should not have meant so much to hear.  Knowing Bloodworth’s reputation and his lack of competent employees, it left him rather proud of himself for leaving such an impression on him.  If some vampire were to ever harm him, or attempt to again, he had a feeling Bloodworth wouldn’t stand for it.  And that was the protection Merritt to keep himself safe and secure.