The Full Moon Speakeasy

CHAPTER FIVE: To Dance with a Wolf

The conversation mellowed into playful banter as they finished their dishes and polished off the bottle of bubbly. With every sip of champagne, Luci felt her thoughts turning down and before long, she was completely in the moment. No longer did she think about whether or not she should be there, but instead accepted she was and would enjoy it. 

If Emil is this charming under it all, I understand why Thelma likes him so much. 

Their plates were cleared, and the two made their way back out onto the street. Luci, in her bubbly stupor, hugged to his side and his arm locked around her. “Where are we going?” she asked. 

“Somewhere special,” he answered simply. “Are you afraid of heights?”

The question caught her off guard, causing her nose to crinkle but she shook her head. “No, I don’t think so.” 

“Good.” 

It was still snowing and so much so that it was finally starting to cover the ground. Luci wondered if it would go to morning, if she would finally get to see New Borough in true winter’s glory. Appleby was a sleepy little town with soft hills and dozens of orchards, so it was always scenic—  but in a different way. It was quaint and pure. The city surely had a different essence in the snow. A stillness that was almost eerie, as life usually bursts from the seams in a city as large as the Borough. Emptying the streets of vendors, commuters, and beggars. All the while creating a scene contrasting God’s creation and man’s. 

“You’re quiet,” Noah commented softly. 

“Thinking,” she murmured, still lost in her dream-like thoughts. 

“What about?” 

“How different things are here. Even the snow is different than out in the country.”

“How so?” 

She grew quiet, trying to figure out how to vocalize her silly thoughts. “Snow out there is a chore. Beautiful, but means shoveling, trekking through to get to the animals. All the while, nothing else really changes because there isn’t much going on. Here, it’s like it causes time to freeze too. Cars aren’t racing down the streets, stopping and starting at every interchange. The sidewalks are massive crowds bustling to and fro. It’s different. Surreal.” 

Noah’s hand stroked down her arm. “I have never given it much thought. I was born and raised in the city. I’ve always seen it as inconvenient and nothing more. But I suppose you’re right… What a charming way to think about it.” 

They approached a building and the door was opened for them by a doorman. Moving past the stairs, they headed to the back of the lobby where a golden gate to an elevator awaited them. Another worker, dressed in the same black suit as the man by the door, greeted Noah and then assisted in operating the machine. 

“I’ve never been in an elevator before,” Luci breathed as her eyes fixated on the ornate golden metal. 

“I have a feeling there’s going to be a lot of firsts for you, with me,” he whispered in her ear. 

Hairs stood on the back of her neck and her eyes shifted to peer up at him. He was wearing that same lopsided smirk that seemed to seldomly leave his face. As they peered at one another, the lift crooned and moved upward. Luci gasped and jumped slightly from the shock. Noah’s arms tightened around her. “It’s alright,” he purred. “I’ve got you.”

The air between them filled with something new, something that Luci couldn’t easily identify. It was palpable, enticing, and filled her with a sensation… The feeling of being safe, but in a way that was more than being protected from danger. Familiarity, welcoming, home were all words that felt just about right but were still off. 

After a couple of minutes, the elevator came to a stop and the golden gate opened. His arms eased around her and dropped until his hand took hold of hers. “This is my apartment,” he told her. “Well, one of them.”

“You have multiple homes?” she blinked. Though, she supposed she shouldn’t be so surprised since he was clearly a wealthy mob boss. 

“Home, Lucille, can only be one. And I have heard that it’s rarely a place.”

The words caused a tingling sensation to move across the back of her head. Had he felt that peculiar sensation too, in the elevator? The one she didn’t have a name for? 

They moved down the hall to the only door on the floor. He opened it, and gestured for her to step in; as she did, he took her coat from her shoulders. Immediately, Lucille was breathless. The single apartment was massive! It was the size of an entire floor, with a ceiling that was surely two stories high. The flooring was polished wood, the furniture was exquisite, made of fine fabric in shades of gold, emerald green, and burnt orange and had interesting shapes. One of the couches didn’t have a back, but rather swooped upward to one side. There was a word for it… what was it? Chaise lounge, right. There was a massive rug dominating the room, royal blue with geometric gold shapes. The far wall had a massive fireplace with a raging fire already, a beautiful kitchen to the right of that. In front of her, however, was the true treasure among all the fine furnishings and artwork. 

The main wall of the apartment was made of paneled glass and had an absolutely phenomenal view of the city, and even had a large balcony waiting just on the other side of the glass. Luci neared the glass, watching as the delicate snowflakes fell upon the concrete jungle. Hands rested on her shoulders. “This is the place I come to be alone. I can see all of my territory, what lies beyond, and contemplate my next moves.” 

“Excellent choice in venue,” she whispered in response. 

“Come, let’s have another drink.” 

She turned and followed him over to the couches, opting to sit on the chaise. He sauntered to a bar cart and set about preparing a couple of drinks. There was the distinct pop of a champagne bottle in the midst of it. When he turned to her, he had two tall, stemmed glasses with a fizzy liquid the color of lemonade. Noah handed her one and sat next to her. “This is a French seventy-five. Gin, champagne, lemond, and sugar.”

She thanked him and tasted it. It was light in flavor with a strong punch of alcohol. She liked it more than she maybe should have. “You have a beautiful place,” Luci stated, her eyes studying the various pieces of artwork on the walls. There were many depictions of wolves, and she assumed it was an homage to his nickname. 

“What part of town do you live in?” he asked, sipping his drink. 

“Up past the Brunswick factory, near 20th Street.” 

He grimaced. “That’s quite a distance from here. You traveled to the Full Moon all on your own?”

“I can manage myself,” she answered, her voice edged with defensiveness. 

He stuck up a hand, as though to surrender. “I am not questioning that. More-so… concern. For you traveling to and from our territory.”

Luci’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean? Will I be in danger just walking home?” 

She watched as Noah’s lips formed a straight line. After a moment, his mouth opened and he spoke carefully. “I’m saying that associating with us comes with risks. However, I will forever see to it that you are safe.”

“As in you’ll have someone follow me?” Luci asked, her arms crossing. She didn’t like the sound of Noah always having eyes on her. It felt invasive. 

“No, no,” Noah assured her. “I will walk you myself. If there are occasions I cannot, then I do ask for you to be open-minded to one of my friends taking on the task. They won’t follow you, just escort you to and from when you cross 13th Street.”

“You’re planning ahead when I’ve done nothing but agree to a second date,” Luci challenged. 

“You’re right,” he smirked. “Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself. However, I have a feeling that we very well may not be able to get enough of each other.” 

“What makes you so sure?” 

“A feeling,” Noah replied before he was standing. Walking across the floor, he stopped at a long table that hugged the wall. He browsed through a drawer, then turned to a glorious phonograph. It was so modern looking to her; the only ones she had seen were in restaurants or libraries and those had been much clunkier. He cranked the handle for a while, and as he paced back toward Luci, full, rich music filled the air. First it was a few bars of sweet piano notes, then a smooth voice rang out. Noah took her free hand, they both placed their drinks down on the coffee table. He guided her over to the window, and began swaying. Luci couldn’t have wiped the smile off her face even if she tried. 

Sometimes I wonder why I spend

The lonely nights

Dreaming of a song.

The melody haunts my reverie

And I am once again with you.

When our love was new, and each kiss an inspiration.

But that was long ago, and now my consolation

Is in the stardust of a song.

It was such a bittersweet song. One of exciting, cosmic love that has come to pass. They danced together, his hand on her lower back, hers on his chest. There were only mere inches from their faces and it was only because of their height difference. “I’m not sure if this is a romantic song, or a sad one,” she breathed. 

His eyes were burning into hers, causing the world to once again fade around her. “Why can’t it be both?”

“I suppose it can. But if it is, why pick this song to be our first to dance to?” 

Noah pulled her closer, his gaze only ever leaving hers to flicker to her lips. “Because, I think while we have differentiating opinions on love, we can both agree it’s complicated. And ours is sure to be as well. However, it’ll be beautiful, fantastical, cosmic.”

Her breath caught in her throat, completely moved by his words. She tried to recover and attempted to tease him. “Are you saying you’re already falling in love with me, Noah?” 

He moved back just enough to twirl her around. When she faced him again, he pressed them together, chest to chest and then dipped her. His arm cradled her back, his other hand delicately hooked under her knee to keep her stabilized in the position. “Are you trying to tell me you don’t feel it too?”

“Feel what?” she whispered. 

“Our fates merging into one,” he answered. With every word, his lips brushed against hers. Her eyes fluttered closed and lips puckered. They were connected by the lips. For a moment it was exciting and sweet. And in the next, something new and vicious awoke in Lucille.