Nikki watched Bee approach the bar and the one named Styx. The bar owner was a tall, thin man with long, wavy hair that he tried to tame by pulling it back into a loose ponytail. His strands, once a mix of shades of black and deep brown, now contained gray, telling all of his growing age. As Nikki stared at him she noticed that his dark skin was the identical color of the bark that towered behind him. In fact, with his green moss-like cloak on, his whole appearance made her think he was part of the tree.
She stared at him with envy. His gift of blending in was something she strived for and wasn’t yet able to fully master. As she studied his unique features, she recalled a village elder sharing stories of a race of people called the Inari with the ability to directly connect with the nature around them. She wondered if Styx was such a creature. Noticing an extensive display of swords behind him, her secondary guess was that maybe in his golden years he had been a formidable warrior. He didn’t have the current physique of someone that was ready for battle but she knew, better than anyone, not to judge a book by its cover. Although he no longer bulged with youthful muscles, he still projected power and everyone that interacted with him seemed to show him great respect.
Nikki knew the moment that Bee told Styx her order because his head snapped in her direction. As their eyes connected, Nikki felt strong magic touch her and she knew that he was trying to determine what she was. She smiled back at him kindly on the outside, while inside she focused every bit of energy on blocking him from seeing through her disguise. She watched as he reached out to the tree trunk behind him. After a brief discussion with the wood, he returned to making her drink. She sighed in relief when she saw that he still held a confused expression. It was obvious that his magic had been unable to solve the mystery.
True to her word, Bee was back minutes later with Nikki’s drink. She set down a tall glass full of a deep purplish liquid, whose contents swirled and sparkled playfully as if it was molten metal. Bee asked, “What brought you our way tonight?”
“I was at The Drunken Duck with some people from work and, when I left, I just happened to drive by this place. I didn’t know there was a tavern like this in town.”
Bee’s eyes grew wide in concern. “What in the world were you doing in a Human only bar? It’s too dangerous for our kind to go into places like that. You know what would happen if they found out that you aren’t Human.”
Nikki replied, “I was careful,” but she knew that she had been dangerously close to exposing herself once again.
“If you don’t mind me asking, why would you want to associate with their world?”
Nikki longed to share her struggles with someone so, without thinking, she blurted out the truth. “Because I’m tired of hiding in the shadows and want to live a normal life. But to survive in the Human world without magic, I needed a job and Human friends.”
“But our world is normal for us. It’s where our kind belong.”
Before Nikki could answer, a couple very loud men entered the bar and interrupted everyone’s discussions. Their grand entrance reminded her of scenes on television shows where a powerful political figure enters a room and everyone stops and stares in awe—especially the women. She almost expected theme music to start playing.
Bee looked at the new arrivals and, seeing that they had already had too much to drink, scowled. “Then again, our world has its own challenges.”
Seeing their pale skin, dark eyes, and telltale tips of fangs when they laughed unnecessarily loud, Nikki knew what they were. She whispered with her eyes opened wide, “Vampires.”
Seeing a look of fear quickly growing in Nikki’s eyes, Bee said, “Don’t worry about those two. They’re regulars that I’ve known for many years. I just wish they would find a worthwhile purpose in our world other than causing trouble.” Seeing Nikki staring at the arrivals with such intensity, Bee sat down next to her and began to whisper conspiratorially like a teenage girl spying on a group of boys. She pointed to the one that led the group forward, naturally causing the crowd to part. “The tall, thin one with the white spiky hair and tribal tattoos on his neck—his name is Blade.”
Nikki added, “You mean the one with the perfectly groomed goatee and dressed like he just walked out of some male model magazine?”
“That’s the one. Don’t let his attire fool you. He’s one tough character and a gifted swordsman.”
Nikki looked over at the wall of swords and asked, “You mean like those?”
“Actually, those are his. When he came into town and attempted to integrate into the local Vampire community, he struggled and many people were caught in his wake. His motto was ‘No trust; no mercy.’ He was actually responsible for many of the unsolved murders in the city and it wasn’t just Humans that he killed. Any magical creature or Human that crossed his path saw the same fate. The magical community put a bounty on his head and luckily Styx was the one that finally tracked him down. He gave him one last chance to dramatically change his ways or he would be hunted down and killed.”
Nikki stared at the man in question and didn’t see a mass murderer. In fact, neither Vampire looked like ruthless, unfeeling killers. They didn’t look much different from the Human men she walked past every day. With her fears starting to fade, she saw an opportunity to learn what could cause a Vampire to turn his back on his natural killer instincts. She asked with genuine interest, “What finally changed Blade?”
“He met someone that gave him unconditional friendship. That may seem like a small thing to you and me, but to someone as lost as Blade, it was a life line. It changed him. Vampires are naturally creatures of habit and it takes a major event in their life to make them change their ways. And once a change happens, it become a permanent part of their being. This fact is what saved his life. When the hunters tracked him down, they found a different man. The old Blade was gone forever. At that point, Styx asked him to put up his swords—at least in public. One night Blade came into the bar with his arms loaded full of his weapons as a peace offering and Styx proudly put the collection on display. I hear the ones he has here are just a few he owns. Even the local magical community has accepted the new him and have hired him to play what Humans would call a police man. He protects us when trouble comes into town and, if you’re deemed worthy, he can be hired to teach you how to defend yourself. He has his own little business tucked in a warehouse not far from here. He lives there with Devin.”
Nikki’s childhood wonder at learning about all living creatures burst to the surface and, scanning the crowd, she asked with genuine interest, “Which one is Devin?”
Bee replied, “The one with the weapon that lays waste to any woman that he chooses to wield it on.”
Nikki looked back at Bee and asked, “What do you mean? I hope you aren’t referring to a sword or his fangs.”
Bee chuckled and shook her head, saying “The weapon of his is more personal and much more deadly than any sword or his fangs.” She nodded back toward the crowd and said, “Keep watching and wait for it. You’ll know what I mean when you see it.”
Nikki had no idea what Bee wanted her to see but, in an effort to be polite to her new friend, she went back to scanning the crowd and waited. After examining several candidates, her visual search paused on the Vampire at Blade’s side. He had brown messy hair and looked like he hadn’t shaved in days. Although he was wearing clothes rumpled as if he just threw them on, he somehow managed to make it all look calculated and planned. He also had the dark Vampire eyes that his kind were known for as a natural allure for many women, but Nikki wasn’t impressed. She was about to continue on to the next man when the Vampire in question smiled at a woman he passed.
When Nikki gasped, Bee giggled and said, “I told you it’s lethal.” They both stared at the one that Nikki now knew as Devin and Bee added, “If his smile wasn’t enough, when he wields that dimple of his, there’s absolutely no defense.”
They both couldn’t stop themselves from sighing deeply at the sight and Nikki said in c
omplete shock since he was Vampire, “It makes his whole face light up.” Although she thought the dimple was awe inspiring, she forced her reaction to the side and reminded herself that his race was the main reason that her kind lived in hiding.
As the Vampires approached a table, Bee scowled when Blade glared down at the current occupants, making them scurry away to sit at a new location. She exclaimed, “Bad boy! I need to have another long talk with him about proper behavior while in this bar.”
After the Vampires were settled in, Devin scanned the crowd and, spotting Bee, he yelled from across the room, “Hey Bee! Buzz your sweet self over here.”
When he made eye contact with the barmaid and gave her his killer smile, Bee sighed and said to her fellow whisperer, “Sometimes I want to whack that man on the back of the head but, when he smiles…I’m trapped in his spell. If only I was a couple hundred years younger.” She stood and said, “I guess my quiet evening is over. I’ll come check on you a bit later. Enjoy your drink.”
Nikki had so many questions for Bee and would’ve liked to talk to her longer, but the bar was filling fast and Bee was very busy. While Bee carried large trays of drinks with ease and moved with grace and speed appropriate for someone much younger than her elderly frame, Nikki quietly observed the deeply missed magical world sitting all around her.
With a genuine smile and an inner fire she hadn’t felt in more years than she could count, she said to herself excitedly, “Time to start a new creature book.”
Chapter 2:
Witchy Woman
Over the next hour, Nikki watched intently as the Mistyx crowd continued to grow. She was excited to see a wide variety of shapes and sizes. This tavern seemed to attract an assortment of magical creatures and they were all laughing and having a great time. The best part was that, although several looked her way, the men weren’t gawking at her or sending her drinks. She was just another unremarkable woman sitting in the large crowd.
When she heard a familiar snarling noise, the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. With her heart pounding, she looked toward the far side of the room. She watched as two exceptionally muscular men punched each other while playing a game of pool. It was obvious to any observer that they were showing off their muscular bodies to a group of ogling women sitting nearby. Although the women were swooning, Nikki couldn’t take her eyes off their glowing yellow eyes and the tell-tale fur that appeared around their faces whenever they punched a little too hard.
Her body started to tremble as she whispered, “Shifters.” Instantly images filled her mind of them shifting into their animal form and chasing after her.
When she frantically scanned the room, expecting everyone to be running in terror, she was shocked to find that no one paid any attention to them. It was as if their presence was a normal, everyday occurrence.
To calm herself, she quickly tried to focus on any other creature and was suddenly drawn to a person sitting at the bar counter, whose body appeared to be one massive muscle. He was also so tall that he looked eye to eye with Bee while he was still sitting. His head was covered in tightly curled red hair and his chin in a rough stubble. He was dressed in casual Human attire, which looked completely out of place on him. As he picked up his beer stein, Nikki thought that he would look more at home in heavy gladiator armor with his bulging arms swinging one of the broadswords displayed in front of him. She noticed that he sat quietly by himself and didn’t interact with anyone. Even those passing by, walked a large arc away from him, giving him a wide berth.
When Bee walked by, Nikki flagged her down. Leaning toward her, she asked, “Sorry to bother you, but who is the large man sitting at the counter all alone?”
After glancing toward the bar, Bee replied, “His name is Grippin, a lifelong friend of Styx. He’s our tavern bouncer and doesn’t speak.”
“Ever?”
Bee shook her head. “Long before this town was born, Styx’s village was attacked and Grippin stepped in to protect them. He saved the village, but not without paying a heavy price. If you get close enough to him, you can see the scar from a knife wound that runs the length of his neck. Styx nursed him back to health and they’ve been friends ever since. Like Styx, he lives in a back room of this tavern. He also helps manage this place and protects anyone that walks through our door.”
Nikki stared at Grippin and suddenly had an overwhelming desire to sit by him to learn more of his story. When Styx crossed her viewing path, she focused on a new target and asked, “What can you tell me about Styx? Is he from the tree people—the Inari?”
Bee nodded and said, “And his connection with nature is still very evident by his friendship with the wonderful magical tree this tavern is built around. The tree’s name is Switch, by the way. Actually, Switch was here first and, when the population of the city began to grow rapidly, Styx built Mistyx around him to protect him.”
“How old is Styx?”
“No one knows for sure, but I’ve known him for several hundred years and he was starting to turn gray when I met him.” When the one in question waved at Bee, she said, “Sorry, the boss is calling.”
As Bee walked away, Nikki went back to observing the crowd, constantly keeping tabs on the shifters to make sure they weren’t coming her way. One customer wielded fire from his fingertips, another levitated objects, while others just sat back and openly displayed their inhuman features without fear. Although there were many interesting characters to watch, her eyes kept being drawn back to the table of Vampires—her race’s mortal enemy. Although this was the first time she had seen one in person, the elders of her village had educated her on the basics. Beside their disgusting need to drink blood, she knew that they were feared by all races for their unnatural strength, extreme hunting prowess, and self-healing abilities…all of which made them masters of the night. Only those with a death wish willingly crossed paths with them. But now she also knew that their natural allure also caused many women to do whatever they could to catch their attention, a theory confirmed by the many in the crowd taken by the Vampires’ charms.
Nikki’s attention was temporarily distracted when a young woman entered Mistyx. After a brief search, she spotted her target and confidently walked over to Devin. When she reached his side, she rubbed her body against his arm, much to the envy of many ladies in the crowd. Her actions told Nikki that they were more than just casual acquaintances. After a cold welcome and a short argument, Devin swatted the woman’s backside and sent her on her way. Nikki’s dislike for the blood drinker grew even deeper when she saw the genuine shocked and hurt expression on the woman’s face as she turned and left the tavern. Nikki guessed that the Vampire had just tossed out a former love interest like he was throwing out old leftovers.
Nikki spent several minutes mentally cataloguing the many ways to remove critical body parts required for the Vampire’s love life. While she chuckled at one particularly nasty approach, several torches blew out just as someone brushed past her. Nikki turned toward the direction the figure had appeared from and, seeing only the fireplace, she guessed that this magical creature must have materialized right from the flames themselves. Nikki unconsciously rubbed her arm where the brief touch still pricked and, as the bar filled with magic that stung everyone’s skin, the room became silent. Nikki recognized this magic as the power generated by only one kind of creature—a witch.
The new arrival stopped for a moment, turned, and glanced back at Nikki. Nikki watched the witch’s long raven colored hair float around her pale skin and, seeing angry firelight dance in her silver moon colored eyes, Nikki instinctively leaned away.
After staring at Nikki inquisitively for a few seconds, the witch’s expression softened and her bright red lips formed a small smile. When she gave Nikki a nod, Nikki politely nodded in return, although she had no idea what their brief exchange meant. Then, without slowing her stride, the witch moved silently across the room, trailing long strips of sheer material behind her like the tail of a comet.
/> Out of nowhere, Styx appeared to block the witch’s path. In a forced calm voice he said, “Welcome Cassandra. It’s been a while since you honored us with your presence. Can I make you a drink?”
She looked over at him and said, “Step aside Styx. I’m not here for pleasantries.”
Styx knew Cassandra well enough to know that the witch was a restless spirit on a mission and asked, “Then may I be of any assistance with whatever you need tonight?”
She calmed her magic long enough to reply sweetly, “Thanks for the offer, but I’ve got this covered. I just need to speak to my godson for a few minutes.”
Styx could feel Cassandra’s fury simmering just below the surface and his face fell. He said, “But Cassie, I just remodeled this part of the bar.”
“Don’t worry. I promise not to leave a scratch, not even on Devin. He and I just need to chat for a few minutes and then I’ll be on my way.”
Although Styx could wield powerful magic, trying to stop an angry seasoned witch like Cassandra would cost him so much more than just his tavern. Knowing that Devin most likely deserved whatever was coming, he reluctantly backed away and let Cassandra pass.
Suddenly everyone sitting near Devin scrambled away, leaving the Vampire in question alone.
As the witch approached her target, Devin said in his most charming voice, “Godmother. It’s lovely to see you tonight.” He pointed at one of the empty chairs at his table and said, “Please, join me for a drink.”
Mistyx Sonata (Mistyx Series Book 1) Page 3