Beauty is the Beast: Beasts Among Us - Book 1

by Jennifer Zamboni

Hades was constantly in and out of the salon, which raised my hackles. He carried around too much power. Part of me knew that it was in my best interest to bow down to him. Another part of me wanted to challenge him.

  I whipped through my first few haircuts so fast that it was a miracle I didn’t chop my knuckles to shreds, but my clients left happy, which was probably the real miracle.

  I glanced at the clock. One hour until the dreaded interviews. There were two girls coming in for the manicurist position. We actually had some appointments for mani/pedis in the afternoon, so we called and asked if they minded letting a new girl take them. Thankfully, they didn't. The faster we got some help in, the better.

  The stress was mounting, which meant lots and lots of tea was in order.

  “Gretchen?” Percy appeared at my elbow during a lull, placing a soothing hand on my arm.

  “Yeah. Fine.” I wasn’t. The knee-jerk reaction popped out.

  “Are you?” Her smell was tinged with worry, as was her facial expression.

  “No." I looked down at her, sucking in a few deep breaths. My skin itched as fur slowly pushed its way through my pores.

  “Breath, Gretch. You’re slipping.” Percy pushed me down onto my chair as my bones snapped and reformed themselves.

  I roared in pain.

  Lacey’s client whipped her head in my direction, her eyes wide with surprise, smelling alluringly of fear.

  No! This couldn’t happen in front of humans. It was happening in front of humans.

  Lacey turned her chair so her client couldn’t watch, and Percy yanked me up out of my chair, propelled me out back, through the kitchen, and out the door.

  The fresh air hit me hard, and I drew in gulps of it.

  “Don’t hyperventilate. Here’s your drink. Little sips while we walk.” She kept hold of my elbow, threading her arm through mine, her steps slow, swaying, hypnotic.

  I felt my heart rate drop. There was another audible snap. This one hurt worse as my adrenaline wore off, and I cried out.

  “What happened?” Percy asked.

  “I panicked,” I replied.

  “The wolves?”

  “The wolves. Stress. Everything. I don’t know if I can keep doing this, Percy, acting human. Maybe I should move back down south with the pack. I’ve been pretending for so long.”

  “It’s your choice, but I would miss you. I think you’ll be all right. Things have just been a little extreme lately. Are you all right to go back to work?”

  “I think so.” I pulled my arm away from her, Percy's calming presence going with it, but I managed to hold it together.

  I had one client waiting for me when I got inside, and I made it through her cut and style without further mishap.

  I needed to step up my wolf calming technique.

  The door opened just as we were closing for lunch, and a willowy blonde walked in.

  She could have been Lacey’s sister right down to the fair skin and the pension for pink. Her flowered sundress, hitting just above her knee, was topped with a baby pink cardigan, paired with strappy heels.

  “Hi, I’m Violet Densmore. I’m here for an interview?” She clip-clopped over to shake my hand.

  I could look her in the eye, so she was definitely tall. Tall and southern by her accent, possibly from Arkansas.

  This was gonna be fun.

  I shook her hand and watched as she noted how dark my hand was in comparison to her own, and I got a whiff of expensive perfume.

  “I’m Gretchen. Why don’t you come have a seat in the waiting area,” I drawled back, despite losing my Texan accent decades ago. I was doing good, keeping it professional and all that.

  Percy stood as we approached, holding out her hand as well. Lacey followed our example, and the introductions were finished.

  “Did you bring your résumé?” Percy questioned.

  “I did.” Violet dug through her suitcase-sized purse, coming up with a purple folder, which she opened and pulled out a single page of printed paper.

  Percy took it from her and glanced over it before passing it around.

  “How long have you been out of school?” Percy asked, crossing her ankles primly by the leg of her chair.

  “About a year?” said Violet, her reply sounding more like a question than an answer.

  “And where have you been working?”

  “At the nail salon in the Bangor mall.”

  “Why are you interested in working with us?”

  “Well, this is a much classier establishment.” Violet looked down and picked at her polished nails.

  They were acrylics. Score one for the manicurist. You can’t really trust a manicurist that doesn’t have her nails done to the nines. That would be like a hairdresser with virgin hair.

  “What else drew you to us?” Percy persisted, leaning forward.

  Violet was quiet for a while. This wasn’t that hard of a question, at least I didn’t think so.

  “I wanted a place where I could learn and grow as a nail tech. Most of the women I work with now are Vietnamese. I can’t even really talk to them.” She folded her hands in her lap and crossed her ankles, mimicking Percy.

  “Are you confident you can remain loyal to this salon if you are hired?” Percy asked.

  “I think so. You’re one of the best salons in the area. I can’t see myself going elsewhere.”

  “How about a change in career? Do you foresee that as a possibility in the near future?” Percy appeared to be writing on a pad of paper in black pen. I knew very well that she was doodling, but it made her look official.

  “I don’t think so. I love doing nails, and I like working with people.”

  “Do you have a portfolio?”

  “I do, but it’s mostly stuff I did in school.” Violet dug in her huge bag again, pulling out a clear plastic report cover, tinted pink, containing a few pages of photographs.

  Lacey looked through them first, then handed them to me. Most of the nails were your basic manicures with different colored tips and few stenciled designs. None of them looked like something she’d designed herself. She had potential. It was too bad she hadn’t taken any pictures of recent work, though the mall probably hadn’t provided her with much opportunity to accomplish custom work.

  I handed the packet to Percy, who quickly glanced through it, then set it to the side.

  She was just opening her mouth to speak when the door opened again. Our second interviewee was 10 minutes early. The woman was Violet’s polar opposite. While still tallish, she had dark Italian looks. She was well put together in ankle boots, skinny jeans, and a dark purple untucked button down.

  I darted over to greet her. “You must be Toni! We’ll be just a minute if you’d like to wander around the museum for a few—” I trailed off as I led her over to inspect the antique perming machine.

  I trotted back over as Violet’s interview was being wrapped up, and it didn’t look like things were going well anymore. Violet was glaring over at Toni with a look of disgust so blatantly splayed over her features, I thought she might burst into flame.

  “You’re interviewing someone else at the same time?” she asked, dropping her sweet demeanor, her scent moving from excitement to the heat of anger.

  “Of course. We need to fill the spot quickly, and we’d like to have a few options. As you noted, this is a desirable place of employment. If you'd like to wait, we’ll make a decision before our lunch break is over.” Percy smiled, charming as ever.

  “I cleared my afternoon for this.” Violet's mouth turned down in a pout.

  “So did we,” I said, crossing my arms.

  She didn’t voice any more complaints.

  “Do you have any questions for us?” Lacey jumped in, probably afraid I’d say something else.

  “I can’t think of anything,” said Violet, grabbing up her purse.

  “All right then. Feel free to browse the museum while we finish up all the interviews.” Percy stood to shake her hand and gave me a jerk of
her head, indicating that I should go get Toni.

  I couldn’t leave that couch fast enough. Southern belle, my ass. That girl was a viper. I really hoped the other interview would go better.

  Toni was studying a wall display of old straight edge razors and curling irons. The razors we’d picked up at various auctions and yard sales. The curling irons were ones Percy and I had used on ourselves and others in the past. They didn’t look like much, just two pieces of metal spooned together, marcel style. No spring loading on those babies. You stuck them right in the coals to heat up. I now owned a more modern set that utilized a heater.

  “We’re ready for you, Toni.”

  “Great! Oh, here’s my stuff. I was all excited putting it together last night. My husband thought I was going nuts. More nuts than usual anyway.” Toni’s smile was large and genuine.

  “Great.” I repeated her sentiment. “Let’s go have a look.” I took the folder from her and took a furtive sniff for good measure. She smelled pleasantly of baked goods and mint. There was no underlying smell of nerves or aggression, which boded well.

  I lead her over to the waiting area, receiving Violet-colored glares as she headed past us to the museum.

  “Toni, this is the original owner of Olympian’s, Percy.”

  Percy stepped forward to shake her hand as she’d already been standing, better to see that I behaved myself when Violet crossed my path.

  “And this is Lacey-Marie. We each own a piece of the business.”

  Lacey stood and sized Toni up before taking her hand.

  “Oh, cold fingers. That means a warm heart right? It’s nice to meet everyone,” Toni took a seat across from the couch the rest of us had arranged ourselves on.

  I passed the résumé on to Percy and opened the portfolio. There were several sets of nails on the first page, all hand painted on acrylics. A picture on the bottom showed her bent over a woman’s hand, a minuscule paintbrush held delicately in her long fingers. This was no airbrushing crap, but real artistry. It was unlikely she’d get to perform much freehand, but it was nice to know that she could. She could have been an artist, but a nail tech program is much cheaper and quicker than art school.

  “So tell us about yourself, Toni.” Percy placed the résumé to the side, and leaned forward, elbows on knees.

  “Well, I’ve been married since I was 21. I went to college for six years, but then I got pregnant and had a couple of kids. I’m all done now—I’ve got my boy and girl. I went to school for nails while I was pregnant with my second. My mother-in-law lives down the road and babysits for me. She’s finally retired—and can and wants to—watch the kids, so I’ve gotten the opportunity to work whenever I want.”

  “How long have you been out of school?” Percy asked as she accepted the portfolio from me and flipped through.

  “Four years now.”

  “And the reason you left your last job?”

  “Lack of babysitter, but that’s a non-issue now.” She smiled brightly.

  I disengaged my attention from the current interview and glanced over at Violet. She wasn’t looking at the displays. She was staring at us and listening in with the most intense death glare I’d ever seen.

  Goody.

  When Toni’s interview was over, we all stood and shook hands, then left the two potentials alone and retreated to the kitchen to make a decision.

  “Is there even a question?” Percy asked, laying her hands palms down on the table.

  “I doubt it. Whoever we hire needs to play well with others. There’s competitive and then there’s catty. I don’t get along well with cats.” I flopped down on the nearest chair.

  “I’m kinda catlike,” Lacey protested in mock offense, her hand flying to her heart.

  “You’re a bit more like a snake,” I retorted, giving her a gentle shove.

  “Gee, thanks." She rolled her eyes at me. "Anyway, I agree. I’m all the cat this salon can probably handle. I vote for the Italian.”

  “Good, that’s exactly what I was thinking. Not about the cat thing, about not having her as a part of this team. I’m sure she’s a lovely girl, but we’re not the right fit for her. Let’s go break the news.” Percy lead the charge back to the salon.

  Toni and Violet marched over together.

  “Ladies, we’ve come to a decision,” Percy announced with gusto. “Violet, you seem like a wonderful young lady, and you show promise, but I’m afraid we can’t offer you a job right now.”

  Percy can be so… nice sometimes.

  Violet’s fake smile fell right off her face. She grabbed her bag off the chair and hurried out the door without bothering to shut it behind her.

  I found great satisfaction in doing it for her.

  “Well Toni, I’m sure you’ve probably guessed, but you’re hired. Are you all right to stick around for the afternoon to start your trial? We’ve got some nail appointments all scheduled for you.” Percy waited until I returned to the group to make the announcement.

  “Absolutely! Thank you so much! Do you mind if I call my husband and tell him?” She bounced up and down on her toes, reeking of excitement.

  “Go for it. We’ll go open back up,” said Percy.

  As soon as Lacey flipped the sign back over, Leiza Dostal walked in holding her mother’s hand.

  “But I don’t wanna, Mumma. I want Rapunzel hair,” she squawked at her mother, trying to tug her back towards the door.

  “You can’t have long hair until you learn to brush it yourself. We talked about this, baby. You’re getting a haircut, and then we’re going to go shopping.” Her mother gently guided her in my direction.

  “Can I get a toy?”

  “Of course, but only if you’re good,” her mother promised.

  The little brat was too old to be bribed like that, but her mother was a sucker.

  “Come on over, hun, and we’ll get you shampooed,” I said, trying to usher her over to the shampoo bowls.

  “I don’t wanna shampoo.”

  The whining, there it was.

  “You don’t have to, hon,” her mother promised.

  “I’d have a much easier time getting the knots out if I can get some conditioner in there.” I was trying to be convincing, but I could tell she wasn’t having it.

  “No, I wanna buy a toy!”

  “You just have to be a big girl and get your haircut. Then you can get your toy.”

  “Come on over, and we’ll get started.” I grabbed a child’s cape, turning towards my chair instead of the sinks. Apparently she’d rather me yank instead of suds.

  She complied while grumbling.

  I dampened her hair with the cold water from my squirt bottle, then loaded on the silk drops and leave-in conditioner. I went to work on her tangles with a wide tooth comb, starting at the ends and working my way up. She whined and complained as I pulled the knots apart by hand.

  “I have to get the knots out so I can give you a good haircut.” I worked a particularly tight tangle with practiced fingers.

  “But it hurts.” She tried to jerk her head out of my reach.

  “I’d be done combing already if you’d let me wash and condition it. Now you know for next time.” I locked the chair into position by lifting up on the foot pump lever.

  Did there have to be a next time? I love most of my clients—I even love most kids—but this one was getting on my nerves. It wasn’t even her fault. I had to pin the blame on her parents. Bribing kids gets them nowhere with haircuts. They just wait until the bribes get good.

  I thought it was too bad that spanking was becoming taboo. You can go overboard, yes, but this flaky method of raising kids wasn’t working at all. Kids cannot raise themselves. They do the best they can, but they need parents, and they need limits and consequences. My opinion may have been colored by my time of upbringing.

  Leiza had no clue what consequences were. Or limits.

  Finally, I got her completely detangled, and I had her trimmed up in 10 minutes. No blow dry. Pay m
e. Buhbye.

  Frederika Oser, who went by Freddie, was normally Lacey-Marie’s client, but today she was Toni’s. I had a moment before my next client was due, so I took the opportunity to stop out back to visit the manicure station.

  The two were chatting happily about Freddie’s lack of motivation as far as college was concerned. She was a smart girl who played field hockey and had a go-with-the-flow type of personality.

  “I’m thinking about backpacking across Europe after I graduate. You know, take a year off before becoming a grown-up.” Freddie was leaning so her forehead was almost touching Toni’s, who was painting little designs on the corners of each nail.

  Apparently there was a semi-formal dance at Isenburge High the next night.

  It was Thursday, right? I mentally calculated the days. Yep, definitely Thursday.

  “That sounds like a lot of fun. I wish I had taken the time to have some fun before committing myself to six years of school. Of course, if I hadn't gone when I did, I never would have met my husband. Other than that, I wasted my money.” Toni turned Freddie's hand this way and that, inspecting her work.

  “Are guys more human after high school?” Freddie admired her other hand.

  “Aw, no, chicky, I’m afraid very few men grow up. And those who grow up completely are just boring. In fact, all grown ups who grow up are boring.” Toni laughed. “I hope my husband and I never become adults.”

  The young woman laughed with her, and I quit lurking in the hallway.

  Percy and Lacey were waiting for me when I got back.

  “Well?” asked Lacey.

  “She’s great! I think she’ll fit right in.” I walked to the counter to call over my next client.

  Percy joined me.

  “Ethan?” I called.

  “Ellie?” Percy called.

  A teenage girl and an elderly gentlemen stood and made their way over. One much slower than the other.

  “Percy, I have something to tell you.” Ellie glanced over at the couches where her mother was sitting reading a magazine.

  She closed in on Percy and spoke low, and I turned my ear in their direction.

  “Matt and I are engaged, and we haven’t told our parents yet ’cause there’s no way they’ll approve.”