by Meg Xuemei X
“Sorry we didn’t see you,” said the father of a teenage girl, a preteen boy, and a little girl like Fawn.
“No worries.” I smiled at them, getting an idea. “Where are you heading to?”
“We’re going to the museum,” the little girl said in excitement and pointed at the ivory building of the art museum next door to the club. “They have a special show today.”
“Would you like to join us?” the brown-haired teenage girl chimed in. She liked me right away. She’d prefer my company to her younger siblings. The girl was so much more amiable than Safiya. I wished they could switch.
“I’m going to that club.” I pointed at Claws, Fangs, and Fiends. “See the nice statue beside the burgundy door?”
The family looked where I pointed and appeared utterly confused. They then shook their head as if trying to gather a forgotten thought. I shuffled up the white marble stairs to show them where I was going, and the family turned around.
“Where did she go?” the teenage girl asked.
“We need to hurry or we’ll miss the show,” the father said, and they continued on as if they could no longer remember me.
I sighed. Clearly there was a supernatural world hidden in plain sight, but regular humans couldn’t see it. But why could I?
“Hello, handsome,” I greeted the gargoyle stone statue. Then I pinched its nose to gather courage before facing the burgundy door. I was hired. I was an employee now, so I should act like one. I should take initiative and be aggressive instead of knocking timidly and waiting for someone to open it for me.
The door swung open before I touched it. K blocked the entrance and stared down at me.
“Hey, K, what’s up?” I asked with my bright Southern accent. “I’m reporting to my station. It’s my first day! Isn’t it exciting? How do I look? I want to make a good first impression.”
My heart pounded while I bluffed. With only two hours of sleep last night, I prayed I could get through the day without any incident, and most importantly, without getting fired.
“I can’t believe the boss hired you,” K said bitterly.
“What can I say? I have my charm.” I thickened my Southern accent to irritate him. “And you should not block the entrance, KK. Rydstrom said he’d have to deduct my pay if I was late, and then I’d have to argue that you’re the cause.”
He moved aside. “Don’t pinch the gargoyle’s nose next time,” he said in distaste.
Music blared in my face. But as I turned to peek at the crowd that made a beeline toward the museum next door, I noticed that none of them looked in this direction. Just as I’d suspected, this place was glamoured. If something ever happened to me here, even if I screamed bloody murder, not a single good Samaritan would come to my rescue.
The burden was mine and mine alone now.
“The gargoyle didn’t mind,” I said and stepped into the monsters’ lair.
“As if you can speak for him?” the bouncer sneered.
“So it’s a him?” I smirked. “You inspected the gender already? How?”
“Just don’t do anything crazy today,” he said and walked away. He’d had enough of me.
I strode toward the bar, more confident than yesterday. And I was glad to see Indira behind the bar.
“Hey girl, I’m Evelina. Thanks for helping me yesterday,” I greeted, then scanned the floor and frowned. “Why are there so many beings here already? Don’t they wanna sleep in? It’s early morning.” More people, more work, and I wasn’t thrilled.
“I hope you aren’t the lazy ass type,” Indira said. “I’m not going to do all the work. If you think we have too many patrons at such goddamn hours, wait until midnight.”
I sighed and moved behind the bar, looking around to get familiar with the setting.
“We were all a bit shocked that the boss hired you right away,” Indira said. “The rest of us had to go through an elaborate vetting process.”
I smiled. “I was a bit surprised myself.”
“What did you do after you were called up to the office?” Indira asked.
I tried damn hard not to flush.
“Nothing. We just chitchatted,” I said.
“Boss never chitchats,” she said, arching a suspicious eyebrow.
“We chitchatted,” I insisted. “I’m a good talker. I have a way with the introverts.”
“Then what did you chitchat about?”
“This and that,” I said with a shrug, trying to remember what we’d talked about before I danced for him. “He was impressed with my can-do attitude. I also told him people were afraid of him, and he said that beings trembled in front of him. I laughed at his joke, only to find it wasn’t a joke. He has no sense of humor.”
Indira’s eyes rounded, then narrowed as I spoke. The inked tattoo of a wolf’s paw on her left cheek stretched as her expression shifted. She was expressive, which I appreciated. I didn’t like to talk to the wall and some people were like that.
“We didn’t finish our chat, though.” I touched rows of glasses as I continued my self-guided tour of the bar.
Indira leaned against the bar. “Why not?”
“He threw me out because some mean chick calling herself queen or something was coming to visit him. So he had Drake, his giant guard, to escort me out through the back door, despite my protest. But before I left, he told me to show up first thing today or he’d deduct the hours from my paycheck if I was late. So here I am.”
“That queen bitch,” she growled. “Best you never meet her.”
“Who is she?” I asked, suddenly feeling angry. I didn’t like that Rydstrom regarded another woman as more important than me. Then I tried to shake off this stupid jealousy and possession.
The mob Fae boss was nothing to me, as I was nothing to him. All I had done was striptease for him for less than five minutes and share a mutual burning lust in a moment of weakness.
“Later. She’s been planning something big and bad for both immortal and mortal realms,” Indira whispered as a patron strutted toward the bar and ordered rum on the rocks. Indira grabbed a glass and started making the drink. “Today, you’ll just watch me, but tomorrow you’ll be on your own. Got it? And what bar have you tended before?”
“I’ll tell you.” I darted my eyes around. “But this will be just between you and me.”
When the patron paid and left, and before another headed our way, I said in a small voice. “A student bar in a college. But I’m tough. I’m a quick study.”
She shook her head. “You lied to Rydstrom?”
“Not intentionally.”
“Sounds very intentional to me.”
“Well, as I said, this is between you and me.”
“Girl, you have balls, but you have no idea what and who you’re dealing with.”
“Consider this my trial in life,” I said. “If I can survive in a world of monsters, I can survive anywhere.” I held her stare firmly, yet my heart pounded hard. “I’m not afraid of monsters. You know what I mean?”
Then my ears caught a cry and plea from the north corner amid the loud music. Somehow, I had selective hearing. Dad said that I had superhero syndrome, like I could hear the scream of the lamb in the dead of night. Like right now.
I erupted into action and leapt over the counter, ignoring a startled look from a coming patron. Stomping through the crowd, I tracked the pleading voice until I came to a booth where a blonde dude with fangs dragged a pretty, petite human girl toward his lap and trapped her there. The girl begged for him to let her go and he got angrier.
Another human girl who had wavy hair tried to pacify the fanged dude. “She’s new, sir. Please. She’s easily scared. I can serve you in her stead.”
But the dude only wanted the petite girl. He pressed his sharp fangs against the throbbing veins on her neck. Her fear only excited him more.
Was the fucker going to drink her blood? He must be a vampire, then.
I reached them and punched my knuckles into the vampire’s
temple. Knuckles hurt worse than a fist. He jerked his head back, surprised that a girl like me had that kind of strength. I took advantage of his stupor and pulled the girl off his lap.
“Get her out of here,” I told the wavy-haired girl, and she immediately led her sobbing friend away.
The vampire recovered and snarled at me. Then he sniffed.
“Stop sniffing at people,” I snapped. “This custom of you supernaturals is getting old and gets on my nerves. And dude, she said no, so fucking respect that. No means no in any part of the universe.”
“What are you?” he asked. “You smell more delicious than her. I’ve never scented anyone as sweet and spicy as you. And since you offered to replace her—”
I pulled out my pepper spray, but a large, rough hand, fast like a flash, had grabbed my elbow. Before I drove it back to the newcomer and kicked the vampire in the teeth at the same time, K’s harsh voice sounded above my head. “There’s no need to use that pepper spray of yours. I don’t want to hear another scream in my club.” Then he turned to the vampire. “Get out. You’re banned.”
“Why?” the blond vampire asked.
“You violated club rules,” K said. “Any business conducted here must be mutually agreed upon.”
Wow, I didn’t know that. That sounded quite fair for a club catering to monsters.
“You’ll kick me out for a lowly human girl?” hissed the vampire. “Do you know who I am?”
K’s face morphed to the shape of a bear head, his huge jaw open, and his body grew two heads taller in mere seconds. My eyes went wild as he lifted the vampire out of the booth and dragged him toward the dark red double-door. The crowd parted for them.
“It’s daytime!” the vampire screamed. “You can’t do this to me!”
I trailed after K, then rushed ahead of him to open the door so he could throw out the vampire, and he did.
A thud, then a bang, then a groan. I slammed the door shut in the vampire’s face and let out a heavy breath. It looked like my first day at the job wasn’t going to be eventful. But maybe I could still hope for the rest of the day.
Sometimes, I can be optimistic like that.
When I turned around, K towered over me, still in his bear form. I took an involuntary step back, and my shoulder blades hit the door.
“Uh, K, your face,” I said. “It’s nice, but I’m not used to seeing you like that.”
If this had been the first time that I’d learned about the merciless magical world, I’d have screamed and run for my life while peeing myself in the process.
He growled, advancing on me. I slid to one side and carefully walked backward so I didn’t bump into anyone. I glued a timid smile on my lips meant to calm any agitated animal.
“Use your words, K,” I offered.
His face morphed to normal and his height dropped. As I felt less threatened, I sucked more air into my lungs.
“I’ll let it go this time since you don’t know the rules,” he said. “Toby and Indira will go over them with you today. You’ll never step on my toes again. You stay in your fucking lane and I stay in mine.”
“I know Indira. But who’s Toby?” I asked. “I can’t remember so many names on my first day. Also, K, your lane proved to be a slow one with lots of traffic and noises today, but mine turned out to be the expressway. Surprise, right?”
He growled again. Then the maroon door swung open, and K stopped short as Rydstrom swept in. The activities on the floor suddenly ceased. Even the music became mellow.
Rydstrom’s gaze pierced the air and the crowd, yet he wasn’t looking at anyone until it found me the next instant. My breath caught. Damn, the mob Fae boss was stunning. His face made me think of a fallen archangel, carved out of the night, sin, and forbidden pleasure. He looked like a force of nature with obsidian wings arched behind him and shadows trailing him.
Yet after a blink, he didn’t have wings.
I gawked at his dark glory, then suddenly remembered the humiliation from yesterday. My admiration became a glare in a nanosecond, and a sound I usually didn’t make tore from my throat amid the sudden quietness.
He darted his gaze away, but I didn’t miss the faint amused smirk on his face before he walked away. He didn’t say hello or nod to anyone, as if he were truly a king.
Then Indira appeared beside me. Shouldn’t she tend the bar? She tugged my sleeve and pulled me behind the crowd as if trying to make me invisible. I craned my neck to see where Rydstrom was going and if he had anything to say to me. I’d accept an apology if he was sincere.
He traipsed to the stairs, his power rippling around him, and then he was out of sight. The club resumed its normal sounds and activity.
Indira shoved me behind the bar. “You hissed at Rydstrom. Seriously?”
I blinked. “I did? I didn’t realize it. Maybe it was a reaction toward him throwing me out through the back door yesterday?”
“No one hisses at Rydstrom and still stands, girl,” she said, regarding me from my head to my breasts. “Maybe there’s something about you that caught his eyes. But mark my word. Don’t count on your luck. He’s gorgeous, rich, and powerful, but don’t let it get into your head that he might truly fancy you, or you’ll end up just like the other girls. He and we are in a different category. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Of course, I knew he was out of my league. Even though Rydstrom had been interested enough to ask me to strip dance for him, I was but a passing fad, and I’d never let any man, especially a very powerful one, use me and then discard me. I might not have much in life, but I wouldn’t allow anyone to tromp on my last dignity. At least, that’s what I told myself.
“What happened to the other girls?” I said.
Indira smirked. “Now you’re curious about the mysterious, formidable, and fuck-worthy boss.”
“Who said he’s that worthy?” I rolled my eyes. “Fine, don’t tell me, or tell me something I don’t know.”
“I don’t know much about our boss either,” Indira admitted. “No one does. Rydstrom hasn’t frequented the Claws until recently.”
“How recent?”
“About a week ago.”
My heart skipped a beat. That would have been right before my parents had gone missing.
Indira ordered me to the kitchen to get more limes and ice. I went and introduced myself as the new girl to the kitchen staff and the chef. Even at first glance, I knew none of them were humans, though I didn’t know what their species were. I was so green to this world, yet I hid my ignorance except to Indira. If I didn’t, the monsters would eat me alive.
Somehow, my instincts told me that I could trust Indira. She was damn mean to everyone, but she’d supported me, and I’d for sure watch her six.
I returned with a basket of cut limes and ice and a bottle of expensive Martini among other expensive bottles of hard drinks.
“Why did it take you so long?” Indira asked, rolling her amber-brown eyes. “You aren’t a model employee even in your first few hours. Within five minutes here, you picked a fight, not counting that you got into a spectacular brawl yesterday before your interview. You’re mouthy and you like to stick your nose where you have no business. You even hissed at the boss like a bad feline. Girl, I don’t know how long you’ll last here. I might not waste my time and energy training you. I’ll just wait until you either quit or they get rid of you.”
What she said about getting rid of me sounded more like killing me. I steeled my shoulders and dropped my armful of supplies on the counter next to her.
“That’s very encouraging and inspiring when you listed so many of my flaws I’ve never heard of,” I said. “Which means you either have a twisted power of observation, or you care. You got quite a few fanboys in the kitchen, so I had an earful of you being the legendary lesbian barmaid in the supernatural world. And I brought you the ingredients for you to make Faery Legacy. I didn’t even know what the fuck that is. The chef said it’s your signature cocktail that involves ingredi
ents like super vintage cognac, 1770 Kümmel Liqueur, circa-1860 Dubb Orange Curaçao, fairy dust, magical angostura bitters gathered from ancient days, and tons of bat shit.”
Indira roared with laughter despite herself. “You totally made up the ingredient of bat shit.”
“Rydstrom would love to have it.” I grinned at her. “Chef said the Fae mafia boss needs the Faery Legacy to entertain a few of his esteemed guests tonight.” I wondered if that mean chick who called herself some kind of freak queen was among them.
I wouldn’t be here to see to that, and a sudden jealous rage shot to my head.
“Rydstrom will want your head if he hears your version of the Legacy,” Indira snorted.
“He wants more than my head,” I murmured. Then internally I cursed myself for the slip of the tongue. I didn’t need any more drama today.
Indira arched an eyebrow. “What else would he want from you?”
And she called me out for sticking my nose where I didn’t belong.
“So, what are you, Indira?” I asked. “Should I look at you differently from now on?”
She narrowed her eyes at me, and something that looked like a threat glowed in them. “You have an issue with my being into chicks?” she drawled, but that wasn’t a question.
“What? No!” I said. “I don’t care who you want to screw. Go bang a duck, as long as the duck is willing and it’s consensual.”
“A duck can’t consent,” K chimed in, inching closer. I hadn’t paid attention that he’d been eavesdropping.
I gave both K and Indira a warning stare. “Then don’t fuck it or I’ll have an issue with you. As I said, it must be consensual. We’re all adults here.”
“Who said I want to fuck a duck?” She now sounded pissed, glaring at K, then at me.
I blinked. “You won’t?”
“I’m not having this conversation,” Indira said. “It’s going nowhere.”
“Agreed,” I said. “I asked if I should look at you differently because you’re a legend of bartending.”
“Then why didn’t you say so earlier, so we didn’t need to get into the weird fucking a duck debate?”
“Because she’s trouble,” K said. “I knew it when I caught her messing with the gargoyle.”