by T. A. White
“Oh my gosh, I am so, so sorry,” Caroline gushed.
I fought to contain my laugh. She sounded like a bubble-headed idiot with more peroxide than sense in her head.
I schooled my expression to sympathy, unsure if I was successful, especially when Caroline started patting at the woman’s arm with her hand.
“I’m just such a klutz sometimes,” Caroline said, still with that fake voice. “Let me go get you a napkin.”
She toddled off even as the woman said, “No, that’s not necessary.”
The woman’s face turned frustrated until she noticed me watching her. I gave her a bright smile. “I hope we didn’t ruin anything.”
The three shared a glance, visibly withdrawing, unease and suspicion on their faces.
“It’s nothing,” the brunette said with a strained smile.
I pegged her as the ringleader for these three and gave her another sunny smile in return. Nothing suspicious about this set of circumstances. Just a drunk vampire and werewolf crashing into things.
Dahlia had watched the entire thing go down and had the napkins waiting at the bar when Caroline arrived. She grabbed them and headed back to the four of us.
“What brings you to the Blue Pepper?” I asked. “Are you going to join in karaoke night?”
The woman in charge gave me a hard smile. “No, we’re just out to enjoy a few drinks with friends.”
Caroline arrived just then. “You should sing. We are. We’re performing Toxic.”
I nearly choked. “That’s what you chose?”
She gave me a taunting smile. “I thought it appropriate. Next time you shouldn’t be so resistant.”
I gave her a disgusted look. “I’m going back to the bar.”
“Oh no, you aren’t. You said you’d sing, so you’re singing.” She grabbed my arm and hauled me back into place, her strength surprising.
The exchange accomplished one goal, getting the women to relax. Their gazes changed from suspicious to slightly condescending.
Yeah, I bet they thought we were idiots. The baby vampire and her werewolf friend. I was okay with that. I was often underestimated and had learned to use that to my advantage.
“I’m Caroline. This is Aileen,” Caroline said, introducing us. I gave them another friendly smile. Just a harmless vampire shanghaied into karaoke night.
The woman who appeared to be in charge gave Caroline a superior smile. “I’m Jennifer. This is Ashley.” She pointed at the blonde. “And this is Mary.” The overweight brunette shifted in her seat, shredding one of the napkins Caroline had brought over.
“Have you ever been here?” I asked as I tried to think of the best way to get more information out of them.
“First time,” Ashley said.
“Mine too,” Caroline volunteered. “Their lemon drop martinis are out of this world.”
The women shared a conspiring smile. I had to wonder if they knew something we didn’t. Like maybe the fact that Dahlia put a little something extra into her drinks.
“We have an acquaintance in common,” Mary said abruptly. Her gaze was challenging as it met mine.
“Mary,” Jennifer said between gritted teeth.
Mary lifted her chin, ignoring her friend. “You might remember her.”
The other two at the table looked unhappy, both shooting Mary looks that said ‘shut up’.
I kept a smile on my face. “Maybe. What was her name?”
Mary’s eyes narrowed, the cant to her mouth turning nasty. “Angela. My cousin.”
That explained the veiled hostility and also confirmed these women were witches.
“How is she doing?” I asked, keeping my reaction off my face. I’d been hoping she was dead. The witch had done her best to kill me. I disliked having potential enemies running around the city.
I took a peek with my left eye, trying to get a glimpse of their magic. It was a mostly useless exercise. The bar was so steeped in power that it was lit up like a neon Christmas tree, making it difficult to see past the bright haze.
I thought I caught a glimpse of yellow and red snakes wrapped around the women’s auras but I couldn’t be sure.
“She’s back after a trip overseas,” Jennifer said, interrupting what Mary had been about to say. She gave the other woman a warning look, one that said cross her at her peril.
I wasn’t happy to hear the news. It wasn’t hard to interpret Angela’s punishment was over and she was once again running merrily around the city.
“Is she still working for Miriam?” I asked, keeping a pleasantly inquiring expression on my face. It was a low blow, considering Miriam was probably the reason for any suffering Angela had likely endured.
Mary’s face darkened and she stood, her chair scraping back. “You think you’re untouchable, but you’re not. You’ll pay for what you did.”
“Mary,” Jennifer barked. She spat a word in another language. Whatever she expected didn’t happen, judging by the slight surprise on her face.
Mary made an ugly sound. “The wards here prevent that, or did you not listen to anything I told you?”
Jennifer’s expression tightened. “It doesn’t matter. You will stop talking or I will make you suffer.”
Mary’s mouth snapped closed even as a defiant look crossed her face.
Dahlia appeared at my side, her expression steely but polite. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave. Personal attacks are forbidden on these premises.”
Jennifer lifted her chin defiantly, not seeming at all repentant for being called out on her actions. “You misunderstand. That wasn’t a personal attack, merely a corrective measure.”
“It would have caused considerable pain and damage.” Dahlia’s voice had turned to black ice, the smallest thread of power deepening it and sending a shiver down my back.
Jennifer paid no attention to it, remaining unmoved. “It was a little thing. You can forgive it this once.”
Arguing with the bartender. Not only rude, but also idiotic.
She should have taken her friends and left without an argument. Now Dahlia was going to have to make an example of her. Foolish move.
I didn’t have to look around to know we were part of an ever-widening circle of interest. More and more people were taking notice of the weird little standoff.
A pair of men watched us with avid expressions. They were twins, nearly identical with hair longer than was considered fashionable. There was a weird shimmer over them indicating to me they were wearing some type of glamour. Dahlia’s ward prevented me from looking under it.
When they noticed my attention, one flashed me a panty-dropping smile before they both melted back into the crowd.
I sighed and debated the merits of interfering.
Caroline watched the drama unfolding with wide, avid eyes. Somehow, she’d gotten hold of a martini and was sipping on it, looking highly entertained.
I shook my head and waited to catch her eye before mouthing, “Where’s mine?”
She pointed to the martini and mouthed back, “This is yours.”
I gasped. That bitch. I’d make her pay. I sent her my best ‘I will get even with you later’ look. She giggled, not appearing intimidated in the least.
We’d see. I had mad revenge skills. I’d figure out her weakness and then strike like a revenge ninja.
I rolled my lips together to suppress a small snicker at the evilness of my plan. It was going to be so epic.
Jennifer’s attention jumped to me and she looked coldly furious. I glanced around in confusion wondering what I’d done to deserve such a look. It dawned on me that she thought I was laughing at her.
I shook my head at her to try and tell her she got it all wrong. If anything, it seemed to make things worse as her expression chilled, hate glimmering there.
Dahlia seemed to tire of waiting, her expression hardening slightly, making her seem like an ice princess about to pass judgment on the peasants. She remained remote and unmoving, not saying a wo
rd, as several tendrils of the faint black smoke drifted down from the ceiling.
Caroline’s eyes widened as they circled the other three.
The women were unaware as they breathed in the smoke, Jennifer and Ashley seeming triumphant at Dahlia’s lack of reaction, as if they thought they’d won the confrontation. Mary looked half-afraid, half-combative, as if she wanted to run but also wanted to tear me apart with her bare hands.
She was the first to notice the smoke, going as still as a rabbit glimpsing a snake.
The effects of the smoke were small at first. A coughing fit from Ashley, slightly labored breathing from Mary. Then Jennifer bent forward, gasping, as if she couldn’t get enough air. One hand came to her throat as she looked wildly around the room.
Dahlia’s face lacked any sympathy. “You were warned.”
Mary clutched the back of the seat and lowered herself down, her face turning bright red as she gasped, trying to get enough air in her lungs.
Jennifer collapsed to her knees, making small wheezing sounds.
Dahlia watched them, her expression remote. She really intended to kill them.
I looked around the room. Most seemed enthralled by the drama, their eyes bright with the promise of death. A few, however, looked alarmed. Humans most likely, ones on the verge of calling an ambulance.
I could leave Dahlia to finish giving her lesson. It was a tempting prospect. The witches probably deserved every inch of Dahlia’s ire. I had no doubt any kindness given to them would come back to bite me on the ass.
I’d been in this world long enough to know that whatever Jennifer had thrown at her friend hadn’t been kind. Worse, she’d done it so Mary wouldn’t reveal something, meaning it was related to me in some way.
Had it just been us here, I might have been able to let it go, let Dahlia extract any price she felt necessary, but we weren’t alone. Humans were watching, ones with cell phones with the ability to record. I didn’t need Dahlia suffering for this, whether from chancing our discovery or the humans spreading the word that this place was dangerous. Not when some of this encounter could be laid at my feet.
I leaned closer to Dahlia and said in a stage whisper. “If you choke them to death, they won’t be able to get up and leave on their own.”
Dahlia flicked me a glance, the power in her eyes setting my stomach to trembling. This was a being that could easily kill me.
“Just saying. I don’t want to carry them out of here or deal with any nasty things their bodies might leave behind. Do you?”
Dahlia’s face remained blank and icy. She didn’t give any sign that she’d heard my words, much less planned to listen, but black smoke retreated from the women’s throats and noses. The smoke curled playfully in on itself as it rejoined its companions on the ceiling.
The three drew deep, gasping breaths, their color returning to normal. They didn’t waste any more words on arguing or posturing, grabbing their purses and hightailing it out of the bar, fear on their faces.
Dahlia turned her gaze on me, the look in her eyes indecipherable.
“Do you want us to leave too?” I offered. I would understand if she did. I was the one who’d initiated contact. Some might say that I was the cause of everything that had happened.
Her expression lightened, a small smile curling her lips. “I believe you’re next for karaoke. I wouldn’t deprive my guests of such an amusement.”
I blanched, almost wishing she’d thrown us out.
Caroline whooped and grabbed my arm. “I second this motion.”
She didn’t give me a chance to protest, shepherding me to the karaoke machine and shoving a microphone into my hand before grabbing her own.
“We’re ready,” she chirped at the person running it.
He looked between the two of us with wide eyes, as if not quite believing a vampire and werewolf would want to participate in karaoke night. He seemed almost human except for a slight glimmer around him.
Caroline gave him a look that said ‘hurry up’.
He busied himself with his computer, lifting his microphone and saying, “For our next song, we have Caroline and Aileen performing Toxic.”
Caroline gave me a playful look and took the first part, shaking her hips and performing to the crowd as she got into the song. By the time it was my turn to join in, I’d forgotten my reservations and just enjoyed playing my part.
Caroline grinned at me as I sang the first notes, putting her back to mine as we hit the chorus.
After that, we strutted our stuff, riling up the crowd before sashaying past each other. We finished to thunderous applause.
Caroline bowed and waved as we handed our microphones back to the DJ who looked impressed.
We headed back to our seats to find two shots already on the bar. Caroline grabbed hers and downed it before I could stop her.
She picked mine up and handed it to me. “You’re drinking. I’ve been stuck cataloging at the bookstore and I’m ready to live it up. We haven’t had a night like this in ages.”
I gave her a sideways look. It’d been a long time since I had a drunken night of revelry. Already, I was tipsier than I’d been in years.
Seeing my hesitation, she threw her arm out to indicate the rest of the bar. “You don’t even have to worry about losing control here. Dahlia will keep an eye on things, won’t you?”
Dahlia gave my friend an amused look. “You are correct.”
Caroline’s face turned mushy. “Aw, I love this woman. Lena, you have such awesome friends.”
I threw back the shot before I could think better of it. Caroline cheered and slapped the bar. “Another.”
It turned out the shot was just the beginning in a long line of drinks that got wilder as the night deepened. The bar turned into a giant rave as we progressed from shots, back to martinis, then to a delicious fruity concoction that reminded me of rainbows.
Dahlia didn’t bother taking our requests, serving us whatever took her fancy at any given moment. She had a new drink waiting every time we finished the last.
I bypassed tipsy and headed straight to Inebriationville, letting Caroline convince me to perform two more songs with her, the last one of which we sang from the top of the bar as our adoring crowd gathered before us.
Caroline bopped next to me, her body gliding to the music and managing some semblance of grace despite the amount of alcohol she’d had.
We were on the last chorus, the crowd singing with us, when I looked down and spotted Liam frowning up at me from beside the bar, his face slightly incredulous.
I gave him a lopsided smile and a happy wave. His lips parted in a smile so slight I might have imagined it.
Brax stood next to him, arms folded across his chest as he watched Caroline with a dark look. He looked less than pleased to find one of his wolves dancing on top of a bar with half the spook population of Columbus egging her on.
The alpha was a tall, imposing man, with a harsh masculine face and a body that would have made a gym rat jealous. I wondered idly if running around on all fours helped build all those muscles.
He looked ex-military with his hair cut close to his head and a rigid, upright posture. It was apparent he had experience with martial arts, his stance perfectly balanced, weight distributed so he could move to avoid an unexpected attack.
Even relaxed like he was, he projected the sort of presence that demanded obedience from those mortals around him.
The two were a matched pair, a circle widening around them as the crowd unconsciously gave them space.
I nudged Caroline and jutted my chin at the two. “Busted. Looks like Sir Crankypants and Mr. Grumpsalot don’t approve.”
I snickered at my joke.
Caroline’s expression was curious as she looked where I indicated. A comical look of dismay crossed her face. She missed a step in her dance and toppled off the bar. I tried to grab her but missed.
One of our erstwhile fans caught her in his arms, his face creasing into a pleased smile.
“Woah there. You don’t want to crack your head.”
He set her down gently, even as he grinned at her flirtatiously.
Caroline gave him a drunken smile that changed to a grimace as Brax loomed over his shoulder, a dark glare aimed at the man.
The man noticed and let go of Caroline, holding his hands up and backing away. “I’ll just go then.”
“You do that,” Brax said.
The man beat a hasty retreat, leaving a morose Caroline in his wake.
I suddenly noticed I was standing alone on the bar, holding a microphone in my hand as the last notes of the song played.
I bent a goofy grin on Liam. “Sing with me?”
His gaze was faintly amused. “I don’t think so.”
I gave him a mocking frown. “Come, Sir Crankypants, a little bit of fun won’t kill you.”
A choked laugh from Liam’s side drew my attention.
“Nathan, you tattled again. No one likes a tattletale,” I said, shaking my finger at him.
The motion upset my balance and I wavered before righting myself. I gave the two of them a proud smile at the feat.
Nathan snickered as Liam reached up and grabbed my hand, using it to drag me down off the bar.
“I think you’ve had enough fun for the night,” Liam told me.
“Poppycock,” I said, waving his words away. “We’re just getting started.”
The crowd around us booed at the delay in entertainment, before edging away from the dark scowl he aimed at them.
“I’ll take that, Aileen,” the DJ said.
“I’m trusting you’ll bestow this on only the most worthiest of individuals,” I said, handing over the mic with an expression of grave seriousness.
He gave me a small bow. “As my lady commands.”
I beamed at him, then frowned as Liam shot the minor Fae a look that invited his absence.
The frown popped and fizzled as Liam tugged me against him, muttering. “How did you get into this state?”
I didn’t answer, too absorbed with getting lost in the deep blue of his eyes. The depths beckoned, calling to the most secret parts of me.
“You have pretty eyes,” I sighed.
“And you are very drunk,” he stated. His face looked torn between being amused by that fact and upset.