The Eternal Rose.

The Tudor styled establishment was known for three things; The good food, its breathtaking beautiful owner, and the barista who could make any drink taste of heaven. At least that's what the reviews on yelp stated. The barista though doubted the third point was true since alcohol was in their system at the time each review was written.

"Strawberry Margs for table seven ma petite fleur spéciale!"

Alex perked up as she nodded her head to the fiery redhead that was her boss, gathering the ingredients for the drink before she shoved them into the blender. The warm laughs and friendly arguments drowned out the noise of the blender, though it certainly didn't drown out the sound of shattering glass as Alex dropped a margarita glass upon the solid oak floor. A few laughs could be heard from the regulars whilst a few moans could be heard as well before money was forked over. Clearly tonight's bet on when she would drop the first glass had been quite expensive, but it served them right for underestimating her ability to be anything other than clumsy.

Finishing off the margaritas and placing them upon a tray, Alex rang the bell upon her counter that notified Rose that her drinks were ready.

"You rang?"

Alex jumped as she heard Rose's voice come from behind her, a chuckle escaping her bosses lips as she grabbed the drink tray from the bar counter.

"When did you even get behind the counter Rose? I feel like I need you to wear a bell or else I might cost you even more in glasses!" Alex joked, merely getting a chuckle and smirk for her boss before she set off towards the table that had ordered the sugar rimmed drinks.

Alex had to admit her boss was strange but she was thankful for that; it landed her a job in the end. She had initially applied for a position washing dishes but over the past few years Rose had taught her various drinks after hours since she had caught her eyeing the previous barista. Alex had always been fascinated by the fancy drinks that required skill to make well, learning about each in her free time whenever she washed a new piece of equipment she had never seen before.

Rose had caught her researching various drinks one time while she was waiting for a ride and had offered to teach her some drinks. That was four years ago and now Alex was the one behind the counter creating various concoctions. She did wonder from time to time just what had happened to Dave the old barista…

"Alexandra? Are you alright?"

Alex snapped back from her thoughts as she realized that most of the new customers were gone, now only the regulars remained. She pressed her hand to her temple, Rose's gaze filled with concern.

"Y-Yeah I'm fine. Just a bit out of it I think. Didn't really get much sleep last night, I apologize Miss. Rose…"

"Perhaps I have been taking advantage of ma petite fleur spéciale lately. You've been working so hard… Perhaps a few nights off are in order no?"

Alex stared at her boss in shock, her hands grasping Rose's before she could even think about what she was doing.

"Please! Please don't fire me Miss. Rose! I promise-"

Rose laughed as she pulled her hands from the young girls grasp, placing a hand upon her employees cheek as if she were her mother.

"That is not what I meant ma petite fleur spéciale. I've been meaning to go on a vacation for some time, back to my motherland to visit my family. Perhaps now is a good time to do so since I need you rested and relaxed. How about after Friday night karaoke we close down until I get back? I do not wish to miss out on your lovely voice!"

Alex blinked a few times before she smiled and nodded, Rose beamed as she kissed her cheek tenderly as was her custom… at least that's what she had told Alex.

"I promise to be well rested when you get back! You can count on me Miss. Rose!"

"I know ma petite fleur spéciale. But to ensure that I promise you shall be paid whilst I'm away as well. I can't have you running off to another establishment whilst I'm gone because you couldn't pay your bills!"

Alex hugged Rose, the older woman held her close as well. The regulars knew they weren't sisters but they certainly seemed like good friends. Though they didn't know that their usual haunt would be shut down for a while they were happy to see such a wholesome relationship between a boss and their employee.

"Oi, Alexandra, can ye get me and me boys 'nother round?"

Alex grinned as she recognized Sean McGee's voice immediately, nodding in his direction with a grin.

"Of course! Right away Mr. McGee!"

Filling ten pints she placed them upon the tray for Rose who hefted them up, Alex always amazed at how strong she was.

"Oh, and feel free to drink as much as you wish with Ruby tonight ma petite fleur spéciale. Just make sure to lock up, yes? I don't want the stock to go to waste while I'm away!"

With that Rose disappeared into the crowd, Alex reaching below the counter to check to see if Ruby had messaged her. Surely she would be there soon right?

Alex wanted to share the exciting news with her before anyone else. After all, she was her sister in arms!

So where the devil was she?

Ruby checked the time on her phone for what felt like the thousandth time in the past ten minutes. She’d texted Alex at least twenty times this past hour, mostly GIFs.
Her shift at Moose ‘N’ Munchies couldn’t end soon enough. It was a slow night, leaving her with little else to do besides sit on the stool at the cash register and ignore Parker, a new-hire who had been hitting on her since he’d started.
“So!”
Speak of the devil.
Ruby sighed. She stopped bouncing her leg and glared at Parker as the nineteen-year-old leaned against the wall behind the cash register.
The boy either didn’t or refused to take the expressive hint. He smiled broadly at her. The spikes in his dyed blonde hair had started to return to their original curls from gel-withdrawal, its color in stark contrast with his dark skin. The restaurant’s beige polo uniform did nothing good for his thin frame, reminding Ruby she still needed to tailor a shirt for him.
“What?” She raised her eyebrows so they disappeared beneath her purple-dyed bangs. “If you’ve set another trashcan on fire, I’m not covering for you again.”
“It only melted!” The embarrassed whine in the boy’s voice made Ruby smirk. He cleared his throat. “But, no. I wanted to ask if you’ve heard there’s a fair in town this weekend.”
“I’m busy.” She looked back to her phone in a rude dismissal.
“It’s supposed to be in town for the next month, so—”
“Look. I like you, Parker. I do,” she began, sparing him only a quick glance while scrolling through Twitter. “But I already told you I don’t date co-workers. Personal rule.”
A rule she’d adopted after one such relationship went bad and come down to her or him leaving Moose ‘N’ Munchies. And she wasn’t going anywhere. The last thing she wanted was for things to get more awkward between her and Parker. He really was a good person, after all.
“Well, it doesn’t have to be just us. We could make it a friend thing. Grab a couple buddies, meet up there, have a good time.”
Ruby eyed him doubtfully. “A friend thing.”
He nodded vigorously. “Cross my heart, nothing else.” He mimed drawing an X over his chest.
“Ruby! Parker!” Her aunt’s shrill voice interrupted from the back. A pudgy woman somewhere in her thirties appeared from the kitchens. She glanced around at the vacant dining area, sighed, then hurried across the room toward the door. “We’re closing up early tonight, kids. I’ve already sent Clara home.”
Her aunt, Fiona, turned off the neon ‘Open’ sign on the entrance. She patted the snout of the moose statue beside the door. Carved to resemble their logo, the wood of its snout was shiny from many such pats. Ruby thought it was a horrifying thing with its tiny white cowboy hat between its antlers and a toothy grin that spanned from ear to ear. But the kids—and her aunt—loved it.
Right along with all the other country-themed décor of the space, from the mounted moose-heads to the wilderness-themed knick-knacks and paintings.
Ruby eagerly sprung to her feet. Closing early meant she’d have more than enough time to change and make herself look good before heading to the Eternal Rose to pick up Alex. She almost envied the girl for being a bartender. Between waitress and bartender, Alex definitely had the sexier job.
Plus, no uniforms with the head of a smiling cartoon moose on the back.
She started toward the back to grab the cleaning supplies. Parker stopped her with a light touch to her shoulder.
“Just think about it, hey?” His brown eyes twinkled hopefully.
Ruby looked up at him—something her short self was all too familiar with doing with people. “No promises. But I’ll think about it.”
The two of them made short work of cleaning up the dining area, tag-teaming the chores. Parker, bless him, happily put all the chairs up while she gave the floors a quick mop. It had been a while now since her arm had given her troubles, but she didn’t want to push her luck.
He finished first, then left with a warm farewell. Returning the cleaning supplies, Ruby at last made it to the employee lockers in the back.
“Hold up.” Fiona met Ruby at her locker. “I want you to stay and do inventory.”
Ruby groaned, hand on the combination dial. Inventory always took an age and a half. And she’d be doing it on her own, since her aunt and uncle had late dinner plans.
“Don’t give me that.” Fiona dipped her chin and looked up at her niece. The light glinted on the woman’s spectacles as if sensing the sternness in her voice. Though she, too, had inherited the short gene in the family, Ruby aspired to look even half as menacing as what the older woman could manage. “You said you wanted a three-day, right?”
Ruby eyed her aunt suspiciously. “Maybe.”
The woman nodded knowingly. “Well. Stay to check inventory tonight, and Parker’s agreed to take your shift on Sunday.”
“Really?” Ruby squealed. She had to give it to the teenager. He was trying his hardest. Which was, she had to admit, part of why she kept turning him down. He was adorable, but too eager. Though, it did apparently have its perks.
“Really. So, watchya say?”
Ruby snapped her feet together and gave a military salute. “Sir, yes sir!”
The woman rolled her eyes good-naturedly, her fluffy brown hair bouncing about her shoulders. She unhooked a keyring from a clip on her belt and tossed them to Ruby. “You know the drill, Rue.”
Ruby caught them, hugged her aunt goodnight, then opened her locker. She traded the day’s tips in her apron pocket for a hair tie from her purse. She put her hair up in a messy ponytail. With the right sleeve cut off of her polo shirt, she rolled up the left, revealing the shiny surgical scars it hid, then got back to work.
Inventory took longer than she’d expected. But, on the bright side, she’d gotten an idea of how to easily get through to Parker that she wasn't interested; ask her newest crush, Tom Odell, to come to the fair with them. Or, more importantly, ask him on an actual date first, then, if all went well, to the fair, along with Alex. She’d been waiting for him to ask her, but hey. It was the 21st century. There was no rule against her asking him.
As soon as she’d finished, she pulled her phone from her apron pocket. Unlocking it, she went to his profile to message him—alas, she didn’t have his phone number—when she noticed a change in his status, and some of his latest posts.
She’d missed her chance, it seemed.
Then, she noticed the time. “Crêpes-and-cheese!”
She’d been working on inventory longer than she’d thought. She was running late. If she wanted to get to the bar before it closed, she wouldn’t have time to stop off at home to change. She opened her messages with Alex, and sent a quick text.
Got stuck with inventory. OMW!
She rushed through locking up, giving Ferdinand—the moose statue—a customary pat, then rushed out the back, a bag of perfectly good food destined for the trash in hand.
With no time to chat, she gave the sack of leftover food to the harmless homeless man who favored camping beside the dumpster out back, then rushed for her car in the parking lot across the street.
Stuck in her own head, she didn’t notice the other car until it was nearly on top of her. A panicked scream caught in her throat as its tires squealed in effort to stop. In that instant, she knew first-hand what a ‘dear in the headlights’ felt like.
The car jerked to a stop mere inches from Ruby. She stared at its fender, wide-eyed. She looked up, and, her brain a panicked mess, did the only thing she could think of to do. She scowled at the driver hidden behind the glare of the headlights.
“Watch where you’re going, you creep!” she shouted. She kicked the fender, then hurried to her car, her legs suddenly feeling a bit like jelly and heart pounding in her chest. Her own vehicle was an old run-down thing, a hand-me-down she’d bought for cheap from her cousin after he’d gotten a better one before heading off to college.
Once she’d calmed down, the drive to the Eternal Rose was a short one. But in that time, she forced the thought of Tom to override the horror of almost being ran over.
A missed chance. She hated when she missed her chance for anything she wanted.
Unlike Moose ‘N’ Munchies, the Eternal Rose still had an impressive number of cars in the parking lot considering the hour. She found a parking spot, then sauntered into the bar.
The familiar stench of alcohol and body odor replaced the fresh seaside air outside. Finding Alex behind the bar, Ruby huffed over, dropped her purse on the shiny bar top, and slapped her hands theatrically beside it.
The noise gained her a couple glowers from those who weren’t yet drunk enough to not care—and the ogling gazes of a few others both semi-sober and well over their limits. Her ponytail swished behind her.
“Tom Odell has a girlfriend!” she whined.
With a melodramatic moan, she sunk into one of the barstools. She made it swivel around so she could lean backwards dramatically. Her polo shirt rode up her slim torso, revealing a hint of the tips of the wing tattoos on her sides.
“My life. Is over!”
Was, almost literally, a small voice reminded her, but she shoved that aside with the promise to make sure to always look both ways before crossing the street from then on.
Ruby leaned her head back, her bright blue eyes seeking out Alex behind the bar. “Make me some mixed drink strong enough to knock the socks off an orc, would you? I need to drown my sorrows.” She sighed heavily. “Though, that’d mean you’d have to be the designated driver tonight.”
She swiveled back around on her stool, folded her arms on the bar, and placed her chin atop them.
“So, maybe the orc’s feet should get to stay warm after all,” she muttered. “Or maybe half-warm. Think I could afford something that would knock them off half-way.”





The girl was lucky Vander had quick reflexes. If it hadn’t been for the shock on her face, he’d have thought she was trying to commit suicide with how carelessly she’d dashed into the street.
His car jerked to a screeching halt. Mr. Fuzzums, who had been sleeping on Vander’s lap, let out a shocked yowl and dug his claws in to keep from flying off.
The girl outside, blue highlights in her hair catching in his headlights, had the gall to blame him. His lips rose in a snarl, an inhuman growl rumbling from his chest as she kicked his car, then scurried off like the mouse she was.
A mouse the predator in him longed to chase. The thought alone of her blood and the chase called to him, making his throat prickle and chest ach. But Mr. Fuzzums’ irate meows drew his thoughts back to civility.
He took a slow breath, focusing beyond the eternal bloodhaze. He’d fed recently enough. It could wait a few more hours.
The cat righted himself, then hopped to the empty seat.
“Wasn’t my fault!” he grumbled at the cat as he urged the car forward.
The floofy gray tabby glared at him for a long moment, tail swishing. The small magic charm on Mr. Fuzzums’ collar clinked lightly against the other tags as the feline curled up on the vacant seat.
His drive through town remained otherwise uneventful. He took the time to reacquaint himself with the streets, some still vaguely familiar, others newer since he’d last been here.
He was breaking one of his self-imposed rules by coming here: never live in a town twice in fifty years. Fifty years was usually long enough for humans to forget his face. To forget any people who had gone missing. For him to become a hazy blip in the townsfolks’ minds.
But he was desperate for a reprieve, and hoped that this breach in his own rules would help give him some rest from running from the warlock who had changed him. That this was the place where he’d lost his only chance at creating a Voice of Salvation strengthened the unlikelihood of Vander’s return.
He’d taken further extra precautions than just that this time, of course, even bought some wards he hoped would at least slow Brahm down from tracking him. He didn’t expect it to last, if it was even working, but even just a few days of peace was always worth the extra effort.
Using the GPS on his most recent burner phone, he found the house he’d rented ahead of time.
Located in what he could only call a ‘rich neighborhood,’ this one was set slightly apart from the other houses on the street. It backed up to the beach surrounding a massive lake, easily visible to Vander despite the night’s depths.
Though technically an Air B&B, Vander had convinced the owner to rent it to him for a few months. It was a bit grander than what he usually rented, but, again, it was something different. Something to hopefully throw Brahm off, if only for an extra breath.
He parked in the driveway, then got out. He leaned against the open door, inhaling the cool breeze rolling in off the lake. Exhaling the unnecessary breath, the vampire let his mental senses roam, searching.
He could sense and smell the lingering presence of a few supernaturals, but they were either too faint or belonged to creatures too weak for him to care about. No, much to the joy of his bloodhaze, the smell of humans was much more dominant.
He’d need to find out the supernatural situation in town as soon as possible. He knew just the person to ask, if he was still around. But for now… He twisted the tiger-head ring on his middle finger, and muttered its activation word.
The tiger’s closed mouth opened, and its ruby eyes glowed for a beat. Though it wouldn’t deceive other vampires or exceptionally strong supernaturals, it would, at least, help mask his aura to any lesser sensitives in the area.
Mr. Fuzzums stretched with a noisy “Mrrrrr,” drawing Vander’s attention. The feline sauntered over the center console, hopped out of the open door, then sat beside Vander, staring up at the house, tail flicking.
The cat looked up at the vampire. “Mrow!”
“I’ll feed you first thing, I promise,” he answered, meeting the feline’s emerald gaze for a moment, then reached inside to pop the trunk.
With Mr. Fuzzums padding beside him expectantly, Vander swiftly unloaded four suitcases, shut the trunk, and made his way to the pillared portico. The cat wove between his feet, making a game of trying to trip him—a game the cat never won—before rushing up the steps ahead of him.
“Mrow!” Mr. Fuzzums called again, louder this time, as Vander punched in the key code replacing a lock.
Inside, the smell of cleaners nearly drowned out the faint, lingering residue of the humans who had cleaned it. Not bothering to turn on a light, he looked up at the chandelier dangling in the entrance hall.
He kicked off his shoes, and entered a large sitting area, furnished with plush, expensive-looking everything.
A slow smile quirked at his lips. While the few houses he actually owned would put this one to shame, he normally tried to not be overly showy, taking whatever rental he could get.
He should get eye-candy places like this more often. What was immortality if you didn’t often spend it in luxury? And luxury was definitely something the humans had spent many lifespans improving.
“MER-ROW!” The slight echo to the cat’s call hinted that he’d found the kitchen.
This time, Vander meowed back, eliciting an indignant, “Mrrr!”
He sat the suitcases on the floor, then wheeled one marked with a cat keychain in the direction Mr. Fuzzums had hollered.
The kitchen was all stainless steel, white tile, and gold-veined black marble. He tossed the suitcase on an island. In little more than one of Mr. Fuzzum’s breaths, he’d unpacked the cat’s food bowls, filled one up with food, and started filling the water bowl.
Once the cat was happily gorging himself, he returned to his “borrowed” Mercedes to grab the cat’s litter box from the back seat.
Back inside, as he filled up the litterbox, he decided that he’d go see if his old nixie acquaintance still owned that seaside bar of his tomorrow. But he would have to be careful. A bar meant humans. And humans meant temptation.
So, tonight, he would settle in. Tonight, he would hunt.

"Mister..."

Rough calloused fingers traced over the pentagram in his grasp, his amazement never ceasing that no matter how much the world aged this necklace never did. It was the one constant in his life, the one reminder as to why he kept delaying his return to his beloved wife's side.

"Adabi..."

He could still remember every detail of Esmeldia; Pale skin that burned if she was out in the sun for too long. The freckles he'd trace with his fingers as she slept, the black tresses of hair that cascaded down her back like a waterfall. But it was her eyes that he remembered so vividly that he swore she was there in front of him. Blue eyes like the ocean that held yellow and red flecks within them. She had been the first salvation of this world, an experiment of his master who sought to control the cursed being he had accidentally created.

"Mis..."

He had fought so hard to kill his master, to end her servitude to that creature and that man who called himself a warlock... That called himself his master. They had been so happy together, living every day amongst the stars above. It didn't matter that his master had rendered her barren, he had just been so happy to be in her presence. She was his salvation, the voice of calm in the storm that raged around them. Yet he had-

"Mister Adabi!"

Brahm turned to face his secretary Lacey, the usually composed young woman looking as if she would pass out at any moment. It only took a few steps to reach her but when he did he grasped her shoulders, steadying her as she peered into her eye. Her silver eye that others said was cursed, the eye of a seer. A gem he had found upon the streets a few centuries back, he had nutured her into what she was today. But it concerned him that the veins that spidered out from her eye were bulged, swollen from over use as she had clearly had a vision. But today wasn't the full moon, her powers weren't nearly what they were so prophesies or visions should have been small insignificant things. What vision could have done this to her?

"Lacey, what happened? What have you seen?"

"She's alive!"

Brahm took a step back as he saw her smile, his powers had subconsciously probed into her vision and pulled out something he did not wish to see. There, before his very eyes, stood his Esmeldia. Her skin, her freckles, even her eyes were the same. Everything except for her hair... it was dyed a unique shade of blue. Her attire, too, was something from the modern era. This girl, she was not his Esmeldia. But she was nearly perfect... it was as if she came back to him.

"Who is she Lacey? You know I do not like to play the pronoun game."

"A-Apologies Mister Adabi! Do you remember the woman who was bitten by Vander? The one who survived?"

"Of course I do Lacey, I may be ancient but like an elephant I do not forget."

Lacey took a deep breath as she steadied herself, knowing that her master would not like the news he was about to hear. But it was far too important to let it go.

"This girl, she is the daughter or the couple who was murdered."

Brahm turned around and stepped towards the window, a bead of sweat rolled down Lacey's forehead as she watched his solemn face grown into the most wicked expression of glee.

"Mister Adabi, the vision I saw... a vampire by the name of Rose Dubois has plans to murder her in cold blood! If we don't do something about this you could lose-"

"Send someone to keep an eye out on her then. If anything happens, have Rose captured and I will rid the world of her and her creator myself. But I want her to stay there, is that understood Lacey? I want her to stay there because a certain pain in my side will eventually be unable to resist going back to the scene of his almost reprieve from pain. I want them to meet and I want them to bond. I want them to do this because I will enjoy tearing this joy away from him as he did me. I will steal what sunlight he has in his sad little world and laugh as I bring him to his knees!"

Lacey nodded and rushed out of the room, Brahm running his thumb over the necklace once again as he stared out at the vast city of Dubai.

"I wonder what you're called in this life... it matters not, I suppose. After all, you'll die by my hands either way. You should've stayed dead, my love... I would've joined you soon enough."

---

"Alright last call everyone! It's an hour to midnight and you know what that means!"

"Aye lassy we know what it means! Ye say it e'ery night! We don't 'ave ta go home but we can't stay 'ere!"

Alexandra chuckled as Sean waved her off, nodding to him as she looked at the rest of the crowd.

"It's exactly as Sean said! Get your drinks, finish up and we'll see you tomorrow for karaoke!"

To that she heard a cackle from beside Sean, his half brother Henry red nosed and cheeked from his inability to handle his drink.

"I can't wait to see you on stage Alexandra! Your voice is like -hic- like a dang angels! If only you'd agree to let me take you to bed, I'd show you-"

Before Alexandra could even begin to get angry Rose appeared beside the man, placing her hand upon his shoulder as she smiled ever so sweetly. But her eyes, her brilliantly green eyes, looked almost red... weren't they? Alex blinked and looked back to Rose; her eyes were as emerald as ever. Perhaps she had been working too hard by doing 6 shifts a week.

"Henry, please do not speak about ma petite fleur spéciale like that. Unlike your wife, she does not sell her body because her deadbeat husband drinks and gambles away his money. Oh, I apologize... her money. Your unemployed, aren't you?"

The whole bar erupted at Rose's veiled comment, not even Sean came to his defense. Too many times Henry had been vulgar, he was known across town as a swindler and a crook. But out of respect for Sean no one dared make a comment, well, no one dared but Rose Dubois. The formidable French woman who owned a bar and held her own against any man who gave her grief, who led a winning streak at the shooting range, who had multiple fencing awards back in Paris in her youth. The woman was impressive and it'd be a lie to say that Alex didn't wish to be her. She was everything and then some!

"Shut the f-"

"I would mind your tongue if I were you Henry... I would hate to ban you from the only bar in town. After all, there are plenty of liquor stores but you would hate drinking at home wouldn't you? Sitting in silence, sipping your pint of warm ale, all whilst the sounds of your wife getting ravaged echo through every room. Apologize to ma petite fleur spéciale and I'll keep allowing you to come here."

Henry gulped as he turned his head to look at Rose, the look of calm upon her face making her words even more unnerving. The bar was silent, Alex wondered if a pin would drop to break it.

"I... I apologize Alexandra. I promise not to say anything like that ever again."

With that Rose released him, the tense air diminishing as she clasped her hands together.

"Alright ma petite fleur spéciale! Last round is on me for everyone! Have a wonderful evening ladies and gentlemen!"

With that Rose made her way over to a man who had positioned himself by the staircase that led up to her quarters, the din of the bar coming back to life drowned out whatever Rose whispered to the man before they quickly went upstairs.

With the last call being on Rose everyone was quite eager to get in an order, her hands quickly making and passing drinks to each and every person who came up to the bar. It was her luck though that she had just finished serving the last customer their drink when Ruby had entered the bar, Alexandra's face lighting up as she saw her. That was until she saw her expression, knowing something was clearly bugging her.

"Tom Odell has a girlfriend!”

Alexandra couldn't help but wince, she knew just how much of a crush Ruby had upon him. Wasn't he single though? Just who had swooped in to get him? She'd have to do some sleuthing later, but for now it was damage control time. Alexandra set down her cleaning rag and leaned upon the bar, her hand finding its way to Ruby's hair. Gently she patted the top of her hand, smiling softly as her eyebrows furrowed a bit. It was hard to see her best friend in pain, she was like her sister in reality. Perhaps a revenge plan was in order to make Tom regret his decision... there was the fair coming up tomorrow, and she did have time off now. Plus she'd been meaning to go shopping since her parents had sent her some money for her birthday she'd never used.

"Hey now, the answer to your boy troubles isn't alcohol! But... I do have some good news for you that would pair well with a strong drink!"

Alex beamed as she turned towards the flavored vodka selection, grabbing a double chocolate vodka along with her favorite chocolate liquor. Throwing a few shots of each in the blender she chucked in some chocolate ice cream in there as well and blended it into a thick milk shake, spraying some whipped cream on top and threw a spin into the glass. Sliding it over to her bestie, she hoped onto her own bar stool that sat across from her and placed her hands excited onto the bar.

"So Miss Rose is going on vacation and is paying me so I don't end up going somewhere else! She also said that tonight we could drink her dry as long as we lock up when we're done! So I have a plan!"

Alexandra poured herself a glass of the milkshake and took a sip, enjoying the smooth burn as the spiked shake went down easy.

"We drink tonight, get an Uber back to my place and you spend the night! Tomorrow we Uber back here, grab your car and go to the mall and whilst I regret saying this... you can pick out matching revenge outfits for us! Then we go to the fair, we make Tom O'Dell regret not choosing you, then we come back here for karaoke and bring your own booze night! We get wild and then nurse a hang over the next day! If we pace ourselves this plan might just be crazy enough to work! Do you accept the mission Rue?"

Alexandra grinned as she hoped perhaps some girl fun would take her mind off things and help get her ball of smiles back. In this moment her she was sure her mother would've commented about her 'light shining through'. Maybe she was right, in the end she wanted her light to shine upon everyone and to make them smile.

Alex more than came trough for Ruby. The other girl always knew just how to cheer Ruby up, her genuineness enough to melt even the hardest or most distraught of hearts. As long as you didn’t insult her height, that was.
Ruby perked up at the prospect of Alex having good news.
“Hmmm?” she hummed, her tone already lightening. “Good news with alcohol. I like the way you think!” She tapped her temple, one eyes scrunching shut.
Ruby watched Alex as she began to put together a drink with enough chocolaty flavors to satisfy the most potent of cravings. Or create it. Until that moment, Ruby hadn’t realized how badly she needed chocolate.
She eagerly caught the glass as it slid over the bar, the motion making her straighten up in her seat. For all the blue-haired girl’s clumsiness, she made some of the meanest mixed drinks.
As Alex sat across from her, Ruby licked happily at the mound of whipped cream atop the drink.
“There are three things in this world you can never have too much of.” Ruby paused to lick off her whipped cream mustache. “Weekends, chocolate, and whipped cream.”
Her attention split between the milkshake and Alex as her friend elaborated on her good news.
“A paid vacation!” Ruby’s eyes widened animatedly. “Color me jealous!” If there was anyone in this city who deserved a paid vacation, it was Alex, hands-down. But the other girl continued before Ruby could say so.
“Mm, a plan?” She placed her elbow on the bar, then rested her chin on the back of her hand. “Do tell!” She sipped at her own drink as Alex poured herself some. Her eyes widened. “Zom, this. Is. Amazing!”
As Alex explained her plan, a grin grew over Ruby’s face, her boy woes forgotten. “You had me at ‘revenge outfits!’ It’s about time you got something nice for yourself!” She hooked her feet through the foot ring and leaned back contemplatively. “I’ll have to double check to see if he’s going this weekend. Parker said it’s here all month. If he isn’t, well. Revenge outfit practice run for karaoke night!”
She raised her glass toward Alex in cheers. “Either way, we rule, Tom drools!”





The night sung to Vander. It reeked of power and promise. Of steel and flesh. Though the streets of the city were left to bathe in a lonely night, the recent smells of humans still ghosted the streets.
It made the predator inside him bustle with excitement. With hunger.
But he needed to be smart. This was a smaller city than his last. Though he suspected humans went missing here often enough—they always did—he couldn’t risk feeding on someone who would be missed. Not immediately. He hadn’t taken so many precautions against Brahm just to ruin this himself on his first night.
Somewhere in roughly the heart of the city, Vander paused at the opening to an alleyway. The ash-black of his dress shirt and darker fitted jeans melded perfectly with the shadows between streetlights.
Hands at his sides, he closed his eyes. Control. He needed to keep control. At least for now. Tapping each of his left-hand fingers against his thumb in turn—a habit from his human days that he’d kept in attempt to stay connected to some part of his humanity—he took a deep breath and reached out with all his senses.
In the neighborhood around the lake, the scent of humans had been fainter, more spread out and faded from time—a whiff of day-old brownies lingering in the oven.
But here, where vagrants roamed and drunks were just beginning to leave bars and night clubs, it was something else entirely—the aroma of a banquet permeating a hall to toying with the senses. It was just a matter of figuring out which hall led to the feast.
His finger-tapping faltered as the ache of the bloodhaze seeped through him like acid. Acid that demanded to be diluted.
But the only thing he found in his immediate area was residue, lingering imprints of humans long since settled elsewhere.
Except…
His eyes opened, their hazel irises consumed by his dark pupils. Something between a grimace and a grin twisted his face. He’d hunted enough vagrants to pick out the subtle—and not so subtle—tells in their scent. The only ones who ever noticed the loss of the homeless, were other homeless. And the worries of the homeless were so often beneath the concerns of the authorities.
He’d found his prey.
Swift and silent as a shadow, he turned into the alley. It connected to a couple others, branching off into a miniature network of dead-end roads, but he followed the scent like a hound.
He slowed as he spotted the lump of a figure huddled against a dumpster. Though hidden in the dumpster's shadow, his scent nearly overpowered by its stench, Vander could make out every detail. He sighed, disheartened; the predator in him had been hoping for a chase. The chase always made it so much more exciting.
The beat of the vagrant’s heart sped up, and his breathing grew shallower. The man clasped his blanket tighter, as if it could hide him from the danger in his midst. He was awake, then.
This close to his prey, the bloodhaze drummed through Vander with a vengeance, it’s burn no longer a pulsing demand, but an inexorable compulsion.
“Ein schlafendes Schwein zum schlachten!” he chortled, barely aware of his own words.
‘A sleeping pig to the slaughter.’
The man tensely uncovered himself, the folds of his tattered blanket billowing with his already pungent scent. The shick of a pocket knife opening was the last thing the bloodhaze needed to take full control, the drum of the man’s heart overwhelmingly loud in Vander's ears. He felt the familiar tug as his teeth extended into a mouthful of fangs.
“Look. I don’ wan’ any—”
The homeless man didn’t get the chance to finish. In a fraction of one of the man’s now frantic heartbeats, Vander had rushed to him in a fluid blur. He slammed the man’s back against the brick wall, one hand at his throat and the other his weapon-wielding wrist.
The man choked on a scream as his wrist snapped with a simple twist, sending the knife clattering to the ground.
Vander slid his hand to cover the man’s mouth, jerked his victim’s head to the side, then sunk his fangs into the man’s neck. They tore through flesh and artery with all the accuracy and elegance of a rabid wolf.
The man tried to scream again, but Vander’s palm muffled the sound. With some part of him aware of the dangers of the man being heard, the vampire touched the vagrant's mind with his.
Schweige schwein!
‘Silence, pig!’
Though the man didn’t know the language, Vander’s powers did. The man’s cries unwillingly faded to terrified whimpers.
Then, the only thing that mattered, the only thing that existed, was the sweetly-tangy taste of blood.
The vagrant’s fear and pain floated from his mind to the vampire’s in a disjointed blur of colors and emotion, whetting the appetite of the bloodhaze.
But even as it riled inside him, the burn of it through Vander’s veins and throat became a satisfied, soothing hum as he drank. Some small part of him hidden in the depths of his mind tried to tell himself to stop, to leave the vagrant alive, but that taste, that relief from the eternal ache was sweeter than the thought of freedom. Sweeter, even, than a promise of vengeance.
It wasn’t until the man’s pounding heart stopped, the blood flow ebbing, and his struggles ceased that Vander regained some semblance of control.
With a chesty growl somewhere between satisfied and disgusted, he forced himself to pull away from the now empty husk. The cruel, acidic monster of immortality begged for more, its appetite both quenched, yet whetted.
Breaths coming in heaves, he closed his eyes and fought to get the lusty agony of the haze to something more manageable.
Control. Control!
Releasing his last breath, he felt his fangs retract. Slowly, he looked down at the newest corpse he had to add to his already innumerable count, the side of its throat torn open. The gore glistened in the faint glow from a dim light at a back door a few yards down. Tantalizing crimson had dripped from the wound, soaking into the man’s already soiled shirt. His vacant eyes, frozen in wide terror, stared vacantly at Vander over the hand still at the corpse's mouth.
Jaw set into a trained stoicism, Vander wiped his sleeve at the blood he felt dripping down his chin. He’d learned long ago to never wear any of his favorite shirts on a hunt.
His gaze shifted to the metal dumpster. With a quick glance to the door, he swiftly opened the dumpster, then tossed the corpse inside as easily as if it was a feather-filled trash bag.
He held his hand out above the opening. With little more than a thought, small flames dripped down from his palm, and set the corpse ablaze.
“Ruhe in frieden,” he muttered. This time catching himself in his native tongue, he repeated, “Rest in peace. From one lost soul to another.”
Vander turned his back on the rising smoke and flickering flames, stilling his breaths to avoid the all too familiar smell of cooking flesh.
Such a beautiful thing, fire. It could bring a calming warmth or agonizing death. Better yet, his fire would leave no evidence of his murder, and put itself out before it could do too much damage to the dumpster.
It had proven to be a power well worth honing.
Ignoring the guilt seething behind his callous mask, Vander strode toward the alley’s nearest opening. With each step, his form became less corporeal, blurring before shifting entirely into smoke. His column swirled amongst the growing mass rising from the dumpster, then rode the wind back toward his temporary home.

Alex couldn’t help but giggle as she saw her friend lap up the mountain of whipped cream she had placed upon her drink. Every time whipped cream was on a drink it was like Ruby turned into a kitten, lapping it up before licking off her dairy based mustache. The thought had crossed her mind a few times to order a pair of cat ears for her but she knew in the end those ears would merely wind up atop her own head. But all thoughts were put aside when she saw Ruby's smile, the clear enjoyment in her eyes making Alex beam with pride.

Bartending brought her joy as it made others smile. The cheer that lit up their eyes whenever she thought of a new concoction made her heart warm. It brought her the same joy as singing did, though unlike her bartending for some reason Alex had never considered herself anything other than above average. Others told her she was exceptional, that she could sign a record deal with a voice like hers, but she could never believe it. Perhaps that stemmed from the letter she had been given a few years ago. Maria and Tom Montague, these were the names of her birth parents. Upon her 18th birthday her parents gave her a letter that had been left for her for this very day.

It was clear they had loved her… So why had they given her up? It wasn’t hard to figure that out as it seemed her parents had been in a rock band together. Maria had been the lead singer while Tom had been the drummer, their band had been called Undead Symphony. Years of partying had led the band to be known for their reckless abandon and general chaos, but one day her mother and father had just disappeared.

Article upon article had documented their disappearance, no one knew where they had gone or if they were still alive. In the end though they were found, though the circumstances were far from ideal. The last articles she had found detailed their grizzly murder, how they had been involved in a train accident though they had been dead long before they had even gotten into the car. Their bodies slashed to bits, drained of their blood before they had been loaded into their car and driven onto the train tracks. The only way the two had even been identified was because both Tom and Maria had their names tattooed onto one another.

But it was clear as soon as Alex had found their albums that she had come from two musically gifted individuals. After that though Alex had built up a wall between how she truly sounded and what she thought she sounded like. She continued to sing since it brought others joy but each note that rolled off her tongue sounded slightly off, each syllable wasn’t as crisp as her mothers were. She was too raspy, too soft, too loud, too breathy, too nasally, too- there were a million different reasons she couldn’t think of herself as a good singer.

It kept her in a state of constant disappointment in herself, that she would never live up to her parents legacy. But she couldn’t share that with Ruby or her parents, she didn’t want them to worry. She only wanted to show them the bright parts of herself, the shining part of herself that she felt like right in this moment.

“You had me at ‘revenge outfits!’ It’s about time you got something nice for yourself!”

Alex couldn't help but chuckle, knowing that her bestie was probably right on this one. It had been at least a year since she had updated her wardrobe, though she reckoned it had probably been far longer than that. But in her eyes if something fit and it didn't have unintentionally placed holes in it, it was still a good article of clothing to wear. But some of her clothes she had patched on numerous occasions… Perhaps it was time to pull out some of her savings for this trip to the mall.

"Jeez has it really been that long since we last went on a shopping spree together? I guess my savings do reflect that!" Alex said with a laugh as she poured herself a glass of the delicious shake, drinking it down and feeling the light burn trickle down her throat. Sipping on her drink she waved goodbye as a few patrons stumbled their way out, a few older men still nursing their beers as they talked about what golfing range they'd go to the next morning.

“I’ll have to double check to see if he’s going this weekend. Parker said it’s here all month. If he isn’t, well. Revenge outfit practice run for karaoke night!”

Alex couldn't help but smirk as she heard Parker's name, raising her eyebrows with which she waggled playfully. Of course the gesture was all in good fun but Alex had met the kid a few times, he genuinely seemed kind and had the hots for Ruby too. She wondered if in the end Ruby's rules would break first or if Parker would work elsewhere in order to circumvent her steadfast ultimate rule. Either way, she hoped the two would end up trying it out. They seemed like they'd make a cute couple.

“Either way, we rule, Tom drools!”

Alex was mid sip when she heard that come from Ruby's mouth, the delicious goodness ending up coming out of her nose as she couldn't help but attempt to laugh. Grabbing the nearest dish rag she cleaned up the mess, her cheeks redder than a tomato as she caught some of the old men chuckling at her.

"Okay we gotta make a rule that you can't be funny when I'm drinking! But secondly…"

Alex paused as she looked down to her shirt, realizing there was no way she was going to get the stain out this time.

"It's been a while since I had any man truly drool over me. Well, any man who's not a sleazeball anyways. Maybe… maybe it's time to get a complete makeover. What do you say Ruby? You want to play Extreme Makeover: Zom edition?" She asked hopefully, both nervous and excited at the mere mention of getting a revamp. After all, it was a big step outside of her comfort zone but maybe it was time for a change. Maybe it'd help her find some inner peace from the turmoil she felt as well.

Alex’s reaction to Ruby’s last comment was comedy gold. Though she knew that that had to burn, Ruby’s own laugh burst free of her best attempts at suppressing it. She thumped her mug on the counter to keep from adding to the mess. Her outburst turned into a not entirely genuine apologetic grin as she watched the other girl begin to wipe up the mess.
“Okay, we gotta make a rule that you can't be funny when I'm drinking!”
“Hey, it’s not my fault you have an easy humor!” Ruby jutted her lower lip out in a pout.
She followed her friend’s gaze to her now ruined shirt. She cringed guiltily. “I'll replace that doe you while we're out,” she offered.
“It's been a while since I had any man truly drool over me. Well, any man who's not a sleazeball anyways.”
“Pfft, Alex, we have to get you some glasses. Men stare…” She shot a discrete glare toward the nearest of the men she’d heard laugh at Alex’s drink mishap. “Sober men, even! And rightfully so!” She winked at Alex and picked her drink back up. “You just don’t look back at them at the right times.”
Ruby continued to sip at her drink, hiding her excitement behind a contemplative façade as Alex went on. Suggesting getting matching revenge outfits was one thing. But an entire makeover? That had to be painful for the other girl to ask.
She sighed, frowning, placed her mug on the counter, and met Alex’s gaze.
“Like I’d ever say ‘no’ to that?” she managed in a scolding tone. “This is gonna be amazing!” She did a little twirl with her barstool, catching herself on the counter as she came 360˚.
“But”—she bent her head, a couple stray locks of hair falling into her face as she looked at Alex as if peering over a pair of specticles—“if we’re playing Extreme Makeover, we’re doing it right.” She glanced sadly at her partially consumed drink. “Which means…” She did a quick shifty-eyed glance, then leaned in toward Alex conspiratorially. She lowered her voice so only her friend would hear. “We rush into the fray early for a full girl’s day, and save getting smashed for a celebration of Girl Power tomorrow night.” She leaned away again on her stool. “Trust me. The mall and a hangover don’t pair well.” Her lips pressed together knowingly.
“Does that get the Zom stamp of approval?” She mimed sliding a piece of paper toward Alex for the said ‘stamp of approval.’

Okay, she had to admit, the sight of Ruby nearly following her own milkshake mishap was almost worth the burning sensation in her nose. Almost…

“Hey, it’s not my fault you have an easy humor!”

"Mmmm… I'll give you that. I'd probably get kicked out of a comedy club since I'd laugh so much!" Alex offered with a gentle smile, always a sucker for Ruby's puppy pout. At her friend's mention to replace her shirt she shook her head, waving to a few more older men who left the bar. Now all that was left were a few stragglers from the group, mostly a few men trying to help another man get up who ended up passed out on the table. Not because he was drunk, no, this man was a regular and so she knew all too well he was narcoleptic. She was surprised he had lasted this long tonight!

"Don't worry about it Ruby, it's ancient anyways. Just put things into perspective!"

At the mention that men, sober men even, looked her way Alex couldn't help but blush. Did she truly just not look when they were looking? Was she truly that oblivious? God, if that were the case, she really needed a wing woman it seemed then. Pouring out her glass of deliciousness, she began washing and wiping it down as she wondered just how hot her cheeks could even become.

"Well then it seems I need a wing woman in this situation or else I'll end up as an old maid! I'm already twenty-two Ruby, practically at spinster age! And it's been…"

Alex stopped herself, not wanting to reveal how long it had been since she had last held hands with a man let alone shared a night with one. She couldn't help but be worried as she noticed Ruby's frown, had she missed something in the conversation? Had she done something wrong? What on eart-

“Like I’d ever say ‘no’ to that?”

Alex smiled in relief as she realized she hadn't been so absorbed in thought that she had missed something important, chuckling as she saw the excitement on Ruby's face as she spun in the barstool. This alone was worth the pain of a full makeover.

But as she stopped Alex knew that Ruby was in full makeover mode at this point. Surely she was contemplating what outfits to put her in and the like, and her seriousness at the mention of being sober just reinforced the idea in Alex's mind. The idea of getting smashed after a wonderful day together was certainly appealing, and perhaps a few drinks would even help her with enjoying singing like she used to. Alex contemplated the idea as she stared at the paper Ruby placed in front of her.

"I agree to these conditions with a few of my own. No piercing anything with an exception of my ears and nose, no tattoos, and no extensions. Everything else is fair game. With that you get my stamp of approval!"

With a grin Alex took her thumb and mimed her usual response to Ruby; with her unusually sharp canine she pretended to pierce into her thumb, stamping her thumb print into where the paper would have been. It was more for show than anything, but it always got a laugh between the two of them which was what she aimed for.

"So you're still spending the night at my place right? I mean, I'm really craving Chinese and I cannot get it without you!"

“I'm already twenty-two Ruby, practically at spinster age!”
Ruby paused long enough to point an accusing finger at Alex. “Oh, nuh-uh. Better a ‘spinster’”—she added air quotes to the word—“than a miserable wretch hitched to Mr. Wrong! Besides. I’m not that much younger than you. So shush!” She accentuated the order by placing a finger in front of her lips and shushing her friend.
She let out a contemplative, “Hmm,” to Alex’s additions to the ‘terms.’ Ruby ran her tongue over her teeth as if seriously considering how much they would foil her plans.
“Fine,” she said finally though a sigh. Her grin mirrored Alex’s as the other girl completed their ‘contract.’
She cleared her throat, straightened, and donned what she thought was a diplomatic expression. “Then by the power of Blood and Soul, thus the Contract is sealed. A gruesome death awaits any who dare break it.”
She pretended to roll the non-existent paper up, and pop it into her purse.
“Well, of course!” she answered Alex’s question, her voice altering in a blink to playful hurt at the mere thought that she wouldn’t be coming back to Alex's home. “I mean, it’s past midnight. Wouldn’t be a full ‘girls day’ if we didn’t start immediately after your shift, would it?”
She winked, then glanced to Alex’s hair. “I think I have a few hours of consciousness left in me. I could give your hair a touch-up tonight so we can go straight to the makeup tomorrow after shopping!”
She glanced to the door as the last few patrons left. A whiff of the fresh, sea air wafted inside, momentarily drowning out the scents of the bar she’d already adapted to. She cast a quick glance around the bar, only then just realizing how quickly it had emptied.
“C’mon, I’ll help clean up.” She took another swig of her icy drink.
She stood and stretched, waiting to follow Alex’s lead in closing up for the morning.
“So, I’m thinking,” she began, redoing her pony tail to recapture some of the escaped strands, “maybe we go with something sleek, in shades of black and blue.” She eyed Alex again. “And a dab of purple for me. But if we’re going to a fair, no heels. And something that’ll work with leggings. You’ll thank me later for that on the rides.”