บท 6: ONYX new troublemaker
Esme held out the card machine for a girl, barely older than the legal age, to enter a club who tapped her card to pay for the five 'Jägerbombs' lined up for her friends. Esme entered the details into the till and glanced at the group of young girls after hearing them down their shots and screaming excitedly with their hands held high. The little party then went towards the other doors leading to the floor above, where the music roared into the dancing crowd's ears.
The she-wolf had been working at ONYX for two weeks now. Niko made a paperless agreement to employ her cash in hand, and she would work a minimum of five shifts a week. But Esme happily worked daily; it wasn't as if she loved the job; who did like work? But it kept her demons at bay, and she was trying to prove a point to both Niko and hopefully that ghost of a boss that she was worth the hassle.
Isana snickered, "You've probs caused them more hassle in two weeks than in a year for normal employees." Esme didn't respond, making her wolf chuckle some more because they both knew she was right.
"Sweetheart" Some fingers clicked before her face, snapping her out of her daze where she still stared where the girls went. Esme's eyes narrowed slightly as she stared at who she assumed was a regular now. He was a large man in his forties and was always rude towards her and the other staff. The man acted entitled in his fancy suits and going overboard on his 'bling' hanging over his thick neck and chains clasping over his wrists restricting the blood flow.
This overly annoying man liked to perve on all the younger girls. What man wouldn't look at beautiful women? There was looking, and then there was being creepy. She even caught him checking her ass out a few times; he was lucky she worked there.
"Don't ever call me sweetheart old man," She replied icily. Oh, but he hated her the most because, unlike the others who quote on quote 'knew their place', she never took his shit. So far, she had never been penalised for her rudeness towards him. Maybe Niko also liked watching the man become embarrassed.
Mr Entitled went an odd beetroot colour rising in his neck and cheeks; it was a new shade of anger Esme had seen on him. Maybe he was extra sensitive tonight because his friend followed him to the bar this time. Mr Entitled opened his mouth as his eyes scrunched together, ready to most likely yap her ear off with complaints, but before that, Esme smiled politely as though she never said anything and smoothly asked, "What can I get for you?"
His mouth gaped open and shut again, repeatedly making him look like a fish out of water. But his friend with a moustache leaned forwards and asked nicely for two gin and tonics. Esme nodded her head once; she didn't need to ask them which gin because whether they enjoyed the taste or not, they always brought the most expensive drink, just because. As she measured the gin in the glasses, Leo made his appearance by her side, brushing his side next to her not so subtly and smirking, "Only YOU can get away with that, you know. Queen of sass!"
Esme's lips twitched in amusement as she glanced at him before throwing a cucumber slice in the finished drinks. "I prefer them a little scared of me," She mused loudly with a twinkle in her eye, watching Mr Entitled and moustache become flustered by her words as she took their cash and had no intention of giving them their change.
"Kinky," Leo purred by her ear, taking Esme by surprise, both by his words and how close he was to her. Esme's eyes widened, and she abruptly turned away from him, causing the naughtily hot bartender to burst into laughter.
"I'm going on my break!" She called over her shoulder, trying and failing to avoid eye contact with him as he kept trying to see her face. Leo grinned and waved her off, though his eyes lingered on her longer than necessary.
Esme started to push open the door, her back to the bar but paused her movements. Someone was watching her, and not because they wanted to be served. There was something dark and dangerous about the way they watched her. Her back stiffened at the feeling of someone's tense stare piercing into her; she turned her head back, searching across the bar.
Esme's heart gradually increased, perspiration forming at the back of her neck as her hand fisted by her side. That was when her eyes locked with a man's icy blue stare; everything else subsided into the background as she felt captivated by him, unwilling to move.
"Hey, trouble. I thought you were trying to escape from my charm?"
Esme blinked and looked up at Leo, who was removing a cork from a wine bottle, cheekily smiling at her. She returned her gaze back to the spot the man stood, but he was gone. She had been so entranced by him that she didn't look away from his eyes. What the hell did he look like?
"At least, we know how piercing his eyes are. That and how he stared at us," Isana murmured. She felt uncomfortable from what had just happened.
Esme ignored the unsettling feeling, twisting knots in her stomach, and she forced herself to calm down. They weren't a werewolf; otherwise, she would smell their scent. Plus, what werewolf would be in a vampire bar... So, they could be a vampire.
Placing a smirk on her face, she replied to Leo, "Pfft, Leo, your looks are so charming that it is blinding. I need to go rest my eyes before I go blind from such beauty!"
"I prefer handsome.." He grinned and started pouring red wine into a glass.
Esme rolled her eyes and pushed against the door leaving the bar behind her. She continued past the door that led to the cellar and went towards another. Esme didn't mind a little attention from Leo; a little flirting was fine, it made her feel better to some degree, but there could never be anything more. She hated anyone getting close to her, and she would inevitably be leaving them behind when time was up again.
It was always better to put a little distance between her and others. It made it easier on both parties, and it also kept them safe. She tried to be forgettable for their sakes. She already had the lives of innocent people on her conscience; she didn't want to add more to that list.
"I'm a little more worried about that man," Isana muttered.
"There's nothing we can do right now, and there's no point in worrying. Yet.." Esme replied as her gaze followed along the walls of the staff lounge.
The dark interior consisted of contemporary modern art, sleek marble floors, their own bar and coffee machine, a fridge, tables and leather settees with coffee tables, a black pool table, and flatscreen TVs. Of course, there were the standard lockers, changing rooms with showers and toilets through another door. ONYX was the most lavish bar and nightclub she had worked in so far; even this break room was finished to such high quality that she'd prefer living there than her rat invested hellhole of an apartment. But she couldn't complain; this was the life she chose for her freedom.
"What's there to complain about? The rats don't come near us. They know who's boss," Isana added while Esme went to her locker. Even in the staff lounge, security cameras and fobs were used to enter the break room, the changing rooms, and another room, but her fob did not allow her to check that room out. She liked how much security the place had; she could tell that vampire's would struggle to get through the doors. If she actually settled down, Chester would be a potential target.
"Perleeease. Settle down? Let's go abroad to a tropical island. Wouldn't that make more sense? Who would find us?" Isana began almost salivating at the idea. It had been an ongoing fantasy between them that they would just hop on a plane and escape the country, away from the eyes and ears of all werewolves. To chill on a sandy beach with a cocktail in one hand while receiving a massage by someone who looked like Leo. She guessed from his fit physique; he had a six-pack of abs at least.
"So, when are we going?" Isana continued with their little 'plan'.
Esme chuckled as she pulled out a book from her backpack before locking the locker door again and returning to the lounge area, choosing one of the black dining tables near the corner of the room. It was the perfect spot for her to keep an eye on both the fire exit door, the door leading to the changing rooms and the one back to the bar. She sat down, placing her feet on the chair across from her as she opened the novel in her hands.
"You know why we can't," Esme finally replied, putting an end to their fantasy.
"I don't think he has eyes and ears on the airports.." Isana murmured, though there was a hint of doubt in her voice. Who were they kidding? Werewolf packs were a huge community; they helped one another if they were on good terms. He would never tell them who she was explicitly for fear of humiliation, but there was no doubt that others were on the lookout for her.
"So, we just go to an airport near his rivals.." Isana continued speaking her ideas. Esme's grip on her book tightened, and she clenched her teeth together, feeling a headache forming.
"We have to go back to the opposite end of the country, past his territory.." Esme replied calmly, though her voice shook even in her mind. This was not a topic she wanted to discuss there. Her mood was gradually growing darker, and she tried to read the words before her, but she lost count repeatedly reading the same sentence and not understanding it.
Ah, perfect timing, just the person to piss her off even more…
บท 7: The lone wolf
Ah, perfect timing, just the person to piss her off even more…
Esme heard the bouncers enter the room without looking up, and Paul, the bouncer who called her a dog, had already targeted her. His attitude flickered between wanting to flirt with her and despising her. It was quite a headache, but she never changed her attitude towards him; he was on the 'list' of people she didn't give two shits about hurting their feelings.
"What are you reading?"
Esme quietly closed the book and glanced at it, "It's called: None of your fucking business, Paul," she looked at the vampire and tilted her head to the side, watching as his face hardened. The other bouncers snickered at her retort and sat down across from her. Esme's eyes narrowed slightly at how close they were, but she ignored it and looked back at her book, opening it once more.
On the other hand, Paul marched towards her, "You have a real attitude problem, you know. Even a she-wolf as hot as you can be a turn-off," He snarled as he stopped in front of her. Esme sighed and removed her feet from the chair across from her, shutting her book once more and looking back at the vampire, her expression bored.
"Because my goal in life is to turn you on, leech," She snapped and stood up, walking around Paul, who instantly revealed his fangs, grabbing her by the wrist and bringing his face close to hers. Esme reached behind her, slowly unsheathing her knife.
"Enough! Breaks over! Get back to work!" Niko interrupted.
When did he get here?
Paul glared at Esme before releasing her and walking through the fire exit doors. Niko sighed and looked at the knife in her hand; he was the only one aware of the weapon because of where he stood. She pushed the knife back in its place and pursed her lips.
"Esme, try and play nice." He gave her a stern look after she opened her mouth to interrupt. "I can't keep coming back here sorting out the messes you leave."
Esme furrowed her brows and muttered under her breath, "I don't always leave a mess." She hated how that sounded; it went well with the dog insult.
Niko turned around, but she called out to him, "I only just went on my break. I still have ten minutes."
He turned to look at her, his face void of emotion. She didn't know if he was telling her to read the room and go back to work right now or not to talk to him and do what she wanted.
"If I return now, Leo and Hana will question why I'm back early.." She trailed off, watching his face.
"Hmm, be good," Niko finally said and vanished from her sight. Esme rolled her eyes but was happy the vampire didn't take her knife away. He already scolded her about it and told her to leave it at home or in the locker. But it was like her safety blanket; she never parted with it, and just like her bag, it went everywhere with her.
It was then Esme pulled her sleeve back slightly, revealing the bruises left on her wrist from the vampire's hand. She quickly covered her arm again, the discoloured skin a fraction of what she used to endure. Her mind started to wander, the tightness in her chest and the burning sensation under her collarbone returning. Esme unconsciously reached for her left wrist, feeling for the elastic band, but she stopped herself and dropped her hands with a sigh.
She shouldn't be triggered by a stupid bruise on her wrist.
How pathetic.
"Es-"
Esme growled, silencing her wolf.
The remaining ten minutes of her break was quiet and peaceful without Isana trying to console her or question her about escaping to the country. No staff members entered either, which was lucky for them, really. When she did return to the bar, she got straight back to serving; it was busier than earlier and precisely what she needed. The sounds of the bar and using her hands had a calming effect on her, letting her mind become distracted at the task at hand.
"Esme."
Esme looked up from cleaning a table. It was Hana; she was like a beam of light sometimes. Her smile brightened up any room with warm brown eyes. Even though it had only been a few weeks, Esme already found herself liking the girl.
"We are going for drinks. Want to come?" She asked, her face eager for Esme to join them. She looked over at Leo, who smiled and waved her over, and at a few other members of staff, she didn't really speak to. They also looked eager, probably because she was the new girl.
"Ah, I'm tired. I'll help Niko cash up," Hana's brows drew together at her response. Esme held her hands up, "Maybe another time.. It's fine. Go, go! I'll see you tomorrow."
Hana reluctantly went with the others. "Next time!" Leo called out to her and winked.
Esme watched them leave the now empty bar before heading in the same direction but going downstairs to the vampire bar. Unlike the bar she worked at, downstairs was still busy with vampires. It was 2am, but they didn't close until thirty minutes before sunup; she wondered if the vamps had a residence nearby for them to return so casually.
Esme pushed through the crowds of vampires and humans remaining on the dance floor. She ignored the couple in the corner of the room, a man smooching a woman's neck; no, not kissing, he was drinking from her. He was just 'concealing' it well from the humans. The act was so out in the open, but Esme was now accustomed to it. The vampires were safe to do as they pleased in ONYX, with limits, of course.
She made a turn towards the toilets and walked further down a hallway towards a private room. She had only been there once before when she couldn't locate Niko, he didn't seem pleased by her appearance at the time, but he never scolded her after she explained the vamp at the bar told her to find him there. It seemed they wanted to get her in trouble; how childish. But Esme now frequently fetched him around the same time if she stayed to help.
As she approached the door, raising her hand to knock, she stopped after picking up on the low voices on the other side of the door. Now she knew it was bad to sneak around and listen to conversations, especially considering where she was, but when she heard the mention of a werewolf, her ear went closer to the door.
"Oh miss high and mighty.. are you forgetting the amount of times we have sneaked around-"
"Shh!" Esme shushed her wolf to listen, and she held her breath.
"Why is she here?"
"Wh-what? Sire, you already agreed to employ her." She could hear Niko's voice. They were definitely talking about her.
Sire? There was only one person that went by that sort of title..
There was an exasperated sigh, "I don't remember.. the conversation," He murmured, "fine. Just make sure there are no issues. I could hear Paul moaning about her. I will not take responsibility for her if one of our own has an issue with her. It will be up to her to stay alive."
How charming. But Esme never expected anything more. At least she had a job.
"Are you forgetting a crucial detail here, Es.." Isana whispered. Esme could feel the rising anxiety in her wolf; she wanted to run. It took everything in Esme not to let her wolf take over her body and to stay calm.
Alerted by who her real employer could be and from the footsteps coming closer to the door, Esme started to back away.
"What if she killed one of us?" Niko asked, halting the other man's steps. Esme also stopped; she was curious about his response.
The other vampire chuckled darkly. "Is that possible? I thought you said she was a rogue?"
"Esme is.. she seems stronger than other rogues I have encountered," Came Niko's response.
"Esme.." She heard the other vampire say her name, and she felt a shiver run through her spine. But it wasn't from fear; in fact, she felt a pool of warmth and butterflies swirl in her stomach. His voice alone made her bite her lip, and she could only imagine how he looked.
"Eww," Isana mocked, throwing up, "He's a vampire.. How can you.. feel giddy at a man you haven't met. He isn't our mate.."
No, he certainly wasn't.
Isana gasped at what she said.
Esme's face darkened, but she shook it off, realising she needed to flee the area. The footsteps grew louder again, and the she-wolf scattered from the door, passing the bar quickly, and ignoring the vampire's staring at her as she went back up the steps to the ground floor.
Every step Esme took up the stairs, she was becoming increasingly aware of someone following closely behind her. She wanted to turn her head and look behind her, but something instinctual told her not to. The sweet fragrance that followed her made her heart flutter, and she decided to go against her instincts and look.
Stopping by the glass doors, the entrance to ONYX, Esme turned to look. Her hair flew away from her face from a small gust of wind; a slight nudge on her shoulder was the only indication that someone had been following.
Esme looked around in alarm, but the hall was empty.
The bouncers' snickering caught her attention, but before she could do anything, Niko suddenly appeared beside her. "Are you lost?" He tilted his head to the side, a smirk crawling up his lips.
Esme narrowed her eyes subtly but shrugged it off nonchalantly, "I was looking for you. We need to cash up."
"Go home. I'll do the rest," Niko replied as he reached out and squeezed her shoulder gently; his eyes were full of warmth. Something she didn't expect, especially after the conversation he just had. Niko pulled his hand away and looked at it as though he couldn't believe what he had just done.
"Okay. See you tomorrow," Esme replied casually, even though her heart felt as though it would burst from Niko's sudden contact and from working out who owned the bar.
But she couldn't quite wrap her mind around it. Even as she walked out of ONYX, backpack in tow, ignoring Paul's taunting, she was deep in thought. That vampire could easily rip her to shreds for even crossing into his territory.
"Sire," Niko had called him.
That vampire.. was the king of all vampires. The most dangerous being on earth.
Esme stopped and looked back at ONYX; she had an eerie feeling that someone was watching her. But as she searched the dark night, she couldn't see anyone. She casually reached for her knife sheathed behind her and flipped it towards her wrist before hiding it up her sleeve, the whole time her gaze searching her surroundings.
Pulling her hood up over her features, she turned her back to the menacing shadows, leaving the area like the lone wolf she was.
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Kelly_Starrz
Kelly_Starrz
Woop! Our first glimpse at the vampire king!
XOXO
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