The early nighters showed just as I switched the 'OPEN' sign on. Kennie arrived at fifteen to midnight. I watched the dancers and drinkers from the stairs. A soft smile crept onto my face as I thought about the opening night of the Underworld Bar and Dance Studio.
A few people started drifting inside out of the cold after being kicked out of the other bars at closing time. All they needed was the OPEN sign to have a reason to drink more. The bar was closed for the night. There were still people dancing to the remix music of the artists out west. The bar suddenly opened again and drinkers flocked to it needing something. Water, beer, champagne, anything available, any thing we had. Until I was called over to deal with someone who had asked for blood. I was the only one in the mortal realm who knew how to deal with their kind. I dragged him outside and into the adjoining alleyway.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" I screamed at him. Luckily no one nearby could hear because of the music coming from the Bar.
"A very wealthy person," the man stated tersely.
"With blood money in your pockets. I know what and who you are, Kraven. Don't think for a minute I won't call Michael or Selene or even Kahn." Something was going on, though what, it was hard to tell.
The man growled. "Keep this to yourself, young woman and besides next time I will kill you." Kraven said as he turned around, away from me.
"Uh, Kraven. The blood bar is in the cellar. Right down those stairs to your left. I own that building too. You could crash in the back of the third floor. And stay away from the lycans if they're there." 'What the HELL am I thinking? Letting him go down there. Those Vampires will seriously kill him if they don't dismember him.' But Kraven saved my skin with what he said next.
"Thanks, but no. I would rather live to see the next Full Moon." I smiled a thank you before following him out of the alley.
I frowned as I watched him disappear down the corner at the end of the street.
That had been over six years ago. 'Wonder what happened to him after that night. Oh well, not my problem anymore.' I sighed as I walked the upper floors to make sure no drunks were harassing my nighttime dancers. I had a sense of ownership towards the dancers that entered my studios every night. Dancing is like the most toxic drug in the world, you can't get enough of it. My sense of ownership came from the fact that I provided them a very safe place to dance. To let the drug overrun their senses and override their common sense. 'Common sense,' I mused thoughtfully, 'just doesn't compete with the different drugs that wreck havoc on a person's body. The drug is everything if it is the right one and in the precise amount.' I continued to walk the halls and as I walked, I looked into random studios, checking on the progress of their dances.
Everything I had ever hoped for never could have survived the Underworld. My hopes and my dreams I had had to keep them hidden from those who would seek to use them against me. So I wrote them down and hid them deep within the Mansion. That book is still there, deep in the bowels of the Mansion's belly. The book is hidden in an old hidden alcove that I had found while exploring as a kid. Back then I wasn't afraid of anything, and now I wish I had been a little afraid of what could have been lurking in the shadows.
I had hoped one day that I could go out west, to the United States maybe, and become a world renowned author who wrote about love, adventure, trouble-maker illusions, and other nonsense. But this world, my world which includes the Underworld, would be unable to house such a dream. So I write in a book that is so totally secret that no one knows of its existence.
Everything could have turned out extremely different, but then I wouldn't be me, or would I? As I closed the leather bound book, I couldn't help but think of the question that I had asked the book. Would I still be me, if everything had turned out differently that what it had in all actuality? Or would I be somehow different? Would I be all girly and not know how to use a single weapon or would I be what I had always dreamed of being? I sighed as I looked at the clock above the bar. I raised an eyebrow at the last of the regular stragglers.
I put the book back in its place on the stairs down to my living quarters and then I went to take care of the regulars. "Alright boys, you got to go home now so I can get some sleep. I'm just as tired or more tired then you two." I grabbed the beer bottles out of their hands as I shooed them out of the door. Kennie was coming in from next door as the door began to close. "Does it seem like it gets later every time they leave?" He laughed.
"Seems so doesn't it." I laughed right along with him. "You should get going Kennie. I'll lock up." He smiled.
"I know that it's my turn but I really need the sleep if I'm the one who's going to open up tomorrow night. I'll see you around three for our afternoon thing tomorrow." He gave me a kiss on the cheek before he walked out the door. I smiled and waved at him before he got in his car and made his way home.
I sighed as I locked the door and then closed the gates. After making sure that all lockdown procedures were done, I grabbed my jacket and left through the back door that led into the back alley. I walked out of the mouth of the alley and walked straight into…"Kahn." My eyes narrowed as I watched as Kahn's escort came out of the shadows.
"Angel, I have finally discovered a small encounter you had about six years ago with a nameless male who had asked for blood in your bar. I also heard that you invited said nameless male down to the bar you have made specially for the underground." Kahn meant all that he said as statements, but said as questions.
"Yeah, but that was six years ago Kahn. Besides, it's not like the guy is going to come back." I sidestepped Kahn's escort and began walking towards the Mansion. "Besides, I've got some business to take care of at Home, so if you don't mind, I'll see you guys. Later." With that I took off at a brisk pace. I knew that they could catch me quite easily if they really wanted to. I could stake my life on the simple fact that Kahn's escort wanted to chase me down and drag me back to Kahn. I highly doubted that Kahn would let them. I found how wrong yet how right at the same time I really was. Kahn chased me down himself. I glanced at him from the corners of my eyes as I continued to run. I ran even faster as he started to get closer to me every passing second.