Chapter 7

A Model Worker

Kyra had been both mystified and thrilled at the prospect of working for such a renowned elf. Alice had told her all about the brief interview and how the models had treated her. Kyra was worried that she'd actually be treated worse, but Alice assured her that just as before, she'd never let anyone mistreat her.

Heeding Alavara's words, both Alice and Kyra were awake early and out of the door by 8am. Alice felt the faintest pang of disappointment that they hadn't run into Kandomere on the way out, but she deduced that he was likely already at work. The Inferni wouldn't stop just because Leilah was dead. Despite this, Alice couldn't shake away the feelings of confusion she had around what he had done for her, for them. At first, she'd thought it was purely out of guilt, but his continued help seemed like overkill if it was only because he felt guilty.

She tried to think no more about it as they arrived at the studio a good 30 minutes early. Alavara was inwardly impressed by the eagerness, though she mostly kept a neutral expression.

She set Kyra to work on setting up modelling spaces, arranging outfits in order, ensuring all the coolers and fridges were stocked for the models, and doing any runner tasks that were needed by the staff.

As had happened the day before, the models mostly ignored Alice's direction. She did her best with what she was given, getting more irritated as another hour ticked by.

One particular model refused to be directed at all, standing how she wanted and refusing to look at Alice's camera. After a particularly snotty huff and some venomous words in Elvish spoke under her breath, Alice snapped. She yelled at the prissy model, throwing in some choice Elvish insults.

Alavara had let the corner of her lips slip upwards in a faint smirk. She'd been waiting for Alice to finally unveil some of the fire Kandomere had told her about.

She instantly dismissed the model, telling her in Elvish that she was not to return and would not be paid. The model had stomped past Alice, whacking her shoulder on the way.

As the model left, Alice's ire fled and was replaced with nervousness. Causing such a ruckus on her first day wasn't what she'd intended to do. She was anticipating getting asked to leave. A human yelling at an elf model? Surely they would never tolerate such a thing…

"I was waiting for you to say something!" Alavara exclaimed, grinning widely.

Alice looked at her with wide eyes. "Uh… what?"

"You were hired for your talent, not your race. Models will always think they are better than others, even other elves. But you are the photographer. They will follow your direction, or they will leave."

Alice was genuinely stunned. "But, won't they just leave and go somewhere else?"

"No one else offers what I do. No one else has the prestige that my company does. All Elvish publications buy from me. Any model who wants to be known comes to me."

It wasn't ego. It was years of meticulous work that Alavara had put into her business. It seemed she was true to her word. She wanted talent, regardless of what form it took. She wasn't about to lose a great photographer in favour of an over-privileged model.

She instructed all models to follow Alice's direction or risk losing their contracts. Alice knew they didn't like it, but they did as they were told and gave Alice no further trouble.

After she finished the last shoot of the day, Alavara handed her some money up front.

"Oh, no, I can wait for whenever you normally do payroll," Alice said, trying to hand the money back.

Alavara waved a hand dismissively. "Consider it a sign-on bonus. You really got me out of a bind, I'd been doing my own photography for weeks. I'd been bending Kandomere's ear for any help he could throw my way."

"How do you even know him? I can't imagine you've had many dealings with the MTF," Alice asked as she put her camera away.

"Oh, I've known the family for decades. Back when I used to do all photography myself, I attended all important Elvish events. Weddings, graduations, maturity celebrations. I'd known his mother since before she married his father, Airdan. I took all the pictures for his sister's 16th birthday."

"I didn't even know he had a sister. Where is she?"

"Oh, my dear, she's dead. Murdered by Leilah only a few months after her birthday. Solana was very much like him. Stubborn, driven, brave, honourable. Leilah was convinced that she must be a Bright, though no one every truly knows until they touch a wand."

"Well, it's more common in Elves. Are there Brights in his family?" Alice asked.

"Not as far as anyone knows, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. Leilah tried to convince Solana to join the Inferni, but she of course refused and told Kandomere about it. He was still a junior agent of the MTF and she was his first mission. He was young and inexperienced, and hadn't anticipated Leilah using his sister against him. He tracked her to an Inferni Coven safe house where Leilah had Solana captive. Leilah slit her throat in front of him and escaped, using his concern for his sister to get away. She died in his arms."

Alice listened to the story feeling a multitude of emotions. To lose his sister in such terrible circumstances, she was beginning to understand why he had felt the need to step in on her behalf. He loathed injustice.

"I still don't know how he managed to convince you to hire me. I'm grateful for it of course!" Alice said, pretending to fiddle with her camera.

"Oh, he didn't need to do much. He told me what happened and how his insistence on pressing charges had lost you your job and home. He's always hated the prejudice of our world, and it has increased since he decided to work for the MTF. Elves rarely take such jobs. They are considered beneath us. Jobs for humans."

"Given his work chasing the Inferni, I would think he'd have more important things to do," Alice said, looking at her.

"I have known him for many years. He does not give his consideration lightly. Human or otherwise."

Alice wasn't convinced it wholly explained his kindness to her and Kyra. She was convinced that he could be earning a fortune subletting his spare apartment to some rich elves.

The sun was setting when she arrived home and the main light in the hall on their floor was out. Not one to ask for help with something so simple, and without knowing that such a rich building would have a 24/7 maintenance call out, she dragged a chair out and set about trying to prize the cover off the light fixture.

She'd been at it for almost an hour when Kandomere arrive home, appearing beside her and scaring her with asking what she was doing. As she turned, she positioned herself badly on the chair and it toppled over, Kandomere's reflexes instantly working to catch her. She'd fallen against his chest, the weight of them both pushing him back against the wall as he tried to settle her on her feet.

"We have people to do this. You didn't need to endanger yourself to change a bulb."

"Uh… It was dark and I just wanted to get it done. But, I couldn't get the cover off," she replied, trying not to touch him as she got her feet under her.

Kandomere noticed the faint embarrassed flush, despite the darkness of the hall. Once again, she'd ended up in his arms because of her headstrong stubbornness. She was so very human, but her strength of will was more than most elves he'd ever known.

"I will sort it. Are you hurt?" he asked, letting go of her arms.

She chuckled weakly. "Just my pride."

He gave her a smile. Humans certainly could be clumsy. He didn't say as much of course, it would be unkind. He was acutely aware of the physical advantages Elves had over the other species. He didn't believe it made him better than them. He had worked alongside humans for more than 20 years and as a result he rarely even thought about their differences. He mostly saw how they were similar. Perhaps such similarities were what drew him to someone like Alice.

Even as she dragged the chair back into her apartment, the flush still staining her cheeks, he could see the stubborn fire within her.

He shook his head. He wasn't above considering humans as worthy of intimacy, but given how they met and her current living situations, he didn't want there to be an imbalance of power. He certainly didn't see himself as her superior, but given that he had gotten her an apartment and a job, it wouldn't send out the right message.

He said goodnight and went to his own apartment, already arranging for the maintenance team to replace the bulb she'd nearly broken her neck changing. He wasn't sure if he was overthinking things, but he refused to be accused of taking advantage.

Inside her apartment, Alice was having a similar dilemma. No one could deny that Elves carried with them an air of beauty. There was an ethereal quality to them, even without an Elf being a Bright. Perhaps it was a primal throwback. She had no idea, but she couldn't get the sight of him out of her mind, given that she'd fallen on him. She'd felt every muscle in his chest and the strength of his arms as they held her.

When he'd carried her out of the restaurant all those weeks ago, she had been half unconscious and hadn't been able to appreciate such chivalry. She'd been so concerned with work, she hadn't given a thought to actually look at the man who rescued her. The fact that she'd needed the rescue still irritated her, but there wasn't anything she could do about it now.

She really hoped she wasn't developing some silly crush on the man. It seemed so childish. She'd been working around Elves for years now, and she'd never had anything other than a passing admiration for them.

She was determined to ignore it and put on a crappy action film until she dozed off.