The Witch's Brew

Trigger Warnings: Blood play Addiction (blood addiction) Age gap (Daywalkerxhuman and Daywalkerxwerewolf) Narcissistic parents Homophobic parents Kidnapping Blood and mild gore sexist characters Slight noncon touching (ass being slapped and groped) Chapter One: Iris I’m behind the counter of The Brew, mixing drinks. I can hear the bar’s patrons chatting idly about Manman Mwen. I roll my eyes, of course they’d be talking about the most powerful witch. If only they knew her void-of-magic daughter owned the very bar they were gossiping in. I sighed heavily. Manman was always disappointed in her oldest daughter, me. Sometimes I think she wishes I had never been born. I grumble to myself as memories flood my brain. The way she used to treat me compared to my younger siblings was noticeable to everyone. Just no one ever took my side to scared of what she’d do to them. My childhood upbringing was definitely too much for the faint of heart. She tried everything to get me to ‘unblock’ my powers. It was definitely classified as abuse, and no one tried to stop her. The atmosphere changes when the bar door opens, and a tall figure walks into my bar. Who is he? The man comes up to the bar and perches up onto the barstool. His dark brown eyes were almost black, and his chestnut colored hair was tousled. His gaze slowly meets mine. “What can I get you to drink, Sir?” “Just a glass of bourbon.” His gaze flickers away from mine towards a rowdy table near the back. I pour him a glass of bourbon, and I place it on the bar top in front of him. “Are you new in town or just passing through?” “Depends,” he mutters against the glass before throwing it back. “Well, take my advice, don’t stay long, this place sucks. Nothing goes on here except trouble.” “Maybe I like trouble?” “Then I guess you’d fit right into Abita Springs.” I shrug before I wipe down the bar top. I can feel his gaze on me as I turn to toss the cloth into the sanitation bucket. I dry my hands and turn back around to face the man. “So what brings you to Abita Springs?” “Business… Just an old family business.” “So, you’ll be here for a while, I’m guessing?” He nods. “Yeah, what’s your name, miss? I have a feeling I’ll be coming here a lot while I’m in town.” “Iris, and what’s your name? Since I’ll be seeing you again.” “Silas. It’s nice to meet you, Iris.” “Likewise, or at least I hope so.” He smiles, a slight uptick of the corner of his mouth. I collect his empty glass. “Can I get you anything else?” “I’ll take another bourbon.” I give him a quick nod while I pour his drink and slide it over to him. The patrons at the table in the back start to yell and argue. I groan and walk out from behind the bar. “Hey! None of that in here, boys, ‘kay?” I holler over them. The three men stop yelling and look over at me. One sneers. “Whatcha goin’ do, little Missy? You ain’t nothin’ special.” I see red, that’s something Manman Mwen used to say to me… I wasn’t special, never have been. Not special like Briar the Great. Not special like my daddy…. Not special like my siblings. f**k all that noise, I was special, just not in the way everyone expected from Manman Mwen. “Get out of my bar, all three of ya! I don’t care if you don’t think I’m special. Well, to me you three ain’t nothing special either, so go on get!” The guy who spoke stands up. “Oh, Whatcha goin do make me, darling?” One of the other guys looks over at the one yelling at me. “Dude, I think that’s Briar the Great’s daughter; she has her eyes.” “Oh f**k… which one, the ones that can use magic or the one who can’t?” I growl. “I said, Get all three of ya. Now move it!” The three scrambled out of the bar, not wanting to take chances if I could or couldn’t use magic. I go back behind the bar. Silas’ gaze follows me. I pour myself a glass of water and take a long sip to calm the heat I feel boiling inside of me. I grumble under my breath. “Gods, I hate people, they piss me the f**k off.” “So your mother is, Briar the Great? That must have been an interesting childhood…” “I guess. Manman and I don’t get along that well… Never lived up to her expectations.” He looked up at her with a look of understanding. I smiled at him and waved my hand. “It’s cool, I don’t talk to her much anymore… only when she needs something.” “Well, if you ever need to vent or get anything off your chest, I’ll be here for you.” I laugh and shake my head. “I think that’s supposed to be my line as a bartender… I’m supposed to lend an ear.” “Yeah? Well, everyone needs someone to talk to.” He stands up, “It really was a pleasure meeting you, Iris. I’ll definitely be back.”