Seminary of Magic

Chapter 2 The Bar

Lynx

I pull in behind the bar, parked my car, and ran up the stairs that led to my flat. The winds have died down, but the thundering skies keep threatening rain. Jared and Edgar will be expecting me downstairs in the bar soon, so there's no time to waste.

I hid the wad of cash I collected in my squeaky old couch with the rest of my stash, and everything I keep sacred. Then I go to the sink, and wash off the blood from my neck and face. I look at my throat, running my fingers over the teeth marks on my neck.

It looks like I have been bitten by a Damn Vampire.

I throw some powder on it, and drop my dirty clothes to the ground. I put on a fire red dress and a red sheer scarf to hide the bite. Then some red heels and a shade of red lipstick darker than what I am wearing. I let my wavy brown hair down, and take the stairs that lead down into the bar itself.

I brush the lint off my dress one last time before I strut my way across the dance floor making sure to catch eyes with as many men as I can. I head towards the pub counter, and peak over my shoulder as I do to see if I got their attention. Of course I did.

Men were approaching me from all directions. A few were already awkwardly standing by why they tried to figure out what to say.

When Jared speaks to me from across the bar top as he casually cleaned a glass.

"What is a lovely lady like yourself doing alone in a place like this?"

He was helping me set them up like he always does.

"Oh you know. A single girl likes to have a good time." I responded.

Both men beside me asked for two shots at the same time. Obviously both hoping to be able to be the first one to offer me a drink.

Jared passes out the four shots at the same time, and two are slid my way by the men eyeing me from either side.

"For me?" I ask, looking back and forth between them with glittering eyes.

I take both shots.

It's been a crazy night. So why not?

Then I wink at Jared over the bar who was shaking his head at me for doing it. I'm not supposed to actually drink it, or at least that's his rule.

"Do you want to dance?" One of them whispered into my ear.

I nod and take his hand. I give the other suitor one last look. Just to leave him with a hope that I might come back. If he lingers there he is bound to buy more drinks.

The man took me to the center of the dance floor and turned me around. He pulled me deep into his arms and put his lips on shoulder.

I cringed.

I wish I could slip my hand into his pocket and take that wad of cash he pulled out earlier, but I promised Jared and Edgar I wouldn't ever pick-pocket here.

The light was low, and I closed my eyes as I listened to the beat trying to enjoy myself where I could. The bar was packed more than usual tonight, but it wasn't surprising. It's the weekend before Halloween. Everyone was shoulder to shoulder, so it didn't matter that this man had his hands all over me. It would have happened anyway the moment I stepped out onto the dance floor.

A girl came and joined our intimate dance. Obviously wanting to get touched how I was. I pulled her close as we rocked together, and slowly the man slipped off of me and on to her. I moved away and let them dance as I went back towards the pub counter.

Before I could make it off the dance floor I felt a new set of arms around me. I giggle like I am flattered, and flip my hair a little bit. Then I try to pull away. A dance with me cost at least one purchase.

The arms around me cross around my stomach locking me in. He snuggled my neck right over the bite mark, making it ache.

I was done being nice. I grab his arms, and try to pull them off of me. They didn't budge. That's when I hear his voice in my ear.

"Why did you run from me earlier today? I thought we were having fun?"

I tilted my head to see who the man, now resting his chin on my shoulder, was. My body turned to stone when I saw the blonde curls tickling my cheek, the scar, the dead black eyes. The man from the alley.

I looked towards the pub counter, and Jared already had his eyes on us. Jared must have seen the look on my face because he threw himself over the bar top, and pushed his way towards us.

"How old are you?" The man holding me asks in my ear, and I immediately admit my age even though I never do, but I hoped my age would scare him off.

"I'm seventeen, and that is my brother." I motioned to Jared with a nod of my head as he approached us.

"I think the lady has had her dance." Jared says.

Jared was assertive like he owned the place because he very well did, and he has no problem physically throwing someone out himself.

The man laughed in my ear, and put his lips disgustingly against my wounded neck one last time before he said.

"Maybe I'll catch you again?" And then left the building.

"What did he say to you?" Jared asked once he was gone.

"Nothing."

I don't want Jared to worry. This isn't the first creep that has stalked me home. I can handle it.

I went back to the pub counter, and started my snare all over again until I was done with the night.

I went upstairs and kicked my heels off. I plopped on my squeaky couch, which is also my bed, and began to chain smoke cigarettes. After a few minutes a knock came at my back door.

Knock Knock

Jared and Edgar should be closing up downstairs. If they wanted to come in they would surely have knocked at the door that leads into the building, and not the one that leads to the back parking lot.

I wondered if I stayed quiet enough whoever it was on the other side would go away.

Then the knock came again. Even harder.

KNOCK KNOCK

"Lynx, open up." A familiar voice called.

It was Jared. Thank God.

I jump off my couch, and open the door to find Jared holding Burgerboy bags.

"Brought you dinner." He says.

I immediately snatch the bags out of his hands, and start to go through them.

"You have to share!" Jared says, pushing his way in.

Jared used to live here before I moved in, and he says it has never stopped feeling like his home. Even though I clearly don't appreciate his barging in all the time he doesn't care. Jared plops on the couch, taking my spot, messing up my whole groove.

I toss him a burger and sit on the other side of the couch. While I munch on greasy fries.

"You need to get a bed. How are you supposed to sleep on this?"

Jared bounces up and down, and the couch squeaks like that proves his point.

"I sleep fine."

I do. I didn't always have something to sleep on. So this couch is practically heaven.

"So how much do I owe you?" I ask since he bought me dinner.

"Nothing." Jared answers.

"Whatever."

I know how it is. We all are struggling. I pull some money out of the couch cushions and Jared laughs.

"No, no. I'm serious. I actually came here to tell you something." Jared puts his hand on mine to stop me from handing him the cash.

"What?" I ask.

I can hear in Jared's tone he wants to have a serious conversation.

"My dad and I decided... We don't want you to work at the bar anymore."

"What? Why?" I quickly snapback.

"It's not fair to you..." Jared tries to say, but I quickly shut him down.

"You're right it isn't fair. I work my ass off for you guys. I help y'all close most every night. If this is about what happened tonight that's bullshit. I didn't even ask for your help." My voice goes off like a tea kettle.

"You didn't need to ask for help, Lynx. I saw it in your eyes, but it's not about that. You need to move on. You need to choose to have a better life."

"So what? You're kicking me out of the flat too?"

"No, of course not. I even told my dad I would pay the part of the rent you won't be making now that you're not working for us."

"Jared, I don't need a hand out. I can take care of myself. I was doing just fine until YOU decided you knew what was best for me. Because I know Edgar. Don't make this seem like it was a decision you two made together. He is fine with me working here. He said he saw a future for me here."

"Okay, I don't want you to work at the bar anymore."

"Well it's not your decision."

"It is. You're under 21. I'll kick your ass out of the bar myself every night if I have too. Just think of it as now you don't have to degrade yourself, and I will still pay part of your rent."

My mouth dropped. I wanted to be offended, but I also felt like defending myself to someone like Jared would be a mute point. Jared was a Southern Cali Boy, and has never known anything else. Working at the bar is actually fun. It feels like I am going to a party every night. In comparison to other things I have been forced to do to survive it's not degrading at all.

I decided to just let it all go, and with an exasperated breath I say.

"Fine, I don't need the bar to make money, and I am still paying my own rent. If you won't take my money Edgar will."

"My dad won't take your money, Lynx. The price of the rent was the one thing we agreed on. You think we don't care about you, but we do."

I hate this. When someone tries to tell me they care. It just feels like a guilt trip.

"Ugh, if it wasn't for this burger you brought me I would be kicking you out right now." I tell Jared as I take a bite

"I know, that's why I bought it." He laughs, tossing a fry in the air and catching it with his mouth.

Jared left a few minutes later. I could hear Edgar and him locking up down stares. When they turned the bar lights off. I turned off mine as well.

Just out of paranoia I told Jared to take my car home tonight. I told him it was because I didn't want them to get caught in the rain on their bikes, but the truth is I didn't want anyone that might be watching to think someone was still here.

I sat in the dark. My phone lit up my face as I scrolled through suggested friends. I always hoped one day I would see my brother's face on a suggested profile. I just hoped I would recognize him. We did have one thing in common, our eyes. One green One brown just like our mother, so if I recognize anything it would be that.

After Draco disappeared I ran, and I always feared I ran too far. To a place where Draco would never find me.