The Wanderer

The Club

As Viviana got into the club she could tell it was going to be one of those nights. She saw few regulars and many younger faces. She knew as they came to the bar they would stare and make inappropriate comments at her. She knew she was attractive, with her long light hair and green eyes, smooth skin, and features that were perfectly balanced. She looked like nothing they had ever seen before because she was nothing they had ever seen before. The fae were graceful in a way that was hard to describe, and since her change, she had become even more so. It was as if every fiber of her being screamed for attention from everything around her. Even animals noticed when she passed, although they had the sense to stay away from her. All except cats. Maybe because they were also otherworldly and cared for very little. If she ever settled down, she would have a cat. What was she thinking? She can't settle down, and having a cat would leave her tied down. She couldn't afford that. Not ever. It was the only lesson her long history had enforced. Every time she tried it ended in death.

In an effort to shake the thoughts she was having, Viviana hustled behind the bar to start doing her job. Once she got settled she wouldn't have to think anymore because making drinks was harder than it seemed. Remembering all the different mixtures took a lot of effort on her part, especially now with new drinks popping up all the time. She had even made a few new ones herself and added them to the special bar menu for those who just didn't know what they wanted. Hopefully, she could serve a few people before the declarations of love began, but the ones who wanted her attention did leave better tips. While she didn't need this money, she enjoyed slipping it to her coworkers at the end of a long shift of angry patrons. She felt they deserved it and always saved up the money until a really rough night. These had been happening more and more frequently, so she knew her time was fast approaching to disappear into the night. She would leave a note, and make sure it was when she had two nights off in a row, so as to not overwork these people she was slowly getting close to.

Little did she know that tonight her time was up, and she would be leaving whether she wanted to or not. It was 9 pm and the club was just beginning to get full, the music was too loud, because their DeeJay was on vacation and they had a sub. Some "friend" of the owner that nobody had ever heard of. His selections weren't bad, but it seemed he did not know how to use the sound equipment. Everyone would have a headache before too much longer, so they would be drinking more. Maybe that was the plan all along. As she hustled around behind the bar, she got a faint buzzing in the back of her head. She ignored this, thinking it was only the music and the annoying man watching her from the end of the bar. She wished he would move to a table. He was taking up space from paying customers just to watch her move. She wasn't even doing anything special. It was mostly a beer kind of night so except for turning she was in the same spot for the last 20 minutes. She was starting to sound like the other bartenders in her head. This wasn't a good sign. But she had been through this before and was comforting in a way. It made her feel like one of them, Normal if you will.

As she saw the next customer move up to the bar she glanced at the club entrance, She was at the back bar tonight, where you get fewer tips, but she was okay with that. She liked being able to see who entered. She did not expect to see the pale yet dark man she had been looking for all these years. Quickly she ducked down out of sight, ignoring the loud groans coming from the patrons who were trying to order.

What was she going to do? She was not prepared to see him today. Maybe she would try to make it up to the boss's office and say she was sick so she could sneak out the back. But how could she leave all these humans in here with him? Who knows what he was doing here or how many people would get hurt? She would have to get his attention and lure him out back. Wouldn't the staff be surprised to see her do that? After ignoring all the attention she generally received. But how could she be sure he would follow? What if he didn't remember her? What if it wasn't him, and just wishful thinking on her part? She had been thinking of him earlier today. Maybe it was just her wanting things to reach a conclusion. Maybe it was just her desire to settle down somewhere, which might be possible if he were gone.

The other bartender came up and asked her if she was okay. She had stayed hidden too long and the drinks weren't serving themselves. Slowly she stood and shook her head. Her eyes scanned the room for the man. When she didn't see him, she went right back to work like nothing had happened, not realizing he had seen her too, and hid the same way she did, except his escape was a nasty club bathroom stall where people were having s*x in the next stall over.