《Deal With A Maid and A Bartender》


 Episode 1: "The Cafe With The Red Doors."

    Episode 1: "The Cafe with The Red Doors."


    ''Oh my gosh Alicia! He proposed!''


    ''Oh my gosh Alicia! I got accepted!''


    ''Oh, nothing. My parents are set for life. I think I''m gonna just chill, ya know. Take it easy. There''s no rush.''


    If only she could hear those responses for her own life. Excluding college. She had the chance, but just wasn''t ready quite yet. She had an average G.P.A--3.5. Her parents had pushed her to go, but she declined. She wondered now if that''s why she was being kicked out.


    ''In this house you either work or go to school''. Why hadn''t somebody warned her that either one could be false coming from a parent''s mouth? Her parents weren''t giving her an option to move out, she had to. Even if she was going to find work.


    Walking pass the throngs of people, she made her way down the strip. She had applied to every business on it and only one wanted to hire her. As a janitor. Working the night shift. Surrounded by drunk men. Yeah, no thanks. She could picture multiple scenarios now and it made her heart leap and mind cringe.


    She had until the end of the month to be out. Not find a place, but be out! Her parents were having someone come by and change the locks the day of. She would have to fork over the key.


    Why were they being so cruel to her?! She was just a kid. Barely 18 years-old. How could she know how the world worked? But then again, how could her friends know what college or married life was like? Even being a freeloader?


    Clutching her over-the-shoulder bag, she sighed in anger, cutting her eye over at the shops she applied to and got denied. None of them required degrees, only a high school diploma. Yet, she got denied. From a cook to an ice-cream scooper. Nope. Nope. Nope. Was there something wrong with her?


    Coming to the end of the strip, there was the red and white cafe on the corner. Maids stood out sometimes, passing out flyers while waving and smiling at the passerbyes. It didn''t look all that welcoming from the outside, not really. There were the roll up doors that came down once the establishement was closed, but then there were another set of doors, adding a few bonus points for the consumer so it didn''t look like an open spot in a meat market, or a garage sale.


    Wait a minute. Doors. She knew the place had doors but she didn''t think they''d remind her of some high-end club where bouncers stood out, monitoring the lines. They were made of steel and painted in a vibrant red. There was a single handle on the left door, the other bare, with two thin glass panes on both.


    That''s why she was interested now. She had never seen the doors closed. They were always wide open with a sign of the special meal or service that day.


    A little more intrigued and suddenly feeling more than self-conscious, as a place like this would certainly look over your current appearance, Alicia swallowed with butterflies in her stomach and walked toward the place. Opening the red door of death, she was pleasantly surprised to see how clean it looked. She''d only glance at the place and keep moving.


    The place stayed true to its colors. Red and white. The floor was tiled in red and white, and the low hanging lights were painted in red with a silver coating on the inside. The bar area was situated off to the side and to itself, with a step leading up to what looked like black granite counter tops, betraying the current color theme somewhat, and red swivel stools. The cafe portion boasted white tables and red booths or chairs.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    There was a fan that lazily spun above her, while the two on either side of it were off. They were silver in color. She didn''t understand the need for them though, as the AC cut clear through her thin jacket. It was much warmer outside.


    In front was where you could place your order, assuming no maid came an assisted you, and another bar-like area with a white island counter.


    Maybe for the kids? She thought with the ghost of a smirk.


    It hit her that there was no one around then. She turned around and looked out. People still filtered by. She looked back at the place. She noticed the green plants off to the sides of the entrance, and the step that led down into the place.


    Maybe they were closed? No, that couldn''t be right. If they were closed the doors wouldn''t be opened and the roll up doors would be down and locked.


    There was a room in the back--no door accompanied the space--it was black. No one was here. Check. The back room of doom had no door and freaked her out. Check. And she was starting to feel a little uneasy that she had been standing there with no interuptions. Surely these people had cameras? Right? Either way these people had missed their opportunity to hire a great employee. Make that strike three.


    She turned around and gasped, backing away. "Oh my gosh! You scared me!"


    A man towered over her, dressed in a white collared shirt, a button was undone at the top and black vest and pants. He wore pointed toe shoes to match. His shirt was rolled up neatly on either arm and he had his hands in his pockets. His hair was slicked back in a short ponytail with a few strands falling over his face, giving way to his piercing blue eyes. He had one ear peirced with a shiny stud.


    He was one fine, fine, hunk of man but she disregarded that and mentally took note of him standing behind her not saying a word. How long had he been standing there? Why didn''t she hear the door open and close? Was it silent to where she wouldn''t know if an intruder had entered? Shouldn''t she have heard a whoosh of air or something, alerting his presence? And another thing...why wasn''t there anybody in here? Was this an off day or something? They were open, so what was the deal?


    All these thoughts in her mind rendered her enabled to speak. And why should she say more? She already had.


    "Sorry about that." He said.


    She already didn''t like his tone. It sounded indifferent. Even if she wanted to work there, he was blowing it for her.


    "I''ve been meaning to get a bell or alarm of some kind to annouce customers."


    "Oh, that''s okay." She said. And she meant it. That''s okay for everything. Not applying there, no longer being in his company, and finding some other job. "It happens like that sometimes." She smiled. "I was just looking around."


    "Did you want anything?" He asked.


    "Um, no." She said. "There really doesn''t seem to be anybody here and I''m not sure if you guys are really open--"


    "We are." He said. "This is the night shift. The doors open at 8 am and close at 3 p.m. for the general public, or for children. At six the doors open again just for adults. The doors are usually locked."


    "Oh." She said. "I didn''t know that, I''m sorry."


    "It''s not your fault. I''ll have to talk to Delilah again about forgetting to lock the doors."


    "Delilah? Is she the manager?" Oof! she thought. Why did she say that?


    She saw his eyes flicker with something.


    Shoot!


    Be strong Alicia! Just politely decline if he offers you an application or job! You don''t want to work here anyway!


    "For the night shift, she is." He said. "Did you want an application or something?"


    "Oh, no!" she said. "I was just looking around! It''s a really neat place. Kinda sleek actually."


    "Yes, well, we''ve been in business a pretty long time. People seem to like it."


    He took his eyes off her, finally. She was beginning to turn to jelly with that gaze of his.


    "Yeah, well, I better get going."


    His eyes were on hers like a hawk once again.


    Her stomach still did a leap.


    Why hadn''t she moved her feet yet? She was looking more and more like an idiot as the seconds ticked on.


    "You haven''t moved yet." He said.


    "Right! Ha-ha! Silly me! I''m so sorry!" she began to move and fumbled over her sneakers. "Gah!" she caught herself just in time.


    Could this day get any more worse?! Let''s say she wanted to work here? Judging from his judgemental gaze, her ackwardness, and now clumsiness, two red flags in an work place that was known for putting customers first and being quick on your feet, she was definitely booted out in his mind.


    She looked back at him with a fast beating heart. "A little clumsy there, good-bye!" She turned and wanted to fall through the floor as she gripped the handle on the door.


    "Would you like to work here?" He asked, turning his head some.


    She was sure her body was pumping enough adrenaline, but a fresh wave hit her as she looked back and casually responded, "I''m sorry?"

 Episode 2: "Time to Grow Up, Alicia."

    Episode 2: "Time to Grow Up, Alicia."


    "What did you say, sir?" She asked.


    She heard him the first time, but just wanted to be sure before she psyched herself out about being all dressed up and cute in a Maid''s costume as her uniform.


    "Here. Would you like to work here?" He began to walk towards the bar. "It''s a customer service job so that may or may not scare you away." He stepped up and walked behind the bar.


    She watched him, just in case she may have had to do bartending duties.


    He pulled down a glass and filled it with two ice cubes from a compartment below. He poured a brown liquid into it and twirled the glass around. He then poured a red dye into it. He moved the glass some, causing the liquid to swirl around and the red dye elegantly dissolve. He pulled out a white piece of paper as he put it to his lips. "Come have a drink with me."


    "Oh, I wouldn''t want to--"


    "There''s more than just alcohol back here. There''s ice tea. Lemonade. Soda. Anything''s better than just standing there looking like a scared little cat...or kitten." He downed the glass in one swallow.


    There were many red flags going off within her body but for her to save face--grow up a little bit--she decided to join him for a drink.


    She noted the flooring in this area was black carpet. Cool. She thought.


    "What''ll it be?" He asked.


    "Um, I''ll just have water." She said.


    "You can have anything on me."


    Wow. No service fee. Free drinks. Why hadn''t she bolted out the door yet?


    "Um, just water." She said.


    "So be it." He said, turning away.


    She eyed the white piece of paper and realized it was an application form. Was he trying to pressure her into the job?


    She read the minimum age requirement: 16-years old. Sixteen-years old. You had to be sixteen to work here. She looked around again. Obviously not at the bar.


    "Thank you." She said, peering into the glass.


    "It''s not spiked." He said.


    She chuckled nervously. How would she know? There were odorless, clear substances these days. You could never be too careful.


    "So, you working here?" He looked passed her leery attitude. Her mannerisms and high guard were pluses in his book, contrary to what she was thinking. She was shy and petite, yet aware. That was something many girls lacked these days. They weren''t stupid, but didn''t have their guard as high up as it should have been. He was definitely keeping note of this in his mind.


    "Oh! I never had the intention of applying for a...job..." She looked down at her lap. What was she thinking? This man was practically throwing a job her way! She didn''t know if an opportunity like this would present itself again and so far every job on the block had abandoned her. It felt like that anyway.


    She thought of her friends. While they planned weddings, dorm necessities, and what video games they were going to play all day, she was busy trying to stay alive. She didn''t have the luxuary to sit around all day and have rich parents cater to her every need. She didn''t have a college acceptance letter. She certainly didn''t have a man so when an opportunity like this presented itself to her, she took it. She took it with both hands. She didn''t have a choice. Her parents wanted her out by the end of the month. That meant she had to have a place before then, which meant she had to be working.


    This man wanted her. Screw what questions were and weren''t supposed to be asked on an interview as she had done research.


    With new resolve she faced the man again.


    He saw the internal conflict within her eyes. The apparent fear, yet subtle defeat.


    "How much is the pay?"


    "Decent." He said.


    "Define ''decent''." She said.


    "It''s decent enough to afford a studio apartment."


    "Really!" she said.


    He nodded. "But places around here are expensive. The starting price is $1600 plus."


    "Are you kidding me!"


    "We are on the strip." He said.


    "But it''s a studio! Not even a loft!"


    "Some are. But this job shouldn''t be taken seriously as your only form of income.The Day shift only makes $600 a month, while the Night shift pays $800. Regardless, it''s not enough to live on by yourself, at least around here. You''d have to get a second job or roommate. That''s what some of the girls here do since they like the area. If you''re willing to commute however, there are cheaper options."


    "Oh." She said. She looked away. Commute, get a roommate, or a second job. None of those options sounded appealing to her.


    "But you''d be making much more than your co-workers."


    "Really? How?" She said.


    "Simple. You''re guaranteed at least $2000 a check if you accompany me home after every shift."


    She looked appalled. "Excuse me!"


    "The choice is yours. Take it or leave it."


    Tears threatening to spill she looked down.


    Darn her parents! Darn them! This was all their fault! Why were they doing this to her! She was just a kid for crying out loud! It was not uncommon for teenagers to not know what they wanted to do right out of high school. Most parents would allow, or should allow their child some time off to see what they wanted to do if they didn''t want to do school right away.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Had she had a stable place to stay she wouldn''t have even been there! She would have bolted long ago. Nevermind the blue eyes, or hot face, or muscular physique. This man had to be crazy and it was always the cute ones that had the issues.


    The scenarios of rape, murder, abduction, and much worse coursed through her mind. Not looking at him she nearly tripped as she got up from the stool and ran towards the door. She stopped.


    All he said was accompany him?


    She slowly gave way to the possibility that it didn''t have to be sexual. Even abusive in any way. But she''d still have to ride home with him and depending on how late she got off, or how far he lived, she''d have to commute back on her own. There''s no way he was going to drive her there and back. Or he could? The whole thing was dangerous, no matter how she looked at it.


    And it screamed desperation. Which she was.


    Get it together girl! You''ll find another job! Job! You mean job offer! You can''t take this one! You can''t! There''s got to be another option! He''ll try getting fresh with you in the car! He won''t take you to his place! He won''t even take you home! He''ll rape you as payment for him taking you home! Or before! Oh! Mom! Dad! Why! Why! It''s either this or nothing! Look, girl! Just see how this goes! If all else fails you can quit! Yeah, with you having your cherry popped or worse! It''s not worth it! It''s not worth it! She thought.


    She slowly turned around. "What would...what would you want me to do? Why? For that matter?"


    "Come back to the bar, I prefer not to yell across the room." He said, wiping the glass that he had previously used.


    She looked back at the door. It was getting late. It had to be around five now. She looked for a clock and found it to be 5:15 p.m. She looked to him. He was watching her. Waiting.


    She walked back up to the bar, her knees feeling weak. She sat down. She was so high strung a gnat could fly by and she''d jump in a fright.


    He slid the application forward. She slid it back and looked to him.


    "I can''t hire you until you fill out the application."


    "An application." She said. "I may not accept this."


    He could comment on that, but refrained.


    "What would you have me do? Why should I have to accompany you anywhere for a job? Sounds extremely sexual and wrong. I can even write you up for this as a customer complaint."


    He could say that she was not a customer, but it be a bunch of he said, she said, or he offered and she agreed stuff that he wasn''t in the mood for.


    It was a risk now with what he was doing.


    "That will be my concern should you fill out an application Miss...?"


    She wasn''t telling him her name until her fate was sealed. It wasn''t yet.


    "Do you hire all your girls this way, or am I a first?"


    He eyed the door. Customers as well as employees would be coming through soon. He could, but preferred not to play cat and mouse with this girl. "I will not mix words with you. Either you want the job or not."


    So he just wasn''t going to be up front with her? She thought about giving him a fake name, but that would do no good should he try something on her. Everything that happened from this point forward would be her own undoing. He wasn''t forcing her to take the job. He wasn''t even holding her against her will. He had stayed behind the counter. He had made no advances on her. But that meant nothing off company property.


    Staring at one another, she eyed the application again. It felt more like a contract. Her cell vibrated.


    She pulled it out and read the text: "Hey! You found a job yet? The end of the month will be here in no time kiddo. Better find something!"-Mom.


    Mom. This was her mother. She scoffed and fought to hold in her tears more. She shook her head and looked away. She looked back toward the door. Her heart raced as she saw someone come inside. She turned away.


    "I''ll do it." She whispered.


    "Good. Start filling out the application. Read over it. You can start tomorrow." He handed her a ball point pen as he came around the bar. "Delilah. What have I told you about leaving without locking the company doors?"


    "Look, I had a rough day all right! Some idiot spilled his drink all over me and--oh! Expecting a new hire?" She eyed the girl and the application form.


    Alicia looked their way. She could smell the woman''s perfume but it didn''t compare to her beauty, although she would have to see her without make-up. Or her uniform. It was hot pink and white. It complimented her semi-tan skin and pencil straight, voluminous hair. Her chest was much bigger than her own, and her cleavage showed. She wore white opaque thigh-high socks and white stileto high heels with an ankle strap. The top was more corset like, upping her breasts, while the skirt frayed out as she walked.


    "As a matter of fact, I am." he turned to her. "As soon as she sign''s her name on the dotted line."


    "But uh, Christian, you didn''t tell me you were looking for somebody so soon?"


    Alicia tuned out their conversation and tried to focus on the application.


    "How soon is soon Delilah?" He asked her.


    "Oh I don''t know. Perhaps, three years?" She said.


    "Very funny. And where''s your typical purple? You know the guests like that?"


    She frowned. "In the laundry." She walked passed him and up to the bar. "So you''re the little new hire?"


    Alicia turned to her, not liking her already. "Um, well, I haven''t signed anything just yet."


    "Do yourself a favor honey, and don''t. Christian is um...how do you say...weird...?"


    "Wow." Alicia said.


    "I know. Wouldn''t expect it from a handsome face like that, huh?"


    That wasn''t it. It was how she dissed him right in front of her. But she was a manager so she guessed it was okay? But then what was Christian, she now knew his name, for him to be hiring her like this?


    "You''ll have to excuse Delilah. She has no leash for her mouth." He said.


    "Um, if you''re the night manager, like Christian tells me, then, what are you?" She looked to him.


    "I''m the bartender."


    Delilah looked to him. "He''s the boss."


    "Really!" she said.


    "Oh yes." She looked to Alicia. Taking in every detail of her and wondered why Christian was going for a girl like her. She had nothing to offer him. "He likes the guise of being a bartender, but he''s not the only one we have. We have two others here."


    "Really? I see you have to be sixteen here to work? Not at the bar right?"


    "Oh! You can work at the bar. One of the bartenders we have is sixteen, so, yeah." She smiled.


    "Isn''t that illegal?" She looked to him.


    "Yes, isn''t that, Christian?"


    He chuckled. "Drinking it, is illegal." He snatched his eyes from Delilah as he said that. "But working the bar is not. Plus, when he''s on duty there is the other bartender that is of age. So he''s constantly being supervised."


    "I see."


    "But, you should leave now." He said. "Return the application to me at 4 tomorrow. I''ll be here, much like I was today since I have lazy employees that don''t know how to do their work."


    Delilah held her tongue.


    "Okay..." She said. She got up and folded the application. She placed it in her bag and glanced at the two of them. Delilah was going to be a problem for sure. And Christian? Who knew. He said to return it around 4 but she could completely skip out on him and never return.


    The text she got from her mother came to forefront of her mind. There may have been other jobs out there that screamed less danger, or no danger at all. But she didn''t have time for it.


    Whatever happened, happened.


    Survival. That was the only thing her parents were teaching her. She''d remember it too. Once she left, she never wanted to see them again. Even if they were happy for her. For them to just push her out, away from the nest like some bird. She was not a bird, she was a person. And she couldn''t fly.


    All this in mind normally she''d smile a little, but since this sitaution was anything but friendly she walked out the doors just as someone else was coming in.


    "Oh, excuse me." They said.


    "No problem." She smiled some.


    They turned their attention to the front. They got a sinking feeling in their stomach as they gazed at their boss and Delilah. She rarely looked this displeased, or showed this much of it honestly. The doors hadn''t opened for the public yet, so they took note of the girl leaving out before schedule. That could only mean one of two things. She inquired about a job, which they recieved on a daily basis from many people, or she would be hired, which could only be why Delilah looked so upset. The girl had her pay docked before, had been yelled at in front of customers and even got stuck with bathroom and janitoral duties. She never looked that displeased. Unless Christian had indeed chosen another.


    They made eye contact with their boss. "Should I prepare a uniform?"


    Christian stared out the window. "No, not yet."


    "Why not! It''s obvious you''ve chosen her!" Delilah spat.


    "Uniforms don''t seem like her style." Christian turned away. "Prepare for tonight''s arrivals. And set up a special place in the back. My family is coming tonight."


    His employees looked his way startled.

 Episode 3: "Welcome to the Family."

    Episode 3: "Welcome to The Family."


    Alicia searched up other jobs online. The application lay off to the side of her desk.


    Hearing her door turn--her parents having no care for privacy--she smoothly placed the application in an opened cupboard that came with her desk. Sliding it all the way back.


    "Hey. You found a job yet?" Her mother asked, folding her arms.


    "No, not really." She said, curious to see how her parents, her mother at least, would feel about her being raped. That thought was still coursing through her mind. And if not that, just her safety in general.


    Were they not taking that into account at all? She was eighteen. Eighteen. That may not sound like a little number to them, and in the real world it wasn''t, you could do a lot at that age, but to her, for her, it was. She knew nothing. Well she knew some things, but she thought she was just a little too young to be out alone. And way too young, or inexperienced with what Christian may have her doing.


    "''No not really'', what does that mean?" Her mother gave her a look.


    "It means a job is as good as mine, if I accept a certain wager."


    "What kind of wager?" She asked.


    "The boss wants me to accompany him home after every shift."


    "You''re lying."


    "I''m not." She said.


    "So what do you want me to do about that? You''re eighteen-years old. Figure it out. It obviously sounds fishy so don''t do it."


    "What is wrong with you!? You do realize this may be my only stake at some income since you guys are kicking me out! I''ve applied to every job on the strip! Put in jobs online. Went to over ten interviews already. All of them telling me no for who knows why! Why can''t I just stay here to get on my feet! Figure things out!"


    "Because rather than have you sit on your but all day and do nothing, Alicia, which I''m sure you would be doing, your father and I think it''s best we push you out. Like a bird leaving the nest. You don''t want to--"


    "I''m not a bird! I''m a human being! I''m your daughter! You know? The one you carried for nine months! You are kicking me out! No car! No license! You won''t even pay for a storage facility! I''m just going to be on the street! And in case you haven''t noticed, I''m very small for my age! I dodge men''s looks everyday I''m out there!"


    "Pick up some pepper spray! Learn some self-defense! Pack a weapon with you! It''s not that hard, Alicia!"


    "And if all that fails! You do realize it''ll be me against a guy twice my size. Or not even twice my size...you know what, it doesn''t even have to be that situation! This is ridiculous! You expect me to just sink or swim! Is that it!"


    "Yes!" her mother shouted. "Sink or swim! And if you find yourself sinking, don''t come crying to us for help! You make it on you''re own Alicia! Had you just gone to school like everybody else we wouldn''t even be having this conversation!"


    "So that''s it! You''re pushing me out because I don''t want to go to school!"


    "Alicia, your father and I have been grooming you to get into a good school all your life. We''ve taken you to seminars and on-campus tours. We''ve taken off work to even go on some college excursions with you. If you didn''t see this coming, now you do! Your father and I have degrees. We worked hard to get where we are. School is where it''s at right now, and if you don''t want to do that, then you are going to have to leave. And no, we don''t want you going to no community college either!"


    "It''s cheaper!" she said. "I can knock out all of my gen-ed for free!"


    "And then stress over where you want to transfer when you can already be there. Now, you have until the end of the month to be out. Or you can apply to the Remwood Academy that your father and I--"


    "So that''s it!" she yelled. "I knew it had to be something!"


    Her mother said nothing.


    She scoffed and shook her head. "Now it all makes sense. You never explained why you wanted me gone other than I ''needed to fend for myself'' or ''we''re just kicking you out''. You did this out of spite. You and dad both. Because I rejected that full ride scholarship to Remwood. Because I didn''t care to follow in you two''s footsteps."


    "Remwood is a good school! Ivy league!"


    "And how''d you even get the scholarship, Mom! Who''d you and Dad have to bribe! I know Dad has pull in the education sector. I know he''s good friends with the counselors, especially in admissions and records!"


    Her mother looked away.


    "Sure, I''ve been an achieving student. But that just wasn''t good enough for you, huh? You wanted me to be that well groomed, kid. Straight-A student kid. The one that did whatever their parents wanted, just for their approval!"


    "And what''s wrong with that! To want what your parents want! All my life I have tried to understand you, Alicia! Nothing we ever do is good enough for you! We get you into a good school. You don''t like it! We go to seminars and outings! You say its ''okay''. What are you?! A corpse?!"


    "I''m a human being!" she shouted at the top of her lungs. "How many times do I have to keep telling you that! I''m allowed to not know what I want right now because it''s normal! I''m not the little robots you and Dad turned out to be for your parents; always looking for their approval! Always looking to them to see what they want! So fine! If I scare you! If I intimidate you, then fine! I''ll leave! If I come up raped and murdered, or scarred beyond repair, no, you won''t be responsible for it, but you will have guilt!" She turned away from her mother and threw open her closet doors.


    "What are doing?" She asked.


    "Packing!"


    "Well I hope you have some place to go." She said, turning and walking out. She closed the door behind her.


    Alicia stopped what she was doing and collasped onto her bed. She cried her eyes out and looked at the application. It''s papers were scrunched up some.


    ***


    She walked through the doors around 4:30. She had plenty to lose, but one thing she refused to do was go down helpless. Whatever may come her way, she''d always be aware. Always be prepared. She had no money, so all of her self-defense tactics would have to be placed on hold, but she did snag a screwdriver and a fork. It was better than nothing.


    She was hoping to only see Christian. Instead she was welcomed with a couple other guests beside him. One being Delilah and the person she had walked passed the evening before.


    "Hello." She said, slowly. "Am I interrupting something?"


    "No, not at all." Christain said. "Did you bring the application?"


    Delilah rolled her eyes.


    "I did." She said.


    "Good. Come with me to the back." He said. He walked toward the area that had been pitch black the day before. It was lit now.


    She noticed the boy staring at her intently as she walked toward the back. Could he be the sixteen-year-old? He looked young enough. He had blue-black shaggy hair, with the bluest eyes she had ever seen. He was dressed similar to Christian in attire, but sported a tie.


    Walking into the back, she was suprised to see how big it was. It was a hallway to be exact. With some storage racks against the walls. The doors reminded her of a hotel. There were numbers on them.


    "These are private rooms."The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    "Private rooms for what?" She looked to him.


    "Meetings. Parties."


    Hookers. She thought. "Oh." she said.


    "Follow me." He turned and began walking down the hall.


    She glanced out toward the front and saw Delilah and the boy staring at her still. Didn''t they know it was rude? She hurried along after him.


    Delilah slammed her hand down on the counter and winced. She made a muffled sound.


    "Exactly what you get." The boy said.


    "Shut up you little insect!" she hissed.


    There was an abrupt turn that led them to a double door entry. With no knobs?


    "No knobs?" she gave him a look.


    "No." He said, entering a code into the keypad on the wall.


    The doors unlocked and he pushed one open.


    The room was red. All red. It nearly hurt her eyes. The only relief was the glass table for contrast. Red carpet. Red floors and walls. Even the ceiling. It had round LED lights within them.


    She cautiously stepped through, one hand in her bag, gripping the fork. She fumbled for the screwdriver.


    He closed the doors and she turned and faced him.


    She''d figure he''d wait to take her home to assult her, but this room was just as good. There weren''t any windows--she doubted the employees would help should anything go wrong. Especially if they didn''t know the code.


    "Your application, may I see it?" He asked.


    "What''s with all the red?" She asked.


    Christian looked around. "It''s soothing--calms me down after a hard days work. I can come in here and relax. The walls are noise cancelling. Have a drink. Fall asleep." He chuckled. "I''ve actually done that a couple times."


    "Where? There''s no where to sleep?"


    He pointed to the right side of the doors.


    Why hadn''t she noticed the cushioned bench there?


    "If I''m really hot, the cold glass table does the trick. And a beer." He smirked. "Now, your application."


    She handed it to him.


    He unfolded it and walked toward the table.


    It sat twelve in what looked like very comfortable high back seats. They all came with armrests.


    He lifted the first page and looked for her signature. It wasn''t there. He turned to her. "You didn''t sign it."


    "I know." She said.


    It was extremely subtle, but she saw the irritation cross those blue eyes of his. If he wanted her, he''d have to ''earn'' her.


    "I don''t even know your name and you''re getting on my nerve." He said.


    "And I''m being an idiot for coming this far along with you and now this takes the cake." She ushered to the room. "I''m in a room with no handles. No handles. I can''t escape."


    "No, you can''t." He said. "Not without the code."


    "Which you won''t give me, I''m sure."


    "0089-265."


    "You didn''t just give me the code." She laughed in disbelief.


    "I did." He said. "If you are going to waste my time, you can leave."


    "Waste your time! You''re asking me to do something completely irrational and flat out dangerous! No one in their right mind would do such a thing! This is borderline sexual assult!"


    "And yet here you are." He said.


    She didn''t respond.


    "That leads me to believe that you actually want this job or you have no choice for reasons uknown to me. There are plenty of jobs out there. As to why you have come this far with me, those have to be the only explainations."


    And he was right.


    She turned away and cupped her mouth.


    He watched her. Wondering if he should even waste his time on her. Somebody else would quickly jump on this opportunity without regard for the consequences.


    But she fought. Why? He wasn''t making her, so what was the struggle for?


    "You''re right." She turned and allowed him to see her tears. She steadied her voice. "I don''t have a choice, otherwise I''d be long gone from here. From you."


    "So what''s keeping you?" He said.


    "My parents." She said. "It''s either I become employed under you and move out by the end of the month. Or be homeless and deal with all the risks that come with that. Unfortunately, you''re little deal isn''t helping me make the decision any faster. I''d rather be in a shack right now in the woods then deal with this. I have applied to multiple jobs already within my time frame, and all of them have said no, or the interviews take place over the span of a month. I need to be out before then."


    "Why are your parents kicking you out?" He asked.


    "School. School and their butthurt feelings over me rejecting the school they swindled me into."


    "What school?"


    "Remwood."


    "You turned down, Remwood?"


    "Oh," she scoffed. "Not you too."


    "It doesn''t matter what I think. But Remwood is a good school, if you get it to work for you. It''s not the best when it comes to crime, rich kids and stuff. But it will help on applications and resumes."


    "Yes, I know." She said. "But I didn''t want to attend. I didn''t care to."


    "Where else would you have liked to go?"


    She sighed. "Look, nowhere, okay! Now why do you want me coming home with you after every shift!"


    "That''s up to me."


    "No! That''s not up to you! I''m the one that''s going to get hurt! And I can''t trust your word saying that you won''t."


    "Unless you see me in action, which leaves you with no choice but to accept or get out. Your choice. I don''t have all day. Someone else will come along. We get applicants daily."


    "What for! The pays not good anyway unless we''re doing whatever you want us to do behind closed doors!"


    "Take it or leave it, girl." He said. "You will have until six o'' clock to make your decision. Should you, you will start work immediately. There should be something you can fit."


    "Wait a minute! You''re just going to toss me to the wolves too!"


    "How else are you supposed to learn? Delilah will be shadowing you."


    "Oh great! The one that doesn''t seem to like me!"


    "Delilah likes no one I take under my wing."


    "What? She''s jealous another girl get''s to have what she had? Fine. You can take her home and just hire me as a regualar maid. Yeah, how about that. Just hire me normally. I won''t have to go with you anywhere."


    "But I am not looking for a normal hire. We get plenty of those each day and I am content with the staff I have. This position is more of a personal, inside job. No woman here fits. Consider you my personal assistant, should you take the job."


    "And what makes me so different? I just want a job. That''s it! No 50 Shades of Red or midnight secretary stuff! And you won''t tell me if it''s going to be that way!"


    "I know I haven''t. You''re just assuming."


    "So can my assumption be wrong!"


    He chuckled. "You have an hour."


    She was at a loss of words at this point.


    "Now, I will leave you in here, or you can even walk out. If the application is not in my hand by six o'' clock, you will have forefeited the right to obtain a job here." He walked passed her and entered the code, opening the door. "The choice is yours." He looked back at her, and then stepped out.


    He said that to her three times already. The choice was hers. The choice was hers. The choice was hers. Yes, it was hers. He wasn''t making her do anything. But after she signed. That''s when she would be at his mercy.


    The door began to close. Should she follow him out or be trapped in here as she had forgotton the code already? She wouldn''t want to come in while everyone was busy serving customers. They wouldn''t be able to show her the ropes as efficiently. That and she was shy. She''d never show it, but she was.


    She had a screwdriver and a fork. Embarrassing to say the least but it was something.


    "Hey! Wait!" she ran out the room.


    He turned to her.


    "I''ll do it."


    "You said that already." He said. "I just need your signature. It makes everything, legal."


    Everything. Legal.


    She didn''t have time to play around with those terms or how he paused before he said the term ''legal''. Hell or high water, she decided to do this. Against her better judgement. Against every fiber in her body telling her to ''stop!''. To get out now while she still could.


    She had to be out by the end of the month, She needed to be able to make a down payment on a place as soon as possible. Start looking.


    "How often do I get paid?"


    "Every two weeks."


    She walked toward him. "Is that $2000 every week or is that $2000 every month?" She whispered.


    He thought about that. "Do you want to stay in this area? Or commute?"


    "Would it matter?"


    "Yes." He said.


    "This area." She said. "I only take one train to get here, and if I can find a place around here, I won''t have to commute at all."


    "Very well. If you sign I will give you $2000 a check." His voice was lower.


    Her eyes widened. "That''s $4000 a month! What am I going to be giving you! Blood!" she hissed. "I mean! Not that I''m complaining but I don''t want to feel like garbage when all is said and done."


    "Well hopefully we won''t have to be ''said and done'' for a long time." He said. "Do you need a pen?"


    "No, no I have one." She said, feeling sick. Her mouth was going dry. She rummaged through her purse, swallowing thickly. "Come on, I had it! I have it!" She wanted to cry.


    He held a pen in front of her. She looked at it and then him.


    Since yesterday he showed her no other face but one of composure. He hadn''t raised his voice at her. He was even giving her a second chance almost. What could she possibly offer him besides her body and she didn''t want to give herself up anyway. A prositute could do just as good a job, no, they would be able to give him anything he needed. She had no experience. Zero.


    "Wha--"


    "Sign it." He interrupted her. "Just sign it. I''m just as tired as you are with this game. I get it. You don''t want to. Under perfect circumstances I wouldn''t want to."


    "Want to wha--"


    "Sign it." He said again. "The sooner you do the sooner we can get you out there."


    He didn''t have to show her how edgy he felt. She could feel it. The anxiety.


    Swallowing, she took the pen. Sniffing some she lifted the first page and set it down on a small table. There was a clock setting off to the side. It was 5:07 p.m. She held her breath and scribbled in her first and last name: Alicia June. She dated it.


    "Should we call you ''AJ'' for short?" He looked at her signature.


    "Just Alicia." She turned to him. "Just, Alicia."


    "Well, Alicia." He took the pen and application. He held out his other hand. "My name is Christian Royce. You may call me ''Roy'' for short. Everyone does."


    "I prefer Christain." She said. "That is your name, isn''t it?"


    "Unfortunately."


    She eyed his hand and slowly placed hers inside it. He was warm, but a little cold. An odd temperature to be.


    They shook hands.


    "Welcome to the family, Alicia." He briefly smiled. "With time, I hope you will grow to like it here."


    "Not on my watch pal." Delilah was against the outside wall, straining her ears to hear.


    "Roy! Delilah is listening outside the wall!" The boy yelled.


    She glared daggers at him. "Shut up you scrawny little kid!" she lunged for him. "I''ll make you die of alcohol poisoning!"


    "And she threatened me!" he sang.


    "Those are my co-workers?"


    "Afraid so."


    "They must be good at their job then for you not to fire them..." Alicia fell forward.


    He caught her.


    "I''m not, I don''t think I can--" she let out a wimper and blacked out.


    "Delilah!" he called.


    "What is it!" She walked into the room. Her heart skipped a beat. "What did you do to her?! Don''t tell me you killed her already! Not that I''d be complaining on that aspect..."


    "Just heartless." The boy spoke.


    "Follow me into the conferance room. Your job will be to wait until she comes to."


    "What!" she yelled.


    "It''ll serve you right," he looked to her. "Eavesdropping on conversations. You should know better, dear. You were, once under me."


    A mournful look crossed her eyes.


    "And unlike you, this girl really doesn''t have a choice. Now you will sit and wait for her to come around. Show her the ropes, and so help me if you cause any unnecessary damage while I''m away, well, I don''t have to tell you what I''ll do to you. Are we clear?"


    "Yes." She said.


    "Yes, who?"


    "Yes, sir." Delilah said, her own eyes glistening.


    "Good. Roy, keep watch."


    "You got it." He said. "And her uniform?"


    "We should have something small in the back. If not, the school uniform should do for now until one is made for her. If she wants that, then Delilah will show her the brochures. Right?" He looked to her again.


    "Yes." She said.


    "Good. Make sure she has some water to drink when she wakes up." He picked her up and carried her away to the conference room.


    Delilah followed silently behind. She had a flashback with ''Roy'' or Christian having his arms around her and it broke her to know that that one foolish mistake cost her, her title, her paygrade, but most importantly, her trust with Christian. He never looked at her the same. Or maybe he never saw her as anything but that. Either way, this new girl was replacing her. And just like the girl who had him before she did cursed her to make a mistake. To make Christian fall away from her. Delilah was doing the same thing. She prayed multiple times that something would happen. An irreversable mistake. Just like the one she made. It could even be the same one. That''s it! She''ll make her want the same thing she did. And she''ll get caught. And Christian will have to put her away for good! Just like he did her. This new plan in mind, she smiled on the inside, struggling to fight the smile forming on her lips.


    Misery loved company indeed.

 Episode 4: "Christian Royce."

    Episode 4: "Christian Royce."


    He waited for the gate to open. He saw a car parked in the driveway. Great. They were still there. Pulling up to one of his garages, he parked his car and got out.


    One of them appeared in front of him.


    Ignoring them he walked up to the front door.


    "Wow. You gonna ignore me?"


    "No more than usual." He unlocked the door and entered, setting off the alarm. He disarmed it.


    They pouted. "Why! I did nothing wrong!"


    He gave them a look as he closed the door.


    "What? I didn''t!"


    "I want you all out of here by seven." He walked towards his upwinding stairs.


    "Why are you so mean to me! To us! Last time I checked we''re still your family!"


    "That you are." He kept walking up the stairs. Another sibling greeted him at the top.


    "Brother." they said.


    He walked passed him saying nothing.


    "So, father and I was just wondering when you were going to turn? You know, wake up instead of wasting everybody''s time?"


    "It''s my body. My decision. I don''t know how many times I can tell you or him that. You want to get mad, get mad at him. He''s the one with the sperm last time I checked." He looked to his brother. He had an amused expression.


    "Yeah, well Mama''s the one with the eggs. You can still inherit things from your mother!"


    "Which is why I''m an abomination now because I didn''t inherit either." He opened up his bedroom door and slammed it shut in his brother''s face.


    "Christian! You nearly smashed my nose!"


    "It''ll heal." He said.


    "You''re not an abomination if you make a choice!" they yelled.


    "Yet, I''m still one if I choose to become a ''hybrid''. Something you aren''t saying but implying, little sister." He looked around his room, stepping down into it. He went towards his bathroom.


    Neither of his siblings responded.


    "I don''t see what the big deal is." Another voice spoke. They looked at their nails.


    Christian whipped his head around. Unlike his other two siblings outside, this one could pass right through.


    "Christina!" they yelled.


    "Christina? What are you doing here?" Christian asked.


    She got off his bed and walked up to him. "I mean, you have all of our strengths, none of our weaknesses..." she ran a finger along his collarbone when he gripped her hand.


    Her very presence made his skin crawl, yet, she was the most tolerable out of all his siblings.


    "From both sides..." she smiled and ripped her hand away with ease. "It''s almost like you are a hybrid. Yet, there''s that one tiny..."


    Christian narrowed his eyes.


    "Little detail..." she whispered in his ear. "Right, my little brother?"


    "Leave. Christina." He said.


    "I''d love too. But I just need to make sure things are in order." She looked around the room.


    "What things?" He said.


    "The elders, the whole council is coming for dinner one month from today."


    His eyes widened.


    "What!" his siblings shouted from outside the door.


    "They," she turned away from him, "want to see how their miracle child is doing." She looked to her brother again--her pitch black hair swaying. Her emerald eyes shinning. She was the definition of a ''witch'' although they didn''t exist in their world. He always thought she''d be perfect for the role. An evil one at that.


    "Do have whatever you have," she paused deliberately, "under control brother." She winked at him and then the window was thrown open and she leaped out and was gone.


    He walked up to the window, the evening wind coming into his room. He wrinkled his nose in disgust and closed it. He locked it.


    His twin. He winced upon thinking that. They looked nothing alike, but they were. But there were Fraternal twins, so he guessed it didn''t matter. They were the middle children, although Christina mine as well have been the eldest with how she acted. That title belonged to his brother James. The youngest was Farah.


    The Royce family. The family cursed above all others because of the foolish mistake his parents made and rather than take responsibility for it, for him, they would instead just look the other way.


    "So, uh, about this dinner..." James began.


    "Doesn''t matter. Get out. You have until seven." Christian said, going back to his original plan before he was so rudely interrupted.


    "Ohh!" Farah yelled. "You know before Delilah you actually liked us!"


    He didn''t know whether his younger sibling said that on purpose or not, but either way he was triggered, and they were warned to not bring up her name in his house.


    "THAT WAS BEFORE YOU BETRAYED ME! NOW GET OUT! NOW!"


    "AHH!" they yelled, their bodies being blown back. Like an invisble hook was yanking them full force, the siblings found themseleves out the door, James getting blasted through it while Farah went through a window.


    James landed on top of his car, bashing in the hood and shattering the front windshield.


    Farah skid and rolled across the concrete, gaining cuts and bruises across her open flesh as she wore a dress. She heard part of it tear and was more angered at that then her own condition.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Christian tried to get his breathing under control. His house trembled. He gripped the counter in his bathroom for support, careful not to view his image in the mirror. Whatever it may have looked like. Veins crept along his arms and chest, becoming raised. They were dark blue, nearly black in color. The back of his neck throbbed and he knew a certain wretched mark was caught aflame.


    He turned away from the mirror, his speed leaving an after image. He looked both ways, wondering what should he do? He looked to his shower. He switched it on and then stopped. No, a bath. A bath full of cold water would do the trick. He switched on the bath and clicked on ''triple jets''. It would fill the tub in no time.


    Pain or not, his siblings were no longer on his premises. The blast gave them a limited amount of time to get out, as he raised his barrier full force. If they didn''t want to be scorched alive, they had to leave.


    Ripping apart his shirt, his nerves not allowing him to do anymore, he nearly hopped in and went under.


    He didn''t look to see his eye color, but as of now they blazed a molten orange. Sometimes they glowed. Sometimes they were a faint or dark blue. He didn''t know.


    His parents, his family, the elders, they all wanted him to make a choice. But they did not observe him. Gladly. But he knew. He knew even if he chose one side, he''d still be an outcast or held in high regard. It didn''t matter which side he chose because he would still be vastly different from all the rest. They wouldn''t know what to think of him.


    He didn''t want to be called an abomination. They called him that. People wouldn''t consider him human, so they wouldn''t call him that.


    Did he want to belong anywhere? He asked himself that multiple times. Dying, at least from both sides typical weaknesses left him sore, but nowhere near death.


    Then there was his sister. She was a little bugger herself. With her passing through barriers and seemingly to possess a strength stronger than either side, even if she was supposedly only full blooded of one species.


    He closed his eyes and thought of Alicia. His newest girl. He knew this time would be different. Just from how she acted. What she feared. They weren''t irrational, but he found himself silently hoping she''d accept, even if she didn''t in the end, and he let her go. But she had accepted.


    There were only two women he had chose in the past. The first was Alice. He didn''t want to think of her too often. Then there was Delilah. A stupid decision on his part. Thinking of her only made him angry and annoyed. More so at himself. He knew the kind of girl she was, but he didn''t think she''d stoop that low. He still found himself surprised that he would be so shocked at her actions when he should have known from the start. But he should know from the start with any girl.


    And then he didn''t have a choice. Well, he did. But to prolong that part of his life for as long as possible, he chose this alternative. He didn''t know how long it would last. For himself or his, chosen victim.


    Victims. He hated to call them that. But he was sure there''d be more after Alicia. He couldn''t kill them. And they could all only give him a limited supply. It was their life being drained.


    That''s why the pay was so high. That''s why the emotions flared. It was a very intimate act. He opened his eyes again, his expression pained a little. They were back to their normal blue. He rose from the water, having lost track of how long he was holding his breath. It didn''t bother him.


    Work had just begun.


    He began to drain the bath water. It helped. He removed the rest of his clothes, ringing them out some and then tossing them out.


    He switched on the shower water, making it hot this time. Steam rose. The steam was another relaxing method for him. Raising his head, he let the water hit him.


    ***


    Elsewhere, Christina stood out on top of a building. Hands against the structure she looked out at the coming night. The sun hadn''t set yet. It would in about another hour.


    She laughed aloud, not being able to contain this sudden joy from within. While she always had some kind of evil plan brewing, regardless of the scenerio, this time around she was esctatic because she would have nothing to do with it and still reap the rewards. Something was coming. She didn''t know what, but she could feel it in the air. Something was changing--going to change. And she''d be front-lined and centered.


    She wouldn''t be the catalyst. She typically wasn''t, but she had a reputation for being bad. Like Christian though, she thought their parents were utterly useless and cruel. Only caring about their love and not really their children. Or just Christian. Two children born from a bloodline each, and a pair of twins stuck in the middle? Even if she was ''like their father'' as she had them believe and she half the time believed it too since it was so prevalent, she kept quiet on the oddities she had within herself. Not even Christian knew, although she knew he was watching her. She wouldn''t be surprised if he picked something up. They were, afer all, twins.


    How annoying. Her look darkened. What was it about twins that made you love them? Or at least care a smidgen for them? Her other siblings could go kick rocks, but with Christian... she couldn''t just turn a blind eye. Whether good or bad came his way. Whether she''d be the cause or not. She always had an eye out for him.


    The funny thing was that Christian always thought she was out to trap him. That was a ''yes and no'' kind of thing. He was the first of their world to be whatever he was. Who wouldn''t be curious? But human? No. He could only claim that term for so long and then it became denile to her. That, and it wouldn''t hold up gene wise. Put his blood in a normal doctors lab and they''d have a heart attack at their findings.


    Seeing his outbursts of anger and eyes change color, not to mention the mark upon his neck completely ruined any chances of him fitting in.


    Sure, he could run a place of business. They all did to save face. She ran a bank. Farah was into the fashion gig. James, ''the deadbeat'' she''d call him had real estate and investment properties. Their parents were lawyers. Blending in is what came natural to them, but it would never be their reality. Something she knew he personally struggled on.


    He''d rather die.


    That was something she personally wouldn''t allow. Her family all had their individual talents and gifts and she made it her job to find them all. Christian was the king of the crop. The cash cow. He was always on the elders'' lips and tongues. Not a day went by when they weren''t discussing him. She would know as her other agenda called for a seat on the council, but she was not focused on that right now.


    Right now, with the myraid of thoughts intruding her mind, some personal, others diabolical, she sat down, bringing one leg up. The other dangled loosely.


    She enjoyed a good sunset. The warmth it brought her. She rose her head some and closed her eyes, enjoying the last few ounces of it. She was always busy, busy, busy. Planning one scheme after the next.


    "Because deep down you''re not content with who you are either..."


    She opened her eyes. Three people had said those words to her. The first was her, unofficially, if she could admit it. The second was Christian. And the third, perhaps having the most weight, was a love long lost. No, they were not dead. But they were willing to stay by her side.


    Till this day she didn''t know if she had done him or herself a favor by telling him ''no''.


    A sharp pain went through her chest and she looked down at the crowds of people; in their cars, on their phones or walking the streets. They were human. Their genetic make-up made them one hundred percent so.


    Her jealousy was aroused and she thought of Christian again. At least he could control it. For however long at least he had a choice.


    She lunged off the building. Air cutting through her, she vanished and reappeared in a subway corner, smoothly emerging onto the street with the rest of the pedestrians.


    She was filled with joy once again. Yes, something was coming and come what may, at least she wasn''t human, or wouldn''t be considered it. She could be out of sight-out of mind in only a few seconds. These people? She sighed from within. It was a love-hate relationship.


    "Mama! Can I get an ice-cream cone?"


    Christina watched the child beg their mother for one, staring at the shop''s poster for a soft-serve creamy delight.


    It did look good and she hadn''t had anything to eat since lunch.


    "No, you had some cookies with your lunch and then you just had a sucker. No more sweet for you." She pulled them along.


    At least she wasn''t a kid either. She could have as much sweet as she wanted.


    She walked into the shop.


    ***


    Christian rolled up his sleeves over his blazer. A button was undone at the top of his shirt. He pants were ironed and creased. His shoes shined. No, this night was no special occassion at the cafe, but it was for him. For the third time. His blonde hair was slicked back, a strand coming forward over his eye. He''d drive the girls wild, but that was not his intention. He eyed the blood bag and needle through the window. Everything was laid out neatly. Even down to the lounge sofa and seat he would be in. On another table were goodies, things to replenish the loss of energy.


    Alicia''s words came to him. Only an outburst of sarcasm spoken by her, they were about to become real.


    "What am I going to be giving you! Blood!"


    He turned and walked toward the door, grabbing his keys off the dresser.


    "Regrettably so, Alicia." He said, opening it.


    Closing it behind him, he made sure his barrier was raised all around his house as he made his way toward the front door.

 Episode 5: "Alicia The Maid."

    Episode 5: "Alicia The Maid."


    Alicia woke with a start.


    "Oh fine, you live." Delilah twirled a finger around the rim of her glass.


    Alicia looked to the voice and she fought the urge to frown and roll her eyes. "Where''s Christian? What happened?"


    "Asking for him already." Delilah finished her drink and set it down, Alicia watching as she approached her. She smirked. "Relax, little girl. He''ll be around. But he asked me to get you ready, shadow you and what not." She flipped her hair back.


    "Get me ready?"


    "Yeah, don''t look so surprised girl. Did you think Christian was kidding when he said you''d be working tonight?" She sqautted down.


    "No, but..." She sat up. "I was hoping to get some training in before everyone started to arrive. So I wouldn''t be in anybody''s way." I don''t want to look like an idiot! she thought.


    "Yeah well, that''s too bad. You shouldn''t have fainted."


    "You would to with the kind of pressure that''s been put on me." Alicia gave her a look.


    "What pressure?" Delilah rose an eyebrow.


    She thought it wise not to speak anymore about it. Perhaps Delilah went through something similar and if that was the case, then of course she''d be jealous. She thought about what Christian said in regards to her being jealous of anyone he takes that''s new. He must''ve been through quite a few girls, she thought.


    "I''m thirsty. Is there any water to drink?"


    "Yeah, on the table." Delilah said, straightening up. "And, this is your uniform, unless you want something...custom made." She picked up a white bag. She was fuming on the inside. It was not uncommon for Christian to allow the girls to pick out a uniform they wanted, or would want custom made. She was angry that she had to be the one telling her this. And quite frankly hated that she would be Christian''s new girl. She would sooner have her in a burlap sack serving customers then in a maid''s uniform.


    "Custom made?" She asked.


    "Yes." Delilah said. "Christian has you wear a default uniform, if you''re a new hire, and then pick out a uniform in this brochure here. Or, you can have it custom made."


    "Was yours custom made?"


    "Yes. You are allowed three outfits. Each can be a different color or style, or you can be like Rick and choose all three of the same style and color."


    "Rick?"


    "You''ll meet her."


    "Her?"


    "We don''t discriminate on names here. Now, get up. I have a lot to show you in a very short amount of time."


    Alicia did as she was told, and went towards the pitcher of water. She poured herself a glass and Delilah turned the lights up as they were dim.


    She pulled out a white uniform and leaped on the inside at Alicia''s expression.


    She pulled the glass away from her lips and swallowed. "That''s hideous! What is this! The 1950s! Oh my gosh! That''s awful!"


    "Well, it was the only thing in the back that could fit your small self. Belonged to a girl who no longer works here. It was during a costume party we all had a couple years back. It''s a Small-Medium."


    "Is it clean?" She asked.


    "No, Christian let''s all of his costumes rot."


    Alicia stared at her, not sure if she was being serious.


    "Yes, this is clean." She rolled her eyes, hating that she had to be so honest with the girl as she was sure she''d go back and tell Christian everything. That, and they had cameras. Strategically placed. Not even she knew where most of them were, only a couple.


    Alicia took it from her.


    "And this is the brochure." Delilah placed a pamplet down with a couple anime girl characters smiling faces. "Go through it while you''re dressing," She turned and entered the code to get out. The doors unlocked. She turned to her. "See what you like, and report it to Christian. Or, if you don''t find anything you like, you can go about customizing it."


    "Yeah, how does one go about customizing it?" She flipped through it, already seeing some she liked and some she defintely wasn''t wearing. "Is it only the ones in here that can be tweaked, or I can have a completely different one?" She looked to her.


    "You can have a complete different one within reason. I mean, Christian''s rich but he''s not a bank." She flipped her hair midway and stopped.


    Alicia had risen an eyebrow.


    "Probably shouldn''t have said that..." She said.


    "That''s okay. I won''t tell." Alicia said.


    "Doesn''t matter." she said, staring at her. "We have cameras. It''ll get to Christian''s ears sooner or later."


    "And since I have to--" She closed her mouth and folded her lips. And since I have to drive home with him I would have seen it anyway.


    "What was that?"


    "Nothing." Alicia said. "Can you show me to the bathroom--shoot!"


    "What?"


    "I don''t think I have shoes to go with this outfit!"


    "Relax. There''s some white sneakers in the back."


    "Sneakers and everybody is wearing heals?" Not that she could walk in them.


    "Well honey, that''s what you get for being a new hire." Delilah mocked her. "Now, march!"


    Right. This woman was still a manager so Alicia felt inclined to show her that much respect, but that was it. She thought about make-up, as Delilah was wearing it and wondered if she would have to too?


    Gathering up everything, her purse stayed around her body, she walked out the door and the butterflies descended.


    She saw flashing lights but more importantly, a couple of new co-workers


    One girl rose her eyebrows and then rolled her eyes. The other looked her way, smiling some.


    At least someone was welcoming.


    "Ricky! Julia! Come meet the new hire!"


    She wondered if the girl who rolled her eyes was Ricky. Her name, though a guy''s, screamed ''bully'' all over it.


    One was pale with a very light tan, the other her color, brown.


    They came over.


    "This is Alicia June."


    The pale one snickered.


    "Oh! Can I call you ''AJ'' for short!?" the other one asked. Her hair was blonde and in pigtails that were wrapped on either side of her head, with the rest flowing down.


    She was very pretty to Alicia.


    The pale one had green hair, along with her maid outfit being green, white and black. Aside from reminding her of leprechaun or even ''Buttercup'' from Powerpuff Girls, she was okay.


    "Yeah, that sounds a lot better than ''Alicia June''." She remarked.


    "Well, I don''t plan on having you call me by my first and last name." Alicia said. "Alicia is fine. Or you can call me ''AJ''. She smiled at the other girl.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Great!" she said. "I''m Ricky by the way!" She held out her hand to shake.


    So you''re Ricky? she thought. So then you must be Julia... She shook Ricky''s hand and looked to Julia.


    Julia eyed her up and down. "Because I''m being paid I''ll introduce myself. The names Julia." She didn''t hold her hand out for Alicia to shake.


    "Hm, Alicia." She looked away.


    "So this is the girl replacing you?" Julia asked.


    Delilah gave her a look.


    "Oops. Didn''t mean to say that out loud." She turned away. "Don''t be an idiot, new girl."


    Alicia feeling upset watched her walk away. Julia chuckled, looking at her again before she left out.


    "Don''t worry about Julia. Once she see''s you as someone to respect, she''ll lighten up." Ricky said.


    "I don''t care if she personally respects me or not. Just in the workplace. If this is the kind of environment that Christian has me working in--hmm...."


    "What?" Ricky said. "You don''t like the boss or?"


    "He''s very unique, I''ll say that much. And he''s given me a job, so there''s that..." She pulled her mind from thinking any further about it.


    "Yes, well, Christian has very unique tastes and as to why he settled on you--"


    "Oh give it a rest, Delilah!" Ricky said. "You''ve been complaining about this girl since she''s been unconscious."


    "You are so lucky I can''t fire you!" she hissed.


    "Hmm, yes, that is too bad." Ricky turned to Alicia. "I''m a maid, but I''m also the superviser here."


    "Oh really?" Alicia said, feeling better already.


    "I come in about three times a week, well for the night shift. Make sure everything is running smoothly. Christian texted me and let me know that he hired someone new."


    "Oh." She nodded.


    "I''m normally active during the daylight hours."


    "Oh, okay. Well I''m not complaining. The more help I can possibly have, the better."


    "Of course. Although you will have to be kind of fast here. Delilah will keep you, up to speed." Ricky eyed her.


    "Yes, Ma''am." Delilah said in a childish tone and rolled her eyes.


    "Good. Let''s go ahead and get you changed. The bathroom is right over there."


    "Thanks." She said, "I love your outfit by the way."


    It was all navy blue other than her socks and flats, and complimented her skin tone well. It looked more like a lolita outfit than a maid''s and was very modest. It was a one piece dress, that stopped above the knee but the ''skirt'' area frayed out some, and black bows were sown in on the ends of either side. She wore a black apron that that stopped a little before the dressed ended, and black fingerless gloves. Completing her look was a a black frilled headress piece and what appeared to be black diamond studs in her ears.


    "Thank you!" she said. "It''s actually in the brochure! Just don''t get the same outfit as me, okay?"


    "Oh, I won''t." she said


    Delilah watched them walk to the bathroom.


    Ricky turned. "Delilah, where are the shoes? She''ll need them." She turned to Alicia. "Hopefully they''ll fit."


    "I know right?" she said.


    "They''re in the back. I''ll get them." She turned away, cursing under her breath.


    Ricky walked inside with her. "Now, just change out of everything, and I''ll be right back with a key to your new locker."


    "Okay." She said. Her cell vibrated.


    "Oh, got a text?"


    "Yeah, I''ll check it later." Alicia said. It was probably her mother again.


    "Okay, I''ll be right back. Christian should be here any minute to, so..." she pulled out her phone from one of the apron pockets.


    "Yeah."


    "Yep! Hurry! Hurry!" she said.


    "Okay!" Alicia turned toward a stall as Ricky left out. She lowered her head and turned to look in the mirror.


    No make-up, her face was a little dry, and her lips were a little crusty. She wanted to cry but she had done enough of that. Eyes burning, she entered the stall and closed the door. It came with a mirror inside it. Pulling out the dress, she guessed it was okay.


    She quickly got out of her clothes and slipped it on. It was a little snug around her waist and gripped her hips. She may have been small, but she had a figure that was sure to show. She smiled at this and then grimaced.


    The dress stopped a little passed her knees. Her hair was in braids, so she wasn''t sure how it would all work out. She restyled it into a bun, and slipped on the headpiece that came with it. She looked herself over in the mirror. The uniform fit her just right. She turned in a circle.


    "Not bad..." she whispered. "Not bad at all." She then pulled on some new stockings that came inside the white bag.


    "Hey new girl!"


    She jumped in a fright.


    "Shoes." Delilah said, placing them on the counter.


    She left out before Alicia good say anything.


    Ooh! she thought. Folding everything up and making sure everything was in the right places, she unlocked the stall and stepped out. They weren''t sneakers, but a pair of loafers. They seemed brand new as far as the white color went.


    She stepped into them. They barely fit. She walked around in them. It felt as though they wanted to slip off, but if she walked liked there was something stuck up her butt she should be okay. Not.


    She filled the front and back ends with some tissue, careful for it not show or ride up as she walked about. She had to get another outfit.


    The brochure. She didn''t think she had time to look over it more. She would later.


    Ricky came in then. "Oh! Don''t you look cute!"


    Alicia blushed with a smile. "Thank you..."


    "How does everything fit?"


    "Definitely looking forward to my own uniform."


    "Right, well Christian''s here."


    Butterflies swarmed her stomach. "He is?"


    "Yep, just arrived. And here''s your key--you know what, just let me take these things from you." She took her clothes. "I''ll show you where everything is for the night once we''re done or have a quiet minute. It just turned seven so things are really getting started."


    "Oh, okay." Alicia said.


    "Well, come on, Miss Alicia June, or shall I say, ''AJ''.


    That made her laugh a little.


    Walking out the bathroom doors she turned to see Christian and all his hotness talking to the young boy from earlier.


    He looked her way and smirked.


    She averted her attention to the floor.


    The boy said something to him and Christian nodded. He walked away.


    "Wow, she looks better in that than I thought she would." Julia had come around the corner.


    "Julia." He said.


    "Right, this is basically the second ''boss'' now." She looked at Alicia.


    "Excuse me?" Alicia rose her head.


    "Don''t worry, you''ll see." Julia turned and caught the death glare Christian was giving her.


    Alicia saw it too.


    "Probably shouldn''t have said that..." she looked down at a storage rack and snatched up a random box to hide behind. "Love ya, boss!" she said, walking out.


    "That is Julia." He said.


    "I know. And like I said, your employees must really do their job here for you not to fire them based on personality alone."


    "Oh! Girl got some fire in her." Ricky said.


    "Oh..." Alicia laughed nervously.


    "I know she does." Christian said, looking at her.


    She looked to him and then away.


    "Well, let me put your things away. Uh, you want me to get that?" she motioned to her purse.


    "Uh yeah, just let me grab my phone." She pulled it out and it lit up.


    "Oh! No cellphones, it''s a distraction. I have one, because I''m the superviser."


    "Oh, okay." Alicia placed her phone back inside. Her stomach twisted into knots. The text was from her mother, and she didn''t like all what she had read from it so far.


    "Alicia, your father and I have decided to move the date to you being out of the house by..."


    She couldn''t read the rest of it.


    "All right. I''ll leave her to you while I place your things away." Ricky said. "Good luck, AJ."


    Alicia watched her walk away with her things and wished for a moment she could join her to read the rest of that text. She probably could have too, had she spoke up.


    "Alicia." Christian said, observing her facial expressions. She looked sick again.


    "Yeah, I mean, yes?" She looked to him.


    Dubsteb music played though the speakers then, and the lights were turned down.


    "All right! Who''s ready to party!" Julia yelled from a microphone.


    "Come join me in my office, please?" He said, walking passed her. He opened one of the private rooms. She wordlessly walked in, remembering her screwdriver and fork were inside her purse.


    Christian closed the door behind her.


    There was a desk, with a computer, lamp, phone and small plant. He had no picture frames of family members. The walls were painted in red again. A leather red cushioned chair sat behind the desk.


    He took a seat in it. "You may have a seat."


    She sat down in one.


    "What''s wrong?" he asked.


    Did he really just ask her that? From her fainting, to the possibility of her being used just to have a place to rest her head, to her mother''s texts, to her now rude co-workers, excluding Ricky, he asked that question?


    She leaned forward and placed an arm on the desk. "Nothing Christian. Nothing at all. Nothing is wrong with me, I''m as happy as I can be."


    He looked her over. "Right. Well, before I put you out on the floor, I needed to be sure of that. I don''t want you tripping over people. That would make a very bad first impression."


    "Well you hired me..." Alicia turned away.


    "You accepted." He said.


    She looked back at him. They stared one another down. "Is there a way I can get out of this position? Quit or something?"


    "This isn''t a contract. You can leave anytime you want."


    "Oh really?" She said. "Because it certainly feels like that."


    "Well it''s not. So don''t let it get to you." He said.


    "So with Delilah? She didn''t quit. Judging from the way she''s been treating me and what everyone is saying, I think they know I''m, directly under you or something?"


    Christian shook his head. "You are a maid. Nothing more, nothing less."


    "But it seems like I''m a little bit more to you, and the people around here seem to know that. Julia and Delilah have already commented on it."


    "As they will. Delilah is jealous and Julia is blunt. You will be talked about regardless here."


    "And being under you, forbid I''m doing anything unworthy, is going to make them talk more?"


    "Yes." He said.


    "Do they know about the pay raise?"


    "No, not the exact amount. But they know that if I have personally chosen you, it does come with a pay increase."


    "Did you pay Delilah the same price you''re paying me?"


    "Yes."


    She rose her eyebrows.


    "You will see everything once I take you to my place. Other than that, please try and focus on your work. Delilah will be shadowing you as I have said. The work is not too hard. It''s more memorization than anything else. And cooking. Hopefully you can. This is a cafe."


    "Aren''t there designated workers for that?"


    "There are, but all maids are cross-trained in all areas. You never know when someone will drop the ball, which has happened in the past. Both cooks got sick and I had to have Ricky and Delilah covering the stove."


    She snickered. "Delilah can cook?"


    "She has to if she wants to continue working here. I don''t know about her personal skills at home."


    She shook her head. "I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to laugh, it''s just that with how dressed up she is--"


    "She wouldn''t seem like the type?"


    "No, not at all." Alicia said.


    "That''s the misconception here. This is just a job. Everyone here still has lives outside of work. They still have to go home, do whatever it is they do behind closed doors."


    "Right..." Alicia said, thinking about what he would have her doing behind close doors. "And speaking of closed doors--"


    "Alicia." He cut her off. "We''re not discussing that here."


    "Well it must be big for everyone to notice!" Her mind immediately conjured up the sexual aspect of that sentence and she squeezed her legs tighter together.


    He chuckled quietly.


    Did he think it was sexual, she wondered. Oh gosh she hoped not!


    "Yes, well, it is a big deal." He looked down at his keyboard briefly before making eye contact with her again. And she was dressed in the perfect attire too. What a way to play with his nerves. "But as I said, you will see once we get there. Now, if there isn''t anything you''d like to say to me, you may leave."


    She opened her mouth and then closed it. She opened it again.


    "If you can''t think of anything now, just ask Delilah or Ricky. If I''m around, then you can come ask me, or Roy."


    "I thought they called you ''Roy''?"


    "They do, excluding, Delilah and Ricky. Julia too, as she just calls me ''boss''. But you''ll know the difference. Roycel, the boy you saw me talking to earlier goes by ''Roy'' as well. If we''re both on the floor, everyone will just call him his full name."


    "And you don''t want people calling you your first name because?"


    "It''s not that I don''t, it''s just that unless I know you well, my first name is, kind of off limits."


    "You sure it''s not because you want no one coming after you?"


    He thought about that. "No, not really. I just prefer people not to call me by my first name unless they''re worthy."


    "And judging by Delilah calling you that is simply because she was where I am now? Your...new little assistant?"


    "You could say that. She started calling me by my first name after she became my assistant."


    "Is that so..." Alicia said pondering those words for a moment before it was whisked away by her own coming misfortunes. "Well, let''s get this over with...whatever happens." She stood up, thinking about everything that could go wrong, or would hurt her this night. She would see how it would go. If something didn''t work out, she''d quit. Even if a part of her body was sacrificed, she wouldn''t know unless she went. There was no other alternative. She looked to Christian. His eyes bore into her own.


    Did he feel no remorse for his actions? But then again, should anything happen, she did sign her name on the dotted line. But he could go to jail for something like this! It was under the table! Technically, though, it wasn''t. She was sure women got sexually harrassed while on their jobs all the time, despite the application not saying so. Their job was to work. What happened at their place of business was something else entirely.


    She didn''t think she''d be a statistic, however long or short the percentages were.


    "Yes, lets." Christian said.

 Episode 6: "On The Floor."

    Episode 6: "On The Floor."


    "Here you go!" Alicia smiled at the customer, her heart racing a milion times a minute. She placed a strawberry delight sundae in front of them.


    She was the new girl. To customers and co-workers alike.


    "Oh! Somebody order a doctor!" They teased.


    Alicia smiled. "I know right! He''s off duty!"


    They smirked. "You on duty?"


    Alicia laughed again. "Only for work!" Oh please not again! she thought.


    They chuckled. "Thank you, dear."


    "No problem!" she turned away, they eyeing her butt.


    "She seems to be working out fine." Delilah said. "Hasn''t tripped yet."


    "Were you expecting her to? She''s not wearing heals?" A crimson haired girl spoke.


    Julia rolled her eyes as she placed her tray down and placed another customer''s order on it. "It''s whatever. As long as she stays out of my way."


    "Likewise." Delilah spoke.


    "Kind of hard when you''re shadowing her." The girl spoke again.


    "Shut up, Daya!" she growled and walked toward Alicia.


    She was serving another customer.


    She on more than one occassion was tempted to trip the girl, or cause her to spill something, but once again, she couldn''t. And she wouldn''t be able to as long as she was Christian''s girl. But, she could make her want that. That one special thing she did. That would pay off for all the things she couldn''t do to her.


    "Delilah?" she turned to her.


    "So, how are you holding up?" She asked, casually walking by her side.


    "Good, so far. No trips or mishaps."


    I know!!! She thought. "That''s good." she said. "The customers seem to like you, especially the men."


    "I''ve noticed that." She placed the tray down on the counter.


    The moment she stepped out, guys hooted and hollered. Saying things like, ''I need a doctor!'' or ''Swing it over here, little one!''.


    One guy even had the audacity to pull her into his lap.


    Julia and Delilah laughed while Ricky had to intervene, saying that if he harrassed a worker again he''d have to leave.


    So far there were no other incidents.


    Christian appeared from the back and this time it was the womens'' turn to holler in approval.


    Roycel rolled his eyes as he wiped a glass.


    "Roy, come sit with us!"


    "No, come sit with me!"


    He chuckled softly and smoothly eyed Alicia as he passed.


    Alicia watched him give hugs to all the women who wanted him, take selfies, and even sit with some of them. Even some of the men begged for his attention, offering him a drink on them.


    "Wow, he''s really popular here. Do they know he''s the boss?" Alicia asked.


    "Hmm, yes and no." Delilah said. "Some know, most feel he''s the company''s playboy."


    "So is he?" Alicia asked.


    Delilah turned to her. "Why don''t you see, Alicia? You''ll definitely be in his presence."


    She said nothing and turned away from her. She was waiting for the customer''s order. So far they had her serving, greeting, and seating customers. It was pretty easy.


    She didn''t care for the fact that there were moments where the workers would just watch her work. And Ricky allowed it. She may have been the superviser, but she seemed to let a lot of things slide. When it came to the person''s personality that is.


    There was a soft buzzer that went off when an order was ready. She turned to see Daya and Julia carry over baskets and plates of food. Fries, chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks, pizza, steak and the list continued on. The buzzer went off again.


    Alicia placed people''s orders on her tray, Delilah assisting. They would know who got what by a toothpick with a piece of paper wrapped around it with the table''s number on it.


    Coming to a certain table, a guy chuckled.


    "It''s about time! Delilah when were you ever going to come and visit me?"


    "I''m busy!" she giggled. "How ya been?"


    "Oh, you know how I''ve been." He winked.


    Alicia kept a smile on her face as she placed their food on the table.


    "Oh please." Delilah rolled her eyes. "You are never getting these goodies!"


    "If only this was that type of cafe! I know you got rooms in the back."Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    "I know right!" Delilah smiled and shook her head. "It is a shame." She turned away and he smacked her bottom.


    "Oh!" the customers yelled. The guys shouted in approval.


    She whirled around. Her butt stung. It was a hard smack.


    Alicia had jumped in shock.


    "Ron!" she yelled. "Now I appreciate your flattery but do not touch this body! I''ll have to get the boss on you!"


    "You don''t sound too convincing babe." He winked.


    "Maybe not. But I do have certain tastes in men and you certainly aren''t it!" she whirled around and stalked away.


    Alicia was stuck watching her go.


    "You want some too? Little lady?" He turned to Alicia.


    She looked to him. "Oh, no sir. Not at all." She smiled. "You all enjoy your meal."


    "Awe, where you going? Come here!" He pulled her to him.


    She gasped.


    This was the second time she ended up in someone''s lap.


    "Please! Let go of me!" she yelled, struggling to get out of his grip.


    "Hey guys, what do you say we have some entertainment!" He turned to his group.


    "Uh man, I don''t think that''s such a good idea."


    "Your friend is right." Christian had gotten up and walked over.


    "Psht! Who do you think you are?! Every night these women swoon over you! What''s the difference if I fondle a little maid of yours?" He gripped Alicia''s breast.


    She jumped.


    Everyone looked on in shock.


    "Get your hands off me!" She snatched up a hand and bit him.


    "Ahh!" he released her and she nearly fell off him.


    Christian caught her but she pulled away from him and ran to the back. The workers watched her go.


    "Oh!" Ricky said, following her.


    "I think that serves you right. Given how things could have went. Now I''m going to have to ask you and your party to leave."


    "Oh come on man, we didn''t do anything!"


    "Yeah, I even said it was a bad idea." The other spoke.


    "Then that''s unfortunate. Next time you come, he will not be allowed to attend, or you will all be banned from this place of business. Now please, pack up your things. I will have a worker send over take out trays." Christian turned away from the table and began to walk away, his hands in his pockets.


    "Man that''s not fair! This is all your fault man! Had you kept your filthy hands to yourself this wouldn''t be happening!"


    The man''s hand was burning. He eyed a beer bottle on the table. He broke it against the table, startling the guests.


    "Oh! What''s he gonna do with that!"


    "Dude, put the bottle down-"


    "Shut up!" he yelled and then lunged for Christian who had turned to face him. As he brought the jagged piece of bottle down upon him, Christian blocked his forearm with his hand. Narrowing his eyes some, he thought of sending him flying through the doors in one single punch, but that would draw unnecessary attention. He kept it simple and swiftly whirled his arm around, breaking it.


    "Ahh!" he dropped the bottle, The rest of it shattered upon the floor.


    He shoved him forward. His buddies moved out of the way. He stumbled onto the table, knocking over a drink and basket of fries.


    Christian walked toward him, gripping the back of his neck.


    He grunted as Christian pulled his head back.


    He attempted to used his good hand when Christian pinched a nerve within it.


    "Ahhhh!"


    "Now you will walk up to the register and pay for the food in all your humiliation and if you don''t..." Christian dislocated a finger to make a point.


    "Ahh!"


    "There''s more where that came from." He said in his ear. "Nod if you understand."


    "I ain''t listenin'' to you man!" he yelled.


    "So be it." He said, swiftly dislocating his shoulder.


    "Ahhh!"


    He yanked the man across the room and threw him out the doors. He turned to his friends. "Get out. Now."


    They obeyed without a word.


    He heard them curse their now injured friend''s name out.


    He turned away. The music had been stopped due to the commotion. The lights were still flashing though. "I am truly sorry for what you have all just witnessed. As a courtesy from me, please enjoy all meals and drinks, and if wanted, one more free meal and drink on me."


    "All right!" they yelled.


    "That works for me!" another spoke.


    "They should have fights more often!"


    "Roycel, please, turn back on the music and ladies, please, continue assisting the customers. Within reason." He eyed all of the men. "If you will all excuse me." He walked toward the back, eyeing all of his workers. His eyes lingered on Delilah. "Are you all right?" he asked her.


    She nodded. She smiled a little. "Do we get free drinks too?"


    "Just this once." He said, staring at her a little longer and then went into the back.


    Ricky bumped into him and shook her head. "Oh! Sorry! I can''t get her to come out of the bathroom she''s crying now. She asked if I could get her purse. I brought it to her and that''s when she shouted ''Are you kidding me!'' or something like that and just started to cry."


    Christian walked around her and boldly walked into the bathroom.


    "Oh!" Ricky said in surprise.


    "Did he just walk into the girls'' bathroom?" Julia asked.


    "He just walked into the girls'' bathroom." Delilah said.


    "Employee bathroom to get technical." Roycel said.


    "Shut up, Roy!" they yelled.


    "Hey! Last time I checked the boss said to get to work!" a voice called carrying two trays in their hands. "And I''m not a maid either!"


    Delilah rolled her eyes. "Who died and made you a manager, Dwayne." She faced him.


    "Look, I''m not going to mix words with anyone. But I will complain and you know it! It''s none of you guys'' concern what he does with that girl now! Especially you, Delilah!"


    "Oh thank you for the millionth time for reminding me of my misfortune!" Delilah walked up to him.


    "That was your own doing." He replied bluntly.


    "Do you want to get fired?" She asked.


    "Do you all?" Ricky said. "Dwayne is right. Let Christian handle this. We are all his employees, after all. Even me." She said.


    Hearing her, they all slowly dispersed into their appropriate areas.


    Christian meanwhile tried to get Alicia out of the bathroom stall.


    "You shouldn''t even be in here! Someone help! Get security!"


    "For crying out loud, I am the security here! Now come out of that stall!"


    "I''m not coming out anywhere as long as you''re in here!"


    "Fine. I''ll leave out but you better come and meet me in my office in five minutes otherwise I''ll have the girls drag you out." He turned and left out, bumping into a woman.


    "Oh!" she blushed.


    "Excuse me. It''s not what it looks like." He walked around her.


    She watched him go and then opened the bathroom door to see a teary-eyed Alicia.


    "Rape!" she screamed. "Oh are you all right!"


    "Oh, yes, yes, I''m fine!" Alicia said. "He didn''t assault me! He was just trying to get me to come out!"


    "I think he did!" she yelled. "Roy''s cute and all, but that doesn''t mean he can treat girls anyway he wants! Don''t worry! I''ll call the police!"


    "No!" Alicia yelled. "I swear to you, I was not raped! Christian-Roy is my boss! He only wanted to see if I was all right. Surely you saw the incident with that man out there? He groped me!"


    "Oh that man! Roy kicked him out! Beat him up good to!"


    "He did that?" Alicia asked.


    "Well, not at first. He just politely asked them to leave. But then the man broke a beer bottle and charged at Roy with it."


    "Oh my gosh!" Alicia said.


    "Roy was so cool at how he handled him! Everything happened so fast I could barely keep up with his movements!" she said. "Once everything was over, he offered free meals and drinks on him for the guests there as a courtesy."


    "Really?" She said.


    The woman nodded.


    "Well," she sniffed. "That''s good to hear."


    "Oh! You''re still crying! Did he hurt you!"


    "No, no he didn''t!" Alicia said shaking her head. She turned and grabbed some toilet paper to wipe her face. "Thank you for your concern, but I really have to go!"


    "Oh-wait!" she called after her.


    Alicia ran out the bathroom and to Christian''s office.


    "Close the door." he said, one hand over his mouth. He looked deep in thought.


    She did as she was told. She sat down in a chair.


    He eyed her. "I''m taking you home."


    Butterflies swarmed her stomach. His home? He couldn''t mean hers. She kept a straight face, despite the fresh wave of tears that threatened to spill over.


    Her mother''s text.


    "Alicia, your father and I have decided to move the date to you being out of the house by Sunday. That''s this weekend. Hopefully you have some friends to shack up with. Your father and I are packing your things now."-Mom.


    "My home." He said. "I''ll take you to your place once we''re done. It''s no trouble."


    She sat quietly and stared at him.


    The sexual harrassments. The texts. The callousness of her parents. Her life.


    She had seen movies where women who grew up rough on the other side of the tracks, braved what the world threw at them. Actresses portrayed somone''s life or were only acting out a script. But she was not an actress. Nor was she one of those women who could take on the world right now.


    She looked sick again. Like she would faint.


    "Alicia, are you all right?"


    And then there was him and his own hidden agenda he had for her. That''s right. The man that didn''t-wouldn''t care about her. Whatever he wanted her to give up--she''d be a tool to him and nothing more.


    Life draining from her eyes she lowered her head.


    He saw that. Her brown orbs became dull in a matter of seconds. It startled him just a little. It certianly didn''t help him feel any better with what he still planned to do to her.


    Weak. She looked weak. He didn''t like that. Both women he had were willing. They were startled once they found out, and reluctant at first, but warmed up to him.


    With Alicia''s current mood slicing through him, he''d be lucky if she survived the night.


    His anger on the rise, as this night wasn''t particularly fun for him either, he grabbed his keys and stood up. "Get your things. We''re leaving now."

 Episode 7: "Arrival."

    Episode 7: "Arrival."


    Alicia just sat there for a moment, her head still lowered. Where could she run off to?


    "Alicia?" He said.


    She shook her head.


    "Alicia, we''ve talked about this." He said.


    She still shook her head.


    He sighed and came in front of her. He knelt down. "If this can possibly improve your mood, I wanted you to see for yourself, which you will, but, if you must know now, no, I have no intention of raping you, nor will I ever. I''m not that kind of man."


    That was a major weight off her chest, if that part of her brain actually allowed her to believe him. It was about 50%.


    "Then what do you want?" She asked, her voice soft and broken.


    "I will not discuss that here. Now, let''s go." He stood. "I''ll carry you if I must."


    "Why don''t I just quit?" She said.


    "And go where?" He used her living arrangements against her.


    She wanted to get angry at him, when he didn''t know just how severe her living arrangements had become. Though he had a point. What job would pay her $2000 a paycheck at the start? Allow her to find a place so soon? Many places were minimum wage. Even this job. Unless she was living with friends there was no way she would be able to support herself alone. She''d have to be homeless.


    She doubted any of her rich friends'' parents would allow her to stay with them. The others children were being married off and going to college. And while she didn''t entirely trust his word, he did say he wasn''t going to rape her, which was at the forefront of her mind. Why else would he want to take her home, offering her that kind of money unless something was physical? At that high of a price, she''d have to be one good prostitute.


    Was she going to be a personal maid to him? That''d be two jobs and for that check she''d do it.


    Christian sighed again. "What are you waiting for? Get up."


    She''d find out what he really wanted once she got there. She stood up, sniffing.


    "Do you have everything?"


    "No, I still have my clothes in the locker. Ricky gave me the key."


    "Well go and get them." He said.


    She turned and opened the door. He watched her walk in the direction of the lockers.


    Dwayne came through and picked up a brown box from a storage shelf. "Boss." He said.


    "Dwayne." He acknowledged him. "How''s the customers?"


    "They''re fine. Like nothing happened. The mess at the table has been taken care of too."


    "Good." He said.


    Dwayne turned and was about to go, when he looked to him again. "Boss, you really think she''s worth it? Is any woman really, to you?"


    "Any woman I choose, I care for them, because they are giving their life to me. It''s not an easy choice."


    "Nor does she seem like an easy girl. At least, Delilah and...well you know the other one, were more than willing."


    "That''s the problem, Dwayne. They were more than willing. This girl has been fighting me since day one, I like that. She''ll most definitely fight me once she finds out what I want her for. And in her case, unfortunately, it''s out of survival."


    "Survival?" He raised an eyebrow.


    "Ironic, isn''t it?" He said.


    He chuckled. "Yeah, well, I''ll see you, boss."


    He nodded and watched him go out.


    His cafe was the only one that closed 1 in the morning. It was going for nine now. Soon the late-nighters would come in. Coming off of drugs, they''d want to eat. Some would just want to drink.


    Alicia returned with her stuff.


    "You got everything?" He asked.


    She nodded.


    "Okay, let''s go." He walked out the back.


    She followed behind.


    All eyes were on them. Delilah stopped stalking the shelves to watch them go. Her hands balled into fists. She didn''t expect to be this upset. She knew he was bound to find someone else. He had to in order to maintain his ''condition''. But somehwere deep down, she had hoped he would never. And that maybe he would go back to her. And she had learned her lesson. She did. Just as long as she was close to him. Those thoughts of being nothing but a walking bloodbag rang through her head. She had respect for herself, but she''d give up her life for him. That was either love, or no self-respect at all.


    A true woman, she supposed, would eventually want what he had, or let him go entirely. She chose to want what he had, but went about it in the most decieving and conniving of ways. That was his most treasured law. ''Do not want what I have.''. Those were his words to her.


    She watched the red doors close on them. Murder in her eyes she would make Alicia fall.


    ''You stupid, vicious woman! Snake! How could you do this to me! To us! I warned you! I warned you, Delilah! Did you think that I was joking?! That this was some kind of a twisted game or joke! I''m a monster! I can create monsters and you go behind my back...to my brother? My sister? My family! Something you had no right to do in the first place!"


    She had tried to explain herself, but all her words were futile. In the end, he called her selfish. If she really cared about him, she wouldn''t have wanted something as foolish as that. She remarked that he was being selfish preying on young girls, draining their life just to survive rather than make a choice.


    He said that while that was a good point to make, he knew that his time was short, and that it wouldn''t be forever. He wouldn''t always be the way that he was, and if she truly cared about him, she would have remained the same. She did. He pointed out also that if her blood became tainted, she would no longer be able to give it. Something she obviously hadn''t been thinking about when she went to his siblings for a possible change in her genetic code.


    Overwhelmed with emotions, she placed a box of toothpicks down and ran in the back. She went into the bathroom and entered a stall. She wept.


    Fine, she could be normal. Just as long as she had him. No wonder Alice hated her for so long. It was impossible not to fall for someone like Christian while you were in his company. He treated you like a queen. He meant every word he spoke to you. And the blood loss wasn''t an every day thing. Once a month really. Everything else was golden. They went on retreats together. She got paid well. She didn''t want for anything. But she did want more of him.


    She smiled to herself. That was something she nor Alice never got that far in, although Alice got further in some things that shall remain nameless and she wondered just what kind of effect she had on Christian for him to comply. Perhaps it was the other way around. He never liked to discuss Alice. She was practically non-existant in their ''relationship''.


    She looked in the mirror. Maybe she really was a snake, with her dried mascara and puffy eyes. There were two things she had now in order to make Alicia fall, but she could completely scrap the whole super human bit. She''d make sure she''d make Alicia want him. Want him in every way. That''s what drove her to her blunder. Once you loved someone, you became irrational. She pondered that plan. But what if Christian reciprocated his feelings for her? He was not immuned to love, although he made it clear that they were not ''together'' in that way. That they were just friends.


    In hindsight, she guessed they were. Friends with benefits, but in no ways sexual. He rarely kissed her on the cheek. Yet he did do things that would make others wonder, like poke her side when he was happy. Or oblidge when she wanted to go do certain things. He after all owed her that. She was giving him her blood which at times was no easy feat, especially if she had gotten her period. But she, out of love, wanted to. He didn''t make her do anything she didn''t want to do and that''s what frustrated her. She could annul their relationship at any time, and there''d be no hard feelings. Or so he claimed. If he got used to a certain donor and they suddenly wanted nothing to do with him, outside of them messing up like she had, she wondered how would he feel. Betrayed? Angry? Annoyed? She could see him being annoyed at having to find someone else so suddenly, but unless they had a great effect on him, why should he feel angry should one girl depart and another came?Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    She took a deep breath, and hiccupped. She loved him. Or so she thought. In the end nothing would work out. Not while Christian was the way that he was. Once he became whatever species he wanted to be, then maybe it would be different. She was over here trying to think of ways of destroying their relationship, when the relationship itself would.


    "He just refused to make a choice, and I, was tired of waiting..."


    Those were Alice''s words.


    Her own words were "Why don''t you just make a choice? I''m sure with whatever decision you make, you''ll be able to control it?"


    She''d bet money and then pack up and quit if her thoughts didn''t come true.


    Alicia had to ask, was going to ask the same question they both did. It would keep coming up for however long their time would be until one of them preferably her, would go insane. Or she could just leave, and out of fear for what Christian might do, or would no longer do for her, haunted her mind, then she would break. Break off the relationship, even herself, either way, Christian would have to let her go.


    He would have to let all of his women go until he made a choice. What was he going to do should one of them want to see another man, yet were ''bound'' to him in blood? The other man would not like that. The woman couldn''t tell his secrets. These were just one of the many issues in Christian''s little donor relationship. Yet she wasn''t thinking about all that when she was with him. Pain could make you see things as they were.


    Alicia wasn''t going to like it, she thought. The feeling of being used weighed so heavily on her own heart that she wanted Christian to see her as his girl. His woman. Not just a blood supply. But with that came Christian''s own dileema that he was dead set on fighting till the bitter end.


    She sighed. Perhaps it was her ''growing up''. She would see where the relationship would go. If sparks did fly, she would intervene then. She''d even call in Alice.


    She smirked. She was only a snake when the time came for it.


    Meanwhile, Alicia was a mute riding in Christian''s black sports car. Delilah was right on him having money. She held everything in her lap.


    They were in the hills now, Christian having took the freeway to get where they were.


    She hadn''t texted her mom yet. She would after she asked Christian something. Technically it was still her money, it would just have to be given to her sooner. Once she had the check in her hand--crap! She just thought of the down payment. If she asked for all 4000 just to secure the place, she''d still be in trouble. There was the food, and the bills.


    Her heart pounded in her ears. Never mind whatever he had planned. She needed money. Passing mansions did nothing for her mood. So he lived in one. His place of rest was secure. Hers was not and she pictured her parents setting her things outside in boxes now. Wherever he lived, she''d wish he''d hurry. Or she could just discuss everything with him in the car.


    No. That wouldn''t be wise. Or just not proper?


    Look at her? Already feeling a certain type of way about the man. She had to remember that while she was hired to work, this was a nontangible contract she was in with this man just to make some money.


    The car began to slow down, and Christian turned off. He pulled up to a gate.


    The house behind it was huge and if she were in a happy mood her mouth would have dropped. It was the biggest she had seen yet.


    Lights were implanted along the driveway. He drove around his driveway, making half an arch, and parked the car. He turned off the car. "We''re here."


    She didn''t reply and wordlessly unbuckled her seatbelt. She decided to bring up her proposal after whatever it was that he wanted her to do, if it was not giving up her body, was explained.


    He looked at her. She looked to him for a second and then opened the car door. She closed it and stood, looking around a little bit.


    She wasn''t going to be easy, and if she was, it was the first time he felt guilty. He always did, but she was pounding on his nerves. Rather than take her blood, he would just get to know her. She looked so frightened.


    Okay, maybe he wasn''t helping by telling her what he wanted her to do. But being a donor? He had to get her here first. Of course she''d think of rape. He didn''t help by not telling her that that was not his intention. Not that she would trust him.


    Getting out, he closed his door.


    He couldn''t wait until this night was over. He''d have a fresh view of everything come morning''s light.


    "Follow me." He said.


    She walked behind him, reaching a double door entry. He unlocked it, and the alarm sounded.


    The foyer was dimly lit.


    She stepped inside.


    Christian disarmed it and closed the door.


    The sounds of it locking didn''t make her feel any better. She was here. She was actually in this man''s house. A stranger. A rich stranger, but a stranger nonetheless. Not to mention that despite all of her circumstances, she felt out of place.


    Her parents didn''t come from money. They were decent middle-class folk.


    He turned the lights up more. "There." He said.


    She turned to him.


    "Let''s go." He said.


    She followed behind, coming to the double spiraling staircase. Reaching the top, she passed multiple hallways and areas that would be unexplored for her.


    Walking down a hall, they came to sturdy wooden doors.


    "This is my room." He said, twisting both handles. He opened the doors wide, allowing Alicia a full view.


    Stairs led down into a room fit for a King--royalty of some sort.


    A massive bed lie in the center with a golden finish headboard. There was a sitting area-almost mini living room, a wetbar, and open doors that led into probably a beautiful bathroom. She didn''t see the closet, but it was probably big. There was his ''work'' area where head a desk and chair. Everything would seem crowded in a much smaller room, but this one gave way to their own areas it seemed, with space to spare. There was his entertainment center which boasted the top of the line audio system, huge flatscreen tv, and shelves with books on either side.


    The steps were marble that led down into his room. She gave it another going over, finally noticing the lounge chair and what looked like something used for an IV drip?


    She turned to him. "What''s that?"


    "What''s what?" He stepped inside now.


    "That?" she pointed to it.


    "That, is a bloodbag, Alicia." He turned to her. "Would you step inside, please?"


    She furrowed her brows. "Bloodbag? What would you need that for?"


    "This is your last chance to run." He said. "I will take you home. No hard feelings."


    "Christian what are you talking about?"


    "I''m talking about what I want you for. No, I do not want your body in the sexual sense. But I do want it, medically."


    "For what!" she yelled.


    "Like I said, last chance to run."


    And go where!


    "Christian, what is the bloodbag for! What would you be needing my blood for?!"


    "I can''t explain further unless you accept."


    "What are you? Some type of scientist or something?!"


    "On occassion." He said, thinking of his attempts to cure himself.


    "So what do you need me for? Samples?"


    "You could say that."


    If she was at the doctor''s office getting treated for something and they needed samples of her blood, then she was all for it. This? This under the table stuff? Was he even licensed to do this kind of work?


    "Are you a doctor? In some profession?"


    "No." He said.


    "So what you''re doing is illegal!"


    "In the rest of the world''s eyes, it would be. But for my own. I do not care."


    "What?"


    "Alicia, I''m only going to ask you one more time. And at this point I don''t care if you end up on the street."


    Her sitaution hit her again. Survival. It was all survival she told herself.


    Sure it was. This was madness, but what choice did she have? She doubted he would ''demote'' her to a regular maid. He said himself he wasn''t looking for that and how they recieved applicants daily. He wanted her for this. Whatever reason he had behind it. She thought of using her body over this when she cringed. It was only blood. Only her blood. Just how much of it would she be giving, and why? Illegal or not.


    "How much do you need?" She asked.


    "All questions and concerns you have will be answered once you step inside the room. I will answer no more if you continue to stand out in the hall."


    "Let''s say I agree to all of this and one day I want to leave you? What would happen then?"


    "Then you''d be fired."


    "But you''re keeping Delilah!"


    "I can deal with one mishap."


    "Who says I''m a mishap! It would be my choice!"


    "So it will be. Now enter the room, or I will take you home."


    "I don''t have a home anymore! They''re kicking me out!"


    "You told me that already."


    "That was when I thought I still had a month. That text, it was from my mother. She said she and my father were packing my things. They want me out by Sunday now!"


    "Then that is unfortunate and if you want a chance at survival then you''ll enter the room."


    "How can I survive when I''m handing over my blood to you!"


    "You will see." He said, smirking some.


    They both knew he got her now.


    She kept thinking of her parents when she stopped. They didn''t care. He didn''t either. She was literally on her own now. For now, numbing her emotions would do the trick. She could scream and claw at the walls later.


    She, in anger, stepped inside the room. She didn''t know what was worse. Rape, or giving her blood away. Both were extremely personal and he''d be a fool to think otherwise.


    The door closed behind her.


    "Please, have a seat on the lounge chair. I will explain as I go along."


    She glared at him and then took a step down, nearly tripping. She dropped her clothes.


    "And please, watch your step." He said.


    She looked back at him and then knelt down to pick up her clothes.


    "You can set them on the bench over there."


    "Where?" she looked to him.


    "There, by the window."


    She did as she was told and then walked back over to the chair. She sat down and laid across it.


    Christian looked her up and down.


    "Could you quit staring at me like I''m some speciman and not a human being and get this over with!" she yelled.


    "Human?" He chuckled to himself, looking down at the floor. He sighed and placed his hands in his pockets, raising his head once more. He looked at her. "Let''s start there? Shall we?"

 Episode 8: "Just...Kill Me Now."

    Episode 8: "Just...Kill Me Now."


    He stepped toward her, Alicia looking up at him. He grabbed the tube with the needle attached to it. "Blood, is a precious thing. It gives life." He looked to her.


    "Your point would be?" she asked. "Why do you want it? Want mine, in particular?"


    "Well, it doesn''t have to be yours. It can be whomever''s, but that would be, barbaric--cruel to me if I were to just snatch up a person. Boy or girl. Man or woman." He let the tube fall and she watched him walk into what she assumed was the bathroom.


    She had to be crazy to be taking all this sitting down. She heard some rattling around, like metal hitting metal, when he returned with a rolling cart and a stand with a screen attached to it. She saw various untensils and shiny objects. Painful, shiny objects. They were all laid upon a silver tray, along with rubber gloves, cotton balls, and rubbing alcohol.


    He had the whole nine yards.


    "So what are you trying to do again? What''s your purpose in all this?" She said.


    "My purpose is to live." He said. He took off his blazer, wrapping it around the chair beside her. He then began to unbutton his shirt.


    So this was a doctor rape session, she wondered? Her purse. The fork and screwdriver. It''d make no difference now. It was over by the window.


    She cleared her throat and looked away from him as he discarded his shirt.


    He smirked. "Bashful."


    "You said you wanted blood, nothing else." She stared at the inside of his dark bathroom.


    "I do." He said. "But I need you to see something as I explain things to you. I can''t do that with my shirt on."


    "Oh, so it has something to do with your body?" She said, not looking at him.


    "Yes, and it would help if you''d look." He said. "I am trying to explain something to you."


    "What?" she turned her head to him. "Whoo!" she turned away.


    He had the ''V'' and everything. She could feel herself heating up within her cheeks. She actually felt her mouth water. Her mouth never watered!


    He chuckled. "Women have told me I looked good."


    "They...weren''t lying..." Alicia said honestly.


    "I''m flattered. But that''s not important."


    It wasn''t? she thought. Gosh!! If she was that type of girl she''d have a meal for days!


    She didn''t face him.


    He ran a finger along her abdomen.


    She whipped her head around and this time she didn''t see a hot man, but a predator.


    "Good, I have your attention again."


    "Can you get on with it!" she yelled. "Over here trying to deflower young virgin girls and stuff!"


    He laughed. "Hardly."


    "So what do you want!"


    "I want your blood." He said. "I need it for my survival."


    "So what are you...anemic?!"


    "You could say that, but I''m far from it."


    "So either you or aren''t and--that''s right! How do you know if I''m even a match for you!"


    He smiled some. "It doesn''t matter the blood type."


    "Uh, yeah it does! I''m not trying to kill you!"


    "That''s sweet." He said. He caused his eyes to glow then. "But believe me when I say all I need is blood and that it does not matter what type it is."


    "What the fu--" she jumped and fell off the chair. She got up and backed away from him. She eyed her purse. Anything was better than nothing.


    "I can blend in as a ''human''. I say that I am one. But the hard truth is that I am not, or wouldn''t be considered as such to the normal human being."


    Alicia wasn''t really hearing him at this point. Screw it. She made a break for her purse.


    He darted in front of her.


    She screamed.


    "I''m not going to hurt you." He said.


    She backed away from him. Forget the purse. Her things. Wait. Where was she going to go again?


    Her heartbeat raced. She backed away from him. She blinked multiple times. Was this happening? Was this all happening to her, she wondered?


    Was she absolutely positive that she wasn''t in bed? In her room, dreaming? That this was the most the real, most frightening nightmare that she had ever had, and that whenever it was time for her to wake, she would? Safe in her bed? Her parents weren''t kicking her out? Hell. She''d even do some things differently. Like go to that rich school.


    She stopped. None of those things, as far as school, was her.


    What if this was real? If it was then hurray. Like spirits and things scientists could not explain were out in the world, he would just be added to the list. No harm done, right?


    "This is me." He said, holding his arms out.


    She flinched some, seeing varicose veins spread along his muscular arms and chest. Saw it shoot across his neck. His eyes were a bluish green now.


    She noticed how open he was being with her. But if she opened her mouth, judging from what he had just displayed, he''d kill her. There was no doubt in her mind. She asked him, suprised that she could.


    "Would...would you k-kill me...if..if I were to tell?" she asked. "The police...or anyone?"


    "Maybe. I''d come close." He said.


    "How close?" She asked.


    "I''d drain nearly all the blood in your body where''d you need an immediate blood transfusion or you''d die."


    "You''d kill me because I only told the truth about what I saw?"


    "And what have you seen already? Alicia?" He asked. "Who''s going to believe you?"


    He had a point.


    "So this is what you do, huh? Sucker girls into this predicament? Does Delilah know? Was she apart of this at one time? Julia said I was replacing her."


    "Yes, she was."


    Her eyes widened.


    And Delilah was jealous of her?! What was so great about giving up blood or getting killed if you told someone the reason why you were doing it?


    Alicia shook her head in disbelief.


    "It''s a lot to take in, I know."


    "Do you!" she yelled. "You are threatening me just so you can maintain whatever it is you have going on with you!"


    "You accepted not knowing the consequences."


    "Because I had no other choice, believe me if I had, I would have left you long ago!"


    "And now that you know why? Would you leave?"


    "Yes!"


    "Understandable." He said, looking away.


    "Oh no! Don''t do the little pity thing on me!"Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "I''m not asking you to pity me." He said.


    She sighed. "What''s wrong with you? Are you sick or something!?"


    "You could say that." He said. "Although," he paused. "I am deliberately responsible for that."


    "Oh? So I''m paying for something you can fix? Something you did?!"


    "No!" he rose his voice some.


    She held her peace.


    "No," he said again. He turned away from her and that''s when she saw the insignia upon the nape of his neck, although she thought it was a tattoo. He pulled on his shirt again and sat down. "Whether you choose to believe me or not, what I''m about to tell you is the truth."


    "The odds are already stacked against you. Having glowing eyes and super speed? I mean, who does that? Who can?! What is this? X-Men or Marvel?!"


    He chuckled some. "I wish. Then I''d be nonexistant."


    The way he looked to her when he said that. There was so much truthfulness she nearly fell under then.


    No! she told herself. None of this was real. She had to believe that.


    "But," he looked down at his knees. "You don''t necessarily live in a world you think you do. There are things, people, you will not understand...like me."


    Alicia had nothing to lose, so she slumped down against a wall.


    "It''s a little cliche how it all starts, but long ago..." Christian began.


    ***


    Alicia had tried, she had tried to dismiss everything he said as silly imaginations and myths. But when he began to talk about himself, and his family. Mentioning Delilah and another girl named, Alice, she began to believe his story just a little bit.


    "My time is limited." He looked to her. "Whether you believe me or not, this is the reason your pay is so high. It won''t be forever. All I need right now is a pint of your blood. That will last me about a month. And the cycle repeats itself."


    "Assuming I believe everything you have said, you do realize it takes quite a lot of time for blood to replenish itself? I don''t think I''ll be back to normal after a month''s time. Look at me. I''m small. You''d have a much better chance with Delilah. So the whole intimate part didn''t work out. Just use her for blood..." She shook her head. "That didn''t sound right."


    "It''s not that simple. Well it is, actually. But I don''t want any of the women I use to feel used."


    "Too late." Alicia said. "If this is what we have to go through then just go to a blood bank. I''m sure no one will notice if a blood bag goes missing every month."


    "Probably not." He said. "But, this is the way I prefer to do this." he stood.


    "So you have other options and yet you want to drain girls lives?"


    "I don''t want to drain them. I want to get to know them." He said.


    "What for? It''s not like you can ever stick with just one. If this curse you have on you has you battling sides, then of course whoever your donor is, is going to get tired of it all at one point. I know I would. Just pick a side. You actually have that choice whereas the rest of your family didn''t."


    "But I don''t want to be either."


    "And yet from what you''ve told me, and shown me, whatever side manifests itself in you anyway. If you''re going to change into whoever you are, then let it happen."


    "If I let it happen you won''t get paid." He said.


    It was a low blow mentioning her living situation.


    "The second reason is because with either side, there will be discrepancies that can''t be hidden. I''ll either be an outcast, or highly praised."


    "And what''s wrong with being highly praised?"


    "War." He said. "But if I become a hybrid, no one''s happy."


    "Because you''ll be stronger than both." She said. "And these so-called elders wouldn''t want that, now would they?" She mocked him.


    "Once you get exposed to my world, if you ever do, you''ll believe me."


    "Let''s hope not." Alicia stood up. She took a deep breath. She had to be crazy she told herself over and over again. She laid on the lounge chair again. "Do the others know about all this?"


    "Others?"


    "The cafe? Do they know?"


    "Yes, they do. They''re all one species or another, excluding Delilah and Roycel."


    Alicia''s eyes widened.


    "If you are born one way, you can continue living on as though you are ''human''.


    Her mind was whirling again. She had some logical questions come to her mind, but most was chaos.


    If they were all supposedly like Christian then why did they give Delilah the time of day? Couldn''t they snap her neck, or stick a tube in her and drain her dry? And Christian? Why did they put up with him given his ''condition''? And Roycel? Was he really okay being around them? Not so much Delilah as she lived it, somewhat.


    She brought her mind back into focus. "Wait a minute. If you could basically be ''human'' choosing a side, then why don''t you! The others...I would have never guessed it!"


    "Because choosing sides is a problem in itself. Consider the ones that work for me, the non-prejuidice. They don''t care and their families do. My cafe is like a safe haven for them. They work, they go home. But they are all relatively close to each other, and me."


    "Because you are born of both worlds?" She asked.


    He nodded. "I know they don''t care what I choose either way, or so they claim. But because they care about me so much, either side will want me to become like them. Even if it''s buried deep down. And a little selfish I guess. But, it''s not about them. It''s about me and what I want."


    "And what do you want, Christian?" Alicia asked.


    He knew her question was much deeper.


    "I try not to think that far ahead." He said. "It scares me."


    She didn''t respond and turned away from him.


    He switched on the monitor and pulled out a couple wires with sticky tabs. "I need you to unbutton you''re dress a little."


    She whipped her head around. "Excuse me!"


    "To monitor your heart." He said. "As a matter of fact, It''ll be easier if you changed back into what you were wearing so you can just lift up your shirt some."


    She blew out.


    "Now." He said.


    "Don''t you rush me!" she gave him a look. She slowly got up from the chair and walked over to the bench. Could someone just kill me now! she thought. She mentally shook her head. No, she did not want to die but having to go through this?


    Okay, so she was harping on the same string. She stopped herself. She had every right to complain about the same thing over and over again because aside from parents kicking their children out at 18, rarely any of them ready to fend for themselves, giving blood transfusions to a man that was anything but human, was not normal.


    She grabbed her things and walked into the now lit bathroom.


    Christian watched her.


    "What?!"


    "Your parents." He began. "You have nowhere to stay?"


    "No. And I was going to ask you about that check. I need it a lot sooner."


    "Yes, you do. But that''s a process in itself, so," he looked around his bathroom some. "How about you stay with me."


    "I''m sorry?" She said, her heart leaping out of her chest.


    "Just until you find a place. With the check I''m giving you, I don''t want you finding any old place out of desperation. It''ll be a waste."


    That was true, and she didn''t want just any old place. Now that she had a millisecond to breathe, she realized how bad her living arrangements could have been had he not just opened his home to her. She''d have to get a hotel or motel would be cheaper. Pay for that nightly as she scrambled to find a place. Then there was the moving and her things.


    Wow. She thought.


    Just the sheer amount of work and mental stress she would have had to put herself through. Then there were the background checks and rental agreements. Did she honestly think she could just rent a place just like that? That process in itself took time!


    Holy cow! she thought.


    "Alicia." He said.


    "Yeah?" she said, her eyes becoming glossy.


    "Obviously you''re not okay but-"


    She hugged him.


    It was random and made them both feel uncomfortable, but rather than assume he''d give her a patting hand or even an awkward embrace she did it herself. She needed a body to cry on or she would have sunk to the floor. She didn''t want to look that pathetic in front of him.


    Sobs reached his ears. Did he want to hear it? Yes and no. Yes, because he understood it. Somewhat. And she was also his donor now. That was no easy task to accomplish in hindsight. She was just a girl. A little girl quite frankly, with enough wisdom to know how the world worked he bet, but she was not ready. He could picture many scenerios of the world not being too kind to her, but because a law said that she was old enough, she had to ''act the part''. That wasn''t always true. And it didn''t apply to everyone. He had seen that on multiple occassions.


    He gave her a faint hug.


    She wouldn''t have minded it being tighter. She was half-if not already broken. It would dawn on her soon that this would be her life. That for a time she''d be staying with him. That for however long the relationship lasted she''d be a corpse. If he required a pint of blood every month, she''d be dead sooner or later. She''d ask him about that, unless he had a way to replenish her blood faster.


    "Change." He said. "We''ll discuss living arrangements later."


    She sniffed. She had so many more questions to ask him and she hadn''t said ''yes'' to his proposal. But, did she really have to? She swallowed and backed away from him. She saw the snot on his abdomen. You dumb idiot! she scolded herself.


    He said nothing, waiting for her to respond.


    "Thank...you..." she whispered.


    Not for the pain that was coming her way, or for whatever else that would hit her now as she was sure one way or another she would always be apart of his world, but for what he was doing for her now. He didn''t have to open up his home-dangerous as it could be. He didn''t have to be allowing her to speak her mind. He didn''t even have to choose her but she was still grateful that he did. As crazy as everything sounded to her ears, at least she had place to stay. To get on her feet. She''d be sure not to overstay her welcome.


    "For what?" He said, wanting to hear her say what she was thankful for as he took no pleasure in any of this. It was his ''survival'' but he didn''t like how he was doing things either. He refused to acknowledge the other reason why he chose to get his blood this way.


    "For letting me stay here...temporarily!" she quickly added. "For, just, choosing me...no matter how selfish your motives are...you could have had your pick..." she scoffed and shook her head some. "What made you pick me? Not that I didn''t need it, but what made you?"


    "I don''t know...it was honestly on a whim. That and...you seemed really nice-pleasurable to be around."


    She smiled some.


    "You have a mouth on you, but," he gave a sideways smirk. "It''s nothing I can''t handle."


    And she knew he could. He was unusually calm with her. Perhaps that was just a guise, or it could indeed be his personality, but she didn''t put it past him that he could have a temper. Most quiet ones did, or so they say.


    "Okay..." she said. She sniffed. "Well, I''m going to go change...inside this colossal of a bathroom..." She looked around. "What do you need all this space for?!"


    "Well, since you are going to be staying here for an unknown length of time, I''d say it''s perfect to get away from your behavior and mouth."


    "Behavior and mouth?" she repeated him, tempted to say more when she remembered where she was. She didn''t want to say anything that would make him change his mind, although there was a slim chance of that happening. She smiled to herself. "Where is the bathroom, exactly? Like the toilet so I can change?"


    "Around the corner. Can''t miss it, there''s a door."


    She wanted to muse over his words, thinking he was mocking her, but she let it go.


    "Hm." She walked around the corner and saw another room with a toilet, sink and mirror all to itself. Nice. She thought, ignoring the onslaught of draining thoughts coming her way again. She didn''t need to keep being reminded of how...unique her situation was.


    Christian on the other hand was trying to keep his pulse under control. When he became frightened, or just overly excited about anything, good or bad, his body would react in ways he could not control. He didn''t need her seeing anything before her time, ever, if he could allow that.


    He walked over to his bed, and gripped the bedpost some as he sat down. He let out a breath. His eyes watered. He needed water. Cold water. He whooshed out of his room and down to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, he grabbed the pitcher and for a split second thought about getting a glass when he dumped the whole thing on himself.


    The sudden chill brought him back to reality. Back to what he needed to do. He sucked in a breath and then went about cleaning up the mess before Alicia got out of the bathroom.

 Episode 9: "So, Do We Have A Deal?"

    Episode 9: "So, Do We Have A Deal?"


    Alicia stepped out of the bathroom, her uniform in her arms. She didn''t want to continue being a ''nurse'' so she''d be sure to pick out some new uniforms in the brochure that she liked.


    She rounded the corner and walked out to see Christian sitting, waiting for her with a towel around his neck.


    Why was his hair damp? Did he have some kind of an accident? Or did he just move so fast and she slow that he managed to shower before she got done? Unless the rooms in his home were noise canceling, she doubted she wouldn''t have heard the water going.


    "You have an accident or something?" She asked.


    "No." He said.


    "Then why is your hair wet?" She asked, setting her uniform down in a chair against the wall.


    "My hair is wet." He said, signaling that part of questioning him was over. "Can we get this over with?"


    "Oh! Well excuse me! I''m only giving up blood!" she said. She walked over to the chair and laid back.


    "I am grateful, don''t get me wrong, but..." He held his tongue.


    "What?" She said.


    "It''s nothing." He said.


    "It''s not nothing. Considering this is a very serious exchange, I think I have the right to know what''s going on with you."


    "Not everything." He said. "As we get to know each other more, you will know what you need to know and that is all. Delilah only knew so much herself."


    "Did she ever get tired?" She suddenly asked, wanting to know Delilah''s view on their relationship. She didn''t know her well enough to question her, and she wouldn''t want too.


    "What do you mean?" He asked.


    "Like, did she ever get tired of being with you? Did she want to see someone else-and that''s right!"


    "What?"


    "How does all this work as far as a relationship? Let''s say I wanted to see someone else, date someone?"


    "You can''t." He said.


    "Excuse me?" She sat up. "So that''s all I''m gonna be to you? A chained up blood bag! What if I want to see someone else!"


    "Well, I shouldn''t say you can''t. You can, but, it will put a strain on..." He mentally shot himself. Why was he letting these things slip out of his mouth so carelessly?!


    Alicia caught on. "What? I can''t have a man on the side because I''m your donor?" Her voice was mocking. "Sounds a little possessive, don''t you think?" She continued on. "Especially if you don''t intend to see me as anything but that, why shouldn''t I seek loving arms elsewhere?"


    "Could you?" He countered.


    "Oh? So I''m supposed to take that response as you''ll care for me and won''t get jealous if I do find someone outside of this relationship?"


    "I didn''t say that, I said could you?"


    "And let''s say I did?"


    Christian had nothing to say. He thought about the other man, but the truth was that he would never know about him or what he was doing with Alicia. It would really only be limited to her giving him his blood, he healing her, and that was it. There wouldn''t be room for more. The other man would get jealous if Alicia was spending too much time with him, which was something he''d go out of his way to do. But, he could just limit everything to friendship.


    Friendship. Lending blood until he either croaked or turned. Two things came out of that scenerio. Love. Or hate. Both Delilah and Alice had loved him. But both did things that hurt him. That was all due to him refusing to turn and they both trying to find ways nullify that problem and cause him to make a choice. They both got tired. Simply put.


    With each new girl there were past mistakes he could learn from. Unfortunately, he had to put them through it in order for him to get it. Truth was that he did. But neither Delilah nor Alice wanted anybody else but him. That, and It was kind of an unspoken rule that they shouldn''t see other men? Or wouldn''t have a reason too, he thought with everything he gave them.


    He thought about that. Everything he gave them, but him. He didn''t give himself. It was almost like they were girls for hire. They gave him what he wanted, and he in return gave them a lavish lifestyle of gifts and materialistic things. Pecks on the cheek every now and then, and ballroom dances.


    Observing the human soul and even his own, materials didn''t gratify them. Love did. The one thing that he''d elude, or try not to fall into again.


    "Hello! Christian!" she shouted.


    He looked to her.


    "Were you not hearing me?! I''ve been calling you!"


    "What is it?" He said.


    "You tell me?"


    That''s what was doing it. Her honesty. Alice and Delilah had never spoke so freely to him. Well Alice did, but it was only after she had got fed up past certain points. No strings attached. Maybe that was because they had nothing to lose and she did. Either way, he enjoyed hearing her speak. It was refreshing to say the least. No, no he wouldn''t want her seeing anybody else while he had her as a donor. It would irk him too much and while he had no intention of falling for her, he didn''t want her with anybody else but him.


    Controling. You''re going to attempt to control her now? Why? Is it because you never cared about the other two and this time you may have actually found something you don''t want to lose? He thought. He gave himself a mental shake of the head. But you did love Alice.


    And he did. She was the one mistake that he wanted to make right.


    "Christian, you''re going off into a daze again."If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    He looked to her. Her brown skin. High cheek bones. Wavy brown hair. Her brown eyes. She was nothing, a nobody. Just a simple girl trying to find her way through life like everybody else. Just like him. So why was it a problem if he let this one go?


    She saw the veins appearing on his skin again.


    He closed his eyes knowing they were getting ready to change color again. Christina, the one person he didn''t want to think about at all came to his mind. Despite their differences, she was the one that spoke, a bit with poison at times, the truth.


    "You want a purpose just like everybody else, Christian. You want to belong. We all do. Whether that''s with our own, or a mortal. We all want a reason to live. To make this life worth living. Even if we can''t die, or age, we want something, need something to share ourselves with...bind ourselves to...and the most messed up thing about it all, is that somewhere, deep down, we know exactly what that thing is. Whether it''s a person or a place, we know it once we find it. It''s immediate. Our hearts give us no time to make a choice. That''s why we''re at war within ourselves so much. Why the heart is wicked above all else. It does not care how it is to obtain what it wants, it just wants it. No strings attached and if something hits the fan, then it get''s broken, and wants revenge. Or it''s selfish..."


    He remembered the look she had given him. One of sorrow. It was an image seared into his brain as his twin was very difficult to read and looks like that he couldn''t help but want to remember. It let him know that she was suffering just as much as him. That she wasn''t a total corpse.


    He had responded in a way that annoyed and angered her, but you couldn''t have one side without the other.


    "And what if what we want, is bad. Painful. Terrible. What kind of a life is that then? One where you hurt others? Or you''re the one that''s constantly being hurt? Wanting to or not, where''s the reason to live in that?"


    The smirk she gave him made his skin crawl because he knew that she was an expert at it.


    "If the pain becomes too much, dear brother, then just turn it all off. Go numb. Go rogue. Who cares? In this world, isn''t the saying ''kill or be killed'' so relevant now? It doesn''t have to be a physical one. You can die emotionally."


    "Wouldn''t that be worse?"


    "Of couse. But, there''s a wonderful gray area that you can stay in for as long as you like, and that is numbness. It''s a dangerous game though, I warn you. So far I''ve managed to dodge it''s very charismatic, yet deadly hole. You have to know how to turn it on and off, but don''t leave it off for too long where you''ll lose yourself. Do that, and you''ll have to find yourself all over again, and now you have two problems. Struggling with that little organ called your heart and what you logically want to do, which is your brain. I personally think you''ve spent too long in there though, and that can be a problem too."


    "I thought you said you could stay numb for as long as you like?"


    "You can. If you don''t plan on ever returning."


    "Then that''s not forever."


    "Of course it is, dear brother. You have to know your limits. Know why you''re shutting down to begin with...I guess I lied then huh? How about you can stay numb for as long as you like, as long as you know how to turn it all back on again? And if you can do that, then you can go on having bouts of numbness forever eh? How does that sound to those overthinking ears of yours?"


    "I think you''re making all this up."


    "Am I? Or is this just very painful truth to swallow, Christian. Fine. Maybe you can''t be forever numb, but it sure as hell works when you need it to! No matter the time period."


    "And you''re not numb now given your emotions?"


    "I am actually."


    Her eyes were another feature that he couldn''t shake when she gave him certain looks.


    "Who says you can''t be numb but act the part? Even be numb to only some parts? That''s the beauty of being numb, Christian. You can choose what you want to be numb too, unless something in you completely snaps and you just don''t care anymore, then you really are gone. Nothing can bring you back."


    "What is your point in all this?"


    "It''s very simple. It''s called life. And we''re curses, Christian. We''re curses that exist and still have to go through whatever those humans do, but for us it is so much worse, so much more amplified that by default, we need an escape. We need an escape unless we are lucky enough-no, blessed enough to find it. Find that one thing that completes us. Until then, we''re gonna be monsters--scrambling and scrounging around in the dark. Reaching out for anything that gives us gratification..."


    "So how does that make us any different than mortals?"


    Christina had reached across to touch his face. She cupped his cheek, he still remembering how she felt. Surprisingly very warm.


    "The difference is that there are many of them, and so few of us. And who''s going to accept us, Christian. They''ve called us witches and ghosts. Werewolves and vampires. Faires. All these things are non-existant to the human mind and even for us, yet here we are. With lines visibly drawn. Whatever we are there are sides to it. There are differences. And there is you. You who upsets the so-called order of things. Who''s going to love you, Christian?"


    Not Alice. He was sure that ship had sailed and he wasn''t to sure he wanted to bring it back. Not after everything was said and done. Not Delilah, she had betrayed him. And he didn''t want her in that way anyway.


    He remembered her arms around him in a rare, sickening embrace. How her hands cupped the back of his neck, and her lips kissed his cheek. Leaving him with the most bitter truth for some, not all.


    "And so it goes back to what I was saying. About knowing what you want before you even knowing why, or how. Before you can negotiate or get out of it. That little automated response--those responses that will start from your heart, your soul, and lead up to your brain. How it will cause you to turn off all rational thought, although sometimes it is the opposite. It''s rare, but it does happen."


    His brows furrowed deeply. He could still feel her breath in his ear.


    "How your heart will snatch it. Cause you to cling to it and never let it go. And you pray that whatever is the cause for this madness doesn''t let it go, doesn''t let you go, Christian. Because if it does, you will go insane. Or you will go numb. Either way, you will feel pain, and how you deal with it is entirely up to you. No one can help you with it."


    He opened his eyes to see Alicia staring at him.


    "It''s true that the heart is the most wicked. It can cause you to do many things. But the soul, or your spirit I should say doesn''t get enough credit. If you have no soul, you cannot feel. Which means you don''t have a heart. I say that to say this. Your heart is a very lonely organ."


    "So wouldn''t that mean your soul rather than your heart?"


    Her last words were icing on the cake.


    "It''s always your heart calling the shots, but it''s your soul that feels them. So you tell me? Which is really in charge? You want orders? Or do you want fufillment?"


    "Are you going to say anything or continue to weird me out?"


    "I need you to promise me one thing." He began.


    "And what is that?"


    While his sister may have been right, there was one more thing you could do, and that was run.


    "Do not want what I have. The speed and accelerated healing, even this supposedly immortality that we have. Do not want it. Even if you do deep down, do not voice it in my ears. I will not hear of it. If it gets too out of hand, then this relationship will be over. If you can promise me that, make me a deal, then no, I do not mind if you find a love interest outside of me."


    "Why would you say outside of you? As though you have any weight?"


    "Maybe I don''t. Perhaps I''ll be nothing to you but a bank and you my bloodbag, but this is where it''s at right now."


    "And should I fall for you?" She asked.


    And if she should then it would be unfortunate for the both of them. He would never turn her. Under any circumstances. His sister''s words cut him, but he shut them off.


    "I''d be flattered." He said.


    Alicia smiled a little and turned away.


    "What?"


    "I don''t voice all my thoughts either, Christian." She said. She looked to him again.


    They were both silent.


    Christian broke eye contact and took a breath. "Ready?"


    "Do I have a choice?" She said.


    "Sure, if you want to end up homeless and with secrets that could get you killed at any second."


    "Very funny." She laid back.


    "Let me wash my hands." He said.


    She nodded, her eyes not being able to keep up with his darting speed as he went into the bathroom and she heard the faucet turn on and off in a matter of moments.


    He came back and slipped up some rubber gloves.


    "You sure you cleaned your hands at all!"


    He chuckled. "Yes. It takes me a lot less time to work up a lather than you."


    "Hm."


    "Lift up your shirt some." He said, hearing her heartbeat soar then.


    "How far up?"


    "Just enough to stick these on?" He had the wires in his hand.


    She slowly did so, revealing a flat, barely toned belly.


    "A little more." He said, causing her to blush as she did so.


    He placed the wires where they were needed.


    "There." He said. "You can put your shirt down." He went through the motions of cleaning her arm and the untensils used for the tranfusion and then took the cap off the needle. He looked to her. "Do we have a deal?"


    "Yes." She said.

 Episode 10: "Cutting Ties Pt. 1."

    Episode 10: "Cutting Ties Pt. 1."


    The procedure was fairly simple, although by the end of it all, Alicia felt whoosy. It wasn''t everyday you suddenly had your blood drained. Usually you had to get proper rest and make sure your vitals were right before you gave blood. She realized she had done none of that. Too stressed from her parents ordeals and then what happened at the job, when all was said and done, she blacked out.


    Christian carried her over to his bed. He pulled back his covers and laid her down. He pulled them over her and moved a strand of hair out of her way. He sat down beside her then and looked away, his eyes wandering around his room. They rested on the fresh pack of blood that she had just given him.


    He darted over to the blood bag and stuck the needle connected to it in his arm. He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. The human-ness of it all. All her nutrients, good or bad his body did not care. Normal human diseases did not affect him. It felt--no, it was a cleansing for him. His lips formed into a gleeful smile, one of a child''s. He felt warm. Loved. Cherished. He snapped open his eyes in alarm and looked to Alicia who slept soundly.


    Since when did a person''s blood, any blood for that matter make him feel this way? Delilah''s didn''t come close. Nor did Alice, but each woman''s blood flowing through him did have an affect on him. He realized that now. Alice''s was, familiar. Delilah''s was refreshing. Alicia''s was...dare say, motherly? Innocent. Pure.


    He looked down at the liquid that pumped into his arm. So this was Alicia June''s blood. He''d be sure to remember these feelings it gave him, as he really didn''t have a happy childhood. There was no abuse. But he didn''t remember any real love either.


    ***


    Alicia awoke in a groggy state.


    Immediately she felt warm hands upon her neck.


    She jumped in a fright.


    "It''s all right." He said.


    She looked at Christian. She was seeing him in twos. "I''m dizzy. I''m seeing you in twos." She fell back onto the pillow.


    "I know. You blacked out soon after the procedure was done." He mentally scolded himself. He wasn''t thinking to heal her right after they were finished. "I''ll heal you now."


    "How are you gonna--" She jolted some and then fell back asleep.


    Though he was healing all of her fatigue and sluggishness, for her body to fully replenish the blood loss she had to sleep once again.


    He kept his hand on her neck, preferably on her pulse a bit longer, and then removed his hand.


    He stared at her, wondering what he should do. He frowned. There was a lot he could be doing, starting with figuring out where she was going to be sleeping. Moving her things from one place to another. Getting her own place. When it was time. There was no rush now. Her uniform.


    Uniforms.


    He went over to his office area and pulled back a drawer of his desk. He pulled out a brochure and then came and set it down on on the nightstand next to his bed. He eyed her purse and whoosed over to it. He pulled out her cellphone. It had rang throughout the night, but he wasn''t going to get it. She had five voicemails and missed calls. And there were three text messages awaiting to be read. He placed her phone on the nightstand as well, and hooked his charger to it. It was at 28 percent.


    It was only 9 in the morning. He went over to his sofa and sat down. He opened up his laptop and typed in moving trucks. He stopped what he was doing and went over to his desk then. He pulled out his checkbook. He scribbled $4000 in the amount to be paid and signed his name. Tearing it, he set that on the nightstand too.


    He went back to the sofa when he froze again.


    Food.


    She would need it.


    But he didn''t cook. Well he could. It''s just that he rarely did it. At least at home. It made him feel lonely always eating for one. He gave his head a mental shake.


    He looked back at her. What would she like? And when would she wake up for that matter? He wouldn''t have food just sitting there getting cold.


    He rolled his eyes and shook his head. And she thought she was the one going crazy? He thought about her blood and how it was a new feeling she had unexpectedly given him.


    Love and warmth. Friendship. Kindness.


    Not even Alice''s could do that. And he did love her.


    Delilah''s was cool and submissive.


    Waffles. She seemed like a waffle kind of girl. If she wasn''t up by the afternoon, he could always take her out some place. He''d give her the day off. Maybe the even the next two. She would need time to adjust.


    ***


    Alicia''s eyes opened. She sat up. A bit of dizziness hit her, but she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Exhaling, the feeling left her.


    "It''s one in the afternoon."


    She looked to where Christian was.


    He leaned against the bedpost, hands in his pockets.


    "You haven''t changed." She said, taking in all his muscles and abs.


    "I know. Perhaps the author making this story is forgetting the most basic details."


    "Huh?" Alicia said.


    "Nothing. I''ll shower. How do you feel?"


    "Out of it. Healthy. But out of it. And hungry. No, empty...I don''t know..."


    "Those feelings are natural." He said. "You have nothing to wear. You need to shower and get out of those clothes."


    "Thank you for pointing out the obvious." She said in a sarcastic tone. "Now, how?" She cocked her head to the side. "I have to go home--crap!! What time is it! My parents are gonna freak...oh..." Alicia remembered her situation. "Oh!" she shook her head and placed a hand over her eyes. "Can you hand me my purse?"


    "Phone''s next to you. Charging."


    She looked to her left and saw her phone, brochure, and a check. She picked up the check first. Her stomach did leaps and bounds on the inside, but her face was one of composure, almost. She eyed him.


    "It''s yours." He said. "It has nothing to do with your work. Use that how you see fit. Getting new clothes, or saving for a down payment."


    "Down payment?"


    He shrugged his shoulders. "Deposit, whatever you call it for an apartment."


    She smirked. "Are you normally like this?"


    "No, no I''m not. I''m normally very composed." He ran his fingers through his hair.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Alicia''s smirk turned to a small smile. "It''s okay to be a little loose. No human being should be so tightly wound up all the time."


    He looked at her. She had just called him ''human'' and whether she realized that or not he wasn''t going to correct her. He smiled a little. "Up and at it, Alicia. We have quite a lot to do. You can start by checking your messages on your phone. Judging from how cruel your parents are being I doubt they''ll be nice."


    "Don''t remind me." Alicia said, putting in her pin to unlock it. The five calls were from her parents. She tapped on her voicemails and braced herself. She''d read the texts after.


    ***


    She placed the phone down by her leg. Placing a hand on her mouth and took a deep breath. She blew out, and her eyes watered. Yes, she was set. She''d be taken care of. She''d be able to take care of herself, but her parents. They all but disowned her now.


    Hey Alicia. Hope you got my text. Your father and I decided to have you out by this Sunday. So you better think fast.


    Hey! I don''t know where you are, but just make sure when you do come it''s to pack up the rest of your things and leave, Alicia.


    Hey Alicia. I don''t know if you know what time it is, but hey, your an adult. If you want to stay out all night rather than come home and attend to important matters than so be it. Most of your stuff is packed in boxes and is sitting outside. Come get them or someone else will.


    So I hope you have a place to go. Sunday is two days from now.


    Hey. Hopefully your up and doing what you got to do. Just saying that your father and I will be out all morning and will be back around 3. Your stuff is still outside so I''d hurry and come over to get them. You have some nice things, Alicia. It be a shame if they were stolen. Okay. I love you. Bye.


    The texts were more or less the same.


    She cupped her face and broke down.


    Christian had showered and left her to herself. He came out of the bathroom, buttoning up a black shirt. He did an eye roll. "Now what are you crying for?"


    She shook her head.


    It wasn''t like he didn''t hear the messages on her phone. His hearing exceeded that of animals.


    Finished buttoning up his shirt, he walked over to her and moved her hands from her face.


    "No..." she shook her head. "You wouldn''t understand." She placed her hands on her face again.


    "I wouldn''t? My parents practically disowned me as well."


    She swallowed and sniffed.


    "I had to fend for myself. Learn everything myself. From having this house built, to running the business that I own. To investing in other venues. All of this came from my hand and mine alone. No family helped me, Alicia. I had nothing."


    "Nothing." She scoffed. "You have your powers for one. That put''s a step ahead of everyone. How fast you move, you can be in out of a bank vault in seconds. Thousands of cash in your hands!"


    "You implying I stole everything?"


    "No, but it be easy to."


    "You''re right. Everything I have would have been all too easy to achieve through deceit. I could have easily done it. At times I had to."


    "Oh?"


    "Compulsion." He said. "Control people''s actions for a brief moment in time."


    "So you forced people to do what you want!"


    "If you call a warehouse keeper having to open the garage for a night so I can sleep in it bad, then okay then. Other than that, I didn''t feel okay bribing hotel managers or rich businessmen."


    "But didn''t you? How''d you get where you are without using your powers on someone!"


    "Academics come easy to me. I have many degrees in business, marketing, and finance. I''vd dabbled in everything from architecture to fashion. It''s easy for my mind to grasp concepts and ideas. It''s even easier to excute my own visions and theories and capitalize on them from hungry investors. I myself am one. But I rarely give into anything I deem unworthy. That happens to be most businesses today. So I keep my money to myself."


    "At least you have money." She said.


    "As I said. None of it came easy. Sure, my family comes from it. But one look at me, I didn''t even get a chance to get half of it. Only left me 25,000 grand. That''s it."


    "That''s not even enough to get through college today." She scoffed.


    "No, it''s not. But back then it was cheaper. But it still wouldn''t be enough on top of expenses, so I took out loans. I knew I''d be able to pay them back." He sat down on the bed.


    "Who put of their name for them, if you had nothing?"


    Alicia saw his eyes dim some.


    "My sister."


    She rose her eyes some.


    "She had a bank of her own, but I didn''t want to get involved with her that much. So I just used her name. She agreed, if I paid her back with interest."


    Alicia blew out.


    "Yeah. You could imagine. But I paid her off within a few years. Naturally she wanted to get even and get more of my money, but," he chuckled, "I put a stop to that. Very quickly. Paid her enough and then threatened that if she kept messing with me she''d be in a lot of pain."


    Alica smiled some. "That''s nice. But that doesn''t help me."


    Christian picked up his check that he had given her. "What do you call this?"


    "A check."


    "Right. It''s a check for $4000 dollars. Money you can do whatever you want with. Just don''t spend it foolishly."


    "But Christian that only goes so far."


    "You''re getting this a month. That''s $48,000 a year. You do know you can put yourself through school with this amount."


    "Assuming I''m using it just for that. There''s my apartment, and bills and....and..." She blew out. "It''s not like you''re going to be supporting me with this. You pay me money. I pay you blood. What happens in between is on me, right?"


    "It''s on both of us. Your blood was very nourishing to me. In order to keep you healthy and stable, that means you need to be stress free. If money is an issue, than you can relax. I''ll take care of you."


    She shook her head. "I don''t deserve that. I don''t even know you. We hardly know each other."


    "Survival, Alicia."


    She looked to him. Her own words coming back to her. The need to survive.


    "Use me. My resources." He said. "That''s what you plan on doing right? Using me to get your own place? Perhaps even a better job. You don''t have to stay at the cafe. Just as long as we stay in communication."


    She gave him a look.


    "I''m sure, if you do go to school, other things will interest you. Being a maid at a cafe forever? I would hope not. Consider that place my nesting ground for potential canidates. At least here. That''s how I met Delilah. She applied. Seemed really enthusiastic. I thought why not. Now I''m really thinking ''why''? And not." Christian shook his head.


    Alicia laughed.


    "Okay?" He said.


    She nodded. "Oh and uh, I don''t want to consider this a ''using'' kind of relationship. I don''t want to use you. Not like that."


    He smiled some. "I''m your boss. Use the money that I pay you to do what you want."


    "And if I need help in some other financial area?"


    "Then save up." He said.


    She gave him a look.


    "Why don''t you just come out and say you want me to support you in all your financial endeavors?"


    Alicia looked away. "It uh, wouldn''t hurt."


    "So you are using me?"


    "It''s not intended!!" she yelled.


    "Hmph. But it is. Just a little bit. You''re giving me blood though."


    "Blood that you can get from anyone. Anywhere." She said.


    "True. But I chose you."


    "And if I choose another? How will that help? Would you support me then if I belonged to someone else?"


    "We''ve talked about that." he got up and turned away from her.


    "Yeah, and you''re not happy about it."


    "Why would I be? The last two girls weren''t thinking of leaving me. Or rather, weren''t such overthinkers."


    Alicia shrugged her shoulders. "Its who I am. Especially now where every little step counts since I have the meanest parents on earth."


    "Wait till you meet mine."


    "Oh?"


    "Assuming you do. Most likely it will happen. No matter how much I''ll wish to shield you from them." Christian said. "Wash up the best you can. There''s a new toothbrush on the sink and a wash cloth. Make due with the clothes you have on. A moving truck will be here in about twenty minutes. We''ll drive over to your place and back up your things."


    "Okay." She said.


    "By the way, while we''re out, decide which bank you''ll want to open an account with."


    "Crap! I completely forgot about that! Here I am trying to find places and stuff and didn''t even have a bank account!"


    He chuckled. "Well get to it then."


    That''s what happens when your stressed Alicia! You forget the most basic necessities! she thought.


    Well, not anymore. For however long she was with Christian, she''d make the best of him. His time. His money. Himself. If he wanted friendship that is. But she wasn''t closing herself off to just him. She could meet anyone out there and just because there arrangement was so unique didn''t mean she couldn''t meet someone else. Date someone else.


    This in mind she got out of bed and nearly fell. She gripped the bed for support. Moving slowly. A little guilt racked her brain. Christian despite his composure was lonely. She saw it in his eyes twice already when she mentioned seeing other people. Maybe she was the one for him and maybe not, but she wasn''t going to overstep her boundaries. Not for him or herself. If she loved him, then all that would change. But so far she didn''t. He was just a really kind dude. Generous actually. Too generous but he was not a fool. She wondered how much he was worth as she went into the bathroom and used it.


    Probably a lot. She thought.

 Episode 11: "Cutting Ties Pt. 2."

    Episode 11: "Cutting Ties Pt. 2."


    "Turn here." She said.


    Christian turned the truck down a residential street.


    "It''s the tan one--7581." She said, her childhood memories filtering through her brain. It wasn''t a bad one, if looking through the lense of a child. Now that she was older, maybe it was a little bit. Her parents encouraged her to make friends. To make the good ones. Never mind the ones that got bullied or mistreated.


    She shook her head some.


    He pulled up to the driveway.


    Sure enough her things were outside in boxes by the garage. It was a little passed three, but her parents weren''t home yet. She wasn''t complaining.


    She turned to him. "Okay. Can you use your super speed to hurry up and get this stuff on? I literally want to be gone before they get back here. You know, just be gone without a trace? I want it to sting them. I can''t let them have the last laugh...the satisfaction of doing this to me."


    "Who says they''re satisfied? They could be very unhappy about all this? Did you stop and think about all that, Alicia? That perhaps they don''t want to be doing this?"


    "Christian?" she frowned.


    "I''m just saying. They may just want to see you fly."


    "You mean fall. You do realize how bad my life would be had you not showed up? I''m literally road kill to them."


    "I doubt that."


    "Well I''m nothing to them now. Can you help me with this please?" She turned and unbuckled her seatbelt. She opened the door and slammed it shut.


    He watched her walk up to the front door and unlock it.


    He stared down at the steering wheel for a moment before he pulled the keys out of the ignition and got out of the car.


    ***


    Alicia had packed all of her knick-knacks and things. Sentimental things. She wasn''t in denial that she''d miss her parents one day. Once she had time to cool off and all her anger had died down. But it would still boil to the surface each time she thought about Christian not being in her life. She guessed if she really didn''t want to end up raped and murdered or just abused she would have taken that scholarship. Against her wishes, but it would have been for her survival too. She smirked. But she didn''t. As she stared at pictures of herself and her parents, of her family, she wondered how they would take her parents responses to her not doing school. How they would feel if they knew that her parents were kicking her out. Some would probably agree while others wouldn''t.


    She ran her fingers along the shelf. This had been her home for as long as she had been alive and now it had all been snatched from her. She blinked and lowered her hand. She looked down at the floor. Truth be told they had only been there for fifteen minutes. Almost everything she had was in one box or another. Her room was bare except for her bed. She had stripped her bed and placed the covers in a trash bag along with her pillow. Even if she wouldn''t need them, they were hers.


    She eyed the photograph book and hastily walked over to it. There was one memory she had with her parents that she had genuinely loved and was happy about.


    It was her sixth birthday. It was very simple. Just a cake and them. Her parents had allowed her to place cake all over mouth and then take a picture with them in it.


    Heart beating out of her chest, her parents would probably be there any second, she flipped through the book and found the photo she wanted. There were always doubles. Probably for her to take one off to college to remember her parents by.


    She huffed. Pulling the photo out she placed the book away and turned around.


    Christian stood behind her, staring at her memories behind the frames.


    She found herself to be watching his reactions when she remembered her plan. "Christian come on. Let''s go!" she walked hastily out the door.


    He turned and followed after her.


    She closed the door and handed him her bag.


    He took it and whoosed into the car. If this was her plan, then he''d help her achieve it.


    Making sure the door was locked, she bolted to the truck. "Step on it."


    He chuckled as he started the engine.


    As he was backing out she saw her parents car turn the corner. Should she duck and hide herself or look at them head on? She quickly thought these scenerios over. She smirked. Her parents had to stop their red car in order for Christian to back all the way out.


    Her parents stared up at her in surprise.


    Her mother rolled down the window and stuck her head out just to be sure that was her daughter in this moving truck that was backing out of their driveway.


    "Alicia?!"


    Alicia rolled down her window. "Bye Mom! Bye Dad!"


    "Wait--" Her mother called.


    Alicia ignored her as she rolled up her window again. "Drive on, Christian."


    "Hmph." Christian shook his head as he turned the truck around and drove past her parents.


    "You don''t agree?"


    He shook his head some. "It''s not my place to say."


    Alicia looked through the rear view mirror and saw her parents park and her mother get out of the car and watch her go. She watched her mother pull out her cellphone. She rolled her eyes. She was probably going to try and call her.


    Her cell began to ring.


    She sighed and picked it up.


    "Hello." She said.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Alicia! You just up and go? No ''good-byes'' or ''I love yous''?"


    "I did say good-bye. Were you expecting something more sentimental? Or were you just expecting me to still be going crazy on what I''m supposed to do with my life without you and Dad?"


    "I expected you to do what you had to do, but still have the deceny to say good-bye. A proper one."


    "I''m sorry." she said mockingly. "These last few weeks haven''t been done decently. I didn''t get a job decently. Where I''m staying isn''t--no, scratch that. It is pretty decent." Alicia looked to Christian.


    He smirked as he kept his eyes on the road.


    "But that''s for me to know. You wanted me gone. I''m gone. Consider this a courtesy that I''m letting you know now that I''m changing my number."


    "What?"


    "I''ll see you when I see you, Mom."


    "Now wait a minute! Your account is connected to ours! You can''t just change numbers without us knowing, even have any money to do so!"


    "Oh but I do and I will. You wanted me to face the world and so I am..." She held her tongue on wanting to say ''With or without you''.


    Her parents were confusion for her at the moment. She wanted to be angry at them, but now it was kind of hard to when she would be taken of.


    She smiled a little. "Good-bye Mom."


    "Alicia--"


    "Good-bye Mom." Alicia said again.


    If she kept trying to talk to her then she was going to have to hang up on her. No matter how much she respected her parents.


    "Fine! Be that way! All your father and I did was try and teach you about life but since you want to be immature and cynical then so be it! Don''t come calling around here for nothing because your father and I won''t help you! Good-bye Alicia!"


    Her mother ended the call.


    Alicia closed her eyes and pulled the phone away from her ears.


    Christian stopped at a light. "Perhaps its for the best. You are involved with me now. My world is not a pretty one."


    "Look around you, Christian." She looked to him. "My world''s not so pretty either."


    He turned to her.


    She scoffed and probbed her elbow up on the arm of the door. "Hmph." She shook her head as she looked out the window. "I''m the cynical one?"


    "It''s only guilt." Christian said facing the road. He drove forward and made a left turn.


    "So why do I feel guilty too?"


    "Because you know there were other ways of saying goodbye."


    She looked to him.


    "But, in your defense, I think they deserve to stew in their own juice for awhile." He looked to her. "You wanted to tell them off and while you may not have meant all of it, it''s still deserved on their part. They did the same thing to you? Did they not?"


    "They did."


    "So live with it now. Live with your actions as they have to live with theirs. Should you want to see them again, you know where they live." He had faced the road again.


    "If they don''t move." Alicia looked out the window again.


    "You''ll be able to find them again if they do. I''ll make sure of that."


    Alicia turned to him again with her eyebrows raised. "Is that so? You got friends in high places or somethin''?"


    "In this case I''m your friend in a high place."


    "How high?"


    "Beyond a human''s reasoning."


    "You mean a normal human''s reasoning?" she said, moving around in her seat.


    That was the second time she had called him ''human''.


    "Something wrong?" He asked.


    "No, just like to readjust some." She said. She yawned and then stretched.


    "Are you tired? You haven''t eaten anything?"


    "No, no, I''m fine." She leaned her head back and fell asleep.


    She''s little, he told himself before he mildly panicked. Delilah and Alice, well, Delilah was bigger than both of them. Alice only needed one long rest before she was fine.


    There were many things they needed to do, but it could be done later. He stopped at a red light. The light turning green then, he turned on his blinkers and made a U-turn. He headed toward the freeway.


    ***


    "Ah! Christina!" his accent was thick. His Rs rolled off his tongue.


    "High Elder." She was in kneeled position.


    "Come, come dear. Off that dirty ground. Come. What is your plea?"


    Christina had mixed emotions when she gazed upon the old man. And he looked his age, contrary to their supposed immortality. Or perhaps they remained immortal and still aged over time. She grimaced at that thought. What was the point of being immortal if you didn''t retain your youth?


    His looks aside, Christina had likened this man to the father she had never had. Add to the fact that his seat was the one that she would eventually be after, but since she had time on her side, she would slowly work her way up to the top.


    "Oh, no plea High Elder." She rose from her position and approached him. Not even those on the council could be so close to him at times.


    She could feel all their eyes burning into her soul in jealousy and hatred.


    "Just reporting on the elusive Christian Royce."


    The mutters began immediately and she held in her own rage. Why was it always her brother? Not that she cared that much. She''d have him soon enough, but it was like she didn''t matter. And she knew she didn''t there. She didn''t care about that either as she''d have all their heads bowing before her, or rolling. Whichever came first. She guessed it just annoyed her. Day in and day out, when she did do a direct visit to the council, it was always ''Christian this'', or ''Christian that'' or ''that Royce boy''. The boy could never catch a break and if she could take step back from her own selfish plans for her twin brother, she''d feel for him. She did at times.


    "Ah, Royce''s boy. Speaking of the Royce''s, your parents, how are they? I know they like to elude us as well. But, I guess that is to be expecting given their treachery...and banishment. Hehe. No wonder they don''t come around!" He laughed.


    Christina smirked some. "Well, people do crazy things when they''re in love. Unfortunately none of that love rubbed off on us."


    The High Elder''s eyes softened.


    "Anywho, I''ve talked to Christian. He knows to expect your visit."


    "Will the boy finally be one or the other this time?" a member nudged another member on their side and they all laughed.


    "Yeah, will he? Stop beating around the bush already! You''re not human, you never will be. Deal with it!" another spoke.


    They all laughed and agreed with one another. Except the High Elder. He had a smile on his face and his eyes closed.


    "Christian is a very unique boy. He has a taste of both worlds, but can only choose one. He cannot remain the same, nor can both of his bloodlines mix into one. You can see that from his siblings. One is of their mother, two are of their father. Christian must fall into one of those categories. No exceptions." He said.


    "Yeah, but when, Eugene? It''s been five hundred years? Does the boy keep expecting us to play this game with him? Sooner or later we will act."


    "How, Demitri? I''m curious to know?" She asked, folding her arms.


    "So you can go and report it back to him? Honestly Eugene; I don''t know what you see in this snake!"


    Christina smirked, her emerald eyes flashing.


    "I''m well aware of what Christina''s true intentions are."


    Christina played it cool and looked his way. "What do you mean, High Elder?"


    "Who doesn''t want my spot, my dear?"


    All the members looked unsettled then.


    "At least have it cross their mind once? The only problem is that very few ever have the will--how do you say--''guts'' as you young people say today, many lack the guts, the confidence to oppose me. Although I warn you, you will age considerably." He eyed his fellow members. Every last one of them. "Should one of you strike me down, it will be a blessing. This title and job...it weighs heavy on the spirit."


    Something flickered in Christina''s eyes.


    They looked around at one another.


    "Many feel they can take on my position, but very few if any can."


    "And who could?" one asked.


    The High Elder chuckled. "I could name one, but one thing I''m known for is my silence. So that is what I''ll continue to do. Christina, if nothing bothers you personally, you are excused my dear. The rest of you, as you were. We will meet at Christian''s humble abode one month from now, so for now, act busy. There''s not much for any of us to do anyway but sit and rot."


    There were light chuckles as they busied themselves.


    Christina looked Demitri''s way and saw him eyeing her. She looked away from him and to the High Elder. "High Elder." She bowed with a fist over her chest and then turned and walked out.


    Her eyes flashed red. She was a little too close to the High Elder. She read between the lines--no, she didn''t even have to do that. If assassination wasn''t in his future, then having someone succeed him in an orderly fashion was.


    She hoped that ''someone'' wasn''t a certain blonde male with the last name of ''Royce''.


    How ironic. That old man. She understood why she became drawn to him. They were in their own little game of cat and mouse. She''d loved to say she was the cat. The one in control with the mouse''s tail in its grip. But at times she''d want to be the mouse. Just pretending to be caught.


    The High Elder seemed to be both, or more importantly, neither. He was bigger than that. If she wanted to truly be one step, no, one thousand steps ahead of him, then she''d need to up her game. Considerably. If it was even that serious. She could just as easily waltz in and kill him in his sleep.


    She wondered if he knew that at all?


    Probably not.


    She smirked. She knew how to be silent too. No, she may not have been exactly like her brother, but they were similar. She wouldn''t consider herself to just be one species. Not with what she could do and saw the limitations of others that were pure on just one side.


    Her wheels turning she left the council self-assured once again. She thought she''d pay Christian another visit, but relented. She''d be present when the Council would come. And their parents.


    They were rarely around but when all gathered at Christian''s home, that''s when things grew interesting. She was sure that sparks would fly and not the good kind either.


    But she knew Christian.


    She knew he would not take anything sitting down and if one called to be removed, he''d have no problem executing it.

 Episode 12: "Steak And Waffles."

    Episode 12: "Steak And Waffles."


    Alicia opened her eyes. Her mouth was dry. She swallowed and slowly sat up. Her eyes rolled and a splitting headache attacked the left side of her brain. "Hmm..."


    "You need to eat." He said.


    "I know. I need to drink as well. I''m thirsty."


    "I''ll get you some water." He flew out the room.


    She had her eyes closed, the light in the room causing her pain.


    "Here." He said, placing the glass to her lips.


    She drank slowly at first, before she began to gulp it down.


    He snatched the glass away.


    "Hey!"


    "You don''t want to drink so fast. Your body hasn''t had anything in it for awhile."


    "I know that, but I''m thirsty. Daintily drinking it is far from my mind right now! Now give me back the glass of water!"


    "Is that anyway you ask?"


    She narrowed her eyes. "Christian."


    "Sip it slowly. It will go through your body better that way."


    "How about my second glass do that?" she grabbed the glass and put it to her lips. She tried to go slow, but quite frankly, her body wasn''t having it. She finished the rest of it. "I want some more please."


    "Good. Get up and get it yourself. It''s downstairs." He darted out of the room.


    "Christian!"


    "Survival Alicia!" He called.


    She groaned and threw the covers off her.


    ***


    Coming down the steps slowly, gripping the rail for life, she smelled something good. Her mouth watered.


    She came down the last step and Christian darted in front of her.


    "Gah!"


    "Sorry." He said.


    "Last thing I need is an elevated heartbeat, Christian!"


    "I know. Please, come this way."


    "What''s cooking? It smells good."


    "You''ll see." He led her to the kitchen. It was gourmet of course.


    She saw two sizzling steaks in a pan, and a waffle maker? There was fresh fruit cut up in a bowl, following a pitcher of water.


    "Wow..." she said, taking in everything.


    "Have a seat." he motioned to the stools.


    She frowned. "Must you be so curt?"


    He chuckled. "I am a man of business."


    "Yeah, and after the business is all over then what?" she slid into a stool.


    "I don''t know. I don''t really give it much thought."


    "I doubt that." she said, adjusting her posture so she could sit comfortably.


    He looked up at her before he turned the steaks over.


    The burners were embedded within the island counter which Alicia thought was neat.


    He had another stove in back of him.


    "So, you cook?"


    "On occassion." He said, watching the meat cook.


    "Do you ever need to eat?"


    "Yes. But its not needed for survival."


    "But blood is." Alicia said, watching him.


    "No, that is my case only." He said. "If you are fully turned, then you can eat whatever. It won''t matter what. My kind doesn''t need food to survive. Well, we do. Just very minimal. We can go days without food or water where normal humans will go into shock and die."


    "Really?"


    "Yes."


    "And why won''t you turn again?" She popped a mango piece into her mouth.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Christian tapped a drawer on his side and it pushed itself out. He grabbed a fork and handed it to her.


    "Is it clean?"


    He ran it under water and handed it to her again.


    "Thank you. I asked you a question."


    "And I''ve already given you my answer." He faced her.


    "But what does that mean? Why even bother? It''s who you are, Christian."


    "Need I remind you of your living situation?"


    "Forget, well, let''s not forget my living situation, but still. It''s apart of who you are, Christian. You can''t change that."


    "Yet." He said, turning away. He pulled down a bowl and whisk.


    "So what happens if--when you turn one day? Are you going to forget me?"


    He smirked a little. "I never forget my donors. I''ve only had three, but I''d remember each one."


    "How can you be so sure?"


    He tapped his temple. "Memory is a steel trap."


    "Hm." Alicia nodded. "So, what are you? Or, more importantly, what are your kind?"


    "I''ve told you that."


    "Right, but at the time I was still in an unbelieving mindset. I mean, I still kind of am, but, now that I''ve seen you in action, I think I could grasp it more."


    "Well, as I''ve said, there''s really no name for my kind. Or the kinds in the world." He flipped both steaks again.


    "What would you call yourself?" she asked.


    "What would you call me?" he eyed her.


    "I don''t know. I mean, I would say a human on crack. Or a human with some disease, but other than that, I mean, if we''re going supernatural and mythical...I don''t know. A Vampire? Or Werewolf? Even a witch."


    He chuckled. "Well, thankfully none of those things exist."


    "But you do." Alicia said, watching him pour in a store bought waffle/pancake mix in a bowl. She jabbed a strawberry with her fork and placed it in her mouth.


    "I do." he said, dashing over to the fridge and grabbing two eggs and a carton of blueberries.


    She was quiet then, watching him work. How his hands moved. How he whisked with his right hand. His forearms and the veins that slightly pertruded underneath his skin. His adams apple and neck. His jawline and blonde hair. His single pierced ear with one shiny stud.


    "What''s with the ear?" she asked.


    "It''s just a style."


    She saw him furrow his brows. "You sure about that?"


    "Yes." His tone was curt.


    "Okay, no more asking about the ear." She looked around the kitchen.


    "What about you?" He asked, folding in the blueberries now.


    "What about me?"


    "Who are you, Alicia?" He looked to her and then back to his task at hand. He reached forward where he had his spice rack and put in a dash of cinnamon and a teaspoon of vanilla.


    "Hm..." she smiled some and looked down. "Well I would say I''m a college drop out but I haven''t went to college, so...he-he."


    "Hm." He said.


    She watched him for a moment and then moved on, not wanting to know what he thought about her not being in school. "You could say I''ve always been a loner. Deep down anyway." She stared at the counter. "Even though I had friends, you could say I wasn''t all there."


    "Hm." He said.


    "I''ve always been the wise one, well, not in this situation."


    He chuckled.


    "But hey, so far so good." Alicia looked away from him.


    "What do you want?" He asked.


    "What do you mean?"


    "Out of life?"


    "Oh." she thought about that. After a few minutes she answered, "I guess, no, I wouldn''t mind being married one day. A family I could call my own. But," Alicia looked down at the counter. "I''ll never have that dream." She smiled. "I think I would have made a cool Mom."


    "Would have made?"


    "Yeah, I...can''t have children." She looked to him.


    Christian stopped what he was doing and looked to her.


    She softly chuckled. "You know, sometimes I think my parents may have forgotten about that. Or forgot about it. After all, it''s not them." She looked down at the counter again. She nodded her head. "But, I''ll survive. I don''t have a choice, right?" She looked up at him.


    "You always have a choice. We all do. Its what we choose that will become a path or hinderance."


    "Yeah well, when life throws you lemons, you don''t make lemonade, that''s for sure."


    Christian chuckled at first, before he burst out laughing. Alicia joined in with him.


    It was a cruel joke indeed.


    ***


    "Hm!" she cut into her waffles. There were three stacked high with butter and syrup. "Where''d you learn to cook like this! Everything is delicious!"


    He chuckled. "I told you I studied everything from fashion to architecture. In the middle is cooking, computers, game design..."


    "Mechanic." She said.


    "Yeah that too."


    "Psht!" she shook her head and took a sip of her orange juice.


    He actually laughed.


    "What?" she said, smiling.


    "Nothing." He smiled. "Its just...the way you act. It''s very, down to earth."


    "Hey, I gotta be me." She shrugged her shoulders. She cut into her steak. "Somebody''s gotta be." She gave a fake whimper and placed the piece of meat in her mouth.


    He chuckled again and she turned to smile at him.


    ***


    "So this will be your room." He said.


    "You couldn''t let me pick out one with all these rooms down the hall?"


    "I''m sorry. Beggers can''t be choosers."


    "Who said I was begging?! I was only making a point."


    "Point? Making a point in somebody else''s house?"


    "Yeah, well." Alicia said looking at the already luxurious room that would be hers for the time being.


    "There is no ''Yeah, well,'' take it or leave it girl."


    "If I decide to leave it?"


    "Do you like hearing yourself say no? What''s wrong with the room? It''s perfect! Or would be perfect to someone who doesn''t have a home right now."


    "True. But just the thought. I mean, you have soooo many rooms. Why can''t I pick out one? I mean," she deliberately took a deep breath and blew out, "I am giving you blood."


    "Don''t hang that over my head. You don''t see me mentioning your financial situation."


    "True." She said looking at the room.


    "You''re messing with me aren''t you?"


    She looked to him and pinched her fingers together. "Just a little bit." She squinted her eyes a little. "But I was serious about the rooms. I wouldn''t mind seeing others."


    "Yeah, well that''s not going to be tonight."


    "Hm. Okay." She stepped into her room. "Are you going to give me a tour one day?"


    "I''ll think about it." He said.


    "What''s there to think about?"


    He gave her a look.


    "Right. A guy like you must have have a million secrets."


    "Do you need anything else?"


    "Uh, no. I need to plan my next move--oh! The brochure! I need to pick out some outfits!"


    "Yes, you do." He darted away and came back with it.


    "Thanks." she said, smiling a little. "I''ll be sure to pick out something modest." She turned away from him.


    "I wouldn''t expect anything less from you."


    She turned to him.


    "If you need anything, I''ll be in my room."


    "Huh! Wait!"


    "What?"


    "What am I supposed to do?"


    "Plan, like you said. Maybe unpack. Maybe plan to buy some things. You have $4000 dollars Alicia. Plus, you said you wanted to change your number."


    "Right!"


    She had plenty to do.


    "Thanks Christian, I''ve been--"


    "Drained." He said, hands in his pockets. "Literally and figuratively."


    "Right." She said.


    "Take it easy. One thing at a time." He placed his hand on the knob and began to close the door.


    "Wait a minute! Quit trying to shut me out--" she faltered due to her voice cracking.


    She didn''t intend to start crying.


    She swallowed. "Just, leave the door open."


    "Okay." he said. "My door will be closed though."


    "Could you leave yours open?"


    "No. I need time to think as well. I can''t do that with open doors."


    "I see." Alicia said. "Okay. Then close the door, mine, close mine."


    "Okay." He nodded. "If you need anything, just, scream."


    She scoffed. "I''m liable to scream even if I don''t need anything."


    He nodded. "Sounds like you. At least in this moment of time."


    "Yeah."


    "I''ll see you."


    "Okay." she said.


    He nodded once and closed the door.


    She turned and threw herself onto her bed. She probably stank and the first thing on her list would be to definitely shower. Or the second thing. Tears in her eyes, she frantically searched for a piece of paper. She needed to make a list of things she needed to get done while her brain was still functioning and not so much her emotions.


    She noticed her purse on the bed and grabbed her phone from inside it. She guessed Christian had chosen this room for her from the start. She finally took note of her boxes all neatly stacked against a wall and on top of each other.


    He had done that for her.


    She smiled. He had done everything for her so far, even going so far as to cook. How could she repay him?


    Not in money. She wouldn''t repay him in money. But he''d see her gratitude in other ways. She''d make sure of it.


    Swiping her phone, she read a text from her mother.


    "Disconnected your service from ours. Have a nice life, Alicia. Your mother."


    "Hmph." she chuckled to herself and swiped her screen, opening up her ''Memo'' app. "Let''s see, shower, get a bank account, switch phone service..."

 Episode 13: "Unexpected Dream."

    Episode 13: "Unexpected Dream."


    Alicia tossed and turned within her sleep. Her face scrunched up and tears streamed down her cheeks. "Come back...please come back..." she whimpered.


    She watched her parents get further and futher away from her.


    She opened her eyes. She swallowed the lump in her throat and sat up. She inhaled and then blew out. She shook her head in disbelief--denial. "No..." she said. "No!" she said again. She turned and grabbed a pillow from behind her and buried her face within it. She took a deep breath. "AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!" she took another deep breath and screamed again. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"


    Christian jolted awake. He was off his sofa and in front of Alicia within seconds.


    "Alicia!" he said.


    She continued screaming frantically into the pillow.


    "Alicia!" he gripped her shoulder.


    He watched her shake her head and heard her sob.


    It was only going for 10 pm.


    He reached beyond her and switched on the lamp. "Alicia." He said. "What''s wrong? What happened?"


    "Nothing happened okay! Just...go away! Go away!"


    "I''d love to. Except your frantic screaming woke me up out of my sleep. Now what went wrong? What is it? Even if you are an adult, you are under my roof, which makes me...partially responsible for you."


    "NO!" she snapped her head up. "No! That is something that my parents...should be responsible for..." she breathed. Her lips quivered and she lowered her head, shaking it. "Why does it hurt so much! I shouldn''t even care! They disowned me! Me!" she looked to him again. Their own daughter!" She looked away in anger.


    "Have you been awake all this time thinking about that?"


    "No. I had fallen asleep. I had a..." she frowned in disgust. "I had a dream about those people. It was nothing really tragic going on other than the fact that I could just feel them leaving me...they were leaving me all alone and I could feel this...darkness creeping up on me. You know the kind that...its the kind where you know something is there. It''s just there. And you don''t want to have any part of it. It''s just a darkness that..." she shuddered. She sniffed. "Anyway, I guess that dream, coupled with the fact that I no longer have my parents, caused me to start having a panic, crying attack. I shouldn''t care, like I said. But, hey, they''re my parents." She looked to him.


    Christian searched her eyes. She looked empty. Broken. Drained. He blinked and looked away. Thinking. He tried to think if he had ever been in her situation before. He had. But not like this. There was one time though where he felt the weight of his parents in anger and sorrow. He gave a bitter smirk. "There was one time I was where you were. Only I was too young to do anything about it at the time." He began.


    Alicia sniffed, preparing to hear him speak.


    "I remember me wearing this--what would be deemed cute for a little boy--suspender set."


    Alicia began laughing.


    He looked to her with a brighter smirk than before. "My mother decided to dress me in it. I was four."


    "Aww."


    "No, trust me, it was no ''awwing'' moment."


    "What happened?"


    "Well, mostly nothing. I just remember me walking out into the garden and being very angry and very sad." Christian began to look around the room. "I didn''t understand why, but I was where you were. Believe me. At the time I didn''t know what I was feeling, but as I got older, I understood that feeling more. It was displacement, being disowned, for feeling that way anyway, and finally, grief. I was sad. I was sad because I didn''t think my parents loved me. Not in the way I would have wanted them to." He looked to her. "Believe it or not my siblings had given me more love than they. Yet, they feel they can still tell me what to do, or how I should behave."


    "Really?"


    "Well not as much anymore, but my old man may try me. Mother, not so much. They look at me in wonder. As though they don''t know what to do with me. They wonder about me just as aimlessly as I do with my life."


    Alicia rose her eyebrows some.


    "So I guess to help you, I can give you some pointers on what you may go through. Displacement, definitely. Your situation hasn''t dawned on you yet, but it will. No matter how nice I may seem. You''ll wake up one day, and wonder what you''re doing here. You''ll feel anger and regret. You may even hate me for a moment."


    Another lump was forming in her throat as she didn''t want to believe his words, but they were already coming true.


    "Then you may get your new place and feel something similar. Not so much towards me, but you''ll feel the weight of living on your own. Being alone. Then there''s the anger and pain your parents are putting you through now. You may want to go back or you may not, but that''ll sit with you for a moment. Probably for awhile depending on how close you were." He watched her.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    She couldn''t stare into his eyes for too long and looked down.


    He thought about what she had said about not being able to have any children. His curiosity was eating away at him. He wondered what could have caused such a misfortune to befall her. She didn''t deserve it in his eyes, that was for sure.


    "This may not be the best time to bring this up, but, I was wondering, what caused you to not be able to have any children? Did something bad happen?"


    She chuckled. "No." she looked to him. "Nothing in the sexual sense thanfully." She swallowed. "I had got an early period. At age eight. And every period up until I was twelve, and I say twelve because that''s when I want into a blood induced coma, my periods, well, blood loss was just too much. My mother and I thought I just bled heavily and having gone to the doctors multiple times, everything checked out fine. But they had prescribed me iron tablets and told me to eat healthy to keep up my strength and it was just once a month, so they all thought it was no need for concern. So did I until I got my period on June 12. I remembered that day exactly because I had gotten out of bed feeling really whoosy. The cramping started soon after and mind you when I got my cramps it was on the level of childbirth everytime."


    Christian smiled some and nodded his head. He would never have any idea what it would be like to give birth or have cramps. And he didn''t want to.


    Alicia laughed a little herself. "Yeah, they were on the level of childbirth, or so I say because I''ll never know what that''s like, ha-ha." She took a breath and blew out. "But anyway, I had gotten up, did my thing. The cramps came and all throughout the day, that whoosy feeling just stayed with me. Since my cramps rendered me immobile, my mother would always take off a couple days to monitor me. Good thing she had taken off that day, otherwise they would have come home and found me dead."


    "What happened?" He asked.


    "I passed out. I passed out right on the way to the kitchen." she said. "I remember me calling out for my mom, telling her that I didn''t feel so good, and then I was out. Like a light." Alicia recalled her past.


    Christian saw a faraway look come into her eyes.


    "Everything else is a blur." She said. "At times I''d wake up in blinding lights and pain. The next time I came to, where I was fully aware of my surroundings, I was recovering from surgery. I had learned but didn''t really understand what my parents and the doctor were telling me. That while I would still have periods, because I would release more than one egg every month--that''s what caused all of this...medical drama--and to alleviate that for my health and everyone else''s sanity, I had to have my tubes tied. It would obviously stop the multiple egg releases, but in the process, any sperm as well."


    "Hm." Christian said.


    "Mind you I was twelve at the time. So I knew what sex was and reproduction and all that, but it didn''t really dawn on me that I couldn''t have children till I was a little older. Fifteen and sixteen years old. At first I thought, ''Well hey! I can''t have children! Whoever I''m with we can have all the lovemaking we want and don''t have to worry about a thing! I don''t have to go through any childbirth pains! Or bills! I''m a free woman with no responsiblities but my own!''." Alicia smiled to herself. "That all shattered one day when I was at the park. I had decided to go because it was such a pretty day out and I was like, ''Why not?''.


    "I had walked around a bit, before that lonely crowd crept up on me and I decided to sit. I sat and I watched the people come and go. Now some had children with them while others didn''t, but it wasn''t until I saw one mother pick up her son and twirl him around in the air some. She had a smile that only a mother could have and that''s when it really struck me that ''Hey? I can''t have that.''." She looked to him. "I can never have that. I don''t even have the option to say ''Hey? Maybe I would want that? Maybe I would like children one day''. That choice for me, that possibility for me is gone. Gone forever and no matter how hard I cry over it, and sob over it, and think ''Why me?'', it won''t change a thing." Alicia looked around the room. "I can conjure up fantasies and make-believe, but..." she shrugged her shoulders. "It won''t happen. It never will."


    "So what will you do in place of not having a family?"


    "You know, for someone who says they don''t like, or rather don''t like to think ahead, or toward the future, you sure do for me."


    "Just curious. As you said earlier, in regards to your parents, even me, it''s not us that has to go through it. Its you. You have to wake up every morning and live with that. I have to wake up every morning and live with what I am."


    "Psht." Alicia rolled her eyes. If she had even half of what he possessed perhaps things would be a bit easier.


    "Its easier, I''ll admit on some things. Getting money. Cars. Being immuned to all sicknesses. Possiblly even death. But that''s my life, Alicia. And its not one I look forward to every day. It''s not one I''d wish on anyone."


    "You think it be easier if you were just one race?"


    "No. The way I am. The way that I think. I think it be very hard, at least with my current mindset on being content with either."


    "Hm." She said. She nodded and swallowed, realizing how thirsty she was. "I''m thirsty."


    "I''ll get you something." He said getting off the bed.


    "No prompting me to get it myself?"


    "It''s late for one and I don''t quite give you free reign to go in and out of my refrigerator yet."


    "Oh my gosh!" Alicia rolled her eyes. "It''s not like I''m going to steal something!"


    "No, you''re not." He grinned at her as he left out the room.


    She shook her head. "Oh!" she fell back and stared up at the ceiling. She began replaying their conversation over in her head. Her not being able to have children. Her parents. His parents. His life and how much easier it seemed than her own. Her life and how little she had compared to him. She shook her head and turned it to her left.


    10:45 p.m. She stared at the time. Was it only that?


    Christian came back with a glass of lemonade.


    "Thank you." She said, sitting up.


    "You''re welcome." He said, watching her drink.


    She swallowed and placed the near finish glass down on the nightstand by her.


    "Uh-uh." He said.


    "Uh-uh?"


    "Coasters. They''re some in the drawer."


    "Oh." she said. She turned and began to reach for the drawer but Christian pulled it out for her.


    "Thanks." she said.


    He pulled out a plastic round coaster.


    She took it and placed her glass upon it. "Better?" she looked to him.


    "Better." He said.


    "Is it the bartender in you? Or are you just naturally neat?"


    "I''m just naturally neat."


    "Hm." she nodded. "Well, I guess its time for me to go back to sleep. Tomorrow should be fairly busy."


    "You have it all planned?"


    She nodded. "Change phone providers. Go shopping around for some stuff. Open a bank account."


    "Pick out clothing in the brochure."


    "Yes, pick out clothing from the brochure. I''ve done that already."


    "Really? Let me see."


    "Not tonight."


    "Why not?"


    "Because I''m not in the mood to go over it."


    "What''s there to go over? It''s just oufits?"


    "Nope. Don''t have the nerves for it."


    "Nerves--very well." He ended that conversation. "If you are feeling all better, I would like to retire myself."


    "Go ahead. I''m not stopping you."


    "I know you''re not. But you''re not in the healthiest condition either."


    "I''ll survive." She said.


    He stared at her for a moment before giving her a nod of his head and a small grin. "That you will, Alicia. Good night."


    "G''night." She said.


    He reached beyond her and turned off the light, his cologne drifting into her nose.


    "Thank you." she said, laying down.


    "Want me to tuck you in?"


    "Shut up!" she laughed.


    He chuckled himself. "I''ll see you in the morning."


    "Mhm. Morning." Alicia closed her eyes and held the covers close to her.


    Christian kept the smirk on his face as he got up and walked toward the door. He placed his hand upon the knob and began to close the door when he stopped and looked back at her.


    Alicia slammed her head down on the pillow. Idiot! Did you have to be watching him walk out! Now he caught you!


    He chuckled and closed the door behind him.


    Yes. She told herself. Yes she did have to watch him walk out. She''d have to watch his every move because it would be impossible not to fall for a guy like Christian. It would be foolishness not to right?


    She shook her head. She didn''t intend on falling for him. She wouldn''t. Not unless it was genuine and everything flowed naturally. That''s the only way real love blossomed anyway.


    She closed her eyes and began to think about what her first plan of action would be tommorow.

 Episode 14: "A Day Of Errands."

    Episode 14: "A Day Of Errands."


    Alicia awoke in nice mood. After all, sunlight poured in and brightened the room nicely. She had her own bathroom. Her closet was the biggest she had ever seen. She even had a sitting area and a desk where she could set up her own personal office, or whatever she decided to use it for. She sat up and yawned. Looking toward the boxes that still needed to be unpacked, her mood dipped a little.


    Not only was it work that still needed to be done, it was a permenant reminder that this was her life, her situation now. She continued staring at the boxes and recalled Christian''s words. No, she was not angry at him. She couldn''t be over something like this. He opened his home to her. She would be forever grateful for that. Still, her life could have been better in her eyes.


    Better how? Simple. She could be waking up in her parents home instead. Or her parents could just come from money and she herself would have nothing to worry about, like some of her rich friends. Her rich friends. She suddenly wondered why they spent any time with her at all. She had gone to one friend''s house once, and their uppity parents had looked down on her.


    Sayla was her name. Now that Alicia had thought about her more, she realized that Sayla was the best friend that she had ever had.


    She hadn''t asked why her rich friends hung out with her, but Sayla said something one day that made her angry. She realized now that Sayla wasn''t saying it to be rude, but to put things in perspective.


    "That''s why I hang around you. You have nothing Alicia and yet you smile. I look at my own life and think ''Wow? What am I complaining about again when there''s this girl that doesn''t have what I have yet can still find the strength to smile?''."


    Maybe that''s why they took to me. She thought. Perhaps I keep them sane in their lavish world? But what about mine?


    She had managed to find something to sleep in, but that didn''t mean she didn''t need to wash her clothes.


    Whether Christian liked it or not, he would have to give her a tour immediately. He had to have a laundry room.


    She pulled the covers back and swung her legs over the bed. She grabbed her phone and checked the time. It was a little passed nine o'' clock.


    She had a text message. She thought it was from her parents.


    Checking it, it was just her phone provider telling her that her service would be shut off at the end of the month.


    She rose her head and sighed. She had tried to be all ''big and bad''. It worked for a moment, but if she was honest with herself, she wouldn''t have minded...no, she would mind. This was her parents decision to kick her out. Let them stew in it for awhile. She thought of Christian''s words to her. Either way she felt like she was going to be okay. At least for now. In the future was another thing entirely and she wasn''t in the mood for trying to figure that out. Maybe she''d do college then or maybe not. Maybe she''d be married. Married with--an almost bitter smirk graced her lips before her gaze softened and she looked down at her stomach. She placed her hand there and rubbed it some. She smiled. "Some day, eh? Not." She scoffed and rose her head again. She looked out the window.


    She faced the front side of the house somewhat. She could see houses in the distance surrounded by the hills. Below her was the driveway, but not the front of it. She figured this was another enclosed area to house guests cars. It reminded her of a courtyard almost.


    She stood up and looked out. She looked up at the sun briefly. The blue cloudless sky. It was Friday. Today was Friday and she was sulking.


    She couldn''t have that.


    "CHRISTIAN! OH CHRISTIAN!" she yelled at the top of her lungs.


    It was more in a playful way but Christian still burst through the door as though something happened.


    "What is it! What happened?" He asked.


    She laughed.


    "Alicia?"


    "Nothing! I was only calling your name in a playful way! Chill!"


    He narrowed his eyes at her. "You do not call someone''s name that loud in the morning. Especially mine. My ears are very sensitive."


    "Oh! I''m sorry about that." she said. "But," she refused to let her mood drop any further, "Do you have a radio or laptop or something? I wanna jam some music as I get ready?"


    Even if all his bedrooms were soundproofed he could already feel his ears crying out in pain as he doubted she would keep her music to an indoor level.


    All sound reached his ears regardless. The padding in the rooms only helped as a very small buffer.


    "Music?" He said.


    "Yes music. You have heard of it right?! Oh! That was a pun! But no ''pun'' intended right?!"


    He stared at her and then shook his head. "You are a new one on me."


    "Am I?" she tilted her head. "Or are you just so programmed and robotic that...You. Don''t. Want. To. Feel." she mimicked a robot''s movements and voice.


    "Wrong. I do want to feel. I just want it to be genuine. Rather than forced." He rose his eyebrows some.


    She rose and eyebrow. "Yes, well, sometimes you have to force yourself to do things, into things at times that will keep you from shutting down."


    Christian gave her a look for split second before he began to grin. "Get dressed, girl. You have plans don''t you?"


    "Yes. But some of those plans now include washing clothes. You are going to show me where the laundry room is, aren''t you?" She folded her arms.


    "Very well." He said.


    ***


    "All right! Your bank account is all set! Here''s your temporary card to start making purchases!"


    "Thank you so much." Alicia said, taking the shiny blue card.


    "Your actual card will be mailed to you between 3 and 5 business days."


    "Okay." Alicia said, pushing her chair in.


    "Your address is 6875 Royal Court Drive, right? Just to be sure?"


    "Yes. That''s correct." Alicia eyed Christian for a moment before looking back at the teller.


    She could tell he was not happy about giving out his actual address.


    "Okay. Well on behalf of Kyat Bank we are honored to have you on board with us."


    "Yes, thank you." Alicia said.


    "You''re very welcome. Have a good day."


    "You too."


    They began to walk out of the establishment.


    "If giving out your address is such a pain then why don''t you own a bank like your sister?"If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "I had thought about that. But I oversee enough projects. A bank is a project in itself. Especially since all of my profits are being held together with, excuse my french, flawed human beings."


    "Oh! Well, well, well! Excuse me!" Alicia said as they exited the bank. "You are only investing in human beings that have seemed to make you very rich."


    Christian smirked. "They have. But that is because it''s based off my research, not theirs. I can easily withdraw, and they all know that. But since everyone is doing fine, why be cruel? After all, I am gaining profits as I speak."


    "Yes, you are aren''t you?" She gave him a look. "What all do you have your hand in again? I don''t believe you told me."


    "A little bit of everything. Get in the car Alicia."


    "Don''t you tell me what to do." She said, getting in the passenger side.


    ***


    "Thank you so much. And how much is it again in total?"


    "You''ll be paying $79.99 a month. That includes unlimited talk, text, and streaming. Plus the insurance on your phone and the emergency connection service just in case some accident befalls you and there''s no current connection in place."


    "Okay. Great." Alicia said.


    They said their good-byes and walked out of the phone providers store.


    "I hope you''re keeping track of all your expenses." Christian said. "Remember you will have your own place one day, Alicia. $80 dollars for a cell? Seems unnecessary."


    "Yeah, well, I''m treating myself. New account. New house. New phone. A whole new me..."


    He cut his eye over to her and then kept looking straight. "Where to next?"


    "Hm, the mall. A place where you don''t have to make too many stops."


    "Hm, that depends. If you plan on doing heavy shopping then I need to get my other car."


    "Well, I was just going to get a desktop computer, laptop, and maybe small stereo system. I really don''t need to get anything else for myself. I can wash all my clothes now too, soo..."


    Christian quickly calucated the space in his two-seater car including the trunk. It could work. Maybe.


    "Very well." He said.


    ***


    "Hey? Isn''t that Delilah?" Alicia asked, looking ahead of the line.


    "I was hoping you wouldn''t notice." Christian said quietly.


    "Why not?" Alicia turned to him. "Hoping to not run into her?"


    "Not really."


    "...Just, charge my account then!"


    "I''m sorry ma''am, but these cards aren''t working. You''re overdrawn." The clerk was kind enough to whisper it to her.


    "Overdraw--oh! This is the last one they have! If I come back it''s going to be gone!"


    "Hurry up lady! You''re holding up the line!"


    "Oh! Just wait!" she turned to him. "I''ll only be a minute longer!"


    That''s when she caught sight of Christian and Alicia.


    She blushed in surprise and then turned away knowing Christian had probably, no, he had heard everything. He had probably seen her multiple times already without her knowing.


    And he had.


    "How long can you hold it?"


    "Twenty-four hours, ma''am."


    "Okay! Great! Just place it on hold. You should have all of my account information." Delilah snatched everything that was hers off the counter and placed it in her purse.


    "Okay, ma''am. It''ll be on hold for 24 hours." The clerk took a boxed perfume set and placed it below the counter.


    "Okay! Thanks! I"ll be back!" Delilah turned away. "Hi boss!" she scurried passed him not acknowledging Alicia.


    Alicia scoffed. "You know I had half a mind to buy that for her but nevermind."


    Delilah stopped in her tracks hearing that and turned around.


    Alicia looked upset and turned away from her.


    Christian had his hands in his pockets. He turned away from her as well.


    She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Turning away in anger she stalked out of the store. She didn''t need Christian''s help anyway. That''s essentially who it would be coming from. No doubt Christian had deposited something into her bank account already. There was no way she''d be able to afford the newest perfume on the market by herself. She seemed completely hopeless from the moment she had met her.


    Alicia June.


    Delilah ran that name around in her mind.


    What kind of name was that anyway?


    ***


    "Ricky?" Alicia said as they entered a Shakies, a restaurant chain known in their city.


    The blonde turned her head. "Oh hey!" she said, seeing her and Christian. "Boss? What''s up?"


    "What is this?" Christian said. "Run into co-workers day?"


    "Oh, hush." She said. "Why? What happened?"


    "Ran into Delilah." Alicia rose her eyebrows and rolled her eyebrows.


    "Ohh..." she said nodding.


    "That girl just doesn''t like me. I was going to do something nice for her, but...her attitude won out."


    "Hm." Ricky said. "Well, that''s Delilah. You''re going to have to deal with her for who knows how long." She looked to Christian.


    "Hm. Yeah. But anyway, what are you doing here?"


    "Oh, I just ordered some food. I was gonna get it to go, but now, I don''t know." She smirked at Christian. "How about a little threesome lunch Christian?"


    He gave her a look.


    "Oh come on Christian, it''ll be fun." Alicia looked up at him.


    He sighed. "Very well."


    "Yay! Okay! I''m gonna go save a spot--"


    "Oh no!" a voice said.


    They turned to see Dwayne.


    "Tch! It''s official. This is officially run into co-workers day!" Alicia laughed. "Hi Dwayne."


    "Hello new girl. What is going on in here? Supervisor. Boss."


    Christian nodded his head once.


    "Hello to you to Dwayne." Ricky said. "We were just getting ready to have lunch? Would you care to join?"


    "No. Just came in for a quick bite to eat and then I''m gonna hit the gym." He said.


    "Okay. Suit yourself." Ricky said. "I''m gonna go find us a spot before it gets too crowded."


    "Too crowded? Look around you?" Dwayne said.


    "Oh shut up." She said nudging him as she walked passed.


    Alicia watched her go before she turned and got in line. The bags she was holding was starting to hurt her arms. They had come from the department store to there.


    "Let me see your bags." Christian said.


    "Huh? Oh no! I''m fine." She said.


    "Alicia, judging from your red palms and stiffened arms you are getting tired. Let me see them. I''ll put them in the car."


    "We actually should have done that first." She said, handing them to him.


    He must have looked funny holding an entire desktop in his hands along with her other things.


    "You want me to help, boss?" Dwayne said.


    "You can if you want." He said.


    Dwayne took her laptop and small stereo system.


    "Oh thank you!" Alicia said.


    "Don''t mention it. Just save our spots in line."


    "I can actually order for you guys. Just tell me what you want?"


    "Should I trust her with a credit card?" Dwayne asked him.


    She scoffed. "Yes."


    "You heard her." Christian turned and began to walk away.


    Dwayne licked his lips. "Listen. You mess up anything on here...well, Christian will take care of you."


    "Okay..." she said slowly.


    How did he reduce her to feeling like a two-year old all of a sudden? She was a grown, well, young adult. She didn''t have a reason to steal anything from him nor would she want to. Not to mention he could probably kill her.


    "Get me the number two special with everything on it and what do you want boss?" Dwayne asked.


    "I''ll have the number five." He said walking passed the crowds of people.


    "Everything on it?" Dwayne asked, eyeing the menu.


    "Hold the tomatoes." He said. "And add in a strawberry sundae."


    "Okay." He said.


    Alicia deduced that Dwayne could still hear him despite him no longer being in the restuaurant. Was his hearing that good?


    "Okay. New girl, boss wants the number five without tomatoes and a strawberry sundae. I want the number two with everything on it. Here''s my card."


    She took it.


    "And you obviously get whatever you''re getting? Deal?"


    "Deal." She said not sure if she would like this guy or not.


    "Okay. Go drop these off." He picked up her bags.


    "Well, we''re on--"


    "Trust me. I know where he is." He said, turning away.


    "Next!"


    Alicia turned. "Oh! Can I get..."


    ***


    "So how long have you known Christian?"


    "Oh, I would say a long time, but honestly, its not that long. Just, the last fifteen years."


    "Wow, fifteen years." Alicia said sitting across from her.


    "Yeah. I had actually applied for a job there. I mean, I had known him before then, well, heard of him. He was the ''miracle'' baby ya know?"


    "Yeah." Alicia said.


    "I''m saying this under the assumption that Christian has told you who he is right? Who we are?"


    "Yes, he has." Alicia smiled. "Probabaly should have checked with Christian first though. He seems like a stickler as far as his personal life."


    "Who are you telling? Oh my gosh!" Ricky said. "But it''s understandable."


    "Yes, it is." Christian said, having come back with their food.


    "Oh." Alicia scooted down the booth some,


    He placed the food down.


    "All right. I''m outta here." Dwayne said grabbing a white bag from the counter. "You did good new girl."


    Alicia blew out and rolled her eyes. "See you too, Dwayne."


    He smirked and slipped on his sunglasses. Alicia watched him walk out. She smiled a little.


    Ricky snagged a fry hanging loose.


    "Hey!" Alicia said.


    "You have your own Ricky." Christian spoke.


    "I know! But yours are fresh, hot, and crunchy!"


    "Then you should have asked for a fresh batch."


    "Well I didn''t plan on being here!"


    Alicia watched them two go at it and smiled to herself.


    Superhuman or not they were people at the end of the day. Knowing this she began to eat.

 Episode 15: "Alicia June."

    Episode 15: "Alicia June."


    "Well, what do you think of them?" she asked.


    "Hm. I wouldn''t expect anything less." he looked to her.


    They were all very cute and modest, yet showed a slight seductiveness. It would surely drive the men there wild. Most of the women there, exlcuding Delilah wore modest maid outfits, but they all showed more than what Alicia would be wearing. They would all look good on her.


    One was a gathered bust, off-the-shoulder long sleeve dress that stopped a little above the knee. There was a small cut-out piece in the back showing a little skin, not much. It came with white tights, lace fingerless gloves and the appropriate shoes that went along with the uniform--a pair of white, flat, ankle boots. Another was a corset vest top, with shorts and tights with buttons embroidered along the side of each leg. It came with fingerless gloves that ran up her arms as well as an option to choose boots or flats to complete the outifit. The final was the classic maid''s uniform. It was cream colored, complete with a dress that frayed out as she walked, tights, and lace up ankle boots.


    "What does that mean?" she asked.


    "It means it suits you," he said. "I can''t picture you with some of the other ones...I mean, I could be wrong, but you don''t seem like the type to flaunt your body around."


    "I''m not," she said, "but what girl isn''t flattered if a guy checks her out. Maybe once, twice. Three''s okay, but after that it gets weird."


    "Yeah, I suppose." he said. He smiled some and looked back down at the brochure. The ones she wanted were circled in red.


    "So yeah...that''s about it." She looked around her room. "I need to go through my boxes, get things settled in--and you need to show me around this place! Like, do you have a pool or a tenns court? Is there a theatre room or just something to do for fun around here? You know I can''t drive."


    "You can''t drive?" He said, looking to her.


    "No." she said rolling her eyes. "My parents didn''t seem to care about that either. Like, navigating these buses and trains is a problem in itself. Some run late, others run too early. And then there are the people on the bus..." she scoffed and fell back on her bed. She placed an arm over her eyes. "I am soooo grateful you showed up, otherwise that would have been something else I had to deal with."


    "You may still have to depending on where you live."


    "Yeah, but like I said, if I can find a place around the cafe then I''m good. I don''t mind taking one bus or train to get there. If I''m really close then obviously I can walk."


    "Yeah." He said, keeping her ability to not be able to drive in mind.


    It was five in the evening now. The sun was beginning to set.


    He sat there, watching her breathe in and out, her stomach going up and down.


    "Tell me about your family." she suddenly asked, her arm still over her eyes.


    "What about them? You know all you need to know."


    "Do I?" she asked. "Because depending on how long I''m with you, I''m bound to meet them sooner or later. Since they aren''t necessarily human, I''d like to be aware of them, you know, have my guard up."


    "You should have your guard up regardless. I have mine."


    She moved her arm then. "You''re afraid of your family?"


    "No," he scoffed. "Not at all. They''re the ones that are afraid of me."


    "Are they?"


    "They should be. And if not, they don''t know what to think about me, that''s for sure."


    "I could see that." Alicia said, looking him over. "You play your cards very close to your heart, don''t you?"


    "I have to." He said.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    "That must get draining...having to watch your step, or your mouth around people that are supposed to love you."


    "Yeah."


    "Yeah, I would know."


    "Alicia, I''m sure your parents still love you."


    "Yeah, I''m sure they do. But their methods suck." she looked away from him.


    "You know you''re not the only one going through this. I''m sure there are millions of kids that get kicked out of their parents homes each year. Their parents telling them to sink or swim and unlike you, they don''t have a ''Christian'' in their corner."


    "I''m well aware Christian and that seems like a bit much, don''t you think?" she looked back at him.


    "You know what I mean." He said.


    She shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Like I said, well, not to you but to myself, if I had to choose between staying with you and with my parents, I''d choose my parents, because they''re my parents. They have no idea of how much pain they are putting me through and yeah, I''m sure there are kids that had to do the same things I''m doing and they made it. They survived and they come back and thank their parents for being hard on them, but that won''t be me. That won''t be me for a very long time. It''s like a very vital cord has been severed...just snatched out of me. And despite all the blessings that I''ve had, it''s still very hard for me to wake up in the morning and face this. Face all of this." She looked around the room. "Not to mention you." She looked to him. "On top of everything, I now know a secret that can get me killed, or tortured? How about both?"


    "Alicia that won''t be you." He shook his head.


    "How would you know? You''re living proof that the ''natural'' order of things can be questioned. One moment I could be doing my thing and the next I''m swooped up somewhere."


    He shook his head and looked away.


    "I''m right aren''t I? Maybe I''ll never get captured or killed but if there''s one thing your birth, or existance has taught me, even my own life, my parents, is that this life is not what it seems. And people don''t really get that ''til something shakes them up. Their world is shaken up. They''re tossed out of their comfort zone. And yeah this is all preachy but I''m living it." She sat up and brought her knees to her chest. "It''s all very true to me. Very real."


    "You mean you were fine before all this happened?" He asked.


    "Yeah, well no. Not really, but it wasn''t like this." She said. "I mean, I was on my way to graduation. Good grades and stuff, and my parents had told me what my options were, and I thought, ''Hey. I''m good.''. I could get a job, take a few courses at a community college to see if I liked it and what not. But, I realized that my life would have probably still been going nowhere. Even if I went to college and got a degree and while I still may, I..." she shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. "I don''t know what life would have given me. I don''t know what I would have been moving towards, you know what I mean?"


    He nodded.


    "But now that I met you, things have changed. A lot of things have changed."


    "How so? What changed?"


    "Well, other than my parents kicking me out which is a major blow, I''m forced to grow up really fast. Even if I''m there mentally, that really means something physically now. I have to learn how to drive. Pay bills. Go shopping. Just...live life and everything that throws at me. So far that''s including you, and this world I had no idea existed. That includes the fortunate things in life, like meeting you and the wealth that you have. I know not a lot of people get to experience what I''m experiencing as far as the whole financial aspect. So that makes things a little bit easier, then there''s just..." she paused. "I''ll say possibilities."


    "What were you going to say?"


    "A void."


    He didn''t comment.


    "A void because, even with all this, you always ask yourself isn''t there something more? Something to hold on to? Something to keep you grounded?"


    His sister flashed within his mind.


    "And rather than go crazy and think ''What if, what if, what if'', I just try and keep myself focused on the present. What I''m doing now. What I have to do now."


    "You''re lonely." He said.


    She just stared at him.


    "You''re lonely." He said again. "A part of that stems from loneliness."


    "Well duh. Of course a part of that stems from loneliness Christian. Thank you for reminding me." She turned away.


    "Maybe you''re not lonely now, but it pays a part."


    "Yes, I am well aware of the part it plays." She looked to him. "And you are one to talk."


    Rather than deny it he remained quiet.


    "You want someone too." She said. "Perhaps that''s the reason you don''t just steal a bloodbag. Because doing so would ruin the relationship. Or a possible relationship I should say. And not just to be a donor either. That''s extremely cruel when you could just go to a bloodbank."


    Christian''s fingers begin to twitch, along with his left eye.


    "Hahha! You''re twitching! Did I strike a nerve?!"


    He got up. "And now she''s stinging..."


    "I don''t mean to. But life is pain, I will realize that more and more. So, you either you get use to it, or you let it tear you apart." Alicia''s voice wavered.


    "Or you could just turn it all off." He turned to her, thinking of his sister''s words. Cursing his sister''s words.


    She scoffed in disbelief. "And go rogue? I''d rather feel."


    He wasn''t expecting that response. Just who was this girl?


    He wasn''t born in this modern day. He was much older than it. But he kept up with the times. What was the latest slang or poltical debate? Who was wearing the latest fashion or perfume? Who came out with what? And who was dissing who? One of the things he recalled to memory was yearbook photos. All high school seniors would take them, and under their photo would be a caption saying what that person would be most known for later in life. He wondered what was under hers.


    "What were you known for Alicia? In high school? What did it say under your name? Not that it matters. It can be many things that describe the individual yet isn''t true at all, but I''m curious to what yours said. Was it something way off course, or did it fit you just right?" He watched her lips curl into a smirk. Her expression was bittersweet.


    "I was known as the girl who would give a damn."


    He chuckled. And they were right.

 Episode 16: "You Have Bad Dreams Too?"

    Episode 16: "You Have Bad Dreams Too?"


    Alicia placed her clean clothes in drawers, while she discarded the dirty ones in a pile. Some clothes she would donate. Sliding a drawer shut, she picked up the rest of her clothes off the floor and placed them in a bin.


    Christian shouldn''t mind her doing laundry now, would he?


    Oh well. She thought. It wouldn''t be a long load.


    There was a cool part to all this though.


    Picking up her bin of clothes, she walked over to the other side of her room, and slid up a latch that camouflaged into her wall. It was perfect for an escape, as she could fit down the entire chute should she have to make a clean get-away.


    "Here comes bin number two." She said, sliding it in. She watched it slide all the way down and hit the first bin.


    Now she had to go all the way downstairs, but the laundry room wasn''t that far once she reached the final step. She went around the stairs and towards the living room, making a sharp right, otherwise a person would miss it.


    She figured it should be more or less around the kitchen, but then again that was where food was kept. She opened the door and the smell of fresh clothes greeted her even though no clothes were being washed.


    He had two washer and dryers respectively. Both sets were on either side with counters to fold clothes or in her case, sit on. Above them was a shelf lined with cleaning detergents, dryer sheets and pods. There was also a space to keep the rest of the things needed to clean his home. Swiffer. Mop. Broom. They were all neatly tucked and out of the way, displayed on a wall.


    The chute was behind a counter, making it perfect for the bins to slide through and set on them without a mess.


    She scanned the washer. The directions were simple enough to follow, even if it was the top of the line. She''d say she had a large load. They were all color clothes.


    She slid up the latch in the wall having to reach across the counter some. The first bin slipped through. She slid it to the side along with the second one that came through.


    If she was learning anything about the man known as Christian Royce it was that he was very efficient.


    Not just a bartender at all.


    She placed a couple pods into a washer and began to fill it with her clothes. Placing everything inside, she closed the door and locked it into place. She pressed ''start'' for ''normal wash'' and took a deep breath. Blowing out she ran her fingers through her hair and then stacked the bins together and set them off to the side.


    She looked at the remaining wash time. Thirty-five minutes left. She turned and left out of the room, closing the door.


    She ran up the stairs a bit winded once reaching the top and walked to her room. She grabbed her phone off the bed and set a timer for thirty-five minutes.


    She sat down on her bed and then tossed her phone to the side some. She looked around the room. Her clothes boxes were all broken down. The first thing she did was set up her ''home office'' when they had come home. She looked to the desktop. Then she looked at her laptop. They were hers.


    She smiled to herself. Even if she didn''t come from money, she had a taste of what it was like to have it. It made little improvement for overall mood.


    She blew out and fell back on the bed. "Ow!" She shot up and turned over.


    She had forgotten the notebooks she had laid out. She picked them up and remembered her yellow notebook had doodlings in them from when she was very young. She placed the others on her desk, noting she needed to buy a small bookshelf to house her books and things.


    She took a seat in her computer chair, it rolling away some and opened up the first page. It was a big faced girl with a well proportioned body for a seven-year old.


    She chuckled and continued to flip through her pages of young doodles. She had even wrote the date on some of them which really took her back in time. Her eyes watered a little. When she was innocent. She still was, but in only eleven years she had seen some changes, her surgery and current situation being the most major of all.


    She chuckled and closed the notebook. She guessed everyone cried a little on the inside when their childhood faded away.


    She blew out again and cupped her face. She would rather go to work than deal with a whole bunch of nothing. Work!


    She whirled around and eyed the clothes she would be donating and breathed a sigh of relief. Her nurse uniform was in the washer. She remembered because she had placed it in the pile of dirty clothes.


    What could she--should she be doing right now! The thought was driving her crazy! Should she try her hand at dinner? No. Christian wouldn''t approve of her in his kitchen yet. Should she look for places to live? No. Everything was too sudden. Ironic, but still very true.


    Maybe she could look for new clothes?


    Yeah, maybe some other time. She thought, not in the mood for surfing through sites. She blew out and got up from her chair. She figured she mine as well rest. Rest while she had the chance. Her life wouldn''t be this...tranquil, she ran that term over her mind bitterly as she felt anything like it.


    Pushing her chair in, she walked over to her door and closed it. She wouldn''t go to sleep. Or try not to as she had clothes in the washer and didn''t want Christian scolding her for leaving them in there.


    Turning, she walked over to her bed and climbed on, moving her things out the way. She made a mental note to buy a throw blanket for herself as she didn''t want to keep getting under the covers and messing them up. Pulling back the top blanket, she slipped inside, and placed her phone on the nighttable beside her. She laid down and closed her eyes.


    ***


    She snapped open her eyes. Darn it! She promised herself she wouldn''t fall asleep! She hurriedly quieted her alarm--it being over an hour late--and rushed out of bed, nearly falling. Stumbling forward she quickly opened her door and ran down the hall. Coming to the stairs she whirled around and began stepping down them two at a time at times. Reaching the bottom, she ran into the laundry room and nearly threw open the washer''s door. She flinched some at her force. She probably shouldn''t man-handle any of Christian''s things, deliberately or otherwise.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Going over the dryer''s instructions, she placed all of her clothes inside with a few scented dryer sheets and started it for a forty-five minute dry on hot. She''d be sure not to fall asleep again.


    It was a little passed nine o'' clock now and she doubted Christian would approve of laundry at this hour, but hey. Would he rather just have her leave her clothes inside? Since he was so neat she figured he wouldn''t approve.


    Walking back up the stairs she heard the sounds of moaning and looked toward''s Christian door. Walking closer she observed that the door was adjar.


    That wasn''t like Christian and being nosy wasn''t like her but given her situation, it was a toss up on whether being ignorant was blissful or not.


    She slowly peaked her head inside and saw that Christian lie on his bed, still fully dressed, but his shirt unbuttoned. He moved his head back and forth and butterflies settled in her stomach as she had only seen people toss and turn in their sleep from a nightmare only in the movies. To see it displayed before her very eyes was frightening.


    She stood there frozen for a moment, in a panic on what to do. Should she wake him up? She thought, once she had calmed down from her hype of what should she do? He could become violent. Thinking on this still left her stumped on what to do as she didn''t want to continue to see him suffer. She thought of her own little nightmare the night before and how she awoke from it. Maybe she should just painfully let him do the same. Sadly deciding on this, she was about to close the door when he shouted a ''No'' so loud that it made her heart elevate at a rapid pace.


    She threw open the door, she getting the idea that loud sounds from reality would hopefully wake him up. But she wasn''t dumb. Her throwing things at him or poking him with a some long object, even her shaking him was dangerous as she had no idea what the man was capable of. For all she knew he could breathe fire and that would be all she wrote.


    So she stood at the foot of his bed, eyeing the pillows on the cushioned benched he had placed in front of it, and prepared to crouch each time she threw it at him.


    "Christian!" she began. "Christian wake up!"


    He still struggled within his sleep.


    "I said wake up!" she tossed a pillow at his face and then ducked.


    He moaned, the pillow coming off to the side.


    "Christian! Come on! You have to wake up!" She tossed another pillow at him and ducked again when he lunged from the bed in a sudden frenzy, the pillow was incinerated, all that was left of it was brief feathers and Alicia whirled around to look at the man responsible only he looked nothing like the Christian she knew, well met, as she didn''t know him at all.


    It seemed his shirt had burned up as well as all he was left in was his pants. His blonde hair reached beyond his back, seeming almost platinum than blonde and his body emmitted a white and orangish glow before it turned all red.


    Alica couldn''t speak. She knew better than to, but her tongue was glued to the roof of her mouth and she found herself holding back tears as there was no doubt in her mind that this version, this form of him would kill her. Kill anything that made any sudden movements. She deduced that much from him.


    Eyes a molten red-orange, then a blue-green, Christian surveyed that he was in his room with no immediate danger. But he was not alone, hearing a heartbeat and smelling a scent that was not his own he whirled around and Alicia jumped again.


    His eyes. They were orange in color to her but that was not the point, his look was anything but friendly. He looked as though he were prepared to ram her through.


    She watched a blade appear in his hands out of thin air and her lips quivered. Yep. That was his intention. He didn''t recognize her.


    Her lips tried to utter his name, but she only found herself mumbling. He drew it back and was prepared to ram her through indeed. All he saw was a target. Not Alicia. Not the girl he agreed to help. Or the one he had taken pity on. Just an intruder.


    Alicia made herself speak. "Christian it''s me Alicia!"


    He furrowed his brows some. "Alice..."


    His voice seemed a little deeper, and he prolongued Alice''s name as it rolled off his tongue.


    "No, no, not Alice! Alicia!" This girl Alice must have really done a number on him--oh! What am I saying? I''m about to be chop suey to this man! "Christian it''s me Alicia! The girl you agreed to help! You know! The one that got kicked out by her family!" she dove to the side as Christian had rammed his blade straight into the bench...where her head was moments ago.


    Screaming, she shot up and ran out the room. She deliberately fell, thankful, as that could have been her head again as Christian had made a swipe for it.


    Alicia pulled back and quickly ran back into his room. She closed the door in his face and swiftly went off to the side, knowing he''d charge right through it. Slouching down some, he burst through the door as expected and she attempted to run passed him when he lashed out and caught her, his hands making contact with her jaw in a painful way.


    She cried out in pain. "Christian! It''s me!" she yelled as she was painfully held into place by his bare hand upon her face.


    His grip was tight and it hurt her. It hurt her a lot.


    She sobbed.


    He brought her closer to his face.


    "Christian! Ahhh!" she whined.


    Staring at her more, though his sight was unparred, it shocked him to his core that he had Alicia in his grip. Not Alice. How could he have mixed up the two of them when they looked so different? The only answer was his mind. He wasn''t in control of what his mind was perceiving. That scared him more. He dropped Alicia suddenly, she cried out as she hit the floor and backed away from him. He backed away from her too.


    "Oh, Alicia," he said. "I am, sorry..." His eyes welled up with tears. "I am, so...sorry..." And then he spread a pair of wings and made a beeline exit to his left and then he was gone.


    Alicia just sat there on the floor, crying her eyes out. Her mouth really hurt and that caused her more pain in that moment than Christian abandoning her.


    She touched her jaw and winced. There was a large lump placed upon her face. As though someone had hit her. In a way he had. He just lashed out and grabbed her. He proabably didn''t intend on going for the face, but that was what was in his reach within that moment. Within that moment of he attempting to kill her.


    She wished more than anything to be with her parents then. Her mother''s embrace. Just the love of a mother and what they were expected to give their child. But they were not there. Christian was not there. Nobody was there for her.


    Cupping her face she cried more and then remembered that she was still in Christian''s room. She didn''t want him coming back to still find her in there, so she with reluctance made herself stand up, step over the pieces of broken, sturdy wood, and make it to her room.


    She didn''t feel any safer and thought that maybe sleeping in the laundry room would help. But that would do no good either as this was Christian''s home. There wasn''t anywhere she could go and he wouldn''t find her. Walking out the house was a no too. If only she had a car and could drive! If only she wasn''t so freaking useless!


    Going over to her purse, she pulled out the screwdriver she had. She wanted no part of Christian anymore. Just his money. She''d work for him, give him what he needed in exchange for her checks, and then get the hell out of there.

 Episode 17: "House Guest."

    Episode 17: "House Guest."


    Sitting on her bed for minutes, those minutes turning to hours expecting his return--it was now going for two in the morning--Alicia attempted to sleep. It proved difficult due to her cheek being swollen, so she with reluctance looked in the mirror at herself, saw the red, darkened bruise, and went into the kitchen to get some ice from Christian''s automatic ice dispencer. Doing some searching she found small plastic sandwich bags and placed a few ice cubes inside those. Applying pressure to her cheek she winced and walked back to bed. She figured some ibuprofen would help with the pain, but she didn''t find anything stocked in her cabinet and didn''t want to go into Christian''s room for nothing.


    Her eyes watered again as she weighed her pain against her pride.


    Her pain won out. She wondered and worried if something was fractured but she couldn''t go anywhere anyway. She wondered if Christian was thinking about any of this. Was thinking of her at all other than his apology to her?


    Stepping over the broken pieces of wood, she walked into his bathroom and opened the medicine cabinet. Nothing. He had nothing in there.


    She guessed he dealt with his pain in a different way than the rest. She thought of anyone she knew at her new job but didn''t have their numbers she realized and once again, doubted if Christian would want anyone stepping foot on his property without his permission. That''d probably earn her another swipe to the head she thought with disgust.


    With warm tears falling down her cheeks, she managed to fall asleep. Her body was too tired to protest.


    ***


    When Alicia awoke her cheek was in more pain than the night before. It was bright and sunny in her room, but she immediately switched on the waterworks. She needed to see a doctor! Get some kind of pain relief! She picked up her phone. It was a little passed nine o'' clock in the morning. And she had three missed calls and one voicemail.


    Heart racing she quickly entered her code and tapped on the voicemail.


    "Hey Alicia! It''s me Ricky! Listen, Christian informed of an...incident that happened between you two last night. He''s sending me over to check on you, all right? Call me back as soon as possible!"


    Tears of joy running down her face she quickly called her number back.


    She answered on the first ring. "Hello?"


    "Ricky!" Alicia said.


    "Oh! Alicia! Honey are you all right? I''m on my way there now!"


    "I''m okay..." Alicia held back the lump in her throat and took a deep breath. "I''m okay...but I''m in a lot of pain, Ricky. My jaw, my whole left side is completely swollen..."


    "Oh my gosh! What did he do to you!"


    "It doesn''t matter--look! I need to go to the doctor, okay? I need to see if anything is fractured and I need some pain reliever pills too...my cheek is on fire."


    "Okay. I bought some over the counter pain relief with me just in case you would need it."


    "Oh thank you! I need it!"


    "Okay, just sit tight okay? We''ll go to the doctor as soon as I get there--we''ll go to the ER, okay? Just be ready, all right?"


    Alicia nodded. "Okay, thank you so much, Ricky."


    "No problem." she said.


    "Oh! Do you need a code or something to get in?"


    "Christian gave me everything I needed."


    "Where is he by the way! Does he know what he''s done to me!" Alicia yelled, her anger getting to her.


    "Alicia...I really couldn''t tell you right now. Christian, he, well, I wouldn''t know as he sent me everything through a text message, but judging by how he is as a person, I know he''s feeling really, really bad right now. Especially since it''s you. You hardly know each other and something--whatever happened--happened."


    "Yeah, I know..." Alicia said. "But I''m going to let you go so I can get ready...where are you by the way?"


    "I''m just passing highway 6."


    "Oh then you''re really close."


    "Yeah, I know. But let me go, okay? I''ll be there as soon as I can, okay?"


    "Okay." Alicia said. "Thank you so much, Ricky."


    "You''re welcome." She said.


    "Okay, bye." Alicia said.


    "Bye."


    All that talking seemed to only intensify her pain and she tasted blood in her mouth. She shot out of bed.


    ***


    "It seems your jaw is slightly fractured..."


    "What--ow!" she cried.


    "Yes, Miss June. Tell me, what happened again?"


    "My face just got in the way of a heavy blow..." she said, trying to be as honest as possible. "I was attempting to move past the object when it still managed to nik me right in the face."This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "Hm, and what kind of object was this?"


    "It moved too fast for me to see it properly."


    The doctor looked her over. He had seen more than his fair share of abusive relationships. As always, the girl tried protecting their abuser--excuse him--lover. "Well, all right. Whatever hit you caused quite a blow but the good news is that it''s completely healable."


    "Really?"


    "Yes. But you will have to let it rest and then follow up with a physical therapist. Your insurance? It''s under your parents, right?"


    Shoot! She had forgotten all about her parents! She didn''t want them to know about this!


    "Yes, but I am no longer...with them..." she flinched some.


    "Oh?" He said.


    "Yes, I recently moved out...I''ll um, I''ll pay for everything in cash."


    He rose his eyebrows. "You are aware of how expensive medical bills are, right? Just this visit alone is quite expensive."


    "I...assure you...doctor...I can...afford it..." It''s the least that man can do for leaving me like this! I''ll take it right out of his checkbook!


    "Well, all right then. I''ll print out the instructions for your recovery and recommend some physical therapists. Do you have a main doctor you see so you can do a follow up?"


    "Uh, yes, I do. I''ll be sure to make an appointment."


    "Okay. I''ll also prescribe a higher dosage of pain relief."


    "Please do."


    "You are small. I''d say 400mg should be enough every 4 to 6 hours the pain persists."


    Alicia nodded.


    "Okay then." He said. "You are one of the lucky ones."


    "Hm?"


    The doctor shook his head. "Usually when a woman comes in here her jaw is anything but fractured. It''s completely broken from some unfortunate event or another."


    "Ohh..." she said. "That''s...really sad..." Her mouth was inflamed. "Um doctor, what about the blood from my mouth? Is that normal from a fracture?"


    "Rarely. Bleeding usually comes from a broken jaw, but blood does every now and then come from a fractured jaw. It depends on it''s position. Plus you are small and have more bone than tissue in some places, so it''s to be expected that a little blood comes through."


    "Oh." She said. "Because I don''t want an infection."


    "Oh no. You are fine. There is no infection, but just to be safe, I''ll prescribe an antibiotic to take along with your pain medication. Stay away from any bitter fruits and certain medication while your on it, okay Grapefruits and such?"


    She nodded.


    "I''ll print out a list of fruits and medicine you can take while you heal. And also a soft diet that is recommended okay, Miss June?"


    She tried her best to smile. "Yes, doctor."


    "Okay." he held out his hand for her to shake and she shook it. "You can walk out to the front."


    "Okay." She said. Walking out from behind him there was Ricky waiting for her.


    "You hear everything?" Alicia whispered to her.


    She nodded. "Let''s get everything you need, okay?"


    Alicia nodded.


    ***


    2 weeks later...


    "Okay, let''s get some food in you!" Ricky said having hauled in some fresh produce.


    Alicia still wore the splint for her face. The pain had gotten much better in the last fourteen days. It was a surprise to her that Christian had assigned Ricky to watch over her. However he had yet to be seen.


    "Yeah..." Alicia said. "When do you think the man is coming back!" It was a little easier for her to yell now, but she still had to take it easy.


    "It''s hard to say, Alicia." Ricky said, cutting into some lettuce.


    "You think he feels guilty at all?!"


    "Do you see him here at all?" Ricky said, cutting away. "He can''t face you right now, which means he feels really guilty. Trust me. Christian isn''t going to just show up and act like everything is fine."


    "Well everything isn''t."


    "And he knows that." Ricky said, looking up at her. Her hair was tied up in a bun with a few curly strands coming down either side of her face. "If I know Christian, he''s, he''s trying to find the most plausible way to say he''s sorry."


    "He already did."


    "But that''s not enough, is it?"


    Alicia thought over her words.


    "I mean it can be. But this situation is highly sensitive. He fractured your jaw. You''ll forever remember this. He''ll forever remember this. Knowing that, it''s not going to be easy for him to face you. For you guys to face each other really."


    "Oh?"


    "I''m sure you''ll tense up greatly once he returns, Alicia. Which should be soon. He has a special dinner with his family coming up in a couple weeks. He has to be back by then."


    "Special dinner?" Alicia asked. "Am I invited?" She chuckled.


    Ricky did to. "I doubt it. Despite the circumstances, Christian has been checking in on you through me."


    "What! When?" she said.


    "Well, he asked how you were doing earlier this morning. If you were any pain."


    "Yeah, I am."


    Ricky smiled some. "He wants me to continue to monitor you."


    "I hope someone does. I can''t do anything by myself much without a license. And this is not my house so it''s not like I can go wondering around." Her mouth was beginning to hurt.


    "Yes, well, that''s why I''m here." She smiled at her. "Hopefully I''m good company to keep."


    Alica smiled as best she could. "You are more than good."


    Ricky beamed.


    "Now if only you were any good at cooking." Alicia rolled her eyes.


    "What! You don''t like my cooking!"


    She began to laugh. "I''m only kidding--ow!" She placed a hand on her cheek. She knew how much pride Ricky took in her cooking.


    "Serves you right!" Ricky said.


    "I said I was kidding!" Alicia said.


    "I know." She said, her eyes softening. "Do you need any medicine?"


    "No...I just took some this morning...about two hours ago. I have to wait until later."


    "Okay, well, do your cold and hot compresses."


    "I think I will." Alicia got off the stool and went over to the freezer. She pulled out a heat pack and placed it in the microwave. "Let that heat up." She turned to Ricky. "I have to go to the bathroom."


    "Okay." She said.


    Ricky watched her go and then looked down at the salad she was preparing. Her eyes dimmed. Alicia didn''t deserve to be caught up in this life. None of the women Christian crossed paths with deserved to be.


    Pulling out her cellphone she texted Christian, asking when he planned on returning home.


    A few moments later her phone vibrated. She heard Alica flush the toilet and the microwave ding behind her as she read the text, becoming alarmed.


    "Don''t know."


    What did he mean he didn''t know?!


    "Whoo! You know when you really have to go and it feels good to just let it all out?" Alicia said sitting back down at the island.


    "Yeah." Ricky smoothly put up a face of coolness. "So, let''s discuss your menu for the day, Alicia June!"


    "Please, please can I please have some gummy worms! I''m craving them!"


    "Nope. And your heat pack stopped."


    "Oh right!" She said attempting to get off the stool.


    "I got it." Ricky said turning away. She furrowed her brows. She had a sinking feeling about a certain plan or plans of action that were about to take place, but what could she do? Having known Christian for as long as she had, she was loyal to him. But that didn''t mean she agreed with everything he did. This may end up being one of those things. She smiled and handed Alicia her heat packet.


    Depending on how Alicia would take it that is.

 Episode 18: "The Dinner Party."

    Episode 18: "The Dinner Party."


    "He''s a freaking wuss!" Alicia yelled.


    "Now, Alicia, he''s only protecting you. He doesn''t trust his family and the last thing he would want is for any of them to get wind of you."


    She blew out in frustration. "I get that...but still! He could at least say something to me instead of just hauling me off like cattle!"


    Ricky chuckled some as she packed her things. "Alicia, relax, it''s only for one night. Maybe two if Christian''s family get''s greedy. That''s rarely the case however. Not with Christian being firm on his one-night stay rule."


    "You sure do seem to know a lot about him." Alica said, plopping down on her bed.


    "Ah ah!" Ricky said.


    "What!" Alicia shot up.


    "Christian will be here in the morning. Start packing what you want to bring over, all right? Toothbrush, toothpaste, underwear, etc."


    "It''s only for two days. How much am I going to need?"


    "You never know." Ricky said. "Always pack for the unexpected."


    "Right." Alicia said. She walked over to her closet. "Say, since all of you guys senses are heightened, who''s to say they won''t smell me even if I''m not here?"


    "That''s a good point to make. But I''m sure Christian will take the necessary precautions of sealing off your room, seeing that he has quite a few. But I''m pretty sure he gave you a room that his family doesn''t occupy when they are here."


    "I hope so." Alicia said bringing her suitcase over.


    Her jaw had gotten a lot better. There was still a mild bruise and a little pain, but she kept up with the jaw exercises her physical therapist reccommened dutifully. She didn''t want to be a burden to anyone, especially herself. Plus, she loved to eat. She couldn''t enjoy that if she was in pain everytime she chewed.


    She placed her newly arrived uniforms in her suitcase, they having arrived in the mail. She assumed Christian was still keeping tabs on her, or at the very least keeping his business in order.


    Ricky told her that Christian had sent her a text asking her if anything didn''t fit to let her know so she could relay the information to him.


    She had scoffed to herself hearing that, but she figured he still felt guilty. And the longer he stayed away from her the madder she got. She understood perfectly well, but that didn''t stop the need for them to eventually meet each other, and she''d rather do that sooner than later.


    She had tried on one outfit, the classic one and it fit her to a ''T''. The shoes were a perfect fit too. Too perfect but having a bigger size would make her feet look big and she''d rather deal with a perfect shoe size than have "godzilla sized" feet."


    She went over to her drawer and packed the essentials and then quickly brought out everything she would need from the bathroom before she forgot. She went back and snagged her medicine before she forgot that too.


    "What''s your place like, Ricky?"


    "Oh, it''s a nice little apartment, condo. It''s not as far as this place--Christian going out of his way to stay away from us all, ha-ha."


    Alicia thought of the form she had seen him in. The long hair. The glowing eyes. And for good reason. She thought.


    "It''s actually a penthouse."


    "Oh really?!" Alicia chuckled. "Look at you!"


    Ricky laughed. "But if you tell anyone I''ll kill you."


    "Ha! Get passed Christian!"


    "I can." Ricky said.


    The air seemed to grow a little colder in the room.


    Alicia looked at her.


    "You see, Christian doesn''t care enough about you yet if you were to suddenly die. If I were to cut off your head, worst case scenerio our friendship would probably be over, but he wouldn''t kill me. At least, I don''t think he would."


    Alicia swallowed. "Okay..."


    Ricky eyed her. "It''s nothing personal. I''m just letting you know where you and Christian currently stand. The weight you have over him as I''ve seen how he reacted with Delilah and going by Alice, well, he''d be grieved at her sudden passing. You and Christian don''t know enough about each other yet to be, particularly close."


    Alica thought about the conversations they had. About him and his family. About her and her inability to have children. Those were personal things and she doubted he discussed things like that with Delilah. Perhaps she was wrong, but she just kept on letting Ricky talk. She had to admit that she thought they had a good relationship and while they probably still did, Alicia saw the subtleness behind Ricky''s words. That Ricky was still a person who could kill her with ease. Probably not over something as silly as blabbing about where she lived, she hoped, but with more serious matters. And of course to have a reality check on where she and Christian currently stood on their relationship.


    It urked her. Ricky didn''t even have to say anything that she did. Still, Alicia took it to heart, playing it off as to not let Ricky see her sudden change in mood.


    Ricky however knew she had struck a nerve within Alicia. She felt guilty about saying it at all. Why had she said it? Oh, that was right. Because she automatically placed Christian in front of her as a means of defence. Christian was not there right now. In one swift movement she could snap her neck and Christian wouldn''t be able to get to her in time. Not that she would. She liked Alicia very much. Even if the girl was right. Christian would protect her if he was there. Everyone at the cafe knew better than to harm her, herself included, but she wasn''t Alice. Even Delilah.


    She was the new girl for now.


    As they finished packing Alicia was trying to hide her change in character but it weighed heavily upon Ricky now. She was her momentary caretaker. She shouldn''t make her feel unwanted. Unwelcomed. Unappreciated.


    "Alicia, look, I''m sorry. I don''t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I shouldn''t have said it."


    "No, you should not have." Alicia said. "But, at the same time, it does put things in prospective and it does remind me to stay leery of all of you."


    Ricky was mentally banging her head against a wall at this point. "Alicia--"


    "I get it." Alicia looked to Ricky. "I''m the new human bloodbag. The donor. To all of you, excluding the other humans working there, I''m...proabably a liability?" She paused and thought about that.


    "Alicia--"


    "But anyway! I''m doing this for the money!" And her goals were once again renewed thinking on what Christian did. What he planned to do if he didn''t stop. That was to kill her. She didn''t want to be under a roof where she risked sudden death for wanting to help someone. That old saying of ''you can''t just help anyone'' came to her mind and Christian was one of them. She was human for one. What could she possibly give him? Other than her blood which was strictly on a professional level at this point, she couldn''t give him anything more. She wouldn''t allow herself too.


    He would have to earn her. That went without saying for any woman, but for her it was deeper. She could very well be dead had Christian not got ahold of his emotions, his power. A fractured jaw, excuse her, barely fractured jaw and she lived?! She could only imagine if he lost all of his marbles, or better yet, was in his right mind and had the urge to kill. No thank you!


    "Alicia!"


    "Huh!" she looked to Ricky.


    "You were daydreaming."


    "Oh, I was?" Alicia laughed. "Sorry about that. Let''s finish packing."


    "Okay." Ricky said, sensing her mood was a bit lighter than before but still weighed down upon something.


    "Alicia?"


    "Yeah?" She looked to her.


    "Just like at work, even now, let me know if something bothers you, okay? I won''t know if I hurt your feelings or not unless you tell me."


    Alicia nodded. "Okay." Not! She didn''t want to come off as weak.


    "I mean it. Too many people hold their emotions in for fear of not wanting to look weak or vulnerable. You seem like just the type. That''s why I''m letting you know that you can."


    Alicia gave her a look. "And let''s say every little thing you did or said to me annoyed me or made me feel sad? What would you think then?"


    "First of all, does what I say or do make you feel a certain way?"


    "Other than what you said earlier, no."


    "That''s good. Because if you got your panties in a bunch everytime somebody said or did something you didn''t like I''d call you a baby or oversensitive weakling." Ricky froze not sure if what she just said offended Alicia or not.


    Alicia was not offended. But it didn''t help her already locked-up-tighter-than-a-drum-feelings either.


    "Anyway!" Alicia broke the tension. "Let''s just get out of here!"


    "Right!" Ricky said, greatful for the break in atmosphere.


    Alicia chuckled to herself. And she thought she was the overthinker?


    ***


    He appeared in his house, in his room. He drew in his wings and then they vanished, a few feathers lingering in the air. They dissolved into orbs of light.


    Ricky had neatly piled the broken pieces of wood in a corner.


    He relived that night over in his mind in vivid detail as he looked around his room. When he mustered up the courage to confront Alicia he would ask her what she was thinking when she decided to disturb him. She didn''t know any better, he knew.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    His hair receding to it''s original length he eyed the wood in the corner and waved his hand across it. It flew to the opening in his room and retached itself, becoming a door once more.


    The party started at 6 pm. He would have preffered it never, or at least a little later so they could leave sooner. It wasn''t even a party really, it was just a nosy meeting to check-in on him. He''d rather deal with the Elders than his family--his parents especially.


    Stepping down into his room he prepared himself for his unfortunate company.


    ***


    Alicia eyed the clock. It was a little passed 8 o''clock now. She wondered how Christian''s dinner party was going as she placed a tray with dirty dishes on the counter for Dwayne to take into the kitchen.


    Her return to work worked up a small buzz. Ricky had told them she a health issue that needed to be taken care of while she was out.


    She no longer wore her splint, but every now and then would stretch her jaw when she had a few moments alone.


    "Thank you, new girl." Dwayne said. "Making my job harder."


    Alicia laughed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah right." She was wearing her new maid outfit.


    Guys, including Dwayne and Roycel ran her over with their eyes. She was cute.


    Dwayne chuckled and took the tray away.


    "So, you have any idea where Christian is?" Delilah asked, smoothly pulling up beside her.


    "Ricky said he was having a dinner party, remember?" Alicia said going around the counter and grabbing a wetcloth. She began wiping down the counter.


    "Yeah, but he hasn''t been into work either? Ricky said he had some business to attend to, but I say it''s too much of a coincidence that you both disappear and reappear at the same time? No?"


    "Nope." Alicia said. "I had a medical issue to attend to and Christian had his own business to take care of? What''s odd about that? Plus, Christian is the boss. He owns this place. He doesn''t have to come in here at all if he chooses not to. He''s on his own payroll."


    "Ha! Girl''s got a point." Dwayne said, coming back with a container of dishes.


    "Good point. But I still say something fishy happened." Delilah eyed her face. "The left side of your cheek looks a little different than your right, Alicia. Did you have a little accident? Did Christian hit you for getting out of line?"


    "Okay Delilah." Ricky came over with a smile. "Your shift is over for the night."


    She gasped.


    "I''ll be sure to clock in the hours you did work." she said.


    "Ha! So that proves something happened!"


    "That proves you being out of line." Ricky''s eyes narrowed and Delilah barely made out the minor glow that surfaced. "It is none of your business what Alicia or Christian or what anybody else does on their own time. We all lives outside of this cafe. Now pack up your things. You are done for the night. I''ll be sure to let Christian know of the matter."


    Delilah looked around the cafe. All the workers were briefly looking at her while they attended to the customers. Every now and then someone would have to put Delilah in line but she had never been sent home.


    Embarrased and on the verge of tears, she chuckled. "Okay, I''ll back off. But I still say I''m right." She went around them and walked into the back to get her things.


    Alicia had watched her go and then eyed the cloth in her hands. Her mouth watered and she felt hot and nervous.


    "Alicia? Are you all right?" Ricky placed a hand on her shoulder.


    "Yeah..." Alicia turned to her.


    It was obvious that she wasn''t.


    "You want to go lie down in the back? In the conferance room? I can have Julia let you in?"


    "Um, no. Actually I''m just going to go to the bathroom." She said.


    "Okay."


    Alicia went in the back, all eyes on her.


    Roycel had been wiping the same glass for the last five minutes watching everything play out. Medical issue or not, he knew it wasn''t the whole story either. Delilah was right. He knew his boss could disappear anytime he wanted to, but the fact that he rarely did unless he had a special engagement with his family, which all his employees were aware of, or he just didn''t care to come into work which never happened, there had to be another reason for his absense. Or he could just do whatever he wanted without them knowing. He wasn''t subject to sticking to a certain behavior just because everyone else was used to it.


    This in mind, Roycel placed the glass away and prepared to take the order of a couple guys who had sat down at the bar.


    "Say? Aren''t you a little young to be working here?"


    "The age requirement is sixteen." He said, drying his hands on a white cloth. "What can I get you both?" He said with a smile.


    "Yeah, I mean here at the bar?" They said.


    "It''s illegal to drink. Not serve." He said. "If you feel uncomfortable I can get the adult bartender over here?"


    "Could you please, son?"


    "Sure." He said. "Dwayne?"


    He turned his head.


    "Can you take their order? I''ll swap with you?"


    He nodded. "Ladies, would you excuse me? Roycel will take your order now?"


    "Sure." they said.


    "Why couldn''t you do it?" He asked as they walked up to each other.


    "You couldn''t help but hear, right?"


    He scoffed. "Yeah. Hit and miss right?"


    "Yeah." Roycel said. "Just hope it doesn''t become a problem."


    "It won''t." Dwayne''s eyes flashed yellow.


    "Oh, yeah, yeah." He said.


    Dwayne chuckled as he went to the bar.


    "Hello ladies? What can I get for you?" He smiled down at them.


    Alicia sat in a stall trying to get her mind together. All in all it wasn''t that bad, she tried to tell herself. Wasn''t that bad? Her jaw had been fractured! Fractured! She wasn''t sure she''d ever be able to really live it down. Even if she was making a full recovery. Her mind had Christian''s form on repeat. Those eyes. His expression of mercilessness.


    Maybe she just needed to give him a good piece of her mind. Or she could contine to let it break her. Even her own advice about learning to cope with life or let it break you was wavering.


    She shook her head and stood up. She took those feelings and locked them all away. It wasn''t easy. Some still seeped out but what could she do? Die? Even she knew that was too drastic.


    Time. She just needed time to adjust to everything. Except she''d never fully adjust to this. At least here with these people that were anything but human.


    As she opened the stall, a couple girls came inside the bathroom.


    They all smiled at one another and Alicia waited until they were inside the stalls to stare at her reflection for a moment. She placed her hand against her cheek. In a year, less than that there''d be no evidence of her jaw every being fractured or bruised. But she''d remember it.


    Why was it urking her so much! How come she just couldn''t let it go!


    The toilet flushing made her exit the bathroom swifty. Angry at first, she fell into a bout of confusion not sure if her forgiving him or letting it pass was a sign of forgivness, weakness, or foolishness on her part.


    ***


    "Ah, Christian, I will say this food is delicious. You never fail to deliver." An elder spoke.


    "Except on himself..." James muttered and finished his glass of Brandy.


    "James." their mother spoke.


    "James has a point." the father spoke.


    Christina rolled her eyes. She sat next to her twin.


    "Something wrong, Christina?" an elder had observed her reaction, Demitri to her annoyance.


    "No. Why would you ask?" She eyed him.


    "Oh, you seem like you had something to say on your father''s response to agreeing with your brother? Perhaps I am seeing things?"


    "Christina what do you have to say? You don''t agree that your brother should pick a side?" He asked her.


    Here we go. The twins thought in unison. Though they couldn''t hear one another''s thoughts they briefly cut their eye over to one another before looking away.


    "I agree with whatever Christian decides to do." Christina said. "Within reason, of course. We wouldn''t want him going off the deep end." She looked to her brother.


    She just had to toss in her own plans subliminally and he caught it.


    "Going off the deep end? What does that mean?" their mother looked at her son. "Suicide? That be deplorable!" She didn''t sound too convincing to Christian''s ears.


    "Not to me." James finished off another round of Brandy.


    "James!" their mother looked to him.


    "Oh, come on! Let''s cut the bull!" He shot up.


    "I think he''s had too much to drink?" Farah said.


    The Elders watched, not intervening. It was interesting and entertaining to watch for some. This was after all, the outcasted family that everyone knew so much about.


    Christian looked at his brother.


    "It be a miracle, wouldn''t it Christian?" His eyes bore into his younger brother. "To just end it all? Cut all ties. No strings attached? Death would be better than being whatever the hell you are? Right?"


    "Son, calm down now. Take a seat." The High Elder spoke.


    James looked his way, and then slowly sat down. "Excuse my manners, High Elder."


    He nodded once. "Christian, would it be?" he turned his attention to the blonde male.


    He looked to the man. "Yes, it would."


    The Elders conversed with one another.


    "Daniel, do you hear your son?" the High Elder spoke to the father.


    "I do." He said. "And I agree with his actions."


    "Daniel!" his wife looked to him appauled.


    Christian smirked at his father.


    Admist this all Farah was on her third drink. One of the elders frowned and took the bottle from her.


    She smiled sheepishly.


    "Father, you can''t be serious?" Christina spoke. "He is your son." She took a sip of wine. "Whether you want to acknowledge that or not." She added.


    "Oh, I acknowledge that he''s my son. Only it be much easier if he was born one way or the other."


    "Or if I just didn''t exist at all?"


    "That would help." Daniel said.


    "Daniel!" she looked away from him and to her son. "Christian you are our son! Even if we don''t--I don''t understand you half the time, I don''t regret...having you..."


    "I''m surprised you said that without gagging." Christian said. He turned to the High Elder. "High Elder, if dinner has pleased you, would you like to discuss whatever important matters are on your mind?"


    "Yes." He said. "Though I was aware of your family quarrels I was not aware it was to this extent. Christina does not inform me of such personal matters after all."


    They looked to Christina as she finished eating the rest of her food, eyeing them all with brief mishief.


    Demitri frowned in disgust.


    "Daniel, Linnea, Christian is your son. It was because of your union that we now have a...possible hybrid among us. It was forbidden in the first place and now you cast him out like he''s a bastard?"


    "Don''t you feel that way?" Christian spoke.


    "Yes," he said. "Though I shame myself by calling you a bastard. It its beneath me and you are far from it I have observed. Look at this home you built? The businesses you have changed and created? That is not the works of a bastard. That is the work of a man fighting against all odds. Even it is temporary relief for your impending problem, and ultimately doom."


    Christian gave him a look along with everyone else.


    "Come now, Christian. As of right now you are the strongest in the house."


    The Elders gasped.


    "Oh sure, I''d give you a run for your money, we all would, but it would take nearly all of us to restrain you?"


    "Restrain me?" Christian said.


    "Yes. I have forbid hybrids in this world for this exact reason. Never mind the missing, daddy-never-loved-me factor. You refuse to pick a side and even if you did whose to say because of your mixed heritage you won''t become a hybrid still? Any of you?" He eyed the rest of the Royce children.


    They looked at one another, Farah looking at her palm.


    "Oh get over yourself." An Elder spoke to her.


    "You know you''ve been watching me quite a lot all evening! I''d say you''re a pervert!"


    "A woman a pervert? How about a woman with basic motherly instincts?"


    Linnea looked down.


    "With all this being said, either you turn and pick a side, Christian, or risk eternal slumber."


    Everyone at the table gave looks of shock excluding Christian.


    He remained composed. Something the High Elder admired about him.


    "High Elder, you can''t be serious?" Linnea spoke up. "He''s our son! You can''t just have him locked away!"


    "Oh like you care woman!" he spoke to her. "If you didn''t see just how serious this all is I''d doubt you''d be this concerned."


    "With all due respect High Elder, I do care for my children. I love all of them--"


    "Except Christian." He interrupted her. "You don''t know how to view him when you should only view him as you son and that is all. Just admit what your husband already has. Pick a side or die. There is no inbetween. Heavens...Christina, darling, I had no idea you had to deal with such parenting."


    Christina smiled some and poked her food around with her fork.


    "High Elder, what is wrong with having a hybrid? Why the fear behind it all? Was there perhaps one before our time? You were here before us after all?" Daniel asked.


    Christian darted his eyes to the High Elder hoping he''d catch something within the man''s eyes and he did. Though he didn''t know what. That was his proof. That was all Christian needed.


    The High Elder saw him staring at him and wondered what Christian had seen in him if anything at all.


    One of the Elders chuckled.


    The High Elder looked at them sharply with a hint of anger, Christina observed. It gave her goosebumps. She didn''t think the man could ever look angry.


    "Something funny, Mika?" Demitri asked.


    She continued her laughter, the Elders watching her confused.


    "Mika, what is so funny-"


    "Oh! The secrecy is unbearable!" She interrupted the High Elder. "I was hoping one of you would get the brains to ask that question instead of just assuming there wasn''t one!"


    "Mika!" The High Elder said.


    "Oh kill me Eugene if you don''t want me saying anything!" she cried. "After all, it was our son you exiled away due to his own mixed heritage!"


    Everybody''s eyes widened including Christian''s.


    Silence weighed heavy upon everyone at the table. The hypocrisy of it all.


    "Well!" James slammed his hand down upon the table startling everyone. "I think this calls for some dessert!"

 Episode 19: "How Do You Like Your Coffee?"

    Episode 19: "How Do You Like Your Coffee?"


    Christian''s dinner party came and went. And so did the time.


    Alicia stepped out of Ricky''s car carrying her apron to wear.


    It had been 3 months.


    "I''ll be right in, okay?" Ricky said.


    "Okay!" Alicia called.


    At first it came as a surprise for Alicia to be working the day-shift. It was her first time after all. But then she worked it again. And again. And again. Her shifts changed throughout the week. Sometimes she''d do the day. And sometimes the night.


    When her third check arrived in the mail it was safe to say that Christian had loaded her off onto Ricky, something both women didn''t approve of, but for different reasons.


    And Alicia hadn''t seen Christian for all that time. Naturally she began to cut him out of her life. Even if he hadn''t been there for a long time, days really, it affected her.


    Ricky had gone to his house to try and work things out on a multiple occassions, but Christian wouldn''t hear of it. Alicia had mentioned his blood situation in which he responded, "I''ll suffice." This wasn''t from the horse''s mouth of course, it had to be delivered from Ricky''s.


    She grew angry somewhat before she just decided to drop it all. If Christian didn''t want to see her, use her again, that was fine.


    She had been saving all her checks though. Only living, or trying to live off $500 to a $1000 a month. Half of that went to Ricky for her trouble. She said Christian was paying her more since she was in her care, but Alicia wouldn''t feel right living under her roof for nothing.


    So far she had saved up a little over $9000 dollars, the other money going towards bills and in someways towards her new room in Ricky''s apartment.


    Ricky had allowed her to decorate the room anyway she pleased since she really didn''t use the second one for much other than storage.


    Going into the shop she greeted her co-workers and got to work. Today was ''Girls Day'' so they had to advertise more. She wasn''t big on speaking in public but it was two of them so it wasn''t that bad.


    Having grabbed her flyers, the other co-worker setting the sign outside, they began waving at passerbyes and handing out flyers. Their job was to hand out 50 each.


    She was about to hand out another flyer when she saw her parents red car in the street. Just as they looked her way she had pretended to tie her boot lace.


    They turned away and drove forward as the light turned green.


    Alicia watched them go and then straightened up.


    "That was sudden?" her co-worker spoke. "Almost as though you were trying to avoid someone."


    "Maybe I was?" She watched the girl''s eyes dance in anticipation. Markle was her name. She lived for anything gossip.


    "Oh?"


    "But why would I tell you that?" Alicia chuckled and handed out a flyer to a teenage girl walking passed. "Hi! Today''s Girls Day at the cafe! Bring your girlfriends and have anything 75% off!"


    "75% off!" she cried.


    "Yes, you heard that right!"


    "Dang, the owner must be rich! And I''ve heard of this cafe too! It gets good business!" She looked up at the sign. "I''ll definitely drop by later on with my friends-oh! Do they have to all be girls? I have a couple guy friends too?"


    "Oh, just for girls today." Alicia said.


    "We have a "Friends Day" coming up next week where everything is half off." Markle said with a smile. "A lot of teens come to that one."


    "Oh really? Okay! I''ll just bring my girls to this one!"


    "Great!" Alicia said. "We''d love to have you!"


    "Thanks!" she said, and she walked off.


    The girls turned to see Ricky take down their hour sign.


    "Oh? We''re getting new hours?" Markle said.


    "I guess so." Alicia said.


    Ricky was talking on the phone with a retail provider as she posted the Cafe''s new hours. Instead of opening at 8 AM and closing at 3 PM for everyone during the day, they now opened from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The evening hours were from 6:00 PM to 3:00 AM.


    "WHAT!" Alicia yelled. "I can''t stay up for that long!" Christian I''m gonna kill you! She pictured herself strangling the blonde man.


    "Well, if the owner can afford it." Markle said. "I''m not complaining. That means more hours for us!"


    "Yeah, I guess." Alicia said, wondering why he changed the hours. She read the ink in red. "HOURS EFFECTIVE STARTING WEEK OF: NOV 5th."


    ***


    "Hey Ricky?" Alicia knocked on her office door.


    "Yeah?" she said flling paper work.


    "You know why Christian changed the hours? Won''t that be a little stressful on everyone? Myself included?"


    She chuckled some and took a sip of her tea. "Hm. Recently a lot of the younger crowd has been complaining about the hours the cafe is open for them. They wanted it to be open longer. That makes sense seeing that they only get till 3 and then it closes down for two hours that could be catered to them more. So Christian changed the hours for them. They now have until 4:30. He can''t say five because we would need time to prepare for the adults and stuff, you know prepare food and all that. And as far as stress, it shouldn''t be, just an extra hour for the day-shift and two more for the night-shift."


    "Oh okay. That was nice. What about me? How long am I working now?"


    "Uh, he emailed me your schedule...let me pull it up," she looked at her computer. "You work the day-shift today from 8 to 1 in the afternoon and then tomorrow..." she clicked her tongue, "tomorrow you go in from 6 to 10--oh! No! You''re actually going in from 8 till closing."


    "What! You want to run that by me again!"


    "Unless my eyes are deceiving me that''s your schedule, Alicia." She said.


    Alicia went over and peered at the screen. Sure enough it said Sunday-8:00 PM to CLOSING. She sucked her teeth and then sighed, shaking her head. "What is that man on?"


    "I don''t know, but I''m going to double-check that, okay? If you''re not comfortable or feel you''re not capable I can let him know that?"


    "Oh no! No! I''m okay with it, it''s just an adjustment." Alicia said thinking of all those hours she would be spending alone at Ricky''s home. That''s how it was. Ricky dropped her off when she was and wasn''t working and came and got her.


    It was lonely. She didn''t have any friends she could talk to and her co-workers, while they were all cordial with her, Julia included, they didn''t invite her anywhere. She was the human.


    "Alicia?" Ricky called her name for the second time.


    "Huh?" she said.


    "You were daydreaming."


    "Oh, yeah. Just in my head."


    Ricky looked her over. "How about we go out? Just us? We''ll have a little Girls outing ourselves?"


    "Oh, no, no, that''s okay!" she said.


    "Alicia, you have too much time on your hands. I work and then come home but those are at different hours. You are left alone a lot. You have to get out more. Make some friends."


    "That''s easier said than done."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Not everyone thinks like me, Ricky." Alicia said. "I''m an old soul, honestly."


    "That you are. And you are surrounded by old women and men."


    "What do you mean?"


    "They''ll kill me for this, but everyone on the nightshift excluding Roycel, and Delilah if you want to X her out of the equation just because," she watched Alicia chuckle at her words, "are much older than they look."


    Alicia furrowed her brows.


    "Dwanye is 57."


    Alicia''s mouth dropped.


    "Julia and Daya are 27 and 28 respectively. Delilah is 34."


    Alicia rose an eyebrow. "She looks good for her age."


    "I know she does. Roycel just turned 17 last month."


    "Hm. And how old are you?"


    "It''s not nice to tell, dear." Ricky turned away with a small blush.


    "Oh, that old huh?" She teased her.


    "Shut up." Ricky smiled a little and looked down. "I''m, 88 years old, Alicia."


    Alicia''s eyes widened.


    She looked up at her. "We, you could say we age very slowly."


    Alicia had nothing to say.


    "Some of us don''t age at all though," she said thinking on a certain Elder.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    "Oh?"


    "But it''s not important, the point is, if you think no one will understand all that wisdom wrapped in your brain, think again. We can. It''s just that you may not feel comfortable approaching us and we haven''t approached you either so while the feeling isn''t necessarily mutual, if you have a question, you could ask any one of us. We''ll be sure to help."


    "That''s asking for help. Not hanging out."


    "I know. But it''s a gateway into asking, on either of our parts. But it''s only if you want too. You are after all the human. I''m sure if you asked Dwayne or Daya, even Julia, well, no, maybe not," she chuckled. "Even some of the co-workers on the day-shift if they wanted to hang out sometime, they wouldn''t mind it. You''ve only been here 3 months. You''ve settled in, but there''s still a lot I''m sure we don''t know about you, Alicia June."


    "Why would it matter? Aren''t I fleeting to you all?"


    "Now you see? That pessimistic attitude is what stops you from getting anywhere!"


    "It''s not pessimistic if it''s the truth! What''s a human got to do with someone who isn''t!"


    "Dumps. We all have to take dumps. And cramps. All us girls still get our time of the month though it is extremely brief. And movies. Who doesn''t love a good movie? We go to theaters and clubs all the time Alicia. We''re very much like you except for a slight change in our genetic code."


    Alicia looked down.


    "Next month on the 13th, is bingo night here at the cafe. It''s the only time of the month and year where Christian closes down the adult times early and invites all the co-workers night and day to a special party. The extra rooms we have in the back get turned into bedrooms and we have one big sleep over at the cafe. It was actually Delilah''s idea and it stuck. Everyone liked it. Those that were of age had a couple drinks. We ordered food. We danced. Sang karaoke. Played games. It''ll be a great time to officially meet us and we, you."


    "I don''t know..." Alicia said.


    "Alicia, as your supervisor, I''m telling you that you''re going. Especially if you''re still living with me so there!" She huffed and looked away, folding her arms.


    Alicia rolled her eyes. "Yeah, if I''m still living with you." She thought of Christian.


    "What?" Ricky said.


    "No, it''s not you, Ricky." Alicia said. "I better get back to work."


    Ricky looked at the time. It was a little passed ten o'' clock now. "Okay. Let me know if you need anything, okay?"


    She nodded and then walked out of her office. Coming back to the front it was beginning to get busy now as people took advantage of the offer today.


    "Hi! Welcome to Maid Cafe! How many?" Alicia said, preparing to seat a group of girls.


    ***


    "You ready for your first closing shift?" Ricky said.


    "I guess. I have worked the night shift before, just never stayed this late before. I wonder who I''ll see come in at those times."


    "Oh, just the more roudy bunch. They''re just now coming down off of drugs and stuff."


    "Huh?" Alicia looked her way as they moved forward with the traffic.


    Ricky chuckled. "Relax. They don''t cause much problems. They can''t unless they want me or any of the workers wrath upon them."


    "I hope so." Alicia said. "By the way, aside from Christian, who''s the strongest there?"


    "Ha! Me." Ricky said.


    "Really?"


    "Yep. I would say Dwayne, but I''m older and age does play a part in strength."


    "Oh, okay. So Dwayne would be the second strongest should anything go down?"


    "Yep. But it rarely does excluding your minor incident."


    "Yeah. First day of work too." Alicia looked ahead. "What a memory."


    Ricky laughed. "Yeah."


    Alicia looked to her.


    "No, no! I mean, I don''t mean to laugh, but that''s quite a first day."


    "Yeah, it is." Alicia said, watching the buildings pass by.


    ***


    Ricky had told her to sit tight in her office and come out to clock-in once her shift started.


    That was fine by Alicia. She had brought her laptop along and decided to pass the time by looking up places to live. This area was pricey, but as Christian said, they were on the strip.


    She admitted she was a little excited to be able to afford some of the places around here. Just a couple blocks away was a gated community that housed two-story homes. It had a 4.0 star rating with security around the clock.


    It dawned on her that she had no rental history though. Nor credit.


    Shoot! She thought. She had been paying for everything in cash, so there was no need for a credit card. Now there was.


    She researched if she could still rent without those requirements and it was possible with a co-signer, a higher deposit, stable income making more than 2 or 3 times the rent, references, or a combination of those things.


    Immediately thinking of Christian she shook her head. As of right now he was out of the picture so that only left Ricky. She was sure the woman wouldn''t mind. In some ways she was paying her rent. Still, having a credit history would alleviate some of those things and she did make more than enough to rent some places in the surrounding area.


    She thought of a few reputable credit cards she could apply for and bookmarked them as she wouldn''t have time to do everything at work.


    Eyeing the clock it was going for 7:45 p.m.


    Closing her laptop lid she pushed it away from her some and placed her head down. She rested her eyes for a few minutes.


    ***


    Alicia was serving a customer when she heard her co-workers whispering, "He''s back." or "Christian''s here.".


    Her heart immediately sped up as she looked toward the door.


    Customers had greeted him warmly so he wasn''t looking at her in that moment.


    Alicia smiled at the customer and told them if they needed anything else to just signal her or any of the servers on duty.


    She went in the back to grab a few more shot glasses and place them out as the bar was livelier tonight.


    Christian was in his bartending outfit, which caused her to assume he would be working the bar tonight. That wasn''t her reason for going in back though. She needed a breather.


    Delilah was there, taking in the inventory.


    "Christian is here." She said.


    "Is he?" Delilah said not looking up from her notepad. "So why aren''t you out there? Getting cold feet?"


    She swore Delilah could read minds. It didn''t help.


    "No, I was getting some more shot glasses. We''re low out in front."


    "Mhm, okay." She said.


    Alicia rolled her eyes as she gently picked up a tray of glass shot glasses and prepared to take them out front.


    Turning, she walked out of the kitchen and rounded a corner to run right into him.


    She felt all eyes on her then. On them.


    Christian looked over her face. He could tell where her injury was. It was almost healed over completely, except for the mild raised bump on her face.


    "Pardon me?" She said, surprised it came out so casual. The feelings of anger and confusion hadn''t hit her yet.


    He smirked some and stepped aside. "Excuse me." He said.


    "Thank you." Alicia said going over to the bar. Everyone watched her while still serving customers. How could they be so professional and nosy at the same time?


    As Alica kneeled down and began stocking the glass she looked Christian''s way to still see him staring at her.


    Guilt swarmed him and he turned away and went into the back.


    Alicia looked down. It was time. Time to confront all those mixed emotions and she wasn''t ready. She had enough on her plate already. Or it felt like that anyway.


    "Hey!"


    She jumped and looked up to see Dwayne leaning over the side of the counter. She laughed. "Dwayne? What are you doing here? You scared me?"


    "Uh, I work here for one. Two, of course I scared you. You immediately tensed upon Christian''s arrival. And three, maybe we can all find out what really happened? Our boss is tense, but not this tense."


    Alicia frowned. "For the last time it was a medical issue and Christian went off to do whatever he does. I''m sure he doesn''t tell you where he goes, just like he doesn''t tell me?"


    "Mhm. We''ll see." Dwayne said, leaning away.


    "Wait a minute!" she stood up. "Don''t tell me you came all the way over here just to ask me that!?"


    "Yep. Have fun new girl."


    "Ohh!" Alicia shook her head and then knelt down to finish placing the shot glasses away.


    Christian walked around her then, saying "Excuse me," and her heart jumped again.


    This was ridiculous. She''d have a heart attack before the rest of her shift was over.


    "That''s okay." She said straightening up. She eyed the clock.


    It was only 10:15 p.m.


    She still had three more hours of this torture.


    ***


    One by one she watched all her co-workers leave out as they completed their tasks. It was half passed 1 now. The dishes had been all washed, the food placed away, and the fountains all cleaned and prepped for earlier today.


    "So, who''s taking Alicia home?" Ricky said, a coat hanging over her arm.


    Straight and to the point. Alicia hated that in this moment. So she decided to speak up,


    "Um, I''ll ride with you Ricky, if you don''t mind." She told her.


    She rose her eyebrows some.


    "I''ll take her home, Ricky." Christian wiped his cloth in circular motions on the counter behind the bar.


    "Which home?" They asked in unison.


    They looked at one another and chuckled some. But the question was serious.


    "Mine." Christian said, still looking down at his cloth. He was done wiping.


    "Maybe I don''t want to go home with you, Christian."


    Ricky made her mouth into an ''o'' shape.


    "Well your contract is not with Ricky, it''s with me." He rose his head looked into her eyes.


    Her mouth became a flatline. Ricky couldn''t afford to pay her $4000 a month. Even $2000, she was assuming. Right or wrong, he had a point. She didn''t make a deal with Ricky. She made it with him. She didn''t think it be half way right if he still paid her and she be staying with someone else. And then that person had to want her company as well. Now Ricky had been more than compliant. It wasn''t easy Alicia was sure to suddenly have another mouth to feed other than her own. Use up extra gas when she could just take care of herself.


    If she even opened her mouth to ask to stay with her it be pure selfish and wrong.


    She guessed she could hurry and get a place, but those requirements hung over her head at once. She wasn''t the type to rush things immediately unless it was a life or death situation.


    Her only real reason she didn''t want to be around Christian was that she felt uncomfortable. That was a good excuse if any, but she weighed all her options at this point. They weren''t close enough to become friends yet, so why did she feel their "trust" had been broken? Severed?


    "Ricky, you may leave." Christian said watching Alicia become lost in her own head.


    Both girls looked his way and then at each other.


    Christian resisted the temptation to roll his eyes. They were both acting like this was a death sentence from him--he froze thinking about that night. That could have very well been and he grew angry just thinking about it. He wanted to know why Alicia did it and though he had a pretty good idea, this was also a good opportunity to lay some ground rules. Like never going into his room without his permission if he was there or not.


    "Now, Ricky. Unless you want docked pay."


    That was a new threat on her and the look she gave him said it all. Bluffing or not, that was her que to get out.


    "Alicia, I''ll see you, okay?" She went in for a quick hug.


    "Okay." Alicia smiled some as they hugged and pulled apart.


    Ricky turned to look at them, Alicia in particular, smiled some and then faced forward, walking out of the cafe.


    Christian came around the bar then. "Can you put on a pot of coffee please? You do know how to do that, right?"


    Alicia rolled her eyes. "Giving orders as though nothing happened all ready?"


    "I didn''t say that." Christian''s voice was flat as he closed off the front of his establishment.


    Alicia watched the silver garage come down over the doors.


    "So I take it we''re going to be here for a while then?" She placed her coat over a bar stool.


    "Can you just do as your told?" he looked back at her.


    "Look, I''ve seen enough movies to know that two people talking over coffee are either meant to break-up or make-up. Their conversations are hardly five minutes long."


    "Fine. Then I''ll make it quick." Christian said. "Don''t come into my room without my permission. And I''m sorry. That good enough for you?" He folded his harms.


    A nerve appeared on the side of her head. "No, that''s not! You broke my jaw!"


    "Fractured." He said.


    "Like that''s any better!"


    "Still want to do this standing up?"


    "Yes! Coffee isn''t going to make everything better or more civilized! Sometimes a good old-fashioned arguement is what''s needed to get the ball rolling!"


    "I suppose."


    Alicia opened her mouth but nothing came out.


    "Fine. While you decide to daydream again, I''ll get it!"


    "I''ll get it!" she said. She blinked. ''I''ll get it." She turned away and walked back into the kitchen. If she didn''t find a healthy way to deal with all those feelings she was going to burst at the seams...maybe.


    Christian looked around and then rose his hands to cup his face. He blew out and ran his fingers through his hair.


    His family would never see him like this--rattled. Showing emotion. Of course he''d get vulnerable, but he felt none of them were worthy to see him in such a state. And he wasn''t in the mood for proving them wrong should they take his vulnerability for weakness. He was not weak. But he had to admit that that didn''t stop him from feeling it. Emotionally or otherwise.


    He looked down at the red and white tiled floors and felt disgusted with them then. He smirked.


    As she prepped the coffee, she threw in a postive thought amongst all the negativity and doubt clouding her brain--gave herself credit. She had been surviving this long, right?


    And just like that another negative thought weasled it''s way in. One with weight.


    If it weren''t for Christian being there. Her countenance fell. No! It was because you decided to walk into that cafe! This cafe! You didn''t have to, you know! I know I didn''t--gaaaaahhh! She preferred not be waging an internal battle from within, but was there really any other choice? Her and Christian were going to talk. But she always had a problem sharing her true feelings if something felt threatened.


    She couldn''t see Christian kicking her out over her being honest, right?


    Then just like that she turned everything off. Her emotions. Her brain. Everything would reveal itself soon enough she thought.

 Hows The Story So Far?

    How''s The Story So Far?


    Hey guys! I know no news is good news, but I would like to know how the story is progressing so far with you guys? Is there anything you do or don''t like? Is it boring? Is there anything you as the audience would like to see happen?


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 Episode 20: "Are You Back?"

    Episode 20: "Are You Back?"


    Christian sat at a booth, his hands folded. He looked to be lost in his own mind as Alicia came back with the coffee.


    He looked up at her as she set the coffee down along with two mugs that had the letters ''MC'' in bold lettering.


    Cream and sugar were always stocked at every table.


    "Talk." She said, sitting down across from him.


    His left brow twitched some.


    She pulled her mug forward and began to pour herself some coffee. "Or would you prefer I start?"


    Why was she putting her foot in her mouth?


    "Why don''t you?" Christian asked, dying to know her thoughts about him now. He didn''t mean any of it. Not deliberately.


    She asked for it, didn''t she?


    "I feel like we''re back at square one." She said focusing on her task at hand. She poured sugar packets into her cup now. As long as she could keep busy with her coffee she didn''t have to make eye contact. Not.


    "Square one?" He said watching her.


    "Strangers." She said. "Only this time there was an injury involved so that makes it worse."


    "So where were we before the incident?" He asked.


    Her eyes went away from the black coffee and lingered on the napkin holder. Sqaure one? She thought. What would be considered square two?


    She shook her head at her own reasoning. "We were cordial."


    "Is that all?"


    "Yes!" she looked at him then.


    "You seem upset."


    "Of course I''m upset! Despite what you''ve told me I was halfway hoping for some decency. A place to rest. Of rest! I should have known better with someone like you!"


    "And what''s that supposed to mean?"


    "It means in a world that''s anything but normal to me anymore, it''s stupid to hope I''ll have a decent life!"


    "Decent? You still can--"


    "No, I can''t..."


    "Because I''ve fractured your jaw? You''re going to let that haunt you for the rest of your life? It''s healing Alicia--"


    She opened her mouth to protest, but he held up a hand to let him finish.


    "It happened." He said. "It happened and that is something I have to live with, we both do, but is it going to stop us?"


    "Us? It shouldn''t even be us!"


    "You''re right. It shouldn''t be an ''us''. Had you just left me alone I wouldn''t have lashed out at you."


    "I was trying to help you! You were having a nightmare--thrashing around in your--well, not thrashing but you were moaning in your sleep. And then you screamed a really loud ''No!'' You expect me to let that slide?"


    "How''d you even know I was having a nightmare? Wasn''t my door closed?"


    "No. It was cracked."


    "That doesn''t seem like me."


    "Maybe not, but I went to investigate as you are not human and I did it as a precautionary measure."


    He stopped himself from flinching. So now she was saying he was no longer human? That was fair, he supposed.


    "I was just about to leave you be in the midst of your nightmare when you screamed. It made my stomach drop and my heartbeat accelerate so I went in to try and wake you."


    "You should have left me be, Alicia."


    "Yeah, I realized that now. Maybe then I wouldn''t have a fractured jaw." She looked away. Before he could respond she added, "And you called me Alice."


    He just stared, letting what she said sink in. "I, called you Alice?"


    "Yeah," she said. "I tried to explain who I was but you thought it be better to ram me through with a blade that I thankfully dived away from."


    He clenched his fingers together.


    "Ha! I thought I was smart." She said, recounting the tale that happened only three months ago. "I knew you didn''t recognize me, so that''s when I ran out the room. I fell on purpose, just in case you had attempted to grab me or something...it worked too. You had attempted to...I don''t know. Slice my head off or something. All I know is that I felt a whoosh of air just as I began to fall. That led me to believe me you were honestly going after me. I then went back into your room," she looked at the table then. "Probably wasn''t the best idea, but I slammed the door in your face knowing you''d go bursting through it. I hid behind the door. Once again, thinking that I was a smart girl. Most villians don''t think to look right behind the door as they pursue their victims. You charged through, wood flying everywhere, but now as I think back on it, you broke through the door, you didn''t open it where I could have possibly sneeked passed you. You and your sight, you probably saw me out of your peripheral vision. Smack!" She slammed her fist against her palm.


    Christian looked down. Must she be recounting this tale in such detail? He only knew his side.


    "You basically yanked me to you. I had tried to get your attention still. Your grip was strong, tight. Very, very tight. It hurt a lot." She looked to him and saw his sunken shoulders. "You eventually came to. You apologized with tears in your eyes, as I''m sure you know, and then you were gone. Leaving me all alone."


    "Would it have been better had I stayed?" He asked, looking at her.


    She didn''t respond.


    "Or would you feel as you do now? Distant?"


    She looked away. "Distant."


    "As you should." He said. He pulled the coffee toward himself and poured a glass. "I''ll take you back to my place. But you start looking for another place to live--"


    "I have." She said.


    "Good." he said taking a deep breath. "Find anything you like?"


    "I''ll always find things that I like Christian. Whether I''ll really like them or not or if they''re meant for me...?" She shrugged her shoulders. "I''m not sure how I''ll fare on my own, but," she sucked her teeth, "I gotta find out some day, right?"


    "Yes, you do." He said, looking at her.


    She looked away.


    They sipped their coffee and found themselves unwilling to leave the booth aside from the occasional bathroom break. It was comfortable. It was just them. It was quiet. Just them and their thoughts.


    Alicia even brought a few snacks out and requested they watch the sun come up.


    He was against the idea but due to a little begging, he oblidged. Still feeling the guilt over her face.


    "How often do you get to watch the sun rise with your co-worker? Well, employee?"


    "Never. How often do you stay up to watch it rise?"


    They stood by one another waiting for the sun to rise in a few minutes.


    "Never. But I think the coffee is doing the trick. I''m nowhere near tired."


    Christian smirked some. "You''ll be soon. You''ll hit a caffeine crash."


    "Ha-ha! Yep! I can totally see that happening!" She yawned.


    "But there''s that inbetween where you may feel sluggish. Even irritable as you know you need to sleep but can''t."


    "Thank you for reminding me of that!" she said.


    Christian saw through all of her. The dark circles under her eyes. All her hidden pain that shown through her eyes.


    "Would you like me to put you to sleep if you can''t go on your own?"


    "No!" she quickly said. "I mean,you can do that?"


    He nodded. Seeing that she didn''t want him to touch her.


    "Does it work on yourself?"


    "No, sadly. If I can''t sleep, I can''t sleep. If I wish to I''ll have to mentally shut down my entire body where I''ll black out."Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "So isn''t that the same thing?"


    "No, not to me. Blacking out and willingly sleeping? I prefer the latter."


    "Hm, I see." Alicia said, watching daylight come through the glass panes. Her world became blurry. "Say, how many cups of coffee did I have?"


    "Over three." He said.


    "All with cream and sugar, right?"


    "Right." He said watching her.


    "Right." She said, falling back.


    He caught her.


    Even though she was about to lose consciousness she still tensed being in his arms. She closed her eyes.


    Christian held her in his arms. He didn''t want her to be afraid of him. But in her case, whether it was fear or her overthinking mind...it didn''t matter. He had no right to question her.


    Picking her up, he vanished from the cafe and reappeared in her room. He pulled back her covers and laid her down. Any other time he would have removed her shoes but since her body had a "Hands Off" label he decided against it and pulled the covers up her body.


    He thought of Alice and wondered what her reaction would have been had he injured her? Even Delilah? They''d forgive him he was sure, but would just need time to be around him again he assumed.


    With Alicia? He didn''t know whether to feel annoyed or to sympathize with her.


    Shaking his head some he turned and reappeared in the cafe. They had cleaned up their area except the coffee. He poured out the rest as there wasn''t much left and rinsed the dish out.


    He came back to the front and grabbed her jacket and then pulled the metal doors down upon the cafe.


    Appearing in his car, he started the engine.


    ***


    Alicia opened her eyes and blinked multiple times. She swallowed coffee flavored mucus and felt the need to shower and clean. She sat up and recognized her room in Christian''s home. Was he there now?


    She thought about the things she had over at Ricky''s. It was most of her everyday clothing. She sighed and rolled her eyes. No point in complaining over it. She''d just shoot Ricky a text asking her when would be a good time to pick up her things.


    Doing this she got up and prepared to shower and find some clothes to wear.


    ***


    It came to her memory that her uniforms were over at Ricky''s too safe for the one she slept in. It was a little after 1 in the afternoon.


    Ricky said she''d have her things in her car her next shift at work.


    Sitting down on her bed she ran her fingers along the bed spread. Displacement. She did have a chance to get used to coming home to Ricky''s. But she did entertain the thought in back of her mind that she would be returning to Christian one day.


    And now that she was here?


    She fell back. Staring up at the ceiling. It was times like these she wished she had a life. One with excitement and friends--friends. She still had their numbers.


    She decided to call Sayla. She dialed her friend''s number.


    "Hello?" they answered questioningly.


    "Hey Sayla! It''s me Alicia! How are you!"


    "Oh! Hey Alicia! How are you! I''m doing good! I''m just getting my nails done!"


    "Oh really? I''m good..." Not! "Just relaxing."


    "Yeah? You in school or anything?"


    "No." She replied. "I''m working."


    "Oh? Where? You still in town right?"


    "Yeah I am. I work at a Cafe." She said, butterflies swarming her stomach. What would she think of her seeing her work at a Maid Cafe?


    "Oh..." she briefly paused.


    "What?" Alicia said.


    "Nothing...just thought you''d be doing more Alicia. You always had the potential."


    Alicia scoffed. "Well what are you doing for a living Sayla!"


    "I''m in school actually." She said. "Well, will be going next semester."


    "Oh? Where are you going?"


    "Remwood." Her friend did an eyeroll. "I couldn''t be more annoyed. Just because we''re rich doesn''t mean I have to have a school to show for it..."


    As Sayla rambled on Alicia swore someone shoved a knife right through her. Or she wished someone would have. She pulled the phone from her ear and looked down at her lap, questioning all the decisions she had made up until now.


    Eyes watering some, she chuckled quietly.


    Remwood. The one school she turned down due to her parents pestering, was the one her best friend was going to. And she could have been there. Even if she didn''t want to be there, if Sayla was there then perhaps it wouldn''t have been so bad. They could go to parties together. Get their college degrees there. Get...She stopped herself.


    She was not Sayla. She was not living her life. Maybe she was pressured into going. Maybe Sayla really wanted to do her own thing and just didn''t have the guts like her?


    Yeah, that had to be it, as she tuned back into Sayla''s conversation. "Huh? I''m sorry I spaced out a bit?"


    "Huh? Oh I was saying how up in Remwood there''s all these crazy people. I swear girl. If I had another option I sure wouldn''t be going to Remwood. I wouldn''t even be going to college."


    "So what would you be doing?"


    "I don''t know honestly...I mean, It''s not like we really need to work. Or I do anyway. I mean, why can''t I just live my life without anybody''s say? Daddy insists I go to school like they all did. Follow in his footsteps. But the moment I protest he holds my inheritance over me!!"


    "And how much is that, I might ask?" Alicia grinned some.


    "Phst. A lot! I''m not at liberty to say how much but if I even want to smell it, I have to get a degree...a college education." She spoke mockingly.


    "Is he ordering you on what to major in?"


    "No, thank God! Just as long as the career is lucrative."


    "Then he kind of is, Sayla. There aren''t a lot of lucrative careers outside of engineering and technology. Or something in the science field."


    "I know! I''m screwed either way! But between me and you, I''m secretly stashing the allowance money Daddy gives me into a seperate bank account. It''s actually my college fund one. Daddy thinks I''m saving it for a rainy day, but it''s really to get away from him once the going''s good." Sayla whispered.


    "And how are you going to manage that?" She asked.


    "Simple. Remwood hasn''t taken anything out of my account yet and Daddy expects me to stay all four years. Maybe more depending on my major. The moment they take the money out of the account, I''ll drain the rest of it out. Daddy could easily persuade someone to open my bank account information...yes, my father is that kind of person, and I''m not risking it. Cash is always nice."


    "Yeah, but so much on you? That''s dangerous, Sayla."


    "I know. But once I''m able to stand on my own two feet and prove to Daddy that I won''t squander his money around like he feels I will, I''ll resurface on the map again."


    "Wait. You actually plan on running away?! Do you plan to finish school at all?!"


    "Look, Alicia. My parents, my father especially has always had his finger jabbed into my side ever since I was a little girl. Dance recitals and piano lessons. They were grooming me to follow in their footsteps and right now I really don''t have a choice. Or so they think. Even if I don''t get my inheritance, I know people. I''m smart enough to outrun my father."


    "And your mother?"


    "My mother might as well be non-existent. She tries to be a mother but I''m not sure she knows how. To be honest, I never really felt she loved me. I mean, she tries, but--oh! This is getting depressing! Look, I''ll call you back okay? They are about to start on my finger nails?"


    "Oh! Okay! Save my number okay, it''s my new one."


    "All right, and Alicia?"


    "Yeah?"


    "It was great to hear from you again, really it was. Though I never showed it, you were the one friend that I knew...would be yourself. No matter what."


    "Oh, thank you--"


    "You''re a survivor, Alicia." Sayla quickly spoke.


    "Oh!"


    "It''s high praise indeed, but it''s true. I gotta go, but don''t be afraid to reach out to me. I''ll try to do the same okay?"


    "Okay, sure. You take care of yourself Sayla. I mean it. Don''t end up on the news!"


    "Ha-ha! I won''t! I''ll talk to you later!"


    "Okay, bye!"


    "Bye!"


    The call ended and Christian appeared in her room then, startling her.


    "CHRISTIAN! WHAT THE F--" She gasped. "Christian! What happened!" He looked paler than she had ever seen him.


    "I don''t...know..." He stumbled towards her. "I don''t...I need..."


    She tried her best to catch him, seeing the tube in his hands. "Christian! I don''t know what to do! I don''t know what to do!"


    "Call...Delilah--" He lost consciousness.


    "Christian! Christian! Oh! I don''t have Delilah''s number!"


    Laying his body down on the floor as gently as she could she snatched up her phone and called Ricky.


    "Hello?"


    "Ricky! Listen to me! I need to talk to Delilah! It''s an emergency!"


    "What! What''s going on!"


    "I just need to speak with her! Do you have her number!"


    "Yeah, I''ll text it to you right now!"


    "Okay! Hurry!"


    Moments later she felt her phone beep. She pulled her cell away and saw the text message.


    "Okay thanks! Bye!!"


    "Wait what''s--"


    The call ended and Ricky looked at her phone in confusion.


    Alicia had no time for formalities.


    "Hello?" Delilah answered.


    "It''s me Alicia! Look! Christian needs you to come! He fainted!"


    "What!" Delilah nearly dropped her cellphone into the boiling water she was heating to make some Ramen.


    "Please Delilah!"


    "Uh...yeah...sure! Where does he live?!"


    "You mean you don''t know!"


    "Not exactly! I know he lives in the hills but I didn''t exactly memorize the route!"


    "If I give you the address will you just GPS it!"


    "Yeah!"


    "Okay! His address is 4280 Skyy Ct.! The code to his gate is 7545328!"


    "Huh! Could you repeat that!" Delilah said stumbling about her apartment. She had one arm in a sweater and the other pulling on a boot as she held the phone to her ear, pressing it into the crook of her neck.


    "Come on Delilah! Write this down!"


    "I''m trying!" she said. She snatched a pen up and tore a piece of paper from a grocery ad. "Repeat it again!"


    "Okay! And hurry!" Alicia said, preparing to repeat herself. She gasped.


    "What!" Delilah yelled.


    "His nose is bleeding! His nose is bleeding out!"


    "GIVE ME THE ADDRESS!" Delilah yelled. She was just as concerned for Christian''s wellfare as Alica.


    "It''s 4280 Skyy Ct. The code is 754-5328!!"


    "I got it! I''ll be on my way!"


    "Okay!" Alicia yelled.


    Hanging up, she thought to turn him over when the few things she had picked up about health and the body came to her. If he was bleeding from the inside the last thing she would want is to flip him over and have him start choking.


    "Oh!" Her heart was beating faster than a humming birds. She eyed the end of her bedframe. She could set him up against that.


    As she used all her strength to begin to drag and sit him upright, a wind blew in her direction that caused her to look back.


    The window was open.


    "What?"


    She turned and stared directly into the face of a woman.


    "Ahh!!" she jumped and scooted back.


    "Oh? I thought you cared for my brother?" they spoke. "Deserting him like that is hardly nice."


    "Huh--"


    They rose their hand and then clenched it shut.


    Alicia hunched forward. Unconscious.


    "My, my, my, brother. You and the ladies. You just can''t seem to have any luck with them, can you?" She said, hoisting him up and tossing him onto the bed. "I take it this tube meant something?" She eyed the clear plastic and then looked at Alicia. "Hmph. Let''s find out what?"