Chapter One
MALLORIE
Every day is the same. I sleep my day away and wake up with only a few hours to spare before my shift at The Lair. Bartending pays the bills, but it’s not what I want to do for the rest of my life. I want to do something fulfilling, not just pouring drinks.
It is, however, where I’m stuck for the time being. Living in New Bria is expensive, but it’s my best option and I don’t regret my choice coming here when I was eighteen. New Bria is the one of the most monster-welcoming cities in the world, and that makes it somewhere my family won’t search for me; not that they would after casting me out.
My family hates all monsters, and eventually started to hate me when they realized I didn’t share their values. In public school, we were shown that monsters aren’t all bad, and monster children were allowed to enroll with us. It showed me they’re really just like us. I carried that with me, and still do, forgetting all the things my parents and relatives tried to drive into me.
Since coming here, I’ve only had a few bad interactions with monsters, but I don’t hold those moments against every monster; there are bad humans too. Honestly, I’ve grown toprefer the company of monsters over the years. They are much less judgmental than humans.
The exception is my best friend, Cerise, one of the most open-minded humans I know, who also works as a bartender. Though, she’s only part-time now, for some extra cash, since her fashion label has started to take off in the last year. She’s been my rock since moving here, we clicked instantly.
She’s supposed to be scheduled with me tonight, which reminds me that I’m going to be late if I don’t head out now. Shit. I quickly grab my purse, rummaging through it until I find my keys. Once I take them out, I toss my phone in.
I rush out the door, locking it and giving it a quick check before leaving my apartment building. The last thing I need is for my place to be broken into. Crime has been high lately in my neighborhood.
Not all of New Bria is as sketchy as where I live, but that’s part of why I chose this neighborhood. Higher crime means cheap rent, and that’s exactly what I was looking for at eighteen. Hell, it’s still what I need.
As I rush through the streets, my heeled boots clicking with each step, I keep my purse tight to my side and my eyes peeled. I’m always careful and aware of my surroundings; it makes me less of a target for pickpockets or muggings.
I say my polite hellos as I pass some people and monsters I usually see, not stopping for conversation. Sometimes I stop and chat, but today I’m running late, so there’s no time for that.
Turning down an alley, I quicken my pace now that the employee entrance to The Lair is visible. As if sensing me, the door opens a crack and I see familiar cherry-red hair pop out.
As Cerise spots me, she calls out, “Girl, you better hustle, you’re almost late.”
“I’m going as fast as my boots will let me,” I shout back with a laugh.
She opens the door wider once I’m only a few steps away, and I slip in quickly. Immediately I turn to the mirror we keep by the door, running my hands through my curls quickly to refresh them.
My makeup is good enough, dark with a bold lip that is sure to bring in the tips. I tend to wear a dark-red lip, making it as similar to blood as I can. Vampires are our biggest customer base, after all.
Cerise stands beside me, checking herself out. She tends to wear a more natural look than I do, going for the good-girl aesthetic. It works for her, and what I do works for me. We’re a perfect, opposite match.
“Ladies, you were supposed to be out on the floor two minutes ago,” Julius, our boss, scolds as he approaches.
We let out a chorus of sweet apologies as we walk away from the mirror and toward the bar. As we exit the back room, the serene silence is replaced by rowdy drunkenness. The fact that the bar is already bustling means it should be a good night for tips.
I quickly reposition my shirt, pulling it slightly lower and adjusting my bra so that my boobs are on display. Might as well make use of the one asset I got from my family—thank you, Mother dearest.
“You are late,” Gunther grumbles, tossing a towel at me.
It hits me in the face and falls to the floor, my hands currently behind my back, tying my waist apron tightly. I shoot him a glare which he ignores, walking past me to leave. The asshole can’t even wait thirty seconds for me to finish tying my apron before he leaves, as per usual.
Cerise is already taking orders and pouring drinks, flashing smiles and giggling to customers as she does so. I grab a fresh towel, kicking the one Gunther threw at me under the bar and out of the way. I’ll pick it up later.
I put on my customer-service smile and start taking orders, mixing drinks one after another. Tonight, the bar has more humans in it than usual; humans get half-off drinks all night, for one night only. I totally forgot about the discount Julius advertised.
The human customer base doesn’t outnumber the vampires, but it definitely outweighs any other monsters here right now. Julius’s goal was to increase diversity of his customers, and he’s succeeding. Honestly, I’m a bit surprised it’s this successful.
We also have an event tonight, the launch of Bloodka, a hybrid of vodka and blood, specifically designed for vampires. Every bar in New Bria is advertising this new drink or hosting some sort of event. It’s revolutionary for vampires; an easier and tastier way to get drunk, while also fulfilling their bloodsucking needs.
Julius is a good boss, and very open-minded and progressive. He’s a huge advocate for interspecies relationships, and I think that is secretly his actual goal for the night. Julius, a vampire, has been with his wife, a human, for around eight years now. Even though monsters are widely accepted nowadays, especially here in New Bria, interspecies couples are still looked upon strangely.
“Hey, blondie,” a low voice demands, drawing my attention over. “Do you guys have that new Bloodka stuff?”
A man stands across from me, a woman tight to his side, both eyeing me up. They are definitely vampires, as no one else, except maybe demons, would ask for Bloodka. Looks like the event is bringing in more of this crowd, too.
