Shem rolled his eyes. “Come on Raf. You know we need people. Check it out. I brought people.” He gestured to me. Rafael finally looked up, clearly annoyed that his opening duties were being interrupted.
I attempted a small, awkward wave, feeling frumpy in my hand-me-down, out-of-style business clothes.
Rafael gave me a critical once-over and sighed. “Alright. Weareshort-staffed. Follow me.” He moved out from behind the bar and led me deeper into the restaurant.
The entire space was a cacophony of soft velvets juxtaposed with sleek black wood and ebony marble. Massive, macabre paintings adorned the midnight walls and hung in contrast to the bare, Edison-bulb light fixtures that warmed perfectly set tables.
Rafael slid into a large, sinfully luxurious booth dressed in a pristine black tablecloth. I looked up at an extremely high-quality replica of the Francisco de Goya painting‘Saturn Devouring His Son’and shivered. It was an interesting choice for a space where people would be tucking into filet mignon and prime rib.
It felt as if this is where the King of Hell would dine if he were looking to indulge in a steak dinner.
“Let’s see your resume,” Rafael said brusquely, holding out a well-groomed hand. I fiddled with the papers, hoping he wouldn’t notice my own fingernails, which were chewed, and hadn’t seen a manicurist in… well…ever.
He snatched a sheet out of my hand and slid his large glasses further down his nose, reading through it quickly. I wasn’t surprised it didn’t take him long to read it. There wasn’t much on there. He pursed his lips and put down my CV, folding his hands over the top of it and leaning forward.
“Why do you want to work here?” he asked sharply.
I felt like‘because I need money’wasn’t the answer he was looking for.
“Because I’m looking to start a career in the service industry, and Voodoo is one of the most well-established franchises in Gravestone,” I replied, impressing myself with my answer.
He raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“You don’t haveanyexperience,” he paused, glancing down at my resume to remind himself of my name, “Lilith.”
“I know. I’m a fast learner though, and I won’t ever complain.”
“We’ll have to start you up front. You look much too young to serve.”
“That’s fine, I would love to start up front!” I could barely keep the excitement from my voice. He made eye contact with me and leaned over the table, his face serious as a grave.
“I run a tight ship here, Lilith. Voodoo has a reputation for beingthe best.You look like you need someone to give you a chance. I’m willing to do that, but you have topromise meyou will take this job seriously.”
I felt my eyes widen, and the intensity of his words settled over me. I had just wanted a job so I could pay rent and survive without anyone falling prey to my demon. This bar manager was making me feel like I was selling him my soul.
I bit my lip. Beggars couldn’t be choosers, I supposed. This felt like the chance I was looking for, so I reached out a hand and nodded.
“I won’t let you down.”
He gave me a suave grin and took my hand, squeezing it firmly.
“Good. You start tomorrow.”
Alexa, play ‘People Watching’ by Conan Gray
“We all go a little mad sometimes.”
— NORMAN BATES, PSYCHO
For the first year, it took a great deal of willpower and determination to keep my distance from the rest of the staff, especially Shem. Working with him at the host stand had been one of the best years of my life, but I couldn’t let him know that.
I couldn’t let mydemonknow that.
The staff gathered nearly every night at the bar for drinks after work. Each night for a full year, Shem and the others invited me to join them, but I always said no.
I couldn’t risk ruining the best thing that had ever happened to me by getting too close to anyone. My demon hadn’t killed anyone since I started this job. I couldn’t risk him choosing one of these lovely people as his next victim.
Within the initial month of working at Voodoo, I had saved up enough for first and last at an apartment that sat above a flower shop in the east end of Gravestone. It was right on the subway line, and even though I had to transfer, I couldn’t believe my luck that something so convenient was in a price range Icould afford.
