“You think so?”
“Yes— better than better— thebest!” Opal cheered, and Ez smiled.
As Opal and Ez chatted on about what his Familiar could be, we went further into town. I didn’t think the downtown area could, you know, getworsethan any other part of the village, but apparently, I was wrong. Shade Hills became… well…shadierthe further in we went, with more and more shops that sold paraphernalia that would be illegal anywhere else but on the island.
There was a blood bar for vampires calledLast Drop, but the guards wouldn’t let us go in. The vampires loudly complained as we passed by, whining they wanted a drink.
“I just want one damn cup ofrealblood, for fuck’s sake,” I heard Ivy say. “The synthetic shit they give us at the prison is garbage.”
“You can take a drink fromme,” Chancey said. “I wouldn’t mind.”
Ivy audibly swooned. “Oh, Chance, baby, what anhonor! I’d be delighted, sweetie peach.”
And Kallie saidwewere bad. Ancestors.
“No drinking from inmates, or I’ll give you an infraction!” a guard barked. Ivy flipped him off.
There was a strip club that was run by sirens next to the blood bar. The guards wouldn’t let us go in there, either. Instead, they ferried us toward a small aquarium, where a couple of bored-looking mermaids led us on a tour. The fish inside the aquarium were unlike any sea creatures I’d ever seen— and I was half-Toaqua. There was a giant squid in a dark tank who had tentacles that glowed, and an ugly, massive fish that had pointed fangs and a glowing feeler sticking out of its head. A shark with two heads swam beside a massive eel with crab-like pinchers. An eyeless worm that had a circular mouth, which we were informed was for sucking blood out of its prey, was beside the tank of a sea urchin that had points which oozed purple venom. It was interesting to observe them, if not a bit creepy.
We stopped in a small cafe calledThe Buttered Bluebellfor lunch. The food was made by faeries, who charmed the food with different illusions. The place looked like a cute little tea shop, with mismatching furniture and doilies on every surface. The shelves were stock full of flowers growing in pots, while illusions of pink butterflies flew over our heads.
I wasn’t supposed to have magical food, as per my meds, so the staff was forced to make me cucumber tea sandwiches from scratch. Charlie was going to share my food, until I convinced him to try a turkey craisin croissant that made it feel like you were getting a back massage. He sagged under the relaxation of the illusion, while Marcus’ eyes grew wide as he painted the air after consuming a lemon tart, colors bleeding from his fingers.
Kallie’s eyes gleamed at a pink fae cupcake in the display, which had a little sign by it that said it helped strengthen a fae’s wings. She’d spent all her money already, so she turned to Marcus.
“Marcus, give me five dollars,” she asked, holding her hand out.
He didn’t hesitate. He dug in his pocket and handed her the money. As she skipped off, I’m pretty sure I heard Marcus whisper,so hot.
“You’re one of those guys that has a fetish for women that boss you around, aren’t you?” I asked Marcus.
Marcus blushed and mumbled something incoherent. Charlie smiled.
“Marcus, do you get off on being told what to do?” I teased.
“He wants to be bullied by Kallie.” Charlie snickered.
“Might as well be lingerie for him.” I laughed, and Charlie joined in.
Marcus scowled. “Shut up, guys. I’m not a weirdo who— who wants a blonde to put her heels on and walk on his chest, or whatever.”
“That description was way too accurate tonotbe a fantasy,” Charlie pointed out.
Marcus flushed and stormed away, to the other side of the restaurant. Charlie and I were still chortling.
“He’s certainly got a type, doesn’t he?” I asked.
Charlie wrapped an arm around my waist and drew me close. “Nothing wrong with enjoying the presence of a strong, independent woman.”
That made me glow inside, so I wrapped my arms around Charlie’s middle and squeezed, loving the fuzzy feelings. Charlie ducked to give me a kiss, and a couple of people around us complained.
“Hey, arms-length apart,” a guard growled, yanking Charlie off of me. “No physical contact. Institute rules.”
Annoyance flickered as the guard strolled away. Ancestors, I got this was a prison and all, but we were consenting adults. We were too old to be playing theleave-room-for-the-Great-Spiritgame. This wasn’t a middle school dance.
Kallie strode up to us, nibbling on the cupcake. Her face appeared concerned. “Hey, do you guys think I’m a little too mean to Marcus?”
“Yes, but also, no,” Charlie replied.
