Afterlife (Afterlife Saga) (23 page)

A waitress pushed into me hard enough for it not to be an accident and I turned in time to see a blonde bombshell beauty scowl at me. Her eyes almost matched her hair and she grinned as I shivered in reaction. This was enough to bring me to my senses and I looked for a way out that wasn't past his table but I couldn't see one, so I decided to ask Karmun. I leaned over the bar and watched as he was pouring a green liquid into what looked like a fountain, similar to the ones you would find at a cockt
ail party. But it was different. I
t had a tube in the middle, which is where the liquid was being poured. It was moving around like a twister or whirlwind and as a result the liquid had a reaction, which was changing colours from greens to blues to black and then back again. I was fixated. Then a button was released and the liquid would start to flow out of four taps into goblets below stopping automatically when filled. These he placed on a tray for the blonde to take away. The whole process was fascinating, so when he noticed me and came over, I was taken aback.

“Are you all right?” he said looking at me with concern in his face.

“Yeah I'm fine thanks, sorry but I was intrigued by what you were doing. I've never seen anything like that,” nodding to the liquid still swirling round in the glass
cylinder.

“Oh that, it's absinthe and it's a favourite around here, but you will soon get used to it tomorrow night. It's what most of them drink.” He motioned towards the tables of people as he said this. He must have mixed something with it when I wasn't looking, as there was no way anyone could drink a cup full of that stuff straight! I had heard about it and knew it had been illegal for a long time due to its strange effects.

“I was wondering is there a more discrete way of getting out of here?” I cringed as I said it, feeling weak and pathetic for asking but he smiled taking the feeling away and replied.

“Sure, I understand, it's over there near the entrance to the outside balcony. There's a staircase before the double doors, you
won’t
miss it, just look for the big gangster looking guys.” He let out a raucous laugh that made me smile back at him.

“Thanks, and I guess I will be seeing you tomorrow then.” I shook his hand as I didn't get chance to before and he looked touched that I had remembered.

“Sure thing and don't be worried, you will be fine, I will look out for you.” He gave me another trademark wink and left again to carry on with his cocktail making.

I felt a bit guilty knowing I would be turning down the job tomorrow and yet knowing this, I had still repaid his kindness to me with lies.

I headed in the direction he had shown me, happy in the knowledge that I wouldn't have to walk past those judging eyes of Draven's again. I rounded a pillar and they came into view as they
were slightly
hidden from the rest of the room, out of the way which was perfect for me. I noticed as I got closer not only the usual Hercules standing guard but the frosted glass double doors that must have led outside to the balcony Karmun spoke of. I had a sudden urge to open them and take a peek but realised I had spent too much time up here already and Gary and Jerry must be having kitten human hybrids by now! I wondered what they would say when I told them of Sophia’s request. 

As I walked downstairs I could see Jerry pacing up and down the bar like a hungry lost animal. But that wasn't the only thing I noticed, I was now walking down the stairs where everyone could see me and all eyes stared in amazement. I could see RJ nearly jump out of her seat to get to me. I tried to play it cool and not notice but that was proving impossible as now there weren't just stares to contend with, they had now been joined with whispers.

I could hear the “Who is that girl?” and “Why's she so special?” But this time my cheeks didn't even flush and I wasn't really as bothered as I would normally have been because all these facts were insignificant in comparison to the feelings that were heating up inside me. I didn't know what hurt the most, the fact that he had been so mean and disgusted towards me, or when the realisation hit me finally. After all, what did I expect? It wasn't like he
was the man from my dreams. No
he was just the empty shell. The image to put with the kindness and warmth he had shown me. I knew it was too good to be true and I couldn't have it both ways. No one that gorgeous was ever going to have a personality to match!

These thoughts brought me all the way to the bar without even thinking about it. Thank God for autopilot. Jerry spotted me then came stomping over to me with a hard red face. I had guessed that this wasn't going to be easy but man did he look
pissed!

“What the HELL took you so long?” He pulled me to one side and not in a friendly manner.

“I sent you up there because I knew you were the only one who didn't want to go, so I knew you would be quick, so what... you thought that you'd have a good look around, take a tour, ‘cause it's my ass on the line!”

Oh yeah, he was pissed. How was I going to deal with this? Should I just walk now and make it all go away. I couldn't deal with this now, not after the cold backhanded slap of pain that Draven's words had inflicted. I was about to turn, not say a word but just leave and never look back. I wanted to cry but my fingers were still balled into fists. I was too angry for tears. Then I heard his phone vibrate and frustrated he fumbled for it in his jeans pocket.

His eyes looked down at the screen and then froze in what looked like fear. He cautiously put the phone to his ear as though it might explode.

“Umm... Can I help you?” His voice was shaky and his eyes were everywhere.

“Oh I see...no, no, of course that won't be a problem, no I'll take care of that personally. Yes I understand and it won't happen again...please allow me to
apol
....” It was clear he was cut off and I felt bad for him. He turned to face me but smiled instead of the evil glare I was expecting.

“So you have been promoted upstairs, well done, you must have made quite an impression for me to have received that call.” I didn't know what to say so I didn't respond.

“Well you start tomorrow night and don't worry you won't have any problems from anyone, I've been instructed to take care of gossip.” He said this with controlled bitterness.

“Look I'm sorry I didn't know.
I met Sophia in my History class and...” He tilted his head before interrupting me.

“Sophia?” He stared blankly at me and I continued “Yeah, Sophia... Draven's sister, didn't you just speak to her on the phone?”

“No but umm that makes sense now...anyway start at eight and wear all black.” He started to walk off but my curiosity wouldn't let him leave without giving me the information I needed to know.

“Then who was that on the phone?” My pulse quickened waiting for the answer that I hoped for. I didn't think he was even going to answer me as he didn't stop but then he just looked over his shoulder and said the name I wanted so badly to hear.

“Why it was Dominic Draven himself.”

My shift had finished soon after I got back down from the VIP area and now I had to explain things to RJ. This wasn’t going to be easy. All I wanted to do was go home and try and make sense of what all this meant. I couldn’t get my head around it. Why would a man that obviously didn’t want me anywhere near him be ringing Jerry making sure I didn’t get any trouble from anyone? The only explanation I could fathom was that his sister had put him up to it. He would clearly do anything for her but why didn’t she ring?

I felt angry at myself for even thinking...no
,
not thinking but hoping that it could
be just an inch of what I only wished for. Of course he didn't care. I mean why would he? I was nothing to him, a thorn amongst the roses that surrounded him.

“OH MY GOD!
Tell me everything!” RJ nearly bounced into my arms as I walked over to their usual booth. Everyone was there except for Jack, but they all watched me as if I had just committed murder. I just wanted to scream by this point and run all the way home. I didn’t just mean my sister’s house either. Why did things have to get complicated so
quickly?
I was like a bloody magnetic force that would search out trouble! I just wanted to be normal but I guess you had to know what normal was to begin with. I had never been 'just normal' I knew that much.

Ever since that day at the fairground my life had changed, hell who
knows
maybe even before then. She had seen it before I did or anyone else. She had looked into my eyes and feared for what she had seen there, so she had changed me....

RJ thankfully interrupted my thoughts as the nightmares of my past started to invade my conscious state.  Not here, not now. It wasn't the place for my Demons.

“
Sooo
... come on don’t hold out on me, what was it like?” She looked like a child who had just found the golden ticket to Willy
Wonka’s
Factory. I sat down and they all waited for me to speak. I was now wishing that I hadn’t agreed to meet up with them after work but Frank couldn’t pick me up for another hour. I didn’t want to call Libby as she would notice something was wrong. No doubt smelling it out like a wolf to a bloody wound.

“It really wasn’t that big a deal, just some weird looking people who drink a lot of absinthe but honestly that was it.” I tried to sound casual but I didn’t even convince myself so I had no hope.

“Aww come on, you have to give me something! All these years everyone has been waiting to go up there and they pick you. No offence.” Everyone kept saying that to me but I was so far past caring, I couldn't even see the line that people kept crossing. I mean I agreed with them which was pathetic. Did I have even an ounce of self-confidence left in myself or had the monsters destroyed me completely.

“Look I hate to burst the fantasy bubble but it was nothing, no cult, no blood sucking, not even a voodoo doll. Nada!” I think this was the most animated they had all seen me get so I guess it got the message across…. I wasn’t in the mood!

“Not even Dominic Draven?” She asked in a deflated voice with her grin gone from her Gothic black lips. It pained me to hear anyone speak his full name as if I had the right to be the only one. Who was I kidding? I thought about the question and answered it with a half-truth.

“No, Dr
aven wasn't there.” It was true. T
he Draven that I had constructed in my dreams didn't even exist. I had just used the thought of him and combined it with his good looks and my need for a kind, comforting stranger. Someone who knew nothing of my past and wouldn't judge me but love me in some small way for who I was and not who I had become.

I decided it best not to mention the job offer I had received, seeing that I would only be turning it down anyway. So there was no point in prolonging the painful scrutinising looks I was receiving from everyone in the room. And that was just from taking some bottles up there for Pete's sake. What would they do if they knew I had turned to the dark side and joined the VIP's? Grab their pitchforks and hoes... I think
I'll pass.

I looked around the table and all faces dropped with disappointment…all expect one. Chaz looked amused and concerned at the same time. I didn’t want to stare like he was doing back at me but his eyes were fascinating. They flashed a different colour ever so slightly but I was sure it was in my mind so I tried to blank it out. This was harder than I would have liked as he was now grinning at me and it was only when Lanie started to talk to him that he seemed to snap out of it. It was like he had momentarily been taken over by pod people.

“Hey there pretty lady, how you doing?” I hadn't even noticed that Jack had turned up after the Spanish inquisition. He said this putting on a half Texas accent and half Joey from Friends.  It was the first time I had smiled all night.  Then it burst, spoiled by RJ's reconstruction of the evening’s events.

“Oh my God Jack you’ll never guess!” She didn't wait to hear one, or to take a breath.

“Our little Kazzy here only got singled out and sent upstairs to the V...I...P.” She mouthed the letters, dragging each one out for more effect. Jack didn't look shocked and like a gentleman didn't make as big a deal out of it as RJ had or still was.

“So how was the Master of the Universe and his disciples, just thrilling I bet?” RJ scowled at her brother.

“Shut up Jack, what do you know?” He laughed in response.

“Oh come on sis, it's all bullshit, smoke and
mirrors
. Anything gets this place rallied up and everyone loves a good rumour,” he said trying to sound more light hearted as he could see RJ's explosive side coming through.