Page 2 of Shattered Magic
The ladies were sighing in admiration. He was very pretty. The guy she was wearing was pretty as well. She was over this evening and just wanted a shower.
Hari was in the final position, and she watched the vampire move from lady to lady, doing some kind of analysis. One by one, he spoke quietly, and Serel swayed toward him when it was her turn.
Hari waited, and when he got to her, he stared down her bodice. “What happened?”
She didn’t speak. Didn’t say a thing. She looked up at him and met his red and gold eyes. He touched her bloody cheek, and she felt the rush of pain and panic. She stepped back, and he grabbed her arm. The restraint was too much. She lifted her head and screamed toward the ceiling as images of what had occurred were pulled from her mind.
Glass shattered all over the room. The governor released her, and she stepped back. She closed her mouth and lowered her chin.
“Remain here. We will take care of this.” He gestured toward her gown.
“Not necessary. I am unsuitable for anyone, which was the intent.”
He blinked, and his head cocked. “Not exactly. Repairs can be made.”
“Well, I simply wish to leave this disaster, and I have been promised a ride home.”
He paused. “I will make sure that you are taken care of. This should not have happened.”
“You are right. It shouldn’t. Enjoy your nap.”
“Enjoy your dreams.” He smiled and walked to the deputy governor, speaking softly to him before returning to his quarters.
When the door shut, Hari turned on her heel and left across the broken glass. Her body healed and was damaged with every step she took. She was quite sure that she was leaving a bloody trail, but she didn’t care. She just wanted to go home.
* * * *
Five years later...
Hari moved calmly around the kitchen while flames flared, and her staff moved like clockwork. Swearing clockwork.
The strip club was riotously busy, and it was after three. The murmurs and laughter of patrons were barely audible, as was the pulsing of the music. The kitchen was separate and rather soundproofed. It made it easier to work while the ladies bumped and ground against the patrons. They made more than Hari did, but that was a temporary situation. Hell, everyone here took home more than she did.
After the night at the governor’s mansion, she had been sued for the price of the dress and shoes. The fifty-thousand-dollar bill for the lawsuit and the items had knocked Hari out of school. Well, if she was honest, the manslaughter charge in self-defense had been a contributing factor.
Hari plated thin slices of steak with vegetables and a light sauce, and she rang for service.
Tiffy swept by in her skimpy costume and smiled. “Thanks, Hari.”
Hari smiled and got back to the next order. The flow was slow and steady until four, when the kitchen closed. They had finished the cleanup when Hari heard her name being called.
“Hari! Help!”
Hari held her hand out, and the silver frying pan she kept on the wall lifted off the hook and smacked into her palm. She had no idea who had sent her the pan, but it was excellent for deterring certain supernaturals. It also came when she called, so that was nice.
She left the kitchen, her legs making long strides. The issue was obvious. A dancer was bent back over a vampire’s lap, and he had already bitten her arm.
Hari asked as she approached, “Cinnamon, consent?”
“No, Hari!” Cinnamon whimpered as the man got closer.
Hari struck, the vampire’s head snapped to the side, and his laughing companions stilled.
The vampire dropped, Cinnamon was helped up, and Hari looked at the others. “Leave now. Your patronage is no longer required.”
There was blood on her frying pan, and she grimaced and wiped it on her victim’s thigh.
One of the vampires, who looked the same age as Hari, glared at her. “You don’t know what you have done. We are apprentices of the governor. You will be punished.”