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THE HIDDEN
BY S.K. O’BRIEN
CHAPTER ONE
It was another night at The Dive, which wasn’t saying much. I have been working here for the last year as a waitress. It was not the best place to work but as a young female in 1943, it was what I needed to do to survive. My name is Charlotte and I am a witch. As a witch, I am forced to pretend I am a human in order to survive in the human world, otherwise I would be dragged into the streets and killed in front of any human who cared to watch, even other hellborns. We hellborns have been living among humans for thousands of years and yet we were considered the enemy or have been. Since the war began, the governments around the world have begun to talk that hellborns will have the chance to become citizens just as humans are, as if the change would allow us to change how we live. Humans will still hate us.
I know most of you are probably asking how is it possible for humans to harm you but, as an earth witch, it is harder for me to defend myself compared to a vampire or a wolf. My magic requires me to use spells to perform magic. I carry spells to ensure my safety. On the other hand, if the spells are found on me, it will lead to being charged for being a witch. My size didn’t help me. I was small and petite. I stood at five foot one with auburn hair and green eyes. My size meant most men and males were bigger than I was.
The Dive was a nightclub located in downtown Sweetclover. It was a club that filled every evening with women and men who wanted a night of fun and sex. With the war in full swing, there have been less tourists coming in and more regular customers, but still not as many people as there were even a year ago. It also means the local trash is the regular customer. That was where Eddie came in. Eddie was a human who ran with a group of men who believed that they ran this part of Sweetclover. He dealt in gambling, drugs, illegal cigarettes, and anything else he could that would make him a quick dollar. Eddie believed he was some big dog within the city but he was nothing but a low life. Unfortunately for me, that low life wanted me. At first, he was like any other human that found me attractive. He would call me doll as his dark brown eyes followed the curves of my body. He would try to dominate me by forcing me to speak to him. Now, he had taken to grabbing my hand and pulling close to him. He would smack me on the ass or ask me out. The more I said no, the more aggressive he became.
Tonight was no different. I walked around the club, dropping drinks on tables, moving around the room, taking orders, making as much money as I could. I took a few more orders and moved to head back to the bar when Eddie came in for the night. He was in his cheap navy-blue suit with a blue and white tie. He was built wide with a narrow waist; his dark brown eyes were harsh as they moved around the room. Eddie was close to six three and used his size to bully people into what he wanted. He had a cigar in his hand as he made his rounds through the club, shaking hands. I tried to ignore Eddie as he moved through the club. I reached the bar and gave my orders to the bartender. I stood there waiting for the drinks when Eddie came up behind me. He pushed himself against me, his hot breath on my neck.
“How you doin’ Charlotte?” Eddie said.
“I’m good, Eddie.”
The bartender handed me several drinks as Eddie continued to stand behind me. I ignored him as I loaded my tray.
“You are looking good tonight. Why don’t you come have a drink at my table?”
“I have tables that are waiting on me, Eddie. I can’t.”
“They can wait until I’m ready for them to have their drinks. Come on Charlotte, come join me.” Eddie pulled me closer to him.
I pulled away from him.
“No, thank you.”
I picked up my tray and moved quickly away from him. I moved around the club, making as big of a loop as I could, placing myself as far from Eddie as I could. I dropped the last drink at a table on the other side of the room.
“Is there anything else I can get you?” I asked the male at the table.
“No, thank you.” I gave the male a nod and moved away from the male. “Are you okay?” His words stopped me.
The male was a vampire from what I could tell. He wasn’t big like Eddie but he wasn’t a skinny male either. He had a medium build. His dark grey suit was nice with a red tie and black shirt. A page boy hat sat on the table. The male’s eyes were a blue green that held an intensity to them.
“What?”
“I saw that man put his hands on you. I could see you didn’t like it. Are you okay?”
I looked across the bar to see Eddie was sitting at his usual table, watching me.
“I am okay. Thank you.”
“Are you sure?”
I sighed.
“Eddie is a knucklehead, but he’s harmless.” I reassured the male.
“I am not sure he is as harmless as you believe he is.”
“It’s easier to say he’s harmless than to look at him as more than that.”
The male nodded his head as he lit a cigarette. He leaned forward and extended his hand.
“My name is Charlie.” He introduced himself.
