AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The cityof Silvercross opened before him as he crossed the line from the human world into one of the safe zones for supernaturals. In the middle of the city still stood the huge cross that vampires were burned on so many centuries ago. It was cruel and grotesque, but he expected nothing less from a place where people like him were just short of being enslaved.
Arden’s red Mustang pulled up in front of the building and he rolled to a stop. Stepping out, he walked around the car and gazed up at it. The thing wasn’t much to look at, all dingy, dusty, and abandoned. But it had potential. The old sign was faded, but he could clearly read it.
Supernatural Delights.
Hell of a name.
It had once been a brothel, but he had something else in mind. After he left home, he spent every moment traveling from one country to the next and an idea had formed in his mind. A host club, somewhere supernaturals could call home while others would be able to visit, spend time with the creatures who worked and lived there, and go back home with praise on their lips.
Maybe it would bring them one step closer to unification with the human world. Arden knew all too well how much division ruined lives. And how much carnage it could bring.
Images flashed through his head of twisted bodies, blood, and charred corpses. Arden’s stomach rolled and pitched, but he refused to lose his breakfast. He wouldn’t be able to help anyone if he couldn’t push back the pain and gore of his past.
Arden closed his eyes, sucked in a deep breath, and blew it out.Three. Two. One. Calm.Once he was back under control and his dragon wasn’t lashing out ready to attack, he opened his eyes once more. The building was shit, but doable. Arden gazed at it and envisioned what he wanted; an amazing, intricate, host bar.
He would take in as many lost souls as he could and give them a home. No, it wouldn’t erase his sins, but maybe he could calm his own conscious. Or at least make the screaming a little less loud.
Digging through his pockets, he pulled out the key that had been sent to him. He’d made sure to set it up so that he wouldn’t have to deal with the seller when he arrived. All he wanted to do was go in, check it out, and settle into his solidarity.
Arden let himself into the building to the sound of a creak and a cloud of dank dust. He coughed, waving a hand to clear the air as he looked around. Reaching out, he flipped a light switch, but nothing happened.
He sighed. “No electricity. Great.”
Arden stepped inside entirely and let the electricity come to his hands. It danced over his flesh and he concentrated on the bulbs. As he walked under each one, they lit up, leading the way through the place. Arden surveyed the floor and he could already see where he would have new booths installed, how he’d fix up the bar, and the way he would decorate the half floor above that looked out over the floor.
This could work.
Renewed hope blossomed in his belly. This could be exactly what he needed. The host bar would be a place to put down roots. He’d have projects, and people to look after, and maybe he could fix this world a little better. Because he certainly couldn’t help his own.
Knock. Knock.
Arden turned on his heels as a man stepped through the doorway. His hair was blonde and neat and he wore a pair of slacks and a button-up shirt as if he was on his way to work. As he gazed at him, he saw the tell-tale flicker of gold.
Shifter.
“Can I help you?” Arden asked.
The man shook his head. “No, sir, but I would like to help you.” He walked over to Arden, gazing around the room as if it was familiar. When he reached out and caressed one of the pillars, Arden tilted his head. “Oh uh, I used to work here,” he said, clearing his throat. “Now I’m doing office work for a human just outside the city, but everyone there knows I’m a shifter and…” He trailed off. “I want to be here, with my own kind. And I want to help you. When I heard this place was sold, I put eyes on it so I could volunteer my services to get it back up and running.”
Arden raised a brow. “Why do you care about this place so much? Did you love working here?” he grumbled.
The man shook his head. “Oh no, I hated it. Too messy, too loud. And it was run inefficiently. It’s no wonder it was run into the ground,” he scoffed. “A brothel can be profitable here though. Everyone hates supernaturals, but they pay handsomely to fuck one.”
“No,” Arden said drawing curious blue eyes back to him. “I’m not turning it into a brothel. What humans and supernaturals need isn’t sex.”
“Whatdothey need?”
“Communication,” Arden answered. “I’m turning this place into a host bar. Flirting, talking, laughter; the more they see us as one of them, the easier it’ll be for places like Silvercross City to stop existing.”
“I like that,” he said with a serious nod. “Hmm, in that case, please hire me on full-time. I’ve been to a host bar only once in my life, but I could help you structure this one to work for you. And of course, whatever you’ve envisioned, I'm happy to help.”
Arden looked him up and down. “You saw this place go down?”
“Hard.”
“Would you be honest with me?” Arden asked. “Or would you kiss my ass so you can come back?”
He raised a brow. “I would prefer not to have to kiss your ass, sir.”
