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MORGAN
“Thank you, child. Your assistance has been invaluable, and I look forward to having you by my side in the New World.” Samara’s honey sweet voice drifted through my mind. “The time for action is nearing and when it comes, I need you to be ready too.”
I nodded; I was standing at the bar serving a handful of drunken werewolves. I’d learned how to open my mind to Samara so she could speak through my mind. I was still learning to speak back mentally, it was a lot harder when I wasn’t asleep or meditating, and speaking out loud would raise eyebrows from my customers.
I’d been at the bar every night for a while, and sometimes I felt like I was left out of the loop with Griffin, and I missed him, but this was important. The herb room was filled with vials of poison, bottles of explosive mixes and other things that could be used as weapons in the war. A few weeks ago, I was hesitant on siding with Samara in the battle, now I was completely on her side. She had reassured me over and over that Griffin would be saved, Samara would annihilate the werewolves, including Kellan and his pack, but she would keep Griffin safe for me. As long as I kept being her eyes. I told her where they were, what they were doing and who they were doing it with. It was a little harder now because I was always busy with making things that we would need for the battle and practicing the things Samara taught me.
It was like I was seeing magic through new eyes; I’d learned things that I’d never known were possible. Yes, some of it bordered on dark magic, but it was justified, and I’d become so much stronger. Her final lesson was approaching, but she wanted to show me in person. Samara warned that it would be the hardest one yet but the most rewarding. Anxiety and excitement meshed together every time I thought about it.
It would take a while for Griffin to forgive me, I was preparing myself for that too. I was working on myself as well so that when the time came, I could be the woman he wanted. Without the curse and after the war, he would eventually come around and see that everything I was doing was for the right reasons. Werewolves had been nothing but cruel and unforgiving. They hated all witches, unless, like the werewolves I was serving in front of me, they wanted something.
“Where are they now?” Samara asked.
I bristled. I hadn’t seen them since the night of the tracking spell and that was almost a week ago. I’d been so busy that I hadn’t even tried to reach out. I turned to pour another drink for the crowd and whispered, “At the apartment.”
“They aren’t. One of the grunts from Victor’s pack saw them leave with bags, he wasn’t able to follow them. You’re supposed to be my inside girl, how do you not know where they are?” Samara’s voice was low with a menacing edge. The hair on my neck stood and I cursed under my breath.
“I’ll find them. I’ve had my hands full with the poisons and explosives and the bar is busy. I didn’t want to raise suspicions by keeping it closed for too long,” I muttered.
Samara’s sigh filled my mind, “Priorities, Morgan. I can’t help you if you don’t help me. I need to know what Emily is capable of. And I need to know what they are planning so that we can be one step ahead. We have the upper hand, but we need to maintain it and you are the most important part of that puzzle. Find out before I check in again. Do not disappoint me.”
Like a phone receiver, something in my mind clicked and Samara’s presence disappeared. I sagged with the release, and I steadied my shaking hands while I poured the fifth round for the raucous werewolves. Their loud group had forced almost everyone out of the bar, the fact that it was still morning didn’t deter them.
Other than the werewolves, there was a man sitting in the corner, the furthest booth where the dingy light hid his appearance. I hadn’t noticed him come in, but now he stood and ambled to the counter. I felt flustered and handed the drinks over without a word before moving to him. I had no idea what he was; he lacked the brutish demeanor of a werewolf, and he didn’t smell like one either. He didn’t have pointed ears like the fae, and I couldn’t sense witch magic around him. That meant he was human. Not possible, the building is warded to deter them. He wouldn’t have walked in here if he’s a human. That’s what made my bar so popular, it was a safe haven for our world. No fighting, hatred, or judgment was permitted.
I thought of a demon; they weren’t common, but they did exist. I’d had one or two in here, and one of them sat on the High Council. But demons looked a certain way, with their blood red eyes, skin like ash, and razor-sharp teeth, and he had none of their characteristics. He was tall—taller than Griffin or Cassian, taller than the werewolves in the bar. He towered over the bar, ducking his head to avoid the light fixtures. He wore a black suit with a black shirt underneath and a bowler hat. It seemed like he’d stepped out from another place and time. He didn’t blend in, but somehow, he didn’t stand out either. He leaned forward on his elbows, bringing his face down to eye level. I giggled inwardly; I felt like a child next to this giant. His jawline was sharp, his skin pale like the overcast sky outside. He wasn’t muscular but he wasn’t lean either. His thin lips curled into a smile and my breath caught when his eyes locked on mine. Definitely not human. His eyes were entirely white, not like the milky eyes of a blind man; he had no pupil, no color at all.
“Hello, Morgan.” The words dripped like syrup. His voice caressed my skin and every part of me stood to attention.
How does he know my name? I shook myself and plastered my customer service smile on my face. He must’ve been here before; many people knew my name. “Hi, welcome! What can I get for you?”
“Your finest, oldest bourbon on the rocks,” he drawled.
“Sure,” I said brightly and turned to grab a glass. I almost dropped it from shaking so much. He was just another customer, but he put me on edge. He gave off a friendly vibe, but something sinister bubbled beneath that. You’re just on edge. Pull yourself together.
I put the dark amber liquid in front of him and smiled. “Would you like to open a tab, or will this be your only drink?” I asked in a cheery voice.
“Oh no, dear. I’ll be here for a while.” He grinned and his teeth gleamed in the yellow light. “You have a lovely establishment.” The stranger glanced at the werewolves, their festivities growing louder with every passing minute.
I followed his gaze and laughed nervously. “Sorry about that, they’ve been here for hours. Have you been here before?”
“No, dear,” he answered simply.
His silence stretched over me, his strange gaze never wavered, and I rubbed my hands together before grabbing a rag to wipe the already spotless counter. For the first time, I wanted to make pointless small talk just to fill the void. I couldn’t hide in my office since I was the only barkeep and the werewolf group looked like they would cause havoc the moment I left. Cleaning up after them would be a nightmare, so I was stuck here.
“Do you live around these parts?”
The stranger hadn’t touched his bourbon yet, condensation trickled down the glass. “No, I’m a bit of a traveler.”
“Oh, interesting. What brings you here?” I asked, avoiding eye contact.
“Business.” His words were clipped but maintained the syrupy sweetness. His smile never wavered. If he wasn’t from here and he’d never been to my bar, then how did he know my name? Maybe he worked for Samara… I couldn’t exactly ask that though so I tried to think of questions that would give some clarity.
I smiled brighter. “Welcome to the city! I would introduce myself, but you already know my name. What’s your name?”
“It is long and complicated; you may call me Balt.” He dipped his head in greeting.
“Let me know if you need anything, Balt.”
