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And everyone obeyed.
The announcer started back in, his voice slightly trembling before he coughed and got himself under control. A deep boom came next as he gave introductions to the rest of the performing team. We learned each of the cheerleader names, along with the two performers on stilts. Another part of the show was introduced, but I was only half listening.
I was still watching the couple, who had moved to the bar. She was standing back, holding the guy’s hand as he was talking to the bartender, our same one, but all the kindness was gone from him. He was leaning forward, everything about him was rigid. He was gripping the counter as if to keep himself from launching over it, and his massive jaw was clenched so tight, I was half worried he was going to break his own teeth.
“What do you think is going on over there?”
Caden looked, drawing me back to the table.
Shay and Kennedy joined us. We weren’t the only ones watching the couple. Even the announcer kept looking over as the show continued. A new song came on, but all the performers kept watching them.
Or him.
They were nervous about him.
Shay frowned, pulling Kennedy to stand in front of him and he draped an arm around her front. She held onto him with both her hands.
Gage joined, and Shay asked him, “You know who that is?”
Gage shook his head. He propped his elbow on the table, leaned against it and stared right at the couple. “Not a clue. A lot of people come in during agate season so they could be a part of that crowd. There does seem to be something different about them, huh?”
One of the local ladies we’d been dancing with joined our group, leaned a heavy elbow in front of Gage, her body turned his way and inclined her head in. “Gum’s never got heated with anyone before. We’re thinking they’re one of his group, if you know what I mean.” She gave us all a lingering look, her head dipping down for extra emphasis. Her face was heated and sweaty.
“Who’s Gum?” I asked.
Gage asked at the same time, “Gum’s got a group?”
She leaned toward me, saying in a way she probably thought she was being discreet, in a way that was not discreet at all, “Gum’s the bartender. He’s got a weird first name and someone called him Gum because he’s always here and working.” She blinked once and said to Gage next, “And you know what I’m talking about. They’re locals and then there’s locals. He’s a local locallocal, if you get my drift.”
Gage glared. “I have no fucking clue what you’re talking about.”
She barely shrugged, looking back at Gum, saying at the same time, “Because you’re a temp local.”
“What does that mean?” he hissed.
She didn’t hear him, jumping to attention because she’d finished looking back at Gum, and at the couple, who were staring directly at us. At her. As if they could hear everything she’d just said. She muttered something, making the sign of the cross in front of her before she smacked the table once. “I’m dipping out. See you folks. Nice meeting your hotties.” She gave Caden and Shay a wink.
The show had come to an end, but now the announcer guy was over there and words were being exchanged between the guys. Gum had come around to the other side of the bar, and he was standing next to the announcer. The female looked a little upset, but her guy wasn’t having it. He stepped forward, getting into the announcer’s face. Gum wasn’t havingthat, and he stepped forward, his hand raised, and that’s when something happened that I couldn’t explain.
The couple guy turned towards Gum, his eyes suddenly all dark, and a black something, like dust, lifted off him and swirled around him before lunging for Gum.
Gum was the opposite.
A light blue mist lifted off him, and lunged at the black mist. They collided, and a spark went through the whole bar.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I felt electrified. Everyone felt it, and I jerked towards Caden, who had his serious jawline going, (if you know, you just know), and he moved in front of me. Shay was looking all pissed too, stepping in front of Kennedy.
“What the fuck was that?” Gage took a step away from the table, and then–nothing.
Everyone had been aware something happened, and then everyone was back to normal. A new mermaid was on the stage, and she was dancing. A wave was coming from her, drawing everyone’s attention to her. Her movements were mesmerizing. People were stepping away from their tables, enraptured with her. The music ended from the jukebox. She began singing. A low, soothing, but urging tone came from her.
I felt a pounding inside me, a need to–Caden grasped my hand, urging me with him. “Let’s get out of here.”
Shay had Kennedy in tow, and the guys led us to the back by the bathrooms. There was a door there, and we went through it, out to a parking lot. Once there, I blinked at the sudden lifting of whatever that was going inside that bar. Tension? Pressure? An urging. I had no idea what it was, but it’d been overwhelming.
I turned for Caden, who was pulling me to his side even as I did. He bent his head into my neck, kissed me there and whispered, “You okay?” His hand came up, cradling my neck as he lifted to look at me.
I nodded, having this feeling like we’d just sidestepped a wave of… I had no idea. That was the most unsettling part of it.
