by Holly Hood
Karsen was a professional sprinter in heels. I laughed hurrying to catch up.
At the doors of the warehouse, or whatever the strange brick building was stood a young guy. He crossed his arms just as Karsen stood in front of him. His expression went from relaxed to frigid in mere seconds as he laid eyes on us.
“Password,” he demanded.
Karsen shot me a baffled look. “I thought you said he told you to come here?”
“He did.” But not about any passcodes though that was for sure. I was beginning to feel stupid standing there dressed like a hooker. What was Hutch thinking?
“Look tinkerbell, this isn’t the place for you.” The guy said. “So why don’t you and gidget get the hell out of here.”
Karsen stepped back appalled. “Tinkerbell?” She balled her fist as if she was thinking about hitting him.
I grabbed her by the shoulder pulling her back. “Calm down for a second.” I struggled to get my phone from my pocket again.
He nodded, a smirk crawling up the corners of his mouth. “Yeah, calm down before you get pixie dust all over the place.”
This time I grabbed a hold of her shirt to keep her from tearing his eyes out.
“Do you want her to punch you in the face?” I asked him. Hutch’s phone went to voicemail irritating me more.
“Is that a trick question?” He shot back.
“Are you nuts?” Karsen snapped. “Who the hell do you think you are talking to us like that? We were invited here.”
“Yeah, right, and let me guess that’s your real hair color to.” He rolled his eyes and let another group by us without a second thought.
Before Karsen could choke slam him Hutch appeared. I was glad to see him.
“You made it,” he said kissing me on the cheek.
“What happened to your shirt?” I asked.
“The heat gets to be too much.” He motioned toward the douche at the door. “Did you have a hard time getting in?”
That was Karsen’s cue. “Of course we did. That guy’s a real asshole.”
That guy stared Karsen down. “Why don’t you come a little closer and talk shit to me.”
“I’d be glad to,” Karsen said taking off toward him. Hutch stepped in the middle taking Karsen by the shoulders and guiding her away.
“I promise you he means no harm. His job is to let the right people in and keep the wrong people out by any means,” Hutch assured us.
I wasn’t sure if I bought it.
Hutch motioned the arrogant jerk over. “This is K. He comes off quite rough around the edges but I promise he isn’t as bad as he seems.”
K extended a hand. “I don’t know about that now, Hutch.”
I pulled away from his grip, eyeing Karsen. She blew K off not accepting his handshake. She didn’t want anything to do with him and I didn’t blame her.
“I should have warned you about the doorman,” Hutch said as we walked inside the warehouse.
Music that at one time seemed nonexistent rattled my bones. House music, the kind crazy people twirled glow sticks to and tripped on drugs I’d rather stay away from.
The heat became obvious as we headed through thick crowds of people. Karsen gripped my tank top sticking to me like glue.
“What is this place?” She yelled at Hutch as he succeeded to get us through the swarm and to a small bar in the middle of all the chaos.
I was starting to get a headache from the constant assault on my ears.
“This is the greenhouse.” Hutch said. “It will take the misery right out of you.”
I squinted at the flashing lights that sparkled across every surface and the half-naked dancing people; it was more like chaos than anything to take away my misery.
“Cheers,” Hutch said sliding shots across the bar to us.
Karsen shook her head refusing to play along.
I tossed my head back swallowing the shot. “What the hell. What do I have to lose?”
Hutch smiled. “Exactly.” He wrapped his arms around me. I welcomed the attention, but Karsen wasn’t having a good time. And this made me feel bad. She was with me because she was miserable. She missed Kidd and was trying to make herself feel better.
“Let’s go sit down,” Hutch told us pulling me through the crowd to a staircase.
Karsen grabbed my arm before I could go up. “I need to use the restroom.”
Hutch pointed at the concrete. “Follow the glowing arrows. Meet me upstairs when you’re done. Password is mind fuck.”
Karsen and I followed the arrows going further and further into concrete darkness. When I was ready to give up and go back we found a door.
She pushed it open and shielded her eyes from the bright lights.
“This is definitely a mind fuck. What are we doing here?” She kicked open the bathroom stall. “What is this place?”
“I don’t know. But let’s try to enjoy ourselves. We need a night of fun right?” I fluffed my hair in the mirror. “Didn’t you have to use the restroom?”
Karsen sighed. “No I didn’t. I thought if I got you alone away from tall dark and bizarre I’d find out where the hell my best friend Hope is.”
I couldn’t believe her. I shook my head in disgust. “He is trying to help. And what do you mean where I am. I’m right here.”
“This isn’t you,” Karsen aimed me at the mirror. “This isn’t the girl from Georgia with the sweet smile that always carried the backpack with the ballet slippers in it.”
I turned away from the mirror. “She went away a long time ago.”
“She wasn’t supposed to turn out this way,” Karsen said. “She was supposed to be happy. We were both supposed to be happy.”
The door opened. Two girls came into the bathroom, one holding her nose, her hands full of blood. Karsen grabbed me by the arm and drug me from the bathroom.
“Do you see?” She pointed to the bathroom door. “Something is not right here.”
“Why is this so shocking?” I couldn’t believe Karsen and her dramatics. “Your boyfriend is a witch. We both know the world isn’t what it seems. So let’s stop worrying and have some fun.”
Karsen’s eyes softened. “I think I could use that drink.”
I hugged her. “Kidd wouldn’t abandon you. He will come back.”
Karsen brushed her hair behind her ear. “I hope so.”
***
We found Hutch and his friend from outside sitting at a little booth with a couple of girls. Hutch stood as we approached. The girls watched Karsen and me, trying to figure us out.
“You already met K, this is Vetta and Jasmine,” Hutch said introducing us to the two girls.
The short haired one smiled at us. “Nice to meet Hutch’s friends.”
The long haired blonde wasn’t as polite. She raised one manicured eyebrow at Hutch as we settled in around the table with all of them. This made me uncomfortable.
“Nice to meet you,” Karsen said, speaking up for the both of us. “Everyone except you.” She laid eyes on K. K wasn’t amused and by no means about to act like it.
“Does this one ever shut up?” He asked me.
I couldn’t believe the nerve of this guy. Hutch placed a hand over mine. “He’s toying with you, Doll.”
Karsen accepted a drink from Hutch.
“So Hutch, you never told us you frequent this type of scene.” Karsen said. She held tight to her glass waiting for an answer.
Hutch settled back in the booth. “What type of scene do you imagine this to be?”
Karsen’s eyes darted around the dim room. “You’re a partyer. That seems obvious enough.”
K smirked; he lifted his own drink and shook his head at Karsen.
“Look here special K; I don’t get the attitude problem.” Karsen snapped. She swallowed her drink slamming it down on the table. Her pretty little hand with its pink polish rocked the table demanding another drink from Hutch.
“That’s cute. She gave me a nickname.” He said. “And she’
s a fan of scotch.”
I couldn’t believe he was still picking on her. I knew Karsen could fight her own battles so I stayed out of it.
“Who died and made you king shit?” Karsen leaned forward staring K down.
“My father,” he shot back.
“Who’s your father?” Karsen’s eyes stayed glued to his every move.
“Your worst fucking nightmare, sweetheart,” he sipped his drank and then shoved it away.
Hutch laughed the two of them off. “I’ve known K for some time.”
All eyes were glued to Hutch now. “We met by chance when I was passing through Jersey.”
“Too bad he didn’t stay there,” Karsen muttered.
K shot Karsen a warning glare.
“This isn’t what you think it is.” Hutch stood up, he walked only a few feet and opened up blinds. A huge window stood before us all, and down below the party, where bodies moved at speeds and ways that seemed unnatural.
I stood up taking the spot next to Hutch. “What is this place?”
“This is a hive. All of these people are like you and I. I bet you didn’t know this many super naturals lived in Cherry.”
I stared in awe. Karsen joined us. She pressed a hand against the glass.
“Like witches?” She said breathless. “How is this possible?”
“Anything is possible. That’s why this asshole isn’t in Jersey,” K said. “When you see what this crazy guy can do you come find him.”
I turned around. “I don’t get it. You came all the way to California because of Hutch?”
K nodded. “That’s what I said. Do you good to pay attention because I don’t ever repeat myself.”
We all sat back down.
“Don’t tell us Hutch played modest with you to.” The blonde girl said.
Hutch shook his head. “She’s aware of who I am.”
I wasn’t so sure. Hutch seemed to be evolving into something bigger than he led on and I didn’t know how to handle that.
Karsen stared at the blonde now. What I thought she would forever say.
“So why are the two of you so special you get to come up here?” Karsen said. “Don’t tell me you failed to tell Hope about your girlfriends.”
“I’ve been honest with Hope. Vetta and Jasmine were just passing through Cherry. Old friends of mine,” Hutch explained.
An odd relief filled me. I wasn’t sure where the jealousy came from but I was glad it was stamped out.
Chapter 13
Several hours later I was drunk.
I held on to Karsen’s hand as we jumped around on the dance floor amongst all the super naturals as Hutch put it.
They physically were no different than anyone else in Cherry. I never would have seen anyone as different. But maybe it was because I was different now too.
I tossed my head back and forth jumping around to the music. I didn’t have a care in the world. I didn’t care that I was close to fainting from the heat, or that my feet hurt.
“This is fun!” Karsen said, shaking her fist in the air. She twirled in a circle taking me along for the ride. Everyone was a blur, and a little part of me wanted to blow chunks all over the place.
“Why do you think he stays up there?” Karsen yelled. “Do you think he is an awful dancer?”
I laughed, squeezing her hand as she twirled in another circle. I let go and instead of remaining on her feet Karsen fell backwards. She knocked over a girl on the way down.
The crowd parted. I hurried to help Karsen up sensing the animosity.
The tiny brunette dusted off the seat of her shorts and examined her hands. I didn’t know what for.
“Why don’t you watch where you’re dancing?” The guy standing next to her shouted.
“Oh, shut up. Does anyone here not have a stick up there ass?” Karsen shouted back. She craned her neck looking up at him. “Holy shit balls your tall.”
I gripped Karsen’s wrist, she was drunk and I didn’t want her starting a fight we couldn’t finish.
“Are you alright, Love?” Tall guy asked the girl Karsen knocked down. She touched his chest and smiled.
“I promise I’m fine,” she assured him. She turned to us. “He’s protective.”
Karsen waved her away. “He’s an asshole.”
I screamed, dropping to the ground as she lunged at Karsen with razor sharp claws on each hand all of a sudden. I shook my head in disbelief, getting to my feet and grabbing a hold of Karsen to get her as far away from this girl as I could.
She backed off watching us scrambled away from her.
“What the hell was that?” Karsen said staring her down. “Am I that drunk?”
Even when I knew that witches were real the idea this girl sprouted razor sharp claws I couldn’t process.
“What’s wrong Blondie, are you afraid I’ll tear you in two?” She called.
The crowd drifted further away from her. I searched for Hutch in the window, the alcohol wasn’t helping matters. My magic was useless this intoxicated. Hutch wasn’t there.
Karsen pulled me through the crowd; I followed on her heels slamming into the back of her when she stopped all of a sudden.
“Karsen keep moving. I can’t do anything to save us. And I don’t know where Hutch is,” I said, I pushed her, she didn’t budge.
There she stood, the same girl that just been behind us ready to slash us into pieces.
I wondered why nobody wanted to help us or at least calm her down. When I was close to giving in and handing Karsen over to her and making a quick getaway to find Hutch he appeared.
“Now now, April,” he said to her. The girl, who we now knew was April, retracted her claws—literally. He motioned her over.
“I promise these two meant you no harm.” Hutch told her. “They’re friends of mine.”
She debated whether to claw Karsen’s eyes out for insulting her or to let it go. All of a sudden she vanished into thin air. I turned around. She stood next to the tall guy again acting as if nothing happened.
Hutch took us both by the shoulders and made it to the exit with us. I was thankful for the fresh air. I lifted my hair from my neck enjoying the cool.
“What the hell was that back there?” Karsen asked as soon as we were a safe distance from the Greenhouse.
Hutch explained as we weaved our way through the cars as I tried to find my own.
“April that girl who wanted to rip your eyes from their sockets, she's a demon. Like I said before there are many kinds of super naturals all over Cherry.”
I swallowed, scared at the thought of a demon. It didn’t sound good.
“What’s with the claws and the vanishing act?” Karsen asked. She tripped and almost face planted before I found my car.
I struggled for my keys in my pocket and as soon as I unlocked my door Hutch slammed it shut. He pushed it shut again when I tried opening it once more.
“Hutch, I need to get home,” I said.
“Your drunk, doll,” he said. “I can’t have you killing yourself.”
Maybe if I was sober it would have been sweet and endearing, but right then nothing but a nuisance. I gritted my teeth, my pulse pumping as I stared him down.
“Get out of my way, I need to go home. You don’t get to boss me around all the time,” I crossed my arms. “It’s a five minute drive.”
Karsen leaned against the car oblivious to our argument as she tried to stand without toppling over and landing on her face.
“You’re drunk. Let me drive you there. I’ll walk back or drop your car off tomorrow,” he said again. He leaned in swiping my hair behind my ear. “Don’t get upset. I would hate to see something bad happening to you.”
I rolled my eyes, pulling away. “It already has.” Slade said that once I thought to myself. Now it seemed to be my theme.
Hutch released my car door this time. “Call me when your home?”
I shook my head infuriated. “I’m not ten. Karsen get in the car.”
He
held onto my door frame, his expression growing stiff. “You’re acting like it right now, Doll.”
“You’re the one who invited me here. You said it would take away my misery remember?” I wasn’t feeling any less miserable. If anything I was horrified by the newest insights.
Karsen still wasn’t in the car. I punched the steering wheel livid with her and Hutch. “Karsen, get in the damn car or I’ll leave you here with April and may god be with you.”
I backed out of my parking spot almost hitting the car behind me. I gave Hutch one last look. He was disappointed in me and I didn’t care. I wanted to go home.
Karsen yanked the door shut as I headed for the road. “Are you psychotic? You almost took my head off. At least let me get my seatbelt on before you kill us both.”
I rolled my eyes wrenching the wheel before I hit the curb and telephone pole.
“Just let me concentrate,” I told her.
Karsen fumbled with her seatbelt. “While you try not to slam my face into your dashboard, for sure, concentrate all you want.”
Chapter 14
The blare of a car horn jostled me awake, that and being yanked out of my car. I coughed choking on the smoke. What the hell happened and where was I?
“Hope, are you okay?” Dad asked. He shook me.
I took in my surroundings. I was at Nona’s. My car was in the driveway. So what was my dad in my face for and why the heck was my horn honking?
“Yes.” I pulled away from my father still trying to figure out what happened. And where was Karsen?
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Dad snapped. “Driving drunk, are you crazy?”
I stared at him mystified. He was one to talk I thought to myself.
“I’m home, so what are you yelling for?” I said. And where was my shoe? I shook the left one off and started up Nona’s sidewalk.
“Oh you’re not coming in here,” Nona said from the top of the stairs. “And shut that damn car horn off.”
I turned around. And everything made sense as I watched Dad try backing my car away from Nona’s. It seemed to have wanted to give it a little kiss right in the rear end. And from the look on Nona’s face she was pissed.
