“Flint...hmm….oh right, the fairy. Let me see.” He started paging through his book again. Apparently it had some sort of permission list in there. I craned my neck trying to see, but I was too short, and he was too tall. He flipped through the pages almost to the back, then looked up at us again. “Flint Delinor grants Margo Levy and Tina Blackenstone permission to visit Club Etherealia on October 10th….that you guys?”
Margo’s eyes brightened and she smiled, nodding her head. “Yes, sir, that’s us.”
The bodyguard considered us for a few moments longer, then shrugged his shoulders and said, “Okay, go on in. Just be careful...its a jungle in there. Don’t try anything stupid.”
With that, he opened the door, and we were in.
Part Three: Inside
If the outside of the club had been normal and inconspicuous, the inside was like nothing I’d ever seen before. Brilliant lights and colors from all angles assaulted my eyes as I walked inside, and loud electronic music blared through the speakers. The patrons were something else altogether. I saw dozens of pairs of eyes on me and Margo as we entered, everything seeming to slow or even stop for a fraction of a second as they realized we were humans. Then, as if nothing had ever happened, they went back to whatever they were doing.
There were so many different types of creatures I couldn’t keep count. I’d never seen this many paranormals in one place before, and definitely not so openly. There were quite a few types of patrons I didn’t even know existed. The mainstays were out in full force of course: vampires, werewolves, fairies, witches. They were the ones most people knew about, anyway. There were also less common species. I saw my first tree-man (they are real! I thought to myself in wonder) and several cat-human hybrids I wasn’t quite sure where to place. I also saw what looked to be a few ghostly creatures that shone with a translucency that was unnerving. I saw a man transform into a puppy, then back into a man again as my eyes bulged in awe.
They weren’t kidding. This place was insane.
I didn’t even know where to start, what to do. I felt so woefully out of place here, even though it was exciting. Leave it to Margo to always feel at home in any situation though, and her little eyes lit up with glee as she saw her fairy boss Flint sitting over at the bar, chatting with the bartender.
She grabbed my arm, dragging me over there through the crowd. “Come on, its him!” she squealed, even more excited than I was.
Flint the fairy looked very different up close, and when I got right up next to him, it was pretty obvious he was not human. Far away, however, he looked human as could be. His features looked too smooth, too perfect. I craned my neck looking to see if he had wings, but I couldn’t see any. His eyes were positively glowing a cool silver color, and he gave off an aura of wonder to all that surrounded him. His face brightened as he saw Margo approaching, and he waved a warm greeting at her. “Margo, hello! So glad you could make it!” He nodded to the bartender and put down the glass he was holding.
Margo, confident as ever, stepped forward to shake his hand, winking at me in the meantime. “Well you didn’t think I’d miss the chance to be a part of the paranormal club scene did you? See what you do in your spare time?” She flashed a blinding smile at him, and I could tell he was gazing in awe at her sexy getup for the night. They were perfect for each other, I mused. The silver sheen of his eyes matched so well with the glistening makeup she had applied. I wondered if that was on purpose.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he nodded, glancing toward the barkeeper. “Get her anything she wants, on me.”
I was awestruck by just how smooth she was around men. Around people in general, really. I’d never really had that talent. I’d always been the awkward, unattractive one, content to sit in the shadows while my best
Agatha Christie
Unknown
Nikita King
Gerald Duff
Wendy Soliman
Winston Groom
Arlene Hunt
Holly Morris
phill syron-jones
Tahereh Mafi