Empire of Roses and Nightmares

Chapter Two

The night is quiet up until now. No fights or commotion and Cikki, the musician we have hired that plays almost all night, came on time for once.

I am now taking my turn preparing orders behind the bar as Yasemine cleans tables and takes orders. It isn't very late yet but quite a lot of people have already started filling the tables closer to the small stage where Cikki is performing. Yasemine with her signature warm smile continues taking orders as I take a disk with dirty dishes to the kitchen, setting them inside the sink.

'Gardenia's' isn't very popular around Rosan, the capital of the Empire and where we live, but we have certain regulars that come often. Who could resist Nelos's, our cook's, food once they've tried after all? The Gardenia's staff has become like a family to both Yasemine and I, the kind of family that we never got to have and I am grateful for that.

I chat with Nelos in the kitchen a bit before going back outside. He is the eldest of us all, nearly forty years old with long black hair always up in a bun and soft brown skin. Wrinkles have already started forming in the corners of his eyes and the middle of his forehead but that doesn't take away from the fact that he is rather beautiful. He has a ten year old daughter and a seven year old son he cares for with his boyfriend and they are all really happy people.

"Your turn as waiter." Yasemine declares, handing me the disk as she takes place behind the bar. She is met with my groan if displeasure.

"Come on Yase! I took behind the bar only half an hour ago." I whine.

"Yes but there's a new guy at the table in the corner and you are the one good with the new ones." She counters and with a huff I turn and look at the table she mentioned.

There indeed is a new face sitting there. Its a man, not much older than Yasemine or me with dark skin and short onyx hair. He is dressed in black and looks thoughtful and like he is not paying any attention to the music despite his eyes being glued on the stage.

I sigh and take the disk my sister has basically shoved in my fave and out on my best smile. Eventhough Yasemine is the most warm one to regular and old costumers I am the one who has the same ease with the newcomers and the one to pursuade them to come again- although I think Nelos's dishes deserve most of the credit in that.

Guys like him, especially with that whole look, are usually secret gang members relaxing from a mission or spies trying to go undercover. I learn all about them from Cikki, who manages to gather all the gossip from their mother the best seamstress in town. It isn't my job to have smalltalk with the costumers just take their orders, please their eyes and take the money afterwards. And I don't want any further associations with Rosan's underworld.

"Welcome to 'Gardenia's Place'! What may I get you?" I ask and his gaze falls on me, black eyes studying me carefully. I must admit he is rather handsome for a street rat with sharp features and big expressive eyes. He smiles softly at me and I can barely contain my blush.

"Well your name would be a good start and maybe a glass of whiskey after that." He says and I laugh nervously as I scribble his order down on a small notebook I have for taking orders.

"The whiskey will be coming right up. As for my name... You can call me Lili." I reply finishing with writing and then look back at him. "Whats yours?"

"I'm Ty." He says.

"Well Ty I'll see you in a bit." I respond and turn back to the bar and Yasemine.

Getting flirted with while on my shift has become natural at this point but I've never felt lost after someone sinply asks my name. It is flattering to be complimented even in such an inimediate way by a handsome man like him. But maybe I am just overturning the situation, he was just asking my name to be polite. And I have felt the same rush countless times before but it always feels new...