Pack Lands

The Witch's Brew: An Introduction To Alexis

Alexis Spellman looked up from behind the solid wood bar as the latest group of tourists entered her establishment. Her watchful eyes skimmed the crowd and she noticed it was a younger crowd that had taken the tour today. An attractive man from the group approached the bar and placed an order for a round of drinks with her. She did not miss his roving eye travelling over her body, nor the cheeky wink he gave her as she moved to the back to pour his drinks. He was obviously not the first, nor would he be the last, to look at Alexis that way. So much so, that it did not even bother her anymore - it simply came with the territory. What really bothered Alexis was that his look did not leave her feeling the least bit excited or breathless. She had grown tired of the unwanted attention over the years. Her long, dark hair and sun kissed skin had always appealed to men. She was not conventionally beautiful but appealing in a manner that drew attention whenever she entered a room. Her green eyes seemed to glow with intensity, and she moved with a sultry grace that put runway models to shame. Some would call her striking, but she tried to hide her beauty by dressing down and keeping a low profile. Men often showed interest in her, so why was she constantly living this eternal dry spell when there was a stream of guests in and out of her town?

Alexis filled the attractive patron’s order quickly and easily and placed it on the bar top in front of him, appreciating his fit body as he walked confidently back to the crowd he had arrived with, leaving her alone again. She sighed out loud and tossed the large tip he had left her into the overly full tip jar for her staff. She stilled for a minute and scanned the familiar dark room. She knew every nook and cranny and could spot straight away if anything was out of place. Her eyes settled on the various guests in the bar that night and she mentally ticked all the boxes in her mind. Her regulars were there. They were a group of guys around her age, and they all lived in or around town. They could usually be found in the corner playing pool. She knew some of their names and chatted to them occasion, but nothing ever amounted from it. A group of seasonal visitors - whom she knew and had seen in town before on numerous occasions - were seated close to the fireplace playing drinking games. The new and younger group of strangers, the ones she had never seen and would probably never see again after this evening, were scattered around on the leather seating or at the heavy wooden counter height tables spread throughout the floored space. The bar vibrated with the happy hum of conversation and laughter and it made Alexis smile. She felt happy here, the room itself giving her peace in its familiarity. She often felt like she could re-energize just by watching the fun and friendly interactions in the room and often felt recharged while she was at work. Maybe it was because it had always felt like home to her? Or now because it really was all she had left of a home and family? It had been like this for as long as she could remember at The Witch’s Brew – it had always just felt like it was her safe and special place.

 As a teenager, Alexis had worked long and hard between these four walls, helping her parents with any tasks given to her. She knew even back then that one day the bar would belong to her. Some of the jobs they had given her back them had been fun and she and her parents had laughed and joked to pass their time while working together. Everyday tasks which may have been boring in different circumstances, were made less mundane by the fact that she shared the load with her mom and dad. Some lessons – the ones most worth learning – she had often wished away or wished she could hand over to somebody else. But in the end, she had pushed through and learned the whole business from start to finish. She still felt like that on some days – wished she could ease the full load that she carried in the running of the bar. She had often wished she had not needed to learn the business so young, nor carry the burden she now did. But as she had grown up, she looked back and appreciated her parents had pushed her to learn the ins and outs of their business at a young age. They had prepared her for a future she could never have imagined back then. A life without them was not something she could ever have envisioned. She was proud to of the time she had invested into the bar with them, making memories and helping to build and maintain a part of the family legacy that she now owned. She knew they would be pleased that she had kept the business running to their high standards and not compromised on their dreams for her and their business venture.