Bitter Revenge

Chapter 8

"You are- what now?" I asked, convinced I had heard Stella wrong. "I'm interviewing you as well. Both of you. Last time I interviewed Cristina about the night club and her experience running it. But my boss thought it would be a good idea to come back and interview both of you on your history and personal lives and the experience of the employees working under both of you." Personal life? Well wonderful. I don't talk about my personal life with anyone. I'll have to play it careful. "Then I guess we should get started." I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans, my knee bouncing up and down.

The questions of Cris and I's relationship started that I had no problem with, since there wasn't much to hide. "Have you two ever had an intimate relationship? Whether it's romantically or sexually?" We just looked at each other and gagged, acting like a kindergarten boy and girl who like each other but don't want to admit it. "Me and Fiona? Gross. Don't get me wrong, I'm open to making love to anyone despite gender, except Fiona. And Grayson." I just raised my eyebrow at her, offended that she said that. "Are you kidding me? I would be a fantastic partner. But I'm romantically and sexually unavailable. I have no interest in having that kind of relationship with anyone. But damn Cris, you make it sound like fucking me is the equivalent of licking the sole of a shoe." Cris just laughed and so did Stella, making a small grin lift the corners of my mouth. "But you two definitely have a close relationship no?" Stella was recording this whole thing, obviously, writing would take way too long. "Oh, no doubt about that. Cris and I have been friends since forever. It's only natural for us to be comfortable with each other." Cris just patted my head with a huge grin and then noogied me, completely ruining my hair. "How did you two meet?" That question stumped me. I can't tell her how we met, it's definitely not the best.

***

I was at the bar looking for my next victim to quite literally murder in some club I'd found. It was in my very early vampire years, and I was pretty overwhelmed about everything. "You come 'round here often?" I turned to the chick who sat next to me. She had a dark, burnt oak tint to her hair, but her caramel eyes are what really stood out to me. The middle of the iris was the pretty caramel, but the outer iris darkened to what looked like red flames licking the caramel. "If you're here expecting to get laid, beat it." I had zero mercy on the poor girl, but she didn't seem bothered. "You must be quite full of yourself to assume I'm here to fuck you. And bold of you to assume I'm gay off the bat, when you look like the definition of a lesbian." I raised my eyebrow at her, not necessarily hating this conversation. Speaking with her was easing the stress of the transformation, a stress I'd been carrying for months now. "I believe I've been rude. I'm Fiona, I'm sorry for my off-putting behavior." I held my hand out for her to shake, and I was pleased to see her reach out and grip my hand as well. "Cristina Serrano." I was shocked when she pulled me close so she could speak into my ear. "And as a demon, I can smell that you are fresh from transforming into a vampire." Shocked and disoriented, I hadn't realized that I was being kicked out for being underage in a club.

***

"Call us high school sweethearts. I was failing math and so turned to the fattest nerd in the class, Miss Fiona-know-it-all." This is the story we're giving her? "Are you kidding? I'm not a nerd for understanding interest rate, money, logarithms, and business. If you were smart, you wouldn't have chosen such a 'hard class.'" Stella chuckled at my intricately formed response that hid the fact that I basically called her an idiot. "There have been many records, on multiple accounts, that you sleep with some of the incomers?" I just stayed quiet, but smiled because I already knew what Cris was going to say. "I may run this place, but I'm a customer just as much as I'm the boss. I built this place so anyone and everyone could mingle and have fun without judgements. Why is it that when the creator partakes in her creation, it's suddenly weird? I know damn well that the creator of cars, used cars too. I created a place for people to have fun, including myself." Like reading from a textbook, I guessed her entire speech.

"What about you Fiona?" My head snapped to attention, her directing her attention to just me made heat rise into my cheeks. "No. I don't interact with the partygoers like that. I only interact with them if there seems to be a problem." She took a bite of her pen, probably thinking of what to ask now. "Why?" I furrowed my brow, thinking about the question before shrugging. "What can I say? I'm not big on sexual interactions. I'm not a fan of seeing someone pretty and then deciding they should see me in such a vulnerable state. The thought of it makes me uncomfortable." That's when Stella's eyebrows shot up in realization. "Wait, are you a virgin?" My cheeks and ears burned hotter with embarrassment, but I straightened my back and puffed my chest out to try and be confident. "Yeah, so what?" She threw her hands up in surrender, clearly ready to back off the subject. "Since I want to try and not pry too much, describe both of your childhoods in one word or phrase if you can please."

I had to think hard about it. I definitely did not want this to be the moment where I came out about my dark past. "Here's a good word for you, 'fun.' I had loads of fun in my childhood. I got in trouble like anyone else would, talked back to my parents a lot, etc." Cris spoke first, and then it was my turn. "I guess I would say a good word to describe my childhood is 'Japan.' My father was Japanese and raised me as such." Cris looked shocked at this revelation, "I never knew you were Japanese!" I just chuckled and shrugged. "Half. Besides, I don't look it at all so it's not like I proudly wear it on my sleeve. It's just a thing about me that makes me Fiona." Stella giggled at our exchange. "I assumed you had some foreign influence. I didn't want to say anything but when you walked into my house, you removed your shoes and jacket without me telling you anything."

The questions continued, and I tried to be as scarce as possible. Before I knew it, it'd gotten really late. "I guess I should book a hotel room. I most definitely do not want you driving this late, especially since you'll arrive super late." Stella pulled her phone from her own mini purse, before getting up to leave. "Is there a time I should head over to your hotel?" She thought it over before seemingly deciding on a time. "9 a.m. sound good?" I nodded before walking her to the exit. "I'll see you at 9 in the morning, good night to you Miss Stella." I bowed my head in goodbye. I should've seen the uncertainty in her eyes.