Blood Lily

13

Serafina

The bar is dimly lit, with a haze of smoke hanging in the air and the low hum of conversation filling the space.

It seems like the usual crowd is here, with people nodding at Ezekiel as we make our way to the bar. Clearly his crowd; definitely not mine. The bartender, a grizzled old man who looked like he fought in Vietnam, nods as we approach.

"Rough night?" the bartender asks Ezekiel, in a way that shows they clearly know each other.

"You can't even Imagine the first of it" he answers as we slide onto the barstool and setting our things down.

"Well I had a few people asking around for you" the man tells him, bending to grab something. I roll my eyes and look away, not wanting to catch them exchanging anything.

"No, not tonight. I'm not taking work." Ezekiel answers back.

The man looks at him then at me "And who might be this beautiful lady?"

"I'm family" I answer with a small smile as the man takes my hand and kisses the back of it under Ezekiel's cold eyes

"I'm Tony. Welcome to my home. Any of Ghost's family is my family"

"Tony," Ezekiel says, his voice low but firm, "Don't force me to amputate you, alright?"

"Relax, kid. I'm just being friendly." He straightens up and gives Ezekiel a knowing look. "Your lady here is safe with me."

Tony sets a glass of whiskey in front of me, the amber liquid catching the dim light. "On the house, for Ghost's family," he says with a wink.

I smile and grab the glass. Tony returns with Ezekiel's beer and leans on the counter, his eyes shifting from Ezekiel to me and back again. "So, what's got you two in such a state tonight?"

I glance at Ezekiel, who gives me a subtle nod, leaving it to me to answer. "Just dealing with a stubborn client."

I take a sip of the whiskey, feeling the warmth spread down my throat, and then set the glass back down on the bar, feeling like I'm under a spotlight. The whiskey is doing its job, helping to dull the edge of my current annoyance and frustration.

Tony raises an eyebrow, his eyes flicking to Ezekiel. "One of those types," he muses. "The ones who act tough because they're scared of what happens when they stop fighting." He pauses, wiping down the bar as if the motion gives him something to think through. "Seen plenty of them come and go. Most of 'em don't stick around long. Either they burn out or the world chews 'em up."

I let out a bitter scoff, just enough whiskey in my system to voice what I've been holding back. "Hope he gets chewed up and spit out," I say, slamming the glass down on the bar harder than I intended. "That's all that shithead deserves."

Tony's eyes narrow a bit as he digests my crude words. "So why you take em' in? Ghost's call? Or is this your pet project?"

I smirk at the comment, shaking my head. "Rabid pet if you ask me. But no, Ghost's orders, not that he'd be doing it if we didn't think it was worth something. But he's a pain in the ass. "

I take another sip of my drink before setting it down harshly, pointing at Tony. "Me, personally, I thinks he's wasting his time on him. A fucker like him is beyond saving."

Ezekiel, leaning back with his beer, lets out a quiet sigh, watching me knock back drink after drink. He grabs my wrist as I reach for another. "Princess, slow down. You're getting close to double digits."

I scoff, shrugging off their concern as I reach for my drink again. "I can handle myself" I tell him, my voice cracking, betraying how drunk i truly was

Tomy passes by, chuckling "You keep going like that, you'll end up under this bar instead of at it."

I glare at the old bartender as I throw the drink down my throat. "shut up dude" I tell him as I get up, slightly tumbling as I do

Ezekiel grab my arm before I fall and sighs "I think thats enough for tonight"

I mock him "You don't saaay"

"Dont sass with me young lady" Ezekiel says as he take the drink out of my hands and flags Tony down

The old man comes down and nods at us before slipping an envelope to Ezekiel and grabs the bills under our cup.

"Take care Beautiful" he tells me with a crooked smile "Don't give up on theses dark souls that roam the earth"

I scoff and tumble a bit "I'm not here to save anyone," I mutter under my breath, more to myself than to anyone else.

Tony just smiles, a knowing look in his eyes. "Who said anything about saving?"

I give him what I think is a glare but is most likely squinty eyes "You know what I meant. I don't care about anyone's soul other then mine"

He lets out a hearty laugh before walking away " That's what they all say at first."