Undercity: Manifest

Chapter Nineteen

Sadie didn't think she had read it wrong- the looks, the touches, firecracker. Yet, Zach dopped their kiss like she was on fire. Mortified, horrified, willing a sudden death, she had worked through all the emotions rejection provoked during her shift at the station. Now she was well into the final coping stage, alcohol. 

The decision to go to Angelo's alone was born of three reasons; she had nobody to drink with, drinking at home alone is just depressing, and deep down, she missed it. She hadn't been back to the bar since she finished her last shift months ago. 

It felt different sitting on the opposite side of the bar. She didn't fit in with the other

customers. She was dressed casually in a pair of jeans, covered partially by a red jumper, which she threw on as she left her flat. Sitting alone at the bar, in same stool Zach had occupied because, clearly, she had issues, she sipped gingerly on an overpriced mojito when Tony struggled through the door carrying a box.

He noticed her immediately, 'Hey stranger.' 

She waved her glass at him as she waited for him to lay the box down and come over. 

'How's the new life treating you?' He was stacking the glass washer as he asked. 

'Just great.' She was a little tipsy and made no effort to hide her sarcasm.

'Rough day?' 

She answered him with a groan, flopping her head down onto the bar. 

He chuckled deeply as he loaded the last glass into the machine and set it running. 

'You'll get used to it.' He seemed to be looking at her to gauge her reaction which sparked her curiosity. He must have read the look she gave him because without warning, his eyes became two symmetrical spheres as his black pupils doubled in size and were suddenly surrounded by a bright orange sclera.  

She gasped. 'You're a shifter!' 

His eyes settled back to their usual hazel. 'Born and raised.' 

They both shared a low laugh as she tipped her glass to him in a show of solidarity. 

The two chatted like old friends between Tony nipping off to do various jobs and serve customers. She learnt that his favourite form was an owl and she had listened intently as he told her about his love for flying over the city at night taking in the sights and sounds with his enhanced senses. She envied him in that moment for the freedom he had to escape the world's madness. 

Feeling lighter with each passing hour, and slightly drunker, Sadie became somewhat closer to feeling the warmth of a similar freedom. She knew it was going to be a short-lived reprieve. Just as she knew kissing Zach would have been. He was right to stop things between them. That thought didn't take the sting away. 

When she kissed him, she needed comfort, needed to feel something other than anger and grief. Logically, she knew she liked him, but something was missing. Unable to put her finger on what it was, she opted for another drink. 

'It's my last one I plomise.' She slurred as Tony hesitated to complete her order. 

She sipped her drink, which she suspected had less alcohol in it that it should have, when a thought occurred to her. 

'Hey! Tony.' Her voice was a little louder than necessary so when he came over to her, she lowered it before asking. 'What happens at the arena, you know on Event Night?'

He looked puzzled. 'Has nobody told you?' 

'Nope.' The 'P' popped. 

Tony started wiping the bar in front of her. 'It's an initiation where unmanifested witches and warlocks are given the chance to prove themselves. You know what must happen for someone to manifest?'