Playing with Fire: Other Realm, Frost Family Series Book 5

Trick 11

Nox

I hid a yawn behind my hand, shaking my head to try and clear it of the muddled feeling encompassing my mind. Today was supposed to be just another day...

But after events like this, my life always ended up more complex and chaotic than before. For awhile, at least. I could only pray things would settle down soon. But until then, I had to both lie-low and also keep up the effort at my job.

"Axel, I need three orders of number five, as well as a salad. One of those is without onions, and no pickles either. Got it?" Marg's voice came from outside of the kitchen, but it wasn't hard for me to pick it up. Besides her, it sounded like the cafe was a little busier than normal. I could hear the voices, breathing patterns, and heartbeats of seven teenagers. Five adults...Two elderly folk, perhaps a couple or pair out for a bite to eat?

I grabbed the meat from the fridge it was kept thawed in, placing it down on the hot, sizzling grill after placing butter on top to lubricate it. "Got it!" I called out. Once the meat was on the grill, I turned and moved to the large countertop eight feet down on my right. This was where the vegetable area was. Grabbing the cutting board, I began slicing a fresh tomato after running it under the water from the sink right beside the counter, on my left. Once the tomato was clean, it took less than half a minute to cut off the tips and then form eight slices. I pushed aside the ends, placing the tomato slices on the plate I kept by for this reason.

My ears and nose was primed to listen to the meat, hearing the sound of it hissing on the grill. It would let me know when it needed to be-

Now.

Stepping over, I picked up the metal spatula and quickly flipped the three large patties. As I did, I felt a moment of pause. A shot of unease slid down my spine as the patties hung in the air for half a second before quickly falling back down on the grill.

Human patties. Human meat.

I raised a hand to my mouth, feeling my stomach turn.

It was very unlike me, honestly. I ate human from time to time. It wasn't like that was a secret. But even so...

Bri, the thought brushed along the edges of my conciousness.

Closing my eyes, I sucked in a quick breath. You have to get back to work. You don't have time to think about Brionia. You still have that salad to make.

"You okay, Axel?" Marg's voice from seven feet behind me made my back stiffen.

"I'm just fine," I muttered in a bored tone. Not turning to look at her, I continued with my job.

I wanted her to leave as soon as possible. I'd never been a fan of Marg, but that wasn't important. She was the one who I technically called "boss". So, for now, I had to put up with her.

After a few more tense, silent seconds, I supposed my tactics worked. The aura of "go the hell away" I'd been quietly shooting out had scared her off for now. I let out a breath when I no longer sensed her presence.

The rest of the day proceeded like any other. By the time closing time came at 9:30 p.m., I was exhausted. Even so, I had a lot to clean up, so I got to work with no more than a tired sigh.

Around ten, I'd finished making sure the kitchen was both clean and ready for the next day. Sighing, I reached down to my waist to pull at the end of the white apron tie. The bow came undone without any resistance and I gathered the white cloth, wrapping it around my left arm. Yawning, I stretched out some of the kinks in my lower back and shoulders.