▪ Fallen Meets the Seven ▪

Part 5: I'll Service You

Jazmine and I were chirping on the couch for what seemed like forever suddenly the front door swung open and hit the rubber stopper on the skirting board of the wall to stop it from hitting the wall. My head spun round to see who would be the cause of the dramatic entrance.

"Which one of you was it? and what time do you call this?" Jazmine asked before they stepped inside,

"Late, as usual, is what I call it," A toxic hiss came from the entrance as she stepped in

She had shoulder length brown hair with blonde highlights that had grown out so only brightened half of her wavy hair, she was small, green cat eyes narrowed when I came into view and she rolled them and pushed her tongue against the inside of her cheek in annoyance, she was wearing a grubby cream-coloured apron over a light green button up polo with a teacup embroidered on the short sleeve, a pair of navy boot-cut mom jeans with a pair of brown ankle boots  matching her apron.

"Oh has Austin brought back a toyboy rather than a skank," She spat looking me up and down and I looked at the floor feeling bad

"Don't worry Dez," Teddy yawned and slowly got up and walked over to her and smirked with the blanket still around his shoulders "She's just jealous of the attention you're getting," Ted walked past her and towards the corridor lust disappeared to earlier.

"Piss off," she growled and followed Teddy stomping her feet angrily

"No! wait, where is- oh it doesn't matter she's gone," Jazmine sighed "That was Taylor by the way,"

"Oh, she seemed....nice?" I edged

"She's not when she gets home from work, she'll shower and change and come back a little less bitter, she's had a long day," Jazmine defended and I nodded

"You guys work?" I asked confused

"Yeah this place doesn't pay for itself and if we didn't we'd all be bored as hell just laying around here," She smiled

"You work?" I queried

"Yeah, like my name I pride myself in my career; I own my own boutique in town and online and I sing and act on the side," she smiled proudly 

"Wow seems like you have everything sorted out and I'm guessing Teddy doesn't work, from her uniform Taylor is a barista, and Austinnnnn.... gotta be some sex-related thing," I chuckled

"Strip club," She filled in

"Of course," I chuckled again

"And Teddy isn't unemployed; he works from home, yes; one day a week, yes but it's the only job he'll be motivated enough to get," she sighed "He gets paid for filling out surveys for companies," 

"I mean if he gets paid for filling in check boxes it can't be that bad," I shrugged with a smile

 Not soon after another guy walked through the still open door

"Kevin, there you are! normally you're up here before Taylor," Jazmine exclaimed and quickly got up and walked over too him

Ah, so this is the apparent 'Active volcano" Lust warned me about, He was a tall red-head with a round face with a strong looking body not defined but looked like he could tank, his face naturally rested to look grumpy and his eyes were like Pride's only with red instead of blue. he licked along his teeth revealing the same fangs I noticed Lust having when he bit his lip. Kev wore a tight fitted white button up with a beige tie and matching jacket and pants, he was holding his jacket over his shoulder as Jazmine spoke to him in a hushed tone. I could smell cigarettes and I saw a bit of ash on the top of his black work shoes. I glanced back at his face and realised he looked about ten to fifteen years older than everyone else here. I decided for once to stop staring at people I'm not even introduced to yet so I looked away

I messed with my thumbs as they spoke. Austin came into the room and joined the conversation they were having, I felt kind of alienated not being included in all this. 

I gasped when I saw Gutter run into the room with the universally familiar puppy smile, I picked him up and put him on my lap scratching his ear, 

"Hey bud, I guess I'll talk to you," I whispered and he brushed his face against mine making me giggle "Though you can't hold much of a conversation," 

I continued playing with Gutter until the three who were having a mother's meeting a few seconds ago were now right in front of me intimidatingly Kev because he naturally looked annoyed and Austin because his stare was so territorial, the thing stopping me from cowarding into a corner was Jazmine's soft smile which warmed up my insides

"So once we talk it over with Teddy, you will be taking the spare bedroom, it's the second smallest room but it has a double bed and an ensuite toilet an-" Jazmine advertised before getting interrupted by Austin

"And it's the room right next door to mine, so if your tense and lonely just knock on, and I'll service you," He winked and bit his lip showing me one of his fangs and I gulped and I felt my gut tighten in a way it's never done before

Kev smacked Austin on the back of the head making Austin hiss and rub where he was hit

"Stop interrupting," he growled, I couldn't agree more with Kev I thought

"Agree with him all you like, you're also glad I interrupted to give you that invitation aren't you?" Lust smirked and I just gulped in response

"As I was saying! You will live here and we will each show you the freedoms you actually have a chance to live through, our only request is that after everyone has shown you their lifestyles you need to get out there and find a job, and before you actually land a job you help out around the house chores wise since 4/8 people living here actually work a lot to keep us going, we have money but we lose a lot on bribes and paid staff who stay close to us when we're in public," she told me

"That sounds fair, I'm used to working in house maintenance anyway since I was always asked to clean after parties," I smiled and thanked them and Kev patted me on the shoulder

"Welcome aboard kid, let me show you to your room," He announced before walking towards the corridor everyone apparently disappears in