Rich Coven

Chapter One

Cool breezed air hit my face and I immediately smiled. Summers in Los Angeles didn't seem nearly as hot as in Arizona.

I had been walking for blocks now. I didn't know exactly what I was looking for, but I now had less than $500 to my name. I was clutching on to my luggage that held my entire life and I had no idea where I was going.

Dammit Eden, why do you never think before you do things?

I sighed, squeezing tighter onto the handle of my bag as I walked briskly past a group of sketchy men who glanced at me lewdly.

"Hey beautiful where are you going?" one cat called.

"Fuck off," I mumbled, picking up my pace with each stride. My feet were starting to hurt, and I needed to rest, but since I had no place to stay, that was not an option.

The motels in West LA were priced higher than I expected. For a decent room that didn't look like it was infected with STDs, it was going to be near $100 a night. I hadn't spent too much on my bus ticket, but it still left me with only $460. I would need money to eat before I found a job as a live-in nanny and I knew I couldn't sleep on the streets until then but spending all of money on four days in a hotel room seemed irresponsible.

I looked at my watch and it read 10:00pm. It was getting late and if I didn't act fast, there may not be any more rooms for me to rent out. I frowned, unsatisfied with the choice I had to make.

I guess anything was better than staying at that hell hole I used to call home in Tuscon.

"Half priced shots until twelve!" I heard a bar promoter yell. I glanced up and smiled. My choice could wait. I needed a drink.

The upscale bar was well lit by lights that fell from the roof and resembled stars. They illuminated the darkened floors, creating sparkles on each tile. I slid into the first available seat I could find.

"Two tequila shots with sugar around the rim and two limes please," I ordered. The bartender, slim and frightening, eyed me suspiciously before speaking up.

"ID please," he retorted.

"Right. Sorry." I unzipped the fanny pack I had sitting on my shoulders before handing him over my ID and credit card.

"You look a little young to be twenty-three," he grumbled.

"I get that a lot," I lied. I was only seventeen, but having a fake was the only way I made it through high school. It was the first gift my dad had gotten me that I liked.

He muttered something under his breath and shook his head before handing me the shots. "You're lucky you're pretty."

"He's right about that," a high-pitched voice chimed in. I turned to see who it came from. "I'm Summer." A petite girl with big green eyes grinned at me. Her ice blonde hair was twirled in waves that touched the base of her back and her skin resembled the color of sand. She was by the far the prettiest girl in the room, and that was usually hard to say in a town like this. "Maurice don't be so hard on her."

"Sorry Ms. Garcia," he apologized immediately.

She laughed in a way that was lighthearted and serene. "It's fine. Please make two more shots just the same." She shifted her attention back to me. "So? Your name?"

"Eden," I spoke up. "I just moved here."

"Eden," she repeated. "I love that. Cheers." We downed the two shots and I felt warmth creep up the soles of my feet into the hallow of my cheeks. God, I love tequila. "Where are you staying?"

"I uh-" I dropped my eyes to the floor. "I haven't exactly found a place to stay yet."

"Let me guess. Ran away from home to pursue your dreams?" She gestured Maurice to bring four more shots.