The Aftermath ✔

13 DON'T LOOK

"And another thing, you assholes, do you know the preparation that goes into dying your body black?"

The second succubus leaned in to say, her hushed voice a whisper, "Tell 'em."

"Long. Time doesn't run the same for you pricks. So you can't appreciate it."

Once again, the second succubus, the soft spoken of the two, nodded in agreement. "Preach."

The darker skinned one prepped her hands on her hips. "And who the hell ruins a transaction like that? We gave you two years in two minutes and all it amounted to was you sitting on a dock drinking weak werewolf beer with a vampire whose hand you don't even touch. I mean, obviously you are more than deserving of this death. We are doing you a favor."

"Right," the second one echoed. She leaned into her dark counterpart and whispered, "Make sure they know—"

"It's nonrefundable. Damn right."

With a definitive nod, the second succubus raised her nose.

"Ladies, ladies." Eli held up both hands which took a considerable amount of effort. Even now his face still stung from where Trixie'd slapped him awake with all her might. He focused less on those bitter, and very serious words, and more so on remedying such a hostile situation. "This is a misunderstanding. Of course you've got a customer."

The identical women traded a glance then turned to Eli once more.

"Oh yeah? Where?" the more aggressive of the two demanded.

She folded her arms but Eli tried to keep smiling. "You won't be disappointed. You can play with him all you like. If you'd turn your attention to the gentleman at your back."

Still sitting up in bed quiet, Manny watched their interaction. Trixie sat next to him.

"Right this way," Eli instructed.

But both women scanned the room. In time, they turned back.

"Asshole," the quiet one drawled. "We can't see couples with genuine affection if they're together. How do you think all these races survive this long?"

Her lips began to tremble, and her dark-skinned counterpart held her shoulders.

"It's okay. This idiot just doesn't know any better. His fantasy was lame anyway. Hand-holding with that vamp for two years? Damn, what a pathetic excuse for a wolf. I don't know if this kill's even worth our time. Come on. There's a nice politician scheduled for later. It'll be more than worth it."

"But it's a fairy," the second one sobbed. "And this werewolf was so disposable he'd be easy to consume. Fairies break as soon as they're in. Last time it took ages to vacuum one out."

She continued her bitter lament as she was led away. Eli gritted his teeth, body blushing at how he was referred. He wasn't...boring or...pathetic. Right? In time, he cringed.

The aggressive, all-black succubus paused at the door, still with her hands on her friend's shoulders, and looked back. "And you won't be getting a point card or a good review. Dickhead." She scanned the room and called out. "All-a ya. You pricks." Her tone softened when she comforted her friend. "Come on. We'll just butter the fairy up before we off him. That's the trick.... We'll even read some of his shit poetry—bet you he's got tons of poetry. Alla-dem do. Urg."

Their voices trailed off into nothing once the doors closed.

Every cell in Eli wanted to fall back into that chair in relief but he feared falling asleep once more.