Page 3 of Marked By the Wild Orc

“Talon needs someone to start immediately and he’s…”

I slip into a rain jacket and grab my purse. “No worries. I’m on my way. I’d also prefer to start immediately.”

“Good luck, Krissy.”

“Congratulations again and thanks for everything, Kavin.”

Ten minutes later,I’ve trudged through the heavy rain, crossed the street and I’m in front of that shop I’d seen through the window. Up close its slightly more impressive. It is in fact at the end of the strip mall, next door to a sandwich shop and a nail salon. The good news is that it really is so close that I can simply walk here for all my shifts and even go home during lunch breaks if I want.

How did I get so lucky? I really, really need this job. So I don' t have any experience... A few white lies can fix that. Anyway, how hard can it be? I take out my phone, open Google Docs and add a quick line into my resume.

A sign on the door says it’s closed, but I push at the glass door and find it opens easily. Inside, the entryway is more spacious than I assumed, and I gape at a wall of framed, breathtaking tattoo art as well as other photographs of orcs posing with a variety of tattoos. This is an establishment that mainly caters to orcs, but there are many pictures of humans smiling proudly, displaying their own orc tribal art.

The entry smells fresh and new, as if this shop was recently remodeled. Brand new wood floors with white baseboards are below my rain boots and all the walls appear freshly painted alight gray. An intricately carved wooden bench provides seating in the entry area. Everything looks rustic, or vintage in the best way. On the counter is an older cash register and next to it is a giant notebook with a nice pen on display.

“Hello?” I question. “Is anyone here?”

No response. The only sound is the rain outside.

Business probably does best later in the day and on Friday, Saturday and weekday nights when people are off work. I’m unfortunately a morning person so if I do get this job, I’m going to have to get used to this new schedule.

I keep walking past the counter and find a short hallway lit with a sconce made of black iron. There are several closed doors, but one remains open. Inside is a comfortable chair that leans back and reminds me of a nice dentist chair. Am I being rude, looking around? I’m just so curious because I’ve never been inside of a tattoo shop and I’m pleasantly surprised how much I like the aesthetic.

There are rustic tools and knifes, I assume for the traditional orc tattoos. Small pots are lined up, along with areas to grind and mash their own inks and colors. It looks like a mix of old and new techniques together. Very interesting. There's even something, I assume, to make a flame and an array of black irons with symbols at the tip. These orcs are serious about their markings.

I don't touch anything, but I do also see gadgets that are neatly lined that I vaguely recognize must be for tattoos on humans and everything looks highly sanitary and safe. If I were to get ink on my body, I would trust this place simply from a first glance. No wonder business is good here and this orc, Talon Overtree, needs help.

Then I hear a deep voice.

I step back out into the hallway, trying to find the source.

A single, fully grown black cat sits in the middle of the hallway.

“Oh my gosh. Well, this is a surprise.” A big smile spreads across my face because I adore cats. Soon there's a second cat, and then a third joins the group and all three black cats sit and stare at me.

“Hi kitties.” I stretch out my hand and lead with my fingertips, ready to greet and pet these three darling animals.

All three cats stand their ground, not running away and watch my approach with curiosity.

The first black cat, the biggest of the three, sniffs my fingertips and seems to decide that I'm worthy. I give it a little pet on the head, and then the second, a thinner cat, allows a pet too. The third black cat with tall ears and a long tail hangs back and then darts off into the open door at the end of the hallway.

Oh well, with cats, two out of three accepting me isn’t so bad.

I can still hear the deep voice through the open door and I'm not sure what to do now. Is this Talon Overtree’s office? I don't want to intrude on his business conversation. I'm guessing these are his cats? He must be a nice man if he’s such a cat lover. Right?

Soon my curiosity gets the best of me, and I can't help but feel the need to see what this orc, my brother’s best friend, looks like.

I get close and the third cat comes back out and rubs against my ankle, finally deciding to make first contact. “Hi, baby,” I whisper. All three of them move around me as I peek past the edge of the door.

I’ve got a good view of my new boss and I suck in a breath because he’s a bit terrifying. Ancient feelings of fear kick in, because orcs have always kidnapped human women to fill them with their sons. There are no females in the orc species, so their only way to procreate is with human woman who give birth to orc sons. And in ancient times, orcs didn't always wait forconsent, just grabbed and ran. It was bad, but modern orcs do not kidnap.

“They do not kidnap,” I whisper to myself as I clutch the door. My brother is a sweetheart who did not kidnap Mia. They met, and I assume she's in love with him in her own twisted way.

I bite my lip and my eyes scan his entire body.

Talon is huge.

I watch as he speaks on his cell phone. He fills up the entire office chair, which squeaks under his weight. Black horns burst out on either side of his forehead and he has thick black hair with gray at the temples. A thick black beard covers his wide jaw. And a rope necklace, that looks like it was made by hand, with a heavy medallion hangs from around his corded neck and rests on his muscular, green chest. Interesting tattoos weave down both of his arms.

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