Page 27 of Devils and the Dead
“Hey! Bartender! Miss!” Drunk guy whistled, waving his empty beer mug. He was still too drunk for me to serve, but I cast a quick eye along the bar and noted a few people with empty glasses and Kirk standing at the server-station, holding a ticket.
“What can I get you both?” I straightened and held up a finger to tell Kirk I’d be right there.
“Margaritas.” Xavier turned to Hades. “She makes the best margaritas.”
I did. Giving Hades what I hoped was a flirty smile, I headed down the bar to get Kirk’s order and check on my other patrons.
“Miss! Miss!” Drunk guy shouted as I walked by, proving that he was not, in fact, ready for another beer.
“You gotta slow it down, buddy, or you’ll end up with an Uber ride home before the first set.” I quickly filled a glass of water and set it in front of him. “Thirty minutes and maybe I’ll think about getting you another beer.”
I practically flew behind the bar, getting Kirk’s order, providing three of my patrons with another round, then making the margaritas. I didn’t use the bottled, pre-made mix that the bar had on hand. Every day I made a batch of my own with fresh squeezed limes and just a hint of agave nectar. Add tequila, some Cointreau, and a lime wedge, then pour in a glass with a salted rim, and voila! Best. Margarita. Ever.
The band had started up, so I needed to resort to that non-verbal communication that everyone in the service industry knows. I took the margaritas down to Xavier and Hades, gesturing to them that I’d talk later, then dashed off again. The next hour was a blur of drink orders and Rolling Stones covers. When the Bremen Shifter Band announced they’d be back after a short break and the house music came on, I poured another five beers then made my way over to Xavier and Hades.
“Another round?” I’d already served them two each, but demons seemed to metabolize alcohol differently than the humans I served. I wasn’t sure if Hades qualified as a demon, but he was clear-eyed, so I assumed when it came to margaritas, I didn’t need to worry about cutting him off.
“Absolutely.” Hades pushed his empty glass my way. “Are you sure you don’t specialize in potions? Because that has to be the most amazing beverage I’ve ever had.”
I felt myself blushing again. That was twice tonight. I didn’t think I’d blushed this much in the last three years.
“I’m glad you like it.” I hesitated. “You said you know other necromancers?”
He nodded. “Quite a few of them are in hell.”
That didn’t bode well for my future. “Do you know any who are living?”
“I’ve been in contact with a few recently.” He shot me a quizzical glance. “I assume you already know them. Aren’t all of you connected somehow? On a social media group or something?”
I squirmed. “Maybetheyare but I’m not. I’m a witch and female. And my family has no experience at all with necromantic magic. I do the best I can on my own, but I really think it’s time I have a mentor. You know, so I don’t inadvertently do something problematic.”
He smiled. “A mentor might still get you mixed up in something problematic. Actually, I’m looking for a specific necromancer. I’d wanted to meet you thinking that maybe you’d know who he was, but if you’re a solo practitioner and isolated from that community…”
“Oh.” I was so disappointed. I’d hoped he was here because Xavier had spoken to him about me and he’d been interested in an intro for romantic reasons. “I guess I can’t help you then. Sorry.”
I went to turn away and his hand shot out to touch my arm.
“But I’m so glad I met you. It doesn’t matter what I came here looking for, I found you. And I’d like to get to know you better, if that’s okay.”
I appreciated a man who was direct, who didn’t hem and haw about his intentions, so I turned back to him and picked up his empty glass.
“Then maybe after my shift we can grab some early breakfast at the Disco Diner?”
His eyebrows shot up. “Disco Diner? That sounds like a place I want to visit.”
I smirked. “Best food in town at three in the morning. Of course, it’s the only place open at that time, so in the ‘best food’ award category, they don’t exactly have any competition.”
I delivered another round of margaritas to Xavier and Hades. The band started up again and more people came through the door. I was so busy that when the lights flickered and the lead singer announced closing time, it hardly seemed as if an entire night had passed. Everyone finished their drinks and paid their tabs. Xavier slid some cash across the bar then his eyes did a quick back-and-forth between me and Hades.
“You kids stay out of trouble,” he teased. “And Hades,doremember who Babylon’s eldest sister is dating. If you value your contracts in hell, then be a gentleman.”
Hades stiffened. “I’malwaysa gentleman.”
Darn it. Although given my past relationships, I probablydidneed to take things slow.
I patted Xavier’s arm and told him I’d see him for Sunday dinner, then got busy cleaning. Hades watched Kirk, Kristin and me for a few minutes then got up and grabbed a broom. By the time the band had packed up and was loading their equipment in the van, we were doing a final wipe on the tables and running the last of the dishes through the dishwasher.
Chapter 13
