Page 51 of Nightmare For Hire
Leon glares at the merman. “Explain yourself.”
Mick tells the troll the same thing he told me.
“That’s rape,” Leon says.
“He never said no.” Mick snatches a glass of water from a nearby table and splashes it on himself. His hands grow claws, and his fingers web together.
“I don’t think so. Get the fuck out of my establishment and you’re barred from the dinerandgrocery.” Leon grabs Mick’s arm.
“Release me! I’m the wronged party here. ThatNightmaredidn’t do what he was supposed to.”
“You paid with tinsel, Mick,” I say. “You don’t get a service if you don’t pay. Even I know that.”
“It’s unicorn hair! You just—”
I pick up a few strands and hand it to Leon. He looks at it, then at me. “It’s tinsel.”
“Exactly.” I nod.
“No! I paid a good amount for unicorn hair.”
“Sorry, buddy, you got duped. And now you need to go.” I lean down and whisper into his ear. “You bother Cyrus again and I’ll make good on my threat to send you through the portal to the monster world.”
“Fuck you!” He turns to Leon. “Get the fuck off me!”
I open the door and Leon shoves Mick through it. Once Mick’s out, Leon makes a giant X across the door. “No more shall that merman make it through this door or the next.” The door glows for a second before going back to normal.
“Next round of waffles for you and Cyrus are on me.” Leon clamps me on the shoulder.
“Thanks. And sorry for—” I wave a hand, not sure what to call the confrontation.
“It’s been a hot minute since there was a bit of chaos around here. I’m glad to get rid of him.”
I nod and turn to pick up my tinsel mess. Whispers and murmurs surround me, and I realize Mick outed me as the town’s resident Nightmare.
“That’s the Nightmare? He’s always smiling and waving. He’s not scary at all.”
“He’s the cutest Nightmare.”
“Oh, maybe he’s a Nightmare in bed.” One person giggles.
I sweep up my mess and poof right out of Portal Place diner. “Well, that was an eventful day.” I throw the tinsel away. It’s time to do what I do best. Feed on nightmares and not worry about anything else. Hopefully, Mick gets a clue and leaves Cyrus alone.
Chapter 22
Cyrus
“Look who it is. My little cum bucket. My beautiful fuck toy.”
I whip around to face Mick. It’s just me and him in the hospital locker room. My heart pounds and my hands go clammy. This can’t be happening. I can’t be alone with him.
“Leave me alone, Mick. We’re done and have been for a while. Let me live my life.”
“Ah, babe, don’t be like that. You know you miss me.”
He brushes my hair behind my ear. I push his hand away and walk around him. “Leave me alone, Mick.”
“Don’t you dare walk away from me!”
