TRISTAN
I pull into the motel near The Diner. We get a room and drop off our bags, ensuring we are fully loaded for a fight. No way in hell are we going in there knowing someone is out to get us without being fully loaded with weapons and magic.
Thanks to the coven leaders of the past and Giselle, Keasia’s mother, Hallie and I can shift back and forth without losing our clothes. It’s a nifty spell the current leader has to cast on the wolves. Any new wolf born needs the spell, too, but that isn’t until they start shifting. What this means besides not losing my clothes? Anything that’s on my person when I change into my wolf stays when I’m human again. That includes weapons.
I strap my daggers to my legs and add some potions into my pockets while Hallie and Kay do the same.
After we are all fully loaded, Keasia whispers a concealing spell to hide all of our weapons. No need to catch the attention of the mundanes. Then we head out.
We walk into The Diner, the human side that I took Kay to yesterday, and go right for the tapestry that leads us to the supe side. We whisper the spell that will allow us to enter and walk through the portal.
The tapestries hung up anywhere in the diner or the club are portals that lead to the other sections of the restaurant or other parts of the world. In the club you can exit anywhere in the world, but you come out in the diner of that part of the world. One time, Keasia and I tried every portal and “traveled” the world by way of portal transport. Our parents were less than pleased with us, but we enjoyed ourselves and regret nothing, even the month-long punishment we were given. We were still teens, sixteen, too young to go against our parents’ wishes.
When we all get through to the supe side, we find a table in the back of the room and claim it. I see Kay’s mouth moving as she whispers the trigger spells. These are going to be triggered only if a demon comes in. It’s tricky since we are in a place where supernatural beings are free to come and go as they please. I don’t think there’s a law against demons entering; as long as they keep the peace with the rest of the patrons, they’re allowed to enjoy the club and diner, too. This is the one place we can go and be ourselves. If I wanted to become a wolf right now, I could. No one would think anything of it. This is why Keasia and I love this place. I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but for people like me, it’s a place to be ourselves.
The menu on this side is also amazing; they cater to every race in the supernatural community. There’s something for everyone to enjoy. Blood for vamps, raw meat for the shifters, weird plates of food that could get me sick if I tried to eat it for the elves, there’s something for the fae, too, but no one has seen one in our realm for centuries. We have mermaids, and there’s food on here for them, too. You name it, you can order something for them.
We all place our order with the waiter, a merman. Then we observe while we talk. Or pretend to talk since Keasia is still putting up spells in this room.
She’s done by the time our food arrives. She ordered a burger and fries, with a coke. Like, can she be any more boring?
I look up at Hallie and see she ordered the same as Kay. I shake my head and dig into the raw steak that was placed in front of me.
“So, they said to meet here? Or downstairs?” The Club isn’t really downstairs, but it’s how we refer to it. Its location is completely unknown, and the only way to access it is through the portals from The Diner. So we just say downstairs, because it’s easier.
“The Diner.” Kay shrugs. “That’s all the vision said. I have to go into the club before six to see if I can talk to some people. But I want to make sure this floor is all set before I do that.”
“You’re talking as if you’re going downstairs alone,” I say around a mouthful of food.
“Because I am.” I open my mouth to protest, but she holds up a hand to stop me. “Tris, you can’t come. You’ve tried to get intel before. Do you think anyone is going to talk to me with two wolf bodyguards?” She waits, and when neither Hallie nor I respond, she says, “Exactly. So, I’ll head down, talk to a few people, and then come back up.”
Hallie holds up a finger. “What if we head down about twenty minutes after you? This way we can make sure you don’t get into trouble."
Kay contemplates Hallie's words. It couldn't hurt to have back up, and if we go in after her no one will know we're with her. At least not right away. Kay nods her head, agreeing to Hallie's suggestion.
Hallie grins triumphantly. "Perfect. We'll see you there."
Keasia smiles back. "Okay, but you have to wait a full twenty minutes before going down.”
“Be careful, and make sure you use all of your senses,” I tell her.
She winks. When she is finished with her food, she gets up and heads toward the tapestry that will take her downstairs.
“This is going to be the longest twenty minutes of my life,” I mutter after she disappears through the portal.
Hallie just laughs and straps on more weapons. I have no idea where she got those. I didn’t see her carry a bag.
“You do realize that you are a weapon, right?” I point out.
She just shrugs. “You never know what you’re going to need. We’re asking about demons. I don’t trust them since that war three years ago, and I will not take any chances where Keasia is concerned.”
It makes my wolf really happy to hear her say that she’s got our familiar’s back. “Good. Me neither.” Then I adorn myself with some of her proffered weapons too.