Afterlife was dead.
The storm was really starting to ramp up outside the once and former St. Paul Cathedral. That said, a little rain wouldn’t stop the Grateful Dead from partying the night away behind the stained glass windows and under the coloured fluorescent lights. The club wasn’t as filled as it normally was but there was enough revelry to create a vibe; then again it did just so happen to be a Monday evening, in the middle of a monsoon at the dying breath of summer.
Jill O’Brien and Mei Ramsey, call them vampires, witches, zombies or neon Medusas had been holed up inside the Afterlife since their earlier interview with their friend Kylee. Typical of her, she was investigating yet another of the countless dirty little secrets that Edenridge had swept under the proverbial rug. On this particular of days, Ky was deep diving into the horror story of David O’Hara. Foundling. Star Basketball Player. Nice guy. Possible child molester. David’s case had always been an interesting one considering there was no visible evidence of his crime. Nobody ever came forward. All there was, was rumour and rumour could be a noose in a town like Edenridge.
Two months ago, Mei would’ve been right by Kylee’s side in her investigation. The pair together were an unstoppable force of nature but Grimmy had to work without the Dark Priestess on this one. Instead, she was working with a shaggy haired Irish boy who played too much Tony Hawk Pro Skater. Mei had a more pressing issue. Her dream girl. A flame haired temptress whom she had desired for long enough that she couldn’t remember how long. Jill was so broken, so worn down by the dark before she and Mei gave in to their feelings. Now Miss Midnight was doing her best to help build her back up into the fierce and fiery woman she knew her to be. They had been making progress and now the dark was not crushing Jill, it was lifting her up.
Mei held onto the back of her girl’s head as they danced together to the sound of Vampires by The Midnight. They were ensconced in a lithe and sultry display as Mei’s lower half grinded against Jill’s. It would be hard, damn near impossible not to stare at the two women, dressed sexily and moving against one another in a display of pure passion. Mei had danced for years. Second to the mystic and martial arts, dance was one of her great loves. She shared it with much of her family; her grandmother opened a studio; Dansu no Jotei, on the Southside. The Midnight girl looked back fondly on dancing with her cousins Callie and Minnie as kids, the workout was almost as hard as the ones her father put her through. She hoped that Cal and Min were good. They were family so she loved them but they were a bit too K-Pop for her taste. I mean, Callie was an idol for Hecate’s sake. Last Mei heard she was in Singapore, Reagan saw her a few months back but that was neither here nor there. Mei had one thing to focus on in that moment and that was her girlfriend.
Leaning her head back and up, Mei kissed Jill’s chin, leaving a touch mark from her red lipstick.
“You look crazy hot tonight.”The girl who now sported a soft crimson ring underneath her own deep ruby lips just smiled down at the woman who marked her.
“Got to make sure I match you, love.”It still felt weird to be called crazy hot. It wasn’t the first time that Jillian O’Brien had heard it in regards to her appearance, but it had been a damn long while. Crazy was shouted far more than hot was in recent times, but now? Now she could actually believe it. Now she had someone with whom there was absolute trust that they meant exactly what they said. Sure, she had felt like that connection was there before, but it was either ripped apart by forces beyond her control or it turned out to be a bold-faced lie. With Mei, it seemed like there was no threat of the latter scenario. It couldn't be. She wasn't that good of an actor to play a long con over six years just to break Jill's heart. No, it made embracing everything that much easier.
And embrace Jill did. Her outfit, the same as the one she sat down for her interview with Kylee, was hitting that sweet spot of her old preppy cheer queen life mixed with her new darker edge. One honed in depression and destruction but sharpened to a productive point by the Asian goth girl who had a hold on her, literally and figuratively at this point. This was a new kind of beauty that the redhead could convey to the world. She had always put up a soft front, allowing herself to offer an easy approach and wait until she had the ear of her target before unveiling that more deceptive, dangerous side of her if needed. Maybe that was the influence of her mom's side of the family. Now, the dangerous side was out in the open. Vodka bottle in hand or not, Jillian O'Brien was not going to be messed with any more. Not with her queen by her side.
As the saxophone swells headed towards the climax of the song, she let herself be pulled in tighter against her demon dream girl, their bodies pressed together in a display that dared any of the spirits haunting the former cathedral to make themselves known lest their God judge them for standing by while they cavorted under the arches. Jill could still feel the heat on her chin and wanted to return the favor, but Mei's makeup was such a flawless portrait, it would be a shame to smudge it here on the dance floor. No, that could come later. So Jill settled for the closest thing she could as the ex-cheerleader leaned forward and planted her lips on the ex-cheerleaders' neck, gentle as she was in the past, but the slight pressure and the brief flick of a tongue let Mei know how her partner was feeling. Vampires, indeed.
"So, do we want to maintain our spot on the dance floor, or do we go refresh our drinks?" Jill asked Mei as the song started to fade out.
A small moan escaped from Mei’s painted lips as she felt the soft breath of her girlfriend on her neck. Really it sent shivers down her spine in the best possible way. Oh Jill was going in the right direction for a good time doing the bad thing tonight. The Goth Goddess allowed her hands to wander from behind her lover's redhead and down her body to reach her soft, smooth legs. Fuck, she was lucky.
“We better get some drinks or I’m just going to eat you out right here on the dance floor.”Mei had developed over time, a certain cadence that was unequivocally hers. She spoke her mind, literally. She did not hide what she felt or what she thought, consequences be damned. If she wanted to fuck her smoking hot girlfriend, she’d say it. If she wanted to call the terrifying leader of the Southside Serpents a cunt and punch him in the face, she would and she did. Mei had pushed all concern of retaliation from ReyRey for her attack on Carlisle down to the bottom of her mind. She knew it was probably a mistake and that retribution was coming her way but fuck it. She was Mei fucking Midnight. She was badass…or at least she hoped she was.
She took a hold of Jill’s hand and walked towards the bar. As the pair walked, the tattoo artist noted the Devil leaning over the VIP balcony, chatting very closely to a beautiful blonde. Well that wasn’t going to end well. Mei wouldn’t be surprised if a body was found floating in the lake in the morning once the storm had subsided. The very thought of death didn’t bother the midnighter, in fact she embraced it but what did worry her was the lake and particularly bodies in the lake. Kylee, one of her best friends, was currently investigating one such body and Mei couldn’t help but wonder how much danger she would be in if she opened Pandora’s box.
“We should check in on Ky first thing," she said as they arrived at the bar.
“I’m a little worried.”Jill nodded as she rested her arm on the bar, the other one not leaving Mei's grip for a second. It was true that Kylee was experienced enough at doing this sort of investigation that she would be able to avoid getting in too deep of a situation. She also had a Callahan with her, possibly an upgrade of a Callahan. Jill didn't remember Adam looking like that when he left Eden the first time. But still, the drowning of David O'Hara was a sore spot for the town, certainly for the Elite, and one wrong prod could bring the wrong people after her.
Although having had some time to think about it since the afternoon interview, was it really that wrong what David did? Going after a freshman as a senior was a major faux pas, for sure, but was it that much different than Grace fucking Danny a few months later? Not that Jill wanted to relive that portion of her life, not with her and Danny having finally patched things up to the point of civility. In fact, one of the comforts she had was knowing that even with its reclaimed status, the lingering sanctitude of the cathedral would probably cause Grace's skin to burn the second she stepped foot in the Afterlife. But Jill played her part in spreading the rumors about Dirty David, helped hasten his excommunication from the Elite, and barely broke a sweat when she heard his body was found in the lake. Being on the other side of her own descent into crushing darkness definitely gave her perspective she didn't have back then. Jill felt bad for what she did to David.
She also felt bad about lying to Kylee.
Although that one wasn't 100% true. Jill still pointed her friend in the right direction as far as she knew. She wasn't going to completely shut off Kylee in her dogged pursuit of the truth. But it wasn't her story to tell. She gave Kylee her side, for sure. But she wasn't a snitch, especially with something so personal. No, she wouldn't be using that to break down people anymore. She wasn't going to give her own girls the Emily Carano treatment. Except maybe Lanie.
"Ky will be fine," Jill finally answered.
"You know as well as I do how much of a bulldog that girl is. In the nicest way. I sent her to Cece, and if there are answers to be had in the Dirty David story, Cece is her best chance to get them. You know how good Cece was at getting things done in the shadows back in the day. She won't steer Kylee wrong." I hope. "But yeah, once we are done here, I think a drunken check-in call to our third Angel is in order. But to get to that state… what do you want, love? This one is on me."That would probably be the only one given Jill's finances at the moment. She still hadn't found any work, most local businesses aware of how far she had fallen during her post-pregnancy depression, and unwilling to hire the glamour of the past with the wreck of the present still looming and potentially relapsing at any given moment. She now knew how her mom must have felt scraping and clawing to get what she could before marrying her dad. Lyons to O'Brien and back in one generation. She was starting to scrape barrels, heck even working at the Afterlife didn't seem so bad. Or with Ky's sister at the Edge of Sin. She was drunkenly joking with Hailey about the offer but now, it was looking like an option. She needed something. Mei couldn't keep carrying the two of them like this.
“Black Mojito baby.” Mei rapped on the bar as Sonya began mixing her signature drink for the dark priestess. Jill was right. Kylee could definitely take care of herself and she had Adam with her who was built like a Grecian statue of Zeus. That was a surprise. Mei hadn’t thought about Adam Callahan in years. She remembered him much like Roddy, nice guy, shaggy hair, goofy grin, all the usual Callahan traits. Yet when he turned up at their door, bulging out of his shirt and having grown into his features? Well that sight almost turned her straight.
Almost. No one could ever top her Jillybean.
Caressing Jill’s hand with her thumb, Mei thought about the last few months since she and Jill got together. Everything had gone so fast but so right. The Dream Girls were living together, fucking every chance they got, rocking their new car, living life at night and Mei was helping Jill physically and mentally get back to the foxy fire-headed mega babe she was before she got caught in a shitstorm. Though it was a two way street. Jill was showing Mei that she didn’t have to constantly live in darkness, that there was warmth and love in the light. However, Mei knew that there were still secrets between them, secrets that she hoped they both could share over time. One of which was Jill's state of employment. The Midnight girl knew how much Lady Ashes hated that Mei was paying all of their bills and it was a weight that she was desperate to lift.
“I’m just being silly, Ky’s got that glorious chunk of Irish beef with her, she’ll be fine.” Taking a hold of her drink, the goth girl took a sip and sighed in pleasure.
“Perfect.” Placing the drink back down on the bar, Mei let her eyes drift over her lover's body for a moment before meeting her gaze.
“So I was thinking about your job situation, maybe it’s time we asked someone for help?”Jill took a long sip from her expertly crafted Darkfire cocktail. She had explained it to Sonya a couple months ago when the idea came to her in a dream… or so she says. Two shots of dark rum, one and half ounces of mango juice, one ounce of cranberry juice, a dash of cinnamon, and two black cherries for garnish. She didn't care if she was the only one that ordered it, or the fact that she had a drink of her own at the Afterlife probably meant she spent way too much time here, but it was hers in the way the Black Mojito was Mei's and it suited them both just fine.
"Both on mine, Sonya," Jill confirmed as she turned back to her lover. Mei brought up the situation she knew they were both thinking about and Jill let out a soft sigh.
"I guess. It was so easy to get a job before. All I had to do was bat my eyes and mention my name and I had access to the register if I wanted it. But now that the money from Dad's life insurance is gone and everyone else is doing their own thing… aside from Grace, but who fucking knows what she actually has planned for herself, I just… I guess I need the help to get back into that better spot huh? Law school is basically out of the question now so… what can a girl like me do to get some money going in this town? I mean, taking off my clothes is more of an option now, I guess."It had only been a couple months but the changes to her routine were starting to bring that old cheerleader body back to the redhead. A good chunk of the pregnancy/booze weight was finally starting to disappear, and even if they were denizens of the dark now, the fact that she was getting outside and limiting her booze intake to "non-Disney star breakdown" levels was helping her complexion regain a little bit of that shine. The scars remained, but at least there were things to draw the attention away.
"Although I guess the Edge of Sin is out. Can't be madly in love with someone who punched out the owner and get a job there, unless, you know, I reach supernova hot levels."“You already are supernova hot levels but I digress.” Mei brushed a hair from Jill’s face and tucked it behind her ear. She leaned in and kissed the lone gently before returning to her bar stool.
“I hate for us to go there but babe, if you really want to work, we have an ace in our back pocket.” If she was completely honest with herself, the nocturnal DJ wouldn’t mind if Jill decided she didn’t want to work. She just wanted her girlfriend to be happy and if that meant staying on the couch and watching reruns of Modern Family or Scrubs then that is what she would support. Still. Mei knew Jill, she knew her better than anyone and as she returned to the person she once was, that version of her would not sit idle and wait for the end. No, the real Jill would take the bull by the horns, break its neck and then cook Mei a romantic dinner before the hottest love making possible. That was her Jill.
“We could speak to some of the guys, see if their parents are willing to take you on? Then maybe after a little moment saved up we can get you into community college? Like I hear Lexie Davies is back in town? We could see if her Mom’s law firm will take you on as an intern or something? Or I could speak to Ozzy? Get you a job at the insurance company? Hell, we could ask Ky and see if dream daddy Grimm can help?”Jill demurred as she felt more heat, this time on her ear. It was amazing how Mei could stir emotions with a simple peck that an entire starting backfield for the Celtics couldn't coax with their naked bodies.
"It's something, love. I don't want to be asking for too much charity. I just gotta get something on the resume other than high school accolades and pity points. Shit, I would even wait tables if I have to, but is an internship going to be the best thing for us? I don't want you to run yourself into the ground just because I'm still trying to get back on my feet." Jill's hand slipped alongside Mei's cheek, carefully gliding along to make sure she didn't disturb the painted look as it reached her ear and caressed down her neck. Mei's own scar of the past was ever present, but it didn't completely own her. Just like the scars on Jill's back wouldn't own her. Not anymore.
"Besides, I think I have heard enough of Momma Ramsey's pep talks to try and aim a little higher than smoking hot trophy wife. Even if you deserve that trophy."Jillian’s touch always ignited Mei’s blood like a spark to oil but the feel of her finger drifting around her neck felt different. The Wiccan had done everything she possibly could to move beyond that day. She threw herself into her art. She threw herself into the radio and she threw herself into love. The Chairman used to say that Mei was a mountain, strong, resolute and unmovable. Yet she had been moved.
Most other than Jill would assume that the youngest Ramsey had overcome the events of the first day of senior year. They didn’t see her waking up at night screaming. They didn’t see the fact that she avoided sleep so that she didn’t have to relive that moment. When she closed her dark eyes, Mei could transport herself back to that moment, the moment she saw Charlie looking at her through the door. They never had a bad relationship or any real relationship, it was always civil and when they talked they liked to talk about music. She didn’t think about anything else when she got up from under the table. She didn’t think that in two seconds, he would raise his gun up to the glass and open fire. It was like watching a movie. She could see herself lying on the art room floor, holding on to her neck and gasping for breath. She could see Roddy Callahan running over to her and taking off his jacket to put pressure on her wound.
The mountain crumbled around him.
“You know, I might be able to help,” a voice said from behind the girls.
Taking a seat next to Jill, Esteban Montero looked massively out of place. He was dressed in a light blue suit with a black turtleneck but he looked immaculate and handsome; his moustache perfectly curled and his hair fluffy and flowing.
“Three tequila, mi amor and something for yourself.” The charm dripping through the man’s Latin-tinged accent was like melted butter on toast. It was to die for. As Sonya poured the shots, Esteban turned his attention to the vampires.
“If you’re looking for work, I may be of some assistance.”Jill turned around, used to men offering to help in her times of trouble. They definitely didn't have accents dripping like that though. Or dressed that impeccably. Or offered tequila. Usually it was slurred speech from a soiled sweatshirt offering a beer for a flash. As Jill watched the shot of Patron land in front of her, she eyeballed the mysterious Latin stranger.
"I'm listening, but if this is one of those million dollar deals to fuck my girlfriend, she's worth at least double that."A wry smile crept across Mei’s painted lips. Jill was a badass and this stranger had no idea what sort of girls he was dealing with. He was up against the Vampire Dream Girls.
“I mean, you can take a run at me daddy but you’ll have to pay the toll and it ain’t just a shot of very expensive tequila.” The demon knocked back her shot and as her throat burned, she looked to Sonya.
“Another, on the caramel bear's tab.”Esteban let out a hearty chuckle. These girls were fun, spunky, there was an edge.
“Please it’s nothing like that. You are both very beautiful but...” He raised his left hand and showed a sterling silver wedding band.
“I am happily married and you are very young.” He said with a wiggle of his fingers.
“No, I am opening a hotel here in town. Encanto. And it is part of my mission statement to make sure when I open a new location, that I always exclusively use local talent.”That did get Jill to raise an eyebrow. First, someone with class respecting the sanctity of marriage? Jumped a very low bar in this town with ease. She finally took the shot of tequila and poured it back past her lips. It probably wouldn't mix well with all the rum, but by this point it really didn't matter what mix of booze Jill took on a given day. Although her tolerance was starting to creep back down a little…
Second, someone wanting to open a hotel in Edenridge? Someone who believes tourists would want to come to the cursed burb of Boston and spend money to stay here? They did have a lot of bravado if they thought that was going to work. But he clearly had the money to back it up. And third…
"Well I have been called a local talent before," Jill confirmed.
"Although I am not sure which of my talents you need in the hotel business. I am not a very good maid, my cooking skills top out at French toast, and while I think I sing like an angel, I don't know any pianist who can plink out a decent version of Stay. But I am still listening, Mr…"“Montero.” Esteban took his shot of tequila like a champ and didn’t even flinch. In front of seasoned veterans like Mei and Jill, that was impressive.
“Esteban Montero.” He reached into his jacket and pulled out a business card. Laying it flat on the bar, he slid it over to the young lovers.
“There are many positions in the hotel business, if anything you could try a few, see what fits. Personally, I can see you as a hostess. Not too dissimilar to some of the, damas impresionante, walking around us right now. Save the fact you would be in a bar and restaurant setting.” Esteban ordered an Old Fashioned from Sonya before turning his attention back to the Goth Goddesses.
“Obviously the hotel has not yet been finished so, if you were to apply and be successful, we would keep you on retainer. Pay you up until the hotel is complete and then start you as soon as possible. No pressure of course, I am a stranger offering you a job in a bar. Have a think about it, my office number is on the card.” Getting to his feet, the dapper gentleman grabbed his glass and saluted the girls.
“Disfruta tu tarde, saludos.” With that, El Capitan moved away from the bar and climbed the stairs towards the VIP area.
Watching their newest benefactor walk towards the Devil's domain hammered home the point that this man apparently talked the talk as well as strutted it. Jill looked at the card on the bar, it definitely looked like it came from a man of taste and wealth. She picked it up and flipped it over, as if weighing the offer in her mind already.
"Well, what do you think, babe? Not the channel I was expecting but he's offering to pay me even before the place opens."“Well it seems shifty as fuck to be honest.” Mei’s face shifted and she began to smile with her teeth on display.
“Which makes it really goddamn exciting.” She could tell that something wasn’t right. Living in Edenridge all your life tends to give one a sixth sense that there’s more to the story than the first glance of the first page. This handsome moustachioed daddy was hiding something and Mei could see that. What was he hiding? Well therein lies the question. Finding out what it was would be a marketable change from the secret love lives of Eden high schoolers.
“I dunno babe, I think this could be exactly what we’re fucking looking for. Excitement. Adventure. The unknown. And a free hotel suite whenever we want it so I can do unspeakable things to your sexy ass.”Leave it to Mei to find the bright side in any offer. Or at least the sexy side. It never failed to get a laugh out of Jill.
"Didn't know you wanted to live out the fantasy of picking up a stranger in a hotel bar like some district manager in from fucking Omaha," she said through the giggles. Another thing Mei never failed to get out of her. Maybe that's why this relationship bloomed as quickly as it did. Admitting to each other that they filled each other's needs and wants so completely, it was more a question of what took it so long to begin with.
"Well assuming that Kylee solves the mystery of the damsel that doomed David, I guess it makes sense that we fill that void with whatever Mr. Montero is bringing to Edenridge, huh? I can be the girl on the inside, getting all the info on the operation. Or if it turns out the operation is boring, getting access to all the minibar foods." She grabs another cocktail from Sonya, assuming she knows that Esteban would be covering a couple more beverages for Eden's favorite power couple of the night.
"Maybe I'll take him up on that offer, see if he accepts the application," Jill lifts her glass up.
"And we'll see where this ride takes us."Mei clinked her glass with her girlfriend's and downed her drink. They could be entering dangerous territory. They didn’t know this man, who he was, what he did and what his plans were. Their path was uncertain, splintered and maze-like but they were doing it together. That’s all either of them could really ask for. Mei stood up and pulled Jillian onto a deep long kiss. God she was madly in love with this woman. She would do anything for her, even die. Curse be damned. Mei was going to fight Edenridge with all her will and might for her happy ending.
“Ride of your life, baby.”
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