Chapter 1 The Twilight Zone

Bri

I wiped down the bar for probably the hundredth time tonight, while I surveyed the room. This bar was in my blood, and my blood was most definitely in this bar. I smiled at that thought.

It was almost the last call so it was down to mostly regulars, but there was a few others left straggling behind. I wondered if I'd need to kick anyone's ass tonight when I wouldn't pour a drink after the last call. To me, that was a rather intriguing prospect.

Once again the man in the corner caught my eye. He was most definitely a stranger, and he was very much out of place. This wasn't exactly a dive bar, but it wasn't far above it. So, a well dressed gentleman, who ordered top shelf alcohol, definitely stood out.

Besides, he'd spent the night off in the shadows of the corner. Another thing this place was definitely not, was some kind of EMO bar. We didn't get the tragic brooders in here. So, he was a conundrum, and I wasn't good with that. I was very much a, read the back of the book kinda girl.

“Last call, if you're buying another, do it now!” Yelled Allen, the bar owner, and my boss.

We got busy filling orders for last minute drinks for the next few minutes, then everyone relaxed. I busied myself with cleaning, and organizing behind the bar, and closing out my register. Then I checked the ladies room for anyone passed the fuck out or being stupid. It would not have been the first time I caught someone fucking in the bathrooms, or snorting their paycheck up their nose.

When it was all clear I headed back behind the bar. They were clearing out, and I waved goodnight to my patrons. “Hey, can you finish close up tonight? I have a meeting with someone.” I saw him look at the guy in the corner who got up and moved towards us.

Well, that explains why he was here then, "Sure we're almost finished anyway. So, I'll see you tomorrow night.”

He kissed the top of my head. He was one fine looking man, but I had avoided that particular steaming pile of regret for the year I've worked here. We were just good friends, but nothing more. We didn't even flirt with each other. He was, however, very protective of me.

I locked the door after the last customer left, and started gathering up the trash. I moped the floor, and straightened everything. Then I grabbed my purse, keys, and the bags of trash. I opened the back door to haul them to the dumpster, and I saw a foot, and at first thought we had a passed out drunk patron.

Then I saw the guy's neck was not situated right, and his head was facing backwards. Then I saw Allen down on the ground not too far away. There was a guy hovering over him with a sword, an honest to god, mother fucking sword.

I ran up and tossed the trash bag at him, and it knocked him off balance. I pounced and kicked his knee and heard a pop, followed by a bellow of pain, and he dropped the sword he’d been holding.

I looked around and saw a couple more people playing with fucking swords. I picked up a glass bottle and chucked it against one's head. Then I kicked another in the side of the head with a round house kick. It appears that they weren't expecting anyone else to crash the party.

The ones still standing seemed young and unsure about what to do with a woman willing to kick their ass. I picked up the sword of the one I kicked, and I actually managed to twirl it around without cutting my own leg off, and felt rather proud, but I told myself not to be stupid.

That seemed to spur them into action. They gathered up their friends and piled into a nondescript white van that totally looked like a serial killer drove, and then they peeled out of the parking lot.

I saw another person on the ground. So, I ran and checked Allen. He was breathing, just looked passed out for some reason, but I didn't see him bleeding. I ran to the other guy who was on his stomach, and I thought I recognized the stranger who had walked out with Allen.

I turned him over, and was met with red eyes and fangs, I scooted back and yelled, ”well, fuck I definitely didn't expect that.” Then he sat up.

He looked at me, and I warned him while holding out the sword ”if you sparkle or bite I stab okay?” He smiled a bit, but with the fangs it looked rather macabre.

I heard Allen groan and move around. He looked over and saw me sitting next to Dracula over here, and his eyes about bugged out of his head.

I thought he was reacting to the set of chompers on his friend but then, "she saw you, are you fucking nuts?”

Well, okay, I guess there was a lot I didn't know about Allen apparently.

“She chased the hunters off, so I hadn't had time to get it under control before she was trying to help me.” He just looked at me strangely.

“Well, fuck, this night just took a detour into the twilight zone, and no that's not a vampire joke.”

They both actually smiled. Just then another car pulled up and a younger man stepped out. He ran right to Allen, and he seemed to be rather agitated.

“Sorry Alpha, I got here as soon as possible. Are you hurt?” He didn't even seem to realize I was here.

I wouldn't have really batted much of an eye at the term alpha normally, but not only did I have a vampire in front of me, now I had an overly anxious guy with wolf ears, and fur on his hands.

“Fuck, this really is the twilight zone.”