Zampino

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

Stella slammed her hand down on her phone to get it to shut up, the bright display telling her it was five p.m. She groaned and rolled out of bed wearing only an oversized white t-shirt that she used as a substitute for pajamas. She languidly walked, slumped over, to her closet, and began to get changed, pulling out a red lacy bra and panty set.

Despite her slender and almost boyish frame, Stella always liked being a bit more daring with her underwear, which made people take her seriously when she was undressed. She didn’t necessarily have plans to sleep with anyone tonight, but it never hurt to be ready. Not like she planned for all that much in her life.

She had been pretty steadily going with the flow since dropping out of college, disappointing Mom and Dad, but whatever. She was living her life! She pulled on black pants and a dark brown button-up, securing a striped tie and a black vest. She finished her look by popping on her black flat cap and tucking a deck of cards in her pocket right next to her wallet. Magic tricks always earn extra tips.

She exited her room into the cramped common area of the apartment to the sound of something sauteing on the stove. Sure enough, one of her roommates, Michael, was cooking dinner. He must have just gotten home. He had his headphones in and was listening to some music, so Stella gave him a cheerful wave to get his attention.

Michael popped out an earbud and looked over “Rise and shine, queen of the night. Ready to hunt down your latest victims?”

Stella waved a hand dismissively “Please, if I’m gonna be any sort of monster don’t you think pixie or something would suit me better than a vampire? Maybe a green fairie?”

“Feeling bohemian?” her roommate joked before popping his earbud back in.

The handsome woman just stuck out her tongue and crossed to the living area where her other roommate Delilah was prepping for the day. The blonde was dressed in all scrubs and packing her backpack.

Stella leaned in close over the edge of the couch “How long they have you for?”

The doctor smiled and leaned back toward Stella “Picked up a double shift, you won’t be seeing me until tomorrow.”

“Nooooo” Stella draped her arms over Delilah and let out a mock wail “My guiding star, whatever will I do without you to warm me in the middle of the night?”

Delilah blushed and pushed Stella’s arm away “There will be none of that drama queen, I seem to remember you said you didn’t want to keep up anything serious years ago.”

The redhead fluttered her eyelashes “Didn’t say that about anything unserious though did I?”

Rolling her eyes, Delilah stood up “Stella, you’re just horny, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t take it out on me”

“Awww, you’re no fun right now” Stella straightened her back and then cocked her hip watching Delilah go to the door “Want to grab lunch when you get out?”

Delilah opened the door and then paused “Yeah, that sounds fun.” and exited.

Stella had a cat-like smile on her face as she prepped for the rest of the day. Maybe Delilah was right and she should find someone to satisfy her cravings tonight. If she was doing improv tonight it would have been easy, the awkward dweebs were like fish in a barrel and easy to please. Bartending though? She had to be on her best behavior. She stuck out her tongue.

The bar Stella served at was a speakeasy designed in the old style called the Industrial Bar. They served old-style cocktails and provided a quiet, easygoing atmosphere to get shit-faced in. They even had a cigar lounge for those inclined. The lights were always kept low and the place smelled of fine wood.

As Stella came in she could see it was already a decent crowd for the night. She flung her legs over the side of the bar to the chagrin of Dennis the earlier server. Dennis was dressed very similarly to Stella, minus the flat cap and tie and with the addition of a flagpole up his rear end.

“Do you have to do that?” He spoke through his teeth, you could tell he wanted to be louder but was worried about alerting the guests.

“Hmmm?” the female bartender gave him an impish smile as she started making herself a drink.

“What seems to be the problem?” she raised the glass to her lips and took a dainty sip.

Dennis’s one eye looked ready to burst from his socket “Can’t you take this seriously? We’re supposed to have a certain decorum about-”

He was cut off by Stella grabbing him firmly by the crotch, leaning in and whispering “Want to try and take out that aggression in a more fun way?”

His face made it clear that the young bartender was shortcircuiting on some level but eventually just pushed forward and walked past her “SorrymyshiftisoverIhavetogobye” no breathing or pausing as he flipped the exit to the bar open and marched out.

Stella stuck out her tongue, she thought for sure she had something with that. Oh well, she’d have to try her luck elsewhere tonight.

The rest of the night, sadly was uneventful. Dishing out cocktails, peanuts, and the occasional magic trick but no one was biting.

“Jeeze if I worked at some frat bar, I’d be doing so much better, of course, the pay would suck but right now I’d take less money for someone to take this edge off!”

Still, she amassed a decent amount of tips and was counting it off as she left. Maybe she could take Delilah out someplace nice. She did feel bad about teasing the girl. They had dated back in college but when Stella dropped out and Deli kept studying it seemed like the right move to break it off. Becoming roommates later only made things slightly awkward but they had been doing well Stella thought.

She tucked the money and prepared to leave when she felt a sudden weakness overcome her body. Then the whole world went dark.

Feeling discombobulated and now flashed with lights, Stella tried to get her bearings and realized she was on a stage in front of a small audience. She paused and then grinned

“And for my next trick I will-” She started before being cut off as Lucian pointed his stick at her and filled her in on the situation

“Now now my dear, leave the mcing to the host. Our next contestant is Stella Vincent, as alluded to earlier she is the second in a duo of tailed women by our Master. This time not at her place of work, but at a bookstore the two frequented.”

Stella looked out saw Caleb and jumped up as she pointed “Weird bookstore guy!”

Caleb was barely in his chair anymore at this point as he slumped down even further.

Lucian laughed “There you have it, now Stella if you would, introduce yourself.”

Stella struck a dynamic pose, sticking up one leg and saluting with the other “Hey all, My name is Stella Vincent. I know the master from this old bookshop, I go there because the old guy lets me read without buying anything and this dude was always there trying to make it look like he wasn’t looking at me” She then waved her hand emphatically “I take it as a compliment, just don’t get why you never made a move. Let’s see, I’m a bartender and I do improv comedy and magic tricks! Oh I’m not a virgin, I swing both ways, and am currently single” She winked and stuck out her tongue.

Lucian looked at her evenly, he had barely compelled any of that. “Reyna, would you please take this…enthusiastic contestant to her seat?”

Reyna smiled and took Stella’s arm “Right this way deary”

Stella’s eyes bulged out looking at Reyna “Jesus how do you walk carrying a whole bakery like that?”

Lucian shook his head “We have one more contestant…someone very special and I hope we don’t disappoint as we introduce out last contestant, number eight: Maya Quinn!”

Caleb sat back up and narrowed his eyes as the name was called because, unlike all the others, he had no clue who this person was.