A Touch of Souls (Immortal Souls) (2 page)

Climbing in my car to drive to The Cavern, I tried my hardest to forget about everything that transpired today. I didn't want to think about how I saw Hunter or even Dimitri. Hell, I didn't want to think about Dimitri at all. I just wanted to go to work, make my money, then go home and relax in a bubble bath.

The Cavern, named after the bottom section, was where pretty much everyone would hang out. The downstairs was just like the old grotto it used to be, only with a few adjustments. The tabletops sat atop stalagmites and the ceiling had stalactites hanging precariously over the room. The bar was made of a slightly hollowed out limestone rock that was here when Stan, the owner first found the place. All the chairs were painted and designed to look as if they belonged to this long ago place. Pool tables and poker tables lined the walls, while the center was filled with the regular "stone" tables people sat at to just drink and bullshit around. Not just anybody was allowed down in the bottom, only the people known to have money. Here, they were allowed to gamble and drink to their hearts desire.

I knew the only reason I was allowed to waitress down here was because of how much money I had. It didn't hurt that most of the men that passed through found me the main attraction
of the place. Stan knew how to make money, and I was just one of his many benefits for the men who decided to spend their money at his bottom-side bar.

Making my way down the stairs, I saw the night had already started. The pool tables were packed and the poker tables were following suit. Stepping on the bottom step, it was easy to smell the alcohol on the man who asked me my name. "Guinevere, but if you need anything, just
holler Gwen, and I'll come check on you," I reply with a polite smile. Looking to the bar, I saw Blaze, the bartender, was sulking and trying his hardest to hide it.

"Well, what's got you down tonight, sweetheart?" I asked, winking. I knew Blaze had a weakness when it came to me, even though he was in it for the long run with one of the few other waitresses here, Stacie.

"Stacie, called in tonight. We were supposed to have plans after work, but since she called in to work I bet our plans are off now. Hope you didn't have anything scheduled for after work, looks like you'll be working a double babe," he winked at me and I could tell seeing me was brightening his mood.

"Well that's okay, it'll keep my mind off of things at home, ya know? Gonna be home alone for the next two months while my parents are away, sometimes it sucks having successful parents," I said with a small smile tugging the corners of my lips. I tugged on the hem of my shirt and straightened the small skimpy skirt that pretty much made up my waitress uniform.

"Well, Gwen, I have to say, you look really good in the new waitress uniform," Blaze said offhandedly, while obviously checking me out from the tight halter top that barely held my breasts in, to the tight skirt that kept riding up my thighs when I moved, down to the matching knee high leather boots. Serving mostly men downstairs, we were required to dress in a way that would keep the men coming back for more.

I smirked and walked around the counter to grab a beer. Even though I was only eighteen, Stan said that
waitresses drinking was another way to lure the men of the town down here. Stan was always looking for more ways to weasel money out of the loaded men. As I rounded the corner, I saw the waitress on current duty walking over toward me and Blaze.

"Hey, tips are good, but they're being real assholes tonight," she said as she grabbed a couple of beers and loaded them on her tray. I watched as she set them down on the table for the men. The guy sitting nearest her slipped his hand up her leg and tried to hitch her skirt up. She politely
swatted his hand away and laughed nervously before turning away and making her way back to the bar.

After watching the encounter, I heard someone call for a waitress. Deciding to give Melynda a break, I made my way over
the to the table, trying my hardest to ignore the cat whistles and whispers I heard before making it to the table.

"Could we get some more beer, darling?" The one who called me asked once I stood just opposite the table of him.

"Sure, bottles or glasses?"

"Glass bottles,"
he answered.As I set the bottles down on the table, the man next to me grabbed my ass and tried to shove me over the table. I stood up, anger rising like bile in my throat and slapped his hand away. When he pulled it to his chest, it looked as though as if it had been burned.
Did I do that?
I thought as he stared at me with his mouth hanging open in astonishment. Pushing the impossible thought from my head, I leaned down and told them they needed to leave. When they refused, Blaze walked up behind me and told them to leave before they were no longer welcome here again. They stood and stalked up the stairs with Blaze close on their heels to ensure they caused no trouble.

Walking over to the bar, I picked up a few menus for the table that had just been seated. I felt a pair of eyes following my every move and knew who it was before I turned around. I was victim of his stare all day and it felt no different now. He must not have known I worked here, because when I turned, his look was nothing less than that of shock. I walked casually over to where he was seated with Candy, handing them there menus and telling them to order whenever they were ready.

I tried my hardest to avoid glancing in the direction of where Dimitri was seated with the Queen Bitch as I tended to the other tables. I walked over to the table left unattended when Blaze had to escort the four men out and started wiping it down. As I was finishing up, I noticed a bunch of the guys had moved their party over to the billiards table. I walked to the counter and grabbed each one another beer.

I set the beers down and started talking to one of the guys observing the game. A few words into the conversation, I had to stifle my scream as I heard Dimitri's voice in my head, saying he was ready for me. His voice had been close and seductive, as if implying he was ready for more than me just taking his order.

I walked a little unsteadily to their table, knowing full well both Candy and Dimitri were watching my every move. "Hi there, what can I get for you tonight?" I asked, with faux sweetness and a forced smile.

"Well, for starters, a better waitress would be great!" Candy replied with a tight smile.

"I'm sorry, Candynce, I'm the only waitress on duty down here, you're more than welcome to go back upstairs, but it appears as if your date prefers to be downstairs. So sorry, but you're stuck with me," I answered her rude tone with a sweet one I knew would put her over the edge.

"Well actually, I think I'll have a beer and she'll have a wine cooler," Dimitri cut in before Candy could come up with a response. I nodded my head and smiled before walking away. After gathering their drinks onto the tray, I picked up my beer and took a long swig. I knew Candy was watching me and I could feel Dimitri's lingering glance after I put my beer down and headed toward their table. Dimitri whispered something under his breath, and I watched as Candy's fake smile turned into a scowl. She hit him before standing so abruptly that she knocked her chair on the ground and stormed up the stairs with a frustrated grunt.

"So I guess you won't be needed this shitty little fruit drink then, huh?" I asked setting his beer on the table.

Before I even got half way to the bar, the man I had spoken to when I first arrived called out to me. I cautiously walked over, noting in the back of my mind the way he was swaying back and forth as though he were having a hard time standing up. I hadn't served this man one beer, how had I not noticed how drunk he was when we were speaking earlier?

"What can I get for you, sir?" I asked politely, trying to keep my distance.

"Well, sweetheart, what would you recommend? I'm looking for something sexy and a little sweet. What do ya have in that section?" he asked me sloppily. I knew he wasn't speaking of food or anything to drink. He wanted me and that just wasn't going to happen.

"I apologize, sir, I don't really know what you mean," I said, feigning innocence in an effort to get out of this uncomfortable situation. I realized it was a feeble attempt when he leaned in close and put a hand on my knee and the other on my arm. The position looked awkward and uncomfortable. I couldn't tell if he was trying to be sexy or was holding himself up. My guess was both.

"I'm talking about you baby girl, what do ya say?" he slurred while trying to move his hand higher up my thigh. A low growl sounded in the corner before I was able to respond. I tried to
ignore the disturbing sound, but every time the man tried to move his hand on my leg higher, the deep sound became louder.

"I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave now," I replied, trying to get him out of here as fast as possible.

"Is that your boyfriend over there in the corner? Don't worry baby, I'll show you what it's like to be with a real man," he said, winking before turning and retreating up the stairwell. I genuinely hoped I would never have to see him again.

Relieved that my shift was ending soon, I walked around the room refilling drinks and making sure the customers were satisfied. I couldn't stop thinking about how that man thought Dimitri was my boyfriend. When the man touched me, I had heard a growl coming from where Dimitri was seated, and by the man's assumption that me and Dimitri were a thing, I had to guess he had heard it too. I just couldn't fathom why Dimitri behaved in such a way. Now, every time I walked anywhere near his table, he averted his eyes as if it were embarrassing just to be caught looking at me. I was just so ready to be home!

When I got home, I checked my phone and realized in a panic I had 3 messages and 11 missed calls, all from Hunter! I had forgotten to call and let him know I had to work a double tonight and wouldn't be able to make it to dinner with him and his parents. He probably thought I just blew him off. I tried calling him, but after a few minutes of the phone ringing with no sign of him picking up, I realized he was most likely asleep. I sighed and settled for just leaving him a quick message.

"Hey baby, it's me, sorry I didn't call or text you back tonight, Stacie called into work so I had to work the double and we were pretty busy. I'm just now getting home, I'm just gonna take a shower and go to bed. I love you and I'll see you tomorrow." I groaned as I gathered all of my toiletries and made my way to the bathroom.

Half an hour later I was standing in my bedroom slipping on my pajamas, when my phone rang. I didn't recognize the number, so I just let the call go through to my voice mail. If whoever was calling me at such an ungodly hour really needed to say something important, they could just leave a message. I wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone anymore tonight. Crawling in bed, I rested my head against my soft feather pillow and let the drowsiness over take me.

I was
lying awake in my bed, someone's limbs tangled around my own. I looked over and gasped at the violet eyes staring right back at me. His breath was warm on my neck and it sent shivers down my spine. Feathers protruded from his beautiful muscular back, bending gracefully back then folding over us protectively. My fingers itched to touch the cascading midnight black and deep violet of his beautiful wings. I turned and faced him, the awe showing on my face.

Dimitri chuckled, a low, warming laugh that sent pleasure flowing through my body in waves. I shivered under the sheer delight of hearing such a wonderful sound coming from such a heartbreakingly beautiful man. I reached my hand up to touch his face, to run my fingers along his pronounced jawbone, across his high cheekbones, until finally my hand made its way to his back. I stretched my fingers across his back in an attempt to reach the base of his wings. I felt a feathery softness twitch in response to my touch, and I splayed my fingers across his wings...

I jerked awake in my bed, panting and holding my hand against my heart.
What the hell was that?
My mind screamed at me. I was here in my bed, Dimitri was lying beside me and I was about to touch... Touch what? I couldn't remember. I remembered him, I smiled at the thought of the kisses he was trailing down my collarbone and shoulder. His hand had been tight on my hip. I racked my brain to remember what was so important about the dream that I couldn't remember.

I sighed, laughing at myself for looking so much into a silly dream. That's all it was, and whatever I was about to do was gone now. No sense in stressing myself out over it. I stretched and ran my hand over the edge of the bed where he had been
lying in my dream. Much to my surprise, I found the spot warm, as if someone
had
been lying there.

Oh, I needed coffee. The thought that someone had actually been in bed with me was absurd and I refused to entertain such an idea. I had probably laid in that spot most of the night and just rolled over when I had woken.

♂

She was going to be my undoing. I couldn't stay around her, but I most certainly couldn't leave. I had searched forever to find even an inkling of the power I sensed here. I couldn't leave until I found the source of that power. Even if it wasn't The Unum putting off the power, I had to find the source, it could be one of my
kind, or it could be one of the Cecidit.

I would never be able to leave Guinevere here if there was any chance she was in danger. Even if she was just a normal girl, I was attracted to
her, that meant that one of them could easily notice her. Last night was a mistake. I shouldn't have done it. I shuddered at the memory of following the man that had touched her out of the bar. I closed my eyes and shook the thought out of my head before I could relive what i had done to the drunken bastard.