Venipuncture

Chapter 5: A Not So Normal Day

The next few days passed by Willow in a blur, but she had no end of clients.

The only problem was those clients weren't exactly her desired customer base.

A cyclops came in for prescribed eye drops, Run-Run the Goblin came in with a unidentified rash that Willow was fairly certain didn't come from allergies (it was glowing bright red, and Willow was fairly certain there was ominous Latin chanting in the background), and so much more.

A Gorgon wearing sunglasses came in, and asked for help with her skin, a werewolf came in for a very bad stomachache, and, ironically, a honest to god witch came in for, of all things, a broken ankle.

When the day came to an end, Willow slumped onto her desk, and wondered what sins she had committed in a past life to put up with this. She wasn't qualified to deal with these freaks. She was a human doctor, a 'human' doctor for 'human' problems. Not these creatures straight out of myth and fairy tales!

What's more, they didn't pay her in human money either! Or, at least, not current human money. The Gorgon gave her a gold coin, which was nice, though Willow wasn't sure what to do with it. Run-Run told her that the community owned everything she owned, and vice versa, which just confused Willow, and every other creature came in with some odd trinket in the place of money or promised some kind of favor in return for her services.

Willow didn't have the heart to tell them that none of what was given would keep her clinic running, if only because most of her payments were made online.

And so, as she locked her door, Willow sighed, and rubbed her aching shoulders. A bath sounded nice at the moment. A long, hot one with a bottle of wine…

Wait, she didn't have wine, just cheap beer. It would have to do.

There was a gentle thump at the front door, and Willow sighed. “We're closed!" she said.

“Can I come in?" a familiar, and unwelcomed voice, answered.

“…Lilith?" Willow blinked, and an itch of irritation scratched at her brain.

A not insignificant part of her wanted to grab whatever was slightly cross-shaped and shove it on her door, just to spite the vampire. Another part of her wanted to just head towards her bath and forget about today.

But the part of her that took command headed toward the door and opened it just enough to peer outside.

The sun had almost set on Portland, bathing the streets in a mix of orange and red. And there, standing just outside her door, was Lilith, dressed in her usual blue hoodie and bike bag.

“…What do you want?" Willow asked. “Here to rob me again?"

“No…I…" Lilith shook her head. “I just wanted to apologize."

“For which offense?"

Lilith frowned. “Uh…is it safe to assume that you got a lot of strange customers today?"

“A faery stopped by today, she tried to take my name," Willow said, and slowly raised a brow. “My name, Lilith. The one that my parents gave me."

“Ah, that was Trick Trick," Lilith muttered. “I'll talk to Puck about her."

“No, what you need to do is tell your friends, community—whatever," Willow pinched the bridge of her nose. “That you need to start paying me real, actual money. I can't keep this store supplied if I get paid in scales!"

“Did…did Morgan the Gorg—"

“Yes!" Willow snapped, and Lilith shrunk under her gaze. “Do you know why I started this clinic? To help people! Not…" she waved her hand. “Not…"

Lilith's gaze fell to the ground, and Willow's words died in her throat. With a grumble, Willow stepped back, and opened the door fully. She stepped to the side, and motioned for Lilith to come in.

Lilith, after a moment's pause, did so. She pulled her hoodie down, letting her black hair spill forth. She was pretty, Willow thought, but pretty and petty tended to go hand in hand.

“I'm sorry. Yuki…asked me what you were and word spread," Lilith muttered, her gaze locked on the front desk.

“The fox lady?"

“Kitsune," Lilith replied. “She's from Japan, she's married to Run-Run—"

“That goblin?!"

“And she works in a call center," Lilith finished. “She loves to talk, and she has to put up with bad co-workers all day."

Willow blinked. “So, she's a gossip?"

Lilith nodded. “The worst kind."

A moment passed, and Willow shut the door. “I haven't told anyone about you and yours, if that's what you're wondering."

Lilith didn't turn, she kept her back to Willow.

“Though I haven't had much of a chance, seeing as how from sunup to sundown, I've been a bit busy with fantasy people."

Lilith said nothing. Instead, she gripped her hoodie tightly.

Willow narrowed her eyes. “And I still don't know why you're here. Did you come to inspect your newest 'slave?'"

“You are not a slave!" Lilith whirled around to face Willow, a scowl upon her lips. “You never were! I didn't have a choice to do what I did! People in the Underground need someone to look after them!"

“Oh, that makes it better?!" Willow snapped. “Look lady, if you wanted my help, why didn't you just 'ask for it?' Robbery isn't exactly my first choice!"

Lilith curled her hands into fists. “I didn't—I don't have a choice!"

“A choice?" Willow raised a brow. “What were your others? Begging? Fraud?"

“It's not that simple!" Lilith snapped. “I'm one of the few who can work in the human world, and you've seen the Underground! Most of them can't work in human jobs, and all of us need to eat. I am their protector, and that means I have to put my morals aside! Do you know how expensive doctors are today?!"

“Oh, so you're a vigilante?" Willow snorted. “Really selling yourself well here princess." She paused and rubbed her chin. “Are you actually a princess?"

Lilith paused, her breathing shortened and temporarily taken off guard. “N-no…kinda," she said, and hugged her arms close to herself. “I…I can trace my line back to royalty, but I'm not a princess."

Willow snorted. “Well, how great, oh false princess," she performed a mocking bow. “But if you don't mind, I would like some human patients next. Do you think that would be possible?"

Lilith narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth to respond, then stopped. She raised a finger, causing Willow to blink. Lilith took several deep, heavy breaths, and the murmurs of numbers reached Willow's ears.

'She's…trying to control her anger?' Willow thought.

“Okay," Lilith said after a moment. “I will see what I can do. We have several zombies—"

“Oi, I don't want to be eaten like that—"

“Not that kind," Lilith glared. “The older kind. The one the word belongs to."

“The word…oh," Willow blinked. “And…they have money?"

“They have working bank accounts," Lilith answered, and stepped past Willow. “Now, if you'll excuse me human, I have work to do tonight."

“As what, a vigilante?" Willow snorted, and Lilith only gave her a thin smile in response.

“Stay safe, Doctor," Lilith said, and waved her hand. “I hope your night shall be pleasant indeed."