Out of the World

9. A Perfect Storm

Nina

Breathing deeply, I entered the club, knowing that today I couldn’t make any mistakes. Not that what I said to Soggy Bread the other night was wrong, only wrong in Gabrielle’s blind eyes.

Heading to the changing room, I put on the ridiculous tiny uniform. Getting ready in record time, I headed to the main room, walking by the very stage that always gave me the bad creeps. The way these men looked at the dancers was something that never went down well with me.

“Nina,” I heard Gabrielle’s scolding voice and walked towards her.

“What I am giving you today is your very last chance. I want you to stop behaving like you are above everyone else in this club and be welcoming towards our guests! Do you understand me?” she asked, narrowing her mascara-filled eyes at me.

“Yes, I do. I won’t do anything wrong today,” I nodded, even though I was dying inside to snap at her. I didn’t think I was above anyone; I just couldn’t stomach disrespect. Most times, I didn’t have an option but to accept it, and it was so hard. Two more years and I would be out of this place, I chanted these words in my mind as if they were a mantra.

“Good. Now get to the bar and take the order to table twenty,” she told me, raising a brow.

Heading to the bar, my head shook in confusion. Wait, table twenty was in one of the small rooms where the ladies perform private dances. I’ve never served those tables before. Most of the time, either the dancer or Mrs. Gabrielle herself did it.

Maybe that was a test to see if I would complain or do something wrong. Nope, I wouldn’t! I needed the job, so after taking another lungful of air, I took the ice bucket with a whiskey box in my hands and crossed the narrow hall that led to the private rooms.

Gulping nervously, I knocked on the door, expecting that I wouldn’t interrupt a dance and upset Gabrielle even more. She wouldn’t send me here now if that was the case, right?

“Come in.” A male voice said. As I opened the door, my gaze met the cold eyes of Soggy Bread. He was alone in the small dim-lit room.

My body froze for a moment as many thoughts popped into my mind. This wasn’t a coincidence. Gabrielle planned it. She wanted to show me her power and that I was helpless, only a pawn, a disposable waitress.

Moving/shifting my gaze away, I placed the bucket on the table and was about to head to the door when the man locked it and blocked my way. How in the world could these doors even be locked? No girl was safe in that club!

Panic burst through my blood, and my eyes grew wide. I had to leave this place now. I could hardly breathe here.

“I… Sir, I am not one of the dancers. I only serve tables,” I told him as firmly and politely as I could, expecting that it would make him step aside for me.

“I know that. But maybe it’s time for you to learn a lesson and stop being such an arrogant little thing. Not everyone wants the easy, smiling girls. Some like a challenge once in a while. A fierce and wild one, like a wild horse!”

Taking a step back, I grabbed the icy cold bottle in my hands; I was ready to attack if needed.

Soggy Bread pulled it off my hands abruptly, hurting my fingers.

“Stop being dramatic! I just want a dance. I won’t eat you. Just do your job!” he frowned at me. My whole body was shaking, though I had no time to be afraid. I had to help myself, and save my own bvtt from these kinds of situations like I did all my life.

I wasn’t a damn wild animal, but I could just as well give him a good kick. Moving as fast as I could, I let my instincts kick in and I kicked him in his lower parts, and reached for the door.

Crouching down and groaning in pain, he screamed, “B.icth! Good kick!... wait, you, what is that?" he asked. For an instant, his eyes met mine; something shifted in his eyes. He looked confused, yet strangely sober as his eyes met mine.

My trembling hand finally managed to unlock the door. Not caring for my purse or jacket, I ran out of the club without looking back. The cold air made contact with my exposed skin, and my shiver intensified.

When I was far enough away, I stopped and took a lungful of air. Many tears burst out of my eyes while a deep scream of rage, pent-up fear, and frustration broke through my exhausted lungs. Of course, Gabrielle ambushed me. I wouldn’t ever return to that place again. I might be desperate and homeless in the near future, but I wouldn’t let them a.buse me.

Looking at my fingers, I saw fresh blood dripping and tried to wipe it on my tiny skirt. Another sigh of frustration washed over me when I realised I had only my phone on me and nothing else. Who could I even call? No one was the answer. Walking numbly towards my place, I let more tears flow down my cheeks.

Rain soon came along, washing over my tears and making my body so very cold. Looking up at the sky, my eyes met angry grey clouds. The rain was just starting. Bad things come together, they say, in a perfect storm.

Opening and closing my eyes slowly, I tried to make sure that the person I saw approaching me was actually him. How in the world was this happening?

~ * ~

Zorion

I was in my room in the hotel, thinking about her as I touched myself. My fingers moved up and down my length as I imagined it was her tiny and sweet hand alternating with her plump lips.

Nothing was enough! I was insane, just like she said, crazy about her. I needed my sweet mate.

Suddenly, a pang vibrated in my chest. Something was wrong with my woman. Standing up at once, I cleaned myself and put some clothes on. Focusing on her face and our bond, I tried to feel her. It was almost impossible for me to locate her in this Realm without magic, but it didn't mean I would give up. She was either in danger or in pain and nothing in any damn world would prevent me from finding her, saving her.

Clenching my eyes shut and thinking about her as if she was the only thing in existence, I felt the rain on my skin and when I opened my eyes, I was on an empty dark street. My eyes followed the only light I could see before it dissolved within the night’s shadows. The light guided my eyes to her. She was there, a few feet away from me, looking down and walking absently.

My chest stung when I realised that it was cold and she was wearing almost nothing. She was trembling, and I could smell her blood and tears. Our eyes met for a moment, and raw pain blurred her warm honey-coloured eyes. Running towards her, I took her in my arms. I had to make her warm, take her to a safe place and make sure she didn’t get sick as humans often did.

To my surprise, she relaxed in my embrace. Taking my jacket off, I wrapped it around her and scooped her up in my arms. Her face was buried in my chest, and she didn’t say anything. Was she in shock or was she finally accepting our bond?

Even though she didn’t understand it, I knew she could feel it. I only hoped she could stop fighting her feelings enough to trust me, be close to me and let me protect, cherish and love her.

Walking to a busier street, I motioned for a taxi to stop and entered the car with her in my arms.

“Where to? The driver asked me, and I told him Nina’s address. Surely she wanted to go home at least for her clothes. I only hoped that now that she gave in to the bond’s feelings and sensations, we would be able to talk when she calmed down.

After wrapping a kerchief around her bleeding fingers, I placed a kiss on the back of her hand. My Nina trembled slightly at this soft contact, and I could smell her arousal once again, just like I did in the café that noon. She almost drove me crazy, and I had to contain myself not to take her in my arms and claim her beautiful lips. That was why Lola did all the talking; otherwise, I wouldn’t talk as I would rather kiss her, and cover every delicious and secret path across her skin until I found her favourite spots.

“How are you feeling?” I asked, running my fingers through her wet hair. My words seemed to startle her as she looked at me with wide eyes and pushed me away. The spell of the mate bond she appeared to be under was broken.

“You were following me!” she affirmed, narrowing her eyes at me and moving to the other corner of the seat, as far away from me as possible.

There was nothing I could say, a human explanation as to how I found her in the middle of the storm on a deserted street. “I wasn’t following you. Nina, please, just listen up. I want to protect you; I mean you no harm.”

“Protect me? Zorion, you are insane! You are a stalker, not a prince on a white horse. You aren’t better than the other men I came across tonight! Only lies, traps, mind-games. I will leave this taxi. Stop following me. I don’t want to see you ever again!” she said, biting her lips and visibly trying to contain her tears.

“No. I will leave, just be safe and go to your home,” I told her, motioning to the driver to stop and giving him a considerable sum of human-money.

Giving Nina a look of longing, I left the car. I was trying to be patient, but my patience was growing scarce. She wasn’t safe in this world, never mind happy or fine. I had to do something for her— I had to change my strategy entirely.