CHAPTER 1
1766 Words
CHAPTER 1
Casius watched as the two men tried to suck each other’s tonsils out and wondered if they were about to get a free show with the way the two dark haired guys were going at it. Hell, if he didn’t know any better he could have sworn they were rubbing each other off.
“Stop staring, Casius, it’s rude,” Vano hissed.
Casius kept watching the two guys saying, “I want to, but I can’t seem to look away.”
“I think it’s romantic,” Deja said as he placed his chin on the top of his hands and watched the two men with dreamy eyes.
“They’re mates. Now stop being an ass,” Lon harshly whispered.
Casius turned to Lon. “And just what do you know about mates?”
Shrugging Lon asked, “Don’t you remember what that bird shifter guy said?”
“Not really,” Casius replied.
Lon turned to his twin. “You know that’s your problem, Casius. You never pay attention.
According to Decker―”
“Who’s Decker?” Deja asked.
Lon sighed in frustration. “The bird shifter guy we met when we were coming here with the clan.
Now stop talking and let me finish.”
“You know, Lon, you really should work on that anger issue of yours,” Vano said, sipping on his soda.
Lon looked at Vano. “I will if you will. Hell, maybe we can go to group together.” Turning to Casius, Lon said, “Our souls have been separated and the fates hold them. They spread them around to either one or more others out there. Our souls yearn for their other piece or pieces and when you find it… wham! You’re a mate… or something like that. Anyway, he said that all you want to do is love and care for them, no matter what. You don’t even care if they fart and burp, or some s**t like that.”
“You’re making this up,” Casius said, with a shake of his head.
Lon smacked his brother on the arm. “I am not.”
“How can people you don’t even know realize in an instant that they hold a part of your soul?
That sounds like bullshit to me,” Vano said, shaking his head in disbelief.
“I’m tellin’ you it’s true. Decker said something about how they smell good,” Lon replied.
“Well that burger the guy is carrying smells good, so I guess I’m mated to Ronald McD?” Vano teased.
“Shut up, Vano,” Lon muttered.
Deja bumped shoulders with Lon, “I think it sounds beautiful. Kinda like love at first sight. Very romantic.”
The guy with long pink hair and purple spikes on top walked past them carrying a tray. The smells were out of this world.
“I’m really sorry it took so long, Vik. My server quit yesterday, and with Fiere popping over to Dad’s house all the time, Marco and Finn working doubles it’s just been crazy.”
Casius watched as the two men came apart slowly. “Hey, don’t worry about it, Twix. Baldwin and I kept ourselves entertained,” Vik replied with a smile.
“Yes, so everyone in the diner noticed. Okay, burger with everything but onion and onion rings for Baldwin,” Twix said setting the plate down, then adding, “I never understand how people say no onions on a sandwich then turn around and order the onion rings.”
“I like them cooked, not raw,” Baldwin replied.
“Good to know. If you like, next time remind me, and I’ll cook some for the burger,” Twix said, then set Vik’s plate in front of him. “And here is your roast beef with extra cheese, Vik. You guys enjoy.”
“Damn those look good. How much money do we have left, Vano?” Deja asked.
Shaking his head, Vano said, “We only have one hundred and ten after paying Donny the first and last month’s rent on his house. Hell, we caught a break there for what he’s charged us. The place was easily worth twice what he’s asking.”
“And it comes fully furnished. I even get my own bed with a real mattress and everything,” Deja said, wiggling in his seat.
“We need jobs or we’re gonna be out on our asses next month. I was thinking of heading over to the auto shop tomorrow. Maybe they have something I can do there,” Casius said.
“Hey, that Twix guy just told his friends he has a server job open. Maybe I should ask about it?”
Deja suggested.
Lon set the want ads on the table and pointed at something circled. “Some guy named Suneth is looking to hire some people to help with construction. I thought I might go there and see what it pays.”
“If it pays money, take it,” Casius muttered
“What about you, Vano?” Deja asked.
With a heavy sigh, Vano sat back in his seat. “I have no clue what I’m going to do. Besides, with my foot still screwed up, I don’t know what I can do.”
“Vano, we need to get you in to see a doctor. I told you last night it looks like it’s getting infected,” Deja whispered.
“We can’t afford to eat, Deja, how the hell are we going to afford a doctor? No, I’ll just keep cleaning it good with soap and water, it’ll heal just fine,” Vano argued.
“Hey, you’re the new guys Illan told me about, aren’t you?” Twix said with a big smile.
Nodding, Vano said, “Yeah, we’re renting Donny’s old place.”
“Um… Twi… I mean Mr. Twix… Um, I wasn’t being nosy or anything… but um… I heard you
have a… well… I was wondering…”
“What’s your name, Cutie?” Twix asked with a smile.
“Deja.”
Twix gave him a huge smile. “What a beautiful name.”
Deja gave a sparkly smile. “Thank you. My parents gave it to me.”
Twix laughed. “Well isn’t that a coincidence. My husbands and I named our son, too.”
Deja giggled, and Twix said, “Yes, I do have a serving position open if that’s what you’re asking about? Have you ever taken orders before and served food?”
Deja snorted. “I take orders all the time. I’m the smallest in our tribe.”
“He meant food, Deja,” Casius muttered.
Deja turned pink in the cheeks and giggled again. “Oops, sorry. Well I haven’t done it in a diner before, but I did with the tribe we were with and then I’d bring them their food. Does that count?”
“It does today, Deja. The job pays ten fifty an hour, plus you get to keep all the tips. Meals are free to employees when you’re working.”
“I get over ten dollars an hour and I can eat too?” Deja asked in awe.
“Ten fifty plus meals and tips. Can you come back tomorrow about ten? My morning rush
should be slowing down enough so we can fill out some paperwork and get you set up,” Twix asked.
Deja bounced up and down in his seat. “That would be fine, Mr. Twix.”
Twix laughed. “It’s just Twix, no mister in front of it.”
Then Twix looked around the table, saying, “So what would you like to eat?”
Lon shook his head. “We’re good with just the drinks. Thanks.”
Shaking his head, Twix replied, “No can do. This is a tradition at Twixie’s. The first meal is always free for newcomers. So, how about I give you a few minutes and you figure out what you would like, and I’ll be back to take your order.”
“We don’t do charity,” Vano said gruffly.
Twix kept his smile. “And charity is not what I’m offering.” Turning towards Vik and Baldwin, Twix said, “Tell them, Vik.”
Vik stammered, “Yep, Twix gives a free meal to all the new customers. It’s his way. He’s a very giving man.”
Lon and the others looked at each other then slowly nodded, Lon saying, “Okay, but only this time. After that we are no longer new customers.”
Smiling, Twix walked away. Casius looked at the menu, saying, “He seems like a really nice guy.”
“I got a job!” Deja said, wiggling in his seat.
“Way to go, De!” Casius said, smiling widely.
* * * *
Once Twix came back, everyone ordered, then Twix turned back around and went to Toby
handing him the slip. “I want you to pile the food on. Make the burgers triple and the fries too.
Double the meat on the sandwiches. I want them to be asking for doggie bags to take home.”
Toby took the slip as he smiled. “Okay, no problem.”
“Do you know anything about the new guys that rented Donny’s old place?” Twix asked.
Shaking his head, Toby said, “Not much. I heard Illan telling Nash that some new guys were moving in and to make them feel welcome. He doesn’t want any trouble with the townsfolk.”
“Why would there be trouble?” Twix asked.
Toby tossed on six burgers and dumped two full bags of fries into the fryer. “Because they’re gypsies.”
“Arty!” Twix called out.
Arty came from the back wiping his hands. “Hey, Twix.”
“I need you to go and serve the customers for a bit and tell Vik and Baldwin to come back here, I need to talk to them,” Twix directed.
“What’s going on?” Toby asked.
Twix looked at Toby. “When you’re done with that table’s order I’d like you to take it out to them. You’re going to get a shock. However, you can’t let on that you notice anything different about them. Just serve the table and come back here and tell me what you found.”
“Where are you going?” Toby asked.
“I need to make some phone calls,” Twix said making his way to his office.
Twix was calling Illan when Vik and Baldwin walked in. “What’s going on? Is there a
problem?”
Holding up his finger for them to wait. Just then Illan came on the line. “This is Illan.”
“Illan, it’s Twix. I think it might be best if you and your mates come to Twixie’s. I also think it might be good to bring your clutch members with you.”
“What’s going on?” Illan asked.
“I’d rather you just come to the diner, Illan. I think this is something you’re going to want to figure out for yourselves,” Twix stated.
“Do we need the council as well?” Illan asked in his no-nonsense tone.
Twix shook his head, even though he knew Illan couldn’t see him. “Not yet. I’ll let you decide after you get here.”
“Okay, we should be there in ten minutes,” Illan stated. “I’ll call Day and have him contact the others.”
Twix hung up the phone as Toby walked in eyes wide with shock and whispered, “Holy f*****g s**t. It can’t be.”
“Don’t say another word, Toby,” Twix said, then turned to Vik, “You know those new guys I was talking to at table six?”
Nodding, Vik said, “You mean the ones you started your new tradition with?”
“What new tradition?” Toby asked.
Vik smiled. “All new customers eat for free.”
“Yes, that table.” Twix jumped in before things got distracted. “Vik, go there… I don’t know…
introduce yourselves or something and then come back. If they look like they suspect somethings up, tell them you have to go, you’re waiting for the meeting to start. Since there is a meeting they won’t smell a lie. I don’t want that table leaving until Illan and his clutch get here.”
Vik and Baldwin left to go talk to table six and the second they were gone, Toby hissed, “There are two dragons at that table, Twix.”
Nodding, Twix said, “I know.”
“Are they from another clutch?” Toby asked.
Shaking his head, Twix said, “I don’t think so, Toby. Finn has talked about other clutches, but they’re all out West and the rest are here.”
“So where did they come from?” Toby asked.
Shaking his head, Twix replied, “I have no idea, Toby. That’s something Illan is going to have to figure out. In the meantime, we don’t let them leave.”
“Well how the hell are we supposed to make two dragons stay if they don’t want to?” Toby
asked.
Twix thought a minute and then said, “I just hired the cutie with them. I’ll just ask if he has time to do the paperwork tonight. I’ll see if Rhys will keep Fiere for the night. I have a feeling tonight is going to be a long one.”
- Writer
