he wind howled through the dark alley ways. A sense of ever impending doom filled the night. Giving the feeling of dread that would turn even the most vicious of creatures into scary cats. Click clacking of loafers mixing and being fused with the sounds of the night. Who would dare adventure out into the abyss that had taken over the city? A young man who felt at home into the embrace of his surroundings. A gust of chilling wind swept through his blond locks. Holding up an arm in defense of the assault. He looked up to seemingly growing dimer sign. The light reflecting off his glasses flicker rapidly. The once lite sign flashed once more before going completely out. looking down to an unlocked phone showing the time of 2:30 am. To think he would find a place of employment that was so close to the college campus. One that most didn’t seem to know much about, but also being open at such an hour. Most bars would be shuffling out the last of the drunken rabble by now. Settling the nerves that had kept him standing in front of the door for the past several minutes. His hand rose slowly towards the handle as the sleeve of his sweater fell down his arm. An almost odd jolt crossed between his fingertips and the metal. Quickly pulling his hand back, as his eyes moved between both. “The hell?” looking back to the handle with a look of determination. What was this feeling? He needed this job, but his bones almost vibrated with a sense of danger. Shaking this off he reached once but was stopped as the door flew open. Quickly stepping back out of the way when two men stumbled from the doorway.
“Thanks, Warren!” the more coherent of the two yelled back. Waving a hand as he readjusted his far more gone buddy on his shoulder. “See you next week!” making eye contact with the man that was before them. He simply nodded, which was returned with a nod as well. They continued into the darkness with echos of groans and booze filled with laughter. Using this as no better time than ever. The frozen from uneasy man finally entered the establishment. Lights blinded him abruptly, only for a moment. Adjusting to the flood of brightness. His eyes scanned the room. Looking to be the picture-perfect image of an old timey pub. When a sudden odd smell of wet dog, and the vibration of a voice filled his ears.
“Sorry bud, but we are closed for the night. You don’t have to go home but sure as hell can’t stay here!” The hairs on the back of his neck tingled and rose. His head snapped towards what looked to be an unmanned bar. Before standing to his feet stood a tall gruff looking man. Wearing a black vest, and white button up shirt where the top several buttons unhooked. Showing off a bushel of black chest hair peeking out. “Hey man, eyes up here.” The seemingly unwelcomed young man looked up. His pale blue eyes pared through his glasses. Meeting with the almost glowing yellowish green orbs belonging to the tower of man. Their face covered in even bushier black and slowly greying beard. Wavy almost black as night hair reaching just above their shoulders. The same varying grey streaks ran through it as well. "Can I help you?” His eyebrows were raised, and his arms crossed in front of his chest. The fabric stretching shows off a more muscular looking frame. Galping down a frog in his throat. The much shorted and thinner man finally answer.
“Sorry!” His arm shot upwards for a handshake as he approached the bar. “My name is Van! I start here tonight. Are you BF?” The older male chuckled grabbing Van’s hand. Shaking it vigorously with what felt like nonhuman-like strength. Almost lifting the blond off the ground.
“Oh! The fresh meat joining me for the overnight shift. BF is around here somewhere but can’t tell you where.” The man that was now confirmed not to be BF released his hand. Needing to catch himself on the wood before him. So not to fall over from finally touching solid ground once more. “He kind of comes and goes without most catching even a glimpse of our dear old boss.” Leaning against the other side cross from Van. The still mystery man gave an almost too toothy grin. “Names Warren! I’m the bar manager, and BF’s right-hand man.” Warren exited behind his domain to go and close the front door. He locked in a bolt and flipped a switch that Van could only guess was to turn off the front lights. Well, would of if the light didn’t die just moments ago. “I hope you were giving at least some info on what you’re doing here?”
“Umm yeah! I’m basically like a busy boy, and server?”
“For the most part that covers it.” Warren replied nodding his head with a small grin.
“If I may ask though Mr. Warren.” Van started.
“Just Warren is fine.”
“Right, Warren.” Van paused for a moment, rubbing his arm. “If it’s not by any means a stupid question. Who am I serving exactly? I felt it odd the hours before so late at night, but you just shut and locked the door.” Leaning over slight to peer around the hairy wall before him.
“So, you weren’t told everything looks like it. This is why I tell BF all the time we need to do in person interviews. But no, he does everything through email.” With a rough sigh, Warren returned behind the bar. “Like I mentioned it’s an overnight shift. Here we have a special crowd made up of our kind. They can’t fully enjoy themselves if they couldn’t be their true selves.” Our kind? This confused Van slightly. What did the bar manager mean? He guessed from the fact Van took a job like this at this hour. That he meant night owls, or insomniacs. Which the blond was both, that plus his classes only be available in the afternoons. A job like this was perfect for him.
“Okay, but then why lock the door?”
“We have a back entrance that only we know of. That way no plain bloods found their way in.” Plain bloods? What was with this guy and his weird terms for people? “But anyway! Mind whipping the tables off while I go get something from down stairs?” Van nodded, catching a rag tossed at him. Warren pushed through a set of double doors. Stopping halfway through, looking back to the new employee. “Oh, and don’t be surprised if some blond bombshell, and some tired looking guy walks in. That’s Shirly our bouncer, and Al one of our regulars who tends to come in early.” Van simply nodded before getting to work on the tables. Warren disappeared as the sound of heavy steps descended some stairs. Several moments past before what could only be the back entrance thatWarren mentioned opened. A curvy full-figured Women in a tight black dress, black leather jacket, and combat boots walked in. Followed by a scrawny hunched over man that looked like he was on death’s door. Who was in what could only be described as “overworked office worker casual”. Black slacks, messy loosened tie, and untucked white work shirt. The man which could only be Al went straight to the bar. Taking a seat on a stool before putting his face into his pale hands. Leaving the women to be none other than Shirly. She really was a bombshell, which threw Van off. Was she the bouncer? Seemed more like a fellow bartender. Dress up a bit in hopes to get more tips. As if senseing the eyes on her, she stopped to looked in his direction.
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“Take a picture, it’ll last longer sweety.” Van blushed, turning away before chuckling nervously.
“My apologies!” Turning back to his new coworker with a smile. “Didn’t mean to stare! Names Van. I’m starting here tonight as a server. You must be Shirly. Mr.... I mean Warren mentioned you would be here soon. He’s downstairs getting something ready; I think. He’s been down there for a while.” The blond male looked to the double doors. “Should I go check on him?” Shirly waved off the question.
“Nah, I’d leave him be. Warren can be a bit cranky before we open.” Suddenly a loud crash sounded from below. Only Van seemed to be startled by it. The others just went about their business. Another even louder crash followed before a low groan almost growl afterwards.
“Warren?” Van started towards the double doors slowly. Shirly just shrugged reapplying some red lipstick. As he got closer to the doors, he reached out. Pushing them open slowly. The stairs leading down to the basement were pitch black. Standing at the top of them. He looked down into the blackness before calling down. “Warren? Hey, is everything okay?” Waiting a few more minutes, he went to call once more. Stopping once a low growl filled the stairwell. The blond squinted leaning a bit forward. Something looked to be moving at the bottom of the steps. Then suddenly a pair of glowing eyes flashed open. Van jumped and fell back onto his ass. Trying to his best to pull himself back across the threshold of the double doors. “Shirly! I think Warren is in trouble!”
“I told you he’s a bit cranky before we open.” That sounded like the women bouncer from before. But it seemed raspier than before. Looking back where the once knock out stood. Was now replaced a short stachered greenish brown creature. Long gangly arm almost reaching the floor. Pointed green ear poking out from the flowing blond locks. This beast wore the forementioned bouncer's clothes. The once tight-fitting dress almost reached the floor. The jacket now on it to about where the dressed ended on Shirly. While green clawed toes burst from the boots. Van’s eye finally landed on a green pointed face. With what looked like the same red lipstick the bouncer just applied.
“If it gets his hairy ass up here and my bloody marry in front of me quicker. Maybe the newbie should go and get him.” The Blond's head snapped to the new voice. It was Al, or at least what he thought had to be Al. The once pinkish pale skinned tired businessman was white as snow. Ears pointed, eyes sunken and red as fire. One of his bony hands rested now on the wooden bar counter. Sharp nails tapping against it with a sense of inpatients. Pointed teeth protruded from his lips. Causing Van to unknowingly grab his neck. The world was spinning as it all sunk in. The years of his fascination with the Macomb and unknown. Helped everything click into place in moments. The odd terms Warren used. “Normal bloods” and “our kind”. This was a bar for monsters and cyprids!
“You’re a vampire.” The surprised human fumbled to say. Turning to the short creature before pointing at her. “And you’re a goblin!”
“Hey, it's not nice to point at a women sweety.” The green monster winked with a toothy grin full of sharp teeth. “Also, we open soon so you should probably get out of that flesh suit. Don’t want the patrons to mistake for a human.” A raspy chuckle left what could only be Shirly’s shiny lips. Before she walked over taking a seat at a stool by where they both entered. Van couldn’t believe what was happening. Was this real? Monsters real this whole time? Everything he had read and studied was factual? This was possibly the greatest discovery of the modern age.
Just then Van was ripped from his thoughts of wonderment. Heavy footsteps climbed the stairs slowly. Each step followed by what could only be compared to Al’s claws tapping against the bar. The human’s head started to turn as well as his body towards double doors. With a moment of silence as the steps reached the top of the stairs. With a push that could of easily of sent Van flying if he had been standing there. Outstretched a forearm covered in black thick fur. Large hands gripped the doors stopping them from slamming into the wall. After a groan from the other side. A large wolflike creature kneeled. Its large muzzle slowly pushed through the doorway. Its white shiny fangs were on full display. As it fully stepped into the room Van took in its full size and shape. Standing up to its towering height, which almost causes it to bump its head on the ceiling. Easily standing at seven plus feet tall from back paw to the tip of his large, pointed ears. The beast's nose turned to the air as it sniffed several times. Before suddenly laying its large saucer for eyes onto Van on the floor. Causing the man to slowly pull himself back away from it. Only making the creature start its approach to him. With his back hitting the leg of a table. Van was frozen in terror unable to speak or move. Crawling on all fours now, it got closer and closer. Eyes burning a monstrous glow almost intensified but the pitch black surrounding them. The Wolfs large arm and gigantic hand pulled back as if about to swipe at the poor college student. His life was over before ever truly starting. His eyes slammed shut to prepare for his end. But only it didn’t come. Opening fear filled orbs slowly. What was thought to be the weapon of his demise. Now just rested in front of him as if to offer a hand.
“Come on kid, we must open. Can’t be much of a server while on the floor.” Looking between the hand, and back to the eyes of the thing. A feeling of familiarity settled in and replaced the fear. Taking the offer and trusting the voice. He practically flew up to his feet as he was pulled.
“Warren? Is that you?” The beast stood back up crossing his arms into a similar pose as the bar manager. A similar style of clothes still being worn. Just much tighter and black fur popping out of more than just his chest window.
“Well of course!” A hardy laugh rang through the room, mixed with a low growl. “Must not have many werewolves where you come from huh?” In fact, no Van did not. Or at least as far as he knew at the moment. “Don’t worry I’m not surprised all that much. We Lycians tend to stick to our packs more.” Strolling over to his bar, getting behind before leaning against it. With a single paw he made up a quick drink. Sliding down to Al, who caught it before chugging it down. “Well Shirly! Open the doors and let those low Lifes in!” The order getting an elongated thumbs up from the pint-sized horror.
“Wait Warren I!” before Van could protest. The goblin opened the door, as a wave of creatures, monsters, and myths flooded the place. Wall to wall of everything from your worst nightmares, to wildest of fantasies.
“Van! Stop standing around. Get comfy in your actual skin and take some orders!” Warren raised easily one of the largest glass mugs in the place. “Cause the sleeping Sasquatch is now open for business!” A loud roar of cheers, and ungodly sounds erupted. As hands, claws, tentacles, and everything between shot into the air. And thus began the longest and most likely dangerous first night on job Van had ever known.