Brynna

The light in the bar was dim and comforting. Brynna leant on the countertop and forced herself not to rush her drink. At least she was sitting at the bar and not lying in a puddle under it. Her eyes and throat were scratchy, but the clear liquid in the glass in her hand was helping a little. She just had to make sure it didn't help too much before her business for the evening was done.

Jesse arrived just late enough to remind Brynna he could afford to make her wait. She glared at him as he walked up the long room and threw his coat over the next-but-one barstool before sitting. At least she was still on her first glass, even if it was empty now.

"Miss Brynna, lovely to see you again," the mobster smiled. "Let me buy you another, and we'll talk."

She started to raise her hand to refuse but he'd already caught the barman's eye and gestured in her direction. Well, it wasn't like he didn't know he had the better of her. A fresh glass with a finger of ice temptation in the bottom appeared in front of her and the barman set about pulling Jesse's pint.

While he waited, Jesse studied her face, and she tried not to cringe. He said, "How are you doing, darling? How are your feet?"

"They're fine, I'm fine. Thank you."

He chuckled to himself and took his drink from the bartender. No money changed hands. Jesse didn't own the bar, however big he liked to act, but someone in his organisation definitely did. He raised his glass toward her and paused.

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She rolled her eyes and matched his toast. "Cheers, dear." Forced herself not to knock the whole glass back in one go, made the moment of fire at the back of her tongue last while she could.

His eyes followed the half-emptied glass back down to the barmat. "Being careful?"

"I need to keep a clear head for tomorrow. We have big plans."

"This line of credit is getting a little long again, Miss Brynna. Do I have to remind you how much you owe?"

"Nothing to worry about, I promise, dear." She did her best to put on a breezy smile. "The new song is amazing, what the kids call a banger, dear, I promise. Let me send you a copy."

"I don't listen to any of that kiddy music, Miss Brynna, you know that. I just want to know if it will sell."

"It will do the numbers, dear, I promise you. Huuuge numbers."

Something about her enthusiasm seemed to actually reach him. He tipped his glass to her again. "Here's to your success, then. And the young lady is ready for her show?"

That, at least, she didn't have to force enthusiasm about. "My girl's going to blow them away, wait and see. You ain't seen nothing yet, dear."

"Just make sure that Mr. C sees some return on his investment soon, right?" Jesse leaned on the bar. "Unless you want to take him up on his other offer?"

Brynna suppressed a shudder. The tight, hot feeling in her spine, just behind her diaphragm, was more distant with every day and with every drink, but it never completely went away. If the worst came to the worst, she could always flee this world. That would be better than letting the mob use her power, but it would mean abandoning Thessaly to them.

She finished her drink and glared at Jesse again. "Just let me do my thing, dear. I'll get you your money."