Queen of the Freaks

I tried not to think about the creepy text as I got ready for work the next morning. I also made the decision to keep the text I sent, as well as it’s response, to myself. No need to worry Finn and Bob even more. Besides, wasn’t it obvious that Jim wanted me dead? He wouldn’t have tried to stake me in the forest if he just wanted to say hello.

Finn hopped in the Jeep beside me and we went to the restaurant together. It was a fairly quiet drive. I didn’t feel like talking much (odd, I know) and he seemed to be lost in his own thoughts.

My co-workers didn’t seem to be overly excited to see me. In fact, I got a lot of dirty looks. True, I hadn’t exactly been Miss Congeniality in the last while, but did I really deserve to be treated like crap over a few missed calls, texts and sick days? The worst part of my morning was when I overheard two of the girls in the back, talking about a party they went to the night before. That’s right, a party, and I wasn’t invited. What nerve!

The restaurant was busy at least, so it kept me occupied and didn’t leave much time to mingle with the other workers. My boss was keeping me under a very watchful eye so I had to be on my best behavior. I was all smiles, all the time. It was exhausting.

As the day went on, the dinner crowd came in and there wasn’t an empty seat in the place. I had scored a huge table reservation for a dozen people and was super excited by it. The tips from that one table would make up for the lack of social inclusion from the staff. I got more dirty looks but I kept my head up high and my fake smile plastered on while I made my way to the table with their drinks and food. The tray was loaded up, but with my super strength it was a piece of cake. Plus, it looked impressive so I was hoping I’d earn even more tips. Cha-ching!

Just as I was getting close to the table, I caught a glimpse of something in the window. A set of yellow, glowing eyes. Ah, shit. Jimbo was back and he did not look like a happy goblin. The eyes locked on mine and again they hypnotized me. I stood, frozen in fear, with a wave of nausea hitting me. A smile crept up on his evil, green little face again and then his hand came up to the window. I drew in my breath, wondering if he had a stake ready for me and if I was going to have to use my super speed powers in front of all of the people in the restaurant, but his hand just waved. Yep, a taunting goodbye wave, and then he was gone. I snapped out of my hypnotic state and back to reality and then immediately regretted it, because in reality, I had dropped the entire tray of food and drinks all over my customers. Bye bye tips.

“I’m SO sorry,” I repeated over and over as I tried to clean up the mess with paper napkins. It was no use. The customers were furious and everyone was watching. Sure enough, my boss called me aside.

“Melanie, I think it would be best if you left and found a job somewhere else.”

Crap. It was inevitable I supposed, but humiliating nonetheless. The snickers from the staff didn’t help. I felt my blood start to boil as I overheard some of the girls whispering behind my back. Just as I was about to let my anger get the best of me and give my boss a piece of my mind, Finn came over to rescue me (again). He firmly grabbed my upper arm and looked me in the eye.

“Let’s go into the Jeep and drive home quietly Melanie,” was all he said but sure enough, I got into the Jeep quietly and got home safely.

As soon as I got through the door and into my living room, the anger came back.

“Dude, how come I just walked out of there and didn’t stand up for myself? I should go back and tell this guy that he can take his job and shove it!” I headed for the door again but Finn stood in front of me, blocking the doorway.

“Ti, don’t make me do the vamp whispering thing again please.”

“The what?”

“Vamp whispering. Hypnotizing. Influencing. Forcing you to do what I will you to do. Bob listed it as one of the vampire powers that day he told you about your family history.”

Oh. My. God.

“You were forcing me to do things against my will? How the hell am I supposed to trust you if you just hypnotize me whenever you don’t like what I’m doing? Man, I could really use a bag of—“ Finn shoved a bag of the special red juice in my face, “—blood right now.” I gulped it down in two seconds, flat. Ah, I could drink gallons of the stuff and never be full.

“Tianna, please listen. I’ve only influenced you twice, and both times were for your own good at your workplace. All of your emotions are enhanced now that you’ve come into your powers and your temper sometimes gets the better of you. I know how it feels to lose your temper and then regret what you say out of anger, so I want to spare you that regret. I know it’s hard for you to hear this but please trust me when I say I’m using my vampire powers to help you, not keep you from being who you are.”

“Wait, wait, wait. This is a vampire power right? So that must mean that I can hypnotize people too. A future in the dating world may not be over after all!” My hopes started to rise as I thought about influencing Hollywood’s most eligible bachelors to do whatever I wanted them to do. Why hadn’t I remembered about this power before?

“Well,” Finn stared at the floor and started fidgeting with his Rolex.

I sighed. “What now?”

Finn cleared his throat. “You know how your wings are not as…enhanced as other fairy wings? And how your fangs aren’t quite as long as mine? And how you get disgusted by human blood?”

He lifted his eyes from the floor to my face as reality started to sink in.

“You don’t think I’ll be able to influence anyone because I’m only half a vampire.” He held out another bag of blood (how many does he keep in his bag??) and winced, preparing himself for another Tianna meltdown. I drank the juice. Took a deep breath. Counted to ten in my head. Well, to four at least. “Okay. I can deal with this,” The vampire across from me looked doubtful. “No really. I never had to use hypnosis before to get anything I wanted so why would I need it now? I’ll just depend on my good looks and charming personality.”

Finn coughed to hide his obvious desire to laugh. Bastard. I flung my hair over my shoulder out of spite.

“So I suppose we can’t use hypnosis to get my job back huh? I mean, it wasn’t even my fault that I dropped that tray of food, it was Jimbo’s.”

“Jimbo’s?” Finn suddenly seemed very anxious.

“Ya, he was in the window taunting me. Well, he looked at me and smiled before waving goodbye.” I gave a shudder as I remembered the creepiness of the situation.

*POOF*!

“Perfect timing,” I mumbled to the gnome that stood in front of me. Bob ignored my comment and got straight to business.

“Time, location and details please.” He was so damn serious all the time! I wondered if Bob ever partied it up. I somehow couldn’t imagine him letting loose and having fun. Were all gnomes so boring and straight-laced?

“Ti, focus please,” said an exasperated vamp as he poked me in the shoulder.

“Oh fine. It was around six o’clock, at my former workplace,” I shot Finn a look. “And the jolly green goblin himself, Mr. Jimbo, paid me a visit in the restaurant window which caused me to drop an entire tray of food and drinks onto my most important table, causing me to get fired. Not to mention humiliated. Then vamp boy here possessed me and made me drive home quietly, and here we are.”

“I didn’t possess you, I influenced you.”

“Pft, same difference.”

We both looked at Bob, who was—surprise!—pacing the floor with a worried look on his face. He was so quiet and looked so deep in thought that I had to break the awkward tension. “Did I mention I lost my job? Rent is coming up soon you know, and I have important things to buy like those Juicy Couture flip flops. What exactly am I supposed to do?”

“There is no need to worry yourself over money my lady. You have a trust fund that is unlimited. Did Jim say anything to you specifically?”

“Woah there Nelly! Are you seriously telling me that I have a trust fund? Like I have inherited money or something? How is it unlimited, exactly?” I crossed my arms and looked at Bob expectedly. “My turn for details!”

He rubbed his forehead, then brushed his long white beard with his hand before answering.

“I was not anticipating telling you so soon, but as queen of our world, you have access to an unlimited amount of funds in this world. In our world there is no need for money or such material items, however we have manifested an infinite amount of modern currency, should one require money for in this financially driven, commercialized world.” He scowled like he disapproved, but I couldn’t be happier! Unlimited funds! I didn’t ever have to work again!

“Bob, you just made my day!” I reached down and gave the little dude a kiss on the cheek. He grimaced but got his face got all rosy and it made me smile.

“I’m glad I could be of service to you Your Maj—er, Tianna.” He seemed all flustered, poor lil guy. Oh, the power of a little kiss!

“So uh,” He tried hard to compose himself. “Did Jim say anything in particular that made you drop the tray of food?”

“No, he didn’t say anything at all. He looked, he smiled, he waved, he disappeared. No words, no stakes or weapons that I could see. I have no idea what he was doing there, especially in broad daylight. What if someone saw him?”

“Masking,” said Bob.

“Huh?”

“Creatures in our world can mask themselves to humans when they come into this world. That way no one can see them except those who have access to our world.”

Of course.

“So Jimbo purposely showed up at my workplace to smile at me and then disappeared back to wherever it is you guys disappear to. That doesn’t make sense.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Bob rubbed his forehead.

“Food, fish, food. Fish. Fish. Hungry.” I froze and moved my eyes around the room, looking for the source of the voice. “Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Food.”

“Who’s there?” I yelled and spun around. I expected Bob and Finn to go into attack mode, but instead they just stared at me with puzzled looks.

“Ti, are you alright?” Finn looked concerned, yet wary of me.

I put my index finger to my lips to tell him to shut up. I whispered, “Who do you think it is? Jimbo?”

“What are you talking about? I don’t hear anything.” He looked at Bob, who shrugged his shoulders and looked just as confused as Finn.

“Fish, food. Food. Hungry. Hungry.”

“There! Didn’t you hear that? He’s hungry. I think it was coming from over here,” I said as I approached a window in my living room. The voice was a little higher pitched than I had remembered, but then Jim was a goblin so anything was possible.

“Hungry.”

“Ah ha! I’m getting closer! I think maybe he’s…” I pushed Finn out of my way and rushed out the door.

I could hear them following me down the steps and onto the street but I didn’t care. If this was our chance to catch Jim while he wasn’t expecting it, I wasn’t going to let the opportunity pass.

“Food. Need food.”

I was getting closer. I ran down the back alley and saw the dumpster. Jim must be behind the dumpster, which was directly under my bedroom window. I shuddered for a moment as I thought about Jim spying on me in my room, then I ran towards the peeping-Tom creep, eager to give him another ass-whipping.

I stopped when I got to the back of the dumpster and did my best ninja stance, complete with arms in kung-fu-karate positions.

My enthusiasm started to fade when I looked around and didn’t see Jim anywhere. Finn and Bob ran up to me and looked around.

“So, you’re hearing voices and attacking garbage bags now? Nice ninja stance by the way.”

I smacked Finn on his arm and immediately felt dumb for standing in attack mode while facing nothing but a brick wall and garbage bags. I strained my ears, listening for Jim’s voice to re-appear but I didn’t hear anything.

“Tianna, are you okay?”

“Shhhhhh!” They still looked at me like I should be locked in a white padded room but at least they were quiet. I tiptoed around the dumpster, looking over my shoulders and all around while listening intently.

“Quiet. Safe. Hungry.”

I widened my eyes in excitement but didn’t motion to Finn or Bob. If they couldn’t hear Jim’s voice then that was their problem. I would catch the bastard on my own.

Slowly I opened the lid of the dumpster. Nothing. No voice and no goblin.

“Danger. Hide.”

Well at least he knew I was dangerous. I smirked and kept quiet, figuring he had to show himself at some point. A good minute had passed, which was pretty much the quietest, longest minute of my life. Still, my stubbornness kept me standing still, staring eagerly at the garbage in the dumpster.

A slight rustling happened on the left. One of the garbage bags started to shift. I could sense that Bob and Finn tensing up behind me, getting ready to fight if necessary.

“Hungry. Need food.”

The garbage rustled again and then I saw two yellow eyes. In less than a second I leaped into the dumpster, pouncing on the area where the yellow eyes peeked out and jumped back out again with him in my outstretched arms, showing off my captured prey proudly.

“A cat?” Finn chuckled.

“Wha??” I looked down at my hands and was shocked to find a skinny, ginger colored kitty staring up at me with yellow eyes. Well, shit.

Bob just shook his head. “We really don’t have time for such frivolousness.”

“Caught. Scared. Hungry. Scared.” The yellow eyes were still staring at me and a lightbulb went off in my head.

“Wait, it’s the cat talking. The cat is talking in my head,” I was becoming louder and more hysterical. “Why am I hearing a cat babbling inside my fucking head? What the hell is going on?” I glared at Bob, demanding an answer.

Shushing me with his fingers, Finn ushered me towards my apartment stairs.

“Let’s talk about this inside, okay Ti?”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. It was hard to get a grip on my anger these days. I opened my eyes again and Ginger was still staring at me, and I felt like her eyes were asking me for help. Oddly enough, she hadn’t struggled to get free from my grip or meowed or anything. She just let me hold her and stared at me.

“Okay let’s go, but I’m taking Ginger with me.”

“Ginger?”

“The cat, dumbass.”

Finn and Bob gave each other questioning looks but I ignored them.

Once we were back inside, I put Ginger down and got out a bowl in and then opened up a can of tuna and put it on a plate.

“Fish! Food! Nice lady! Want to stay!” I could hear her happiness in my head and it made me smile. Then I got back to business.

“So Bobby, why am I hearing Ginger’s voice inside my head? And don’t say it’s not her or that I’m making this all up because I know that this is real.” I crossed my arms defensively and started tapping my foot impatiently.

“Well it sounds like telepathy, but then you should be able to hear this.” He stopped pacing and stared at me, like he was trying to see inside my brains.

“Hear what Bob? I don’t hear anything and you’re kinda freaking me out with that look. Why don’t you go back to pacing and stuff.”

His little eyebrows furrowed together like he was thinking really hard. He glanced over his shoulder and Finn shrugged. “I could hear you just fine Bob.”

“So it must be the fairy part of her.”

“Would you puh-lease stop talking like I’m not standing. Right. Here.” I thought I was going to strangle the two of them, honestly.

“I got this one Bob,” Finn stepped towards me as the gnome went back to pacing. “In our world some of us, ahem, more talented folks, “ he waggled his eyebrows and I rolled my eyes. “Can use telepathy to communicate silently to each other. You couldn’t hear Bob when he was trying to talk to you, but you could hear Ginny,”

“Ginger.”

“Whatev. So we’re probably right in assuming that the fairy side of you has telepathy powers but not the vamp side. Since fairies are more in tune with nature and animals, it would make sense that you could hear an animal but not a gnome.”

I looked over at Ginger, who had finished her tuna and was now licking her paws contently. I figured telepathy must work both ways so I put all my focus on the words in my head.

“Hi Ginger. I’m Tianna. How was the tuna?”

She stopped licking her paw and looked up at me with her big yellow eyes.

“Tuna good. Tianna nice. Stay?”

I smiled. “Yes Ginger, you can stay here.”

She blinked twice and then went back to her paws.

“Did you guys hear any of that?” I asked eagerly.

“Oh, was that what the ‘I’m-constipated’ face was all about? Did you chit chat with the kitty cat?” Finn looked super proud of himself.

“It’s a good thing you have your looks to fall back on. Yes I did chit chat with the kitty cat, you lame dipshit.”

“Well, glad we have that all sorted out,” Bob said quickly. “Your powers seem to be growing stronger every day and it’s quite obvious that they are unique to you.”

“Aw, the gnome thinks I’m special. Hello pot, meet kettle! Anyways, when do I get to visit this world that I’m supposed to be ruling yet hiding from? Also, when can I get some of that cash? There is shopping that needs to be done!”

The guys started debating about the answers to my questions, which made me frustrated, so I headed for my room to grab my cell phone. No message from Amy. I thought by now she’d at least send me a picture text of someone’s poor fashion skills or a “whassup biatch” or something!

I met Amy back in the third grade and we had been friends ever since. She might’ve been rich and my BFF but she was also a bit of a goody goody, unlike me. She didn’t even like to swear…much. She got good grades and enjoyed reading. Like for fun. I only read when I had to for college courses, which reminded me that I didn’t need to go back to college anymore. Who needs a job in marketing when you have an unlimited stash of cash! My day kept getting brighter and brighter.

I quickly read through the other texts. There were only two, which made me pout because by this time of the day I would normally have at least twenty to sort through and reply to (or not). My social life was seriously sucking right now. All of my time was spent either with my vampire bodyguard or at work, and now everyone would be talking about how I got fired and how much of a loser I was.

My earlier happy feelings were being replaced with sadness and loneliness. What if no one wanted to hang out with me anymore? I got an image of my future, a future where I was just an unemployed bum who didn’t go to college and couldn’t go on dates so I spent all my time sitting around getting fat and watching TV with my cat all day. Oh God, I was going to become an honest-to-goodness old cat lady!

I was just about to have a panic attack when Finn knocked on my door.

“How about if we take you to see a piece of our world tomorrow night? It would have to be after dark and we couldn’t stay for long because the bad guys might sense us, but we could at least let you have a quick look. Ti? You okay?”

“Yeah,” I shook my head and told myself to breathe. “Can I go for a walk? I think I need some fresh air.”

“Of course, I’ll come with you this time though.”

Ugh. Chaperoned on an evening walk. Well, it was better than nothing.

Finn and I headed out. Thoughts of my dying social life and bleak future were still consuming me and I kept my head down while Finn rambled on about who was better, Cher or Lady Gaga.

That’s why I didn’t know he was there until he grabbed my arm.

“Hello there beautiful.” His grip was firm and his voice was low. I turned and looked into his dark eyes. “I’ll forgive you for running away from my last party if you come to the one I’m having tomorrow night.”

It was Josh, the cute guy who made my wings come out to play. Finn was standing very close to me with one hand in his man-bag, but I ignored him. This guy was totally into me and I needed to go to a party. There was no way I was brushing him off this time.

I didn’t need to flirt, I could see he was already undressing me in his head, so I just got straight to the point. “When and where?”

He leaned in closer and I could smell an inviting mixture of musk, sweat and smoke. My mind told me that smoke and sweat wasn’t a good mixture of odors, but on him it smelled oh so good. I glanced at his wide shoulders and defined arms. I could see parts of his tattoos again, they were definitely tribal and added to his hotness. Again he was wearing a white sleeveless top and this time he had on a thick silver chain that matched the silver stud in his chin. He moved his lips towards mine and I was totally going to let him kiss me but at the last second he moved his mouth to my left ear.

“Same place as before. You can come whenever you want, just don’t bring your boyfriend this time.” He leaned back again and gave me a cocky ‘I know I’m hot and you want me’ look. Well, he was right. My back was itching but I was trying my best to ignore it.

“I’ll see you tomorrow night then.” I tried to sound flirty and sexy but my voice just sounded strained and high pitched. Wow, I was losing my touch.

He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and ran his finger all the way down my neck until he reached my collar bone. “Looking forward to it,” he said and then he turned and walked away. God, I was melting into a puddle of goo right there on the street.

“Well, that was awkward. Don’t mind me, I’m just the tag-a-long bodyguard trying not to vomit from all the sexual tension.” Finn made a gagging sound and I elbowed him in the ribs. I turned around and started walking back to my apartment.

“I thought we were going for a walk? Ti? Do you know your wings are out?”

That snapped me out of my la la dream land.

“Oh shit! For reals?” I reached my hands back but I just couldn’t reach far enough to feel them.

“No, just messing with ya.” This time I smacked him hard. It didn’t seem to bother him. “You must be getting stronger because I know you were digging that guy but your wings stayed inside. Congrats! You’re learning self-control!”

“Yeah, yeah,” was all I said but I was smiling on the inside. Maybe a love life could be in my future after all.

“So you’re going to bail on that guy right?” Finn asked as we continued walking back home.

“Bail on him? Are you insane? No I’m not bailing on him! I’m going to that party tomorrow night and p.s., you’re not invited.”

A flash of pain went through Finn’s eyes and he looked away. I immediately regretted my harsh words.

“Look, Finn, I’m sorry. I know you’re trying to protect me and make sure I’m okay but I’ve already proven that I can kick a goblin’s ass when he attacks me and you said yourself that I am getting better at controlling my powers and stuff. This party will just be a normal party with normal people. I need to get my life back, or at least a little bit of my old life back, if I’m to be happy with these new powers. What’s the point of being a queen if you have no friends?”

“But that’s just it, Tianna. We were supposed to go visit our world tomorrow night. Your world.”

Oh shit. I forgot.

“Well I’ve waited this long, what’s one more day? Seriously, I can balance both worlds Finn. I’ll just go to this normal party tomorrow night and then we’ll swing on by the non-normal world the following night. No biggie.” I shrugged and patted him on the shoulder.

Once inside the apartment, Finn unenthusiastically started telling Bob about my party plans and I gave a huge fake yawn, complete with dramatic arm stretching.

“Well, I’m going to bed now boys. Have fun discussing my life without me. Don’t even think about telling me not to go to the party tomorrow night, ’cause I’m going no matter what. Sweet dreams!” Ginger followed me into my bedroom and curled up in a ball at the end of my bed.

“Want sleep. Night Tianna.”

“Night Ginger.”